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Second Chance #1
Bringing Home the Bad Boy
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 . . .
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 . . .
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 27, 2015
117 people are currently reading
3807 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Lemmon
200 books1,914 followersJessica Lemmon is a former job-hopper who resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dogs. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she’s not writing emotionally-charged stories, she spends her time drawing, drinking coffee, and laughing with friends. Her motto is Read for fun, and she believes we should all do more of what makes us happy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 310 reviews
May 22, 2020
THE FUNK HAS BROKEN!!!!! Well, I say that but I can definitely see another one on the horizon. This book will be a hard act to follow.
There are only a few books that leave me feeling like they deserve more than 5 stars. By that, I mean that I’m typically happy to dole out 5 stars to books I love but there are only a select few that leave me wishing the scale went up to a million. This was one of those books.
I’m also in a weird emotional position of wanting to scream from the roof tops about how amazing this book is and holding it close and wanting to keep it a secret because I loved it so much and know that other people will love it too and then I’ll have a fight on my hands for Evan. *and I'm ready...see:*
But the book and author totally deserve the screaming from the roof tops so…
I’ll admit that the first thing to catch my eye was the cover. The guy is smoking hot. The blurb wasn’t an instant “READ ME!!!!” but it called enough for me to put this on my TBR list. But then this horribly amazing thing happened…I was in a book funk. It was massive…lasting the whole of 2015 (seeing as it’s January, it’s technically not that long but it feels like it’s been forever). I’ve gone through countless books trying to find something to read, even reading some of them (with mixed results), but nothing was really holding my interest.
I started this on a lark. I never expected to be pulled into the book and fall in love with the story, characters…everything. I wanted to live in this book.
From page one I was transported to Evergreen Cove and into the lives of Evan, Charlie and Lyon. I didn’t want this book to end. I found myself checking the % of how far I was into it, dreading the 100% mark. I wanted to stay with Evan and Charlie forever.
I loved Charlie. She was funny and quirky and sweet and caring and just all around amazing. She was also insecure and unsure of her worth when it came to love. The more you found out about her, the more I hated her ex Russell for how he treated her. On the surface he was nice and sweet but he undermined her, looked down on her and overall, made her feel like crap. Add to all of that the fact that he cheated on her then returned to take advantage of her good nature and spewed his horrible venom at her, making her doubt herself and her relationship with Evan and Lyon, and I seriously wanted to go all Queen of Hearts on him…well, after some long drawn out torture. I seriously loved when Evan went all alpha and stepped in to protect his woman and punched that jerk!
Evan. How do I describe pure perfection? He’s like my dream man (Nero) all grown up and hot and tattooed and AMAZING. Evan has been through a lot in the last four years. He lost his wife, has been raising his son and is now selling his business and moving to start a fresh life away from the bad memories of how his wife died. My heart broke for him and his experiences. I wanted to reach through my kindle screen and comfort him every time he remembered how his wife died. It’s rare for me to fall in love with a fiction character and love the heroine just as much. So I was really glad Evan had Charlie there to help him move on. One of the things I loved most was the fact that once Evan realized that Charlie was an attractive female, and that he was interested in her, he never deviated from that path. He let his interest be known and when it was reciprocated, he went about making them happen. He knew what he wanted and went after it. There was stuff they had to work through since Charlie was his wife’s best friend, but there was never a time when he was interested in someone else.
I never once doubted Evan or Charlie’s interest in each other. Their chemistry was off the charts and their antics often made me laugh. I also have to say that I loved Lyon. It’s been my experience that kids in books are…difficult to get right. Either they’re never around, around too much or they don’t act like real kids. But I thought Lyon felt like a real boy! (sorry, I couldn't resist the Pinocchio reference.)
This book was pure perfection.
I have not read any books by this author before, and I deeply regret that. After I finished this book, I went to see what else the author has written and I have seen her books around…I just haven’t read them. So, upon completion of this review, I’m embarking on a journey through her backlist.
***I received a copy of this book via NetGalley for an honest review.***
my-books
January 5, 2021Hi, readers!
I'm so excited to introduce you to the Bad Boys of Evergreen Cove in an ALL NEW series called: Second Chance. Evan Downey, my broody, artistic widower starts off the first book in the series, but you may remember meeting him before. I first introduced the youngest of the Downey clan in the novella Can't Let Go, then in Hard to Handle, and lastly, in The Millionaire Affair. As with previous books, you won't be lost if you're starting this series fresh, but for those of you following along, you'll finally get to watch Evan's story unfold.
Happy reading! :)
I'm so excited to introduce you to the Bad Boys of Evergreen Cove in an ALL NEW series called: Second Chance. Evan Downey, my broody, artistic widower starts off the first book in the series, but you may remember meeting him before. I first introduced the youngest of the Downey clan in the novella Can't Let Go, then in Hard to Handle, and lastly, in The Millionaire Affair. As with previous books, you won't be lost if you're starting this series fresh, but for those of you following along, you'll finally get to watch Evan's story unfold.
Happy reading! :)
March 9, 2015
Bringing Home The Bad Boy
There's too many adjective to describes this novel, but "Perfect" would fit suit it best.
Not only I laugh and cried, I jumped, squealed and screamed. Everything you'll be looking for can be found in this novel.
Evan is just so perfect. He knows what he wants and is not afraid to go all out when needed. When I started reading this, I thought it was him that needed the saving. Turns out the girl/woman who takes care of everyone needs someone to take care of her.
Charlie's character is powerful, not because she's tough but because of how she manages her self well. She's selfless yet her character stood out.
Jessica Lemmon's books are now on my tbr list.
There's too many adjective to describes this novel, but "Perfect" would fit suit it best.
Not only I laugh and cried, I jumped, squealed and screamed. Everything you'll be looking for can be found in this novel.
Evan is just so perfect. He knows what he wants and is not afraid to go all out when needed. When I started reading this, I thought it was him that needed the saving. Turns out the girl/woman who takes care of everyone needs someone to take care of her.
Charlie's character is powerful, not because she's tough but because of how she manages her self well. She's selfless yet her character stood out.
Jessica Lemmon's books are now on my tbr list.
October 3, 2020
"He did know. He had known. And he didn't stop in his pursuit of her because he'd known. He'd seen the truth way before she had."
I had a hard time when I started this book. The first pages were so emotional and so raw, some of it reminiscent of my own life, that I found it hard to go on. I had to collect my thoughts and put some stuff into perspective before I went on.
This book is absolutely perfect. I finished it like 3 minutes ago and I'm crying. And I'm thinking, not for the first time, I wish life was just like this.
Evan used to be a bad boy - maybe he still is, but without a wife and with a son to raise, he's changing his life and moving back to Evergreen Cove.
Charlie is his late wife's best friend and they've always been close. But Charlie is also broken by life and by a relationship with a man who was completely undeserving of her. Even if she is the one wrongly feeling undeserving of love or happiness.
And she finally finds someone who pursues her, who wants her and needs her and is willing to show her everything she's been missing out on.
I don't want to say this is a second chance or a friends to lovers story, as it doesn't feel like this to me. It's a story about embracing the past and moving forward into the future, and being somewhere you belong. And this somewhere is actually someone, and that is absolutely perfect.
Regrets? Yes. One. I regret it's taken me 5 years to read this book.
I had a hard time when I started this book. The first pages were so emotional and so raw, some of it reminiscent of my own life, that I found it hard to go on. I had to collect my thoughts and put some stuff into perspective before I went on.
This book is absolutely perfect. I finished it like 3 minutes ago and I'm crying. And I'm thinking, not for the first time, I wish life was just like this.
Evan used to be a bad boy - maybe he still is, but without a wife and with a son to raise, he's changing his life and moving back to Evergreen Cove.
Charlie is his late wife's best friend and they've always been close. But Charlie is also broken by life and by a relationship with a man who was completely undeserving of her. Even if she is the one wrongly feeling undeserving of love or happiness.
And she finally finds someone who pursues her, who wants her and needs her and is willing to show her everything she's been missing out on.
I don't want to say this is a second chance or a friends to lovers story, as it doesn't feel like this to me. It's a story about embracing the past and moving forward into the future, and being somewhere you belong. And this somewhere is actually someone, and that is absolutely perfect.
Regrets? Yes. One. I regret it's taken me 5 years to read this book.
March 1, 2015
3.5 stars!
A very enjoyable read! The heroine's inner torture eventually became tiresome, however Drew, the hero, made up big time for this distraction.
All in all, a good friends to lover romance.
A very enjoyable read! The heroine's inner torture eventually became tiresome, however Drew, the hero, made up big time for this distraction.
All in all, a good friends to lover romance.
November 28, 2015
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Wonderful read that had me smiling then crying then smiling again. Snorting with laughter while I wiped away tears. It was just a heart grabbingly sweet and emotional read that kept it fun but had amazing depth too. Loved these guys.
Full Review:
So. Basically from page one of Bringing Home the Bad Boy I was totally smitten and seriously wanting to know these people in real life. Everything about this one just...did it for me. It was just perfectly delicious from food to romance to chemistry and happily ever after. Total reader girl bliss.
The quick of it is that years ago Evan and Charlie both lost someone important to them...a woman named Rae. Evan's wife and Charlie's best friend. They've had to fight their way back to life after the loss that ripped their lives apart and part of doing so brought Evan and his son to Charlie's doorstep. Or, rather, the house next door to her. And it's stirred up all kinds of interesting feelings between them that go way beyond just friendship and being someone's shoulder to cry on.
These two! I absolutely loved them. Evan is a single daddy trying to balance everything in his life--being a good father, his career as an artist, falling in love again and letting go of his past. He's sexy and sweet and can be a little broody when dealing with things--nightmares about his wife, etc. And Charlie was a wonderful heroine. She's giving and loving and pretty easy to like even if she does get a little insecure now and again (it's pretty understandable why though, really).
The romance between these two was hearbreakingly sweet (and pretty damn hot to boot). They have a lot to get past--namely guilt over Rae and Charlie feeling like she was stealing her best friend's family-- but once they do holy! It's not entirely smooth sailing since doubts creep in now and again but it's honest and real and damn it was just a lovely romance to watch unfold and grow. These two really are each other's support and love each other entirely. The sex scenes are scorchers but still bring in some fun, some creativity and even a touch of realness--leg cramps!
And then there was Lyon. Evan's 7 year old son. Who was adorable and made my heart ache. He's a cutie and seeing him with both Evan and Charlie was very touching and sweet. How much they both adored him and how Evan struggled to do the right thing by his son and his insecurities of failing him because of his career and how he could get wrapped up so easily in it.There's really nothing I'd change about
Bringing Home the Bad Boy, well, other than I could have spent another 100 pages with this group...easily. They're people you'd want to hang out with. Ones you'd want to love and that would easily make you smile even on a hard day. I laughed, cried, snorted so hard it hurt, grinned like a fool and had to fan myself things got so hot. Not a bad combo at all. Lemmon did a damn fine job that's for sure.
Wonderful read that had me smiling then crying then smiling again. Snorting with laughter while I wiped away tears. It was just a heart grabbingly sweet and emotional read that kept it fun but had amazing depth too. Loved these guys.
Full Review:
So. Basically from page one of Bringing Home the Bad Boy I was totally smitten and seriously wanting to know these people in real life. Everything about this one just...did it for me. It was just perfectly delicious from food to romance to chemistry and happily ever after. Total reader girl bliss.
The quick of it is that years ago Evan and Charlie both lost someone important to them...a woman named Rae. Evan's wife and Charlie's best friend. They've had to fight their way back to life after the loss that ripped their lives apart and part of doing so brought Evan and his son to Charlie's doorstep. Or, rather, the house next door to her. And it's stirred up all kinds of interesting feelings between them that go way beyond just friendship and being someone's shoulder to cry on.
These two! I absolutely loved them. Evan is a single daddy trying to balance everything in his life--being a good father, his career as an artist, falling in love again and letting go of his past. He's sexy and sweet and can be a little broody when dealing with things--nightmares about his wife, etc. And Charlie was a wonderful heroine. She's giving and loving and pretty easy to like even if she does get a little insecure now and again (it's pretty understandable why though, really).
The romance between these two was hearbreakingly sweet (and pretty damn hot to boot). They have a lot to get past--namely guilt over Rae and Charlie feeling like she was stealing her best friend's family-- but once they do holy! It's not entirely smooth sailing since doubts creep in now and again but it's honest and real and damn it was just a lovely romance to watch unfold and grow. These two really are each other's support and love each other entirely. The sex scenes are scorchers but still bring in some fun, some creativity and even a touch of realness--leg cramps!
And then there was Lyon. Evan's 7 year old son. Who was adorable and made my heart ache. He's a cutie and seeing him with both Evan and Charlie was very touching and sweet. How much they both adored him and how Evan struggled to do the right thing by his son and his insecurities of failing him because of his career and how he could get wrapped up so easily in it.There's really nothing I'd change about
Bringing Home the Bad Boy, well, other than I could have spent another 100 pages with this group...easily. They're people you'd want to hang out with. Ones you'd want to love and that would easily make you smile even on a hard day. I laughed, cried, snorted so hard it hurt, grinned like a fool and had to fan myself things got so hot. Not a bad combo at all. Lemmon did a damn fine job that's for sure.
March 12, 2015
I really wanted to like this one, but it just didn't happen for me. I found it hard to root for Evan with how he portrayed himself at the start. Yes his wife died, yes he loved her, but the cold way that he seemed to sleep around turned me off. Charlie wasn't much better for me. I get why she felt guilty, she was lusting after her best friend's husband, but that friend has been dead for years. I got why Evan was frustrated when he realized that about Charlie. I was also bothered that Evan wasn't interested in Charlie until he saw her in a bikini, shallow much?
A couple of things did manage to tug at my heart strings. I loved how Charlie was with Lyon, loved how Evan explained how his relationship with Charlie was going to change and how Lyon started asking about changing Charlie's name from Aunt Charlie to Mom. I also found myself tearing up when Patricia talked to Charlie about her new role in Evan and Lyon's life and even giving her blessing.
I was stunned near the end when a blast from Charlie's past came and the vitriol that came out of his mouth. What a piece of crap! I was glad that Evan came to defend her, but hated that the harsh words got to Charlie making her doubt the new direction of her life. It was a good thing that Evan didn't let her run!
A couple of things did manage to tug at my heart strings. I loved how Charlie was with Lyon, loved how Evan explained how his relationship with Charlie was going to change and how Lyon started asking about changing Charlie's name from Aunt Charlie to Mom. I also found myself tearing up when Patricia talked to Charlie about her new role in Evan and Lyon's life and even giving her blessing.
I was stunned near the end when a blast from Charlie's past came and the vitriol that came out of his mouth. What a piece of crap! I was glad that Evan came to defend her, but hated that the harsh words got to Charlie making her doubt the new direction of her life. It was a good thing that Evan didn't let her run!
June 15, 2016
5 "Great place to be." Stars
I absolutely loved everything about this second chance romance, Bringing Home the Bad Boy by Jessica Lemmon. Told in Lemmon's signature third person style, this book hits all the feels for contemporary romance lovers. It's perfect for a casual, lazy day read. A simplistic love story to read yet contingent on a complex web of feelings. Low on angst and high on passion, Bringing Home the Bad Boy is a lovely exploration of letting go and moving forward.
The heroine in Charlie was someone who's motivations and past has shaped what she craves in a family. She connected with our hero, Evan and his son, Lyon on a fundamental level. Based on friendship, loyalty, understanding, and kindness these two adults enter a realm of their relationship left unexplored. Their a great set of main characters who make you fall in love with them individually from the beginning. By the end you're in happy tears for who they each become together.
Additionally, I must say Evan Downey is a hero so alpha, so bold, so naturally sexy, and so beyond accepting, patient and kind. I adored him. I adored his parenting. I adored his teasing. I adored his passion. He's just incredibly HOT. Lemmon's writing and characterization of him and really this whole story, heroine and child character included, were reminiscent of Kristen Ashley style alphas, the women they love, and the stories they tell.
In just two books, Jessica Lemmon's story telling has become a safe, comfortable, romantic place for me to get lost for a while. She's like Kristen Ashley in that way too - chicken soup for the soul kind of romance reading - light, happy, funny, lots of testosterone, complicated feelings, and strong heroines. I can't wait to continue the second chance series and dive into her other series as well. So excited I've read this author; looking forward to reading more of her beautifully crafted romance books.
May 28, 2020
Imagine having your best friend die and later, you fall for her husband. Would you have uncomfortable feelings? Are you being disloyal? Is he confusing the love for a friend as something more instead of that deeper love you'd much prefer? These are all the questions I would have and were asked by Charlie Harris when her relationship with Evan Downey transitioned from beloved friend to lover.
I empathized with Charlie and understood her concerns on an intellectual and emotional level. But, after awhile, I thought she became more invested in the worry than focusing on the relationship and the depth of Evan's feelings for her. The man couldn't have been clearer and the many, many ways he expressed his love was beyond swoon worthy! With his beautiful illustrations (he's a former tattoo artist now children's book illustrator), Evan found lots of creative ways to show his feelings. He and son, Lyon, are the true heart of the story.
I loved Evan and Lyon's relationship and their interactions with each other are just precious. He brings the romance to the story and his honesty regarding his feelings for his first wife were some of the finest moments. Charlie's insecurities, however, brought added weight, not in a good way, making me want to scream at times. But, nothing could derail the magic Evan created. I'll definitely continue the series as their friends' stories are calling out to me.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
March 12, 2015
4 stars
February 24, 2015
Slick's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
4.5 Stars
This is my first book by author Jessica Lemmon but it won’t be my last. From the sexy yet brooding artist hero, to his adorable kid, and the woman who has watched over them for the last four years following her best friend’s death Bringing Home the Bad Boy is everything I look for in a romance.
Four years after his wife’s tragic death Evan Downey has decided a change of scenery is what’s best for him and his son, Lyon, and Evergreen Cove bring them closer to his late wife’s parents, and Charlie his late wife’s best friend and Lyon’s honorary “Aunt Charlie.” A new place, a new attitude, and a new life and soon Evan begins to realize how ready he is for that new life.
There was so much to love about Evan; in addition to being a stellar father he is a talented artist and a great friend. He is also very much a man and one who can’t believe he ever noticed that his friend Charlie was such a beautiful and sexy woman. His eyes are working quite clearly now but getting Charlie on board proves to be much more difficult.
I loved the way Evan pursued Charlie; worming his way in slowly, dropping hints, making her crazy with his suggestive comments and sexy winks. Charlie isn’t immune but in her heart she feels guilt for even thinking about her friend’s husband that way. There was something so special in the way Charlie accepted all sides of Evan, especially they way he got lost in his art which was something she finds out bothered Rae, his late wife. As a photographer she understands the crazy hours and working when the mood strikes and she also appreciate everything he puts into his art . These two just seemed to mesh together so well and with Lyon they all shared a special bond.
This wasn’t an easy relationship because of their shared history and Charlie has some scars from a previous relationship that didn’t end the best way, but Evan is persistent and some good friends are there to help her work through the rough patches. Most of all Evan made sure Charlie knew he was there for her and would be there for her always.
A well rounded story with characters that were easy to adore, an intricate plot, and plenty of sexy fun I thoroughly enjoyed Bringing Home the Bad Boy and I’m very excited to see where this author takes us next in this series!
4.5 Stars
This is my first book by author Jessica Lemmon but it won’t be my last. From the sexy yet brooding artist hero, to his adorable kid, and the woman who has watched over them for the last four years following her best friend’s death Bringing Home the Bad Boy is everything I look for in a romance.
Four years after his wife’s tragic death Evan Downey has decided a change of scenery is what’s best for him and his son, Lyon, and Evergreen Cove bring them closer to his late wife’s parents, and Charlie his late wife’s best friend and Lyon’s honorary “Aunt Charlie.” A new place, a new attitude, and a new life and soon Evan begins to realize how ready he is for that new life.
There was so much to love about Evan; in addition to being a stellar father he is a talented artist and a great friend. He is also very much a man and one who can’t believe he ever noticed that his friend Charlie was such a beautiful and sexy woman. His eyes are working quite clearly now but getting Charlie on board proves to be much more difficult.
I loved the way Evan pursued Charlie; worming his way in slowly, dropping hints, making her crazy with his suggestive comments and sexy winks. Charlie isn’t immune but in her heart she feels guilt for even thinking about her friend’s husband that way. There was something so special in the way Charlie accepted all sides of Evan, especially they way he got lost in his art which was something she finds out bothered Rae, his late wife. As a photographer she understands the crazy hours and working when the mood strikes and she also appreciate everything he puts into his art . These two just seemed to mesh together so well and with Lyon they all shared a special bond.
This wasn’t an easy relationship because of their shared history and Charlie has some scars from a previous relationship that didn’t end the best way, but Evan is persistent and some good friends are there to help her work through the rough patches. Most of all Evan made sure Charlie knew he was there for her and would be there for her always.
A well rounded story with characters that were easy to adore, an intricate plot, and plenty of sexy fun I thoroughly enjoyed Bringing Home the Bad Boy and I’m very excited to see where this author takes us next in this series!
June 20, 2016
I love a friends to lovers story.
I also love them when there is a bit of a twist.
In this one, Charlie was best friends with Rae, Evan's late wife. So, there was a connection that went all the way back to when they were teenagers, when Charlie had a crush on Evan and when he chose Rae.
They had a history, they had a deep connection that was so much more than just people who knew one another. I loved that this was not only addressed, that it was honored. I melted when he tells her that he couldn't go back and pick her first, and she realizes she wouldn't want him to. So perfect, and so true. Where they are now is a product of where they have been, and of all their experiences.
I loved Evan. He is so strong, so capable and because of this, so frustrated that even after 4 years, he is not able to let go completely of his late wife...but what he realizes, quickly, is that while he will always love Rae, what was missing from his life was someone to share it with. He loves deeply, Charlie figures this out early on, even if it takes her a bit to realize it.
I love that when Evan said he was staying, he really did. He meant it. She got angry, he got angry. Charlie thought he was gone...but no, he gave her some time to get over it, and took some time for himself, and then he was back. Although back is the wrong word, as he was never as gone as she thought.
This is a book that will break your heart just a little as they each try to navigate the new relationship and what it means to the old cherished relationships for both of them. I absolutely loved it.
Review Also Published on I'm A Sweet and Sassy Book Whore:
http://www.imasweetandsassybookwhore....
I also love them when there is a bit of a twist.
In this one, Charlie was best friends with Rae, Evan's late wife. So, there was a connection that went all the way back to when they were teenagers, when Charlie had a crush on Evan and when he chose Rae.
They had a history, they had a deep connection that was so much more than just people who knew one another. I loved that this was not only addressed, that it was honored. I melted when he tells her that he couldn't go back and pick her first, and she realizes she wouldn't want him to. So perfect, and so true. Where they are now is a product of where they have been, and of all their experiences.
I loved Evan. He is so strong, so capable and because of this, so frustrated that even after 4 years, he is not able to let go completely of his late wife...but what he realizes, quickly, is that while he will always love Rae, what was missing from his life was someone to share it with. He loves deeply, Charlie figures this out early on, even if it takes her a bit to realize it.
I love that when Evan said he was staying, he really did. He meant it. She got angry, he got angry. Charlie thought he was gone...but no, he gave her some time to get over it, and took some time for himself, and then he was back. Although back is the wrong word, as he was never as gone as she thought.
This is a book that will break your heart just a little as they each try to navigate the new relationship and what it means to the old cherished relationships for both of them. I absolutely loved it.
Review Also Published on I'm A Sweet and Sassy Book Whore:
http://www.imasweetandsassybookwhore....
April 6, 2016
4 Unexpected stars..!!
This book I tell you , was a lot different than it's cliche plot suggests. I thought this one would be drowned in denial, angst and frankly speaking lot of guilt. I expected the hero to fight the budding romance and be a little cruel to the heroine.
Well whatever I had thought was total BS..!!
I think the book just bitch slapped me for my judgement...
Ya that's what it did...!!!
Its a roller coaster ride you definitely want to take. And the sex.. uff.. is whole lot sexier...
I think I just developed a paint fetish..
Oh well, do pick this one and enjoy.. I'm tellin you, YOU WILL...!!!
This book I tell you , was a lot different than it's cliche plot suggests. I thought this one would be drowned in denial, angst and frankly speaking lot of guilt. I expected the hero to fight the budding romance and be a little cruel to the heroine.
Well whatever I had thought was total BS..!!
I think the book just bitch slapped me for my judgement...
Ya that's what it did...!!!
Its a roller coaster ride you definitely want to take. And the sex.. uff.. is whole lot sexier...
I think I just developed a paint fetish..
Oh well, do pick this one and enjoy.. I'm tellin you, YOU WILL...!!!
May 29, 2016
Loved it!!!
February 1, 2015
I'm thrilled to find a new author to love!! Jessica Lemmon ROCKS! I absolutely - in every way conceivable - LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book!!! The writing, the characters (ALL of the characters, including Lyon, the 7-year-old, and I am not normally a fan of kids in most books!), the story, the setting. Everything was PERFECT! I'm off to see what else she's written, and I can't wait for the next book in the Second Chance Series!!
February 2, 2017
Jessica Lemon is a new author for me and I'm so glad I read this book.
The Hero & Heroine were terrific and enjoyed their story very much.
Also - great amount of steam!
4.5
The Hero & Heroine were terrific and enjoyed their story very much.
Also - great amount of steam!
4.5
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September 12, 2024I read this on vacation several weeks ago and never got around to writing a review. It was Ok. The writing was strong, the relationship was developed, and it had a lot going for it and I can see why many readers loved it. It just didn’t shake out how I was anticipating, so I was left disappointed.
This has the h has the hots for her dead BFF’s husband and based on the trope (and cover) I really thought it was going to be super drama-llama. More like Unbreak My Heart or Sarah's Child, but Evan starts out the book already in the mind space of being open to move on. He loves his dead wife but recognizes it’s not healthy for his son to live like a frozen statue and has already started having sex with OW. (I believe she’s been dead 4-5 years) He’s actually the main pursuer of the relationship. The main obstacle of the couple is Charlie’s guilt and low self-esteem.
Bottom Line- I counted this as a DNF because I started skimming HARD at 57%. I wanted drama, not a slow burn well developed, self-healing of the h. I felt like she just kept cycling over and over and over with guilt and doubt while everyone reassured her. It got old… and boring. And she CONSTANTLY brought the dead wife into the relationship. UGH
This has the h has the hots for her dead BFF’s husband and based on the trope (and cover) I really thought it was going to be super drama-llama. More like Unbreak My Heart or Sarah's Child, but Evan starts out the book already in the mind space of being open to move on. He loves his dead wife but recognizes it’s not healthy for his son to live like a frozen statue and has already started having sex with OW. (I believe she’s been dead 4-5 years) He’s actually the main pursuer of the relationship. The main obstacle of the couple is Charlie’s guilt and low self-esteem.
Bottom Line- I counted this as a DNF because I started skimming HARD at 57%. I wanted drama, not a slow burn well developed, self-healing of the h. I felt like she just kept cycling over and over and over with guilt and doubt while everyone reassured her. It got old… and boring. And she CONSTANTLY brought the dead wife into the relationship. UGH
February 8, 2015
4.5 stars
Made me tear up, blush, and smile. Win all around. Can't wait for book two!
Made me tear up, blush, and smile. Win all around. Can't wait for book two!
April 19, 2019
3.25 stars
This one was nice but for the love of God the heroine needed therapy. She was the one who had not let go off her dead best friend, when the hero, her family everyone else had. The hero was the chaser in the relationship and she was a neurotic mess from her past relationships.
This one was nice but for the love of God the heroine needed therapy. She was the one who had not let go off her dead best friend, when the hero, her family everyone else had. The hero was the chaser in the relationship and she was a neurotic mess from her past relationships.
February 6, 2015
I adore Evan Downey. I don't see him as a bad boy, though. He's an artist who paints, draws, illustrates and tattoos. He's recovering from the grief of his young wife dying before his eyes. The memories bring the nightmares. He's raising his seven year old son alone. The girls he sees are all just for the moment. But he's not giving off the bad boy vibe at all.
The move back to Evergreen Cove gets Evan out of the house he lived in with his wife and closer to her best friend. Charlotte has been an aunt to Evan's son and he wants to be closer. The problem is that Charlotte has had a crush on Evan since he fell for her best friend. Now she fights to keep her heart in check.
Except for the nightmares that still plague Evan, he's dealing with his grief. He's ready to move on and Charlotte catches his eye. But this story isn't really about Evan starting over as much as it is about Charlie figuring out how to grieve for her best friend, Rae, and deal with the feeling she has Rae's husband.
And this is where I adore Evan. Because he gets it. He gets the problem that Charlie is having and he's there for her. The sweet moments this boy comes up with had me swooning and loving on him. His patience, understanding and determination with Charlie were perfect.
A bit long, this one is full of details. I'm thinking it set up the rest of the series with a few secondary characters.
Speaking of secondary characters, I wanted to drop kick Russell. I was so cheering when a certain yummy boy introduced him to his fist. Talk about annoying waste of space, Russell deserves some serious bad karma coming his way.
I did love Charlies friends and I'm sure they will be front and center in future books. I'd love to see Ash and Glo get a book. That's an interesting couple if I ever saw one.
If you love to luxuriant over your romance, then this is your book. Lots and lots of yummy scenes as this couple works through a bunch of issues that weren't easy to dismiss. I enjoy it.
The move back to Evergreen Cove gets Evan out of the house he lived in with his wife and closer to her best friend. Charlotte has been an aunt to Evan's son and he wants to be closer. The problem is that Charlotte has had a crush on Evan since he fell for her best friend. Now she fights to keep her heart in check.
Except for the nightmares that still plague Evan, he's dealing with his grief. He's ready to move on and Charlotte catches his eye. But this story isn't really about Evan starting over as much as it is about Charlie figuring out how to grieve for her best friend, Rae, and deal with the feeling she has Rae's husband.
And this is where I adore Evan. Because he gets it. He gets the problem that Charlie is having and he's there for her. The sweet moments this boy comes up with had me swooning and loving on him. His patience, understanding and determination with Charlie were perfect.
A bit long, this one is full of details. I'm thinking it set up the rest of the series with a few secondary characters.
Speaking of secondary characters, I wanted to drop kick Russell. I was so cheering when a certain yummy boy introduced him to his fist. Talk about annoying waste of space, Russell deserves some serious bad karma coming his way.
I did love Charlies friends and I'm sure they will be front and center in future books. I'd love to see Ash and Glo get a book. That's an interesting couple if I ever saw one.
If you love to luxuriant over your romance, then this is your book. Lots and lots of yummy scenes as this couple works through a bunch of issues that weren't easy to dismiss. I enjoy it.
January 30, 2015
Evan Downey and his tats are smoking hot. He is the kind of guy who is a little rugged looking and comfortable in his denims with an easy, laid-back attitude. Five years ago, his world fell apart, when his wife died unexpectedly leaving him and his then three year old son Lyon. It has taken him a long time to crawl out of his despair and they are making a fresh start of it in Evergreen Cove, a small lakeside community. Charlotte Harris knows all too well, how much Evan and Lyon suffered. His wife was her best friend; she was the maid of honor at their wedding.
I fell hard for Evan from his mannerism to the way he cared for his son. I can just close my eye, picture his crooked smile, and visualize him painting. I love artistic types and Evan does both tattoos and illustrations. He made me swoon, with his bad boys looks and mature, sensitive side. *Swoons*
Charlie (Charlotte) recently ended a six-year relationship and it has left her vulnerable. She has always had feelings for Evan, but kept them in check because of her best friend. She cares deeply for them all, and her growing desire makes her feel guilty. The girl said sorry one too many times for my taste, but her feelings were genuine and I understood her.
Secondary characters have me oh so curious, from a rocker named Asher and their manager Gloria to Charlie's girlfriends. The small-town was wonderful from events to the local library. Lemmon weaved in humor and I snorted aloud. I loved the back-stories and little moments. Lyon was adorable and his interaction added to the authenticity and made me shed a tear or two.
The romance felt genuine. The chemistry and passion were off the charts. Getting the mind and heart to align was the tricky part. Evan was sexy in bed and I loved his naughty bedroom talk. The Nook overheated and each scene was wonderful. Lemmon made me believe and I found myself completely caught up in watching these two tango. I love when an author totally makes me connect. When I was not reading about them, I was thinking them. Honestly, I think I could hear the story calling me back.
Copy provided by publisher This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
I fell hard for Evan from his mannerism to the way he cared for his son. I can just close my eye, picture his crooked smile, and visualize him painting. I love artistic types and Evan does both tattoos and illustrations. He made me swoon, with his bad boys looks and mature, sensitive side. *Swoons*
Charlie (Charlotte) recently ended a six-year relationship and it has left her vulnerable. She has always had feelings for Evan, but kept them in check because of her best friend. She cares deeply for them all, and her growing desire makes her feel guilty. The girl said sorry one too many times for my taste, but her feelings were genuine and I understood her.
Secondary characters have me oh so curious, from a rocker named Asher and their manager Gloria to Charlie's girlfriends. The small-town was wonderful from events to the local library. Lemmon weaved in humor and I snorted aloud. I loved the back-stories and little moments. Lyon was adorable and his interaction added to the authenticity and made me shed a tear or two.
The romance felt genuine. The chemistry and passion were off the charts. Getting the mind and heart to align was the tricky part. Evan was sexy in bed and I loved his naughty bedroom talk. The Nook overheated and each scene was wonderful. Lemmon made me believe and I found myself completely caught up in watching these two tango. I love when an author totally makes me connect. When I was not reading about them, I was thinking them. Honestly, I think I could hear the story calling me back.
Copy provided by publisher This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
January 27, 2015
I really don't think there are words to describe how much I loved this book. Charlie, Evan, and Lyon captured my attention and my heart from the very beginning. Books should transport the reader, and Lemmon paints a beautiful picture of Evergreen Cove bringing her audience into this lakeside community. Evan and Charlie burn up the pages and I was deeply invested in their happily ever after. Lemmon has the ability to make you laugh on one page, and then have you crying the next. It's a beautiful story about finding love again and healing. I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone.
January 30, 2015
Who doesn't love second chance romances?! This reminded me a lot of my fave small town series, Bad Boys of Crystal Lake (Juliana Stone). I feel so torn about Bringing Home the Bad Boy, on one hand I feel Charlie's indecisiveness because Evan's her bestfriend, Rae's husband at the same time, Rae has been dead for 4 years. This novel answered the question "when's the best time to move on?" and did it right. very graceful, sincere, loving, and definitely touching. I look forward to reading the next one.
February 8, 2015
Totally loved it!!
August 1, 2025
Original review from 2015
THE FUNK HAS BROKEN!!!!! Well, I say that but I can definitely see another one on the horizon. This book will be a hard act to follow.
There are only a few books that leave me feeling like they deserve more than 5 stars. By that, I mean that I’m typically happy to dole out 5 stars to books I love but there are only a select few that leave me wishing the scale went up to a million. This was one of those books.
I’m also in a weird emotional position of wanting to scream from the roof tops about how amazing this book is and holding it close and wanting to keep it a secret because I loved it so much and know that other people will love it too and then I’ll have a fight on my hands for Evan. *and I'm ready...see:*
But the book and author totally deserve the screaming from the roof tops so…
I’ll admit that the first thing to catch my eye was the cover. The guy is smoking hot. The blurb wasn’t an instant “READ ME!!!!” but it called enough for me to put this on my TBR list. But then this horribly amazing thing happened…I was in a book funk. It was massive…lasting the whole of 2015 (seeing as it’s January, it’s technically not that long but it feels like it’s been forever). I’ve gone through countless books trying to find something to read, even reading some of them (with mixed results), but nothing was really holding my interest.
I started this on a lark. I never expected to be pulled into the book and fall in love with the story, characters…everything. I wanted to live in this book.
From page one I was transported to Evergreen Cove and into the lives of Evan, Charlie and Lyon. I didn’t want this book to end. I found myself checking the % of how far I was into it, dreading the 100% mark. I wanted to stay with Evan and Charlie forever.
I loved Charlie. She was funny and quirky and sweet and caring and just all around amazing. She was also insecure and unsure of her worth when it came to love. The more you found out about her, the more I hated her ex Russell for how he treated her. On the surface he was nice and sweet but he undermined her, looked down on her and overall, made her feel like crap. Add to all of that the fact that he cheated on her then returned to take advantage of her good nature and spewed his horrible venom at her, making her doubt herself and her relationship with Evan and Lyon, and I seriously wanted to go all Queen of Hearts on him…well, after some long drawn out torture. I seriously loved when Evan went all alpha and stepped in to protect his woman and punched that jerk!
Evan. How do I describe pure perfection? He’s like my dream man (Nero) all grown up and hot and tattooed and AMAZING. Evan has been through a lot in the last four years. He lost his wife, has been raising his son and is now selling his business and moving to start a fresh life away from the bad memories of how his wife died. My heart broke for him and his experiences. I wanted to reach through my kindle screen and comfort him every time he remembered how his wife died. It’s rare for me to fall in love with a fiction character and love the heroine just as much. So I was really glad Evan had Charlie there to help him move on. One of the things I loved most was the fact that once Evan realized that Charlie was an attractive female, and that he was interested in her, he never deviated from that path. He let his interest be known and when it was reciprocated, he went about making them happen. He knew what he wanted and went after it. There was stuff they had to work through since Charlie was his wife’s best friend, but there was never a time when he was interested in someone else.
I never once doubted Evan or Charlie’s interest in each other. Their chemistry was off the charts and their antics often made me laugh. I also have to say that I loved Lyon. It’s been my experience that kids in books are…difficult to get right. Either they’re never around, around too much or they don’t act like real kids. But I thought Lyon felt like a real boy! (sorry, I couldn't resist the Pinocchio reference.)
This book was pure perfection.
I have not read any books by this author before, and I deeply regret that. After I finished this book, I went to see what else the author has written and I have seen her books around…I just haven’t read them. So, upon completion of this review, I’m embarking on a journey through her backlist.
***I received a copy of this book via NetGalley for an honest review.***
THE FUNK HAS BROKEN!!!!! Well, I say that but I can definitely see another one on the horizon. This book will be a hard act to follow.
There are only a few books that leave me feeling like they deserve more than 5 stars. By that, I mean that I’m typically happy to dole out 5 stars to books I love but there are only a select few that leave me wishing the scale went up to a million. This was one of those books.
I’m also in a weird emotional position of wanting to scream from the roof tops about how amazing this book is and holding it close and wanting to keep it a secret because I loved it so much and know that other people will love it too and then I’ll have a fight on my hands for Evan. *and I'm ready...see:*
But the book and author totally deserve the screaming from the roof tops so…
I’ll admit that the first thing to catch my eye was the cover. The guy is smoking hot. The blurb wasn’t an instant “READ ME!!!!” but it called enough for me to put this on my TBR list. But then this horribly amazing thing happened…I was in a book funk. It was massive…lasting the whole of 2015 (seeing as it’s January, it’s technically not that long but it feels like it’s been forever). I’ve gone through countless books trying to find something to read, even reading some of them (with mixed results), but nothing was really holding my interest.
I started this on a lark. I never expected to be pulled into the book and fall in love with the story, characters…everything. I wanted to live in this book.
From page one I was transported to Evergreen Cove and into the lives of Evan, Charlie and Lyon. I didn’t want this book to end. I found myself checking the % of how far I was into it, dreading the 100% mark. I wanted to stay with Evan and Charlie forever.
I loved Charlie. She was funny and quirky and sweet and caring and just all around amazing. She was also insecure and unsure of her worth when it came to love. The more you found out about her, the more I hated her ex Russell for how he treated her. On the surface he was nice and sweet but he undermined her, looked down on her and overall, made her feel like crap. Add to all of that the fact that he cheated on her then returned to take advantage of her good nature and spewed his horrible venom at her, making her doubt herself and her relationship with Evan and Lyon, and I seriously wanted to go all Queen of Hearts on him…well, after some long drawn out torture. I seriously loved when Evan went all alpha and stepped in to protect his woman and punched that jerk!
Evan. How do I describe pure perfection? He’s like my dream man (Nero) all grown up and hot and tattooed and AMAZING. Evan has been through a lot in the last four years. He lost his wife, has been raising his son and is now selling his business and moving to start a fresh life away from the bad memories of how his wife died. My heart broke for him and his experiences. I wanted to reach through my kindle screen and comfort him every time he remembered how his wife died. It’s rare for me to fall in love with a fiction character and love the heroine just as much. So I was really glad Evan had Charlie there to help him move on. One of the things I loved most was the fact that once Evan realized that Charlie was an attractive female, and that he was interested in her, he never deviated from that path. He let his interest be known and when it was reciprocated, he went about making them happen. He knew what he wanted and went after it. There was stuff they had to work through since Charlie was his wife’s best friend, but there was never a time when he was interested in someone else.
I never once doubted Evan or Charlie’s interest in each other. Their chemistry was off the charts and their antics often made me laugh. I also have to say that I loved Lyon. It’s been my experience that kids in books are…difficult to get right. Either they’re never around, around too much or they don’t act like real kids. But I thought Lyon felt like a real boy! (sorry, I couldn't resist the Pinocchio reference.)
This book was pure perfection.
I have not read any books by this author before, and I deeply regret that. After I finished this book, I went to see what else the author has written and I have seen her books around…I just haven’t read them. So, upon completion of this review, I’m embarking on a journey through her backlist.
***I received a copy of this book via NetGalley for an honest review.***
September 3, 2018
4.5
Sweet and sexy. And character growth.
Sweet and sexy. And character growth.
March 6, 2015
Review originally posted on: Mischievous Reads
*Review copy courtesy of Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via Netgalley
4.5 Stars
This book just took romance to the next level. A new addition to my favorites shelf, Bringing Home the Bad Boy is a beautiful romance, with lots of heartbreaking moments that will make you shed tears. I'm not going to deny that I expected this book to be a simple light hearted read, but this book appeared so much more than a love affair between a widower and his late wife's best friend.
Several years after the sudden death of his wife, Evan Downey decides to return to his childhood town, Evergreen Cove, where he had grown up as one of the town troublemakers. Now, with his seven year old son, Lyon, moving back might probably help get their lives back on track, hopefully, with the help of Charlie, his late wife's best friend.
Charlie Harris has always had a crush on Evan ever since they were teenagers, but unfortunately for her, he only had eyes for Rae, and she's happy for them, until it all came crashing down the day she finds out of Rae's passing. Ever since then, she's vowed to help the boys get back on track again, especially in helping Evan raise his adorable son.
Reading about Evan wasn't as depressing as I thought. He isn't exactly a bad boy, per se, other than the fact that he used to be one of the notorious teens in town, and a rebellious streak in him, but Evan's character wasn't what I expected. I had been expecting a depressed widower, probably with an addiction of some sorts while in mourning for Rae. However, what I got was introduced to, was a fantastic single father trying his best just for the sake of his son. He's sweet, an amazing father and on top of that, he's also a talented artist. What more can you ask for? However, he did have his depressing moments, especially the times when he would talk about Rae and how he had lost her too soon.
Meanwhile, Charlie was too fragile to begin with. Her character was what added to the heartbreaking factor of this book. I wouldn't say she was "broken" from a previous relationship, however, the result somewhat wired her in a wrong way, to the point that it made her seem such an insecure character. Reading about her budding relationship with Evan was beautiful, especially in the way Evan pursued her, but every single time, she feels guilty towards Rae.
Jessica Lemmon did a great job at creating such realistic and raw characters along with the matching outstanding plot. Another thing I loved about this book was Lyon's refreshing character. Although he wasn't an extremely bubbly child, he brought light and cheeriness into the book. I could just imagine a little boy with cute curls and amazing smile! Totally adorable.
Bringing Home the Bad Boy was a book I didn't expect to love. But hey, I'm a sucker for a good romance novel and this is it. If you're like me, and love book that "might" give you a good cry and make you swoon at the same time, you definitely need to pick this one up.
*Review copy courtesy of Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via Netgalley
4.5 Stars
This book just took romance to the next level. A new addition to my favorites shelf, Bringing Home the Bad Boy is a beautiful romance, with lots of heartbreaking moments that will make you shed tears. I'm not going to deny that I expected this book to be a simple light hearted read, but this book appeared so much more than a love affair between a widower and his late wife's best friend.
Several years after the sudden death of his wife, Evan Downey decides to return to his childhood town, Evergreen Cove, where he had grown up as one of the town troublemakers. Now, with his seven year old son, Lyon, moving back might probably help get their lives back on track, hopefully, with the help of Charlie, his late wife's best friend.
Charlie Harris has always had a crush on Evan ever since they were teenagers, but unfortunately for her, he only had eyes for Rae, and she's happy for them, until it all came crashing down the day she finds out of Rae's passing. Ever since then, she's vowed to help the boys get back on track again, especially in helping Evan raise his adorable son.
Reading about Evan wasn't as depressing as I thought. He isn't exactly a bad boy, per se, other than the fact that he used to be one of the notorious teens in town, and a rebellious streak in him, but Evan's character wasn't what I expected. I had been expecting a depressed widower, probably with an addiction of some sorts while in mourning for Rae. However, what I got was introduced to, was a fantastic single father trying his best just for the sake of his son. He's sweet, an amazing father and on top of that, he's also a talented artist. What more can you ask for? However, he did have his depressing moments, especially the times when he would talk about Rae and how he had lost her too soon.
Meanwhile, Charlie was too fragile to begin with. Her character was what added to the heartbreaking factor of this book. I wouldn't say she was "broken" from a previous relationship, however, the result somewhat wired her in a wrong way, to the point that it made her seem such an insecure character. Reading about her budding relationship with Evan was beautiful, especially in the way Evan pursued her, but every single time, she feels guilty towards Rae.
Jessica Lemmon did a great job at creating such realistic and raw characters along with the matching outstanding plot. Another thing I loved about this book was Lyon's refreshing character. Although he wasn't an extremely bubbly child, he brought light and cheeriness into the book. I could just imagine a little boy with cute curls and amazing smile! Totally adorable.
Bringing Home the Bad Boy was a book I didn't expect to love. But hey, I'm a sucker for a good romance novel and this is it. If you're like me, and love book that "might" give you a good cry and make you swoon at the same time, you definitely need to pick this one up.
January 30, 2015
My Review:
This was a first-read author for me...I've never read any of Jessica Lemmon's books before, but I saw something a few months back that pique'd my interest in this book. Then the book came up on NetGalley and grabbed it. The book is just as good as that gorgeous cover. I really, really liked this one and already pre-ordered book #2 in this series and bought a print copy of this book for my keeper shelf.
So...this book.
If you like your contemporary romance with a good bit of angst, you need this book. The hero and the heroine in this story are tied together by their love of Rae, who died suddenly at age 29. She was Evan's wife, Lyon's mom, and Charlie's best friend. That was four years ago and they all still grieve her loss. But Evan is ready to move on. Charlie isn't. There are so many feels in this book. It was really amazingly written. Both Charlie and Evan are artists and I loved getting to watch them use their mediums to express their emotions. Truly beautiful.
If you like your heroes hot, sexy, and so entirely alpha, you need this book. Evan...wow, he is a phenomenal bad boy. This is a guy who knows what he wants...Charlie. And he's not going to let her back off from what he knows she wants too. Charlie is wracked with guilt over getting involved with her best friend's husband. Evan does NOT let her get away with that. He's so incredibly alpha and it's so incredibly sexy. But he's human too and has his own doubts which made me fall in love with him even more. He's an artist and when he's in the zone, he isn't aware of anything else. Rae hated that about him. As an artist, Charlie gets it. But he has doubts about his ability to take care of Lyon because Rae criticized him for it.
If you enjoy a setting that involves lakeside trysts, nude sex painting, and a heroine that feels so real, it hurts sometimes, you need this book. Simply put, this book is sexy...seriously so. Evan is a sexual guy. Charlie is a typical girl...lots of doubts about herself and her sexual abilities. She was involved with a jerk for a long time and he kept her with him by demeaning her. She has some leftover issues, but wow...Evan knows how to handle them and her. He doesn't let her sink into her brain when it takes over for her body. I loved how he could see her...even her hang-ups...about sex, about Rae. He's a good guy and he's great for Charlie.
Really everything about this book worked for me. I'm ready for more of the Penis bandits stories... ;) (And amazon will probably flag this review for that...LOL)
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This was a first-read author for me...I've never read any of Jessica Lemmon's books before, but I saw something a few months back that pique'd my interest in this book. Then the book came up on NetGalley and grabbed it. The book is just as good as that gorgeous cover. I really, really liked this one and already pre-ordered book #2 in this series and bought a print copy of this book for my keeper shelf.
So...this book.
If you like your contemporary romance with a good bit of angst, you need this book. The hero and the heroine in this story are tied together by their love of Rae, who died suddenly at age 29. She was Evan's wife, Lyon's mom, and Charlie's best friend. That was four years ago and they all still grieve her loss. But Evan is ready to move on. Charlie isn't. There are so many feels in this book. It was really amazingly written. Both Charlie and Evan are artists and I loved getting to watch them use their mediums to express their emotions. Truly beautiful.
If you like your heroes hot, sexy, and so entirely alpha, you need this book. Evan...wow, he is a phenomenal bad boy. This is a guy who knows what he wants...Charlie. And he's not going to let her back off from what he knows she wants too. Charlie is wracked with guilt over getting involved with her best friend's husband. Evan does NOT let her get away with that. He's so incredibly alpha and it's so incredibly sexy. But he's human too and has his own doubts which made me fall in love with him even more. He's an artist and when he's in the zone, he isn't aware of anything else. Rae hated that about him. As an artist, Charlie gets it. But he has doubts about his ability to take care of Lyon because Rae criticized him for it.
If you enjoy a setting that involves lakeside trysts, nude sex painting, and a heroine that feels so real, it hurts sometimes, you need this book. Simply put, this book is sexy...seriously so. Evan is a sexual guy. Charlie is a typical girl...lots of doubts about herself and her sexual abilities. She was involved with a jerk for a long time and he kept her with him by demeaning her. She has some leftover issues, but wow...Evan knows how to handle them and her. He doesn't let her sink into her brain when it takes over for her body. I loved how he could see her...even her hang-ups...about sex, about Rae. He's a good guy and he's great for Charlie.
Really everything about this book worked for me. I'm ready for more of the Penis bandits stories... ;) (And amazon will probably flag this review for that...LOL)
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
January 28, 2015
Evan needs a change of scenery for him and his son. He's tired of living with the memories of his late wife everywhere he turns so he decides to move to Evergreen Cove, a place he remembers fondly from his childhood. It is also where Rae's best friend Charlotte lives. He considers her a great friend and appreciates her support and her influence in his son's life.
Charlotte "Charlie" Harris misses her best friend every day and has vowed to be there for the family she left behind. Unfortunately, having Evan so close has brought about the feelings she once thought forgotten. Try as she might, she can't help but be drawn to Evan. It doesn't help her guilt when he suddenly sees her and wants something more from her.
I loved this story. From the very beginning I was drawn into Evan's story and his struggle to come to terms with his wife's death while still managing to be there for their son. It helped that he was a tattooed hottie and a loving father too. It was a treat to explore his personality, especially once he and Charlie started spending time together.
Charlie was a great characters in her own right. Funny and considerate, Charlie struggled with feelings of inadequacy left from a past relationship. I enjoyed the growth she endured as the story progressed and admired her resolve to not give in to her attraction for Evan. Of course, I enjoyed it even more when she did give into what was developing between them, but it was those candid moments spent with Evan and his son that I truly enjoyed.
Mostly I loved that the connection between Evan and Charlie was always at the forefront of the story. Regardless of the situations Evan and Charlie found themselves in, Jessica Lemmon never failed to deepen Evan and Charlie's initial connection. Not only did they shared a bond because of their grief over Rae's death, but they forged their own connection. I enjoyed their flirty banter, their honest interactions and the undercurrent of sexual awareness they shared whenever they were together.
Bringing Home the Bad Boy is the first book in the Second Chance series and a fantastic start at that. I can't wait to read more about these bad boy. Donovan's story is next and if the excerpt provided is anything to go by, it's going to be as great as this one.
All in all, a wonderful romantic read with plenty of steamy scenes, emotions and entertaining interactions to make it all worthwhile.
*I received a copy of this title through NetGalley in exchange of my honest opinion.
Charlotte "Charlie" Harris misses her best friend every day and has vowed to be there for the family she left behind. Unfortunately, having Evan so close has brought about the feelings she once thought forgotten. Try as she might, she can't help but be drawn to Evan. It doesn't help her guilt when he suddenly sees her and wants something more from her.
I loved this story. From the very beginning I was drawn into Evan's story and his struggle to come to terms with his wife's death while still managing to be there for their son. It helped that he was a tattooed hottie and a loving father too. It was a treat to explore his personality, especially once he and Charlie started spending time together.
Charlie was a great characters in her own right. Funny and considerate, Charlie struggled with feelings of inadequacy left from a past relationship. I enjoyed the growth she endured as the story progressed and admired her resolve to not give in to her attraction for Evan. Of course, I enjoyed it even more when she did give into what was developing between them, but it was those candid moments spent with Evan and his son that I truly enjoyed.
Mostly I loved that the connection between Evan and Charlie was always at the forefront of the story. Regardless of the situations Evan and Charlie found themselves in, Jessica Lemmon never failed to deepen Evan and Charlie's initial connection. Not only did they shared a bond because of their grief over Rae's death, but they forged their own connection. I enjoyed their flirty banter, their honest interactions and the undercurrent of sexual awareness they shared whenever they were together.
Bringing Home the Bad Boy is the first book in the Second Chance series and a fantastic start at that. I can't wait to read more about these bad boy. Donovan's story is next and if the excerpt provided is anything to go by, it's going to be as great as this one.
All in all, a wonderful romantic read with plenty of steamy scenes, emotions and entertaining interactions to make it all worthwhile.
*I received a copy of this title through NetGalley in exchange of my honest opinion.
January 28, 2015
This Lemmon is a gem! I was fighting tears at four percent. FOUR PERCENT!!! Jessica Lemmon, a new-to-me author had me emotionally invested in this book from page one! She tackled matters of Death, Grief, and a Second Chance at romance. I must say, I am very impressed.
It’s been five years since Evan Downey’s wife had passed away. It hasn’t been easy but after these years of grieving, he is ready for a new start. And what better way to do that than to go to the place where he found happiness long ago. Maybe even get another chance at love.
Guilt can be an ugly festering sore in your ass if you can’t let go. If this is true, then Charlie’s ass would be in big trouble. She had an overwhelming guilt looming over her head since her BFF passed away. There was a point that it almost became too much for my liking but I’m glad Ms. Lemmon cut it when she did. She did good making Charlie give in using Evan and Lyon’s convincing charms.
I loved this couple. They live their lives in the the simplest way but shines like a beacon without even trying. Both Evan and Charlie are artist who are passionate about what they do and with that said, you know they will be passionate in bed. Evan certainly is passionate and skilled. The man can create art and takes it to a whole new sexy level. Did I mention he is also a tattoo artist?!
There is no cliffhanger in this story except an unanswered question. I am very curious about the painting in the library? I’m curious to where the memorable painting would reside next. I’m hoping to read more about it at the next Installment which I believe with be about Donny though I was hoping for Asher first. I’m sure Ms. Lemmon has big plans for him…can’t wait!!!
*ARC provided by publisher
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