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Posted in BOOK REVIEWS
September 2, 2021
Book Review-Beautiful Crazy By Kasey Lane
Book Review-Beautiful Crazy by Kasey Lane

I received this book for free from Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Book Review-Beautiful Crazy by Kasey LaneBeautiful Crazy by Kasey Lane
Series: Rock n Ink #1
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on November 1, 2016
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 352
Format: eBook
Source: Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 1492636495
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four-flames
"Vibrant and sexy! The chemistry between Kevan and Mason is explosive and I was cheering for their happy ever after from page one." -Stefanie London, USA Today bestselling author of the Dangerous Bachelors Club series
"You confound me. You're all these maddening contradictions that don't make any sense... And I can't get enough of your special brand of beautiful crazy."
She's a rocker with attitude and ink...He's a sexy suit who gets what he wants
Kevan Landry is trying to keep her life on track and her brother in rehab. If her fledgling marketing firm can sign the hot new band, Manix Curse, it will make a world of difference. Mason Dillon heads the most successful music PR firm in Portland. He's desperate to breathe new life into the company by signing Manix Curse.
The last thing either one needs is a one-night stand with a smoldering stranger...
The stakes are high when a battle for the band-in the bedroom and the boardroom-becomes a battle of the heart. But if these two can set aside their differences, they may find they're the right mix of sexy savvy to conquer both their worlds.
"Get ready for your new auto-buy author! Kasey Lane's debut hits all the high notes in this rock-infused love story! I loved it!" -Megan Crane, USA Today bestselling author of Edge of Control and Devil's Honor
"Beautiful Crazy is like driving a vintage convertible in August-hot to the touch and sexy as hell!" -Kaylie Newell, author of the Wolfe Creek series



Beautiful Crazy is a book that is one of the few (and I promise I am almost finished with these, there are only two left to do) of my backlogged NetGalley books to review. Now, this is one of those books I didn’t even download and I am feeling like an idiot for putting this one off and never doing so because dang this book was so beautiful and just perfect for what I was in the mood for. I loved just about everything about it. There was only one aspect that really kept this book from being a five-star read for me (which will be explained below) I will say that this book was so unexpected in seeing how much I truly enjoyed it and I can’t wait for more of this author and series.

Beautiful Crazy is packed with these wonderous characters:

Kevan Landry-Colorful, Bright, Vivacious, Tattooed, Music Guru, and Creative

Mason Dillon-CEO of Music Company, Alpha, Armani Suits, Playboy

Beautiful Crazy begins with our heroine, Kevan, who is building her own business in marketing for music labels and bands, and the like. She offers a more creative approach to her brand and has the appeal for the smaller bans of punk, rock, and etc. She is reaching out to a local band, one that her brother is a part of, and is hoping that they will be her client and that they will take her on. But on a wild night of their band singing, she meets a man that she is drawn to that has dominant vibes, but there is the chemistry that sizzles so strongly between them.They have a passionate night of a fling, but she never expected that the next day, her sensual lover from the previous night, would be her competition for the chance to take this band on. Mason, is CEO and has worked for a decade to build the company into what it has become. But the board of directors is demanding he finds some creative juices or they will terminate him and he refuses to let that happen but never thought this sexy woman would be his enemy, a woman he cares much more than he is willing to fully admit to. But their competition will only end with one of them hurt in the end….so who will be the winner or the loser? Or will these two passionate hearts find a way to their HEA?
Beautiful Crazy is a story that I honestly wasn’t expecting to enjoy that much. I am not sure why I had that impression on this one, since I have really enjoyed the majority of what this publisher has put out, and the cover is just my cup of tea, maybe it was the blurb that kept me from reading it, at the time of requesting this one I wasn’t a big fan of contemporary at the time so I think that is what the issue was for me at the time. I was very particular about reading contemporary and I don’t think I was ever in the right mood to read it before it went inactive. So…..I was super pleased to see that my library had a copy of it and I just started reading it this morning even and read it in one sitting. It was just a quick fast-paced read that I couldn’t get enough of. There were so many factors that had me fighting for this couple and man their entanglements were so enthralling. From the very beginning, it was a story that captivates the reader from the get-go. I honestly couldn’t put this one down and I just had to know how these two would find a way to work things out because it gets intense from beginning to end. You see how much they care for each other, and how that one fling of a night was so much more than sex, but there is also practicality to put into practice and they need to find a way to work around both. It was quite fun to see how these two would battle things out and boy do things get heated between them. I actually had so much fun seeing them work around their chemistry and yet be so torn over business vs. pleasure.
Now both of them have something to fight for with this deal. The heroine especially my heart broke for her because she has a brother in rehab, a business that will cave if she can’t make this deal work, and a past that shows she has zero success where relationships are concerned. They are two worlds apart yet she can’t deny that there is something more between her and Mason. Now I want to point out one major issue I had with this book and honestly every time I see this I want to DNF a book because of it. Now I didn’t with this one, because I was so hooked on the story but it came close and why this one isn’t going to be a five-star or even a 4.5 rating. It’s because there is a scene where the heroine slaps the hero (on the face) and honestly yeah they were verbally sparring but there was nothing he was doing that she wasn’t doing as well verbally, and he so didn’t deserve that at all. She has a temper, yes, but I really can’t condone violence like that, and it affects my review and it’s really the only element that keeps this from being a perfect book for me. I mean, its a contemporary setting, so it might be different if it was like a historical or something, but that isn’t the case with this one. So while I enjoyed the book as a whole, this act by the heroine, kept me from enjoying it like I fully wanted to.

Overall I found this one to be a story of playful bantering, intense sensuality, a heart-stopping romance that delivers on all the feels, and a story worth picking up. A SEXY ENTHRALLING READ!

***This review originally appeared with RT BOOK REVIEWS***

Lane’s debut is a bit uneven but shows real promise. She pairs an unconventional tattooed heavy metal pinup model slash budding public relations agent with a man whose whole life has been by the book, for an extreme case of opposites attracting. The premise of a CEO going on the road with a not-yet-ready-for-prime-time band, and furthermore, mashing him together with his competition in a travel trailer, is more than a bit implausible; and the introspective interior monolog from both characters gets a bit tedious at times-- but overall these are fun, unusual characters that fight hard and win their happily-ever-after fair and square. The heavy metal live music backdrop and compelling erotic scenes make Beautiful Crazy a standout.

SUMMARY: Kevan and Mason are both putting everything on the line to win the PR business of up-and-coming metal band, Manix Curse. Thrown together in an unconventional head-to-head competition over a nine-day tour, they must do battle with trust issues, unscrupulous co-workers, and their irresistible attraction to each other, but putting the band’s success first makes them a team. Can they make their chemistry work for them and win it all?

Sexy. Sweet. Unforgettable. I love this author and the stories she writes. Great chemistry. Undeniable attraction. Smoldering tension. Characters that make you feel everything. Highly recommended this book y'all!

Please note that this is just a part of the review. Full review is available on: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/book-reviews/beautiful-crazy-by-kasey-lane/

I absolutely loved this book. Everything in it is perfect; characters, plot, relationship between Kevan and Mason, everything. Although it is the first book in the series it focuses solely on the relationship between Kevan and Mason without trying to make introduction into a series. The characters are three-dimensional and it was so easy to fall in love with them.

Kevan Landry and Mason Dillon are complete opposites. Kevan is full of tattoos and dressed in vintage clothes. She runs a small fledgling marketing firm, she has no money, her brother is an addict and she comes from a dysfunctional family. Mason on the other hand, is all business and money. He has no tattoo, he is dressed in business suits, he works for huge PR firm and he is loaded. His family might not be full of love and affection but it is far from dysfunctional. But Kevan and Mason have one thing that bring them together; they want to sign a contract with the same band. In order to get a band they have to spend time together on the tour. The only problem with them being together on the tour is that they are enemies who like one another a lot.

I absolutely loved this book. Everything in it is perfect; characters, plot, relationship between Kevan and Mason, everything. Although it is the first book in the series it focuses solely on the relationship between Kevan and Mason without trying to make introduction into a series. The characters are three-dimensional and it was so easy to fall in love with them. Kevan is a tough girl on the outside, but so fragile on the inside. She is a fighter and I rooted for her through the whole story. Mason is typical alpha, but while he goes for what he wants, he is also so gentle toward Kevan. The relationship between two of them is emotional from the very beginning. It is so obvious that they are head over heels in love with each other from the start. Only, it took them quite some time to realize that. The plot is also amazing; Kevan’s and Mason’s relationship is put in the context of the music world, business deals, promotions and life on the road.

If you are looking for a highly emotional and intense contemporary romance Beautiful Crazy is a perfect story. Read it; it is absolutely amazing!

DNF
The dialogue felt very off to me, and the main characters seemed quite juvenile. Unfortunately, I could not get into the story.

I enjoyed this book overall. It wasn't my favorite of the year but it wasn't my worst. It was a quick read but I feel that I didn't quite buy the characters. There was something about the heroine that I just couldn't connect with-and I kept trying.
The book was well written and the pacing was good, I just didn't fully connect with the characters which affected my enjoyment.

Into the gritty world of rock 'n' roll comes this fun and flirty romance of opposites attracting amidst a crackling battle of the sexes. With its unique main couple and colorful cast of secondary characters this is an entertaining series starter with its nice balance of steamy encounters with just a bit of familial angst that ultimately has me clamoring for more.

Kevan is a girly-girl with her retro look and buxom body who has fought people's preconceived notions since she was young. From an abusive father who never thought she'd amount to anything other than looking pretty, to being a married man's dirty little secret, she's tired of being only a pretty face. After numerous wrong turns in her life choices she's finally found her calling in managing musicians and will do anything to succeed and prove her naysayers wrong. With her business almost bankrupt and her brother in rehab though, her newest plan to sign the heavy metal band Manix Curse becomes a do or die mission. When she realizes her recent one-night stand is her competition it leads to a battle of the sexes teeming with sexual tension that takes on some emotional twists and turns as they find it difficult to keep their hands off each other. As the Manix Curse tour races down the highway so too does their competition, as well as their deepening connection. When mysterious pitfalls point to sabotage for her business her entire future is put in doubt along with her chance at HEA. Kevan's a strong-willed woman who's always had only her brother Bowen to count on as he was the one protecting her throughout their childhood. With his addiction raging out of control she's the one who now needs to save him which makes it imperative that she sign Manix Curse despite her doubts and the honor of most men. Mason reawakens her jaded heart and has her seeing him in a forever kind of light until her long-held fears, and an act of betrayal, have her pushing him away in heartbreak. Throughout the story Kevan's a ball of energy, unique and exotic in her looks and demeanor, and is an unforgettable heroine. She values loyalty and is slow to call others friend, but those few who have captured her friendship are a close-knit and colorful group who I look forward to seeing more of.

Mason's a suit and tie kind of guy, regimented in his life, and serious about his career. His childhood was one of familial expectations with longing to do as he desired which led to loneliness for him. Disappointment from his parents reigned when he chose music management as his career but it's made him a success...though it's tempered with one-night stands and going home alone. Meeting the exotic Kevan is like being hit by lightening, with a crackling connection and an intense sensual vibe that he doesn't want to ignore. Opposites attract and is what fuels his obsession for her as she brings life and color to his drab existence. She reawakens his hardened heart with her fun and flirty nature and together they burn up the pages. When their competition gets personal he'll have to decide which side he wants to fight for in an endearing conclusion. Mason's a sexy beast not afraid to claim Kevan the moment he sees her but lets his fears weigh on him when it comes to commitment. He's an honorable man who stands up for what's right when it comes to business and it's what ultimately alters his future.

On a whole this was a satisfying romance. The connection between Kevan and Mason was scorching and evolved through fun and flirty interactions during their engaging battle for supremacy. Their bedroom encounters brought out dominance in both of them as well as playfulness and were nicely balanced with their wartime acts. They're a compelling and formidable couple and I loved their differences which worked perfectly together. The bad guys in the story were obvious from the start and it frustrated me that Kevan didn't notice the truth considering her untrusting nature. The misunderstandings between them were equally frustrating but were luckily resolved quickly. Surrounding this decadently delightful main couple comes a secondary cast that's colorful, exotic, and sexy and have me longing to see more of them. Among those most fascinating are drummer Jax who seems a bit sad and who oozes a vibe of mystery along with the bruised and slightly broken Bowen. His hurt over not being there when Kevan needed him was palpable and was a redeeming quality after all the pain his addiction wrought which has me rooting for him wholeheartedly. From start to finish this was a fast-paced read set on the outskirts of the music world. Concerts and the promotions leading up to the show were depicted but were mostly a reflection of the battle between Kevan and Mason. The romance and characters captivated me from the very start and I'm left counting down the days until we revisit the boys and girls of Manix Curse!

Ok, I'm just figuring out that this was a debut novel!! So exciting and what a great start for this author.
The first half of the story started off a bit slow and I wasn't completely sold on the idea of Kevan and Mason. I just didn't buy that they were really all that different. Sure they came from different backgrounds and while Mason was employed by a big time company and Kevan a self starter but personality wise they seems pretty even keeled.
The story was a bit predictable but in a way that still kept me interested in seeing exactly how it played out.
I love how the author set up the characters for the next book and I'm really looking forward to reading it.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley for voluntary review