Reviewed by Cheryl
TITLE: The Beauty Beneath
AUTHOR: Aver Rigsly
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
LENGTH: 234 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 8, 2020
BLURB:
Love means taking extreme measures.
Justin Turner, a young man with only one friend, a part-time job going nowhere, and living at home with his grandmother, needs money fast. He makes the hardest decision of his life—to walk into Eros Elites Services, Inc. and sell his body anonymously for the night at an astounding price. The only problem is, Justin’s never even been kissed before, let alone slept with someone else.
Adam Creed, the youngest of the infamous Creed family mafia, hides his darkest secret on his own skin. With his demons close at hand and his ruthless family keeping him on a short leash, Adam has spent his life avoiding true intimacy, so why does Eros’ sweet new thing with the most amazing laugh have him suddenly desperate for a real chance at love…just when he was about to make his escape?
If he wants a shot with Justin, things aren’t going to be easy. Between his controlling father, his dangerous brothers and a four-million-dollar cocaine deal, Adam must do whatever it takes…even if that includes finally revealing his scars and secrets buried deep beneath the surface.
REVIEW:
This book wasn’t what I was expecting from the blurb – it’s so much more. Justin and Adam are beautifully fleshed out characters with very distinct personalities. I loved that although Justin was a complete innocent in a hugely stressful situation, with a man who could have so easily broke him in so many ways, he was by no means a pushover and even when he was facing down what could have been deadly danger, he looked it in the eye with a snarl.
The mention of the mafia had me imagining Armani suits and high powered business, no work boots and a meeting room¸ in a grotty warehouse. Adam was certainly not what I imagined, and his story was not one I had expected. Far from being a hard man, Adam is a gentle soul, and unlike the stereotypical gentle soul in a mafia family, his story is not generally one of violence – not saying there isn’t any.
Adam and Justin’s relationship is a gentle one. It doesn’t get off to the best start, in a high class whorehouse, and Adam starts out as just a client. However, Adams actions when he discovered that Justin is a virgin are so unexpected and sweet that it lifts the story of their love and makes the book a very touching one.
The ending was extremely satisfying even though it was hard to see how the characters could get there sometimes. While it might seem that Adam’s father was unduly harsh, I wonder if that was truly the case. As far as I can see, his actions were the only ones that could truly guarantee the Adam got what he dearly wanted. I would like to think that his father had some thought for his son and was, in a way, giving him a blessing wrapped in a curse.
The writing is good and the dialogue flows easily, being true to the character’s voice. These are the two things I look for in a good book, after the story, of course. I have to say this book ticked all my boxes and while it wasn’t life changing it was a great read and the kind of book that can be read in one sitting at a stretch.
RATING: 
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