Locked in with the town bad boy . . .Most women would be scared, but Gabriella’s only worried about resisting Cruz Walsh, who’s even hotter than he was back in high school. Cruz was wrongly accused of the high-profile crime for which he was imprisoned; Gabriella’s desperate for the scoop that will get her career off the ground and get her out of Sweet Hill, where everyone still remembers her as … remembers her as “Flabby Gabby.” Being stuck in a supply closet with Cruz is the perfect opportunity to land an interview. What Bri doesn’t count on is Cruz taking “up-close and personal” to a whole new level.
If there’s a silver lining to the hell Cruz went through, it’s that losing his freedom put everything in perspective. Maybe starting over someplace new would be easier, but after years locked up, Cruz values his family—and his true friends—more than ever. So he’s back home, facing the gossip, dodging reporters . . . and face-to-face with Gabriella Rossi. They’ve both changed: Bri wants a story and Cruz just wants her. Another thing he’s learned? Don’t let a good thing slip away.
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Cruz, the hero, is so incredibly strong while also being remarkably sweet, a family guy, and exactly what Gabby needed. After spending 7 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, he deserves a happy ever after!
The Beautiful Sinner was my first read from Sophie Jordan and I really enjoyed this one! Originally I thought this was a second chance, but Gabriella and Cruz never had the chance back in high school to pursue any type of relationship despite the crushes that they had on one another.
What really drew me into this story was the synopsis and I had so many questions dealing with Cruz’s false accusation of murder. And once we learned the truth it was glossed over quicker than I thought would be. But the truth showed a side of Cruz that not many would see, he would do absolutely anything for his family. ANYTHING.
Gabriella didn’t have an easy time during high school and I absolutely hated everything that she had to endure from her peers. They were the absolute worst and she was still dealing with it in adulthood. They were definitely a few people that needed to be Spartan kicked for the way they constantly talked down to Gabriella. She’s just a genuine human being that deserved none of the BS that people constantly spewed on her.
I was hoping for a bit more on the romance side of things, more like rather begging for more. I absolutely loved Gabriella and Cruz together. And I loved that she started to stand up for herself and didn’t pay much attention to what people constantly said about her. I adored the way Cruz treated Gabriella.
Beautiful Sinner left a great first impression from this author and I can’t wait to dive into the rest of this series!
Major thank you to AVON BOOKS for the advanced reader copy!Sophie Jordan
This is a well-written, entertaining, steamy, contemporary romance. It has likable, engaging characters, wit, humor, a smoking hot, heart warming romance and a happily ever after ending. It is an excellent addition to Ms. Jordan’s outstanding Devil’s Rock series, and it is best read after reading “Beautiful Lawman”.
Favorite Quotes
“Shouldn’t you be avoiding me? I’m the press, after all.” She stopped before him. His knees were close. Just inches from her.
“I’m not that worried. What we’re going to do doesn’t involve a lot of talking. At least not the kind of words you can put in print. Pretty sure the censors wouldn’t allow that.”
…
“So you have to realize that I’m going to ruin you for any other man. When we fuck, Rossi, it’s going to feel like the thing you need most in your life. Forget about food and water. Me. Between your legs. You’re going to need it like air to survive. It will never be as good with anyone else.”
The Story
Beautiful Sinner can be read as a standalone book, but I’d recommend reading Beautiful Lawman which follows Piper, the hero’s younger sister. If you ever plan of reading Piper’s story, I do believe Beautiful Sinner does spoil her story a bit. For seven years Cruz went to prison for a crime he never committed to protect his sister. When the real criminal confesses he is exonerate and remains in town despite everyone being so wary of him. He somehow gets stuck in the janitors closet with Gabby who had a major crush on him in high school and who shared a secret kiss with him years ago. Cruz never knew who kissed him years ago, but once he finds out it was Gabby, he isn’t letting her go even if she is the related to the woman he confessed to killing seven years ago.
From the Bibliophile
This is the first ever book I requested from a publisher when I started blogging. Why? Because I’m a huge fan of the Devil’s Rock series by Sophie Jordan. It’s a hot and sexy small town series with men who’ve been incarcerated. And Beautiful Sinner didn’t disappoint me. Cruz was as hot and male as I expected him to be. Once he figured out that Gabby was the mysterious girl who kissed him in high school, he pursues her relentlessly even though she is reluctant.
Gabby has always had self esteem issues. She was made fun of in high school and always wanted to get away from her small town. She moved to be a reporter in Austin but her career never took off like she thought it would so she returns home to take care of her grandmother. Her insecurities came off as real and believable. She took steps to overcome them but being surrounded by people who knew the insecure girl she was made it harder for her stand up for herself. I liked her growth throughout the book, coming to terms of who she was and learned to face her old fears and not runaway anymore.
There wasn’t much plot outside of the romance or much to do with Gabby’s job and needing to interview Cruz for the newspaper she works at. This wasn’t a problem to me since it gave Gabby and Cruz plenty of steamy time together
Thank you Avon Romance for providing me with a review copy. In no way does this influences my review.
Recommends To
Beautiful Sinner is great for fans of the Devil’s Rock series but also new readers. It can be read as a standalone. This is great if you’re in the mood for a sensual read and bad boy, misunderstood hero from the wrong sides of the tracks who chases after the heroine.
First time author for me and I’ll definitely be reading more of her books, especially this series. Hale is one hot alpha male. He’s got a dirty mouth and will make you really want to be in that scene. Piper is from the wrong side of the tracks, trying to take care of her teenage sister while her brother is in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Piper’s a strong heroine, especially for being only 25. I loved the push and pull between the two of them. Thankfully it wasn’t overdone. Hale becomes so possessive but he doesn’t push it because he wants to hold on to Piper. Will probably read this one again in the future.
Beautiful Sinner by Sophie Jordan is book 5 in the Devil’s Rock series. This is the story of Cruz Walsh and Gabriella Rossi. I haven’t yet read the previous books, so for me this was a standalone book.
Cruz is fresh out of prison for a crime he did not commit. Looking to regain his family and friends he stays in the small town. Gabriella didn’t have the best childhood because of teasing she had taken that still makes it hard to move past it even in the present. Gabriella ends up getting closed up in a closet with Cruz where sparks. Gabriella always had a crush on Cruz but nothing came of it. Now though he is drawing her in again but she is a journalist looking for a story too that might help her career. Cruz knows the lost of time, so he knows time is something not to waste. Cruz had felt a connection to Gabriella back in the day that is much stronger now.
For me this was a page turner. I enjoyed reading how their story played out…makes me want to read the other books that I somehow missed.
This book!!!!
I knew Cruz’s story was going to be special, I just never imagined it would be this special! From the high school unrequited/requited love to the forced proximity to Gabriella finding herself to Cruz feeling worthy to learning to forgive and accept your family, every moment of this story was rich with emotion and depth. I fell in love with Sophie Jordan’s historicals and then her New Adult Series but the Devil’s Rock Series, and especially Beautiful Sinner, is her on a whole other level! Normally I end my reviews for series’ books by saying, “I can’t wait for the next one,” but Beautiful Sinner was so damn satisfying, after steaming things up and then ripping my heart out, that I don’t even need another book in the series!
Although, please feel free to keep giving us more of this fabulous series, Sophie!
If Sophie writes it, I read it. Uber steamy and a total page turner. I highly recommend
The last place Gabriella Rossi wants to be is in Sweet Hill, but when she learns that her grandmother needs help after surgery she knows she will have to get over her issues with the little town, and make a visit. Being in town brings up all the bad memories that she ran from, the hurtful nicknames, and the constant teasing from classmates. But there is one bright spot from her high school years… Cruz Walsh. From the moment her eyes landed on him a major crush took hold, but he was the boy from the wrong side of the tracks and she was “Flabby Gabby,” the chubby girl no one wanted.
Cruz Walsh has returned to Sweet Hill with many reservations, he has just spent the last seven years of his life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, and he is sure there is going to be a whole host of drama waiting for him. Not to mention that there are still some people in town who aren’t completely convinced of his innocence. His family welcomes him home with open arms, and he is determined to change the views of the folks in town, by showing them that he is a good man, one that can be trusted. What he doesn’t expect to find in Sweet Hill is his crush from high school, Gabby Rossi is back in town, and this time he doesn’t plan on letting her slip away…
Between the pages of this captivating book you will find a heartfelt and uber steamy tale that is certain to leave you thoroughly satisfied! These two wounded souls, who just so happened to crush on one another back in the day, are summoned back to the place where it all started. But this time things will be different, Cruz wants his girl, and he will go to great lengths to win her heart… and he goes above and beyond!! This was my first visit to the series, and I am happy to report this little reunion did not disappoint… it was HOT!!! Highly recommend you get your hands on this one, these two will keep you flying through the pages and smiling throughout!
I requested an advanced copy of this title, via Edelweiss, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
Wow! I flew through this book. It’s that engaging. I’m sick with cold and flu when I began reading this, and I actually feel better right now.
I grin as I think of how I want to describe Beautiful Sinner: dirty but sweet. Cruz, with his dirty talk, increased my fever in a good way. The sexytimes are . Gabriella, sweet Bri, blossomed with his love. She accepted who she is and found her place in her hometown.
These two had so much going against them. He’s the ex-con who was exonerated from the charge of murdering her cousin, but who continues to be a pariah in their small town. She’s the girl bullied in high school who wants to leave if not for her grandmother, and eventually, Cruz. Their attraction is mutual and has been so for half their lives.
This book is rich with plot lines that advance the story to its satisfying ending. The involvement of family is strong and necessary to the development of Cruz and Gabriella’s romance.
I really love this series. Sophie, please continue writing these because they’re really good. Not only good, but healing, too.