Review: Beautiful Oblivion - Jamie McGuire

Fiercely independent Camille "Cami" Camlin gladly moved on from her childhood before it was over. She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn't have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with her first weekend off in almost a year.

Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt.

Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlour to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red.

As the baby sister of four rowdy brothers, Cami believes she'll have no problem keeping her new friendship with Trenton Maddox strictly platonic. But when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever - even if she is the only reason their already broken family could fall apart.

Beautiful Series:
Beautiful Disaster
Walking Disaster
A Beautiful Wedding (Novella)
Beautiful Oblivion
Beautiful Redemption (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Jamie McGuire's website for more information

Review:
As a fan of Beautiful Disaster I had high hopes for this book, I was looking forward to getting to know Travis's brothers better and we already had a bit of a connection with Trent from his appearances in previous books so I was definitely expecting a lot from his story. Unfortunately I had a lot of trouble actually reading this book, in some ways it felt incredibly slow paced and whenever I had to put it down I never felt that urgent desperation to get back to it that I felt with the earlier books.

I think my main issues were with the fact that Cami already has a boyfriend, he lives in California so it's a long distance relationship and she hardly ever sees or speaks to him but that almost makes it worse. I just couldn't for the life of me figure out why she was clinging to their relationship so desperately when it seemed fairly obvious that she wasn't a priority for T.J. It also irritated me that she was spending so much time with Trent, obviously developing feelings for him, and pretty much stringing both guys along at the same time. To be fair to her she did keep telling Trent that they were just friends but from the way she was acting around him she was definitely encouraging him to think they could be something more than that. Don't even get me started on the twist at the end - that just made Cami's behaviour seem even more inappropriate and I actually wanted to see both guys walk away and leave her on her own. Just because she'd told Trent she was keeping secrets and warned him that he would hate her when he found out the truth doesn't excuse her actions!

Trent has apparently been in love with Cami for years, he had a crush on her when they were at school together but it has taken years of him being a player and working his way through the female population of the town before he decides to make a move on her. I could understand why Cami was wary of being another notch on Trent's bedpost but I couldn't understand why Trent had left it so long to show her he was interested, especially considering he knows that she is in a relationship now. It just didn't make sense to me that he's had feelings for so long and done nothing about them and I would have found their relationship much more believable if they'd only just met or he had a better excuse for not letting her know how he felt. As it was it just seemed like one minute he was all over anyone in a skirt and the next his whole world revolved around Cami. Why the sudden obsession with her?

In a lot of ways Beautiful Oblivion has less drama than Beautiful Disaster which I initially thought would be a good thing, Cami and Trent are more of a normal couple than Abby and Travis and I enjoyed seeing them spend time together and just hanging out as friends but their relationship felt lacking somehow. Most of the tension comes from Cami's refusal to break up with T.J. and from drama in her roommate Ray's relationships and it just wasn't quite enough to hold my attention or to make this a truly addictive read. This story runs alongside events in Beautiful Disaster so you do get some insight into Travis and Abby's relationship through Cami's eyes but if I'm honest even that was unsatisfactory. I feel like I already know all there is to know about the previous couple and I wanted more of a focus on Trent and Cami since this is supposed to be their story.

Beautiful Oblivion isn't a bad book though and it was a pleasant read that I'm sure fans of the series will enjoy. These Maddox boys are all hotties and I'm still curious enough about the rest of the brothers to want to carry on reading the series. I just hope that in the next book Jamie McGuire manages to recreate that addictive feeling of the first two books.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: A Beautiful Wedding - Jamie McGuire

You know that Abby Abernathy unexpectedly became Mrs. Maddox. But what do you really know?

Why did Abby pop the question?
What secrets were shared before the ceremony?
Where did they spend their wedding night?
Who else knew about it . . . and didn’t tell?

Everything about Abby and Travis’s elopement was top-secret . . . until now. Fans of Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster will get all of their questions answered in this whirlwind tale of the wedding day (and night!)—and as with all good stories, this one will definitely have been worth the wait.

Beautiful Series:
Beautiful Disaster
Walking Disaster
A Beautiful Wedding (Novella)
Beautiful Oblivion
Beautiful Redemption (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Jamie McGuire's website for more information

Review:
A Beautiful Wedding finally gives fans the chance to find out the motivations behind Abby and Travis's elopement and rushed wedding in Las Vegas. I never could understand Abby's motivations for getting married so quickly, it seemed like something Travis would be on board with but I hadn't been convinced that it was something that Abby would have gone along with so I was really interested to see her reasoning.

This is a novella so it's a very quick and easy read, I can't say I was thrilled with Abby's thought processes and her reasons for rushing into marriage (I really don't think they would have had the effect that she was aiming for on a police investigation!) but I could kind of understand why she was so desperate to attempt it. I don't doubt that she is as crazy about Travis as he is about her though and the wedding ceremony was quite amusing to read about.

I'm still totally confused about why Abby chose that particular tattoo though. I think getting someone's name tattooed on yourself is probably one of the daftest things you can do (unless you're getting the name of your child or a close family member) but it would be far easier for me to understand Abby getting "Travis" as a tattoo than "Mrs Maddox". Who in their right mind gets their own name tattooed on them? Did she do it just in case she suffers from amnesia one day and can't remember who she is any more? I have no explanation!

Overall I'd say that A Beautiful Wedding is a nice addition to the series for anyone who is a huge fan of this couple but it isn't unmissable and I'd be tempted to suggest borrowing it from the library or reading a friend's copy before you decide whether to buy it for yourself.

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Red Hill - Jamie McGuire

I know the world ended on a Friday. It was the last day I saw my children . . .

For Scarlet, raising two daughters alone means fighting for tomorrow is an everyday battle. Nathan, desperately clinging to a dead-end job and a loveless marriage, survives purely for his little girl, Zoe. Whilst Miranda's biggest problem is driving her sister home from college with their boyfriends, whilst keeping her new Mini Cooper scratch free.

When news comes of a deadly epidemic, panic seeps into homes all over the world and chaos ensues . . . Knowing that they can't outrun the danger, they all head for shelter and security at the same secluded ranch - Red Hill.

When a normal day spins out of control and the world comes crashing to an end, how far will they go to save their loved ones? Would you slow down to help a stranger if you were both running for your lives?

Set against the backdrop of a brilliantly realised apocalyptic world, love somehow finds a way to survive. But what happens when the one you'd die for becomes the one who could destroy you?

Visit Jamie McGuire's website for more information

Review:
The end of the world started off just like any other normal day, people were going to work and getting on with their lives as usual when the virus hit. It spread faster than anyone could ever have imagined and killed everyone who was infected, the victims refused to stay dead though and when they came back they were hungry, hungry for human flesh.

Red Hill is told from three different points of view; you have Scarlet the single mother who has been separated from her two daughters and will do whatever it takes to find them again; Nathan who is just trying to find somewhere safe for himself and his young daughter Zoe; and finally you have Miranda who was on her way to spend the weekend at her father's ranch with her sister Ashley and their boyfriends Bryce and Cooper. These three characters start out as strangers but when their paths cross they have to work together as a group to survive.

I have to say really enjoyed watching each of the character's journey to the ranch, seeing the way they reacted when the news of the virus first started spreading, watching them fight their way across the country looking for safety as they tried to figure out what was happening, seeing them face their worst nightmares as friends and family members succumbed to the virus and turned into enemies, all of that was really interesting and made me question my own ability to survive in the event of a zombie apocalypse - I'll confess I don't like my chances! The story makes you ask difficult questions, how far would you be prepared to go to survive? What would you do to protect your loved ones? Would you be brave enough to risk your life for a complete stranger?

I did find that once the group arrived at Red Hill the story slowed down though, once they'd settled into a routine and started getting to know each other I felt myself getting a little bored. The romances that start to develop seemed a little rushed and unbelievable but I did like how conflicted Scarlet felt about finding any kind of happiness when she still didn't know what had happened to her daughters. I thought that was quite an honest reaction and it made sense to me, what I struggled with was the fact that she was able to sit around hoping her daughters would find her. She does start to get a little more proactive towards the end but it was a little too late in some ways and I didn't like the way she was willing to put the others at risk for her own goals. Really I just felt that life became a bit too easy for them all when they got to the ranch, I know it was mentioned that the owner had prepared for a potential disaster but it was hard to believe that it was quite so well stocked with food and other supplies for so many people. It just didn't make sense that they weren't having to go hunting for supplies more regularly.

The story is well written, I was engaged with the characters and cared about what happened to them but it did feel like this was a story I've read before. I don't really read many zombie apocalypse stories so this surprised me and I have a feeling that anyone who is a huge fan of this genre would be even more disappointed. It was a shame we're not given much of an explanation for what caused the virus and how it spread so quickly and I was confused by the military response (or lack of it) until very near the end of the book. The ending felt a bit rushed and failed to answer many of my questions which did make me wonder if we'll get a sequel in the future. I'm not sure if there is enough story left to tell for a whole other book though. It's hard to rate this book, in a lot of ways I really enjoyed it, especially the action throughout the first half of the book, but I did feel let down by the ending and that coloured my view of the story as a whole.

Source: Received from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Walking Disaster - Jamie McGuire

UK Cover

How much is too much to love?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. Just when he thought he was invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Jamie McGuire's New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster Abby had her say. Now it's time to see the story through Travis's eyes.

Beautiful Series:
Beautiful Disaster
Walking Disaster
A Beautiful Wedding (Novella)
Beautiful Oblivion
Beautiful Redemption (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Jamie McGuire's website for more information

Review:
Anyone who fell in love with Travis Maddox when they read Beautiful Disaster will have been desperately waiting to get their hands on Walking Disaster to see the story again from his point of view. Although the story is essentially the same this version skips over some events from the previous book and adds a lot of extra scenes that we hadn't seen before so there is plenty to hold your attention as you read. I wouldn't recommend reading Travis's version of events until after you've read Abby's POV though because I think the way some things have been skimmed over would make it harder to follow this story if you're not already familiar with the way events played out.

Learning more about Travis's family and seeing the way his mother's death effected him really gives you insight into why he acts in the way he does. Travis makes no apologies for his behaviour and I don't always agree with his actions but now I feel like I can understand him so much more than before. Whatever you think about Abby and Travis's relationship (and I said in my review of Beautiful Disaster that it isn't exactly the kind of relationship we should be hoping to emulate!) there is something compelling about watching the two of them together. They push each other's buttons and they're constantly arguing but at the same time they have this undeniable connection that neither of them is able to walk away from.

We already knew from his behaviour that Travis has issues but seeing inside his head shows just how badly he has been hurt in the past and how much he deeply cares about Abby. One of the things I enjoyed most about Walking Disaster was seeing the relationship between Travis, his four older brothers and their father. The whole family lost their centre when his mother died but they have become even closer since then. The brothers argue and rib each other constantly but each of them would drop anything if one of the others needed them. We get to see a lot more of Trent and Thomas in this book which is fantastic because Jamie McGuire is planning on writing their stories in the future and I definitely want to spend more time getting to know them.

Fans of Travis are going to love getting inside his head in Walking Disaster, he is just as obsessed, possessive and overbearing as you expect him to be but he is also protective, caring and deep down incredibly vulnerable. If you already had a soft spot for him you're going to be head over heels by the time you finish reading this book!

Source: Initially received from publisher via NetGalley but I also received a print copy from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Beautiful Disaster - Jamie McGuire

GOOD GIRL
Abby Abernathy doesn't drink or swear and she works hard. Abby believes she has buried her dark past, but when she arrives at college, her dreams of a new beginning are quickly challenged by the university's walking one-night stand.

BAD BOY
Travis Maddox, sexy, built, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs - and wants - to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight club, and his days as the notorious college Lothario.

IMMINENT DISASTER?
Intrigued by Abby's resistance to his charms, Travis tricks her into his life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain celibate for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis's apartment for the same amount of time.

OR THE START OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL?
Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match. Or that this is the start of an obsessive, intense relationship that will lead them both into unimaginable territory . . .

Beautiful Series:
Beautiful Disaster
Walking Disaster
A Beautiful Wedding (Novella)
Beautiful Oblivion
Beautiful Redemption (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Jamie McGuire's website for more information

Review:
It's hard to know where to start when it comes to reviewing Beautiful Disaster. This is the kind of book that readers have either loved or hated and I have to admit to enjoying every minute of it. If you want to read about a perfect and healthy relationship then this isn't going to be the book for you but if you like your stories with a lot of angst between two dysfunctional people then you'll be completely hooked. Whether you end up loving or hating it you are pretty much guaranteed to have a strong reaction to this novel and if you ask me that is the most important thing I look for when I'm reading a book. I want to have characters I connect with and care about - even if I don't agree with the decisions they make or their actions.

Abby has moved across the country with her best friend America wanting to start a new life where nobody knows about her past. She is determined to be the good girl, the one who works hard, finishes her homework and doesn't spend her time going out partying. The last thing she expects or wants is to attract the attention of Travis - the campus bad boy, king of one night stands and boy every girl wants to be with. But with America dating Travis's best friend Shepley they are thrown together socially. Abby has no intention of being another notch on Travis's bed post and is determined to remain immune to his charms but Travis isn't used to being turned down. The very fact that Abby tries to resist him makes him want her even more and when a bet ends up forcing them to spend more and more time together sparks are bound to fly.

I don't want to say too much about the story line because this is a very character driven novel, in fact until towards the end of the book the focus is very much on the developing friendship between Travis and Abby. Do you remember the intensity of your first relationship? When you couldn't stand to be apart for even a minute and everything was so new and exciting? Jamie McGuire has captured that feeling perfectly in Beautiful Disaster, thankfully my first relationship wasn't quite as obsessive as this one but it was just as intense!

You can probably guess from the title that things aren't all plain sailing and at times watching their interactions is almost painful. They both have issues from their pasts and they both behave in inappropriate ways that cause each other pain. I'm never going to say that I agree with some of the things Travis does - he is controlling and has issues with a violent temper (I will point out that he never raises a hand to Abby in case that is something you're worried about) - but I also felt that Abby knew exactly how to push his buttons and at times was trying to provoke a strong reaction in him. That doesn't make his reaction right but I don't think her behaviour was any better. I found myself just as irritated with the way she constantly played Travis and Parker off against each other as I was with the way Travis reacted to it.

When their relationship works it really is wonderful to watch but when things go wrong you'll find yourself unable to look away from the horror of it. In a lot of ways Beautiful Disaster works as a "how not to have a successful relationship" guide because I certainly wouldn't want to encourage anyone to emulate or accept behaviour like either Travis's or Abby's but that doesn't make it any less engaging to read about them. I think most of us are capable of separating reality and fantasy and I have to confess I had fallen for Travis in spite of his issues by the end of the book. I think this quote from one of their friends (I think it was Shep but I didn't make a note of who said it) sums up their relationship perfectly:

"You're a goddamn tornado! When you're happy, it's love and peace and butterflies. When you're pissed, you take the whole fucking world down with you!"

Beautiful Disaster is an addictive read, it is a story that you will obsess over with complex and flawed characters who you will love and hate with equal intensity. It's been a while since I had such a strong connection to characters in this age range and I can't tell you how excited I am to read the sequel when it releases next year. Walking Disaster will be the same story but told from Travis's point of view (although it will also include extra scenes) and I can't wait to get inside his head and understand exactly what he was thinking during the major events!

Source: Initially received from publisher via NetGalley but I also received a print copy from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review

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If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

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