JesseAfter spending the first part of my life trapped in a small town where it wasn’t okay to be a makeup-wearing boy who liked boys, I swore I’d leave and never be anything but loud, proud, and unapologetically me. I’ve kept that promise. I’m following my dreams, have an apartment with my bestie, and get to dance my nights away at one of the hottest gay bars in Portland.The only downfall is … downfall is Dane, the sexy bartender with a perma-scowl always aimed my way. The tension between us is so strong that even the clubgoers notice, and they eat that stuff up. Our boss makes us dance on the bar together every Friday night. I might shake my booty a little more with Dane just because I love getting under his skin. It’s not my fault he doesn’t know how to have any fun…but I kind of want to teach him.
Dane
I got burned bad by my last boyfriend. Thankfully, my sister, Bree, and my niece, Hailey, make my days a whole lot brighter. I’m getting back on my feet, including a decent job as a bartender. But working in a gay club makes it harder to keep to myself. No way do I want to get reeled in by another charming, pretty face and get hurt again, and definitely not by someone like Jesse, whose audacity frustrates me to no end.
So why do I want to shove him against the wall and screw that boldness right out of him?
Only…sometimes he’s pretty sweet, especially with Hailey. As we go from enemies to angry hookups to friends, our feelings are changing and moving into uncharted territory. This can’t go anywhere. Jesse and I are like oil and water; we just don’t mix…right?
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“It might not be everyone’s dream come true but it was pretty perfect to me”.
#mm #enemiestolovers #oppositesattract #meninmakeup
MP/MD did a great job with both MCs and the little girl and her moms voices.
I loved both MCs, especially Jesse. I love feisty twinks and when they wear makeup and are as fabulous as he is it’s even better. Danes more masculine side was a good opposites attract and they complemented each other great. They had great chemistry even when they were trying to fight it.
I also loved the cute little girl and loved how she pretty much got them together over time. I really think she was the star role here. I loved seeing how these men interacted so sweetly with her.
It’s a sexy, sweet and at times funny story. I was thoroughly amused by their banter and how they pushed each others buttons. I didn’t give it 5 stars because I think their push and pull went on a little too long. As cute and funny as their banter was, I found myself saying give it up already. Also, I have read and listened to the other 2 books and I liked them more than this one.
This book gave me all the feels. It was fun and emotional and wonderful!
Hate and love are two sides of the same coin. Attraction and chemistry can sometimes unravel those emotions and without you realizing it you find this out.
As always the past of both our men affects how they relate to each other and for themselves.
I love this story because our men have a relationship that has all the parts to make it last.
It’s absolutely brilliant, I have never read a book like this before I really haven’t. This was the first ever male and male book I’ve read and I think I made the right choice to make this my first gay read, the story line, the characters, the chapters are all brilliant and it’s such an intriguing book. I could not put it down. I also bought it on paper back and the second book is on its way. Well done riley hart xx
Pretty Perfect, is an adorable enemies to lovers story.
Jesse, the charming guy with perfect makeup. And Dane, the grumpy stoic guy, with the cutest niece.
“I grew up thinking there were so many things I couldn’t do, so many things I would never do, and with each one I marked off my list, or added randomly to that list, o proved everyone wrong, including past me.”
Pretty Perfect, a story about not assuming things. About trusting others, take a leap of faith, and believe in love.
This enemies to lovers romance was absolutely everything! Outgoing Jesse was the perfect match to grumpy Dane. Their chemistry was amazing and the secondary characters were charming. I cannot wait for Seth’s book and hopefully we will see glimpses of Mark, Bree and Hailey as well.
I really enjoyed this newest co-lab from Riley and Christina. Jesse and Dane – shouldn’t work but they do. It is certainly a case of opposites attract! A great start to a new series I am looking forward to reading the next book.
I fell in love with Jesse immediately. He’s confident and sassy just the way I like them. I loved the Coyote Ugly dances he did with Dane on the bar. So hot! The intensity between Jesse and Dane was amazing. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and this one was spot on for me. This was such a great story and I can’t wait to read more in this series. If you like boys who wear makeup and enemies to lovers, then this one if for you and I recommend giving it a try.
Did you see that cover? And it is my my favorite author collaboration- Christina Lee and Riley Hart. I don’t know what it is but these two write as one. I cannot tell that two authors wrote this book. The voices are seamless.
So, yes, the cover sucked me right in. I am a sucker for men in make up. And I love the juxtaposition of him wearing his hair in a crew cut. Jesse is a complex character who comes off as a flighty go go dancer, but he has so many layers. Above all he is just a charismatic guy who draws people in. Not many can resist Jesse. He is just that guy you can’t help but like.
Dane, at first, only sees that top layer. But Jesse keeps pushing his buttons until he caves. And it still takes him a while to throw away all of his preconceived notions about Jesse.
Add in a cute kid, a shy roommate, parents who try to understand but just can’t and mix it with a healthy dose of guilt- you’ve got a good story.
Dane has a great relationship with his sister and niece. Although they lost their mother years ago, they aren’t defined by that at all.
Jesse’s parents, on the other hand, broke my heart. They still loved Jesse but him being queer really warred with their beliefs. They were pretty isolated, owning a working a farm, so they really had no experience with queer people. But they really wanted to try. That was just so heartwarming.
I can’t WAIT for book 2, which shows you not only how much I enjoyed this book, but how much they could make me care about a secondary character and wanting his happily ever after.
Awe… I Loved This Book! It was so good. I loved Jesse & Dane! They were Enemies, to friends,to lovers,then to boyfriends. So opposite of each other & so perfect together. I’m looking forward to Seth’s story next.
It is impossible to not fall in love with Jesse and Dane. These two set sparks together that light up the page. I was so hooked on Pretty Perfect from the first page. They have this wonderful pull/resist thing going on with each other that neither one is prepared for.
Their story will take you through many emotions. I was not expecting to have my heart stolen by these guys. What seems light and easy at first slowly builds to life changing and beautiful. Learning to trust in each other and themselves helps them navigate the unsteady waters of a new relationship.
Overcoming past hurts and pain will make them stronger together.
This story also emphasizes how family affects our lives, both positive and negative. I loved the support that Dane’s family shows and the scenes with Jesse’s family brought me to tears.
The secondary characters add so much to this story. I can’t wait for Seth’s story. Wonderful start to a new series!
Incredibly smoldering opposites-attract romance with a sexy dash of enemies-to-lovers! The push and pull between Jesse and Dane is deliciously intense and their banter is so much fun to read, sometimes teasing and other times the antagonism and suppressed lust about took my breath away!
What makes this story stand out the most though is all the powerful emotions simmering beneath the surface, all that vulnerability, the hurt and those big feelings that shall not be named. I loved the scenes where Dane and Jesse both start to see each other in a different light, their misconceptions get broken down piece by hesitant little piece in the best way. Seeing them slowly, but inescapably, fall in love was just amazing. I couldn’t put this book down.
I adored all the family scenes, the cute and happy ones with Hailey, the painful and more angsty ones with Jesse’s parents. All of it. I can’t wait to see what’s next in this new series, but it’s off to a pretty perfect start in my opinion.
All the love for Boys in Makeup #1.
Recommend 100%.