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Beautiful Monsters
"Hell is empty and all the devils are here." ~Shakespeare
Hollywood: Movie Capital of the World, La La Land, Tinseltown, Hollyweird, Gomorrah, Land of Broken Dreams...Hell.
Makeup artist Riley Rinaldi has it all: beauty, wealth, talent, and undeniable sex appeal. But besieged by her past and the very attributes so many envy, she lives a lonely life devoid of the one commodity she cannot grasp--love. When sexy heartthrob Keller Cross swaggers onto the set of Beautiful Monsters, Riley's self-protective veneer cracks wide open. Her dormant passion ignites as the bad-boy actor thrusts her onto the volatile glass stage of Hollywood celebrity--and down into the depths of his sordid sexual deviancy. Against a backdrop of studio politics, fame, jealousy, and unrequited love, their white-hot chemistry explodes onto the film set, incinerating their former lives and exposing the unseemly underbelly of La La Land. But does love stand a chance among the beautiful monsters?
Hollywood: Movie Capital of the World, La La Land, Tinseltown, Hollyweird, Gomorrah, Land of Broken Dreams...Hell.
Makeup artist Riley Rinaldi has it all: beauty, wealth, talent, and undeniable sex appeal. But besieged by her past and the very attributes so many envy, she lives a lonely life devoid of the one commodity she cannot grasp--love. When sexy heartthrob Keller Cross swaggers onto the set of Beautiful Monsters, Riley's self-protective veneer cracks wide open. Her dormant passion ignites as the bad-boy actor thrusts her onto the volatile glass stage of Hollywood celebrity--and down into the depths of his sordid sexual deviancy. Against a backdrop of studio politics, fame, jealousy, and unrequited love, their white-hot chemistry explodes onto the film set, incinerating their former lives and exposing the unseemly underbelly of La La Land. But does love stand a chance among the beautiful monsters?
396 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2014
1 person is currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Ogren
1 book49 followersCynthia Ogren is a lifelong reader, writer, and self-described word nerd. Originally from Illinois, she has lived all over the United States and has traveled extensively. She attended the University of Texas at San Antonio, majoring in psychology and English literature.
Her hobbies include: maniacal reading, Facebooking, creating wild fantasies in her head while on the treadmill, weight-lifting, travel, getting lost in films and pop culture, and the quiet subversion of the system. She also enjoys intriguing conversation, art, dogs, meditation, bohemianism, ghosts, and popcorn.
She’s not above exceeding the speed limit or wild flirtations—and would not necessarily refuse offers that involve exotic travel and dirty martinis.
Ms Ogren lives and works at her writer's loft near Lexington, KY, which she shares with her toy schnauzer, Romeo. She's a member of RWA and Passionate Ink. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, and her website (www.cynthiaogren.com).
Her hobbies include: maniacal reading, Facebooking, creating wild fantasies in her head while on the treadmill, weight-lifting, travel, getting lost in films and pop culture, and the quiet subversion of the system. She also enjoys intriguing conversation, art, dogs, meditation, bohemianism, ghosts, and popcorn.
She’s not above exceeding the speed limit or wild flirtations—and would not necessarily refuse offers that involve exotic travel and dirty martinis.
Ms Ogren lives and works at her writer's loft near Lexington, KY, which she shares with her toy schnauzer, Romeo. She's a member of RWA and Passionate Ink. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, and her website (www.cynthiaogren.com).
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 6, 2014
If you’re like me and haven’t read a romance erotica book, take everything you think you know about the genre and set it to one side. Now, pick up a copy of Cynthia Ogren’s Beautiful Monsters and let the wild ride begin.
It would be easy to focus on the excellent pacing, the well-drawn characters, and the intriguing plot of this book, all of which I’m sure will fully satisfy devotees of romance erotica. But I’d like to focus on other aspects of Beautiful Monsters, those that appealed to me and led me to read compulsively this wonderfully executed and beautifully told story.
Riley Rinaldi and Keller Cross are likable, yet extraordinarily flawed characters. Their journey into and out of love has all the to-hell-and-back-again qualities associated with a glamorous Hollywood production. Oh wait…it IS a Hollywood production. But the fact that the setting is Tinseltown should not lead one to think the characters are shallow and two-dimensional, because all of Ogren’s characters come with fully rounded personalities, idiosyncrasies, and yes, lots of baggage.
What is less obvious is that the setting and the Hollywood production around which all of the action centers, the vampiric “Beautiful Monsters,” serves as a metaphor for Lala Land itself, and for the people which populate its palatial houses and its slapdash sets, its raunchy clubs and seedy tattoo parlors. Beautiful on the outside, monstrous on the inside, the town’s inhabitants are consumed by jealousy, love, anger and greed.
But what Ogren unfolds against the reprehensible backdrop is a lyrical tale of love addiction, one that is intoxicating and breathtaking. The story grabs the reader in a passionate embrace and will not let go until the story is spent. The reader emerges fully satisfied, caring about the main characters, and eager to be swept away in another story from the mind and heart of this truly wonderful new storyteller.
It would be easy to focus on the excellent pacing, the well-drawn characters, and the intriguing plot of this book, all of which I’m sure will fully satisfy devotees of romance erotica. But I’d like to focus on other aspects of Beautiful Monsters, those that appealed to me and led me to read compulsively this wonderfully executed and beautifully told story.
Riley Rinaldi and Keller Cross are likable, yet extraordinarily flawed characters. Their journey into and out of love has all the to-hell-and-back-again qualities associated with a glamorous Hollywood production. Oh wait…it IS a Hollywood production. But the fact that the setting is Tinseltown should not lead one to think the characters are shallow and two-dimensional, because all of Ogren’s characters come with fully rounded personalities, idiosyncrasies, and yes, lots of baggage.
What is less obvious is that the setting and the Hollywood production around which all of the action centers, the vampiric “Beautiful Monsters,” serves as a metaphor for Lala Land itself, and for the people which populate its palatial houses and its slapdash sets, its raunchy clubs and seedy tattoo parlors. Beautiful on the outside, monstrous on the inside, the town’s inhabitants are consumed by jealousy, love, anger and greed.
But what Ogren unfolds against the reprehensible backdrop is a lyrical tale of love addiction, one that is intoxicating and breathtaking. The story grabs the reader in a passionate embrace and will not let go until the story is spent. The reader emerges fully satisfied, caring about the main characters, and eager to be swept away in another story from the mind and heart of this truly wonderful new storyteller.
October 26, 2014
I received this book for an honest review and liked it so much that I had to purchase an official copy. Before reading a word, I checked out reviews and noticed this book was being put into different genres. I wondered why, so I read the book and now have an answer. This book truly does have something for readers of every genre, over the age of 18.
With that being said, this book is predominantly a Romance. It is full of drama, intrigue, plot twists, and steamy scenes. It also has something unexpected, vampires. Okay, they may not play a major role or in the way you've come to expect, but they are there.
The main characters, Riley Rinaldi and Keller Cross would probably get my vote for favorite literary couple. Although they are among the Hollywood elite, they are nothing at all like the way most of us envision the Hollywood community. They are flawed and don't go out of their way to hide that fact. For that reason, I found them highly likable and became involved in their story.
The writing flowed beautifully. There wasn't one incident where I thought the story lagged or went too fast. The editing and formatting was spot on as well.
In case you couldn't tell already, I loved this book. I am now anxiously awaiting the next book by Cynthia Ogren, which I hear is a sequel to Beautiful Monsters. I can't wait!
With that being said, this book is predominantly a Romance. It is full of drama, intrigue, plot twists, and steamy scenes. It also has something unexpected, vampires. Okay, they may not play a major role or in the way you've come to expect, but they are there.
The main characters, Riley Rinaldi and Keller Cross would probably get my vote for favorite literary couple. Although they are among the Hollywood elite, they are nothing at all like the way most of us envision the Hollywood community. They are flawed and don't go out of their way to hide that fact. For that reason, I found them highly likable and became involved in their story.
The writing flowed beautifully. There wasn't one incident where I thought the story lagged or went too fast. The editing and formatting was spot on as well.
In case you couldn't tell already, I loved this book. I am now anxiously awaiting the next book by Cynthia Ogren, which I hear is a sequel to Beautiful Monsters. I can't wait!
June 4, 2015
What a great book. The ride that Riley and Kellar took me on was a wild one. The Hollywood life style, wild and fast. Can't wait to read more of Cynthia Ogren books.
May 21, 2015
4.5 Stars
"Beautiful Monsters" was an awesome read. The story was perfect. Very well-written. It was quite different from the stories we generally read. Its not your common Erotica. It was too good to keep you gripped right from the first page till the end in your urge to know what happens next.
Riley Rinaldi is very beautiful but she thinks that's the only thing that makes men attracted towards her. She is a make-up artist. One day she crosses paths with an actor Keller Cross. They fall for each other but their relationship can't go smoothly because Keller is already married.
Riley and Keller both have their secrets, both have their past to face. Will they be able to forgo their past and unite? Will their relationship work?
You need to read this book to find what happens in this amazingly sewn story!
(I received a free copy by the author in exchange of an honest review)
"Beautiful Monsters" was an awesome read. The story was perfect. Very well-written. It was quite different from the stories we generally read. Its not your common Erotica. It was too good to keep you gripped right from the first page till the end in your urge to know what happens next.
Riley Rinaldi is very beautiful but she thinks that's the only thing that makes men attracted towards her. She is a make-up artist. One day she crosses paths with an actor Keller Cross. They fall for each other but their relationship can't go smoothly because Keller is already married.
Riley and Keller both have their secrets, both have their past to face. Will they be able to forgo their past and unite? Will their relationship work?
You need to read this book to find what happens in this amazingly sewn story!
(I received a free copy by the author in exchange of an honest review)
October 10, 2014
I am not really a fan of the romance genre and seldom read romance novels although I do like suspense romance and some paranormal romance. So, while I did enjoy the read of Cynthia Ogren's "Beautiful Monsters", I wasn't totally engrossed in it. As a romance novel, it was a bit more of deviant sex than I like to read about but for those who enjoy this type of novel, it does hit some kinks. Ms. Ogren writes very well and has built strong characters. If a racy, sexy novel is your cup of tea or bedtime reading, then give this book a read.
November 18, 2014
A must read!!! Riley Rinaldi believes she is cursed. Her beautiful looks makes her feel has if that is the only reason why men want her. Until she meets actor Keller Cross. She and Keller become as one but their relationship is very difficult because Keller is still married. Riley and Keller both have a past, but can they both overcome their and move forward? Does Kellers wife Claudia get Keller back and does she keep Keller and Riley apart for good? You'll just have to read it.
August 7, 2014
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. its very different from what I usually read but it was a fun get away.
October 31, 2019
A Good Read.
I'm not really a fan of romance genre and seldom read romance novels although I do like suspense romance. So, why I did enjoy the read of Cynthia Ogren' s " Beautiful Monsters " I wasn't totally engrossed in it.
As a romantic novel, it was a bit more of deviant sex than I like to read about but for those who enjoy this type of novel, it does hit some kinks. Ms Ogren writes very well and has built strong characters.
If a racy sex novel is your cup of tea or bedtime reading, then give this book a read.
I'm not really a fan of romance genre and seldom read romance novels although I do like suspense romance. So, why I did enjoy the read of Cynthia Ogren' s " Beautiful Monsters " I wasn't totally engrossed in it.
As a romantic novel, it was a bit more of deviant sex than I like to read about but for those who enjoy this type of novel, it does hit some kinks. Ms Ogren writes very well and has built strong characters.
If a racy sex novel is your cup of tea or bedtime reading, then give this book a read.
March 15, 2018
It was fantastic. What an intriguing read. Beautiful monsters is the kind of story that follows you around when you are doing other things. It takes you by the hand, slips a diamond tennis bracelet around your wrist, and seduces you. It misleads you, tricks you and allows you to touch things and go places you that you weren't aware of before. Cynthia Ogren has fabulous, strong characters and her writing style is simply magnificent. Her command of the English language is superior and she knows how to dig into the flesh and soul with the dynamics that her story deals with. This book is sensual, devilish and erotic. A fantastic escape to a land of cruel pleasures with delightful twists. Highly recommended. #itsnaughty - don't read it if you're a prude!
November 21, 2018
This is such a page-turner... I really got to know the complex, fun, and intense characters, Riley and Keller. Their joys and heartbreaks fascinated me- Ogren writes with such authenticity it's like the characters were in the room with me. Amazing. I couldn't help but read 100+ pages in one sitting. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a story with twists and turns, stellar writing, and exceptionally interesting characters.
February 2, 2018
Engaging, sexy and quite simply impossible to put down. Some writers simply have to much to say and they say it too loud, not here though - Cynthia Ogren is a smooth writer who drags you kicking and screaming into her world, a place where you never want to leave.
I am sold.
I am a fan.
DK
I am sold.
I am a fan.
DK
Read
January 1, 2020DNF at 50%. I had a really hard time connecting with the characters or the storyline. I struggled, able to only do a chapter or two at a time and I finally had to cut my losses. Of course reading is subjective, this one just wasn’t for me.
December 14, 2015
A few months ago I had the honor of interviewing Cynthia Ogren, the author of BeautifulMonsters. As a reviewer I am supposed to view the novel independently from the person who wrote it, but I always like to know where the author is coming from. Ogren's narrative is refreshingly raw and candid without being bitter or judgmental. As a former insider who has worked in the entertainment industry and survived, she does not have a vendeta against Hollywood as some authors would. I know that it can be very tempting to "expose" the underbelly of a very unforgiving industry that has scarred and discarded many. The underlying message is that some individuals want to be scarred, and they will continue sticking their fingers into proverbial outlets, because the side effect of pain is sick masochistic pleasure. Ogren's female protagonist Riley Rinaldi, an executive makeup artist who also flirts with acting and choreography, is one of such individuals, or rather she has convinced herself of that. With a long list of disasters on her romantic resume, she half-jokingly refers to herself as Bloody Mary of Romance. That statement becomes a self-fulfilled prophecy as she embarks on what she believes to be her last romantic journey with tormented egocentric heartthrob Keller Cross. Both bring an impressive vintage collection of inner demons, and when those demons engange in a dance ... buckle your seats!
Film is not just an escape for the moviegoers. It's an escape for those who are involved in the production process, from the executives dubbed as Suits to the actors and the crew. If you feel hostage to your past, to your secrets and misdeeds, to an uncomfortable relationship, playing a role can indeed be an escape. But there is another side to it - that quest for liberation can lead you into an even deeper, darker trap. If you work on a set for 20 hours, the line between reality and fantasy starts to blur. You can longer tell where the actor ends and the character begins. Makeup and prosthetics become a part of your body. You have to have a really resilient psyche to be able to maintain your sense of reality and your place in that reality. It's the price people pay for creating movies.
Ogren's Beautiful Monsters is a credible, psychologically authentic depiction of an entertainment microcosm.
Film is not just an escape for the moviegoers. It's an escape for those who are involved in the production process, from the executives dubbed as Suits to the actors and the crew. If you feel hostage to your past, to your secrets and misdeeds, to an uncomfortable relationship, playing a role can indeed be an escape. But there is another side to it - that quest for liberation can lead you into an even deeper, darker trap. If you work on a set for 20 hours, the line between reality and fantasy starts to blur. You can longer tell where the actor ends and the character begins. Makeup and prosthetics become a part of your body. You have to have a really resilient psyche to be able to maintain your sense of reality and your place in that reality. It's the price people pay for creating movies.
Ogren's Beautiful Monsters is a credible, psychologically authentic depiction of an entertainment microcosm.
May 21, 2015
This wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be. I thought there were going to be fictional monsters, like vampires, werewolves, zombies...etc; instead there were real life monsters. It was definitely different from what I'm used to reading.
Riley is a makeup artist working on the set of Beautiful Monsters. She quickly falls head over heels in love with one of the stars, Keller Cross. They both have rough pasts that begin to seep into their relationship. But when Keller's past starts to knock at their door will he be able to stay away? Will their relationship make it?
I did think Riley and Keller's relationship moved at lightning speed. And I'm not into reading the BDSM sex stuff, it's just not my thing. Though thankfully there wasn't too much of that in this. There was one scene though that made me cringe a little and I read it to my husband making him look at me like I was crazy and ask "what are you reading?"
Riley and Keller were either fighting or having sex. I swear that is all they did. How did they have time for anything else? How were they able to hold down a job like that? I'm glad someone in the book said it too. I liked the charters though, they had such dreary pasts it was nice that they had each other. I felt bad for Keller for having a horrible wife like that. That just proves that just because you get someone pregnant does not mean you have to immediately get married.
I thought it was cool that it was almost like a behind the scenes for movie making. I never once thought about makeup artists during movies and how well they get to know the cast while working on set. Maybe they won't get to know them quite as well as Riley got to know Keller but who knows. It was cool to get that small glimpse into hollywood.
All in all I enjoyed this book. The characters were very complex and kept me guessing how they were going to react to a scene. It kept me guessing and I liked that.
For more of my reviews visit: http://www.hyperashley.com/
Riley is a makeup artist working on the set of Beautiful Monsters. She quickly falls head over heels in love with one of the stars, Keller Cross. They both have rough pasts that begin to seep into their relationship. But when Keller's past starts to knock at their door will he be able to stay away? Will their relationship make it?
I did think Riley and Keller's relationship moved at lightning speed. And I'm not into reading the BDSM sex stuff, it's just not my thing. Though thankfully there wasn't too much of that in this. There was one scene though that made me cringe a little and I read it to my husband making him look at me like I was crazy and ask "what are you reading?"
Riley and Keller were either fighting or having sex. I swear that is all they did. How did they have time for anything else? How were they able to hold down a job like that? I'm glad someone in the book said it too. I liked the charters though, they had such dreary pasts it was nice that they had each other. I felt bad for Keller for having a horrible wife like that. That just proves that just because you get someone pregnant does not mean you have to immediately get married.
I thought it was cool that it was almost like a behind the scenes for movie making. I never once thought about makeup artists during movies and how well they get to know the cast while working on set. Maybe they won't get to know them quite as well as Riley got to know Keller but who knows. It was cool to get that small glimpse into hollywood.
All in all I enjoyed this book. The characters were very complex and kept me guessing how they were going to react to a scene. It kept me guessing and I liked that.
For more of my reviews visit: http://www.hyperashley.com/
August 24, 2016
Riley Rinaldi is a makeup artist working in Hollywood. She’s an intelligent woman, she’s attractive and she’s successful in her chosen career. She’s got it made. Right? Well, no…
Working side by side with the most charismatic and beautiful actors and actresses in the world seems like the perfect way to spend your life until you realise that the perfection you see on the screen disappears as soon as the cameras stop rolling. The stars of the screen soon lose their shine then and the tarnish goes all the way to their cores.
This is a well-observed novel written by someone who’s intimately familiar with the real-life stories that go on in the back lots and the mazes of buildings that rarely feature on the studio tours. The characters are often cruelly real and this is a captivating story that kept me thumbing the ‘next page’ button until the story ran out, leaving me satisfied but still wanting more. If you enjoy reading about the hidden Hollywood you’ll love this. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves to read about the grit behind the glamour.
Working side by side with the most charismatic and beautiful actors and actresses in the world seems like the perfect way to spend your life until you realise that the perfection you see on the screen disappears as soon as the cameras stop rolling. The stars of the screen soon lose their shine then and the tarnish goes all the way to their cores.
This is a well-observed novel written by someone who’s intimately familiar with the real-life stories that go on in the back lots and the mazes of buildings that rarely feature on the studio tours. The characters are often cruelly real and this is a captivating story that kept me thumbing the ‘next page’ button until the story ran out, leaving me satisfied but still wanting more. If you enjoy reading about the hidden Hollywood you’ll love this. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves to read about the grit behind the glamour.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews