What do you think?
Rate this book
The Good Kind of Bad
Secrets don't stay secret for long...
She spent her whole life being the perfect daughter, the perfect girlfriend, and was all ready to become the perfect wife.
But after ditching her fiancé at the altar and escaping to Chicago, she marries smouldering stranger Joe Petrozzi three weeks after meeting him in a bar. At least this time, there’s no chance of cold feet.
Married life starts out great: there’s the new job, a gorgeous, enigmatic husband and money's no issue.
So what if she’s kept a few secrets from Joe – like where all her money came from. Joe’s been keeping secrets from her, too.
But his might just get her killed.
She spent her whole life being the perfect daughter, the perfect girlfriend, and was all ready to become the perfect wife.
But after ditching her fiancé at the altar and escaping to Chicago, she marries smouldering stranger Joe Petrozzi three weeks after meeting him in a bar. At least this time, there’s no chance of cold feet.
Married life starts out great: there’s the new job, a gorgeous, enigmatic husband and money's no issue.
So what if she’s kept a few secrets from Joe – like where all her money came from. Joe’s been keeping secrets from her, too.
But his might just get her killed.
- GenresThriller
437 pages, Paperback
First published November 23, 2015
17 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
March 28, 2016
I received a copy of The Good Kind of Bad by Rita Brassington from NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Books, and to Rita Brassington for the opportunity.
It all started with a cigarette burn that singed the satiny layers of a Vera Wang wedding gown.
What's that, you say?
A. Clarke (We never do get a first name.) is a young, runaway bride from the UK who leaves her betrothed at the altar. Her destination in this mad retreat is the City of the Big Shoulders, Chicago. Ms. Clarke's father, a businessman with many loose and dangling strings, had stashed millions from his questionable dealings in a Chicago bank fifteen years prior. Clarke has access to this tidy sum. No wonder our heroine has booked a flight pronto.
Clarke finds herself in a dark, crowded bar and locks eyes with Joe Petrozzi, a studdly young guy with abs to match. Lightning strikes across a pool table. They are married within 3 weeks of meeting. Hence, the Vera Wang gown......
Wedded bliss goes south and into a seedy side of the city. Joe is now like smelt left out after a few days on the docks of Lake Michigan. In truth, (having lived in Chicago for a time) I felt inundated with cliche upon cliche, stereotypical dirty police officers, and restaurant menus from a Fodor's travel book entitled "Chicago Style". I was frustrated.
And then, it got good!
Our heroine changes from her air-headedness into a girl on the run gulping mouthfuls of survival from wherever she possibly can. Her options are limited. Her family in the UK has disowned her and she has but one Chicago friend, Nina, who seems to be swimming in her own sea of despair. Our Mrs. Petrozzi has been privy to too much information and no sumptuous Vera Wang gown is going to change all that.
This is a debut book for Rita Brassington. It certainly does come off with a lot of tension building finesse for one straight out of the gate.
And then, dear reader, you must read to find out if Mrs. Petrozzi lives to see another day in the city that hugs the shores of a very cold and murky Lake Michigan.
It all started with a cigarette burn that singed the satiny layers of a Vera Wang wedding gown.
What's that, you say?
A. Clarke (We never do get a first name.) is a young, runaway bride from the UK who leaves her betrothed at the altar. Her destination in this mad retreat is the City of the Big Shoulders, Chicago. Ms. Clarke's father, a businessman with many loose and dangling strings, had stashed millions from his questionable dealings in a Chicago bank fifteen years prior. Clarke has access to this tidy sum. No wonder our heroine has booked a flight pronto.
Clarke finds herself in a dark, crowded bar and locks eyes with Joe Petrozzi, a studdly young guy with abs to match. Lightning strikes across a pool table. They are married within 3 weeks of meeting. Hence, the Vera Wang gown......
Wedded bliss goes south and into a seedy side of the city. Joe is now like smelt left out after a few days on the docks of Lake Michigan. In truth, (having lived in Chicago for a time) I felt inundated with cliche upon cliche, stereotypical dirty police officers, and restaurant menus from a Fodor's travel book entitled "Chicago Style". I was frustrated.
And then, it got good!
Our heroine changes from her air-headedness into a girl on the run gulping mouthfuls of survival from wherever she possibly can. Her options are limited. Her family in the UK has disowned her and she has but one Chicago friend, Nina, who seems to be swimming in her own sea of despair. Our Mrs. Petrozzi has been privy to too much information and no sumptuous Vera Wang gown is going to change all that.
This is a debut book for Rita Brassington. It certainly does come off with a lot of tension building finesse for one straight out of the gate.
And then, dear reader, you must read to find out if Mrs. Petrozzi lives to see another day in the city that hugs the shores of a very cold and murky Lake Michigan.
May 19, 2016
3.75 stars
I was bad and read a couple of my friends reviews on Goodreads before I started this book. Turns out the majority of them weren't that great, but I actually think this ended up being a factor in my overall enjoyment. My initial expectations were low, and I ended up being pleasantly surprised!
As with my other friends, I am in agreement that the first half of the book is pretty slow and dragged a bit. There was some backstory, but most of it was setting the stage for the main character's present day life. This is an important set up, as it greatly impacts the effect of the downward spiral her life takes in a short period of time.
The basic gist to the story: Poor little rich girl who's bored with her cookie cutter life leaves her 'perfect' fiancée at the alter and takes off for Chicago. She has no plans, she just knows she needs something more. So when a poor but hot looking Italian stud asks her to marry him after just 1 week, she goes for it. Living off the grid in a rough neighborhood yet still shopping at all the designers on Michigan Ave, this is the life she thought she always wanted.
But of course this marital bliss doesn't last long. She soon realizes that the hot stud she married isn't who she thought he was. She is soon knee deep in lies, betrayals, bad cops and a whole lot of twists and turns that really made the last half of the book so crazy and fun to read.
Hats off to the author for writing such an intricate tale of secrets and lies, with wonderfully self-absorbed and self-indulgent characters that you just love to hate!
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was bad and read a couple of my friends reviews on Goodreads before I started this book. Turns out the majority of them weren't that great, but I actually think this ended up being a factor in my overall enjoyment. My initial expectations were low, and I ended up being pleasantly surprised!
As with my other friends, I am in agreement that the first half of the book is pretty slow and dragged a bit. There was some backstory, but most of it was setting the stage for the main character's present day life. This is an important set up, as it greatly impacts the effect of the downward spiral her life takes in a short period of time.
The basic gist to the story: Poor little rich girl who's bored with her cookie cutter life leaves her 'perfect' fiancée at the alter and takes off for Chicago. She has no plans, she just knows she needs something more. So when a poor but hot looking Italian stud asks her to marry him after just 1 week, she goes for it. Living off the grid in a rough neighborhood yet still shopping at all the designers on Michigan Ave, this is the life she thought she always wanted.
But of course this marital bliss doesn't last long. She soon realizes that the hot stud she married isn't who she thought he was. She is soon knee deep in lies, betrayals, bad cops and a whole lot of twists and turns that really made the last half of the book so crazy and fun to read.
Hats off to the author for writing such an intricate tale of secrets and lies, with wonderfully self-absorbed and self-indulgent characters that you just love to hate!
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2016
"...but lies are dangerous things. Please remember that. They’ll choke you ’til there’s nothing left.’"
Lies are abundant. Because, secrets...
We have the beautiful, rich girl, who left her fiancé at the altar and escapes to Chicago. We also have the dark and handsome bad boy/stranger Joe Petrozzi, whom she marries within three weeks of meeting. Then things start to unravel.
The description of the book and the cover had me thinking this would be the next hype in psychological thrillers, but that notion quickly dissipated. No real buildup of characters and settings (show, don't tell!) and the clichés were predictable.
Some of the writing read a bit awkward. Could've been just me though.
"...the pine green décor that plunged the room into a darkness seldom needed for the window size."(I still don't understand what she meant by this)
"Then came the ruckus from the lounge, the sharp stumbling of feet. Entering stage right a humungous oaf plodded into the kitchen, his steps piercing my eardrums like a jet engine or pneumatic drill."(Here, I would assume that stumbling and plodding should sound heavier and much, much slower than ear piercing sounds like a jet engine or pneumatic drill)
And the brandname dropping. I didn't even know what the main character's job was, but did know about her Vera Wang bridal gown. For a woman with a good education, she was pretty airheaded too.
2.5*
Rounding up to 3* because I really do like that cover!
Although the review sounds negative, I do think that the author has a good thing going and I would like to read more by her. Some guidance from an editor could take things to the next level.
Review copy supplied by publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a rating and/or review.
...
d-n-f
March 29, 2016I tried to like this book. I wanted to give up at 10%, then 15% but struggled on to 25% before I decided I just couldn't stand to read it any more.
Reading The Good Kind of Bad was like being bombarded with The Jerry Springer Show and the Kardashians.. Not to my taste at all.
The writing is full of clichés. There was not one redeeming quality amongst any of the characters that I could see. The narrator (do we ever learn her name?) is addressed as 'wifey' or 'girl,' is totally self absorbed, and vacillates between eschewing her old glamorous life for her new simpler one, and rushing out to spend thousands of dollars on designer clothes and shoes.
Not a read I would recommend
Thank you to NetGalley and author Rita Brassington for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
Reading The Good Kind of Bad was like being bombarded with The Jerry Springer Show and the Kardashians.. Not to my taste at all.
The writing is full of clichés. There was not one redeeming quality amongst any of the characters that I could see. The narrator (do we ever learn her name?) is addressed as 'wifey' or 'girl,' is totally self absorbed, and vacillates between eschewing her old glamorous life for her new simpler one, and rushing out to spend thousands of dollars on designer clothes and shoes.
Not a read I would recommend
Thank you to NetGalley and author Rita Brassington for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
August 23, 2017
Third book of my holiday reads.
This is another book that I've had way to long on my kindle and have had to bump up.
This is one of those slow burners that builds up as it goes along. We never fully get to find out the main characters name and she was someone I had mixed feelings for.
Marrying someone after only a few weeks, it was always going to end in tears but I have to admit there was no way I saw any of what was coming in this story!
Definitely a story that holds some surprises which I loved. Whilst I wouldn't say they shocked me, it still made for a fun read and one I would certainly recommend.
This is another book that I've had way to long on my kindle and have had to bump up.
This is one of those slow burners that builds up as it goes along. We never fully get to find out the main characters name and she was someone I had mixed feelings for.
Marrying someone after only a few weeks, it was always going to end in tears but I have to admit there was no way I saw any of what was coming in this story!
Definitely a story that holds some surprises which I loved. Whilst I wouldn't say they shocked me, it still made for a fun read and one I would certainly recommend.
May 18, 2016
Initially I had mixed feelings about this thriller. I found the first half of the book to be a little slow. I didn’t warm to any of the characters, and found a couple of them infuriatingly annoying, and wanted to shake sense into them.
The second half of the book was much faster paced and very hard to put down. I read this all evening, then went straight to bed to read even more of it, completely missing out my hour of TV watching before bed. Then I managed to finish it in bed first thing this morning, as I needed to know what was going to happen, finally find out who I could trust, and whether anyone would be alive by the end of the book, as things were getting rather intense by the time I went to bed last night.
Moral of the story for me, is don’t marry someone after only three weeks of knowing them. If you’re living a boring, predictable life, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing, and the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Careful what you wish for, as Mrs Petrozzi got a little more than she bargained for!
I would like to thank the author for allowing me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The second half of the book was much faster paced and very hard to put down. I read this all evening, then went straight to bed to read even more of it, completely missing out my hour of TV watching before bed. Then I managed to finish it in bed first thing this morning, as I needed to know what was going to happen, finally find out who I could trust, and whether anyone would be alive by the end of the book, as things were getting rather intense by the time I went to bed last night.
Moral of the story for me, is don’t marry someone after only three weeks of knowing them. If you’re living a boring, predictable life, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing, and the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Careful what you wish for, as Mrs Petrozzi got a little more than she bargained for!
I would like to thank the author for allowing me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2016
This book begins very slowly and is quite drawn out although it does pick up in the second half, unfortunately just not enough for me. I found the story to be quite unbelievable and felt nothing towards any of the characters therefore my review of two stars.
May 7, 2016
I'll never know how this book turned out, as I abandoned at 15%. Initially drawn in by the blurb and the promise of a racy thriller, the only word I can really use to describe the plot (or that of which I managed to read) is shallow. Perhaps it may have improved, I wasn't prepared to spend another couple of hours finding out.
July 4, 2016
Blog Tour for The Good Kind of Bad by Rita Brassington
Self-published (23rd November 2015)
ISBN: 978-1517126179
Source: free copy via author
Rating: 4*
Synopsis:
Secrets don't stay secret for long... She spent her whole life being the perfect daughter, the perfect girlfriend, and was all ready to become the perfect wife. But after ditching her fiancé at the altar and escaping to Chicago, she marries smouldering stranger Joe Petrozzi three weeks after meeting him in a bar. At least this time, there’s no chance of cold feet. Married life starts out great: there’s the new job, a gorgeous, enigmatic husband and money's not an issue. So what if she’s kept a few secrets from Joe – like where all her money came from. Joe’s been keeping secrets from her, too. But his might just get her killed.
Review:
When Rita Brassington asked me to review her debut novel, I initially declined on account of having far too many books on my 'to be reviewed' list. Rita was kind enough to send me a copy anyway, and having read the synopsis, I was unable to resist.
The plot is interesting - a chance meeting with a handsome stranger in a bar results in a whirlwind romance of three weeks followed by a swift marriage. How much does she really know about her new husband? But the new Mrs Petrozzi has some secrets of her own - namely the cool 5 million her father made running a Ponzi scheme that is now sitting in a bank account in her name.
There are some fascinating characters in this novel, all are well developed with complex lives and all add intrigue to the story. The character interaction is fluid, with good descriptions that made it easy to set the scene and imagine the characters in my head. I found Evan particularly intriguing as I just couldn't work him out at all.
There is some violence here, though it doesn't feel gratuitous in any way, merely matter of fact and it is necessary to illustrate exactly what is occurring. This book is part psychological thriller, part crime, with some romance, more than a smidgen of mystery and tons of suspense. It's fast paced, like a washing machine on a fast spin that had me clinging on by my fingernails at times, with a few 'WTF?!' moments too.
Rita Brassington has written one hell of a debut novel in The Good Kind of Bad and I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for her second offering.
Get yourself a copy of #TGKOB from amazon uk amazon us
Catch the rest of the blog tour here...
Self-published (23rd November 2015)
ISBN: 978-1517126179
Source: free copy via author
Rating: 4*
Synopsis:
Secrets don't stay secret for long... She spent her whole life being the perfect daughter, the perfect girlfriend, and was all ready to become the perfect wife. But after ditching her fiancé at the altar and escaping to Chicago, she marries smouldering stranger Joe Petrozzi three weeks after meeting him in a bar. At least this time, there’s no chance of cold feet. Married life starts out great: there’s the new job, a gorgeous, enigmatic husband and money's not an issue. So what if she’s kept a few secrets from Joe – like where all her money came from. Joe’s been keeping secrets from her, too. But his might just get her killed.
Review:
When Rita Brassington asked me to review her debut novel, I initially declined on account of having far too many books on my 'to be reviewed' list. Rita was kind enough to send me a copy anyway, and having read the synopsis, I was unable to resist.
The plot is interesting - a chance meeting with a handsome stranger in a bar results in a whirlwind romance of three weeks followed by a swift marriage. How much does she really know about her new husband? But the new Mrs Petrozzi has some secrets of her own - namely the cool 5 million her father made running a Ponzi scheme that is now sitting in a bank account in her name.
There are some fascinating characters in this novel, all are well developed with complex lives and all add intrigue to the story. The character interaction is fluid, with good descriptions that made it easy to set the scene and imagine the characters in my head. I found Evan particularly intriguing as I just couldn't work him out at all.
There is some violence here, though it doesn't feel gratuitous in any way, merely matter of fact and it is necessary to illustrate exactly what is occurring. This book is part psychological thriller, part crime, with some romance, more than a smidgen of mystery and tons of suspense. It's fast paced, like a washing machine on a fast spin that had me clinging on by my fingernails at times, with a few 'WTF?!' moments too.
Rita Brassington has written one hell of a debut novel in The Good Kind of Bad and I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for her second offering.
Get yourself a copy of #TGKOB from amazon uk amazon us
Catch the rest of the blog tour here...
March 22, 2016
The story is not convincing me and it doesn't takes you anywhere.
Characters are quite superficial and predictable.
Characters are quite superficial and predictable.
January 23, 2016
The Good Kind of Bad is a thriller that doesn’t let up all the way through to the very end. The main character, only ever referred to as Mrs Petrozzi, has married Joe Petrozzi on impulse just three weeks after meeting him. She has fled what appeared to be a perfect life in the UK after leaving her fiancé, Will, at the altar. Joe could not be more different from Will. He’s a brawny, tattoo covered delivery driver living in a cramped, dingy apartment in a dodgy area of Chicago. Rather than being in love with him, it seems that lust and recklessness has played a large role in her decision to marry so quickly!
At first I wasn’t sure that I was going to like Mrs Petrozzi much. I mean, who marries someone so soon after meeting? I know some people probably do and may go on to have long and happy marriages but it doesn’t seem to me like the best start to a relationship. She literally knew absolutely nothing about Joe’s life, his past, his family. But to be fair, she hadn’t told him much about her life either. It soon becomes clear though that she has made a huge mistake as Joe unexpectedly turns violent towards her, clearly has a drinking problem and begins to reveal some of his past which includes run-ins with the police. At this point I started to feel sorry for her – what had she got herself into? Before long, it is obvious that her life may be in danger but perhaps there may be some hope in her friendship with Nina and police officer Evan.
Throughout the book I mostly felt fearful for Mrs Petrozzi. The book races along at a cracking pace with shock after shock and things just going from bad to worse for her. Like her, I could feel the disbelief at everything that was happening and could sense her terror. This is quite different from the kind of books I usually read but I was totally caught up with the story and couldn’t put it down, wondering how on earth she was going to get out of this nightmare scenario she found herself in.
Rita Brassington has written a really fast paced thriller (which I think would make an excellent film incidentally) and has somehow manage to keep up the action right to the very end. There is so much going on and so many twists that you barely have time to catch your breath before something else happens! An excellent debut and one I recommend to anyone who likes a thriller that really will have you on the edge of your seat.
(My thanks to the author for asking if I would like a copy of her book to review)
At first I wasn’t sure that I was going to like Mrs Petrozzi much. I mean, who marries someone so soon after meeting? I know some people probably do and may go on to have long and happy marriages but it doesn’t seem to me like the best start to a relationship. She literally knew absolutely nothing about Joe’s life, his past, his family. But to be fair, she hadn’t told him much about her life either. It soon becomes clear though that she has made a huge mistake as Joe unexpectedly turns violent towards her, clearly has a drinking problem and begins to reveal some of his past which includes run-ins with the police. At this point I started to feel sorry for her – what had she got herself into? Before long, it is obvious that her life may be in danger but perhaps there may be some hope in her friendship with Nina and police officer Evan.
Throughout the book I mostly felt fearful for Mrs Petrozzi. The book races along at a cracking pace with shock after shock and things just going from bad to worse for her. Like her, I could feel the disbelief at everything that was happening and could sense her terror. This is quite different from the kind of books I usually read but I was totally caught up with the story and couldn’t put it down, wondering how on earth she was going to get out of this nightmare scenario she found herself in.
Rita Brassington has written a really fast paced thriller (which I think would make an excellent film incidentally) and has somehow manage to keep up the action right to the very end. There is so much going on and so many twists that you barely have time to catch your breath before something else happens! An excellent debut and one I recommend to anyone who likes a thriller that really will have you on the edge of your seat.
(My thanks to the author for asking if I would like a copy of her book to review)
January 5, 2016
**I received a free copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review**
After escaping her life and ex fiancé in London, fleeing to America and marrying Joe Petrozzi from Chicago, three weeks after they first met, the now Mrs Petrozzi is looking forward to the rest of her life, living with her handsome and charming new husband. Things however quickly change when not long in to their marriage Joe beats her so badly that she is left fearing for her life.
Helpless and on the streets she is found by a kind and gently man who takes her in and offers her support. However her hero turns out to be not so much as her saviour.
"The Good Kind of Bad" is a psychological/crime novel. The female protagonist is wonderfully portrayed. To go through the situations that she has and still be standing must take much courage and bravery, even when she is frightened.
When it appears the truth is within her reach, another piece of the complicated jigsaw comes to light. She is definitely on a psychological roller coaster and it is amazing that the book ends as it does.
The plot contained numerous sub-plots which kept me interested and intrigued right to the end as I needed to know how the story would conclude.
I liked the main character’s voice, and the way her friendship with Nina was used to tell the readers her back story.
The description of her abuse at the hands of her husband was clearly researched, and I could visualise it in my head, it certainly was emotional to read.
If you like books with a complicated story and lots of sub-plots to fill your boots with, then this is a book you should definitely read.
Reviewed by Marcia at Whispering Stories Book Blog
After escaping her life and ex fiancé in London, fleeing to America and marrying Joe Petrozzi from Chicago, three weeks after they first met, the now Mrs Petrozzi is looking forward to the rest of her life, living with her handsome and charming new husband. Things however quickly change when not long in to their marriage Joe beats her so badly that she is left fearing for her life.
Helpless and on the streets she is found by a kind and gently man who takes her in and offers her support. However her hero turns out to be not so much as her saviour.
"The Good Kind of Bad" is a psychological/crime novel. The female protagonist is wonderfully portrayed. To go through the situations that she has and still be standing must take much courage and bravery, even when she is frightened.
When it appears the truth is within her reach, another piece of the complicated jigsaw comes to light. She is definitely on a psychological roller coaster and it is amazing that the book ends as it does.
The plot contained numerous sub-plots which kept me interested and intrigued right to the end as I needed to know how the story would conclude.
I liked the main character’s voice, and the way her friendship with Nina was used to tell the readers her back story.
The description of her abuse at the hands of her husband was clearly researched, and I could visualise it in my head, it certainly was emotional to read.
If you like books with a complicated story and lots of sub-plots to fill your boots with, then this is a book you should definitely read.
Reviewed by Marcia at Whispering Stories Book Blog
March 31, 2016
Mrs. Petrozzi is newly married, though not to the fiance she's been with for the last few years. She's run away from England, to her old hometown of Chicago, and married the first good looking man she met. Joe Petrozzi is everything she's not, but she's happy and only has a few things she'd like to change about him. She has a new job, a new life, and money isn't a problem. Never mind that she has secrets, like where her money is coming from, Joe has plenty of them himself. Except, his secrets could kill her.
I just don't know how I feel about this book. I really struggled with not knowing the main character, without a name and more knowledge about her slight psychosis and her obsession with money than anything else, it was incredibly hard to connect to the character whose POV I was reading from. As is, the general book is unbelievable. I've heard of shotgun weddings, but goodness marrying into the kind of crime she did is just nuts. Then running off to another man on the assumption he is safe when you've just left an insane situation makes no sense. I did get swept up in the drama, however, and I never once considered not finishing the book. There was twist after twist, and while I would have given up a long time ago, the character has some kind of strong will to see everything through to the very end. You'll never be bored reading The Good Kind of Bad, it just wasn't my perfect cup of tea.
I just don't know how I feel about this book. I really struggled with not knowing the main character, without a name and more knowledge about her slight psychosis and her obsession with money than anything else, it was incredibly hard to connect to the character whose POV I was reading from. As is, the general book is unbelievable. I've heard of shotgun weddings, but goodness marrying into the kind of crime she did is just nuts. Then running off to another man on the assumption he is safe when you've just left an insane situation makes no sense. I did get swept up in the drama, however, and I never once considered not finishing the book. There was twist after twist, and while I would have given up a long time ago, the character has some kind of strong will to see everything through to the very end. You'll never be bored reading The Good Kind of Bad, it just wasn't my perfect cup of tea.
March 18, 2018
the good kind of bad by Rita brassington.
Secrets don't stay secret for long...
She spent her whole life being the perfect daughter, the perfect girlfriend, and was all ready to become the perfect wife.
But after ditching her fiancé at the altar and escaping to Chicago, she marries smouldering stranger Joe Petrozzi three weeks after meeting him in a bar. At least this time, there’s no chance of cold feet.
Married life starts out great: there’s the new job, a gorgeous, enigmatic husband and money's not an issue.
So what if she’s kept a few secrets from Joe – like where all her money came from. Joe’s been keeping secrets from her, too.
But his might just get her killed.
A very good read. I liked the story.
although it did go on a bit it did start to get better. the ending was a shocker. 4*.
Secrets don't stay secret for long...
She spent her whole life being the perfect daughter, the perfect girlfriend, and was all ready to become the perfect wife.
But after ditching her fiancé at the altar and escaping to Chicago, she marries smouldering stranger Joe Petrozzi three weeks after meeting him in a bar. At least this time, there’s no chance of cold feet.
Married life starts out great: there’s the new job, a gorgeous, enigmatic husband and money's not an issue.
So what if she’s kept a few secrets from Joe – like where all her money came from. Joe’s been keeping secrets from her, too.
But his might just get her killed.
A very good read. I liked the story.
although it did go on a bit it did start to get better. the ending was a shocker. 4*.
November 7, 2018
I found this book incredibly slow, I wouldn't put it in the thriller category at all to be honest. The basics are there, a love story gone wrong, twists and turns, however I found it unrealistic, predictable, the characters not quite developed enough, especially the main character, one minute she's tottering around on heels and the next a warrior, I couldn't get to the bottom of who she was. I didn't feel like I knew any of the characters and not in a good way. For me this was an ok read.
August 5, 2016
Firstly I’d like to thank Netgalley and Rita Brassington for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars!
Secrets don't stay secret for long.
This was definitely slow to start. After getting into my last read almost instantly (All The Ugly and Wonderful Things) this one didn’t seem like it was going to be my cup of tea, but after I got to around the 20% mark things started getting a little more interesting. I did enjoy reading this book, it was a much lighter read than my previous so it was nice to not really feel anything… I really do mean that in the nicest way possible btw! For me, this book was an easy & quick read that was entertaining but just a little bit OTT. I think this book has a lot of cliches, all very predictable, things I guessed rather easily and so if it hadn’t been for that, this would have probably been rated higher, but I prefer books that challenge and shock me.
Another problem I had with this book was that I felt like there are whole chunks of time missing from the story that either really could have helped with character and plot development or could have been explained better so we realised it had disappeared before our eyes...
Everything in this book was massively over the top. I’ve said before in a review that books are supposed to take you away from everything and land you into something fictional and exciting. But there does get a point where things become too fictional. The crazy storyline wouldn’t have mattered so much if it wasn’t for the fact that all the characters were completely unrealistic people.
However the biggest downfall for this book was the characters. To love a book, you’ve got to love the characters, and I didn’t.
Our main lady (we never find out her first name) of the book was beyond irritating. I felt like every single little thing she did was the wrong thing. She faced some really awful stuff throughout the book and then went about sorting it out in all the wrongs ways! She wanted you to think she was a high class, intelligent, independant lady, but in actual fact she was airheaded, weak and damn right ridiculous. What annoyed me most about her was the fact that she was ready to believe anyone. She knew all the people in this book for 3 months tops and she always just believed what they said, no questions asked.
As for Joe, it’s pretty obvious why you wouldn’t like him. He’s a cock from the start of the relationship, I don’t understand what she saw in him to begin with to be honest.
Then there’s Evan, the good guy cop who comes to save the damsel in distress… how predictable he is. He’s the easiest character to work out in the world of fictional characters. I mean c’mon, there was no mystery to him at all.
After all my complaining, this was still an enjoyable read for me. It wasn't one of those books I try and force myself to read just to finish it, I actually wanted to find out what was happening. I will say that I hadn’t predicted the ending ending. I had predicted most of what was going to happen but there were elements I hadn’t been expecting. That’s definitely what gave it the extra point 5 of a star, otherwise it would have just remained a mediocre 3 stars. I would recommend this to people who like fast paced thrillers. I think this is the perfect holiday book!
3.5 stars!
Secrets don't stay secret for long.
This was definitely slow to start. After getting into my last read almost instantly (All The Ugly and Wonderful Things) this one didn’t seem like it was going to be my cup of tea, but after I got to around the 20% mark things started getting a little more interesting. I did enjoy reading this book, it was a much lighter read than my previous so it was nice to not really feel anything… I really do mean that in the nicest way possible btw! For me, this book was an easy & quick read that was entertaining but just a little bit OTT. I think this book has a lot of cliches, all very predictable, things I guessed rather easily and so if it hadn’t been for that, this would have probably been rated higher, but I prefer books that challenge and shock me.
Another problem I had with this book was that I felt like there are whole chunks of time missing from the story that either really could have helped with character and plot development or could have been explained better so we realised it had disappeared before our eyes...
Everything in this book was massively over the top. I’ve said before in a review that books are supposed to take you away from everything and land you into something fictional and exciting. But there does get a point where things become too fictional. The crazy storyline wouldn’t have mattered so much if it wasn’t for the fact that all the characters were completely unrealistic people.
However the biggest downfall for this book was the characters. To love a book, you’ve got to love the characters, and I didn’t.
Our main lady (we never find out her first name) of the book was beyond irritating. I felt like every single little thing she did was the wrong thing. She faced some really awful stuff throughout the book and then went about sorting it out in all the wrongs ways! She wanted you to think she was a high class, intelligent, independant lady, but in actual fact she was airheaded, weak and damn right ridiculous. What annoyed me most about her was the fact that she was ready to believe anyone. She knew all the people in this book for 3 months tops and she always just believed what they said, no questions asked.
As for Joe, it’s pretty obvious why you wouldn’t like him. He’s a cock from the start of the relationship, I don’t understand what she saw in him to begin with to be honest.
Then there’s Evan, the good guy cop who comes to save the damsel in distress… how predictable he is. He’s the easiest character to work out in the world of fictional characters. I mean c’mon, there was no mystery to him at all.
After all my complaining, this was still an enjoyable read for me. It wasn't one of those books I try and force myself to read just to finish it, I actually wanted to find out what was happening. I will say that I hadn’t predicted the ending ending. I had predicted most of what was going to happen but there were elements I hadn’t been expecting. That’s definitely what gave it the extra point 5 of a star, otherwise it would have just remained a mediocre 3 stars. I would recommend this to people who like fast paced thrillers. I think this is the perfect holiday book!
March 9, 2017
DNF at 34%
I received a free copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm sorry but I couldn't finish and I'm normally not a quitter, but I just wanted to slap the hell out of the main character. How can you be so naive to marry a guy who you don't know, after 3 weeks; a guy who hangs out with the wrong crowd.
Sure, they are all super sweet in the beginning. That's how they lure you in.
She doesn't know the guy, but she's flabbergasted that he lies to her. Why would he tell the truth? She's just a toy.
So, I couldn't finish it. I wanted to love it, I do. And it's a beautiful cover. But I couldn't read on. The title doesn't make any sense to me, and there are better books out there, hence my 1800+ to-be-read shelf.
I received a free copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm sorry but I couldn't finish and I'm normally not a quitter, but I just wanted to slap the hell out of the main character. How can you be so naive to marry a guy who you don't know, after 3 weeks; a guy who hangs out with the wrong crowd.
Sure, they are all super sweet in the beginning. That's how they lure you in.
She doesn't know the guy, but she's flabbergasted that he lies to her. Why would he tell the truth? She's just a toy.
So, I couldn't finish it. I wanted to love it, I do. And it's a beautiful cover. But I couldn't read on. The title doesn't make any sense to me, and there are better books out there, hence my 1800+ to-be-read shelf.
February 22, 2016
Thanks to Rita Brassington who contacted me through Twitter asking if I could read and review her book for her. As I had a huge TBR pile already, Rita was happy and patient enough to wait and I was very grateful too about this so I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review........
Secrets don't stay secret for long...
Meet Mrs Petrozzi, she's just married Joe whom she'd only met 3 weeks previously in a bar where she'd ditched her fiancé at the altar and escaped to Chicago away from her family where she was the perfect daughter, the perfect girlfriend and set to become the perfect wife but this time around there was no chance of her getting cold feet.
Married life starts out perfect, there’s the new job, a gorgeous, mysterious husband and money's definitely no issue. So what if she’s kept a few secrets from Joe – like where all her money came from but Joe’s been keeping secrets from her, too but they may just get her killed.......
I didn't like this book, I LOVED it. It was a little slow to start off with but then bang it was so fast paced that I couldn't stop my finger swiping the pages on the Kindle and couldn't put it down. It had everything, it was full of action, thrills, I didn't know who I could trust and who not to trust. The character's were well written and developed throughout the story too. I have to admit that there were a couple of parts that I squirmed at when I was reading but it definitely didn't disappoint. It was a pulse pounding and heart thumping rollercoaster ride.
This is Rita Brassington's debut novel and I'm really looking forward to reading more of her work, no pressure intended.
The Good Kind of Bad is available on Kindle and is currently £1.99 at the time of publication of this review so grab it while you can, you won't be disappointed so don't say I never told you so!!!
Secrets don't stay secret for long...
Meet Mrs Petrozzi, she's just married Joe whom she'd only met 3 weeks previously in a bar where she'd ditched her fiancé at the altar and escaped to Chicago away from her family where she was the perfect daughter, the perfect girlfriend and set to become the perfect wife but this time around there was no chance of her getting cold feet.
Married life starts out perfect, there’s the new job, a gorgeous, mysterious husband and money's definitely no issue. So what if she’s kept a few secrets from Joe – like where all her money came from but Joe’s been keeping secrets from her, too but they may just get her killed.......
I didn't like this book, I LOVED it. It was a little slow to start off with but then bang it was so fast paced that I couldn't stop my finger swiping the pages on the Kindle and couldn't put it down. It had everything, it was full of action, thrills, I didn't know who I could trust and who not to trust. The character's were well written and developed throughout the story too. I have to admit that there were a couple of parts that I squirmed at when I was reading but it definitely didn't disappoint. It was a pulse pounding and heart thumping rollercoaster ride.
This is Rita Brassington's debut novel and I'm really looking forward to reading more of her work, no pressure intended.
The Good Kind of Bad is available on Kindle and is currently £1.99 at the time of publication of this review so grab it while you can, you won't be disappointed so don't say I never told you so!!!
January 6, 2016
When Rita Brassington contacted me via Twitter and asked if I would like to read her book and review it, I was more than happy to oblige. I was also happy to learn that she is a local girl (originally) and I'm always happy to support our local talent. I'm glad to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
We meet a lady who seems to have everything most people would wish for. She has success, wealth and is about to marry her handsome, hard-working, reliable fiance, Will. However, she doesn't want reliable. She doesn't want a boring life with a boring husband. She craves excitement. So, she leaves him at the alter and hops on a plane to Chicago to start a new life.
She decides that from now on she will say yes to everything, so when she meets good looking and mysterious Joe in a bar and he proposes, she says yes. What's the worst that can happen? She has her secrets, but who doesn't? However, Joe's just might be more than she bargained for.
What follows is a fast paced, roller-coaster of a story where you're not always quite sure what's really happening. The twists and turns certainly keep you guessing. I thought I had it sussed a few times, but I was wrong!
The characters are fascinating. Although I'm still not sure if I like the main character or not, I still found myself caring about what happened to her. As for the others, it just goes to show that not everyone you meet is as they seem.
Full of action and suspense (also a little bit comical in places).
I would happily recommend it.
Many thanks again to Rita for my review copy.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
We meet a lady who seems to have everything most people would wish for. She has success, wealth and is about to marry her handsome, hard-working, reliable fiance, Will. However, she doesn't want reliable. She doesn't want a boring life with a boring husband. She craves excitement. So, she leaves him at the alter and hops on a plane to Chicago to start a new life.
She decides that from now on she will say yes to everything, so when she meets good looking and mysterious Joe in a bar and he proposes, she says yes. What's the worst that can happen? She has her secrets, but who doesn't? However, Joe's just might be more than she bargained for.
What follows is a fast paced, roller-coaster of a story where you're not always quite sure what's really happening. The twists and turns certainly keep you guessing. I thought I had it sussed a few times, but I was wrong!
The characters are fascinating. Although I'm still not sure if I like the main character or not, I still found myself caring about what happened to her. As for the others, it just goes to show that not everyone you meet is as they seem.
Full of action and suspense (also a little bit comical in places).
I would happily recommend it.
Many thanks again to Rita for my review copy.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
March 27, 2016
I received this arc from Netgalley.
I almost gave up on this book numerous times, unfortunately I kept reading. Can anyone really be this stupid? I know this is supposed to be fictional but it falls under the category of plain ridiculous. Did this woman even have a first name? This book just left me shaking my head. I definitely do not recommend. I will NEVER read anything else by this author. Terrible!!
I almost gave up on this book numerous times, unfortunately I kept reading. Can anyone really be this stupid? I know this is supposed to be fictional but it falls under the category of plain ridiculous. Did this woman even have a first name? This book just left me shaking my head. I definitely do not recommend. I will NEVER read anything else by this author. Terrible!!
May 23, 2016
I got to about 61% and then abandoned this book. I tried really hard but just wanted to throw the book a dozen times. It was just not for me. From the author's use of thesaurus heavy word choices that people just don't use in real life, to the main character being a weak female lead. I can't get behind a lead female who repeatedly goes back to bad situations and learns nothing. Based on other reviews I thought it would get better but unfortunately couldn't hold on any longer.
December 17, 2015
I had a copy for an honest review from TBC.
I picked the book up and didn't get into the story straight away...however, it grew on me and is full if intrigue. The more I read the book.
I won't give the plot away, but the blurb gives a great description.
A good debut novel and I would try more from this author.
I picked the book up and didn't get into the story straight away...however, it grew on me and is full if intrigue. The more I read the book.
I won't give the plot away, but the blurb gives a great description.
A good debut novel and I would try more from this author.
June 5, 2016
I just can't even tell you how bad this book is. And no, it's not the good kind of bad. The plot and the characters are laughibly terrible and the word choice sounds like it was written by someone who just got a thesaurus for Christmas. Do yourself a favor and pass this one by.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2016
I don't like to leave bad reviews but I honestly could not finish this book. It just wasn't a good fit for me- I found it too wordy & I didn't connect with any of the characters.
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2016
Thought this was a great Debut book. Must admit wanted to shout at the main character for her choices throughout but there where a lot of twists and turns that had me guessing until the end
March 18, 2023
She was always the good child, but running away from England and leaving a fiancee at the altar, she wants a change of life. In walks Joe pettrolli a gorgeous hunk of man who sweeps her off her feet and marries her in 3 weeks. But really she knows nothing about him and is about to learn everything the hard way.
It was a bit too far fetched for me. She never reports anything properly and insists on blabbing all her secrets like a child rather than an adult. Her wandering after people in the dark also is worrying as safety was always ignored.
It was a bit too far fetched for me. She never reports anything properly and insists on blabbing all her secrets like a child rather than an adult. Her wandering after people in the dark also is worrying as safety was always ignored.
June 3, 2017
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This was a average thriller and although slow at the start it did improve about half way through.
Whether this will be enough for everybody to read all they way through is the real question.
This was a average thriller and although slow at the start it did improve about half way through.
Whether this will be enough for everybody to read all they way through is the real question.
January 16, 2017
The premise of the story was pretty decent: woman marries on a whim and then finds out life isn't as rosy as she expected, life REALLY isn't rosy as she expected. Her husband's troubled life and her own history make for a big mess that puts them both in danger. Fine, no problem. Could be a good book. However, there are no sympathetic characters to cheer for. They are all horrible people! There is the bored rich girl who leaves her fiance at the altar and runs away to Chicago, the smoking hot Italian from the wrong side of the track that she marries basically because he is so darn good looking, dirty cops and their girlfriends who can't leave them because of the money or out of fear. Oh and then there is the continuing saga of the main character's wardrobe. Seriously? The story is rather predictable. It had such potential.
A preview copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and the author in exchange for an honest review.
A preview copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2016
Rating 3.5/5
Everyone has secrets but the newly wed Mr and Mrs Petrozzi seem to have an abundance that they are keeping from each other. She has run away from leaving another man at the altar and he has a lot of ‘errands’ at odd hours. Unfortunately their secrets attract danger and violence and leave Mrs Petrozzi fighting for her sanity and unsure of whom she can trust in her new life.
The Good Kind of Bad started well, it seemed like we were straight into the action without much preamble and it appeared that this was going to be the pace for the rest of the book, which would have been brilliant. However there came a point not too long after this, maybe around chapter six that the strength drifted and the story became quite hard to get through. I think there was a promise of action and suspense that wasn’t delivered upon quite to what I thought it would be and that’s why it slowed down.
Having said that the gears shifted once again, around chapter eighteen, and the pace changed and suddenly I was hooked, hanging onto every word. There was definitely a sense of needing to get to the end to see how it would play out, and I went from sporadically reading it to finishing it in one sitting.
One of the things that I found difficult about this book was that I really didn’t feel much for the main character, Mrs Petrozzi. I felt like she was very two-dimensional and was for the most part fairly clichéd, she made it very hard for me to like her through her actions. As an example,
There are a few other incidents in the same vein as this, one such being that a lot of the story rests on her divulging a dangerous secret to someone that she has known less than a month. I can understand the need for these crucial turning point moments to be added, but I just feel like there were far more realistic ways that could have been used to get to the same point.
I realize that what I have said so far has been very critical but I think the reason is because I really liked the elements of the plot, at its core it is a brilliant and unique story, and after the half way mark the suspense really does start to build. Whilst there were turns that the story made that I found fairly easy to predict, I would then be thrown off course and couldn’t tell which way it would progress.
Another admirable point was that by the end you could see a change happening in Mrs Petrozzi, whilst for me this was a bit too late in the game, I appreciated how it spoke to people’s motivations to adapt and become stronger. I think that if that version of the character had shown herself sooner it would have made the novel more powerful.
The book is labelled a psychological thriller and it does get to a stage that you really do question what you believe about what is happening to Mrs Petrozzi. I felt a little disassociated from it, because I didn’t connect with her very well, but I could see how gripping it still was. It was at these points that this book really shone for me, I think that it shows how well the overall story has been written, that it could make you really invest in it and keep shocking you.
Whilst I was unsure at points I would definitely recommend that people who enjoy thrillers and crime novels give it a shot, because once it gets going it is a gripping read.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the review copy of this book.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
I dared myself to walk the steps, to be swallowed up, to tell them about Nina and Joe and do the right thing for the first time in my life. I hovered, paused, glanced at the four stars on the billowing Chicago flag and then retreated to my well-stepped observation point.
Everyone has secrets but the newly wed Mr and Mrs Petrozzi seem to have an abundance that they are keeping from each other. She has run away from leaving another man at the altar and he has a lot of ‘errands’ at odd hours. Unfortunately their secrets attract danger and violence and leave Mrs Petrozzi fighting for her sanity and unsure of whom she can trust in her new life.
The Good Kind of Bad started well, it seemed like we were straight into the action without much preamble and it appeared that this was going to be the pace for the rest of the book, which would have been brilliant. However there came a point not too long after this, maybe around chapter six that the strength drifted and the story became quite hard to get through. I think there was a promise of action and suspense that wasn’t delivered upon quite to what I thought it would be and that’s why it slowed down.
Having said that the gears shifted once again, around chapter eighteen, and the pace changed and suddenly I was hooked, hanging onto every word. There was definitely a sense of needing to get to the end to see how it would play out, and I went from sporadically reading it to finishing it in one sitting.
One of the things that I found difficult about this book was that I really didn’t feel much for the main character, Mrs Petrozzi. I felt like she was very two-dimensional and was for the most part fairly clichéd, she made it very hard for me to like her through her actions. As an example,
There are a few other incidents in the same vein as this, one such being that a lot of the story rests on her divulging a dangerous secret to someone that she has known less than a month. I can understand the need for these crucial turning point moments to be added, but I just feel like there were far more realistic ways that could have been used to get to the same point.
I realize that what I have said so far has been very critical but I think the reason is because I really liked the elements of the plot, at its core it is a brilliant and unique story, and after the half way mark the suspense really does start to build. Whilst there were turns that the story made that I found fairly easy to predict, I would then be thrown off course and couldn’t tell which way it would progress.
Another admirable point was that by the end you could see a change happening in Mrs Petrozzi, whilst for me this was a bit too late in the game, I appreciated how it spoke to people’s motivations to adapt and become stronger. I think that if that version of the character had shown herself sooner it would have made the novel more powerful.
The book is labelled a psychological thriller and it does get to a stage that you really do question what you believe about what is happening to Mrs Petrozzi. I felt a little disassociated from it, because I didn’t connect with her very well, but I could see how gripping it still was. It was at these points that this book really shone for me, I think that it shows how well the overall story has been written, that it could make you really invest in it and keep shocking you.
Whilst I was unsure at points I would definitely recommend that people who enjoy thrillers and crime novels give it a shot, because once it gets going it is a gripping read.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the review copy of this book.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
April 26, 2016
And so, at last I got to read the debut novel of the lovely Rita Brassington. A book, I have to say, with the most eye-catching(literally)cover ever to grace my bookshelf. The story certainly provoked a wide range of emotions from this reader! What the hell was she doing marrying someone as surly and unsavoury as the loathsome Joe Petrozzi? Makes the corners of my mouth turn down simply imagining the odour from his sweat stained vests and Marlborough full strength breath! Why oh why? One thing to rebel against your over-weaning parents and geeky boyfriend, but this surely is taking it to the extreme? And after only 3 weeks! Once passed the 'why's', 'how's' and 'wherefore's' however, much as I tried not to be a part of the seedy goings on that were the life of the fiery egotistical Italian/American Joe Petrozzi, I was! The beatings our leading lady took were hard to read and caused a lot of flinching and furrowed brows along with such hatred towards Mr P, I'm lucky not to have broken any teeth so clenched were mine throughout! Never considered myself hard-hearted, but could feel very little sympathy for Mrs P, who for some bizarre reason opted for what she thought was excitement and adventure versus mediocrity and security along with married life in the 'burbs. Got to be a happy medium surely? Looking forward to book number two. Oh and the cover!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews