Beautiful Strangers

The Masquerade #1

by Glenna Maynard

Alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here

In life this life we face choices, chances, and consequences. When Grace Montgomery went off to college to pursue her dreams she didn't expect to fall in love.

When Evan Brown walked into her life he was too good to be true. What will happen once she finds out that just may be exactly the case? Will Grace hold onto the love she never expected or will she let him go when she finds herself attracted to a handsome stranger?

When hidden truths are discovered will Grace be able to let go of her past and embrace her future? Can she overcome her demons to give love a chance

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Erotica, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Love, Adult

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 2013

About the author

Glenna Maynard is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling Author best known for her gritty motorcycle club romances. She has a passion for writing antiheroes and romance as dark as her heart with over 60 titles published.
When she isn’t arguing with the voices in her head or drinking reader tears you can find her curled up with a good book or attempting a new craft with her kids and husband in Eastern Kentucky.

Reviews

[Glenna Maynard]

Beautiful Strangers has a new cover, you can see it on my blog.


Beautiful Strangers is now available on http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Beauti...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beaut...

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id63...

http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Stran...

Beautiful Strangers is the story of Grace. She is flawed and battling her drug addiction while being torn between two loves. Grace has been hurt and let down, but she realizes she can’t blame others for her problems. She learns a lot about life, the chances we take and the choices we make come with consequences. In the story Grace has a roller coaster relationship with her ex-boyfriend who has lied to her and helps fuel her addiction. She soon meets country music star Jaxson Hayes and finds herself thrust into a relationship that she is unable to show her true self in. It is through her journey of reclaiming herself that she is able to discover who she loves in the end.

[Books & Vodka Sodas]

I am terrible at writing reviews for books that I like this much. I am going to give it a good go and do my best. At the moment I am on a young adult/ New adult kick. I seem to be sucking up every book I can find. Some don't sit well with me and others blow my mind. This is one of the books that blew my mind! From beginning to end the one thing I noticed most was the raw honesty of the story. Most would say that Grace is an unlikable character. If I am being honest I find her very relatable. She's broken--damaged and doesn't try to pretty it up. She is a woman with a past and makes real mistakes. Life isn't perfect and it isn't a chocolate feast and this book shows that. I am so glad to see a story that lays it bare and makes no apologies. The relationships with the people in the book are so well done. I had a friend that reminded me of JoJo so that struck a cord in me. As for the technical end of the book. It flowed great, going from scene to scene I was left wanting more more and more! I was glad to see two people that were so broken rebuild together. This is a great story with real, vivid characters and I recommend it to anyone that is a fan of the New Adult genre!

[CK]

Our main character is named Grace and she goes to college where she falls in love with Evan. (I might add, I love Evan’s tattoos!) There’s betrayal and a set of events happen, wreaking havoc in Grace’s life. As the plot thickens, she meets another handsome man named Jaxson. I loved how the writer incorporates a love triangle that kept me anxiously flipping the pages.

I thought maybe she should leave Evan alone and run off on tour with Jax. But then Evan is super sexy and accepts her for who she is. And then there’s the sex in the lake! Now that’s hot stuff!

I loved Grace. She was a really unique and deep character. She is feisty, determined, strong and I just admired her determination. She wasn’t what I expected and that’s what drew me to her. She’s unique and takes on life a different way that your average leading female. It also shows us a raw side of Grace. Nobody is perfect and I like how the author shows us that. But even as broken as Grace is, love is possible. And that’s what I loved about this book. It’s truly a great read!

[Sofie Hartley]

I'm not going to go into detail about what happens in the book, that is for you to find out! So buy it, read it, love it...Just like I did.

I can honestly say that Beautiful Strangers had me sitting on the edge of my seat screaming at both Evan and Jaxson. Both hot, sexy and damn infuriating!

Ask me if I am Team Evan or Team Jaxson and I may just slap you, I have no idea which team I would choose both men are freaking sex gods but also the biggest idiotic creatures known to man!

I hate Evan, I love Jaxson, I love Evan, I hate Jaxson...But I completely love them both!

There were moments during the story where I wanted to hit Glenna Maynard over the head with my Kindle and then others where I wanted to kiss her gorgeous behind. Beautiful Strangers played with my emotions like no freaking other, tearing me completely down the middle.

Then there is Grace, sassy and insecure with secrets she isn't willing to tell. This woman drove me up the freaking wall, I wanted to scream at her so many times it made my blood pressure spike.

If you haven't read this yet, why the hell not?

Glenna Maynard, you my dear are a freaking genius!

[Jen]

While I liked the idea of this book, it just didn't work for me. The story felt rushed and I never connected with the characters. I really wanted to like this one, but sadly did not.

[Darla]

Wow I love that this book is not like most books out there that I have read it deals with things that people go through everyday and most don't talk about it was well written.

[c a r í]

Review to follow

[PAULA]

WOW! What a freakin roller coaster ride. In this book you get the 360 degree crazy, sexy and lovely at the same time. I am writing this minutes after reading the book and I am in awe. 0_0

I really didn’t know what to expect reading this book. Sure, I have read the synopsis and it was the reason why I added this to my ‘to-read’ list on GR. It was intriguing and I chose to give it a shot. Reading the 1st chapter through the 2nd, I got some ideas where the story will go but I was so wrong. You know but you have no idea. Sure, Grace was fucked up like deep fucked up. Her decisions throughout the whole story made me want to put her to jail or even kill her. Her ways and her decisions and the path that she is threading is dangerous and will definitely be her downfall. And then there was Evan, ‘what a prick’ that’s what I thought til the middle part of the story. Cmon?! He should be the good guy but as good as he wants him to be he is also such an ass. Ugh. I was frustrated the whole 1st part of the book because of em both. But the fact that throughout the whole story, it was such a mystery is an appeal, at least to me. I have questions and thank God it was revealed at the end.

The revelations, deceit and lies blew me off. You thought that what Evan revealed is the cheery on top, no, there’s more, so much more. At first, I thought Jax was the one for Grace, I thought he can save her but he turned out to be more of ass than Evan and then there’s Jocelyn. WTF! That was my whole reaction while reading the scene. What kind of friend does that????? Jeez! There were a lot of shocking moments in this story and even up til the end, there was still. HAHAHAHAHAHA

“That has to be the greatest thing that I have ever heard come out of your mouth. I could kiss you.”

HA! I couldn’t agree more, Grace. That scene made me laugh and sigh at the same time. Thank God for that! Anyways, I like and I so appreciate that there was some sort of an epilogue to this book though Glenna, if you happen to read this, I want more. Evan & Grace had a fucked up life before the pregnancy and I think we, readers need to read their life as a couple. They did get married, right? Well, I want details. All details from the end til the 5 years later scene and then more after that. Am I too demanding? Sorry. Hihihihi

“I believe that everything in this life has a reason; we may not always understand it when it happens. But I don’t think we are meant to always get an explanation. If you are lucky enough to find the one person who can see all the things wrong with you and not want to change one of them, that’s what you call, true love.”

It was nice that both the characters moved past the crazy and shitty decisions they had made and are now (as I like to think) living happily. It was not put into details but I’d like to think that they are. They deserve to be. And that line above, it says it all.

BS is a short story but a good read bout life, love and the decisions that would make or break you. And eventually finding what was there all along. Give it a shot, I did and it did not disappoint. :)


** Also posted on my TUMBLR account

http://xoxopimpimxoxo.tumblr.com/post...

[Julie]

Review for Beautiful Strangers by Glenna Maynard

3 stars

“I don’t do close with anyone. Not anymore.” If Grace won’t let anyone get close to her, no one will be around to catch her when she falls.

Gracie is a bit of a mess. She is struggling with a drug addiction and barely making ends meet working as a dancer at a masquerade burlesque show. She lives life day to day answering to no one and making no apologies for how she lives along the way. She is trying to move on from her tumultuous and unhealthy relationship with Evan that centered on drug use. She left him after discovering that their coincidental and cute meeting might have been no coincidence at all. After she discovers the twisted intentions he began the relationship with she can’t trust him anymore despite how they both might feel. While she claims to not want him in her life anymore, refusing even to tell him where she works, she still buys her drugs from him and/or trades sexual favors for drugs from Evan.

When Grace begins a hot new fling going she seems to be happy to focus her attention on someone “better” than Evan. Jaxson Hayes is a big name in country music, part of a duo, and is clearly used to getting what he wants. When what he wants is Grace she is more than happy to oblige. The relationship between Jax and Gracie is HOT. The two have lots of great sex and have it often. As they become closer Grace struggles with keeping the drug addiction from him. She is trying to wean herself off of the drugs and be a better person for him. When Jax asks her to go on tour with him she has to decide whether she is ready to face some hard truths about her life, her addiction and her relationship with Evan.

“I closed that chapter in my life or so I thought I had. But just when I think I am okay he seems to pop up in my head and my heart.”

Every little bit of drama with Jax sends Grace back into Evans arms and eventually Grace has to face the truth about her feelings for Evan and the direction of her life. When another very important person comes into the picture will Grace be able to get clean and sort her life?
While I admit, I had little faith that Grace could pull herself out of the dark whole she had dug for herself, she did it. Where there is a will, I suppose. Grace had a lot of drama and maybe it was the fact that she wasn’t sure whether she was coming or going at times, but she really did confuse me. I wasn’t sure which leading man to root for until all was revealed in the end.
Beautiful Strangers had some fun twists and turns and left me with a nice happily ever after feeling. Overall I enjoyed the story and I loved how steamy it was.

An ARC was kindly provided by the Author for an honest review.

[Roni Guzman]

This book was so good. I will tell you now that it is different than most books that I have ever read. Gracie is the main character and she has a broken and shattered soul. She struggles throughout the entire book to find herself and denies herself any type of love. Then she meets Jax and OH MY.....Hot country singer with black hair and blue eyes....uh hello?? Their relationship starts off very passionate and between the both of them they have too many secrets they are hiding from each other that it makes their relationship a challenge. I will tell you that I believed in Jax and was beyond pissed with the way he treated her after she came clean. However, his weakness is his band/group partner Sadie. Sadie does everything she can to break them apart and I so loved how Grace stood up to her. Then you have Evan who is Gracie's ex-boyfriend that is trying to win Gracie back. After what Evan did to her (which caused her shatter and broken heart), I didn't think I could ever forgive him myself. But to read the whole book and the more and more you learn about each of them you are torn between who is truly good or if everything about them is just lies. I love how they all interact and how the story line goes because with how intense the book was I couldn't put it down. I read it in a few hours. My eyes hurt :) All in all this book was amazing and completely different than what I expected and the ending is COMPLETELY different. Which is why this book is unique and I would recommend. However, this book is not intended for anybody that is 17 and under.

[Mallory Bookprincess]

So I stumbled onto this book after reading the worst book ever. What a breath of fresh air after what I just endured. I normally read paranormal books and recently decided to give the new adult as they refer to themselves a go. So far they have been hit or miss. This was an absolute hit. The protagonist in this book was great I wanted to hate her, I wanted to smack her a few times! But in the end she was quite strong and feisty. I don't know if I have ever read a book where the characters felt so real! This is how people act, they aren't perfect and they screwup a lot. when we meet Grace she is bit of what you may refer to as loose, and shew I was glad i am tired of these sickly sweet virgins, they are so boring and overdone ick. How many stories can a person read about the reformed fighter , ok getting side tracked. but what I loved most about this book was it is original, I don't think I have read one like it so refreshing. Meet Jaxson Hayes aka panty dropper country super star, I was team Jax all the way through until a revelation if you will was made and I was like what??????? So upset but then we have Evan bad boy through and through and god love him, I wanted to hate him, but I kept coming back to him and thinking there must be more to him. This book made me laugh, scream and cry with the thoughts of the heroine in the end. This really got me thinking! It was a bit fast and some of the subject matter may not be ok with some but I really liked this book!

[Victoria Limbert]

3.5 stars!

I enjoyed this book though I found it very hard to engage with the characters. Most enjoyable for me was the subject of drugs and the theme surrounding just how easy it is to start and how hard it is to get away from them. Though I didn't feel much for Grace until about 40-50% I was intrigued by her scrambled thought processes, changes of mind and...well...just how out of control she always seemed to be (whether it was written this way on purpose or not I don't know)which showed what the drugs were doing to her.

I think to really engage I would have liked this book to be a lot longer, spend more time getting to know characters and develop a story around them and not be so rushed to get from one point to the next.

When Grace decides to try and get her life back on track I really started to cheer for her. Would I have liked her to completely get away from her past? yes. Do I mind that she settled with a man I wasn't sure about throughout the book? I am not sure....because I don't know enough about them to make an opinion.

I think I will try another book by this author to fully understand the writing style and hope my star rating will be higher for her too :)

[Jamie Jewell]

Beautiful Strangers was a really good read. It's not your typical romance story at all. Grace has a story behind her that will make you feel for her. She's not perfect in anyway, she has issues with drugs,trust and much more. Grace takes full responsibility for who she has become and works hard to change. I must say that I admire her bravery. Grace has a history with a boy named Evan, he was her first boyfriend and swept her off her feet. She later finds out who Evan really is and what his intentions were with her from the start. While Grace tries to pick up the pieces from her broken heart she moves on and meets Jaxson and hes just down right sex on a stick...Grace and Jaxson grow closer and she thinks he just maybe what she needs in her life. Oh boy was she wrong!!! I loved the story I thought it was well written and the charters will pull at your heart strings while other make you want to punch them in the face...lol I loved the ending, I didnt see that coming, you will have to read the story to see what I am talking about, I can assure you that you will love the story as much as I did :)

[Morgan Mitchell]

Beautiful Strangers was a fun read that kept me guessing and made me all sentimental at the end. What more could you ask for?

Grace is not your typical romance heroine and that is why I loved the book! Grace isn't innocent, she has already been hurt. She is tough, sexy and unapologetic. Grace has her vices and she is not above going down on her ex boyfriend to get what she needs either. Yes, she has problems and even though she has every right to blame others, she doesn't. You won't find her whining or playing damsel in distress. Instead she is trying to do the right thing and fix her life. While trying her best to get away from a horrible situation, her passionate nature allows her to be swept away in another love affair. Jaxson, aka sex on a stick, is just what she needs to give her the strength to leave Evan and other things behind for good. Even though she is torn between two men, it's choosing herself that allows her to find out who she loves in the end. What a great ending! Must read!

[Sunny Rowe-markley]

So it's no surprise that I loved this book. I love Glenna Maynard since the first book I read and my obsession with all things that come out of her creative mind are just wonderful. That being said and knowing that this is her first book (yeah I came in late in the game.) I was shocked that this book does have a HEA ending. Personally I would have loved for Grace to tell them all to go to hell and start fresh somewhere else. I would like to think that the Glenna we all know and love now would agree with me and we would of seen her flipping off all those crappy people in her life and driving away. Alas this is not how the story goes...so I guess then I am glad that Grace and Evan cleaned up their acts and that lying piece of sex on a stick Jaxson went away and the HEA happened. So if you like your heroine/ main man damaged but fixable with an added ass and shitty best friend this is the book for you. Enjoy

[Dahlia]

Really loved this one! This was a quick read because I didn't want to put it down! Something was always happening in this hot new romance. I don't think I have ever read about a more take-charge heroine before. Grace is like so many strong women I know that has been hurt by a man. She is not a wilting flower, she is a sex kitten. Go Grace!


**Spoiler Alert**
I have to say I really loved Jax. But then I really loved Evan, I didn't know which way she should turn. I won't tell you how it ends but the author is brillant for making this story like real life. Hello, reality check here... this book is real! I have read too many fairy tales lately about a sweet book worm virgin that is swept away by a womanizing tatooed bad ass. Wishful thinking sells but I am more attracted to a real love story. Read this one for a dose of Real!

[Skye Turner]

Amazing book!

I loved it so much.

It was not predictable. The story was original and flowed really well. It was also H.O.T!

Grace is damaged with a capital "D". She's battling demons, but determined to get her life on track. It's very admirable.

She's a strong female lead and even though she's underhanded at times, and you might want to smack her, you can't help but love her and root for her.

Jaxon is SEXY... melt your panties, make you do naughty things, and spontaneously combust sexy.

Evan is an ass. Straight up. He's the guy you pray that no female you love ever becomes involved with.

Grace must fight her demons, really look within herself, and figure out what she truly wants and what she has to do to get it.
Beautiful Strangers is a page turner and a nail biter, but it's one book you don't want to miss!

5 stars!

[William O'Brien]

Beautiful Strangers- Glenna Maynard

A great set of characters, unconventional, thought provoking, they will tangle with your senses! In real life, sex and emotions never truly make sense and Glenna Maynard captures this wonderfully. You get a feeling of frustration and want the characters to do something else- which surly emphasises a creative writer. The story is fast paced, real, sexual and erotic- keeping the pages turning. If love, sex and drugs floats your boat... well, this one is for you!

[Marcia Fearing]

I first have to say what a mouth dropping,amazing, on the edge of my seat book. Really a chocolate fudge sunday! Gracie and Evan had a rockies relationship between them but they never truly gave up on one another. They had their issues with things but Mr. Jax wow look out ladies because he will take you for a ride in this book. This book touches parts of different situations that happen all the time but no one wants to truly talk about. Gracie used a great analogy "the Big elephant in the room" speaks for some of the situations Gracie finds herself in but what an life.

[Sammie Sidelinger]

Glenna Maynard's Beautiful Strangers was authentic and kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more. Thank you Glenna for writing such a twisty, sexy, seductive story seeping with dark characters you want to love. Will Gracie make the right choices in life's lessons of hard knocks? Hard choices are never the easy ones to make for main character Gracie in her love life or profession. Especially when those lines get blurred. more please!!!

[Rachel Brookes]

Drug abuse is always a topic that will cause controversy in readers. I enjoyed this story and yes it did finish quickly but I believe there was no need for filler. It was punchy, graphic, heartbreaking and real. I think that's what I liked most about it. Really looking forward to the next instalment.

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee]

Wow I totally loved this book. What a lovely story with lots of hot sex thrown in.this book had plenty of twists & turns. I so wanted to shout at the characters. It was hot hot hot. What more could a girl ask for:)

This book has got to be one of my favourite this year.
Received this in return for an honest review:)

[Colleen Everly]

Great start to a series. I really liked this book. What an emotional read, Gracie though being a little wild also lives in an environment out of her control. I was very pleased with the way this book turned out I admit it went in a different direction than I thought it was going to but it worked out and thankfully for the best.

[Biyah]

The best thing about this book was that it was SO Damn real. It felt Real. I really enjoyed reading it although it was quite short but there was not really a need for it to be longer. The twists and turns of the book is something which lead me to read more. It was a good read all in all.

[Nikki Maynardskaggs]

If you haven't read this yet this is a must read!!!!! I couldn't put this book down I stayed up all night reading it.I felt like I was there with the characters living.The whole book was in great detail and it never left me geussing or confused

[Chris]

This was quite different than other romances I have read. I would read many more romances if they were written as real as this one. I enjoyed Grace's character and although I could see then ending going another way, the author gave a genuine ending. I will read more of this series.

[Michelle "Chelle" Thompson]

OMG why haven’t I read this sooner?! A great story with real characters. Glenna Maynard truly is one of the best writers I have read. This story had it all suspense, twists, turns, intrigue, and hot sex. I absolutely loved it!!!

[Kindle Crack Book Reviews Cheri]

Does anyone know when BS will be out? This book sounds amazing.

[Periwinklepsyche]

sort of like this one.I'm just a little confused on how characters end up with their relationships. Yeah,definitely what I expected.

[Yvonne]

I don't like leaving bad reviews and hurting anyone's feelings, so I will just say this...
It was not my cup of tea.