Beautifully Brutal (Southern Boy Mafia Book 1)

Courtney Kogan works in the family business, Sniper 1 Security. She is the only daughter of Casper and Elizabeth Kogan, so she tends to get the easier jobs of “babysitting” children of the rich and famous. She can’t stand it! Now her father is sending her to get intel on the local Mob family, the Adorites.

Maximillian (Max) Adorite is the oldest son of the Mob boss Samuel Adorite. When Samuel’s brother, the underboss, has a stroke and is no longer able to perform his job, Max is promoted into that position. What happens with the daughter of the “good guy” and the son of the “bad guy” have an explosive attraction to each other? Beautiful Brutal is what happens.

“Beautifully brutal is how she’d come to think between them.”

This is a ‘standalone’ first book in a spin off from Sniper 1 Security. I am not a fan of the word standalone. Yes, you can read the book without reading the others, but no I don’t advise it. I was terribly confused at the beginning of this book because I hadn’t read Sniper 1 Security yet and the first part of the book revolves around something that started in that series. So I advise you read those first before starting this series, I know I wish I had.

That being said, this is a Nicole Edwards book so of course it was AWESOME (once I got past the beginning.) The book goes back and forth between present day and things that happened in the past two years since these two meet. It is an interesting story and has a bit of a ‘WTH’ factor to it. Since it is a Nicole Edwards book it is SMOKING HOT!!! My iPad needed an ice bath when I was done. Max is an anti-hero and this is demonstrated in chapter 19, OMG I was so upset after reading that. Dark, dark stuff there, I don’t think I’ve ever read anything dark by this author, so maybe that is why it affected me. It totally belongs in the story, but it was disturbing. Courtney is a strong female character, and those are my favorites. There is no “I need you to take care of me or this situation” from this woman. In fact, she is the one to step up and take care of the situation in one part. I highly recommend this book and I give it 5 stars with 4 hands down the pants! Can’t wait for the next one.

I have read two of Nicole Edwards’s series, The Alluring Indulgence and Club Destiny and sadly this one was not a favorite of mine. I however did enjoy the read and still recommend the book. Beautifully Brutal is in a way a mafia style Romeo and Juliet. Courtney, who you meet in Wait for Morning, is having a hard time with her feelings for the bad boy mafia prince Max. These two have a history and while you do get to see some of it in the flash back scenes, you can tell how hard it is for these two to be in the same room with each other and not attack each other. And by attack I mean sexually attack each other. Courtney is from the Snipers Security and was sent in to get some information for a client about the Southern boy mafia which is how her and Max first got started. Little by little incidents happen that bring these two together and the more Courtney tries to let him go the more Max knows she’s it’s for him and will do whatever it takes to make her his. When the client that is seeking information on Max’s family comes out, it will change everything Courtney thought she knew. When the mafia boss arranges Max to be married for a gain of land, Courtney and Max are forced apart for good. But while Courtney feels the pain silently, Max decides he’s not ready to ever let her go. When these two embark on a relationship, lives will be lost and sides will be chosen. Can these two Romeo and Juliet lovers find a different happily ever after?

A gifted copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review by Vanessa.

Beautifully Brutal is the spinoff series that goes alongside Sniper One Security where we first met Max the underboss of the Southern Boy Mafia, and of course Courtney who is an agent at her dads company sniper one security in Wait for Morning. Beautifully Brutal is where we discover more about Max and Courtney’s past history, the reasons why they can’t be together or why they think they can’t be together. The chemistry between the pair is off the charts hot, although trouble being Courtney works for the good guys and Max is the bad guy. It all started off with Courtney’s Dad sending her in on an assignment to investigate Max for wrongdoings in his company but what she didn’t bargain on was falling in love with him. There’s obviously the slight problem of their families totally not agreeing to the relationship for obvious reasons but will they let that stop them? I urge you to one click today and find out!

I enjoyed this book immensely. Just when you think you know what’s going on there is another twist or turn along the way. Nicole never disappoints when it comes to her writing. It flows perfectly with just the right amount of detail and background needed. I can’t wait to read more and I am hoping the next book is about Leyton and all his secret kinky ways!

How does one author repeatedly keep putting out book after book after book that never seems to let me down? That is exactly what Nicole Edwards does for me. And now that she has ventured into the Romantic suspense genre, as if she wasn't already in my top 3 favorites, has managed to move her way right to the top.
Courtney Kogan knew from the beginning that Maximillian Adorite was a job. She also knew he was lethal to her family and what Sniper 1 Security stood for.
However, she was not immune to the sexy man behind the underworld persona and one thing Max knew, he wanted Courtney and planned to go after what he wanted. But he just had to get past marrying someone else in the meantime.
The ups and downs Courtney and Max fought through to find out in the end, their fathers and Max's mother knew each other many years ago was a shock to all and with love always comes sacrifice.
Being shot, almost dying, those were just small hurdles along the way.
Defending your love to your family when good versus bad was all they knew was the biggest hurdle to over come.
Courtney & Max have a truly one of a kind "kind" of love and relationship and you must read this amazing book to see just what they go through to understand that "LOVE IS LOVE"

Courtney and Max are on two very different sides of the law. While she’s a security/bodyguard specialist, he’s a mafia boss. Their chemistry keeps them connected, but their lives strive to push them apart. Sometimes you can’t stop what’s meant to be.

“Courtney ignored the unnerving feeling that slammed into her. . . the one that told her, without a doubt, she was on a collision course that she couldn’t repave, one that would end, based on what she’d just experienced tonight, either beautiful or brutal. Then again, based on what she knew of the man, she was more inclined to believe it’d be beautifully brutal.”

Courtney works in her family business for Sniper 1 Security (another series by Nicole Edwards) where she’s a bodyguard/intel-getter/babysitter. She’s trained with a gun and knows how to get what she needs to close a job. Except this job with Max? Well, it’s turning out to be far more than just a job. His pull on her keeps pulling her in even when her brain is telling her that it could never work–that she could never be with someone on the wrong side of the law. But Courtney is strong. She’s stubborn. She wants him regardless.

“Their paths should’ve never crossed. Their lives should’ve never mingled. And most importantly, she should’ve never given him her heart. But as with anything, life continued to move on, regardless of the devastation and destruction obscuring the path. She simply needed to move on with her life.”

Max is the first in line to take over his family’s business. He’s essentially running things, and doing a damn fine job at it. He’s killed, he’s tortured, he’s willing to do anything to protect his family. And when Courtney comes into his life looking to get information out of him about his business? Well, he’s not willing to let that happen, but…something about her enraptures him. He’s not able to get rid of her. Max was different than most men. He was ruthless and cold, but incredibly intelligent and tender-hearted.

“She’d known from the beginning that Max was a killer, that he was ruthless and extremely powerful, yet she’d followed this path, and look what had happened. She’d fallen in love with a killer.”

An erotic novel that tells the tale of two star-crossed (basically mafia style) lovers who are from enemy families. Good against bad. But when it’s just them? It’s love and affection. It’s hot and erotic. It’s kinky and sexy. I loved the dynamic that Courtney and Max were. That she struggled internally with the lawful side of her struggling to want to be with someone who was the completely opposite. How she wanted him so fiercely but couldn’t figure out how it’d work. And I loved that he was so calm and reassuring, like he knew that things would eventually work out. The only issue I had was that I got sort of confused with how this novel jumps around from different times, and I would have liked that to be a bit more structured so I knew better when things were happening; I was able to tell for the most part by what was happening in the story, but it would have been even more enjoyable if that had been perfected just a bit more. Overall, I loved the raw passion that was exuded between the two characters and I truly enjoyed the suspenseful-at-times, and well-written storyline. I really cannot wait to get more in this series.

**Received an early copy in exchange for an honest review**

Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars

“She was stubborn, always pushing him away when the only thing she needed to do was pull him closer. He’d protect her. He’d love her. Hell, he’d give her the f***ing moon if she wanted it. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her.”

Beautifully Brutal follows the story of Courtney and Max. Courtney and Max were from two totally different worlds. Courtney being on the right side of the law, protecting and saving people. Max is definitely on the wrong side. Born into a lifestyle of organized crime, Max has become a key player in the Adorite family. He has it all: he’s a bad boy with dangerous good looks, money and women at his disposal. He always gets his way. That is until he meets Courtney. Captivated from the moment he met her. He’s intrigued by her, but there’s one very big problem with this picture. Courtney is the enemy. Just how far will Courtney go to get the information she’s seeking? Will she be able to get out before it’s too late? What happens when two people should hate each other, fall in love???

Beautifully Brutal took me on one heck of a ride. Max and Courtney’s story was dark, captivating, passionate and breathtaking. It reminded me exactly why I love Mafia style books. They’re complex. They’re complicated. There is no right or wrong answer. Difficult choices have to made and you find yourself doing things that you never thought you were capable of.

Max and Courtney had a very Romeo and Juliet style romance. They were two people from two different worlds that should never have been together, but now that they are, you can’t keep them apart. They are soulmates in the very sense. Max and Courtney share a very passionate connection. One that can not be denied or walked away from and believe me, both of them try. Max is intense. When he wants something, he’s not afraid to go the distance. He is fierce and protective and loves the way that Courtney challenges him. He won’t give up on what he wants without a fight. Courtney was constantly at war with herself. Trying to do what was right. Her brain not wanting to give into Max, but her body…. Well lets just say that her body has a mind of it’s own. She never stood a chance against Max. He is her ultimate kryptonite…..

Beautifully Brutal is an intense, captivating read. It is told in past and present tense. Sometimes, that style can be hit or miss, but I think it worked really well with this book. It really gave me the insight of how Max and Courtney met, her assignment, their struggles with right and wrong, of being together. I loved that their story is also told from multiple points of views. It was really getting inside both Max and Courtney’s heads; really getting to see the struggles they had about life, their love and the choices they had to make.

Beautifully Brutal is my first book by Nicole Edwards and she knocked it out of the park for me. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I started reading this book, and boy was I impressed. It was everything that I wanted and more from a Mafia book. I loved the story-line and the characters. I was completely immersed in the plot, waiting to see what happened next. Overall, a really fantastic read and I’m looking forward to reading to the next installment.

* I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*

This book was amazing!! Beautifully Brutal is the first book of the Southern Boy Mafia Series. I’ve never read anything penned by Nicole Edwards before but man did she effing rock it!! This is an awesome love story full of smoking hot sex and an insatiable love that was unrelenting.

Lots of WTF moments and adding to the suspense, there are plenty of twists and turns that keep it riveting and exciting!! This book will definitely keep you spellbound.

Max Adorite was a Bad Boy. The handsome, sexy, underboss of the Southern Boy Mafia, part of the dark, seedy underworld that he had grown up in. A family run organization located in the Dallas, Texas. Recently moving into the second in command position… he is powerful, respected, a deadly force to be reckoned with.

Courtney Kogan, she was the good to Max’s bad. She was a beautiful, curvy woman with long dark hair and white gray eyes that captured Max’s attention. A smart, feisty, self-confident woman who worked with her Father and brothers in a family owned business. Their family business was Sniper 1 Security….the flip side of what Max’s family did.

Truly a case of opposite attraction, Max and Courtney, fit this to a T. From the first moment they met Max knew that there was something about this woman that stirred something within him. Something that had never happened to him before. From the first handshake to the later make out session he knew he had to have her. He had to claim her. He had to make her his. AND she would be HIS!

This was far from a one-sided attraction. Courtney was also intoxicated with everything about Max….his smell, his touch, his kiss! The sex between Max and Courtney is white hot and definitely panty melting.

Were Max and Courtney be doomed from the start? Or would there be a way to meld their life’s together? Is an HEA even possible when their worlds are so different?

I was given an ARC for an honest opinion.

I saw Nicole Edwards name and literally pounced on this book. A spin-off of the Sniper 1 Security series, I knew I was going to have a heck of a read/ride whether cowboys, security folks, entrepreneurs or bad boys being exceptionally bad….

Max Adorite is second in command of the family business. He’s not yet thirty but he has earned the respect of his family, his business partners and his enemies. Who he hasn’t won over entirely is Courtney Kogan. She is also a member of her family business and takes her job seriously. She is one of the best at what she does and is proud to be a member of her successful family and company. When the two meet, and physical attraction grows to more, how do the two reconcile the fact that their family businesses are at odds with each other? You see, he’s a criminal and she’s a white-hat wearing good girl.

No, he certainly isn’t. What he is, though, is sexy, charismatic, and all kinds of in your face alpha. You know he lives on the wrong side of the law as scenes in this book graphically portray. What they also reveal, however, is his love of family and the woman he would move heaven and earth to protect, even from himself. Courtney tries to play it cool but she is so into him that no matter what path she takes it always seems to lead her back to Max. The scorching back and forth between the two is a bit dizzying as the story jumps in timeline back and forth in days, months and even years. What is clear though is the feelings they have are both spiritual and carnal, blending into a mix that is going to up the temperature into the reds before they are done.

Their road is twisted and tangled as family obligations vie with their own feelings. If they are not worried about their enemies they also have to worry about threats from those closest to them. A roller coaster that will mess with your head about what being bad really means and how far would you go for the love of your life. I can’t wait for more - five scorching stars!

**Reviewed for Nerdy Dirty and Flirty**

4 stars

As a big fan of Author Nicole Edwards books, I was curious when she wrote a mafia based book. But I was blown away by it. She did not disappoint. The story had plenty of twist and turns along with a beautiful love story of forbidden love. The type of love that when good and bad are made to chose sides, Love always wins.

Max Adorite was born into the Southern Boys Mafia family. He has been groomed to take over the family business when his father steps down. Max has done some things that he knows are not within the law but that is just the way it has to be done. But nothing had prepared him for Courtney Kogan. She will throw him off his game in a beautifully brutal way.

Courtney Kogan was born into a family that fights crime and brings down the bad guys. She has always dreamed of helping other and making the world a better place. As her father assigns her to a new assignment, her perfect world of hunting the bad guys is about to change. Max Adorite is going to change the game for her.

As their relationship blooms into friends, they learn to hate and love each other. They will take each other anyway they can. But in the end is it enough? They are from two different worlds. She is good while he is bad. Max will do anything to protect Courtney even letting her go. But can he live without her touch or smile in his life? And Courtney will she continue to deny that she needs Max as much as she needs to breathe? Truly in the end is love enough?

I look forward to more in the Southern Boys Mafia series. The characters were all interesting. Courtney was a strong heroine that gave Max a run for his money. But the love that they shared was perfect.

**Beautifully Brutal is the spin-off series of Sniper One Security Series.**

Beautifully Brutal is a modern day mafia twist of Romeo and Juliet. The Good Guys vs. the Bad Guys. If you are familiar with the Sniper One Security Series, then you will be familiar with Courtney Kogan and Maximillian Adorite. And in Beautifully Brutal, Courtney knows that she must resist and stay away from Max but there is this strong attraction to him that she can't helped but hypnotized by his charm and personality. Her job was simple to get intel on the Adorite family but that could be harder than she thought since Max is one of the new leaders of the Southern Boy Mafia.

The chemistry between Courtney and Max was intense, sexy, alluring and captivating. I loved how Ms. Edwards did an amazing job intricating the past and present highlighting the strong connection that they had to each other. Their past and present collides and only leads to a passionate chemistry that can be only described as explosive. I loved how Beautifully Brutal really showcases that LOVE conquers all. And in this case two people from opposing sides found a middle ground and was able to prove that their love was unbreakable and worth fighting for.

As always, Ms. Edwards did an amazing job unfolding their story with added layers of sensuality, sexiness, suspense, and some surprising twist of events. The writing and story-telling was beautifully well done. So if you are fan of a mafia romance that will leave you wanting more, then I suggest you read Beautifully Brutal because I didn't want this book to end. Looking forward to what Ms. Edwards has in store next for the Southern Boy Mafia series.

~Michelle of Four Chicks Flipping Pages

I have always loved Nicole Edwards’ books and when you add in the mafia, this girl is hooked. Maximillian Adorite, the underboss of the Southern Boy Mafia, is the ultimate bad boy. Courtney Kogan comes from Sniper 1 Security run by family and friends. Max and Courtney have a history but can they overcome the whole “bad guys” versus “good guys”?

“Don’t hurt me,” she said softly.

Even with her eyes closed, she could sense Max’s reaction to her words.

“Never,” he told her, his warm lips pressing to her mouth. He cupped her face in his hands. “You should know that by now. I’d never hurt you.”

I loved the relationship that continued between Courtney and Max from Wait for Morning – a Sniper 1 Security series book. These two have kept their relationship a secret from their families like some sort of modern day Romeo and Juliet story. They can’t seem to keep their hands off of each other but discover their feelings actually run a bit deeper. I may actually have teared up with some of the adversity they faced.

The only thing that I might mention bothered me were all of the flashback scenes from past to present to past. I would be trying to figure out what was going on and have to switch gears and figure out when in the past we are talking about. I would have preferred all of the past scenes told together and then move on to the present so that the story didn’t lose its flow. I made myself a little dizzy.

If you love characters that cross over and mingle body fluids, you will love all of Nicole Edwards’ books. These are some of my favorite panty melting guilty pleasures and mixing security and mafia gentleman with some sex clubs…count me in!

I really enjoyed reading Beautifully Brutal by Nicole Edwards. It has been a while since I have actually read a book by Nicole. I do have all her latest books sitting on my Kindle ready to be read but, I haven’t been able to read them mainly due to the large volume of ARCs that I read. I was gifted a copy of this ARC for an honest review. Thank goodness because it allowed me to be able to read this book by a very gifted author!

Beautifully Brutal is the first book in the Southern Boy Mafia Series and it is a spinoff from the Sniper 1 Security Series. It isn’t necessary for you to have read the Sniper 1 Security Series but, if you have you will recognize some of the characters.

Let me just say Holy H*ll this book is HOT but, then that is how Nicole writes! Max & Courtney are spiraling to destruction of each other & Max’s has an unhealthy obsession for Courtney. Courtney Kogan works for Sniper 1 Security and it is her families company and Max (Maximillian Adorite) is the 2nd in command of the Mafia in his family. Courtney could destroy Max with an ultimate betrayal. Because Max let's her in and doesn't really hide anything from her. He knows what she does he just isn't hiding and he is taking a big risk. I can’t really say more because I don’t do spoilers. Just know you need to read this book as well as all Nicole’s other books. They are very entertaining and drag you into each and every book! Like I said Nicole is a very gifted author!.

I give Beautifully Brutal 4.5 O’s (O’s for Orgasms)

Courtney Kogan works for her family’s company, Sniper 1 Security. When her father Casper assigns her to a case to gather information, the last thing she expected was to fall in love with the enemy.
Maximillian Adorite is well known and is feared. He is after all next in line to take over his father’s business. Max is smart, extremely smart and he looks like a god. No one and nothing gets past him and when he sees something he wants, he gets it that is until he falls for Courtney.
Their relationship is filled with passion and regrets. They both push and pull each other. When the truth of Courtney’s assignment comes out, families are destroyed, trust is lost and hearts are broken. Sometimes you have to just let the past go to move with the future but no matter what because in the end, love does conquer all no matter how messy things get.
I loved the forbidden romance aspect. Courtney was torn between the man she loves and wants to be with and her family.
Max is a great character. He is strong, smart and knows what he wants. He would do anything for Courtney. Max knows he has met his match when it comes to Courtney. Their unconventional relationship or non-relationship puts them through the ringer and in the end, they end up not only surprising each other but everyone else. They fought for their happily ever after, came out bruised and scarred but most importantly, they survived together.
Suspenseful, angsty and like all Nicole Edwards books… HOT HOT HOT! I can’t wait to see where this series takes us.

Review from Abibliophobia Anonymous Book Reviews

4.5 stars

This is the first book by Nicole Edwards that I have read. Her other books have been on my to be read list for a while now. I just haven’t gotten to read them yet. I do wish I would have read the Sniper 1 Series first though, since this is a spinoff. I think having more of a background on the “good guys” may have helped me out some. I did really enjoy this read though.

Maximillian, Max, Adorite, is the underboss for the Adorite family, also known as the Southern Boy Mafia. He is set to take over the whole family from his father.

Courtney Kogan is part of the Sniper 1 Security. She’s been sent in to gather Intel on Max and his “business” deals.

This story takes place over a few years because of the flashback chapters. Because of those chapters, you see how things first started, and ultimately ended, for Max and Courtney, the first time.
They are from different worlds. He is a “bad guy” and she is a “good guy”. Can’t get more opposite than that. They love each other, but can’t admit it.

This is their story. It isn’t easy for them. They have to deal with feelings, family secrets coming out, family issues, bullet wounds and psychos.

“I love you. Only you. And I refuse to spend another f****** minute without you.”

Nicole Edwards does it Again. I loved this book. Ok I mean I have read all of Nicoles books she is one of my go to authors, but this is not like the others. Max the Southern Boy Mafia what a sexy bad boy. I love him. The Story of Max and Courtney their feelings for one another so wrong since she was on the right side of the law and he was not. You can not help who you fall in love with. Why their careers intertwined, the reason her dad put her on a mission to learn what she could about him all very interesting when you learn of the reason. Will their love survive? Will they end up together. The things they go through struggling with their feelings for each other knowing they are from different worlds. Really a great book a great read. I highly recommend this book.

This was definitely a new direction for Nicole to go in with her writing. Was it a bad thing? Absolutely not! I loved this book. I'm pretty sure it will be going near the top of my favorites list. I love a good bad boy and Max Adorite is a bad bad boy. There were plenty of twists and turns to the story and I was kept on my toes. A few times I was yelling at Courtney to quite thinking to much and just go for it. As for the great sex scenes Nicole is known for writing....They are definitely there and they will scorch the pages! Some seriously hot exhibitionist stuff going on here. Give the mob a try and pick this book up today! ***I received a copy of this book complimentary in return for my honest review***

Two people from different lives that when they meet they burn up. Light vs dark, fire vs ice these two clash and consummate together and at times i did get confused by the shift in time in the story from past to present. And i never thought i would warm to Max but i did soften it was the angst between him and Courtney and their spark that kept me so engaged as well as all the revelations through the story

Wow Beautiful Brutal was an amazing book to read ,I got so engrossed in the story of Maximilian and Courtney and the struggle between there families and each other . This was the first Mafia book for me that I've read and it was Literally beautifully brutal , I love it Thank You Nicole Edward for another amazing story .I can't wait for more in this series definitely a five star read

Nicole Edwards never fails to impress . Her story lines, her characters and het plots always hit the mark. Max and Courtney have such a deep connection and love for each other that they can't seem to function without the other. Absolutely wonderful!!!

I could kick myself for not reading this sooner! I'm a huge fan of Nicole Edwards, and love everything I've read of hers. At the time, the Southern Boy Mafia series was a sharp turn from what I've come to love from Nicole. I was interested in reading it, but never got around to it. While proofreading for her, I was assigned a book in the Sniper 1 Security series, which has crossovers from SBM. I immediately fell in lust w/Max Adorite, and had to get to know him better.

This story wasn't your typical love story. But it never is when mafia is in the story. Max and Courtney were so different, yet so much alike. While trying to infiltrate Max and his world, Courtney somehow gets tangled up and intrigued by Max. There's a strong pull between them, and as hard as they tried, they couldn't stay away from each other for long. Courtney and her family put guys like Max away, so how could they ever think of being together. Courtney surprises Max in many ways, some he wasn't prepared for. This was a great story with violence, tests of loyalty, steamy love scenes--it's Nicole Edwards, so no surprise there--and at times, I was rooting for the Max when maybe I shouldn't have.

I can't wait to see what his sister, Ashlynn is up to in the next book!

Story about Max Adorite, 2nd in command of Southern Boys Mafia, first son born in family handed down generation after generation. Max's father is head of the Mafia and a very nasty individual and as mean as they come. Courtney Kogan is sent by Sniper I Security to infiltrate and find out about the Adorites by her father head of Sniper Security Casper Kogan. There is almost an instant attraction between Courtney and Max that they both try to fight as they know he is darkness and she is goodness and light. As well there is the whole Romeo and Juliet theme going because the head of the Adorites do not trust her and do not want her around and Kogans do not want her involved in the Mafia as they are always putting these types of individuals in jail. There is a lot of suspenseful moments and a lot of really hot love scenes. Enjoyed this book so much I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend as well as the other books that tie in Wait for Morning and Without Regret. Nicole is one of my favorite authors and I quite often buy preorders.

No cliffhanger
Standalone though the start of a larger series
Told from 3 POVs (mostly just the H/h but a few chapters from another character)
No major editing errors

So I will be honest, I wasn't so sure about this book because the first book in the sniper 1 series wasn't my favorite book from this author but man oh man was I wrong to question the genius that is Nichole Edwards. This book was hot hot hot from the very beginning and I was hooked and couldn't put it down.

The characters were amazing. They are two of the most stubborn people on the planet but when they get together sparks certainly fly. For the soap fans out there it was very much a Sonny/Carly type of relationship from General Hospital. They were combustible.

You also know deep down you aren't supposed to root for the bad guy but you can't help it. You find yourself explaining his decisions away because you want them to find their happily ever after. I won't give away if they do or not but the journey is exactly what the title suggests. Beautifully brutal.

Forced to make a decision no one wants to make will Courtney choose the love of her life or her family and at the end of the day what will her choice cost her? Her family? Her life? Her conscience? You will have to read to find out but I am telling you. It is sooooo worth it.

I can't wait for Leyton's book. The one chapter teaser they gave blew my mind. Talk about explosive!!!

A must read!!!!!!

I always know when the Author is Nicole Edwards it will be a good book. Read Waiting for Morning the 1st Sniper 1 series book and couldn't wait to get ahold of this book. The 2 main characters in this series was also in the other book so a story line was already established. I just adored Max so much. He wanted to always keep Courtney safe from harm. Don't want to give anything away but you definitely should buy this book excellent. Have to say I am so excited to read the last part with Ashlynn, Leyton and Jade that will be an excellent story. Nicole does three some like no other author I know. Can't wait on that story to get here.

I just finished this book after devouring it in a 24 hour period....I could not put it down! What a great read that made my heart ache at times and almost beat out of my chest at others. I loved the glimpses back into their relationship as well as what happened in "the present". I can't wait to read more in this series, especially if the last few chapters were anything to go on! I can't wait for Devil's Playground.