BEAUTIFULLY CRUEL (Beautifully Cruel #1) by J.T. GEISSINGER

“I’m not afraid of you. I’m afraid for you, for all the things I want from you that I think you just might give.”

Beautifully Cruel by J.T Geissinger was everything we’d hoped for. It had an enigmatic, dark, and broody, controlling and incredibly addictive anti-hero, Liam Black, who we were immediately compelled by. The push-pull between Liam and Truvy was intense, and the obsession, addictive. The attraction whilst seemingly insta, is so much more than that, and as the story progresses the culmination of various moments literally blows up the pages into a wonderful, hot, and thrilling crescendo. The passion was palpable and the nuggets of humour from Truvy, irresistible. Liam Black was a puzzle we could not wait to put together to get the full picture of exactly who he was and why everyone was so intimidated and terrified of him. We wouldn’t necessarily call Beautifully Cruel a typical dark mafia romance as the gritty, dark, and violent is not threaded through the story as such. Neither is it particularly dark. Rather it is hinted at it instead. However, what it does have though, is a dark and thrilling mafia atmosphere as a backdrop for what is essentially an intense and unusual love story. A love story we fell in complete book love with.

“I’ve never seen any man look at any woman the way that fucker looks at you.”
“How does he look at me?”
“Like he’ll die if he doesn’t.”

One of our pet peeves is when a character doesn’t stay true to who they are and do a complete 360 personality change for their love interest. In our view it makes the character lose who and what they are, and the love affair loses that fundamental reason for why two characters fell in love in the first place. Especially if there’s no gradual character development to substantiate it. We have to say that this Author wrote Liam Black perfectly. As the mystery unravelled and Truvy drew him out from the impenetrable shield he wore, his inner hidden parts of that magnetic persona came out, his vulnerabilities brought on by his tragic past were revealed and the force of his passion and love exposed. We LOVED that! As for Truvy, she really was a larger-than-life character, she had real courage, strength, and a fierce sense of who she is and what she wants. Analytical with a sharp wit. Truvy may just be the only person who at no point feels frightened or threatened by Liam Black!

“I can’t stop thinking about you.”
“Good. I’d hate to think this insanity was one-sided.”

If you love anti-hero romances, with mafia undertones and that push-pull angst that goes hand in hand, then you should definitely add Beautifully Cruel by J.T Geissinger to your to-read list. Fabulously written, captivating, and passionate, characters that’ll steal your hearts and thoughts, we highly recommend both the book and this Author. Truvy is a superb heroine who stays savvy, sassy and satisfyingly sarcastic in her banter.  And oh…. Liam Black just catapulted himself into our top list of sexy, dark, and dangerous heroes!

“No, you’re not my fuck toy,” he says against my neck, his voice husky. “You’re my queen bee. My unhealthy obsession. The reason I haven’t been able to sleep in a goddamn year.”