It’s true. I’m not what most people would call “pretty” and, well, high school was rough. Fast forward ten years and life is good… league.
But then he kisses me. And we totally forget the room, the crowd, everything.
Then he tells everyone we’ve been dating for months.
Soon everything starts to feel too real, from adorable fights over “necessary” tools to fix my broken porch to surviving a free-for-all dinner with his six siblings to picking up where our last kiss left off.
But there’s something he’s not telling me about why he’s really hanging around, and I’m pretty sure it has to do with my mob-connected brothers.
Because this is not a make-over story, and Cinderella is only a fairy tale…
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I knew as soon as I read the blurb that I wanted to read this book – an unattractive heroine is just as needed in the romance world as a curvy one – so this may be another case of me setting the bar unnecessarily high with my expectations. That’s not to say that I did not enjoy the book – truly it was a delight and I really liked Ford and Gina. It was a great intro to a series (set to feature Ford’s large family), as all of the secondary characters were likable as well. While I did like Gina and Ford’s journey from Kiss Cam to HEA, there were times when the pacing of the plot dragged a bit and about halfway through I was beyond ready for Gina and Ford to go ahead and get in on so that they could hit the inevitable bump and get a resolution. But then when they hit the bump it was resolved so swiftly it was enough to induce whiplash. That being said, Avery Flynn did a fantastic job of expressing Gina’s emotions in a way that I could really feel them with her, as well as depicting Ford’s inner struggle to be a rule follower while falling head over heels in love. 3.5 out of 5 wine glasses.
4 Kiss Cam Stars
Popping my Avery Flynn cherry with Butterface, a book that I enjoyed reading. Totally loved the background story that was being told as the same time I read the written story.
Ford is a detective looking to make a big bust that will prove to everyone, he is worthy at his do good, everything by the book age to one day become mayor. While at another police officer’s wedding, he was put on the spot.
Gina is a wedding planner. Looking to make her business a success. While at the recent wedding she planned, who would have thought that they would pick her to be on the big screen!
While these two meet in a pretty awkward way, there is no denying the chemistry that Ford and Gina felt. It’s after the wedding when the story gets interesting!!!
Can these two who are from totally different family types actually make it as a couple or will the first dinner or first party with the ‘other’ family doom this relationship right from the get go???
It’s a laugh out loud, emotional, but also the down right the honest truth in how people behave.
#BookBistroBlogApproved
I haven’t read this author before but the blurb had me intrigued and looking forward to reading this book. I had HIGH expectations for this book and Avery Flynn met each and ever one of them. This book was beautifully written with some comedy thrown in. This isn’t like many books and movies where the woman is beautiful both inside and out. This character isn’t what many would find hot but like so many of us she is like so many normal people. Going on her journey of acceptance of herself and opening herself up for another possible heart break was such a wonderful read. This book had me fully invested from page one and I couldn’t put this book down. I flew through the pages and could feel my emotions going on a ride with the screw ups that Ford did.
These two characters were so perfect for each other and so enjoyable. I loved Gina, she loves fiercely and will protect them at any cost. She is kind and funny and just a beautiful person, maybe not the typical beauty on the outside but there is nothing better than someone who is beautiful on the inside. The more time Ford spends with her the more beauty he sees in her and the more he falls for her, but is he in her life with the best intentions. He has some secrets that could put any possible relationship with Gina in jeopardy.
Gina has been hurt by so many in her life and being with someone as sexy and hot as Ford is causing all her insecurities upfront and center. Can she trust that Ford is truthful? Can she open her heart to Ford?
This was such a fantastic read, a definite MUST read!! You better believe that Avery Flynn has gained a new fan with me after this book. I absolutely LOVED it!
Finding someone who loves you for you, priceless!
Loved!! Ford…hot, sexy, kinda straight arrow and odd, but adorable. Gina is strong, smart, sassy, independent, and is happy. She knows she isn’t beautiful to most. She’s accepted that. Little does she expect to meet someone hot and have it not be a joke. Ford makes a few errors. He’s not so smooth. Their journey to HEA is fraught with a few bumps in the road and a lot of steam. I love it!!
I liked this but there was too many references to her face and how ugly she was. It really dragged it down for me. They have good chemistry and liked the stuff with Ford’s family but like I said the many references to her looks dragged it down for me.
A Great Romantic Comedy!! Gina Luca is not what the world would consider a beautiful or even pretty heroine. But, she is a strong, independent woman who know her weaknesses and doesn’t let that stop her from enjoying her life. Ford is the hot cop who sees past Gina’s flaws to the girl she truly is. This story is fun, sexy and will open your eyes to just how much pressure we put on ourselves to be beautiful and live up to others expectations. Loved it!!
Words can hurt and cause long lasting emotional trauma; especially if they’re ugly adjectives to describe a person or more specifically, a teenage girl in her formative years. This is the premise of Butterface, the first book in the Hartigans series, featuring Ford Hartigan and Gina Luca. This emotional and at times funny romance is told in dual POV, and be prepare to weep a few times before we reach the beautiful HEA. I was surprised how much this story touched me; I genuinely felt Gina’s pain and hated the injustice she’d lived through her entire life, due to some mean-spirited people. I fell in love with Ford, and his fabulous family, who saw the real Gina.
Gina Luca’s family has ties to the Esposito crime family, something she’s distanced herself from and wants her brothers, Paul and Rocco, to do also. If their father could walk away from it they should, too. The overly protective brothers are small time loan sharks and not very good ones at that.
“When you look like I do, you get used to people treating you as if you were just a punchline and not an actual human being.”
Gina is content with her life; she might not have a man in it but she’s a successful wedding planner who’s doing her own DIY projects on the Victorian house she inherited from her grandfather, Big Nose Tommy. That, unfortunately isn’t the only thing she inherited from her grandfather. Gina’s made peace with her nose, it’s one of the prominent features people focus on when they see her. And she’s aware of the nickname she was called in high school, and its significance: Butterface.
“The world is a visual place. People judge others on what they look like, from skin color to age to physical ability to prettiness, within seconds of meeting.”
Ford feels like he doesn’t quite fit in his family. The straight lace, by the book, handsome Hartigan decided to become a police officer and, with three generations of Hartigans working at the fire department, that’s something his family can’t understand. When he meets Gina, at a wedding she’s organized, they’re pushed into a very public display on a Kiss Cam and he’s surprised by his attraction to her. So when Ford’s assigned a position in the organized crime task force, looking into the Esposito family, he volunteers to find out what he can by getting close to Gina. He’ soon surprised by what he finds.
“And when I look at you, I don’t see a beautiful woman. I see you, and that’s better than any fucking beauty queen.”
Poor Gina! She’d always been level headed and untrusting, knowing firsthand what it felt like to be in the receiving end of deceitful man. It’s why her brothers were so over protective of her. And when she finds herself falling for Ford, and trusting him, the last thing she’s expect from him was to be hurt.
Butterface is the first book in the new series The Hartigans and if this book is anything to go by Avery Flynn will have another hit series on her hands.
Ford Hartigan is a hot policeman who struggles with a few insecurities and he lives his life by rules are not meant to be broken so when he meets Gina Luca he struggles with her family history which is all about living on the wrong side of the law. Will Ford and Gina let their insecurities and families push them together or pull them apart …….
Butterface is a laugh out loud romantic comedy with adorable characters, this author has a nack of giving you stories you can connect and embrace with and I can’t wait to see where she takes us next with the Hartigan family, great start to a new series.
Another fun series by Avery Flynn. The Hartigan family was introduced in The Charmer. They are a big, loud Irish Catholic family of mostly firefighters. Ford’s anal retentive rule following personality made him turn his back on the family firefighting business and become a police officer. He meets Gina Luca at a cop wedding, where she is the wedding planner and they are forced to kiss on the. Kiss-cam. Gina is what mean folks would call a Butterface, she has a great body, But her face! She was treated horribly by almost everyone because she isn’t beautiful , so that colors how she views the world. Ford is assigned to stay at her house after a body is found in the attic, so he can get intel on her mob connected brothers. Ford’s initial attraction he feels for her becomes more as they spend time together. Ford’s duplicity and Gina’s insecurity will of course stand in their path to an HEA. Great book and I cannot wait until the next book in the series.
Butterface is a laugh-out-loud funny and sweet romantic comedy that gets the truth about love, and looks, right. Main character Gina Luca practices being honest with herself on the daily. She has a big nose, she has her dream job, and she has brothers with careers that aren’t quite legal. She isn’t expecting to win any beauty pageants, but her personality in this novel shines brighter than any beauty queen’s smile. Ford Hartigan is a handsome guy, a cop unfortunately, and apparently blind, at least that’s what Gina thinks. He’s also got his own insecurities, as the only cop in a family of firefighter brothers and pretty sisters, he follows every single rule even if it isn’t what he really wants. The two have a by-chance meeting, the kind that makes readers laugh and character’s faces turn red. When the two are pushed together again it’s an opportunity both take advantage of, unaware that they’re allowing their insecurities to stop trust from building between them.
“He glanced down, making eye contact, and for a second they weren’t the hottie and the nottie.”
I loved Butterface, I wasn’t expecting the true-to-reality story we got from Avery Flynn, but boy did I enjoy it. Gina is a classic romantic comedy woman, with a few flaws, some klutzy behaviors, and in her case a face she doesn’t find beautiful, but someone else does. Ford is absolutely the most by the book cop I’ve ever read in a book, but it makes him endearing, especially with him falling for Gina and the family she belongs to. It seems too easy, a hot cop and a wedding planner and happily ever after, but the two have secrets and both struggle to overcome the image of themselves they’ve believed for so long. Avery Flynn tells an engaging romance that makes you both laugh and feel a bit of emotion as you hope that Gina one day realizes she’s beautiful and deserving of love too. Ford and Gina don’t have it easy, neither are perfect, but it makes their relationship and their chemistry all the more believable.
“Ford Hartigan, are you breaking the rules?”
Butterface is a powerful rom-com, it has a meaningful message built in with the laughs. It has a bit of a feminist roar to it, with Gina owning her flaws, fighting for her dream, and accepting only good into her life, even if it takes a few messy tries first. It’s a story readers will embrace and connect with, because we all want to feel beautiful in our skin and loved for just being who we are. I really enjoyed this book and I definitely can’t wait for the next. Avery Flynn has a new fan in me.
ARC provided by Entangled Publishing, LLC.
4.5 Stars
Every time I read a book by Avery Flynn I know I’m going to laugh and fall in love with the book. I always look forward to her books. She just has a writing style I love. This is another winner by Avery Flynn. I loved Gina. She’s a every day woman that anyone can relate to. I could put myself in her shows a lot. I knew where she was coming from. I love the Flynn wrote a character like her because to see Ford love Gina for herself was truly beautiful. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Ford. I mean that sexy cop had so many swoon worthy moments even right up until the end. This one was so entertaining that I didn’t want to out down to other things I just wanted to gobble this book. I would highly recommend this one. Well I pretty much recommend anything by Avery Flynn because once you read a book by her you come back. She will become an auto buy author.
Beauty is only skin deep. And the beauty from within, shines through.
Gina is a successful wedding planner. Just starting her own business and hustling to make it a success. She’s resigned to the fact that she is un-dateable. Tormented as a child and adolescent, she has insecurities about how she looks.
Ford is a sexy cop, who is all about order and following the rules. He’s from a large loving, family that can be overwhelming but in the best of ways.
These two get caught on the kiss cam at a wedding reception that Gina is working. They are coerced into kissing on camera and it is EXPLOSIVE! And then a prank by some co-workers, leaves Gina once again crushed and reminded of her past torment. People can be so cruel.
Gina and For paths cross again but now it’s about work. Ford is hiding the truth. So many obstacles in way for these two. Their road is bumpy but Gina is tough and resilient.
A story that will break your heart at times. Gina is a strong woman with a good heart. She deserves someone who only sees how wonderful she is. Ford is a man that has his faults but he is inherently good. Not always making the best choices, but his heart is in the right place.
Ford fell in love with the woman and her heart. When you love someone, they are beautiful to you. And Gina was a beautiful person.
5 STARS FOR BUTTERFACE!! What a fantastic story! The story is full of humor, sexiness, sweet and a lot of heart. I loved Gina and Ford their story was amazing and will keep you flipping pages. This is book 1 in a new series and I can’t wait for more. Avery Flynn has delivered a phenomenal first book in this new series. Do yourself a favor add buy this book.
I was intrigued to read Butterface by Avery Flynn because the author was bringing something different to the table, however, it didn’t completely grip me. It took me a while before I could get into the story and at first, the characters were kind of annoying. It did move along though and by the end, I did like what I was reading. I don’t know if it was that the characters weren’t fully developed or if the story wasn’t flushed out, but something felt like it was missing for me. That said, the subplot was interesting and the ending brought it all together. She isn’t just a meek and mild heroine. 3.5 stars.
I have to say I have read a couple books about bullying lately and it made sit back and think about my own past and what I have called other people.. or what I had been called… this day an age people tend to really fall from the bullying they get from others but I feel more extreme than when I was younger.. suicide is the biggest problem with bullying and it breaks my heart to think my kids could possibly be inflicted with the hatred at some point.. but I hope and pray they are never the one bullying someone else or fall victim to the horribleness of it.. in this story Butterface is a slang word that is used and we all know what it means but I dont always think we realize how badly it can hurt someone… so what I will take mostly from this story is how much it affected someones life and how she rose from the ashes of the pain scrutiny. It took me a bit to get into this story completely but once it got going and the story unraveled I did enjoy it and would give it a 3.5 stars.
Gina has been shunned all her life because of not being the pretty girl… but she has found as an adult that she has to push it aside because she has plans for her future and to make that happen she has to be the face of her company and build it up to its greatest potential.. what she doesn’t expect is her family and there history to determine her path in life.. She is not prepared for the onslaught of things that will unravel when Ford literally charges his way into her life in more ways than one… but will his secrets keep her safe or finally unravel her completely?
Get to one clicking to see what happens!
An epically funny and heartwarming rom-com, Butterface will pull you in with a laugh, then hit you right in the feels. Gina is so very real, from her flaws to her insecurities to her problematic family, and Ford comes off cocky and charming until we see his own insecurities and meddling family.
Gina is a wedding planner, and she gets ambushed by a drunken bride’s kiss cam at a wedding with the hottest guy she’s ever seen. Way out of her league, because she was dubbed ‘Butterface’ in high school. But, not only does he seem eager to kiss her, when she lies to her overbearing brothers and announces that they’re dating, he backs her up without hesitation. And when she finds a body in the attic of the house she’s inherited, he insists on continuing the charade.
Ford is a Hartigan, and the only cop in a family of firemen. He’s the black sheep, to a degree, The not-charming Hartigan brother who bucked tradition. And when he’s ambushed by the kiss cam, and then in his hotel room, thanks to his troublemaking coworkers, he discovers that the pretty girl—despite her big nose—he’s been eying is a Luca, a family with ties to the local crime scene. A family he’s investigating, though Gina doesn’t seem to be at all involved with her brother’s’ schemes. So he seizes on her lie about dating and uses it to his advantage.
But it doesn’t take long hanging around with Gina to realize that she’s as sweet as they come, and more than a little spunky. She just might be a girl he’d want to be with…only they’re not together, and Gina is oddly resistant to him, despite all that they have in common, namely interfering, boisterous families.
When the truth about his motivations comes out, will they be able to move past it, or will that be their breaking point? Read Butterface and find out! A great debut to a new series, which will be especially appealing to any fans of Avery’s Harbor City series, as the first Hartigan made her debut in The Charmer. It’s also a must for any romance fans who have ever felt the way they look will impede their path to a happily ever after.
I need a great, steamy romantic comedy from time to time, and Avery Flynn never disappoints.
A great, feel-good book! <3
Butterface is the first book in The Hartigans series and it’s a winner! I loved this story and these characters.
While it had it’s funny, sweet and very sexy moments of course (because Avery Flynn rocks at that!), it was more than that. Gina was such a strong character, despite everything she went through. And Ford, even with all the obstacles in their way, was so drawn to Gina. There was no stopping the magnetic pull towards her. I loved how he felt about her.
I really enjoyed reading Butterface. I was so rooting for this couple and the storyline kept me turning the pages!
I want to thank Avery for writing this story
BUTTERFACE is the first book by Avery Flynn that I have read.
When straight-as-an-arrow Detective Ford Hartigan meets wedding planner Gina Luca, they are pressured to participate on a Kiss Cam at a wedding. They are both left feeling somewhat dazed after such a great kiss.
Ford’s bucked generations of family tradition. He’s joined the police force instead of becoming a fire-fighter and his large family will not let him forget it. He’s got something to prove and one way to do this is to bring down a crime family, one Gina’s brother’s are involved with.
Gina’s a wedding planner whose family also has connections, albeit low level ones, to organised crime. Gina’s life may be squeaky clean but she’s still a person of interest to the police.
The elements of a romantic comedy in this book are very well written. The relationship between Ford and Gina is sweet and sexy. They had fun, they provided loads of humour, the attraction between them is palpable and hot.
The dark cloud looming over this book is the characterisation of Gina. She’s spent her life being ridiculed, mocked, and judged as lacking because of her unattractive face. Her looks have made her a joke her entire life. She’s a “butterface”. I must live under a rock because I have never heard the expression before and the cruelty of it shocked me. The author’s relentless reminders throughout the book often made for uneasy reading. Frankly, it was heartbreaking.
As much as I liked Ford, I was cheering for Gina. If she had decided Ford was not the one for her, I would have happily accepted it. The only people who seemed to be always on her side were her criminal brothers. Ford’s dilemma in deciding where to draw the line between professional and personal with Gina drives a lot of the plot but for me it pales in comparison to the way Gina was not only treated but how this manifested into her own self worth.
Overall BUTTERFACE is sweet, sexy and heartwarming. It’s the first book in The Hartigan’s book series and I am looking forward to reading more about them.
What a delicious story! So on the average day, we pick up a novel depicting a gorgeous heroine who turns every head around right? Well, our dear Avery Flynn has decided to give it to us straight and showcase one of us that isn’t so perfect for a change! It’s fun, it’s sad, it’s oh so true … and best yet, it teaches a message if you’re willing to open your eyes and see it. Words hurt people … and we all deserve love and true friends as much as the next person! I adored Gina and Ford together, the secondary cast of family and friends were great additions, and the overall plot was interesting. Looking forward to more in the series!
Wedding planner Gina Luca knows she’s not pretty. Life has been one hard lesson after another in what’s expected and acceptable and she’s just simply not it, but she’s top notch at what she does, dependable, and the bomb when it comes to being a friend, so it’s not all bad! She thought she was over the mob mentality anxiety that grew from her childhood trauma at the hands of the other not so nice kids, but when she has the bad luck of being stuck by the most handsome man in the room on a Kiss Cam at a wedding, she’s mortified! They can’t expect this guy to kiss her … he’d never live it down!
Detective Ford Hartigan is only too happy to get his hands on her, but isn’t sure why she seems so put off by him. Once he catches wind of the razzing she gets on a fairly regular basis, he gets why she thinks he wouldn’t take her seriously … but he’s here to tell her that he does. He likes her … a lot! Only problem is, his job just might be pushing him in her direction as well to see what kind of info might be floating around about her mobster brothers!