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Georgia Cates
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Beauty from Pain: Jack Henry and Laurelyn's Story (Beauty Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Georgia Cates (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 4,784 ratings
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They agreed on three months... but their love ignored all boundaries.

Jack McLachlan has it all—wealth, power, and the title of Australia’s most eligible bachelor. But life at the top comes with its fair share of complications, and Jack has found the perfect solution: carefully arranged, no-strings-attached relationships that last just long enough to keep things fun.

No emotions. No messy breakups. Just three perfect months.

Then Laurelyn Prescott walks into his life.

The gorgeous, fiercely independent American musician is everything Jack didn’t know he was missing. She challenges his rules, breaks down his walls, and turns his world upside down. What starts as a casual arrangement quickly becomes something neither of them expected—something that changes everything.

Jack’s rules were meant to keep his heart safe, but Laurelyn makes him question if some risks are worth taking.

Irresistible and utterly unforgettable, Beauty from Pain is a story about passion, heartbreak, and a love so undeniable, it shatters all the rules.


Reading Order for The Beauty Series––

  • Beauty from Pain Available Now

  • Beauty from Surrender Available Now

  • Beauty from Love Available Now

  • Steel Beauty Releasing 2025

  • American Beauty Releasing 2025

  • Beloved Beauty Releasing 2025

  • Untitled #7 Release Date TBA

  • Untitled #8 Release Date TBA

  • Untitled #9 Release Date TBA


Beauty from Pain is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Beauty Series
  2. Print length
    325 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    4 Jan. 2014
  5. File size
    2.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
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  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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  1. I love her too much to let her leave and I need to tell her right this minute.
    Highlighted by 392 Kindle readers
  2. “Music is what feelings sound like out loud. I sing songs that speak from my heart. They tell my story, how I feel.”
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  3. “Angel” by Massive Attack begins and I put it on repeat because I expect this performance to run long.
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Product description

About the Author

Georgia Cates is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Best-Selling Author. She resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00B8A9I90
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Georgia Cates Books (4 Jan. 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 325 pages
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 4,784 ratings

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Georgia Cates

Georgia Cates

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Georgia Cates is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Best-Selling Author of The Beauty Series. She resides in Mississippi with her husband and two daughters. Please visit georgiacates.com for additional information.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4,784 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the book and found it easy to read. They appreciated the romantic elements and sexy scenes. The characters were described as well-developed, with the main heroine being a singer and songwriter. The writing style was described as well-written and easy to follow. Readers felt the book evoked emotions such as love, sadness, and angst. The pacing was also mentioned as fast and straightforward.

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ReadabilityRomanceCharacter developmentWriting styleEmotion levelPacingHumor
103 customers mention ‘Readability’103 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story engaging and captivated them from the first chapter. The characters are well-developed and the book keeps their interest throughout.

"...novels to fall into the 'same ole same ole', but this story is so beautifully told that even if you look at the synopsis and think you know exactly..." Read more

"...This is a great story told by both POV's in their own chapters, I really like this style of writing and the ending is predictably, annoyingly..." Read more

"I am so blown away by this book that I'm not even sure how to put it in to words...." Read more

"...Firstly, I'm really really loving this series. When I first started 'Beauty from Pain' I wasn't sure it was going to be for me...." Read more

52 customers mention ‘Romance’45 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the romantic story with its engaging sex scenes and charming characters. They find the book gripping from the start and appreciate that the sex is less explicit than in paranormal romance books. The book has an interesting and charming storyline that draws readers into the characters' lives.

"...Let us start with the location, Australia. This was a nice change of pace from having it set in America; I enjoyed reading about the new locations..." Read more

"...is at a bar when a young singer gets up during 'open mic' time, she's stunning and interesting - she's the next one...." Read more

"...This was one of the sexiest books I have ever read, but there was so much more to it than just the hot and steamy scenes...." Read more

"...I liked the chemistry between them, and the sex was passionate. This does end on a sort of cliffhanger. But I will be reading part two." Read more

34 customers mention ‘Character development’34 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters and the storyline. They appreciate the main heroine's musical background.

"...I loved almost all of the side characters, mostly Jack's family. They were warm, loving, and I just wanted to give his mother a big hug. "..." Read more

"...Laurelyn is a great female lead. She has a playful, real character and isn't afraid to speak her mind...." Read more

"...This was an unexpected great read. I loved both leading characters. The heroine Lauralyn is sassy, funny and relatable...." Read more

"...Laurelyn was a very likeable character as well, I could see how she was agreeable to Jack's proposition after her previous bad experience, a no..." Read more

33 customers mention ‘Writing style’33 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style. They find the story well-written and easy to read. The book has nice lyrics and can be read in one sitting. Readers appreciate the believable dialogue between characters.

"...story told by both POV's in their own chapters, I really like this style of writing and the ending is predictably, annoyingly tantalising...." Read more

"...This was my first read with this author and I really enjoyed the style of writing, it just flowed at the right pace and evoked emotion...." Read more

"...A bit too long of a wait IMO. I liked this book it was well written...." Read more

"I really liked this story. Georgia's writing is very, very readable...." Read more

25 customers mention ‘Emotion level’25 positive0 negative

Customers find the book evokes emotions. They describe it as romantic, bittersweet, and full of angst. The characters are warm, loving, and the relationship is believable.

"...They were warm, loving, and I just wanted to give his mother a big hug. "We've shared countless kisses...." Read more

"...I felt real, heavy emotions whilst reading this...." Read more

"...enjoyed the style of writing, it just flowed at the right pace and evoked emotion...." Read more

"...said that Jack was a dream character, he's hot and sexy, but really attentive...." Read more

17 customers mention ‘Pacing’14 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's pacing fast and easy to follow. They appreciate the straightforward storytelling and good use of suspense that keeps them guessing until the end. The writing style flows smoothly and evokes emotion.

"...Also, the pace of the story was perfectly set, and it never felt rushed or hurried...." Read more

"...It's all very simple, 3 months, no sharing personal details of each others lives - including names, and by the end of it they will both walk away..." Read more

"...The heroine Lauralyn is sassy, funny and relatable. Good use of suspense, I had a knot in my stomach most of the book waiting for the underlying..." Read more

"...Georgia Cates has done an amazing job with their story, the book is fast paced and their isn't any unnecessary description to draw out the book...." Read more

11 customers mention ‘Humor’11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find the characters playful and lovable. The book contains steamy scenes that make readers smile.

"...Laurelyn is a great female lead. She has a playful, real character and isn't afraid to speak her mind...." Read more

"...I loved both leading characters. The heroine Lauralyn is sassy, funny and relatable...." Read more

"...They also have some seriously steamy scenes, Jack is hot and will get your heart racing...." Read more

"...Well worth the read, it is well written and highly lovable." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Christine
    5.0 out of 5 stars "I love her too much to let her leave and I need to tell her right this minute."
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 May 2013
    Verified Purchase
    "If I do this, something will go wrong and this man will hurt me. I know it as sure as I'm sitting here next to him feeling how much he makes me want to say yes."

    Where do I even begin? It is hard for me to remember the last time a book made me this giddy. Now don't get me wrong, I read a lot of books and I love a lot of books. But this is different. I sat at work and couldn't stop thinking about Jack and Laurelyn. My friend had already finished it the day before me so we eMailed, text, and chatted all day about it. I rushed to a quiet spot on my thirty minute lunch break so that I could read as much as possible. I rushed home immediately after work so that I could dive back into their story. Even now that I have finished, I can not get enough of Jack and Laurelyn. I have joined a Beauty From Pain support group on Facebook (no joke), and have found myself slightly obsessed with the teasers and fan art that the author has released. In short... Hello, my name is Christine and I am a Beauty From Pain addict.

    "I didn't love you the day I met you, or even a month later. But somewhere between hello and the goodbye I'm unable to bear.

    So the question to be asked is, why did I fall so hard in love with this book and it's characters? There is no one real answer to this but I will do my best to explain. Let us start with the location, Australia. This was a nice change of pace from having it set in America; I enjoyed reading about the new locations and places. Also, the pace of the story was perfectly set, and it never felt rushed or hurried. I didn't question the time frame given or the feelings that had developed in that time period. I loved almost all of the side characters, mostly Jack's family. They were warm, loving, and I just wanted to give his mother a big hug.

    "We've shared countless kisses. They were almost always heated and demanding, but this one is entirely different. It tells me things he can't or won't say because it goes against everything he intends for our relationship."

    However, above all of these reasons, it is Jack and Laurelyn that make Beauty From Pain such an amazing story. I simply fell in love with both of them. I will be completely honest and admit that it is rare for me not to find something annoying with the main female character. There is always some trait or action that causes me to find myself rolling my eyes. This never happened. There was not a single moment where I did not understand why the characters were acting, and or reacting in the way they were. Every situation was handled in an adult manner, and honestly it was the single most refreshing thing I have read in a very long time.

    "She has bewitched me. And I want her. She's the one."

    It is so easy for adult contemporary romance/erotic novels to fall into the 'same ole same ole', but this story is so beautifully told that even if you look at the synopsis and think you know exactly how it will all play out, trust me... you are wrong. This story has depth that will have you so wrapped up in it, that you will not be able to put it down. In fact, I challenge anybody that would say they even remotely enjoy this genre, to read Beauty From Pain and not love it wholeheartedly. I would have to think it an impossible task. I honestly do not have even one single negative thing I can say about this book.

    "..you don't always know the true worth of a women's love until it becomes a memory."

    And the ending? Would I classify it as a cliffhanger? Yes and no. Yes, it ends in a location that makes you want to rip your hair out and curl up into a fetal position until the next book is out. But no, because I went in pretty much knowing where the ending was going to have to be. I refuse to give anything away from the story but I think that there is no way that Laurelyn and Jack would ever have been able to have a happily ever after if this book would have ended any differently. This ending can only bring them closer together, and is exactly what they need to move forward.

    It also helps that book two, Beauty From Surrender, is due to be released on May 30th 2013. So, we do not have very long at all until we get to meet back up with Laurelyn and Jack. I am a on major countdown to this book, and I am already wondering how I am going to concentrate at work knowing that it is sat on my Kindle all day waiting for me to start it...

    "I've known pain my whole life, but this is a new kind for me. It isn't born of something wrong or ugly. This pain is conceived out of beauty - my love for Jack Henry McLachlan. I embrace it. I clutch it as tightly as I can with both fists because I never want to forget the love I have for him. Loving him will forever be my Beauty from Pain."

    Christine
    Rainy Day Reads
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  • KITTEN
    4.0 out of 5 stars First part of a series - :( - hope I can remember it when part 2 comes out.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 February 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is a good story although yet another cliff-hanger - sigh.

    This loses a star because it isn't complete but also because it ends at 86 percent on my kindle and the rest is filled with blurb.

    Anyhow, back to the story - Jack McLachlan is a very rich Australian wine magnate. He buys everything including his anonymity. This allows him to have carnal, non-emotive sexual relationships with attractive, mature and refined women, he makes an agreement with them that will last 3/4 weeks with the absolute understanding that they will go their seperate ways at the end. It's brutal and unfeeling but it's worked well for him. Jack is ready for the next one and he is at a bar when a young singer gets up during 'open mic' time, she's stunning and interesting - she's the next one.

    Laurelyn Prescott is flying from America to Australia with her best friend Addison, they are staying at Addison's brother Ben's house for the next three months, Laurelyn is escaping from a broken involvement and betrayal, her heart is feeling battered. She needs this break to have fun and get some distance.

    So, when Jack decides on Laurelyn and with his blunt proposal for a relationship things start to get interesting. Of course, how will they both be able to keep an emotional distance when things start to get very intense. Throw in complications with Ben who also wants Laurelyn and Laurelyn's sassy personality and of course sparks fly.

    This is a great story told by both POV's in their own chapters, I really like this style of writing and the ending is predictably, annoyingly tantalising. I just can't guarantee that I will be as invested in book no. 2 if it's ages coming, there are loads of good books out there so I don't want to read this again just to be able to read the next instalment. I am now waiting on a lot of book 2's, some of them I will not bother to read, I hope this isn't one of them.
    8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Jojo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom!
    Reviewed in Brazil on 29 June 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Quando comecei a ler "Beauty from Pain", fiquei sinceramente desconfiada com sua semelhança com "50 tons de cinza". Minha desconfiança aumentou quando percebi que os outros dois livros da série teriam estrutura similar ao da trilogia de E. L. James. Todavia, após baixar uma sample, resolvi dar uma chance ao livro de Georgia Cates, e foi com alívio que descobri uma autora boa o bastante para escrever uma boa história.

    A trama é muito parecida com "50 tons de cinza". Laurelyn, uma jovem musicista americana, vai para a Autrália para espairecer. Lá, ela cruza o caminho de Jack Henry, um milionário dono de vinículas. Eles topam se engajar num relacionamento de três meses (tempo que Laurelyn ficará por lá), mas sem qualquer compromisso - eles, inclusive, não revelam seus verdadeiros nomes ou detalhes de suas vidas que possam revelar suas identidades. Como manda o figurino nesse tipo de história, os dois acabam se apaixonando.

    Apesar das semelhanças, "Beauty from Pain" possui características que o fazem ser infinitamente melhor que "50 tons de cinza". Primeiro e mais importante: Georgia Cates é uma autora com algum tempo de estrada, e não uma dona de casa que passava o tempo escrevendo fanfics de Crepúsculo (com todo o respeito a Cassandra Clare, que fique claro), então a narrativa de "Beauty from Pain" é mais bem estruturada. Neste livro não há furos, muito menos aquela loucura de atribuir emoções a todos os dias da protagonista (Anastasia Steele tinha um caso de CSI para resolver diariamente), que, para mim, demonstra carência no desenvolvimento do arco dramático.

    Segundo: o casal de protagonistas é muito melhor. Laurelyn não é uma virgem tola, muito pelo contrário; ela é esperta, independente, engraçada, talentosa e... pratica pole dance. E, claro, não é virgem, o que deixa as cenas mais quentes mais naturais. Jack também não é aquele pretenso sádico mandão com problemas emocionais. Ele é um empresário astuto, que sabe o que quer (e não quer manter relacionamentos sérios no momento), mas que também sabe exibir suas carências. Ele até tenta mandar na Laurelyn, mas ela sabe muito bem como manipulá-lo. Aliás, as conversas entre os dois são engraçadas, e dá para entender, depois dos três meses que passaram juntos, porque eles se apaixonaram. Há cumplicidade ali, uma parceria, e não um caso de um homem que quer proteger e uma mulher que quer ser protegida. Se há um desejo mútuo ali é o de compreender e ser compreendido.

    Por último: por não se vender como sádico (aliás, pessoas, pensem duas vezes se vocês acham que há sadismo em "50 tons de cinza"), o sexo é explorado de forma mais natural. Não há grandes preparativos para que Laurelyn e Jack fiquem juntos, eles só precisam estar juntos. Com excessão para a cena do pole dance, que é de babar.

    Gosto também das músicas que a autora apresenta ao longo do livro. Ela não morre em citações como Federico Moccia em "Desculpa, quero casar contigo". As canções estão ali para dar o tom da história (desafio você a ler a cena do pole dance ao som de "Angel", de Massive Attack, sem sentir a pele se arrepiar). E quem tiver curiosidade, a playlist dos dois primeiros livros está disponível no site da autora - http://www.georgiacates.com/.

    Mas, afinal, por que não dei cinco estrelas ao livro de Georgia Cates? Porque por mais que eu deteste "50 tons de cinza" não posso tirar de E. L. James a originalidade (tá...) da ideia, que acabou servindo de base para outras publicações. Todavia, "Beauty from Pain" serviu para mim como redentor do tema ao apresentar uma história elegante, erótica, bem escrita e com ótimos protagonistas.

    Por favor, Georgia Cates, não me decepcione em "Beauty from Surrender"!
    Report
  • Vinita Radhakrishnan
    5.0 out of 5 stars must read for entrepreneurs
    Reviewed in India on 21 September 2015
    Verified Purchase
    simple and easy to understand. recommended for all startups and entrepreneurs looking to build ip assets.
    Report
  • Lalo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beauty From Pain - Georgia Cates - ebook
    Reviewed in the United States on 15 May 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Beauty from Pain (Beauty Series) by Georgia Cates

    I wish I could give this book 6 stars. This is a great contemporary romance. The premise is a bit unusual but thoroughly enjoyable.

    The hero and heroine both have issues. Laurelyn, the heroine, is someone I think most of us can identify with whether we had great parents or not so great parents. I think we all know someone like Laurelyn. I felt her pain, her stubbornness, her restlessness to get away and do something completely out of character for her. I really identified with the character of Laurelyn.

    The hero, Jack, well, I think most of us can understand Jack as well. The only difference is, he is very wealthy and so has been able to go to some extremes you don't normally see in order to prevent getting too close to women. But then, the women he's been with are... pretty much only after his money.

    Jack, the Aussie... and can't you just imagine how delicious he sounds? Jack meets Laurelyn, a southern girl from the US who is in Australia for three months. Though he usually only makes "arrangements" for three or four weeks, he makes a deal with Laurelyn for the entire three months she will be in Australia.

    I think a part of why Laurelyn accepts Jack's offer is because her best friend's brother is really interested in her and she's just into him. But she does like Jack. Coming out of a bad relationship (her only one), she decides to spend the three months with Jack, but not for his money. Indeed Laureylyn's biological father, the one she calls the "sperm donor" is a country music star, she is not after money.

    I think she just wants to have a relationship where the rules are known up front. I can see how the relationship she enters with Jack would be a comfortable change for her. The story really lets me understand her character enough to buy into that.

    Meanwhile, the relationship is... hot. There is a lot of sex. These are among the best written sex scenes I've ever read. This is not sex for the sake of... "well, here on page whatever, we need a sex scene", but instead they are totally believable between the hero and heroine. They are not boring.

    Honestly, I read a lot of romance and sometimes just sort of glance through the sex scenes. After a while, they can get old. The sex scenes in this book seem to naturally flow.

    I hate to give away spoilers in a book but... I love the ending of this book. I loved it. I know there had better be another book to finish this story but, the ending was... justifiable.

    I despise wimpy heroines who give up all their ideas, principles and ethics over one kiss. Those stories are just unbelievable and I hate to waste my time reading those. This story is one that I'm glad I spent the time to read.

    There are many things left unanswered in this story and I know there better be another book to finish this story!

    In fact, I think the second book is due out at the end of this month. I'm glad I don't have to wait very long.

    This is a great romantic story and I recommend it without hesitation. The characters are wonderful and both the characters and the story line draw you in. Georgia Cates has done an excellent job with this book. I wish I could give it six stars.
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  • Willsgirl
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read...
    Reviewed in Canada on 11 March 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Georgia Cates is now my number one favorite author....She did it. Completely reeled me in with the story of Laurelyn and Jack. Wow, from beginning to end and now I can't wiat for the next installment.

    Laurelyn follows her best friend ot Australia to visit her brother. Leaving behind a mess of a life, shattered dreams and unfullfilled expectations, she finds herself in a small town in the Australian outback. This is where she meets "Lachlan". Mysterious, wealthy and very into her. He makes her the offer of a lifetime...3 months with him, no strings attached, no identifying information and no real names. Just 3 months of dating and S.E.X.. At first she is not impressed and even insulted by the offer, but upon closer consideration, she decides to accept...and the story begins there...
    It's a beautiful story. Hey, who doesn't want what happens in this book. For the incurable romantic in me- it had it all.

    Take a chance and read it - you won't be sorry.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars one of my favorite books !
    Reviewed in France on 16 November 2013
    Verified Purchase
    One of my favorite books. Take a rich alpha man, undecent proposal, some misery , some suspence and music.

    This book has it all... I laughed a lot, cried a lot, sighed a lot and got hot and bothered !
    Report

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