What do you think?
Rate this book
When She Was Bad
Jenny Carman is tired of playing by the rules. It didn't get her the promotion she so deserved, and it certainly didn't get her Mr. Right. Or even Mr. Right Now. It's time for her to do something besides spend Saturday nights at the Laundromat. So she's letting down her long blonde hair, stepping out of her gray suits and into some sexy stilettos . . . Leaning against a bar, dressed in a lacy, curve-hugging red camisole, Jenny's ready for action—and gorgeous businessman Robert Marshall eagerly takes the bait. She tells him her name is Jasmine, a hairstylist, and gets ready for a mind-blowing evening. Robert, however, is smart, funny, sensitive—worth a lot more than a hot one-night stand. But one lie leads to another, plunging Jenny/Jasmine in way over her head. She can't keep this double life up forever—but will she still drive the handsome hunk wild if he discovers a good girl hiding inside?
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 26, 2007
2 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Cindy Kirk
223 books1,614 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Cindy Kirk is a Booksellers' Best Award Winner, a National Readers' Choice Awards finalist, and a Publishers Weekly bestselling author. Cindy launched her Good Hope series with a bang. Christmas in Good Hope hit #1 on the Amazon bestseller list for both Contemporary Romance and Women's Fiction.
A lifelong Nebraska resident, Cindy started writing after taking a class at a local community college. An incurable romantic, Cindy loves seeing her characters grow and learn from their mistakes and, in the process, achieve a happy ending.
Someone once told Cindy that to know a writer you just have to read what she's written; she hopes that once you read her books you can tell she is an eternal optimist, one who truly believes in the power of love. She invites you to kick off your shoes, pick up one of her books, and get to know her.
Cindy and her high school sweetheart husband live on an acreage with their two dogs.
A lifelong Nebraska resident, Cindy started writing after taking a class at a local community college. An incurable romantic, Cindy loves seeing her characters grow and learn from their mistakes and, in the process, achieve a happy ending.
Someone once told Cindy that to know a writer you just have to read what she's written; she hopes that once you read her books you can tell she is an eternal optimist, one who truly believes in the power of love. She invites you to kick off your shoes, pick up one of her books, and get to know her.
Cindy and her high school sweetheart husband live on an acreage with their two dogs.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 8, 2008
When this book was bad...
January 15, 2010
This book was cute. I loved the main character! It was hard to put down.
August 19, 2024
O.K. I get it. When she lied, she was bad.
But other then lying, what did she actually do that was "bad"?
Have pre-marital sex with a man? Almost give a guy a blow job? Eat way too, too much chocolate?
I don't condone lying of course, but she was not a bad "bad" girl. Just a little confused.
I think what bothers me the most about this book is that for a book published in 2007 it reads a something way too, too old fashioned. About 1950's to 1960's old fashioned.
Maybe I just don't read enough of this stuff to know better, but as a man I just want to say that all the women in the book, especially Jenny, were just too cloying and biddable in front of the overmasculinated men. Groveling, kowtowing and just begging for a good spanking.
O.K. I admit I like he last one there but seriously, none of the women seem to have any backbone in this book. Kind of sad really. Give me a fiesty "bad" girl anyday.
Anyways a bit of a dull read since the plot only started to move in the last 100 pages of the book.
And it's fairly obvious that CK is obsessed with blue eyes.
But other then lying, what did she actually do that was "bad"?
Have pre-marital sex with a man? Almost give a guy a blow job? Eat way too, too much chocolate?
I don't condone lying of course, but she was not a bad "bad" girl. Just a little confused.
I think what bothers me the most about this book is that for a book published in 2007 it reads a something way too, too old fashioned. About 1950's to 1960's old fashioned.
Maybe I just don't read enough of this stuff to know better, but as a man I just want to say that all the women in the book, especially Jenny, were just too cloying and biddable in front of the overmasculinated men. Groveling, kowtowing and just begging for a good spanking.
O.K. I admit I like he last one there but seriously, none of the women seem to have any backbone in this book. Kind of sad really. Give me a fiesty "bad" girl anyday.
Anyways a bit of a dull read since the plot only started to move in the last 100 pages of the book.
And it's fairly obvious that CK is obsessed with blue eyes.
September 27, 2010
Skip this book. Heroine is a coward, and too much drama is created through miscommunication.
Jenny is an accountant, tired of having a good-girl image. One night, she decides to act like a “bad girl.” She goes to a nightclub, meets Robert, and tells him her name is Jasmine. They have a one-night stand and then accidentally run into each other the next day. He asks her out, they continue seeing each other. I didn't mind the lie at the beginning, when Jenny first pretended to be Jasmine. However, I was angry with her when she continued the lie for multiple dates. She knew he would find out eventually, yet she was too chicken to tell him.
CAUTION SPOILERS:
When he did find out accidentally from her parents, he was angry and broke up with her. Had she told him earlier, I think he would have understood. I had a second frustration which was when the author created drama by having Jenny make a wrong assumption about Robert. He was impressed with her tax knowledge and he wanted to talk more about his business issues, but she refused to talk about that and changed the subject to sex talk, thinking that sex was the only way to interest him. I hated the ending where after the separation, they get together to talk, she confesses, he forgives her and then he starts telling her about his feelings for her, but she doesn't listen. Her mind is wandering and wondering if he loves her or not, then she hears the word partner and thinks he wants to offer her a job in his company and she starts giving reasons against it, but he was asking her to marry him, not work for him. This was the author's lazy way of creating more drama, which offended me. I do not recommend either buying or borrowing this book.
DATA:
Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: four. Setting: current day Chicago, Illinois. Copyright: 2007. Genre: contemporary romance.
Jenny is an accountant, tired of having a good-girl image. One night, she decides to act like a “bad girl.” She goes to a nightclub, meets Robert, and tells him her name is Jasmine. They have a one-night stand and then accidentally run into each other the next day. He asks her out, they continue seeing each other. I didn't mind the lie at the beginning, when Jenny first pretended to be Jasmine. However, I was angry with her when she continued the lie for multiple dates. She knew he would find out eventually, yet she was too chicken to tell him.
CAUTION SPOILERS:
When he did find out accidentally from her parents, he was angry and broke up with her. Had she told him earlier, I think he would have understood. I had a second frustration which was when the author created drama by having Jenny make a wrong assumption about Robert. He was impressed with her tax knowledge and he wanted to talk more about his business issues, but she refused to talk about that and changed the subject to sex talk, thinking that sex was the only way to interest him. I hated the ending where after the separation, they get together to talk, she confesses, he forgives her and then he starts telling her about his feelings for her, but she doesn't listen. Her mind is wandering and wondering if he loves her or not, then she hears the word partner and thinks he wants to offer her a job in his company and she starts giving reasons against it, but he was asking her to marry him, not work for him. This was the author's lazy way of creating more drama, which offended me. I do not recommend either buying or borrowing this book.
DATA:
Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: four. Setting: current day Chicago, Illinois. Copyright: 2007. Genre: contemporary romance.
March 14, 2013
Jenny Carman is an accountant and tired of having a good-girl image. At the insistence of her co-worker and friend Jenny decides to throw caution to the wind and act like a "bad girl" if only for one day. She goes to a nightclub and meets Robert Marshall. In the spirit of acting "bad" she pretends to be someone else and assumes the identity of her dead grandmother's friend Jasmine Coret. Robert and Jasmine have a one-night stand but happen to run into each other a few days later at a party. Robert asks her out again and the two continue to see each other.
***Spoilers***
It was right about one third of the way into the book that I realize that I was seriously distracted by the heroine's constant lies, the multiple POVs, and the numerous inconsistencies in the story. I pressed forward however because I felt the author did a good job in working the sexual tension. The inconsistencies that annoyed me were for example: the grandmother died, yet no one spoke of her for more than one page throughout the whole book, then the whole thing about her being emotional at the thought of losing Robert (wants to cry) when all they had was good sex. Then it was the drama with the brother being CEO of the company when Robert felt he deserved it. There were too many characters and not enough depth to most of them.
All in all, the author is creative and the love/sex scenes are written well. The scenes range from sweet to steamy to crazy hot sex and in the end you sort of end up liking the hero and the heroine despite their awkward interaction. Overall it's a decent read.
***Spoilers***
It was right about one third of the way into the book that I realize that I was seriously distracted by the heroine's constant lies, the multiple POVs, and the numerous inconsistencies in the story. I pressed forward however because I felt the author did a good job in working the sexual tension. The inconsistencies that annoyed me were for example: the grandmother died, yet no one spoke of her for more than one page throughout the whole book, then the whole thing about her being emotional at the thought of losing Robert (wants to cry) when all they had was good sex. Then it was the drama with the brother being CEO of the company when Robert felt he deserved it. There were too many characters and not enough depth to most of them.
All in all, the author is creative and the love/sex scenes are written well. The scenes range from sweet to steamy to crazy hot sex and in the end you sort of end up liking the hero and the heroine despite their awkward interaction. Overall it's a decent read.
November 19, 2014
Was it the best story I've ever read? No. Did it entertain me? Yes.
This is one of those romance books you read while laying in the sun or when you want something light to read. It has a bit of laughs, some intresting intimate scenes and a rather fast moving romance.
But heck this story started off with a simple lie, a one night stand and rocketed from there so that fast 'romance' senario was too be expected.
Other than that I liked the plot of the boring CPA breaking out of her shell and the handsome buisness owner helping her fulfill a couple fantasies. I enjoyed Jenny/Jasmines character. That good girl trying to be bad was a bit funny. Although I wouldn't consider this good bad per se just a little wild with an empasis on a newly developing confidence.
Most say the strongest relationships are built on trust; so can this 'realtionship' survive after one little lie spirals out of control?
This is one of those romance books you read while laying in the sun or when you want something light to read. It has a bit of laughs, some intresting intimate scenes and a rather fast moving romance.
But heck this story started off with a simple lie, a one night stand and rocketed from there so that fast 'romance' senario was too be expected.
Other than that I liked the plot of the boring CPA breaking out of her shell and the handsome buisness owner helping her fulfill a couple fantasies. I enjoyed Jenny/Jasmines character. That good girl trying to be bad was a bit funny. Although I wouldn't consider this good bad per se just a little wild with an empasis on a newly developing confidence.
Most say the strongest relationships are built on trust; so can this 'realtionship' survive after one little lie spirals out of control?
March 26, 2019
This is a re-read for me. It's about this 30-year old CPA Jenny Carman who just got passed over for a promotion and decides to go out with her friend Marcee one night. While she's out she meets Robert Marshall, a wealthy businessman.
Jenny decides to do like a cat-fishing scheme where she uses a friend of her grandmother's, Jasmine Coret, who died young but lived a lot in those years. Jenny and Rob are extremely attracted to each other and the relationship that was supposed to last one night ends up lasting longer.
There was one thing I really didn't like when Annie, Jenny's sister talks about food and says to her mother that Jenny doesn't want to old and fat and I just was really offended by that. I think it was meant as a joke but I hate that the author used this dig. It's not cool and I'm tired of people saying that fat women or fat people in general are inferior and aren't worthy of love. I'm just over it.
Jenny decides to do like a cat-fishing scheme where she uses a friend of her grandmother's, Jasmine Coret, who died young but lived a lot in those years. Jenny and Rob are extremely attracted to each other and the relationship that was supposed to last one night ends up lasting longer.
There was one thing I really didn't like when Annie, Jenny's sister talks about food and says to her mother that Jenny doesn't want to old and fat and I just was really offended by that. I think it was meant as a joke but I hate that the author used this dig. It's not cool and I'm tired of people saying that fat women or fat people in general are inferior and aren't worthy of love. I'm just over it.
February 3, 2008
Good book for when you want to read something short sweet...and that doesn't involve a lot of thinkin....love, lust, and lies...hehe ;)
May 18, 2009
Not badly written, but the plot and the lack of disclosure by the characters drove me CRAZY.
Read
May 29, 2011Cute contemporary romance. Good girl pretends to be bad. I loved the idea. I liked, but not loved, the execution. I thought the chick lit elements were the weakest part of the book.
October 20, 2013
Entertaining!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews