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Painted Lines

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Warning: This is not a fluffy love story - it contains and alludes to violence, torture and rape – a heroine broken in mind but not spirit – a hero with his own past regrets.

Scout has always wanted to follow in her family’s business of custom bike building. Being female never stopped her from getting greasy and slapping on paint with the best of them, and made her work even harder at opening up her own shop someday.

When an opportunity to win $500,000 dollars in prize money presents itself, Scout and her group of misfit friends sign on the dotted line to be filmed for a reality television show to win it. But like anything in life there’s always a catch to free money.

When nightmares of the past meet dreams of the future, Scout is forced to face her demons, or be quickly over run by the memories. In the midst of her inner turmoil, family will come home, and possibly a life she never expected to have could be within her grasp.

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First published June 16, 2013

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1634 people want to read

About the author

Brei Betzold

11 books555 followers
To be completely honest, I dislike talking, let alone writing about myself, but here it goes what you need to know about me. I am a mom, a wife, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, a friend, an avid reader, an occasional author, basically like every other woman on the planet I have a lot of titles and very little time. My husband and I were friends when one night I kissed him and he ran away, we have one child, a son, who our world revolves around. The idea of writing was first stirred by my seventh grade English teacher, Mrs. Williams. It’s a tossup what I loved more, the poetry section or the Norse mythology. What I do know is I began writing and never stopped.

I worked in the tech industry for years, until my pregnancy made working difficult, I was a stay at home mom after that. A job in which I relish. When my son was around three I got an idea, the idea blossomed, and before I knew it I had written my first full length novel. The idea of showing it to anyone was scary, so I stashed it away, held it close to my heart for a year before I became brave enough to share it. From there things just seemed to take a life of their own, and I became a self-published author.

I don’t write for accolades and awards, I write because it makes me happy. The idea of someone reading words I thought were important enough to chronicle affecting them, is surreal. My dream since the seventh grade was to write, what that meant at the time I didn’t have a clue. What I know now, is I want to make my family and friends proud. I want to show my son that striving to reach your dream is worth the struggle.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
Profile Image for Paganalexandria .
1,464 reviews
December 11, 2013
Reading this book was an exercise in logic let me introduce you to this window. The unrealistic plot points made it hard for me to stop rolling my eyes to just let go and go with it.Scout was a really troubled girl always coddled by her brother and the crew she is currently participating in a custom bike competition reality show with. Unfortunately, the custom bike world is very small and some of the biggest obstacles to her sanity are also competing. Her strangely disconnected father Ace is an owner of the best known shop, Ace and Lace Custom so he is invited to be a judge. Amazingly his shop which is also where Scout learned everything she knows is also one of the teams to beat. On what planet would this be allowed? There is not any network that would allow anyone to judge a competition worth $5.00, let alone $500,000.00 that your daughter and personal business are competing against other contestants. How could you be trusted to be objective with that much money on the line? Anyway drama begins even before the first challenge because Scout's step brother, a key member of the Ace and Lace crew, is not allowed to compete due to a restraining order currently existing between them. One of the Ace's team, Thayne, not so brightly assumes a family member would bother to file court ordered mandates against each other for minor infractions; especially,rough and tumble biker types. He decides to confront her and request that Scout relent and allow his best friend to compete. This doesn't go over that well. Of course this is a form of flirting because this signals him as the love interest in this tale. He actually turns out to be a decent, if not that bright guy. Anyone with sense would figure out the amount of damage Scout is dealing with wasn't caused by normal family dynamics.

Now Scout isn't just the normal angsty girl we have learned to expect in the New Adult genre. She is so psychologically damaged she constantly goes into blackout panic attacks whenever anything unexpected happens that are so bad, her crew must keep injectable psychotropic medication on hand at all times. The whole book she keeps falling out, and at times causing serious injuries to herself. She goes to the emergency room several times in the course of this competition due to these fits. A new doctor sees her obvious fragile mental state and the writer intends to paint him with nefarious intent because he keeps insisting she needs to be admitted for a psychological evaluation despite the threat of professional sanctions. Unfortunately, I agree with him completely and wonder about the competency of her treating physicians that keep overruling him at every turn. For some unknown reason, the phrase "Bitches be crazy!", keeps running through my head as I read. It also makes sense that these incidents are obvious indicators that she needs to live on her own and her family is unreasonable for questioning her bid for independence. Really?

These are just the annoying things I can list without spoiling major plot points. I really wanted to like this more but sparkling vampires are more plausible.

Profile Image for ★¸. • * ° * ༺*Blanka*༺*°°*•.¸. ♥★.
2,385 reviews324 followers
September 18, 2015

When I started this I was a bit confused and had to double check myself because the names just kept being thrown all over the book, Cas, Cam, Matt, Lace, Ace so I'm like who the fuck are all these people? Am I missing something?

My poorer rating is for the fact the book in my opinion had no beginning it just throws you in the middle of somewhere.. we have the main character who is a 21 year old tomboy with a very traumatic past so she is very isolated by her brother, cousin and friends..due to panic attacks and everything else she doesn't do anything but work on bikes..now she is going to compete on national TV for some bike show, where her absent father will be, her abuser/brother and some other people..

What threw me most was that this whole story happens in a two to three week gap and there is already I love you's which is crazy because I felt no connection between them zilch. The connection I felt was more cousinly than anything else, call me crazy!

2.5 starts for me!!
Profile Image for Ilze.
270 reviews213 followers
July 22, 2013
Painted Lines took me completely by surprise. After reading the blurb I thought I have to give it a try, and I am so glad I did, because it was amazing read!

The story is dark, disturbing, violent, heart-wrenching and very emotional, though it also contains a lot of sweet and funny scenes that will make you laugh out load.

description

It has always been Scouts dream to own her own custom bike garage and together with her friends she has the chance to make this dream reality. They have been given an opportunity participate in a reality tv show. Scout and her three friends has to compete against other car and bike building teams in order to win $500,000 prize money.

When Scout was 14-years-old her life was changed, and now every day is a struggle. She suffers from terrible nightmares and severe panic attacks, which can be easily triggered. Therefore competing in the show for Scout is anything but easy.

"We headed home and I continued this way, no one really noticing, taking my saying ‘fine’ as affirmation that everything was normal, but inside nothing was normal."

Scout is finally ready to start living her life again and start making her own choices, but her past somehow is always in a way. Nightmares, panic attacks and sleepless nights start to interfere with her dreams and Scout is forced to deal with it. She doesn't have to do it alone, with her family and Thayne she may get through it, because nothing is going to stop Scout for fulfilling her dream and winning the competition, or is it?

“I’m so tired,” I whispered, “so tired of holding this in, it’s like I can’t breathe, and no one wants to know, they want to keep it all buried, but it hurts, Thayne.”

I absolutely loved the story, it was so emotional and heart-breaking, though sometimes it was really hard to read further. The author is brilliant in her storytelling. It probably going to sound weird that I seem amazed by her talent to write the dark scenes so disturbing and terrifying, but it was brilliant - so intense and so heart-wrenching.

I could not put this book down, it was one of those stories that sucks you right in and you cannot stop till you are finished reading it. Although the story contained a lot of car, bike and mechanic stuff it did not bother me. I loved their passion for cars and bikes, and it was really believable in the story.

However, this book was not only about Scouts struggle to fight and live her life, but also about her family, who by trying to help her were hurting her. The characters in this book were amazing too (with exceptions of course). Their interactions were fun - all the teasing and joking, their friendships were strong and there were a lot of love too. It was a beautiful story.

“Scout, sometimes you have to get lost to find yourself. I think you have the lost part down, now it’s time to find out what you want.”

WARNING:THE BOOK CONTAINS VIOLENCE, TORTURE AND RAPE, THEREFORE IT IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY!
Profile Image for Kati.
299 reviews2 followers
July 14, 2013
3.5 stars
This book has a terrific cast of characters, friends of Scout who are more family than anything. They surround her with so much love, take care of her and offer endless support. The book is worth reading just to get to know this wonderful, goofy bunch - they provided much needed comic relief in the midst of a dark story. The story takes place during the filming of a reality show, and that was really interesting too. But I would not say this was so much a romance. There is a budding relationship, but that story line pales besides the story line of Scout dealing with devastating PTSD.

While I'm glad to have read it this book it was a real downer for me. Yes, Scout was a stronger, healthier woman at the end of the story than in the beginning, and yes, Thayne turned out to be a terrific guy. The epilogue left me feeling that Scout is on her way to recovery and she and Thayne are slowly on their way to starting a relationship, but there was too little positive feeling for me to get over how overwhelmingly bad Scout's life has been. I know this is more realistic than some ending wrapped up neat and fast, but still... I needed more. Literally the last scene in the book before a short epilogue is Scout getting attacked and almost losing her life; the book ends with her blacking out from her being stabbed in the chest! How can you end a book like that!!! With a more positive ending this would have been a solid four star read for me.
Profile Image for Genney Blass.
1,314 reviews27 followers
July 19, 2013
5 plus stars and more. This book had me on the edge wanting to know WTF, how did this happen to a 14 year old, and What the crap of F-in Juvie for that Asshole. OMG, It was Fucking AMAZING! From Chapter 1 to the dayum Epilogue. Her brother 100% Asshole, But Thayne in the beginning, yes I was cursing him up a storm, but then He was her Angel the way he called her "Mia Bella" What a cutie. Regardless what her brother and crew didn't want her to be near him, he was the only one that told was honest with him, Her F-in Father (Ace) Mofo, Mofo! Oooh, I just wanted to grab him and beat the shit of him and his dayum son. Saul loved him. Matt, Liam, and his partner, was sweet. But Finally Scout got was she deserve happiness. Bravo, Bravisimo to the author a very great written book. Loved it, Love it alot! Will read this book again. It was heartwarming, emotional, painful to read some serious topic, but OH, Marvelous!
Profile Image for Victoria.
1,188 reviews94 followers
October 31, 2013

“Did I do something?”

“No, it’s me, okay, I’m broken, you don’t understand how broken.”

“Scout, we’re all broken, in some way, we’re all broken.”

“Not like me, you’re not broken like me,” I told him...


I've had the hardest time trying to write this review for some reason. I wasn't going to write a review at all because I just couldn't get my thoughts together but I really liked the book and admire the authors treatment of the story and ultimiately felt like the book deserved something.

Painted Lines is a gripping story which focuses on Scout, a young woman who is still dealing with the crippling effects of a heinous crime that was committed against her years earlier when she was a teenager. It was intense, and tragic, and also inspiring. The book does a wonderful job of showing how devastating the event was not only for her but also those that love her. The complexities of the emotions are evident not only for Scout but also the friends and family that were forced to pick up the pieces. The graphic descriptions of the actual events Scout goes through is told through a series of short flashbacks and nightmares and are dispersed throughout the book. Although chilling, the author does a good job of providing enough details of the event to relay the sadistic nature of the crime without providing so much that it overshadows the journey Scout is on now. Painted Lines is a story of survival and strength and I was glad the main story focused on those aspects of Scout’s story, not her past.

Scout and her entourage join a reality TV show competition in the hopes of winning $500K they can use to start their own custom bike business. The competition put new stress on Scout. She comes face to face with the person who hurt her as a teenager as well as the father who abandoned her. She also meets a fellow competitor, Thayne, who eventually becomes a friend. It’s through her friendship with Thayne and her own developing self-confidence that she begins to question how she is living her life and what she’s capable of. She begins to stretch the strict boundaries her friends and family have imposed on her to try to keep her safe. Painted Lines does a good job of showing the growing pains both Scout and those close go through as she starts to take steps to stand on her own again.

I loved Thayne and I loved his quiet encouragement and acceptance of Scout. I appreciated his patience and understanding. I loved seeing the development of their relationship. He wasn't perfect, but he was perfect for her. He doesn't try to fix her. I'm a Thayne fan.

“Scout, you’ve been taken since you ran into me in the parking lot, you never even looked at me but I couldn’t take my eyes off you. I thought she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and that I had to find out who she was. Then I started spending time with you and I knew you were mine, you just hadn’t realized it yet.”

I wasn't sure what to expect when reading Painted Lines. Whenever you read a book with difficult or dark subject matter, you are relying on the author to guide you through a story that can be difficult to read. I think the author did a wonderful job telling Scouts story in a honest and compelling way. I think she also showcased the conflicting emotions that not only victims but close friends and family experience after a tragic event. The writing was solid and the overall story was beautiful. A solid 4.5 READ for me. I don't want to give anything away but I do think the author chose an interesting way to end this book. While Painted Lines is a stand-alone book, no cliff-hanger, I would love to see a second book focusing on Scout and Thayne’s life after the events of Painted Lines. I can't help but feel that Painted Lines was just the start for these two. I was left wanting more. I hope the author's listening!

UPDATE TO REVIEW 10/31/13 - After continuing to think about Painted Lines (and a good deal about Thayne) I went searching for information on if there is a sequel planned. The author addresses that question on her blog and this is what she said:

So I keep being asked about a sequel to Painted Lines, and here is the honest answer, I haven't thought about it yet, I am currently working on Tribal a My Misery Muse novella. After thats finished I will give it some thought, what I can tell you is that I don't want to get back into Scout's head. I love that girl but she has some issues I really do not want to relive vicariously again. So where that leaves me I'm not sure, but once I have something in the works I will let you know

So that doesn't seem promising but I'm still crossing my fingers that she'll decide to give the readers something down the road...
Profile Image for Angela Carr.
760 reviews81 followers
July 3, 2013
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” I have read Ms. Betzold’s My Misery Muse series and loved it, but Painted Lines is by far my favorite. It’s was dark, suspenseful but it also had its sweet, sexy and laugh out loud moments” ~Under the Covers

I was pleasantly surprised with Painted Lines. I honestly did not expect it to be this good.
Ms. Betzold is growing to be a better writer with each book she releases. I have read Ms. Betzold’s My Misery Muse and Faith and loved it, but Painted Lines is by far my favorite. It’s was dark, suspenseful but it also had its sweet, sexy and lough out loud moments.

Ms. Betzold has written a book about a young woman (Scout) who is a rape/abuse survivor and now suffering a bad case of PTSD. Her abuse was torture, and my heart just broke for her. The lasting affect of her is just devastating. Fortunately, she has her brother and friends who has been protecting and supporting her through her ordeals. I am in awe with their support, and it has worked all this time, but as Scout grows up to be a woman, such care can be suffocating. Well, that’s when it gets interesting. Scout and her friends are entering a custom bike reality show. It would win them enough money to start their own business. Now, this part was fun to read about being a fan of the TV show American Choppers. I thought it was cool to enjoy it in print and imagine what the bikes look like based on Ms. Betzold’s description. She did a fabulous job writing vivid descriptions and brought this book in HD .

Now back to Scout. Since they entered the contest, well, there will be competitions, familiar faces, new faces and more challenges she thought she would never encounter. The worse part is that her life will be threatened just as she finally finds a life of her own.
I really liked Scout. She is a no non-sense kind of girl and the fact that she is a woman of tools is just too awesome! I love Thayne as well. He is tatted, pierced, a rider and thick (you’d have to read it to know what I mean). And anyone willing to fight for his woman is just down right sexy. This book was heart breaking, but it also had me laugh out loud, a good contrast. The banters between the crew were Hilarious. I do wish there were more on Simon and his wife as a second story. Or maybe, Ms Betzold has plans to write more about them. In any case, I would love to read more of any of them.

As I said, Ms. Betzold is growing to be a better writer each time she releases a book. Not that she was bad to begin with, quite the opposite. She brings great story lines, good plot, amazing build up and a satisfying climax. There were a few things that improved dramatically in this book. My complaints of confusing transitions from the previous books were no where to be found. There is one bit at the end of this book that left me needing more of. There was “cut” on a scene and it jumped right to another POV. Yes, you can figure out what happened, but it would’ve been nice to read it in details and the after info would’ve been nice as well. Scout will have her happy ending, no doubt about that. I hope this is not the last we’ve seen of Scout and her crew.

*Review provided by author for in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Holly *Confessions of a Lit Chick*.
239 reviews33 followers
May 22, 2016
http://confessionofalitchick.blogspot...

I was completely absorbed into this book. I don't know anything about motorbikes and mechanic stuff, but it didn't distract me from the story since I understood the amount of love Scout had for her work.

Scout is: Hard
Fierce
Sarcastic
Witty
Angry
Amazing and loving individual with a kick ass 'tude

BUT,

This was just a shell to hide her vulnerability and fear since she was hurt in the most heart breaking, demeaning and abhorrent way when she was only 14, this would have been horrid all by it self as an adult. She hates to show vulnerability, but her PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) is a constant companion within her life. She's locked behind the security of her friends and family and although it's keeping her safe it's also suffocating and keeping her within the past she wants to move on from.

Then we meet Thayne our hero and at the beginning our supposed enemy. Through misunderstandings, threats, he's in the supposed enemy camp in the competition. Slowly love blooms between them whilst a whirl wind of individuals try to keep them apart.

The end I mean, what?!?!?? It was amazing what a plot twist!! You have to read this!!!!!


This book is AMAZING!!!!!

YOU HAVE TO READ IT!!!! (this needs to be repeated)
Profile Image for Lynea.
46 reviews2 followers
January 21, 2016
I did not want this book to end... I have not been this emotional reading a book in a very long time. I cried tears of sadness and tears of joy. I love you Thayne, you have a real tender heart, your so loving and patient. Your loving guidance gave Harper Lee the strength to live her own life.. I will truly miss you two !
Profile Image for *Marsha,Marsha,Marsha* It's always Marsha.
388 reviews4 followers
January 5, 2014
3.5 Hurting Stars

This was a tough book to read. I knew going into it that there were deep issues. I knew that the main character, Scout, had suffered a horrendous nightmare. I just didn't know how bad it had been.

The story centers around a reality show for motorcycle shop teams. The groups come together and three have much history with one another. Scout is a 21 yr old young woman who is literally protected at every moment. She is suffering from severe PTSD, anxiety attacks, and a host of other issues that plague this poor woman. She's a walking pharmaceutical advertisement. But she is also brilliant in the world of motorcycle shops.

I honestly saw this as more of a growing time for Scout more than a romance. Even though Thayne turns into a wonderful hero, the story is pure Scout. Her pain, her trials, her controlling brother, her entire scarred up life. Thayne becomes more than important to her and eventually has to face the hard truth of what his associate did.

We get a glimpse of what PTSD looks like in a non-military person. We hear about medications, psychiatrists, treatment and constant hospital visits.

It's a sad painful story. I enjoyed it. And while there is a HEA, however, here are my reasons for not giving a full complete 4 star:

I had some loose ends I wanted covered. I felt some things were rushed at the end and even though there is a nice ending, I just felt I needed a bit more plot to make it smooth for me.

I still had questions by the end of the story that I wanted some answers to. Other than that, I enjoyed this painful story of growth and acceptance of life and moving ahead.
Profile Image for ~Nichole~  Sizzling Pages Romance Reviews.
1,716 reviews626 followers
October 8, 2014
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Some books reach in and rip out your heart. Some books leave you feeling raw and broken. Then some books do that and by the end they put it all back together but you're changed irrevocably and forever.


I can't even put into words the tragic beauty of this story. You have to experience it for yourself to fully comprehend.




Sometimes the most beautiful love stories are the hardest to read.



Thayne and Scout ..(His Bella)..will be a couple that stays with me forever. I can honestly say this story stripped me bare.



Profile Image for Stace.
1,593 reviews22 followers
December 24, 2013
I was torn on how to rate this book....it was a solid 4 stars for me up until the ending. At about 90% I thought "she can't possibly wrap this up it must have a second book to it" uh no. After building the story at a perfect pace she wrapped up everything in a few pages which means we got a skimmed over conclusion and although I admired how the epilogue started, for me it was highly unsatisfactory. Despite that, I loved "Scout" as a character. Had I gone through what she did I have no doubt I'd be in a nice quiet padded room wearing one of those fashionable "hug myself" jackets. Watching her fight her way back and learning how to live and love again was an incredible journey to take with her.
Profile Image for Jodie.
223 reviews26 followers
July 6, 2013
“Sometimes the questions are complicated but the answers are simple.” ~ Dr. Suess

Oh if only this statement was as easy to understand as it is to say. This book was full of complicated questions.

“I cried for a little girl whose body was broken, for the women whose life was unequivocally changed. I cried giant racking sobs for all that was taken from me. I cried as I never cried before….”

Painted lines was not your everyday hearts and flowers love story with all the pretty lines you dream about. This was an intense, emotional, raw book. About a young girl who had the most horrific past that one can think of, it was about a girl who was learning to cope and learning to find herself again. When you open this book you are warned that it is not a fluffy love story, and let me just say never have words been truer. This book was such a beautiful, broken love story and they way Brei told it had me completely mesmerized and unable to let go until the very end.

“Scout, we’re all broken, in some way, we’re all broken.”

Harper Lee, also known as Scout is this badass in the shop building and painting bikes with this amazing team of guys around her. She has this amazing older brother Cas and these men who would die for her. But outside the shop she is a girl who struggles with her past, with a horrific experience she has lived thru. She has severe PTSD, and these panic attacks that you literally feel with Brei’s writing. On the outside Scout looks the part of the garage grease monkey who can handle anything but on the inside she is broken, scared but she still has her one dream. And that dream slowly becomes a reality when her and her crew are given a chance on a Reality TV Show for a chance at $500,000 in prize money. This is their chance at opening their own shop. However what she doesn’t know is what she is about enter and who she is about to meet.

And this is where Thayne enters.

“I don’t care what they say, Scout. He’s not a bad guy, he has the bad boy vibe going, but he’s not a bad guy.”

“Is there a difference?”

“Yeah, honey, there is a huge difference. Bad boys will make you live your life, someone to push your barriers, and bad guys are just that.”


Thayne is your ideal biker bad boy, he is beyond HOT, he had that whole alpha vibe about him, but underneath it all there was this man that literally stole my heart and soul. He has this way about him that opens Scout up and he is determined to help her, let her feel real love, see what is possible if she just let’s someone in, lets someone other than her circle hold her. Thayne had me believing in white knights, fairy tales and Happy Ever Afters. But he wasn’t that he was real, he was honest, and he had this ability to see past the surface and was able to see her soul. He had me speechless and completely unable to breath.

“I started spending time with you and I knew you were mine, you just hadn’t realized it yet.”

“Oh,” I breathed out.

“Yeah, oh, so you are very taken, even if you still haven’t realized it,” he told me and brushed his lips against my shoulder.


I loved how Brei took Scouts story and made it so touching and moving to the point I had tears running down my face. I felt so connected to these characters and it was such a truthful glimpse at what living with PTSD was like and she didn’t soften for it the book’s sake, she kept it real. That realness is what makes this book an addiction. That realness is what also gave me my own panic attacks and this intense need to throw up as I clung to my kindle. I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars and I wish I could go further into certain situations but …

“As soon as you want more, you tell me, because I am not the one in control here, for now.”

“For now, huh?”

“Oh, I will take control at some point Scout, believe me, and I will enjoy every moment. I think you would too, but not until you say.”


Believe me you will love when this man takes control.
Profile Image for Beth.
771 reviews123 followers
August 3, 2013
5 Damaged Stars



Damaged. So damaged. This book is not an easy one to read. I One-Clicked because I saw the word "motorcycle". I did not read reviews or even the synopsis past the word "motorcycle". I was in the mood for a good hot guy on a motorcycle book. Maybe some tattoos, a piercing. Yeah, its summer and I was in the mood for that kind of book. That is not the kind of book I got. What I got was a heartbreaking story of a damaged soul. How one horrid thing can effect so many people. How they survive.

Scout is a young woman who should be doing great. She is a talented painter who does custom work on motorcycles. She is surrounded by a tight family of friends and relatives that love her. They surround her a bit too much, are too protective, shelter her from almost every decision. Why the smothering you ask? Scout has been through a trauma like you will not believe. The trauma unfolds itself throughout the book in nightmares and memories. You understand why those around her are they way they are. And she lets be that way. She has been ok being a spectator in her life for years.

But now it is time to move on. She and her friends want to open a business together. They enter a Motorcycle Restoration Competition, a reality TV thing, challenges, etc. You get the picture. The problem is that they know the other teams. Some of them too well. Way too well.

Thayne is on one of the other teams. The team that Scout can not be around. There is a court order and everything. He sees her a spoiled little girl who is trying to make things hard for his friends. He knows Scout is beautiful. He just doesn't know how deep that beauty goes until he gets to know her better. Thayer helps her discover who she is underneath the damage, the scars and the nightmares.

Scout is unconventional and hurt. She is unsure around new people and feisty. She wants to go unnoticed but dyes her hair blue. She is fractured.

Scout, sometimes you have to get lost to find yourself. I think you have the lost part down, now it's time to find out what you want.

Painted Lines is a great book. I feel like there is so much more I want to say, but I don't want to take the *gasp* factor away for you when you read it. This a ultimately a book about characters and their relationships with each other. The characters care about each other and fight for each other. Sometimes they fight with each other. I was looking for a tatted up biker dude story. I found that and so much more.

Profile Image for Melissa.
265 reviews12 followers
July 2, 2013
Well! I know I'm usually pretty hard on "damaged girl" books as I like to call them, that's probably due mainly to the sheer amount of "DG" books I read amidst my great addiction to NA/YA fiction. You can't help but become a little jaded by the traumatic experience followed by a shattered person who has the great male saviour come along to have mind blowing sex with before they ride off into the sunset on the way back to sanity and normalcy. Right? Did I not just describe almost every DG novel out there? Anyway, my point is that it takes quite the story to sway me and fall in love with a DG book, I mean I can't just fall in love with just any damaged chica right off the bat.

But, goddamnit, Brei totally did it! I loved this book, OMG! I liked said damaged girl Scout and all of the supporting characters. A little dab of fresh storyline will do it every time! Why don't more peeps listen to me? ;) But, seriously she amped up said traumatic event (gawd heartwrenching, ya really can't blame a girl after what this character went through, just brutal!), the dude saviour was hot hot hot AND she even gave us some fairly awesome love scenes (nice touch with the mirror, mmm). Oh, and we had a nice change in backdrop with the story set amidst a reality show competition.

I loved that Scout was pretty kick ass in her own way despite her difficulties, I'm glad the panic attacks were toned down appearing in the story because at a certain point they were beginning to experience the every-other-page disease so good for that, but I really dug the characters, all of them and I liked Scout's story arc...alot.

I liked Brei's previous series as well with My Misery Muse, but girl you've just taken things to a whole other level. If you're still indie, don't expect to be for much longer. Someone needs to snap you up! Highly recommend, get it, get it, get it!
Profile Image for Chrissy Sharp.
66 reviews14 followers
July 1, 2013
So I didn't like Painted Lines...... I fucking LOVED it! I had this amazing opportunity to beta read for this book and with all beta reading you offer your advice on what could make the story more appealing to other readers..... Nothing. I had nothing to offer because I literally felt like EVERYTHING was perfect. Brei did an amazing job on letting you connect with the character.

This story is not for the light at heart. It's not lace, flowers and rainbows. It's a story of emotion that digs down so deep into your heart that you literally ache.

Harper Lee AKA Scout (by the way this made me love this book more. To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my favorite books.) had a very fucked up past. It's torturous and traumatic and when she describes the events that happened to her you can't help but cry. Fuck! No one should have to go through the pain that she went through. She suffers from PTSD even years later.

She and her very close friends are entered into a reality tv show contest where she has a run in with her past. It sets off all the alarms and bells in her to fight. Fight for herself. She meets Thayne, and it wasn't perfect at first. There was no love at first sight. Over time Thayne helps Scout crawl out from under her armor.

You literally watch Scout become the person she needs to be. She becomes stronger and learns to live. She learns lies about her past and has the strength to move forward. I was a sobbing fucking mess while reading this book. I felt and lived every single emotion in Scout. This book in my eyes is more than 5 stars and even more than 10 stars. To be able to find a book that you can feel and breath is hard but this did it for me. This is a 20 star book for me and will be sitting pretty in number one favorite books of 2013.
Profile Image for Kelly.
152 reviews
November 5, 2013
This book was so heartbeakingly beautiful! I laughed, I cried, I was on pins and needles. This book is not for everyone. This book is not for the weak or faint of heart. It is the story of Scout, an amazingly strong 21 year old who is many ways is older beyond her years but emotionally younger. She went through an unspeakably horrible tragedy at such a young age and that tragedy has ruled her life since. Her life's passion is working/building/painting custom Motor Cycles. When she meets Thayne at a competition, for the first time in her life she feels normal and the gradual independence she has been gaining is finally in her grasp. Thayne absolutely stole my heart and I refuse to ask for it back. He was sweet (once he got to know her a little), kind, and treats her like a normal human being. He is patient, understanding, and shows no pity or revulsion once he learns her story. This was the most amazing story I have ever read. Is it for everyone not likely due to the dark issues that are dealt with but it is such a powerful story that if you can give it a chance will melt your heart in a million ways. This book deals with torture, rape, PTSD and extreme anxiety disorder. It is worth the read!!
Profile Image for Dee.
2,010 reviews105 followers
August 10, 2013
2 1/2 stars at a push.

This story was so very different to what I expected. It was more about an emotionally wrecked female than motorcycle club life and men.

It took me the first 1/3 of the book to figure out the MC's name she was referred to by three different titles, and on top of that her brother called her 'baby girl', a pretty intimate name for someone's sister, IMO!

It could have done with some editing, missed words here and there. I could figure out most although am still pondering this one I ran into the building and found tht they hd my team was already situated

The synophis says Scout is forced to face her demons The life altering event happened seven years ago, but NO ONE had made her get therapy, she existed on copious amounts of meds, suffered from panic attacks, anxiety attacks and PTSD! Therefore those things made up the bulk of the story. .

Profile Image for Michelle [Helen Geek].
1,775 reviews411 followers
December 21, 2013
12/21/2013 --

Overall Rating = 2 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 3 / 4 / 1 = 2.5 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 2 Stars
Character Development = 4 Stars
Story Appreciation = 1 Stars
Worth the Chili = 1 Stars -- [$3.99 on Amazon]
322 pages

Okay, over and over and over ... HATE stories that go over and over and over the same thing again and again and again. Get it? Well, if you are just as annoyed with this type of story, don't read this one. If you need to be reminded over and over and over ... THIS is the book for you.

I liked the characters and understood the point the writer was trying to make. Loved the premise of the story as indicated in the synopsis. The execution was sorely lacking for me. I chalk it up to the writers style and won't be venturing out with her again.

Hope you have more fun with this one than I did.

Happy Reading!
Profile Image for Rashida.
312 reviews
July 19, 2013
This book was FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!!!!!!!

Harper Lee...aka...Scout was an amazing character. I don't think I have ever read a book wherein a female has endured so much at such a young age. The supporting male characters were equally as amazing. With all the characters I rode the wave of emotions from loving, to pissed, to annoyed and back to loving.

I loved the interactions between Scout and Thayne and I must admit that in the beginning I did not trust him but as the story progressed he stole my heart.

Bottom-line if you have this book on your TBR...Please do not wait to read it, you will not be disappointed.
Profile Image for Gemma.
42 reviews2 followers
June 22, 2013
Rare for me to write a review so when I do it either sucks ass or it rocks. I loved this book. Usually 5 stars for me is a book I will read over and over... won't with this one cause it was so full on, which is a reflection of good writing.I freakin loved everything about it. It is amazeballs wicked book, well done I am a fan :D
Profile Image for CasPerfitz~SLiTsReaD.
649 reviews40 followers
June 19, 2013
I love this book... it goes with its warning cause it is pretty violent and heartbreaking... The writer had captured my attention page after page.. I feel like the end part was a rush but I guess it's to put that sense of mystery in the end... it's definitely a different read...
Profile Image for Lisa N.
185 reviews13 followers
July 4, 2013
Pulled an all nighter for this one. I just couldnt put it down. What an amazing story. It was way more realistic in terms of the PTSD aspect and the pschyological damage. Just fucking Amazing..
Profile Image for Sharyn.
18 reviews4 followers
April 1, 2014
This is not a fluffy romance, the characters are gritty and real and so is the suffering and the love.
I could not put this book down, I took a night and most of the day to read it as I had to know what each new chapter would reveal about the characters in the book and how they were managing.
Would love grown and survive in a soul that had been broken and and poorly healed, we get to watch as a very brave young woman finds herself and eventually claims what is hers.
This story touched me on so very many levels as I cried bitter tears as I remembered the pain of someone close to me whose life had been brutally interrupted at the age of 15 and how she slowly healed and went on to find happiness.
Thank you Brei for writing such a beautiful story of hope and strength and love.
Profile Image for justwant2read.
896 reviews35 followers
August 26, 2013
3.5 Stars. It wasn't a bad story, there were a few editing issues here and there, not major but enough for me to notice. The character had a couple of different names and at first I was a little confused as to what her name was, that however was explained later on in the book. There were a few inconsistencies as well which really started to become obvious as the book went on.

She was pretty messed up, in fact I think they all were in the end.
Profile Image for ~Steph K~.
418 reviews149 followers
October 6, 2013
Loved this book. Wow - my heart broke for Scout and what she went through, and Thayne-let's just say you cannot go by first impressions with him. He's a total keeper. It's not your average love story for sure, but it has motorcycles, fun friends, piercings and tattoos, alpha/marine brother, twisted sad/backstory - but is sure had an unexpectedly perfect ending - you won't regret this read.
Profile Image for Megan Fall.
Author 13 books366 followers
October 2, 2014
This is by far one of the best books I have read. The story was pretty dark, but it made you laugh too. This one was a hard read, but I loved all the "Brother" figures in this one, it made the story so much better. Thayne was amazing! I would love to read another book in this series, maybe about Cas!
Profile Image for Ilene.
1,140 reviews19 followers
May 4, 2015
This was a really good book but it did have a pretty tough story line. And the story kept getting more tangled but still remained clear.

I am still not sure what her name is...they called her so many -but I will stick with Scout. How could you not feel for her. What a terrible, gruesome tragedy she lived through.

Thayne, thanks for being a good guy through and through!!!
2,089 reviews24 followers
August 12, 2016
There are time that your brain and a book just won't connect - no matter how much you try the story is not getting absorbed for whatever reason.

So I tried with this one and nope no connection with the characters, plot. Take heed of the warning as there is no fluffy love story - broken heroine, broken mind and I should have left it well alone.
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