Bringing Home the Bad Boy
Second Chance #1
By: Jessica Lemmon
Published:
January 27, 2015
Publisher:
Forever Romance
Add to Goodreads Here
About Bringing Home the Bad Boy:
Creativity is his drug, painting is his escape, but she'll be the addiction that brings him to his knees. Evan Downey buried a part of his soul when put the love of his life in the ground. He knows he needs to get his shit together for the sake of their son, but escaping into his art is the only way he can begin to cope with Rae's death. When the chance to move back to Evergreen Cove, one of the few places that has ever felt right to him, he knows it's a chance he has to take. For his sake, and his sons. Charlotte Harris would give anything to have her best friend back. But if she can't have Rae, then she vows she'll at least be there to support the family Rae left behind. So when she learns that Evan is looking to move home, she does everything she can to help him and Lyon re-build their lives at the Cove. But when sparks start to fly between Charlotte and Evan it's the first glimpse of something bright and beautiful either of them has seen in far too long. And they start to wonder if fate has offered them a second chance at happiness-- if only their brave enough to take the risk and let love back into their lives.
Second Chance #1
By: Jessica Lemmon
Published:
January 27, 2015
Publisher:
Forever Romance
Add to Goodreads Here
About Bringing Home the Bad Boy:
Creativity is his drug, painting is his escape, but she'll be the addiction that brings him to his knees. Evan Downey buried a part of his soul when put the love of his life in the ground. He knows he needs to get his shit together for the sake of their son, but escaping into his art is the only way he can begin to cope with Rae's death. When the chance to move back to Evergreen Cove, one of the few places that has ever felt right to him, he knows it's a chance he has to take. For his sake, and his sons. Charlotte Harris would give anything to have her best friend back. But if she can't have Rae, then she vows she'll at least be there to support the family Rae left behind. So when she learns that Evan is looking to move home, she does everything she can to help him and Lyon re-build their lives at the Cove. But when sparks start to fly between Charlotte and Evan it's the first glimpse of something bright and beautiful either of them has seen in far too long. And they start to wonder if fate has offered them a second chance at happiness-- if only their brave enough to take the risk and let love back into their lives.
My Thoughts:
Evan Downey has been suffering tremendously for the last four years, after his beloved wife, Rae, died unexpectedly and left him a single father to their son, Lionel "Lyon." Evan suffers from nightmares, and everything around him reminds him of Rae. He decides to uproot himself and Lyon to Evergreen Cove, so that they can have a fresh start by creating new memories. Also, they will be close to Lyon's maternal grandparents, and Charlotte "Charlie" Harris, who Lyon considers to be like an aunt.
Charlie was devastated when her best friend Rae died. Her own mother died when she was young, and her father abandoned her and her sister. She was closer to Rae than her own sibling, who is emotionally distant. Then, her long-term boyfriend, Russell left her for another woman with children, who he then married, after telling Charlie that he never wanted to get married or have children. Charlie is excited to have Evan and Lyon as neighbors. She wants to take care of the Downey Boys, as she promised after Rae's death.
As Charlie begins spending a lot of time with Evan and Lyon, an attraction between her and Evan begins to grow. Charlie has feelings of guilt like she is betraying Rae, and stealing her family. However, Charlie makes Evan and Lyon really happy. Will Evan be able to make Charlie see that she is not betraying Rae's memory, but rather her best friend's memory lives through her, and she brings healing, love, and joy in to Evan and Lyon's lives?
Bringing Home the Bad Boy was such a bittersweet romance. It was really sad and difficult for me to read about Evan's pain as he mourned his wife. My heart broke for him, and his son, who was just three years old when his mother died. I almost died when my daughter was five months old, and this made me contemplate what my husband and daughter's lives would have been like, if I had not lived. I loved the connection and special relationship that Charlie and Lyon shared. It was very heartwarming. The strong friendship between Evan and Charlie along with the new way Evan viewed Charlie, made for a great dynamic between the two of them. The sexual chemistry between them was strong, and they both healed a broken part of one another.
I enjoyed getting to know Gloria "Glo" and Asher, and hope that the two of them will get a book in the series! Asher has a lot of growing up to do, but he is a very likable and big hearted character! Glo is a fun character with her blunt, take charge, sassy, and fun personality as well.
This story had a lot of sexy times! Especially, a scene involving paint! There were some really funny times as well, my favorite of which was at the end of the story! I was chuckling from a particular scene that is sure to make quite an impression!
My Rating:
I give, Bringing Home the Bad Boy, by Jessica Lemmon, 4 Second Chance at Love, Endearing, Healing, Sexy Sigh-Worthy Filled Stars! What an excellent beginning to a new series! I can't wait to read the sequel, Rescuing the Bad Boy, which will be about Charlie's best friend, Sophie, and Donovan, Evan's good friend.
My Favorite Quote:
"After bottling that longing, Evan had come along and shaken her up. No wonder she'd exploded, all the want flooding over her like an erupting soda. Now, imaginary, effervescent bubbles popped along the surface of her skin whenever she thought of him. It was a great feeling; one her body wanted more of." (eARC, Loc. 1936)
~Charlie
Book Excerpt:
“Because you didn’t want to live in Columbus anymore.” That’s what he’d told her. That he wanted a change. That he and Lyon had outgrown the house. And, she imagined it’d be hard to live in the house where Rae had passed.
“But why here?”
“Um…”
His fingers grazed her jaw and turned her head, his palm moving to her neck where he cupped her nape and forced her eyes to his.
Reluctantly, she met them.
“Rae’s more alive when you’re around, Ace.”
Her heart, oh her heart. Kicking against her chest in a confusing, hectic rhythm.
“You bring her to life for Lyon—more than anyone else. I need him to remember her because he can’t remember her alive.” His hold stayed, his palm warming her neck, his gaze unwavering.
She tried to separate the two feelings she was having—one that she was now talking about Rae with Evan and two, that he was touching her while talking about Rae.
Before she could, his lips closed over hers.
Her thoughts short-circuited.
This wasn’t anything like a soft peck hello. This was his lips moving over hers, slanting over hers, warm and firm and then his mouth opened and—
Oh my gosh!
His wet, warm tongue slid along the seam of her lips and she stopped being passive and started kissing him back. When she would have touched her tongue to his, he relocated it, running along her bottom lip instead and tugging with his teeth
If she’d been standing, her knees would have given out and dropped her right on her butt.
And then there was the palm on her neck, now spearing up through her hair and clutching onto a handful of it. He held her captive, his hand fisting her hair as he angled his mouth again. In response to the soft whimper escaping her throat, he swept his tongue into her mouth. He tangled his tongue with hers once, twice, and released her.
When he pulled his mouth away, a long, satisfied sigh escaped her lips. Because that was a kiss. A kiss to rival all other kisses.
She opened her eyes to realize A) she’d closed her eyes and B) she’d at some point wrapped both hands around his forearms where she was holding tight and C) Evan looked as please as she felt.
“God damn, Ace. Your mouth.” His eyes flicked to her lips. Lips still tingling from the rough scrape from the stubble surrounding his.
She concurred with that sentiment. Not that she said anything. She’d gone dumb; completely mute.
He backed away, but held onto her chin and tweaked it lightly with the rough pad of one thumb. “That’s the way this is gonna go from now on.”
Her breathing went shallow, her thoughts went muzzy and her head blurred as her heart palpated to the point of panic attack.
“Sorry, Rae.”
She didn’t mean to say it, and it had only been a whisper, but by the look twisting Evan’s face—the angry look twisting his face—he’d heard. And he hadn’t liked what he’d heard.
“Sorry,” she said to him this time. “I should go.”
Unbelievably, he leaned closer. She pulled her chin back until she realized she likely had a double chin, then settled her head on her neck in a more reasonable position.
Gosh. He was making her crazy.
About Jessica Lemmon:
Jessica Lemmon has always been a dreamer. At some point, she decided head-in-the-clouds thinking was childish, went out, and got herself a job . . . and then she got another one because that one was lousy. And when that one stopped being fulfilling, she went out and got another . . . and another. Soon it became apparent she'd only be truly happy doing what she loved. And since "eating potato chips" isn't a viable career, she opted to become a writer. With fire in her heart, she dusted off a book she'd started years prior, finished it, and submitted it. It may have been the worst book ever, but it didn't stop her from writing another one. Now she has several books finished, several more started, and even more marinating in her brain (which currently resides in the clouds, thankyouverymuch), and she couldn't be happier. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want. (While eating potato chips.)
Great Review Lindy this looks and sounds like a bitter-sweet romance book I will have to try and see if I can give it a go and check them out! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
ReplyDeleteWow, Lindy! I can see why this book would have been an especially emotional read for you. I look forward to giving it a go.
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