Wicked Beautiful (Wicked Games Book 1)

I was prepared to not like Victoria but soon found my expectations unfounded. What a great story of teenage love, betrayal, angst and redemption. Victoria is a scarred and tragic figure. Parker is a flawed but lovable hero. The story flows and keeps you engaged. Will put this book on my "read again" list.

I purchAsed this book based on author Marie Force's recommendation. I did not like the main female character, Victiria/Isabel. I could not understand her motivation for her life decisions. I found the book tedious and aggravating.

I purchAsed this book based on author Marie Force's recommendation. I did not like the main female character, Victiria/Isabel. I could not understand her motivation for her life decisions. I found the book tedious and aggravating.

I rarely leave a review but this author has compelled me and completely captivated me that I've read 7 of her books in one week!! I have told all my book friends about these and I'm going to start on her paranormal series next!! Hope I get plenty of the store gift cards for xmas!!

Really enjoyed this series!!!! So much so that I read all three in about four days. I couldn't put my kindle down, thank goodness I have an hour train ride each way to work. I hope the other series are just as good.

From the moment the prologue opened I was ensnared by the story of a fifteen year old girl, her heart had been broken by the young man she loved and she’d sworn off on love as a reaction. We were not given details, just enough to make us wonder what we were not being told. Then we see the successful woman the teenager became, Victoria Price, a man-hater, a life coach and author of bestselling books. The presentation she makes to an audience of women, she thinks of as her “minions”, was awesome. Her internal dialogue was downright amusing. From the ashes of the devastation of her youth she rebuilt herself into a strong, aggressive, take no nonsense or prisoners persona.

When Victoria runs into the man of her youth who doesn’t recognize her she can’t help but take the opportunity to claim her revenge, to leave him as devastated as she was. But you have to be careful when you’re playing with fire for you can just as easily get burned. Emotions long thought dead can resurface, the heart doesn’t always play by the mind’s rules.

Successful restauranteur Parker Maxwell is stunned by the gorgeous woman in white who walks into his restaurant with a renowned food critic, he’s thrown by her apparent hostility but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to get to know her better. There’s something familiar about her that draws him. I loved Parker from the moment we met him, I didn’t feel that he was the evil incarnate that Victoria made him out to be, there had to be more to the events of the past that we had yet to know.

This book was an amusing, sexy, second chance romance with complex characters that had emotional depth and exhibited growth. I liked the theme of revenge, that there were trust issues, and that there was acceptance, forgiveness and redemption. I liked how the protagonists could give as well as they got, the banter was perfection. They really were two devious spirits at heart. I would never have expected a romantic comedy from this author and this one was an absolute delight to read. The supporting cast of outlandish characters had me smiling often, they were extreme personalities that really melded well with the heroine.

4.5 stars

Reviewed by Sharon Thérèse Nuttall

To say I howled with laughter and was shocked to the core would be putting it mildly. What a gem of a read. My emotions ran riot in this tragic comedy-cum-love story with a difference. How on earth was I going to tackle this review would become a personal challenge. Never in a million years could I have wished to come across such an original storyline. Feeling sorry for the male protagonist who I might add, just happened to be the topping of a delicious cream pie... and regardless of his drop-dead lickable physique, just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. In spite of the fact that he was in his domain, his safe haven and owner of the fashionable new restaurant, this player ruled par excellence. Both of the main characters crossed paths there and both are curious to find out who is who. Parker has a fleeting sense of deja vu, Victoria instantly recognises an old flame from her past causing no amount of mixed feelings. It was joy to read a story with so much angst and had me guessing throughout. And it's not an easy feat hiding your Kindle under the sheets in order not to disturb one's better half either. But I managed to and didn't put it down until the last page.

Quote: Victoria ~ "It's Victoria to my friends. To you, Mr. Maxwell, it's Ms. Price."

What Victoria Price has in mind is beyond cruel, but then again, she is the Queen Bitch. She uses her talent to perfection in a successful business selling 'bitchiness'. Her books are snapped like hot cakes, she lies like a trooper and the word guilt isn't in her dictionary. She wants vengeance with a capital V and will stop at nothing until she gets it. Tabitha, her personal assistant, dear friend and one of the few who know her boss' true story, is extremely good at her job which not only does she take seriously, but also gives Victoria her undying devotion. Discovering Victoria's nemesis' weaknesses will keep Tabitha on her toes and at times, I couldn't believe what lengths she was prepared to go to protect Victoria's secret. But this loveable soul with no dress sense whatsoever, slightly crazy... well, you'd have to be if you worked for someone so demanding, is also highly intelligent. Although I loved to hate the leading lady and some scenes made my blood boil, I just couldn't turn the pages quick enough. Why? Because I wanted to know what made her tick; how her modus operandi was going to affect her personally. However, as I read on, my opinion towards this hard-hearted person who preaches women's rights for reasons to be told, changed one hundred and eighty degrees. By now my worries became ten-fold. Would she be able to come out of what she had thought to be cannily construed...unscathed? Chapeau to the author here. The character development is quite incredible.

Quote: Victoria ~ “You, my friend, are about to get royally screwed.”

Playboy and philanthropist extraordinaire, Parker Maxwell is a man with the minimum of friends and lives for work. Having suffered in silence for years for his behaviour towards the one and only woman he'd ever loved, he has no plans to fall again. So why he becomes obsessed with one of the most elegant women he has ever set his eyes on intrigued me no end. I kept having little chats with him; alas, my words weren't what the author had had in mind for him. I loved his dry sense of humour, his debonair ways and hot in the bedroom, he most certainly is. But my heart broke into smithereens for this adorable man who had no idea that the player he thought he was, was not at all. Receiving the end of a cruel hand turns into what I had said before. A tragedy. So when I thought all had been lost, this story abounding in twists and turns has that glimmer of hope in a tunnel of lies, deception and reprisal.

Quote: Parker ~ “You never fail to amaze me. When you let down your guard, Victoria, you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life.”

Much to my delight, the secondary characters were outstanding. Victoria's best friend, Darcy, is larger than life in every aspect, and Kai Fürst, Parker's chef, had me in fits of laughter. Aside from Bailey who I didn't care for much; okay, she had her moments, I just couldn't find fault in this read which flows at an incredible pace. The ending had me in tears so get a hankie or two ready. Now then, the epilogue is amazeballs and made me incredibly happy. This book is definitely a must and believe you me, if you want a diverse one, this is for you. Bravo Ms. Geissinger.

Quote: Darcy ~ “He's lucky I swore off chefs or I can guarantee I'd be making his skinny ass sing tonight.”

ARC kindly received by via NetGalley for an honest review.

Great story. Real characters that you can empathize with and laugh, cry, and cheer on. I will be checking out more from this author. I absolutely loved the depth of characters. You truly get invested in Victoria's past, present, on ongoing trials. The characters have flaws and are easy to identify with. This really a great read.

Excellent contemporary romance. Not your typical damsel in distress with strong alpha male rescuer story. That's been over done. These characters are strong, single minded and smart. A good summer beach read.

Seriously loved this book . It was well written with lots of humor but it also brought me to tears with the way it was heartfelt and real . I enjoyed the characters and felt like I really knew them . I really can't wait to read second one!