Disastrous

Disastrous #1

by E.L. Montes

THE sequel to Disastrous titled Cautious is scheduled to be released May 23, 2013. Cautious will be the second and final book of the series.

After struggling with the loss of yet another person so dear to her heart, Mia Sullivan channeled her frustration and loneliness into focusing on her future career. At the top of her class at Harvard Law, she was nervous and excited when given the opportunity to work as a summer intern at one of the top firms in Boston. Her new boss was the young, extraordinarily handsome, and successful Marcus DeLuca. As she falls for his charms, she discovers he is keeping something from her.

Marcus DeLuca was living two separate lives: one that involved his successful career and the other that could potentially ruin his entire reputation. His secret could jeopardize not only his life but everyone he loves. There was no room in his life for a serious romantic relationship, but after meeting Mia, he makes room. He cannot resist her. She is innocent, humble, and pure—the total opposite of him. She distracts him from all of his deep dark secrets. He knows once Mia finds out the things he has done and who he truly is, she will never want to look at him again. Deep down he knows he must stay away, but he can't.

Mia and Marcus are heading down a path of love, lies, heartbreak, and betrayal. Can their love conquer all, or will the web of deceit be too much to overcome?

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Erotica, College, Adult

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 23, 2012

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author, E.L. Montes lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her husband, Alex, and their English Bulldog name Butters! She has a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies.

Ms. Montes, works full-time as a paralegal for a mid-size law firm. She had always loved the legal field and found it to be very interesting. She more so "secretly" loved to write. Disastrous was her debut novel which was released October 2012.

FOLLOW MS. MONTES BELOW:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/E.L.MontesAu...

TWITTER: @EmmyMontes

WEBSTIE: WWW.BOOKSBYELMONTES.COM

Reviews

[Sláinte Wanderlust · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three words off the top of my head to describe this book - Drama, Sex & Emotion.

They meet
He is all



She is all



They go away on holiday together, work together, spend a lot of times playing hide the salami & fall inlove. Cue drama.

She is like


He is like

then apparently because they shag instead of talking out their problems.
He is like



So as always they shag it out,
cue more drama & arguments. Then bad stuff happens

She is like


He is like


Then I am all



But he is stubborn & he is like






And being a total pushover she is like
(teeheehee)


So then i am like

but just so you know...


& then i read the epilogue and i am like..


Click here to visit my book review blog

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mia is just finishing her first year of Law at




She meets Mr Tall, Dark and Handsome and within a week they are off to




Mia’s brother had been killed some months earlier. He used to work for




But there were many



Marcus works for Uncle Lou who is



Yes



Even so



No, it was not all going to be a Bed of




He thought it could all be solved with a quick




… and everything would be



BUT



So she decided that she has to



Then she sees him again and Marcus …



But he is



So standing in the




They decide to




But that was not




Because




Found out



And Uncle Lou is not a




So we have to



For



Which is





To see if they will get their





SO ….

[Keri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I purchased this book as soon as it was released and was excited to read it. Great story line but....what a letdown. First, totally unrealistic start - I understand that fiction is just that - not real - but for me a story needs to be at least a little believable. Second, the writing felt odd. Some parts were just so descriptive (how she is getting ready to go out for a date) and then others that were more significant to the book were too fast. It felt that if the characters were in their teens, it may have been more realistic.... The main character, Marcus, is about 29 and has never, ever dated. Really? Come on......and he meets Mia at a bar (she is very drunk) and immediately knows that she is the one that he wants to finally "date". He asks her to date him after telling her he has never dated. Just odd. Marcus tells Mia a few days into the relationship "Thank you for coming and giving me a chance. You don’t know how much it means to me that you were willing to do this." Do what!!!! Date a devastatingly handsome, rich, well known attorney that was warm and kind...... The book also went way to fast - if the author would have spent some time building the relationship and or attraction between the two characters, among other things, I probably could have enjoyed the book more. Again, the premise of the story is good - romance, drama, some mystery - etc. but again, the way the characters get together is just so unbelievable. You can easily figure out in the very first part of the book what the big secret is. I am pretty sure the author did not intentionally put it out there - it was just very simple to figure it out based upon the writing. Would have been nice to build that up a little more too vs. letting it all out in the open right away. Finally, to reiterate, I felt this book was very rushed - if the author would have taken a little more time to develop the characters and the story, I think I could have really enjoyed it because the storyline had potential.

[E.L. Montes · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT'S NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON:

http://www.amazon.com/Disastrous-Seri...

I'm the author of this book, so I maybe a little bias. Hehehe. But I hope you all enjoy! <3

[Tough Critic Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has totally manipulated me into giving it another star...

That is how you do a prologue my friends! A hook? Try thousands of tiny hands shooting out from between the pages and grabbing every single part of my body. I was vibrating with anticipation! However, what came next is why I almost...I did...but then I didn't...I did again...but changed my mind...and almost gave it 3-stars.

Marcus and Mia's relationship didn't develop in a way that made me really care whether or not they were together. In fact, I really didn't even like them together (at first). I saw their relationship happen, but I didn't feel it happening. Don't get me wrong, I felt the physical attraction. When they were together, they were certainly together. I came undone! Again...and again!

However, I wanted the emotion behind it! I felt more for Mia and Jeremy's relationship in the beginning than I did for her and Marcus. There just wasn't anything there. Their connection just wasn't connected! Crazy enough though...after I read the bonus chapter from Marcus' POV, I finally felt connected. It made me see their relationship in a whole new light. Maybe having more of his POV in the beginning would have helped...a lot.

Finally, over half-way in...they connected!! They connected and the story blew it's wad. I was left with my mouth wide open and swallowed a huge squirt of awesome. Awesome that I really think is waiting for me in the sequel!

So what earned Disastrous that fourth star? Well riddle me this...should I give only 3-stars to a book I couldn't put down until the very last word was safely stored in my head? A book that if I had the sequel I would have jumped right in without taking a single breath, sleep be damned? A book that even though I thought I was only going to give it 3-stars I couldn't keep myself from thinking about the book all f**king day long? Is it fair to count the bonus material in your rating? Is it right to allow the ending and anticipation for the sequel save a book from 3-star isolation?

So can I give Disastrous 4-stars? Survey says...YES! My opinion spells me.

Now be warned...there are some grammatical and editing errors here and there, but I'm not your English professor so I really don't care. However, for those of you who cringe at the sight of a comma splice...LOOK AWAY and try to see what's lying beneath. This story was a little rough around the edges, but I still found myself tied completely in knots and dying for the sequel. READ ON!!

[Natasha is a Book Junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“With him I’m not just me, I’m his.”

A wonderful first book by a bright new author, this is the against-all-odds love story of Mia and Marcus, and the train-wreck that surrounds their sizzling romance.

Mia is a brilliant young woman with no family in the world. She finds it hard to trust people as those she loves and who love her tend to disappear from her life one way or another. Her losses have made her so scared to let people into her heart that she now prefers to be a quiet achiever, somewhat of a loner, counting her roommate as her only real friend. When offered to work as an extern at one of the top law firms in Boston, Mia knows she is being given the opportunity of a lifetime, never even imagining that the firm’s owner, Marcus DeLuca, would also steal her fragile little heart and never give it back.

“After losing two important men in my life, I built a wall, not allowing anyone in. Once Marcus stepped into my life, that wall slowly crumbled. Finally I’d found a man that I could trust.”

Marcus is handsome, successful, powerful, the ultimate catch. Everything in his life appears to be perfect. But under all those appearances, Marcus is a deeply troubled and lonely man who is in desperate need of a life-boat. His ‘salvation’ comes in the form of a young extern who catches his eye in a dark night-club and makes him fall head over heals in love with one simple smile. This is a scorching-hot but truly intense and intoxicating romance between a woman who is afraid to love and a man who is desperate to love.

“Being with Marcus DeLuca was draining, frustrating, confusing, and extraordinary all at the same time.”

What begins as an irresistible physical connection, very quickly develops into an equally emotional one. Marcus is the kind of man you'd want to take home to meet your mum. He is kind, gentle, honest, deeply devoted, and yet an animal in the bedroom who always puts his woman first. He loves Mia with all his heart and soul and with such desperation that I was breathless and choked up too many times to count. Marcus lives a very complicated life, an ugly part of which he frantically fights to keep Mia out of, but ugliness has a way of tainting even the purest of things and their young relationship is constantly dragged through one mess after another. Their love for another is tested relentlessly, making their story an emotional roller-coaster of epic proportions.

“That’s what love is … It’s scary not knowing what’s expected … but I know it’ll be the best frightening love we’ve ever had … I’m not perfect, Mia. And our relationship may not be perfect to you, but it is to me.”

But Mia is no passive participant in the drama that surrounds them. She is a strong and outspoken heroine that knows what she wants and is not afraid to express it. Her feelings for Marcus are just as strong as his are for her but she never loses her mind over it, acting courageously and always in their best interest, regardless of the heartbreak. She is a heroine you’d want to emulate, not slap around for her senseless decisions.

“F*ck you! You want to know who I am, Marcus. Well here it goes! I am temperamental, over-sensitive, and outspoken. I’m honest! I cry at stupid love movies, and I'm a sucker for a romantic novel. I don’t allow people to walk all over me, I have trust issues, and I have insecurities. I’ve slept with four men in my entire life! And the one thing I don’t do is take sh*t from men who try to act like they’re better than me as if they don’t have any hidden skeletons! I’m not keeping sh*t hidden, how ‘bout you? You can f*ck off. I'll find my own way home. Have a nice f*cking life!”

Ms Montes has given us two characters we feel incredibly protective of. We feel their pain and sorrow, we are deeply affected by their highs and lows, we hate the things that try to pull them apart and we root for their happy ending like mad cheerleaders on crack. I feel that there is so much these two need to sort our before they can even dream of a HEA as their dynamic is so inherently unhealthy at times, fluctuating from one extreme reaction to another. Their coping mechanisms when life becomes a bit hairy are questionable and possibly dangerous if they are to have a functional and happy relationship in the end. Sex is often used as a 'solution' rather than a way of connecting, offering them a way of sweeping issues under the rug rather than facing them. All this undoubtedly added to the overall angst of the story but it in no way gave us a picture-perfect romance to dream about. I wish more time was spent on developing their emotional connection, giving us better foundations for trusting the intensity of it rather than just the numerous references to the irresistible physical attributes of the characters. I sometimes felt a bit overwhelmed by the amount of details we were given about inconsequential things but this in no way took away from what is quite a unique and recognisable writing style.

This story will have a sequel and I cannot wait to find out what happens next. If you’re looking for a beautiful but angst-filled love story, flaming hot lovin’, suspense and mystery, something you won’t want to put down, then this is the book for you.

~ N ♥

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[Smitten's Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm... how to review Disastrous. The first half, I really struggled to connect with. I wasn't feeling the characters at all and found myself a little irritated by Mia and rolling my eyes at Marcus... I wasn't convinced by their 'love' at all. I can't put my finger on why that is, it just didn't work for me.

The second half was better. There was a lot more drama and it allowed me to put my lack of connection to the characters aside. I still wasn't entirely sucked in, but I felt there was more depth to the second half and I found it easier to invest in.

Mia frustrated me. I'm sorry but there are just some things that are unforgivable and she just seemed to lie down and roll over at the drop of a hat... perhaps my frustration was a result of not believing in their love. I felt like she needed a bit of a slap a lot of the time.

"Fuck you! You want to know who I am, Marcus. Well here it goes! I am temperamental, over-sensitive, and outspoken. I’m honest! I cry at stupid love movies, and I'm a sucker for a romantic novel. I don’t allow people to walk all over me, I have trust issues, and I have insecurities."

And Marcus just didn't really do it for me. I'm a sucker for a handsome hero and I usually fall head over heels without a much persuasion whatsoever, but Marcus just didn't float my boat I'm afraid. I didn't like his attitude early on the book; the issue with Mia's relationship with her male room mate, the secrets and lies which contradicted his request to 'get to know one another' entirely.

Being with Marcus DeLuca was draining, frustrating, confusing, and extraordinary all at the same time.

She said it! I wouldn't want Marcus as my book-boyfriend thanks. I'd end up slapping him silly and telling him to grow a pair! Either that or just rolling my eyes in disgust and walking away. His decisions irritated me.

And amongst all of this, the typos, the poor use of punctuation and the use of italics on a random word every other sentence drove me a little batty. These are things I can happily ignore if the story grips me, but all told, I found myself gritting my teeth numerous times.

I've been quite negative with this review. I didn't hate it. I liked it, I just didn't love it. Like I said, the second half made up for quite a flimsy first half in my opinion.

The ending, however... errrr, what? I assume there is a sequel, although I can't find anything written about a second book yet...? If so then I do think it'll be interesting to see what happens in the second book if it isn't priced too highly.

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[Formerly Known as Spoiler W · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Marcus's head it goes like this...

All I want to do is BANG, BANG, BANG
All I want to do is BANG, BANG, BANG

I see you looking fine in the club
All I want to do is BANG, BANG, BANG

You work for me
All I want to do is BANG, BANG, BANG

I have secret you want to know
All I want to do is BANG, BANG, BANG

When we fight
All I want to do is BANG, BANG, BANG

We kiss and make up
All I want to do is BANG, BANG, BANG

BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG

But I loved it!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcus DeLuca had to be a dangerous man because I was caving in too soon; it was just too soon to feel this attachment, to feel and want him so desperately. When something seems to good to be true, it's exactly that.

...Mia didn't stand a chance against Marcus' charms. Lesbehonest...

Mia Sullivan is a first year law student at Harvard who has worked hard to be at the top of her class. She is a loner whose mother walked out on her when she was a baby and whose brother and father have both passed. She is strong willed, beautiful, smart, and responsible. She has an amazing roommate, Jeremy, who is a very charming playboy, but also the best and only friend she has. Finishing her first year, her professor has put in an application for her to extern at one of the top law firms in the city...

It happens to be the DeLuca firm...She and Marcus meet as a happenstance at a club and the rest is basically history...There is something so intoxicating about Mia to Marcus, she is unlike any of the women who throw themselves at him normally; she is basically a breath of fresh air..

"You see, Mia, for a long time I haven't had anything like that: honesty, innocence, and pureness. After seeing it through your eyes, I never wanted or needed it more in my life."

I loved the dynamics of their relationship, they were quickly and helplessly drawn to each other... But there is a side of Marcus that Mia is kept from. A dark and dangerous secret that he constantly keeps hidden from her. She becomes aware of changes in his behavior, him leaving at late hours, sometimes cancelling and often agitated upon his return. It takes a lot for her to get him to open up, but he doesn't completely...

The prologue was intense, the story was interesting, and it had moments that practically broke my heart. I cried at things that were revealed and devastated at the outcome of said revelations. I read this book in almost one sitting because I couldn't put it down! I was gripped with their story and was also rooting for their happily ever after. There were characters I loved (his family, was amazing), and characters I loathed and made no secret about wanting very bad things to happen to them...

I thoroughly enjoyed this read and would definitely recommend it! Passion, heartache, laughter, tears, drama, intrigue. Disastrous had it ALL..and left you wanting more. This book leaves you with a cliffhanger and I am anxiously awaiting the sequel!

4.5 solid stars from me! Can love conquer all? Can the amount of love you have for someone take place of everything that seems to be trying to keep you apart? No matter how frightening it is to take that leap, would you take that leap for the one you love? I loved that Marcus was new to whole idea of love, but made no qualms about letting Mia know just how special she was:

Marcus and Mia




"That's what love is....It's scary not knowing what's expected, but I know it'll be the best frightening love we've ever had."

[Anja · Rating 4 out of 5]

MARCUS I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming...

.. off to the next book!

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know, I know I bet you thinking “huh, you only rated it two stars?” Yeh, my rating sucks! Even after all the good ratings you’ve all seen about this book but for me, Disastrous was a disastrous read and no matter how much I tried, I just didn’t enjoy it.

The story follows Mia Sullivan who is still trying to get over the loss of her brother and all the other people that she has lost in the last few years. Because of this, Mia doesn’t let many people in, other than her best friend Jeremy. So when she meets Marcus DeLuca – her new gorgeous boss, she starts questioning if she can really let him in but Marcus is pretty persistent that he wants Mia in his life. As Mia and Marcus takes steps towards a relationship, Mia realises that Marcus is hiding secrets that could destroy their relationship and could also destroy Marcus’s professional life as a top lawyer. Can they overcome Marcus’s problems or will it destroy their love?

I can see I’m in not with the minority who enjoyed this book – which surprises me because most of my Goodreads buddies loved it and generally, we usually have the same taste but again, this just proves that not every book is for everyone. Now I have to admit, I did really started to like the book to start with, but the more I read, the more I lost interest, and the more I lost interest, the more I started to pick apart the characters and then started to hate them. I kept reading though hoping they would redeem themselves or change but if anything, I felt things just spiralled more out of control and they never did really redeem themselves.

Mia, I found was a hard character to like. I felt for her situation losing the people that she loved but she’s a very rash person – one that overreacts to the smallest thing and I found myself rolling my eyes at her more than once. Not only that but she changes her mind far too quickly for my liking. One minute she was happy and glad she’d found Marcus, and within a few pages, she was sad and wishing she could forget about him. Now, I know that’s Mia’s prerogative to change her mind but where I thought the author was trying to show us Mia was indecisive because of how Marcus’s presence affects her, then if I’m right, I think the author failed to deliver it because, if anything, Mia just came across annoying in my opinion. I just wanted her to stick with one feeling or thought and follow through on it.

Now Marcus, as a male lead, didn’t appeal to me the more I got to know him. He came across as a broody, alpha male guy but the more the story went on, the weaker he became. I’ve lost count how many times he said the words “Sorry” or “Please” – I felt as though he was just begging Mia all the way through the book. He has two sides of him, the professional lawyer by day and the mafia helper by night. Both which did not fit his character and he was too weak to be either of them. His feelings for Mia just seemed over the top – he fell head over heels in love with her and I just don’t think it worked well within the story.

The story itself was too overdone. I didn’t believe the characters reactions to things nor did I believe the general story line. The relationship between Mia and Marcus went far too fast and the author told us several times what the characters did rather than showing us. One of the most important scenes for me was when Mia and Marcus went away at the start of the book, but we only see a glimpse into the start of their relationship, and I felt if the author had showed us how their love developed rather than told it, it would have been more believable.

All in all, I was hoping Disastrous was going to be fantastic but in all, I was disappointed. However because of how many people loved this book, I’d still recommend you read it and try it for yourself.

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

“That’s what love is … It’s scary not knowing what’s expected, but I know it’ll be the best frightening love we’ve ever had.”

Mia Sullivan is a brilliant Harvard Law student who falls head over heels for Marcus DeLuca. Marcus is a sexy, intense, secretive, highly successful lawyer who Mia will be working for as an extern for the summer. Oh I almost forgot…he may also be a mobster.

Mia and Marcus have that instant love thing. They meet and are instantly dating, traveling to the Bahamas within days all the while loud warning bells are going off.

Usually, I can’t stand an instant love connection. E.L. Montes pulled me in with a fantastic cast of supporting characters and an exciting plot!

There's secrets, a large loving Italian family and there's Uncle Lou.

Mia…


This couple's relationship is pretty frustrating. They act like a teenagers and their relationship is anything but smooth. They are passionately in love and they fight just as passionately.

Honestly, this book laid the ground work for a kick ass sequel and I can’t wait to see what Cautious has in store of this cast! P.S. I just loved that Jimmie!!



“I’m not leaving. I don’t care if it takes you a lifetime. I’m not giving up.”

[&#x1f409;&#x1f9da;‍♀️Kellie &#x1f377;☕️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Fuck you! You want to know who I am, Marcus. Well here it goes! I am temperamental, over-sensitive, and outspoken. I’m honest! I cry at stupid love movies, and I'm a sucker for a romantic novel. I don’t allow people to walk all over me, I have trust issues, and I have insecurities. I’ve slept with four men in my entire life! And the one thing I don’t do is take shit from men who try to act like they’re better than me as if they don’t have any hidden skeletons! I’m not keeping shit hidden, how ‘bout you? You can fuck off. I'll find my own way home. Have a nice fucking life!”

This is the story about Marcus and Mia...

Meet my Marcus

The 16 yr old girl inside of me envisioned Antonio Sabato Jnr as soon as it was mentioned he was Italian

And my Mia

Megan Gale for her beautiful dark hair and bright green eyes


Ok so the story is...

Mia is at Harvard and doing very nicely.
She is doing the best that she can as she has no one in her life now.
Her father was killed and 7 months ago so was her brother.
She lives with her best friend and ex friend with benefits Jeremy.

She is invited to come for an interview to be an intern at one of the best law firms in the city. A Law firm that Marcus De Lucas owns.

To celebrate Jeremy takes her out to Club21. De Luca's club.

While there Mia is not having that great of time and gets pretty drunk, during the course of the night Jeremy introduces her De Luca.
He offers to drive her home when Jeremy finds a one night stand for the night.

The next day De Luca brings her back her purse and asks her to lunch.
He tells her that he is very interested in pursuing something with her but he has never been in a relationship before. She agrees to it. Starting with a weekend away together.

What starts as an explosively physical relationship turns into a very emotional one as well.
There are times when your eyes leak.

But main thing you need to know is that Mia finds it hard to trust anyone.
Which puts strain on their relationship as De Luca is leading a double life.
Laywer by day.
Mobster by night.

De Luca falls HARD for Mia.
He loves with everything he has.
But is it enough?

******************************************
Ok so thoughts...

I was hooked on this just from the prologue. I was like what? Why is she doing this? Who was that guy? I need to know more!

It was written in Mia's POV only.

De Luca was crazy about Mia I won't lie.. but times there it felt like all he was doing was saying sorry soooooo many times for screwing up ALL THE TIME!
and at times you were wondering what the hell he was thinking?!

Mia was a good heroine. At times whiny but had a really good head on her and knew what she wanted and made her own decisions.

Sex scenes were intense and amazing! Lucky there were a lot of them!


I really liked how we got to read the first meeting from De Luca's POV at the end of the book. It made me like him more ^_^

But of course these days all books have a half HEA... so yep another cliffhanger! GODDAMNIT! Gotta wait for the next one now...

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would probably recommend this book to those who may have just finished Fifty Shades or Bared to You and are suffering from withdrawal symptoms. I understand that many people enjoyed Disastrous and I can see why but for some reason this one did not do anything for me.

First, I may have some major issues with how this story started. To me it all seemed to happen way too fast. One night he was meeting her at the bar. A couple of pages later he wanted to date her (even thought he had never dated before), then flip through a couple more pages and they’re together at the Bahamas. I know this is fiction but it was just so unrealistic and I never really got why Marcus was so pulled to Mia. I understood it a little bit better in the epilogue. But still. Maybe this is just me growing out of this type of bad boy meets good girl and immediately falls in love right then and there, type of book. Or maybe it would have been fine if it just took them a tad bit longer to get to that level.

Mia’s relationship with Jeremy was another feature I could not get over. I don’t want to get into it, but again, it just seemed like another very unrealistic rapport they had going on.

On the writing, it felt so descriptive at times that I kept skipping over the details time and time again. I’m usually one to appreciate this kind of writing, but I honestly did not need to know that Marcus was cooking the chicken at a medium fire instead of at a higher setting. But maybe that’s just me.

The story got interesting towards the end and it grabbed my attention for a few pages but unfortunately I don’t think the cliffhanger was enough to make me want to read the next installment.

I hope I’m not offending anyone who enjoyed this story. I understand why people would. I guess it’s just a matter of personal taste. I tried to love it. I really did. But I was completely disconnected with the characters and found it hard to care for them even towards the end when I was starting to understand them a little better.

2 stars for a story that had potential but failed to keep my interest for most of it.

[Willow · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is about young, extraordinarily handsome and successful Marcus DeLuca, who has a secret and Harvard law student Mia Sullivan, who ends up working for him. I was expecting this story to be a certain way and I was pleasantly surprised it wasn't.

First the story grabs you in with a prologue. Mia is arguing with someone and is running away from them in the middle of the night. She has blood on her, but you don't know why. Chapter one then starts with events prior to this. The author did a great job of reeling you in here, because as you are reading the book you keep thinking of that prologue, you need to know more about that event so you keep reading. Once you meet Marcus and slowly start to know things about his secret you start to form scenarios of what he's done and where the blood has come from to cause that prologue, but when it finally comes its probably not what you were thinking!

Marcus is a very likable character, he has his flaws, but he really does care about Mia. Mia is feisty and can stand up for herself. She really annoyed me during one part of the book though, because she should have told Marcus something straight away, he had a right to know the instant it happened.

The story has some heartbreaking moments and some angst. I really enjoyed the book and didn't want to put it down.

The ending leaves you wanting more with Mia and Marcus and the epilogue leaving you knowing the second book, which I think might be called cautious, will be more involved with Marcus' secret and is likely to put both Mia and Marcus in danger. I was definitely left needing to read the second book.

There is a bonus chapter at the end of Marcus' POV when meeting Mia for the first time and it was a nice touch.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I really wish we would have got more from Marcus pov- the bonus chapter was my favorite part of the book :D Marcus was an attorney who was living a double life. Mia was a law student with trust issues who essentially felt alone in the world after her mother ran off on her when she was born and both her father and brother passed away. I don't think either of them are really looking for a relationship but they are drawn to each other. There are secrets and issues that threaten to tear them apart. I was heartbroken through some of this book, but I was really happy with the ending and I'm even happier that there is going to be a sequel! Yay!!!

[Jenny Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

“That’s what love is … It’s scary not knowing what’s expected … but I know it’ll be the best frightening love we’ve ever had.” --Marcus

I may be biased because this is exactly my type of book but still, I'm giving it 5 STARS!!!

First off, I was drawn to read this because of the cover, it's freaking beautiful. (Is it the same girl on the cover of Burning Blue though?) Well anyway, I love that this isn't just a love story, it also has a mystery to it that will keep you wondering what Marcus is hiding or what he's up to. It's riveting. And yeah, I just love every chapter of it.

Also, the epilogue was brilliant. Can't wait for book 2! :)

Oh, and before I forget, to E.L. Montes, I LOVED the Bonus Chapter!!! SQUEEE!!! I WANT MORE! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE CONTINUE WRITING IT. Hihi.

[Gail McHugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first novel from E.L. Montes!

I loved that Mia was a little fire cracker. Considering the things she had to go through losing her father and brother she was a very strong heroine but she also had her weaknesses. Main weakness? Who else? Marcus DeLuca. Who could resist??

Not. I.

Marcus, Marcus. You're strong, sexy, confident, cocky and soft when you need to be. You invaded a few of my dreams Marcus. Bad boy.. ;)

I found myself laughing during this book at certain times. I found myself nervous during this book at certain times and also found my heart breaking for these characters as well.

The ending has me a little... paranoid, however, I'm looking forward to Cautious being released!

[Kristen Proby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to come... but what an emotional roller-coaster! Sexy characters... intrigue... And let's face it, I have a soft spot for hot alpha men who are head over heels in love with their girl. *sigh*

[Laurynne Gouws · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a debut novel, I was skeptical at first when I picked up Disastrous by E.L. Montes. I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that as a first attempt, it could either be good or very bad. I admit I was totally skeptical and now that I'm done with it I apologize profusely to E.L. Montes for ever doubting this book.

Yes... my skepticism still held strong through the first half of the book. I kept thinking that the story felt a little sketchy in my eyes, but once I hit the midway mark, I was relieved to find I was so wrong about it all.

Here are my thought's about the first half of the book as I had them jotted down in my notepad.

• As I already mentioned I thought the beginning was a little sketchy. The story was good but everything felt a little out of place for me.

• Mia's had concerns regarding Marcus. Naturally! Who wouldn't? But what got to me was that she would mentally toss around the issues running through her mind and then quickly dismiss them when she got distracted. This changed when I got to the middle through. I felt like she actually matured somewhere along the way and started tackling issue head-on. And I was so revealed when this started happening.

• Marcus's character development lacked depth. I mean, I liked him but I didn't really feel like I knew him at all. I was just as much in the dark as what Mia was and in a way it was good to keep me guessing but on the other-hand it was frustrating.

• The relationship between Mia and Marcus was slow at first (for like 2 days) and then BAM... it steam-railed into a full-blown love affair with the word's 'I Love you' and all. It was shocking! Not unwelcome, just a shocker that it happened so quickly.

When I got to the middle of the book, I started settling into it. It was then that it engrossed me to the point where I couldn't put it down at all. This was when I realized what all the hype was about and I was so so happy to have finally gotten there.

From that moment onwards it was a brilliant book. I can't praise it enough. So in essence... for the first half of the book I would give it maybe 2.5 or 3 stars... but for the second half of the book it jumped up to a absolute 5 star. So boiling it down the book as a whole would be a 4, very close to a 5 star. But I'm sticking with my four star since the beginning was a knock and I can't overlook that.

“Letting out a deep breath, he pressed his forehead down to mine. With his eyes closed, he whispered, “That’s what love is … It’s scary not knowing what’s expected, but I know it’ll be the best frightening love we’ve ever had.”

I enjoyed the storyline and plot of the book. I liked the development and buildup of secrets. I would have liked to have gotten to know Marcus a little better during the book and not only pick up his side at the end. I wouldn't have minded a Marcus POV, thrown into the book somewhere in-between just so I could get a feel for the kind of guy he is.

In the beginning he's portrayed as a strong, rich, sexy-as-hell top notch lawyer, but as the story progresses you learn (from Mia's POV) that he's actually got a really soft side. He's not forceful or demanding like he's painted in the beginning and in fact he's a total love-struck guy where Mia is concerned. He's totally whipped and it's kind of nice, but I do like my alpha males :)

As all great books go, there's an emotional turn-around that completely had my heart racing at an alarming speed. It was so sad and that's the moment I knew I'd remember this book for a long long time. The ending was brief, to brief and I was so happy to find out there's a second installment. I wouldn't have been happy if this one book was all I was ever going to get. Mia and Marcus so deserve another book about them and their relationship and of course there's still a whole smack of drama that still remained a mystery at the end, so yay for the second book!

I have to mention that when I read the blurb I was excited to read a book involving a smart and educated female character. Damsels in distress are so overplayed that it was very refreshing. Although I love romance, I have to admit that I love to know that it's not the guy that makes the girl who she is. Mia is a whole person on her own and I really enjoyed that about her.

If you haven't yet read Disastrous, get it now and do it with haste. A great first book for author E.L. Montes and I'm freaking dying to know what future books of her's will be like if this is how she has introduced us to her writing skills. Brilliant book and I loved the simplicity of her ability to tell her tale :)

Read more reviews on my blog

[Anamarija · Rating 3 out of 5]

4.5 DRAMATIC HOT STARS -LEANING TOWARDS 5*

OK. This book has been such an emotional rollercoaster to me. I just can't even...describe it right.
Marcus was OMG. Hotty. Alpha male. Protective. A mess. Emotional. In love. Real. Felt like he's reading my mind....

And Mia was also spicy, hot, scared, confused but felt real.
This whole journey was like this...
and
.
****LITTLE SPOILER ALERT****
***
**
*

I really felt their story, the only bad thing about it was her getting preggo.
In that moment,I would slap her. Or the author.It felt like a cliche.That's why 4.5*!!!
Is it bad to say that I really felt glad 'the situation' resolved this painfully for her... but happy for...me?:)))

*
**
***
****SPOILER END****
The scene...it was breaking my heart!
Rain...feel it in my fingertips...♪♫


I felt relieved with the ending of the book, but also scared what will happen in the sequel...

[Dora Koutsoukou · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 *

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG...What an AMAZING debut novel. E.L. Montes knocked it out of the park on this one. This was a love story but not your typical hearts and flowers type love story. This book kind of reminded me of Bared to You in the sense of the Hero and Heroine were very dysfunctional and flawed. This was definitely a roller coaster of emotions. Marcus and Mia's relationship reminded me of Eva and Gideon in the respect that they probably shouldn't be together but for some reason they just work well together. I do feel that Marcus and Mia's relationship was rushed a little in the beginning, it wasn't insta-love but it did happen over a very short period of time. I truly loved the suspense element to this story. Ms. Montes kept me guessing until close to the end. I had a feeling about it and was partially right. The suspense made me want to keep turning the pages, I just had to see what Marcus was hiding and how things would turn out. I was happy with the ending knowing that there will be another book to follow. I would say that this book is a HFN (happy for now) ending, with not really a cliffhanger but an epilogue that segues into the next book. You could definitely read this book without driving yourself insane waiting for the next one. With that said I am anxiously awaiting the next book, I can't wait to see where she takes Marcus and Mia. They have a long road ahead of them. This is a MUST READ!!!!! One for my favs shelf:)

[Anne OK · Rating 4 out of 5]

The debut of this book marks the beginning of a new romantic suspense series – my favorite genre, especially if there’s a perfect blend of intrigue, romance, and suspense. “Disastrous” did not disappoint on a single front. It truly was an unexpected delight from beginning to ending.

One minor complaint deals only with editing issues – spelling errors along with some grammatical problems as well. They are minor and won’t detour the enjoyable read but are noticeable throughout.

The “good guys” cast of characters, young and old, is full of endearing and memorable personalities. On the other hand, the “bad guys” won't endear themselves to anyone but definitely make an impact on the meaning of a “well-written” and action-packed storyline.

Packed full of hypnotic suspense and mystery, Mia and Marcus encounter some heart-wrenching, emotional, and dangerous times while struggling to maintain their newfound love.

I recommend this book highly to those readers who crave seriouly good romantic suspense/mystery/thrillers. The sequel, “Cautious” (Disastrous series) will be released in May 2013.

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book already distracted me from my other activities from the beginning....

First year law School student,Mia. Met a mysterious famous Lawyer, Marcus DeLuca.


When Mia found out that she and Jeremy, her roommates and ex-f*** buddy was accepted in a same Law Firm for a summer job,and met a gorgeous but mysterious owner , Marcus, she was suddenly drawn in his world.
Marcus approached her intensely , to date her.
So, it was just happened, one lunch leads to another, one hot passionate weekend at Bahamas....





Until a real world came between them...and she found out that Marcus DeLuca was not only a Lawyer, but also still working as a mob....and he's kinda unstable man...
See, one time he's so in love with Mia, and any minute he can just ignored her and leave her just like that, like no sense of fight for her!
I hate that when Marcus drown to his family issues and his unstable feeling to Mia! I just want to knocked his head with hammer at some point! Well, as a matter fact, at many point!
I doubted him, just like Mia did....

“You, me … everything ... in the last two weeks, we’ve had so many wonderful moments, and then we had really bad ones too. You’re hot one minute, and then you’re cold the next. Sometimes I look at you…and you seem so lost. I want to ask you what’s wrong, but I know you’ll just hold back. I know there’s another side to you that you refuse to tell me about.”

And few chapter before the ending, I want to PUNCH his face for fucked up !!!! Mia did the right thing by leaving him...once, ...and twice after he fucked up again!


They can manage their feelings, anger and love together after through some shitty moment together, the broke up, the make up sex after that....somehow, it was sweet.



Despite some annoying scene and my feeling (love and hate and doubt) about Marcus, I love the story. There was a twist ! I laugh, blushes, angry, suspicious, jealous and wanted to punch him sometimes.
A complete book...and I'm looking forward to read Cautious!

Prepare for a roller coaster!

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this and other reviews at Madison Says.

I really liked this book. I’ll start by saying that. It had so many of the elements that I look for in a book: drama, great dialogue, easy storyline, more drama, secrets, crazy drama, and STEAM!

Disastrous is focused on Mia (while not just being focused on her, mind you) – she’s working to get through her heartache over losing her brother. In fact, she’s alone. After the passing of her father, and then years later, her brother, she has no one, but her best friend and former hook up buddy, Jeremy. Her mom took off when she was a baby, and because of this, she’s a bit jaded. She’s about to start her second year in law school, and puts all her focus into her schoolwork. And then when she least expects it, she meets her new boss for her summer externship – high powered attorney, Marcus DeLuca. What follows between them is nothing short of amazing…and crazy. It’s the perfect mix of both.

Their story is beautiful. It’s full of heartache, secrets, misunderstandings, steam, love and hate. There’s also plenty of surprises in the story. Sometimes I would think I knew what was coming…and then a big event would happen…and it wouldn’t even remotely be close to what I was guessing.

I devoured this story. I loved the connection between Mia and Marcus, and aside from that, I loved the supporting characters. A sign of a great story is the ability to connect with everyone, not just the main characters. This was completely the case. Marcus’s brother, Jimmie, and his daughter, Elle. There’s also Jeremy, who is Mia’s best friend, and biggest supporter/shoulder to lean on. They were all such integral parts to the relationship between Marcus and Mia.

I was going to include some quotes, but decided against it…because I felt like I could quote too much, therefore giving away too much of the story. Sorry! :)

I was thankful to find out that this was just the first book in a series. The ending will definitely leave you begging for more! I was. I immediately stalked Ms. Montes to 1) make sure we were getting a sequel and 2) find out when! The answer…yes, and hopefully by May 2013. Maybe we can push her to get it done faster, though!

I give this book 4.5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys damaged, multi-dimensional characters, lots of steamy connections and some pretty crazy suspense! This is a must read series, and I cannot wait to see what’s going to happen next for Mia and Marcus. I’m definitely intrigued!

[Akanksha❤ Søren♰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the book, but something about Mia's dialogue delivering seems amateur :S
Btw, Marcus is SEX ON FIRE!!
Can't wait for the second book to know what happens next!!

___

Ooo :O Little bit of mystery in romance.. I'm going to be eating my head off reading it trying to figure it out.. I already know I will.. hehe :P

[Claire Contreras]

I hadn't read this because I'd heard there was a cliffhanger ending, then I heard there wasn't. I decided to read it and find out for myself, and it doesn't end in a cliff, but oh, it sure does leave you wanting more!!

I really really enjoyed this book. It has everything that I love. I cannot wait for book 2! I'm pretty sure you'll be adding Marcus to your list of BBFs! ;)

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I really liked about Disastrous was its mix of romance and mystery. This story went beyond a rich man falling for a woman and sweeping her off her feet; it added complexity with two damaged characters, the ever-present mob and secrets that, if they came out, could have serious repercussions. The story flowed beautifully mixing the sweet moments with angst, alternating at all the right times, maintaining my interest and playing with my emotions. I loved and understood the characters and didn’t want their stories to end!

Mia is a smart woman who attends Harvard law, knows how to invest and stays focused on her priorities but she has not mastered relationships. And maybe it isn’t so much she hasn’t mastered them but she hasn’t picked the right guys. Mia has been hurt too many times and the only way to safeguard herself from more pain is to build walls around her heart. Not only that, she has lost people who she was close to and now keeps a very low-key life. If she doesn’t love or let people in her life, she can’t lose them or be hurt by them right? This is true to an extent but she cannot be happy living this way, can she?

“Trusting people in general is hard for me. You have to understand I came from a life where it’s normal for the people you love and trust to just disappear.” – Mia

Marcus is a little different; he doesn’t do the whole relationship thing but something in Mia makes him want to give it a go. I liked that he was not an extremely controlling man like I have seen often in romance books. He had just enough alpha to make me swoon but his personality was not suffocating. Marcus reminded me of a little boy in so many ways; he was lost and wanted to cling to something. When Marcus loves, he loves deeply and I appreciated his love for his family and his growing love for Mia. Marcus isn’t perfect but I felt for him and understood his decisions.

“I chose me because of you” – Marcus

“you’re the reason for me living, you’re the reason I want to wake up every morning, and you’re the reason for my existence” – Marcus

“without you, there’s no reason for me” – Marcus

At times, their romance was like watching the most breath-taking scene from my favorite romantic movie and then, at other times, it was like watching a bus hit a smart car at 100 miles an hour. Their relationship wasn’t perfect but it was real. Imagine two people trying to make a triple layer cake; one has never baked before and the other has had many failed attempts. In other words, one has no clue what they are doing and the other is scared as hell. This was Mia and Marcus, the perfectly flawed couple and they had to work hard to keep it all together.

There were a few incredibly romantic moments in this book and the balanced the drama well. There were moments I thought they were falling too fast but when I got to know the characters and truly understand their pasts and all their little hang ups, I got it. I loved their little moments on their weekend getaway and in the rain. Their connection was measurable and when they were happy, I was happy. If they were sad or upset, I felt the same.

The supporting characters were great. I loved Jeremy and I might even have a little crush on him. He is cute, honest and a little bit of a manwhore. I can’t wait to see what happens with him in the next book. I also enjoyed Ella and Jimmie, Marcus’s niece and brother; I would like to see a romantic interest for Jimmie (hint!).

I relished in the uniqueness of this story and, after reading the epilogue, need book two pronto! I have a feeling things are about to get a little more suspenseful;)

I give this book a 4.5 out of 5!!!!

[Jaymie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read lately, I LOVED IT!

I wasn't sure what to expect from this one because there weren't any reviews out yet when I purchased it from Amazon. I was actually drawn to it by the cover, I'm not sure why but it appealed to me. It's so simple yet the young woman is simply beautiful and perfect for the character (the eyes are gorgeous).

I was pretty much hooked from the first sentence. My imagination was in overdrive after reading the prologue. It set the story up perfectly:

"My thoughts were uncontrollable. I was trying to make it all go away, and I pounded my fists against my temples, but all that managed to do was inflict additional pain. Why me? My chest felt tight, and it was so hard to breathe I was hyperventilating. After a few minutes of taking long deep breaths, I was able to control the airflow through my lungs. Then it all came back to me: the day I met HIM."

I won't go into the synopsis of the storyline because in all honesty I am afraid that I will give away too much, not that the entire story is a mystery but I do not want to give away any of the development of Mia and Marcus' relationship. What I will say is that this is a story of a young woman who falls in love with a man who truly loves her but has so many secrets that it may be impossible for them to ever have a completely deep, honest and lasting relationship.

"I couldn’t help but think that in just over four months we’d been through so much more than most couples who’d put in years into their relationship. Being with Marcus DeLuca was draining, frustrating, confusing, and extraordinary all at the same time. It didn’t make sense. Our relationship didn’t make sense! We both had our issues, and two wrongs surely did not make a right."

These two are faced with so many trials and tribulations because of who Marcus is and the life he leads and everything comes to a head when his biggest and darkest secret is discovered. Throughout almost the entire book we are waiting for the betrayal that leads up to what happens in the prologue and I am not going to lie I had my theories of the circumstances from pretty early on. I kept waiting for it to happen and when it did I was so anxious to see how Mia would handle it that I wanted the book to end but at the same time wished it wouldn't.

"Unable to breathe, unable to think, unable to make sense of anything, I smacked him. I was so angry with him. It hurt me to know this entire time he was lying. Everything, every emotion I felt, every single pain I dealt with since we met, I took it out on him at this very moment. Balling my fist, I swung at him, and continued to punch him over and over, hitting his face, his chest, and his shoulders— anywhere that was visible. Dropping to my knees inches away from him, I continued to pound on his chest, and he let me. He didn’t move, didn’t try to get away, and didn’t even flinch. It was as if he knew he deserved every inch of the pain."

This is another one of these stories with the guy who you know is "Bad" but you just can't help falling in love with him and saying "So what? I love him anyway and I don't care if I shouldn't". Marcus may do bad things, very bad things but I don't think I would have been able to give him up. He's sexy, gorgeous, smart and strong. He's dangerous and yet you are able to see he has an extraordinary heart when it comes to those he loves, especially Mia.

“I’m scared.” I confessed. I was afraid— afraid if I caved in I would set myself up for failure. Letting out a deep breath, he pressed his forehead down to mine. With his eyes closed, he whispered, “That’s what love is … It’s scary not knowing what’s expected, but I know it’ll be the best frightening love we’ve ever had.”

As for Mia, I love that the author did not write her as the cliche. She was beautiful and smart and strong as well. She stood up to Marcus and when she needed to walk away she did. So many times I think to myself why doesn't the MC just say "screw this!" and walk away. She should be stronger and not let this guy drag her down. Or the MC will seem too whiny or irritating. Not this time, I actually could relate to her behaviors and I liked her.

That pissed me the hell off. I took in a deep breath and blurted out everything without thinking twice. “Fuck you! You want to know who I am, Marcus. Well here it goes! I am temperamental, over-sensitive, and outspoken. I’m honest! I cry at stupid love movies, and I'm a sucker for a romantic novel. I don’t allow people to walk all over me, I have trust issues, and I have insecurities. I’ve slept with four men in my entire life! And the one thing I don’t do is take shit from men who try to act like they’re better than me as if they don’t have any hidden skeletons! I’m not keeping shit hidden, how ‘bout you? You can fuck off. I'll find my own way home. Have a nice fucking life!”

This is a great start to a new series and I absolutely can not wait to read the next book. I want to know what happens to Marcus and Mia and I am hoping that we get to really see more of Marcus' brother Jimmy as well as Mia's best friend and roommate Jeremy.