Friday 29 April 2016

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: RETURN OF THE BAD BOY by JESSICA LEMMON


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Return of the Bad Boy
Second Chance #4
By: Jessica Lemmon
Releasing April 26, 2016 
Forever
 
 
In Return of the Bad Boy (Second Chances #4) by Jessica Lemmon, learning he's a father has changed Asher Knight for the better. He's finally started to settle down, instead of continuing his rock star lifestyle of groupies throwing themselves at him and living on the road going from gig to gig. However, some things haven't changed. The woman he loves can't seem to forgive him. Not that he can blame her. He did break her heart, even if the incident that sent her running wasn't his fault.
 
Having had a difficult upbringing, Gloria Shields finds it hard to trust. She can't deny that there's something about rock star Asher Knight that sets her heart racing every time she's around him, but there's no way she can give him a chance to prove he's changed. However, it seems Asher isn't giving her a choice, because he wants her back and will do anything to convince her. 
 
Although I haven't read any of the other books in this series, this story can easily be read as a stand-alone. Right from the beginning, Ms. Lemmon weaved a delightful second chance romance, encompassing a heroine that fights hard to keep herself from falling for the hero completely like he wants, and a hero that isn't about to let her get away a second time. I really liked how this story started with the prologue. It illustrates how strong this couple's chemistry is, and had me flipping the pages quickly to discover where their relationship would go from there. Would Gloria go back to not trusting him, or would she give him a chance?
 
The dialogue was intense, so much so that it was hard not to be so drawn into this story by the characters emotions and reactions, especially Gloria's. She fights so hard to resist Asher, because it isn't easy to trust. Not after everything she's been through growing up, and in her previous relationships. Then there's the close friendships that Gloria and Asher have with the secondary characters. The advice they offer to both the main characters definitely helps Asher realize what he needs to do to make the heroine see reason. That they're good together, if only she'll trust him again. While with Gloria, it was the conversation with Asher's mother that helped her realize what she wanted. That taking a chance at forever with Asher might be the best decision she could make.
 
I really liked both Asher and Gloria as well as the secondary characters. The woman that Asher has a child with doesn't make things easy. She really pushes Gloria to her breaking point, and I liked the moments where the heroine told the annoying woman off. Since she wasn't the best mother to begin with, and needed someone to tell her she needed to start doing better, or stood to lose her little boy.
 
Gloria is strong, brave, independent and quite stubborn. Then again, after everything she's been through, I couldn't blame her for believing that being alone was better. She's had too many people disappoint her including Asher, which makes it's hard to trust. But the more time she spends with the hero, she finds him becoming harder and harder to resist until nicely-detailed, hot sex scenes heat up the pages. 
 
While Asher, he's confident and tenacious. He's decided enough is enough, and is not letting Gloria continue to deny them what they both want. After all, their connection is off the charts, and no-one has ever come close to capturing his attention the way the heroine has. He's also a really good dad when he actually gets to spend time with his son. However, Asher did annoy me where he used his son to manipulate Gloria. I thought that was wrong of him, and it was no wonder the heroine got mad.
 
Overall, Ms. Lemmon has penned a really good book in this one, which has me looking forward to reading more of this author's work. The ending wrapped this story up nicely with Gloria finally finding someone she can completely trust and will always love her; an emotion -- I'm certain -- she's never had unconditionally. Besides, she's also got the sort of family she's always wanted -- warm, loving, accepting. I would recommend Return of the Bad Boy, if you enjoy second chance romances.
 
Overall Rating:
 
 



BLURB:
He's a mess...


Asher Knight has three constants in his life: music, beautiful women, and a bottle of Jack. He lives for the next gig, the next city, and dreams only of a life spent in front of an arena full of screaming fans. But Asher's nomad ways come to a sudden stop when he learns he's the father of a three-year-old from a past relationship and suddenly this rock star bad boy is forced to put down roots.

Only she can clean up

Gloria Shields is no one's fool. Sure, the sexual chemistry between her and Asher has always been intense, but she'd never risk giving her heart to a man who has a perfect record for breaking them. Except the man desperate to make things right with his newfound son is nothing like the rock god she's guarded her heart against for years. And it isn't long before she starts to wonder if life with this bad boy might be the best thing that's ever happened to her. 

 
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“Listen, Asher”—she cleared her throat and tore her eyes away from his biceps, which were absolutely delicious and testing the limits of his T-shirt in the most distracting way possible—“I don’t know what you think you’re doing—”

“No, you listen.” He palmed her hip much like Brice had earlier, but unlike Brice, when Asher touched her, her nipples perked up and every inch of her grew warm. Asher’s nearness, one hand gripping her firmly as he looked down at her with dark hunger in his eyes, was so hot she couldn’t think.

The crowd milling around them were having loud, drunken conversations, so he lowered his face to her ear to speak.

“I’m coming for you, Sarge.” His hand moved from her hip to her lower back, his fingers splaying wide and slipping beneath the material of her shirt. “Bet you’ve never had anyone come for you, have you?” His nose moved along her ear, warm breath tickling her skin. “Bet you were a rebellious teen with a nose ring and a bad attitude and all you wanted was to feel good.”

No nose ring, but the rest was scarily accurate.

“Well, guess what, honey?” he continued, his fingertips sizzling on her bare skin. “I’m going to make you feel good. I’m the only one who can.”

He pulled his face away and she had to will her mouth to close. Her teeth clacked together as her brain scrambled to figure out what part she should argue with first. Wrenching a fist around his T-shirt, she tugged him close. A small smile played on his mouth, and his hand went higher beneath her shirt. He was anticipating a kiss, but she wasn’t going to kiss him.

“Listen up, you arrogant bastard.” Anger vibrated through her arms and a charge shot from her toes to the crown of her head. “You don’t get to claim me. I’m not your property. I can do whatever I want.” Because she wanted to wipe that stupid smirk off his face, she added, “And I can do whomever I want.”

His lips flinched, but he didn’t back away, stepping even closer and touching the tip of her nose with his. Her vision was now swimming in dark hair, dark eyes, and the sexiest smirk she’d ever seen.

It’s not sexy. It’s stupid, remember?

But it wasn’t. And the rest of her knew it. Her nipples tightened, her body tingled, and the hand she’d wrapped around his shirt began to sweat…

“You do me, Sarge. No one else,” he said.

“I’m not”—she had to swallow around a very dry throat to finish—“doing you.”

“Brice McGuire doesn’t know how to make your body sing. I do.” He slid his nose along hers and moved his hand from her back to her hair. She shivered. “Want me to make your body sing, Sarge?”
 
 
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A former job-hopper, Jessica Lemmon resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dog. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she’s not writing super-sexy heroes, she can be found cooking, drawing, drinking coffee (okay, wine), and eating potato chips. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want.

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