SueBee★bring me an alpha!★'s Reviews > Beautiful Disaster

★★★★★! The Beautiful series, book 1 & 2. Read both books together concurrently! A truly unforgettable experience!

“When you’re around, I don’t need booze or money or the fighting or the one-night stands … all I need is you. You’re all I think about. You’re all I dream about. You’re all I want.”

There have been over 18,000 reviews of this series already, so why must I post another one? Well, I do feel the need to say something in tribute of the one and only Travis ‘Mad Dog’ Maddox!

But first, I did something different – I read both books together concurrently and I really enjoyed it. Abby’s POV (book 1) serves as the backbone of the series and then Travis’ POV (book 2) adds to it and it’s such a treat to read his thoughts and feeling – to get even closer to the enigma that is Travis Maddox.
Whether you are planning to re-read or if you have not read series yet, I highly recommend you read them together in tandem. The experience was epic! Here is the order I recommend:

Book 1 – Chapter 1
Book 2 – Prologue, Chapter 1 & 2
Book 1 – Chapter 2
Book 2 – Chapter 3, 4, 5 & 6
Book 1 – Chapter 3 & 4
Book 2 – Chapter 7, 8, 9 & 10
Book 1 – Chapter 5
Book 2 – Chapter 11
Book 1 – Chapter 6
Book 2 – Chapter 12
Book 1 – Chapter 7
Book 2 – Chapter 13
Book 1 – Chapter 8
Book 2 – Chapter 14
Book 1 – Chapter 9
Book 2 – Chapter 15 & 16
Book 1 – Chapter 10
Book 2 – Chapter 17
Book 1 – Chapter 11 & 12
Book 2 – Chapter 18
Book 1 – Chapter 13 & 14
Book 2 – Chapter 19
Book 1 – Chapter 15 & 16
Book 2 – Chapter 20, 21 & 22
Book 1 – Chapter 17
Book 2 – Chapter 23
Book 1 – Chapter 18
Book 2 – Chapter 24
Book 1 – Chapter 19 & 20
Book 2 – Chapter 25
Book 1 – Chapter 21 & 22
Book 2 – Chapter 26 & 27
Book 1 – Epilogue
Book 2 – Epilogue (be sure to save for last!)

The story opens up with Travis and Abby both attending Eastern University. She is a freshman, but Travis has a few years of College under his belt. Abby’s best friend, America is dating Travis’ cousin/roommate, Shepley. Their first meeting takes place at one of Travis’ underground fights hosted by the “Circle”. He spots her in the crowd and is instantly smitten and so their whirlwind romance begins. Nothing short of a roller-coaster with Abby’s secrets and Travis’ past. They are perfect together, yet their story will be filled with many ups and downs:

“Now that it’s over, I wish I could have all the bad stuff back… just so I could have the good.”

Travis ‘Mad Dog’ Maddox is larger-than-life. He is everything I could ask for in a hero and so much more. Until he met Abby he was an enigmatic, hard, cocky, short-tempered and unattainable man-whore. It is revealed early on that he lost his mother at age three and was left to be raised by his oldest brother while his father recovered from the loss of his wife. His mother had this advice for him on her death bed:

“One of these days you’re going to fall in love, son. Don’t settle for just anyone. Choose the girl that doesn’t come easy, the one you have to fight for…”

He grew up not letting anyone in. He has love for his five brothers and his father plus his cousin, but no woman has ever held his attention until Abby.

“I decided a long time ago I would feed on the vultures until a dove came along. A pigeon. The kind of soul that didn’t impede on anyone; just walked around worrying about its own business, trying to get through life without pulling everyone else down with its own needs and selfish habits. Brave. A communicator. Intelligent. Beautiful. Soft-spoken. A creature that mates for life. Unattainable until she has a reason to trust you.”

Abby Abernathy has a past and secrets. Attending Eastern University is a new beginning for her. She has it all planned out from staying focused and keeping her distance to the type of man she wants to date. Travis does not fit the bill:

“He was the worst kind of confident. Not only was he shamelessly aware of his appeal, he was so used to women throwing themselves at him that he regarded my cool demeanor as refreshing instead of an insult.”

Instead she agrees to be his friend:

“His eyes widened and he quivered with howling laughter. “Oh my God! You’re killing me! That’s it. We have to be friends. I won’t take no for an answer.”

But all too soon they spend all their time fighting their attraction to each other. Abby manages to be annoying about it while Travis is intense, adorable, possessive and insecure all at once. Because Abby is what Travis wants you’ll find yourself rooting for him and for them and for their happily-ever-after.

“You like Pigeon,” he said defensively. “It’s a dove, an attractive girl, a winning card in poker, take your pick. You’re my Pigeon.”

Jamie McGuire is an excellent storyteller! Travis Maddox is an unforgettable hero! The Beautiful series is an epic must-read!

“I didn’t know I was lost until you found me. I didn’t know what alone was until the first night I spent without you in my bed. You’re the one thing I’ve got right. You’re what I’ve been waiting for, Pigeon.”

***
Hero rating: 5+ stars
Heroine rating: 3.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4.5 stars
Storyline concept rating: 5 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): 5 stars
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Overall rating: 5 stars

Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.