Filthy Beautiful Love (Filthy Beautiful Lies Book 2)

If you thought the first book was good. (And for the record, I loved the first one.) Just wait until you read this one, guys.
The hammer drops…big time. And you bet your butt that when the chips fell, I was still rooting for Sophie and Colton.
I wasn’t disappointed.
I definitley recommend.

This was a great passionate love story. Ryan is a phenomenal writer. I couldn’t get enough of this story. Colton and Sophie were wonderful characters. This book was about overcoming life’s obstacles and finding your happy place. I absolutely loved this story. Kudos to Ryan on an original romantic hot and steamy love story that rocks. This story is a must read and I highly recommend.

Colton & Sophie’s Steamy Story Concludes With A Few Tears! They Are Both Hurting After The Truth About Colton’s Marriage Is Revealed, Yet Neither Can Forget The Promise Of What They Had Together. This Story Gives The Couple A Chance To Stand On Equal Ground. It Gives A Peek At Their Life Going Forward As Well As A Peek At Pace & Kylie’s Upcoming Story.

This is book two of the four-book Filthy Beautiful Lies series. The series includes:

1. Filthy Beautiful Lies (Colton & Sophie’s story begins)
2. Filthy Beautiful Love (Colton & Sophie’s story concludes)
3. Filthy Beautiful Lust (Pace & Kylie’s story)
4. Filthy Beautiful Forever (Collins & Mia’s story)

This series follows the three Drake brothers. Collins, Colton, and Pace are all intense personalities. They lost their mother in their youth, but the trio manages to maintain a sense a family in her absence. Their father had been a philanderer, not much of an example. Collins, the eldest, is in business and has a live-in supermodel girlfriend. He is on the serious side. Colton is the middle child, so he is naturally a people pleaser. Though every bit an alpha, he has a tendency to be a little too forgiving. Pace is the fun-loving youngest brother, who is a relentless flirt.

Books one and two are Colton and Sophie’s story. Pace’s story is in book three, followed by Collins’s in book four.

IN FILTHY BEAUTIFUL LIES:

Sophie Evans, twenty-one, would do anything to save her twin sister. Becca has been in and out of the hospital for years, but with stage four ovarian cancer she is down to her last few months of life. There is an experimental treatment with promise, however, if only they could come up with the three hundred thousand dollar price tag. Though her Northern California small town family is of modest means, Sophie learns that selling her virginity will almost certainly bring in enough to cover the cost of treatment. Agreeing to become a slave to the highest bidder for six long months is a daunting idea, but after years of selflessness and sacrifice in support of Becca, Sophie doesn’t hesitate. She can never let Becca know what she did for her, so she just lets her family know that she is taking a much needed break to visit a friend in L.A.

Colton Drake, twenty-eight, should be enjoying the prime of his life. The Harvard grad and workaholic runs two companies – one a non-profit. His good looks in combination with his charisma and magnetic personality ensure he could have any woman he wants, and he is looking to let off some steam after two years of nothing but work. Stella did a number on him, but it is time to move on. While in San Francisco on business, he catches wind of an auction that promises to be the perfect solution to his situation. Though he had never participated in anything of the likes before, the discretion of the transaction lures him in. He can handle things differently by keeping his physical needs separate from his personal life, thereby avoiding all the hassle of a relationship. It was a spur of the moment decision, and before he knows it he is in over his head. Instead of the experienced and well-trained woman who knows her role well, Colton ends up bringing home an innocent and timid young lady. He knows he needs to take things slower with Sophie, though he still plans to get his money’s worth. But when his brothers get a look at her, Colton begins to feel a little territorial and his feelings about Sophie begin to shift. When she opens up to him about her reason for entering the auction, the guilt quickly begins to set in. He can never let Sophie learn about his past.

Sophie finds herself utterly confused as she settles into her temporary life with Colton. His cool command soon shifts to something tender but confusing. The closer they get, the more hands-off he becomes. As Colton’s slave, she doesn’t have a say in what he does, which is a little unnerving. Her feelings for him may be growing, but for all she knows he is seeing other people on the side, an idea which doesn’t sit well with her. He is surrounded by women who seem to be intimately connected to him. Marta, his trustworthy personal assistant, is kind and helpful but occasionally comes across as a little possessive. Stella is a name that pops up on occasion, though Colton refuses to discuss her. And Kylie helps run Highpoint Associates, Colton’s non-profit that is focused on building sustainability in rural Africa. Sophie tries to understand her place in Colton’s life, but his history remains elusive.

Sophie struggles with her attraction to her master, a concept that seems wrong to her. Finding herself alone in a big empty mansion day after day while Colton spends his days at work, she realizes the toll that caring for her sister had taken on her. The time and space to regroup and think about her own needs for a change is a surprising but appreciated, yet too much time on her hands leads to endless ruminating about her master. Colton’s refusal to discuss personal issues with her doesn’t help matters, but she understands what she signed up for. Colton had hoped for some release as well as companionship when he paid one million dollars to own Sophie, but he knows from their first night together that it is she that holds all the power in their odd relationship. Her companionship begins to soften him, and it sheds light on the error of his ways. It is in his insistence that he keep Sophie and his personal life separate, though, that Colton might just sabotage any chance they have at happiness down the road. This book ends in a devastating cliffhanger.

Colton and Sophie’s angsty story starts out with a bang. Colton purchases Sophie at an auction, but soon finds himself in over his head with the sweet and innocent woman he brings home. Sophie is selfless, strong, independent, and intelligent – in addition to shy and innocent. Colton is a big surprise, however. He probably isn’t anything like the other men that had bid on Sophie. Though he might enjoy some dirty fun and dominating in the bedroom, he isn’t at all into the whole master/slave dynamic. Aside from certain expectations in the bedroom, their relationship is rather normal. But he still holds all the cards since Sophie cannot afford to mess up and lose the money. Their story is nicely written and plot-driven. It is written in first person. The POV alternates between Sophie and Colton. I rate this book 4.5 stars.

IN THIS BOOK:

As book one closed, everything had been falling into place with Colton and Sophie until Colton’s past caught up with him. Keeping Sophie separate from his personal life was his downfall, he learned too late. Stella had stormed into his house, and Sophie went running home. She hadn’t wanted to be involved with a married man, and was hurt to have been misled into believing Colton was single. She might have signed a contract, but her feelings for Colton were real.

Book two opens two days after Sophie left Colton. She had stayed just two of the six months required for her contract, and left with her innocence still in tact, but she would willingly return all the money that she hadn’t already spent on Becca’s treatment. The idea that she had been with a married man didn’t sit well with her. To regroup, she and her twin flew to Rome together for some much needed R&R together. Becca’s treatments seem to be responding, so the two are taking advantage of her good health. Having suffered with a potentially terminal illness for years, Becca lives life much less cautiously than Sophie. Becca encourages her to embrace life, too. But Sophie’s feelings about Colton are riddled with guilt and shame that she needs to work through, even if underneath it all she knows she is incapable of denying her connection with Colton.

Colton realizes the error of his ways, but Sophie running away without hearing him out is cutting. He has a demanding career and works tirelessly on his charity. Stella had been a mistake, a result of young love, but he cannot afford to fall for the wrong woman a second time. Stella had been after his fortune, and Sophie’s relationship with him is entirely based upon money. If Sophie’s first reaction is to run instead of listen, that doesn’t bode well.

Colton and Sophie are both hurting after the truth about Colton’s marriage is revealed, yet neither can forget the promise of what they had together. When they finally sit down to talk over what happened, Colton proposes a new agreement. They void the original contract and instead move forward as friends, giving Colton time to sort out his affairs while simultaneously continuing their relationship where things left off, but platonically. Colton and Sophie have too much chemistry to remain just friends for long, but life has other challenges in store for the pair. They eventually find a happy ending.

Fans will note that Pace meets Kylie in this book – and their story follows in book three.

Colton and Sophie’s story concludes with a few tears. Instinct might indicate that Sophie was the victim in book one, but Colton has his reasons for being hurt, too. He has reason to have difficulty trusting women, yet he never gives up on Sophie. Sophie, on the other hand, comes across as a little weak here. This story brings the couple together, giving them a much needed chance to stand on equal ground. It also gives a peek at their life going forward, along with a peek at Pace and Kylie’s upcoming story. Note that there is a comment about Marta that raises eyebrows but is not followed up on, leaving questions. Though it is gratifying to read the conclusion to Colton and Sophie’s story, it would have been a stronger ending if this book was shortened and included with the first book. This steamy story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Colton and Sophie. I rate this book four stars.

I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Great second half to Colton and Sophie’s story! Loved every word!

“I knew out of all those men there that night that I was meant to go with you,” I say. “You belong with me. Always.”

This book picks up right where Filthy Beautiful Lies leaves off. It was a beatiful conclusion to Colton and Sophie’s story.

“I miss Colton’s bed, his rough stubble against my cheek when we kissed. I miss everything about him. Just as we’d started to grow close, everything I’d come to love was ripped away from me, leaving a gaping hole in my chest.”

Sophie is trying to pick up the pieces of her life after the startling news she got at the end of FBLies. She takes off for a trip to Italy with her sister and tries to move on. Colton chases Sophie to Europe to convince her to hear his side of the story. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. Explaining something that should be black and white but isn’t. In a desperate attempt on Colton’s part he finally gets Sophie to move back in. But getting her to forgive him and give him a second chance is another.

“I can’t lose you. Not when I feel like my life is falling into place. You were the missing piece.”

There is a lot of stuff Colton and Sophie have to work through to move forward. Kendall did a wonderful job showing the struggle they had when they were trying to rebuild the trust between them. Colton didn’t know if she wanted him for anything more then his money and Sophie couldn’t imagine him wanting her for anything more then her virginity.

“Even without the contract, he owns me, and I’d been foolish to think I could just walk away. I am his.”

Love is easy and you can find it anywhere. Being in love is hard work. It takes time, patience and understanding. Colton and Sophie’s journey wasn’t an easy one but it was a beautiful one. Kendall nailed this ending to their story. I was captivated and finished this story in one sitting. I can not wait for Pace’s story to come out. He was a great addition to this story and I am very interested in seeing more about him.

“You’re my everything. You know that, right?” I nod, letting the deep feeling of his love cascade over me. I’ve been afraid to feel these last few weeks, but now I’m letting every emotion pour over me and it’s overwhelming – but in the best possible way. “I can’t lose you, Sophie,” he murmurs. I can see in his eyes that he’s been scared, even if he never said it, my behavior has caused him worry. “I’m here. I promise.”