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Burned Promises
My world is caving in on itself; the scars of my past threatening to consume me.
I was ready to fall from the top of my empire and I didn't give a damn.
But then she showed up; falling back into my life and into my bed.
My sweetheart.
I’m not the type of man to make promises. But long ago I made one to her, and then broke it, pushing her as far away as I could. She’s too good for this shit and I couldn’t risk her.
I should let her walk away again; I'm a bad man, but I'm too selfish.
This time, I'm keeping her.
I was ready to fall from the top of my empire and I didn't give a damn.
But then she showed up; falling back into my life and into my bed.
My sweetheart.
I’m not the type of man to make promises. But long ago I made one to her, and then broke it, pushing her as far away as I could. She’s too good for this shit and I couldn’t risk her.
I should let her walk away again; I'm a bad man, but I'm too selfish.
This time, I'm keeping her.
174 pages, ebook
First published July 7, 2017
1052 people are currently reading
3296 people want to read
About the author
Willow Winters
167 books21.1k followersWillow Winters is so happy to be a USA Today, Wall Street Journal and #1 Contemporary Best Selling Author!
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Willow started writing after having her little girl, Evie, December 2015. All during her pregnancy with Evie she continued to read and she only wanted to read romance. She was reading a book a day — sometimes two.
In January 2016 Willow was staying up late with Evie and just thinking of all these stories. They came to her constantly so she finally sat down and just started writing. She always wanted to do it so she figured, why not? Today Willow cannot be happier for making that decision!
Want to know how to read Willow's books? Get a FREE PDF download from Willow here: https://www.willowwinterswrites.com/o...
Stay up to date!
Want a text alert? Text "Willow" to (302) 205-3701
Sign up to my newsletter + get EXCLUSIVE content, sneak peeks, and FREE books monthly: https://willowwinterswrites.com
All the other details you need to know: https://geni.us/3B53kF
Willow started writing after having her little girl, Evie, December 2015. All during her pregnancy with Evie she continued to read and she only wanted to read romance. She was reading a book a day — sometimes two.
In January 2016 Willow was staying up late with Evie and just thinking of all these stories. They came to her constantly so she finally sat down and just started writing. She always wanted to do it so she figured, why not? Today Willow cannot be happier for making that decision!
Want to know how to read Willow's books? Get a FREE PDF download from Willow here: https://www.willowwinterswrites.com/o...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
July 16, 2017
Title: ➳ Burned Promises❤💕
Author: ➳ Willow Winters
➦Another great read by this talented author. I can’t get enough of this author
Emma is in College staying with her sister up north, & its winter break before her last semester.
She has never forgotten her 1st & only love Derek. The person she had to walk away from cuz he was selling drugs right after high school she end it.
No knew about Emma & Derek dating in high school. So Now years later when she comes home for winter break her sister Sandra thinks nothing of it when her boyfriend bring his friend Derek over to their house
Derek thought that Emma was the only good thing in his life & he let her go for her own safety.
Now that Emma is back in Derek, he will stop at nothing to get her back
I don't normally like second chance Romance too much, but this one seem so different from the rest.I loved this story that has steamy scenes but is also filled with heartache, heartbreak & a love that never died. Derek refuses to let Emma walk away again
I will always recommend any books by this author, for so many reasons.
➦Hope you enjoy this read & also always keep in mind this is just my opinion
➦**"I voluntarily reviewed this ARC" ..**
.**In exchange for an honest review.**
💋 💖 Paulette Review ❤💕
Author: ➳ Willow Winters
➦Another great read by this talented author. I can’t get enough of this author
Emma is in College staying with her sister up north, & its winter break before her last semester.
She has never forgotten her 1st & only love Derek. The person she had to walk away from cuz he was selling drugs right after high school she end it.
No knew about Emma & Derek dating in high school. So Now years later when she comes home for winter break her sister Sandra thinks nothing of it when her boyfriend bring his friend Derek over to their house
Derek thought that Emma was the only good thing in his life & he let her go for her own safety.
Now that Emma is back in Derek, he will stop at nothing to get her back
I don't normally like second chance Romance too much, but this one seem so different from the rest.I loved this story that has steamy scenes but is also filled with heartache, heartbreak & a love that never died. Derek refuses to let Emma walk away again
I will always recommend any books by this author, for so many reasons.
➦Hope you enjoy this read & also always keep in mind this is just my opinion
➦**"I voluntarily reviewed this ARC" ..**
.**In exchange for an honest review.**
💋 💖 Paulette Review ❤💕
January 24, 2022
I'm -
This was the first (I think???) and definitely the last book I read from Miss Winters. Just...I know, I know, I know, research might be time-consuming and tiresome, but I swear, googling things does not physically hurt you. And yet -
So this is pretty much a standard good girl-bad boy second chance romance. One that's written horribly, mind you, but overall a pretty standard one. Weren't it for the fact that it is completely ridiculous. Lemme just share some awesome quotes so you can experience what I have, I know y'all want to 🙃🙃
The bad boy isn’t meant to have the good girl. My life was hard and dangerous; there was too much that could’ve happened if she’d been home in my bed while I went out and made this life for myself. I made more than a life. I carved out a reputation that creates fear, and commands respect.
I just want to underline this - author was so determined to ensure I, as a reader, KNEW that Derek was a bad boy and Emma was a good girl and their sweet young love was doomed from the start, she kept on beating that fact into my brain with the mighty force of Thor's hammer, I really stood no chance.
That’s what this is now, an empire and moneymaker. I went from a kid dealing dope, to a boss producing the best weed there is and streamlining the business. I’m only in it for the money though, and it’s getting old. I have more than enough at this point, and I don’t have my heart for it like Tony does.
I’m not just a drug dealer anymore. Now, I run this town. Every piece of it. If there’s a business I don’t own, you better believe they owe me in some way. I didn’t ask for this, but when you have the wealth and power I do, opportunities fall in your lap. And I took them.
Yup, you read that right. The Ultimate Bad Boy™ was/is adrug weed dealer turned weed supplier. That's the main reason heroine broke it off with him in high school, btw. But what I seriously cannot get over is the way this is written - you'd think he was Don fucking Corleone, "running this town", and he's just a teenage weed dealer turned weed producer, which can be a legit business, depending on the state / country 🤣🤣🤣 He has an "empire" at TWENTY THREE (23) which consists of that weed business, and a few restaurants in his unnamed hometown.
This is stupid and not going to end well. But I want to do it so badly. I want to be bad for him.
I WANNA BE BAD FOR HIM, and you know what he asked her to do? Take a whiff of weed from his mouth 🤣😭😭
And in this line of business, death happens.
But what makes Emma's should-I-shotgun-weed moral debate even more ridiculous is the scene happening the following day. When Derek takes her out for dinner, she asks him the inevitable "Have you eva killed somebody?" and his reply is basically "oh babygirl a mans gotta do what he's gotta do, I didn't like it or anything and I will KEEP YOU SAFE, don't worry your pretty little head" -
How do Emma and her superior moral compass react to that? Well, she's upset for 5 seconds, but then Derek says he also owns some legitimate businesses, like restaurants, so suddenly she's like "oh never mind dead people, that's cool" 🤣🤣🤣 Girl was giving me such whiplash with her multiple-choice superior morality, I needed a neck massage afterwards.
Not to mention, when they're having dinner, some jerk of a customer mouths off to the waitress and Derek physically throws him out and then beats the guy - does that act of violence scares our innocent lil' lamb Emma, just as her mans scary pot-growing job does?
Nah, they're making out against Derek's car 10 seconds later.
Emma spent the entire book basically doing what Derektold asked her to do. Peak comedy was the scene in the very first chapter when they get reacquainted after not seeing each other for 5 years, and they start making out 2 pages later. And Emma...was just so resigned because "she just cannot resist him ANY LONGER" 😭💀 I stopped looking for any evidence of an existing spine in this girl after chapter 3 because I knew I wouldn't find any.
Anyway...this has been...an experience. RIP my lost braincells, you will be missed.
Trigger warnings: domestic abuse (past, off-page), cancer (mother of MC), loss of a loved one, euthanasia
This was the first (I think???) and definitely the last book I read from Miss Winters. Just...I know, I know, I know, research might be time-consuming and tiresome, but I swear, googling things does not physically hurt you. And yet -
So this is pretty much a standard good girl-bad boy second chance romance. One that's written horribly, mind you, but overall a pretty standard one. Weren't it for the fact that it is completely ridiculous. Lemme just share some awesome quotes so you can experience what I have, I know y'all want to 🙃🙃
The bad boy isn’t meant to have the good girl. My life was hard and dangerous; there was too much that could’ve happened if she’d been home in my bed while I went out and made this life for myself. I made more than a life. I carved out a reputation that creates fear, and commands respect.
I just want to underline this - author was so determined to ensure I, as a reader, KNEW that Derek was a bad boy and Emma was a good girl and their sweet young love was doomed from the start, she kept on beating that fact into my brain with the mighty force of Thor's hammer, I really stood no chance.
That’s what this is now, an empire and moneymaker. I went from a kid dealing dope, to a boss producing the best weed there is and streamlining the business. I’m only in it for the money though, and it’s getting old. I have more than enough at this point, and I don’t have my heart for it like Tony does.
I’m not just a drug dealer anymore. Now, I run this town. Every piece of it. If there’s a business I don’t own, you better believe they owe me in some way. I didn’t ask for this, but when you have the wealth and power I do, opportunities fall in your lap. And I took them.
Yup, you read that right. The Ultimate Bad Boy™ was/is a
This is stupid and not going to end well. But I want to do it so badly. I want to be bad for him.
I WANNA BE BAD FOR HIM, and you know what he asked her to do? Take a whiff of weed from his mouth 🤣😭😭
And in this line of business, death happens.
But what makes Emma's should-I-shotgun-weed moral debate even more ridiculous is the scene happening the following day. When Derek takes her out for dinner, she asks him the inevitable "Have you eva killed somebody?" and his reply is basically "oh babygirl a mans gotta do what he's gotta do, I didn't like it or anything and I will KEEP YOU SAFE, don't worry your pretty little head" -
How do Emma and her superior moral compass react to that? Well, she's upset for 5 seconds, but then Derek says he also owns some legitimate businesses, like restaurants, so suddenly she's like "oh never mind dead people, that's cool" 🤣🤣🤣 Girl was giving me such whiplash with her multiple-choice superior morality, I needed a neck massage afterwards.
Not to mention, when they're having dinner, some jerk of a customer mouths off to the waitress and Derek physically throws him out and then beats the guy - does that act of violence scares our innocent lil' lamb Emma, just as her mans scary pot-growing job does?
Nah, they're making out against Derek's car 10 seconds later.
Emma spent the entire book basically doing what Derek
Anyway...this has been...an experience. RIP my lost braincells, you will be missed.
Trigger warnings: domestic abuse (past, off-page), cancer (mother of MC), loss of a loved one, euthanasia
July 13, 2017
3.95 Stars
Emma Fletcher has always been a good girl, but that didn’t stop her from secretly hanging out with bad boy Derek Wade in high school. That is until she found out he was dealing drugs. Then she walked away. Now five years later, she’s back in town and Derek walks back into her life.
“I’m going to do bad things tonight. I can feel it. But it’ll be with him.”
I really got pulled into this one and quickly had a feel for where they were at in life. The tension and chemistry was apparent. The scene where they get high together….holy cow, I never thought smoking pot could be sensual, but in that scene it definitely comes off that way. The book was off to a heated start so I was a bit disappointed when their future sexual encounters lacked the intimacy that the opening one rocked.
"Even that little bit of touch makes my breathing come out harder. I gotta get these fucking clothes off and get inside her."
Initially Derek emits a kind of cool confidence which made him intriguing. But as Emma and the reader soon finds out, Derek has suffered a troubled family life. He has difficulty communicating and baggage from his past. While Emma is drawn to him and often feels as if she gives in to him, I appreciated all the points where she asserted resistance. I didn’t like the frequent message— of not asking questions and turning a blind eye— that was pushed on her by Derek and her sister. I really wish Sandra and Tony had been developed more as characters as they seemed to play a bigger role in the story. There were certainly places in Derek and Emma’s relationship that could have been fleshed out too. That aside, it was clear that Emma had a caring heart and was exactly what Derek needed to deal with his issues and become a better and happier person. The fact that Derek didn’t waiver in his desire to get Emma back was definitely crucial to the romantic aspect of the story.
“‘I’ll be whatever you want. I’ll give you whatever you want. I’ll tell you everything. Please, just don’t leave me.’”
This was a more emotional or sadder read than what I typically gravitate too, but it was very engaging. Readers with triggers for drug use and illness/parent dying of cancer will want to be aware that both play a role in the story.
There are a few continuity errors which suggested the story could have benefited from another round of edits. Emma relates that she doesn’t like the cold in their hometown and that, “It doesn’t snow like this down south where I go to school.” While their hometown is not specified, it is stated that Emma is getting her degree at John Hopkins. John Hopkins University is located in Baltimore, Maryland, technically in the geographic south as in it’s south of the Mason-Dixon line, but more accurately a Mid-Atlantic state where the climate is not much different from it’s northern neighbors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey—as in it certainly gets cold and snows there in the winter. Also Emma states her sister’s profession is a night nurse, but Sandra comes home in scrubs in the evening and then stays home all night. Later in the story, Emma states that it’s been 2 days since she saw Derek and then a few pages later she says he’s had her every day.
Despite these hiccups, it’s still a story that kept me interested. Told via Emma and Derek’s alternating first person POV, the mild angst and conflict revolves around their lifestyle differences and the stress Derek is under. It is pleasingly void of OW/OM drama. It also avoids the overused, sexist second-chance romance trope where the hero sleeps around and the heroine stays celibate. Yay! :)
Safety recap:
*I purchased this as a freebie from Amazon. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of transparency and providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating.
Emma Fletcher has always been a good girl, but that didn’t stop her from secretly hanging out with bad boy Derek Wade in high school. That is until she found out he was dealing drugs. Then she walked away. Now five years later, she’s back in town and Derek walks back into her life.
“I’m going to do bad things tonight. I can feel it. But it’ll be with him.”
I really got pulled into this one and quickly had a feel for where they were at in life. The tension and chemistry was apparent. The scene where they get high together….holy cow, I never thought smoking pot could be sensual, but in that scene it definitely comes off that way. The book was off to a heated start so I was a bit disappointed when their future sexual encounters lacked the intimacy that the opening one rocked.
"Even that little bit of touch makes my breathing come out harder. I gotta get these fucking clothes off and get inside her."
Initially Derek emits a kind of cool confidence which made him intriguing. But as Emma and the reader soon finds out, Derek has suffered a troubled family life. He has difficulty communicating and baggage from his past. While Emma is drawn to him and often feels as if she gives in to him, I appreciated all the points where she asserted resistance. I didn’t like the frequent message— of not asking questions and turning a blind eye— that was pushed on her by Derek and her sister. I really wish Sandra and Tony had been developed more as characters as they seemed to play a bigger role in the story. There were certainly places in Derek and Emma’s relationship that could have been fleshed out too. That aside, it was clear that Emma had a caring heart and was exactly what Derek needed to deal with his issues and become a better and happier person. The fact that Derek didn’t waiver in his desire to get Emma back was definitely crucial to the romantic aspect of the story.
“‘I’ll be whatever you want. I’ll give you whatever you want. I’ll tell you everything. Please, just don’t leave me.’”
This was a more emotional or sadder read than what I typically gravitate too, but it was very engaging. Readers with triggers for drug use and illness/parent dying of cancer will want to be aware that both play a role in the story.
There are a few continuity errors which suggested the story could have benefited from another round of edits. Emma relates that she doesn’t like the cold in their hometown and that, “It doesn’t snow like this down south where I go to school.” While their hometown is not specified, it is stated that Emma is getting her degree at John Hopkins. John Hopkins University is located in Baltimore, Maryland, technically in the geographic south as in it’s south of the Mason-Dixon line, but more accurately a Mid-Atlantic state where the climate is not much different from it’s northern neighbors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey—as in it certainly gets cold and snows there in the winter. Also Emma states her sister’s profession is a night nurse, but Sandra comes home in scrubs in the evening and then stays home all night. Later in the story, Emma states that it’s been 2 days since she saw Derek and then a few pages later she says he’s had her every day.
Despite these hiccups, it’s still a story that kept me interested. Told via Emma and Derek’s alternating first person POV, the mild angst and conflict revolves around their lifestyle differences and the stress Derek is under. It is pleasingly void of OW/OM drama. It also avoids the overused, sexist second-chance romance trope where the hero sleeps around and the heroine stays celibate. Yay! :)
Safety recap:
*I purchased this as a freebie from Amazon. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of transparency and providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating.
July 16, 2017
*facepalm* what did I just read. DNF @35%
Normally I can read a book and not care if its OTT dramatic and unrealistic, but the premise of this book was just stupid.
The author has no idea what she's writing about. Willow Winters needs to do more homework.
Our hero is a weed dealer and the heroine breaks it off with him because she doesn't want to get involved with that. Simple enough right? But the author writes the story as if the hero deals meth, heroin or cocaine, ya know, real drugs . Which he doesn't, he states enough times that he only deals and smokes weed. Smoking pot is no longer a taboo subject and really, who gives a crap if anyone smokes it? To me, smoking pot is like getting a drink at a bar with some friends- its normal. Not to mention that its being legalized everywhere. (I realize this isn't everyones opinion, but marijuana is harmless so get over it.)
Back to my point-- all of a sudden the hero tells the heroine he's killed people because 'they want what he has'. Has the author ever even met a pot smoker?? Pot smokers are the chillest people on planet earth who like to eat Doritos when they get high-- not exactly killing machines.
Basically the author wanted to write a bad boy drug dealer but doesn't know how.
Normally I can read a book and not care if its OTT dramatic and unrealistic, but the premise of this book was just stupid.
The author has no idea what she's writing about. Willow Winters needs to do more homework.
Our hero is a weed dealer and the heroine breaks it off with him because she doesn't want to get involved with that. Simple enough right? But the author writes the story as if the hero deals meth, heroin or cocaine, ya know, real drugs . Which he doesn't, he states enough times that he only deals and smokes weed. Smoking pot is no longer a taboo subject and really, who gives a crap if anyone smokes it? To me, smoking pot is like getting a drink at a bar with some friends- its normal. Not to mention that its being legalized everywhere. (I realize this isn't everyones opinion, but marijuana is harmless so get over it.)
Back to my point-- all of a sudden the hero tells the heroine he's killed people because 'they want what he has'. Has the author ever even met a pot smoker?? Pot smokers are the chillest people on planet earth who like to eat Doritos when they get high-- not exactly killing machines.
Basically the author wanted to write a bad boy drug dealer but doesn't know how.
Want to read
March 21, 2020FREE on Amazon today (10/26/2017)!
July 10, 2017
FIERY ROMANCE
Derek and Emma were high school sweethearts, but Derek was dangerous with an illegal reputation. Not wanting to be involved in his secretive life she walked away. Now five years later Derek is wealthy and this bad boy has his second chance; he will do anything to make Emma his.
A wonderfully written story with praiseworthy characters, an intriguing plot that keeps you hooked, emotional moments that pull your heartstrings, dynamic scene descriptions that wow you, and fiery passionate romance that is genuine. Derek is definitely the alpha male but he does cherish Emma and Emma is definitely his perfect match; loved them together. I relished this passionate story; a most gratifying read. If you treasure bad boy romances this is definitely a fabulous book for your library. Without reservations, I recommend this book.
Derek and Emma were high school sweethearts, but Derek was dangerous with an illegal reputation. Not wanting to be involved in his secretive life she walked away. Now five years later Derek is wealthy and this bad boy has his second chance; he will do anything to make Emma his.
A wonderfully written story with praiseworthy characters, an intriguing plot that keeps you hooked, emotional moments that pull your heartstrings, dynamic scene descriptions that wow you, and fiery passionate romance that is genuine. Derek is definitely the alpha male but he does cherish Emma and Emma is definitely his perfect match; loved them together. I relished this passionate story; a most gratifying read. If you treasure bad boy romances this is definitely a fabulous book for your library. Without reservations, I recommend this book.
Want to read
August 13, 2017Amazon freebie 8/3/17
April 30, 2024
Plot was helemaal niets waard, er zat geen enkele diepgang in de personages en het verhaal. Het enige wat ik wist waren hun namen en jobs.
Niet de moeite, ook heel eenvoudig geschreven.
Niet de moeite, ook heel eenvoudig geschreven.
January 5, 2023
I mostly read this because it got picked for my tbr list and I'm not really glad that it did xD
idk it wasn't good, the spicy scenes were the only thing that made the book worth 2 stars to me. It's cringy,cliché and just bad writing. I think when the book started with "I didn't choose this life. it chose me" and "The bad boy isn't meant to have the good girl", I just knew it wasn't for me. Also, the whole deal with his mother was too long, and the issue of him being a drug dealer was just her being dramatic.
Anyway, Willow Winters hasn't really been a hit for me, but I do have lots of other books on my kindle, so I probably will give her another shot.
Rating: 2,0 stars
idk it wasn't good, the spicy scenes were the only thing that made the book worth 2 stars to me. It's cringy,cliché and just bad writing. I think when the book started with "I didn't choose this life. it chose me" and "The bad boy isn't meant to have the good girl", I just knew it wasn't for me. Also, the whole deal with his mother was too long, and the issue of him being a drug dealer was just her being dramatic.
Anyway, Willow Winters hasn't really been a hit for me, but I do have lots of other books on my kindle, so I probably will give her another shot.
Rating: 2,0 stars
August 5, 2017
Why do I keep buying this author? She can write, story line was a trigger for me. H is a drug dealer and turns straight for the h. I tried but couldn't engage with H, and found h too sweet, too young, too unbelievable.
October 28, 2019
I enjoyed this quick read. 4.5 stars
I'm usually on this fence with second chance romances. Sometimes I love them. The next time... not so much!
I liked this one as I fall hard for the bad boys.
I'm usually on this fence with second chance romances. Sometimes I love them. The next time... not so much!
I liked this one as I fall hard for the bad boys.
August 10, 2017
Emma & Derek's path cross again after 5 years. Emma walked away from Derek because he was into bad stuff & she knew he wasn't going to change. Derek let Emma walk away all those years ago because he knew she deserved better. Now all bets are off, Derek is willing to do anything to keep Emma by his side. Emma is still equally attracted to Derek & skeptical about what he still does to make a living. But Derek's mother's illness brings them closer as the time nears for Emma to return for her last semester of college.
This story is constant tug-of-war between good judgement & all out sexual attraction. The idea of the story isn't bad but at times I found the writing to be choppy & hard to follow. It is a good vs. bad romance with two characters that have to come to terms with what is truly most important. This book is meant for mature readers.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.
This story is constant tug-of-war between good judgement & all out sexual attraction. The idea of the story isn't bad but at times I found the writing to be choppy & hard to follow. It is a good vs. bad romance with two characters that have to come to terms with what is truly most important. This book is meant for mature readers.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.
May 10, 2020
Very odd
Derek and Emma were secret high school boyfriend and girlfriend but she left him because he dealt drugs. Four years later he walks into her house and is now rich and he still deals marijuana plus he has invested in a lot of companies and been successful. She has just one semester left for her degree and is home for a few weeks. They hook up and fall in love again. His mom is dying from cancer and lives in his house. There are a lot of things going on and it was a little angsty. I believe they both moved on while apart but you don't really hear about him just her. Very short and just okay. It's different. I never felt invested in the characters.
Derek and Emma were secret high school boyfriend and girlfriend but she left him because he dealt drugs. Four years later he walks into her house and is now rich and he still deals marijuana plus he has invested in a lot of companies and been successful. She has just one semester left for her degree and is home for a few weeks. They hook up and fall in love again. His mom is dying from cancer and lives in his house. There are a lot of things going on and it was a little angsty. I believe they both moved on while apart but you don't really hear about him just her. Very short and just okay. It's different. I never felt invested in the characters.
November 8, 2017
Honestly, I was in the mood for something gritty and dark and Burned Promises did a good job at giving me a taste of what I would expect from a longer novel. 174 pages isn't a lot to work with but Willow Winters did an amazing job at creating angst, pain, and happiness all bundled into this ebook.
I mean, the couple was already formed when we first started reading and they were just having a second chance romance so it was nothing special. But Bad boy + good girl is definitely a troupe I really wanted to read.
I also felt so bad when I read the pain and anguish certain characters suffered because of events happening in the book. Overall, the book was solid but I took a break from reading it and lost interest in it so that's why I'm rating lower.
I mean, the couple was already formed when we first started reading and they were just having a second chance romance so it was nothing special. But Bad boy + good girl is definitely a troupe I really wanted to read.
I also felt so bad when I read the pain and anguish certain characters suffered because of events happening in the book. Overall, the book was solid but I took a break from reading it and lost interest in it so that's why I'm rating lower.
January 24, 2020
I really liked this book. It was heartbreaking but I love second chances! It was well written, I just wish there was more. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was but I felt like it was missing something. But regardless it was great!
December 16, 2022
This book was about Emma (h) asking Wh questions and Derek (H) answering with "don't think about it, sweetheart. Just go with it!"
December 19, 2018
Gosh, this book was just phenomenal.
Despite it being a bit short as compared to my other reads, Winters did not disappoint with character building, plot driving, extension of both characters' lives, and setting.
We first meet the female protagonist Emma, who's almost finished graduating uni and living at her sister's house studying for her final year.
Meanwhile her sister is busy romancing her boyfriend, friend of Emma's ex-boyfriend Derek, the male protagonist.
All in all, it's all going fine, until one day when Emma's sister invites her boyfriend and Derek, who comes face-to-face with his ex-girlfriend and first love.
Tension runs as Emma faces Derek and the baggage of his past, trying to better things while reclaiming their love and starting a new life.
Meanwhile Derek has his own problems aside from the businesses Emma doesn't approve of. But then Emma makes Derek realize that maybe he is not alone and that life is not going completely down the drain.
As Emma and Derek struggle to reclaim their love, they also face obstacles, challenges and human emotions that had once torn them apart but brought them together again and sticking to one another firmly this time.
This is a novel which I do recommend with my sincerest wishes. It has all the things a romance or self-discovery reader would prefer as it has romance, tension, friendships tested, family togetherness, feelings times 10 and hope to change everything for the better.
I do hope everyone who reads this novel enjoys it!
All the best.
-Javelyn Bond
Despite it being a bit short as compared to my other reads, Winters did not disappoint with character building, plot driving, extension of both characters' lives, and setting.
We first meet the female protagonist Emma, who's almost finished graduating uni and living at her sister's house studying for her final year.
Meanwhile her sister is busy romancing her boyfriend, friend of Emma's ex-boyfriend Derek, the male protagonist.
All in all, it's all going fine, until one day when Emma's sister invites her boyfriend and Derek, who comes face-to-face with his ex-girlfriend and first love.
Tension runs as Emma faces Derek and the baggage of his past, trying to better things while reclaiming their love and starting a new life.
Meanwhile Derek has his own problems aside from the businesses Emma doesn't approve of. But then Emma makes Derek realize that maybe he is not alone and that life is not going completely down the drain.
As Emma and Derek struggle to reclaim their love, they also face obstacles, challenges and human emotions that had once torn them apart but brought them together again and sticking to one another firmly this time.
This is a novel which I do recommend with my sincerest wishes. It has all the things a romance or self-discovery reader would prefer as it has romance, tension, friendships tested, family togetherness, feelings times 10 and hope to change everything for the better.
I do hope everyone who reads this novel enjoys it!
All the best.
-Javelyn Bond
September 10, 2017
**spoilers ahoy!!**
You know how it is. Your sister has this guy she's seeing, and she doesn't want you to feel left out, so he brings his hot friend along with him. Except the hot friend is the guy you dated and rubbed jeans together with in high school, and you've both been thinking about doing the nasty with each other since then. Oh, he happens to be a drug dealer, an entrepreneurship that he started in high school and it took off nicely since then. And maybe he's killed a few people, but you know, business and whatnot.
He needs you and you can totally change him. He beats a random stranger senseless? Yeah, that so leads to getting it on. The brutal, punishing sex where he's choking you and pistoning into you as hard as machinery? Rawr. The way he won't answer your questions, sulks and forces you to do as he demands? So hot, right?
The book is decently written, but enabling borderline abusive behavior shouldn't count as romance. The flip at the end of the book feels contrived, a temporary respite until life makes Derek return to his bad boy ways and Emma enables his poor choices because orgasms.
You know how it is. Your sister has this guy she's seeing, and she doesn't want you to feel left out, so he brings his hot friend along with him. Except the hot friend is the guy you dated and rubbed jeans together with in high school, and you've both been thinking about doing the nasty with each other since then. Oh, he happens to be a drug dealer, an entrepreneurship that he started in high school and it took off nicely since then. And maybe he's killed a few people, but you know, business and whatnot.
He needs you and you can totally change him. He beats a random stranger senseless? Yeah, that so leads to getting it on. The brutal, punishing sex where he's choking you and pistoning into you as hard as machinery? Rawr. The way he won't answer your questions, sulks and forces you to do as he demands? So hot, right?
The book is decently written, but enabling borderline abusive behavior shouldn't count as romance. The flip at the end of the book feels contrived, a temporary respite until life makes Derek return to his bad boy ways and Emma enables his poor choices because orgasms.
March 8, 2024
This was the first Willow Winters book I have read but won’t be the last
However this book wasn’t my favorite…..imo I just felt Emma was whiney, I think the author was trying to convey how we all have insecurities over past loves and being reunited but maybe I am not the biggest fan of that trope?
I liked the premise of the story and reconnected love, I liked the MMC but often found myself wondering if I should finish but I wanted to know how it ended
That being said it just simply ended, not on a bad note but just on a note
Emma and Derek went to hs together and snuck around seeing each other, secretly from everyone
He came from a bad family with an abusive father and turned to dealing drugs to make money
Emma was from the right side of the tracks so to speak and they drifted apart even though they really liked each other.
Years later she’s visiting her hometown staying with her sister and her and her boyfriend Tony decide to see Emma up on a date with Tony’s best friend that happens to be Derek
Of course he’s still in the “business” which is something Emma doesn’t like and it was a lot of will be like me but I don’t want to deal with his dealing back and forth and I felt like either be done or be onboard but stop going back n forth every chapter 🤷🏼♀️
I do have her book Dom & Becca that I will read and give another chance 😁
However this book wasn’t my favorite…..imo I just felt Emma was whiney, I think the author was trying to convey how we all have insecurities over past loves and being reunited but maybe I am not the biggest fan of that trope?
I liked the premise of the story and reconnected love, I liked the MMC but often found myself wondering if I should finish but I wanted to know how it ended
That being said it just simply ended, not on a bad note but just on a note
Emma and Derek went to hs together and snuck around seeing each other, secretly from everyone
He came from a bad family with an abusive father and turned to dealing drugs to make money
Emma was from the right side of the tracks so to speak and they drifted apart even though they really liked each other.
Years later she’s visiting her hometown staying with her sister and her and her boyfriend Tony decide to see Emma up on a date with Tony’s best friend that happens to be Derek
Of course he’s still in the “business” which is something Emma doesn’t like and it was a lot of will be like me but I don’t want to deal with his dealing back and forth and I felt like either be done or be onboard but stop going back n forth every chapter 🤷🏼♀️
I do have her book Dom & Becca that I will read and give another chance 😁
March 23, 2024
3.75⭐️
This is the first Willow Winters book i’ve read and i’m not mad about it but I must admit it wasn’t my favourite book ever. Was it a nice palette cleanser? Yes. Will I rush to read it again? No probably not - now that’s not me saying it’s bad because the book was easy to read and written nicely, I really liked the relationship between Derek & Emma in the second half of the story especially once Derek actually started letting Emma and speaking about his past and what he was feeling but the first half was a little harder to get through, I can understand Emma wanting to know what was going on in Derek’s head but at times it felt as if she was trying a little to hard and not giving him a chance to get used to opening up.
My favourite part was definitely Derek’s whole character arch, I really enjoyed seeing him come to terms with the fact that he could have a better life than what he was at the time. It was really nice to see him want more for him and to see him be happy not only with Emma but for him to have a stable job that didn’t involve anything illegal as well as seeing him set roots outside of the town that clearly holds so many negative memories for him was a lovely end to the story.
Overall, I did actually like this book; yes there are elements that weren’t personally my cup of tea but I will still be recommending it to my friends & anyone who wants a quick paced, good girl x bad boy second chance romance. I will also be looking for more of Willow’s books in the future as I did really enjoy her writing style & the characters in this book ☺️
This is the first Willow Winters book i’ve read and i’m not mad about it but I must admit it wasn’t my favourite book ever. Was it a nice palette cleanser? Yes. Will I rush to read it again? No probably not - now that’s not me saying it’s bad because the book was easy to read and written nicely, I really liked the relationship between Derek & Emma in the second half of the story especially once Derek actually started letting Emma and speaking about his past and what he was feeling but the first half was a little harder to get through, I can understand Emma wanting to know what was going on in Derek’s head but at times it felt as if she was trying a little to hard and not giving him a chance to get used to opening up.
My favourite part was definitely Derek’s whole character arch, I really enjoyed seeing him come to terms with the fact that he could have a better life than what he was at the time. It was really nice to see him want more for him and to see him be happy not only with Emma but for him to have a stable job that didn’t involve anything illegal as well as seeing him set roots outside of the town that clearly holds so many negative memories for him was a lovely end to the story.
Overall, I did actually like this book; yes there are elements that weren’t personally my cup of tea but I will still be recommending it to my friends & anyone who wants a quick paced, good girl x bad boy second chance romance. I will also be looking for more of Willow’s books in the future as I did really enjoy her writing style & the characters in this book ☺️
July 18, 2023
Status: read
Edition: ebook
My Reading Dates: 14 July - 18 July
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 180
Pace: fast
POV: double - first person
Trope: second chance love
My Thoughts
I got this book for free when I signed up for Willow Winters 'newsletter, and maybe that is why this book was so short.
The plot was quite basic, and the romance seemed to lack intimacy throughout the book, except for the starting chapters. We only get the barest deatils about Derek and Emma's outside life. I wasn't really into it that much and I think that is why I took 4 days to read a book that wasn't even 200 pages long I usually read much quicker than that). But I read it as more of a filler book while waiting for my other books, so it served that purpose.
↝2.5 stars
Edition: ebook
My Reading Dates: 14 July - 18 July
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 180
Pace: fast
POV: double - first person
Trope: second chance love
My Thoughts
I got this book for free when I signed up for Willow Winters 'newsletter, and maybe that is why this book was so short.
The plot was quite basic, and the romance seemed to lack intimacy throughout the book, except for the starting chapters. We only get the barest deatils about Derek and Emma's outside life. I wasn't really into it that much and I think that is why I took 4 days to read a book that wasn't even 200 pages long I usually read much quicker than that). But I read it as more of a filler book while waiting for my other books, so it served that purpose.
↝2.5 stars
January 7, 2018
4.5 STARS
I really liked the book..I felt both Hero & Heroin were right in their places..Ofcourse, drug dealing is not cool & I hate it but I couldn't hate hero for dealing..I could see how much he loved her, how hurt he was when she leaves him..I am glad, he doesn't giveup now & goes for what he wants. It was really emotional how he loves his mom & how he is all lost & feels betrayed when she dies on her own will..It was good to see that he didn't push away heroin during the death of his mom..Finally, they get their HEA
I really liked the book..I felt both Hero & Heroin were right in their places..Ofcourse, drug dealing is not cool & I hate it but I couldn't hate hero for dealing..I could see how much he loved her, how hurt he was when she leaves him..I am glad, he doesn't giveup now & goes for what he wants. It was really emotional how he loves his mom & how he is all lost & feels betrayed when she dies on her own will..It was good to see that he didn't push away heroin during the death of his mom..Finally, they get their HEA
March 23, 2022
I can’t tell if I like that they skipped over important conversation or if I hated it… like we never got to see Derek telling her about Tony giving his mom the pills and we never got to see so many other important conversations that they needed to have. In a way it was good because it would have been so unnecessary to show us all of that and get us worried. They did seem to have great communication skills which made it easier to love them. In the end, I just felt like I was expecting more even though I was satisfied. I really enjoyed it! Nice fun read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2022
Derek disappeared from Emma’s life but one moment will have them meet again. Will he find a way to tell her who he really is and win her heart back. Can the troubled bad boy and innocent sweetheart rekindle what they once had or will real life get in the way? A darker character plot for this second chance romance with an emotional twist. I really liked this unique take with what the hero does for a living. Told in dual POV
September 29, 2024
This book was so freaking sad and funny at the same time you have two people that grew up together and fall in love with each but didn’t really act on because he was the bad boy and she was good girl. But then he left without any notice. But then they finally got to see each other again and it seems like no time had passed for them but there were secrets that he was not telling her. But then during the sad moment of the book she was there for him when he need her the most and life went on and they were finally getting happy with each other.
August 17, 2017
2.5 stars
December 17, 2017
3.5 - 4 stars
February 27, 2025
3.6 specifically I really enjoyed this little novella tbh , it was edgy , bad boy x good girl and it made you feel all of the feelings , such a good story 🫶🏾😌
June 15, 2025
Again, devoured this book in 3 hours!
April 25, 2023
A really nice simple quick read! Emma and Derek are actually couple goals! It was pretty spicy and I really liked how sweet it was! This was honestly such a good read, totally recommend ;)
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