Beautiful Affliction

by Celia Loren

When 24-year old struggling artist Cora MacAuliffe takes a job as a live-in maid for the old money Redmond family, the last thing she expects is to fall for her new boss, the dangerously sexy Brent Redmond. The self-made billionaire lives a double life—in public he’s a shrewd real estate mogul and philandering playboy, but in private he’s a brooding, enigmatic protector…and a dominant alpha with sexual desires that no socialite princess has ever been able to satisfy. Cora soon finds that Mr. Redmond has more inappropriate “chores” he’d like to add to her list of duties, things that definitely blur the lines between their employer and employee relationship. But when the Redmond family’s previous maid turns up murdered, and her body is found nearby, Cora realizes that the Redmonds are hiding a dungeon of dark secrets—some that they might kill to protect. Everyone could be a suspect…even Brent. This is a full-length Dark Contemporary Billionaire Romance Novel. No Cliff-Hanger. Content suitable for mature audiences, contains harsh language, and sexual content.

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Romantic Suspense, BDSM, Contemporary Romance

318 pages, Paperback

First published April 13, 2015

About the author

Celia Loren is an author of gritty Contemporary Romance. She’s always been an avid reader and growing up she devoured books by the truckload. Now she spends her time working toward finishing her MFA and penning the romance stories she always wanted to read. Excited to be a member of the Hearts Collective Publishing team, she brings her incredible imagination, unparalleled work ethic, and sassy personality into the mix!

Reviews

[Donna Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindly provided with an ARC by the author for an honest review....

LOVED IT !!!!

I am a sucker for the whole rags to riches love story and this was one with a very HOT twist !!

Quick summary Cora down on her luck takes a live in maid job. And yup, you guessed it she goes to work for a Mr UBER rich, playboy Brent.....who has his own job description in mind !!! I certainly didn't see it as a chore ;0)

Refreshing as its Mr Rich and HOT who wants the HEA and he is determined to get his maid....well his girl xx


Oh and thank the lord no cliffy !!!! Gah, I hate those !!!

This is NOT just a "chase me"....no, no I want you then I don't love story. We have a good ole murder thrown in there aswell !!! Nothing like a "who did it ?" mixed with a "are they going to get together".

Really thrilling read, so 4 SOLID take me to your dungeon filled with secrets Stars from me.

Many thanks for this opportunity. Well done Celia xx

later peeps xxx

[Sinister_reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was hard for me to give a rating to because I have books that I absolutely love that I give 4 stars to because of editing mistakes. this book was good. had everything that makes a decent book. storyline, character building, smut ( smut is always a winner) the editing wasn't bad. but the story wasn't a 5. it didn't have me by the seat of my pants and I've read stories that I love so much more that I've giving 4's to because of simple editing errors (edit, edit, edit) so I don't even think I can give it 4. so for now I'm leaving the stars blank. check back later. ....lol

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great book. Lots of hotness with a mix of suspense.

[QueenVee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please note, this review was previously published in 2015 under a profile used by multiple people. I am removing those reviews and republishing them on my new, personal profile.

BEAUTIFUL AFFLICTION starts with the Redmond’s live-in maid going missing. The Redmond’s (Brent especially) were investigated, but with no body and no proof of a crime, they were ultimately not charged. Since the investigation and the stigma attached to it, they’ve been unable to fill the maid’s position again. Having just finished a live-in assignment herself, Cora’s not afraid of the rumours and takes the position. What she is afraid of is her strong reaction to Brent when she sees him for the first time.

Brent fares no better, angry at himself for lusting after his new employee, causing him to break his own rules when it comes to her. But she is his employee so once he realises he’s gone too far, he pulls back so fast it gives the reader whiplash. He tries to keep the sexual side of things professional, but once you mix business with pleasure, trying to keep things professional is probably pretty useless.

When the maid’s body is discovered and Brent’s business is being investigated for missing money, Brent becomes the main person of interest. Add in to the mix that one of the detectives is Cory’s ex-boyfriend and the household is full of people keeping secrets, things are bound to get tense.

I quite enjoyed BEAUTIFUL AFFLICTION and the scenes between Brent and Cora were hot. Really hot. The storyline was good and I liked the mystery that surrounded the dead maid. However, I felt the book was a little lacking in regards the murder and its resolution. Despite what the synopsis says, Cora is not a struggling artist. A person can’t be struggling at something they gave up on. She’s dealing with some guilt over something she feels responsible for, therefore she lost all interest in her art classes and feels she doesn’t deserve to have anything good in her life. When the reason for that is finally revealed, it’s glossed over. Actually, that’s how every big reveal was handled, it was discussed before quickly moving on to the next reveal. Other than that, I thought it was a quick and light read with some hot sex thrown in. I think if things were delved into more deeply, fleshed out a little more, it would have been a great read.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished it. But I didn't want to. The general vibe of this book was way too...appropriate for me. She was a maid, but she didn't want the boss to bring her job into the kink. He let's her be the one in charge in bed for the experience. No angst, no passion. It was so.....not my style to read.

Cora the maid is damning herself to a life of loneliness for the blame she has over her sisters death. Brent is the uber rich guy she works for. She moves in. The hit it off. Meanwhile there's an investigation ove the murder of the previous maid. Kinda reminds you of the game Clue. In the end the bad guys are caught and Cora confesses her love for Brent. The scenes weren't that hot for me.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read

I did really enjoy Cora and Brent's unfolding relationship. It wasn't really that much of a dark read in all honesty which was a little disappointing. I did find Cora's reasons not to have a relationship pretty flimsy and it was very much glossed over when it was revealed what happened to her sister. There could've been a lot more depth added to the story. It felt a little shallow. I did enjoy the steamy scenes and how kind and sweet Brent was to Cora.
I guess I was just expecting more from the blurb.

[vyoletkyss · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this would be more romantic suspense but it wasn't. Thus, it was just meh.

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

-Boss/Employee
-Playboy
-Murder Mystery
-He falls first

I didn't like this book but that's okay. Their relationship was strange and I just never got a feel for either of the characters.

The spice wasn't it for me and it just felt hurried and not really BDSM at all. Which again is fine as long as the book isnt advertised to be a darker taste MMC.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Affliction delivers some mystery along with the sexy

I loved this book!

Beautiful Affliction really surprised me-in a good way. The characters aren’t pigeon-holed into the standard billionaire romance roles. Cora is a starving artist fallen on hard times and works as a live-in maid for the wealthy, this time in billionaire Brent Redmond’s mansion. Cora finds herself in the midst of a police investigation into the disappearance of Redmond’s former maid.

The book is more gray than dark and Brent’s kinks aren’t bizarre or over the top. He likes a little bite in the bedroom and, it turns out, Cora does too. The sex is rough and hot with a little BDSM and a lot of fun. They even like each other outside of the bedroom.

I really liked this book and loved that the characters aren’t the predictable clones often found in billionaire romances. Such a nice change. Cora is isn’t a flighty ingénue, and Brent isn’t unfeeling and callous. Surprisingly, unlike most book billionaires, Brent even goes to the office and actually works.

This is a full-sized book and does not have a cliffhanger.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you love reading, romance, smut, mystery, or murder. This book had it all.
It begins with Jody and he going missing. She was the maid for Brent Redmond. With Jody missing, in comes Cora. Someone with her own battles to fight. She has an instant connection with Brent.
Brent has his own issues to bear and comes off hard. He also feels the instant connection and feels that he can be himself around her. Cora and Brent have their nightly meetings which you can just feel the sexual tension between them.
When Jody is found, things really take a turn for Brent and Cora. They embark on a sexual relations, as that is all that Cora can handle.
The secondary characters are great. I just loved Whitney and her bubbly personality!
With a murder investigation and SEC investigation, Brent is pulled thin. But he keeps falling for Cora.
I don't want to give away the twists in this book but I devoured it in a day.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm really torn about my rating because while I found several things about the story that made my rate low, there were a couple of things that I liked. What I rated low was the relationship development. I didn't really get a feel for Brent. And it wasn't that he was mysterious to me, I just didn't feel like I could visual his person. Cora was better written. When it's in the first person form it gets really hard to connect with other characters. I didn't buy the transition into a D/s relationship either. I think the book would have been a whole lot better if it was just your mainstream relationship. Brent never came off as alpha or dominant. The bedroom commands felt stiff. I did like Cora though and the story was easy to follow and kept me interested. Some of the mystery parts were a bit unbelievable but I was able to overlook it. The writing otherwise was good and kept me reading without skipping much at all.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several of Celia Loren's biker romances, so this was a change for me to read a darkish murder mystery romance between a billionaire and his new maid.
I liked how the action moved along really quickly and didn't really lag for me and the characters were all fleshed out nicely as well.
It wasn't as "dark" as the title suggests, more just a touch of BDSM and because there had been an unsolved murder, it was a little like a "whodunnit" suspense novel.
I figured out a few of the secrets and twists before they were revealed but that didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book at all. It was a fun, light and actually kind of sweet story of two people with emotional baggage who figure out they are what each other needed to be whole again.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

**** 4 **** "falling for the woman inside of the maid" stars

[Lynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received and arc in exchange for an honest review.



Cora takes a job as a maid at the Redmond estate. A job that the temp agency had trouble placing someone in. Since the maid had gone missing. Brent Redmond the owner of the estate feels a attraction to Cora. Cora tries her best to stay away from Brent. When the previous maid is found dead. Cora starts wondering and snooping around to see who in the house could have killed Jodi. AS the mystery and suspense build. Cora and Brent find they can't stay away from each other.

Enjoyed the story. Enough romance to build a relationship between Brent and Cora. At times the murder seems to be the front story and then that fast it takes a back seat to their struggles with their relationship. As Cora's own secrets come to light. Things she keeps inside herself. It is listed as a dark romance. But overall it isn't that dark.

[Lisa Guzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Cora is hired to be the maid for the very gorgeous and sexy Brent Redmonds. The previous maid went missing and then turned up dead. Now Cora is wondering who amongst the staff could have done it. Is it the driver for the Redmonds, the cook, the sister, the mother, or Mr. Redmond himself. Cora slowly starts to piece together the story of the missing and now dead maid and somehow ended up falling for Mr. Redmond. Now while Brent Redmond hired Cora as his maid he has other ideas for her. He knows she has a "long story" behind her that she won't share but that won't discourage him from wanting her. This is a quick read full of the "who dunnit" suspense along with hot sex and a little extra playtime in the room. Definitely a good read.

[The Sweet & Sinful Book Nerds · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This story was full of drama. Cora is still trying to deal with the death of her sister. She takes a job as a maid because it keeps her busy enough not to think and away from the happiness that she feels she doesn’t deserve. Brent has a lot going on in his life at the moment and feels like he can’t get a grip on anything. They both feel an attraction to each other, but once that line is crossed things get messy.
Cora is a very intelligent woman. She is also a gifted artist. She can tell that there are things going on at the house. She just has a knack for sniffing out details.
The author did a very good job of keeping you hooked in the story. Every time I thought I had the ending figured out, she put a twist in there to keep me guessing.

[Momreadstoomuch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this copy from the author through the Naughty List ARC Club in exchange for an honest review.

At first I was a bit confused about what this book was trying to do and how the author was presenting the plot. It was slow and the mystery of Grace was a bit forced. I was a bit let down after figuring out the mystery of Grace. The relationship happened too fast and was unbelievable
However, the story pulled me in and before I knew it I had read the entire book and liked it.Maybe there was some literary trick used that I never heard of that made it all work. I never guessed the killer and that always adds a star.

https://momreadstoomuch.wordpress.com/

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, Erotic Mystery!!

Cora MacAuliff is a maid and has been hired to work for the very wealthy Brent Redmond. Even though her boss at the domestic agency that referred her tries to talk her out of acceptng the position, Cora needs to work and takes the job. This book has hot sex and mystery. I was kept guessing until the end. I loved this book.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth Every Penny of the Billionaire Romance

I downloaded this gem from the KU collection as I have read other Celia Loren stories before and I'm pleasantly surprised I loved it. I read it in one day and once the "romance" took off I also enjoyed the murder mystery part of it. So you'll get a suspense, murder mystery, a love story and a fair amount of erotica as well. Some pretty HOT scenes between Cora and Brent..roar!
Here's my star and hotness rating...

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an ARC copy from author for a honest review. Different from anything I've read by this author. Entertaining, intriguing, suspenseful, romance along with some twists. You find in this book a bossy self-made billionaire, a struggling artist working as a maid hiding from her real passion, a murder mystery with everybody as a suspect and secrets that end up coming out. Great read with some passionate scenes. Loved the characters and how the story flowed.

[FMR Book Grind · Rating 4 out of 5]

DAWN'S REVIEW
4 STARS

This book had me hooked from the start. It jumped right into things with having you wondering who murdered the maid? Your first thought is that it was Mr. Redmond but you would be wrong. I will not give away to much in my review but will tell you that while you try to figure out who it was you will fall in love with Cora and Brent. It will keep you guessing while also keep you from being able to put your Kindle down.

[Melinda G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC for an honest review and I have to say that I really enjoyed this read. It begins with Jody a maid who works for Mr. Redmond who is a billionaire and gorgeous but Jody goes missing. He has to find a replacement so in comes Cora then they find out that Jody is dead and Cora begins to wonder if one of the staff is to blame for the death. This book moved pretty quickly but there was definitely a place for everything and Celia wrapped the ending up nicely.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Plot: B
Characters: B
Heat: C+

There was a good whodunnit story, though I figured out part of it. So, the plot was interesting. Cora was a pretty good character. Brent was good, though somewhat a mystery, and I would've liked to get his POV. The heat factor was decent, and even though there were elements of D/s, it was light; kind of hot. Overall this was a pretty good read.

[Book Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.

I loved it! Actually read it through a second time. Brent and Cora steamed up a few pages! Two lost/wounded souls who found each other. The secondary characters are well developed and not just dropped in. I figured out "who done it" before it was revealed, but not much before! Highly recommend. I would love to see more like this from this author!

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

not bad!

This book had some really good suspense and romantic scenes. I will say the "dark billionaire romance" is a stretch. The loves scenes don't start until 50% into the book and it comes to light said billionaire is into BDSM. There some soaking. Some "on your knees and call me sir" but that's about as "dark" as it gets. Which I was completely ok with. I enjoyed the story!

[Nilam Suri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book will be more gritty and dark, turned out it was an easy read. Although quite good, i still think the writer didn't give enough time for me to be more hooked with the main characters. It seemed too short and have an abrupt ending.

More details would make this book be so much better, IMHO.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Great book. Tho Cora was way too hard on herself. Was a nice change to have the guy want the relationship but the girl running away because she didn't think she wanted that...until she almost loses it all. Awesome read.

[Jezyl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really torn about this review... the book has its potential. But it seems so predictable. It didnt flow as it should be...i have to be honest though..i qas so curious if i was right to whom the killer was; next thing I know I've finished the book.

[Maria Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. Story line was good but considering there was a murderer to be found and they were supposedly living in the house, it just didn't leave me on the edge and the conclusion was an anti-climax.

[Shawn Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did not get as dark as I thought it should have with all the hype of the synopsis. Good story but to much drama about the murder stuff wanted more of the love story.

[ΔΕΣΠΟΙΝΑ ΝΤΑΚΟΓΙΑΝΝΗ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot,but i think it was light dark.Brent was nice,he knew what he wanted,but Cora,she didn't want a relationship and suddenly voala!!She loves him.