Review: Just the right amount of dark and twisted!
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 24, 2014
Slightly leaning to 3.5 StarsNot every story is pretty, not every story is perfect, but this is their story; one that the characters dictated and I just sat back and typed.- Christine Zolendz, Author's NoteWhat I Liked:❤ The book started off with a bloody, intriguing bang so it was easy to get into it because of that.❤ The author stepped away from New Adult for her second series. Although I liked Fall From Grace, Saving Grace was a DNF for me which led me to returning Scars and Songs because I was afraid of getting even more disappointed. Kudos to Ms. Zolendz for not playing it safe by sticking to the same genre and reaching out to a more mature audience. I didn't think I would read her works again after Saving Grace but this book intrigued me.❤ The characters are not angsty, broken college students. They are angsty, broken thirty-something adults. Somehow angsty, broken adults is not as annoying for me as angsty, broken college students. Go figure.❤ When the two main characters meet, I thought it was going to be another one of those super insta-lust, then uncontrollable smexing and from there they will fall into insta-love kind of relationship which irritates the hell out of me nowadays. But surprisingly, although it started of as your typical insta-lust stories, their issues pulled through which resulted to antagonism and far, far away from insta-love. Thank goodness.❤ Kade's POV was of a mentally twisted recluse who hates people and doesn't have a problem showing it. With Samantha he's like some sort of weird stalker but it was hilarious to read how he always ends up insulting her because he doesn't understand why he's feeling the way he does and totally go about it the wrong way. He didn't instantly changed for the better after meeting Samantha, there was a process and that made it more believable.❤ Kade's past is very tragic and I totally understand why he is the way he is.❤ There is a book two but their relationship does not end in a cliffhanger! It is more of a HFN than a HEA ending but readers can stop here if they are satisfied with the book's ending. I really appreciate that. It gives the readers a choice. If you want more then you can have more, but you can also end here if you are satisfied with how this book ends.What I Didn't Like:☹ I've read this book two days ago and I'm trying to remember what I like most about Samantha but I'm coming up blank. I honestly don't remember much about her. I know she also has a tragic past but it is still very much shrouded in mystery so I didn't really connect with her that much.☹ This book was too wordy for my taste, when it came to the part where they finally talked about their past and their feelings, I was really interested. And then they just went on and on with the talking and frankly, I got a little bored with all the sappiness.☹ There was definitely chemistry between Kade and Samantha but it was too drawn out that when they finally come together, it was more of a "good riddance" for me than a "FINALLY!"☹ Although their relationship ends in a HFN, there is still a lot of questions regarding Samantha and what she's running away from exactly. I know she's been an abused, battered wife but I wish we were given more of a backstory regarding her father and his connections with her husband and how big her issues against them really are. I know that was purposely left out for the next book but it was harder for me to understand Samantha's issues because I know so little of it, throwing me a little bone would've helped me out in connecting to her more.+++Overall, I did enjoy Brutally Beautiful even if I got a little bored with its wordiness. I really like how the author did not play it safe and stuck with the same genre. Both character's voice were witty and sarcastic with a dark sense of humor that I enjoyed. This is not as dark and twisted as I thought it would be so some readers who like reading very dark romances might be disappointed but it was just the right amount of dark and twisted for me. Would I read the second book? I might wait for other readers' input first but that's more because I don't want the whole Saving Grace disappointment to happen again but I definitely want to find out more on what happens to Kade and Sam and to finally unravel the mystery of her past.