Beautiful Ruins

Beautiful Ruins

M.J. Lucy

Enjoyment: 4.0Quality: 4.0Characters: 4.0Plot: 4.0

A formidable figure with certain things on his mind, he’s both gentleman and savage. Mae Damon Shaw is a man as dangerous as his connections. Rich. Commanding. Devilishly charming. He doesn’t play fair. Well before receiving the lavish dinner party invitation, my future had already been predetermined by a man I had yet to meet. I am to become a pawn, a consequence to a shady business deal that will see my husband put our lives in danger. As the night descends into pure chaos and the intricacies of my volatile marriage are exposed, there’s nowhere for me to run. That’s when Damon makes his move. And I Iet him. Drawn to him like a lamb to the slaughter, I quickly realize that every lingering touch, every stolen glance, even the gentle brush of his lips against my cheek in greeting—all of it was meticulously calculated to make me fall, hopelessly and completely. And fall, I did. What I need is an escape to outrun my past and evade my future, but neither man will set me free. One warns of retribution. The other promises all-out war. Damon Mae ‘Ellison’ was a means to an end. At least, that was the plan. Exquisite. Creative. Broken. This woman will bring me to my goddamn knees. The deeper I delve into her poor excuse of a marriage, the more I gain a thirst for revenge. Peter Cooper is guilty of many reprehensible crimes, but none so truly heinous as the ones committed against his own wife. What started out as a business venture has now become an obsession. One borne out of the need to save Mae from the utter destruction that awaits. Because just when I think I’ve uncovered the worst of what he’s done, I find I’ve barely scratched the surface of his depravity. For Mae… I will end Peter. Then I will collect the pieces of her life he so callously left in ruins. The problem? She may well loathe my very existence by the time the last shot is fired.

Publication Year: 2025


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  • bookdarling
    May 01, 2025
    Enjoyment: 4.0Quality: 4.0Characters: 4.0Plot: 4.0

    A Dark, Messy, Beautiful Read I picked up Beautiful Ruins on a whim—yes, partly because of the hot guy on the cover—and hoped for the best. Sometimes, those impulsive picks turn into the best reading experiences. Bonus: it’s on Kindle Unlimited. Mae and Damon are easily one of the most compelling enemies-to-lovers couples I’ve read in a while. Don’t worry, that’s not a spoiler—their story runs much deeper than the trope. From the first page, this book pulls you in with its dark undercurrents and emotional depth. The connection between Mae and Damon is immediate and intense. Sure, it leans into insta-love, but their relationship evolves in a way that feels earned and emotionally real. Mae’s journey is filled with pain and hardship that genuinely broke my heart—but she never comes across as broken. Her resilience is what makes her story so powerful. Damon’s arrival in her life shifts everything. Their dynamic is intense but balanced, and even through all the chaos and heartache, their bond only grows stronger. Their chemistry? Off the charts. The emotional layers? Even better. MJ Lucy nails the blend of gritty emotion, solid storytelling, and the perfect amount of spice. Beautiful Ruins is a must-read if you're into angsty romance with depth, heat, and characters who feel real. I loved every page. And to the author—please keep going with this series. Every side character deserves their own dark, messy, beautiful story. Easily a solid four stars.

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