Beautiful Bastard

By: Christina Lauren

Narrated by: Grace Grant

Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling. Discover the story that garnered more than two million reads online.

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate - and completely irresistible. A beautiful bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family’s massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who’d been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative - completely infuriating - creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he’s never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe’s so tempting he’s willing to bend the rules - or outright smash them - if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they’re willing to lose in order to win each other.

Originally only available online as The Office by tby789 - and garnering over two million reads on fan-fiction sites - Beautiful Bastard has been extensively updated for rerelease.

©2013 Christina Lauren (P)2013 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The perfect blend of sex, sass and heart, Beautiful Bastard is a steamy battle of wills that will get your blood pumping!" (S.C. Stephens, best-selling author of Thoughtless)

Surprising!

This novel is 80% sex. I like my sex, believe me, but typically when it's all eroticism paired with a weak story line and little character development I get disappointed then wish I hadn't bothered. For the amount of sex within this novel and it being less than 12 hours I SHOULD have been disappointed, but I wasn't and still can't really figure out why. This book is definitely H-O-T-T hot, I never doubted that, but some where along the way Christina Lauren managed to sneak in more and enthrall me. One thing I enjoyed that separates "Beautiful Bastard" from other erotic romance novels is that the reader/listener learns about the characters little by little. In most cases an author will share nearly everything to know in long drawn out monologs, as in here are your people this is who they are, what they look like, what they do, and now lets get in between the sheets. In Lauren's novel I was initially super confused as to what would lead to the first encounter then slowly I began to get it, and found that refreshing. This story has a Pride and Prejudice air to it; almost as if this is how Elizabeth and Darcy would have dealt with their dislike yet undeniable attraction today with our looser morals and lack of pomp and circumstance. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite love story ever, so maybe finding the similarities is what made me like this novel so much. One way or the other I found Bennet and Chloe to be realistic, intriguing, endearing, and their story really being one worth telling but just can't understand when that happened. "Beautiful Bastard" is definitely worth the credit or even spending the 12 bucks, so download it then let me know how you feel.

Didn't work for me

I didn't give the book a very low rating because I think a lot of people will enjoy it. I didn't. I got past the first unsatisfying encounter, then I didn't want to spend any more time with the characters so I moved on and didn't finish the book. Spoiler Alert: Super rich, super handsome, super sexy man in control with a bad attitude. A young subordinate woman just starting out that is supposed to be super smart, but these women characters never act that way - this one was toddling around on her high heeled Italian shoes and I was not impressed. I didn't like either character and I hope they ended up together in the end - they so deserved each other. Yes there was sexual tension, but not a good kind. As long as you know what you are getting into, the book might work for you. Everything might have turned out OK in the end, but I just could not bring myself to listen to the next encounter.

Little too much steamy sex!

The name should have been a clue. Could have been better if not quite so much constant stream of bad words and descriptions

Just okay for me!

Voices great! Story not so much. The sex was hot and believable but that's all. There wasn't much of a story. I plan on listening to more in this series but atleast my expectations won't be as high.

Light on Character Development, Heavy on Sex

Lots of sex from the get go. I never really felt like I understood what motivated each character (other than the physical), so I never really felt invested in their intimacy. I kept waiting for an explanation of the male character's hateful behavior, but it never really came together convincingly for me. He was mostly just a jerk. Late in the book I felt like we started to get to know both characters better; I just wished the author had spent some time developing that aspect earlier in the book. For the amount of sex, they were pretty conventional about it. The taboo came from engaging in intimate activities in socially unacceptable locations, i.e., his office, his parent's bathroom, etc. The narrator did a solid job. The story is told from each characters' first person perspective. Occasionally, when the author was speaking from the male perspective, she'd fail to deepen her voice enough and I'd lose track of which character's thoughts I was listening to--mostly that was my fault for not paying enough attention. Nevertheless, she did a very good job with bringing the characters to life. Overall, it was mildly entertaining and kinda cute. I won't listen to another book from this author, but I'm not disappointed that I purchased this one either. Sometimes lots of sex and little story is just the thing, so if that's what you're in the mood for...go for it!

Fantastic

What a wonderful story and I couldn’t quit listening to it! Grace Grant brought out every emotion with her narration.

Good

Expect a lot of sex. Right off the bat and in every chapter. Narration was enjoyable.

The Best!

This story is great from beginning to end and made me laugh, cry, and heat up from the hot sex and romance. It is written and performed to perfection. I loved everything about it and couldn't get enough of these fun, sizzatling and teasing characters. This could not have been any better. It is so very hot, amazing, sexy, fun and perfect!!! I love Christina Lauren! This is my first story by her and I am now a dedicated fan. This is that good and amazing!!!

Hot hot hot!!! Couldn't get enough!

Wow!! First off, I hesitated starting this book because I’ve heard so many mixed reviews. This seems to be another one of those that you either HATE it or LOVE it! I had been going back on forth on whether or not to start this. Thankfully Rachel from Parajunkee enjoyed it and recommended it. We seem to be listening to some of the same audio books so I thought she hasn’t steered me wrong, why not?

So yeah…WOW!!! I finished this audio in about 2 days. I don’t know what I was expecting but that wasn’t it, in a good way! At minute 13 of this audio the first sex scene began. HOLY SHIT! To say it was HOT is just putting it mildly. It continues ON and ON and ON! In all different areas and raunchy places, but the SEX IS SCORCHING!!

At about 50% hot sex or no, it was getting to be TOO much! Apparently it’s possible. LOL! Luckily the sex scenes slowed down then (of course there were more). The story really took off and we got to know the characters a lot more in depth.

I will admit Bennett was a TOTAL bastard and complete asshole! Did I still LOVE him? Yes, absolutely! IMO he wasn’t too over the top. I think what helped redeem him was the dual POVs. When most hero’s are mean to their heroines for whatever reason we don’t get the full story since we don’t hear their POV. Bennett didn’t mean to be a bastard most of the time. He was just an uptight ivy league, big time exec brat!

I liked Chloe! She was smart, sassy, confident and knew what she wanted in life. Chloe wasn’t some damsel in distress. Bennett may have been a bastard but she was his perfect match. She called him out on his shit and gave it right back. Chloe was sarcastic and loved to curse! My kind of gal!

I very much enjoyed this book! I have already pre-ordered Beautiful Bitch on audio. It’s book 1.5 a novella with Bennett and Chloe. I can’t wait to hear more from them.
Narrator Note: Grace Grant is a new to me narrator. I thought she did an excellent job! Her delivery seemed to be right on. Her male voice was also very distinct.

Only the beginning

Which scene was your favorite?

The conference room was definitely my favorite scene.

Any additional comments?

This is only the beginning of a great series!