Pretty Perfect

Boys in Makeup, Book 1

By: Christina Lee, Riley Hart

Narrated by: Michael Dean

Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

Jesse

After 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 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?

©2020 Christina Lee (P)2020 Christina Lee

Cotton Candy and Cranky Pants!

I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this book, but given that it’s written by two authors I love & narrated by one of my favorite narrators, I gave it a try. And was I glad that I did.

Jesse and Dane’s story is very relatable. Unique in a sense that nobody’s ridiculously rich and that both are just doing whatever they can to get by. It’s two hardworking individuals trying to live their lives. Dane is healing from being burnt real bad by his ex. Jesse is trying to make his own way and his own dreams come true, living his life in his own terms unapologetically. But somehow, they didn’t get along from the beginning. Complete polar opposites and all.

I love how they gradually fall in love. There was no insta-love here. It was organic. And maybe both can thank Hailey because she was very instrumental in bridging their gap, allowing each to know the other more.

It’s relatively low angst. There was hot animosity sexy times. But also loving tender moments. I love Jesse’s snark and his friendship with Seth. Dane’s loyalty and love for his family makes him a pretty great guy.

This book made me smile, it made me laugh and made me swoon. Perfect quarantine period listen.

Michael Dean did an incredible job with his narration. The range of voices making each characters distinct was pretty stellar.

Solid narration, solid book. I can’t wait for the next one. 💜💜💜💜💜

Captain Crankypants and the Twink

Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes because, when done well, it’s fun. The best part? Snark. It’s not easy to have banter filled with snark but, again, when done well, it works. Pretty Perfect is pretty perfect. I get my snark, I get my hot angry sex, and I get my tender moments when things start coming together. I also get my dark moment when it looks like things won’t work out.

Jesse is the life of the party. He’s a twink who dances at a gay club in Portland. He counts on big tips to help pay for school, so he also has a serious side. Every Friday night, though, he gets on the bar and angry dances with Dane, the bartender. They do this twice, each set lasting one song, and it’s a favorite amongst the patrons. They love watching two men who obviously loathe each other have an angry dance. Dane and Jesse repeat the process over and over because the tips are amazing. Dane also needs the money, so he goes along with this, even though he hates doing it.

There are reasons why each man dislikes the other. Dane is, as Jesse names him, Captain Crankypants. Not in all things, to be sure, but his ex did quite a number on him, and Jesse reminds him of the man. Is this a fair comparison? Not really, but where love and hate are concerned, rationality often goes out the window. Jesse, for his part, comes across as a party boy who loves makeup and doesn’t take anything seriously. So, basically the opposite of Dane. These things come into conflict a number of times until the day they don’t.

Jesse and Dane run into each other outside of the club and suddenly each sees his nemesis in a completely new light. It takes a long time for each man to open up about why they are the way they are – Dane because of his ex and Jesse because of his family. Once they reach an understanding, things change. Oh, and the hot angry sex might be helpful as well. I loved Hailey, by the way. She’s the perfect reason for the two men to put aside their differences and work together.

The dynamics in this book were great. The character building was also well done. I felt like I knew these characters. Like I could be friends with them. Like when they were their true authentic selves that there was something redemptive about each of them. I also liked how we got to meet their families and see how those interactions shaped the men they’ve become.

Michael Dean (formerly Michael Pauley) narrated this story and I have to say I’m in love with him. He’s one of my favorites and for good reason – he always delivers a solid performance. When I see he’s narrating, I know I’m going to enjoy the audio. When the book is well written by two talented women, I know it’ll be time well spent. I also love that the next book has been set up. I can’t wait.

Pretty Awesome!

Original storyline with likable characters (even the grumpy one). Beautifully narrated, as usual, by Michael. My first listen by these coauthors and I'm impressed. Highly recommend!

Dane and Jesse are the cutest thing!

So glad I gave this book a teu.But nos I've got a problem... I'm hooked to these boys in makeup, and I'm afraid I'll have to stick with them untill the end! Thank you, Christina Lee, and Riley Hart, the guys até adorable. And Michael Dean surely delivered, particularly the grumpy Dane. Nice work, guys. Can't wait till I grab the next one!

Is this what the gay community has become?

Totally not for me. I found it Predictable and typical. As usual you have the self centered twink who thinks the world, and everyone revolves around him. Add that to the faux sexual tension with the brooding untrusting bartender you have a predictable book. To bad I can't get my money back.

Pretty perfect story!

Dane and Jessie are such a great couple. I love how they started out not really liking each other but the sexual tension was between them. Then they got to know each other and fell hard. I love Seth and can't wait for the next b book.. Michael Pauley is a great narrator and did a wonderful job on this. Christina and Riley are a couple of my favorite authors and I always love their books, together or separate.

hsaasf

I love this but I'm going say that it was so perfect in every way

Cute

I enjoyed this book and narration. It wasn't an "OMG that was amazing" type of book, but it was cute and I liked the characters. I can't wait to hear what Seth's story is.

Excellent

Another well done book and the narration was awesome. I look forward to more of this series

Cotton candy

Great start to a new series. Hopefully more to come. I Love that they have a man who is so into wearing make up to feel good. Hard working middle class men, getting there hands dirty to swrvive and finding Love along the way. As always an outstanding narration job by Michael Dean. Bring on book 2 and so on and so on.....Worth the credit and your time to listen.🌟⭐🌟⭐🌟

Amazing performance and beautiful written words

listening to Michael dean bring jesse and dane to life was such a beautiful thing to listen too

i felt all the emotions that jesse and dean was going through

i really enjoyed listening and feeling like i was there with dean and jesse and sharing their journey with me

Christina Lee and riley hart's words and Michael dean's performance is the perfect combination

Sweet and mushy

Opposites attract even if they don’t believe it. A quite predictable storyline but with depth and quality that made me both laugh and cry, but mostly it made me feel warm inside.

It was ok

This book was ok but I found myself getting bored and distracted and having to rewind back far too often.