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House of Payne #1
Payne
Life is supposedly what you make of it, but that's crap as far as 3D artist, Becks Delgado is concerned. She never wanted her brother to die in a car accident... or to be the one who was behind the wheel. Her external scars are nothing compared to the raw wounds inside, and there are times when death seems to be the only way to find peace.
Sebastian Payne took the concept of a tattoo parlor and transformed it into a sophisticated gallery of living art. House Of Payne now caters to the rich and infamous, has garnered a worldwide following and is run by Payne with an iron fist. He knows Becks is exactly what House Of Payne needs, but there's a problem. The accident that changed her life left its mark on him as well, and whether he likes it or not, it's time for Payne to put his House in order.
**This is the first book of the House Of Payne trilogy, but each book can be read as a standalone. Not intended for readers under the age of 18 due to adult language and sexual content**
Sebastian Payne took the concept of a tattoo parlor and transformed it into a sophisticated gallery of living art. House Of Payne now caters to the rich and infamous, has garnered a worldwide following and is run by Payne with an iron fist. He knows Becks is exactly what House Of Payne needs, but there's a problem. The accident that changed her life left its mark on him as well, and whether he likes it or not, it's time for Payne to put his House in order.
**This is the first book of the House Of Payne trilogy, but each book can be read as a standalone. Not intended for readers under the age of 18 due to adult language and sexual content**
135 pages, ebook
First published August 21, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
October 18, 2015
I'm seriously in a very sappy yet happy place when I find authors and books who give me true heroes. Heroes who adore and cherish their women. From the moment these two were brought together on the page I literally felt their connection vibrating. The words were brimming with emotion and heat. Whether it was the sarcasm and sexually charged banter or the swooning sexy comments from Payne.. I was in my own version of perfection amongst the pages. Having discussed the finer points of what makes a hero.. A real hero.. with this beautiful kind author via email, I found a kindred spirit in this sweet lady. Stacy agrees that the leading men in love stories should know what they want and not waver. Payne was everything I love. Yea he did have a pretty sexed up past but he totally changed the moment Becks fell in his arms. I absolutely love epilogue with marriage and babies and if I could recommend any book to any of my safety buddies I would definitely say Rachel if you haven't already stumbled upon this on then jump in.
Totally safe all the way. Some small humorous references to a past hook up he had but nothing that caused any drama.. No other women at all. He was gone for Becks from day one. Beautiful amazing hero in every way. I am diving into book two now. Stacy.. There's a huge pressure out there to write all of these damaged asshole heroes.. The ones who hurt the heroine over and over but miraculously change at the end. Romance doesn't have to hurt and heroes do not have to sleep around or lie just so they can change.. Why not be a good guy from the start? So please lady keep writing heroes who show what the meaning of romance and love stories really are. You'll find that there are so many women who really don't need all that angst that's just not romantic at all. So summing up Ms Gail, please don't lose that special love inside that breathes life into your men. We really need real heroes.
Totally safe all the way. Some small humorous references to a past hook up he had but nothing that caused any drama.. No other women at all. He was gone for Becks from day one. Beautiful amazing hero in every way. I am diving into book two now. Stacy.. There's a huge pressure out there to write all of these damaged asshole heroes.. The ones who hurt the heroine over and over but miraculously change at the end. Romance doesn't have to hurt and heroes do not have to sleep around or lie just so they can change.. Why not be a good guy from the start? So please lady keep writing heroes who show what the meaning of romance and love stories really are. You'll find that there are so many women who really don't need all that angst that's just not romantic at all. So summing up Ms Gail, please don't lose that special love inside that breathes life into your men. We really need real heroes.
February 14, 2019
I have discovered I am not really into tattoos as art.
October 30, 2014
Thi just wasn't for me. Although I didn't finish it, I've given it 2 Stars as it is good but he also got frustrated at the beginning and it just seemed to be a reoccurring theme.
June 30, 2018
4.5*
I saw the mixed reviews for this book and hesitated to read it because this is a new to me author, I'd like to go back all those weeks and kick myself. This book was almost perfection. Payne oh my word,bbf material in all the best ways, possessive, protective, badass ,loyal alpha male who from the minute he decided to pursue Becks was all in. He was intense iI almost felt their connection leaping off the pages! Becks had a lot of insecurity because of her father and the trauma with her brother and though at times I felt she needed to shake that off a bit I still understood and sympathized with her. I teared up many times when she appeared so broken up about the situation. As someone who is intensely fascinated by tattoos I loved the concept of House of Payne. I enjoyed the flow, the steam and the strong characters. My only problems were the issue of the sex tape wasn't clarified enough for me, if Payne released it what were his reasons? I'd have also liked to meet the other people of the House of Payne but aside from that this was a sweet,sexy romance with a beautiful epilogue that was the cherry on top! I'm thankful I gave this book a chance and hope the rest of the books live up to this one. Payne goes straight to my BBF shelf
I saw the mixed reviews for this book and hesitated to read it because this is a new to me author, I'd like to go back all those weeks and kick myself. This book was almost perfection. Payne oh my word,bbf material in all the best ways, possessive, protective, badass ,loyal alpha male who from the minute he decided to pursue Becks was all in. He was intense iI almost felt their connection leaping off the pages! Becks had a lot of insecurity because of her father and the trauma with her brother and though at times I felt she needed to shake that off a bit I still understood and sympathized with her. I teared up many times when she appeared so broken up about the situation. As someone who is intensely fascinated by tattoos I loved the concept of House of Payne. I enjoyed the flow, the steam and the strong characters. My only problems were the issue of the sex tape wasn't clarified enough for me, if Payne released it what were his reasons? I'd have also liked to meet the other people of the House of Payne but aside from that this was a sweet,sexy romance with a beautiful epilogue that was the cherry on top! I'm thankful I gave this book a chance and hope the rest of the books live up to this one. Payne goes straight to my BBF shelf
December 26, 2016
Becks Delgado lost everything in a car crash, she was injured and her brother died. Not only did she have an uphill road to recovery her parents blamed her for everything. After four years of being alone, Becks is about to break again when Sebastian Payne takes liberty with a piece of artwork she designed that means everything to her.
Sebastian has been trying to get Becks to meet with him for awhile, but she has thwarted very attempt. Sebastian has a secret though that he plans to one day reveal to Becks, but for now he wants Becks to trust him and he has every intention of winning her heart. Becks though is scared to let someone in which makes Sebastian more determined to prove he is the right man for her.
Entertaining story. Sebastian is a bigger than life personality and I think has a way of bulldozing his way in getting what he wants. I was intrigued by Becks and her artistry, will definitely be doing some research. Stacy Gail has a very vivid way of writing, you feel like you can imagine every image she describes. What a fantastic beginning to a new series.
Sebastian has been trying to get Becks to meet with him for awhile, but she has thwarted very attempt. Sebastian has a secret though that he plans to one day reveal to Becks, but for now he wants Becks to trust him and he has every intention of winning her heart. Becks though is scared to let someone in which makes Sebastian more determined to prove he is the right man for her.
Entertaining story. Sebastian is a bigger than life personality and I think has a way of bulldozing his way in getting what he wants. I was intrigued by Becks and her artistry, will definitely be doing some research. Stacy Gail has a very vivid way of writing, you feel like you can imagine every image she describes. What a fantastic beginning to a new series.
July 26, 2018
The H is a very successful entrepreneur, ridiculously rich. The h is a very talented artist, lives as a victim of her past, with the never ending hope of a reconciliation with her family. For a smart and sassy woman, she was constantly disappointed, lived like a victim and that was an inconsistency in her character that I found annoying. Her parents are in need of help more than she did, years of therapy needed for them. The H was mad for her, but the timeline didn't make sense. He waited for 4 years? This is an interesting book, the the inconsistencies prevented me from loving it.
June 1, 2015
I couldn't get into this book at all. The writing style was not for me. I tried but ended up skimming up to 40% then just giving up.
February 13, 2016
I tried to read it but there was so much drama in it ....
September 7, 2018
Wow!!! Amazing!!! I couldn’t put this book down. ❤️❤️
March 25, 2017
Sometimes when I'm reading a Stacy Gail book, I have to put the book down and give my heart a breather. BECAUSE IT HURTS, GUYS. It hurts what she puts her poor characters through. It hurts to read about their loneliness and heartache. IT HURTS SO GOOD! *cries like a bitty baby*
This book didn't pull any punches. Becks is floundering in an emotional wasteland. She's alone except for a small (SMALL) handful of friends and she doesn't feel like she deserves happiness. Her family's actions were painful and heart wrenching to read about. Her self doubt over being worthy of a man like Payne killed me. Her refusal to see a future for them huuuuurt.
She'd been so shattered by her brother's death and her family's betrayal she couldn't bear to even face the possibility of a relationship because it might be yanked away.
*cries some more*
And Payne. He's arrogant, cocky, and driven. He wants Becks on both a personal and professional level and he's ruthless about pursuing her. Not going to lie, I liked the guy. As his side of the story unfolds and we see why and how he's intertwined with her life, his intensity made sense. Also, he's kinda smokin'. And the sex? HAWT.
So, yeah. Stacy Gail can make even the hardest heart weep (given that she makes me cry with all her books, I'm no longer a hard-hearted reviewer but a mushy, damp fangirl) and I wouldn't have ti any other way.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
This book didn't pull any punches. Becks is floundering in an emotional wasteland. She's alone except for a small (SMALL) handful of friends and she doesn't feel like she deserves happiness. Her family's actions were painful and heart wrenching to read about. Her self doubt over being worthy of a man like Payne killed me. Her refusal to see a future for them huuuuurt.
She'd been so shattered by her brother's death and her family's betrayal she couldn't bear to even face the possibility of a relationship because it might be yanked away.
*cries some more*
And Payne. He's arrogant, cocky, and driven. He wants Becks on both a personal and professional level and he's ruthless about pursuing her. Not going to lie, I liked the guy. As his side of the story unfolds and we see why and how he's intertwined with her life, his intensity made sense. Also, he's kinda smokin'. And the sex? HAWT.
So, yeah. Stacy Gail can make even the hardest heart weep (given that she makes me cry with all her books, I'm no longer a hard-hearted reviewer but a mushy, damp fangirl) and I wouldn't have ti any other way.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
August 29, 2017
Becks has had a crappy home life. Her parents are atrocious to her because of an accident. Well let me rephrase that...her parents have never been the loving kind of parents towards her. It was more that they tolerated her and made it known that's all they did.
When she's left to make it on her own, she's broken. Broken down from the way she's been treated, broken for all the pain that she's endured. She doesn't believe in happily ever after, heck she doesn't believe in love. She doesn't feel that she's worthy, deserves it.
When she first meets Sebastian Payne, she's furious. She finds out that the man behind the House of Payne is freaking gorgeous but it doesn't stop her verbal vomit. What does stop her though is 2 little words.
Seeing Payne bring Becks out of her cocoon to see what's right there in front of her is heart pounding, exhilarating, made me go awww, he's so sweet. And goodness gracious he is alpha, protective, loving and totally swoon worthy.
I did say protective right? Thankfully Scout, his assistant, lives up to her nickname. Totally needed it for what's about to go down. When all the secrets and heartbreak are about to happen Scout has it covered.
I absolutely love this series!
When she's left to make it on her own, she's broken. Broken down from the way she's been treated, broken for all the pain that she's endured. She doesn't believe in happily ever after, heck she doesn't believe in love. She doesn't feel that she's worthy, deserves it.
When she first meets Sebastian Payne, she's furious. She finds out that the man behind the House of Payne is freaking gorgeous but it doesn't stop her verbal vomit. What does stop her though is 2 little words.
Seeing Payne bring Becks out of her cocoon to see what's right there in front of her is heart pounding, exhilarating, made me go awww, he's so sweet. And goodness gracious he is alpha, protective, loving and totally swoon worthy.
I did say protective right? Thankfully Scout, his assistant, lives up to her nickname. Totally needed it for what's about to go down. When all the secrets and heartbreak are about to happen Scout has it covered.
I absolutely love this series!
December 9, 2014
Sabastian Payne is the owner of the best tattoo establishment in the US. When he decides to use 3D imaging, Rebecca “Becks” Delgado is THE artist he wants to commission for the job. Unbeknownst to Becks, Payne had been “watching” her success for years and is desperate to have her art. But that’s not the only reason…
Becks has some serious baggage, like total family issues. Since a lot of her art reflects her pain, she’s hesitant in opening up those demons and dealing with them. With Payne’s persistence, he wins, but boy are there issues that need to addressed.
I liked that this wasn’t the story that has the guy having to “prove” how much he cares for someone after messing up or vice versa. Does Becks have problems? Yes, but she’s portrayed as a strong young lady who KNOWS what the issues are, has learned from past mistakes and is trying to move on….with the help of Payne. Oh...and don’t forget about the steamy scenes. Hot, Hot, Hot.
Would I recommend the book? Yes. A HEA all the way around.
*I was given a copy of this book as a gift from Stephanie's Book Reports in
exchange for an honest review.
Becks has some serious baggage, like total family issues. Since a lot of her art reflects her pain, she’s hesitant in opening up those demons and dealing with them. With Payne’s persistence, he wins, but boy are there issues that need to addressed.
I liked that this wasn’t the story that has the guy having to “prove” how much he cares for someone after messing up or vice versa. Does Becks have problems? Yes, but she’s portrayed as a strong young lady who KNOWS what the issues are, has learned from past mistakes and is trying to move on….with the help of Payne. Oh...and don’t forget about the steamy scenes. Hot, Hot, Hot.
Would I recommend the book? Yes. A HEA all the way around.
*I was given a copy of this book as a gift from Stephanie's Book Reports in
exchange for an honest review.
Read
September 15, 2015I saw "House of Payne: Twist" advertised somewhere as a daily deal ($.99) and it looked like it could be interesting. Then I noticed the other two in the trilogy were also $.99, so I purchased them all. I started with this one since it's the first in the trilogy. I don't know how far I read, but I don't think I read any further than 5%. I should've previewed the book first...
Sebastian Payne is the hero and he owns "House of Payne" - a tattoo place. It sounds almost like a "boutique". But, he's introduced as the heroine, Becks, is waiting in his place of business to speak with him. She's ruminating about his history. Or what she knows of it. He became famous because he did a tattoo for a 21 year old former child star. It was broadcast on the Internet. The tattoo said "Fuck It Hard" across her ass and then he did "Fuck It Hard" for the world to see. The former child star went on to become an Internet porn star.
Yeah... So not interested in that. I returned this and the other two for refunds.
Sebastian Payne is the hero and he owns "House of Payne" - a tattoo place. It sounds almost like a "boutique". But, he's introduced as the heroine, Becks, is waiting in his place of business to speak with him. She's ruminating about his history. Or what she knows of it. He became famous because he did a tattoo for a 21 year old former child star. It was broadcast on the Internet. The tattoo said "Fuck It Hard" across her ass and then he did "Fuck It Hard" for the world to see. The former child star went on to become an Internet porn star.
Yeah... So not interested in that. I returned this and the other two for refunds.
November 21, 2015
4.5 star rating
I loved the roller coaster that is the House of Payne. Becks is so broken in the beginning that you can't help but to hurt and feel angry for her. Payne, alpha that he is, is so stubborn and strong minded that you can't help but hope that he can put Becks's pieces back together and show her that she's worth more than anything in his world. I loved falling in love with these characters, separately and as a whole. This book has an underlying that made me rethink about how I see myself as a person. It made me feel proud of the person I am, and confident that I may not be exactly what I want to be right now, but I will get there. I definitely want to dive into the rest of the Payne series now. Stacy Gail, you've gained yourself another fan, lovey. Xo
I loved the roller coaster that is the House of Payne. Becks is so broken in the beginning that you can't help but to hurt and feel angry for her. Payne, alpha that he is, is so stubborn and strong minded that you can't help but hope that he can put Becks's pieces back together and show her that she's worth more than anything in his world. I loved falling in love with these characters, separately and as a whole. This book has an underlying that made me rethink about how I see myself as a person. It made me feel proud of the person I am, and confident that I may not be exactly what I want to be right now, but I will get there. I definitely want to dive into the rest of the Payne series now. Stacy Gail, you've gained yourself another fan, lovey. Xo
September 21, 2019
I found it fascinating that an event could celebrate as well as destroy lives then irrevocably connect two souls.
I like the concepts of creativity & importance of the art work as an integral foundation in the main characters lives. While it built strength it also exposed vulnerability.
Not something I was expecting.
I like the concepts of creativity & importance of the art work as an integral foundation in the main characters lives. While it built strength it also exposed vulnerability.
Not something I was expecting.
July 30, 2015
What a great story of love and trust. Payne was solid in his love for Becks, while she always felt so undeserving. It was wonderful to watch this story unfold and the epilogue was the icing on the cake!
January 20, 2016
Very good writing. Realistic dialogue and the story flowed naturally.
Finally...a book where there is no cheating, no OW drama and a HEA. What a nice change. :)
Finally...a book where there is no cheating, no OW drama and a HEA. What a nice change. :)
December 15, 2014
Immediately the phrase “Oh how I love thee, let me count the ways” comes to mind with this book. Sebastian Payne had me melting at that first smirk he made and never let go of my heart. He was the classic, perfect fictional boyfriend who had a wonderful balance of gentle and alpha traits. Becks was the female character I would stand up and cheer for because of her courage and strength and ability to be real. This book quickly became a top ten for me for the year 2014.
Becks is an artist who does brilliant work for 3D imaging. While her career is taking off, her personal life is shrouded in pain and regret. She had been involved in a car accident that killed her brother and she was severely injured. Without going into more details and spoiling this for you, just grab the tissues and be prepared to feel intense anger as you read what her parents did to her after the accident and the guilt and regret she has lived with since them. She started over with nothing and finally found the help from her best friend and an old landlord that saw past her pain and realized the potential she had. Now she is being propositioned by Sebastian Payne to sell her art work to him so he can transform them into 3D tattoos.
Sebastian is the owner of the hottest tattoo business around. Celebrities and royals come from miles around to have him tattoo their body. He wants Becks art work because he believes it will make him more money, but he also wants Becks. He pulled a young woman out of a burning car years ago and after finding out her identity he has been keeping close track of her art career and now realizes he has feelings for her. Their first encounter is a fiery one since she is there to make a point and he set it up to force her hand. Once they got over the egos involved a relationship started to bloom.
Now is when I am getting excited because things started getting real at this point. Becks was a firm believer in expirations dates. Nothing or no one lasted forever, saying I love you only opened the door for rejection and no one could be counted on in life. She had sex when she wanted and was never looking towards forever, so imagine her surprise when the sexy Mr. Payne refused to have sex with her until he had all of her, truths, secrets, trust and passion. He knew she has been hurt, but he had no clue how deep that hurt went and what she had endured personally since that fateful night.
As he became exposed to the truths, he knew he had to set her free from the guilt and regret and come clean about his involvement that night. Oh sweet baby Jesus I hoped so hard for a positive outcome from that intense scene. I wanted Becks to find her voice and Sebastian to find his revenge. So without risking spoilers I will say READ THIS BOOK. There are so many scenes that had me melting and falling in love, while other times I was cheering them on and praying they would make it. The authors are fabulous with this story and I had it read in one sitting, simply because I couldn’t put it down. The emotions are so raw and deep I was invested from the first chapter and had to just sit after I finished it. Talk about book hangover. I am so ready for the next two books in this trilogy. I want to learn about Scout, who I might add impressed the crap out of me in this book. If you love tattoos, art, sexy men, strong women, a love story of the year with plenty of drama and secrets look no farther than the House of Payne.
Becks is an artist who does brilliant work for 3D imaging. While her career is taking off, her personal life is shrouded in pain and regret. She had been involved in a car accident that killed her brother and she was severely injured. Without going into more details and spoiling this for you, just grab the tissues and be prepared to feel intense anger as you read what her parents did to her after the accident and the guilt and regret she has lived with since them. She started over with nothing and finally found the help from her best friend and an old landlord that saw past her pain and realized the potential she had. Now she is being propositioned by Sebastian Payne to sell her art work to him so he can transform them into 3D tattoos.
Sebastian is the owner of the hottest tattoo business around. Celebrities and royals come from miles around to have him tattoo their body. He wants Becks art work because he believes it will make him more money, but he also wants Becks. He pulled a young woman out of a burning car years ago and after finding out her identity he has been keeping close track of her art career and now realizes he has feelings for her. Their first encounter is a fiery one since she is there to make a point and he set it up to force her hand. Once they got over the egos involved a relationship started to bloom.
Now is when I am getting excited because things started getting real at this point. Becks was a firm believer in expirations dates. Nothing or no one lasted forever, saying I love you only opened the door for rejection and no one could be counted on in life. She had sex when she wanted and was never looking towards forever, so imagine her surprise when the sexy Mr. Payne refused to have sex with her until he had all of her, truths, secrets, trust and passion. He knew she has been hurt, but he had no clue how deep that hurt went and what she had endured personally since that fateful night.
As he became exposed to the truths, he knew he had to set her free from the guilt and regret and come clean about his involvement that night. Oh sweet baby Jesus I hoped so hard for a positive outcome from that intense scene. I wanted Becks to find her voice and Sebastian to find his revenge. So without risking spoilers I will say READ THIS BOOK. There are so many scenes that had me melting and falling in love, while other times I was cheering them on and praying they would make it. The authors are fabulous with this story and I had it read in one sitting, simply because I couldn’t put it down. The emotions are so raw and deep I was invested from the first chapter and had to just sit after I finished it. Talk about book hangover. I am so ready for the next two books in this trilogy. I want to learn about Scout, who I might add impressed the crap out of me in this book. If you love tattoos, art, sexy men, strong women, a love story of the year with plenty of drama and secrets look no farther than the House of Payne.
August 10, 2015
⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️
***SPOILERS***
♦️BOOK: #1, HOUSE OF PAYNE series, full length. Can be read as a standalone.
♦️WRITING: Really great - witty, natural dialogue. Dual, alternating POV
♦️HERO: Sebastian Payne, or Payne--Owner of House of Payne, the premiere body art gallery where hollywood’s A-listers, european royalty, music moguls and professional athletes come to Payne for ink. Wealthy, sophisticated, well dressed, charming, down-to-earth, enjoys luxury and pampering. He's sweet, arrogant, straight-forward, determined, a savvy businessman, knows what he wants and gets it.
“I don’t swagger. I’m so naturally good at what I do, I don’t have to.”
♦️HEROINE: Rebecca “Becks” Delgado, 24--3D Artist. Tough, feisty, witty, smartass, a nerd-girl in disguise. Damaged, lonely and alone, disowned and discarded by her family who blame her for her brother's death 4 yrs earlier and wished it was her that had died instead. Has hit rock-bottom and survived.
“I swear you’re never going to know what it is to be that lost again.” --H to the h
♦️WARNINGS: h attempted suicide 3 years prior to book bc of her horrific parents
♦️HEAT: Hot, 3.5/5 - 4 hot sex scenes including 69.
"She should have grabbed him by those yummy suspenders, dragged him into the nearest private space, and banged him so hard they’d have to exchange insurance information afterward."
♦️WHAT WORKED:
--The h's witty, smartass mouth...she's hilarious!
"...enough to make even a saint wish for more middle fingers."
--Payne is the perfect hero. He's just the right combo of all the good stuff! He even apologizes! Some good advice is given to the h...
"...pay attention to a man strong enough to apologize, as that one man was worth all the others who couldn’t get the words past their lips."
--From the moment Payne meets Becks, he wants her and only her. He's determined and will do whatever it takes to have her ALL of her.
“Going for the best is the only way to get what you want, Becks. That’s why I’m going after you.”
--Claire, the bff is totally hilarious and a really great friend to Becks!
--The matching tattoos that they get were very clever
--I loved their initial meeting and the banter between these two
--the 'I love you' scene was one of the best
--the epilogue! "she’d been blessed with a man she hadn’t even dared to dream existed."
♦️WHAT DID NOT WORK:
--that Becks didn't give Payne a little bit of a harder time for giving her the cold shoulder and avoiding her for days. He was feeling guilty and uncertain, but that wasn't a good enough excuse to do that to someone like her, she was crushed! I think he needed to grovel a little bit.
♦️EDITING: no significant errors found
♦️ENDING: HEA. Epilogue - very sweet, 5 1/2 years later. NO cliffhanger.
♦️QUOTES:
" “I won’t let you fall.” “News flash, Payne. Gravity is out of your purview.” Seriously, did he think he was immune to the laws of nature simply because he was Sebastian freaking Payne? Probably."
"Dear God, how was it possible for him to be so wonderful and so exasperating all at the same time? It had to be a special talent."
***SPOILERS***
♦️BOOK: #1, HOUSE OF PAYNE series, full length. Can be read as a standalone.
♦️WRITING: Really great - witty, natural dialogue. Dual, alternating POV
♦️HERO: Sebastian Payne, or Payne--Owner of House of Payne, the premiere body art gallery where hollywood’s A-listers, european royalty, music moguls and professional athletes come to Payne for ink. Wealthy, sophisticated, well dressed, charming, down-to-earth, enjoys luxury and pampering. He's sweet, arrogant, straight-forward, determined, a savvy businessman, knows what he wants and gets it.
“I don’t swagger. I’m so naturally good at what I do, I don’t have to.”
♦️HEROINE: Rebecca “Becks” Delgado, 24--3D Artist. Tough, feisty, witty, smartass, a nerd-girl in disguise. Damaged, lonely and alone, disowned and discarded by her family who blame her for her brother's death 4 yrs earlier and wished it was her that had died instead. Has hit rock-bottom and survived.
“I swear you’re never going to know what it is to be that lost again.” --H to the h
♦️WARNINGS: h attempted suicide 3 years prior to book bc of her horrific parents
♦️HEAT: Hot, 3.5/5 - 4 hot sex scenes including 69.
"She should have grabbed him by those yummy suspenders, dragged him into the nearest private space, and banged him so hard they’d have to exchange insurance information afterward."
♦️WHAT WORKED:
--The h's witty, smartass mouth...she's hilarious!
"...enough to make even a saint wish for more middle fingers."
--Payne is the perfect hero. He's just the right combo of all the good stuff! He even apologizes! Some good advice is given to the h...
"...pay attention to a man strong enough to apologize, as that one man was worth all the others who couldn’t get the words past their lips."
--From the moment Payne meets Becks, he wants her and only her. He's determined and will do whatever it takes to have her ALL of her.
“Going for the best is the only way to get what you want, Becks. That’s why I’m going after you.”
--Claire, the bff is totally hilarious and a really great friend to Becks!
--The matching tattoos that they get were very clever
--I loved their initial meeting and the banter between these two
--the 'I love you' scene was one of the best
--the epilogue! "she’d been blessed with a man she hadn’t even dared to dream existed."
♦️WHAT DID NOT WORK:
--that Becks didn't give Payne a little bit of a harder time for giving her the cold shoulder and avoiding her for days. He was feeling guilty and uncertain, but that wasn't a good enough excuse to do that to someone like her, she was crushed! I think he needed to grovel a little bit.
♦️EDITING: no significant errors found
♦️ENDING: HEA. Epilogue - very sweet, 5 1/2 years later. NO cliffhanger.
♦️QUOTES:
" “I won’t let you fall.” “News flash, Payne. Gravity is out of your purview.” Seriously, did he think he was immune to the laws of nature simply because he was Sebastian freaking Payne? Probably."
"Dear God, how was it possible for him to be so wonderful and so exasperating all at the same time? It had to be a special talent."
October 16, 2014
I first read this book in INKED an anthology and it is now released as part of a trilogy. While I don't know what's in store for the next two books, I can say that Becks and Sebastian made quite the awesome pair...Becks an amazing and tortured artist and Sebastian the owner of one of the hottest and most prestigious tattoo parlors ever made.
This isn't just a cool story about an incredible and beautiful artist who catches the eye (and heart) of one of the most sought after men when he wants to buy her 3D designs to be used in his business...it is a deep and emotional story of family tragedy, forgiveness and moving on with your life.
Becks lost something very important to her 4 years ago and has never been able to forget or forgive herself. Guilt is a terrible motivator and her estranged family has been using it to keep her from really living up to her potential. The far reaching consequences of what happened to Becks and the long lasting effects of her past become fuel for Sebastian, as his feelings for Becks trigger him to do some pretty incredible and drastic things...and he also has a secret he is withholding from Becks that could affect their future.
I loved this story..it was part fairytale romance with a darker story of family drama in the mix and a beautiful realization that "family" and love is not always from blood and it doesn't have to be to be real.
Looking forward to more stories from the House of Payne series.
***** 4.5 ***** "inner scars can be more brutal that those we wear on our skin" stars
This isn't just a cool story about an incredible and beautiful artist who catches the eye (and heart) of one of the most sought after men when he wants to buy her 3D designs to be used in his business...it is a deep and emotional story of family tragedy, forgiveness and moving on with your life.
Becks lost something very important to her 4 years ago and has never been able to forget or forgive herself. Guilt is a terrible motivator and her estranged family has been using it to keep her from really living up to her potential. The far reaching consequences of what happened to Becks and the long lasting effects of her past become fuel for Sebastian, as his feelings for Becks trigger him to do some pretty incredible and drastic things...and he also has a secret he is withholding from Becks that could affect their future.
I loved this story..it was part fairytale romance with a darker story of family drama in the mix and a beautiful realization that "family" and love is not always from blood and it doesn't have to be to be real.
Looking forward to more stories from the House of Payne series.
***** 4.5 ***** "inner scars can be more brutal that those we wear on our skin" stars
December 28, 2014
I really liked this one, and was expecting it to fall apart the more I read, but it all stayed together - yeah!
We have a broody artist with a tragic past and a premier tattoo artist. He is part of her tragic past, but she doesn't know that. She really has had a horrible life and is constantly kicked to the curb. Lots of people in books have commitment issues for various reasons, but for this girl, it is palpable and you actually can feel her pain. Rebecca Delgado hides behind her artist Becks and she is completely okay with that, her artist is amazing
Sebastian Payne made a name for himself with tattoo's and a porno tape to accompany his coming out. Being a poster child for wild sex and decadence has worked out extremely well for him, but he has always been haunted by the young lady he is tied to in tragedy. He isn't a bad person, he actually quite sweet, and he takes what he wants when he wants with no strings attached.
He wants Becks, and is finally making his move. He thought he only wanted her art, but after meeting her, he knows he wants much more. Becks has some serious issues, and he wonders if their ties will drive her away once she knows. She is oblivious to their previous connection
This is hot and sweaty, straight up sexy when these two connect, even without sex, but it is so much more when there is! Both of these characters have depth and are straight with each other, there is no game playing. A connection from the beginning and electrical charges when they come into contact with each other!
We have a broody artist with a tragic past and a premier tattoo artist. He is part of her tragic past, but she doesn't know that. She really has had a horrible life and is constantly kicked to the curb. Lots of people in books have commitment issues for various reasons, but for this girl, it is palpable and you actually can feel her pain. Rebecca Delgado hides behind her artist Becks and she is completely okay with that, her artist is amazing
Sebastian Payne made a name for himself with tattoo's and a porno tape to accompany his coming out. Being a poster child for wild sex and decadence has worked out extremely well for him, but he has always been haunted by the young lady he is tied to in tragedy. He isn't a bad person, he actually quite sweet, and he takes what he wants when he wants with no strings attached.
He wants Becks, and is finally making his move. He thought he only wanted her art, but after meeting her, he knows he wants much more. Becks has some serious issues, and he wonders if their ties will drive her away once she knows. She is oblivious to their previous connection
This is hot and sweaty, straight up sexy when these two connect, even without sex, but it is so much more when there is! Both of these characters have depth and are straight with each other, there is no game playing. A connection from the beginning and electrical charges when they come into contact with each other!
October 3, 2018
4.5 star
I was pulled right into this story. The story flowed well and I was able to keep interested in the story. Read it in one sitting. The story has laughs, pain, betrayal, secrets, and deep heartbreak.
This is Becks and Payne’s story. Becks is broken and has been since she was in a car accident and her parents blamed her for the death of her brother. They left her broken with only the clothes on her back. She has struggled and survived but does not believe in love. After seeing House of Payne showing her art work she shows up at House of Payne and confronts Payne. Payne has known Becks for years ever since he rescued her from a car accident. She does not know that and he is going to keep that a secret for now. He is going to woo her. He wants her and believes that she is the “one” for him. When he finds out how she has been treated by her parents he wants to protect her from all the hurt. He blames himself for the events that led up to the accident. Becks blames herself for the accident. Can Payne tell Becks all the secrets he is keeping? What happens when Payne finds out that her brother was also involved in the accident? Can Payne and Becks get there happily ever after or will all the secrets and her family tear them apart?
I loved these characters. Becks father I wanted to smack with a brick every time he opened his mouth. There are some tear filled moments and anger filled moments in this story. But all in all I felt I was able to connect with the characters and the story was a great read.
I highly recommend this book and this author.
I was pulled right into this story. The story flowed well and I was able to keep interested in the story. Read it in one sitting. The story has laughs, pain, betrayal, secrets, and deep heartbreak.
This is Becks and Payne’s story. Becks is broken and has been since she was in a car accident and her parents blamed her for the death of her brother. They left her broken with only the clothes on her back. She has struggled and survived but does not believe in love. After seeing House of Payne showing her art work she shows up at House of Payne and confronts Payne. Payne has known Becks for years ever since he rescued her from a car accident. She does not know that and he is going to keep that a secret for now. He is going to woo her. He wants her and believes that she is the “one” for him. When he finds out how she has been treated by her parents he wants to protect her from all the hurt. He blames himself for the events that led up to the accident. Becks blames herself for the accident. Can Payne tell Becks all the secrets he is keeping? What happens when Payne finds out that her brother was also involved in the accident? Can Payne and Becks get there happily ever after or will all the secrets and her family tear them apart?
I loved these characters. Becks father I wanted to smack with a brick every time he opened his mouth. There are some tear filled moments and anger filled moments in this story. But all in all I felt I was able to connect with the characters and the story was a great read.
I highly recommend this book and this author.
August 9, 2015
Payne and Becks form a working relationship that turns in to way more than that. Payne wants Becks and he's not taking no for an answer. Becks' parents were awful to her so she has a skewed view of her self and what she deserves. She doesn't fully believe Payne could want her and then have a future with her when he does catch her onto his hook.
Payne's going to need to do all he can to convince Becks she's good enough for everyone and anything that comes her way that's a good positive in her life. He's going to need to support her, stick up for her, give her lots of love and affection and give her back the missing piece: her self worth.
House of Payne: Payne, didn't follow anything normal rules of a story. Every time I thought it would go the drama and angst way, I was surprised for the other outcome that followed. Now, I'm not one who loves overkill drama and angst, but I needed more than I got.
Becks- I was hoping she would be a little more hardcore with a backbone, but she always gave in too easily. Though, at times that was nice, other times I felt I needed her to do more than what she did.
Payne- he was definitely obsessed with Becks, and had been for years. He really didn't meet the bad boy, alpha male 100% mold for me. I liked him but I needed more from him too.
What I liked:
1. The little story twist
2. Becks and Payne's relationship
3. Andreas
4. The basis of the story
5. The epilogue - LOVED IT
What I didn't like:
1. The diaper references
Payne's going to need to do all he can to convince Becks she's good enough for everyone and anything that comes her way that's a good positive in her life. He's going to need to support her, stick up for her, give her lots of love and affection and give her back the missing piece: her self worth.
House of Payne: Payne, didn't follow anything normal rules of a story. Every time I thought it would go the drama and angst way, I was surprised for the other outcome that followed. Now, I'm not one who loves overkill drama and angst, but I needed more than I got.
Becks- I was hoping she would be a little more hardcore with a backbone, but she always gave in too easily. Though, at times that was nice, other times I felt I needed her to do more than what she did.
Payne- he was definitely obsessed with Becks, and had been for years. He really didn't meet the bad boy, alpha male 100% mold for me. I liked him but I needed more from him too.
What I liked:
1. The little story twist
2. Becks and Payne's relationship
3. Andreas
4. The basis of the story
5. The epilogue - LOVED IT
What I didn't like:
1. The diaper references
November 30, 2014
Becks life is crap and has been for four years. Ever since she was in a car accident that caused he brother his life her parents disowned her, blaming her for his death. When House of Payne bought one of her pieces and there was talk of it becoming a tattoo when she makes a clause stating its not aloud in the buyers contract, she barrels into their office, and right into Sebastian Payne. From the moment she meets him, meet he begins to woo her and try to prove he wants forever, the only problem is she doesn't believe in forever anymore.
Sebastian has a secret though, one that might destroy all the hard work he has put into the relationship to prove forever does exist, he was there the night of the wreck, and he saved her but didn't know her brother was in the car. He also blames himself for what happened. Can the two work their way out of the past and all its hurts, or will what hurt them so bad destroy what they have now too?
I greatly enjoyed this book. It really made you care about the characters, and hope that it will work. I am looking forward to the next one in the series to read Scout's story.
Reviewed for Renee Entress's blog
Sebastian has a secret though, one that might destroy all the hard work he has put into the relationship to prove forever does exist, he was there the night of the wreck, and he saved her but didn't know her brother was in the car. He also blames himself for what happened. Can the two work their way out of the past and all its hurts, or will what hurt them so bad destroy what they have now too?
I greatly enjoyed this book. It really made you care about the characters, and hope that it will work. I am looking forward to the next one in the series to read Scout's story.
Reviewed for Renee Entress's blog
May 27, 2020
This was a very worthy read! Payne is a drool worthy man who is now world famous for his tattoo art. Rebecca “Becks” is an extremely talented 3D artist. While Payne is very familiar with Becks and her work, she is unaware they have encountered each other in the past. Payne is holding onto that secret while he woos her incessantly. Then he inadvertently learns more about the accident that brought them together albeit several years later. The author has created a sweet romance with a dark side...Becks’s parents. Her father is an evil bully and her mother is weak, bending to his every word. There is so much going on in this story that I was mesmerized. I’m glad I have the whole series and hope this good writing continues!
I want to know Andreas’s story too!
I want to know Andreas’s story too!
December 21, 2017
Had potential but just fell flat
Spoilers! The writing was hard to follow. Some chapters were overly descriptive and repetitive, then other chapters were high level and seemed to skim over emotion and character development. At first, I thought Payne was one of the most obnoxious, arrogent, self absorbed characters I had ever read. He leveled off but then became a creepy stalker. I had a lot of sympathy for Becks, but when the big reveal happens, I was surprised at how easily she forgave Payne for his disception. Overall, the book was inconsistent and it was a struggle to finish.
Spoilers! The writing was hard to follow. Some chapters were overly descriptive and repetitive, then other chapters were high level and seemed to skim over emotion and character development. At first, I thought Payne was one of the most obnoxious, arrogent, self absorbed characters I had ever read. He leveled off but then became a creepy stalker. I had a lot of sympathy for Becks, but when the big reveal happens, I was surprised at how easily she forgave Payne for his disception. Overall, the book was inconsistent and it was a struggle to finish.
December 3, 2014
"When bad things happen, it’s human nature to either assign blame or to accept the blame for it. No one knows that better than me. We feel more secure if we can point to a reason for why bad things happen, because that makes us feel more in control of an otherwise uncontrollable world. But it’s not reality.”
Oh my goodness! Finally! Finally, something bad happens, and the characters are *reasonable* about it! Because of how the twist (which was obvious from the beginning) was handled, I'm giving this book 4 instead of 3 stars.
Oh my goodness! Finally! Finally, something bad happens, and the characters are *reasonable* about it! Because of how the twist (which was obvious from the beginning) was handled, I'm giving this book 4 instead of 3 stars.
December 5, 2014
I got sucked in to this book quickly. While Becks has suffered a deep tragedy and struggled to move forward, I found her to be strong and sure. Payne knows what he wants and has spent years waiting for Becks even though she had no idea he was there. I thought their shared history weaved a great bonus into their story and I was thrilled with the way that all played out. There were some areas that I would have liked fleshed out a little more, but it didn't really detract from the story.
January 17, 2015
It was an interesting read with engaging characters. I usually don't like over-sexed tattoo artists/bikers/rock stars because their man whore ways tend to piss me off, but this story was very light on that and heavy oh the relationship between the main characters.
I can't wait to start on the next book in the series.
I can't wait to start on the next book in the series.
May 31, 2015
I bought this book because I found the story in a anthology and loved it.
Payne knows what he wants; a kickass tattoo shop and Becks.
Becks doesn't want to want anything but her art, meeting Payne she's sure he's an ass but he lets her see him.
Her heart and spirit have been broken, but Payne puts her together again and it's wonderful.
Get this book Now!! It is awesome!!
Payne knows what he wants; a kickass tattoo shop and Becks.
Becks doesn't want to want anything but her art, meeting Payne she's sure he's an ass but he lets her see him.
Her heart and spirit have been broken, but Payne puts her together again and it's wonderful.
Get this book Now!! It is awesome!!
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