Warpaint

Warpaint is the first book in a new series. It's hilarious, heartbreaking, with a dash of romance and angst thrown in. An extremely enjoyable read, that leaves you wanting to read more.

As a proud Scot I had to know what would make a fellow countryman up and leave her life in our beautiful country. Love, dear reader, the usual culprit!

Make up artist Willow leaves behind her beauty counter in Glasgow, she has fallen in love with handsome New Yorker Rick, he appears to have it all, good looks, charm, money and a loft in Manhattan. Despite warnings from her friends and colleagues she finds herself 6 weeks later married and on a plane to NYC to start her new married life.

What could go wrong? Marrying a man she has only just met and doesn’t know anything about? His not quite ex with a baby on board, oh and that loft in Manhattan is a crappy apartment in Queens. Willow’s dreams of taking on the Big Apple are falling apart before she has even got started.

With her immigration paperwork going through the motions, returning home is not an option so she puts on her lippy, hits the streets and finds herself a job working in a luxury department store, here she finds unlikely friends and allies along with her husbands baby mama working along side her.

Her dreams are shattering around her but she knuckles down and starts doing what she does best, make people feel good about themselves, impressing her boss in the process but there is always a spanner in the works and she finds herself at her lowest point with Immigration breathing down her neck.

Can she make a new life in New York?

I really enjoyed this book, I love a strong Scottish female character and despite her many hurdles, Willow got on with it even when she found herself down to her last dollars. I did feel like giving her a telling off - “Why the hell are you marrying a man you’ve just met?!!!” - but I know that true love works in mysterious ways, I know a couple who got engaged after just two weeks and are still married 40 odd years later. I think I’m just a little impressed that she had the balls to just go for it, to make that jump and to see what happens, she had nothing to lose.

I’d have like to hear a wee bit more about Rick and Willow’s whirlwind romance, would there have been more signs that he wasn’t being entirely truthful.

It was a good fun read, the perfect antidote to these uncertain times.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

More com than rom, this is the perfect book to read on the plane. It’s funny, the characters are endearing and the pace is fast enough to keep you reading. Yes, it was a bit predictable but the narrative was so amusing that I just didn’t care.

First things first:
Attractive book cover and interesting title, right up my alley.

"NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES YOU FIND YOURSELF IN, THERE"S NO EXCUSE FOR NOT BEING FABULOUS."

This story is about Willow. She is a makeup artist from Glasgow, and follows quotes and advices in her life from her little "Yellow Book". She meets the charming New Yorker, Rick Delgado, sparks fly and they get married just after six weeks of knowing each other. Crazy! Isn't it? After reaching New York, her world comes crumbling down as she soon discovers her husband is just a broke bloke who lives in "MANHATTAN HEIGHTS" and not the real Manhattan city. There are a series of unfortunate situations and discoveries which tragically transform her magical New York dreams into a nightmare in no time.
But Willow is a woman who never gives up and it turns out a victory for her in the end. Her Brit grit is commendable and her journey was inspirational ,really connected me to her.

What i liked:
- Willow's feisty, strong and hopeful demeanour. She did make a mistake/blunder but did not let it define her. She did not dwell on things but rather took steps to help herself to overcome it.
Something we all must learn.

- The writing was warm. riveting and I read it in one go.
- The beautiful friendship between Jason, Jake and Willow. I would love to have someone as adorable as Jason in my life.
- The fact that the book did not turn out to be a sob story but an uplifting, empowering one. Loved every bit.
- Self love and Willow's journey about hope and believing in the good and fortunate inspite of all the series of unfortunate events in a row.

Dont think twice pick this book up it wont disappoint you! 4/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and J.J. Maya for an e-ARC in exchange of an honest review.
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Wonderful easy read. The story takes us through the ups and downs of a rushed marriage and the challenges a failed relationship poses on immigration. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to others!

A fun filled romp through the immigration process of America picking up friends, enemies and awards in the process.

Wonderfully descriptive and filled with vivid imagery. Definitely one to recommend to the girls!

I really enjoyed this book a lot , I was hoping for something more with the ending but overall it worked out well!!
I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and J.J. Maya for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This quick book takes readers on a journey with makeup artist Willow as she decides to throw caution to the wind and gets swept up in a movie-style romance. Suddenly she’s marrying Rick after knowing him for a few weeks and planning her move to America. It’s safe to say when she gets there, things are not the American Dream she had in mind.
Some people just attract chaos and I think Willow is one of those people. Same. She tends to go with her gut without thinking things through and that definitely kept the drama going. Readers get a glimpse into another immigrant story. I love reading these POV’s because I always end up learning something new every time. Also can we shout out that cover because WOW!

Romance | Women's Fiction
Are whirlwind marriages always deigned to go wrong? Can you fall in love (not lust) within a matter of weeks and marry and give up everything you’ve ever known to follow your new spouse into a new country and culture?
Well this heroine thought she could.
Willow is not the youngest heroine, nor is she the most beautiful, and so when Rick – a dashing American who appeared to have plenty of money – claims to have fallen in love with her, asks her to marry him and move to his Manhattan loft, she accepts. With trepidation its true. Which was justified as Manhattan lofts are not quite what she expected – especially when she finds remnants of Rick’s girlfriend in evidence. Seems she had only just left the ‘loft’. And wasn’t best pleased about it either and was determined to let Willow and Rick know.
This is a sweet tale of misguidedness and naivety and how difficult it can be to settle into a new culture and worse – to get a job in the States. The legal requirement of a valid and happy marriage being one of course.
With some finagling we manage to get to a happy ending through tears and struggles and stubbornness which makes one fall for Willow in her innocence, even not so much Rick. But her choice. And Willow finds she has some lovely co-workers who are prepared to put themselves n the line for her, demonstrating their depth of friendship.

Kept my interest but had its issues🤔

3.5 🌟stars
I picked up this book because of the heroine's Scottish connection. I found that her Scottish roots, though mentioned, did not really play much into the story. The plot did hold my attention from start to finish but I can't say it was very memorable.

Willow, the heroine, seemed scattered and inconsistent. I don't know if the author meant her to be that way or if it was just the writing and the inclusion of such a variety of subplots in a shorter book. Willow cares deeply about something or someone one moment yet seems to move with barely a backward glance rather quickly, especially in her hot and cold treatment of her new husband. He may be a jerk, but we barely get to see him interact with Willow, nor do we know much about the whirlwind courtship that got her to the States in six weeks🙁.

The immigration subplot for Willow and the department store where she fortuitously falls into a job was, IMO, broadly drawn and not successful. And there were inconsistencies like having the sun come up at six a.m. at the darkest time of the year and mentioning Rick experiencing Scottish winter when their courtship happened in the fall!

If you are just looking for a light, somewhat plausible single girl adventure in a world full of pitfalls, then you may enjoy this relatively quick read. I can't say I disliked it, but I had been hoping for something better.

Thanks to publisher Books Go Social and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

It’s cute comedy story, which prompts us to look at our life problems and how most of them can be solved if we keep working towards them rather than running away from them. The tone of the story is satirical and the big fashion names which are thrown every few chapters kept me interested and going. A cute light read especially for those who love makeup and fashion industry.

i really liked how unique Willow was, she was a great main character and I enjoyed going through this book. I look forward to more from the author.

This had me turning the pages from the very start, when Willow embarked on her flight to NYC and toward her new dream life, which turned out to be a little different to what she'd expected. Lots of twists and turns throughout and a fascinating insight into what really goes on behind the glamorous facade of the cosmetics counter.

Warpaint is an enjoyable romcom with unexpected twists and turns. Set in New York City, Willow is trying to find her feet and you are made to feel her joy and pain along the way. I read this book in the space of 24 hours and would recommend this to anyone who wants a quick, pacey read!

This book was completely not what I was expecting going by the front cover but I was honestly very surprised - in a good way.
Was a nice easy rom-com book set in New York, with lots going on in between.
Very easy to read, with a big mix of different characters.
My only grumble is that the ending was left very open, and didn't conclude some of what had been building throughout, but hopefully that just means there will be a sequel at some point.