Review: Painted Faces by L.H. Cosway

SPOILER FREE REVIEW
4 STARS OUT OF 5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Setting: Dublin

In Painted Faces, Fred an outspoken women who thinks herself to be average and Nicholas a handsome man who also happens to be a drag queen find love.
Unconventional? Yes.
Not my normal love story? Nope.
Should you read it? Most definitely?

'I want him so badly it hurts. But I want all of him. Not just the sex. I want his smiles and his teasing, his smouldering looks. His sad eyes when he thinks nobody's watching. Most of all I want his heart.' ~Freda

Freda considers herself to be average in the looks department. She is 25yrs old, the youngest of 4. Her parents had her late in life so her siblings out date her by at least a decade or more. Freda is an outspoken women known for telling you exactly how she feels without batting an eyelash. She is curvy considered on the thick side at a comfortable size14 with curly brown hair. She lives with her best friend and roommate Nora. Nora is pretty in the ideal way she is also thin and always looking for 'the one.'

Nora has her current sights set on the new neighbor Nicholas. Both Freda and Nora will be in for a shock when Nicholas let's his intentions known.

He want's Fred.

"You're very pretty Fred," he says matter of factly. Then he brings hi face closer and traces his lips among my ear. " I'd really like to f*ck you."

When Freda met Nicholas she was returning from shopping. Her clothes were sopping wet and she had three grocer bags slung over her shoulder. He was coming out of his apartment as she wrestled to get her key out to enter her's.
He introduced himself as Vivica. She instantly was drawn in to his blue eyes and handsome face. While chatting she noticed some of his mannerism seemed..fey like. But after catching him leering at her D-cups which were visible through her soaking wet shirt she dismissed the thought.

It's at dinner later on that night when Nicholas openly flirts with Freda, much to Nora's dismay; when Freda turns Nicholas down on his proposition to have sex. Inwardly she can't deny that she is attracted to him. The man is gorgeous who wouldn't be?

"Lot's of kinks, lot's of quirks, my sexuality is multifaceted." ~Nicholas

Nicholas invites both Freda and Nora to see his show. Freda agrees to go. They quickly become friends even spending the afternoon together the day of his performance. Freda attends his cabaret performance that night with Nora and two other friends.

While there Freda takes notice early on that they are in a gay bar. Her suspicions begin to arise once more in regards to Nicholas and his sexuality. Nora is still holding out hope and is to busy getting sloshed to pick up on the atmosphere in the bar.

The announcer takes the stage to introduce Nicholas as Vivica Blue.

'He's a F*cking drag queen.' ~Freda

At first Freda feels a bit of discomfort but it quickly dissipates as she becomes enthralled by his performance.

'This is astounding, amazing, so incredibly thrilling. Only today a world traveling cabaret performing drag queen took me out for lunch and named me as his new best friend. The idea plunges my Black and white world into a vibrant techni-colour rainbow.' ~Freda's inner monologue

Freda assumes that Nicholas must be bi because...Well, because he hit on her. After the show Nicholas let's her know that he is a straight man.

"So it's not a fetish for you?"
He smirks "Nope. Cross dressing is often related to sexual preference. I like to be a man in the bedroom. But a woman on stage."

Nicholas offers Freda a job as his assistant. She accepts and is now in the drag queen world of wigs, make-up, sparkly dresses and high heels. Slowly being pulled in by Nicholas, the attraction becomes palpable.
The chemistry between the two is flammable.

"I'd like to see you speechless, breathless, panting..."
~Nicholas to Freda

Freda does her best to keep their relationship platonic. But her desires for Nicholas only increase the closer they get, the more she learns about the man behind the wigs and make up.

'I stare into his eyes for a second and get caught, like a fly in a spiders web. There is deep deep pain in him somewhere underneath the flirty, confidant surface.' ~Freda's inner monologue

Friends to lovers.. This is a romantic tale of two people finding love in a very different way.

My thoughts
Nothing I was expecting. This is far from my normal romance. I found the writing engaging the deeper in to the story I got. The love story is very unique... Makes me wonder where the author came up with the concept.

Dear readers
I recommend this book to romance lovers looking for something different from the norm. Painted Faces meets that standard and then some.
Very beautiful and highly erotic! Check it out!
I consider author L.H. Cosway an Author To Look-out For!

My Ratings
Characters- Lovable and truly one of a kind
Writing Style- Witty, Sensual and Honest
Plot/Storyline- Unique in terms of the romance, also very Savory with lasting characters who are sure to stick with you

Steam Factor- High/Very Steamy
Overall- I enjoyed! Check it out!

Now go forth and read. Then come tell us about it on Goodreads!

*Copy kindly provided by the author for a honest review*