I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this wonderful, snarky, and funny book, Butterface by Avery Flynn, the first book in her Hartigan series. This book had me on an emotional journey, reminding me of my own experiences of not fitting in nor being accepted while growing up. Gina Luca knows she is far from beautiful with her oversize nose and bug-like eyes, despite having a killer body. Being put on a wedding Kiss Cam with one of the hottest guys there brings back all those old humiliations. The kiss cam guy is Ford, the only Hartigan male not become a firefighter, but a cop for the city of Waterbury. Gina believes that Ford is out of her league despite the heart stopping kiss they shared. When Gina finds the body of her missing grandfather, Ford stays with Gina to “keep her safe,” but he is actually checking out her mob-connected brothers. The more time they spend together the more it feels like a real relationship. Ford not only helps Gina with the renovation work on her house but takes her to dinner with his folks and six siblings. Gina is smart and questions Ford’s true reasons for hanging around because every time she turns around, she is once again reminded of who her lack of beauty. What’s going to happen when Ford figures out he loves Gina and can’t live without her? Will Gina be able to accept his apology and love?

I loved how Gina accepted, if not loved, who she is and did not want to change her looks; even with plastic surgery. There was so much more to Ford than his good looks. He was a driven, rule following guy who loved his family and put up with a lot of ribbing and practical jokes. Ford also had a sense of fairness and was compassionate, especially toward Gina. This book was filled with sarcasm, laughs, snark, and even some sexy scenes that made me wish it never ended.

Ms. Flynn wrote a wonderful and hysterical story which drew me in as well as into the lives of her characters, making me forget the world around me. I had trouble putting this book down, turning page after page, not letting go until I turned the last page, still wanting more and really looking forward to the next book in this series. I highly recommend this book to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Butterface is book one in the brand new series, The Hartigans, by Avery Flynn. I’ve been so excited about this book and it completely did not let me down. It is fun, sweet, and sexy and the characters stole my heart. I hadn’t expected that little tie in to The Charmer of The Harbor City series so that made my day.

Ford Hartigan is a Police Detective for the Waterbury Police Department. Ford is a by the rules man. It’s how he lives. Except that Ford comes from a huge family of firefighters. So he is the black sheep of his family. Ford is at a wedding that has gotten out of hand. Instead of showing video of the attendees of the reception, they turn it into a kiss cam. When it zeroes in on Ford, he just happens to be standing next to the wedding planner. When they give in and kiss, they forget everything except each other, and their worlds are forever changed.

Gina Luca has suffered from the cruelty of her peers her entire life. She inherited the famous Luca schnoz but she has come to accept her looks and considers herself undateable. She has started a successful wedding planner business and she loves it. She inherited her grandfather’s old Victorian house and she is in the middle of renovating it. She has her two best friends and a good life. She doesn’t need a man in it. But when Ford kisses her, it makes her reconsider that decision because everything in her wakes up and takes notice. He is hot and so out of her league.

“She wasn’t waiting for Prince Charming, and no fairy godmother was going to give her a makeover. She was who she was, and that was Miss Right Now and Not Miss Forever. She’d better remember that, or there was nothing but trouble ahead for her.”

Gina’s brothers are well known for living on the wrong side of the law. Plus, her family has ties to the Esposito crime family so fantasizing about a sexy cop was completely out of the question. But when he shows up claiming that she needs protection, and offering to help her with her house, how can she refuse? It doesn’t take long, though, for feelings to develop. And that chemistry they felt when they first kissed is sizzling hot enough that it’s a wonder the roof was still in tact.

Ford believes in rules, but his feelings for Gina are getting harder and harder to ignore. Except that he might not have been completely honest with her regarding his reasons for hanging around. And if she finds out, he’s pretty sure she won’t forgive him.

“The woman just did things to him. She shook things up. And he liked it. A lot. Probably too much. He should probably be worried about that. He wasn’t.”

I think you get the picture here. Hot cop. Woman who feels herself to be undesirable. Chemistry through the roof. And secrets. Throw it all together with two crazy families in the background and you’ve got a great story. Gina really did break my heart with her history of how she had been treated. And Ford was so clueless as to how to handle his feelings. But he definitely didn’t lack in knowing how to steam up the pages. These two were hot together. This was such a fun book but at the same time, such a meaningful book. Gina was amazing and strong and I want to be her someday. I can’t wait for the next book in this series, Muffin Top, which will be Lucie and Frankie’s story.

Flynn is always a go to author for me. I can count on her books to have sexy guys with brains and intelligent confident women. Sarcastic humor is a huge plus and any mention of Die Hard just points to the fact that Flynn knows her audience. Ford, detective extraordinaire, has brothers in the fire department and a couple sisters, a nurse and scientist. He chose the police department for the rules and justice, ever the rule follower. Gina, fabulous wedding planner and sister to known mobsters, has a great figure but the nose of her grandfather. The term "butterface" means she's hot everywhere but her face, poor Gina still gets humiliated as an adult. She's gotten tougher over the years but it still stings and has a difficult time trusting men with her feelings. Both Ford and Gina get tested many times but love always wins. Early copies were hard to get but I got lucky, my review was given voluntarily without bias.

From the dedication to the ending, this is a fantastic must read by Avery Flynn!

Butterface is the story of Gina and Ford.  Ford who we meet briefly in The Charmer is the main hero of this story.

Gina, oh this girl is what every girl feels like at one time or another.  She is the perfect heroine in this story.  She is trying hard to overcome the stigma of not being "perfect".  Such a relative term and it actually describes her perfectly! She is strong, she is independent but she also carries the scars of her past with vulnerability.

Ford feels like he is the odd man out in his family. He doesn't quite fit.  He meets Gina and he "sees" her! I was taken by the way that he couldn't seem to quite understand what Gina was going through.  And when he finally realizes the judgemental, stereotypes, he knows he has to make Gina understand what she means to him.  (After some pretty epic screw-ups on his part)

Ford & Gina's chemistry is hella hot and it really pushes Gina out of her comfort zone, which was beautiful to read! Gina coming into her own and loving herself fully! 

I really enjoy Avery's stories!  They are sweet, they are witty and they are oh so swoony! I cannot wait to read what comes next from her!

When Gina, the wedding planner, and Ford, a cop are forced to kiss courtesy a wedding kiss cam, they don’t expect the chemistry the explodes between them.
When an opportunity presents itself, Ford gets assigned to stay with Gina to gather intel on her brothers, who may or may not be involved with drug smuggling.
Ford has always followed the cut and dried, by the regulations way of living, but following the rules is getting harder around Gina. Will he break his biggest rule and get involved with someone he shouldn’t ?
The author has outdone herself with this book by not following the prototype of beauty. I just loved the way Ford looks at Gina, truly swoon worthy, he doesn’t see her imperfections, he sees her.
This book has it all, humor, hotness, intense and tender moments and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Captivated from the very first page. I know my review isn't going to do this book justice because it's truly beyond words.
Gina Luca is a wedding planner, who meets Ford Hartigan detective at a wedding that is quickly spiraling out of control. Ford is there because it's one of his fellow officers getting married. The couple has a kiss cam and when the camera focuses on the two of them neither wants to kiss, until they do and Ford gives Gina his all. I melted into a puddle. Gina has spent her life being bullied, the brunt of every joke possible because of her face. We get the idea in general but not a graphic image of her shortcoming. Gina does however have a great shape, two overly protective brothers whose occupations border on somewhat criminal, familial loose ties to the mob and an old Victorian house she inherited from her Grandpa who went missing twenty years ago under much speculation as to his fate. Again the allusion to mob ties. Ford is working a task force with two jack hat detectives who make it a point to get under this skin. They've been working on a case that involves yet another family who bring heroin into their small town. The Luca brothers may or may not be involved at least peripherally. Gina has done her best to distance herself from any family business and any remnant died off with the older generation.
When something happens at Gina's home, Ford's boss decides it a great opportunity for him to spend some time with Gina gathering intel. All Ford can think about is Gina and her black lace panties. So he's camped out on her couch. Helps her with some handyman work and the two slowly warm up to each other. Gina is fully aware what she looks like. Her brothers are spitting nails she's involved with a cop, his family is relentless because he's a rule follower and heaven help anyone who breaks a rule. He comes from a long line of firefighters, he is the first to step out and become a cop.
These two both have issues and as they slowly seem to work through them, there's another twist to the story and while it goes against Ford's rules, he definitely enjoys breaking the no hitting the sheets rule with Gina. These two make enough steam to power a small city. Then once again, more twists and curves that turn the whole works upside down. The last straw for Gina pinched my heart in the worst way. Did Ford get what he was looking for, he got that and then some; along with his come to jesus moment.
What a rollercoaster ride of emotions, it's funny, intense, moments when you want to take a swing at someone, mumbling to yourself. Best of all are Gina and Ford two characters that I loved that will stay with me for a while. I love Gina's strength and her weak moments, Ford I loved for feelings for Gina and his crazy family. Ford is dedicated, he commits.
I love Avery Flynn, her books are always stellar. She totally slayed me with this one. I still thought about it today. This book has everything you could ever want, two characters you fall in love with, a great story, humor, love, plenty of steam and oh those emotions...
Start reading now. You don't want to miss this one. Honestly deserves more than 5 stars.
Ready for the next book in the series!

advanced reader copy from NetGalley and Entangled for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.