Review ~ Beauty from Pain ~ Georgia Cates #COYER #ShelfLove

Beauty from Pain by Georgia Cates
Beauty Series #1
Release Date: January 4, 2014
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on kindle
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #COYER, #ShelfLove
Goodreads ~ Amazon

Synopsis
They agreed on three months...but their love knew no boundaries.

Jack McLachlan is a winemaking magnate and easily one of Australia's most eligible bachelors. His success and wealth make him no stranger to the complications of romantic relationships and that's why he goes to extreme measures to avoid the hassle. He prefers simplicity in the form of a beautiful female companion with no strings attached. He arranges relationships like business deals and they're always the same. No long term relationships. No real names.

It's his game and his rules. He's content to play as usual, but when Laurelyn Prescott enters his life, his strategy must change because this player is like none he's ever encountered. His world is turned on its head after he begins a three month affair with the beautiful American musician. Nothing goes according to plan and as he breaks more and more of his own rules for her, she's exceptionally close to becoming something he never thought possible. His ultimate game changer.

Omigosh! I cannot believe I've had this for so long and hadn't read it! Cates sucked me into this story immediately and I flew through it. So good!

Laurelyn has escaped to Australia with her best friend for a 3-month long getaway. She's running from a situation and taking time to make some big decisions regarding her future. Jack/Lachlan is a man who doesn't do relationships and his reasons are logical. He enters into agreements with his companions - no names (real anyway), no strings, just 3-4 weeks of fun and then they walk away. However, he's in Wagga Wagga for an extended time and he's decided to have a longer arrangement. Laurelyn, luckily, ticks all his boxes and will only be in the country for 3 months.

Obviously these two had chemistry - and it was palpable. They were fun together - Laurelyn challenged and teased Jack and he didn't know what to do with that. Laurelyn also felt the freedom to really be herself - even offering admissions she'd never shared with anyone - because there was an expiration date on their relationship. Neither of them expected to fall.

Watching as these two got acquainted and as the feelings developed was a pleasure. Laurelyn is feisty and even though there were boundaries set for their time together, she wasn't afraid to push Jack when it was important to her. Jack, although he wouldn't admit it, was smitten and almost immediately started breaking his own rules for her. He liked that she wanted time with him over anything he could buy for her.

There are some things in their pasts that are causing problems. I like the element of suspense these are providing. And there's the issue caused when Laurelyn goes home.

The next book in this series will be the first book I buy this year. But I *have* to know! Fortunately I have a few gift cards. :) This was my first read by Cates and her writing is fluid, the story well-crafted, and her characters well-defined. I can't wait to read more!