“She remembered who she was and the game changed.” – Lala Delilah
Willow Campbell is fed up. Sales on her cosmetics counter are worse than ever and her insufferable boss is breathing down her neck.So when dashing New Yorker Rick Delgado breezes into her life, Willow finds him difficult to resist.Ignoring the warnings of her colleagues on the beauty hall floor, Willow heads off into the sunset … colleagues on the beauty hall floor, Willow heads off into the sunset with Rick…but his “Manhattan” loft is a bedsit in Queens and his ex, Isabella, appears to be in residence.
Scorned Isabella alerts the authorities of a suspected “Green Card Marriage,” setting off a chain reaction with dramatic consequences.
Now, faced with the threat of deportation and her marriage over before it had the chance to begin, does she find the courage to remain in New York and re-build her life?
Warpaint is Book 1 in this sweet romantic comedy series. If you adore Mhairi McFarlane, Beth O’Leary and Portia Macintosh you’ll love J.J.Maya!
‘A rollercoaster romantic comedy that is both heartbreaking and hilarious...’ Teresa Rodriguez, Editor-in-Chief of Haute Living San Francisco.
‘J.J. Maya’s writing style has an easy flow making this Chick-Lit book a quick page turner. With a unique plot and an endearing heroine, this is a great book to curl up with and forget the world for a moment. Warpaint by J.J.Maya is the perfect romantic comedy read, and comes highly recommended by Chick Lit Cafe. Read more about Warpaint and buy today!’ Chick Lit Cafe.
PRAISE FOR WARPAINT
“Warpaint is hilarious, heartbreaking, with a dash of romance and angst thrown in. An extremely enjoyable read, that leaves you wanting more.” —Kelly M.
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A great addition to women’s fiction, Warpaint by J. J. Maya is a humorous rendition of starting a new life in New York. Everyday woman, Willow starts afresh in more than one way when she leaves everything familiar behind and moves from Scotland to the Big Apple. Amusing and lighthearted, with undercurrents of ‘finding one’s self’ and standing on your own feet make this an engaging read.
There’s nothing I like more than curling up on the sofa with a book I can’t put down, and Warpaint was such a book! What I loved about Willow is the fact that she is an everyday woman with real problems. This isn’t one of those billionaire romances; this is normal and relatable and is much more entertaining for it. Slightly overweight, prone to making the wrong decisions’ oh, and picking the wrong men, meet Willow… makeup artist and new world adventurer! The mixed up hero/villain, whisking her off her feet in a whirlwind romance, is Rick. After only six weeks of knowing each other they are married and on their way to his apartment in NY. The reality of life in NY is described with much affectionate humor. The introduction to her ant invaded apartment had me chuckling for ages, dashed is her Hollywood vision of sophisticated Manhattan, replaced by the cold reality of living in Queens. Also dashed is her whimsical belief of being in love and a happy ever after, when the jealous ex-girlfriend arrives on the scene to ruin their relationship. Add to that the tribulations of obtaining her Green Card and you’ll understand this is no fairy tale, it is better than that: funny and moving and a story where we root for the girl to come good. Willow’s passionate about her job, whether she’s doing makeup for celebrities or everyday women. Her love of helping people look the best they can emanates from her when a woman, who is obviously recovering from cancer, has a make-over that fills her with confidence. To infuse someone with self-confidence must surely be one of the best jobs in the world!
J. J. Maya’s writing style has an easy flow making this Chick-Lit book a quick page-turner. With a unique plot and an endearing heroine, this is a great book to curl up with and forget the world for a moment. Warpaint by J. J. Maya is the perfect romantic comedy read, and comes highly recommended by Chick Lit Café.
Don’t miss out on this original, entertaining, heartfelt and LOL romantic comedy!!
A solid 4.5 stars for this thoroughly enjoyable tale that weaves together the plight of a naive new bride immigrating from Scotland to America where disillusionment awaits. It’s not the American Dream that lets Willow down, (mostly) nor the guidance she seeks from her bible-like book of wisdom and enlightenment, it’s her new scumbag of a husband, whom she married after only six weeks.
I love the fact that scrappy Willow pulled up her bootstraps and soldiered on, and I especially enjoyed that she found true love in a circle of friends who championed her to go after the life she truly deserved.
I would’ve liked to see a little clearer motivation about why Willow was unfairly deceived and comeuppance to those who lied to her and made her early days such fresh hell. Otherwise, I enjoyed the author’s clever storytelling, a few unexpected plot twists, the grand department store setting, and the introduction of such interesting, colourful and memorable characters.
Kept my interest but had its issues
3.5 stars
I picked up this book because of the heroine’s Scottish connection. I found that her Scottish roots, though mentioned, did not really play much into the story. The plot did hold my attention from start to finish but I can’t say it was very memorable.
Willow, the heroine, seemed scattered and inconsistent. I don’t know if the author meant her to be that way or if it was just the writing and the inclusion of such a variety of subplots in a shorter book. Willow cares deeply about something or someone one moment yet seems to move with barely a backward glance rather quickly, especially in her hot and cold treatment of her new husband. He may be a jerk, but we barely get to see him interact with Willow, nor do we know much about the whirlwind courtship that got her to the States in six weeks.
The immigration subplot for Willow and the department store where she fortuitously falls into a job was, IMO, broadly drawn and not successful. And there were inconsistencies like having the sun come up at six a.m. at the darkest time of the year and mentioning Rick experiencing Scottish winter when their courtship happened in the fall!
If you are just looking for a light, somewhat plausible single girl adventure in a world full of pitfalls, then you may enjoy this relatively quick read. I can’t say I disliked it, but I had been hoping for something better.
Thanks to publisher Books Go Social and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.