Title: Beautiful Failure
Author: Mariah Cole
Genre: New Adult Romance
Hosted by: Mary Elizabeth’s Crazy Book Obsession
If
you're looking for a heartwarming story about a girl who falls deeply in love
with a troubled boy who changes her life--a sob story with pretty metaphors and
a million ways that'll tell you how "broken" she is, STOP. Don't read
another word of this.
I'm not that type of girl.
My name is Emerald Anderson and I'm not going to bullshit you: I flunked out of college after my sophomore year, I've been fired from every job I've ever taken, and I've never had a fully functioning relationship in my life.
I wish I could say that I had a cheerleader in my corner, someone who says, "No, Emerald--You're great and you are good at something!" but I don't. My grandparents are completely oblivious to my life, and my mother's dying words to me were "You're going to end up just like me one day. A beautiful nothing."
She was right.
As I decide to start my life over and take two jobs that will forever change me--one from the inside, and one from the outside, I keep my mother's words close to my heart so I can keep the sexy and mysterious Carter Black away.
He's the first man who's ever pursued me, the first man who seems bent on finding out why I am the way I am, but he's wasting his time.
I'm not broken. I don't need to be fixed. I'm perfectly fine being a beautiful failure...
I'm not that type of girl.
My name is Emerald Anderson and I'm not going to bullshit you: I flunked out of college after my sophomore year, I've been fired from every job I've ever taken, and I've never had a fully functioning relationship in my life.
I wish I could say that I had a cheerleader in my corner, someone who says, "No, Emerald--You're great and you are good at something!" but I don't. My grandparents are completely oblivious to my life, and my mother's dying words to me were "You're going to end up just like me one day. A beautiful nothing."
She was right.
As I decide to start my life over and take two jobs that will forever change me--one from the inside, and one from the outside, I keep my mother's words close to my heart so I can keep the sexy and mysterious Carter Black away.
He's the first man who's ever pursued me, the first man who seems bent on finding out why I am the way I am, but he's wasting his time.
I'm not broken. I don't need to be fixed. I'm perfectly fine being a beautiful failure...
Beautiful Failure is one the most beautiful stories I
have ever read…
After reading the
synopsis, I thought it to be a dark story..But while reading the book, I realized
that it wasn’t about Emerald’s past..We were reading about her future..About
how she would become the person she really wants to be..An independent, strong,
courageous young woman who can take on everything and everyone and still keep
standing tall..
That’s who she really
is..A strong young woman..Yes she has issues, addiction one of them.. But most
of all, her self-esteem is shattered and practically non-existent, due to the way
she used to live..I’m not going to call it “grow up” , because she didn’t grow
up in that environment. If anything, she was brought down, not up..Now she is
finally growing up..She’s learning about herself, about who she really is and
what she really wants to do in her life..
Mariah’s story is beautiful and her writing is
spectacular!!This is the best debut book I’ve seen in a long time!
Mariah could focus on
the horrid details Emerald’s past life had and build the story that way. But she
focused on the concept of “Second Chances”. She focused on Emerald’s healing,
not destruction. That’s probably the thing I loved the most about this book. It’s
a book for someone’s future, not past. It’s about the good in someone..It’s
about hope that everyone will get what they deserve, that everyone, even
someone as broken as Emerald can find happiness, joy, love and purpose! So I
would like to say thank you to Mariah Cole for this indescribable book she gave
us and huge congratulations!
Besides the story, as I
said before, the writing was spectacular! It’s impeccable! Beautiful Failure is
flawlessly written..I would not change a thing about it! Everything about it is
perfect! So, you won’t read anything about any timelines or gaps or sudden
transitions or anything negative..This
book is a pure perfection!!
>>Emerald is one
tough chick..She has been through so much in her life, so much pain and
disdain..She was born in hell and stayed there for quite a while..And then, she
went to a different kind of hell..In most books, the guy saves the traumatized
girl and brings her to life etc..in this book, Carter just makes her
happy..Something she’s never felt before in her entire life..She feels wanted
and cherished..But he doesn’t really save her..Emerald saves herself!! I loved
the fact that she saved herself and how her grandparent (not going to tell you
which one!) made her realize her mistakes and her issues..Another thing that I loved
about Emerald is that she is a very decent person..She may be cranky and yes a
Queen bitch, but she is a caring and good person..
Emerald is a perfect
idol for all the girls, who are raised in not-so-good and healthy
environments..Not because she always does the right thing..But because she is a
fighter..She has her downs, but she brings herself up..She wants and needs and
likes her grandparents’ attention and love..She lets them help her..She knows
her faults and sees her mistakes..So, she gets help and move on..Slowly but
steady..
Personally, I admire her
strength and I really wish she were real, because I’m telling you..I would be
her best friend…
>>Carter Black..He
really has a cool name, doesn’t he? Well
I think so, too…What I liked about him is that he’s kind and polite, he never
asks for too much information..He simply likes to be around her..He doesn’t
judge her for anything..He lets her be who she is..Who she really is..It’s very
important to have someone(s) in your life that don’t judge you and simply stand
by you, support you and not try to change you..He is what Emerald needs..And
for that, I love him..
During the book, I didn’t
pay it much attention..But after I finished the book, I noticed that Carter is
quite mysterious..We know him as a person up to a certain point..But if you
come to think of it, what do we really know about him?
In conclusion, I ADORE
Beautiful Failure!!!!!! And Mariah has officially entered my Favorite-Authors
group…I feel honored to be in this Tour for this more-than-amazing book!
Excerpt:
Seeing Carter Black at her job for the
second time…
“You have
a very beautiful name, Emerald.” Carter sits down again and hands me two
brownies.
“Thank
you.”
“I take
it that buying you brownies doesn’t make me any less of a stranger?”
“Excellent
guess.”
“Hmmm.”
He watches me take small bites. “Do you like your job here?”
“No.”
“That’s
good. I don’t think customer service is for you.”
“Excuse
me?”
“Someone
like you should never be allowed to work directly with people—or any breathing
organisms for that matter.” He’s grinning, and I want to laugh but I keep it
inside. “How old are you?” His voice is serious all of a sudden.
“How old
do you want me to be?”
“Legal.”
“Do I
look like a minor?”
“No, but
it’s always good to double check.”
“Young
girls have been a problem for you in the past?”
He
laughs. “You have a very smart
mouth.”
“Pay me
enough and I’ll show you what I can really do with it.”
He raises
his eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
I don’t
back down. That’s one of Leah’s old lines—it used to net her an easy four
hundred bucks, and I’ve often wondered what would happen if I ever used it.
“Are you
propositioning me to pay you for a
blowjob?”
“Is that
what it sounds like?”
“It
does.” He smirks. “It also sounds like you’re full of it.”
I blink,
and then I burst into laughter. “It was a joke.”
“So you are a child?”
I roll my
eyes and stand up. “Whatever. Enjoy your coffee.” I walk away without letting
him get another word out.
Sexy as
hell or not, I don’t need an unnecessary distraction; I need to focus on
getting out of this city.
Mariah Cole is a Starbucks addict (hazelnut shots please!), New
Adult author, and an incessant daydreamer. Known for pushing the envelope,
she’s an avid reader of indie books and is always looking to chat with readers
and authors alike.
Social Links:
Giveaway:
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Amazon Gift Card
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Starbucks Gift Card
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e-book copies Beautiful Failure
5 signed
Beautiful Failure Postcards
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Special Deleted Scene:
“Em! Em!”
Leah walks through the front door with shopping bags dangling from her wrists.
“Yeah?” I
hold the phone against my neck. “I’m ordering pizza. You want some? We could
watch bad movies and make fun of them together.”
She
shakes her head and rolls her eyes. “Riiiight. I’m leaving for New York tonight
with Vincent. Look at what he bought for me to wear on the plane!”
She pulls
out a white satin dress and holds it against her chest.
There’s
no doubt that she’ll look beautiful in it. She looks beautiful in everything…
“When are
you coming back?”
“Monday
maybe? Tuesday? It’s not like I’ll be in a hurry. It’s New York, kid.” She perfectly imitates a New-Yorker’s accent.
I hear
the pizza operator saying “Hello” over and over so I finish ordering the pizza,
watching Leah pull out her other designer purchases.
When I
set the phone down, she motions for me to come over.
“While
I’m gone, feel free to invite your boyfriend over,” she says. “Do you need me
to get you some condoms?”
“I told
you I dumped him two months ago.”
“So?” She
shrugs. “You can still use him for sex. Oh, wait. I forgot. He wasn’t good at
it, right?”
“Right.”
She
sighs. “I hate when that happens. I always have to fake my way through it when
the man has no idea what he’s doing. It’s a damn shame, really.”
“My
writing seminar is Monday night. Can you tell Vincent you need to be back by
then so you can make it?”
“Of
course! I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She presses her finger against my
lips and sighs. “You put on too much gloss today….” She reaches into another
shopping bag and hands me a new compact make-up case.
“You should use this for your presentation on Monday.”
“Thanks.”
I force a smile and listen as she starts to show off more of her purchases,
knowing damn well that she won’t be in the audience Monday.
She’ll
forget like she always does, and I’ll forgive her like I always do. Then we’ll
both end up drunk and restless on our balcony…
Special Alternate POV Scene:
First Encounter Scene (Carter’s POV)
Walking
inside of Starbucks, I expect to see the familiar bubbly blonde behind the
counter, the one who never bothers to ask what I want to order. She always
greets me with a “Hello, Mr. Black! I’ll have your grande coffee with two hazel
nut shots right away!”
But
today, there’s someone new. Someone with black hair who hasn’t even bothered to
look up at me.
With her
head down, she types a few buttons on the register and sighs. “Starbucks
Bistro. What’s your name and what do you want?”
“Is that
the new greeting now?” I smile. “Did it change
recently?”
“They
don’t pay me enough to make conversation,” she says flatly. “What’s your name
and what do you want—Please?”
This is a first…
“Carter…Carter Black. Grande coffee with a hazelnut shot and two
sugars.”
She
writes on the cup and quickly turns around, mixing the drink on the back
counter. From behind, I notice a small grey and black tattoo on her neck, partially
hidden by her long ponytail.
What is that?
I’m
admiring her ass when she suddenly turns around and gasps.
She
blinks, staring at me with her lips slightly parted. She looks as if she’s
about to say something, but no words come out of her mouth.
Her mouth. Her fucking mouth.
Plump,
pink lips. Bow shaped. Perfection.
“Are you
going to give me my coffee?” I look into her dark green eyes. “Or do they not
pay you enough to do that either?”
I keep my
eyes locked on hers as I hand her the card, wondering why I’ve never seen her
in town before.
Once she
hands me my coffee, I decide to ask why. “When did you start here?”
“Thank you for visiting Starbucks.” She
rolls her eyes. “Have a nice day.”
I smile
and bring the cup to my lips, never taking my eyes off hers. I can tell I’m
making her uncomfortable because she’s shifting her weight from foot to foot
and blinking every few seconds.
“Is there
something wrong with your coffee sir?”
She purses her lips.
The
coffee is actually the best it’s ever been, but I don’t want to leave the store
just yet.
“It’s a
bit bitter,” I say.
“No, it’s not.” She crosses her arms. “I
just made it.”
“I’m
pretty sure it is.” I hand the cup back to her. “Can you add some more sugar
please?”
“There’s
a condiment stand on the back wall. You can add it yourself.”
Is she serious?
I look at
her nametag—Emerald, and prepare to
really have some fun with her, but the familiar blonde suddenly steps next to
her.
“Mr. Black, is there something wrong?” she
asks.
“Not at
all. I was just asking Emerald if she
would add some more sugar to my
coffee.”
“Oh! I
got it!”
As she
remakes it, I smile at Emerald—ignoring the fact that she’s scowling at me. It
makes her look even sexier.
“There
you are.” The blonde smiles as she hands me the new coffee.
I take a
sip of it and immediately regret having it remade. It’s good, but what Emerald
made was ten times better.
“Much
better.” I look at Emerald one last time, deciding that I’ll be back at the
exact same time tomorrow. “Thank you ladies.”
Emerald
rolls her eyes and mouths “Asshole,” but she quickly forces a smile. I debate
whether I should ask her to say that out loud, but I decide against it.
I’ll have plenty of time to see her
this summer…
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