Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: February 12th, 2013
Pages: 305
Song I Played While Reading: Tear The Roof Up by Alesso
Rating: 4 stars
Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exalting, 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 each other increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win.
My initial feelings on this story, specifically for the first 50 pages, was a combination of two things: minor disgust and boredom. Disgust because Bennett seemed like a heartless prick who was getting exactly what he wanted, and boredom because we jump right into the sexy scenes and there was no pre-sexual tension going on. At least that we are aware of. Apparently Bennett has been pining for Chloe since the second he saw her, but we didn't get that vibe from him until we read from his first chapter.
Not to get too TMI here, but primal, animalistic sex is not something I overly enjoy reading. And that's what a lot of this book consisted of in the beginning, especially concerning Bennett, since he even said he was acting like a caveman and being all "Chloe mine!" and wanting to possessive her in physically torturous way. I mean, it's not heavy primal shit, but still enough where I didn't like Bennett at all and thought he was just being a dick. But as he warmed up to Chloe and they started actually talking about their feelings, my view on him did a total 180 and I ended up loving him just as much as Chloe did. He was such a damn softy on the inside. I found it endlessly funny whenever Chloe would purposely tease him, or he finally started to realize he was in love with her and literally could not leave her side. He was SO needy and I thought was SO HILARIOUS. Here we have this big, bad businessman, who also does a little manwhoring on the side, and yet Chloe brought this guy to his knees in a matter of weeks.
I adored Chloe and how driven she was. I admire anyone that worked their ass off to get to where they were in life and could actually state that without sounding like an egotistical bum. She's someone I strive to be like, with a goal set and nothing stopping her.
If had to use one line from that story that would summarize Chloe, it would be this:
"The look in her eyes told me that under any other circumstance, I would either already be naked with her on top of me, or lying in a pool of my own blood on the rug."
The writing in this was surprisingly deep and thought-provoking, really making me think about the position Chloe was in when she started sleeping with Bennett. Even during some of the sex scenes I would find myself almost hypnotized by the beauty of it, and how strong these two characters felt about each other. I'm not sure if I plan on continuing the trilogy, but I definitely plan on checking out Christina Lauren's other work!
Quotes
"I'm sorry, Mr. Ryan," I said with just a hint of bite. "I understand the burden I placed on you by making you manage a fax machine and pick up a telephone. As I mentioned, it won't happen again."
"You're right, it won't," he replied cocky smile firmly in place.
If only he would keep his mouth shut, he'd be perfect. A piece of duct tape would do the trick. I had some in my desk that I'd occasionally pull out and fondle, hoping someday I could put to good use."
"I don't want to walk out that door and lose what we found in this room."
"He gripped my arm before I could walk over to the desk and grab my phone. "Chloe. You do it."
My eyebrows inched to my hairline. "Do what?"
He waited.
"The meeting?"
He nodded.
"Without you?"
He nodded again.
"You're sending me to a meeting alone?"
"Miss Mills, you're as sharp as a spoon."
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