Hi everyone! Welcome to the Cover Reveal! BEAUTY, INC. This book was so much fun to write since it continues my series turning fairy tale tropes into contemporary gay romances. I don’t think you have to guess hard to figure out which fairy tale romance this book is based on. As with the other books, Beauty, Inc. says this kind of love is possible. I hope you enjoy it!
Beauty, Inc.
(The Pennymaker Tales #3)
by Tara Lain
Blurb:
Is beauty only skin deep?
Chemist Dr. Robert “Belle” Belleterre loves flowers, green trees, his best friend Judy, and “his baby”: the new face cream he developed to help put his father’s small cosmetics company on the map. Sadly he gets no help from his alcoholic, gambling-addicted father who loses Belle in a poker game to Magnus Strong, the CEO of Beauty, Inc. the largest American cosmetics company—a man infamous for his scarred ugliness.
Belle finds himself uprooted from his home, living in a wildly crazy apartment in New York owned by Mr. Pennymaker, and completely unprepared for his mad attraction to the charismatic Strong. Feeling like a traitor, Belle fights his passion only to see more and more of the goodness and humility hidden by Strong’s ugly face. But when Belle’s family starts manipulating his life again, the odds turn against happiness for beautiful Belle and his beloved beast.
Available for pre-order at
Release Date:
June 8, 2016
Excerpts
He pushed into the marble and glass room just as
Belleterre came out of a stall. He seemed to be taking deep breaths, and his
high cheekbones were flushed pink. He saw Magnus and the blush darkened, which
was more than any gay man could stand.
Belleterre came out of a stall. He seemed to be taking deep breaths, and his
high cheekbones were flushed pink. He saw Magnus and the blush darkened, which
was more than any gay man could stand.
Try to look natural.
Magnus stepped up to the urinal and hauled it out—clearly a losing proposition,
since the mere sight of the guy prompted a half-mast condition. Breathe. You’ve gotta pee or he’ll think
you’ve lost it. In through the nose.
Magnus stepped up to the urinal and hauled it out—clearly a losing proposition,
since the mere sight of the guy prompted a half-mast condition. Breathe. You’ve gotta pee or he’ll think
you’ve lost it. In through the nose.
Belleterre walked to the sink, pulled some paper towels
from the dispenser, wet them under the water, and applied the compress to his
cheeks.
from the dispenser, wet them under the water, and applied the compress to his
cheeks.
Magnus managed a thin stream, shook, and zipped. He
walked to the sink beside the beauty called Belle. He contained his smile since
he knew it was scary. “You’d think with their prices, they could afford better
air conditioning.”
walked to the sink beside the beauty called Belle. He contained his smile since
he knew it was scary. “You’d think with their prices, they could afford better
air conditioning.”
The guy startled, looked at Magnus with wide eyes, then
burst out laughing. Clearly symphonies had less melody. “You certainly would.
In fact, there’s a lot about this place that could use some investment, I’d
say.”
burst out laughing. Clearly symphonies had less melody. “You certainly would.
In fact, there’s a lot about this place that could use some investment, I’d
say.”
“A man after my own heart.” He extended his now clean
hand. “I’m Magnus Strong.”
hand. “I’m Magnus Strong.”
The guy nodded. “Of course. I’m Robert Belleterre. I
expect you know my father.”
expect you know my father.”
“Yes, I do. So you’re Belle?”
“That’s what they call me.”
“A chemist.”
Belle nodded.
“Honored.”
“I believe you’re also a chemist.”
Magnus nodded. “A long time ago.”
Belle’s lips curved just enough to cause cardiac arrest.
“Honored.” He walked out the bathroom door.
“Honored.” He walked out the bathroom door.
Magnus leaned against the sink and took deep inhalations,
then managed to get it together enough to return to his table.
then managed to get it together enough to return to his table.
Elliott stared at him anxiously. “So? Did you meet the
mystery man?”
mystery man?”
“Yes. It’s Belle Belleterre, all right.”
“Wow. How have they kept that under wraps all these
years? Seriously, once that kid’s puss hits the social sites, forget
anonymity.”
years? Seriously, once that kid’s puss hits the social sites, forget
anonymity.”
Magnus pushed his plate aside and leaned in. “I want
every detail on their new product. I don’t care who or how much you have to
bribe. Just do it. Likewise on Belle Belleterre. What does he like? Hate? What
drives him? Get it all for me.”
every detail on their new product. I don’t care who or how much you have to
bribe. Just do it. Likewise on Belle Belleterre. What does he like? Hate? What
drives him? Get it all for me.”
Elliott nodded. “I’m on it.”
Magnus stared across the restaurant, where Kleinschmidt’s
hand rested on the back of Belle’s chair. Magnus felt his hands clench. “And I
want to know what the hell he’s doing with Eric.” He could still feel the
tingling in his hand where they’d touched, and the tingling in his cock. He
sucked a breath. This is no time for
stupid, hopeless infatuations. “Just find out as much as you can as soon as
you can.”
hand rested on the back of Belle’s chair. Magnus felt his hands clench. “And I
want to know what the hell he’s doing with Eric.” He could still feel the
tingling in his hand where they’d touched, and the tingling in his cock. He
sucked a breath. This is no time for
stupid, hopeless infatuations. “Just find out as much as you can as soon as
you can.”
“Will do.”
“And the game you arranged for me tomorrow night?”
“Yes. All the confirmations are in. It should be great
poker and hopefully some great information as well.”
poker and hopefully some great information as well.”
“You know how I said I didn’t want to include Ron
Belleterre?”
Belleterre?”
“Yeah, because he drinks too much.”
“I changed my mind.”
Elliott smiled. “May I ask why?”
Magnus grinned back. “Because he drinks too much.”
They both laughed.
A tap on his doorframe made him look up. Oh. Everything in him turned to ice—and
then it quietly melted. Magnus Strong occupied his door—and dominated the room.
Power. Force. And a sexual magnetism that defied his ugly face.
then it quietly melted. Magnus Strong occupied his door—and dominated the room.
Power. Force. And a sexual magnetism that defied his ugly face.
Magnus smiled, which exaggerated his disfigured nose, his
scarred lips and cheek. He stuck out a hand and crossed the room vigorously.
“Dr. Belleterre, welcome. I wanted to come and personally express our
admiration for your talent. We’re delighted to have you at Beauty, Inc.”
scarred lips and cheek. He stuck out a hand and crossed the room vigorously.
“Dr. Belleterre, welcome. I wanted to come and personally express our
admiration for your talent. We’re delighted to have you at Beauty, Inc.”
Warring emotions flashed through Belle’s chest—the
lingering amazement from his father’s praise, admiration for Strong, guilt over
that admiration, and embarrassment that his cock stood at half-mast just from
the impact of Strong’s presence. He wanted to smile and hated that he wanted
to. If he stood up, would his erection show?
lingering amazement from his father’s praise, admiration for Strong, guilt over
that admiration, and embarrassment that his cock stood at half-mast just from
the impact of Strong’s presence. He wanted to smile and hated that he wanted
to. If he stood up, would his erection show?
Strong’s smile slipped just a little. Belle panicked. Don’t be an ass. He half rose. “Thank
you. And thank you for the apartment and the driver. I appreciate both very
much.”
you. And thank you for the apartment and the driver. I appreciate both very
much.”
Strong had started to pull his hand back, but now he
stuck it forward again. Belle had to shake it. His hand was swallowed by
Strong’s big paw—interestingly rough and disturbingly hot. Sweet Jesus, why does he turn me on? He looked everywhere except at
the man who so confused him.
stuck it forward again. Belle had to shake it. His hand was swallowed by
Strong’s big paw—interestingly rough and disturbingly hot. Sweet Jesus, why does he turn me on? He looked everywhere except at
the man who so confused him.
Strong said, “Well, I just wanted to say welcome. Let me
know if there’s anything you need.”
know if there’s anything you need.”
Belle nodded, dragging his eyes up from the desk. “Thank
you. I will.”
you. I will.”
Just that fast, Strong was gone.
Belle collapsed in the desk chair. Why didn’t I ask him who picked the apartment?
Because you’re
afraid to know the answer.
afraid to know the answer.
The Pennymaker Tales Series
Sinders and Ash
(The Pennymaker Tales Series, #1)
by Tara Lain
Available for order at
Driven Snow
(The Pennymaker Tales, #2)
by Tara Lain
Available for purchase at
About the Author
Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 23. Her bestselling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. She lives with her soulmate husband and her soulmate dog in Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!You can find Tara at
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