ARC Book Review and Giveaway: Beautiful Facade by Kathryn S. Rose
A new contemporary romance from Kathryn S. Rose, read the summary, publication history, genre and book review of Beautiful Facade by Kathryn S. Rose and enter Giveaway to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card in this post below.
About Beautiful Facade by Kathryn S. Rose:
Blurb:
On the day that 16-year-old Winter Starling had her life and dreams shattered by a sexual assault, she meets Kai, a boy from her high school obsessed with music. They develop a deep friendship, which comes to an abrupt end when Kai unexpectedly has to leave. Winter has no idea why he went or any way to contact him.
Ten years pass, and Winter has constructed a new reality for herself. Now living in Melbourne, she has a successful career in advertising and is engaged to Liam King, a star player in Australian Rules Football. Winter has a perfect life.
During a night out, Winter runs into Kai, now the lead singer of ‘The Stonevilles.’ Winter and Kai rekindle their friendship, and to everyone around them, their attraction is evident. With Kai back in her life, Winter’s past threatens to ruin her relationship with Liam and everything she has worked to achieve. But can she risk losing Kai a second time?
Emotional and edgy, Beautiful Facade is about love, loss, healing, self-discovery, and the messy battle between one’s head and one’s heart.
Beautiful Facade by Kathryn S. Rose Review:
This is the first book by the author that I have read and I enjoyed Beautiful Facade. A new adult romance that deals with sensitive topics like sexual assault, mental health, domestic violence, drinking and drugs, only read this book if these are not triggers for you. Winter and Kai became friends when they were teenagers and found solace and healing with each other.
Then Kai suddenly left and now after ten years, Winter has finally managed to start rebuilding her life. She has a celebrity fiance, a stable job and a tenuous emotional balance which is unexpectedly tested when she comes across Kai again at a music concert. What follows is an inner battle between her heart and her mind, and a testing journey back in time so she can move forward.
I got attracted towards this book because of the blurb and though it didn’t turn out like I had assumed, I am so glad I gave this book a chance. A decidedly heavy read at times and a book that had me feeling depressed and unhappy at places, I still persevered because I wanted to know what happened to Winter!
The starting is slow and the plot only picks up pace midway but the author’s narration had me engaged throughout. Winter’s journey of healing and self-discovery is beautifully portrayed and I had tears in my eyes while I followed her halting steps to the end. While some of her decisions and actions had me cringing, yet she felt like a lost and confused friend still trying to find her place in life.
Liam and Kai are so very different and their interactions with Winter were eye-opening. Kathryn brings to life flawed characters with their own struggles and gives the readers a chance to experience a side of life that is often difficult, not pretty and full of mistakes. I enjoyed following the characters to their end and it was an experience that left me feeling raw.
While I enjoyed the story and narration, I don’t condone the easy acceptance to drinking and doing drugs as if it was alright. At many places in this book, I felt the unnecessary drinking and drugs could have been curtailed.
All in all, Beautiful Facade by Kathryn S. Rose is a book that will break your heart, leave you emotionally raw and yet at the end feeling happy and so proud at being part of a journey of self-discovery, second chances, rising above life’s challenges and the healing power of true love. 4 out of 5 stars to it and recommended to all readers above the age of eighteen looking for a romance that is not pretty, perfect and straightforward but one that is dark, complicated, and trying.
I received an ARC to read and review from the author and the tour organizers and I am very thankful to them. The above is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
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Meet the Author:
Kathryn S Rose is a mum, wife, reader, writer, traveller, and food enthusiast. Writing a book was always on her bucket list, and finally, with Beautiful Facade, it has come into fruition.
Kathryn is interested in the study of human behaviour and obtained a Bachelor of Social Science, with a focus on Community studies and Welfare Work.
Since completing her studies, she has worked in several jobs, which have enhanced her understanding of social issues, human development, relationships, and lifestyle. Some of these insights are reflected in her writing and give her inspiration.
Besides books, Kathryn has many other loves. She enjoys listening to live music, relaxing at the beach, embarking on random hiking adventures, and indulging in too much food and wine with family and friends.
When Kathryn and her family aren’t traipsing around the world, they can be found residing in Perth, Western Australia.
Follow her: Website
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The cover is amazing.