4.5 stars

Loved Making Up by Lucy Parker.

The storyline is fresh, entertaining and held my attention from start to end.
I loved both Trix and Leo, they were smart, witty and passionate characters that I easily connected with and loved watching them come together.

Author Lucy Parker has such a wonderful way with her words, I love her writing style and the way she gives her readers real/relatable characters that makes it so easy and enjoyable to read her books.

Making Up is an excellent addition to The London Celebrities series, each book can be read as standalone and I highly recommend them all!

*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.*

we met aerialist trix lane in pretty face, where she had a terrible boyfriend who affected her relationships with everything, including her self-esteem. she'd dumped him by the end of that novel, but the impact of his manipulative behavior still affects trix in making up.

when she's suddenly bumped up to the lead role after the lead has a terrible accident during a performance and the original understudy leaves for australia, trix isn't sure she'll be able to perform. even worse lee magasiva rolls back into town and into her life taking a makeup artist job on the crew and a room in the company quarters she's currently housing in.

once lee and trix get past the misunderstandings that put them at odds when they were younger, they just need to overcome trix's anxities, not just related to her job, but also her relationships. lee's also figuring out his next steps career-wise and the relationship that blooms between him and trix impacts where he wants to go and do.

i loved these two characters together. and i continue to love the west end world that parker has built for us. i'm not sure if there are more installments planned for the series, but i will never say no to more.

**making up will publish on may 1, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/carina press in exchange for my honest review.

I’m feeling the warm and fuzzies right now because this read was such a delight in terms of characterisation and dialogue. Lucy Parker has delivered on her reputation of the previous two books, maintaining quality of plot, writing and excelling at dialogue. I added a new virtual shelf thanks to this book ‘dialogue dream’.

Trix the pink-haired, petite acrobat is a prickly chip-on-the-shoulder character at first glance. I wondered if that was how it was going to play out throughout but actually you just need to scratch under the surface with Trix. I loved how getting to know her, revealed a deeper person, complex but more open. Her inner monologue was hilarious.

“We do not squee over anything to do with this man, ovaries. Rein in the hormones immediately.”

The hate is strong when Leo, her nemesis of ten years appears but how I revelled in their exchanges. Such fun, such sniggering whilst reading and I felt utterly entertained.

“Their usual style was to cross paths, cross swords, and then cross their fingers that it was a long time before they saw each other again. Spending time under the same roof never did much for their respective blood pressure.”

These two had blistering chemistry and I liked how this played out. I also really appreciated how the plot played out without unnecessary drama, that said it’s still quite an eventful story.

I did feel a sense of slowness midway-ish for some reason, this could have been my mood or not but that explains my rating. However, when these two were on, they dragged me seamlessly sentence to sentence with no sense of passing time.

I was super excited when this third book in the London Celebrities series emerged as coming and I feel excited now after reading it. I want all my friends that are fellow Lucy Parker fans to read it.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

I am a huge fan of Lucy Parker since I read Acting Like It and she has so far never disappointed with her writing. So I was really excited to get an arc of Making Up and dived into the book straightaway.
I was instantly caught up in the world of West End theatre with their glittery costumes, the drama, the tension and the dangers associated with a split second change in concentration. The author portrays the ambitions, struggles and the doubts plaguing a performers mind quiet realistically in the novel.
I loved the enemies-to-lovers theme of the book in the beginning but then suddenly all the misunderstandings thats been plaguing Trixie and Leo were cleared up in a matter of minutes and the next second they are together. That change seemed very abrupt and from that point on I couldnt really connect with the story. Maybe if the author had included a flashback chapter or a proloque of how these two met in the first place and a little more of the backstory I think I could have related better.
Having said that, I dont think it was a bad book, just not a 5 star read. The undercurrent of dry wit and slight sarcasm running throughout the novel which is the defining part of all Lucy Parker’s novels will definitely keep you entertained even if you find the romance a bit disappointing. So my rating for this novel would be 3/5 stars.

Arc provided by the publisher via netgalley

Lucy Parker has yet to disappoint me with her novels. I'm always invested in the characters she creates, and Trix and Leo were no exception. I feel like this novel focused more on Trix and her growth than Leo's, but I had no issue with that. While I may have enjoyed Act Like It and Pretty Face slightly more than this novel, Making Up definitely wins in the epilogue department. It was sweet and great to see Trix and Leo have a positive future ahead of them.

***This review is based on ARC generously provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. No compensation was paid to the reviewer nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher***
I can’t quite remember how I came across this book blurb in the first place. It might have been the photo that initially struck me many months ago on Twitter – because I mean, how freaking colourful and cute is the cover! But reading the blurb is what really did it for me,and what had me rapidly looking on Netgalley to request an ARC.
I am so grateful that I got the ARC in the end, because this was a fantastic read from an author that I am new to.
Making up follows the story of Trix Lane , a brilliant circus artist who struggles with regaining her on stage confidence and her turbulent and feisty interactions with Leo Magasiva a handsome, hunk in the special effects department of the circus. Booyyyyy do these two have history!
It’s all this turbulent history that sets the tone for the snipey , snarky and tension heavy remarks that are a hallmark of Trix and Leo’s relationship with each other. Ms Parker really puts forward a couple who can’t stand each other but also really do understand each other even if that annoys them both equally as much.
Add to this fact that they are both struggling to get places in their respective careers, this set about the perfect premise for even more feisty interactions between this pair that eventually led to their HEA.
It was so lovely to read how these two managed to help each other out, even if they still had so much tension going on between them. The romantic scenes were written so well, and I loved so much how Ms Parker incorporated the comic book communications as a way these two enemies managed to find common ground.
I haven’t had the fortune of reading Lucy Parker’s previous work, nor the previous books in this series, but I am so freaking happy that I know about her brilliant work now!
This is a great enemies to lovers book!

Lucy Parker is pretty much the only author of contemporary romance whose books are a must-read for me, and I suspect that there are many, many readers out there in Romancelandia who, like me, have been eagerly awaiting Making Up, the third book in her London Celebrities series.  Set in the world of London’s West End, the stories take place amid the smell of the greasepaint, the roar of the crowd, the backstage backstabbing, the gossip, rivalry and intense camaraderie of theatre companies mounting high-status, high profile productions.  Ms. Parker completely nails the London setting and the sheer amount of graft from all involved required to mount a commercially successful West End production; her characters work hard, play hard and show readers that not all is glitz and glamour behind the footlights.

So… what you want to know is – was Making Up worth waiting for?   Absolutely.  Is it as good as Act Like It and Pretty Face?  Weeeeeell…  not quite.  Don’t get me wrong – it has all the ingredients that made the other books in this series such great reads.  The two principals are appealing, the dialogue sparkles, the banter zings back and forth and the romance is well-done… but it lacks the emotional depth of its predecessor which, for my money, is the strongest of the series.

Towards the end of that book, Trix Lane, best friend of the heroine, Lily, was just emerging from an emotionally abusive relationship with a guy who had gradually been separating her from her friends, belittling her profession and eroding her self-esteem.  Fortunately, Trix managed to extricate herself before things got worse, but it’s left some big emotional scars and serious dents in her self-confidence.

At the beginning of Making Up, the lead aerial performer in Festival of Masks – an odd mix of carnival, rock concert and dark fairy tale with a bit of smut thrown in for good measure -  is hospitalised after an accident on-stage.  A combination of circumstances conspires to catapult Trix into the limelight to take over the role at the next performance and for the foreseeable future.  But Trix – who would in the past have jumped at the chance to get out there and show what she’s made of – is terrified.  It doesn’t help that the stage manager is a prick who never has a kind word or word of praise for anyone, but Trix knows the problem goes deeper than that.  She is fully aware that this newly found lack of assurance is a hangover from her relationship with Dan St. James; somehow his backhanded compliments and subtle and not-so-subtle digs and jibes insidiously wormed their way into her psyche and they’re hard to shake off.

Leo Magasiva has known Trix on and off for years, ever since they were at school.  They had been good friends once, but a nasty, unguarded comment from Leo, followed by Trix’s departure for a posh boarding-school put paid to their friendship, and they’ve been at daggers drawn ever since.  Somehow, though, they have never been able to completely avoid each other, running into one another at various events and gatherings over the years, and taking advantage of the opportunity to indulge in a game of verbal one-upmanship.

A talented and widely respected make-up artist, Leo’s career has taken a nose-dive courtesy of an actor who failed to disclose his skin allergies.  Which is how come Leo is prepared to take a short-term gig in the West End; he can lie low for a bit and also get ready for a major make-up and special effects competition being held in London which he’s hoping might open doors for him in the movie industry.

As soon as Trix and Leo set eyes on each other, old wounds are reopened and old hurts resurrected.  Leo isn’t thrilled about working in close proximity with Trix, and she’s openly hostile to him while she’s friendly with her cast-mates, and one guy in particular.  Leo immediately labels her as a fake and a flirt, although it’s very clear that his antagonism is rooted in jealousy and something else that relates to their past.  Fortunately, however, the author doesn’t string out the issues that lie between them for too long and the misunderstandings that led to the end of their youthful friendship are cleared up well before the half-way point.  The sexual tension that has been simmering between them since their first scene (and for the past decade!) finally boils over, but it’s clear that keeping things casual is going to be difficult for both of them and Trix, especially, is terrified.  Insecurites continue to plague her about her professional ability, and the thought of trusting a man again, no matter that she knows Leo is nothing like her ex… it’s all too much and she’s finding it hard to cope.

Fortunately for Trix, Leo is an amazing guy.  He’s generous of spirit, insightful and incredibly supportive, knowing when to push and when to hold back, watching out for Trix even as he’s worrying over his younger sister who, for most of the book is a total  bitch and is clearly unhappy about something but won’t open up to him.   He refuses to allow Trix to lose sight of who she really is – “You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met” – or to give up on herself or on them.

There are many things to enjoy about the story, not least of which is the fact that Leo and Trix come across as adults who have real conversations dealing with complex issues and emotions.  Their banter is witty and perceptive; Ms. Parker has a way of using verbal sparring between characters to illuminate their weaknesses as well as their strengths and while the level of snark varies from the gentle to the punishing, it’s never downright nasty.  The secondary characters are well-drawn and the backstage camaraderie is the perfect mixture of heartfelt and cynical; Trix and Leo are talented people, both ambitious, dedicated to – and supportive of – their careers, and the overlying message of the book is one we can all identify with, the need to find happiness where we may, amid “life in all its occasional shittiness.”

While Making Up doesn’t quite rise to the heights of the previous books in the London Celebrities series, it’s nonetheless an extremely entertaining and enjoyable novel and one I’m more than happy to recommend.  Funny, sexy, poignant, warm, intelligent – and I haven’t even mentioned the cute baby hedgehog yet – it’s the perfect summer read.

Buy it at: Amazon/Barnes & Noble/iBooks/Kobo

"<i>This is not a we-bicker-because-we-want-to-bang' situation. It's a 'he's-a-tosspost-and-I've-learned-my-lesson' situation.</i>"
"<b>I don't believe I mentioned sex. What an interesting direction your mind took.</b>"

I will never get tired of Parker's brand of snarky sarcastic sassy hate-to-love romances.

<i>She was really wasted in musical theatre. Anyone who could bury that much loathing beneath layers of vocal honey was just itching to be cast in a violent whodunit.</i>

This time we have the pint sized, and colourfully pinkhaired, acrobatic artist Trix and make-up and special effects genius, and darkly handsome pain in her ass, Leo. They've known each other since they were teens and have flitted in and out of each other's lives long enough to face off and do verbal battle, but never long enough to hash out why they can't have a civil conversation. And it's that 'why' that eventually changes everything; after causing a brutal allergic reaction on an actor he was working with, Leo finds himself temporarily on contract at a new job -- which happens to be at the stage production Trix is performing for -- and constant exposure to one another, frequent barbs traded, proximity via shared space at the company's flat they now share.. it all eventually leads to them eventually making up. Sorta.

<i>They had moved from raised hackles to cuddles with barely a hitch. He could question it, but he didn't feel like being that introspective when she was nestled against his groin.</i>

Trix and Leo had chemistry for days. Despite the baggage of their past interactions, they end up making up for lost time when fate brings them back together. I'm not entirely sure the emotional connection outweighed the chemical (though I'm going to reread the final cut and possibly revise this statement as it was kind of a shit day for my city when I read this, so, tbd), but I can't deny that Leo being supportive and angry and hurt over the damage done to Trix by her emotionally abusive ex-boyfriend.. it really got to me. You could feel how much he cared and how much he had to regret (not that it was his fault). And Parker did a really good job of expressing Trixie's hesitations to be in something new after her last go of a relationship, and all the anxieties and hangups she was dealing with -- personally and professionally -- but I did find those got in the way of me being able to connect to her. The banter, the sex, it was all great, though. And I loved that they were giant fandom-y nerds. It was adorable.

"<i>I'm supplying the eyeliner skills. What talents are you bringing to the table?</i>"
"<b>Trapeze sex?</b>"
"<i>All right. You win.</i>"

Leo's struggle to redeem his career and try to make the best of his circumstances, however, I felt were overwhelmed by the walking, talking, raging bitch that was his sister Cat. I'm going to be honest; her reasons for it aside, I could not get on with this character. I did not feel her behaviour was at all justified in the end, and certainly not redeemed (and maybe it was also kinda.. overkill? I don't want to spoil so I don't want to even hint at the whys), and she was the tipping the point for me in so many scenes. As in, tipped me right over into dislike and 'when is she going to leave this scene'. There were a few very unlikeable characters in MAKING UP and I think it was just one too many. I could have happily seen her drown and rated this a five for 'ding dong the witch is dead'.

<i>Somewhere, even the Sith Emperor was looking at this guy's management style and thinking "bit harsh."</i>

But. Oh but. I was so happy to see how Trix and Leo resolved their issues, as a couple and personally, and the ending turned me into a giant heart-eyes emoji. So I'm not rounding down despite my hate-on for Catherine. I'm choosing to rate around her. While MAKING UP did not quite reach the heights of sheer awesome of the previous two <i>London Celebrities</i> books, it's still a great, colourful, wild, funny, emotional, and sexy af addition to the series.

"<i>She likes the idea of pink-haired grandchildren.</i>"
"<b>She does realize I didn't come out of the womb like this.</b>"
"<i>She thinks that the power of your personality is such that if you want naturally bubblegum-haired babies, you'll get bubblegum-haired babies.</i>"

I had meant to read this ARC ages and ages ago but as luck would have it I put it off (weird how the things you want most often end up pushed aside) and I was able to finish this story knowing it wasn't the end of this series.. and that makes me even happier. To know that I'm not saying goodbye after all. I'm so excited for more from this great world but look forward to any, and every, title to come from this wonderful and talented author.

4 "he really shouldn't take any sexual interest in someone looking at him as if they were debating the most painful way to lop his balls off" stars

A really sweet and funny romance from Lucy Parker. Trix and Leo have an "enemies-to-friends-to-lovers" relationship that makes this a great read, despite it being a little bit cheesy -- sometimes you need a little bit of cheesiness! Trix is an acrobat, Leo is a make-up artist. She is a tiny bit damaged. He is strong and protective. Parker's writing isn't always "there" for me, and I feel like she leaves out some background details that readers would appreciate -- like, I never did figure out what kind of show Trix was in. Despite my quibbles with holes in the plot, it was a fun and easy read and I'd recommend it.

I have a soft spot for pink haired heroines and for main characters with distinctive names such as Beatrix Lane and Leo Magasiva. Therefore, is it any wonder that I thoroughly enjoyed reading Making Up, the latest from Lucy Parker. The book is still set on the West End, the characters this time is familiar, if you’ve read Pretty Face. It still could be read as a standalone. Making Up is a more character driven plot and a little bit skewed for Trix rather than Leo’s emotional development. Its funny, poignant, realistic relationship scenarios, definitely has hot sex bit its also so, so, romantic. Admittedly, I am also very much in love with Lucy Parker’s writing but Making Up will definitely not disappoint!

4.5 Stars
Making Up is my first Lucy Parker book. My friends have all been raving about this series, so I jumped on the chance to try it out with this book. I'm very happy I did.

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the circus aspect of Making Up. It's not a setting I'm normally drawn to. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. It was so different from the romance settings I normally read, and I really enjoyed that. Trix's and Leo's jobs were so interesting and fun to read about.

Not only did I love the setting, but I loved the characters. Trix was this fiery little sprite, but her self-confidence had been beaten down. The anxiety and self-doubt she experienced were easy to relate to. The emotional journey she went through in Making Up was an important one I think many readers will identify with. Leo had the confidence Trix was missing and more. He had his own problems, but they weren't as challenging as Trix's seemed. I loved how he supported Trix and helped her deal with the emotional challenges she was facing.

My favorite thing about this book was the second chance romance. Trix and Leo had a tumultuous past. They had different ideas of what created the hostility between them, and how they figured things out for the future was fun. I loved their hostile banter, but I loved it even more once it took on a sweeter manner.

I haven't read any of the previous books in the series, so I didn't have too many thoughts on the characters who made appearances from them. I was interested in them enough to want to go back and read their books, though. I hope I'll get a chance to do that in the future.

The one teeny tiny complaint I have about Making Up is the third person narration. Third person always takes me a while to get used to. It's just harder to make the transitions between characters when reading. The third person didn't really bother me much, but I feel like I would have loved the story even more if it had been in first person.

I'm so happy that I finally got the chance to read one of Lucy Parker's book. I really liked her writing. Like I said above, I'm hoping to get to read more of it in the future.

Making Up is another fun Lucy Parker novel. This series of interconnected novels are just a pleasure to read. I love getting the behind the scenes (in the theater) feel that her characters and plot provide. In the case of Making Up, we have Trix--an aerialist--and Leo --a special effects make up artist--go from enemies to lovers. They're biting sarcasm and snipes at each other make their falling for each other that much more fun.

Lucy Parker has such a perfectly light touch in the way that she blends humor and romance.Her dialogue and pacing keep the novel moving and her diverse cast of characters always keep me coming. Ack for more. Anytime I see a Lucy Parker novel available to review I snatch it up because I know I'm in for a good time.

*link to come when posted to blog*

This book was excellent! Another lovely book in this London-based series. Thank you for being able to read and review this novel.

Very enjoyable! I adore Lucy Parker’s writing!

Trix is the aerialist heroine who steps into the lead role in her West End theater production, while simultaneously working through anxiety and self-doubt following the end of an abusive relationship. Leo is the make-up artist hero who is trying to salvage his career after a mishap on another job. These two have known each other for years and don’t really like one another, but will need to work together on Trix’s current produciton. So, from this starting point, there is so much to enjoy…the book employs the enemies to lovers trope, but also elements of second chance romance, as well as forced proximity.

One thing I like about Parker’s writing is her ability to write smart, sharp dialogue. There is a lot of that in this book, but not as much as her two previous books. Because both Trix and Leo are struggling with their own anxieties, the reader sees a lot more of their internal feelings and reactions and less outward dialogue, which was a bit of a disappointment for me. But, that being said, Leo’s exchange with Trix at the end of the book, when he tells her how he feels, is one of the most realistic, mature conversations I’ve read recently in contemporary romance. I finished reading that scene and thought, “Damn, way to go, Leo”.

I also really appreciated that this book has a bit more racial diversity so that the surrounding characters who inhabit this fictional world actually reflect the population of London. Thank goodness! Many romance novels (historical and contemporary) set in London have exclusively white characters so this book is a refreshing change of pace.

Others things I enjoyed:
-Supportive female friendships
-Leo and Trix are both super competent at their jobs
-SciFi/Fantasy nerds abound

Trix Lane is an aerial performer in The Festival of Masks. While she is usually a confident performer, an emotionally abusive relationship and subsequent break-up left her scarred and insecure. When the star of the show is seriously injured during a performance, Trix is pushed into the spotlight in a role she’s not sure she’s worthy of. Soon Leo Magasiva, her first heartbreak, signs on as the makeup artist for the show and her already frayed nerves reach a breaking point. Leo is trying to redeem his career as a visual effects artist and in an unexpected twist, rents a room in the house Trix already shares with other London performers. Of course Trix and Leo aren’t actually enemies. In fact, the sparks between them are evident from their first scene together.

Trix and Leo’s love story is entertaining, but I also found myself enthralled with the exposition in the story. Trix is still angry that Leo was her first teenage heartbreak ten years before. She notes, “Everything was more intense at that age, before life really had a chance to swing the cynicism hammer.” Their careers were also completely baffling at first. I’ve never read, much less thought about the role of an aerialist and the scenes depicting Leo’s ability to transform regular people into monstrosities led me to research the process. I loved that both characters were truly dedicated to their work and rediscovering who they were before bad relationships and career setbacks. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and absolutely loved the ending. I had previously read both Act Like It and Pretty Face by Lucy Parker and both took place in the same world as Trix and Leo’s unfolding love story. I’m guessing that if there is a fourth book, Leo’s sister Cat will be the main character. I’m looking forward to it.

Lucy Parker is brilliant -- truly, in my opinion, the best author of contemporary romance currently writing. This is another strong installment in her London Celebrities series, and I cannot wait to read whatever she writes next.

Lucy Parker just keeps getting better. Her characters remain well-rounded and real but her plotting has tightened and improved. I would crown her the queen of contemporary romantic fiction.

3.5 Stars.

Let me start out by saying that Pretty Face (London Celebrity 2) was one of my top reads of 2017. I loved it. LOVED IT. I was so excited then when I was approved for an ARC of the next instalment in this series. I devoured it in like, one night and here we are:

What I liked:
- I adored how nerdy and artistic Leo and Trix were, it made for some really sweet scenes, especially with the comic strip drawings and during Leo's competition.
- Reggie the Hedgie: NEED I EVEN SAY MORE? Yes? Well, I smiled every time he was mentioned, so there's that.
- I found the performance/play that Trix was in very intriguing and I would have liked to have read more about the story as a whole and not just in parts.
- Trix's struggle to find her sense of self and confidence following her relationship with her abusive ex was written very well, it was believable and heartbreaking and beautifully compelling. The author truly did it justice.
- Seeing Lily and Luc again (sigh) I reread Pretty Face a few days before I read this and it made it even better. I adore them.

What I didn't like so much:
- I wish there had been a bit more chemistry, that their romance burned a little hotter in the build up to them getting together. It fell a little flat for me unfortunately.
- I also wish their past had been shown a little more for a greater impact when we discovered why they had been bickering for the past decade. It was rather underwhelming and I wish I had been a bit more invested in it.

This review is based on the ARC provided by the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

***ARC received for an honest review***

Lucy Parker's brand of thoughtful, easy, writing and adorable banter makes her a go-to author each time she writes something new.

Leo and Trix, who had a falling-out at 16, torture each other whenever they see one another in their work circles. A mistake brings Leo to Trix's show - where she's suddenly thrust into the limelight. Trix lacks self-confidence after an emotionally abusive relationship, and she isn't equipped to handle all that Leo brings.

<b>"Happiness. She was still, unbelievably, happiness.</b>

It was difficult to watch Trix psych herself out - in her dangerous job as an aerialist and in her relationship with kind, funny Leo. That isn't my favorite plot which is the only reason I didn't give the book 5 stars. If you've loved Parker in the past you'll love this one as well. She brings something smart and comfortable to all of her books.

You could read this as a standalone, but Trix plays an important role in Pretty Face. That factors heavily in this book. Plus, you should read all the Lucy Parker. She's lovely for a discriminating reader. Trust me.

<a href="http://www.alleskelle.com/"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1471716947r/20097901.jpg?v=1471716951482"width="400"></a>

4.5 stars.

Lucy Parker's books are so engaging, fun, and well-written. I loved Trix & Leo, and only have some minor quibbles with the pacing, which at times felt uneven. Full review will be published for The Book Queen closer to publication.