This review originally appeared on my blog www.gimmethatbook.com.


I received this book from author Jan Moran in exchange for this honest interview.

Flawless is an easy, breezy type of read. Set in Beverly Hills, it oozes opulence and glitters wonderfully. The plot is fairly simple: Verena Valent, head of a family owned skincare company, is dealing with money problems. The economy is not what it was, and her big launch in Asia is threatened. Her boyfriend Derrick is pushing her to sell the company, but Verena’s family ties are too strong for this to be an easy decision. To top it all off, she is starting to develop feelings for a man she just met: Lance, the executive chef of the Beverly Hills Hotel. She wants to stay loyal to Derrick, but his actions are pushing her away. As money gets tighter, her family and friends cannot give her all the answers she seeks. Only Verena can be the master of her own destiny. Can she save her beloved company from the sharks?

This book made me feel as if I were sitting along Verena in the boardroom, in the spa, on a jet, and in Paris. Each detail is accurate and adds to the luxury of the story. In fact, if I knew more about the skincare world, I might think this book could be a roman a clef. It’s that authentic.

Verena Valent is a strong woman, even is she is unsure of what she wants, or needs. Her loyalty to her family is strong and refreshing. There is just enough romance in the book to add that warm feeling without overpowering the plot or reality….and what woman wouldn’t want a guy like Lance?!

The bad guys hold the purse strings, and there is a good deal of merger/acquisition/banking talk going on–but not so much that it bogs you down. This book will appeal to those who want romance, and those who want to read a twisty plot with some thorny intellectual problems to solve.

The character’s attitudes are not entitled or exclusionary; rather, they are real and understandable. Granted, most of us don’t have million dollar companies, but Verena and her grandmother are easy to identify with and root for, as you turn the pages and hope that their financial worries will be rectified. No spoilers here; but the ending was satisfying and left the door open for many different paths for Verena’s life to take.

Jan Moran is an expert in the beauty field, and it shows here in Flawless. I would definitely read book two of the Hostile Beauty series, just to see what Verena and her friends have accomplished. Want your own copy? You can pick it up here. ( )

Great romance novel. Good characters. Enjoyable read. ( )

This book was exciting and fun and funny. I won this book a while back and have just now had the pleasure of reading it. I am so glad I did. It was a blast. I love the characters and the way they were able to turn lemons into lemonade. Karma is something and boy did it raise it's head in an ungly and quick way! Grab it read it and by all means enjoy it like i did! Good Job Jan. ( )

Flawless is a wonderful romance story with an under lying story about the family skin care business. Verena Valent inherited the 60 yr old company after her parents died. She is also responsible for her younger twin sisters and her grandmother. Derrick the villian is a venture capitalist Verena needs capitol for her failing business. Some how they end up engaged. Lance is Verena's savior he is a chef. A Flawless romantic tale with a modern day twist. ( )

Flawless by Jan Moran is the first book in A Hostile Beauty series. Verena Valent runs her families company Valent Swiss Skincare which was founded by her grandmother in 1948. She has been running the company since her parent's died in a car accident when she was eighteen. Verena plans on expanding the company into Asia and has invested heavily into the venture when she loses her line of credit. Her banker, Marvin Panetta is dead and so is the financing. Verena tries to find other financing, but, with the help of her fiancé Derrick Logan, Verena goes to Herringbone (capital venture firm). This moves turns out to be the worst decision Verena has ever made (except for getting engaged to Derrick).

Along the way Verena has to deal with her grandmother, Mia (who is not in the best of health), her twin sisters, Anika and Bella (just thirteen), and Lance Martel. Lance captured her interest at an awards dinner. He made her dinner and then they continued to run into each other. The attraction was instantaneous but Verena kept resisting. Verena felt she made a commitment to Derrick and should stick with it (despite the horrible thing he does to her). Thankfully, Verena has some wonderful friends (Scarlett, Dahlia, and Fianna) as well as her family.

Flawless captured my attention right away and I could not put this book down. Romance, mystery, and some intrigue along with good writing. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. There are two more books in A Hostile Beauty series: Beauty Mark and Runway. Beauty Mark is currently available and Runway will be out March 28, 2015. A lot happens in Flawless. I tried to give you a brief summary without giving away any spoilers!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )