Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1) in The Indie Bookshelf

Feb 03, 2012 Anne OK rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2013-reads

The beginning of something really beautiful! I loved the characters, the story, just everything about this story. Yeah, Travis drove me crazy at times but, then again, so did Pigeon!! I'm so glad I finally got around to reading this fab romance. I'm not usually one to read out of order -- but I couldn't resist reading "A Beautiful Wedding" and then I knew without a doubt I would be reading each of the "Beautiful" books and so it is. ...more

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Aug 13, 2012 PJ rated it liked it

Shelves: 2012-books-i-ve-read, romance-series-serials, romance-bad-boy, romance-friends-to-lovers

Gosh, it's been ages and I see I never reviewed this book. It was a huge hit, but it seems it didn't have as much of an impact on me. I can't really remember why. I imagine, though, it might be due to the fact that the tone was young, the characters immature, full of dark secrets and through-the-roof poor communication skills.

Still, I might not be so negative now. And I admit to being curious about the other books in the series. Especially now that they're all on available on Audible. I've becom ...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Nance rated it it was amazing

Shelves: new-adult-romance, all-time-favorite-romantic-reads, e-book, nance-rr-2012-challenge, romance, books-read-2012

I’m finding that the young adult bookswritten today are not just for teens, but also for adults. This novel, written by Jamie McGuire, was hot, and emotional, and physical, but most of all, riveting. Abby Abernathy meets Travis Maddox during one of his many underground hidden fight meccas. With swarms of college kids betting on his elicit fistfights, he comes to her rescue as the fight gets out of hand. Cousin to her bestfriend’s boyfriend, Travis radiates smokin’ badboy with his colorful tattoo I’m finding that the young adult bookswritten today are not just for teens, but also for adults. This novel, written by Jamie McGuire, was hot, and emotional, and physical, but most of all, riveting. Abby Abernathy meets Travis Maddox during one of his many underground hidden fight meccas. With swarms of college kids betting on his elicit fistfights, he comes to her rescue as the fight gets out of hand. Cousin to her bestfriend’s boyfriend, Travis radiates smokin’ badboy with his colorful tattoos and lean muscled physique. All the girls love him, and what’s not to love? He’s gorgeous! He rides a Harley! And, underneath all that pulsating testosterone, he’s smart too! They become best friends – helping each other with homework, studying for tests, and supporting each other’s decisions. Through time they are inseparable, but with him parading his numerous girlfriend wannabes around, and with her seeing one of Travis’s fraternity brothers, the feeling of jealousy invades both consciences. It all comes full circle when the two make a bet that Travis has the pleasure of winning. Will they take their relationship to the next level of intense intimacy or will they remain just bestfriends forever? This is a deeply moving page-turner with compassionate characters that came from very different upbringings. The character of Travis was sometimes a real jerk with his cocky attitude and childish outbursts, but he was so confident and protective of everything and everyone that was important to him. While Abby was uuummm.......I don’t know what to think about Abby. She sometimes came off as a little too good for everyone else, and she did lead Travis on at times, but that just seemed to go hand-and-hand with the background that she came from. She was very guarded and didn’t want anyone to know where she came from or who her father was. I really enjoyed this novel from author Jamie McGuire, and I am looking forward to reading the story from Travis’s point-of-view...Walking Disaster...when it’s released in 2013! ...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Laura rated it it was amazing

There aren't the right words to describe the way this book made me feel. I was a complete mess while I read it, feeling each and every screwed up emotion along with the characters. I was grumpy one second and elated the next... what an amazing power Jamie McGuire has to evoke such visceral emotions in her readers.

One word-AWESOME!!! ...more

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Jun 19, 2011 Rebecca Rogers rated it liked it

Shelves: indie-or-small-press, romance, contemporary, own, new-adult

I kept hearing a lot of hype about this book, and I kept telling myself I needed to read it. Although it wasn’t as fantastic as everyone made it out to be, it was still entertaining.

Abby is a pretty conservative girl, so it’s interesting to see the book open up with her at one of Travis’s fights. Abby’s roommate/best friend is dating Travis’s roommate/cousin, which is convenient for Abby and Travis to see each other on a regular basis. When Abby and Travis make a bet, and Abby loses, she has to ...more

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Jan 05, 2012 Atmika Singh rated it really liked it

Shelves: wish-he-was-real, favorite, chick-lit, light-summer-read, romance-love, young-adult, love-bad-boys, rock-star-bad-boy, swoon-worthy-hero, contemporary

Things I liked....
Once I started reading the book I just couldn't put it down. The book is not perfect...not even close but still the book has been written pretty well. The story made me feel all warm and giddy, made me smile and that's all you need sometimes.

When you read it don't over-think everything, it won't get you anywhere. The book is not meant to be taken seriously(I'm hoping). After all romance novels are supposed to be an escape from reality. Right?
Travis is hot, there are problems ...more

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Jul 21, 2012 Jennifer Howell / Late Bloomer Online rated it really liked it

I love it when people ask on their facebook status what people are reading. I get SO many book recommendations from those status updates, and one book that I kept seeing pop up was Beautiful Disaster, so I figured it was past time to see what all the talk was about. I have read the book twice now and it was amazing each time.

Abby goes out one night with her best friend America and America's boyfriend Shepley. They end up going to the underground college fight club where the undefeated Travis Ma I love it when people ask on their facebook status what people are reading. I get SO many book recommendations from those status updates, and one book that I kept seeing pop up was Beautiful Disaster, so I figured it was past time to see what all the talk was about. I have read the book twice now and it was amazing each time.

Abby goes out one night with her best friend America and America's boyfriend Shepley. They end up going to the underground college fight club where the undefeated Travis Maddox takes on his next opponent. Completely covered in blood after Travis bashes in his opponent's nose, Abby gets her first face to face with Travis. After some pretty comical interactions the two soon become the best of friends and it is obvious to anyone but Abby that Travis has more than just fuzzy friend feelings for his new bestie, even though it obviously takes Travis himself, a self confessed player, off guard.

Unfortunately for Travis, Abby is running from a past she hates and Travis who is a temper crazed, gambling, smoker who loves paying his bills by the fights he never loses, is the epitome of what Abby has left behind and refuses to get involved in again. She's been there, done that, and the last thing she wants is to be involved in that lifestyle again. However, sometimes our hearts have a mind of their own.

I loved everything about this book. Travis is sexy and sweet to Abby, he's the school player and doesn't apologize for it and Abby has rocked his world and instead of running from it he stumbles through trying to figure it out and you can't help but love him, mistakes and all. Abby is a strong character that keeps trying to deny the feelings she has for Travis and when her past catches up to them I hoped it wouldn't tear them apart, but bring them closer together.

I loved the supporting characters of America, Shepley and Finch. They are great additions to the story and I loved reading the interactions between all of them. America is the best friend everyone wants and needs. Shepley is protective of his relationship with America and is so afraid that Travis and his antics with her best friend Abby will end up ultimately coming between their relationship when Travis inevitably hurts Abby. Finch is a fun friend that brings comedic relief. I also LOVED meeting Travis' family. His brothers are so funny, his Dad supportive even though he has a troubled past relationship with him. Jamie writes them just how I would picture a family of five brothers and I even laughed when she would write one side of Travis' phone conversations with them.

I found this book to be completely addicting. Beautiful Disaster is the perfect title because that is exactly what the relationship between Abby and Travis is. It is sexy and sweet but also has its share of problems and sometimes it seemed they spent more time making each other miserable than happy. I was eagerly waiting to see how they would make their relationship more beautiful than disaster. This is a book you must add to your to-be-read list! A fast read, I was sad when it was over, so I was so thrilled when I read that the author is writing Walking Disaster which is this same book but all from Travis' point of view. I can't wait!

Heads up - The content is too mature, hot and sexy to be considered YA. ...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Monica Millard rated it liked it

Shelves: 2013-reads

I avoided this book for so long, because it was sooooooo hyped, but I finally gave in when BN had it on sale. I'm am easily suckered by the cheap first book to get me to buy the regular priced second. :P

I have mixed feelings about this book. It is just a story and because of that fact I can enjoy it as such. After reading it, there are quite a few 1 star reviews because of Travis' character being "violent, obsessive, co-dependent..." and on and on. But again, it's a story and based on the way th ...more

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May 28, 2012 Suz rated it liked it

It was an easy but interesting young adult love story. It was probably about 40 or 50 pages too long as written, and could have stayed at the number of pages if we would have been able to get a little more into the minds of the characters. I really like Trav's brothers and the Thanksgiving visit. I needed a little more hate for her idiot Father and a little more 'I can't live without you' love from Pidge. ...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Stephanie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle-ebook-i-own, covers-i-love

"The only thing I'm afraid of is a life without you."

This book was so good! Travis and Abby are something else! You can't help but love them both. When reading you never know what is going to happen next. You may think you know, but Jaime has a way of sneaking things up on you!

There were times that I was mad at Travis or Abby, but that's what made me like the book even more. They both aren't perfect and they are likable. The one scene towards the end (don't wanna give anything away, so I won't ...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Betsy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, favorites, contemporary-romance, new-adult

This a great contemporary romance with believable characters. Both Abby and Travis are very likeable characters and the author writes them very authentically. It is a quick read, I couldn't put it down actually. It is set at a college and it really brings you back there as you read. I particularly enjoyed that Abby is strong, determined and has a mind of her own, which is missing in my young adult books. This book claims it is young adult romance, but it pretty adult in both its theme and sexual ...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Melissa Brown rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites-shelf

Such a talented writer....great story, at times very intense, other times laugh out loud funny. Would love to see what is next for Abby and Travis!

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Apr 18, 2012 Jennifer rated it liked it

Shelves: new-adult, books-everyone-loved-but-me, college

It was hard for me to rate this book. I really wanted to love this book. It was definitely a 5 star book until the halfway point. It seemed like the characters morphed into different people after that and I was reading a different story. All in all I still think its worth the read.

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Sep 01, 2011 KarenH rated it it was amazing

Shelves: excellent-love-story, feisty-heroine, love-at-first-sight, audiobook, audiobook-5-stars-plus, narrator-extraordinaire, keepers, definitely-worth-your-while, sexy-with-a-capital-s-hero, heart-wrenching

Fell in love with Travis Maddox all over again. Great audiobook!

Travis ...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Darcie rated it really liked it

What a good book!! I got so into this book I had a hard time putting it down. The characters are very relatable and the situations make you really feel for them!

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