Too Beautiful to Break

by Tessa Bailey

[stacey_is_sassy]

Too hard to rate…I'm allocating a halfer

***3.5 Stars***

Ladies and gentlemen, I can’t commit. Bloody Hell!! Up until the 63% mark, I was convinced that this was my favourite in the series and it would be a 4 or 5 star read. My love for Too Beautiful to Break plummeted so fast that I contemplated giving up. I was squinting and scowling, crossing my arms in frustration but I knew that I was invested in Belmont’s happiness. I persevered until 75% and at that point, I was cursing Tessa Bailey to the moon and back.

You wouldn’t believe what made me go on? I went onto Goodreads to have my DNF or 1-star convictions reinforced by other ARC readers and my friend Geri Reads, called me out. Well, she didn’t really call me out, but she made me feel like a quitter. I AM NOT A QUITTER!! Actually, she didn’t call me that either, she actually said…” some readers might be put off by it”. Well, Geri, while my knees may have trembled for a bit, I finally found my backbone and found the strength to go on.

How on earth can I give a bad rating to a book that I loved up until 63%, stumbled and crawled along until the 80% and then went back to enjoying it until the end? Well, this little ducky can’t. Of course, it can’t be a 5-star read (Hello, Tessa Bailey went to the moon and back) but it was definitely a 3.5 rounded up to a 4 star read.

I’ll give you a little glimpse into why the beginning was so good. First off, Belmont is special. He’s the kind of hero where on paper can seem almost perfect. HE’S DEVOTED!! I mean REALLY devoted. Now, off paper, there’s this little part of me that can’t help but put my kindle down and contemplate if he’s just a little TOO devoted. Like, to the stalkerish, watching you pee kind of devotion (doesn't happen, but I wouldn't have been surprised). The further I go on, the more I start to understand Belmont and why he acts the way he does. He’s got something to prove, can’t help himself and needs the connection. His journey of discovery is not an easy one to watch but it’s beautiful to see him grow and learn.

Now, Sage, well, unfortunately, she comes off as a little wishy-washy and a pushover. She has enabled Belmont and then swept away the security she offered him in the name of…*for his own good*. Yeah, yeah…tell it to the judge. Mind you, I am forever finding fault in the heroines, and should probably feel guilty about it (I don’t, can’t change my spots this late in the game).

So, Too Beautiful to Break was at times a hard slog. I started with a smile and ended with a smile. What I went through in between made me scowl, smirk, blush and sigh. I ended up awarding it 3.5 stars but to be honest at any particular time it could have been a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 star read.

Tessa Bailey writes really HOT and steamy with love that you can't help but believe in. Fans of DEVOTED heroes will LOVE THIS ONE!!

Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.