Beautiful Disaster

Amazon Blurb-

**For mature readers. Contains sexual situations and strong language**

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn't drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend America, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.


Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs--and wants--to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the charming college co-ed. Intrigued by Abby's resistance to his charms, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis' apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.
*****

I liked this book. It's the first YA I've read since Twilight and I am not sorry. This really could be adult fiction as I said in my monthly wrap up post since it dealt with a bit of a heavier storyline. I didn't find it tedious or childish at all.

Abby Abernathy is trying to escape her past in a new town going to college where no one knows who she is. Her best friend America, who's family has somewhat adopted her, comes with her so that she isn't alone. Starting fresh she wants to steer clear of anyone or thing that is remotely like her past. Well into her life struts, or I should say punches, Travis Maddox the college hottie/bad boy/everyone wants to be with/ guy.

Travis Maddox, he is something. Oh yes he is most certainly the school bad boy. He makes his money by being in a Fight Club. That's all I'm gonna say about that cuz everyone knows the first rule of Fight Club is you DO NOT talk about Fight Club. He is brash, full of himself, covered in tats, drinks like a fish, smokes, has a rockin body, oh and happens to be a straight A student...my adoration for the bad boy doesn't show too much does it ;)

Abby is a smart pretty confident girl. Such a nice change from mousey clumsy plain Jane who wonders how the stud could possibly like her. She's a hustler in the gambling sense, she's a card shark and I love that!! The opportunity of a bet just gets her going, and this is where one of my criticisms comes in but I'll touch on that in a minute. Try as she might to avoid her feelings for Travis, it becomes impossible especially when she lives with him after the loss of her bet. Its not that she feels he's not a good person or not good enough for her. Quite the contrary, she keeps telling him how good he is. Its the lifestyle she wants to avoid, it being the rough and tumble fly by the seat of your pants adrenaline rush of an existence.

The struggles the two contend with as they move from being friends, and they truly are friends, to becoming lovers is sometimes very painful to read. They love each other very much but they are so volatile together. He is uber alpha literally beating the crap out of any guy who he perceives as wanting his Pidge. Her dorm mate Kara asks "don't you think its a bit unhealthy that he is so dependent on you." And here is where some will agree or disagree.

I don't think Travis is obsessed with Abby. Yes McGuire rides the cusp here big time. He is possessive of her, he adores her, and he is miserable without her. The two are very intense and passionate. Their love is very special and not many have relationships on that deep of a level so it may be hard to comprehend especially since the two are so young. Abby is not afraid of Travis. He never threatens her nor abuses her at all. He was fine on his own he's just learned that life with Abby makes him even better. She "completes" him :p I couldn't resist, heehee. True he his a tough mofo, but she's no wallflower herself. Obsessive love is no love at all. Telling someone I won't live without you or let you live is sick, telling someone you can do whatever you want just don't ever leave me is sick. That is not the case here in my opinion.

My criticisms - I would have liked to see the supporting characters fleshed out more and gotten to know them better. I liked America, Shepley, and Finch. I couldn't understand the reason for not revealing her past till so deep in. It isn't a story spoiler, the fact that her father is a piece of crap just would have added to it. That she loved the thrill of the bet yet wanted to escape her past was a bit of a contradiction. One would think she'd avoid all things that were remotely like her childhood. That just may be me though.  The ending seemed like a cop out on McGuire's part. It didn't ruin the book for me but it just didn't mesh with the rest of the story.   I was not happy with the ending.

This probably would make a great book club book just for the shear amount of discussion one could have over this subject matter. I'm sure I haven't touched on every point to be made but I've gone on long enough :)

The author is writing a book from Travis' pov which she says is not a sequel but will have a great epilogue so you get a glimpse of their future, and she is doing a B.D. spinoff on his brother Trent

All in all, if you like extreme alphas, don't mind some serious a$$ kicking read this book you'll enjoy it.

4 cannolis