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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5/5 stars
I absolutely loved Liam and Tru’s dark and steamy romance!
Pacing & Points of View
I read this one lightning fast and all in one day. The point of view is primarily in Tru’s voice, but there are a few chapters from Liam’s perspective which I really enjoyed.
Characters
I loved Tru so much. She seems shy at first, but when her back is against a wall her claws come out! Her babbling when nervous was completely endearing and hilarious as well. I might have identified with that part of her personality a bit too much and loved her more for it. Liam was everything you want in a dark, sexy alpha male character. I really appreciated the strongly developed back stories for both characters. It allowed you to understand them and like them even more. Also, this romance was more an instant attraction than insta-love story. However, there was plenty of chemistry and steamy scenes between the two characters throughout the novel.
Overall
Overall, I loved this darker alpha romance, more similar to the Wicked Games series. I also loved the added twists and character cameos at the end! I just know I’ll re-read this one in the future. Hopefully, I will also see more like it!
*Thank you so much to the author for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Beautifully Cruel is the newest standalone romance by J.T. Geissinger and a “mysterious”, fan-favorite character from the Dangerous Beauty series does make an appearance. I’m giddy with excitement knowing his story is next!!!
This story was amazing and kept me on the edge of my seat. Steamy, romantic, and oh so good. What an ending! I certainly didn’t see that coming.
A New kind of dark romance that is not so dark. Can we say Stockholm syndrome? Well maybe a teeny tiny bit. Why? Well because in this story our characters fight what their brains say they should do instead of what their hearts say. A chemistry that is hard to fight and a relationship they do fight is what this magnificent story is about. Liam and Truvy a truly inspiring in their tango for love. Passion, danger and secrecy are rulers in their lives but a life they fight to have and that is the most important part of their romance.
Looking for intrigue, passion, steam so hot it burns and most importantly love/ this book ticks all of them!
If you love a story about bad boys then you will love this one. Liam Black is the baddest of the bad, that’s until he is brought to his knees by Tru the sassy take no s*** waitress at Buddy’s diner.
Tru is intrigued by this mysterious stranger in black who has been coming into the diner for eleven months just for coffee. She has named him Wolf because he reminds her of a dangerous animal, and though he never speaks to her he spends the whole time staring at her.
One night she feels brave enough to talk to him though she doesn’t get much in the way of answers but every one he gives her seems to have an underlying warning for her to stay away from him. Despite that, he comes to her rescue the next night when she is jumped by three men outside the diner and he kills all three without blinking an eye.
This is the start of the arrangement between Tru and her big bad Wolf where he wants her to stay with him at his home for a month at the end of which it will be all over for them and they go back to their normal lives.
Whew, hot and steamy!!! love scenes, and so much mystery and intrigue as Tru finds out how dangerous the man she is rapidly falling in love with really is but even so she wants a future with him. Liam has put his “business” on hold to indulge himself with Tru, but will he be able to go back to the cold, hard man he was before, once their arrangement is ended or has she changed his life?
As always with Ms Geissinger’s books this one grabbed my attention from the beginning and didn’t let me go until the end, and I could have read so much more! Ms Gessinger is becoming the master (or mistress?) of writing stories with a seismic twist in the tale that you never see coming and she definitely does not disappoint with this ending.
Brilliantly written characters, and an intriguing storyline, what else can I say except that it deserves way more than 5 stars and I am left wondering if we will see one of the characters have his own story in the future?
This is a suspenseful and steamy dark mafia romance.
Truvy Sullivan is smart, ambitious, hard-working, and sassy. She is going to school during the day to become a lawyer and waitressing at a diner at night to pay for college. A deliciously dark, mysterious, and sexy man with an air of danger comes into the diner regularly for about a year. Tru waits on him. He only ever orders coffee and watches her. She feels an unexplainable attraction to him but has never acted on it.
Liam was sexy, dark, broody, and intense. The mere mention of his name caused fear. He has been coming to the diner to watch Truvy. He doesn’t talk to her, he only watches. He knows if he acts on his desires, it could be very dangerous for her and that isn’t what he wants. You see, he is a kingpin in the mafia.
Truvy gets attacked one night and none other than her mystery man comes to her rescue. He insists that she move into his penthouse for the next 28 days so that he can protect her. With these close quarters, it is impossible to deny their attraction. Sizzling passion and sexy times ensue with a bit of witty banter and humor. Will they be able to go their separate ways once this is over?
I really enjoyed this book. It starts off a little slow but it is engaging and different than your average mafia romance with unexpected twists and turns. Truvy was my favorite with her smart mouth and unwillingness to take crap off of a big, bad mafia kingpin. Liam was sexy beyond words and dominant but with a soft and protective side when it came to Tru. Swoon! The plot was very well written. The only thing is the ending felt a little rushed but it didn’t take away from the overall story. If you love all of these things, I recommend reading this book!
****ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest review.****
I really enjoyed this book! I was captivated from the first page by the mysterious nameless man at the diner, “Wolfie” whom we later learn is named Liam, the “shy” waitress/law student, Truvy whom is full of feisty banter as time goes on. The way she interacts and talks with Liam is refreshing and had me chuckling at times and shaking my head at others. She was a force to be reckoned with and I really loved her! Liam was enigmatic, intense, exuding power but yet I couldn’t help thinking there was a hidden side that was not quite as he seemed. He was drawn to Tru in a way he couldn’t resist and their chemistry was off the charts when they finally got together. Loved their story!
If I just say wow is that enough of a review, because WOW!! I honestly hope that’s enough to get you to #oneclick immediately because I’m not saying anything else.
Okay, maybe one thing … I do not know who I’m in love with more, Liam or Tru. They both made me shiver in deliciously different ways. READ THE BOOK to find out why!
DO.IT.
4.5 Amazing stars
In Beautifully Cruel J.T. Geissinger takes us on a journey through the darker side of Boston.
True to her usual style, there are twists and turns that even the most skilled predictors won’t guess!
But worry not. The story of Liam and Truvy will capture your interest and take you on a journey that you won’t forget in a hurry.
AMAZING!!
By now I know that I’m going to devour everything that JT Geissinger writes. This book was very well written (expected but worth mentioning), especially because JT went through a lot of bad stuff this year.
The storyline was engaging (although it did not have as many twists as a couple of her other books) and well-executed. I finished the book in one sitting and I do not regret giving up my sleep last night. The book started out in a little place where Tru was working as a waitress while finishing her law degree. Liam was a ‘dark and dangerous wolf’ who saved her from being killed. It then continues with Liam wanting to stay away from Tru, because reasons, but being unable to. It is much better if you learn about these reasons while reading because it is part of an experience.
I really liked how it ended. Their chemistry was electric and I loved the banter between Liam and Tru.
“What’s wrong?”
“You should say no to me.”
I wrinkle my forehead and huff out a disbelieving laugh. “I don’t think those words have ever been spoken by a man before in the whole of human history.”
The best part about this book was Tru. I LOVED her. She was smart and fierce. Many authors portray their female leads as a little less stronger than the males. But I think Tru ruled in this one. She was bold and beautiful. She stood up to Liam when everyone else was afraid of him. She was honest, kind and also had a spine of steel. I want to be her when I grow up, and find my Liam of course.
“Liam.”
“Aye, lass.”
“Stop telling me what to do.”
And Liam.. I can say a lot of things about him. He has all the Alpha qualities. He was intense, protective, and expects all his commands to be obeyed. But what it really boils down to is his respect and admiration for Tru, which was evident in all his actions throughout the book. And this is what set him apart from a lot of other characters. He did not just overrule Tru’s feelings or requests because it would ‘be better for her’.
“I had it all under control,” he whispers, caressing my cheek. “But I never expected you.”
I also liked Declan, Liam’s right hand man. He was loyal and intriguing. I hope to see a book or novella about him.
“Declan.”
“Aye?”
“What do you do when you have to decide between two impossible choices?”
Our eyes meet in the mirror. He says, “Create a third.”
And we met Killian again!!!!! For those of you who don’t know, Killian is a character we met in the Dangerous Beauty Series by J.T. Geissinger If you haven’t, read this trilogy. It is thrilling. Now I am even more excited to get his book.
Overall, it was a great read and I definitely recommend it.
Absolutely loved this book! Liam was so swoonworthy. The ultimate bad boy. I’ll be doing a reread soon!
OMG! I love this book so much! JT set the bar so high with Perfect Strangers that I didn’t think she would blow my mind with this standalone, but she certainly did! This was dark and delicious, but had that bit of humor thrown in that I’ve come to expect from this author. Liam is one sexy hero and that’s all I’m going to say because I don’t want to ruin this read for anyone else. Just read it! And I loved everything about Tru’s character—she is the perfect match for her Wolf! Incredible, exciting read from one of my go-to authors. 5+ stars!
Just when I think J.T. Geissinger can’t possibly one up her last book, she totally does and WOW! What a great story! With her new stand-alone novel, we meet Truvy (Tru) who is doing her best to keep her head above water as a law student by day, and waitress by night. A mysterious stranger has been coming into the diner she works at for the last eleven months, only sitting in her section, and saying very little to anyone. Unable to stay away from this man she’s dubbed “The Wolf”, Tru, full of sass, forces a conversation with the devilishly handsome stranger, to the surprise of both of them. He retreats with a final goodbye, leaving her confused and disappointed.
After events unfurl, Liam Blank makes a reappearance unexpectedly in Tru’s world, leaving her questioning who this man is, and how he came to be her savior. The intensity and depth of these characters made for an amazing read, and one that I can’t stop thinking about. Do Liam and Tru become each other’s obsession? Who controls who in this wild ride? You have to read to find out!
Wow! Always expect the unexpected with JT Geissinger! A great wild ride! Some rom com, some mafia, sexy broody alpha Liam and sassy Tru. Expect to laugh and swoon. Definitely worth the read.
I enjoyed this a whole lot more than I expected to, truth be told.
The banter back and forth between Tru and Liam was 100% on point. And who doesn’t love a damaged, gruff, Irish bad boy who’s only soft for the sunshine made of steel girl who calls him on his nonsense??
Cause let me tell you, this is it.
Nailed it.
If you like brooding alpha males this book got you covered
If you like heroines who’ve had a tough start and have a backbone and don’t cower to no one then this book got you covered.
If you like sexual tension this book has you covered.
**I received an ARC of this from Social Butterfly PR on behalf of the author. I volunteered to leave an unbiased review.**
This beautiful, intricate and amazing story was unexpected like a bomb, but surprisingly delicious like a good dish of Italian.
‘Beautifully Cruel’ by J. T. Geissinger was a first read from this author to me, so basically I did not know what to expect. Falling in love with these characters and their antics from the very first chapter, was not it.
This might have been a first for me from J.T. Geissinger but it sure as h*ll won’t be the last.
This is a comical and yet intricate book full of banter, sarcasm, hot-as-sin, mysterious Irish men and quirky, beautiful and headstrong women.
This is honestly one of a kind book, one as unpredictable as it is incredible. I don’t think I ever figured out what was going to happen, what was going on with these characters, or what was the truth beneath it all, right until the last page. But all this just added to the intrigue and mystery of it all.
One thing I could clearly see, was the feelings these characters had, their conflicting emotions, the daily struggles they both had to go through, and how their actions affected each other and those around them.
Liam is as mysterious and as dark as they come. He is a self-assured, cocky, infuriating beast of a man.
He is incredibly handsome, suave, and charming as h*ll with his good looks, Irish accent, and indecent thoughts.
He is constantly at a war with himself, always closed up and cold, but beneath it all lives a vulnerable man who needs love as much as he needs air.
Liam Black gets what he wants, when he wants it, always, so he’s not used to having a woman say repeatedly no to him, or challenging him or knocking his ego down a peg or two.
Tru is a ballbuster of a woman, a little fearless firecracker, the epitome of a strong southern woman who can bring any man to his knees.
She is incredibly independent and stubborn, she is her own woman, her own hero, her own savior. She doesn’t need anyone to tell her what to do or what not to do, and if anyone even tried to, she puts them back in their place before they can even finish the sentence.
Tru is sarcastic and caring, brave, and fearless, a woman who looks the Devil in the eyes and smiles. She is not easily intimidated, especially not by a big bad Wolf and his goon squad.
Their relationship is both comical and infuriating but oh-so-steamy. They get on each other’s nerves in the best of ways, they challenge each other constantly and relentlessly, they understand each other in a way no one can and they trust each other no matter what.
This story is both tender and sweet as a soft marshmallow, but also fierce and powerful as a raging fire.
Liam and Tru were like two fallen angels who found each other after years of longing and recognized that their souls belonged together.
This book is a mixture of love and pain, a perfect balance between good and evil, an intriguing and entertaining love story that will steal your heart and gift you immense happiness and joy.
I honestly can’t explain how much I loved and enjoyed this book without being repetitive, but if you love a good and mysterious Alpha with more secrets than Area 51, a fierce and unstoppable Southern woman and a ton of hilarious and incredible interactions that will both shock you and tease you, then this is the book you’ve been looking for.
I loved everything about this book!!! A dark romance with twists that surprisingly had me also laughing quite often. It kept my attention right up to the last page. Geissinger is a new author to me, and this book has made me a fan for sure. I have already explored her back list and decided I need to read them all!
He’s been visiting the diner she waitresses at for almost a year. He’s been watching her and keeping his distance. She knows absolutely nothing about him, not even his name. He’s dark, mysterious, and dangerous, yet her attraction to him is still there. He knows he’s no good for her, but the attraction is just too strong. Given the chance to have something amazing for a short time and never have it again, or save yourself from unbearable heartache by never going down the road to begin with, what would you choose? Once Tru finds out who the mystery man is, this is exactly what she’s faced with. What will she choose and how will the two of them live with the decision she makes?
What an amazing book! I giggled throughout the book and so loved the intensity of tru and Liam! Talk about steam! It was just a wonderful read – from the first page to the perfect epilogue!
Truvy Sullivan. Brilliant Law student by day, diner waitress by night. Seeker of justice. Daughter to the world’s #1 Dolly Parton Fan. A good-hearted hard-working girl. Randomly over the last 11 months Truvy has been waiting on the man in the black suit. He is strong and mysterious like a wolf. In Truvy’s mind they have a connection. She knows that eventually it will be something. He is an enigma. He comes in at random times to have on cup of coffee and simple watch Truvy as she works her nighttime diner shift.
The man in the black suit is Liam Black. He is a completely alpha driven male. (He might be the most over the top driven Alpha male I have read recently.) He is the ruler of his world. He is an enigma. But there is something more there.
Typically, mafia Romances are not my thing. They often come off as controlling and predatory. But something about the description of this book pulled me in. I skeptically dove in not sure exactly what I would find. I tend to like a strong alpha male with a hard shell, but a super soft heart and I wasn’t sure Liam Black could be that guy. I thought he was going to be this totally tough alpha male who makes all bend to his whims. He is all these things! He does have all bending to his will. He is strong and controlling. He is freaking sexy as hell, but his heart is drawn to Truvy, even though he know it will be a mistake.
I devoured every word of this book. It was all encompassing. It checks all the boxes for me. This was my first time reading J.T. Geissinger. She has this amazing ability with her word to suck you in. In this story created she shines lights in the nooks and crannies where you didn’t even know you need to see. Her characters felt real. You felt their emotions and their struggles. I was with Truvy every step of this story as she fought for herself and her heart. How she wanted to hold Liam responsibly for the choices he was making and help him realize he could risk loving her.
This was a 5/5 read for me. There were moments of humor. There was moments of huge emotions and feelings. There were twist and turns that take you by surprise and leave your mouth gaping. I will be going back and exploring more of the world that J.T. Geissinger has created. This should be on every one’s TBR Pile.
Holy Sh*t!!!
Definitely a must read for 2020!!
Beautiful Cruel is a brand new stand alone romance by J.T. Geissinger. This book took me by surprise. I had a good idea going in about the story line but bravo to J.T. Geissinger able to add a component of element of surprise. Wow! I devoured this book within 24 hours of receiving it. I loved it.
Truvy (Tru) Sullivan is twenty four year old. She’s in her final year at law school in Boston and works as a waitress at Buddy’s Diner. For eleven months the man in black whom Tru has nicknamed The Wolf, has been coming in to the diner. He sits and drinks a cup of coffee while staring at her, then he leaves. Tru has no idea who he is or why he keeps coming in why he keeps coming in, why he never talks to her. But then, he saves her. She had no idea who he was. But in his arms, she somehow just knew she was safe.
“You can curse all you want, wolfie.
It does nothing to change the fact that I trust you.”
― Tru, Beautifully Cruel
There is only one word to describe this book, ADDICTIVE! I couldn’t get enough of Liam Black and all of his broody sex appeal. It definitely made me want to find my very own wolf. Liam Black is the epitome of alpha male like no other. Move over Christian Grey, there is a new hottie in town.
“How deeply satisfying it feels to protect her.
No, more than satisfying―fulfilling.
As if it were the thing I was born to do.”
― Liam, Beautiful Cruel
I appreciate J.T. Geissinger ability to create a such a female heroine like Tru. She is one fierce cookie, that has a “take no prisoners” mentality. Get it gurl! And honestly, Tru may easily be one of my favorite heroine to date and trust me that is saying something. There is just something to be said for a woman that’s shy but has a sharp tongue, ball busting attitude.
“I don’t know what kind of women you’re used to,
but my mother didn’t raise a worker bee.
She raised a queen.”
I stare at him without smiling.
“And I don’t give away the honey for free.”
―Tru, Beautifully Cruel
Don’t just take my word, trust and take a leap with this one. You won’t be disappointed.
***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book provided by Social Butterfly PR and J.T. Geissinger.***
This, right here, is why this author is an auto click for me. The humor, the angst, the intrigue, the twists. Tru is a feisty, sarcastic, independent woman who gives as good as she gets. Liam is a broody, bossy alpha who has secrets but is undeniably smitten with Tru despite his better judgement. Lots going on with the intrigue and twists but you will not get lost on the journey as the author takes you through to their inevitable HEA. Settle in because you won’t be able to put this down once you start. And I’m buying the audio of this book once it’s released just for the Gaelic endearments. Hoping we get to see more of some of the secondary characters!
I received an ARC from the author. This is my unbiased review.