2015 InD’Tale RONE Award Finalist for New Adult* 18+ due to adult situationsA Beaumont Brothers Series stand-alone book 2Suave, handsome Brodie Beaumont has a history of using and being used by women. A past he doesn’t like to talk about has turned him into the type of guy he is today, but he hasn’t really cared. Until the beautiful and feisty Gabrielle Demeres comes back into his life.Gabrielle … really cared. Until the beautiful and feisty Gabrielle Demeres comes back into his life.
Gabrielle learned the hard way what type of guy Brodie was the first time she met him. His crude seduction attempt earned him a slap to his face, and Gabrielle wasn’t exactly looking forward to another encounter with the cad. Unfortunately, her best friend was marrying Brodie’s brother, and Gabrielle and Brodie would be forced to spend time together whether she liked it or not.
As things in the small, quiet town of Turtle Lake take a decidedly dark and dangerous turn, Gabrielle and Brodie only have each other to turn to. Will they be capable of overcoming their aversion to one another while coping with their own troubled pasts and dealing with the current dangers surrounding them? Or is their hostility just skating the fine line between love and hate?
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Wonderfully written about a woman who suffered mentally and physically at the hands of a young man as a child. As a woman she met a known womanizer who changes after realizing he wants more than a one night stand and a chance with a beautiful woman who he got off on the wrong foot in the beginning
I adore the Beaumont Brothers! This is Brodie and Gabrielle’s story. We have two people that couldn’t be more opposite of one another. Their first encounter was not fun and they are dreading seeing each other now. Brodie has a past that makes him who he is today, a playboy that will not commit to spending two nights with the same woman let alone commit to a relationship. Gabrielle has a past that she has kept hidden from everyone and has made her a bit more reserved than most. All hell breaks loose and they lean on each other for support. To watch their relationship bloom and feel every single emotion is beautiful. The author has an amazing way with words and will rock your world when you find out about their pasts!
“There was no question in my mind, she was a goddess, and I silently cursed my stupid attempt at carelessly trying to get her into my bed last year. One does not simply just have sex with a goddess.”
“…the trees blowing in the wind outside the window caught my eye. I studied them as they swayed, the way they withstood the abuse from the wind was amazing. I wanted to be like the trees. Able to stand tall the next day after being slammed by something I had no control over; only dropping a few fragments of my self-esteem the way the trees only lost a few of their leaves.”
“I do know that when I kiss you, my entire world stops. My head buzzes and my body goes into overdrive , making me dizzy . Just like with a car, my body goes into high gear to maintain the speed my heart is pumping because of the way I feel about you.”
There is a respect that these two develop for one another. Fear and rejection have made them weary but their love is incredible
Read: 9/9/19
Beautifully Used was the second book in Susan Griscom’s Beaumont Brothers series. It focused on Brodie Beaumont.
We met Brodie in book one as the one night, two at the most, stand guy. We quickly learned this was a coping mechanism for his demons, but what said demons were, was a mystery. We also briefly met Gabrielle aka Gabby, in book one as a friend and former band mate to Lena. Turns out Gabrielle had demons too. Griscom took us through the discovery mode with a few plot twists while unraveling each backstory.
I enjoyed getting to know both characters, but I was craving more and felt the end was a little anti-climatic and ended abruptly. I needed more depth with a peak into the future or at least an explanation for how some of the various plots melded together for the overall story. Otherwise, it was a fairly quick and enjoyable read.
*I purchased this as part of the boxed set The Beaumont Brothers Complete Series. I am reviewing each book separately as I read it and will then provide an overall rating under the boxed set for the entire series.