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Beautiful #2
Cold-Blooded Beautiful
Book TWO of the HIGHLY ANTICIPATED story of Brutally Beautiful…
What happens when your past comes back to haunt you?
Imagine having a secret whispered in your ear, a secret that once revealed, changes everything in your life that you thought to be true.
What would you do if you learned that everything you had was just a lie, a lie that could end everything you ever worked for and destroy everyone you ever cared about?
What happens when all your secrets come spilling forth and your past catches up to you?
Will it consume you?
Will it destroy you?
Six months ago Kade Grayson helped Doctor Samantha Matthews hide from a violent past, one that she wants to keep hidden from everyone. Deep in her heart, she hides her secrets, too afraid to hurt the only people she has left to trust.
What happens when she is forced to face her past?
Will love be enough to save her?
Because her deadly game of Hide and Seek is at its end.
This book is a full length Adult Contemporary Romance and is intended for mature audiences due to strong language and sexual content.
What happens when your past comes back to haunt you?
Imagine having a secret whispered in your ear, a secret that once revealed, changes everything in your life that you thought to be true.
What would you do if you learned that everything you had was just a lie, a lie that could end everything you ever worked for and destroy everyone you ever cared about?
What happens when all your secrets come spilling forth and your past catches up to you?
Will it consume you?
Will it destroy you?
Six months ago Kade Grayson helped Doctor Samantha Matthews hide from a violent past, one that she wants to keep hidden from everyone. Deep in her heart, she hides her secrets, too afraid to hurt the only people she has left to trust.
What happens when she is forced to face her past?
Will love be enough to save her?
Because her deadly game of Hide and Seek is at its end.
This book is a full length Adult Contemporary Romance and is intended for mature audiences due to strong language and sexual content.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2014
63 people are currently reading
2781 people want to read
About the author
Christine Zolendz
43 books2,690 followersUSA Today bestselling romance author. Mother. Coffee drinker. Unicorn believer. New Yorker.
Books and writing are my escape from reality.
Read Me Free Here:
bit.ly/ChrisZo
Books and writing are my escape from reality.
Read Me Free Here:
bit.ly/ChrisZo
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews
April 20, 2015
5 Bloody well brutal stars!
This was DARK. Not a little bit of dark, a lot of dark. And I loved it!
Sam and Kade both have a dark and intense past. A history of violence. They both want to move forward from the past, but Sam is still hiding from hers. Kade doesn’t know everything, but he knows enough. Sam is hesitant to tell him the entire story. She’s worried it will break him.
Sam’s story was seriously brutal. Reading some parts... it made me cringe. What she went through was atrocious. She should have never lived through it. But she did.
And now she is living. Sharing her life with Kade. The more she opens up to him and shares with him, the more she realizes that he wants all of her. The good, the bad and the ugly.
Getting over the past is difficult, especially when the past comes back to haunt you in the most unexpected way. It’s really hard to review this book without giving away big parts of the plot, so I’m just going to talk about the characters now...
Kade. I heart Kade. He’s broken, intense and full of rage. He is also funny, sweet, and entertaining. Reading from his perspective was a real treat. My heart hurt for him through so much of this story. I loved seeing his growth from book one to book two. With all the crazy going on, Kade made me smile.
Sam and Kade just work. They are both two very broken souls who have been through so much, seen so much and happen to work together. Their relationship is full of passion and love.
Sam really did bring Kade back to life, make him want to live again. Really truly live.
Sam saved Kade in the first book. Now it's his turn to save her.
Cold-Blooded Beautiful was a highly anticipated release for me. Brutally Beautiful blew me away when I read it. And I’m happy to say, I loved this book just as much. It was dark, gritty and seriously intense, and those are my favorite types of reads. After reading this book, you may ask yourself ‘how can a book that's this dark and full of so much messed up stuff be so funny?’ The only answer I can think of is that it's written by Christine Zolendz and she can pull it off. I went from biting my nails, to cringing, to laughing out loud! Not many authors can swing that. I became a fan of Christine Zolendz’s when I read her Mad World series, but after reading these books, I will read anything she writes. Period. A captivating and intriguing series full of broken, damaged characters and the love and acceptance that heals them. A must read for lovers of dark reads.
This was DARK. Not a little bit of dark, a lot of dark. And I loved it!
Sam and Kade both have a dark and intense past. A history of violence. They both want to move forward from the past, but Sam is still hiding from hers. Kade doesn’t know everything, but he knows enough. Sam is hesitant to tell him the entire story. She’s worried it will break him.
Sam’s story was seriously brutal. Reading some parts... it made me cringe. What she went through was atrocious. She should have never lived through it. But she did.
Seriously, lets get things straight... I should have died. Reality folks; the shit he put inside me would have killed most people. I like to think I lived because I was meant to save people, and that I was meant to be greater and do more. Everybody has his or her own measure of worth, and that was mine.
And now she is living. Sharing her life with Kade. The more she opens up to him and shares with him, the more she realizes that he wants all of her. The good, the bad and the ugly.
Getting over the past is difficult, especially when the past comes back to haunt you in the most unexpected way. It’s really hard to review this book without giving away big parts of the plot, so I’m just going to talk about the characters now...
Kade. I heart Kade. He’s broken, intense and full of rage. He is also funny, sweet, and entertaining. Reading from his perspective was a real treat. My heart hurt for him through so much of this story. I loved seeing his growth from book one to book two. With all the crazy going on, Kade made me smile.
She’s used to my Kade-ness. You should be too. Come on, it’s me, Mr. Dark and intriguing with a side of fucked up. Yeah, I’m pretty much priceless.Sam. I felt for Sam. I can’t even imagine going through a fraction of what she went through. She is the true definition of the word survivor.
Sam and Kade just work. They are both two very broken souls who have been through so much, seen so much and happen to work together. Their relationship is full of passion and love.
Kade made me forget, with his intense eyes, dark obsession, and his touch. His touch always made me feel cherished, wanted... completely fucking possessed.
Sam really did bring Kade back to life, make him want to live again. Really truly live.
She made me feel again. Made it all mean something again. She found me under ll the rubble. Beneath the waste and the debris that was piled atop of me. And she grabbed my hand and helped me stand up again. Helped me live again.
Sam saved Kade in the first book. Now it's his turn to save her.
Cold-Blooded Beautiful was a highly anticipated release for me. Brutally Beautiful blew me away when I read it. And I’m happy to say, I loved this book just as much. It was dark, gritty and seriously intense, and those are my favorite types of reads. After reading this book, you may ask yourself ‘how can a book that's this dark and full of so much messed up stuff be so funny?’ The only answer I can think of is that it's written by Christine Zolendz and she can pull it off. I went from biting my nails, to cringing, to laughing out loud! Not many authors can swing that. I became a fan of Christine Zolendz’s when I read her Mad World series, but after reading these books, I will read anything she writes. Period. A captivating and intriguing series full of broken, damaged characters and the love and acceptance that heals them. A must read for lovers of dark reads.
‘I didn’t love her because she was beautiful or sexy. I loved her because she made everything around us beautiful, because she made me look at the fucking bloody world differently.’
“She’s all the reward I’ll ever need in this life.”
November 27, 2014
5 Cold, Brutal, Beautiful Stars
“Her demons, well, they played very well with mine, and when we were together, neither of us had to babysit them, they went off on their own, leaving us be.”
I can't wrap my mind around what I just read. This is not a story about fairies, magic and sunsets. This is one is about cold basements, darkness and fear. Abuse and wounds. But in its brutality it shines. Like a diamond in the mud. Like two people in love. In love so much that they hurt. They can't live without each other. Because they heal their wounds in their passion. They survived and they will do so again. Brought to their knees and rose again. And they vanquished their tormentors. Beautiful in their scarred glory. Beautiful in surviving. Beautiful together.
This is the kind of story that leaves a trace in your soul. You can't forget because you have nightmares and dreams about it. Samantha and Kade should have had an easy ride to their happily ever after in this second installment after surviving hell and meeting each other. But it wasn't meant to be for them. They have one last hurdle, the cruelest of them all. They will break, but you know what? People who broke and put back together are glued stronger and nothing can't bend them again. And their strength and hope will banish the evil.
And they write their own epilogues. Any damn way they want.
“Because our future is anything we can make it. Anything you bloody want it to be, love. I'll write that epilogue for you.”
Read the first book and then brace yourself and read this one. With your eyes and hurt open. People around the world survive tragedies everyday. This a story about them. I admire you. And I wish I had half of your strength and determination.
“Her demons, well, they played very well with mine, and when we were together, neither of us had to babysit them, they went off on their own, leaving us be.”
Well.... HELL!
I can't wrap my mind around what I just read. This is not a story about fairies, magic and sunsets. This is one is about cold basements, darkness and fear. Abuse and wounds. But in its brutality it shines. Like a diamond in the mud. Like two people in love. In love so much that they hurt. They can't live without each other. Because they heal their wounds in their passion. They survived and they will do so again. Brought to their knees and rose again. And they vanquished their tormentors. Beautiful in their scarred glory. Beautiful in surviving. Beautiful together.
This is the kind of story that leaves a trace in your soul. You can't forget because you have nightmares and dreams about it. Samantha and Kade should have had an easy ride to their happily ever after in this second installment after surviving hell and meeting each other. But it wasn't meant to be for them. They have one last hurdle, the cruelest of them all. They will break, but you know what? People who broke and put back together are glued stronger and nothing can't bend them again. And their strength and hope will banish the evil.
And they write their own epilogues. Any damn way they want.
“Because our future is anything we can make it. Anything you bloody want it to be, love. I'll write that epilogue for you.”
Read the first book and then brace yourself and read this one. With your eyes and hurt open. People around the world survive tragedies everyday. This a story about them. I admire you. And I wish I had half of your strength and determination.
February 13, 2018
CAUTION: You need to read book 1 before reading this book!
Hence you shouldn’t read this review if you haven’t read Book 1 yet because there may be information you shouldn’t know yet.
CAUTION: This book is not for everyone!
"Cold-Blooded Beautiful", Book 2 in BEAUTIFUL series, is not an easy read. It is messed-up, crazy, ugly, painful and intense. Violence (both physical & sexual) is described in graphic detail.
However, the fact that it is dedicated to the victims of abuse makes it different from most dark books for me because it brings awareness to issues such as domestic violence, rape and post-traumatic stress as well as the healing and survival process.
From the author's dedication page:
Again, this is dedicated to the ones that
are bruised and broken
Take my hand
It’s scarred and stained
I’ll pull you up and help you stand
You have the strength to ride the storm
I promise you
Don’t look into the darkness
Don’t look back
Don’t even wave goodbye
Just find that courage
There is strength inside all of us
After this dedication, I couldn’t not read it. I accepted its darkness for its good cause.
***********************************************
Still, let me warn you that it is ten or more times darker than Book 1 because in Book 1, we just learn that Sam was abused by her ex whereas in this second book, we unfortunately see the bastard in action.
Her ex-husband David is the sickest psychopath you can imagine.
If you think you’ve read about violence and psychos before, believe me you haven’t until you meet David, the repulsive and pathetic excuse of a human being, the twisted piece of crap, the sadistic evil seed!
What he does throughout the book is downright BRUTAL and sick!
***********************************************
As I normally do not read dark books, it was hard for me to stomach some of the scenes in this book, but for the sake of Sam and Kade’s love, and also because this duet is dedicated to the victims of violence and abuse, I endured it all willingly.
***********************************************
The plot & the characters:
“Cold-Blooded Beautiful” picks up where “Brutally Beautiful” left off.
First, we get to see more of Sam and Kade together, some steamy and emotional scenes and all.
For the last few months, my life was full of everything, full of Samantha. It was good.
My life consisted of:
1. Writing
2. Waking up to Sam
3. Laughing
4. Spending time with Dylan
5. Sex with Sam
6. Lots of fucking sex with Sam
7. Laughing and having lots of amazing fucking sex with Sam
It was pure heaven, and I wasn’t leaving heaven any bloody time soon, I was getting a house built there and moving the fuck in.
I mean, come on, go and reread 2, 5, 6 and 7.
Then, we are thrown into the horrific past of Sam. Whatever I thought she endured in her ex-husband's hands turned out to be ten times worse.
F*cked up shit it was, really!
There are no universal domestic violence guidelines. There aren’t any fucking abuse checklists that us girls sit around and learn about in a high school class, or an orientation of relationships 101. I had a strong sense of self. I had decent self-esteem. I’d fought in fucking wars and I’d seen and done things not many women ever did. And, I sure as shit didn’t see this coming.
It did happen all at once with David and me.
Kade wanted to learn more about Sam’s past but Sam was afraid of telling them all because she believed he would not be able to take it.
“I WANT THE TRUTH!” I demanded, shoving one of the chairs over.
“Really, Kade? How are you going to handle that?”
The more he learnt what her ex did to her, the more he got out-of-control really.
However, I cannot blame Kade for his temper tantrums or violence (destroying all furniture around, punching walls, breaking mirrors and windows, harshly redecorating the environment and hurting himself in the process).
I wanted Kade to be stronger but still I couldn’t get angry with him when he was drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
I tried not to judge him when he disappointed because he was also a victim of violence and he was already suffering from his PTSD and what she had lived through was too much for him to deal with. He was already a broken and damaged character.
I cannot imagine how it must feel to listen to what has happened to the love of your life in the hands of a sick and evil man.
Plot twist:
Then, as if this nightmare past wasn’t enough, there comes the most dreadful plot twist that throws the reader into a long-lasting darkness and agony.
Yeah, as you can imagine, just as they were feeling safer, unfortunately, David, the evil seed, comes back to Sam’s life!
The rest of the book is painful, more painful, more and more painful and unbearable!
The characters are pushed to their breaking point. What each of them suffered gutted me and made me sick.
I cried… ugly cried. I begged the writer not to bring one more torture to the table but with every page I turned over, there was more and more of it.
Kade blamed and tortured himself for not being able to save Sam. For his stupidity, I blamed him for a while, as well.
I should have tried harder. I should have believed in her more. Fuck, I should have believed in us and never doubted her.
“Without her by my side, I’m half a fucking man, and it’s the half I can’t live with!”
*
"It is because of that woman I’m still fucking breathing. There are too different Kades, there’s the before Sam one, and since Sam one.
I’m going to die going back to the first one,” I seethed.
When Kade understands his mistake, he does everything possible to save Sam, no matter how late it is.
As for Sam, she is my hero. I cannot imagine how one survives this much of horror and torture.
I prayed he’d kill me after, because I’d never be able to look at Kade in his beautiful gray eyes again.
For me, Sam is the most awesome, the strongest and the most courageous heroines I have ever read. She shines like a bright sun in the darkness she is thrown into.
She is the ultimate SURVIVOR of the worst kind of abuse.
The writing:
Ms Zolendz is an amazing writer who makes me feel every time I read something from her. How the writer writes so intensely and exquisitely is beyond my comprehension. This is another epic book of hers. It is poetic and captivating.
She’s strolling through the woods,
Breath in icy mists.
Snow crunching beneath her boots,
Crimson streaked on her winter cheeks.
She laughs and looks up.
The sun blinds her eyes.
The way she blinds mine.
And I borrow her smile for a moment.
Try it on for size.
And find, to my surprise,
It’s a bloody perfect fit.
And what is even more mind-blowing is how Ms Zolendz can make me ugly cry, laugh, swoon, smile, feel sick and chill to my bones in the very same book.
***********************************************
"Cold-blooded Beautiful" is written in dual point of view. What feels different is that they tell you their story as if they are speaking to you in person, which makes everything more personal.
You have the front seats to their story.
***********************************************
The story they tell is painful but in all its pain and ugliness, there is still beauty in it. The love they feel for each other, the need they feel for each other’s presence, the obsession and lust, the steam and chemistry, the banter and fun moments between them all lighten this painful journey.
“We are both so messed up, Kade. How are we supposed to deal with this? How am I going to help you deal with this?”
“Together,” he said, touching his lips against mine.
What is more, the book is so damn funny at times that it cracked me up.
Dylan, confused as always, stood perplexed in my doorway. I seriously believed I got all the intelligent genes in our family; he was just given all the pretty.
*
God, this storyline of a life you wrote for me is a sick twisted fucking joke.
*
No, I have NOT touched another woman since I had my hands on Samantha. My dick was completely useless to me. The stupid thing was still waiting for Sam, protesting against any use of pleasure for me.
Stupid, selfish-Sam-obsessed dick. I was lucky it still pissed right.
Therefore, it is safe to say that in this book, Ms Zolendz makes you laugh and feel happy, then makes you suffer and cry and then makes you swoon and smile again. All in the same book!
And thank God she did it this way, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to survive the ugliness in it. I needed those moments that made me smile and swoon, I needed all the humour and steam to soften the brutal touch of the evil in it.
***********************************************
Sam and Kade’s is a story that will leave a trace in my soul forever. It will haunt me sometimes, I know, but it will also make me feel hopeful in the darkest moments.
The message of the book:
Ms Zolendz
1. Puts a mirror to the hell the characters live in. Makes us feel their pain, their suffering and breaks us into a million pieces.
2. Displays us the ugly side of the world, the evil side of the people.
3. Makes us understand that life is not always a fairy tale and some stories are ugly and brutal.
4. Presents us the dark and cruel side of life. Makes us more aware of the issues such as abuse, domestic violence, rape and perversity.
5. Shows us that survivors can rise from their ashes in glory, shows us that there is always hope even in the worst situations.
6. Makes us see how love and understanding can heal broken people, how sometimes two scarred people can find peace and solace in each other’s brokenness and how they can co-survive in their scarred lives, licking each other’s wounds.
7. Advises victims of abuse not to look back but to write the story of the rest of their lives with more determination, knowing how precious each moment they stay alive and safe is.
***********************************************
“Do you know what scar tissue does for your body? Makes you stronger and tougher. Makes you realize that every breath you take is a gift.”
***********************************************
The resolution and the ending:
Sam and Kade certainly has the hardest ride to their HEA.
“Don’t tell me she’s not going to wake up from this, okay? Because if she’s doesn’t, you can bury us together. I go where she goes.”
*
Meet me in my bed around midnight okay? Just run right in, full-speed, and send me into complete shock, or make my heart burst.
Just take me with you, if you decide to leave.
*
We stay here together, or we go together, got it? Do you hear me, Sam? I won’t do this life without you, so come back to me. Let’s finish it together.”
When everything seems impossible, the impossible becomes possible and in the end, they find and cherish their happily-ever-after.
The last chapters felt like an ointment to the wounds that the previous chapters had opened deep in my skin. And the epilogue, oh the epilogue, that was something else. I loved, loved, loved it!
***********************************************
My only criticism is that I didn’t get to read the revenge of my dreams. I needed COLD-BLOODED REVENGE. A torturous and slow death for the psycho husband.
I had imagined brutal ways to torture and kill him but I guess the writer didn’t want to make Sam and Kade cold-blooded killers… Understandable.
However, I am still taking my own revenge, tying David up naked, slicing his flesh with a blunt saw, pouring boiling water or maybe hot oil on his body and making him watch the happy end of Sam and Kade.
I am still doing this and a lot more in my mind to release the stress and strain. But I WILL NOT take any points off from this awesome book just because David wasn’t brutally tortured for payback.
Can’t do it.
The book is too good to take any points of.
I can only stand up and applaud!
Thank you, Ms Zolendz. God bless you!
February 10, 2014
Title: Cold-Blooded Beautiful
Series: Brutally Beautiful #2
Author: Christine Zolendz
Release Date: February 5th, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Cliffhanger: No.
HEA:
Christine Zolendz has done it again. She simply overcome everything I thought was possible. Not only did she wrote a great conclusion to her story by continuing to do everything I loved in Brutally Beautiful - she made it even darker, grittier and out of charts captivating.
It was insane ride through every emotion possible. From painful to adorable; through twisted and freaky to sexy and intense. I loved it; I really did. There was something hypnotizing in reading about two broken people learning to let go and love again, as well as see sickness that spread in David. It wasn’t as good as first installment, though.
The story starts when Samantha is enjoying her new life with Kade. Now, that David thinks she’s dead she can breathe easier, can she? Well, not so much as she still suffers from what he did to her. Nothing will be pretty in her life from the moment David brutally hurt her. Add to the mix, Kade and his own mental problems – PTSD and fearing about Sam’s life the story is all but nice and easy. The plot deepens the difficulties of mental health, which I did enjoy and lurking danger in David’s person as well as Sam and Kade’s relationship.
I won’t be saying much more as I don’t want to spoil you the book, so to fully understand and enjoy Cold Blooded Beautiful you have to pick it up.
What I adored the most was how easily Zolendz can mix humor with some serious moments. It was slightly disturbing how I could jump between laughing out loud to shaking with fear or anger.
The characters I fell in love with previously are still present, although Kade could have destroy less things. I felt like he was constantly changing into Hulk and showing off. How many walls or coffee tables he could break? Evidently a lot.
On the other hand, I was disappointed to be left with few unanswered questions – there were several plot holes that caught my attention and I just couldn’t forget about them.
Overall, wonderfully intense, messed up story that will make you feel, Cold Blooded Beautiful is a read I’d recommend to fans of twisted and insane, that are not afraid of touching the surface of all kinds of wrong.
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September 3, 2016
Brutality is not prejudiced. Violence is never kind. When it strikes, it doesn't give you a chance to understand it or change it. Tragedies overwhelm, overtake, and conquer. You have no control over it.
Sam thought her problems were resolved, that she was finally free of her past. As Kade and Sam's relationship grows, secrets, painful horrors are revealed. Kade is not the only one who has lived a nightmare. As Sam finally confides the horrific circumstances of her past, Kade struggles to control his rage. But, are they really safe, or is the past lurking around the corner?
Yeah, this book is dark and brutal. Although, there was some lightness - and romance. So don't despair, you get a little steamy Kade action and sweetness. Kade's inner dialogue had me laughing out loud. This crazy, temperamental, nutcase, has a special place in my heart.
I guess I was changing, huh? Okay, don't think about the whole den-boxing match from last night, and the man tantrum I threw at the hospital...bloody hell; I have to call my therapist today, don't I? Sod off, I feel like I'm changing. Growing. Something.
And let's not forget David. Oh, he was a winner. Nothing better than a sadistic, repulsive motherfucker thrown in the mix to make things interesting.
So yeah... I enjoyed the emotional turmoil this one put me through. I really like Christine's writing style, she had me completely wrapped up in this story, I couldn't put it down.
Sam thought her problems were resolved, that she was finally free of her past. As Kade and Sam's relationship grows, secrets, painful horrors are revealed. Kade is not the only one who has lived a nightmare. As Sam finally confides the horrific circumstances of her past, Kade struggles to control his rage. But, are they really safe, or is the past lurking around the corner?
Yeah, this book is dark and brutal. Although, there was some lightness - and romance. So don't despair, you get a little steamy Kade action and sweetness. Kade's inner dialogue had me laughing out loud. This crazy, temperamental, nutcase, has a special place in my heart.
I guess I was changing, huh? Okay, don't think about the whole den-boxing match from last night, and the man tantrum I threw at the hospital...bloody hell; I have to call my therapist today, don't I? Sod off, I feel like I'm changing. Growing. Something.
And let's not forget David. Oh, he was a winner. Nothing better than a sadistic, repulsive motherfucker thrown in the mix to make things interesting.
So yeah... I enjoyed the emotional turmoil this one put me through. I really like Christine's writing style, she had me completely wrapped up in this story, I couldn't put it down.
February 7, 2014
After this book, you probably won’t want to read a BDSM book for a quite a while.
This sequel picked up right where we left Kade and Samantha and all things considered this couple is doing really well.
”And her demons, well, they played very well with mine, and when we were together, neither of us had to babysit them, they went off on their own, leaving us be.”
Sadly, this book isn’t all about Sam and Kade working through their pasts. Sam’s past drags her back in and it was CRAZY and SCARY.
”Come now, pet…I want to watch the suffering. I want to see your tears. Give them to me…”
Kade’s pov was really well done and I enjoyed being in his head and loved his tender side! However, his rage and tantrums were over the top. There were some things that didn’t add up but it was a truly entertaining read that may give me nightmares this evening.
The writing was very strong and the events were surprising and this is one fast paced read with a GREAT ending!
”I didn’t love her because she was beautiful or sexy. I loved her because she made everything around us beautiful, because she made me look at the fucking bloody world differently.”
February 7, 2014
4--WILD AND CRAZY--Stars!!
I had NO IDEA this book was going to be as intense as it was. And I have no clue how to even review it without spoiling the book so this will be very vague and mostly just represent how I felt while reading it which was mostly
Cold-Blooded picks up where Brutally Beautiful left off....but we start to get more of Sam's past and what happened to make her and Jen run. And let me just tell you....whatever you think it was--multiply it times a billion. That shit was fucked up!
David
Kade...
He spent a lot of time punching walls and breaking mirrors and just overall freaking out.
Hearing about Sam's past was a trigger for him. Igniting all of the anger. Sam somehow calmed the anger inside him.
I honestly couldn't stop reading thistrainwreck book. And somehow amongst all of the crazy and the dark and heart-break and the intensity there were times I was laughing my ass off.
There were still some plot holes and unanswered questions that prevented me from giving this one five stars but I enjoyed the ride nonetheless. And thank goodness something good came from all of the crazy.
I had NO IDEA this book was going to be as intense as it was. And I have no clue how to even review it without spoiling the book so this will be very vague and mostly just represent how I felt while reading it which was mostly
Cold-Blooded picks up where Brutally Beautiful left off....but we start to get more of Sam's past and what happened to make her and Jen run. And let me just tell you....whatever you think it was--multiply it times a billion. That shit was fucked up!
David
Kade...
He spent a lot of time punching walls and breaking mirrors and just overall freaking out.
Hearing about Sam's past was a trigger for him. Igniting all of the anger. Sam somehow calmed the anger inside him.
"And her demons, well, they played very well with mine, and when we were together, neither of us had to babysit them, they went off on their own, leaving us be."
I honestly couldn't stop reading this
There were still some plot holes and unanswered questions that prevented me from giving this one five stars but I enjoyed the ride nonetheless. And thank goodness something good came from all of the crazy.
"She brought me back from the dead. I never realized how ugly my insides were until she showed me what beauty really was."
February 8, 2014
WOW!!! THAT WAS TO MUCH TO HANDLE!
Kade and Sam both live in such fucked up world. I salute them for their survival and they are def strong characters.
Both of them warmed up my heart. Cold-Blooded Beautiful is not an easy and pretty read, it is gonna downright ugly, messed-up and tense.
The story picked up from Brutally Beautiful where Sam was killed for police purposes in order to hide from her husband, David.
Kade and Sam along with his brother David and Jen are now living together. Kade is def still struggling and seems to still having temper issue.
Well, of course from creeper stalker Kade now he becomes angry sexy Kade.
As we were introduced to Kade's demon in Brutally Beautiful and in now, we see's Sam's side. Despite of all these demons that they carry around, and when they are acting normal, they are really sweet couple.
What happens when Sam's past comes back calling her? How do they survive?
Thank you to the author for releasing the books in very nice interval. The story Bruttally Beautiful was still fresh in my mind when I picked this one up. I hate it when the book is left cliffy and the continuation comes out months after and I totally would have forgotten the story. Oopsy!
There were holes in this book and I was waiting to read the story of her brother, though mentioned vaguely, I still many few questions. There were certain parts that I wished it was not necessary for the book as we have read it in Brutally Beautifully.
And to her husband David,
Will I Recommend? YES, if you are into sick, creepy stalker, messed up story.
Happy reading
D xo
February 7, 2018
Ugh this book was bloody awesome.. Last chapter and the epilogue made me cry like a river!!! :'(
I highly recommend this duet and Christine's another book to you, it called "Here's to Falling" Ahh that book was awesome too. <3
Ps. I wanna thank to my dearest friend Dilek for recommending this book to me. Thank you babe. <3
You can read her amazing review from this link. :)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
February 10, 2014
This book
David is a fucking crazy ass psycho.
Kade needs to work on his coping skills and quit breaking shit
Some of my thoughts while reading (And these are in no particular order)
and finally
I will say there seemed to be some holes in the story and other minor things I didn't care for but I enjoyed reading it and overlooked that so that's why I give a 4.
David is a fucking crazy ass psycho.
Kade needs to work on his coping skills and quit breaking shit
Some of my thoughts while reading (And these are in no particular order)
and finally
I will say there seemed to be some holes in the story and other minor things I didn't care for but I enjoyed reading it and overlooked that so that's why I give a 4.
September 24, 2016
Kade. Dark, twisted, sexy, and amazingly wonderful Kade. I've found a new book boyfriend! It was virtually impossible to stop myself from falling for him. Despite his obsessive and stalker-like tendencies (which were so freaking hot!), I couldn't help but appreciate his capacity to love so deeply.
Samantha was no slouch in this book. She endured far too much heartbreak and torment. She was betrayed by those she should have been able to trust the most, and in this book, it all comes to its chilling conclusion. She was beaten, tortured and almost killed, but she refused to be broken. She and Kade were true survivors and I loved how very much they loved one another. That they were even able to find each other.
Kade's journal entries, his POV and the epilogue were the icing on the cake and the strawberry on top of the sundae. I did want more from the ending but I think that's mostly because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to my boo!
Samantha was no slouch in this book. She endured far too much heartbreak and torment. She was betrayed by those she should have been able to trust the most, and in this book, it all comes to its chilling conclusion. She was beaten, tortured and almost killed, but she refused to be broken. She and Kade were true survivors and I loved how very much they loved one another. That they were even able to find each other.
Kade's journal entries, his POV and the epilogue were the icing on the cake and the strawberry on top of the sundae. I did want more from the ending but I think that's mostly because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to my boo!
January 28, 2016
Ehh, nothing here worked for me. Book one started off terrific, but I found myself impatient, bored, and unimpressed by the end. Sadly, book two didn't even have a good start to tether me:/
Turnips, What Turnips?
I didn't buy the whole identity change & fake death. Why, you ask? SHE FUCKING STAYED IN THE SAME PLACE SHE FAKED HER DEATH. Uhm, that's the stupidest shit I've ever read! Well, until we're told this was accomplished by paying off the hospital and Sheriff's Dept. Did I mention she also goes right back to practicing medicine under an assumed name that she also legally changed to, files a protective order against he ex, seals her records citing abuse, etc etc? Damn she's busy for a dead bitch, huh? Oh, and it's not like the ex has any legal rights or anything so that he would be notified his dead wife is up to all this. Lmfao. That whole storyline was pure unbelief.
Dark Fluff
3/4 of this story is a bunch of fluffy drama set to Metallica. AKA dark fluff of a man angry, violent, rude, and ranting with EVERYONE but the MC, whom he treats like a china doll.
A Man Of Few Words
Yeah, I wish!
Inner boo hoo'ing and monologues galore.
All the above in mind and considering the amount of fluff and inner boo hoo'ing in book one, this book was a waste of space. This whole two book series could've been told in one book!
Offers You Donut: Watches You Put Donut To Mouth: Screams Fattass At You!
I feel like I'm being brow beat, preached to, shammmmmmed by the POV at times. The FMC goes to telling about her abuse, for example, and the reader is subjected to diatribes specifically directed TOWARD the reader about how horrible we are for wanting to know. Wtf?
A similar situation occurs when the MMC talks about the 'why' of the school shooting.
It's A Circus
Over the top theatrics and reactions. Imagine an irate bear that's only calmed by Tinkerbell~
At Least She's Not TSTL
The only positive here is that the FMC is NOT TSTL. I mean how she escapes the kidnapping scene is pretty damn smart.
Bottom Line
Interesting characters that fall into angsty inner thought rinse and repeat cycles. Plot with more holes than Swiss cheese. And entirely too much, too long, too often much ado.
There's a love story here... Like I said an angry bear tamed by his Tinkerbell... That a lot of readers will enjoy if they don't mind the inner thoughts and don't mind the non-romantic plot points not adding up just right.
Many thanks to the friend that lovingly loaned me these books. I hate I didn't enjoy them as you did, but that's the beauty of books - there's a perfect story for all of us out there somewhere:)
Turnips, What Turnips?
I didn't buy the whole identity change & fake death. Why, you ask? SHE FUCKING STAYED IN THE SAME PLACE SHE FAKED HER DEATH. Uhm, that's the stupidest shit I've ever read! Well, until we're told this was accomplished by paying off the hospital and Sheriff's Dept. Did I mention she also goes right back to practicing medicine under an assumed name that she also legally changed to, files a protective order against he ex, seals her records citing abuse, etc etc? Damn she's busy for a dead bitch, huh? Oh, and it's not like the ex has any legal rights or anything so that he would be notified his dead wife is up to all this. Lmfao. That whole storyline was pure unbelief.
Dark Fluff
3/4 of this story is a bunch of fluffy drama set to Metallica. AKA dark fluff of a man angry, violent, rude, and ranting with EVERYONE but the MC, whom he treats like a china doll.
A Man Of Few Words
Yeah, I wish!
Inner boo hoo'ing and monologues galore.
All the above in mind and considering the amount of fluff and inner boo hoo'ing in book one, this book was a waste of space. This whole two book series could've been told in one book!
Offers You Donut: Watches You Put Donut To Mouth: Screams Fattass At You!
I feel like I'm being brow beat, preached to, shammmmmmed by the POV at times. The FMC goes to telling about her abuse, for example, and the reader is subjected to diatribes specifically directed TOWARD the reader about how horrible we are for wanting to know. Wtf?
A similar situation occurs when the MMC talks about the 'why' of the school shooting.
It's A Circus
Over the top theatrics and reactions. Imagine an irate bear that's only calmed by Tinkerbell~
At Least She's Not TSTL
The only positive here is that the FMC is NOT TSTL. I mean how she escapes the kidnapping scene is pretty damn smart.
Bottom Line
Interesting characters that fall into angsty inner thought rinse and repeat cycles. Plot with more holes than Swiss cheese. And entirely too much, too long, too often much ado.
There's a love story here... Like I said an angry bear tamed by his Tinkerbell... That a lot of readers will enjoy if they don't mind the inner thoughts and don't mind the non-romantic plot points not adding up just right.
Many thanks to the friend that lovingly loaned me these books. I hate I didn't enjoy them as you did, but that's the beauty of books - there's a perfect story for all of us out there somewhere:)
February 10, 2014
4.5 Intense-DARK-Raw Stars
Cold-Blooded Beautiful is probably the darkest read I’ve have come across. It was beautifully written in the most twisted, gripping, dramatic and gritty way.
This book is not for everyone and is ten times darker than Brutally Beautiful (and even then, I didn’t think that was dark).
There will be spoilers from Brutally Beautiful
Cold-Blooded Beautiful (CBB) picks up somewhat where Brutally Beautiful leaves off. Sam is back to working at the hospital with her new identity. She isn’t working as a surgeon, but she’s starting to live again. Kade and Sam are both trying to move forward, but it’s difficult when both of them have not fully healed from past wounds. Kade still is traumatized by his childhood past (witnessing his class being massacre and Sam is still traumatized by her ex-husband’s abuse.
Kade wants Sam to be herself, he wants her to practice medicine and be the best she can be like before, what he doesn’t understand is what Sam went through and why Sam is the way she is now.
The most important part of this book to me is basically understanding and getting the answer to WHY?
Why is Sam the way she is? What happened to her past? What did her ex-husband really do to her?
All of that is answered in the most graphic and sad way. I simply loved the way Zolendz’s narrative CBB, was just engaging, flowed and I felt like I was part of the story.
YOU FELT FOR SAM!!! You wanted to reach into those pages and give her a big hug
Oh the things she went through, oh the things she had to overcome. On top of all of this, you have the threat of her ex. Even though Sam turned in evidence against her ex-husband, he’s still out there and that’s always nerve wracking.
At the same time, you have Kade, who whole heartily loves Sam. The love that he has for her is very real and very apparent. You can feel his pain when he sees Sam in pain, but can’t but feel sad for Kade too. He has demons he’s trying to overcome as well. I will be honest, I wasn’t really interested in reading his past, to me it didn’t hit to the heart like Sam’s, but it was sad regardless.
A lot of things happen in CBB, but mostly it’s about uncovering the past and seeking peace. The ride isn’t pretty, or easy, but it’s definitely worth taking.
REVIEW | AMAZON
AMAZON
More reviews - > http://jacquelinesreads.blogspot.com
Cold-Blooded Beautiful is probably the darkest read I’ve have come across. It was beautifully written in the most twisted, gripping, dramatic and gritty way.
This book is not for everyone and is ten times darker than Brutally Beautiful (and even then, I didn’t think that was dark).
There will be spoilers from Brutally Beautiful
Cold-Blooded Beautiful (CBB) picks up somewhat where Brutally Beautiful leaves off. Sam is back to working at the hospital with her new identity. She isn’t working as a surgeon, but she’s starting to live again. Kade and Sam are both trying to move forward, but it’s difficult when both of them have not fully healed from past wounds. Kade still is traumatized by his childhood past (witnessing his class being massacre and Sam is still traumatized by her ex-husband’s abuse.
Kade wants Sam to be herself, he wants her to practice medicine and be the best she can be like before, what he doesn’t understand is what Sam went through and why Sam is the way she is now.
The most important part of this book to me is basically understanding and getting the answer to WHY?
Why is Sam the way she is? What happened to her past? What did her ex-husband really do to her?
All of that is answered in the most graphic and sad way. I simply loved the way Zolendz’s narrative CBB, was just engaging, flowed and I felt like I was part of the story.
YOU FELT FOR SAM!!! You wanted to reach into those pages and give her a big hug
Oh the things she went through, oh the things she had to overcome. On top of all of this, you have the threat of her ex. Even though Sam turned in evidence against her ex-husband, he’s still out there and that’s always nerve wracking.
At the same time, you have Kade, who whole heartily loves Sam. The love that he has for her is very real and very apparent. You can feel his pain when he sees Sam in pain, but can’t but feel sad for Kade too. He has demons he’s trying to overcome as well. I will be honest, I wasn’t really interested in reading his past, to me it didn’t hit to the heart like Sam’s, but it was sad regardless.
A lot of things happen in CBB, but mostly it’s about uncovering the past and seeking peace. The ride isn’t pretty, or easy, but it’s definitely worth taking.
REVIEW | AMAZON
AMAZONMore reviews - > http://jacquelinesreads.blogspot.com
April 5, 2015
4 Stars.
“She brought me back from the dead. I never realized how ugly my insides were until she showed me what beauty really was.”
Cold-Blooded Beautiful picks up where the previous book left off. After faking Sam's death, she and Kade are now on the run to build a healthy, normal relationship. Both Kade and Sam has a dark and fucked-up past, but Kade has been going to therapy, and Sam is still hiding from the demons that haunt her. She thinks she can live a normal life now that her father and husband know that she's dead. But what happens when her past comes for her and takes her away from her happiness?
Not everyone can run away from their demons. Especially when it's just behind you, waiting for you to turn around and meet him face to face. Again.
This book was an emotional trainwreck. Heartbreaking, tear-inducing, and very suspenseful that you would dare not to put it down. The events were so intense that I refused to do household chores and get out of my room for a day. I really enjoyed both books, but I must say that this one pulled me in even more. I love the angst and suspense, and definitely love the author's writing style, even her attempt to make some dialogues ridiculously funny.
The only thing that I'd complain about is that some parts of this book were still lacking details. And Kade, God, I swear that guy needs a lot more therapy. He cried a lot in this book, and broke a lot of stuffs more. I hate it when a hero throws a fit like a freaking twelve year old. But thank God he didn't do some crazy stuffs like sleeping with other women when he thought that Sam left him. And I loved how madly obsessed he was with Sam. And as always, I loved Sam's insanely good sense of humor even when she was confined at the hospital. One of my favorite heroines. Ever.
Now, if you think Brutally Beautiful is dark, wait 'til you read this book. It's far more intense, brutal, and darker than you'd imagine.
“She brought me back from the dead. I never realized how ugly my insides were until she showed me what beauty really was.”
Cold-Blooded Beautiful picks up where the previous book left off. After faking Sam's death, she and Kade are now on the run to build a healthy, normal relationship. Both Kade and Sam has a dark and fucked-up past, but Kade has been going to therapy, and Sam is still hiding from the demons that haunt her. She thinks she can live a normal life now that her father and husband know that she's dead. But what happens when her past comes for her and takes her away from her happiness?
Not everyone can run away from their demons. Especially when it's just behind you, waiting for you to turn around and meet him face to face. Again.
Then, I saw the man behind the flowers, standing larger than life, in that darkness full of shadows and emptiness.
David.
This book was an emotional trainwreck. Heartbreaking, tear-inducing, and very suspenseful that you would dare not to put it down. The events were so intense that I refused to do household chores and get out of my room for a day. I really enjoyed both books, but I must say that this one pulled me in even more. I love the angst and suspense, and definitely love the author's writing style, even her attempt to make some dialogues ridiculously funny.
The only thing that I'd complain about is that some parts of this book were still lacking details. And Kade, God, I swear that guy needs a lot more therapy. He cried a lot in this book, and broke a lot of stuffs more. I hate it when a hero throws a fit like a freaking twelve year old. But thank God he didn't do some crazy stuffs like sleeping with other women when he thought that Sam left him. And I loved how madly obsessed he was with Sam. And as always, I loved Sam's insanely good sense of humor even when she was confined at the hospital. One of my favorite heroines. Ever.
Now, if you think Brutally Beautiful is dark, wait 'til you read this book. It's far more intense, brutal, and darker than you'd imagine.
January 29, 2014
BLOODY BRILLIANT, I tell all you, wankers.
Let me tell you about COLD-BLOODED BEAUTIFUL. It seems from my point-of-view, even from my writing itself, that indie authors have developed a sort of "formulaic style" of writing. I do it too, so it is not author-bashing. I am as equally guilty of it as the next person. We stay in the "comfort zone," too afraid to branch out of it, because the formula is what works. People are buying it, so why stop selling it? It's like Christine Zolendz read over the formula, memorized it, laughed at it, took a big shit, and wiped her ass with it. Then, she decided to write a real book, a book worthy of a nice, hard, beautiful cover. That is what COLD-BLOODED BEAUTIFUL is--a big "fuck you" to the formula.
So, if you are sick of reading the same story--just written by a different new author--then give COLD-BLOODED BEAUTIFUL a shot. You won't be sorry. You will love this book, oh, and effing HATE IT AT THE SAME TIME. It is THAT good and THAT real and THAT raw. Read it. Bloody effing read it!
Let me tell you about COLD-BLOODED BEAUTIFUL. It seems from my point-of-view, even from my writing itself, that indie authors have developed a sort of "formulaic style" of writing. I do it too, so it is not author-bashing. I am as equally guilty of it as the next person. We stay in the "comfort zone," too afraid to branch out of it, because the formula is what works. People are buying it, so why stop selling it? It's like Christine Zolendz read over the formula, memorized it, laughed at it, took a big shit, and wiped her ass with it. Then, she decided to write a real book, a book worthy of a nice, hard, beautiful cover. That is what COLD-BLOODED BEAUTIFUL is--a big "fuck you" to the formula.
So, if you are sick of reading the same story--just written by a different new author--then give COLD-BLOODED BEAUTIFUL a shot. You won't be sorry. You will love this book, oh, and effing HATE IT AT THE SAME TIME. It is THAT good and THAT real and THAT raw. Read it. Bloody effing read it!
May 16, 2015
Once again, I don't even know what to say about this book.
I have never read a story with a character like Kade Grayson. His mind, his thoughts, were so twisted, so dark, and at the same time SO unbelievably beautiful.
When a book can make me shed actual tears, the YOU KNOW it's incredible.
I'm not even going to go into details here. JUST READ THE DAMN SERIES. Because I promise you, you are so missing out if you don't.
July 27, 2014
“Her demons, well, they played very well with mine, and when we were together, neither of us had to babysit them, they went off on their own, leaving us be.”
Christine Zolendz takes us right back into the mood of Brutally Beautiful for the continuation of Kade and Samantha’s story. And like the first book - it’s dark, traumatic, cynical, and sinisterly funny.
Kade and Sam are both still struggling with their demons, but finding happiness together, and I loved seeing them all loved-up and committed. There are still secrets between them though, as Sam hasn’t revealed all of her past to Kade yet…
Well, he gets all of her – in horrifically, excruciating detail. And OMG, it’s some VERY hard reading as Sam’s full backstory is finally revealed. And as the horror from her past comes screaming back into her present, we get a very dark, somewhat brutal book that shows us how people cope with their own traumas, as well as with the trauma endured by a loved one, and OMG, the feels are INTENSE! This is a really emotional read as we watch both Kade and Sam suffer through some very dark times – in their own unique ways.
The story is told in a conversational writing style – like Kade and Samantha are telling us their stories, and I really liked it. It not only gets us right inside of their heads, making things really personal, but with Kade’s brilliant snarkiness, and Sam’s sarcasm, it helps gives the story some lightness. There is actually a really good mix of humour in with all of the darkness. And it’s been done really well. I wouldn’t have thought I would be laughing in the middle of all that goes on in this book, but I did. What can I say, I like my dark humour, and Kade does it so well!
God, I love him! He’s rude and nasty, but something about him just appeals to me!
Yeah, he is! And it doesn’t hurt that he loves and adores Sam with a fierce passion that had me swooning madly.
The conversational style also brings a touch of voyeurism to the story, and I confess I felt really awful when Sam tells us this:
Yeah, I felt totally smacked down after that one! But you’ve gotta hand it to Sam, she totally deserves to stand proud the way she does. You think you’ve read domestic violence stories? You haven’t seen evil, sinister and downright sadistic until you meet her ex-David. OMG, it’s a wonder the woman is alive and mentally intact after all that she has endured! It’s actually a really hard read at times. The brutality is so openly and graphically depicted, that I found it quite disturbing. But it all paints a very clear picture of the absolute hell that Sam suffers, and shows us just what an amazingly strong and resilient woman she is.
Truly, truly horrifying!
But it’s all woven into an all-consuming and passionate romance and an amazing relationship. Yes, it may be a little obsessive at times, but the way that Kade and Sam are together, trying so hard to protect and heal each other, despite what they are going through themselves, is truly beautiful. And I loved watching the changes in them as they continue to heal together.
Yet through it all they still maintain who they are, and the banter and teasing continues throughout.
This book is shocking, funny, sad, and swoonily romantic. The writing is beautiful and the story is full on from start to finish, with some really big moments - both good and bad - that took my breath away. I read it in one sitting, unable to put it down, and with my emotions all over the place the entire time. I felt completely wrung out after finishing it.
While I think that technically, Brutally Beautiful could be read as a standalone, this is definitely going to appeal to the fans out there who want more of Kade and Samantha. And the ending… if you want to know…
4 stars.
Christine Zolendz takes us right back into the mood of Brutally Beautiful for the continuation of Kade and Samantha’s story. And like the first book - it’s dark, traumatic, cynical, and sinisterly funny.
Kade and Sam are both still struggling with their demons, but finding happiness together, and I loved seeing them all loved-up and committed. There are still secrets between them though, as Sam hasn’t revealed all of her past to Kade yet…
“You need to tell me what’s going on. Tell me something, babe. I can’t do this anymore, this sick twisted worrying, I need more of the story.” The sad smile he offered me pulled at my insides, “I don’t want half of you, or bits and pieces, baby. I bloody want all of you.”
Well, he gets all of her – in horrifically, excruciating detail. And OMG, it’s some VERY hard reading as Sam’s full backstory is finally revealed. And as the horror from her past comes screaming back into her present, we get a very dark, somewhat brutal book that shows us how people cope with their own traumas, as well as with the trauma endured by a loved one, and OMG, the feels are INTENSE! This is a really emotional read as we watch both Kade and Sam suffer through some very dark times – in their own unique ways.
“Sod off! Psych 101. There are five stages of grief and I’m owning that shit. They ARE my bitches.”
The story is told in a conversational writing style – like Kade and Samantha are telling us their stories, and I really liked it. It not only gets us right inside of their heads, making things really personal, but with Kade’s brilliant snarkiness, and Sam’s sarcasm, it helps gives the story some lightness. There is actually a really good mix of humour in with all of the darkness. And it’s been done really well. I wouldn’t have thought I would be laughing in the middle of all that goes on in this book, but I did. What can I say, I like my dark humour, and Kade does it so well!
“You should be getting dressed too, instead of slumming it in your sexy-pjs all day, cuddling up under those covers. Sniffing my soap,” she smirked.
Fuuuuck. She knew I sniffed her soap? Cinnamon-motherfucking-apples. I bet she doesn’t know about her underwear…Yeah, can you see my smirk?
God, I love him! He’s rude and nasty, but something about him just appeals to me!
Come on, it’s me, Mr. Dark and intriguing with a side of fucked up. Yeah, I’m pretty much priceless.
Yeah, he is! And it doesn’t hurt that he loves and adores Sam with a fierce passion that had me swooning madly.
“I had told her I was falling in love with her, a few moments before my body claimed hers for the first time months ago, the utmost bloody disgusting cliché for a writer, but I did it. It was pure deception. Because I wasn’t falling, I had plummeted the minute I saw her, and have been lying at her feet ever since.”
The conversational style also brings a touch of voyeurism to the story, and I confess I felt really awful when Sam tells us this:
“Oh, my God. Your warped curiosity wants to know anyway, doesn’t it? Fuck it. As long as it’s not you, right? As long as the story is about someone else and you can get to feel bad, get to be part of the experience a bit, and then walk away without all the years of anger and fear that really comes with it.”
Yeah, I felt totally smacked down after that one! But you’ve gotta hand it to Sam, she totally deserves to stand proud the way she does. You think you’ve read domestic violence stories? You haven’t seen evil, sinister and downright sadistic until you meet her ex-David. OMG, it’s a wonder the woman is alive and mentally intact after all that she has endured! It’s actually a really hard read at times. The brutality is so openly and graphically depicted, that I found it quite disturbing. But it all paints a very clear picture of the absolute hell that Sam suffers, and shows us just what an amazingly strong and resilient woman she is.
“I earned my strength when a sick psychotic man took the perfect world I built for myself, shook it like a snow globe, and smashed it up against a wall. I have earned every breath I’ve ever took, while being choked at the hands of a madman.”
Truly, truly horrifying!
But it’s all woven into an all-consuming and passionate romance and an amazing relationship. Yes, it may be a little obsessive at times, but the way that Kade and Sam are together, trying so hard to protect and heal each other, despite what they are going through themselves, is truly beautiful. And I loved watching the changes in them as they continue to heal together.
“It’s not my job to change or fix you…my job is to love you with no expectations of you ever being anything more than what you are. If you change at all, I will love what you become, whatever it may be.”
Yet through it all they still maintain who they are, and the banter and teasing continues throughout.
“Hey, love? Guess what today is?”
“Smack Kade in the fucking face day?”
… “Oh, you’re bloody brilliant, love. No that only happens on Sundays.”
This book is shocking, funny, sad, and swoonily romantic. The writing is beautiful and the story is full on from start to finish, with some really big moments - both good and bad - that took my breath away. I read it in one sitting, unable to put it down, and with my emotions all over the place the entire time. I felt completely wrung out after finishing it.
While I think that technically, Brutally Beautiful could be read as a standalone, this is definitely going to appeal to the fans out there who want more of Kade and Samantha. And the ending… if you want to know…
4 stars.
February 7, 2014
Well wow!! The follow up to Brutally Beautiful was everything that I expected and so much more. This had a much darker feel than the first book, because we get to see David in action. He is a sick and twisted piece of crap and I was literally holding my breath as I read each page. We get to meet Aurora who is David's mistress and she writes Sam a letter which just had such a chilling feel to it. It really set the tone for me for the rest of the book. We get to see how much Kade grows, when he's not flying off the handle and being destructive. And we get more of his hilarious mouth, cause let's face it, in the middle of all this madness I needed to laugh a little. We had to work for the ending, but it was absolutley perfect. And the Mad World reference, when it finally snapped, just made me giddy and smile. Very well done!! I loved the first book and I am especially thankful that Christine had the second one ready to go so quickly. Awesome series that I will recommend to anyone who will listen.
October 30, 2014
Wow, that was brutal! Really, really crazy! You would think that after the first book I would be prepared for the macabre of this written work, but nope, I was unprepared for the twist this story took.
Kade Grayson is still all kinds of messed up! I love that about him, but I love even more that Samantha is his normal! I think that her ex may be the most vile character I have ever read...a true psychopath...chilling to the bone!
I loved the back story of Samantha and her live prior to meeting Kade. What a well written tale of suspense and danger. Also it was written so cleverly and with intricate web of lies and deceit. At the heart of it all was a total psychopath and a lust for greed consuming those who Sam thought she could trust the most.
I have no idea if it makes me crazy or not, but I loved every sick single thing about this book, not the torture, but the overall plot. If you like the crazy, the edge of your seat suspense, and terror...this book will deliver!
Kade Grayson is still all kinds of messed up! I love that about him, but I love even more that Samantha is his normal! I think that her ex may be the most vile character I have ever read...a true psychopath...chilling to the bone!
I loved the back story of Samantha and her live prior to meeting Kade. What a well written tale of suspense and danger. Also it was written so cleverly and with intricate web of lies and deceit. At the heart of it all was a total psychopath and a lust for greed consuming those who Sam thought she could trust the most.
I have no idea if it makes me crazy or not, but I loved every sick single thing about this book, not the torture, but the overall plot. If you like the crazy, the edge of your seat suspense, and terror...this book will deliver!
October 13, 2018
Es la conclusión de la historia de Kade y Sam, y no es una fácil de leer; pero una vez que comienzas es imposible parar, hay paginas que me hicieron apretar mis parpados, en esta historia hay abuso, violencia, brutalidad, masacre, asesinato. Pero también tenemos a dos sobrevivientes, y déjame decirte que Sam es su propia heroína, ella es maravillosa toda una guerrera, la historia tiene partes feas pero también hermosas, tenemos salvación, redención, esperanza, y amor.
June 3, 2021
A decent read, strong heroine a fact I really loved. About the hero, he was a mess but I understand his situation.
Overall not bad, but I just didn’t feel the book.
Overall not bad, but I just didn’t feel the book.
May 20, 2015
Brutally Beautiful
Cold-Blooded Beautiful (The Beautiful Series)
Imagine if Stephen King wrote you a love poem?
Kade finds out what happened to Sam and goes ballistic. Then, when more shit happens, he goes batshit insane.
And Kade is not someone you want to put thru these kinds of things.
I kinda ruined this for myself by peeking ahead, then trying to go back and I just spoiled it all, but I couldn't help it, the suspense and angst was too much. Lol.
Basically,
I don't know what made this author decide to torture Kade in the most sadistic ways possible? Yes I do, he's hysterically funny and his thoughts are cold blooded, but beautiful.
The epilogue and the tuxedo, the growth in Kade, awesome.
It's a 4 star story, minus one star for typos, verb tense nonsense, and for torturing Kade ruthlessly.
February 5, 2017
Rated 4.5 stars
This was even darker than the 1st book! Maybe even a little too dark for me.
Overall, the book was awesome, a mind blowing conclusion to the series.
Just WOW.
This was even darker than the 1st book! Maybe even a little too dark for me.
Overall, the book was awesome, a mind blowing conclusion to the series.
Just WOW.
February 7, 2014
Just as exciting and a bit crazier, yup crazier then Brutally Beautiful.
Kudos to Christine Zolendz
for writing a fantastic, exciting and very suspenseful story for us. Of course you will still get the romance, don't you worry!
Kudos to Christine Zolendz
for writing a fantastic, exciting and very suspenseful story for us. Of course you will still get the romance, don't you worry!
February 7, 2014
It took me three days to be able to write this review. Words cannot express how this book made me feel. I was chewed up and spit out over this one. God knows I love Kade and Sam, and I thank Christine from the bottom of my heart for the ending, but Sam’s story is so dark and gut wrenching, I wasn’t sure I was going to get through it. Walked away from it several times just to calm myself down. It is painful, twisted, and absolutely unforgettable!! I fell in love with Christine’s work in the Mad World Series, and she did not disappoint me with this one. I only wish I could give it more than 5 Stars!!!
February 7, 2014
Cold Blooded Brilliance!!!!
Bloody fucking brilliant. There is no other way to describe this book. I can't even get over it. Dark in all the right ways. The first book put me on the edge of a knife this second book just blew my fucking brains out. Love love loved it. Please go buy it now. If haven't read the first one go do it now. Trust me you haven't read until you've read these books.
Bloody fucking brilliant. There is no other way to describe this book. I can't even get over it. Dark in all the right ways. The first book put me on the edge of a knife this second book just blew my fucking brains out. Love love loved it. Please go buy it now. If haven't read the first one go do it now. Trust me you haven't read until you've read these books.
February 8, 2014
More like 2.25 bloody-WTF-Really Unnecessary-I Loved The First Book-This one-I did not need to read stars :-(
February 21, 2015
5+++ stars!!!
fabulous book!!!!
fabulous book!!!!
August 15, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. Although it was really sad and hard to read at times. I will definitely read more from this author
February 7, 2018
**********tears.......... beyond words stars*********
With the courage of My dear friend Dilek I start read this book after firs one..... Lets be honest. She warned me lots of times....
Book is amazing but at the same time so much painful.....
You will love it and Hate so much thing in this story. not because of Author but because of behaviors of bad characters..... husband father.....
There wont be any way for me to give clues without spoiler. So just read it...
Prepare yourself worst scenario.....
FUCKING SO MUCH PAINFUL BUT SO BEAUTIFUL
With the courage of My dear friend Dilek I start read this book after firs one..... Lets be honest. She warned me lots of times....
Book is amazing but at the same time so much painful.....
You will love it and Hate so much thing in this story. not because of Author but because of behaviors of bad characters..... husband father.....
There wont be any way for me to give clues without spoiler. So just read it...
Prepare yourself worst scenario.....
FUCKING SO MUCH PAINFUL BUT SO BEAUTIFUL
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