Title: Beautiful Bastard (Beautiful #1)

Author: Christina Lauren

Publisher: Gallery Books 2013

Genre: Romance

Pages: 321

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges:

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate--and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative--completely infuriating--creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules--or outright smash them--if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other.

You would think that me giving this 3 stars is a terrible rating, but it’s really not. I liked reading this book, but I did have a few issues. First the positives. I loved the more open door nature of this book. The more recent Christina Lauren books are much more closed door. This one was definitely not. I really enjoyed Chloe and her entire character. She’s a great character. And the side characters are great additions to the book. Unfortunately, I had a big issue with the pacing of the novel. The pacing felt more like a porn than a romantic book. As soon as the main characters got into an interesting conversation, they paused to have sex. Ok great, but sometimes, I would have liked a bit more conversation. Despite my lower rating, I’m probably going to keep reading this series.

Beautiful Bastard

• #1 Beautiful Bastard

• #1.5 Beautiful Bitch

• #2 Beautiful Stranger

• #2.5 Beautiful Bombshell

• #3 Beautiful Player

• #3.5 Beautiful Beginning

• #3.6 Beautiful Beloved

• #4 Beautiful Secret

• #4.5 Beautiful Boss

• #5 Beautiful

Next up on the TBR pile: