Wednesday, February 4, 2015

BOOK REVIEW: Bringing Home the Bad Boy by Jessica Lemmon


SYNOPSIS:


The Bad Boy Is Back

Evan Downey needs a new beginning. Since the death of his wife five years ago, the brilliant tattoo artist has shut himself away in a prison of grief that not even his work can break him out of-and what's worse, Evan knows his son Lyon is bearing the brunt of his seclusion. Moving back to the lake town of Evergreen Cove where he spent his childhood summers is his last chance for a fresh start.

Charlotte Harris knows she owes it to her best friend's memory to help Evan and his son find their way again, but she can't stop her traitorous heart from skipping a beat every time she looks into Evan's mesmerizing eyes. Charlotte is determined to stay strictly in the Friend Zone-until a mind-blowing night knocks that plan by the wayside. Now, if they're brave enough to let it, Charlotte and Evan might just find a love capable of healing their broken hearts . . .

MY REVIEW

5 STARS


I guess it would be great to start this review with the summary of my feelings toward this book: "OH MY F***ING DAMN WHERE WAS JESSICA LEMMON ALL MY LIFE?!". Now that we have that settled, I may start with my formal review.

When I started the story, I already concluded that I would love it immensely. This decision was made at 10%, if I may be specific. Every inch of it was a delight! Mixed with the writer's endearing writing style, and the amazing characters embedded in this story, I was totally hooked! The author's prose made me feel like I'm inside this world and nowhere else. But not just inside but actually belonging in that world. Her characters are familiar and easy to love but remarkable enough to stay in a reader's mind for a veeeerrry long time.

Like the sinful, rich chocolate and bad-for-her sugar causing her entire body to buzz and her taste buds to tingle, thoughts of Evan crashed into her brain front and center.

Evan Downey lost his wife four years ago and is left with his eight year old son and a whole lot of responsibility. To start afresh with his life and leave the memories of his wife choking him, he decided to go back to Evergreen Cove. Evan was a standard bad boy--sinful charms, dirty mouth, a tinge of angst, and a bonus of hot tattoos. But within his bad boy charms lies a responsible, loyal, and honest man that I really admired. The back story of Evan’s character was so interesting. The artist that seeks, the man that yearns, and the father who cares, all crept up in my heart in unison and tugged at the same time.

If they never became more than what happened on the couch and in the shower and on her bed, she knew she’d never regret spending this time with him.

Charlie Harris thought she was way over her 15-year-old self having a crush on Evan Downey. But when Rae, her best friend and Evan’s wife, died, they discovered an overpowering attraction to each other that was overlooked throughout the years. Charlie has her own issues when it came to relationships. So when Evan started giving her attention she never had before and worse, her feeling the same way towards him, a strong pang of guilt hit her bad. I loved Charlie’s character mix. Miss Jessica perfectly stirred this heroine with an even share of spunk and issues. Charlie was an independent and strong woman who knows what to do with her life but not quite with what she wants.

This was new. This was want in a different way. Want that combined their old relationship with the new.

It’s amazing how Miss Jessica managed to spark this supposedly-platonic pair with such attraction and passion. I loved how both characters connected to each other very differently from their past relationships. Evan’s love for Rae was undoubtedly true but I was totally moved by how differently he loved Charlie without overstepping his love for Rae. Charlie obviously needed a lesson or two on relationships and Evan was the perfect teacher. I loved how Evan was so sure on what he wanted from Charlie and how persistent and patient he was with her.

I highly recommend this story, I swear. It hit all the rights spots and stirs all the kinds of emotions. It’s sassy, sexy, scandalous, sweet, and just soooo good! Totally adding this bad boy on my favourites shelf!
 
 
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