From the Reading Vault

Beautiful Bastard
by Christina Lauren

"An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling.

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate--and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative--completely infuriating--creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules--or outright smash them--if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other.

Originally only available online as The Office by tby789--and garnering over 2 million reads on fanfiction sites--Beautiful Bastard has been extensively updated for re-release." (Description from Goodreads.com)

First a warning, this is an

--> extremely HOT and sexy book. Not 50 Shades sexy but close. That being said, this was one of my favorite books of 2013.  I first discovered this on Amazon.com with a "if you like this, try that" offer. I clicked the preview and feel in LOVE with the book almost immediately. After seeing the love it was getting online from Goodreads and Amazon I went to work and begged the book buyer to carry the series. Lots of begging and groveling might have happened but it was worth it. The book series has not been on our shelves since we got them.

Chloe is one of the strongest female characters I've read in a long time. She is fierce. So fierce she's the only one that can handle Bennett.  Bennett is fierce in his own way as well. At first their oil and vinegar and slowly discover they have more in common that they first thought. 

The book offers dual POVs (point of views) which gives you a look into what each is thinking. They both give you laugh out loud moments. I'm afraid to say more without giving the whole thing away.

In the series you have three books and three novellas. First it's Chloe and Bennett and then you see their friends find love in following books. Unlike some books where there is a formula and it's the same way to fall in love each time, that's not true here. Each couple is unique to each other and the situations they face. 

So, if you like sexy books with strong characters, I would recommend this one without hesitation. Give it a try, even if you want to whisper the title. Which I have been known to do. I do own this series but check with your local library to see if they have a copy you can reserve. I say reserve because it still seems to be a popular one that doesn't sit on the shelf long.