Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Beautiful Mess
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE:
CITY:
STATE: OR
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: no2016149079
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/no2016149079
HEADING: Lane, Kasey
000 00693nz a2200181n 450
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008 161104n| azannaabn |n aaa c
010 __ |a no2016149079
035 __ |a (OCoLC)oca10624670
040 __ |a IAhCCS |b eng |e rda |c IAhCCS
100 1_ |a Lane, Kasey
370 __ |e Oregon
372 __ |a Romance fiction |2 lcsh
374 __ |a Authors |2 lcsh
375 __ |a female
377 __ |a eng
670 __ |a Lane, Kasey. Beautiful crazy, 2016: |b title page (Kasey Lane) about the author (Award-winning author Kasey Lane writes sexy romances featuring music, hot guys with ink, kick-ass women, and always a happily every after. A California transplant, she lives in the lush Oregon forest)
PERSONAL
Married; children: two.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author.
AVOCATIONS:Jack White, tattoos, San Jose Sharks.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Kasey Lane resides in Oregon, where she is a mother, wife, and author of romantic novels. She hails originally from the state of California.
Beautiful Crazy
Beautiful Crazy is one of Lane’s novels and is the first in a series titled “Rock ‘n’ Ink.” The book stars Mason Dillon and Kevan Landry, two people who become involved in the music industry in very different ways, but become involved with one another because of it. Mason works as an executive within the industry, heading a major public relations company. Kevan works in marketing and is on the hunt for the trendiest and most lucrative new clients. The two of them have set their sights on Manix Curse, a rising new group of artists whose success could propel both Mason and Kevan’s careers. However, as they try to pursue the group to bolster themselves, they run into each other along the way. Sparks fly between them instantly, leading them into a night of passion they soon come to regret. The pair realize afterward that their professional goals conflict severely with their individual ones, meaning they will have to compete to determine who captures the opportunity to work with Manix Curse. First, however, they must fight off their chemistry, which could threaten both of their chances of success.
On the All About Romance blog, LinnieGayl Kimmel wrote: “The ending is interesting enough that I will probably take a chance on the second in the series, hoping that it’s more like the latter part of this book.” In an issue of Booklist, Amy Dittmeier remarked: “The world Lane builds here is addictive.” She also added: “[B]e prepared for readers craving the next “Rock-n-Ink” romance.” A reviewer in Publishers Weekly observed: “Raunchy sex and business espionage add to the unbridled appeal of this oil-and-water love match.”
Beautiful Mess
Beautiful Mess is something of an adjacent sequel to Beautiful Crazy. It centers on JamiLynn Dillon, the sister of Mason, who is just as traditional and professional as her brother used to be. She is also determined to keep her brother from ruining his image and, as a result, lose their parents’ respect. However, her attempts to live on the straight and narrow soon fizzle out once she comes face to face with Jax Pain. Jami knows Jax as “Jackson,” the stunning young heartthrob she first met during her university days. There, he swept her off her feet, and the two consummated their passion, which eventually came to an end. Having renewed their acquaintance, fireworks again begin to rocket between them, but Jami does not want to let them erupt. She has put that part of her life behind her in order to kick off her career and cultivate the lifestyle she currently enjoys. Jackson, on the other hand, works as a tattoo artist and is the drummer with Manix Curse. His life is far from orthodox, and it is certainly misaligned with Jami’s goals. All the same, Jackson comes to miss what he and Jami shared and tries to reach out to her as best he can. He is determined to win Jami’s affections and rekindle their old passion.
A Publishers Weekly reviewer commented: “Opposites attract powerfully in this scorching tale.” On the Good, The Bad and The Unread blog, one contributor stated: “I enjoyed meeting Kevan and Mason and would like to go back and read how it all came together for them.” The reviewer added: “Not having read Book One in advance did not in any way hamper my enjoyment of this book.” A writer on the Book Binge blog said: “The story of Jami and Jackson was a sweet one, and I enjoyed watching the two of them work out their differences.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, September 15, 2016, Amy Dittmeier, review of Beautiful Crazy, p. 34.
Publishers Weekly, September 12, 2016, review of Beautiful Crazy, p. 41; February 6, 2017, review of Beautiful Mess, p. 53.
ONLINE
All About Romance, https://allaboutromance.com/ (November 2, 2016), LinnieGayl Kimmel, review of Beautiful Crazy.
Book Binge, http://bookbinge.com/ (March 7, 2017), review of Beautiful Mess.
Good, The Bad and The Unread, http://goodbadandunread.com/ (May 6, 2017), review of Beautiful Mess.
Kasey Lane Website, https://www.kaseylane.com (November 8, 2017), author profile.*
The basics
Award-winning author Kasey Lane writes sexy romances featuring music, hot guys with ink, kick ass women, and always a happily ever after. A California transplant, she lives with her high school crush turned husband, two smart, but devilish kids, two dumb-as-rocks Papillons, and a bunch of bossy chickens in the lush Oregon forest. Visit her on line where you'll find her swearing too much and talking about the San Jose Sharks, tattoos, and Jack White.
10/5/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
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Print Marked Items
Beautiful Mess: Rock 'n' Ink, Book 2
Publishers Weekly.
264.6 (Feb. 6, 2017): p53.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Beautiful Mess: Rock 'n' Ink, Book 2
Kasey Lane. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $7.99
mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-4926-3652-6
Lane's lush prose adds color to her second Rock 'n' Ink contemporary, brings depth to some otherwise flat characters,
and freshens up a rather familiar plot. Straitlaced Portland lawyer Jami Dillon is ambushed by a run-in with her
onetime guilty pleasure. Hoping to stop her brother, Mason, from throwing off the chains of respectability, she follows
him to a tattoo parlor. Turns out that Mason's ink artist and new best friend, Jackson Paige, aka Jax Pain, is also a
jarring reminder of Jami's debauched youth. From the moment she and Jackson lay eyes on each other, steam wafts off
the page in memories of their highly charged college-years love affair. The heat ratchets up even more after Jami agrees
to represent Jax's heavy metal band and he begs her for more of what they once had. Opposites attract powerfully in
this scorching tale. Agent: Cate Hart, Corvisiero Literary. (Mar.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Beautiful Mess: Rock 'n' Ink, Book 2." Publishers Weekly, 6 Feb. 2017, p. 53+. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA480593862&it=r&asid=dec35ecdfbfa48454aca6be9c41f9a7a.
Accessed 5 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A480593862
---
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Beautiful Crazy
Amy Dittmeier
Booklist.
113.2 (Sept. 15, 2016): p34.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Beautiful Crazy. By Kasey Lane. Nov. 2016. 352p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paper, $7.99 19781492636496).
Manix Curse is the hottest metal band in Portland, Oregon, and Kevan Landry is determined to sign them. Her new
marketing firm could use the work, not to mention the money. It would be nice to pay off some bills and her brother's
stint in rehab before she's flat broke. Unfortunately, Kevan isn't the only person vying for the band's attention. Mason
Dillon is the CEO of Portland's largest music PR firm, and his job is contingent on signing Manix. Too bad they didn't
know this before they slept together after a Manix show. Now Kevan and Mason are rivals for a band they desperately
need to win. Kevan's rockabilly style and Masons suit-and-tie look don't seem compatible, but the chemistry between
the two is undeniable. Working against each other may be the least of their worries. Lane seamlessly blends romance
with music culture, peppering this hot love story with references to bands and venues every diligent music fan will
appreciate. The world Lane builds here is addictive; be prepared for readers craving the next Rock-n-Ink romance.--
Amy Dittmeier
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Dittmeier, Amy. "Beautiful Crazy." Booklist, 15 Sept. 2016, p. 34. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA464980868&it=r&asid=75b9eb0023f375298f0d6647a0b51849.
Accessed 5 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A464980868
---
10/5/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
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Beautiful Crazy
Publishers Weekly.
263.37 (Sept. 12, 2016): p41.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Beautiful Crazy
Kasey Lane. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $7.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-4926-3649-6
Lane's promising debut doesn't spare the steam as marketing professional Kevan Landry falls into the arms of Mason
Dillon and takes him home for a hot, hot, hot one-night stand. Naturally, she doesn't know he's a business rival--the
wealthy scion of one of Oregon's biggest marketing firms--until after he's won her heart. Kevan, a former tattoo artist
who's as quirky and complicated as the Portland music scene, is fighting for her life. She's run out of resources to keep
Jolt Marketing afloat and also needs money to pay her brother's drug rehab bills. If she can only secure a marketing
deal with rock band Manix Curse, she'll be all set. But when she learns that Mason also hungers to close a deal with the
band, she loses all hope. Everything gets even more complicated when the band inexplicably invites the pair to tour
with them. Raunchy sex and business espionage add to the unbridled appeal of this oil-and-water love match. Agent:
Cate Hart, Corvisiero Literary. (Nov.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Beautiful Crazy." Publishers Weekly, 12 Sept. 2016, p. 41. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA464046266&it=r&asid=46574ae06f2a599c2115eea5174f5d13.
Accessed 5 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A464046266
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Beautiful Crazy
Kasey Lane
Buy This Book
Beautiful Crazy is the first in Kasey Lane’s Rock ‘N’ Ink series featuring rockers and tattoo artists, and I found it to be an uneven read. The first part works too hard to feel current to the detriment of both characters and plot. Aside from numerous info dumps, I didn’t feel as if I knew much about the hero or heroine, and if not reading for review, I would probably not have finished it. Fortunately, things picked up partway through and I enjoyed most of the latter part of the book.
Kevan Landry, our heroine, has a lot of things on her plate. She recently committed her addict brother to rehab, is struggling with her fledgling event marketing firm aimed at local rock bands, and works part time in a tattoo parlor. Kevan needs to sign Manix Curse, an up and coming rock band, to keep her company going. But when Kevan goes to a club to meet with the band’s manager, she gets distracted by Mr. Hot Conservative Suit Guy (her words, not mine). Just knowing he’s watching her leaves Kevan aroused. Not so arousing is the news she receives from the band’s manager. A major entertainment group has also approached the band, and the members want to hear presentations from her and the major company.
Kevan’s gone through a series of dating disasters and is determined she won’t date “normal” guys in suits. But soon after leaving the band’s manager she ends up sharing a drink with Mason Dillon – the hot guy in the suit. They’re soon engaged in heavy petting, and when he asks her to come home with him after exchanging about ten lines of dialog, they end up racing across town to her apartment to hook up for the hot, rough sex they both like.
Kevan wakes up the next morning and finds Mason has left, and when she arrives to do her presentation before the band she discovers he is the CEO of the competing corporation, and the two are forced to listen to each other’s presentations. While I found this scene – and the band’s subsequent decision to have Mason and Kevan tour with them for ten days to show what they can do – rather unbelievable, it’s also the point at which the book becomes interesting.
As the tour starts, Mason and Kevan are business enemies, but they end up sharing Mason’s RV, forcing them into constant contact with each other. This leads to lengthy passages of Kevan lusting for Mason, and of course, to a lot of hot sex. But Kevan’s convinced all they will ever have is sex. She thinks Mason is Ivy League Corporate while she’s low rent street smarts. The financial burdens of her business and her brother’s rehabilitation are nearly overwhelming.
Both Mason and Kevan eventually turn out to be interesting characters. Kevan’s always been the curvy girl with the pretty face. She had a difficult childhood and has worked at a variety of jobs, including as a pinup model, in order to pay her way through college, get a degree and start her own company. While Mason is known as the Iceman, because he’s always in control, he’s recently had a humiliating meeting with his company’s board of directors. If he doesn’t increase revenues – and doesn’t land Manix Curse – he’ll be fired. I liked seeing him and Kevan work, compete, and learn to appreciate each other as the tour went on.
In the early stages, Beautiful Crazy felt simply like a hookup between two hot sexy people rather than a romance. Rather than true character development, aspects of Kevan and Mason’s characters and backgrounds were introduced as throw-away sentences, with no evidence and no depth. Fortunately, the book eventually turned around, and left me intrigued by both Kevan and Mason, but even so, it’s just too uneven for me to recommend. The ending is interesting enough that I will probably take a chance on the second in the series, hoping that it’s more like the latter part of this book.
Buy Beautiful Crazy by Kasey Lane:
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Book Details
Reviewer : LinnieGayl Kimmel
Grade : C+
Sensuality : Warm
Book Type : Contemporary Romance
Review Tags : Rock ‘N’ Ink series
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REVIEW: Beautiful Mess by Kasey Lane
by veena | May 6, 2017 | Review |
Veena’s review of Beautiful Mess (Rock ‘n’ Ink, Book 2) by Kasey Lane
I’ve been on a roll with a fair amount of reading and reviewing this month. My greatest pleasure comes not just from some great books that I’ve read but also at discovering two new authors to enjoy, of which Ms. Lane is one. I have definitely enjoyed this story with all its colorful characters that I hope to revisit in future books, as they work through their own beautiful messy relationships.
Jami and Jackson have a history forged during their law school days. While Jami is now a successful lawyer, Jackson has pursued his artistic bent to not only become an up-and-coming artist on the Portland art scene but is better known as Jax Pain, a drummer for the sensational new band Manix Curse. When Jackson meets Jami over a tattoo needle as he tattoos her brother, he’s determined to explore this chance meeting into something that might turn into a full-fledged relationship.
Jami has striven all her life for a crumb of affection from her self-absorbed demanding parents. To please them, she’s turned herself into a doll, suppressing her real self under conservative suits and behavior they would find suitable. When her successful brother falls in love with a tattoo artist and walks away from his career to become an entrepreneur marketer and promoter to local Portland band Manix Curse, Jami is determined to save him and bring him back into the fold. When she’s presented with a second chance with the man who haunts her years later and sees the unfettered happiness and contentment between her brother and his fiancé, is she ready to rock the boat and embrace the messiness that comes from a real relationship? Is there a future for Jackson and Jami?
It’s so sweet to see bearded, tattooed Jackson coaxing Jami out of her shell to becoming part of the loud and messy family of musicians and artists. What Jami can’t resist is the heat simmering between them, which constantly derails all her good intentions. The author keeps things humming at a slow boil, which quickly flares into a conflagration. What bothers me about the story is Jami’s continued rejection of all the advice from her friends and her heart in deference to her parents, even after she knows beyond a shadow of a doubt they do not have her best interests at heart.
I enjoyed meeting Kevan and Mason and would like to go back and read how it all came together for them. Not having read Book 1 in advance did not in any way hamper my enjoyment of this book.
Grade: B
JamiLynn Dillon is a buttoned-up lawyer. She had her wild youth and paid a steep price for it. Trying to make her parents happy she became a lawyer and is a damned good one – not that the job she’s working in takes advantage of that. She constantly wants to please her parents and has a plan for her life. Jackson Paige, the guy she had a month-long fling with in law school, is not part of that plan. She had once thought he might be but after he up and left her, and school, one day without a word or backward glance she quickly wrote him out of the plan. Now he’s back in her life and making things messy. She doesn’t want to feel things. She doesn’t want him messing up her thoughts or making her question her job but he does those things anyway.
Jackson never forgot Jami and regretted his decision to leave her the minute it happened. Now that she’s back in his life he knows that it’s right and he’s willing to fight for the woman he wants in his life forever. He just has to break through to her and make her see the Jami he sees – not the one she’s created to please her parents. She’s stubborn, however, and Jackson must do all he can to get her to see that they belong together.
Beautiful Mess is book 2 in the Rock ‘n’ Ink series. The story of Jami and Jackson was a sweet one and I enjoyed watching the two of them work out their differences.
Jackson was a great guy who had left law school and taken his life back. He’d only been there to please his father but the artist in him finally pushed to the forefront and won the fight. He is now an mixed media artist and tattoo artist as well as the drummer in an up and coming metal band. I loved how he went after what he wanted – including Jami – and didn’t let her objections get in the way.
Jami took a bit for me to get used to. In fact never really truly loved her character. She was so wishy-washy. I know that was because of her parents and how she’d lived her life with their expectations in mind but her indecision and stubbornness got a bit old after a while.
The story itself was good and I liked a lot of it. There was some repetitiveness to it that bothered me as it seemed like Jackson and Jami were constantly hammering out the same issues but there was enough good parts to the book that I could forgive the other. This book, imho, can’t be read as a standalone. You truly need to read book one in the series as you will get lost with all the characters coming in and out of the book. If you read book one in the series and liked it you’ll definitely want to read book two and see Jax find his HEA.