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O'Harra Brothers #2
Growing and Kissing
Note: This book was republished as "Bad For Me". This edition is no longer available.
Librarian's Note: Alternate-cover edition for ASIN B01CYT8S3K
When my sister is diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, there’s only one way to raise the half a million dollars I need to save her: use my skills with plants to grow marijuana. But I’m a botany geek, not a drug lord. I need help. I need the scariest guy on the block: Sean O’Harra, the muscled, sledge hammer-wielding badass even the dealers fear. He says that he destroys everything he touches...so why can’t I stop thinking about his big hands all over my body? As the summer heat rises, I’ll have to juggle my normal life and my new life as a criminal while cops, dealers and gangs threaten us on all sides...but the hardest thing of all might be keeping Sean and me apart. I’m a good girl...but I think he’s about to turn me really, really bad.
Librarian's Note: Alternate-cover edition for ASIN B01CYT8S3K
When my sister is diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, there’s only one way to raise the half a million dollars I need to save her: use my skills with plants to grow marijuana. But I’m a botany geek, not a drug lord. I need help. I need the scariest guy on the block: Sean O’Harra, the muscled, sledge hammer-wielding badass even the dealers fear. He says that he destroys everything he touches...so why can’t I stop thinking about his big hands all over my body? As the summer heat rises, I’ll have to juggle my normal life and my new life as a criminal while cops, dealers and gangs threaten us on all sides...but the hardest thing of all might be keeping Sean and me apart. I’m a good girl...but I think he’s about to turn me really, really bad.
318 pages, ebook
First published March 1, 2016
804 people are currently reading
851 people want to read
About the author
Helena Newbury
30 books1,341 followersWant to contact me? helenanewburyauthor@gmail.com
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June 21, 2024
RATING 4.5 STARS
Bad for Me is book two in the O’Harra Brothers series by Helena Newbury. These can be read as stand alones. Each book deals with a different brother in the O’Harra clan. In this book, we find out the details of what tore the brothers apart when they were children. And it broke my heart.
Sean O’Harra is the textbook bad boy. With tattoos and muscles for miles, piercing blue eyes and that Irish accent, you either feel like running far away, or you are brave enough to get closer. Sean is known for his skill with a sledge hammer. It’s a skill that he uses to intimidate. He is hired to let someone know when they owe money, or have crossed a line they shouldn’t have crossed. When they need to be taught a lesson.
Louise Willowby was one year short of graduating from college when her parents died and she became guardian to her younger sister, Kayley. Now Kayley is fourteen, Louise is twenty two. Kayley is sick and the only hope to save her life is a treatment that will cost five hundred thousand dollars. Louise has always been the good girl. Always following the rules. Always doing what was right. But to save her sister’s life, Louise will have to get creative. She’ll have to use her skills growing things to raise the money she needs. And to do all of this, she needs the help of someone that knows the underside of life in Los Angeles. Sean O’Harra.
As these two work together, Louise sees a side of Sean that no one else has seen. The good guy he forgot he was. And Louise discovers her own strength as well. That maybe she didn’t always have to be so good. That there might be a little darkness in her too and that was okay.
As I’ve grown to expect with Helena Newbury, this was another wild crazy ride from start to finish. What this family has to go through is both heart breaking and intensely nerve wracking! So once again, buckle up for another suspenseful journey that will take your breath away. I can’t wait to meet the next O’Harra brother, Kian, in Saving Liberty.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Bad for Me is book two in the O’Harra Brothers series by Helena Newbury. These can be read as stand alones. Each book deals with a different brother in the O’Harra clan. In this book, we find out the details of what tore the brothers apart when they were children. And it broke my heart.
Sean O’Harra is the textbook bad boy. With tattoos and muscles for miles, piercing blue eyes and that Irish accent, you either feel like running far away, or you are brave enough to get closer. Sean is known for his skill with a sledge hammer. It’s a skill that he uses to intimidate. He is hired to let someone know when they owe money, or have crossed a line they shouldn’t have crossed. When they need to be taught a lesson.
Louise Willowby was one year short of graduating from college when her parents died and she became guardian to her younger sister, Kayley. Now Kayley is fourteen, Louise is twenty two. Kayley is sick and the only hope to save her life is a treatment that will cost five hundred thousand dollars. Louise has always been the good girl. Always following the rules. Always doing what was right. But to save her sister’s life, Louise will have to get creative. She’ll have to use her skills growing things to raise the money she needs. And to do all of this, she needs the help of someone that knows the underside of life in Los Angeles. Sean O’Harra.
As these two work together, Louise sees a side of Sean that no one else has seen. The good guy he forgot he was. And Louise discovers her own strength as well. That maybe she didn’t always have to be so good. That there might be a little darkness in her too and that was okay.
As I’ve grown to expect with Helena Newbury, this was another wild crazy ride from start to finish. What this family has to go through is both heart breaking and intensely nerve wracking! So once again, buckle up for another suspenseful journey that will take your breath away. I can’t wait to meet the next O’Harra brother, Kian, in Saving Liberty.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
March 6, 2019
4.5
Not quite sure what happened here. The title of the book I read was Bad for Me but the title here is Growing and Kissing. Not to matter they are both the same book and the hero in this one is Sean O’Harra. He is Irish muscle for hire. You want someone scared? You have Sean do it. He’s terror with a hammer and scares the bejeebers out of anyone he goes after.
The heroine in this book is Louise. She’s kind of a plant geek who is taking care of her sister. When she gets devastating news about her sister’s health, she needs a huge amount of cash – fast. She comes up with the idea of growing and selling weed to get it. She knows it’s illegal and normally she wouldn’t even dream of doing something like this but she’s desperate and since she knows a lot about growing plants, she knows she can grow a good crop. But what she doesn’t know anything about is the criminality part and for this she goes to known bad guy Sean.
Sean is horrified with the idea. He has a very low view of himself and doesn’t think he belongs in the same world as Louise in fear he will sully her somehow. But eventually he gives in as he can see Louise is going to go ahead with her plan anyway and at least if he helps, he can keep her safe. As with the first two books, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I like the ‘opposite attracts’ kind of theme. I love big, bad, tough Sean who is just a puddle of ooey gooey when it comes to Louise. He’s fiercely protective of her, a trait all the brother share and he will risk anything to keep her save, yet try and keep her at arms distance at the same time as he’s not good enough for this ‘good’ woman.
Louise is just as great a character as Sean. She doesn’t see him at all the way he sees himself. She really sees him as hero material and is incredibly attracted to him and goes after him as hard as a rather sweet, geeky girl in lust going after the guy. And I also love the growing relationship between Sean and her young sister who sees Sean as a great older brother sort.
I enjoyed this one so much I simply had to keep going right on to the next one on my list.
Not quite sure what happened here. The title of the book I read was Bad for Me but the title here is Growing and Kissing. Not to matter they are both the same book and the hero in this one is Sean O’Harra. He is Irish muscle for hire. You want someone scared? You have Sean do it. He’s terror with a hammer and scares the bejeebers out of anyone he goes after.
The heroine in this book is Louise. She’s kind of a plant geek who is taking care of her sister. When she gets devastating news about her sister’s health, she needs a huge amount of cash – fast. She comes up with the idea of growing and selling weed to get it. She knows it’s illegal and normally she wouldn’t even dream of doing something like this but she’s desperate and since she knows a lot about growing plants, she knows she can grow a good crop. But what she doesn’t know anything about is the criminality part and for this she goes to known bad guy Sean.
Sean is horrified with the idea. He has a very low view of himself and doesn’t think he belongs in the same world as Louise in fear he will sully her somehow. But eventually he gives in as he can see Louise is going to go ahead with her plan anyway and at least if he helps, he can keep her safe. As with the first two books, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I like the ‘opposite attracts’ kind of theme. I love big, bad, tough Sean who is just a puddle of ooey gooey when it comes to Louise. He’s fiercely protective of her, a trait all the brother share and he will risk anything to keep her save, yet try and keep her at arms distance at the same time as he’s not good enough for this ‘good’ woman.
Louise is just as great a character as Sean. She doesn’t see him at all the way he sees himself. She really sees him as hero material and is incredibly attracted to him and goes after him as hard as a rather sweet, geeky girl in lust going after the guy. And I also love the growing relationship between Sean and her young sister who sees Sean as a great older brother sort.
I enjoyed this one so much I simply had to keep going right on to the next one on my list.
September 12, 2020
*3 ENFORCER STARS*
I liked the premise and the characters, I just wish the author would've done more with it.
I felt like the "suspense" aspect was pretty tame.
I liked the premise and the characters, I just wish the author would've done more with it.
I felt like the "suspense" aspect was pretty tame.
April 30, 2016
ARC kindly provided by Helena Newbury in exchange for an honest review.
Review
Rating Plan
1 star : Strongly did not like the book, writing and plot was bad. Idea of the book was against my liking.
2 star : Didn't like it, didn't find it interesting or gripping. Seemed to drag on to me.
3 star : An average book. Wasn't bad or good. Everything else was well done. Original idea.
4 star : Like a 3 star but has potential to it as a series or the book grew on me as it progressed and certain scenes captured me. I Enjoyed it and read it in one sitting.
5 star : I LOVED IT! I stayed up late until 3 am. Author is a genius, characters, plot, idea, development, EVERYTHING was EXCELLENT. Nothing else can possibly be said except that its 5 STAR!
Review
‘Growing and Kissing’ is the sixth? seventh? or eighth? novel in the unofficial 'Kissing' series which she has recently been writing. As always, she amazes me with the high standard quality of work, time and time again. I've loved the passion, the zest for life and the hardships that have filled her novels so far and I genuinely couldn't wait to launch into this newest instalment. This is the novel where we readers learn about some of the relatives that belong to the characters from the other novels. If you're interested in 'Growing and Kissing', have no fear and pick it up. It can be read as a standalone but if you want to get more out of this series I'd recommend hopping over to Helena Newbury's Goodreads page and looking through all her titles that have the word "kissing" in them. You WILL NOT be disappointed!
The novel is written in first person and is completely narrated by the two perspectives of our main leads, Sean and Louise. It follows the same alternating chapter pattern that Helena utilises in her previous novels and one I’m entirely familiar with. I enjoy the fact that, I as a reader, can see extremely well into the depth of the main characters but, to be honest, it is becoming overused.
Louise is like most of Helena's female protagonists: resilient, feminine and completely natural. And like most, a tragedy had befallen her which she is now trying to escape or/and remedy. However, despite the cliché, I still manage to genuinely like the female leads because of their shared vulnerability to the harsh world we live in. And that despite the fact that they have been beaten down, trampled upon and chewed out, they still let themselves be open to the world in some way. And THIS is what makes them so REAL, TANGIBLE AND SPECIAL.
Sean is our cobalt eyed Irishman with a hunky body that induces fear from the males and swoons from the females. I loved reading about him not ONLY because of his attractiveness – which was SIZZLING – and his strength – BEYOND compare – but because he had a real history which he wore around himself like a cloak. It was mysterious, very enigmatic, and it made me curious and interested as to where the story would lead us. And I couldn't wait to reach the end.
The chemistry Sean and Louise shared was so hot it was SEARING! Not to mention those scenes! Whew! I mean were they hot or what? Seriously, I you're looking for something soul-tuggingly and heart-wrenchingly beautiful yet steamy AS HELL, then you should really pick up one of these novels. You WILL NOT regret it!
As always, the authoress had penned the novel in such a way that it sparked and pulsed with the depth and strength of those emotions. I loved the myriad she had incorporated into the plot and how they really amplified every single action, thought or word spoken by the characters.
The plot was well thought through and I loved the tension and anticipation the authoress built up with every drama that happened. It compelled me to keep reading, to keep turning that page and finding out what happened next. It was full of hidden surprises and so far, Helena Newbury's stories have never gotten old for me. It was a journey that I enjoyed immensely as the plot unravelled and brought new depths to the book out into the open.
Grammar was very well done and I only spotted one of those pesky spelling or typing mistakes that usually pop out every now and again in ARCs. The prose was great and the dialogue had a purpose to it that I loved.
The ending was beautiful. Full of turmoil and hope found at the last second, it really was a nerve wracking conclusion to the turbulent, sexy journey that I travelled on. It was such a satisfying ending that I got little goose-bumps on my skin when I finished it. I loved this novel!
Congratulations to Helena Newbury on publishing another passionately epic novel!
Rating Plan
1 star : Strongly did not like the book, writing and plot was bad. Idea of the book was against my liking.
2 star : Didn't like it, didn't find it interesting or gripping. Seemed to drag on to me.
3 star : An average book. Wasn't bad or good. Everything else was well done. Original idea.
4 star : Like a 3 star but has potential to it as a series or the book grew on me as it progressed and certain scenes captured me. I Enjoyed it and read it in one sitting.
5 star : I LOVED IT! I stayed up late until 3 am. Author is a genius, characters, plot, idea, development, EVERYTHING was EXCELLENT. Nothing else can possibly be said except that its 5 STAR!
January 16, 2025
This was a very enjoyable contemporary. It’s a “good girl / bad boy” story. Nothing especially unique, just that classic trope. But from the first chapter, I knew it would be good. It’s just well written, with good characterization and tension and development and steam. I often see rec requests for books that are similar to the dynamic between Beth and Rio on the TV show “Good Girls.” I feel like everyone who makes that rec request should read this book. This is what you want.
Louise (22) is raising her teenage sister after her parents died. She was studying botany in college, and dropped out to care for her sister. They live in a shitty apartment building in a bad part of town. Sean is her neighbor, and he’s basically a freelance thug. Local gangs and criminals hire him to be their enforcer. He carries around a sledgehammer and literally smashes things for a living, and everyone is scared of him. When Louise’s sister gets cancer, she needs to come up with a lot of money quickly, to save her. Since she knows her way around plants, she decides to grow weed, but she doesn’t know anything about the criminal underworld, so she asks Sean for help.
Most of this story was gritty and grounded, with characters living unglamorous lives, a rough hero who is secretly sweet to his heroine, and well written long steamy scenes -- it nearly reminded me of a Cara McKenna book, like After Hours or Hard Time. I'm not sure that this is quite that level, because towards the end, the crimey parts of the plot did get a little bit over the top, so it lost a little bit of that grounded feeling. But, it’s still a very solid contemporary. And anything that even sort of reminds me of her books is a winner.
Most of it is focused on the relationship, there’s not a huge cast of characters or many side plots. It’s one of those books that’s simple, but just well executed. (It kind of also reminded me of Cutslut by Kim Jones in that way, just because that's another book that's simple and mostly focused on the 2 characters, but it's surprisingly good).
It did almost got tedious how much they both resisted the relationship for the same reason – Louise didn’t want to get involved in the criminal world past what she had to do. And Sean wanted to protect her and not pull her into his world. So, their reasons to push each other away made sense. But I still wanted them to get over it a little sooner than they did. I considered making this 3.8 stars for that, and for how the ending loses a little believability with the crime subplot. (I don't buy that they can keep living in the same area after pissing off every criminal, surely they'd have to move away and Sean can't just get them out of that by waving around his sledgehammer). But it was the most enjoyable contemporary I've read in a while, so I'll leave it at 4 stars.
This was my first read from the author, I’ll be looking into more of her books. Sean has a backstory involving having lots of brothers, and they all got separated when they were young -- his brothers don't appear in this book, but they apparently have their own books. I’ll definitely read them.
Louise (22) is raising her teenage sister after her parents died. She was studying botany in college, and dropped out to care for her sister. They live in a shitty apartment building in a bad part of town. Sean is her neighbor, and he’s basically a freelance thug. Local gangs and criminals hire him to be their enforcer. He carries around a sledgehammer and literally smashes things for a living, and everyone is scared of him. When Louise’s sister gets cancer, she needs to come up with a lot of money quickly, to save her. Since she knows her way around plants, she decides to grow weed, but she doesn’t know anything about the criminal underworld, so she asks Sean for help.
Most of this story was gritty and grounded, with characters living unglamorous lives, a rough hero who is secretly sweet to his heroine, and well written long steamy scenes -- it nearly reminded me of a Cara McKenna book, like After Hours or Hard Time. I'm not sure that this is quite that level, because towards the end, the crimey parts of the plot did get a little bit over the top, so it lost a little bit of that grounded feeling. But, it’s still a very solid contemporary. And anything that even sort of reminds me of her books is a winner.
Most of it is focused on the relationship, there’s not a huge cast of characters or many side plots. It’s one of those books that’s simple, but just well executed. (It kind of also reminded me of Cutslut by Kim Jones in that way, just because that's another book that's simple and mostly focused on the 2 characters, but it's surprisingly good).
It did almost got tedious how much they both resisted the relationship for the same reason – Louise didn’t want to get involved in the criminal world past what she had to do. And Sean wanted to protect her and not pull her into his world. So, their reasons to push each other away made sense. But I still wanted them to get over it a little sooner than they did. I considered making this 3.8 stars for that, and for how the ending loses a little believability with the crime subplot. (I don't buy that they can keep living in the same area after pissing off every criminal, surely they'd have to move away and Sean can't just get them out of that by waving around his sledgehammer). But it was the most enjoyable contemporary I've read in a while, so I'll leave it at 4 stars.
This was my first read from the author, I’ll be looking into more of her books. Sean has a backstory involving having lots of brothers, and they all got separated when they were young -- his brothers don't appear in this book, but they apparently have their own books. I’ll definitely read them.
March 16, 2016
ONE DAY...
That is all it took me to finish this book. I couldn't put it down. But then this is Helena Newbury we are talking about and all her stories always have me on the edge of my seat reading like there is no tomorrow. The suspense is such you can't leave the book for long, the plot urges you to read on.
It was like a mixture of Breaking Bad meets True Romance!!
In this book we are introduced to Louise and Sean, they couldn't be more opposite than water and oil, the only thing they have in common is where they live. Sean is the type of guy who is feared by many, his rough exterior and mean demeanour has giving him a certain reputation and he is content with that arrangement, this way he doesn't have to interact with anyone and he doesn't get close or invested in other people's lives. He has seen Louise in passing and as attractive as he finds her, she is not like the girls he usually brings home, she is all what he isn't; Smart, Kind, Innocent and a Law abiding citizen of the community making her not only impossible to be with but unattainable also . Slowly their encounters become more frequent setting the stage for some steamy daydreaming sequences. Unfortunately Louise receives some very sad news and her life faces a drastic conundrum.
After the death of her parents, Louise has become the sole caretaker and provider to her sister, they only have each other. Their situation is precarious to say the least but they remain positive regardless of the dire conditions in which they live in, they can face everything, or so they thought. One day all that changes and Louise finds herself between a rock and hard place. She must change all that she is in order to save her sister. She must forget about what is good and legal and embark on the riskiest journey of her life. There is only one problem, she doesn't know how to be bad, so she must seek help in the only person she knows to offer her all that, Sean. SO MUCH EASIER SAID THAN DONE!
Oh boy are these two prepared to face each other. I have never been so curious in my entire life!; Wont they, will they, this is it, maybe not, the chemistry and temperature was off the charts, you can feel the tension and this is a book don't forget, the ability to get the reader to this nail biting point is due to the incredible writing ability by Ms Newbury.
The story reaches a suspenseful climax, deemed of a Patterson or Fleming novel.
I've been privileged to have read the other books in the series and this one was another 5 star read. With a very exciting plot and with every element you seek in a contemporary steamy romance novel, Growing and Kissing will certainly be one of the biggest books we will see in 2016!.
5 ADDICTIVE STARS. Isalovesbooks
That is all it took me to finish this book. I couldn't put it down. But then this is Helena Newbury we are talking about and all her stories always have me on the edge of my seat reading like there is no tomorrow. The suspense is such you can't leave the book for long, the plot urges you to read on.
It was like a mixture of Breaking Bad meets True Romance!!
In this book we are introduced to Louise and Sean, they couldn't be more opposite than water and oil, the only thing they have in common is where they live. Sean is the type of guy who is feared by many, his rough exterior and mean demeanour has giving him a certain reputation and he is content with that arrangement, this way he doesn't have to interact with anyone and he doesn't get close or invested in other people's lives. He has seen Louise in passing and as attractive as he finds her, she is not like the girls he usually brings home, she is all what he isn't; Smart, Kind, Innocent and a Law abiding citizen of the community making her not only impossible to be with but unattainable also . Slowly their encounters become more frequent setting the stage for some steamy daydreaming sequences. Unfortunately Louise receives some very sad news and her life faces a drastic conundrum.
After the death of her parents, Louise has become the sole caretaker and provider to her sister, they only have each other. Their situation is precarious to say the least but they remain positive regardless of the dire conditions in which they live in, they can face everything, or so they thought. One day all that changes and Louise finds herself between a rock and hard place. She must change all that she is in order to save her sister. She must forget about what is good and legal and embark on the riskiest journey of her life. There is only one problem, she doesn't know how to be bad, so she must seek help in the only person she knows to offer her all that, Sean. SO MUCH EASIER SAID THAN DONE!
Oh boy are these two prepared to face each other. I have never been so curious in my entire life!; Wont they, will they, this is it, maybe not, the chemistry and temperature was off the charts, you can feel the tension and this is a book don't forget, the ability to get the reader to this nail biting point is due to the incredible writing ability by Ms Newbury.
The story reaches a suspenseful climax, deemed of a Patterson or Fleming novel.
I've been privileged to have read the other books in the series and this one was another 5 star read. With a very exciting plot and with every element you seek in a contemporary steamy romance novel, Growing and Kissing will certainly be one of the biggest books we will see in 2016!.
5 ADDICTIVE STARS. Isalovesbooks
March 11, 2016
ARC received from author in exchange for an honest review.
I do hate to be in the minority when it comes to rating a book but this particular series are all just variations on a theme:
-Highly intelligent, innocent, girl comes into contact with huge, built, well hung, womanising, bad boy = instant mutual attraction (which they of course deny).
-Girl makes some irritatingly stupid decisions and needs the assistance of said bad boy, which then leads to him getting into trouble with even badder guys.
-In the midst of all this trouble, they 'fall in love' have mind-blowing, life altering sex, girl saves her mans ass, they foil the baddies, decide to live life on the straight and narrow and everyone lives happily ever after.
Puhlease..... Louise, the female lead was too annoying to be likeable and Sean was one dimensional. This was too far fetched and utterly unbelievable.
I do hate to be in the minority when it comes to rating a book but this particular series are all just variations on a theme:
-Highly intelligent, innocent, girl comes into contact with huge, built, well hung, womanising, bad boy = instant mutual attraction (which they of course deny).
-Girl makes some irritatingly stupid decisions and needs the assistance of said bad boy, which then leads to him getting into trouble with even badder guys.
-In the midst of all this trouble, they 'fall in love' have mind-blowing, life altering sex, girl saves her mans ass, they foil the baddies, decide to live life on the straight and narrow and everyone lives happily ever after.
Puhlease..... Louise, the female lead was too annoying to be likeable and Sean was one dimensional. This was too far fetched and utterly unbelievable.
January 24, 2018
DNF at 56%. The story lost me. I lost interest. I am not sure what it was, but I found my skimming more than reading. The chapters would say "one month", "two months". Nothing happened. It honestly got boring. The MCs would just dream or there would be A LOT of inner dialogue about they wished would happen.
The switch in POVs happened too quickly. I found myself disconnecting. It would have been better to stick to one POV. This may work for you. This is my opinion.
The switch in POVs happened too quickly. I found myself disconnecting. It would have been better to stick to one POV. This may work for you. This is my opinion.
March 20, 2016
Helena Newbury is a voice to be reckoned with in bad boy romance. Not only is it powerful and intense, but also inventive with those amazingly hot plots.
This premise hooked me instantly. Good, smart girl has to gain bad boy's help to save her sick sister. She's good with plants, he's good with a sledgehammer. And they are painfully attracted to each other. Isn't that fuel for naughty thoughts and rampant reading? Oh, yeah :-D
The introduction to Irish beast Sean O'Harra penetrates the reader's mind and envelopes it with sheer intensity. That elevator ride is one hell of a first glimpse into the combustible relationship that's coming up.
I admit it. The raw, dark pain that comes from a loved one being close to death really got to me through the author's writing. It was hard, but also amazingly real. And there was that part of the story that counterbalanced the misery with a beautiful sisterly relationship, a relatable and strong heroine, and an imposing, lonely anti-hero who might be a criminal but also screams "love me 'cause we both need it".
The coiled tension of their attraction and the heat between them is described in such a detailed way that it kept me mesmerised, and almost breathless from one scene to another. The characters were real and appealing to me. Sean is torn by his memories of pain, and he fears how his nearness might taint Louise. And she cannot explain why she shamefully wants to be taken by him with all the power in his body. That kind of build-up is quite overwhelming.
The evolution of the story is so compelling too. On the one hand, there is Louise's unshakable faith in turning into a temporary-bad girl to save her sister's life, the huge sacrifices she makes. And on the other, we have the Irishman, so complex and deeply wounded, his unexpected origins made him difficult to approach at first but then so uniquely strong and loyal as well.
This story is a neon-illuminated 5-star read to me. I had fun and smiled and teared up a little and squirmed at the scorching heat of this couple. Moreover, its real power lies in body-wrenching, heart-lurching, life-changing love. The kind Louise, Sean and her sister Kayley show, and the thrill that comes from this tight plot with drug dealers, crop-growing, doomed love and the reasons behind going rogue, all told with this intensely intimate writing style.
It can't get any better than this in terms of thrilling plot, character development and bad-ass passion. Wow, this book!
(On a side note, I'm not a fan of any covers that I've seen attached to this book, I think it deserves much better.)
This premise hooked me instantly. Good, smart girl has to gain bad boy's help to save her sick sister. She's good with plants, he's good with a sledgehammer. And they are painfully attracted to each other. Isn't that fuel for naughty thoughts and rampant reading? Oh, yeah :-D
The introduction to Irish beast Sean O'Harra penetrates the reader's mind and envelopes it with sheer intensity. That elevator ride is one hell of a first glimpse into the combustible relationship that's coming up.
I admit it. The raw, dark pain that comes from a loved one being close to death really got to me through the author's writing. It was hard, but also amazingly real. And there was that part of the story that counterbalanced the misery with a beautiful sisterly relationship, a relatable and strong heroine, and an imposing, lonely anti-hero who might be a criminal but also screams "love me 'cause we both need it".
The coiled tension of their attraction and the heat between them is described in such a detailed way that it kept me mesmerised, and almost breathless from one scene to another. The characters were real and appealing to me. Sean is torn by his memories of pain, and he fears how his nearness might taint Louise. And she cannot explain why she shamefully wants to be taken by him with all the power in his body. That kind of build-up is quite overwhelming.
The evolution of the story is so compelling too. On the one hand, there is Louise's unshakable faith in turning into a temporary-bad girl to save her sister's life, the huge sacrifices she makes. And on the other, we have the Irishman, so complex and deeply wounded, his unexpected origins made him difficult to approach at first but then so uniquely strong and loyal as well.
This story is a neon-illuminated 5-star read to me. I had fun and smiled and teared up a little and squirmed at the scorching heat of this couple. Moreover, its real power lies in body-wrenching, heart-lurching, life-changing love. The kind Louise, Sean and her sister Kayley show, and the thrill that comes from this tight plot with drug dealers, crop-growing, doomed love and the reasons behind going rogue, all told with this intensely intimate writing style.
It can't get any better than this in terms of thrilling plot, character development and bad-ass passion. Wow, this book!
(On a side note, I'm not a fan of any covers that I've seen attached to this book, I think it deserves much better.)
February 14, 2022
you need to read this
I cannot get enough of these bada$$ brothers! Each one is just as gruff and mean and volatile as the next, but they’re also squishy teddy bears for their women.
Louise and Sean are as opposite as can be, but they’re basically a dream team when put together. Their story was full of intense action and steamy scenes, with the tension practically wafting from the pages.
In other words, an absolute MUST READ book.
I cannot get enough of these bada$$ brothers! Each one is just as gruff and mean and volatile as the next, but they’re also squishy teddy bears for their women.
Louise and Sean are as opposite as can be, but they’re basically a dream team when put together. Their story was full of intense action and steamy scenes, with the tension practically wafting from the pages.
In other words, an absolute MUST READ book.
July 21, 2025
The MMC was written perfectly. He’s an a-hole to everyone but her. Beautiful
March 15, 2016
4.5 -- Goddess Of Nature -- stars
Louise has been taking care of her sister since they lost their parents. Louise’s sister has been tired a lot for a while and at the hospital they find out she has leukemia. She has to have a special treatment and that costs a lot of money. Louise comes up with plan, but she will need the help of a bad boy, a criminal for the plan to work. Everybody is afraid of the Irishman Sean and everybody knows he’s a criminal, so he’s the perfect man for her plan. He first refuses, because Louise is too innocent. Louise is determined and continues with her plan. Sean finds that out and decides to help her so he can protect her. They spend a lot of time together. They both want each other, but keep each other at a distant. Sometimes things do get heated between them and then one day they finally admit their feelings to each other.
I loved Louise and Sean, but I loved Sean a little bit more. Sean is dangerous and dark. He’s a bad boy, but he’s different with Louise. He wants her badly and cares about her. But he keeps pushing her away, because he thinks she deserves better and wants to keep her away from his world. He does everything he can to protect her. Louise is a very strong, smart, shy and curvy woman. She takes care of her sister and gives up everything for her. Louise is having a difficult time, but she has a plan and nothing can stop her from executing it. She sees more in Sean than Sean sees in himself. She also knows he would never hurt her no matter how angry he looks. She has wanted Sean since meeting him, but keeps him at a distant for a good reason. In the end, they are a great couple.
I loved the way the book started. I loved the first two sentences, just like the last two sentences of the book. I was hooked after reading the first chapter. I also loved the suspense. I was constantly wondering what could happen next, if someone would ever find out what they’re doing and how this book would end. I absolutely loved the epilogue! It was beautiful!
I really enjoyed this book a lot and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next!
-- ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! --
Louise has been taking care of her sister since they lost their parents. Louise’s sister has been tired a lot for a while and at the hospital they find out she has leukemia. She has to have a special treatment and that costs a lot of money. Louise comes up with plan, but she will need the help of a bad boy, a criminal for the plan to work. Everybody is afraid of the Irishman Sean and everybody knows he’s a criminal, so he’s the perfect man for her plan. He first refuses, because Louise is too innocent. Louise is determined and continues with her plan. Sean finds that out and decides to help her so he can protect her. They spend a lot of time together. They both want each other, but keep each other at a distant. Sometimes things do get heated between them and then one day they finally admit their feelings to each other.
I loved Louise and Sean, but I loved Sean a little bit more. Sean is dangerous and dark. He’s a bad boy, but he’s different with Louise. He wants her badly and cares about her. But he keeps pushing her away, because he thinks she deserves better and wants to keep her away from his world. He does everything he can to protect her. Louise is a very strong, smart, shy and curvy woman. She takes care of her sister and gives up everything for her. Louise is having a difficult time, but she has a plan and nothing can stop her from executing it. She sees more in Sean than Sean sees in himself. She also knows he would never hurt her no matter how angry he looks. She has wanted Sean since meeting him, but keeps him at a distant for a good reason. In the end, they are a great couple.
I loved the way the book started. I loved the first two sentences, just like the last two sentences of the book. I was hooked after reading the first chapter. I also loved the suspense. I was constantly wondering what could happen next, if someone would ever find out what they’re doing and how this book would end. I absolutely loved the epilogue! It was beautiful!
I really enjoyed this book a lot and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next!
-- ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! --
March 17, 2016
Wow, why is there no Sean in my life and......? ;-)
How to describe "Growing and Kissing" without making it too plain or spoiling the content?
Hate, desire, love, this all (and of course at the same time) with lots of action and oh sooooo
many hot scenes, all in a bunch of unexpected situations.....
I know, I know it's hard to understand me right now, but this is exactly how I perceive that book.
This book is a emotional rollercoaster, as all Helena's books.
That unexpected, exciting and sensual in her books, is so unique.
You have no choice, you just have to love her books.
Every time I'm reading one, I'm afraid that it will be over to soon.
What of course is, if you read all night long.
Every time I read one, I'm already thinking "hm when can I have her next book"
The way how Helena writes makes me feel so addicted to her books.
Helena I am waiting for more ;-)
Please!?
How to describe "Growing and Kissing" without making it too plain or spoiling the content?
Hate, desire, love, this all (and of course at the same time) with lots of action and oh sooooo
many hot scenes, all in a bunch of unexpected situations.....
I know, I know it's hard to understand me right now, but this is exactly how I perceive that book.
This book is a emotional rollercoaster, as all Helena's books.
That unexpected, exciting and sensual in her books, is so unique.
You have no choice, you just have to love her books.
Every time I'm reading one, I'm afraid that it will be over to soon.
What of course is, if you read all night long.
Every time I read one, I'm already thinking "hm when can I have her next book"
The way how Helena writes makes me feel so addicted to her books.
Helena I am waiting for more ;-)
Please!?
June 25, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed a complementary copy from the author with no obligation.
Wow. This story had me sitting on the edge of my seat. One minute, I would think Louise and Sean had things under control, and then bam, the author threw in another gripping element to the story. I felt so bad for the two of them and was just rooting for things to go smoothly for once for them.
The author had me experiencing a whole range of emotions, from nail biting to almost crying. Did not want the story to end.
Wow. This story had me sitting on the edge of my seat. One minute, I would think Louise and Sean had things under control, and then bam, the author threw in another gripping element to the story. I felt so bad for the two of them and was just rooting for things to go smoothly for once for them.
The author had me experiencing a whole range of emotions, from nail biting to almost crying. Did not want the story to end.
January 25, 2022
Another book from this author that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Sean is an enforcer that Ives in the same building as Louise. When Louise needs to make some money to pay for cancer treatment for her sister, she turns to him for help.
Sean doesn’t think he’s worthy of Louise. Louise disagrees.
This was action packed and the main characters have a lot of chemistry. Definitely another book by this author that makes you wonder what’s coming next.
Sean is an enforcer that Ives in the same building as Louise. When Louise needs to make some money to pay for cancer treatment for her sister, she turns to him for help.
Sean doesn’t think he’s worthy of Louise. Louise disagrees.
This was action packed and the main characters have a lot of chemistry. Definitely another book by this author that makes you wonder what’s coming next.
November 12, 2022
💟💟💟💟💟
I'm in love with this series! All of the O'Harra brothers are to die! This story was so different then the others. I loved it.
I'm in love with this series! All of the O'Harra brothers are to die! This story was so different then the others. I loved it.
August 25, 2024
Ok Helena Newbury! There's so much coming out right now in contemporary romance, even dark romance, that feels the same. Any original premise is intriguing at this point, and the description of this that I saw (on r/RomanceBooks, thanks friends!) really caught me. While there was certainly some stretching of plausibility, it was written in a way that felt convincing enough, and I ultimately enjoyed reading it. If GR did half stars, I'd give it 3.5, but I'll round up this time.
Bad for Me is book 2 in a series featuring the O'Harra brothers but can definitely be read as a standalone - I haven't read any of the others and didn't miss anything. Bad for Me features MMC Sean, an "enforcer for hire" who scares the whole neighborhood, and FMC Louise lives in his building. Louise had to drop out of college (where she was pursuing basically a plant horticulture/botany degree) to take care of her now-teenage sister when her parents passed away and is scraping away at a garden store making ends meet. The first blow comes when her sister is diagnosed with cancer. The second is when the oncologist tells her that the only possible chance of her sister getting better is at an incredibly expensive facility in Switzerland. Louise's garden store money isn't going to cut it, and her business school bestie recommends starting a business. And there's one thing Louise is REALLY good at - growing things. One evening while tending to her plants on the roof, she stumbles upon some hidden weed plants that are struggling and starts watering them. Turns out they belong to hot, dangerous downstairs neighbor Sean. And the opportunity to make enough money to save her sister was born. Louise convinces Sean to help her, since she's good at plants and he's good at general shadiness. While Louise's heart is open, Sean's is sealed tight and covered with battle scars. Can they find even footing, and ultimately save Louise's sister? (It's a romance novel so, obviously.)
Non-spoiler likes and dislikes:
Original premise! Cool, different idea. Even a lot of dark romance is formulaic. Science romance oftentimes leans really heavily into a character's nerdiness and awkwardness (or noted lack of those things, and how much of a surprise it is that the genius character is actually hot). While I would definitely not categorize this as STEM or science romance, there is applied science happening.
Knew when to be vague vs. detailed. Story details fall into two camps for me: either detailed enough that you can tell that the author took time and effort to do research and explain things correctly, OR vague enough that we know what the author is talking about but they can't mess up in egregious ways. It's when things fall in the middle - an author gets lazy or just doesn't care about relative accuracy, that I get annoyed. I think this book did a good job (as far as the plant/weed farming aspects were concerned) of staying vague but just plausible enough. For example, talking about what stages to fertilize but not going so far as to talk about actual fertilizer contents. Her sister's chemo treatments and hospital stays were probably not accurate at all, but everything was vague enough to feed the plot and keep the story moving.
It wasn't all talking and feeling! Yes there's talking. Yes there's lots of feelings. But I enjoyed descriptive physical (not even spicy!) scenes like
The criminal parts were pretty fantastical. There's a LOT of suspension of disbelief required for anything involving the criminal parts of the book BUT! This is another one of those times where things were vague enough that it didn't bug me like it has with some other books - I think because it's so unrealistic and the author isn't pushing to make it realistic. It was almost campy at times and I didn't hate it - I actually think if you were to put this on screen and did it right, you could make a pretty cool Grindhouse-type situation out of it, and I'd absolutely watch it.
Overall, I liked this! The idea was cool, the lack of realism didn't bother me that much because it wasn't trying to be anything it wasn't. I was rooting for the MCs. I don't know if the author tried to make certain parts campy, but even if she didn't, I enjoyed said campiness! I'd read it again and recommend it to others. (I say this as a plausibility and detail buzzkill, too.)
I get most of my books from the library, so my ultimate rating system is, "would I spend money on this book?" In this case I had to buy the Kindle ebook (which, annoying, but fine), and I'm not upset that I did! I'll likely reread it sometime in the future.
Bad for Me is book 2 in a series featuring the O'Harra brothers but can definitely be read as a standalone - I haven't read any of the others and didn't miss anything. Bad for Me features MMC Sean, an "enforcer for hire" who scares the whole neighborhood, and FMC Louise lives in his building. Louise had to drop out of college (where she was pursuing basically a plant horticulture/botany degree) to take care of her now-teenage sister when her parents passed away and is scraping away at a garden store making ends meet. The first blow comes when her sister is diagnosed with cancer. The second is when the oncologist tells her that the only possible chance of her sister getting better is at an incredibly expensive facility in Switzerland. Louise's garden store money isn't going to cut it, and her business school bestie recommends starting a business. And there's one thing Louise is REALLY good at - growing things. One evening while tending to her plants on the roof, she stumbles upon some hidden weed plants that are struggling and starts watering them. Turns out they belong to hot, dangerous downstairs neighbor Sean. And the opportunity to make enough money to save her sister was born. Louise convinces Sean to help her, since she's good at plants and he's good at general shadiness. While Louise's heart is open, Sean's is sealed tight and covered with battle scars. Can they find even footing, and ultimately save Louise's sister? (It's a romance novel so, obviously.)
Non-spoiler likes and dislikes:
Original premise! Cool, different idea. Even a lot of dark romance is formulaic. Science romance oftentimes leans really heavily into a character's nerdiness and awkwardness (or noted lack of those things, and how much of a surprise it is that the genius character is actually hot). While I would definitely not categorize this as STEM or science romance, there is applied science happening.
Knew when to be vague vs. detailed. Story details fall into two camps for me: either detailed enough that you can tell that the author took time and effort to do research and explain things correctly, OR vague enough that we know what the author is talking about but they can't mess up in egregious ways. It's when things fall in the middle - an author gets lazy or just doesn't care about relative accuracy, that I get annoyed. I think this book did a good job (as far as the plant/weed farming aspects were concerned) of staying vague but just plausible enough. For example, talking about what stages to fertilize but not going so far as to talk about actual fertilizer contents. Her sister's chemo treatments and hospital stays were probably not accurate at all, but everything was vague enough to feed the plot and keep the story moving.
It wasn't all talking and feeling! Yes there's talking. Yes there's lots of feelings. But I enjoyed descriptive physical (not even spicy!) scenes like
The criminal parts were pretty fantastical. There's a LOT of suspension of disbelief required for anything involving the criminal parts of the book BUT! This is another one of those times where things were vague enough that it didn't bug me like it has with some other books - I think because it's so unrealistic and the author isn't pushing to make it realistic. It was almost campy at times and I didn't hate it - I actually think if you were to put this on screen and did it right, you could make a pretty cool Grindhouse-type situation out of it, and I'd absolutely watch it.
Overall, I liked this! The idea was cool, the lack of realism didn't bother me that much because it wasn't trying to be anything it wasn't. I was rooting for the MCs. I don't know if the author tried to make certain parts campy, but even if she didn't, I enjoyed said campiness! I'd read it again and recommend it to others. (I say this as a plausibility and detail buzzkill, too.)
I get most of my books from the library, so my ultimate rating system is, "would I spend money on this book?" In this case I had to buy the Kindle ebook (which, annoying, but fine), and I'm not upset that I did! I'll likely reread it sometime in the future.
June 11, 2019
If you are looking for this book, the name has been changed to Bad For Me on Amazon. I wasn’t able to find anything with the new name on Goodreads, however when I was on the Growing and Kissing page and clicked the Amazon link to purchase this book, it pulled up Bad For Me. The description for Bad For Me is the same as the description for Growing and Kissing. This is the second book in the O’Harra Brothers series.
I liked Sean and hated that everyone automatically assumed the worst about him, Louise included. He could definitely be brutal and his job was pretty rough, but given his past, he certainly acted the way he was taught. However there was a softness to him that he only showed to Louise, a gentle giant kindness that I adored.
I have to give credit to Louise. When her parents were killed, she stepped up to take care of her younger sister, Kayley, and was not bitter or resentful about it at all. I think Louise was only twenty-two and her sister fourteen. Once Kayley gets sick, Louise is determined to do whatever is necessary to get the money for the experimental treatment that could save her sister. Even break the law.
While I liked the tension and I enjoyed watching Sean and Louise fight their attraction towards each other, I was seriously ready for these two to finally go at it. I mean there were pages and pages of each of them daydreaming about how much they wanted the other person. I started skimming these paragraphs and was thrilled when they finally gave in. Additionally, I got a little annoyed with Louise and her constant opinions/thoughts about Sean being a criminal and her being a “good girl”. She was breaking the law too. Yeah, it was completely out of character for her, but give the guy a break. He went out of his way to help her and keep her safe. Louise needed to have a little more faith in Sean like he did her.
I had to stretch my imagination a little there towards the end in order to accept how everything worked out, but I liked how it ended and I am going to continue with this series in hopes of the brothers all coming together again at some point.
I liked Sean and hated that everyone automatically assumed the worst about him, Louise included. He could definitely be brutal and his job was pretty rough, but given his past, he certainly acted the way he was taught. However there was a softness to him that he only showed to Louise, a gentle giant kindness that I adored.
I have to give credit to Louise. When her parents were killed, she stepped up to take care of her younger sister, Kayley, and was not bitter or resentful about it at all. I think Louise was only twenty-two and her sister fourteen. Once Kayley gets sick, Louise is determined to do whatever is necessary to get the money for the experimental treatment that could save her sister. Even break the law.
While I liked the tension and I enjoyed watching Sean and Louise fight their attraction towards each other, I was seriously ready for these two to finally go at it. I mean there were pages and pages of each of them daydreaming about how much they wanted the other person. I started skimming these paragraphs and was thrilled when they finally gave in. Additionally, I got a little annoyed with Louise and her constant opinions/thoughts about Sean being a criminal and her being a “good girl”. She was breaking the law too. Yeah, it was completely out of character for her, but give the guy a break. He went out of his way to help her and keep her safe. Louise needed to have a little more faith in Sean like he did her.
I had to stretch my imagination a little there towards the end in order to accept how everything worked out, but I liked how it ended and I am going to continue with this series in hopes of the brothers all coming together again at some point.
November 1, 2023
22-year-old, Louise Willowby struggled to raise her teen sister and keep them out of the trouble their neighborhood was known for. Trying to think her way out of troubles her sister’s rapidly failing health brought, Louise stumbles onto notorious, sexy, legendary freelance enforcer Sean ‘The Irish’ O’Harra’s secret. He lets it slide when she gives him a helpful tip.
With no ideas or options except using her botany skills to become a grower, Louise asks Sean for help, he immediately refuses. Sean liked her and didn’t want to taint Louise by allowing his world to touch her, he didn’t know she liked him, too or how far she’d go to save her sister. When Sean discovered Louise was trying to do it on her own, he helped.
Working side by side, Louise and Sean’s tender feelings deepen and grow to an almost uncontrollable level but he has the presence of mind to stop them before they regret each other. Meanwhile, Sean’s clients become very curious what he’s doing since he’s not as available to them as he has been. One sends a pair of thugs to visit Chloe while Sean’s out.
Rating: 3.25stars
With no ideas or options except using her botany skills to become a grower, Louise asks Sean for help, he immediately refuses. Sean liked her and didn’t want to taint Louise by allowing his world to touch her, he didn’t know she liked him, too or how far she’d go to save her sister. When Sean discovered Louise was trying to do it on her own, he helped.
Working side by side, Louise and Sean’s tender feelings deepen and grow to an almost uncontrollable level but he has the presence of mind to stop them before they regret each other. Meanwhile, Sean’s clients become very curious what he’s doing since he’s not as available to them as he has been. One sends a pair of thugs to visit Chloe while Sean’s out.
Rating: 3.25stars
May 11, 2025
I enjoyed the tension and banter between Sean O'Harra and Louise Whillowby.
Louise finds herself struggling to understand why she has been given such a hard life. After Kayley and Louise both their parents in a car crash, Louise finds herself the mother for her 14 year old sister and faced with the situation she never thought she would be in.
The only thoughts running through her mind is how and why is it turning to the local criminal Sean "Irish" O'Harra who destroys anything any anyone who gets in his way. Louise is desperately hoping the aggressive dangerous man who happens to live on the floor above them will help.
You never know how far you will go when you are desperate to get the money needed. Louise knows she will never be the same again when she finds herself in his dangerous world.
Sean tries everything to keep her away from him and his world, however she is one stubborn determined wowan.
Can Sean protect her from his world before it totally destroys her.
The O'Harra brothers are indeed a well written storyline filled with plenty of danger, suspense and dark humour sprinkled with sadness heartache and plenty of emotions.
Louise finds herself struggling to understand why she has been given such a hard life. After Kayley and Louise both their parents in a car crash, Louise finds herself the mother for her 14 year old sister and faced with the situation she never thought she would be in.
The only thoughts running through her mind is how and why is it turning to the local criminal Sean "Irish" O'Harra who destroys anything any anyone who gets in his way. Louise is desperately hoping the aggressive dangerous man who happens to live on the floor above them will help.
You never know how far you will go when you are desperate to get the money needed. Louise knows she will never be the same again when she finds herself in his dangerous world.
Sean tries everything to keep her away from him and his world, however she is one stubborn determined wowan.
Can Sean protect her from his world before it totally destroys her.
The O'Harra brothers are indeed a well written storyline filled with plenty of danger, suspense and dark humour sprinkled with sadness heartache and plenty of emotions.
February 20, 2021
Breaking Bad meets Weeds meets Wreck-it Ralph, only better
3 for 3.
This is my 3rd Helena book and the 3rd that I've absolutely loved.
I love how there's not a single boring moment in her writing. I mean from the very first paragraph she has you riveted.
All of her books are action packed adventures ready for the Big Screen. As a bonus they are full of sexy steam while simultaneously showering you with sweetness.
It astounds me that for such outlandish adventures, still Helena manages to make them utterly believable. Her world and characters are fully developed. Her action scenes are visceral. Her dialogue flows perfectly. As if that's not enough her emotional connection is 100% palpable.
I'm impressed.
I read a lot, about a book a day to be precise. It's not easy to impress me when I've read it all. So, Kudos Helena Newbury. You have found a new die-hard fan. Now onto my 4th Newbury book.
3 for 3.
This is my 3rd Helena book and the 3rd that I've absolutely loved.
I love how there's not a single boring moment in her writing. I mean from the very first paragraph she has you riveted.
All of her books are action packed adventures ready for the Big Screen. As a bonus they are full of sexy steam while simultaneously showering you with sweetness.
It astounds me that for such outlandish adventures, still Helena manages to make them utterly believable. Her world and characters are fully developed. Her action scenes are visceral. Her dialogue flows perfectly. As if that's not enough her emotional connection is 100% palpable.
I'm impressed.
I read a lot, about a book a day to be precise. It's not easy to impress me when I've read it all. So, Kudos Helena Newbury. You have found a new die-hard fan. Now onto my 4th Newbury book.
August 11, 2017
Sean is a bad ass enforcer who criminals go to in order to scare people, Louise is a good girl, in charge of raising her sister after her parents' death. When Louise's sister is diagnosed with Leukemia, there's only one thing she can do to save her, and her surly neighbor Sean is the only one who can help her.
My only complaint in regard to this series is that the four books are incredibly similar. You're dealing with four brothers so similar personalities are natural, however their four women i'll have green eyes, and to have dark brown/black hair and to have red hair. The storylines follow a very similar track, but it is not a bad track. I love these books. I read all four in four days. And now I've found the book she wrote and posted on her page that brings the O'Herra brothers together. Can't wait to see what happens. I recommend this book and the series.
My only complaint in regard to this series is that the four books are incredibly similar. You're dealing with four brothers so similar personalities are natural, however their four women i'll have green eyes, and to have dark brown/black hair and to have red hair. The storylines follow a very similar track, but it is not a bad track. I love these books. I read all four in four days. And now I've found the book she wrote and posted on her page that brings the O'Herra brothers together. Can't wait to see what happens. I recommend this book and the series.
September 6, 2020
I definitely feel like this book was better because it didn’t have a martyr complex like “Outlaw’s Promise” and “Punching and Kissing.” I will say that the second half of this book was much better than the first half. When starting this book I didn’t feel any chemistry between Sean and Louise. I still don’t in some ways but they balance each other out.
I appreciate getting more characters in the book. From the drug lords to Louise’s sister. I feel bad that Stacey was kind of a filler character when reading it because she was useful to be there for Kayley, Louise’s sister, when Louise wasn’t free. I appreciated reading about the extremities of circumstances when faced with saving a loved one. However, I think that this book, lands as my least favorite in the series.
I appreciate getting more characters in the book. From the drug lords to Louise’s sister. I feel bad that Stacey was kind of a filler character when reading it because she was useful to be there for Kayley, Louise’s sister, when Louise wasn’t free. I appreciated reading about the extremities of circumstances when faced with saving a loved one. However, I think that this book, lands as my least favorite in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2023
Sean and Louise!
What a story!So bad,it's seems that those two couldn't have any good luck at all! Sean was a bad boy and Louise was a good girl but every one was against her haven't even a little bit of happiness, from almost losing her sister to the very end,going bad by growing weed to come up with the money to save Louise's sister,then having it stolen and then getting it bad but having a different drug dealer but getting stop by the cops before the met up.Things just seem to worst to worst,but their was happy points Sean and Louise fell for each other and they got to see Louise 's sister like her old self and Sean change his life style and even Louise change.Please read this you won't be disappointed, it has alot of downs but when the ups come they are plenty!
What a story!So bad,it's seems that those two couldn't have any good luck at all! Sean was a bad boy and Louise was a good girl but every one was against her haven't even a little bit of happiness, from almost losing her sister to the very end,going bad by growing weed to come up with the money to save Louise's sister,then having it stolen and then getting it bad but having a different drug dealer but getting stop by the cops before the met up.Things just seem to worst to worst,but their was happy points Sean and Louise fell for each other and they got to see Louise 's sister like her old self and Sean change his life style and even Louise change.Please read this you won't be disappointed, it has alot of downs but when the ups come they are plenty!
December 27, 2023
Excellent
A really good read a thoroughly enjoyable storyline and great characters, this is Sean O'Harra and Louise's story two very different characters she being the good girl doing g herbest to raise her younger sister after the death of their parents desperately trying to make ends meet. Sean is a bad boy hired muscle for anyone who needs someone needing a lesson he carries a sledge hammer and is good at smashing things up. These two come together under unusual circumstances she needs money fast to save her sister he has the knowledge to help her and their attraction is immediate and all consuming. Its a great read that keeps you riveted there is never a dull moment and their red hot chemistry scorches the pages.
A really good read a thoroughly enjoyable storyline and great characters, this is Sean O'Harra and Louise's story two very different characters she being the good girl doing g herbest to raise her younger sister after the death of their parents desperately trying to make ends meet. Sean is a bad boy hired muscle for anyone who needs someone needing a lesson he carries a sledge hammer and is good at smashing things up. These two come together under unusual circumstances she needs money fast to save her sister he has the knowledge to help her and their attraction is immediate and all consuming. Its a great read that keeps you riveted there is never a dull moment and their red hot chemistry scorches the pages.
January 4, 2023
Characters = 4/5
Plot = 4/5
Romance = 4/5
Hotness = 3/5
Mystery = 4/5
Action = 5/5
Drama = 5/5
Darkness = 3/5
Humor = 0/5
Stars = 4 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Cliffhanger = No
Would I recommend this book = Yes
Would I read future books by this author = Yes
Another nail biter as usual. The suspense was there with a tragically beautiful romance.
Loved the characters.
-Louise is the best big sister ever! Selfless. Brave, strong, and smart.
-Sean is a brutal Irishman especially with his sledgehammer. When it comes to Louise he is supportive and protective.
Another HEA. Can't wait to read about the other O'Harra brothers.
Plot = 4/5
Romance = 4/5
Hotness = 3/5
Mystery = 4/5
Action = 5/5
Drama = 5/5
Darkness = 3/5
Humor = 0/5
Stars = 4 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Cliffhanger = No
Would I recommend this book = Yes
Would I read future books by this author = Yes
Another nail biter as usual. The suspense was there with a tragically beautiful romance.
Loved the characters.
-Louise is the best big sister ever! Selfless. Brave, strong, and smart.
-Sean is a brutal Irishman especially with his sledgehammer. When it comes to Louise he is supportive and protective.
Another HEA. Can't wait to read about the other O'Harra brothers.
November 22, 2018
Had For Me
Sean O,Harra is a bad boy enforcer, known by all as The Irish. Louise lives with her 14 yr old sister. Until their parents died she was at college, she loved plants and everything to do with growing them. She was doing a botany degree and had plans to do a Phd in intensive growing so she could feed the world. Now she worked in a garden centre so she could feed her sister. Then Kayley got sick, needing expensive treatment sick. If she didn't find $500'000 for the treatment....... She had a plan, but needed help, the sort only Sean could provide.
Sue P
Sean O,Harra is a bad boy enforcer, known by all as The Irish. Louise lives with her 14 yr old sister. Until their parents died she was at college, she loved plants and everything to do with growing them. She was doing a botany degree and had plans to do a Phd in intensive growing so she could feed the world. Now she worked in a garden centre so she could feed her sister. Then Kayley got sick, needing expensive treatment sick. If she didn't find $500'000 for the treatment....... She had a plan, but needed help, the sort only Sean could provide.
Sue P
December 20, 2019
Growing and Kissing does not disappoint. I could not put this book down with all the crazy ups and downs that Sean and Lousie go through. There were several moments where I had to close my book because I couldn't take the stressful situation but then I had to open it back up not thirty seconds later because I had to know what happened next.
I love this series from Helena, how each is a standalone but still connected in a small way. And I cannot wait to see how the O'Harra brothers all come together... One day!!
I love this series from Helena, how each is a standalone but still connected in a small way. And I cannot wait to see how the O'Harra brothers all come together... One day!!
August 22, 2021
Complicated and loving
This story becomes so complicated with so many moving pieces. Louise has a crazy idea on how to make money to save her little sister Kayley. Sean doesn't want to get involved with helping Loose with her crazy idea but he knows if doesn't she'll end up getting herself killed. They start out as partners, muscle and brains, but after a time that all changes. There are some intense scenes. Every book in this series tells about the life of one of five brothers.
This story becomes so complicated with so many moving pieces. Louise has a crazy idea on how to make money to save her little sister Kayley. Sean doesn't want to get involved with helping Loose with her crazy idea but he knows if doesn't she'll end up getting herself killed. They start out as partners, muscle and brains, but after a time that all changes. There are some intense scenes. Every book in this series tells about the life of one of five brothers.
December 20, 2017
This author never disappoints
I have to be honest, I didn't fancy this one because of the drugs element. Everyone has their views but I'm against recreational drugs of any sort. Once I put aside my personal opinion I was emerged into the story and it was surprising good, I liked the characters, dialogue and story very much.The writing was just perfect.
Helena Newbury is brilliant at romance with grit and I can't wait to read brothers.
I have to be honest, I didn't fancy this one because of the drugs element. Everyone has their views but I'm against recreational drugs of any sort. Once I put aside my personal opinion I was emerged into the story and it was surprising good, I liked the characters, dialogue and story very much.The writing was just perfect.
Helena Newbury is brilliant at romance with grit and I can't wait to read brothers.
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