Beautiful Bad starts immediately with a 911 phone call and a police officer at the scene wondering what could have happened. The book toggles back and forth between current day and past events. Maddie describes her relationship with her husband, Ian and her best friend, Jo. The three main characters have many dramatic ties between them, but all comes together within the last chapters of the book. As a reader, you know "something" is going to happen, but it does take until the end of the novel before those predictions can manifest themselves.

I enjoyed this book but found the ending somewhat predictable. It was a little long, but overall an entertaining read.

BEAUTIFUL BAD lost me somewhere around the middle. I was unable to finish, giving up around the 75% mark.

This is a book that meticulously crafts the jagged and cracked world where PTSD meets survivors of near-death experiences. It’s not a beautiful ending.
Maddie is impressive. You’re really going to like her. She travels to write and has no fear no matter where her assignments take her. She’s a hard-drinking party girl who throws caution to the wind and lives her life to the fullest; almost too full. She constantly relives a moment in her youth where she almost drowned during a boating incident. It becomes clear that her entire life is altered by this event; she believes she’s invincible.
Ian is the standard good-looking hunk of a British military guy who now does contract work providing security in Iran, the Balkans, the Middle East, wherever the pay is great. He’s deeply flawed by the death and savage destruction he’s seen, and he believes Maddie can ground him and help him stay sane.
After years of traveling in different directions, they finally get together and share a home in Kansas to raise their beautiful son.
But something’s not quite right. Maddie has a terrible scar along the side of her face, a result of a fall during a camping trip. Or so she’s been told. She begins to see a therapist in hopes that she can figure out why she’s so confused and unsure of her life with Ian.
The couple has a common acquaintance, Joanna, who was friends with both when they met each other. She’s also just as hardened as Maddie, and her role in their relationship is pivotal.
I loved these characters; their scars, visible and unseen; their skewed view of life, their obvious desire to tempt fate. I couldn’t put it down. I was unprepared for the ending. This is a deeply moving book about the lingering and constant damage from PTSD and war. If you enjoy a thriller that puts the pain of sorrow deep in your chest, this is your book. I absolutely loved it.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Harlequin – Trade Publishing for making it available.)

This was a fantastic novel, I really liked it. It was told from alternating points of view and hooked me from the beginning. The story weaves the past and the present. The characters are well developed and keep you guessing as to what they will do next and their mental stability. It's very interesting what war will do to a person; this story touches on PTSD and the insight into this mental condition is outstanding.

This is a love story, a mystery, a thriller, and the ending does not disappoint! Wow, the twist, just wow.

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a twisty, chilling book! Ian and Maddie have gone through A LOT to make their relationship work, encompassing several countries and decades. They are finally married, with a small son, but something terrible happens. As we wander through the scene of the crime with an intrepid investigator, we also experience the past through both Ian and Maddie’s perspectives. I couldn’t put this book down; I was so concerned about little Charlie, that the truth of what was happening walloped me! I don’t want to give any spoilers, but this is definitely a thriller that stayed with me several months after reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc.

This is the story of a marriage and a tumultuous relationship. The reader knows from the beginning that someone dies since there is a chapter entitled “The Day of the Killing.” However, it is not until much later that you find out who dies and how and when. The plot unfolds with multiple points of view and various settings, including the Balkans, a location that is rarely found in modern fiction. Maddie and Ian are married and have a wonderful son named Charlie and a good friend named Jo. It is obvious from the beginning of the book that one of them is a victim, but the essential elements of the story are revealed slowly, like a hidden picture mystery. There is indeed a hidden secret in this psychological thriller, and the secret is not easily guessed and is shocking when it is revealed. Since the story is told in reverse chronological order, it was a little hard for me to follow at times. It was also slow-moving sometimes’; I just wanted the big reveal to happen so I could know what was really happening in the story. The tale of Maddie and Ian was well done, a tangled one with a lot of very deep issues. I enjoyed the story once I really got into it and started understanding who played what role. This is not a story that is easy to forget but it is not one that is easy to read either. The perfect family has terrible secrets and a sinister occurrence that will leave the reader reeling and wondering how you missed the clues about what was really going on. This is a book for fans of thrillers and dark mysteries.

Maddie meets Ian on a visit with her friend Jo in Europe. Their friendship takes them to the corners of the world which is a different life from Maggie’s home of Kansas, USA. Ian is in the British Army and Maddie is immediately taken with him. Even with tensions running high between Jo and Ian, Maggie can’t stop loving Ian. After years of back and forth travels and broken relationships, they settle down and start a family. The hard war life has left Ian hardened to the world and struggling with PTSD symptoms. Then an accident happens that leaves physical scars for Maggie. The past starts to unravel. Can a friendship be repaired? What happens next you will never guess.

This is my first read from this author. The twists and turns of Maddie, Jo & Ian’s relationship left me wondering what would happen next. I was not expecting the ending. I look forward her next new book.

Started off really liking this book. Really liked the “past” sections, descriptions of other countries during war times. Loved the friendship between the main character, Maddie, and her best friend, Jo. The transitions from past to present are smooth and well-written. I thought the story would move along quicker than it did and found myself eager for something to happen. I didn’t really have any guesses as to how it was going to end. Which is rare for me, I always have at least a GUESS. I give 3 stars for being original and a overall decent read but did not knock my socks off.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I usually don't enjoy books that jump through multiple timelines and sync up at the end. This book, however, was brilliantly written and the timelines were done so well, I wasn't confused or re-reading constantly. I read a lot of reviews that said people were let down that they didn't get more of a connection to the characters. I worried about this before reading. But, now having read it, I don't see how this wonderful story could have been pulled off any other way. Yes, we get mainly 1 person's perspective, but I feel it's necessary to build the suspense and thrilling storyline.

The story starts with The Day of the Killing. And not until the end of the book do you even know who is injured, dead, and the perpetrator. I have never read anything quite like this, and I LOVED IT! It kept my interest the entire time, and I never saw the ending coming. Great, great read! I would highly recommend.

Welcome to crazy town! You will spend your time furiously flipping pages(or swiping) to solve the mystery of just who is the crazy one. Or are they all crazy? Sadly, the ending is disappointing and not show stopping. But I have to give the author credit for holding the reader's attention in the beginning stages of the book. I also appreciate the flashback style of writing. I just would have liked a different ending and for some loose ends to be tied up.

The story opens with Maddie looking at a site on the internet about needing a therapist and her husband,Ian gathering things needed for his trip. The next scene is a frantic call to 911. Police are responding The next jump is to The Day of the Killing and then Ten Weeks Before. There is a definite sense of danger and urgency present but it is also a bit disorienting.

I'm ambivalent about the characters. At times they were sympathetic and other times they were quite despicable. Maddie and Joanna are friends both working abroad in countries bordering each other. They traveled back and forth to visit each other. They met other workers in the bars and restaurants and each noticed the good-looking Ian who did protection work.

I did enjoy the book and there were a few surprises that that left me with my mouth hanging open.
Thank you Park Row Books and NetGalley for supplying the Advanced Reader's Copy for the purpose of review. The opinions expressed are completely my own.
#BeautifulBad #NetGalley

I couldn't get into this book. It was very confusing with many characters. I will give 3 out of 5 stars.

Maddie and Ian have a tumultuous relationship. After a chance meeting at a party overseas, Maddie and Ian spend years going back and forth between loving and hating one another. Now, two decades later, married with a beautiful little boy named Charlie, Maddie and Ian are settled in small town Kansas. What appears to be a happy ending to their rough beginning, quickly becomes a web of tales spun into confusion. Suffering from PTSD from his military days overseas, Ian's actions turn worrisome. Maddie, fearful for her life and her child's begins to seek solace in a psychiatrist and old friend. The hope is that things will get better. Until...

Someone dies. Someone lies. Someone needs to figure out the truth.

To me, a good psychological thriller has three components- an OMG hook, a fast-paced toggle back and forth between characters and/or timelines, and a mega-twisty ending. Beautiful Bad had the first and the last component, but the toggle was a slow one for me. Typically, I can read a psych thriller in a day and a half, two at the most. This one took me almost five. I appreciated the overall premise of the story, but I found there was a lot of "slow" throughout. Authors of psychological thrillers have a tough job of building plot without giving too much away. In this case, I felt like there was an excess of build, and at points I forgot I was reading a thriller. I did love the back and forth between past and present, and I loved the transfer of voice between characters- especially the agent on The Day of the Killing. Maddie's character is one that leaves the reader confused. I didn't know if I was supposed to be rooting for or against her, which I loved because it really threw my mind into a spiral. Overall, this was a good book. I would recommend it to someone who loves thrillers and has the time to muddle through and focus on the build. If you need something fast-paced, don't pick this, but if you're looking for an enjoyable read- this is the book for you.

Maddie and Ian met several years ago when both of them were working in war torn countries. He was from England and she was from Kansas and they both found each other interesting; they had a spark. Years later they rekindle their flame and move to Kansas to be near Maddie's family and away from the city. Ian dealing with his demons from what he saw in the British army and Maddie dealing with her own, is their love strong enough? This was a quick read and it kept me guessing until the end.

A very dark and enthralling novel with tons of turbulent ups and downs. . It was quite a engrossing to read and finished the book in one sitting. I loved it! Would definitely read more from this author !

Excellent book. Psychological thriller that will have you guessing the whole way. Tightly woven domestic thriller that deals with friendship, romantic relationships and murder. Story moves seamlessly across the world and will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole way. Excellent book, not to be missed.

"Beautiful Bad", Annie Ward's second book, is psychological thriller with all the twists and turns you've come to expect from that genre. Ward weaves a nice tale of suspense which really amps up the last 15% of the novel. Having lived in the area of Europe she writes about, Annie takes the reader on a combined travelog and mystery. The author switches tenses and views frequently, but no reader should have a hard time following the timeline.

I can definitely see this one being made into a movie. It's that impactful.

4.5 Stars

WOW! This one really had me up all night. Engrossing and just plain creepy. I could feel the underlying tension throughout the entire story. Really great job, I would absolutely recommend this !

I obtained an ARC from NetGalley for my unbiased review. Wow what a roller coaster ride this book is. Twists and turns to the very end. It started a little slow however the ground work must be laid so I kept reading. This book will not be your typical read. Maddie was almost killed in a boating accident when she was ten. That accident could easily have been the reason for all she did in the future. She liked living on the edge. She went to Bulgaria teaching and traveling back and forth to Macedonia to visit with her best friend Joanna. The trip back and forth is filled with danger but that doesn't bother her. When Maddie meets Ian her whole life will be affected. Ian is part of a team of close protection to the British Ambassador and suffers from PTSD but is the most handsome intriguing person she's ever met. Her life goes on after leaving Bulgaria wishing for contact from Ian. When it comes she is elated. Their romance spans years and moves to her home town. The book travels back and forth though out the years of their lives up to and past the killing. This book will make you want to go back and re-read it to see if you could have seen that coming. I gave this a four star not five only because it was difficult to follow if you didn't sit and read all at once. It showed the effects of PTSD and the struggle to have a normal life for two people who were not normal Actually was quite a feat to write.

I was provided a pre-publisher copy via NetGalley. This book will be out in March 2019. This book reminded me a lot of the Gone Girl style. If you are one who enjoyed that story, then this will be an enjoyable read. The book begins with a cliff hanger of an event. The book covers Maddie a younger woman who is a journalist and working in war torn and third world countries. She has a best friend Joanna that works is getting relief aid to people within these same areas. Both of them cross paths with security detail of various kinds and then run into Ian. Ian is a big, burly Brit that comes across as aloof but then very caring. Romance ensues and off goes the story. You move back and forth between current time, just prior to current time and the past when these three meet. The author does a job keeping you aware of the different timelines and gives enough information to keep you guessing about the opening chapter (current time). It has a few twists and turns and a rather short, abrupt ending which is why I gave it 3 stars instead of 4.