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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Beautifully Cruel is a smoking hot, sexy and compelling read. It’s also funny. It took me a while to get into it but once I was in I was all in. I loved Truvy and Liam’s story. It’s mysterious, a bit dark and awesome. I highly recommend it.
Copy provided by author
This story was high on the sexy Richter scale! I honestly stayed on the edge of my seat almost the entire story. Every night was a 1 or 2 AM night reading because I didn’t want to put the book down to sleep. Needless to say, I’m very sleepy right now, but OMG was it worth every sleepless minute.
Tall, dark and handsome – check
Alpha – check
Sexy – check
Irish – check (oooooo the accent) Every time he said Lass or Lassie I just swooned
Danger – check
Sweet southern girl – check
More than meets to eye – check
Some truly smoking hot scenes – check, check, check
Liam Black is every woman’s dream. When he walks in to the diner where Truvy works everyone notices. Truvy and Liam and drawn to each other from the start. But it takes Truvy’s smart mouth and an unfortunate run in with some thugs to finally bring them to a decision to explore things further or walk away. But Truvy doesn’t know much about Liam except the fact that she knows hes a wolf with her in his sites as his prey. But there’s so much more to this story. Liam truly is a teddy bear for Truvy and she stands her ground with him the way any strong woman should.
This story was so angst-y and hot. It’s been a while for me to feel the heat the entire story. This would be an excellent story to listen to on audio-book. I just need to hear Liam’s Irish brogue! Definite 5 star read for me. And I truely hope J.T. Geissinger has a plan to write about the brother or even more about Liam and Truvy. I don’t know if they’re story is really finished.
Beautifully Cruel is another great read by this author. Liam Black is a dominant and dangerous alpha male who is somewhat of a mystery to begin with. Tru (Truvy) Sullivan senses that danger upon meeting him, but finds him irresistible regardless.
Tru was such a fun character, loved her attitude. Liam got it ALL wrong when he initially assumed she was rather shy, reserved and sweet. She turns out to be the opposite once she’s comfortable with a person, strong minded and definitely no walkover. She’s the only person that seems to enjoy questioning his authority. And her parents are awesome! Lots of smiles to be had when her parents feature in the scenes, they were hilarious (especially her Dad).
Liam Black is not prepared for the changes Tru is going to make to his life. She challenges and amuses him, which is like a breath of fresh air to a man used to being feared and obeyed. The majority of Beautifully Cruel is from Tru’s POV, although there are some chapters from Liam’s also. I really enjoyed how the story all wrapped up in the end, very happy to see a favourite character from a previous series pop up in some scenes also.
BEAUTIFULLY CRUEL by J.T. Geissinger is the story of Truvy ‘Tru’ Sullivan and Liam Black.
Truvy is working at Buddy’s Diner to earn money while finishing in law school. For the past several months a man comes in a sits at her table but doesn’t really say anything. Truvy doesn’t really know who he is so she as dubbed him “The Wolf”. One day Truvy is attacked but she starts to fight but is finally saved by The Wolf/Liam. Liam is a dangerous man that most everyone fears but he finds that he is drawn to Truvy which the attack finally makes him act of his protective feeling for her. This book clicked off everything I love is a Alpha Dark Romance. It had the strong heroine with a since of humor that is independent but also knows when to lean on her man. Of course Liam is the dream alpha boyfriend for me. Loved this book and this author’s writing. I will be looking for more books by this author!
Not going to lie, one of the tropes involved in this one is my least favorite to read. That being said, I absolutely loved this book about a law student/waitress who falls for a very powerful and somewhat dangerous older man. I’m so glad I didn’t know what was what before I started it or I might not have read it and to my delight, I found I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Tru is 26, and a woman just trying to get by and finish her law degree which is imminent. Working at a dive cafe is a means to an end so she perseveres. For almost a year, a beautiful man comes and drinks coffee and watches her, but only sporadically. Then he ends up saving her from a brutal attack. She ends up pretty smitten and when he offers her a chance to be with him for 30 days only and then never again, she accepts-sorta. This is the story of what happens after that.
Tru was an admirable main character. She is determined to finish her law degree and become a public defender because of someone in her past. She wants to be better than what that person received. Meanwhile she makes the most of her dead end job and is friendly with several staff members. Liam is Irish, dresses in Armani suits, has a driver, and seemingly can’t take his eyes off Tru. He knows he’s not good for her so he fights it-until he doesn’t. It’s not that simple, but I am going to leave it at that. Of course there are some good/interesting side characters involved-one in particular that was fascinating and I want more of and sooner rather than later!
I loved the romance, but I have to tell you there are some really steamy scenes. And some really good banter at times. J.T. Geissinger is a very skilled writer of both banter and of sexy times. I didn’t think the sex scenes were over the top though(maybe a tad?)and it didn’t take the place of story as it does in so many other books.
This was truly a wonderful romance. I read a lot of romances and this is one of the best of the bunch. It’s certainly not one that I will forget anytime soon as so many are for me. I did spend a bit too much time being concerned about whether or not a happy ending could be had due to circumstances, but I need not to have worried. This author is all about a happily ever after, although there are some tough times involved. It certainly was a page turner and very well written as usual with Geissinger’s work. I should also admit that Geissinger is one of my favorite authors and this book is a testament to my reasons for that.
Highly recommended to adult contemporary romance readers. FYI-Be sure and read the author’s acknowledgements as they contain some good information-as well as a small part of the ending.
Overall Grade:
Do you ever have an author who whispers themselves onto your “must-read” list? You didn’t expect them, but they found a solid place with one book. For me, this is J.T. Geissinger. I read a blurb for her last book, Rules of Engagement, and something about it grabbed my attention. To be honest, I was hopeful, but I didn’t go into that read with high expectations. I simply wanted to read a new author to me. What happened was a revelation. I fell hard for that story and Geissinger’s easy, affable writing style. In fact, the review I wrote for that book has one of my highest review “like” counts on Goodreads. There was something that piqued my interest in her that cemented her place as a forever read.
When the ARC sign-up was offered for her newest book, Beautifully Cruel, I jumped at the chance to read it. Like Rules of Engagement, she pulled me into the story and held me there much as her hero, Liam Black, holds Truvy “Tru” Sullivan “hostage” in his penthouse. I began it right before going to bed one night and woke up the next day to finish it. I hated to turn the page because I burned through the story, and I wanted to exist a bit longer in Liam and Truvy’s story.
Truvy is a server in a diner. For almost a year, Liam Black comes to her diner, sits broodingly in a booth in Truvy’s section, and drinks coffee, while overtly staring at her. There is an attraction between these two, but Truvy, a bit of a loner, tries to avoid engaging him. She’s drawn to him, but his persona feels overwhelming. One day, these finally make small talk, and it’s clear there is a chemistry and a similarity between them. However, Liam’s life is complicated, and he knows he’s a danger to Truvy. He vows to keep his distance, except that this is easier said than done. The next night, Truvy is taking out the trash to a dumpster behind the diner, and she is brutally assaulted. Believing she will die, Liam unexpectedly shows up and saves her from certain death. From there, they begin a journey together, one set to end after twenty-eight days. The problem, though, is love is a certainty between these two. Will they find a future together, or are they destined for broken hearts at the end of their time together?
Every moment of this book is a carefully wrought story of love amidst challenges. Truvy and Liam come from two very different lives. However, they complete each other in ways that are unexpected. Truvy becomes the catalyst for Liam’s eventual life change; however, while these two come from two very different lives, their personal struggles are the same. Geissinger walks her reader beautifully through ideas related to justice and revenge. Both Truvy and Liam are faced with meting out justice when the system fails. There are profound moments in Truvy and Liam’s time together when they must examine their ideas on this, and in those moments, their relationship gains depth and gravity.
At its surface, Truvy and Liam’s relationship is fiery. Truvy pushes back against Liam’s alpha-male tendencies, and her passion and obstinancy, along with her integrity and intelligence, spark their chemistry. Each moment these two exist on the page together, you’re pulled further into Geissinger’s book. When their twenty-eight days are nigh, your concern for a possible happy ending for these two is palpable (at least that was the case for me). I consider Geissinger’s ability to craft the anxiety and believability of this moment illustrates her capacity as a storyteller.
There is nothing better in romance than a woman who, while introverted, knows herself, knows her mind, and stands in her indomitable spirit. When that is matched with a man with a tendency towards violence, a passionate will, and a focus so keen on the heroine that it overflows the story, you have, in my opinion, the perfect romantic story. The manner in which Truvy and Liam love each other in Beautifully Cruel is the power force for this book. I didn’t want to look away; I didn’t want to turn the page. I wanted to exist within the colorful, quiet, fierce love between these two. If you haven’t read J.T. Geissinger, honestly, start here especially if you love a bit of a dangerous romance. I think you’ll agree with me that Geissinger’s books should have a reserved space on your Kindle or bookcase.
I was sent this book while I was reading an 800+ page book that I had waited months to receive and read. As it was a library book, I only had the allotted two weeks in which to enjoy it. Then BAM! Beautifully Cruel arrived and I had to quickly finish the first book and move on to J.T.’s so that I could read it and post a review before its formal release. For me that could prove to be a problem because when I love a book I can get a book hangover that makes it difficult to quickly move on to the next book. However, I needn’t have worried. J.T. Geissinger is a phenomenal writer and I was pulled into Beautifully Cruel from the get-go. Truvy and Liam are well-developed characters that fit perfectly together. Where I thought the story was going to be very dark, Tru and Liam’s banter kept me smiling throughout most of the book. Add to that an incredible amount of “steam” and a great story line and Beautifully Cruel is a winner. Those who are already fans of J.T.’s will not be disappointed. Those of you who are new to this author… read and enjoy!!
Captivating intense page turner! This book had me hooked because it was so addicting!! I love the characters, even though Tru is shy she is smart and stands up to Liam. Liam is the classic alpha male that we all love and fall for. J.T. has done it again! This is a MUST read just like all her other books!
Liam and Tru’s story blew me away, I devoured this book this mafia romance is brilliant, having a student/waitress meeting a dark wolf alpha male. The story plot was fantastic, all twists and turns you didn’t see coming combined with angst, humor, and well an emotional roller-coaster all in one. The depth in this story is definitely one you will enjoy, the drama and suspense will keep you turning pages. Bravo JT Geissinger you outdid yourself and that was already high. I would love to have this done in audiobook to experience it all over again.
Beautifully Cruel is a new standalone by JT Geissinger. If you love a sassy, tough-as-nail, take-no-nonsense heroine and a hot, baddest mafia hero with an Irish brogue, this book is for you! In true JT’s style, it’s with surprising twists and witty humors, it’s smartly written and easy to read.
Tru Sullivan is a law student aiming to become a criminal defense attorney. She’s also working as a waitress at Buddy’s Diner in Boston, where she has served coffee to an enigmatic customer who always sits in her section for the past 11 months. During one of her night shifts, she is attacked by three armed men in the back alley and is rescued by none other than that same man she’s been intrigued with for so long… I love Tru’s character, she’s honest, courageous, and no pushover. She’s also funny and a bit socially awkward .
Liam Black is an Irish mafia kingpin who runs operations around the world. But underneath his badass broody intimidating facade is a teddy bear , a sensitive man who loves to read philosophical books and harbors an obsession with Tru (and sends her a truckload of black-themed flowers!!!) Knowing his line of work could pose a danger to her, he’s been fighting with himself to stay away from her, but he should have known better …
I expected this book to be dark and packed with actions and underworld dealings. But it’s really not, it’s quite light and steamy, you can feel the sexual tension right from chapter 1! There isn’t any brutality on the page. Instead, it’s focused more on their recognizing the similarities in their core values and other unexpected commonalities. My only concern is the pacing, it’s a bit slow in the middle, and then everything is built up and revealed within the last few chapters (but I could blame it on my current mood during this crazy time !) Regardless, it’s an enjoyable read with great character chemistry, lots of LOL as well as teary-eyed moments !
4.5 read for me!
*Special thanks to Social Butterfly PR and the author for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
This story was not as dark as I thought it would be, but I loved it regardless. Tru is at law school and work in a diner where a man in black has been coming into for 11 months and always sits in her section. Liam is dark, mysterious, and dangerous but he loves with his whole heart. This is a beautifully written story which is action packed, fun, and filled with suspense, and love which all lead to an all-consuming and addictive page turner. I highly recommend for all.
You know a book is good if you are still thinking about its characters three days after you’ve finished reading it.
Beautifully Cruel is one of those books.
I finished the book on Sunday. It’s Wednesday, and I’m still thinking about Tru, the introverted part-time waitress who is finishing law school and hopes to become a criminal defense attorney. I’m thinking about the way she wants to become a public defender, because she’s seen how unjust justice is when you’re poor and find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
I’m also thinking about Liam, the mysterious, tattooed man in the black Armani suit who has been coming into Tru’s diner for the past 11 months. The man who always sits at a booth in her section and orders nothing but coffee, saying little but watching her with eyes that burn with hunger. As Tru’s co-worker, Carla says, “The man talks pretty loud with those big bad wolf eyes of his. One of these days, he’s gonna gobble you up like Red Riding Hood’s grandma.”
I think about his Irish brogue, which Tru describes as “rich and throaty, with a rumble to it like a purr.” And the way she describes him as “dark, and fierce and gorgeous, and looking at me like nothing else exists in the diner. The city. The world.”
One day, he surprises Tru, and actually shares a bit of information about himself. They find similarities: both come from large, poor families. Both feel an intense connection. At one point, Tru describes it like this: “He’s all heat and hunger, so focused on me I think he’s about to lunge across the table and eat me whole. Nothing else in the world exists, just me and him and this crackle of attraction electrifying the air between us. A weird little bubble of wanting and need.”
One night, while taking out the garbage at the back of the diner, Tru is attacked by three knife and gun-wielding thieves who want to rob the diner. When she tries to escape, they savagely beat her. One of the thieves points a gun at her head, and she closes her eyes so she doesn’t see the bullet before it hits her. Then she hears the sounds of a fight, and when she opens her eyes, two men lay dead at her feet. The third man dies a few minutes later when his neck is broken by her rescuer—the Armani-wearing man she’s nicknamed “wolfie.”
When she compliments him, Liam tells her that she should be afraid of him. That they can’t have a relationship because of the life he leads. “I wouldn’t be good for you.”
One night Tru discovers what Liam does for a living, and the dangerous life that he lives. She understands why Liam has warned her that a relationship between the two of them “won’t end well.” Still, the attraction burns between them, so he proposes a “workable solution”—that they spend 28 days together, get each other out of their system, then never see each other again. “I think it’s the only way for us both to get what we want without any lasting damage,” he tells her.
I’m going to leave it there and not spoil the rest of the story. You need to read this book. You won’t regret it because you’ll see that there’s much more to Liam than you expect. You’ll also discover that what you see on the surface of a person can be quite different from whom that person really is.
There’s a hidden irony with the heroine’s nickname being “Tru” (true), and well, the hero identifying himself as a bad and dangerous person. You’ll get it if you read the book!
By the way, if you like this book, check out “Dangerous Desires.” One of the minor characters in this book plays a larger role in Dangerous Desires. Can you guess who it is?
Thank you to J.T. Geissinger for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my goodness! Shazam! This was everything I was hoping it would be. I will admit that the last couple of books by J.T. Geissinger have been hard for me to read, but this was like a breath of fresh romantic air. I love Truvy and Liam. Truvy’s wit and sarcasm made me laugh. I like that she was honest with Liam from the being and that she didn’t allow him to boss her around. Beautifully Cruel was everything my romantic heart needed and everything it desired.
Oh, J.T. can write a book. ONE CHAPTER, that’s all it took, ONE measly chapter and I’m in deep. Tru meets the dark, mysterious Liam in the diner where she is employed. FOR A YEAR he’s come in and had coffee–that’s it–coffee. And staring–lot’s of staring. Broody, mysterious, and oh so handsome. Tru finally starts a conversation that will ultimately lead to her most excellent adventure.
Chapter by chapter Liam is revealed to be sincere, poetic, and very passionate. He’s trying to stay away from Tru; he knows his life is not what she needs, but he cannot stay away. In J.T.’s signature style with dialogue and imagery, we are drawn to Liam and embrace every conversation and interaction with Tru.
Tru, who is finishing law school, considers herself an introvert. But she has a wicked and sharp wit that she uses on Liam with regularity. It is a massive part of her charm and what attracts Liam to her. She’s not afraid of him nor intimidated by him that she lets him see. But she does begin to doubt the wisdom of becoming involved with him. I am not going to elaborate on who Liam is or what he does as that is part of the unfolding of the story. You need to reveal all this goodness for yourself.
Revealing the goodness is part of what makes a J.T. Geissinger novel such a wild ride of an adventure. You can’t tell too much of what is going on, as it would spoil it for the new reader. I can tell you that this is just another example of her excellent writing and bless her; she’s left the door wide open for another book. This book undoubtedly will include a character her fans have been screaming for a book about for a long time. I hope we will get to see more of Liam and Tru. Nevertheless, this is a definite must-read.
There are not enough words to tell you how much I enjoyed this book! It came at the right time! Liam is everything! Truvy is a waitress working her way through law school. Liam is the Irish mafia–top of the food chain. He comes to Tru’s diner and sits in her section for close to a year before they even talk to one another. She is drawn to him, even if they are both keeping secrets. Get ready for a twisty ride and a surprise character from the author’s previous work. But have no fear, this book can be read as a stand alone. 5 amazing stars!
Wow! Just when I wonder if J.T. will be able to top her last book, she does it again! I love a good romantic suspense story and Beautifully Cruel is a great one! I had a feeling about Liam Black. The mystery surrounding who he is made me lose myself in this story. Who is he? Why does everyone know and fear him? And much to the surprise of part time waitress and full time law student Truvy Sullivan, why is he so interested in her?! Truvy aka Tru is such a wonderful, strong character. She doesn’t plan to let this mysterious guy pursue her without answers to her questions. Now if you think that I am going to give you those answers then you have another guess coming! Like most of J.T.’s books this was written from dual POV and it is loaded with funny banter, desire, passion and action. I recommend this completely and then I recommend reading the Dangerous Beauty trilogy because I loved that so much and there’s a bit of an Easter egg there for the readers.
BEAUTIFULLY CRUEL by J. T. Geissinger is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, erotic romance story line focusing on thirty-nine year old, billionaire/mystery man Liam Black, and twenty-four year old, café waitress/ law student Truvy ‘Tru’ Sullivan.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Liam and Tru) BEAUTIFULLY CRUEL focuses on the building relationship between thirty-nine year old, billionaire/mystery man Liam Black, and twenty-four year old, café waitress/ law student Truvy ‘Tru’ Sullivan. Tru Sullivan has served coffee to the perplexing man in black with the Irish brogue, for close to one year, with barely a word spoken between them but Tru had had enough of his late night visits and proceeds to introduce herself to the man with whom she will fall in love. The mysterious stranger will pull Tru into his dark and dangerous aura, an aura that hides a complicated past, a enigmatic present, and the potential for no future. An attack against Tru forces the man in black to reveal his presence igniting a fire between our couple that threatens to burn brighter than the sun. What ensues is the building but temporary relationship between Tru and Liam, and the potential fall-out as Liam refuses to go beyond the present.
Truvy ‘Tru’ Sullivan is no stranger to loss and heart break but meeting Liam Black forces Tru to see beyond the façade of a man who has lost much more than she could have ever imagined. Having been warned on numerous occasions to stay clear of the man that calls to her heart, Tru will be blindsided when Liam pushes our heroine, out of his life, and into the abyss of pain and sorrow.
Liam Black’s secrets are dangerous and dark; a man whose demeanor screams menace and death but a man who hides the suffering beneath an inscrutable veneer. Falling for Tru Sullivan placed our heroine in the direct line of fire, a fire Liam is willing to battle to spend forever with the woman he loves.
The relationship between Tru and Liam is one of immediate attraction but Liam refuses to act on their mutual attraction, a palpable sexual fascination that is barely contained. Tru, normally shy and withdrawn, yet strong and independent, refuses to back down when Liam warns Tru to walk away. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to Tru’s friend and roommate Ellie and Ellie’s sometime boyfriend Tyler: Tru’s co-workers Diego, Carla, and their boss Buddy : Liam’s chauffeur and friend Declan, as well as Killian, another man with deep and darkening secrets. I am hoping the author has future plans for Killian, Declan, Diego, and Tru’s roommate Ellie. There are so many potential stories yet to be told.
BEAUTIFULLY CRUEL is a fascinating, energetic and intriguing story with a couple of twists and turns you will not see coming. A mesmerizing tale of one man’s need to defend and protect, and one woman’s desire to show said man that he is worthy of his own happily ever after. The character driven premise is dramatic and tragic ; the characters are dynamic, wounded, spirited and strong; the romance is intoxicating and provocative.
JT Geissinger once again delivers a story that completely blew me away. Beautifully Cruel is yet another example of why this author is one of the best out there. It’s witty, sexy, emotional and exciting. Just when you think you know what will happen, Geissinger veers the story in a different direction and completely shocks you. In a word, the book is BRILLIANT!
Tru was a complete surprise to me. She’s smart, funny and fierce. She’s the perfect match to demanding, alpha Liam. He’s mysterious and sexy and, while he’s mostly serious, he has a soft, tender side that made me swoon hard. Liam is truly an enigma and as each layer is peeled back we find out just how complex he really is. Both Tru and Liam have tragedies they have faced and their stories are emotional and raw. Together, these two have an intense connection. And it’s easy to see and feel because their sexual chemistry is sizzling H-O-T!
Beautifully Cruel will suck you in from the first page and keep you completely invested and enthralled until the very last page. It’s exciting and suspenseful and will keep you on the edge of your seat as the story builds to a crescendo. Fans of Geissinger’s stories will be rewarded with some perfectly placed Easter eggs that will leave you cheering. I know I certainly did! Overall, Beautifully Cruel is a phenomenal story that is not to be missed! 5 stars
This romantic suspense was an exciting thrill ride with twists and turns, fun banter, and lots of sizzling passion! I was riveted from the very first page and loved the expert way that Geissinger challenged our imagination, had our hearts racing as we laughed, cried and fell madly for these unforgettable characters. Truvy is the perfect balance of sassy and sweet. She has crippling social anxiety, but can be a brave champion for those in need, as well as herself. She works at a diner to pay her way thru college. She is intrigued by the dark, mysterious man who sits only in her section, always watching her. He reminds her of a wolf, a predator she should be afraid of but is drawn to instead. Liam can’t stay away from this bashful, beautiful girl, who is a fierce lioness when it counts. He can’t afford to have any weakness, but the current of electricity between them is too strong to break. He underestimates her over and over being drawn to her honesty and sass. He needs to find a way to make her his, while keeping her safe. But it becomes impossible when he keeps so many secrets and has too many enemies. This exciting and passionate story was funny, heartstopping and very hot and sexy. Tru and Liam are so explosive together, and their chemistry leaps right off the page. I also laughed and loved the epilogue that was so perfect and made me so very happy. Can a Lion and a Wolf be happy as mates? You need to read to find out! You’ll be happy you did!
There is nothing more perfect than a broody, dark and intense hero that was sucker punched by the heroine the first time he laid eyes on her. Fast forward several months later and we have plenty of late night diner coffees with no conversation and a heroine who tends to ramble when she’s feeling shy or awkward which of course leads you to a twist here, a turn there, lots of smiling from ear to ear moments and plenty of sizzling chemistry to ignite the pages. Add an epilogue that was perfect and you’re all set for another great read.
I loved both Liam with his brooding ways and Truvy with her straight-forward manner of addressing any given situation. They were night and day and yet had so much in common. Watching them meet, come to an agreement, and fall in love was not just fun, it was intense and all consuming. Once I started I didn’t want to stop. This book will pull you in and never let you go.