Alpha (noun): 1) Having the highest rank in a dominance hierarchy 2) The most powerful man in a group3) Liam BlackHe was a stranger to me, a dark and dangerous presence who materialized from the shadows one rainy night to save me from a vicious attack. I didn’t know his name or where he was from. All I knew was that the only place I’d ever felt safe was in his arms. But safety is an illusion. And …
But safety is an illusion.
And not every savior is a hero.
And—as I’d soon find out—having an alpha save your life comes with a price.
Liam Black wanted something from me in return.
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5 stars
Holy wow, this book was FIRE. I read the entire thing in under a day and even though I lost a ton of sleep and was a zombie at work today, my only regret is that it’s not longer!
I can’t tell you much about this book because I don’t want to give anything away (trust me, it NEEDS to be experienced! Liam Black is a toe-curling dichotomy and like Tru, I was powerless against him. Tru was amazing. I loved all her southern charm and equally loved her sharp tongue. She was a perfect match for the Wolf. He was shrouded in darkness and she was his light.
Buckets of emotions near the end on this one and now, I am on my knees begging for a story about the other men in Liam’s circle. Please, J. T., pretty please! Beautifully Cruel was perfection from cover to cover!
AnnMarie – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
Beautifully Cruel by J.T. Geissinger is Truvy (Tru) Sullivan and Liam Black’s story.
It’s a sizzling, intense read that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The heroine is working in a diner and going to law school, finishing her law degree. It’s at the diner where she’s attracted the attention of “The Wolf”…an older male customer who saved her life one night from being killed. He wants to act on the attraction but for reasons , doesn’t /can’t.
There are twists and turns to the story. It’s a hot, sizzling, intense, twisted, gripping, dark romance read that keeps you on the edge. I liked Tru. She is a sassy, sweet, hardworking, and beautiful woman while Liam is a mysterious, alpha, intense, tattooed hunk. The two characters have a great connection and chemistry together. The plot comes together, the story moves at a good pace and I enjoyed the reading pleasure that this story gives.
My Rating: 4.5 stars *********
I went into Beautifully Cruel expecting a suspense-filled romance and was surprised to find it was so much more! This love story starts off after a shocking event, giving us a preview of what to expect leading up to the very HEA ending. The main characters were both amazing; Truvy provided much needed comic relief from what could have been a darker, angsty story while Liam was a delicious and dangerous enigma with a heartbreaking past that made him the man he was today.
I could be a little biased; I’m a sucker for anything featuring a dangerous, handsome Irishman, picturing Collin Ferrell as Liam, but I know that’s not it. This incredible story pulled me in and held me on the edge of my seat all the way to the amazing end.
“She’s my match. The yang to my yin. The light to my darkness. She’s what I didn’t know I’d been missing all these years: a soft place to fall.”
Truvy Sullivan moved to Boston, from a small town in Texas, with her now ex-boyfriend to go to law school. Tru is about to graduate and is studying to take the bar exam, and still works nights at a small diner to help ends meet. She’s infatuated by a mysterious regular customer who comes in for coffee every now and then, who she’s nicknamed Wolf. She doesn’t know why but the quiet, older handsome man gives her a bit of a dangerous vibe.
“Now I understand how otherwise rational people can snap and commit violent acts. The human body wasn’t designed to contain so much emotion.”
Liam Black has been coming to the diner to have a cup of coffee while staring at Truvy for eleven months. He’s been content just to look at her, rarely speaking to the quiet and shy waitress, until one night she shocks him by talking to him. And later, after rescuing her from a vicious attack, he’s surprised to find out how mistaken he was; the little mouse is a lioness, one he’d like to devour.
“What am I?” “A man standing on top of a mountain of bones.” “It was either climb to the top or be one of the skeletons.”
When Truvy discovers who Liam really is, she’s intrigued, and a little bit wary. After Liam makes surprising decision things take an unexpected turn, taking a reluctant Truvy along for the ride. And what an adventure it turns out to be!
“What do you do when you have to decide between two impossible choices? Create a third.”
Get comfortable and expect to be surprised, you’re going to enjoy it immensely.
“Revenge is good medicine.”
This book was totally amazing, once you start you can not put it down. Black is now my favorite color. It was so intense Tru stood her ground with Liam. Then to find out Killian was his twin brother. I loved it when the Judge was arrested. So many twists and turns in this book that’s why it’s so good. Absolutely loved it. Thank you J.T. Geissinger. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to sit on the edge of their chairs the whole time reading.
Beautifully Cruel by J. T. Geissinger is absolutely phenomenal!
I completely devoured this book and seriously didn’t want it to end.
I truly hope Geissinger will see it in her heart to give us more of Liam & Tru. Love them!!!
This is one book you will not want to put down.
“I don’t know what kind of women you’re used to, but my mother didn’t raise a worker her. She raised a queen.”
Yes indeed!!!
Such a strong heroine with an H to match!!!
5 Stars
#bookreview #arc2020
Beautifully Cruel by J.T. Geissinger
5 STARS
Beautifully Cruel is a brand new stand alone romance by J.T. Geissinger. It was my first read from this author and it was
I devoured this book, couldn’t put it down.
Liam & Tru were so togheter. The attraction & the chemistry between them was so .
I love a stalker story, and especially a story with a strong, smart and full of sass heroine.
She stud up to Liam. She was his perfect match.
Liam was protective, possessive & intense alpha.
This book really surprised me. I have to say that I was expecting to be a very dark/stalker story, but it was a little light for my taste. Don’t let the blurb fool you. I really loved this book. It was full of romance/rom-com/mystery/suspense, and definitely action
The writing was flawless, captivating and addictive. I will definitely read another book of this author.
Highly recommend it.
#marydbo
For the past year, a man has been coming into the diner Tru works at. The only communication they had was to order his food. She had no idea what to think of him. One night she is brutally attacked, and he comes to the rescue. After that she finally finds out who he is. They are from two different worlds, but their attraction is so strong it will be hard to stay away.
J.T. Geissinger did an amazing job with this dark romance. I was drawn in from the moment I started reading and did not want to put the book down. The chemistry between Liam and Tru was scorching! While we did not get to see first-hand (until later) how they met and all the times Liam came to see Tru at work, J.T. still setup the story perfectly. I did not feel like I missed out. One thing I love is when the writer does not give us the POV of the hero completely. I hate when we find out early on the guy is in love with the girl right away. While we did get Liam’s POV in this story, we do not see it all. It kept the suspense that I love. I have only read one other book by J.T. Geissinger but I enjoyed this book just as much as the other one.
I wrote this review based on an advance reading copy that the publisher sent me.
This has been a very exciting read. My heart has broken for Tru and what she has had to go through. Sometimes she has a great sense of humor. This book is not for the faint of heart with her a but it warms with the love she finds. J.T. Geissinger amaze me with her writing skills. All of her work is nothing short of amazing and this book fits right in. There’s some violence, sexual situations and action and the pace was fast the closer you get to the end. I really enjoyed this story but the ending was a little rushed for me.
This story is about Tru, a law student who works at a diner to pay her bills. For the last eleven months, a mysterious stranger has been frequenting the diner, and she’s not quite sure what to make of him. He’s trouble and the kind that she might be okay with. It’s not until Tru finds herself in a situation where the sexy stranger starts revealing more about his life and he is more complicated than Tru could’ve ever bargained for. Liam was pretty is dark, Irish, and mysterious. Liam is dangerous, controlling, and powerful, but he was never mean to her.
“The attraction between us feels like that: irresistible as a gravitational force. We’re two planets in motion held together by something much larger than our individual parts. Something fundamental and undeniable. Something I sense will be incredibly destructive for us both.”
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of this amazing author, but THIS is her best book, ever. That blurb was ambiguous, but I that was what intrigued me. I’ve been in such a book slump lately, and now I’m in an even worse one because HOLY CRAP, this book is so fucking amazing.
From the very first page, I was immediately enamoured by this book. Tru is our badass, fierce, empowering (and did I mention badass?) heroine who is in her last year of law school while working at a diner to pay the bills. For the last eleven months, a man in black that she has dubbed the “wolf” has come in and sits only in her section, and she can’t help but feel drawn to him. He is so magnetic, that even I as a reader felt connected to him! They have some incredible banter between the two of them, and one night when Tru is attacked (and fights off her attackers like the badass she is) she is rescued by her wolf. From there they start an intense, passionate, all consuming love that is absolutely EVERYTHING.
Liam is the epitome of an alpha male. He exudes power, and even his silence is purposeful. I love how such an intense man is no match for the sweet but sassy southern girl who is his equal in every way. I don’t want to give anything about him away, since there are so many twists and you need to go in blind for this book, but just know that he will own your heart and soul! I haven’t loved a book like this in such a long time, and just know that this is definitely a must read!
What I really loved about Liam and Tru’s relationship was how much they kept surprising each other. Their relationship was definitely unconventional but it was so *them.* I can’t express just how much I loved this book!
Tru is by far my favorite heroine, ever. She has the biggest heart, and is so sweet, but you better believe that she was no pushover. She busted Liam’s balls in the most glorious of ways, and I was all here for it!!
And let’s talk about those hot AT sex scenes — guys, it was everything you could want: deliciously dirty, emotional, sweet, powerful and totally swoon worthy. Liam was truly a wolf in every way.
I can’t recommend this book enough! It’s definitely one of the best books of the year!
I so hope we get more of Killian, too!! I’m so fascinated by him!
And here’s one of my favorite quotes that we can all love and appreciate:
“Goddamn bossy men. I should start a women’s group for survivors of alpha males. There are probably millions of us worldwide, nursing bruised hopes, hearts, and uteruses.”
See what I mean? That alone is enough to one click!! Please go read this book immediately!
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions!*
Phenomenal!
WOW! This story was everything! It’s witty, intense, funny and very sexy. The chemistry between Tru and Liam is so intense and hot that it oozes off the pages and lit my kindle on fire! These two had me laughing out loud and falling head over heels in love with them.
Tru made me laugh so hard I was snorting. She’s sexy, smart, very funny and utterly fierce. This girl was raised by a fierce independent woman and she doesn’t let anything get in her way!
“l don’t know what kind of woman you’re used to, but my mother didn’t raise a worker bee. She raised a queen… And I don’t give away the honey for free.”
Liam is the ultimate sexy alpha male. He’s mysterious, broody and intense. Liam can set anyone’s panties on fire just with his smoulder! Just reading about him made me a gooey puddle! Together Liam and Tru have an undeniably intense connection. Their sexual chemistry is sizzling hot and highly combustible!
This story will captivate and entertain you from the very beginning and keep you completely enthralled until the very end. It’s exciting and suspenseful and will keep you on the edge of your seat with all of the surprises and little twists and turns throughout. The ending will literally blow your mind!
Phenomenal! Highly recommend.
Another epic novel by JT! Although I loved both the main characters in this book, I found it difficult to get invested in the story at first. Could’ve been due to the COVID-19 home lockdown making me moody and impatient or possibly because I could identify with Truvy a bit too much and couldn’t really see how a younger version of myself could be so mature and decisive. Whatever my problem was had nothing to do the story. It was/is well written and easy to read with great love scenes. By the second half, I really couldn’t put it down. It was so compelling…especially after the twist. Normally, I see the twists coming, but I missed this one by a long shot. So, I recommend this book to everyone who loves romance stories and if you are like me and have a hard time getting into the book at first, stick it out and you will be VERY happy you did!
Beautifully Cruel is a brand new standalone romance that’ll get you hooked right from the start!!
The story is masterfully crafted. The characters likeable and believable, including secondary ones. However, one of my favorite things about this story, is seen a strong, smart, brave, and resourceful female characters that doesn’t get intimidated so easily, and fights for what she wants.
This was an amazing story, and I can not get enough of the magnificent Liam Black. So, I won’t go into detail because this is a story worth reading from start to end. Give it a try, you won’t regreat it!!
This was an entertaining read and while there weren’t too many surprises, the story kept my interest right up to the end. Tru is a waitress studying for the bar exam in Boston. For the past eleven months, a handsome and somewhat unnerving stranger has been coming in intermittently to the diner where she works. He doesn’t speak or smile but always sits in Tru’s section, watches her and then leaves after only ordering coffee. When she is attacked one night, Tru’s life changes forever. She’s caught up in Liam’s world and when he won’t take no for an answer and moves her into his penthouse for twenty-eight days, they both go tumbling down the rabbit hole of feelings with each other.
Liam was pretty delicious – dark, Irish and mysterious. I like that he was adorably open about how he was feeling and was pretty gone for Tru. In fact, I found it a bit confusing that the book title was Beautifully Cruel because I didn’t really find him nasty. Dangerous, controlling and powerful, yes, but he was never mean to her. I also liked Tru as she wasn’t a pushover, although at times her self-admitted introvert ways had her babbling a bit and reading too much into social situations. There was a fifteen year age gap between Liam and Tru so if that’s your thing, you’ll find it here. As for the secondary characters, there’s the zany roommate that’s on-again-off-again with her boyfriend and Tru’s fellow workers, one of which has a crush on her.
Liam offers Tru a deal: to stay with him for twenty-eight days, after which they’ll part ways. But of course, things are never that simple. The book has a few chapters from Liam’s point of view, but it’s mostly told from Tru’s perspective. A lot of the themes in the book (Irish mafia, dark, worldly, rich and big bad Hero with somewhat awkward but sweet heroine, a contract of mutual convenience that couldn’t possibly come to an end) have been done before and some elements were a tiny bit repetitive, but it was still an easy and entertaining read.
If you’re a fan of this author you’ve probably come across Killian from the Dangerous series. He made a cameo here, I’m glad to say, and he is still edible. We get to find out a bit more about him and his background so I’m really hoping that his book is coming soon. The story was a little over the top in parts, which is to be expected considering the themes, so the wrap up was a teensy bit cheesy, but in a good way that gave the reader closure. Overall, it was another solid read that I always get from this author
5 STARS
Review by Leah
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
My mind is blown. The end. This is the end of my review. HA! JT Geissinger this book, Beautifully Cruel, is fantastic. You have completely blown my brain.
Future reader go back and read the blurb for this book again and look at the cover. I mean, YUM! Book sounds good, right? I mean it sounds like something I would read. A little on the dark side of the spectrum but I am all for the darker side. We have a dark, broody, bossy, mysterious man along with a feisty as heck Southern Woman. Yes, I capitalized Southern Woman because if you have met one you understand where I am coming from.
So you start off reading and this book has a great flow. The chemistry between Liam and Truvy is spot on. And I absolutely love the banter between them. The push and pull between Mr. Liam Black who is used to getting exactly what he wants vs that one person that will tell him no and then laugh while she is doing it. Truvy made this southern woman proud throughout this book. The things that came out of her mouth had me busting. Truvy, you and I need to go have drinks one night.
So let’s get back, we are on this delicious ride of Liam and Truvy that JT Gessinger has us on and then you notice a tunnel ahead and you have no clue what is at the end of this tunnel, you are a little worried, but…
Are you freaking kidding me! Where is the emoji where I am pushing all my money out of my hand towards someone? All I can say to you is you will be praying there will be more books to this series. Please let there be more. No, don’t freak out, no cliffy. You will just need more.
So, can I have Killian’s story now? I need to go reread this book.
The perfect equation sexy bad boy, wholesome female add lots of chemistry and you have an explosion of hot sexy encounters just the right amount banter and you have a hot sexy book that you just can’t put down. This book is an The You won’t be disappointed by this story at all and you may find yourself wishing that you were Tru and that you had your very own wolf.
One of the things I loved about this book and all of JT’s works is that I am all in from the beginning. There is no warm up to the character and I can see myself in many of the same situations. It feels real and not just a made-up story. I promise you won’t be disappointed by the book but you may be saddened because you want more and hope that there will be more even though it’s a standalone.
All I can tell you is that you will be glad you decided to read this book and you will definitely want to go check out a few of the other bad boys GT writes about
J.T. Geissinger writes action-packed romantic suspense with strong heroines and intense heroes. I was excited to start reading Beautifully Cruel, and it did not disappoint.
Liam and Tru were great characters. I loved that she would stand up to him, their pretty instant connection, and the strong emotional bond that they formed. You really get to know and love both Liam and Tru as the story unfolds.
The writing is, as always with J.T.’s books, fabulous. I don’t want to say too much about the plot and give things away, but it was hard to put down and I really enjoyed reading it.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
Exciting and suspenseful new standalone romance, that was totally enthralling from beginning to end. by this new to me author.
This is my first read by this new and I’m a fan.
Well paced and great characters, this story took me on this sexy, darkish journey that I had no idea how it was going to unfold.
Truvy is working her way through law school by waitressing in a local diner. A gorgeous mysterious stranger begins to visit the diner and when something happens and he makes her an offer he can’t refuse….well she found her life taking a whole new meaning.
What happens?
Read and find out!
4.5 stars!
I did not see that coming! A mafia story with a dark, sexy Irishman, and a huge twist.
He can’t seem to stay away from the shy beauty in the diner. He’s a dangerous man with a reputation, but she has no idea who he is. She just knows that he is sexy, dark, and quiet. Liam Black has been showing up at Buddy’s Diner for eleven months now, sitting in Truvy “Tru” Sullivan’s section each time and only having coffee. He can’t seem to stay away from her even though he knows that it’s dangerous if he doesn’t. After saving her life and making sure that she is taken care of, he thinks of a way to have her and the let her go so that he doesn’t break her or put her in more danger.
Tru moved to Boston with her boyfriend at the time, who decided that she wasn’t enough for him. When Tru found out that he was cheating on her, she took matters into her own hands and dealt her form of revenge. Tru is going to school to become a lawyer. She’s not looking to become rich and famous defending high-profile cases. She has her reasons for the path she chose, and she is surprised to find that Liam has his own way of dealing justice. These two weren’t meant for each other, their age difference means nothing. They have so much in common and fit perfectly together.
I loved this story the characters are great, and the story was so much more than what I was expecting. Liam Black is older than Tru, but he can’t seem to stay away from her. Tru is from Texas and has no idea who Liam is or what he does. She knows that he is dangerous, but she is not afraid of him. She is surprised to see people’s reactions when they hear his name. Everyone shows fear. Tru feels safe with him and she is not afraid of him. She is not afraid to stand up to him or his men either. I give this story a 5-star review and highly recommend it to readers who enjoy mafia romance, women who are strong and smart, surprises, and stories will stay with you long after you have finished it.
Given the opportunity to read the ARC of J.T. Geissinger’s newest release “Beautifully Cruel,” I am excited to share if you are already a fan of hers you will not be disappointed when you dive in this piece of excitement. If you haven’t read any of her books before this is a great one to get you started and leaving you wanting to read more of her other books, so make sure you’ve got time because you aren’t going to want to put this one down. “Beautifully Cruel” brings you a strong woman that has just happened to catch the eye of one killer guy…(wink) Tru unknowingly escalates Liam’s interest in her despite her very akward attempt at an introduction after tiring of his silent treatment since she first saw him sitting in her booth nearly a year prior and every visit there after that she has brought him a coffee. This interaction sets the ball a rolling and you quickly realize Liam’s Achilles’ heel and for a man like him it is something he can’t afford and something he thinks he can fix. Quickly challenged by Tru who wants no part of this type of adventure. But how does one say “No,” to a man like him. Let J.T. take you on the journey of the ways. To the readers who are familiar with J.T.’s other recent releases you’ll be surprised to learn who Liam is related to!! Left me shaking my finger at J.T. saying “Oh, No you didn’t just tease me with this! 🙂