Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
When Vance Evans tracks down Piper Beaumont, the little blonde who saved his life back in fourth grade, he doesn’t just find the sweet, delicious, curly-haired Tinkerbell he remembers. He also finds a complicated woman who proves to be way more than he’s bargained for. Though she’s still Perfect Piper with the soothing touch, now she’s also The Lawyer Beaumont, a defense attorney carrying a personal grudge against every cop who crosses her path. So when his newly adopted Good Cop persona can’t break down the lawyer’s defenses, Vance decides to fall back on his old Bad Cop ways to coax Naughty Piper into his arms.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 13, 2013

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Liz Kelly

24 books65 followers
USA Today bestselling author of the Heroes of Henderson Series.

Liz's Heroes of Henderson series grew out of the New Year's Eve Anthology, Countdown To A Kiss, where the Devine Sisters of Henderson, N.C. had a bet every year at their parents' New Year's Eve ball. The sister who didn't have a date to kiss at midnight had to kiss their nerdy neighbor, Lewis Kampmueller.

Duncan James, the hero of Liz's novella in Countdown To A Kiss (which has also been published separately as Playin' Cop) is not only best friends with Lewis, but with both Brooks Bennett and Vance Evans, his fraternity brothers from NC State. Brooks and Vance are the Henderson cops who kick off the series with Good Cop and Bad Cop.

Recurring characters is the theme of the Henderson series. Each book is a complete romance in and of itself, but you won't lose touch with the couples you fall in love with. They keep playing big parts and small in following books as Brooks and Vance lead Team Henderson in finding ways to revive their small town.

"DuVal Cousin" books are an additional part of the Heroes of Henderson series, and usually are tucked in between books with numbers like 2.5 and 3.5. They can be full length novels or short novellas, and they are based on Lolly DuVal's (from Good Cop) Henderson cousins. Where the Heroes books are hero-centric, the DuVal Cousin books are heroine based.

Henderson is an actual town in North Carolina where some of Liz's favorite people were raised. Liz's version of Henderson is completely fictional since she hasn't had the pleasure of going back in nearly thirty years. But oh the fun she had while visiting there in her youth. Her memories are the perfect landscape for her contemporary romances.

Liz enjoys putting friends and readers in cameo appearances in her books. Originally from Baltimore, she spent every summer near Annapolis, Maryland in a community where dancing and romancing are literally part of its theme song. (The place where Jesse James gets banished from in Bad Cop. There is going to be a series about that place someday.)

A graduate of Wake Forest University, where she met her handsome golf-addicted husband, (who is now sporting dark glasses everywhere he goes) Liz is a mother of two grown sons (also sporting dark glasses) and a miniature Labradoodle named Isabelle. They live in the Fountain of Youth, a.k.a. Naples, FL where dancing and romancing continues on ad infinitum.

The Heroes of Henderson Series in order:
Playin' Cop (or Countdown To A Kiss if you want the whole story.)
Good Cop
Bad Cop
Taming Molly
Top Dog
Tempting Vivi
Kissing Cooper ~ A Christmas Quickie
Under Dog (Coming soon.)

Please feel free to contact Liz at Liz@LizKellyBooks.com. As all authors do, she loves hearing from readers.

Visit LizKellyBooks.com to sign up to be notified when new releases are available.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
123 (53%)
4 stars
75 (32%)
3 stars
24 (10%)
2 stars
6 (2%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Bette Hansen.
5,073 reviews40 followers
August 21, 2016
Awesome!! The folks in Henderson are hilarious and the leader of the crazies, Vance Evan, is the best. I love all his nicknames he gives everyone and how he is so much more than most people think. I really enjoyed his story!

With Lolly's help Vance is beginning to understand his issues with women. He's ready to track down Piper Beaumont. She was the little girl who helped him when his mother left but she's all woman now and she may be the one Vance has been waiting for all this time. When he sees her for the first time he realizes right away she's the woman he met in a bar and ran out on a few years ago. He has no idea why he ran he just knew he had to get away. Now he knows and he wants nothing more than to get to know Piper. The right way not the jump in bed way!

I actually listened to the audio version I must say I really enjoyed this narrator this time around. I definitely recommend this one to everyone whether you chose to read or listen to it, it's a great story.
Profile Image for Gaele.
4,076 reviews85 followers
November 21, 2016
AudioBook Review:
Stars: Overall 4 Narration 4 Story 3.5

Focusing on the second half of the friend-duo introduced in the first book, this story is Vance’s tale. And I’ll admit, of the two friends, he was the one I found needed the most time to grow up and leave his childish behaviors behind. He had few redeeming features, and his competitive streak with his more mature and honorable friend Brooks tilted toward too much too often.

But here we have Vance’s chance to redeem (or bury) himself, and hopefully show some growth and maturity along the way. Brooks and Lolly have softened him, and she’s made him want more from life and to change his reputation. Lolly knows this is an uphill battle, but she’s determined to believe in this former himbo’s desire to be better.

Vance is struggling with what he ‘should’ do juxtaposed with what his ‘instincts’ tell him, especially when it comes to the woman who got away, in fourth grade, Piper. When his mother left his family, Piper became his best friend, his solace and his comfort. Even when Vance moved on and through a cavalcade of women, she’s kept an eye on him, if quietly. But she hasn’t remained static: now a successful defense attorney, she’s got a bit of the defense attorney’s bias toward police, and most especially toward Vance. Of course, seeing Piper all grown up now, he realizes that he met, and dumped her years ago at a bar- so he’s got lots of ground to make up.

Like the first, this was a clever feel-good read, this one having a bit more substance with Vance’s issues and Piper’s attitude toward him, and in terms of her determination to defend ALL of her clients. She’s the same feisty, take charge and protective woman that was foreshadowed in the feisty little blonde fourth grader, and there’s plenty of laugh out loud moments as she gives back as good as she gets…repeatedly. The interplay with Vance and Piper shoots sparks – fueled by attraction and old insecurities, finally coming to a head when they both let down their guards.

Narration in this story is again provided by Charles Lawrence, and his skilled and nuanced use of tone, delivery and pitch perfectly suit this story. Never overreaching for a voice or a moment, the characters come alive in his presentation, and his ability to add subtle pauses that serve as moments to digest the humor, impact and subtext in the conversations impacted the story and provide a wonderful listen.

A solid follow up to Good Cop, Kelly did manage to flush out Vance’s character and add depth to this humorous and enjoyable story. A bit more substantial than the first, this story gives readers and listeners a great getaway, make you smile story.

I received an AudioBook copy of the title from the narrator for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Profile Image for Patti O'Hara.
248 reviews6 followers
January 9, 2015
YESSSSS!! OMG! This was sooooo good. I'm in love with the Heroes of Henderson. Liz Kelly is becoming one of my favourite authors. Her characters are adorable. The humour and fun is addictive. And it's so damn sexy and fun I just can't get enough! Bring on book #3
146 reviews
June 1, 2017
I fell in love with Vance in the Good Cop! He is so funny and smart! He's hilarious and I like how he could not forget about Piper since 4th grade and he goes looking for her! I love this series so much and have read it many times and will read it again!
Profile Image for Emily.
4 reviews1 follower
June 2, 2017
After reading Good Cop, I was intrigued to find out more about Bad Cop, Vance Evans.

He was such a fascinating character in Good Cop, and although he (and his close friends) identify him as a womanizer "who hates women", through his friendship with Brooks you realise that there is so much more going on for him.

Seeing his friendships grow with Brooks and Lolly and other residents in Henderson, along with his crazy antics, makes for an entertaining read, as well as when he finds the elusive blonde he's always been looking for.

I really couldn't stop with this book series. Liz Kelly has created a world that I would very much love to be a part of. A group of friends trying to create their town into a destination hotspot. Living in a small town myself, I would love to have the relationships that these characters create and encourage throughout the Heroes of Henderson series.

Every character is interesting and the dynamics between all the characters is very entertaining and keeps you wanting to know more. I can't wait to see what's going to happen next!
Profile Image for Meg.
197 reviews4 followers
March 20, 2017
5 Stars

Bad Cop by Liz Kelly is book two in her Heroes of Henderson series. Vance Evans is a small-town cop but not much of one. Along with being a cop he is also the head coach for the Henderson High School baseball team and also runs his own multimillion dollar company and he is a major playboy that usually only sleeps with the same woman once. When Vance was a in fourth grade, his mother abandoned him and the only person that helped him out was a girl named Piper Beaumont, then Piper disappeared. Piper is now a defense attorney that goes after cops that abuse their power because of something personal that happened to her when she was in college. When Vance & Piper’s paths cross again the sparks start to fly. Will Vance’s Good Cop attitude win Piper over or will he have to win her over with his normal bad cop behavior? This book was awesome! This book has some sexual content, and no violence. This book was very well written and was a very quick and easy read. I absolutely loved this book and had a hard time setting it down. I highly recommend it this book!
Profile Image for Sandra Bain.
110 reviews3 followers
June 3, 2017
Read with a southern accent and was thoroughly entertained by these good old boys!!
2,237 reviews3 followers
October 3, 2017
Second in the series

The bad cop meets the girl he fell in love with in fourth grade. It’s quite a journey until the wedding but the get there.
2,670 reviews
books-boxed-sets
July 23, 2021
In boxed set - "Heroes of Henderson Boxed Set 1"
637 reviews5 followers
September 28, 2021
Heroes of Henderson
Enjoyed the story and the small town characters. A lot of over the top stuff going on, but well written and funny.
Profile Image for Diane.
2,922 reviews23 followers
September 5, 2022
This book, and the entire Heroes of Henderson series is one of my very favorite guilty pleasures. Wealthy and gorgeous, with a rock hard body and a hilarious potty mouth, bad boy Vance Evans is one of the sexiest characters I've ever met. He's outrageously funny, swears up a storm and used to be a real man tramp. A sample-one-every-night man tramp. But now that he's been transformed by his best friend's girl, he wants to find the woman he used to be best friends with in 4th grade. The girl who helped him through the torment he suffered when his mother walked out on him, and his father, and left him heartbroken. Piper is drop dead gorgeous, sexy, and sweet as she can be, until her alter ego, Lawyer Beaumont, surfaces and announces to his bad self that she hates cops. All cops, including Bad Cop Vance Evans. Watching what happens next is a madcap, rip-roaring, testosterone-driven, hot and sexy romantic adventure that is not to be missed. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and I won't ever forget, Vance Evans.
Profile Image for Tracy.
377 reviews
September 19, 2021
I don’t know what took me so long to find this series, but I am so glad I did! Aside from the town full of ridiculously attractive people, I feel like I grew up here.
I loved Vance from the get-go & now that he’s finally found his true love, I can’t get enough! He & Piper were meant to be. Their love story is absolutely perfect & I couldn’t wait for them to burn up the sheets!
One of the best things about this series is, while I love some smoking hot “love” scenes, I don’t always feel comfortable sharing with fellow readers if I don’t know what they prefer. With Heros of Henderson, there’s just enough heat for you to know what’s going on.
Genevra & Hale’s story is also a bonus!!!
I’m off to read more!
Profile Image for Bette Stanek.
2,193 reviews3 followers
June 19, 2016
3.5 stars. This was a fun read. Pure brain candy. A continuation of the Heroes of Henderson series. This is Vance's and Piper's story. Some great one-liners, all the characters you've come to know make appearances, and Brooks' mayoral run is about to happen.

Vance and Piper have known each other since fourth grade when Piper shared Vance's sadness over his mother's desertion. To say that Vance has issues is an understatement. Piper has been following Vance's career, unbeknownst to Vance. It's taken awhile, but they've finally found each other at a point in their lives where they're ready.

Cute story, fun characters.
Profile Image for Tracy Bryant bundy spittle.
93 reviews2 followers
July 29, 2015
Which is better?

Well, I first read Good Cop. I enjoyed it so much, I just had to go out and get the next book. But after reading Bad Cop, I found myself with an impossible choice to make. Which cop did I prefer? Well, I choose both, and you will too! If you love a sexy read full of fun surprises and a mix of human emotions tossed in for good measure, then what are you waiting for?
Profile Image for Vickie Raynor.
1,201 reviews16 followers
March 6, 2016
Out of all the Heroes of Henderson, Vance is my favorite character. He is sexy, head strong and loveable. Piper is the perfect match for him with her no nonsense attitude and alluring attraction. They stole my heart and hooked me. There is so much humor and feel goodness that I couldn't put the book down. Book gifted by author.
Profile Image for Lora J..
703 reviews2 followers
September 5, 2014
OMG!!!!!!!!! That was soooooo good can't wait to read top dog and I just know it was tangy's book she's the only one that talked about red sharpies hahaha but seriously great book was fucking hilarious great read for me thx
Profile Image for Michelle Fletcher.
42 reviews6 followers
November 11, 2015
nice follow up to good cop, though he wasn't really that bad just carrying baggage of past events. HEA,
Profile Image for Amy Trunkey.
18 reviews1 follower
January 9, 2016
these books are so fun and you will fall in love with all the characters of these books. ChArming and I cannot wait for more
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews