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Beautiful Disasters
"I am perfectly imperfect, beautiful in my flaws, chaotic, fearless...a beautiful disaster"~ Anika Connors Everything that glitters is not gold and every beautiful face has a story to tell... A product of rape, a motherless child, a woman full of hate...all she needs is a purpose. All Anika Connors ever wanted was to have things her way, by any means necessary. She was, in her mind, after all deserving of it after all the hardship she had experienced in her life. The more people upset her the more she wanted them to pay. From the lover who did her wrong to the men that brought disgrace to her family, she planned to get them back. But in the end is it all worth it? Does her path of destruction threaten her future...or will she do what she always does, destroy anyone who gets in her way? Teyanna Simmons has it brains, beauty, money and a secret life. When neither her husband nor lover could satisfy her insatiable appetite she resorts to a lifestyle that she will do anything to keep under wraps. But to what existent is she willing to go to keep her secret? And is she ready to suffer the consequences of her actions when she crosses the wrong people? David Walters had every man's his own lucrative business, a beautiful wife and an equally beautiful girlfriend. Paradise right? Not even close! Can he get rid of his wife and make his girlfriend her replacement or is he asking for more than he bargained for?
270 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2011
2 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Dawn Jasper
4 books52 followersDawn Jasper is a women’s fiction author. Her passion for reading grew into a passion for writing. She loves giving the characters in her head a voice and herself a well-deserved break from their chatter. Her ability to create characters you love, or simply love to hate, will have you yearning for more.
When she’s not putting her spin on ‘happily ever after’, she’s a girlfriend, mother, and an avid thrift shopper.
When she’s not putting her spin on ‘happily ever after’, she’s a girlfriend, mother, and an avid thrift shopper.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 13, 2011
This book is definitely a page turner. I read it in less than 2 days. You are captivated by each character. The author really gets you inside the character's head where you can feel every emotion that hits the page. I could see every moment made by each character as though it was me. I can't wait until the next book comes out.
July 18, 2011
After reading Beautiful Disasters, I reached over for the next book but there wasn't one there. I can't wait for the next one. This book leaves you wanting to know what happened next. A very well written love story. I am in love with Anika and Eric's relationship...just what every woman wants. I enjoyed this book so much. Great adult reading.
January 1, 2012
Hectic
Anika Conner was born with a chip on her shoulder. The product of rape and a birth that resulted in her mother's death, Anika is mad at the world. Raised by her grandparents, denied by her father and shunned by others at school for her looks and the story surrounding her birth, she learned early on in life to rely on self and to make things happen, by any means.
"Beautiful Disasters" started with a bit of confusion - a confusing love triangle and a confusing back story. Add to that being smacked in the face with sex. Sex that's hard to relate to or get into considering the reader doesn't know much about those involved yet. By the time I made it to chapter four and found out the nymphomaniac main character was "blessed" with blue eyes (yes, she's black), I was ready to throw up a white flag. It was reading like so many, too many books today. Meaningless sex...check. Exotic features...check. Emphasis on the superfluous...check. But I pressed on. As I did, I found "Beautiful Disasters" to have a storyline that made sense once it was fleshed out more, but it was weighted down by a lot of unnecessary sex and unbelievable or exaggerated things that didn't add up. The author relied too heavily on sex and less on substance and development.
There were quirks in the editing and the narration faltered as the book occasionally jumped from first-person narration from the point of view of Anika to the first-person narration of lesser characters here and there. Some chapters also jumped back in time. Both made for bumpy transitions. Also, much to my dismay, "Beautiful Disasters" fell victim to the sequels/trilogy/series plague infecting so many books. The book picked up real steam towards the end only to slam readers into a wall by bringing it to an abrupt halt with no ending and to be continued.
Now, with all that said, "Beautiful Disasters" is not a bad read, but it's just okay. The weight of gratuitous sex and lack of substance/development prevents it from being more. Since there is obviously going to be a sequel, I suggest the author retain a good development editor to help focus her writing.
Reviewed by: Toni
2.75 stars
Anika Conner was born with a chip on her shoulder. The product of rape and a birth that resulted in her mother's death, Anika is mad at the world. Raised by her grandparents, denied by her father and shunned by others at school for her looks and the story surrounding her birth, she learned early on in life to rely on self and to make things happen, by any means.
"Beautiful Disasters" started with a bit of confusion - a confusing love triangle and a confusing back story. Add to that being smacked in the face with sex. Sex that's hard to relate to or get into considering the reader doesn't know much about those involved yet. By the time I made it to chapter four and found out the nymphomaniac main character was "blessed" with blue eyes (yes, she's black), I was ready to throw up a white flag. It was reading like so many, too many books today. Meaningless sex...check. Exotic features...check. Emphasis on the superfluous...check. But I pressed on. As I did, I found "Beautiful Disasters" to have a storyline that made sense once it was fleshed out more, but it was weighted down by a lot of unnecessary sex and unbelievable or exaggerated things that didn't add up. The author relied too heavily on sex and less on substance and development.
There were quirks in the editing and the narration faltered as the book occasionally jumped from first-person narration from the point of view of Anika to the first-person narration of lesser characters here and there. Some chapters also jumped back in time. Both made for bumpy transitions. Also, much to my dismay, "Beautiful Disasters" fell victim to the sequels/trilogy/series plague infecting so many books. The book picked up real steam towards the end only to slam readers into a wall by bringing it to an abrupt halt with no ending and to be continued.
Now, with all that said, "Beautiful Disasters" is not a bad read, but it's just okay. The weight of gratuitous sex and lack of substance/development prevents it from being more. Since there is obviously going to be a sequel, I suggest the author retain a good development editor to help focus her writing.
Reviewed by: Toni
2.75 stars
August 8, 2011
I truly enjoyed reading Beautiful Disasters. It is refreshing to come across a novel that isn't the typical story line, i.e. girl meets boy, get married, have children and either the women or man cheats, get caught, seeks revenge, work it out and get back together. The book takes the reader through an emotional roller coaster. The reader is torn between feeling sorry for Anika because she is caught in a love triangle with a married man and his wife. Or to hate Anika because you feel she is responsible for her father's death (or was it the "dick cancer" that did him in). Either way the story keeps you guessing about what is going to happen next. Typically African American authors write about African American characters. In Beautiful Disasters some of the characters' races aren't clearly identified, it is left up to the reader to interpret. Dawn Jasper purely writes to entertain the reader and not about the so called "normal" topics that African Americans are assumed to be able to relate to(drugs, guns, street life, strippers and hoes, etc).
All races can relate to Beautiful Disasters to some degree, a southern girl returning home and reconnecting with an old high school friend, dealing with family issues that can affect everyone, and owning a business that you worked so hard for to see it vandalized in a blink of an eye. So if you are looking for good summer read, Beautiful Disasters is a must read. Dawn Jasper is a new author to watch out for, so I hope she continues to grace us with her works.
All races can relate to Beautiful Disasters to some degree, a southern girl returning home and reconnecting with an old high school friend, dealing with family issues that can affect everyone, and owning a business that you worked so hard for to see it vandalized in a blink of an eye. So if you are looking for good summer read, Beautiful Disasters is a must read. Dawn Jasper is a new author to watch out for, so I hope she continues to grace us with her works.
August 17, 2011
I thought this book was very well put together; it had a little bit of everything that I wanted in it. It had drama suspense, sexual tension, comedy and some tearful moments throughout the book. I remember asking Dawn all the time about what great books to read and of course she gave me some. To be honest out of all the books she led me to her book was the absolute best. How many times have you read a book that you didn’t want to put down neglecting other obligations? This book was tantalizing and addictive, it was my drug for a week. Beautiful Disaster is a book that is relatable from the characters to the plots, at one point I thought I was in the book. This book is definitely a must read and I will be getting all my girlfriends a book for Christmas. I just hope I’m able to hold off until Familiar Strangers come out and trust I will be one of the first people getting it.
December 29, 2011
I absolutely love Anika Connors. How can someone harbor so much hate in their heart but be so sweet at the same time. I love the way Anika cares about the girls at her center and wants to have a positive influence on girls like her. Falling in love is something I didn’t see coming from her. This story was so easy to get into. It was entertaining from the first page until the end. I read this book in about 6 hours and I’m ready to read the sequel Familiar Strangers to tie up the loose ends. This book was refreshing to see a different plot and storyline. The author put out a quality work and I look forward to reading more books from her.
August 9, 2011
Well let me start by giving thanks to the author for writing such a wonderful novel about what can happen when you cross a cold hearted freak like Anika Conners.
November 17, 2011
5.0 out of 5 stars TNK Review, November 17, 2011
By Anthony W. Stutts "Kiexiza Rodriquez" (VA) -
This review is from: Beautiful Disasters (Paperback)
We rarely rarely give out 5 star reviews... some people think 1 error is enough to take away from that 5 star status. well as for me, i just want a great read! and this most definitely what i got in the pages of Beautiful Disasters! To say this book is not the normal AA read is putting it mildly and that was * right there. So tired of the same ole shoot em up, bang, bang drug infested story, this was such a refreshing break.... It was a book that i neglected my daily tasks to read and eventually just put all to the side curled up on my chair wrapped up in my fav blanket and knocked it out!!! ** more stars!
Anika is more than enough to keep you reading,then when you add in all the other characters and the twists, and turns you just never ever know what is coming next... *
Anika Connors is a woman that has been through hell and back. Literally the Black sheep of the family. She finds out early a bit of her history and why she is said to have killed her mother. But there is still more truth to be learned... As you follow her through her journey of keeping her heart out of the way, only to be betrayed by it and fall in love, you'll learn exactly why her heart is as cold as it is.
But then, who would want to hurt this scarred woman who has giving so much of her adult life to help other young girls going through hardships...read along and you'll begin to see that there is more to Anika, than the Stone Cold Beauty, you see before you...and what you don't see may just be catching up with her.
With one disaster after another compiling around her, its no wonder she passes out, when she gets the one piece of news that is hardest to accept...
i can't wait to read the further installments and see where else Dawn takes these characters and what other obligations she'll have me neglecting to read her novels! *
there you go your 5 Stars and WELL deserved!
By Anthony W. Stutts "Kiexiza Rodriquez" (VA) -
This review is from: Beautiful Disasters (Paperback)
We rarely rarely give out 5 star reviews... some people think 1 error is enough to take away from that 5 star status. well as for me, i just want a great read! and this most definitely what i got in the pages of Beautiful Disasters! To say this book is not the normal AA read is putting it mildly and that was * right there. So tired of the same ole shoot em up, bang, bang drug infested story, this was such a refreshing break.... It was a book that i neglected my daily tasks to read and eventually just put all to the side curled up on my chair wrapped up in my fav blanket and knocked it out!!! ** more stars!
Anika is more than enough to keep you reading,then when you add in all the other characters and the twists, and turns you just never ever know what is coming next... *
Anika Connors is a woman that has been through hell and back. Literally the Black sheep of the family. She finds out early a bit of her history and why she is said to have killed her mother. But there is still more truth to be learned... As you follow her through her journey of keeping her heart out of the way, only to be betrayed by it and fall in love, you'll learn exactly why her heart is as cold as it is.
But then, who would want to hurt this scarred woman who has giving so much of her adult life to help other young girls going through hardships...read along and you'll begin to see that there is more to Anika, than the Stone Cold Beauty, you see before you...and what you don't see may just be catching up with her.
With one disaster after another compiling around her, its no wonder she passes out, when she gets the one piece of news that is hardest to accept...
i can't wait to read the further installments and see where else Dawn takes these characters and what other obligations she'll have me neglecting to read her novels! *
there you go your 5 Stars and WELL deserved!
October 10, 2011
Anika Conners is a woman born from hurt and pain. Her conception was that of rape from a white man in a small town in South Carolina where racism still looms. She is determined to get even with the man that took her mother’s life, but the question is will she get back at the right man. Along this journey of her revenge, she also plans on making a pit stop to get back at her half sister; Lisa. She is doing this to her sister to make sure that she does not receive her part of the inheritance left by their father. So Anika makes it a point to let everyone know her sister’s true secret.
Akina also has a strong sexual craving. While falling in love with Tatyana Simmons she was unknowingly sleeping with Tatyana’s husband, David Walters who is in in love with her. But she wants none of them after a chance meeting with an old friend from high school, Eric. The passion between Eric and Anika starts off as just that passion but the passion is turning into love. But Anika is not ready for true love or is she?
So many sub stories that are linked to one story is what I can sum up the concept of this book to be and Dawn Jasper could have not done this better. There was at no point where I was confused about any of the plot lines. The Author gave this character the hurt and pain that any person in this situation would feel. The book has such a smooth flow that it was finished in one day. I cannot wait until the sequel comes out.
Rated: 5 stars
Reviewed by Patrice Smith
For Readers In Motion BookClub
Akina also has a strong sexual craving. While falling in love with Tatyana Simmons she was unknowingly sleeping with Tatyana’s husband, David Walters who is in in love with her. But she wants none of them after a chance meeting with an old friend from high school, Eric. The passion between Eric and Anika starts off as just that passion but the passion is turning into love. But Anika is not ready for true love or is she?
So many sub stories that are linked to one story is what I can sum up the concept of this book to be and Dawn Jasper could have not done this better. There was at no point where I was confused about any of the plot lines. The Author gave this character the hurt and pain that any person in this situation would feel. The book has such a smooth flow that it was finished in one day. I cannot wait until the sequel comes out.
Rated: 5 stars
Reviewed by Patrice Smith
For Readers In Motion BookClub
December 9, 2011
Anika Conners is a woman born from hurt and pain. Her conception was that of rape from a white man in a small town in South Carolina where racism still looms. She is determined to get even with the man that took her mother’s life, but the question is will she get back at the right man. Along this journey of her revenge, she also plans on making a pit stop to get back at her half sister; Lisa. She is doing this to her sister to make sure that she does not receive her part of the inheritance left by their father. So Anika makes it a point to let everyone know her sister’s true secret.
Akina also has a strong sexual craving. While falling in love with Tatyana Simmons she was unknowingly sleeping with Tatyana’s husband, David Walters who is in in love with her. But she wants none of them after a chance meeting with an old friend from high school, Eric. The passion between Eric and Anika starts off as just that passion but the passion is turning into love. But Anika is not ready for true love or is she?
So many sub stories that are linked to one story is what I can sum up the concept of this book to be and Dawn Jasper could have not done this better. There was at no point where I was confused about any of the plot lines. The Author gave this character the hurt and pain that any person in this situation would feel. The book has such a smooth flow that it was finished in one day. I cannot wait until the sequel comes out.
Rated: 5 stars
Reviewed by Patrice Smith
For Readers In Motion BookClub
Akina also has a strong sexual craving. While falling in love with Tatyana Simmons she was unknowingly sleeping with Tatyana’s husband, David Walters who is in in love with her. But she wants none of them after a chance meeting with an old friend from high school, Eric. The passion between Eric and Anika starts off as just that passion but the passion is turning into love. But Anika is not ready for true love or is she?
So many sub stories that are linked to one story is what I can sum up the concept of this book to be and Dawn Jasper could have not done this better. There was at no point where I was confused about any of the plot lines. The Author gave this character the hurt and pain that any person in this situation would feel. The book has such a smooth flow that it was finished in one day. I cannot wait until the sequel comes out.
Rated: 5 stars
Reviewed by Patrice Smith
For Readers In Motion BookClub
August 1, 2012
The story started off strong. Anika Connors was independent, smart and determined. She refused to let her feelings toward her father hold her back. I identified with her insatiable sexual appetite, but got lost along the way. I was thrown off by the bizarre love triangle between her, David, and Tee. It just seemed a bit odd to me that he was so in love with her while she was head over heels for Tee. Near the middle/end of the story is where it trailed off for me. I applaud her for taking the proper steps to move her life in a different direction by opening up to Eric, but it didn't seem to flow...realistically. Though I'm sure there's going to be a sequel, the ending could have been much better. There's a difference between a cliff-hanger and abruptly ending a story.
November 26, 2011
Beautiful Disasters is an adult contemporary fiction novel that involves suspense, deceit, seduction, pain, romance and much more. Anyone reading this book can relate on some level. Whether it's coming from a background where you were abandoned by a parent, mistreated or misunderstood, disliked, etc....., you can somehow put yourself in one or more situation presented it this amazing book. I read this book in 8 hours, could not put it down. Then, to have a cliffhanger made me want the next book even more. If you have not read Beautiful Disasters, PLEASE, PLEASE purchase it because you are definitely missing out on an amazing author. Dawn you are soooooo talented and I thank God for bestowing such a wonderful gift upon you. God bless!
Avel S*
Avel S*
February 2, 2013
This was hard to put down. I kept getting hooked in. The characters were totally dysfunctional and I can't imagine an HEA but it was entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews