Butterface (A Hot Romantic Comedy) (The Hartigans Book 1)

Butterface by Avery Flynn - first of The Hartigans series, this book can be read as a standalone - but I'm sure you'll be hooked & ready for the next installment. A story of unrequited love, with a unique twist we can all appreciate "...redefined what beautiful could be." ~ don't miss reading the dedication- completely sets the tone for this fast paced fun, sexy & sweet read.

Not unlike her other novels, this contemporary romance is the perfect mix of hilarious wit, heartfelt romance & sultry hot sexiness. Do yourself a favor & powder your nose before starting Chapter 3 - because Avery will have you ready to pee your pants with laugh out loud inner dialogue. You're welcome. I'd never heard the term Butterface & it made me so sad! Gina is a girl after my own heart with "...her self-deprecating sense of humor...", she "...loathed--being the center of attention..." & "...got off on color coded spreadsheets..." She is making a fresh start toward a new life for herself, moving past anger & humiliations of her past while protecting herself from them in the future. One that she never imagined would involve someone like Ford Hartigan. A "Brusque. By the rules. No-nonsense." cop from a Irish family of firefighters. He is focused on an assignment of the career building kind. Together these characters are desire & need of the squirm in your seat kind "It was hot and demanding and so achingly desperate." Supporting family & friends you won't be able to do anything but love. Strong family bonds in spite of being so different from each other. "They were just the best kind of a mess..." Friendships no one should live without. "...only a true friend would help you dispose of a body. "You're the best."

I just love all of the smart & witty phrases - "...the ice-pick-to-the-balls moment..." & holy hell who can resist "...his clit-whistle of a throaty groan...", not me, that's who. Adore the natural instinct to protect those you love & enjoyed the intrigue & angst to see what would be revealed of the past & the future.

Another great read!

Butterface

**received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was the first book by Avery Flynn that I have read and it will not be my last. I loved this book, she kept it interesting and wasn’t afraid to make a main character who wasn’t “a beauty”. I loved Gina, she was straight forward and honest, and wasn’t scared to stand her ground. And when that was mixed with Ford, their chemistry was off the charts. They both knew that they shouldn’t be attracted to one another but at the same time felt a connection that they hadn’t felt with someone else. I can’t wait to see what’s up next from Avery Flynn!

Gina has always known she isn’t a beauty, but she doesn’t let it stop her from her goals and doing what she loves. But when a kiss cam kiss turns into an unexpected spark, she wonders what if. But is there really something there, or is it yet again a joke.

Ford is known for following the rules, but when he kisses the wedding planner, she knocks him off his axis. But a kiss is all that it can be, because he is a cop and her family doesn’t necessarily play by the rules.

But of course fate would have it that they would be thrown together when her house becomes under investigation. Will they be able to keep their relationship professional? Or will they both throw caution to the wind and take a chance on one another?

Gina is a strong, independent, and smart wedding planner, who is confident in her career, but is gun shy when it comes to her love life. See, in school, she was always laughed at, and called terrible names about her looks, so while she knows her personal life is boring, with her DIY house renovations, she's not willing to go out on a limb to change things. It all changes in the blink of an eye, when a prank brings Ford, the super hot cop into her life. He is attracted to her, but she's convinced that he's punking her, as girls like her don't attract hotties like him. This brings on a hilarious, yet somewhat bittersweet romantic journey that I really enjoyed. I say bittersweet, because I really got sad for Gina as her inner monologue showed that she didn't believe she was pretty at all. Then hilarious because between the hijinks, and cast of colorful secondaries that brought chaos from all directions, I stayed laughing a lot. The talented Avery Flynn brought out the big guns with an amazing story that came off very original, while also tackling the big issue of bullying. Not to mention, realistic as women need to learn to love themselves even when they aren't societies version of beautiful. HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ALL!

Butterface is a fun, fast paced and mostly feelgood read that completely stole my heart. Avery Flynn's writing drew me straight into the story. She weaves a tale well, introducing us to Gina ( heroine extraordinaire), Ford (our hero), Gina's brothers, Fords' family and his co-workers.

Gina is one of those characters, the women we all know and one who is completely relatable. From her love of organization to her desire to just be herself, I was rooting for her to have her moment. She doesn't suffer from a lack of self-esteem and this alone endeared her to me. But she is relatable because like most of us, she's taken a hit or two that gave her pause, hurt her feelings, and created some doubt. But at her core, she knows she's beyond worthy. And a moment on a kiss-cam would be one that would test her spirit and change her life.

Gina and Ford have amazing chemistry, they just jelled and although Ford motivations make him suspect, I could tell I would want to see him bring Gina the happiness that she deserves. Everything about her is genuine and real, and Ford is her perfect match. He makes some mistakes, Gina is made to give Ford a few too many chances, but in the end he is redeemable. This is the perfect end of summer beach read and one I highly recommend. 4.5 Stars

I had never heard of the expression ‘Butterface’ until I’d read this book and I can’t say I like it either! However I can say I like the book!

Regina Luca is a wedding coordinator who meets detective Ford Hartigan at a wedding she plans, however it is under some duress. Her family has ties to less than savour activities, nothing to do with her though. Ford is challenged with the prospect of ‘infiltrating Gina’s camp’ so to speak and that’s when things get even more interesting.

What comes across in this story is the very ‘real life’ aspect of self awareness, family, commitments, ambition, prejudices and much more. Whether they are true or perceived to be true are another thing. The story flows easily and smoothly and is fast to read because of this pace.

There are some great one liners and there’s some fun banter between characters. Terrific setting and character descriptions make it easy to see Gina’s old house as it is being restored. Emotions run a bit high when some of the less charitable characters show their shallow sides, I could cheerfully have smacked them around the ears!

This is a fun, light romance that leaves you feeling great.

Oh what an absolute DELIGHT and CHARMING and most MEMORABLE romantic comedy I have EVER read! The fact that this isn't your average rom-com THRILLED me. Add in a heroine who isn't drop dead gorgeous appealed to me in a way that I can't even describe. I LOVED THIS STORY!

Butterface just dug into my heart right from the start. It was cute, funny and with an undeniable meaning that most of us can relate to. This is one romantic comedy I will gladly, happily and with GUSTO scream from the rooftops to READ RIGHT NOW! Yes, this book is EVERYTHING and THEN SOME! I ADOOOOOOOORED Gina. To me, she was absolutely beautiful and caring and a whole lot of fun to be around, and our hero Ford is one that made my heart pound and my knees weak and not just because he was gorgeous. The way he treats Gina and falls for her had butterflies taking flight inside my stomach and made my heart SING. This really is a one of a kind romantic comedy. This brand new series from Avery Flynn has me HOOKED and I am BEGGING, like on my knees begging Miss Avery for the next one and SOON!

I give Butterface an AMAZING TEN MILLION BRILLIANT, BRIGHT, SHINNING STARS!

Oh my goodness!! I love a strong female character but this one is my absolute favorites. Gina is the most relatable character I have read in a really long time. She represents every girl and woman I know. If you are to ask 99.9% of the females around you, each one will list something they dislike about themselves. It doesn't matter how small it may be to the passer-by, it will stand out to them. Many, myself included, will have a laundry list. Gina is exactly the same. However, what makes her my hero is that she holds her head high, straightens her crown and marches on to be a strong, independent, small business owner. She doesn't let what she see's as a flaw hold her back. I wish I had the same confidence.

We see Ford Hartigan appear and he is all male. The guy that catches nearly girl's eye; the smirks and grins just makes ones, okay my, heart hitch. Something about the good guy and the little grins that show his hidden personality just does me in. But most of all, how he sees Gina is what made me fall absolutely head over heels! You have to read it for yourself to see what I mean. ;)
Don't we want a Ford?
The perfect rom-com read!

Butterface by Avery Flynn is the First book in The Hartigans series. This is the story of Ford Hartigan and Gina Luca.
Gina was teased most of her life for her looks so she has settled into not getting into a love relationship but has turned to being a wedding planner for others. When working at a wedding a 'kiss cam' is turned on her and Ford they end up kissing. Which makes Gina start to rethink her relationship plans....but Ford is the hot cop so her self doubt does come into play. Also some of Gina's family are on the wrong side of the law...so it wouldn't be smart to get involved with a Cop.
Ford has different reason for going toward Gina but one is that he has started to have feelings towards her. When he comes to Gina saying that he needs to protect her ...Gina goes along with it but smart enough to know that there is something else at play her. But she puts him to work fixing up a family house that she has inherited.
This book was so fun to read...hot and just all around great book....loved it!

Totally Cute!

What I genuinely like about this is Gina ‘the Butterface’ heroine in question isn’t the ponytail and glasses girl that goes from not to hot in two scenes. She is a smart, independent woman with a sweet and fun personality and a very nice body. But she has super frizzy hair, teeth and eyes that are a bit too big and a honker of a nose she inherited from her mobbed-up grandpa.

Still Gina knows she isn’t the cosmo version of pretty and most people have made fun of her over the years for the way she looks. She is trying to own it with her other Single and Slaying it girls. However, truth be told she feels like she is Miss Right Now and not Miss Right when it comes to men and the dating scene.

“She wasn’t waiting for Prince Charming, and no fairy godmother was going to give her a makeover. She was who she was, and that was Miss Right Now and Not Miss Forever. She’d better remember that, or there was nothing but trouble ahead for her.”

Ford Hartigan is the straight laced by all the rules cop who is a man with a plan to be the youngest Chief in district history. Being the only boy of the family not to go into the Firefighting business, he seems to think he has a lot to prove since he is the black sheep of the family. Ford meets Gina at a wedding she is the planner for and when the impromptu kiss cam swings their way he is surprised that the awkward kiss with a stranger he was expecting, turned out to curl his toes and kindle something deep inside him.

It was all supposed to be a joke on Ford set up by some fellow police officers to make the uber handsome boy scout Ford kiss the Butterface girl. But, he isn’t complaining since there is just something about Gina that has peaked his interest. Too bad her brothers are hanging with a known crime family and the Chief wants Ford to try and get an in with Gina to get more intel. When the opportunity presents itself, Ford decides to play Gina’s boyfriend in hopes of finding something on a crime family and keep her out of anything criminal all at the same time.

I definitely liked the cute of this. Ford and Gina hanging out is kinda adorable at first and later it is sexy. She is totally in on Ford being boyfriend in name only and it suites her needs. She needs her family off her back and she needs a handyman to help her with the Victorian house she is trying to remodel.

“He kissed her like a man who believed that if he did it right, she’d forget that anyone had ever called her awful names or made her feel like she wasn’t everything a man could want.”

The only thing I didn’t love about this book is how often Gina is down on herself. She doesn’t like people to see her face. She likes to turn all the lights off for sex so the man can’t see her and she puts up with a lot of cruel comments from others. We are reminded constantly that this bubbly and fun girl is deficient and it isn’t just from the outside, most of the time it is from Gina herself.

That said, I love that Gina stays true to herself and she doesn’t get some huge makeover to get the guy. She is who she is, huge honker and all and she will totally own it and shine.

Love is truly a splendid but complicated thing, as we learn from this magnificent book by Avery Flynn. Butterface is basically a tale of two people who are completely the opposite in looks, and personality, heck even their families are kind of different but the same in loyalty.
But even though you look like you should not be together, when cupid strikes its bow in your direction you are helpless against its power. You cannot control who you are attracted to or fall in love with. If it feels right and makes you happy then it is meant to be no matter what outward appearances look like to everyone else.
Gina Luca and Hot cop Ford Hartigan, discover this in their love story, nothing can stop the force of attraction no matter what you look like. Gina is a self confessed ugly duckling and is the constant spotlight for cruel jokes and jibes about the way she looks. I related so much to Gina in more ways than one, so I appreciated her struggles with the way she felt about her looks and what she had been through in the past, as someone who is challenged in that way too, it touched me deeply and made me emotional at times. I understood her lack of trust when it came to believing Ford's attraction to her, and the humour she used to cover up the pain.
I Love Love Love Ford, a very handsome cop he is a stickler for the rules and has to do everything by the book. Except when it came to dealing with Gina. I loved the fact that he genuinely was attracted to Gina and fell in love with her because of the way she looked not in spite of them. He thought she was beautiful even when others didn't and blatantly stated that fact he defended her. He wanted her for the person she is not for her appearance there was an unrelenting chemistry between them and to hell with what others thought. You will fall in love with him completely.
All this takes place behind the backdrop of Weddings, family gatherings, organised crime, disgruntled brothers, a dead body in the Attic, house renovations and an assignment that could ruin everything. Also Miscommunication and family loyalty can Gina and Ford find their HEA, when so many obstacles and challenges keep getting in their way.?
I got a lot out of this book, there is so much, depth and feeling and humour too, it will leave you with a good and hopeful attitude about yourself.
Avery Flynn has written and excellent, heartfelt and witty story which I absolutely loved.
About accepting yourself just the way you are, that you shouldn't have to change for anyone to love you because if they loved you they wouldn't want you to change. That there is someone out there who will love you no matter what your flaws are, in looks or otherwise.
I would give this book more than 5 stars and I can't wait for the second book. I highly recommend Butterface and I hope every one gives it a read.

Butterface is a laugh-out-loud funny and sweet romantic comedy that gets the truth about love, and looks, right. Main character Gina Luca practices being honest with herself on the daily. She has a big nose, she has her dream job, and she has brothers with careers that aren't quite legal. She isn't expecting to win any beauty pageants, but her personality in this novel shines brighter than any beauty queen's smile. Ford Hartigan is a handsome guy, a cop unfortunately, and apparently blind, at least that's what Gina thinks. He's also got his own insecurities, as the only cop in a family of firefighter brothers and pretty sisters, he follows every single rule even if it isn't what he really wants. The two have a by-chance meeting, the kind that makes readers laugh and character's faces turn red. When the two are pushed together again it's an opportunity both take advantage of, unaware that they're allowing their insecurities to stop trust from building between them.

"He glanced down, making eye contact, and for a second they weren't the hottie and the nottie."

I loved Butterface, I wasn't expecting the true-to-reality story we got from Avery Flynn, but boy did I enjoy it. Gina is a classic romantic comedy woman, with a few flaws, some klutzy behaviors, and in her case a face she doesn't find beautiful, but someone else does. Ford is absolutely the most by the book cop I've ever read in a book, but it makes him endearing, especially with him falling for Gina and the family she belongs to. It seems too easy, a hot cop and a wedding planner and happily ever after, but the two have secrets and both struggle to overcome the image of themselves they've believed for so long. Avery Flynn tells an engaging romance that makes you both laugh and feel a bit of emotion as you hope that Gina one day realizes she's beautiful and deserving of love too. Ford and Gina don't have it easy, neither are perfect, but it makes their relationship and their chemistry all the more believable.

"Ford Hartigan, are you breaking the rules?"

Butterface is a powerful rom-com, it has a meaningful message built in with the laughs. It has a bit of a feminist roar to it, with Gina owning her flaws, fighting for her dream, and accepting only good into her life, even if it takes a few messy tries first. It's a story readers will embrace and connect with, because we all want to feel beautiful in our skin and loved for just being who we are. I really enjoyed this book and I definitely can't wait for the next. Avery Flynn has a new fan in me.

ARC provided

Words can hurt and cause long lasting emotional trauma; especially if they’re ugly adjectives to describe a person or more specifically, a teenage girl in her formative years. This is the premise of Butterface, the first book in the Hartigans series, featuring Ford Hartigan and Gina Luca. This emotional and at times funny romance is told in dual POV, and be prepare to weep a few times before we reach the beautiful HEA. I was surprised how much this story touched me; I genuinely felt Gina’s pain and hated the injustice she’d lived through her entire life, due to some mean-spirited people. I fell in love with Ford, and his fabulous family, who saw the real Gina.

Gina Luca’s family has ties to the Esposito crime family, something she’s distanced herself from and wants her brothers, Paul and Rocco, to do also. If their father could walk away from it they should, too. The overly protective brothers are small time loan sharks and not very good ones at that.

“When you look like I do, you get used to people treating you as if you were just a punchline and not an actual human being.”

Gina is content with her life; she might not have a man in it but she’s a successful wedding planner who’s doing her own DIY projects on the Victorian house she inherited from her grandfather, Big Nose Tommy. That, unfortunately isn’t the only thing she inherited from her grandfather. Gina’s made peace with her nose, it’s one of the prominent features people focus on when they see her. And she’s aware of the nickname she was called in high school, and its significance: Butterface.

“The world is a visual place. People judge others on what they look like, from skin color to age to physical ability to prettiness, within seconds of meeting.”

Ford feels like he doesn’t quite fit in his family. The straight lace, by the book, handsome Hartigan decided to become a police officer and, with three generations of Hartigans working at the fire department, that’s something his family can’t understand. When he meets Gina, at a wedding she’s organized, they’re pushed into a very public display on a Kiss Cam and he’s surprised by his attraction to her. So when Ford’s assigned a position in the organized crime task force, looking into the Esposito family, he volunteers to find out what he can by getting close to Gina. He’ soon surprised by what he finds.

“And when I look at you, I don’t see a beautiful woman. I see you, and that’s better than any effing beauty queen.”

Poor Gina! She’d always been level headed and untrusting, knowing firsthand what it felt like to be in the receiving end of deceitful man. It’s why her brothers were so over protective of her. And when she finds herself falling for Ford, and trusting him, the last thing she’s expect from him was to be hurt.

Captivated from the very first page. I know my review isn't going to do this book justice because it's truly beyond words.
Gina Luca is a wedding planner, who meets Ford Hartigan detective at a wedding that is quickly spiraling out of control. Ford is there because it's one of his fellow officers getting married. The couple has a kiss cam and when the camera focuses on the two of them neither wants to kiss, until they do and Ford gives Gina his all. I melted into a puddle. Gina has spent her life being bullied, the brunt of every joke possible because of her face. We get the idea in general but not a graphic image of her shortcoming. Gina does however have a great shape, two overly protective brothers whose occupations border on somewhat criminal, familial loose ties to the mob and an old Victorian house she inherited from her Grandpa who went missing twenty years ago under much speculation as to his fate. Again the allusion to mob ties. Ford is working a task force with two jack hat detectives who make it a point to get under this skin. They've been working on a case that involves yet another family who bring heroin into their small town. The Luca brothers may or may not be involved at least peripherally. Gina has done her best to distance herself from any family business and any remnant died off with the older generation.
When something happens at Gina's home, Ford's boss decides it a great opportunity for him to spend some time with Gina gathering intel. All Ford can think about is Gina and her black lace panties. So he's camped out on her couch. Helps her with some handyman work and the two slowly warm up to each other. Gina is fully aware what she looks like. Her brothers are spitting nails she's involved with a cop, his family is relentless because he's a rule follower and heaven help anyone who breaks a rule. He comes from a long line of firefighters, he is the first to step out and become a cop.
These two both have issues and as they slowly seem to work through them, there's another twist to the story and while it goes against Ford's rules, he definitely enjoys breaking the no hitting the sheets rule with Gina. These two make enough steam to power a small city. Then once again, more twists and curves that turn the whole works upside down. The last straw for Gina pinched my heart in the worst way. Did Ford get what he was looking for, he got that and then some; along with his come to jesus moment.
What a rollercoaster ride of emotions, it's funny, intense, moments when you want to take a swing at someone, mumbling to yourself. Best of all are Gina and Ford two characters that I loved that will stay with me for a while. I love Gina's strength and her weak moments, Ford I loved for feelings for Gina and his crazy family. Ford is dedicated, he commits.
I love Avery Flynn, her books are always stellar. She totally slayed me with this one. I still thought about it today. This book has everything you could ever want, two characters you fall in love with, a great story, humor, love, plenty of steam and oh those emotions...
Start reading now. You don't want to miss this one. Honestly deserves more than 5 stars.
Ready for the next book in the series!

advanced reader copy from NetGalley and Entangled for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Butterface is book one in the brand new series, The Hartigans, by Avery Flynn. I’ve been so excited about this book and it completely did not let me down. It is fun, sweet, and sexy and the characters stole my heart. I hadn’t expected that little tie in to The Charmer of The Harbor City series so that made my day.

Ford Hartigan is a Police Detective for the Waterbury Police Department. Ford is a by the rules man. It’s how he lives. Except that Ford comes from a huge family of firefighters. So he is the black sheep of his family. Ford is at a wedding that has gotten out of hand. Instead of showing video of the attendees of the reception, they turn it into a kiss cam. When it zeroes in on Ford, he just happens to be standing next to the wedding planner. When they give in and kiss, they forget everything except each other, and their worlds are forever changed.

Gina Luca has suffered from the cruelty of her peers her entire life. She inherited the famous Luca schnoz but she has come to accept her looks and considers herself undateable. She has started a successful wedding planner business and she loves it. She inherited her grandfather’s old Victorian house and she is in the middle of renovating it. She has her two best friends and a good life. She doesn’t need a man in it. But when Ford kisses her, it makes her reconsider that decision because everything in her wakes up and takes notice. He is hot and so out of her league.

“She wasn’t waiting for Prince Charming, and no fairy godmother was going to give her a makeover. She was who she was, and that was Miss Right Now and Not Miss Forever. She’d better remember that, or there was nothing but trouble ahead for her.”

Gina’s brothers are well known for living on the wrong side of the law. Plus, her family has ties to the Esposito crime family so fantasizing about a sexy cop was completely out of the question. But when he shows up claiming that she needs protection, and offering to help her with her house, how can she refuse? It doesn’t take long, though, for feelings to develop. And that chemistry they felt when they first kissed is sizzling hot enough that it’s a wonder the roof was still in tact.

Ford believes in rules, but his feelings for Gina are getting harder and harder to ignore. Except that he might not have been completely honest with her regarding his reasons for hanging around. And if she finds out, he’s pretty sure she won’t forgive him.

“The woman just did things to him. She shook things up. And he liked it. A lot. Probably too much. He should probably be worried about that. He wasn’t.”

I think you get the picture here. Hot cop. Woman who feels herself to be undesirable. Chemistry through the roof. And secrets. Throw it all together with two crazy families in the background and you’ve got a great story. Gina really did break my heart with her history of how she had been treated. And Ford was so clueless as to how to handle his feelings. But he definitely didn’t lack in knowing how to steam up the pages. These two were hot together. This was such a fun book but at the same time, such a meaningful book. Gina was amazing and strong and I want to be her someday. I can’t wait for the next book in this series, Muffin Top, which will be Lucie and Frankie’s story.

An epically funny and heartwarming rom-com, Butterface will pull you in with a laugh, then hit you right in the feels. Gina is so very real, from her flaws to her insecurities to her problematic family, and Ford comes off cocky and charming until we see his own insecurities and meddling family.
Gina is a wedding planner, and she gets ambushed by a drunken bride’s kiss cam at a wedding with the hottest guy she’s ever seen. Way out of her league, because she was dubbed ‘Butterface’ in high school. But, not only does he seem eager to kiss her, when she lies to her overbearing brothers and announces that they’re dating, he backs her up without hesitation. And when she finds a body in the attic of the house she’s inherited, he insists on continuing the charade.
Ford is a Hartigan, and the only cop in a family of firemen. He’s the black sheep, to a degree, The not-charming Hartigan brother who bucked tradition. And when he’s ambushed by the kiss cam, and then in his hotel room, thanks to his troublemaking coworkers, he discovers that the pretty girl—despite her big nose—he’s been eying is a Luca, a family with ties to the local crime scene. A family he’s investigating, though Gina doesn’t seem to be at all involved with her brother’s’ schemes. So he seizes on her lie about dating and uses it to his advantage.
But it doesn’t take long hanging around with Gina to realize that she’s as sweet as they come, and more than a little spunky. She just might be a girl he’d want to be with...only they’re not together, and Gina is oddly resistant to him, despite all that they have in common, namely interfering, boisterous families.
When the truth about his motivations comes out, will they be able to move past it, or will that be their breaking point? Read Butterface and find out! A great debut to a new series, which will be especially appealing to any fans of Avery’s Harbor City series, as the first Hartigan made her debut in The Charmer. It’s also a must for any romance fans who have ever felt the way they look will impede their path to a happily ever after.

BUTTERFACE is the first book by Avery Flynn that I have read.

When straight-as-an-arrow Detective Ford Hartigan meets wedding planner Gina Luca, they are pressured to participate on a Kiss Cam at a wedding. They are both left feeling somewhat dazed after such a great kiss.

Ford’s bucked generations of family tradition. He’s joined the police force instead of becoming a fire-fighter and his large family will not let him forget it. He’s got something to prove and one way to do this is to bring down a crime family, one Gina’s brother’s are involved with.

Gina’s a wedding planner whose family also has connections, albeit low level ones, to organised crime. Gina’s life may be squeaky clean but she’s still a person of interest to the police.

The elements of a romantic comedy in this book are very well written. The relationship between Ford and Gina is sweet and sexy. They had fun, they provided loads of humour, the attraction between them is palpable and hot.

The dark cloud looming over this book is the characterisation of Gina. She’s spent her life being ridiculed, mocked, and judged as lacking because of her unattractive face. Her looks have made her a joke her entire life. She’s a “butterface”. I must live under a rock because I have never heard the expression before and the cruelty of it shocked me. The author’s relentless reminders throughout the book often made for uneasy reading. Frankly, it was heartbreaking.

As much as I liked Ford, I was cheering for Gina. If she had decided Ford was not the one for her, I would have happily accepted it. The only people who seemed to be always on her side were her criminal brothers. Ford’s dilemma in deciding where to draw the line between professional and personal with Gina drives a lot of the plot but for me it pales in comparison to the way Gina was not only treated but how this manifested into her own self worth.

Overall BUTTERFACE is sweet, sexy and heartwarming. It’s the first book in The Hartigan’s book series and I am looking forward to reading more about them.

Gina hated high school. Granted, a lot of adults could say that, but Gina's was really bad as she didn't believe she fit a certain mold. Life is better now, well, until some guys play a cruel joke, trying to humiliate her on the kiss cam at a wedding. Okay, that doesn't sound so bad, until I add that Ford, the sexiest man she's ever seen, is to be her partner in this. Gina just knows he's nowhere near interested in someone like her, but then he kisses her...on the kiss cam for everyone there to see. And Gina forgets everything, including the reason he's kissing her. But her new Hero doesn't just stop there. Oh no, he goes all in and claims they've been dating for months.

Soon, Ford and Gina are spending a lot of time together and the charade she thought they were portraying begins to feel real. They laugh, talk, and have a good time together. She even meets his six siblings. Not to mention they pick up where they left off, this time minus the kiss cam and stopping. *wink*

As much as Gina worries this isn't real, that something else is going on, she wants to trust in Ford. But, remembering her past and it bringing up her insecurities, she worries there's more to Ford spending time with her. That he's only with her for another reason, a professional one, because what better way to get to know her brothers, who happen to have mob connections, then get close to their sister?

Is Ford only with her for professional reasons? Or does he truly care for her? Can it be both? What happens to them if he takes down her brothers? Can Ford prove to Gina that he wants her? That when he looks at her, he sees the beautiful woman he fell for? Or will Gina believe the worst? Is a HEA possible?

One-click now and follow along as two people are brought together for one reason but find so much more than anyone imagined.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**

I adored Butterface, so much. An uncommon heroine who met the quiet and broody cop who might just had more than one motive to get to know her.

Gina Luca not only has quite a memorable face but also a well-knowing last name (not for the good sometimes). I guess reading about how she was bullied was pretty sad and infuriating. But the author turned it into something interesting, when the woman was owning it, not to let people get her down.

As a wedding planner she loved to make couples’ dream come true and to feel the happiness. People’s unkindness made her stronger but still was a bit naive because she wasn’t judging and trying to see the best in people. I liked her witty and bright personality, and how she could stand on her own.

Sometimes you don’t want to believe in love but you found it anyway and Ford was going to learn it the hard way. Being part of a family, where all his siblings were mostly firefighters, he was trying to find his own way, always following the rules. No exceptions. Until Gina… who had picked his interest and would put his integrity into his mission to the test.

Ford and Gia were definitely a great match, freaking hot and terribly endearing. Their interactions going from sweet to smoking hot in a few seconds, both trying not to get involved but craving badly each other.

A few pranks later, a kiss on a wedding and everything threw off the window. Between his job and his feelings, Ford was trying his best to collect all the information he needed, postponing the inevitable ending… but not without some meddling.

I adored the supportive and colorful characters (Gia and Ford’s family), loud, definitely too much but so entertaining. Adding some craziness and good-natured side about a story which wasn’t so lighthearted that it seemed to be. I liked this balance.

The way the author described the struggles of a woman who knew that she didn’t fit the standards of society but living like she owned it was a great way to show people to accept themselves just the way they are. To be proud and comfortable in their own body. Heartwarming, fun and sexy with a sparkling sense of humour!

So refreshing!

What a delicious story! So on the average day, we pick up a novel depicting a gorgeous heroine who turns every head around right? Well, our dear Avery Flynn has decided to give it to us straight and showcase one of us that isn't so perfect for a change! It's fun, it's sad, it's oh so true ... and best yet, it teaches a message if you're willing to open your eyes and see it. Words hurt people ... and we all deserve love and true friends as much as the next person! I adored Gina and Ford together, the secondary cast of family and friends were great additions, and the overall plot was interesting. Looking forward to more in the series!

Wedding planner Gina Luca knows she's not pretty. Life has been one hard lesson after another in what's expected and acceptable and she's just simply not it, but she's top notch at what she does, dependable, and the bomb when it comes to being a friend, so it's not all bad! She thought she was over the mob mentality anxiety that grew from her childhood trauma at the hands of the other not so nice kids, but when she has the bad luck of being stuck by the most handsome man in the room on a Kiss Cam at a wedding, she's mortified! They can't expect this guy to kiss her ... he'd never live it down!

Detective Ford Hartigan is only too happy to get his hands on her, but isn't sure why she seems so put off by him. Once he catches wind of the razzing she gets on a fairly regular basis, he gets why she thinks he wouldn't take her seriously ... but he's here to tell her that he does. He likes her ... a lot! Only problem is, his job just might be pushing him in her direction as well to see what kind of info might be floating around about her mobster brothers!

Gina has worked hard to create something of herself outside of the Luca name. She may be Big Nosed Tommy's granddaughter and her brothers may be part of the Esposito mob, but dag nabbit she was more than her family's crime dealings. Her entire life she'd had to listen to the musing of what people said about her family, or the snickers of peers after the incident that left her with the undesirable nickname Butterface. Gina and her friends considered themselves the undateables. She had her wedding planning business, the Victorian home she was renovating, friends she adored, and had come to terms with the fact that she would be forever alone. Why then was she letting the butterflies in her tummy get the best of her when it came to Ford Hartigan? It was bad enough that he was one of the attractive ones who didn't know what it was like to be an undateable, but he just had to be a cop too.

Ford became a detective, despite being surrounded by a family of firefighters. He craved rules, structure, and discipline. Never had he considered himself the charming one of the Hartigan clan and preferred not to be the center of attention. Ford was content with his rules and his life, though he didn't expect something as innocent as a Kiss Cam to through his life for a loop. The second shock came later when he realized that the intriguing wedding planner happened to be the little sister of two loan sharks that worked for the Esposito mob he had been trying to put behind bars. No matter what his feelings are for Gina, they can't be together with her being a Luca and he a cop.

From the get go I was invested in Gina and Ford. My heart broke after the hotel fiasco, but I quickly saw hope when Ford found his way to Gina's home a week later. The two of them seemed like polar opposites, but that is what worked for them. Gina's witty free spirited demeanor challenges Ford's tense rule following ways. They both come in with insecurities that the other one doesn't understand, but they learn to help each other overcome those insecurities. She allows him to let loose and he brings to her a solidarity she hasn't felt in a long while. No matter how much they deny their feelings, they can't help but be drawn to each other. While they are stumbling about with each other you can't help but root for them and laugh at the little nuances that happen along the way. I'll never look at falling into a hole in the porch or a cannoli the same way again.

There were some instances I wanted more of. Their interactions with Gina's friends and Ford's family were great. Those scenes allowed you to see a different side of our lovers outside of how they saw themselves and how they saw each other. I was left wanting more of those moments when I got to the end. I also would have liked to see more of what happened with Gina's brothers and the Esposito family. We are given answers, but I would have liked more explanation as to what exactly happened to get to those outcomes.

By the end I was left wondering where the nearest Kiss Cam was and craving a good cannoli. Gina and Ford may not have been looking for love, they may not have felt they needed love, but sometimes exactly what you need may be the thing you weren't looking for. They weren't looking for each other, but now I can't imagine them not being together. Gina is Ford's rule breaker. Ford is Gina's dateable.

Butterface was so entertaining! An extremely fun read that was light, sexy and sweet with really likable characters. I absolutely enjoyed this!

I really liked Gina and Ford and getting to know them. They were awesome! I like how they met, the obstacles in their way, and what they went through to get to their HEA. They had great chemistry and I liked their interactions, I loved the building heat between the two. I loved how strong Gina was and enjoyed learning about her history. I felt angry on her behalf so many times for some of the things she had to deal with on her life. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a character like Gina before and it was refreshing. Ford was a sweetheart and I really loved how he saw who Gina really was. He made mistakes along the way but I like how dealt with them and they worked it out.

There are some crazy circumstances that bring them together, creating some obstacles and drama but for the most part, this was a light, easy read with some emotion mixed in. There were a lot of entertaining scenes and I liked the interactions with her hard-headed brothers and how things played out with them in the end. I really enjoyed the Hartigan family as well.

This was a fast paced story but really fun. I liked the humor and I couldn't stop smiling with some of their interactions, it was just flat out entertaining. This was my first Avery Flynn book and it won’t be my last. I'm really excited for what's to come next in Muffin Top!

An all around heartwarming tale of insecurity, how loving and accepting yourself is more important than how the rest of the world sees you. The chemistry between the characters is off the charts, they are quirky and cute, and complement each other perfectly. Hopefully lies won't tear it all down and leave them miserable and alone, trying to pick up the pieces. Read this if you enjoy easy, romantic, slightly emotional reads that will leave you incredibly satisfied by the end.

Ms. Flynn’s newest book is absolutely wonderful. Butterface will be one of those books that I can’t help but revisit again and again. Gina has resigned herself to being alone after years of horrible teasing regarding her looks.......Then along comes Ford, a sexy handsome cop who makes her feel like Cinderella. This one is gonna tug at your heart strings and leave you an emotional wreck in all the best ways. I LOVED this one and can’t wait for the next in this series!!!!

I have to admit... The beginning of this book made me feel a little angry. The whole Butterface thing was difficult for me. I had a hard time with the author's blunt description of her looks, but so much more so by the comments of the men in this book about her.

But the story was great, and, of course, I felt way better in the end about it all. So, my advice - be angry at the dick comments in the book. Keep reading. (You won't be able to stop anyway.) I think you will be happy in the end. I was.

I loved every second of this book! There's definitely some serious parts, but there are also plenty of laugh out loud moments too. I love this author soooo much! She's going to make you attached to these characters, you'll never want to put it down <3 I love watching Gina change throughout the book and how she handles every situation thrown at her. I cannot wait to read the next books in the series!! I will be impatiently waiting....

Go grab this must read romantic comedy, curl up, and enjoy the ride as you tear through these pages!

Loved!! Ford...hot, sexy, kinda straight arrow and odd, but adorable. Gina is strong, smart, sassy, independent, and is happy. She knows she isn't beautiful to most. She's accepted that. Little does she expect to meet someone hot and have it not be a joke. Ford makes a few errors. He's not so smooth. Their journey to HEA is fraught with a few bumps in the road and a lot of steam. I love it!!

Gina has no problem laying down ground rules, “I think this whole thing is crap, but if you’re going to stay, you’re going to have to help with renovations.” Ford sometimes just doesn't want to share, “no, you look that hot. I don’t think anyone but me should see you in that dress.” I liked this book, I really loved Ford.

Butterface was an adorable "chick flick" type of book. I loved that there were real flaws. I loved that they found their love through real trials. Personally, I disliked how many times it was brought up. I completely understand that it is real life, it is not easy to get over and the world is harsh!!!!
That's also what i ended up loving about this book!! Cant wait for the next one to come out!!!

This is a great and powerful female empowerment love story. You will laugh a lot. You will also cheer really loudly for Gina. This book shows us ladies that we can love ourselves for who we are and still find a man to love as we are. I can't wait for the next book.

Fabulous book!!! Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop! We meet Gina who is a wedding planner and Ford who is a policeman. Both love their families but need to have their own identity apart from them also. I hurt so much for Gina many times and could identify with her throughout it. She's not considered a beauty by some but yet Ford can't get her out of his mind. Ford is a sexy policeman who takes his job very seriously and the sparks fly between them! One of my favorite books ever!

Avery Flynn has done it again! Gina’s family has some “questionable” business so of course she falls for a cop! This confident wedding planner tries her best to ignore Ford and his good looks, but what’s a girl to do when she’s stuck spending so much time with the man? You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you will shake your head. Most of all, you’ll love this story!

Gina Lucas has accepted that love and marriage is not in the cards for her but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t believe in it and that is why she loves her job as a wedding planner. While overseeing the latest wedding the kiss cam is pointed her direction and due to being bullied for her looks in the past all she wants to do is flee but the sexy man next to her is not about to let her escape so easily.

Ford is a Detective so when his Captain finds out about the tape he wants Ford to find out information from Gina about her brother’s relationship with the Esposito crime family. When Gina makes a discovery while renovating her home Ford comes to investigate.

Full of humor and emotion Gina is finding it hard to believe that someone like Ford would be interested in someone like her while Ford tries to balance the responsibilities of his job with his feelings for her. I loved both their families and the chemistry between them was explosive. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

What a fun, refreshing start to The Hartigans series! I loved this forbidden romance between a sexy detective and the daughter from a family who-never-met-a-law-they-didn't-want-to-break. Ford and Gina had the most awkward meet cute that set the tone for this hilarious and quirky story. They have instant attraction and fiery chemistry, but to protect her family, Gina walks away. Ford wants nothing more than to take down Gina's family. But now that he has met Gina, How can he have both? I loved both Ford and Gina, from their witty banter, to how they see past all their imperfections, to their steamy passion, they are perfect together. There are so many laugh out loud moments, but many sweet and heartwarming moments as well. Their family and friends are all intriguing and wonderful characters adding to the fun and rounding out this story. This romance was so endearing, it captured my heart and had me totally engaged from start to finish. I definitely recommend this must read romance!

Another fun series by Avery Flynn. The Hartigan family was introduced in The Charmer. They are a big, loud Irish Catholic family of mostly firefighters. Ford’s anal retentive rule following personality made him turn his back on the family firefighting business and become a police officer. He meets Gina Luca at a cop wedding, where she is the wedding planner and they are forced to kiss on the. Kiss-cam. Gina is what mean folks would call a Butterface, she has a great body, But her face! She was treated horribly by almost everyone because she isn’t beautiful , so that colors how she views the world. Ford is assigned to stay at her house after a body is found in the attic, so he can get intel on her mob connected brothers. Ford’s initial attraction he feels for her becomes more as they spend time together. Ford’s duplicity and Gina’s insecurity will of course stand in their path to an HEA. Great book and I cannot wait until the next book in the series.

Butterface is book one in the new series, The Hartigans and is a fun and sexy story!

Ford works for the Police Department and is the outcast of the family as the rest of them are firefighters. With everything to prove, Ford is a guy who plays by the books.

Gina is a successful wedding planner but yet thinks that she may never walk down the aisle herself. She has been the victim of cruelty about her looks her entire life and now Gina believes it all.

But when a Kiss Cam has Gina and Ford front and center, their chemistry sets off a chain reaction of events that just can’t be ignored. Until secrets threaten every part of their relationship.

Butterface was a fun and sexy book that was full of emotions. I love how Ford really saw Gina for who she was and how Gina, like many of us women, was full of doubt about herself. This story was full of so many wonderful moments, I truly enjoyed it!

Butterface by Avery Flynn is a sweet, adorable, and charming read that tackles the aspects of love,beauty and new beginnings. Flynn introduces her readers to Gina Luca, a wedding planner who loves her job but has insecurities about her beauty since she grew up being teased and called “Butterface.” And so when she meets Ford Hartigan, a straight lace cop, Gina’s life is turned upside down for the better. For the first time in a long time, he made her feel special, worthy and beautiful inside and out. But what happens when Gina learns that Ford may have taken interest in her because of her brothers affiliation to the mob ties. Will Gina be able to find Ford's true motives in wanting to get to know her? Or will she discover that Ford wants Gina...all of her and doesn't see her as butterface? So if you are looking for a romance that was brimming with adorable awkward romance and playfulness then this is the book for you.

A romantic, hysterical and steamy read. Ford, you by the books detective and Gina the wedding planner. The way they were thrown together started the whole story in a great way. Gina and Ford have a bumpy ride in their relationship but watching each character develop was great.

Gina is a strong, smart, independent. She also has a side that is fearful of a relationship because of her past. Ford feels like he is the black sheep of the family and is a by the rules man. When he meets Gina there is something about her that makes him break all the rules.

This is a great story that makes you laugh and swoon but also holds a powerful lesson of bullying. Gina is a strong women but there were moments when she was remembering her past that made me sad. It is a lesson of how someone can love themselves not matter what anyone else thinks of them.

Another great read with awesome characters.

I think Gina might be one of my favorite romantic leads! Butterface has an underlying message that I truly think everyone needs to hear and Gina delivers! To paraphrase “I deserve to be loved because of who I am, not is spite of it.”
Ford is the perfect foil for this story- mainly because of his in ability to express his feelings.
I really did think Ms Flynn handled this story very well. Not only are Gina and Ford characters that are easy to like, the sense of their true attraction to each other comes off the page and feels genuine.
If you have followed Ms Flynn’s previous works, you’ve meet the Hartigan family before, especially Ford’s sister Felicia. You will be glad to see her and the rest of the siblings make appearances here as key secondary cast.
As this is the first “Hartigan” boom - I am hoping we see glimpses of Gina and Ford going forward.

Butterface by Avery Flynn. This is Gina Luca and Ford Hartigan’s story.

This was a fun and steamy romantic comedy with a few tears too. Gina and Ford’s characters and their interactions were amazing. I loved that I could feel how much Gina and Ford cared for each other.

Gina has a great figure but is no raving beauty. She has been teased and laughed at all her life about her big nose. Gina plans weddings but never expects to plan her own wedding.

Ford and Gina meet at a wedding. Circumstances keep throwing them together. There were so many obstacles for Gina and Ford to overcome but I loved how the author pulled everything together. Will Ford be able to see the real Gina? Will they be able overcome all the obstacles and find true love?

FYI, contains mature content. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Butterface was a hilarious, heartbreaking, amazing book!!! I love Avery Flynn's writing, and the humor brought to this book about a chic who is owning her less-than-beautiful looks is such a different perspective and I found myself going from feeling sorry for wedding planner, Gina Luca, to wishing I had her guts! She is such a strong woman, who can't believe good looking police detective Ford Hartigan has an interest in her...even though her brothers work for a not-exactly-legal place.

After her grandfather's body is found decayed in her attic, she is "stuck" with Ford, but she isn't sure if he is there because he wants to be, or because he has ulterior motives.

The other detectives make fun of Gina, even to Ford...calling her "Butterface".

I loved this first book of The Hartigans series! Definitely a MUST read!!!

I really enjoyed Butterface! It was a new concept in romance. Usually, we have BBW or socially awkward characters and so on. I can't think of but a single romance where the main character was deemed as not good looking. And it was that fact that really drew me in. Then I read it and I loved it. Gina is a woman with a real-world issue. Anyone who has something they were teased about can totally relate to her. She was just awesome. Ford is the probably my dream man. He is a strong but silent type. Add in that he is a cop and it just makes him hotter.

Their story is sweet and one that can slay a reader as well as make them fall hard. I would definitely recommend this book!
**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in hopes of my honest and fair review.

I absolutely loved this book! The idea of a fantastic guy who is absolutely gorgeous and has an incredible body falling for a woman who doesn't meet societies standards for beauty in such a way that he really can't restrain himself when she's around... was just so refreshing. He literally saw beauty in everything she did and everything she was.
Flynn was smart enough to not make the hero absolutely perfect, either. He might even be called timid at times and I loved him to pieces! Ford was protective of Gina even while he was doing some stuff behind her back. He didn't ever know how to fix it when he screwed up--typical male, but learned to show his emotions to try to win Gina back.
I loved the strength in Gina at the end! Fantastic!

Butterface is the first book in The Hartigans series and it’s a winner! I loved this story and these characters.

While it had it’s funny, sweet and very sexy moments of course (because Avery Flynn rocks at that!), it was more than that. Gina was such a strong character, despite everything she went through. And Ford, even with all the obstacles in their way, was so drawn to Gina. There was no stopping the magnetic pull towards her. I loved how he felt about her.

I really enjoyed reading Butterface. I was so rooting for this couple and the storyline kept me turning the pages!

I want to thank Avery for writing this story ❤️

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book received from the publisher through Netgalley.