Beautiful Secret (The Beautiful Series Book 8)

To say I have loved every single step of this series would be a huge understatement, Beautiful Bastard drew me in, Beautiful Stranger had me swooning with delight, Beautiful Player had me fanning myself and now Beautiful Secret has me wanting to shout from the rooftops my obsession with anything this dynamic duo writes. Their ability to craft the kind of fictional leading men that could only exist in my dreams, but the kind of kick arse heroines I want to be when I grow up. They're characters are real, sexy, balanced, snarky, sweet, vulnerable, and hilarious, seamlessly blending the perfect amounts of charm and heat, they not only seep through the print into your bloodstream but they leap right off the page and straight into your heart.In all honesty I'm not sure what I was expecting from Beautiful Secret, laughs...for sure, hot sex...heck yes, characters I wanted to fall in love with, definitely, but what I got was so so much more. Niall Stella seems to be steadfast, sure and confident, while he is very much the self assured man in all things business, his personal life is an entirely different matter. Recently divorced, Niall is floundering, not because the love of life walked out of his life and he doesn't know how to move on, but rather because he should feel something more than relief at the dissolution of his decade long marriage. The thing with public perceptions is that they are seldom correct, often what we think from the outside looking in fails to be true.Ruby Miller is young, bright and has a promising career ahead of her, she has the skills and thirst for knowledge that will ensure career advancement. She's self assured, strong, the daughter of successful psychologists, Ruby has been raised to be direct and honest, working in London, across the other side of the world from family and friends Ruby seems to have the world at her feet, she only has one slight problem, she has a massive crush on Niall Stella, VP at her company, up until today he has never acknowledged her presence, and she is about to spend the next month with him alone in New York for work conferences and meetings.Where Christina Lauren have excelled at instant attraction, chemistry and lust in the past, Beautiful Secret is stripped back, it's a slow burn of almost teenage like courting, at times awkward fumbling, as Niall and Ruby navigate a relationship while in New York, away from the drudgery of office filled with over eager ears and snide comments. Niall's innocence and naivety to not just sex but intimacy, to communication and relationships was endearing, for a reader like myself who is often drawn to the alpha type hero, Niall was a refreshing change that caught me off guard. Ruby's youth and effervescence made her instantly likable, her confidence and poise drew me in, but ultimately it was her vulnerability that came through despite how much she fought to keep it hidden that had me falling head over heels.Christina Lauren have quickly become my go to authors for when I'm feeling down and low, for when I just need to laugh, for when I want something that's deliriously sexy that doesn't sacrifice it's storyline for that sizzling heat. I would almost expect after reading my tenth book by this writing couple, that the effects of their words, the impact their stories have on my mind, would somehow have dimmed, that I wouldn't feel the level of excitement I do when I see a cover reveal for a WIP, or when a copy of their newest book shows up on my doorstep or pops up on my kindle, but after finishing and revelling in Beautiful Secret I think my need, my thirst for their words has grown ten fold. There are books that you read, ones you enjoy, ones you experience, then there are books that take you on a journey you weren't prepared for, that captivate your heart and mind, books that leave you feeling lighter, and yet somehow stronger, changed. Beautiful Secret is the kind of book that leaves you envious of all the readers who get to pick it up for the first time as they experience what you already know to be true... that some books stay in your heart and mind long after you turn the last page.

The final book in the Beautiful series did not disappoint. I loved each and every book and I will definitely be rereading this series in the future. This particular story is about Niall (Max’s brother from Beautiful Secret) and Ruby, a urban planning engineer intern at his firm in London.Here’s what I liked:- They both work on urban transportation engineering which was honestly super interesting.- Ruby was young (23) but a strong character who knew what she wanted and went after it. She had a clear grasp of what she wanted out of her career and what she wanted from Niall as well.- There is a slight miscommunication trope that also addresses other aspects and dynamics of the relationship, especially someone exiting a serious, long-term marriage and dealing with that fall-out.- This book in no way resembled any of the other books; it was unique and stands alone.Here’s what I didn’t like:- Niall is only briefly mentioned in the previous books and only in the barest sense by Max when discussing his family with Sara so coming into this book I really had no sense of who Niall was. In previous books, we had a glimpse into the characters and their stories that would follow; more of a setup, at least, than we had with Niall and Ruby.- For some reason, and I can’t quite put my finger on it (maybe it’s just that I’m actually obsessed with Max and Sara and Chloe and Bennett), this one didn’t grasp me like the first two in this series.Overall, this was another great addition to the series, however I love the original cast, if you will, the most.

Niall Stella is a track-record engineer and VP at Richardson-Corbett , London. Recently divorced from his wife of 15 years and former childhood sweetheart, Niall puts all his focus on his job, and on an upcoming business trip to New York.Ruby Miller, brilliant intern at Niall's firm, has been secretly lusting after him ever since she joined the company - but Niall remains oblivious to her crush, and to women in general. When she is being asked to accompany him on his trip to New York, her heart soars. It will be the perfect opportunity to have him notice her, but also to prove her professional skills.Reserved and vulnerable Niall sure notices Ruby and her exhilarating personality - and it's like nothing he's ever known, so Ruby sure throws him in for a loop.What I loved about this book:The lovely male main characterThe setting (London and New York)The funny momentsWhat I felt needed improvement:The slow paceThe all too abrupt ending and no epilogueThe sometime annoying heroinHaving read all Beautiful Bastard books before this one, there wasn't even a question about getting the newest release Beautiful Secret . During the first chapeters, in grew a bit disappointed about the fact that this story was so similar to Bennett Ryan's story from Beautiful Bastard (intern and boss fall for each other). The fact that a plot repeated itself within one and the same series kind of lacked in originality - but then again, it was slightly different because Niall Stella wasn't the manwh...re that Bennett is. Quite the contrary actually!So as I read on, I noticed that Beautiful Secret came quite close to Absolute Beginners by S.J. Hook because both books have both the forbidden relationship aspect and for once it's the male main character that's inexperienced and constantly pushed over the edge by the much more experienced and bolder female character. Huh! Can't say I dislike this because it's a nice change from your average alpha male! And of course, what's more sexy than a well-behaved British main character - a suit-and-tie wearing one on top of that! "Help me Jesus because paired with the overcoat he had slung over his arm, his suit was straight-up business pron."I was just bit annoyed at the fact that some of Ruby's character traits didn't add up. She is a brilliant student and intern, speaks up and isn't anybody's doormat (sounds a lot like Choe Mills from Beautiful Bastard to me...). And yet, while she is a gushing mess around her crush Niall Stella, she can also be über-bold - especially sexually. Then, the next second she is full of insecurities... Talk about a colorful personality! It was really hard to adjust to all her shifts in attitude. But they also made up for a lot of great banter, lots of funny moments and heaps of self-deprecating humour. "Niall Stella played soccer and rowed with a men's club on the Thames every Saturday. His backside was in my Top Ten Favorite Niall Stella Body Parts (I was leaving spot one open for the time being)."And Niall... well it was so refreshing to read about a male hero that's not über-experienced or your average alpha-male manwh...re. Doesn't mean he was flavorless. Oh no, Niall was a proper gentleman. He never noticed Ruby before the mention of this trip, which is just another proof of loyalty to both his work and (ex-)wife. But once he does, and discovers his attraction for her, he wants to court her properly. “If I wanted to make love to her tonight, I could. If I wanted to feel myself deep in her throat, I could. If I wanted limits, I would need to be the one to set them. But did I truly want limits, or did I think I should want them?”And let's face it: he's scared of doing something wrong, given how "inexperienced" he is, and how his marriage led him to question everything from his action to his bedroom manners. But well, that doesn't mix well with an almost sex-crazed Ruby who can't wait to get into his pants. Literally. So Niall's restraint is definitely put on the line! But it was definitely endearing to witness Niall learning to cope with Ruby's awkwardness and exhilarating personality little by little, given how reserved and contained he usually is. “Do you think I’m weird?” “Yes, weird in the sense that you are unexpected and I am rarely surprised by people. I think you rather exquisite.”The writing was, as expected from Christina Lauren, game on: I loved the alternating 1st Person POV, the settings, the character interactions, the overly steamy scenes - everything. However I must say that the pace of the book wasn't exactly perfect. I felt like the book dragged on quite a bit. Up until 80% of the book, not much happened (or it happened excruciatingly slowly), because it was all about Ruby and Stella finding their rhythm and pace. And then, they come home from their business trip, and the bomb is dropped, but gets neutralized just as quickly and uneventfully.Needless to say that the ending was a bit too abrupt to my liking and I would have appreciated an epilogue. I hate having the feeling that I am missing a huge chunk of a story. I mean, what happens after the HEA? What happens to the fact that we have a difficult relationship here? One between a student and an executive, and an age difference of almost ten years? How do they manage? Because even though love may conquer all, I would have appreciated some insights into the logistics...But well, can't say I didn't enjoy this book. I always enjoy Christina Lauren books - I just guess Beautiful Secret wasn't the best out of the series, and this won't keep me from reading further releases from this author couple.

This is the fourth book in Christina Lauren’s Beautiful series. The story follows main characters Ruby Miller and Niall Stella. Two barely acquainted colleagues who are about to become much more.Oh man this is a hard one to write. Unfortunately, and as much as it pain me to say it, I just did not enjoy this book as much as the first three books in the series (particularly no.3 Beautiful Player). I was so excited when I spotted this on Amazon that I had pre-ordered it and started to read it on the release day.It started so well, with the same intense, sexy promise that has sizzled throughout the stories of the first three books. It was dual POV too, just as the others have been, which in itself is a big bonus for me because I love reading from the male MCs perspective. The book is set initially in London before travelling to NYC which sets it apart from the first three books. The link with the rest of the series is through Niall’s brother Max who was the main character from the 2nd book. I started to enjoy the story and felt like I was going to be in for a winner.Separately, I liked both of the characters and when they were together in the first instance, although on a work basis, it was evident that there was a chemistry surrounding them in and a connection between them. Unfortunately it went downhill for me just after the characters landed in NYC. Niall is quite different to the three male MCs before him in that he has recently divorced and is unsure of himself in a relationship. I think one of the things I really enjoyed about the characters before him was just how arrogant, cocky and slightly verging on dominant they were. Niall felt completely different and when the relationship between him and Ruby stepped up a gear I just wasn’t feeling it.I don’t know if there was something about his reserved English nature that just seemed to be at odds with the type of relationship I expected him and Ruby to have but there was definitely something that didn’t sit quite right.Although I didn’t enjoy the characters together there was inherent enjoyableness due to the fact that it’s written by Christina and Lauren. The wit that they inject into their story, the one liners and quick come backs coupled with the fact that THERE ARE TWO AUTHORS continues to astound me and I will always be a fan based on that fact alone!

Beautiful Secret (Beautiful Bastard #4) by Christina Lauren4.5 stars!!“Good, because I know we need to talk. But right now I want to put my mouth on you and sing “God Save the Queen.”I have loved this series all the way through and this I have to say is my favourite one of the series so far and Niall is by far my favourite leading man. There is something about a man that has zero experience that is humbling. A man that is so insecure, so afraid of putting himself out there that you cannot help but want to jump into the kindle, give him a big hug and tell him that he can do it. I felt this way ten-fold, I loved Niall Stella with a passion, I wanted to help him come out of his shell, and I wanted him to find that love he so wholeheartedly deserved, I wanted to give him the confidence that he desperately needed to embrace the opportunity put before him. He needed it, he deserved it and I wanted him to have it.Niall Stella was a man who believed marriage was for life. Niall married his childhood sweetheart, his one and only and having just got divorced after being together sixteen years the sense of failure was immense. Niall had old fashioned morals and values, he was an upstanding British gent and the failure of his marriage had hit him hard, it also made him question his ability to keep a woman happy, his abilities as a lover and as a husband. He was full of regrets, he was full of questions to which he had no answers, he couldn’t understand how he had failed and it was this that was eating away at him. In the months that followed his confidence had taken a nose dive and his constant self-deprecation was making him believe that he would never find love again, but Niall Stella was full of love and he had a lot of love to give, it just needed to be reawakened.“What was it you said about repressed sexual energy?”“Enough to power the whole bloody city, if you ask me…that’s where his real urban planning skill would come in - hooking himself up to the grid…”Ruby Miller was an American intern who had come to England to work her internship at the largest, most successful and prestigious engineering company, with hope that the experience would enable her to get on Professor Sheffield’s programme at Oxford. Ruby was a lovely character inside and out, she had sass, she was witty, she was attractive but for some reason whenever she was around Niall Stella she turned into a bumbling idiot. Ruby had been infatuated with Niall for months; she had admired him from afar, stalked him, swooned over him but never had the courage to do anything about it. He was by far her senior and he had never even noticed her, there was also the question of age difference. The highlight of her week was the weekly meetings where he would be present, if only he would notice her…Their paths are about to cross where they will have no option but to notice each other. With one of the executives not been able to make a business trip to New York City, Niall and Ruby will be together for a month, a month on their own in NYC. Ruby was determined to make it count.“More than enough. I don’t think people appreciate the awesomeness of a good finger bang.”Despite being tongue-tied whenever she was in Niall’s company Ruby was an extrovert by nature. She was honest, she was quick witted, she had no fear and she told it how it was and she really needed to draw on this side of her personality to get through to Niall. While in the first instance her blunt honesty shocked Niall to the core, we soon saw a different side to him. Ruby brought the real Niall Stella out to play. These two were perfect for each other. Ruby brought Niall to life whereas Niall was the stability and the foundation that Ruby needed. They may be opposites, but they were certainly attracted.“My hands, my lips, my c**k. I trust you with all of it more than I even trust myself.”Could these two make it work, or is their coming together destined to be just for the month. Could they survive back in the UK? Could the differences in their age and their work be overcome? Could Niall find his mojo and believe that he could love and be loved? If anyone could show Niall, it would be Ruby. She may give off that reserved vibe but she was a hell cat between the sheets, something Niall has never been faced with, coming from a loveless marriage with a shag scheduled in the missionary position for a certain day of the week, his eyes would be opened. Would it be embraced or send him running for the hills?“And the twin realization followed, with a single, stabbing heartbeat, that if Ruby’s affection for me ever cooled, it would break me.”This is where this book really starts and you cannot help but fall in love with Niall Stella. You will want to protect him, smother him in kisses and cuddles and give him the pep talk of a lifetime. His ex-wife really did a number on him and it was refreshing to read about a guy that wasn’t a player. He needed nurturing but once that seed turned into a sapling, Niall Stella was re-awoken.“Number of Times Niall Stella Used My Name When He Said He Loved Me: One, and counting.”I love this duo’s writing style, it is addictive, it is fun and witty, it is hot and sexy and the character development is always second to none. I feel as though these characters are my friends and every time I dive into another instalment it is like coming home. I love that all the characters always appear so you can keep up with their lives too and as I said, these guys are my friends and I miss them. This book was perfectly paced, their connection and relationship never hurried, it felt real, it was believable and with every step they took Christina Lauren held your hand. You will experience it all, feel it all, I smiled, I laughed, I loved and I cried but these two are one couple I will never forget and I will forever read about. This is going on my re-read shelf; it will be one of those books that I will revert back to when I am in a book funk. I loved it.

It PAINS me to only give this book 3 stars because I absolutely LOVE the other beautiful series books with a passion. The reason I loved the series so far are because they are hilarious and have made me really laugh out loud in places. I also loved that the previous characters were pulled back into all of the other books which added to the hilarity of the story. Sadly this book had none of that and it just turned into any other regular love (and somewhat predictable) story on the market. There were a couple of snippets of the other characters whilst they were in New York but it could have been so much more and really turned this story around. The story was nice and I read it all very quickly but it was probably the worst one of the series so far; not because I didn't love Niall and Ruby and their story but because I was really missing the parts that made the other books 5 star, and that was the full on crude humour and banter between all of the characters. Its what set this series above all the others on the market and sadly this book was lacking that. I hope the humour and previous characters return for the next instalment.

As this is the 4th book in the beautiful series I thought I knew exactly what to expect, hot dominate male, lots of hot sex and a strong straight talking female. Well Niall Stella is Max Stella's younger brother so I thought I'd got him pegged - wrong ! Niall has been with only one woman, married at nineteen, now after eleven years Niall finds himself divorced. To everyone Niall comes across as the typical Brit, doesn't show emotion and doesn't talk about emotions.Ruby is the adventurous yank that has lusted over Niall for the past few months, so Ruby is ecstatic when the pair get sent on a works business trip to New York. This book has a different feel to the others in the series, for one Niall is very unsure of himself and his abilities to pleasure a woman it was exciting to see him become more confident and dominant in his relationship with Ruby. Ruby's patience with Niall is amazing how she was able to find the real Niall buried after a failed marriage was amazing. During the course of the book we met up with the other beautiful series hotties Bennett, Will and my favourite Max and they are all doing mighty fine !Although this is not my favourite book of the series it was a really enjoyable read.

I love Christina Lauren, this duo are just fabulous and I I know that whatever book from them I buy is going to be brilliant.!!! Beautiful Secret is no exception, this book is captivating, interesting, sexy and of course gives us enough angst to keep as wanting to read more. Niall Stella is a wonderful character who is Sexy, smart, good looking, charming and incredibly naive and old fashioned when it comes to sex and relationships ( unlike his brother Max).I found it incredibly refreshing that his character was the one dealing with what he wanted out of a relationship and what was important, I loved the fact that he didn't want meaningless sex and that he wanted it to mean something more than just a one night of passion. Ruby is a great character too, she's smart, gorgeous, opened minded and is use to say what she feels without holding back. She is very wise for someone her young age. I loved how she helped and understood Niall and supported him in his understanding of what he wanted out of life and a relationship. This is a fabulous, sexy and brilliantly written book.