I'll admit that BEAUTIFUL DISASTER is one that I added to my insane to-be-read tower based on the cover alone. I somehow assumed, for no good reason, that this was a paranormal title -- since that seems to be the trend -- so I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be a contemporary tough girl romance. 
 Abby is a bad-girl-turned-good who has fled her turbulent home life for college, leaving behind her infamous gambler father who had no problems manipulating his daughter into covering his debts to dangerous men. Intent on living a calm, quiet life in her new environment, Abby is anything but ready for Travis. 
 Travis is an underground fighter and a self-professed womanizer, alternating his time between one-stand stands and quick money exchanges that tend to get violent in nature. He has no intentions of falling in love -- until he meets Abby, a mysterious young wman who seems to show absolutely no interest in anything he has to offer. 
 Abby doesn't trust men because the only male figure in her life chose money over his daughter every time. Travis doesn't trust women because he knows that there's really no such thing as a happily ever after. 
 This couple knows that a relationship is a gamble and the odds are definitely not in their favor this time... 
 I actually did enjoy BEAUTIFUL DISASTER much more than I really expected. The author does a good job of keeping the story going, making 400+ pages feel like something that could be accomplished in a mere sitting or two. The characters, although a bit stereotypical at times, are interesting and the love story, although a tad rushed and unexplainable at points, is endearing. And it's always nice to think that maybe people really can change for the better over time, right? 
 I was confused at the ending how there could possibly be a second book to this series, until I discovered that book two is a retelling of the same story from the perspective of bad-boy Travis instead of Abby. I'm not sure yet whether that will be enlightening or redundant but I'll definitely check it out once it's released in early 2013. 
 (I did receive BEAUTIFUL DISASTER in exchange for an honest review, via NetGalley. Of course, all thoughts are my own and are uninfluenced by the manner by which I obtained the book. I would have ending up reviewing this one regardless, whether it were sent for review or not.)