Jesse and Dane work together at a bar-club. Jesse being a dancer and Dane a bartender. They don't always work in the same part of the club but one disagreement made the owner realize there is something about these two and so he made them share two dances on Friday night and the response of the audience was to be expected - they LOVED the simmering fire. That means one happy owner and though Jesse and Dane weren't THAT happy dancing together the tips were kinda worth it..
In Jesse's eyes Dane was simply NO FUN. A grumpy bar tender with a stick up his... yeah.. he would actually enjoy a more loose Dane but that didn't seem to be happening.. Dane might be into the dancing (his body totally betrayed him..) but once their song was over he was outta there, going back to tending bar. From Dane's perspective Jesse was the care free. over confident type everyone seems to gravitate towards but he had enough of one overly charismatic guy to last him a lifetime.
Yet when Jesse stumbles upon Dane playing with his little nephew Hailey he's surprised to see this other side of Dane. Sweet and caring. Responsible yet knows how to play with a little girl and make her happy. Jesse has always loved kids, though he is an only child so though it's not what neither of them expected Hailey becomes a sort of buffer between them as they find they CAN get along where she was concerned. From there the path to simply friendship (with a little ehm-ehm in between when they can't help themselves) blossoms. Both realizing how wrong their assumptions about one another were. Neither Jesse nor Dane have an easy life, each for his own reasons but they are making what ever they can to build a future for themselves.
I don't want to write exactly what both men deals (or dealt) with not to spoiler, I'll just say though Dane's story (resulting in his trust issues) was heart breaking, I found myself truly in tears over Jesse's situation with his parents. Knowing Christina and her writing, I trusted her together with Riley to bring at least a sort of peace into the story and we totally got that.
There's a lot more to this story. There's Jesse best friend and roommate Seth - I literally and physically shouted YES! When the last page offered the next book is going to be his. CAN'T WAIT (and oh, "Pretty Sweet" was ADORABLE!) There's also a lot more to Dane, his sister and her husband and naturally their little 4 years old daughter Hailey. But mostly there is a lot to Jesse and Dane trying to figure out what's going on between them. Too scared to give it a name. Friends? Friends with benefits? boyfriends? Their feelings are all over the place and though it's obvious to both of them things are getting more and more serious neither is ready to say the words as neither know what to do with what's happening between them.
I could say so much more but I would rather let you experience it yourself. With each piece of the puzzle of Dane and his family and Jesse and his, with every step they take towards one another my heart expanded. Both men were sweet and caring. Genuine. Hard working and positive even when life was throwing curve balls at them. Together they seem to be able to manage all of it, though life is still complicated.
One thing I didn't mention and probably should considering the name of this new series - makeup! boys in makeup! Though it's mostly Jesse. I gotta say as a makeup lover myself I have NO PROBLEM with men wearing makeup. I think it's totally cool. I also really appreciated the way Jesse said it makes him feel stronger. I think I sometimes feel this way as well and like him I don't feel like I HAVE to wear makeup everyday though I mostly do. For me makeup is a creative outlet, it's something fun that makes me feel good, that allows me to play a bit with how I look, it's almost meditative. It gives me confidence when I'm lacking, it makes me smile and clap my hands together like Hailey when I get new stuff. Why should it be confined to women? Come-on men, show me your eye shadows!
I kindly received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
She loves reading, flawed characters, and hanging out with her husband and children, who she adores. She and her family live in Southern California, soaking up the sunshine while also missing seasons. Not a day goes by that she isn’t thankful she gets to wake up and do what she loves.
Life is good. Riley also writes young adult and new adult under the name Nyrae Dawn.
Facebook / Website / Blog / Twitter / Newsletter
Once upon a time, I lived in New York City and was a wardrobe stylist. I spent my days shopping for photo shoots, getting into cabs, eating amazing food, and drinking coffee at my favorite hangouts.
Now I live in the Midwest with my husband and son—my two favorite guys. I've been a clinical social worker and a special education teacher. But it wasn't until I wrote a weekly column for the local newspaper that I realized I could turn the fairytales inside my head into the reality of writing fiction.
I write Adult, New Adult, and M/M Contemporary Romance. I'm addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. I believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.
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Rating:
★★★★★ |
E-Book
Edition |
261
pages
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Read on:
11 January 2020
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ABOUT THIS SERIES
Boys in Makeup is a Contemporary Romance series by Christina Lee and Riley Hart. It focuses on guys who aren't afraid showing true color which I simply ADORE. In each one at least one guy works at a gay club (in different roles) but it isn't about the club at all, it's just the connection (and friendships) between the characters and couples.
The stories are sweet and tender the kind that warms your heart. I loved all three of them!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Books:
1. Pretty Perfect [Jesse & Dane] (Published 16 January 2020) ★★★★★
2. Pretty Sweet [Jake & Seth] (Published 2 October 2020) ★★★★★
3. Pretty Wild [Skyler & Clark] (Published 19 March 2021) ★★★★★
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