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Beautiful #1
Beautiful Torment
We both knew it was wrong.
But nothing has ever felt this right.
He's a teacher.
I'm his student.
But that doesn't stop us.
Luci Cunningham is about to begin her senior year, but her entire world is turned upside down when she walks into chemistry on the first day of school. She didn't expect her teacher to be so... hot.
Warning: This book contains explicit language, sex scenes, and is intended for ages 18 and up.
But nothing has ever felt this right.
He's a teacher.
I'm his student.
But that doesn't stop us.
Luci Cunningham is about to begin her senior year, but her entire world is turned upside down when she walks into chemistry on the first day of school. She didn't expect her teacher to be so... hot.
Warning: This book contains explicit language, sex scenes, and is intended for ages 18 and up.
216 pages, ebook
First published February 23, 2015
232 people are currently reading
1815 people want to read
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March 6, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Beautiful Torment, book 1 of 2. Ultra-forbidden sexual affair as innocent student pursues her enigmatic teacher!
“You were everywhere, my own, personal, beautiful torment.”
Books in Beautiful series should be read in order:
Book 1: Beautiful Torment
Book 1.5: Beautiful Mess
Book 2: Beautiful Dreams
Book 2.5: Beautiful Endings
Beautiful Torment (book 1) is a forbidden and doomed teacher student affair looking back at the senior year of high school student Lucida Cunningham, Luci. From the moment she met her chemistry teacher Josh Harrington she relentlessly pursued him with a mixture of stalking and innocent seduction.
“You’ve touched yourself before though?”
“Yes,” I laugh as I roll my eyes.
“God that’s hot,” he sighs, smirking.”
Though Josh should be the grown-up in the situation his hot-cold responses only fueled the intensity of their attraction. Soon their addicting affair spirals out of control with isolation from their surroundings, risky rendezvous, reckless sex, lying to everyone around them… and each other until it all comes crashing down.
Six words to describe Josh Harrington: Mysterious, secretive, complex, selfish, immature and reckless.
Seven words to describe Lucida Cunningham, Luci: Determined, obsessive, lonely, impressionable, misguided and immature.
Beautiful Torment, is told from Luci’s POV, allowing Josh to remain an enigma. This. does. not. gloss. over. This is a wild and irresponsible affair that will wreck havoc on Luci and Josh’s lives and… in many ways ruin their chances of ever finding love with anyone else. After a devastatingly shocking ending their story concludes several years later in book 2, Beautiful Dreams, but there is also a novella from Josh’s POV, book 1.5 Beautiful Mess.
“He was always too much, always leaving me wonderstruck and forever breathless.”
***
Hero: ★★★★
Heroine: ★★★★
Plot: ★★★★1/2
Storytelling: ★★★★1/2
Sexual tension: ★★★★1/2
Sex scenes: ★★★★1/2
Story ending: N/A
******************************************
OVERALL RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Angst: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Darkness: | LOW FOCUS |
Humor: | LOW FOCUS |
Kink: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
Romance: | HIGH FOCUS |
Sex frequency: | HIGH FOCUS |
Suspense: | MEDIUM FOCUS |
June 1, 2015
3.75 ~ 4 Stars
”Some people fall in love at eighteen, and I guess I’m just one of them. Sometimes it lasts forever, and sometimes it ruins you. But that’s what love does, right? It makes you wish and hope for impossible things.”
This is an interesting teacher/student story that builds the insane attraction between these two to an explosive point. Luci Cunningham crushes hard on her chemistry teacher, J. Harrington as the two have a secret relationship during her senior year of high school.
I really did like the author’s writing style and found the sex scenes to be steamy and our Luci’s feelings and fall for her teacher so well depicted.
”Do you not like me or something?”
He suddenly has me feeling bold, saying things I would normally never say.
“Or something,” he chuckles lightly, and I know I don’t hide my surprised look very well.”
As the two eat lunch together daily and get to know one another behind closed doors Mr. Harrington’s desire for Luci is soon realized as she walks in on something in his office. **Here is a spot where I HAD to deduct stars (as well as the class study session and classroom scene just was very over the top.) once was HOT more than once just came across CREEPY.**
”Call me sick, call me perverted, but the next day, I go back. I have to know if it was a one-time thing or not. It’s not.”
Forbidden as their relationship is these two are pretty hot when they explore their lust for one another.
”I tell myself one kiss. One this, one that, but everything with you never seems to be enough.”
What I liked most about the story was even when Luci was completely wrapped up in her love for Josh she tried to hold onto the truths about their relationship.
Towards the end, the author then sideswipes both Luci and a reader with a WTF scenario.
” He says I’m the one who’s trouble, but it’s him. He’s trouble! He’s ruined me. I’m forever broken.”
The story then returns to four years in the future where Luci runs into her former teacher and we are left with an open ending. I do see that a book two is listed here on GR so fingers crossed for Luci to find true love with or without her former teacher!!
”Some people fall in love at eighteen, and I guess I’m just one of them. Sometimes it lasts forever, and sometimes it ruins you. But that’s what love does, right? It makes you wish and hope for impossible things.”
This is an interesting teacher/student story that builds the insane attraction between these two to an explosive point. Luci Cunningham crushes hard on her chemistry teacher, J. Harrington as the two have a secret relationship during her senior year of high school.
I really did like the author’s writing style and found the sex scenes to be steamy and our Luci’s feelings and fall for her teacher so well depicted.
”Do you not like me or something?”
He suddenly has me feeling bold, saying things I would normally never say.
“Or something,” he chuckles lightly, and I know I don’t hide my surprised look very well.”
As the two eat lunch together daily and get to know one another behind closed doors Mr. Harrington’s desire for Luci is soon realized as she walks in on something in his office. **Here is a spot where I HAD to deduct stars (as well as the class study session and classroom scene just was very over the top.) once was HOT more than once just came across CREEPY.**
”Call me sick, call me perverted, but the next day, I go back. I have to know if it was a one-time thing or not. It’s not.”
Forbidden as their relationship is these two are pretty hot when they explore their lust for one another.
”I tell myself one kiss. One this, one that, but everything with you never seems to be enough.”
What I liked most about the story was even when Luci was completely wrapped up in her love for Josh she tried to hold onto the truths about their relationship.
Towards the end, the author then sideswipes both Luci and a reader with a WTF scenario.
” He says I’m the one who’s trouble, but it’s him. He’s trouble! He’s ruined me. I’m forever broken.”
The story then returns to four years in the future where Luci runs into her former teacher and we are left with an open ending. I do see that a book two is listed here on GR so fingers crossed for Luci to find true love with or without her former teacher!!
June 2, 2015
3.75 Stars
Well. This book was something. It definitely made for some interesting reading. A steamy student/teacher story that starts with spark.
Luci is instantly attracted to her new Chemistry teacher. Mr. Josh Harrington is 27, handsome, and intelligent - she is crushing hard. Luci finds little ways to spend time with him, including having lunch together in his lab a few days a week. Then one day she decides to show up at his office unannounced and makes a shocking discovery...
Seems Mr. Harrington may have a crush of his own, and has been doing some very naughty things in his office. When Mr. Harrington learns he has been caught, things heat up pretty quickly between these two.
Luci's senior year is definitely going to be memorable, especially with the secret relationship she and Josh enter into. These two are constantly going at it, taking risk left and right.
But Luci isn't just risking her future, when she finds herself falling deeper and deeper into Mr. Harrington. Is her heart safe? They can't possibly have a future, can they?
He says I’m the one who’s trouble, but it’s him. He’s trouble! He’s ruined me. I’m forever broken.
Forbidden romances are such a guilty pleasure and this story was a nice indulgence, then Josh drops a bomb. And it explodes all over Luci's fantasy.
Overall, I enjoyed this for what it was. Nothing particularly unique. It's a naughty read with some WTF moments, a bit ott at times, but the story was descent and the pace was steady.
"I tell myself one kiss. One this, one that, but everything with you never seems to be enough."
Well. This book was something. It definitely made for some interesting reading. A steamy student/teacher story that starts with spark.
Luci is instantly attracted to her new Chemistry teacher. Mr. Josh Harrington is 27, handsome, and intelligent - she is crushing hard. Luci finds little ways to spend time with him, including having lunch together in his lab a few days a week. Then one day she decides to show up at his office unannounced and makes a shocking discovery...
Seems Mr. Harrington may have a crush of his own, and has been doing some very naughty things in his office. When Mr. Harrington learns he has been caught, things heat up pretty quickly between these two.
Luci's senior year is definitely going to be memorable, especially with the secret relationship she and Josh enter into. These two are constantly going at it, taking risk left and right.
But Luci isn't just risking her future, when she finds herself falling deeper and deeper into Mr. Harrington. Is her heart safe? They can't possibly have a future, can they?
He says I’m the one who’s trouble, but it’s him. He’s trouble! He’s ruined me. I’m forever broken.
Forbidden romances are such a guilty pleasure and this story was a nice indulgence, then Josh drops a bomb. And it explodes all over Luci's fantasy.
Overall, I enjoyed this for what it was. Nothing particularly unique. It's a naughty read with some WTF moments, a bit ott at times, but the story was descent and the pace was steady.
"I tell myself one kiss. One this, one that, but everything with you never seems to be enough."
March 23, 2016
★★★★ 4.5 STARS!!
Lucinda Cunningham or Luci is starting her senior year with new classes. She's smart and a good girl. When her chemistry class began with the hot-as-sin teacher, Mr. Harrington. She couldn't focus with another except for him. Slowly but sure, her unrequited 'love' with Mr. Harrington bear the forbidden fruits. Teacher and student? What a scandal but they couldn't stop it.
Luci has boring and mundane life in her introduction. Her family, sister who is in freshman year and friends. Seems like a normal teenage life. IMO, Luci is more mature than other girls. She has different perspective about life and could handle her emotions pretty good. The story told from Luci's POV and it was boring. She has 'stalker' tendency in school whenever with Mr. Harrington feeding her addiction. Mr. Harrington seems calm and laid back person. Well, he is when you're not seeing him. What surprise me is... Mr. Harrington likes to get himself off. Like a lot. Chanting her name over and over.
I enjoyed their flirtatious moments. I could feel their burden around school. They're teacher and student. It's forbidden relationship. Their banter is really emotional for me. I'm not the type who handle feelings very well. I could feel Luci's pain. It was like you want something you couldn't have. Surprisingly, Mr. Harrington feel the same. He didn't deny the chemistry between them. Their sexy times happened and it was beautiful. I don't know Mr. Harrington is such a dirty talker. Luci isn't a shrinking violet and didn't afraid with her sexual needs. I simply loved it! They're continue their cat-and-mouse relationship in school and it was surprised me that they never caught in action ;)
Honestly, this is not my typical of romance. There are limits in their forbidden relationship and it was intense and difficult. How much they're wanting each other but simply couldn't. Beautiful Torment is a fantastic read and nearly perfect if only Luci's mundane life didn't take too long. Still, I couldn't stop read it until finished. Curiosity won it! It was well-written with steady pace. Whew! What a great roller coaster feeling. I could feel the angst between Luci and Mr. Harrington. It was complicated shit. mixed with lust, sadness, and anger.
When I reached the ending, I really wanna hate him so bad. But I couldn't... it's hard. Different. It's not fair for Luci.
“Je me ennuie de ton baiser. Vous êtes tout ce qui est dans mon esprit.”My first read from Paige Laurens. I never heard of her and when I saw my friend's review, I'm intrigued.. Usually I read book based on genre and when I saw the NA tag, I wanna out. LOL yeah, NA/YA scares me sometimes. So I'm gonna give it a try. Turns out it didn't bad as I thought. Again, don't judge the book by its cover. I know the cover isn't... pretty.
Lucinda Cunningham or Luci is starting her senior year with new classes. She's smart and a good girl. When her chemistry class began with the hot-as-sin teacher, Mr. Harrington. She couldn't focus with another except for him. Slowly but sure, her unrequited 'love' with Mr. Harrington bear the forbidden fruits. Teacher and student? What a scandal but they couldn't stop it.
Luci has boring and mundane life in her introduction. Her family, sister who is in freshman year and friends. Seems like a normal teenage life. IMO, Luci is more mature than other girls. She has different perspective about life and could handle her emotions pretty good. The story told from Luci's POV and it was boring. She has 'stalker' tendency in school whenever with Mr. Harrington feeding her addiction. Mr. Harrington seems calm and laid back person. Well, he is when you're not seeing him. What surprise me is... Mr. Harrington likes to get himself off. Like a lot. Chanting her name over and over.
"But that's why you're trouble," he shakes his head. "Because you make all the wrong things feel right."
I enjoyed their flirtatious moments. I could feel their burden around school. They're teacher and student. It's forbidden relationship. Their banter is really emotional for me. I'm not the type who handle feelings very well. I could feel Luci's pain. It was like you want something you couldn't have. Surprisingly, Mr. Harrington feel the same. He didn't deny the chemistry between them. Their sexy times happened and it was beautiful. I don't know Mr. Harrington is such a dirty talker. Luci isn't a shrinking violet and didn't afraid with her sexual needs. I simply loved it! They're continue their cat-and-mouse relationship in school and it was surprised me that they never caught in action ;)
Honestly, this is not my typical of romance. There are limits in their forbidden relationship and it was intense and difficult. How much they're wanting each other but simply couldn't. Beautiful Torment is a fantastic read and nearly perfect if only Luci's mundane life didn't take too long. Still, I couldn't stop read it until finished. Curiosity won it! It was well-written with steady pace. Whew! What a great roller coaster feeling. I could feel the angst between Luci and Mr. Harrington. It was complicated shit. mixed with lust, sadness, and anger.
When I reached the ending, I really wanna hate him so bad. But I couldn't... it's hard. Different. It's not fair for Luci.
April 25, 2023
Stars: 5
Length: Full Length
POV: Single (Heroine)
Series: Beautiful Series #1
Ending: Cliffhanger
Re-read? Yes!!!
"I suppose some people fall in love at eighteen, and I guess I’m just one of them. Sometimes it lasts forever, and sometimes it ruins you. But that’s what love does, right? It makes you wish and hope for impossible things"
Read #3: books 1-3 is still about as close to perfect as you can get for me with a student/teacher romance. Books 1&3 are perfection even if they don’t end particularly happily (don’t worry book two takes are of that). I’ve loved them so much that I haven’t even bothered to read 4-6 which I plan on doing now. Can’t recommend this book highly enough.
This is one of my all time favorite series. You have no idea! If you are a lover of the student/teacher romance trope you have to read these. Paige Laurens captures perfectly what it's like to be in the mind of an eighteen year old that's in love with her teacher (trust me, I would know). The thoughts she has, the justifications she makes, the longing she feels... it's all so perfect. How if she doesn't just glimpse him in the morning her day is ruined. I mean, these are really the things that happen.
This is the second time I've read this book and I liked even better this time around because I wasn't as surprised and devastated by some of the things that happened. I knew what was coming. However, somehow my heard was still ripped to shreds.
If you read the book and think to yourself, "Wow, I like this but I wish that I could get Josh's POV." Well fear not! Book three is the same story, same timeline, but from Josh's point of view. In fact, for my second reading of the series, I read book one, book three, then book 2. You can read it in whatever order you want but that's the way I enjoyed it the most.
I can't possibly say enough good things about this book and series. You just have to check it out for yourself. I know for a fact I'll be rereading it again in the future. Probably sooner than I expect to lol.
Length: Full Length
POV: Single (Heroine)
Series: Beautiful Series #1
Ending: Cliffhanger
Re-read? Yes!!!
"I suppose some people fall in love at eighteen, and I guess I’m just one of them. Sometimes it lasts forever, and sometimes it ruins you. But that’s what love does, right? It makes you wish and hope for impossible things"
Read #3: books 1-3 is still about as close to perfect as you can get for me with a student/teacher romance. Books 1&3 are perfection even if they don’t end particularly happily (don’t worry book two takes are of that). I’ve loved them so much that I haven’t even bothered to read 4-6 which I plan on doing now. Can’t recommend this book highly enough.
This is one of my all time favorite series. You have no idea! If you are a lover of the student/teacher romance trope you have to read these. Paige Laurens captures perfectly what it's like to be in the mind of an eighteen year old that's in love with her teacher (trust me, I would know). The thoughts she has, the justifications she makes, the longing she feels... it's all so perfect. How if she doesn't just glimpse him in the morning her day is ruined. I mean, these are really the things that happen.
This is the second time I've read this book and I liked even better this time around because I wasn't as surprised and devastated by some of the things that happened. I knew what was coming. However, somehow my heard was still ripped to shreds.
If you read the book and think to yourself, "Wow, I like this but I wish that I could get Josh's POV." Well fear not! Book three is the same story, same timeline, but from Josh's point of view. In fact, for my second reading of the series, I read book one, book three, then book 2. You can read it in whatever order you want but that's the way I enjoyed it the most.
I can't possibly say enough good things about this book and series. You just have to check it out for yourself. I know for a fact I'll be rereading it again in the future. Probably sooner than I expect to lol.
December 14, 2017
So.... it's one of those rare times that I'm conflicted over the rating of a book. On the one hand, the whole thing is in SERIOUS need of editing, the writing is nothing special IMHO, and it had me rolling my eyes at the unbelievability (is that even a word?) of some of the sexual encounters between the H/h. I'm referring to where (all of them take place at the school grounds) and when (in the middle of a class full of students, for example.) Where is the unbelievability you will ask. Well, I found it unbelievable that not once did they get caught, call me picky! :P BUT on the other hand, I found myself turning pages and actually wanting to pick the book right back up whenever I put it down. Bottom line.... it's a 3.5 - 4 for me. (I may adjust it up or down once I've finished the second installment and have a more 'well-rounded' opinion.)
EDIT: Final rating, 3 stars. :))))
EDIT: Final rating, 3 stars. :))))
June 27, 2015
A very sexy, highly charged student-teacher erotic romance, great for fans of the genre. On the scale from romance -> erotica, Beautiful Torment would be well towards the erotica end.
There's so much sex that there isn't a lot of room for plot, beyond the sheer physical attraction of the protagonists. Even before Luci and Mr Harrington consummate, there's endless erotic imaginings and even voyeurism. The author, Paige Laurens, deserves praise for some highly original sex scenes, and for managing the "dirty talk" in way that is actually hot, not grotesque or offensive.
It's probably best not to dwell overly on the plot, because much of what there is seems rather implausible (including some of the sex, but that's par for the course with erotica), as does the fact they never get caught, but the general high school details are there to frame the forbidden relationship nicely.
This is apparently the first of a series, and it will be interesting to see how the author deals with certain problems she threw in towards the end of the first one. I will certainly be buying the second one.
There's so much sex that there isn't a lot of room for plot, beyond the sheer physical attraction of the protagonists. Even before Luci and Mr Harrington consummate, there's endless erotic imaginings and even voyeurism. The author, Paige Laurens, deserves praise for some highly original sex scenes, and for managing the "dirty talk" in way that is actually hot, not grotesque or offensive.
It's probably best not to dwell overly on the plot, because much of what there is seems rather implausible (including some of the sex, but that's par for the course with erotica), as does the fact they never get caught, but the general high school details are there to frame the forbidden relationship nicely.
This is apparently the first of a series, and it will be interesting to see how the author deals with certain problems she threw in towards the end of the first one. I will certainly be buying the second one.
November 15, 2015
there certainly were a lot of wet moments in this book. Overall I could not connect with the characters especially Mr Harrington.
I found it hard to keep my concentration - there was something with him I could not take to.......and we soon find out why.
The illicit love didn't work for me - the scene in the classroom - nope. Told from two points - from beginning to end you know the direction this is going in..............that ending and that "surprise"
this is a very different take on of the pupil/teacher relationship. The scenes are erotic. Some you will love this story and some of you wont - its not your normal teacher/pupil relationship.
Lets see what book 2 delivers.
I found it hard to keep my concentration - there was something with him I could not take to.......and we soon find out why.
The illicit love didn't work for me - the scene in the classroom - nope. Told from two points - from beginning to end you know the direction this is going in..............that ending and that "surprise"
this is a very different take on of the pupil/teacher relationship. The scenes are erotic. Some you will love this story and some of you wont - its not your normal teacher/pupil relationship.
Lets see what book 2 delivers.
February 24, 2017
This book is about teacher-student love story. Well, though I have read other books with similar subject, sth in this story was keeping me back. It was an easy reading but maybe I am too conservative and I found their interactions rather kinky (most of them take place in classroom, in teacher's office) and no one ever interrupts them or catches them in action. I really don't know how I feel about this book...
3,5 stars
3,5 stars
Want to read
September 6, 2021💝 FREE on Amazon today (2/5/2018)! 💝
January 30, 2022
I don't know where to start with this one. Had a serious love/hate relationship whilst reading it.
The spice, oh my days. I have never read anything like it. I don't know why I loved it so much, it wasn't necessarily different to other books but I guess it was just well written. And in like every single chapter.
However, I wasn't the biggest fan of Luci Cunningham. I tried really hard to like her but she was just annoying. My pet peeve is when the MC is portrayed as quiet, kind and nice and then suddenly she slamming her paper on the desk and swearing at everyone. Its like her sudden outbursts were confusing as hell and nothing was really said about it. Not sure if that even makes sense but it just didn't go with how the writer (I'm guessing) had initialling made her out to be.
Don't even get me started on the ending. Made me SO MAD.
All in all it was a decent book but I wouldn't read it again.
The spice, oh my days. I have never read anything like it. I don't know why I loved it so much, it wasn't necessarily different to other books but I guess it was just well written. And in like every single chapter.
However, I wasn't the biggest fan of Luci Cunningham. I tried really hard to like her but she was just annoying. My pet peeve is when the MC is portrayed as quiet, kind and nice and then suddenly she slamming her paper on the desk and swearing at everyone. Its like her sudden outbursts were confusing as hell and nothing was really said about it. Not sure if that even makes sense but it just didn't go with how the writer (I'm guessing) had initialling made her out to be.
Don't even get me started on the ending. Made me SO MAD.
All in all it was a decent book but I wouldn't read it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2018
The writing style kept me going. The book was actually neat though Josh seemed very aloof in most of the book. Luci was just being the typical student who gets swooned by her teacher with his looks and yada yada. But the special key to make their relationship feel real to a reader was absent. The book was a neat read.
June 3, 2015
DNF - I gave up after 25%
Negatives:
1. Overblown INSTA-LUST - I can forgive subtle INSTA-LUST but this was OTT. Roll Eyes
2. TSTL heroine - she's a whinging (like about almost everything) melodramatic, verbal diarrhoea, angst, etc.
3. The constant SWOONING - their "meet cute" was a treatise on silly swooning. She was stuttering, blushing, stumbling, inarticulate, - she even froze on the spot at one time. Sigh.
4. The jumping from subjects, she's moaning about random people, all her subjects, then jumps onto her home-life, domestic arrangements- she even goes on about 9/11. It's just wayyy to much info when your still trying to get a feel of the story and empathise with the characters. Paraphrasing her bio into the first few chapters was tedious.
5. She endeavoured to convince us that she's a High-Brow Nerdy Bookworm by confusing Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace as War of Peace
--------------------------
Overall, perhaps it's a good read, some of the reviews mentioned it's hot (loads of erotic scenes).
But for me, I get put off by overblown INSTA-LUST, I prefer the denial stage to last longer - where the attraction steadily grows against all odds, a slow burning romance rather than a quickie.
Negatives:
1. Overblown INSTA-LUST - I can forgive subtle INSTA-LUST but this was OTT. Roll Eyes
2. TSTL heroine - she's a whinging (like about almost everything) melodramatic, verbal diarrhoea, angst, etc.
3. The constant SWOONING - their "meet cute" was a treatise on silly swooning. She was stuttering, blushing, stumbling, inarticulate, - she even froze on the spot at one time. Sigh.
4. The jumping from subjects, she's moaning about random people, all her subjects, then jumps onto her home-life, domestic arrangements- she even goes on about 9/11. It's just wayyy to much info when your still trying to get a feel of the story and empathise with the characters. Paraphrasing her bio into the first few chapters was tedious.
5. She endeavoured to convince us that she's a High-Brow Nerdy Bookworm by confusing Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace as War of Peace
--------------------------
Overall, perhaps it's a good read, some of the reviews mentioned it's hot (loads of erotic scenes).
But for me, I get put off by overblown INSTA-LUST, I prefer the denial stage to last longer - where the attraction steadily grows against all odds, a slow burning romance rather than a quickie.
January 9, 2024
Reread 2024
Down from 4 to 2
I found this very immature and ridiculous this time around
----------------------------
Original review-
I really am rather rubbish at writing reviews so will keep it short. I just felt like I needed to say something about this book.
The writing made this a quick and easy read and believable because both sides tried to resist each other knowing a student teacher relationship was wrong. When they did of course it was hot ... there are quite a lot of wet panty moments for the reader with the antics in this book.
The ending though did disappoint me as I got the impression that something wasn't his after the hints about a said little thing at graduation but this wasn't confirmed and there is no EPILOGUE! !
PLESSE GIVE US AN EPILOGUE OR ANOTHER STORY WITH THESE TWO. PLEASEEEEEE
Down from 4 to 2
I found this very immature and ridiculous this time around
----------------------------
Original review-
I really am rather rubbish at writing reviews so will keep it short. I just felt like I needed to say something about this book.
The writing made this a quick and easy read and believable because both sides tried to resist each other knowing a student teacher relationship was wrong. When they did of course it was hot ... there are quite a lot of wet panty moments for the reader with the antics in this book.
The ending though did disappoint me as I got the impression that something wasn't his after the hints about a said little thing at graduation but this wasn't confirmed and there is no EPILOGUE! !
PLESSE GIVE US AN EPILOGUE OR ANOTHER STORY WITH THESE TWO. PLEASEEEEEE
November 8, 2017
4 stars ✨
July 16, 2015
Not what I was expecting... AT ALL. I really enjoyed this one.
This was a quick, forbidden, and certainly HOT little number. And, I didn’t even highlight one damn word! Why? Because I was too busy flipping pages to find out how it all plays out – you know the student/teacher thing hardly ever ends with the pair riding off into the sunset.
I’ll be honest… I enjoyed this waaaaay more than I thought I would. The writing isn’t over the top deep and breathtaking; and, there was more TELLING as opposing to FEELING which normally would bother me, but surprisingly this time it didn’t. The writing is actually what made this book a great read – it’s simple and it flows – this is more a story about what happens and not about living in the book with the characters, it’s just not that kind of story (at least not for me)…. and, that’s ok.
Beautiful Torment is fast-paced with just enough sexual tension, surprises, and hotness to string the reader along without driving you mad with frustration. Buuuuuuuut, I DO NEED THE NEXT BOOK N-O-W!!! Is Luci and Josh’s story over? Well, the author says there is another book, but as a reader since the ending is so open I kind of wish there was a choose-your-own-ending option. It’s just one of those stories that if the second book plays out in an unrealistic way, it could ruin what was created in Beautiful Torment. But, I have faith that Paige Laurens will give Luci and Josh the ending they deserve.
This was a quick, forbidden, and certainly HOT little number. And, I didn’t even highlight one damn word! Why? Because I was too busy flipping pages to find out how it all plays out – you know the student/teacher thing hardly ever ends with the pair riding off into the sunset.
I’ll be honest… I enjoyed this waaaaay more than I thought I would. The writing isn’t over the top deep and breathtaking; and, there was more TELLING as opposing to FEELING which normally would bother me, but surprisingly this time it didn’t. The writing is actually what made this book a great read – it’s simple and it flows – this is more a story about what happens and not about living in the book with the characters, it’s just not that kind of story (at least not for me)…. and, that’s ok.
Beautiful Torment is fast-paced with just enough sexual tension, surprises, and hotness to string the reader along without driving you mad with frustration. Buuuuuuuut, I DO NEED THE NEXT BOOK N-O-W!!! Is Luci and Josh’s story over? Well, the author says there is another book, but as a reader since the ending is so open I kind of wish there was a choose-your-own-ending option. It’s just one of those stories that if the second book plays out in an unrealistic way, it could ruin what was created in Beautiful Torment. But, I have faith that Paige Laurens will give Luci and Josh the ending they deserve.
May 31, 2015
I couldn't put this book down! It was addicting in a guilty pleasure sorta way.
The plot is nothing I haven't read before, but it was still enjoyable. The build-up between the characters was on point!
I did have a few qualms with this book. First of all, there were numerous typos and misspelled words (sorry, it bugs me!). A couple occasions the writing slipped from past to present tense and it was off-putting.
I would have liked to see more story surrounding the secondary characters. Literally ALL Luci cared about was Josh and no one else! Grace, her sister, was part of the story for a moment and then she wasn't.
Her friends fell flat as well.
There were also a few scenes in the story that were extremely far-fetched and not believable. Luci's classmates 'disappeared' whenever they needed to be invisible and I didn't buy it.
Lastly, the ending fell flat! There was no conclusion at all! I kept wondering why the story was based in 2002, thinking there had to be an epilogue to explain, but no, there wasn't.
If you're looking for an entertaining read and like the student/teacher theme, then read it. If you're looking to be blown away by a unique story, I'm afraid this one might fall flat for you.
The plot is nothing I haven't read before, but it was still enjoyable. The build-up between the characters was on point!
I did have a few qualms with this book. First of all, there were numerous typos and misspelled words (sorry, it bugs me!). A couple occasions the writing slipped from past to present tense and it was off-putting.
I would have liked to see more story surrounding the secondary characters. Literally ALL Luci cared about was Josh and no one else! Grace, her sister, was part of the story for a moment and then she wasn't.
Her friends fell flat as well.
There were also a few scenes in the story that were extremely far-fetched and not believable. Luci's classmates 'disappeared' whenever they needed to be invisible and I didn't buy it.
Lastly, the ending fell flat! There was no conclusion at all! I kept wondering why the story was based in 2002, thinking there had to be an epilogue to explain, but no, there wasn't.
If you're looking for an entertaining read and like the student/teacher theme, then read it. If you're looking to be blown away by a unique story, I'm afraid this one might fall flat for you.
April 2, 2016
Not sure how I felt about this book. I felt even from the beginning that the hero was hiding something. I could not enjoy this book the way I would have liked to because I was just waiting for the big "bomb" to drop. However, the way she handled the hero and his "secret(s)" at the end...I thought she handled it well.
June 5, 2016
Cinco estrellas absolutamente merecidas.
Hacía mucho tiempo que no me obsesinaba por un libro y tengo que confesar que con Beautiful Torment fue un suplicio y un placer leer los capis.
Estoy absolutamente obsesioanda con la historia y aguantando las ganas de leer el segundo de forma compulsiva.
Altamente recomendable si te gustan las historias eróticas y atrapantes.
Hacía mucho tiempo que no me obsesinaba por un libro y tengo que confesar que con Beautiful Torment fue un suplicio y un placer leer los capis.
Estoy absolutamente obsesioanda con la historia y aguantando las ganas de leer el segundo de forma compulsiva.
Altamente recomendable si te gustan las historias eróticas y atrapantes.
June 20, 2025
Beautiful Torment (Beautiful #1) by Paige Laurens was my first novel by Ms Laurens. I am a sucker for forbidden romance novels, especially student/teacher and cousins wait to dig into this one.
Written in the POV of Luci, a senior in high school (don’t worry, none of the sexy time happens prior to Luci turning 18.) and is excited for all the fun activities senior year is to bring. She starts her first day of classes and meets her new teacher Josh Harrington. He is 27 years old and Luci is instantly attracted to him.
Over time the two get close and eventually have hot crazy sex. Like a lot of it. Some of the sex scenes were a little cringey and I am not sure how no one at the school ever thought something fishy was going on. They ate lunch together daily, she stayed after school with him daily, and they would even fool around touching each other under desks during class!! It was a little much and I personally felt most of their relationship was sex based. Not emotional. But eventually Luci did fall in love. It was lacking more of an emotional storyline in my opinion. Or connection.
Josh is obviously hiding something and the last few pages of the book Luci discovers what it is and boy is it a biggie. Josh is a naughty boy… in more ways than one. I was disappointed in him. Overall I liked both the characters. I felt the story was missing some key emotional elements to make it more than a smut book but I wouldn’t classify this as smut either.
You will want the second book ready to go as soon as you finish reading.. have it ready!
I give Beautiful Torment (Beautiful #1) by Paige Laurens 3.5 stars.
June 23, 2017
2.5 STARS
NO SPOILERS
I literally finished this book in like 3 hours or so, the book was a total page turner however I rated it a 3 stars because while the book was very enjoyable the characters stayed flat
the book doesn't have many obstacles or plot twists so if you're into that then you're gonna love it, for me I needed a little bit of enthusiasm because I can't work with flat charters....
The entire book was held in the school and two pages of going to the cinema, so no change in settings, like I said boring...
The hero: (JOSH)
very calm and collected not an alpha what so ever and the way he thinks is like an 18 year old guy, he didn't act like his age at all, honestly he was too delicate for my liking not manly at all, he was a basic wussy.
The heroin: (LUCINDA)
wears the pants in this book, she was daring and strong but totally too honest for my liking, it was insta-lust but only for the heroin, like I said she's the guy in this relationship
SPOILERS AHEAD...
The ending was a HEA but a weird HEA.
NO SPOILERS
I literally finished this book in like 3 hours or so, the book was a total page turner however I rated it a 3 stars because while the book was very enjoyable the characters stayed flat
the book doesn't have many obstacles or plot twists so if you're into that then you're gonna love it, for me I needed a little bit of enthusiasm because I can't work with flat charters....
The entire book was held in the school and two pages of going to the cinema, so no change in settings, like I said boring...
The hero: (JOSH)
very calm and collected not an alpha what so ever and the way he thinks is like an 18 year old guy, he didn't act like his age at all, honestly he was too delicate for my liking not manly at all, he was a basic wussy.
The heroin: (LUCINDA)
wears the pants in this book, she was daring and strong but totally too honest for my liking, it was insta-lust but only for the heroin, like I said she's the guy in this relationship
SPOILERS AHEAD...
The ending was a HEA but a weird HEA.
August 29, 2025
there's so many great reviews for this book. I like the way that we start in the present and then jump back to the past. and as other reviewers have said it's refreshing to see how she knows that their relationship would be a struggle to actually have and she tries not to fall in love or make it more than it actually is. it's all sweetly done and realistic. and these two are fire 🔥 together.
I love the book Waking Olivia by Elizabeth O'Rourke and Nocturne by Andrea Randall.
I think all of these books are well written and there is the taboo aspect of the main characters but also for me I like the ow/om drama. so I was really enjoying beautiful torment, and a little bit of om drama, but when the ow drama came in just jumped this rating up even higher.
those nice to see her relationship with her sister change and grow and the realistic impacts of their relationship on her social life.
I'm looking forward to the next book and I think based on the 9-month timeline that wasn't 9 months in the first book I have some theories coming up as to plot lines.
I love the book Waking Olivia by Elizabeth O'Rourke and Nocturne by Andrea Randall.
I think all of these books are well written and there is the taboo aspect of the main characters but also for me I like the ow/om drama. so I was really enjoying beautiful torment, and a little bit of om drama, but when the ow drama came in just jumped this rating up even higher.
those nice to see her relationship with her sister change and grow and the realistic impacts of their relationship on her social life.
I'm looking forward to the next book and I think based on the 9-month timeline that wasn't 9 months in the first book I have some theories coming up as to plot lines.
March 17, 2025
Skim Read 5/23
A basic insta-attraction / insta-lust taboo romance.
The writing is average (and some say full of errors), but my biggest issues were with the melodramatic story.
Luci (18) is a senior in high school.
Josh is her 27-year-old science teacher.
🤷♀️ For some reason, they fall in lust with each other.
The first 40% was SO boring, I had to skim & skip through it. It's all about Luci going to school, her school days, her friends, going home, and her family.
ᗩᖴTEᖇ TᕼᗩT,
🇹🇭🇪 🇸🇪🇽 🇧🇪🇬🇮🇳🇸
The boring stuff is gone for good.
Josh put up a token resistance, but because he's so hot for Luci, he quickly succumbs. He makes it clear that it's only about getting down & dirty. There will be no relationship.
Luci says she understands (but of course she develops feelings for him). They boink like bunnies just about every school day. In his office or classroom. For months, with no close calls where they almost get caught. It's SO easy to play 'hide-the-sausage' at school. Especially when your friends disappear and no one seems to care. And apparently no cameras. 🙄
Luci is a virgin, and Josh is her first everything. She takes to shagging like a duck to water, bringing Josh immense happiness. But soon, Luci begins to feel a heavy weight in her heart. She realizes she’s not receiving any phone calls or going on real dates. Their passionate encounters and a few conversations, leave her wanting a deeper connection. As her feelings intensify, Luci becomes consumed by her desire for more, more, more. Soon, she spirals into an obsession for Josh.
When Josh tries to talk seriously with Luci, she quickly changes the subject. She doesn't want to have her lust bubble burst. They continue to do the horizontal tango. Eventually, the truth comes out.
Luci's heart is broken. She lost her soulmate. The love of her life.
Luci stops going to school. She wears Josh's sweatshirt for weeks. She cries a lot. Being with Josh made her not want to go to college, but now she makes plans to go. Goodbye Josh. Goodbye happiness. Goodbye forever love. 💔
Josh finally talks to Luci, and tells her about
Don't worry, once Josh got busy with Luci, he stopped
Luci walks away. But thanks to the dumb prologue, we know how this ends. Thanks author! 😤 Josh wants a second chance, and lusty Luci gives it to him.
The screwing scenes were 🔥 at first, but they soon saturated the story. The dialogue often sounded like a bad porno.
🇪🇽🇦🇲🇵🇱🇪🇸:
“That’s it! Grind against me!”
“You’re rubbing me just the way I like it!”
“Uh, Luci! I’m coming!”
“Ah!” I scream and shake.
“Oh! It feels so good!”
“Shit, you’re making me come,” he pants. As he shifts his stance I hear the plop of fluid as it splatters onto the floor. “God are you snug,” he groans. His finger slowly moves in and out, his other hand pumping himself. “Uh! You’re making me come so much!”
Ride me, Luci! Feel my cock filling you!”
“Yes! Bounce on me!” he shouts,
“Oh! Squeeze me! Yeah!” he cries. “Like that! Oh! You’re making me come!”
I skimmed through the last few copulation scenes where Luci's yearning for Josh reached a fever pitch. She then suffers for two painfully long weeks without him, before she waves the white flag of surrender, yielding to her canal cravings. Oh, Luci, have some self-respect! At that moment, I was utterly exasperated and eager to end this terrible tale.
Book 2 is their second chance love story. Some say it's better than book 1, but it was a DNF for me.
A basic insta-attraction / insta-lust taboo romance.
The writing is average (and some say full of errors), but my biggest issues were with the melodramatic story.
Luci (18) is a senior in high school.
Josh is her 27-year-old science teacher.
🤷♀️ For some reason, they fall in lust with each other.
The first 40% was SO boring, I had to skim & skip through it. It's all about Luci going to school, her school days, her friends, going home, and her family.
ᗩᖴTEᖇ TᕼᗩT,
🇹🇭🇪 🇸🇪🇽 🇧🇪🇬🇮🇳🇸
The boring stuff is gone for good.
Josh put up a token resistance, but because he's so hot for Luci, he quickly succumbs. He makes it clear that it's only about getting down & dirty. There will be no relationship.
Luci says she understands (but of course she develops feelings for him). They boink like bunnies just about every school day. In his office or classroom. For months, with no close calls where they almost get caught. It's SO easy to play 'hide-the-sausage' at school. Especially when your friends disappear and no one seems to care. And apparently no cameras. 🙄
Luci is a virgin, and Josh is her first everything. She takes to shagging like a duck to water, bringing Josh immense happiness. But soon, Luci begins to feel a heavy weight in her heart. She realizes she’s not receiving any phone calls or going on real dates. Their passionate encounters and a few conversations, leave her wanting a deeper connection. As her feelings intensify, Luci becomes consumed by her desire for more, more, more. Soon, she spirals into an obsession for Josh.
When Josh tries to talk seriously with Luci, she quickly changes the subject. She doesn't want to have her lust bubble burst. They continue to do the horizontal tango. Eventually, the truth comes out.
Luci's heart is broken. She lost her soulmate. The love of her life.
Luci stops going to school. She wears Josh's sweatshirt for weeks. She cries a lot. Being with Josh made her not want to go to college, but now she makes plans to go. Goodbye Josh. Goodbye happiness. Goodbye forever love. 💔
Josh finally talks to Luci, and tells her about
Don't worry, once Josh got busy with Luci, he stopped
Luci walks away. But thanks to the dumb prologue, we know how this ends. Thanks author! 😤 Josh wants a second chance, and lusty Luci gives it to him.
The screwing scenes were 🔥 at first, but they soon saturated the story. The dialogue often sounded like a bad porno.
🇪🇽🇦🇲🇵🇱🇪🇸:
“That’s it! Grind against me!”
“You’re rubbing me just the way I like it!”
“Uh, Luci! I’m coming!”
“Ah!” I scream and shake.
“Oh! It feels so good!”
“Shit, you’re making me come,” he pants. As he shifts his stance I hear the plop of fluid as it splatters onto the floor. “God are you snug,” he groans. His finger slowly moves in and out, his other hand pumping himself. “Uh! You’re making me come so much!”
Ride me, Luci! Feel my cock filling you!”
“Yes! Bounce on me!” he shouts,
“Oh! Squeeze me! Yeah!” he cries. “Like that! Oh! You’re making me come!”
I skimmed through the last few copulation scenes where Luci's yearning for Josh reached a fever pitch. She then suffers for two painfully long weeks without him, before she waves the white flag of surrender, yielding to her canal cravings. Oh, Luci, have some self-respect! At that moment, I was utterly exasperated and eager to end this terrible tale.
Book 2 is their second chance love story. Some say it's better than book 1, but it was a DNF for me.
April 16, 2024
Okay, so this is going to be more of a series review than just for this book. Let me start by saying THIS book was really good. I knocked a star off of this one because there’s A LOT of typos and the way that it is set up on the kindle is really bad, there’s no markers for chapters so you have no idea how long until the next chapter, and the chapters were LONG. I loved the content on the first book, and the third book. BUUUT then it kinda goes down hill. There’s a 2.5 year separation and you get that 2.5 years from the MMC POV but not from the FMC which I thought was weird, then all the books became dual POV.
As the series went on there was less plot and more smut, like going MAYBE 5 pages before another scene which I found very excessive and I ended up skipping a lot of them because it just wasn’t needed.
I didn’t even read the 6th book because THE SAME THING kept happening to cause issues. Like no learning from past mistakes and not communicating which just frustrating.
I really wanted to love this series so much, but I just couldn’t take it anymore after the 5th book and didn’t even want to read the 6th. It started strong then it went down hill fast.
As the series went on there was less plot and more smut, like going MAYBE 5 pages before another scene which I found very excessive and I ended up skipping a lot of them because it just wasn’t needed.
I didn’t even read the 6th book because THE SAME THING kept happening to cause issues. Like no learning from past mistakes and not communicating which just frustrating.
I really wanted to love this series so much, but I just couldn’t take it anymore after the 5th book and didn’t even want to read the 6th. It started strong then it went down hill fast.
December 12, 2018
3.5 stars. I liked the characters and plot. It certainly satisfies the criteria of angst, forbidden and steam because it's a student-teacher relationship. However, the writing had a bit of an unrefined or immature edge, unless that was purposeful because the main character narrator is 18 years old. Not to mention that this could've been even better with more fine tooth editing. Still, I liked it enough to want to find out what happens next.
April 28, 2024
To my surprise, i actually liked this
December 30, 2024
actually. so. good. and the crowd goes wild because kayla actually read a full length book???? anyway. so good highly recommend etc. thank u
July 14, 2025
Ni luchó ni nada, le valió todo.
June 5, 2016
Éste libro se me hizo muy entretenido, sexy y en parte real, en el punto que cuando estamos cegados por la pasión y encerrados en nuestras propias burbujas de felicidad el sentido común tiende a saltar por la ventana.
Tenemos al Profesor Garrison, guapo, joven, correcto, que pierde la cabeza por su joven estudiante, que aunque es muy inmadura para muchas cosas, para otras es sencilla y tranquila como se espera de un adulto, su nombre es Lucy y caen en una espiral de amor y pasión que aunque suelen señalarse las consecuencias, parece que no pueden detenerse y siguen recayendo, hasta llevarnos a un final un poco inesperado, que nos anima a leer el segundo libro inmediatamente.
El amor no tiene edad, y ésto lo muestra.
¿Les dije que es hot? jaja sólo para aclarar
Tenemos al Profesor Garrison, guapo, joven, correcto, que pierde la cabeza por su joven estudiante, que aunque es muy inmadura para muchas cosas, para otras es sencilla y tranquila como se espera de un adulto, su nombre es Lucy y caen en una espiral de amor y pasión que aunque suelen señalarse las consecuencias, parece que no pueden detenerse y siguen recayendo, hasta llevarnos a un final un poco inesperado, que nos anima a leer el segundo libro inmediatamente.
El amor no tiene edad, y ésto lo muestra.
¿Les dije que es hot? jaja sólo para aclarar
July 30, 2020
I’m very upset about how things were left.
The author clearly did it on purpose so the reader would read the next book.
It definitely worked because I just started the second book.
4 stars- what I liked
This book was pretty good overall. It was captivating and entertaining.
I overall just really liked the writing, it had a easy flow about it.
Luci seemed like a real person.
Conclusion
I know I should hate Josh.
He is a selfish, lying jerk who constantly played with Luci emotions and wrecked her life. With Josh being the reason Luci loses friends and does not apply to Colleges. They both have a extremely unhealthy obsession with the other. The whole relationship between them is so wrong. But for some reason I don’t hate him. Which makes you sympathize with not just Luci but Josh as well. I really wanted them to work out; even if at some points this book was creepy and gross. I’m excited to read the second book. I still can’t put my finger on why this book wasn’t bad. It was actually good, I enjoyed it and can’t stop thinking about it.
It has to be the writing, I guess.
The author clearly did it on purpose so the reader would read the next book.
It definitely worked because I just started the second book.
4 stars- what I liked
This book was pretty good overall. It was captivating and entertaining.
I overall just really liked the writing, it had a easy flow about it.
Luci seemed like a real person.
Conclusion
I know I should hate Josh.
He is a selfish, lying jerk who constantly played with Luci emotions and wrecked her life. With Josh being the reason Luci loses friends and does not apply to Colleges. They both have a extremely unhealthy obsession with the other. The whole relationship between them is so wrong. But for some reason I don’t hate him. Which makes you sympathize with not just Luci but Josh as well. I really wanted them to work out; even if at some points this book was creepy and gross. I’m excited to read the second book. I still can’t put my finger on why this book wasn’t bad. It was actually good, I enjoyed it and can’t stop thinking about it.
It has to be the writing, I guess.
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