So, of course before I start my review, I have to say thank you to my girl Kristy. I was given the awesome opportunity to ARC read my favorite guy and MAJOR crush Cade, in exchange for an honest review, and I didn’t even have to think twice. I’ve said it plenty to her and I will keep saying it, I am so proud of you love. You have completely blown me away with your ability to blow me away. With your words, your creativity, your visuality, I am always awestruck by your work. You can do no wrong and I am truly looking forward to more from you. Love you to the moon and back!!!
Now, to the good stuff …
Have you ever been so into a book, you felt like you were drowning in the characters and everything about them? Well, let me just say, welcome to Gorgeous. I can honestly say I was not ready for all that was Cade. I thought he had a lot going in Commander in Briefs, and don’t get me wrong he did, but I was not prepared for this Major Cade Jameson. If you’ve read book one of this series, you got your first glimpse into the life of Cade. But when you read Gorgeous it gives you a more in depth perception of his story. On top of that, you get to know more about Breck and her connection to Cade; which I’m gonna be upfront with you, might shatter you to pieces!
When you learn the reason behind Cade being a homeless, your heart breaks immediately. While overseas, Major Cade Jameson lost his entire team to a roadside bomb and he blamed himself. He was supposed to be with them, but he was off doing something way less important. Feeling not worthy to life, he let himself fall by the wayside and basically die. Until he was found by Anniston, and she helped whip him back into shape. Fast forward, now you have a more confident Cade. Though, he is still burdened with flashbacks of the day he lost everything and everyone he cared about most.
And then there is Breck who is an aspiring chef, hired to work for one of the top chefs in New York City. But after a newspaper article catches her attention, her journey is routed to Georgia. She knows she’s giving up everything when she leaves home, but what are the chances that the one person she’s been looking for just so happens to be on that newspaper article? She has to help him, because he was such an inspiration to the one person who meant anything to her; her brother.
I was pissed right off the bat reading Gorgeous, and I honestly did not want to finish. I cried so hard at the beginning of this story, and I hadn’t even made it to the first frickin chapter yet! I had to tell Kristy I was mad at her for this, and let’s just say, these were not my only tears. Cade and Breck’s story was so real and so raw, it was almost exhausting to read. But there was never a point, after the beginning, that I wanted to stop reading. Let’s just say there were a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of shit talking from my husband that went something like, “babe, take your ass to bed,” but that’s beside the point. I really could not get enough once I started and got past my initial emotional and mental breakdown.
Learning the connection between Breck and Cade about tore my life apart. And how Cade found out about it, I had the same exact reaction. The whole time I was thinking he has to know, but I get why he wouldn’t because he blocked that part of his life out. When he asked her last name, I thought for sure that was it, but nope! nothing. When he found out, my heart absolutely broke for Breck. She was trying and they had reached such a pivotal point in their relationship for it to be set back like nothing ever happened and no progress had been made. It was a tragedy and I practically cried a waterfall.
And then to learn what Anniston and Theo had been doing for his family the entire time they’ve known each other, ripped me further into shreds. Cade was so consumed in his self-loathing about losing his military family, that he didn’t even realize he had been building another one willing to do anything to help him in his times of need. Let me just save you some time and say that whole chapter contains my tears, snot and boogers. Devastation is the key word, ladies and gents.
Now, I say this next part knowing I am completely biased in my love for everything Cade, and I say that to say I do NOT care, but I LOVED Cade’s asshole side. What I’m not going to do is make excuses for him and say “he didn’t mean to say it” or “what he meant was” because we all know he did. I respected the fact that even though her feelings were hurt time and time again, Breck learned she held a certain power over Cade and didn’t let him scare her off. For a moment I thought we were going to lose her, but she stood her ground and started to give it just as good, if not better than Cade did. Their back and forth was so fun to read, because it was done it a tit for tat kind of way and once Cade loosened the hell up, it almost seemed light-hearted. I say seemed, because we are still talking about Mr. Broody Cade. Let’s not get too crazy.
Speaking of fun times. I can’t not bring up the guys!!! Vic is becoming a quick fave and I shed some tears for him when he told his story. Hayes is always a good time and I can’t wait for his story. Tim was surprisingly VERY fucking HOT! As in VERY! Beg me? Um, yes please! And yes, please again! I’m hoping he has a story, because I’m there!
Overall, Kristy did a fucking phenomenal job writing Gorgeous. It was the perfect combination of every emotion imaginable. I felt every emotion while reading and could see every tear shed and smile spread. My heart broke one thousand times, but was pieced back together with the overall outcome of the story. I loved the hidden gems, like the letters, even though I teared up reading them. She made Cade and Breck’s story with her soul. Or at least that’s what it felt like to me.
Now, to throw my ultimate hater moment in here. Jessica and Milos! I hate you both! How fucking dare you both be mentioned, BY NAME! in my man’s book?! I am so not your friend(temporarily of course) right now! I need to beta read the next book because I wanna be a friend in the next book. I mean, who doesn’t need a crazy loud mouth friend named Ebony right?
If you have yet to grab yourself a copy of Gorgeous, make sure to do so NOW!!! You know, I’ve never really felt so emotionally vulnerable reading a book and that is how I felt reading this story, even reviewing it. That goes to show what a great author Kristy is.
Hey Kristy Marie, can I offer you a ride home? Meaning I love you babes!
- Eb <3