Beautiful Bastard

By: Christina Lauren

Narrated by: Grace Grant

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)

Can I have an order of sexual tension please?,

Oh my... Chloe and Bennett... a couple clearly walking that thin line between love and hate or perhaps I should say "lust" and hate. Whew, what a steamy ride this book was and so very entertaining. If you're looking for a large order of sexual tension then pour yourself a glass of wine, cozy up on the couch and dive into this steamy little story. I have to say that I was surprised at how much I really liked Bennett by the end. I went into the book clearly ready to toss him under a bus (via the title). But, despite all of the name calling, pantie ripping and animalistic behavior... this did end up being for me a really intense and fun love story. Love born through hate... now how can that not be romantic!

still my favorite of the series

I know the other reviewers want more storyline and I'm not disagreeing that this is lacking that - but I'm not reading this for Pulitzer-worthy storylines. This is maybe a little cheesier than the others, but it's still better than a lot of the romance on the market these days. Christina Lauren, you're alright in my book. This was actually my favorite in the series - but I love an office romance.

Loved this book!!!

If you could sum up Beautiful Bastard in three words, what would they be?

Best sex ever!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked the beautiful bastard the most. I liked listening to his side of the situation that he and Chole found them selves themselves in.

Which scene was your favorite?

The very end when the beautiful bastard finally realized that he loved Chole. I loved how raw his process of realization was.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The best hate-fill sex you've ever seen!

Loved this book!!

Would you listen to Beautiful Bastard again? Why?

Yes I will probably listen to this several times before the next one is released.

What did you like best about this story?

This book had everything, a story plot you could get into, telling the story from both main characters so you know how they both feel and a great romance.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I wish the narrator had more of a difference between her woman and man voices but other than that she did a great job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There is but I don't want to tell it might give something away

Any additional comments?

I looked at this book several times contemplating whether or not to buy it. I am so glad I finally did! I listened to it in from beginning to end, spacing out making sure to listen to every word!

OMG

What did you love best about Beautiful Bastard?

I loved the entire book.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bennett. I just love him in general.

Have you listened to any of Grace Grant’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

yes.. the others in this series. She is great. I loved her inflections and how she portrayed the characters.

DELICIOUS

It was Amazing. A wonderfully DELICIOUS and addictive read. I couldn't put it down. I was very impressed by the narrator and her distinction of characters. Thank You

Loved It !

Just The Male Voice Didn't Satisfy Me , But Besides That I Lovvedd It ! I Recommend It

ENTERTAINED.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book. The narrator did a fantastic job. Author wrote a great book. I highly recommend this book.

good book

it was a good book when you're bored at work and need something to listen to get this

Nocturne Reads: New Guilty Pleasure

What did you love best about Beautiful Bastard?

The character development is what made this book stand out the most. At first, I hated Chloe. She was irritating and tried way to hard to show off her "big girl panties", and Bennett was just plain rude. Not in a sexy way either. However, as the story progressed, the two characters came into their own. Started acting like adults with reservations and less like children or snapping turtles. And it was the writing of Christina Lauren that made that happen. I was amazed when I finished and could not tell you where Chloe and Bennett became a fantastic couple. Lauren makes the transition so seamlessly, so naturally, that it is a transition that could happen in real life.

Any additional comments?

Book Review

BEAUTIFUL BASTARD is an excellent story about frustrating people and scorching sex! I enjoyed every second of Chloe and Bennett's story, and I think Christina Lauren may have just become one of my new guilty pleasures. To have been written in parts by two different authors, and even by one person, the writing is superb. I felt like I could really understand Chloe and Bennett and each's side of the story. The character development is what made this book stand out the most. At first, I hated Chloe. She was irritating and tried way to hard to show off her "big girl panties", and Bennett was just plain rude. Not in a sexy way either. However, as the story progressed, the two characters came into their own. Started acting like adults with reservations and less like children or snapping turtles. And it was the writing of Christina Lauren that made that happen. I was amazed when I finished and could not tell you where Chloe and Bennett became a fantastic couple. Lauren makes the transition so seamlessly, so naturally, that it is a transition that could happen in real life.

While this story may not be the most original, there are a lot of handsome, rich, bastard men in books right now, it is the writing and the characters that take the fore front above the story. I am very excited about BEAUTIFUL BITCH, and cannot wait to get BEAUTIFUL STRANGER on audiobook soon!

Narration Review

Grace Grant does a fantastic job narrating this story! She has her own lit and voices for each character, and I could feel Chloe and Bennett through the emotion she put into her voice. The only complaint I had was, at first, having a female voice of Bennett really threw me off and took me out of the story. I became used to it, and it no longer bothered me, but that initial hour or so made it harder to stay focused. In part, this is likely because Chloe and Bennett's point of view changes without warning. It could be hard to tell which was which for several paragraphs because Ms. Grant had to do both characters.

I have heard that BEAUTIFUL STRANGER brings in a male for the male protagonist, and I am so glad! Grace Grant comes back, and that is even better!