Sandy M’s review of Wicked Beautiful (Wicked Games, Book 1) by J.T. Geissinger
Contemporary Romance published by Jack’s House Publishing 12 Jul 15

I’ve not read J.T. Geissinger before, so I’ll admit the draw to reading the books in this series is because they’re the first to be published by Jack’s House Publishing, Marie Force‘s newest foray into the industry. When I discovered she’d opened her own house, and knowing how talented and successful she is in her own right as an author, I was curious as to the authors and books she’d choose to give to readers. I have a feeling Ms. Force is going to continue to be quite a success story in the publishing industry.

All that aside, I’ll also admit that Ms. Geissinger could conceivably become a favorite of mine. She definitely kept me reading to find out what would happen next with Parker and Victoria. They met as teenagers, fell in love, and then lost each other – the machinations of that loss which has gone unrevealed for years. Until they meet again. She’s no longer the young, unattractive girl from the wrong side of the tracks. She’s totally changed herself – from name to face – and is now the Queen Bitch and has made a career of teaching other women how to be their own bitch. And then one night, she comes face to face with the man who destroyed her world and made her what she is today.

Parker also has a secret past that he refuses to talk about, thus making him the rich and famous playboy he’s turned into over the years. Seeing the regal Victoria Price calls to something in him, he wants her on sight. I love the persistence of this man. Victoria shoots him down time and again and he’s back over and over. This eventually works more for Victoria and her revenge – make Parker fall in love with her and then break him. But she doesn’t count on his eventual love knocking her for a loop one more time before he knows who she truly is.

This is where my only nitpick in the books comes into play. Victoria is a hard woman. Yes, to be the Queen of Bitches she has to be, but for me it’s taken a bit too far. She softens somewhat in her reactions to Parker – she becomes just as overheated and lustful as he does when they’re in each other’s arms.- but Victoria snaps out of it each time to let cooler heads prevail and keep her on track. It takes much too long to warm up to her, and she takes much too long to let her emotions take over for the good. We know she has to sooner or later, being our heroine. But even near the end when she finally admits those feelings and after finding out what happened all those years ago, she still refuses to give up her revenge. That comes even later. Though, all that being said, I do like the end solution when Victoria has to start over again. And the fact that Parker won’t let their love die, his solution is just as romantic as hers is.

I did warm up to Victoria at that point, but that’s nearly too late. It’s a good thing Parker loves her, because I love Parker. I also love the secondary characters, from Darcy, Victoria’s best friend, to Tabby, her techno-savvy assistant, to Connor, who’s the hero of the next book, which releases next week and which I’ve also read. I have to say, I really like Tabby and Connor a lot. If Victoria had only acknowledged things a bit earlier, my grade would be a tad higher, but, all in all, this is still a fun and charming read with some terrific humor and lots of sexy lovin’, despite those ice-cold bitchy feelings of Victoria’s.

Marie Force has chosen well for her publishing debut. I look forward to both more books in J.T. Geissinger’s series and Ms. Force’s future releases for romance readers.

Grade: B

Summary:

A ruthless businesswoman and the playboy who dumped her long ago find themselves embroiled in a high stakes game of love, lies and revenge.

Life coach and best-selling author Victoria Price has it all: a successful career, fabulous friends, a fantastic penthouse in Manhattan. What she doesn’t have—and doesn’t want—is a husband. Fifteen years ago her high school flame broke her heart so badly she swore she’d never love again. Now she makes millions teaching other women how to be just like her: a ruthless bitch.

Drop-dead sexy restaurant tycoon and infamous playboy Parker Maxwell has only three rules for the women he dates: no questions about his past, no expectations for the future and no spending the night. When he meets Victoria, however, he’s willing to break his own rules if it means sating the explosive desire she arouses in him. What he doesn’t know is that the alluring Victoria Price used to be the mousy Isabel Diaz, the girl he deflowered and dumped long ago.

Presented with a perfect opportunity for revenge, Victoria decides the game is on. But when her connection with Parker proves more than just skin deep, she has to make a choice—continue with her plan for payback, or risk her career, her reputation and her heart by taking a second chance on love?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: