Review & Giveaway: Beautiful Disaster by Laura Spinella

For college student, Mia Montgomery, it's just another day hanging out with friends until she lays eyes on Flynn; a scruffy looking, coarse mouthed,  motorcycling drifter with a past full of secrets and a future full of nothing but uncertainty. When they meet later on in a bar, it's as if the two of them just knew they were soul mates.

"Silence settled between them as Flynn searched the busy bar for a place to hide his vulnerability. He rubbed his palms over his denim-covered thighs, realizing his hands were sweaty. The attraction, like the tide to the moon, kept pulling the two of them toward each other. "

 Mia's youth, freshness and naivete crumbled Flynn's defenses and brought out his vulnerabilities. Flynn was like no one Mia had ever known before. Despite their obvious differences and against all advice from Mia's best friend, Roxanne, Mia and Flynn began an intense love affair that would change both their destinies almost destroying them in the process. On the other hand, it might just be their salvation.

Flynn was the kind of man that could not be pinned down; it would be like trying  to chain a rainbow or a breeze to earth. Even though Flynn could not promise her any future, Mia had complete faith in him knowing that he would never hurt her. The best he could promise was that he would not leave her. That's why it was so devastating when suddenly he was just gone without a word of explanation leaving Mia to agonize over her lost love and wondering how she would take her next breath never mind getting on with her life.

Now he is back; but not the way Mia would have wanted. Roxanne, now a doctor in the local hospital, has called Mia to let her know that Flynn had been in a motorcycle crash and is now in a coma in the ER. Mia leaves a life changing business meeting to rush to Flynn's side. Oh, yeah, there is a slight complication. In the twelve years Flynn has been gone, Mia married Michael Wells after waiting for years for some word or news  from Flynn.

Along with the main plot line, there is a bit of a mysterious sub-plot going on. College girls have been murdered from the midwest all the way to Alabama and Roxanne, is convinced Flynn was somehow involved. This suspicion on Roxanne's part almost ended her long friendship with Mia.

For a debut novel, this was beautifully written and very enjoyable. In fact, other than one scene in the middle, I had a hard time putting this one down. I was so captivated by the characterizations, southern setting, depth of emotions and plot line that I couldn't wait to see what happened next; I just kept turning the pages almost non-stop. Laura Spinella has dug deep to flesh out her characters' feelings and thoughts. It's as if I had been a close friend of  Mia, Flynn and Roxanne for years and had been through all the heartache right along with them. Highly recommended. 4****

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Penguin Group at no charge to me in exchange for my honest opinion.

To celebrate the release of Beautiful Disaster Penguin group is allowing me to giveaway 2 copies of the book. US & Canada only. Deadline to enter is January 25th at 5 PM (est). Please be sure to include an e mail address for your comment to qualify. 

 As always, bonus entries can be earned by:

+ 2 for following - just remind me how and under what name you follow
+3 for posting or tweeting about contest with a link included - Be sure to leave me the link.

Good luck!