Jax and Jami lived a torrid romance in the past that was unexpectedly interrupted by Jax without any explanation, leaving Jami heartbroken. They did not expect their paths to cross again thanks to Mason, the girl's brother. Mason was the protagonist of book 1 of the series and works producing the Jax 's band.
Because of all the changes in his brother's life, Jami goes to Mason to try to make him go back on his decision to give up the promising career he had on a major label. For irony of destiny, Jami is hired as a lawyer for his brother's band .

It is at this moment that Jax and Jami meet again and discover that the passion they thought was extinct still pulsates in their hearts. The only problem is that the barriers that have been placed between them are still firm and strong and they will have to choose to knock them down or not.

The book has a cool story and everything, with really hot sexy scenes but I did not connect with the couple. She is confused, trying to become a respected lawyer but does not value herself to her co-workers and family and he lives in the eternal shadow of being unworthy of her for dropping out of law college and becoming a tattoo artist and drummer. I found this question a bit repetitive, and it took me a long time to get involved with the plot. From the middle to the end the story gets a better rhythm thanks to a secret that haunts Jax that made me super curious.

I still found book 1 more hallucinating and eletric but this one is good in someways.
If you like couples with explosive chemistry and books about second chances and full of romance, this is the book for you.
4/5 stars

**ARC received from the author for an honest review**

Welcome to the world of crazy rock and roll where ink meets paper! I was so excited to read Jax's story. I was a little skeptic as book 1 felt a little immature for me but I still loved it. But Jax and Jami....oh these two are HOT!

I knew Jax had something up his sleeve going on during book 1. I had no idea that little Jami and him would've had some insane past that could've been so much more! This story was filled with so much delicious drama and hopefulness! This is a second chance romance for the books. Jax really is a good man at heart, despite being a rocker, and I wanted Jami to so badly see that he could be it. He WAS it. I was so nervous for the mega twist though. I won't spoil it but oh my I was so worried! Some things aren't easily forgivable. but Jax is perfectly capable of winning Jami over.

I love that Lane's characters always butt heads! It makes for such good entertainment. And ugh the whole will they /won't they scenario is perfect here! Definitely can't wait for book 3: Beautiful Wreck for Bowen! THAT is going to be the king of comeback stories!

Beautiful mess, better late than never, taking the hard road, instead of the easy way, to wind up where you were meant to be all along are just a few things that come to mind when describing this romantic tale. After leaving Jami five years ago after a month long fling without an explanation or even good-bye, Jax, the cocky, confident, yet insecure, indecisive tattoo artist/up and coming drummer rockstar hero finds himself with a lot of explaining to do. Not just to Jami, but to himself, specifically to his own heart. Though he more recently has reigned in some from his bad boy womanizing ways, he has a reputation of taking wine, women, and song to excess, supposedly all in an attempt to get over the girl he’s never forgotten.

Beautiful mess doesn’t come near to describing Jami’s past bad luck with relationships and current dealings with her self-absorbed, too critical, controlling parents. Thank goodness she has Mason, her rock of a handsome, supportive brother, who has obviously laid down the foundation and example for what she needs to do to take control of her life and finally find happiness.

With writing that flowed, VERY graphic steamy scenes in unlikely situations complete with lusty language, this indecisive main couple don’t take long until they are at it again, but seemed resigned to accepting it will eventually end sooner rather than later. Surprisingly, it is Jax banging his head, not to his heavy metal music, but against the wall as he tries to set right to a wrong and it backfires. He ends up trying to convince Jami she’s the only woman he’s ever loved. However, Jami does give into temptation a whole lot sooner than I ever expected.

It’ll be up to you if you accept what I felt was a somewhat stereotypical/flimsy excuse for Jax leaving in the first place. With a surprise reveal of a past tragic event, we get an even clearer picture why Jami’s heart was so wrecked and scarred by Jax’s Harry Houdini type departure five years ago.

Overall, this is a very erotic read with a second chance at a HEA theme. The smexy scenes are quite numerous and lengthy, folks. However, you do get to know the cast of characters. I’m particularly curious to see Bowen, the recently out of rehab band member who is now attempting to walk the straight and narrow, get his own HEA.

Title: Beautiful Mess, Series: Rock ‘N Ink (Book 2), Author: Kasey Lane, Pages: 352, stand-alone but part of a series, HEA, second chance romance, heroine is a lawyer, hero is in a band/tattoo artist, Very erotic read that at times hijack the storyline, former manho, MC not celibate during five year separation, some violence, reference to past physical abuse.

Book 1 - Beautiful Crazy (Kevan & Mason), Pages: 352, 11/1/16
Book 2 - Beautiful Mess (Jami & Jax), Pages: 352, 3/7/17

(This review is based on advanced reader copy provided via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased, fair review. No compensation was provided to this reviewer, nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher/NetGalley. It will be posted on Amazon, Goodreads, NetGalley, and Barnes and Noble.)

Seeing Jackson Paige again has stirred up a lot of old feelings that Jami Dillion had hoped would stay buried in the past, but unfortunately for her they are front and center in her mind, and invading her every thought. Long ago Jami thought for sure Jackson was it for her, then he unexpectedly walked away from her and everything they had without so much as a goodbye. Now here he is back in her life again, asking for another chance, and she wants no part of that, so she tries her best to avoid him, but he isn't taking no for an answer. They are from different worlds now, and one would think they have nothing in common, but the minute his lips hit hers it makes everything in her world feel so right...

Manix Curse drummer Jackson Paige knows he screwed up royally when he walked away from Jami, but at the time he thought he was doing what was right for both of them... and truth be told he realizes now that he couldn't have been more wrong. He has often thought about her, tried to bury his memories of her in nameless band groupies, but no matter how hard he tries she is still there. With the band gaining notoriety, and big changes coming, they decide they need a lawyer to negotiate deals for them, and the minute she walks into the boardroom Jackson is left completely breathless... their new lawyer is none other then his beautiful ex Jami Dillion!

Within seconds of cracking this book open I was hooked, these two feisty lovebirds pulled me into their world and had me feeling the words, each one stirring my emotions, and leaving me craving more. So I kept swiping the pages, and with each on the deeper I fell, and before long it was the wee hours of the morning, and I was swiping the last page and completely enamored with what I had just read...this story was seriously something else!! I loved every minute I spent submersed in the pages of this one, it was my first read from Ms. Lane, and I have to say it exceeded my expectations, and left me a lifelong fan! I highly recommend this one, it's sure to leave you with a happy heart... and maybe with a crush on a certain sexy drummer too!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.

'Beautiful Mess' by Kasey Lane is book Two in the "Rock 'n' Ink' series. This is the story of Jackson 'Jax' and Jami. I haven't yet read the previous book, so for me this was a standalone book. This was a book about second chances at love. Jax and Jami had dated for about a month when she was in school to become a lawyer and Jax thought he wanted to be a lawyer. They were hot and heavy and Jami fell in love but then Jax up and left school...which ended their brief time together. Now, years later they meet again when Jami learns that her brother and Jax are friends. Jami meets Jax again when she goes to stop her brother from getting a tattoo which she find is Jax is the Tattoo technician. Jami is thrown off but has her guard up as she doesn't want to be hurt by him again. Jax realizes that he wants to be with Jami. Can these two work out the past to move forward into the future?
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Jami is an uptight lawyer, worried about her brothers sudden changes in his life. She finds him to confront him and let him know she is worried... and runs into the one man she never thought she would see again.

Jackson has always had Jami in the back of his mind since their relationship abruptly ended. When she crashes back in his life he decides that no matter what tore them apart in the past he is not losing her again... but Jami may be a little harder to convince.

I enjoyed this book. I loved the writing, but wished for a little more action in the story line. Jami is a successful, yet damaged and self conscious woman who works to find herself with the help of her closest new friends and family. I loved how Jackson realizes immediately that Jami is the one for him and works hard for her, and wasn't the typical hard to crack male character. I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

I enjoyed the first book in the series, but this one I was not able to connect with either of the characters and I did not like Jackson/Jax at all. I have chosen to DNF this title at 42%

I look forward to the next title in this series, as I think it was just this one...

Laura

A tattoo artist that also is a band on the brink of making it big time...yeah, I had to read this. I didn't realize it was the second book in the series. While I was able to understand the story, I wondered if some of my shock at things might not have been as big if I had known.

We have an uptight lawyer, Jami Dillion, who is trying to make her parents proud, but at time really doesn't like her life. She starts off by trying to save her brother from making a bad decision, which came off all wrong to me as a snob who should have accepted her brother. Real fast she gets on board with her brother, but in a lot of ways, she is a doormat for her family.

Asked by her brother, Jami becomes the lawyer looking over contracts for the band Manix Curse. What she doesn't know is Jax Pain is really Jax Paige, her boyfriend in college. Jax left her without telling her why, leaving her heartbroken and at the mercy of her parents.

Jax was also in school to become a lawyer, but when her parents confront him, and other factors and situations happen, he walks away from Jami and doesn't look back. Now he wants a second chance and really, I am fed up with guys leaving with no word as to why and breaking women's hearts. So nope, I ended up not liking this guy. I am all about communications people! I don't mind he broke it off, I don't like how he did it and the reasons why.

So now they are back and all the same attractions are dodging them. Through it all, Jami's parents are putting a dark cloud over this story. Jami's past is colorful and they never let her forget it. In fact there is one scene that almost made me throw this book out into the trash. Jami's father does something unforgivable and it is kind of just swept away. AKA doormat.

Jami's brother and future sister-in-law were more interesting than the main characters. In fact, their's was the first story in this series. Unfortunately, this book left me feeling morbid and not hopeful for anything. So much that I didn't even want to go back to read the first story about them.

There is a lot of bad things that happen in this story and not enough good things to offset them. I found myself not cheering for them, nor believing they really could fall in love. Jax might be a great guy, but what he does to Jami set him up to fail in my eyes. So no, I didn't really like this story and probably won't read any more from this series.

How can a reader, particularly a female reader, not respect an author who writes stories of empowerment and courage about strong women? Kasey Lane's Beautiful Mess takes a trip down memory lane with rock star Jax and lawyer Jami. Their reunion causes each to own up to some truths about themselves, that could make or break their business relationship and topple their second chance. Emotional reveals, tons of sex appeal and learning what it truly means to rebuild and heal, made reading Beautiful Mess, the real deal.

4.5 Stars A second chance romance with a few laughs, a hot rocker and steamy love scenes. When Jackson & Jami were together 5 years ago in law school the chemistry was there be it just wasn't the right time in their lives to make things work. Jax leaves Jami & school one day with no explanation. She will not find out why until they meet again.

Fast forward to when they meet again, Jami is now a successful lawyer and Jackson is a tattoo artist/ painter/drummer in a up and coming rock band. Jami is hired to do legal work for the band's up coming tours by her brother Mason who is now not only Jackson's friend but also the band's promoter.

Jackson knows when he sees Jami again they are meant to be together and will do what ever it takes to correct the mistakes he made when he left and makes her want to be his again. Their adventure include demon parents, an abusive ex and career changes till they are on their path to their HEA.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy provided by SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca / NetGalley.

Lane takes us back to the rock world with the second book in her Rock’ N’ Ink series. I really enjoyed Beautiful Crazy and quickly raised my hand when Beautiful Mess came up for review. I enjoyed this book also though not quite as much as the first. It was still a fun read. I love that her characters are smart, sexy and interesting and exist in the colorful music world. It’s not a world I have ever lived in or even visited so it’s refreshingly new.

Jami and Jackson are both still too influenced by their parents and their upbringing. Jami is still towing the line to keep from disappointing her mother and father as she did when she was younger. Jackson is doing the opposite. He’s openly defiant to his father.

While Jami and Jackson renew their relationship, they face many challenges and must enact changes to make their future work but far more concerning is a whopper of a secret revolving around Jackson’s sudden disappearance back in school. I liked seeing Kevan and Mason back and would have welcomed even more of them.

I liked both Jami and Jackson and was anxious to see them work through their challenges to get to their happily ever after. I was perfectly invested in this sexy, touching love story.

reviewed by Jem Stone

because my to-be-read pile is ridiculous, i often don't remember why i picked a book up when i finally have the time to read it. which is why blurbs matter. because the way beautiful mess is pitched, it sounds like jami and jackson first reconnect in a board room. years after jackson abruptly dumped jami and ghosted out of her life before ghosting was a thing.

that scene does happen, but before that jami first encounters jackson at the tattoo parlor where he works, where's she's gone to confront her brother about his life choices. and this opening should have been cut entirely from the book. the whole scene makes jami look terrible. and two seconds later she's totally fine and supportive of her brother's life choices so it doesn't make any sense.

jackson is also a total jerk throughout that whole scene, he's super judgmental even though, he's the one who disappeared! sure we find out later that jami's parents had something to do with it. but even that explanation doesn't really work. the whole reason he leaves jami behind is because he thinks that she wouldn't be supportive of his leaving law school. but the truth is he does a terrible job of telling her why he doesn't want to be a lawyer. and maybe if he communicated instead of disappearing then she would have understood.

i mean then there'd be no story. so i get it. so when they meet up again it's pretty clear that neither of them is truly over the other person. and one thing leads to another and they fall back into each other's arms. they still manage to keep some pretty big secrets from each other, which is a habit i find incredibly annoying.

i know that it is a thing that happens in romance novels, that character's who behave somewhat normally lose the ability to express themselves rationally when in a relationship. i understand that there is story in misunderstandings and how they are resolved. i just wish that more care was taken in making sure that these behaviors make sense for the characters. for me it didn't always work. once jami and jackson restart their relationship the book starts to flow a little better. but in the end, i just didn't connect with either jami or jackson in a way that made me want to root for them to figure it all out. i'm glad they did, i just didn't feel strongly about it one way or another.

I've been on a roll with a fair amount of reading and reviewing this month. My greatest pleasure comes not just from some great books that I've read but also at discovering two new authors to enjoy of which Ms. Lane is one.   I have definitely enjoyed this story with all its colorful characters that I hope to revisit in future books as they work through their own beautiful messy relationships.
Jami and Jackson have a history forged during their law school days.  While Jami is now a successful lawyer,  Jackson has pursued his artistic bent to not only become an up and coming artist on the Portland art scene but is  better known as Jax Pain a drummer for the up and coming band Manix Curse.   When Jackson meets Jami over a tattoo needle as he tattoos her brother he's determined to explore this chance meeting into something that might turn into a full fledged relationship.
Jami has striven all her life for a crumb of affection from her self absorbed demanding parents. To please them, she's turned herself into a doll, suppressing her real self under conservative suits and behavior they would find suitable.  When her successful brother falls in love with a tattoo artist and walks away from his career to become an entrepreneur marketer and promoter to local Portland band Manix Curse Jami is determined to save him and bring him back into the fold.  When she's presented at a second chance with the man who haunts her years later and see's the unfettered happiness and contentment between her brother and his fiancé, is she ready to rock the boat and embrace the messiness that comes from a real relationship? Is there a future for Jackson and Jami?
It's so sweet to see bearded, tattooed, Jackson coaxing Jami out of her shell to becoming a part of the loud and messy family of musicians and artists.  What Jami can't resist is the heat simmering between them which constantly derails  all her good intentions. The author keeps things humming at a slow boil which the two of them together quickly flare up into a conflagration. What bothers me about the story is Jami's continued rejection of all the advice from her friends and her heart  in deference to her parents even after she knows beyond a shadow of doubt that they do not have her best interests at heart.
I enjoyed meeting Kevan and Mason and would like to go back and read how it all came together for them.  Not having read Book 1 in advance did not in any way hamper my enjoyment of this book.

2.5 rating

Jamie and Jackson had a short month long affair while in law school together. But one day Jackson is gone and out of her life with no explanation or reason.

Each face hardship and make life altering decisions. Jamie does all she can to please her parents, follow the rules and lives an orderly "quiet" life. Jackson followed his dreams and became a tattoo artist and musician. Jamie never knew why Jackson disappeared out of her life and Jackson never forgot Jamie.

Years later (five to be exact) they meet again and both are very different people. Jackson realizes he missed Jamie and wants her back. Jamie is hurt and her walls are up, she's not going to trust so easily this time. Jackson works hard at regaining Jamie's trust but he's go his work cut out for him.

Jamie struggles with a lot of confidence and trust issues almost to the point that it became the focal point of the story. Her "problems" seemed to be so regurgitated and repetitive that I lost interest in the story at times. I also found the beginning to be very s l o w and didn't hold much of my attention ( had to put it down and come back to it in the span of a week) until a third of the way into the story. I found the writing to be somewhat inconsistent with the characters thoughts and what was then played out throughout the story. The secondary characters were likable, except for Jamie's parents of course.

Jami tries to stop her brother Mason from making an error with his life and ends up finding her lost love, Jackson who had left hi and dry 5 years ago without an explanation. Once Jackson sees her again he realizes he wants her back and starts going after her, relentlessly. They do get together but she is still scared, and she has gone thru some rough times and it is heartbreaking to find out about them. Her parents were horrible people, but her brother was wonderful. The group of friends she makes are also wonderful along with Gabby and Ella. Hope to read about the rest of the band.

Definitely my type of book. I had to go read book 1 first and then got stuck into this one. I devoured it. Love this author. This book was just vibrant and so darn sexy. Can't wait for book 3

Don't think Megan Crane can type fast enough for me. Hehehe

Jami Dillon and Jackson Paige had a brief passionate college fling that didn't end well. Now Jami is an uptight corporate lawyer and Jackson is an award winning tattoo artist and member of a rock band. They couldn't be more different but the sparks are still there, no matter how much Jami wants to deny it.

The plot kept your interest, tho it was predictable. The characters were mostly likable, with just a couple exceptions, mainly Jami's controlling parents. Both characters had a lot of issues to work out. There were a lot of hot sex scenes in the book. I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

DNF..... I didnt realize this was the series I didnt like

I enjoyed this book. The characters were likable. I look forward to reading more by this author.