Review: Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Title: Walking Disaster (Beautiful, #2)

Author: Jamie McGuire
Published: April 16th 2013-Simon and Schuster UK
Website: Author's Website
Source: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Synopsis:

How much is too much to love? 

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder. 

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. Just when he thought he was invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees. 

Every story has two sides. In Jamie McGuire's New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster Abby had her say. Now it's time to see the story through Travis's eyes.

My Thoughts

Reading the first few pages of this book instantly made me teary eyed. In Beautiful Disaster, I loved the Maddox brothers because they’re easygoing and they always lighten up the mood. So being able to read about that moment when they know that they will already lose their mother is so heartbreaking for me.

“One of these days you're going to fall in love, son. Don't settle for just anyone. Choose the girl that doesn't come easy; the one you have to fight for, and then never stop fighting. Never…” – Dianne Maddox

It had an intense beginning and it also had an intense ending. I seriously can’t wait for the next installment for Abby and Travis’ story.

I had some questions left unanswered in Beautiful Disaster that were answered in Walking Disaster. Say for example, the meaning behind ‘Pigeon,’ (which readers really need to know) and also why Travis is…. well, Travis. What motivates him and what keeps him going.

Believe me, I love reading a story through a guy’s POV because it really shows one side of them that they never let anyone just see. You have to be someone special to witness that so thank you so much to Jaime McGuire for sharing this story through Travis’ eyes. I loved knowing about his feelings when he was with other girls. He knew that it is just a onetime thing and he really didn’t want anything more from them.

BUT, as for the flow of events, there were some scenes that seemed to be cut off or cut short, and some people who did not read the first book can’t really put the pieces together. I didn’t love this book as much as I loved Beautiful Disaster, maybe because I didn’t really see the difference in the execution of Travis’ POV. I expected to see something more through Travis’ eyes, but I didn’t get that. Maybe because I had high expectations, but I have to admit that I was a little disappointed.

Nevertheless, Travis Maddox as a book boyfriend will always have five sizzling stars for me. He cares so much for his family, especially for his brothers and of course for Abby, and he is a great son to his father. Also, when I read the ending, I was kind of surprised because it had a very different feel to it, but I am so excited for the next book.

Walking Disaster will take you to the world of Travis, and reading through his eyes will make readers understand every bit of him. I’m sure all of you can’t wait ‘til the next book comes out too! 

My Rating

Review: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Title: Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1)

Author: Jamie McGuire

Published: August 14th 2012 - Simon and Schuster UK

Website: Author's Website

Source: Received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis:

INTENSE. DANGEROUS. ADDICTIVE. 

Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

 Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

             

My Thoughts

Reading this book was like riding a rollercoaster, I felt confused, happy, gloomy, giddy, all sorts of emotion that you can think of out there. It is one unpredictable story that I will never ever forget. One of the reasons why is because of Travis ‘Mad Dog’ Maddox. He’s temperamental but he’s also sweet and funny at times. He can be possessive but he can also be protective. He can be a douche but he will undoubtedly leave everything behind for the one he loves. I can’t even believe that this guy is a straight A student. I mean, come on, with the lifestyle that he has, the fights that he participates in and the girls that he’s screwing with, I am very stunned by this fact – in a good way. He was not what I expected him at all to be. And I like that.

As for Abby Abernathy, I have a love-hate relationship with her. I loved her smart ass answers to Travis’ flirty attempts to get her to bed, and I also loved how she tried to stay away from the lifestyle that she was used to. But there were times when I also wanted to smack her in the head and tell her to just make her decision about Travis. One minute she wants him, then the next, she will push him away and I think that she was also selfish at times. And her dates with Parker, I don’t even want to start about that. But what I liked about her was that she always stood by her decision. And also, her friendship with America amazes me every single time I try to remember the things that they have gotten through together. They can be brutally honest with each other and they also fight, but I have to say, that I really admire their friendship.

I loved how the two main characters were both equally broken— but in very different ways.  They are dysfunctional together, but they are also perfect for each other.

One was trying to escape her old lifestyle and to start a new chapter, while the other one was still continuing his ways and going on with his life, no matter what people said about him. Travis is one guy who surely knows what he wants and when he wants it, and he will do everything in order to protect those people that he loves. Abby, on the other hand, will do everything just to get away from her past and she always worries about what other people will say about her. Their relationship is not the perfect one, and not even an ideal one, but the fact that they both strive to be better people each and every day that they’re together makes this story more appealing to me, and to the other readers out there.

But most of all, I loved the maturity that I saw in the characters toward the end of the story. Travis tried to be more considerate and not overly jealous and Abby finally knew what she wanted from Travis. Also, the slow progress of their relationship was another thing that I liked. It was not forced and it was well thought of.

Beautiful Disaster will leave you wanting more. INTENSE. RIVETING. ADDICTING. It is a DISTRACTINGLY RAVISHING story that readers will look forward to. I’m sure that people won’t forget Travis and Abby’s disastrous yet beautiful relationship. 

My Rating