Review: Growth and Redemption for Kade and Scarlett
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 16, 2013
This is the follow up to Lifeless; it should not be read as a standalone. In order to understand the events in My Beautiful, you need to read Lifeless first.My Beautiful starts eight months after the end of Lifeless; both Kade and Scarlett are simply going through the motions of life since their break up. Kade is back in California, reluctantly becoming part of the "family business," which has put his music career on hold. Scarlett is still in Atlanta trying to get over her broken heart, but then, Scarlett's best friend, Jules, gets a promotion, and soon, they are both moving to California, where Scarlett does her best to avoid anything Kade related.When fate stops in, Scarlett and Kade have no choice but to confront their break up and the bitter feelings left behind. Kade left Scarlett because he wanted to protect her from the "gangster life" that he found himself immersed in, but little did he know that by Bryce (Kevin) telling Scarlett who he was working for and what his plans were, she was never out of the watchful eye of Kade's uncle. Kade soon realized that there really wasn't any need for his separation from Scarlett as long as they were careful."I told myself I was doing the right thing letting you walk out that night. I didn't want you anywhere near this s*** storm that is my life now...I've thought about you every day since I left, and now that you're here...I can't let you go."Kade and Scarlett's magnetic connection never went away and like all encounters before, their reunion is downright scorching, but not much has changed since Kade left Scarlett the first time, so their desire to "try" to make their relationship work doesn't come without hardships. All too soon, it seems to Scarlett that Kade is shutting her out again, and then Scarlett witnesses Kade in a compromising position, and once again, she is destroyed by her love of this man who always seems to be out of her reach.What is interesting about My Beautiful is that the book is more about the growth of Kade and Scarlett individually. Most of the book, Kade is entrenched in his family affairs and has to stay away from Scarlett. As he dives deeper into understanding daily operations and participating in acts that he never thought he would be a part of, Kade anticipates putting an end to his connection with crime, but it is easier said than done. Scarlett is stressed out and depressed for most of the book, but she also gains a bit of a backbone and works to stand her ground and make her feelings known. Lifeless focuses on the growth of Scarlett and Kade's love affair while My Beautiful focuses on the events that must happen to allow them their happy ending.After reading My Beautiful, my gut reaction was that the book needed more romance; I felt there was too much written about Kade's immersion into crime and his disconnect from Scarlett and his band; the romantic in me wanted an instantaneous reunion. As I thought more about Kade and Scarlett's relationship and why Kade had to give her up at the end of the first book, it made complete sense to have it written this way.  Kade would have never felt "free" from his uncle's world unless he was able to take his uncle down or at least let his feelings be known that he wanted no part in the world of crime, and while the twist at the end was a bit predictable, it was also a necessity because it allowed the extra disconnect that both Scarlett and Kade needed to be together without any outside interference."'You made me want to be a better person, and I am because of you. You've made me feel things I hadn't felt in so long'...'You're my beautiful.'"Overall, I definitely recommend this series. The first book is full of steamy scenes and a bit of mystery while the second book deals with intense drama/conflict and a bit of romance - the perfect 1-2 punch for a series.  Bring on Jules' story!Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.4 poison apples! (From The Fairest of All Book Reviews)