“Beautifully Brutal, that was how she’d come to think of this thing between them.”

This is a departure from the typical story line we’ve all come to love from Nicole Edwards. It’s not cowboys or naughty clubs. It’s all about the bad boys and the bad things they do on the other side of the law. This is Courtney and Max’s story. Readers are introduced to them in Wait For Morning. Not a required read, but I do recommend (please read it’s very good). Ms. Edwards always provides background enough to catch you up, but not too much to bog/slow down the story’s flow. As the reader, you are presented their backstory, weaving through flashbacks to current day by chapter, to build up to a wild, HEA ride.

I am a known fangirl of Nicole Edward’s novels. She is one of my go-to ‘fun’ reads. Never overly serious, dark or sad. I know I will get a HEA with a heavy dose of steam. Yes, Nicole is my number one – I want a HAWT scene I will never have the chance to experience. (Chapter 16 and 54 for bookmarked for later daydreaming.) She writes her Heroes with a huge dose of Alpha, and her Heroines strong and sassy. Beautifully Brutal does not disappoint my expectations from her writing. Her flashbacks are woven in the first third of the book to give you an understanding of the push/pull feelings our main characters. The push away is not maddening, but you come out as the reader understanding why Courtney and Max pressed the other away. We also have two characters that I wanted to shoot myself; as always, Ms. Edwards delivers agonists I have murderous thoughts about.

Here’s where I change my typical description of a Nicole Edwards story. Yes, story. As I said, I have certain expectations to her writing. I know her style and I’ll get what I am looking for a fun, not overly serious reading experience. This book changes that expectation. Here you get intrigue and suspense. I got to 64% the way through the book and could not put it down because I had the –oh-my-god-what-is-going-to happen-next-its midnight-cannot-sleep-until-I-know-what-happens-next problem.

For those of you never reading a work from this author and a fan of the genre, this will not disappoint. For those who have read Ms. Edwards before, it will not disappoint and give you more.
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First off I wanted to say that I didn't read the Sniper 1 Security series (the series that Southern Boy Mafia series is a spinoff off of). I feel like I understood the whole book, but I do wish I would have read the other first. I plan to go back and read it before the next of this series comes out. I think there is history between some of the characters that would have made the story even better.

Max is a definite badboy. He is an underboss in a criminal organization. He deals in a lot of illegal activities including murder. He lets very few in. One of these is Courtney. She's like his kryptonite, causing him to make dangerous decisions for a man in his position.

Courtney is part of a totally different organization. In the eyes of most, they would be labeled the good guys. She can't deny the pull she has to Max, but she can see no future for them. Loving him makes it hard for her to follow plans that she knows she should.

This is definitely a case of star-crossed lovers. Not only are the families on opposites sides of the law, but the elder generation also have a longstanding animosity. When Courtney's father/boss sends her in to spy on Max and his family, the outcome is something none of them really expected. The story is told in present times and flashbacks, covering their whole enemies and lovers dance.

It's not hard to fall for Max. I loved the whole family aspect. I really enjoyed all of it, and I am super looking forward to the next book. From the preview at the end of this one, it's going to be smoking hot.

3.5






***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***





toni





FangirlMoments and My Two Cents









FULL REVIEW CAN BE FOUND AT http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.blogspot.com/2015/06/beautifully-brutal-by-ni... ( )

First off I wanted to say that I didn't read the Sniper 1 Security series (the series that Southern Boy Mafia series is a spinoff off of). I feel like I understood the whole book, but I do wish I would have read the other first. I plan to go back and read it before the next of this series comes out. I think there is history between some of the characters that would have made the story even better.

Max is a definite badboy. He is an underboss in a criminal organization. He deals in a lot of illegal activities including murder. He lets very few in. One of these is Courtney. She's like his kryptonite, causing him to make dangerous decisions for a man in his position.

Courtney is part of a totally different organization. In the eyes of most, they would be labeled the good guys. She can't deny the pull she has to Max, but she can see no future for them. Loving him makes it hard for her to follow plans that she knows she should.

This is definitely a case of star-crossed lovers. Not only are the families on opposites sides of the law, but the elder generation also have a longstanding animosity. When Courtney's father/boss sends her in to spy on Max and his family, the outcome is something none of them really expected. The story is told in present times and flashbacks, covering their whole enemies and lovers dance.

It's not hard to fall for Max. I loved the whole family aspect. I really enjoyed all of it, and I am super looking forward to the next book. From the preview at the end of this one, it's going to be smoking hot.

3.5






***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***





toni





FangirlMoments and My Two Cents









FULL REVIEW CAN BE FOUND AT http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.blogspot.com/2015/06/beautifully-brutal-by-ni... ( )