| Title | : | The Makeover Mistake (What Happens in Vegas, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1633752445 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781633752443 |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 100 |
| Publication | : | First published March 17, 2015 |
In Vegas, nothing is what it seems...
After losing a bet, successful publisher Michael Chang is "pretending" to play the piano in a Vegas lounge in order to spy on his less-than-trustworthy employee. His espionage is quickly derailed after meeting Thea Danelle, an editor who's been wronged by Michael's company. She's smart and unpredictable…and clearly hiding a naughty side that tempts Michael to distraction.
Thea has gone from frumpy librarian to the young, wild thing she used to be—all thanks to the promise of sensuous delight in the piano player's eyes. And frankly, after losing yet another author to the competition, Thea is ready to forget her professional problems and explore those sexy promises thoroughly. With Michael, she can finally be herself...until the moment Thea learns who he really is.
The Makeover Mistake (What Happens in Vegas, #2) Reviews
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3 "Bold and unexpected. I like that." Stars.
The Makeover Mistake was a quick read. Michael and Thea’s relationship begins in Las Vegas, with Michael being less than honest with Thea initially in telling her his reasons for actually being there. Things heat up pretty quickly between the pair of them, and the sexy-times were well written.
”Strip and suit up.”
As the days (and nights) pass, Thea opens up to Michael a little more about herself and the problems she is facing in relation to her career. He offers his help, which she accepts, without knowing that she’s actually part of a plan that Michael already has in place, and that she is actually in bed with the competition.
I don’t think this novella will blow anybodys socks off in relation to the storyline, characters or in terms of general development, but it was entertaining enough for an hour or two. It’s not a novella I would rush out and buy; and I have definitely read more enjoyable books by Kathy Lyons.
ARC provided by Entangled, in exchange for the above honest review. -
I have to be completely honest and say I didn't enjoy this. I have no issue with the ugly duckling theme at all; it's one of my favourite tropes as I tend to relate to the ugly duckling. But there were several points in this storyline I very much struggled with. For a book entitled The Makeover Mistake, I actually don't feel that this was the crux of the story. The hero hiding his true identity and why was. Yet it was the makeover aspect that had a huge impact as it was this element that brought all that was wrong along with it. For this reader it was indeed a mistake.
When Editor in Chief Anthea (Thea) Danelle catches the eye of the piano player at a publishing conference in Vegas, it isn't long before they're making music of a different kind. But what she doesn't know is that rather than lounge pianist, Michael Chang is the owner of a publishing house, disguising himself to keep his eye on a less-than-worthy employee.
"When he’d first seen Thea, she’d been one of those dumpy women who didn’t care about fashion. But then she’d removed a couple of layers, and he’d seen plump breasts, fit shoulders, and a narrow waist appear beneath her clingy white tank."
21 pages in and I was, let's say, a little livid. What is this meant to mean? If Thea is "one of those dumpy women", and I'm intrigued as to what the those part of this sentence means, I'm curious as to why Michael decided to sleep with her. Oh, because she "removed a couple of layers", all of a sudden, creating a vision of sexual perfection. I apologise if this is stating the obvious, but I fear the definition of dumpy has been misunderstood somewhere along the way, and I believe it is the same both sides of the pond, because I'm pretty certain that it doesn't involve fit shoulders or narrow waist anywhere in there.
"I'm not a dowdy spinster, piano man. If you're looking for a quiet, graceful lay, pick on someone else."
I love to find a heroine with some sass and strength. It's exactly what I want. But alas, my joy came crashing down to earth with a rather large thud, because if Thea doesn't see herself as dowdy, then why the need for a makeover? For someone who was painted as a fairly strong-willed, independent, intelligent woman, the reasonings behind her choices were weak. Here's the thing;
I'm not one to review to criticise; generally it serves little purpose and doesn't sit right with me, but these are matters I feel strongly about and I received this book in exchange for an honest/unbiased review. I know it's fiction, I don't expect it to depict real-life perfectly, but I need to feel invested and I have to be completely honest in saying this flicked all the wrong switches in me and is memorable for the wrong reasons. I needed to see Thea's strength shine through, she had it in her, and I needed her to fight against Michael when he decided to play Richard Gere. But what I definitely didn't need after all I have ranted over, was a reference to particular terrorist agents, ones on the news daily; that was insensitive and there were other ways to show Michael was a safe guy.
Had it been a full novel it's highly unlikely I'd have finished it. And this is why I can only give it a one star as I've been left frustrated and annoyed. These characters could have been so much more; they were actually sexy together, they had chemistry and some sweet moments, Michael had his moments, but he wasn't a hero I hated, it all boils down to a flawed storyline; I thought we had moved away from those times where how the woman feels about herself centres around a guy's discretion.
Kathy Lyons is an author whose books I have enjoyed in the past. And, despite all of the above, I would still read her work in the future because one bad apple doesn't spoil the bunch. On this occasion though I've been left hugely disappointed.
Copy received courtesy of Entangled Publishing for an honest and unbiased opinion. -
ARC generously provided by entangled publishing in exchange for an honest review..
2 "Let Me Be Your Hero" stars
Operating in the world of publishing, Michael Chang finds himself fake playing a piano in Vegas with the intention of being Mr Eagle Eye. Someone within his company has been up to no good in their attempts to win business, and Michael and his brother Jonathan intend to get to the bottom of it.
Thea Danelle is a smart editor who has been experiencing a weird sense of being pipped at the post lately. She's attending a publishing event and finds herself disillusioned by the attendees, especially a certain bombastic competitor. So she takes solace in Mr piano man, and finds his wily flirting skills most enticing.
I must say, I struggled with the flow of this story, It appeared a little disjointed to me, and as a consequence, caused me to lack any connection to either character. It set a rapid pace as this couple threw themselves at each other, with insta love and a promise of dominance.
"He did. And she did. And they did it all together."
I thought the title was a tad misleading, given it formed such a small part of the story.
Note: I've increased my rating by one, due to the mention of Enrique...not my cuppa, but one of my husband's faves. #badtasteboy -
This was a cute, quick read. It's what I call an in-between read, or a book that you read in between really angsty, emotional or dark reads for pure entertainment purposes. This isn't a book that will leave you with a hangover but it's a good read non-the-less.
It's a bit of an insta-love story but I'm totally okay with it. I think the biggest problem with this story is that the title isn't really fitting for the story as a makeover was a very small part of the story and didn't really have an impact on it.
The writing is good and the story is sweet. If you're looking for a book that will leave an impact on your heart, this probably isn't it. If you enjoy a quick, sweet story now and again, this is definitely worth picking up. -
2.5 I was not entirely convinced Stars
Ok, I must confess that after finishing this book I’m confused by the title. Was the makeover the mistake? Or was it the H actions behind it? Or the h feelings about it?
Although well written and pretty hot it didn’t work for me. The main characters may have lacked a little depth, and maybe the whole “we’re in Vegas so let’s pretend be something we’re not” wasn’t completely believable to me.
I’m not against an insta-lust-then-I-realize-I’m-in-love theme, I actually like those stories but I can’t quite put my finger on what’s my issue here yet, just that it was an Ok read for me.
*I received a complimentary copy from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review* -
It you are chasing a quick read, this is the book for you.
Thea's life is under upside down when she loses another author to another company. Michael is the CEO of the Chang Publishing and is wanting to investigate one of his employees. So, he disguise himself as the piano player. What he doesn't expect is to fall for the opposition. From there this is where the relationship/sexy times begins. Overall, I did enjoy this quick read. I would like to read a follow up story to see what the future held for them. -
Funny, cute and interesting. It is a novella best for those who are looking for light-hearted romance. I really loved this book and I think it is very well written and extremely entertaining. I also enjoyed reading an extra chap at the end. That was brilliant and made me laugh. :)
P.S. Detailed review to be added soon... -
Not a particularly interesting read for me.
Our hero is 'undercover', playing piano in a Vegas bar whilst spying on one of his employees.
The heroine is a frumpy editor, who's clients keep ditching her and jumping ship to the hero's company.
Our hero gives her a makeover, finds out what his dodgy employee has been up to and upsets the h when his identity is revealed.
I didn't really like any of the characters, and the premise makes it sound much better than it was. -
1.5-2 stars.
Oh boy, this just was not for me. At all.
The story started good enough, but then it got … I don’t know.
Things just happened way too fast, which I get, considering it was a novella, but I’m not a fan of ILYs after just two or three days. They didn’t tell each other until much later, but to feel THAT powerfully over someone you really don’t know? Yeah, that’s a big no-no for me. In those days they didn’t really get to know each other, they just had a lot of sex and Michael pretending the entire time to be someone he wasn’t. How is that love?
In a way, I liked Thea, she was really smart and freaking awesome at her job, but I wasn’t a fan of her self-deprecating issues. A makeover does help you feel better about yourself and more confident, but it’s not everything, she just gave too much importance to the fact she dressed older than her age. To me, it wasn’t the end of the world. I did love how she called Michael out on his lying, he had plenty of chances to tell her the truth, considering a big part involved her.
This just wasn’t for me. The chemistry wasn’t there, in my opinion; and too many whys in my mind.
*Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion* -
This was another really adorable read from Entangled’s Lovestruck line. It’s a novella, clocking in at only a little over 100 pages, but it’s so much fun! (If anything- I’d say it was too short, since I adored these characters and could really get into a meatier storyline with the two of them involved. Is it too much to ask for a sequel??)
I’m a big fan of ugly duckling stories, and I loved seeing Thea’s transformation in this book. She might very well start of the story with no style, but that doesn’t mean she has no smarts, and that’s what makes her so endearing. She’s whip smart and focused on her career, making her easily likable and fun to root for. Who doesn’t love a smart heroine?
I also love a good mistaken identity story, and this one is cute in every way. Michael chang is masquerading as a lounge singer in Vegas, covering up his true identity as a powerhouse publishing mogul. The chemistry between him and Thea is immediate and convincing, right up through the big reveal. Oh, and bonus points to the author for writing a smoking hot, yet incredibly diverse leading man. Michael is not your “Typical” leading man and I loved him to pieces.
If you’re looking for a sizzling romance and a fun ride, grab a copy of The Makeover Mistake. It’s got everything you could ask for in a romance, all wrapped up in a short, easy read. -
ARC received from: Netgalley
Rating: 3*
Cover: Yay
Trope: N/A
Chemistry: Low boil
POV: 3rd Person
One-Sentence Summary: Frolicking in the world of publishing
Positives: I really liked the fact that the book had a hot Asian lead. I only wish we could have learnt more about his background e.g. where was he brought up
Negatives: Seriously the 'Ugly Duckling' scenario?! Thea was a frumpy unattractive individual and then she took off her suit jacket and was this sexy dazzling beauty? ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?! Why does this never happen to me?! I know that this scenario isn't necessary uncommon in the romance world, and it normally wouldn't be a total dealbreaker, but they are usually handled with a bit more class. Whilst I'm all too aware that this happens in the 'real world', I can't say it was particularly nice to watch a talented young woman getting her book totally judged by its cover (In the world of publishing no less!!!). -
Reviewed for Read Your Writes Book Reviews
by Kim
The Makeover Mistake by Kathy Lyons brings you likeable leading characters in Michael and Thea and a fabulous secondary character in Jonathan, Michael’s older brother. When humor gets involved in this story, it just makes the book all the better. I loved that Kathy gave her readers a nice little treat by including a deleted scene at the end of the book. However, I wish some of the deleted scene would have made it into the actual book.
I did have some issues with this story. Pretty much throughout the entire book, Michael is lying to Thea. Usually in a quick hook-up situation, the parties don’t actually know who each other truly are and just know vaguely what the other party does. Here, Michael knew exactly who Thea was and what she did. And while I know it wasn’t his intention, the fact that Michael treated Thea like a high class call girl or a kept woman really wasn’t the coolest of moves.
With all of that said, I found The Makeover Mistake to be an enjoyable read. I would really like to see Jonathan get his own story.
**Received a copy from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest unbiased opinion.** -
Michael Chang and Thea Danielle are both in the publishing industry but he's theCFO of a major international company and she's the editor in chief for a much smaller concern. They're both attending a conference in Las Vegas but he's gone incognito - pretending to be the bar's piano player - and she's irate as someone has got in and signed the last four author's she's discovered just before they were due to sign with her! It turns out the person stealing her authors is actually an employee of Michael, one he's incognito to investigate! Now they're not sharing all that information and Michael is maintaining is faux persona despite his attraction to Thea. Will their mutual attraction overcome lies and deception? Can they find their way to HEA together?
Strong characters, a touch of mystery and deception together with a great storyline make this a novella to indulge yourself in when you're in the mood for a delicious short break in romance. -
I thought this was a really cute fun story. Not sure I understand the title, there is a makeover but not the crux of the story. The writing was very good but I can't say I had a great connection with the characters but sometimes that's hard in the novella length stories. In this story Michael is "undercover" as the piano player trying to get information on one of his employees during a conference. He meets Thea Danielle and is immediately drawn to her, one problem, she is the person being wronged by his employee. Oh yeah, and she doesn't know who he really is!!
I definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for a light fun read. -
Cute fun with a little Pretty Woman/Cinderella thrown in. Michael was hot and he could use the words. Whether the dirty ones for some hot loving or the sweet. ones to build up Thea's confidence, he used them very well. Thea was interesting. She was strong in knowing her business skills but vulnerable in her appearance. The storyline was a little different and flowed quickly. I only wish it were a little longer so I could get to know the characters more.
The bonus chapter at the end was hilarious and made me want to know more of Jonathan.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher. -
I really liked the premise of this story when I read the blurb but unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. I didn't find that there was a lot of chemistry between the Michael and Thea and as a result it was hard to be invested in their love story. The title of the story didn't really match the plot in my opinion, and I guess I didn't really like the idea that Thea needed a complete makeover in order to be considered a professional in her field. 2.5 stars.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review. -
It was a good enjoyable read. I really liked the heroine Thea a very relatable character. I really felt for her because she ran out of luck or did she. Some how her competition is snatching her up incoming writers right from under her. Michael is "undercover" trying to spy on his employees to see if any shady business is going on. Then he meets Thea too bad he has to keep up his piano playing persona. Everything comes to the forefront, can Michael recover from the fall out once Thea knows the truth?
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I love Kathy Lyons! Michael is co-owner of a large publishing company. His brother coerces him into posing as a piano player so he can learn and spy on an employee who they think is shady. While playing he meets Thea, an editor of a smaller publishing company. She keeps losing good authors to Michael's company. Not knowing who Michael is, she talks about her competition while drinking at the bar. Landing in bed together, a hot affair starts until Thea learns who Michael is. Michael is distraught and miserable without Thea and needs to figure out a way to get her back. Wonderful read!
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While reading this book I wasn't struck from the get go. It took some to get into. I also felt like the beginning was so fast forward without enough information. It took me a minute to realize the authors storyline. Over all it was a good read. The couple was a bit rushed into being together. Definitely a good light read. Unfortunately, I just wasn't drawn into the story.
(ARC provided by Entangled Publishing for honest review) -
This novella was okay. It wasn’t my favorite of the series, but it wasn’t my least favorite either. I never really truly got Thea and Michael as a couple, but I liked them individually which was enough. This was a decent book and while the series isn’t really connected in anyway except by the hotel and the romance convention, I still felt like I needed to read each novella, which I’m still glad I did.
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The Makeover Mistake was just an 'ok' read for me. I just wasn't that into the story at all. Michael was my type of boy/man candy and made a rubbish book boyfriend and Thea was the only thing that saved this book so it didn't have a less than 3 story.
There was some hot scenes and the story was ok, but I didn't really relate to the characters which made it harder for me to love the story, 3 stars. -
I received this from Netgalley/Entangled in exchange for an honest review. This was actually a pretty good story. This is a typical "pretty woman" type story. I loved the makeover part but I just did not like Thea. It was just annoying how she pulled away. She did not even let him explain. She just ran! SO annoying!!
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It was a quick read novel. It didn't offer anything new. Hero lies about his identity 2- he gives the heroine a make over. 3-heroine find his deceit and feel petrayed 4-he win her back and the end
The only reason i am giving this novel 2 stars because the author chose to introduce a protoganist of asian ethincity which is a very rare occurance in romance novel -
This book has everything you can want in a book..... I don't want to say to much, to ruin it for you. This is a book, you will want to read.... Get it today...... I just found a new author. Get it today!
*******I received this book in exchange for a honest review **** -
An enjoyable read - set in Vegas and well written - 3.5 stars
What really amused me was the alternate "First" chapter at the end - it should have been at the beginning ! This author also writes Historical Romance under the name Jade Lee, so check out those books - they are excellent. -
I liked many bits and pieces of this book, but in the end, I didn't liked it that much.
I had no connection with the characters, the story was really weak. It's promise was so much better than the actual story. -
This novella has charm and sizzle. A great price for a fabulous new series! Kate Lyons is a must read author and it's very steamy.
Check out my Blog Books I Love A Latte via wordpress for a more detailed review.
