{REVIEW} PAINTED FACES (PAINTED FACES #1) BY L.H. COSWAY

RATING: 5 GLITTERING & SPARKLING STARS

I don't understand why I can't listen to people and jump on a book when they recommend I read it. ESPECIALLY since I fell in love with the author's work from another book that was release and I was fangirling about. Who knows why I didn't listen. Probably got distracted with my twins, found something else to read or was in a General Hospital phase. Who knows! The point that I'm trying to convey here is that when someone tells you to stop what you are doing and read a book, you do exactly that. No questions or complaints...JUST DO IT! Case in point: Painted Faces by L.H. Cosway. This book was damn SUPERB! This was not your granny's typical love story. It was a flip on the boy meets girl they are attracted to one another lets see what happens story. Here's why..

Freda aka Fred is living her life in Ireland (basically all of Cosway books are set in Ireland because that's where she is from!) juggling two jobs and finally starting to get her footing in the world. Upon arriving home one day she bumps into her new next store neighbor, Nicholas aka Viv (I'll get to the nickname hold on to your panties for a minute). After a charismatic exchange between the two, they both feel that there is no way an attraction could be developing this quick, what they do know is a deep and meaningful friendship will happen and there just no denying that. But Fred knows there is more than meets the eye when it comes to Nicholas and she is spot on when he invites her to his performance at "The Glamour Patch" one night. Low and behold our very sexy and manly Nicholas Turner has transformed himself into the dazzling, vivacious Vivica Blue, drag queen extraordinaire! Fred just knows, there will never be a dull moment now that Viv's is in her life. From then on we go through the highs and lows of Fred and Viv's roller coaster relationship. My advice to you: Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Fred and Viv made this book come to life for me. Once again I felt I was watching a movie. Every colorful part of their life displayed for me to laugh, cry and cheer with. What I liked about this story was that the "hero" in this book was not your typical, broken tough guy. Yes he was broken and yes he was tough, but the guy dressed up as a woman with no shame. Do not be fooled, Viv is all man..(when he isn't on the stage lol) he loves his breast and ass just like the next man. But performing as Vivica Blue stems from a very emotional and abusive childhood. Seeing his mom perform and how he just admired her beauty started him in playing dress up with his mom's clothing. Then her untimely death occurred, he was literally left alone and trying to embodied the woman he cared so deeply for. Leading up to a co-worker of his father's taking advantage of that secret he tried to keep as a fulfillment and hidden away from the world. Needless to say Viv didn't have an easy life. For me to see another side of the token, so to speak, of a book hero told in a completely different way had me filled with emotions. It takes alot for an author to think outside the box, Cosway did that and wasn't afraid to explore this different take and I commend her for that.

Fred was and is my FAVORITE book heroine hands down. She is snappy, toxic tongue, loud and not afraid to speak her mind. What all book heroines should be but rarely are *sigh*. But she also had that sensitive side which made you fall in love with her even more. She doesn't have the modelesque figure and she is fine with that. Her love, character and personality spoke volumes. I swear you couldn't come up with a better couple then those two. For anyone who reads this book and can't understand how these two are together and just doesn't "see it". Can I ask, what's wrong with you? Did you get dropped on your head as a baby or something? 

The one thing that story tells you from the very beginning is that, this is not your typical conventional love story. Its so opposite, but it so works! I felt every bit of love these two characters shared throughout the book. I was taken by the writing and the words from the Prologue, which nearly had me in tears to the very last sentence of the book. We tend to go with the norm all the time. But what happens when we give our self a change to step away from the norm and just go with something different? You will probably get experiences to last you a lifetime with no regrets. I felt this book did just that. It took me on a journey of love, friendship, acceptance and redemption through a different shade of rose color glasses. 

Truly could not put this book down and when I had, I seriously wanted to poke someones eyes out. That's how pissy I was! Out of 5 I'm giving this book 5 stars. Well done.