Review ~ Cruel and Beautiful by AM Hargrove and Terri E Laine

Book Description:

 

This is a New Adult Contemporary Romance standalone, full-length novel that includes mature content, not suitable for younger readers. (Rated R)

Cate Forbes, a dedicated college student with a carefully plotted future, doesn’t know the first thing about love. When she accepts a blind date with a rumored tasty piece of eye candy, she thinks she can get by with a night of fun. Cate’s plans quickly unravel when she gets one look at the sexy…

Drew McKnight.

The relentless hockey-playing medical resident knows what he wants— a career in Oncology and Cate. Although he’s heard the gorgeous brunette is a little relationship skittish, a single night out isn’t what he has in mind. Determined to have her— in every way possible— he shows her just what a future with him would hold.

Only life has other plans. The unthinkable happens and everything begins to shatter. Both in too deep, they will have to fight the cruel and hang onto the beautiful. 

Buy Links:

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Wy2CoC

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Mkka0J

Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4.5 stars


“and know that I loved all the pieces of you with all the pieces of me.”


This was one super emotional read and a read that I will not forget for a very long time. This is one of those books that will stay with you, a book that you won’t be able to forget and a book that you will reflect on for days, weeks, months… you get the idea. Sometimes a story just grips you by the heart and soul and this was one of those books, but the difference with this book was its delivery. It was so unique, so poignant, so confusing, but it was this confusion that adds to that build. The theories I had while reading this book were plentiful and none of them were correct.

This book flicks from past to present every chapter, whatever you do, do not be tempted to read the past and then the present, it is laid out this way for a specific reason and it is this method that creates the momentum that keeps those pages turning. I ran the gamut of emotions reading this book, there were buckets and buckets of tears, there were laughs, there was a lot of swooning but most of all this book was about love. A love that was so deep, so treasured and so beautiful that it couldn’t help but melt even the coldest of hearts. This book certainly lives up to its name, it was definitely Cruel and it was amazingly Beautiful.


“This is yours for as long as there are beats within it. Everything I have is yours. My love, my heart, my soul, and my life, for however short or long it may be.”


When this book begins Cate is still in college and is hard working and studious and doesn’t date. Her best friend and roommate finally persuades her to go on a date with her brother’s best friend. With only one thing on her mind she goes but she didn’t bank on the allure of Drew McKnight. Drew was seven years older than her, was a student doctor and an amateur ice hockey player. He was stunning, they had tonnes in common, the chemistry was off the charts and the rest was history.

And so begins one of the hottest, sensuous, breath taking love stories until it isn’t.


“When they say your heart breaks, whoever, “they” is doesn’t have a clue what they’re talking about. Broken isn’t close. Shattered – no cigar. Splintered – nothing doing. Pulverized – where every tiny par is crushed beyond recognition – that’s about how it feels.”


Drew was one of the most swooniest men I have read about in a long time, he was adorable and when he loved, he was all in and loved hard. The love that he felt for Cate was of epic proportions and with every piece of dialogue and every little action his love poured out from the pages and it was reciprocated. I felt everything between these two, their love for each other commanded your attention and your heart and as their life plays out before you, you could not help but smile, laugh and love along with them. These two were soul mates, they were strawberries and cream, they were ying and yang…they just fit.


“Now, look at that door and take your first steps into your new life, Cate. And promise me you’ll live. Just live, Cate. Do it for me.”


I really cannot say anything about this book, you need to read it as the authors intended and devour it word by word. AM Hargrove and Terri E Laine take you on such an epic journey and to know that this was based on a true story seriously tugged at my emotions, no wonder it was so tangible. You could tell that this story came from experience, her heart and soul was there on the page for all to read and kudos to the author for putting her story out there. While I can imagine how difficult it was I can also imagine it being cathartic and the author certainly did her “Drew” justice. Drew is simply unforgettable…as is this book.