Making Up by Lucy Parker (London Celebrities #3)
Released: May 28, 2018
Contemporary Romance
Carina Press

Reviewed by Mandi

I highly recommend this author if you have yet to try her. This is the third book I’ve read by her and they have all been adorable and sweet and sexy. In Making Up, we return to the theater, but in a burlesque/acrobatic show. The Festival of Masks is a little bit of everything – lewd humor, amazing aerial skills, singing, dancing and it’s a very popular show. When one of the lead aerialists gets badly injured during a performance, Trix, our pink-haired heroine, gets called on to replace her. Trix lost a lot of confidence in the past few years. Due to being in a relationship with a man who put her down constantly among other things, she has lost some of that self-esteem. She wants this role, but she is scared to death.

Leo is our hero. A former rugby player, he is now a renowned make-up artist, although his passion lies in special effect make-up. Unfortunately, during a previous big job, a big star had a huge cosmetic allergic reaction to his make-up, and he is now in need of work. There is a make-up job open in the Festival of Masks, and he agrees to it, even though he knows he is to be reunited with his former flame, Trix.

Trix and Leo have a romantic past – but it ended after miscommunication and harsh words. But employment brings them back together – so we have a second chance at love trope, and even better, enemies to lovers. These two do not like each other due to years of bad feelings that have built up.

Leo Magasiva. Top London makeup artist. Wizard of special effects. Possessor of beautiful voice and aggressively hipster beard. Pop-up dickhead.

Beatrix Lane. The extremely short bane of Leo’s existence

Although they give each other a really hard time at the beginning, Leo realizes that Trix really needs some support in her new acting role. Underneath the sarcastic banter, Leo is such a good guy. He gently and quietly starts to be her support system, as their relationship slow burns into a romance. They spend more and more time together (doesn’t hurt that Leo ends up renting a room in Trix’s apartment) and their slow burn romance does a 180 into sex and it’s so cute.

She was too exhausted and satisfied to really focus on the reality that kept knocking at the edges of her brain, that this was Leo. This was her and Leo.

He released his breath in a sigh, turning his head lazily to kiss her forehead.

“God,” he said, and she tensed. Perhaps he could offer some weighty words of wisdom that would throw some light on how they’d ended up here.

“I’m starving.”

Simplicity, thy name is man.

They truly love each other, but that darn messy past and Trix’s previous abusive relationship will pop up to make their romance journey a bit rocky.

“Leo?” Her voice was quiet.

“Mmm?”

“Is this going to be a problem? What happened tonight?”

His hand tightened on her. At last, he said, “Do you regret it?”

Her breath, still faint and ticklish against his skin. “No. But I don’t… I can’t—”

He closed his eyes. “It doesn’t have to be complicated, Trix.” It was the only thing he could say.

It was also a total bloody lie.

It was them.

It was going to be completely fucking complicated.

Besides Trix and Leo, we have an outstanding cast of supporting characters. Jono, Trix’s best friend in the cast is a lot of fun, and causes Leo a great deal of jealously. Trix has a good group of girlfriends and guy roommates that made me smile.

Even two very cranky characters, Trix’s boss Marco…

Somewhere, even the Sith Emperor was looking at this guy’s management style and thinking “Bit harsh.”

…and Leo’s attitude-to-the-max sister, gave this story a lot. I also loved the backdrop of this theater performance. The author does a great job putting the reader in the theater.

It’s a book full of delightful characters, a super sexy romance, and just a fun story. I really recommend this author to everyone.

Grade: B+

Goodreads l Kindle l Nook