Painted Faces

Gah, I'm trying really hard here not to turn all fangirlish and make this review about just how good Wild Beasts are (the band playing at the festival). Just listen to them!

This book is unlike any I've read. It's mainly because the hero and heroine, Nicholas and Freda, are so different (although Nicholas reminded me a bit of Mac from [b:Rockoholic|13482839|Rockoholic|C.J. Skuse|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329106913s/13482839.jpg|14525101], and I adored him). I may have to add it to my list of all-time-favorites.

“We all paint on a face to show the world. For some of us, that's quite literal.”

Nicholas is a drag queen. Yep, isn't that awesome? He is this eccentric, wonderful man, the most unconventional hero I have ever read, and show more there are ~so many layers to him that I just wanted more, and more, and more to be revealed. Unfortunately, the book had to end somewhere. It's a slow reveal of why he uses his Vivica Blue persona to become someone else, even for a little while. As a reader, you already know what happened, but if anything, I would have expected him to go the other way. He does come off a bit pushy at the beginning, and a bit too touchy-feely, which could be mistaken for sexually aggressive, but you'll come to realize that's just the way he is. He really has an amazing personality.
And I may have a girlcrush on Viv.

Freda has a bit of a dirty mouth. She cusses, and has absolutely no filter for the things she says. She is also a lovely person, with sharp wit and an awesome sense of humor. You can tell that everything about her is the product of her defense mechanism - she's a size 14 (UK! and I don't think that's fat) and has been called fat her whole life, she grew up in a bad neighborhood. What's wonderful about her is that she has a mind so open, Nicholas's eccentric nature only draws her in more.

I loved the easy relationship they fell into despite all the attraction and sexual tension (and there's a lot of that - they have crazy chemistry.) The two of them together made so much sense, it's like they were made for each other. I loved their dynamics. Knowing Nicholas's history the conflict made sense, too - it wasn't over the top.

I wish there was proper punctuation in dialogue, so I wouldn't have to stop and put commas mentally where they should be. Otherwise the book is beautifully written, and it's laced with wonderful humor. Even though the book is not from Nicholas's POV it might as well have been because you get to know him so well. I did want to get inside his head at times. I loved the setting of Dublin, and all the wonderful, colorful characters - Freda's parents, her best friends Nora and Harry, Phil, even Aaron the ex-boyfriend with stalker tendencies was a great character. The book is a bit on the long-ish side, but it's a fast read.
I didn't like that the author often broke the fourth wall - I don't like being spoken to by the narrator if the book is written in 1st person POV. But I think this is just me, so don't pay much attention to it.

Overall, I'd say that this book is so good it's definitely going on my favorites list. It's refreshingly different in a sea of post-50sog romance books today, and definitely worth reading. I'm so glad I did. Also, go listen to Wild Beasts! show less

I didn’t want this to end ! I love Viv and Fred they are so interesting and work so well together. I am a character reader, I can take a poor story if the characters are fabulous. Give me great character and a fabulous story and I'm one happy Yodamom. I’ve read many of the reviews there are so many complaining about it being too long, in need of serious editing….. wah wah. Perhaps, from another POV it does. I can’t say they are wrong ! (but they are)😀 Yes, I love this book ! I adore this author's characters and the situations she had them deal with, worked for me. It was like watching Friends, we watched them live everyday lives, do (gasp) normal household things and enjoyed it. Some readers are calling for a cut ?!?!?!? show more (I’m feeling faint) No, no, no, and miss out on the little moments ?! There is a good portion of this book that has us following them around while they do normal things that don’t push the characters into reaction mode. This was my time to drink my tea, sit back and get to know them better. To watch the little moments that shined light on their quirks and their hearts. I really loved this book, LOVED IT. show less

I read all the glowing reviews when this first hit the interwebs, but after reading the synop I didn't know if I would be ok with cross-dressing in my romance. Damn, was I wrong. Still not something that I personally understand the attraction to, but the relationship Cosway forms between Nicolas/Viv and Fred/Freda is amazingly touching. They are both coming from not-great places, and seeing them work through that while dealing with outside forces too... It was moving.

My only gripe was how quickly the stalker storyline was wrapped up... And the wrap-up itself. The ratio of build-up to resolution was a bit off for me.

Otherwise loved the writing (even though some of it was very Irish colloquial making it hard to understand meaning show more sometimes) and ALL the characters. Really looking forward to more by this author. show less

A Hearts On Fire Review

"Painted Faces" simply is a romance story. At the heart of this story, a girl and boy - they meet, befriend each other, become new best friends, fall in love, have sex (very hot indeed) and fall in love some more. It's a story I feel a lot of romance readers will love because it has the great elements that drives romance readers to want to read, a bumpy, winding road delivering you into the always searched after happily ever after. And it is set in the magical land of Ireland.

That being said, this story is so much more that a 'freak' book or 'drag queen' book. Yes, the hero, Nicholas, works as a drag queen (the divine Vivica Blue) in a cabaret bar but he's so much more. And Freda, the heroine, she's so much more show more as well.

I adore M/M romance and have been reading it for many, many years, this is straight M/F, darlings. And an erotic one at that.

When Nicholas told Freda:

"I want to ruin you Freda, in the best way possible."

I felt like the cat who got the cream.

How can a drag queen hero be straight, you wonder? Oh Nicholas is remarkably straight without having to be uber-macho. He's delightfully subtle, you won't even notice. He's also remarkably blunt, you want to slap him then lick his face. He's damaged and once you read the prologue, the conclusion you draw from the level of damage he carries will be correct.

"So this is me darling, a complete and total contradiction. A fucking mess." He smiles sadly.

"A beautiful mess," I proclaim.

"But a mess nonetheless," he adds.

Nicholas was beautiful to me before learning all of his flaws. He was so male at times, then he could flip it and just...this man's a star. I adore him flaws and all and his past abuse did not make this a pity liking. He's frigging funny and his feelings were very much lovely.

And Freda? The smart mouth, potty mouth snarky bitch? How can anyone not adore heroines like this? Maybe because I'm a smart/potty mouth with a heavy dose of snark. We broads must stick together. And bonus, she's intrigued with boys who lay with boys..."I'm always strangely intrigued to hear about what two men do together in bed". She's got a fan in me for life!

Freda and Nicholas together? I enjoyed them and consumed this book in less than a day. It was that good. There's minor typos but the story flowed so well I'm ignoring.

The author did a great job with choice of secondary characters, Nora - Freda's roommate and friend, being the 'everyday person' who automatically assumes a drag queen is gay and can't open her mind to the other possibilities. She was quite rude after she discovered Nicholas's profession. But she sort of opened up towards the end.

L.H. Cosway's book will make you question the possibilities, appreciate the drag/cabaret culture and resonate in this blunt, funny, flawed, delightful love story about a damaged man who covers his face in paint and wears women's clothing and the woman, his best friend and lover, who loves him.

This is most definitely going on my re-read shelf.

ETA 10/5/13: After numerous rereads including today (apologies to my TBR mountain), this book is still tops...for me. It has heart, ladies and gents. This is great love story - Nicholas and Freda.
AND it is free until 10/8/13 on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AOSEF9A " show less

This book was awkward in parts but hilarious throughout the entire book!! Some of my favorite quotes are:

"I might not have a boyfriend, but i have cupcakes, and those tasty bastards haven't let me down yet"
"I probably would have given him a chance by now if it weren't for the fact that he bores the tits off me"
"I have never met Saoirse, but Nora talks about her a lot and I get the impression she's a bit of a cunt"

Ah man the author was so extremely funny in her rants, and so completely honest. I loved how she painted a picture of masculinity but altered the package it came in. "Human beings don't always fit into a perfect box the way you want them to" Nicholas was so extremely sexy, but at times i'll admit I blushed when he was on stage show more but in the end it was refreshing to see Fred see past all that and fall in love with the person on the inside AND the outside.

Nora her supposed "best friend" was kind-of a shitty best friend and I didn't really like her character at all, she wasn't very supportive, giving of advice, and nice in general. That really was the only con i saw in this book, Aaron was a little weird and they skirted around the sexual tension for so long I was getting antsy but all in all a great uplifting read :-) show less

I liked that the characters had a palpable connection, and that they were willing/able to give real apologies to each other when needed. I also liked how the story is built on a questioning of traditional gender norms (in some ways). I feel like so much of what I've been (dissatisfied with) reading lately has been written with a pro-patriarchy agenda, so this was like a breath of fresh air at times.

I did think this could have been improved with tighter story editing. I also found the size stuff distracting for my details-oriented brain. Even saying "US size 10" -- that's like whole different beasts depending on if you're at J.Crew vs. Diane von Furstenberg. I'm glad the author didn't foster that divisive "real woman" nonsense though. show more (Although, as an aside, while I'm generally of the opinion that a real woman is anyone who identifies as a woman, I might be comfortable with the limitation "real woman don't engage in size-shaming").

Anyhoodle, an overall delightful story. I'll probably look for more by this author. show less

From the first words that I had discovered from L.H Cosway in the serie "Tegan's Blood," I loved the style of the author and I've become a fan.

In this story, no supernatural beings, no magic. She takes some risks by changing her usual genre. But I think it was a clever move because the story is truly amazing.
With this contemporary and very original love story, she will be able to captivate more readers into her world. As for me, I was swept from by feet by Dublin and by the wonderful characters...
First, it's a nice surprise that Freda is a real woman... And just for that, I was conquered.
A woman with forms and not the usual anorexic with a french size 34, an american size 4 or a english size 6. In addition, this woman has some show more complex, some insecurities that make her quite charming. As we all have some by the way ...
I found this reality actually very cool.

Indeed, why do we always have to read stories where the heroines have a perfect flawless plastics or men have huge bank accounts and fly in private jets ? Sure it's a fiction but still!

I loved the scene when Freda admits that she does not know how to walk with heels and find that they are devices of torture. I was giggling while reading her thoughts because you must admit that sometimes is the truth ... The text made me smile and that's what I love about this author.

In addition, Freda is offsetting by her friend Nora. Again, this is not because Nora is thin that she is necessarily happier ans nicer.
I also liked that there are flaws in their friendship. The two best friends are able to say some crap to each other and still be there for one other when it count the most. There are some jealousies too but again, this is the reality of all friendships.

Although, I must admit that the Anny's character has not been depicted advantageously. Sure, we all have a friend like her among our acquaintances.

As for Nicholas / Vivica, I fell in love with the drag queen at first sight The more I read, the more I wanted to be her friend because she looked witty, somber, hot and fun. After her first performance on stage, I wish I could have flown towards Dublin to attend the Vivica Blue's show!

I was touched by all the flaws and weaknesses of these exquisite characters together with the very just vision of our society pictured despite the fact that we are in a fiction.

I also liked that the author points out the dangers of social networks where many intimate details are easily left accessible in a few clicks for all eye.

Personally, I find the gender change made ​​by the author to be a great success. This book has captivated my attention, has made me smile and made me laugh especially when Fred is having thoughts that I often have myself. Suddenly, it was as if L.H Cosway had touched a chord in me...And, that is the sign of a good writer.

As for her love story, it's amazing, moving, touching without being incredible.
A nice breath of fresh air!

Lucie
http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.fr/2012/12/painted-faces-by-lh-cosway.html show less