Beauty and the Butch

by Paisley Smith

The last thing up-and-coming TV producer Lindsey Mitchell expects to find at an ultra-girly beauty pageant is true love. After all, she’s unapologetically butch and that’s unlikely to appeal to the primped-and-powdered Southern belles vying for the title of Miss Georgia National.
Ella Northington is the perfectly poised contestant who’s hiding a big secret—she’s a lesbian. But Lindsey’s just too tempting to resist and what’s supposed to be a one-night stand quickly turns into something more. The lovers are determined to touch and taste every inch of each other.
But the stakes are high and competition is fierce. And if Ella is outed, she risks losing everything she holds dear, including her sexy butch lover.
A Romantica® lesbian erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Genres: Butch Femme, Erotica, Lesbian, Lesbian Romance, Romance, LGBT, Drama

77 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 7, 2013

About the author

I’m Paisley Smith! I am a full time freelance writer and can usually be found in front of my computer either writing, chatting, promoting or plotting. It’s a glamorous life…working in one’s pajamas.

I attended college in the Deep South where I obtained a slew of totally useless degrees and developed an unrelenting sense of humor.

My books can be found at Ellora’s Cave , Loose Id, and Cleis Press!

I’m a member of Romance Writers of America.

Reviews

[Farah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, Sweet, Explosive Sex Scenes, Angst, Coming Out or Staying In. I've read plenty of sex scenes but this book featured ONE OF MY TOP FAVORITES and I love that their back to back orgasms plant an idea to a future together - an uncertain one, at first. Recommended to fans who love ⅚ plot in their soft porn. This author is pretty good and deserves recognition.

This is not the type of book to read on your sofa, a box of wine by your side with the fireplace providing a soothing heat, this is the kind of book to be read on one of those damn uncomfortable emergency room chairs with the tar pretending to be coffee, the ac on full swing, causing problems to your nips.

Missing Horror Week over Smith's books - so totally with it. 4⅞ for this butch.

[lov2laf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had a lot more substance than I thought it would.

Paisley Smith does a nice job of quickly establishing believable intimacy between strangers and then managed to spin the narrative into the beginnings of a sweet romance. And, though very different, both characters are also sympathetic and likable.

Nicely done and an enjoyable, steamy novella.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smutty goodness with an actual plot.

When I first read the blurb of this book and saw the cover I was about to give it a pass. I'm glad I didn't though. As short as this story is it manages to have characters that have been very well developed. This little sizzler is packed with great sex scenes between it's two main characters who are each battling their own demons. Unlike some other erotic short reads this book also managed to hit me where it hurts. I genuinely felt for these women who are each flawed in their own way.

I guess there's a reason you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Final rating for this one is 4 cold showers!

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 There actually was a smidge of plot mixed in the rolling around in the hay. Coulda swore I'd read this author before, but GR says nope.

[Corrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read Paisley Smith's Beguiled Series awhile back and I feel the author has honed her craft since then. This was good. So good I had to add more of her titles to my to-read list (there is some s/m and kink I am looking forward to explore).

Beauty and the Butch is a nice short story with good characters and steamy sexytimes. What more can you wish for?

Lindsey Mitchell is sent to film the Miss Georgia National beauty pageant in Atlanta. There, in an onslaught of ultra-girly Southern belles, she meets participant Ella Northington. Lindsey is intruiged by Ella and after following her to a gay bar discovers that this sweet Georgia peach is a closeted lesbian. They hook up in secret - if their liason gets discovered it will mean the end for Ella's pageant days and possibly her career. Can they keep it casual or will feelings get in the way?

f/f explicit
Themes: Southern Belles, deeply in the closet, piercings and tats, I love it when an author inserts a good amount of dirty talk.
4 stars

[Char Dafoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this a solid three stars. The writing was clean and the story flowed easy enough. The backgrounds of both protags was plausible to understand both of their actions and feelings. The sex scenes were dirty explicit, raunchy even. The chemistry between the two women was palpable. I hated the ending. Predictable, and the author turned her "butch" which I personally can't call her that, into a skirt and high-heel wearing frosty executive at the end. It's like she was stripped of anything and everything that was her and was molded into a femme. Sorry, I know that sounds harsh, but I hate when authors take a character, who is proud of who they are throughout the entire story, and without apology, only to do a complete 180 on their identity. Complete and total turn off. Oh, and this cover is not the original. The original cover is just one reason why I wanted to read this book. The new cover depicts two femmes, one feminine, one edgy. Well, to speak ineloquently here, there ain't no long haired brunettes with a shaved undercut in this story. It's a thirst trap to get more readers.

Don't call someone something only to show a completely different thing.

[MD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and Hot-

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

IT WAS A GREAT STORY CONCERNING LESBIAN FREEDOMS!

IT WAS A TRULY "OPEN" story about SEXUAL FREEDOM AND GAY RIGHTS! IT SHOWED THE STRANGLE-HOLD SOCIETY TRIES TO TAKE TO SUPPRESS THE "GAY" INFLUENCE IN SOCIETY!

EVERY DAY SEEMS TO SHOW THIS SUPPRESSION LESSENING! THAT IS DEFINITELY A GOOD 👍 THING! HOPEFULLY, IT WILL LEAD TO FREEDOM FOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE SEEKING THEIR OWN PERSONAL PREFERENCES FOR THE GAY LIFESTYLE!

Thank You Paisley For Bringing This Issue INTO The "Light" Of Day!

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. This was pretty good. I liked it. Very likable leads in Ella and Lindsey (especially Lindsey *swoons*) and the sex scenes were very hot as the ladies had great chemistry. The plot was interesting, the third act drama made sense but it also made me wish this was just a bit longer by the end.

[Kloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved it! A great read for this time of the year.

[rosie (taylor's version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my god

[Mabel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characterization is so painfully stereotypical in a way that exists only to infuriate the reader and does nothing to add to the story itself. There are enough stories out there where the fem isn’t out to her parents/the world; no need to add another.

[Vanessa theJeepDiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started Beauty and the Butch, I wasn't sure what to expect. But once the first page was read, I could not put it down. Typically, I'm not a huge fan of female female, but the romance that developed between Lindsey and Ella was written so well, I was sold. They are well developed characters for an erotic short, having a great deal of depth. The author makes their situation of a hush hush sexual relationship feel personal, as they struggle with the uncharted territory of falling in love quickly and unexpectedly in a world where same sex relationships are frowned upon. The level of eroticism between the two is intense, with sex that is tactful and incredibly steamy. The author has created a very engaging story with unique characters in a unique situation and still managed to tie it up with a sweet, romantic, heartfelt bow. I'll definitely be reading more of what Paisley Smith has to offer!

reviewed by Marie

[LVLMLeah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beauty and the Butch is one of Paisley Smith's usual short, erotic and sweet love stories. Emphasis on erotic- she does this extremely well. heh Since I've reviewed many/most of Paisley Smith's books and liked them all, what I say will not have much weight. However, if you are familiar with her books, this one will not disappoint and offers the kind of story that I've come to enjoy from her.

Even though short, both characters are well defined and the story itself is done with just the right amount of depth to give the reader an emotionally satisfying read.

The only issue I had was that the ending was just a bit too pat for me. It turns out to be all light and roses when I don't think that would happen in reality. But hey, it's a feel good story, so letting that go is easy.

Recommend.

[Erzabet Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good Paisley Smith novel. They never fail to heat up my nights and light my heart up with a smile.
Beauty and the Butch was exactly what I needed. A short 74 page book, this story grips you with intensity of a satisfying read with characters that are vulnerable and real. The beauty pageant scenario was well played and the I found myself cheering as the two lovers found their way back into each others arms.
The setting of the pageant was unique and the tension between the characters was hot and it had a HEA style ending that was just what I needed on this cold December night.

4/5

[Annabeth Leong]

I love Paisley Smith and really enjoyed this book. There's genuine heat and connection between the characters, and the tension inherent to the setting kept me turning the pages. The ending went by a little quickly for me--things worked out rather well for everyone, and I would have found that more believable if it had been taken a little slower. That said, I will continue to look for Paisley Smith's name.

[Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. What can I say... I'm a hopeless romantic!

[Eva · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is more a lust story rather than a love story but, as always, Paisley Smith sex scenes are smoking hot. The story is just poor, though.

[Rae Storey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a good story and I enjoyed the emotional journey Lindsey and Ella underwent in just a few days time - I mean when ya know ya know, right? Paisley Smith does a fabulous job of quickly setting up their personalities and briefly covering keystone moments in their histories which I really appreciate and admire. But two things really bugged me, so much that I can't say I liked the book very much.

The cover shown here is tremendously better than the one on Amazon. I try not to leave comments about covers because the decision on the cover art isn't usually in the author's hands, but that cover is simply ridiculous and embarrassing.