Cold Hard Cash

Los Angeles Bad Boys #1

by Frankie Love, Joe Arden (narrator), Maxine Mitchell (narrator)

I only have eyes for her.

CASSIUS

Every time I step on stage, I feel alive.
But that doesn't compare to the way I feel when I'm with Evie.
She's an angel, so f*cking innocent.
My story is written plainly in the lyrics I write; I'm an ex-con with the ghosts of my past everywhere.
A man like me will ruin a girl like her.
The record deal I dreamed of was just handed to me, the life I should want is mine for the taking.
But the only thing I want is the girl I can't have.

EVANGELINE

My life is safe. Planned. Predictable.
And I want out.
When Cash walks into my life, he's the breath of air I need.
But being with me will destroy his career.
My dad owns Kendrick Music Group and dating me is not an option.
I would give him all of me ... but I won't ask him to make that sacrifice.
The only thing I want is the bad boy I can't have.

❤️Hey love, don't you think you deserve a little "me time" with a bad boy who knows how to take care of a woman? I certainly think so! Treat yourself, baby cakes! xo, frankie
**This is a full-length novel with a HEA!**

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Fiction, New Adult, Musicians

Audiobook

Published July 1, 2017

About the author

Frankie Love writes filthy-sweet stories about bad boys and mountain men. As a thirty-something mom to six who is ridiculously in love with her own bearded hottie, she believes in love-at-first-sight and happily-ever-afters. She also believes in the power of a quickie.

❤️ Get ready to fall in love ... you deserve it! ❤️

Website - http://bit.ly/2ra5I7t

Amazon Author Page -http://amzn.to/2r9ZVhS

Facebook - http://bit.ly/2plUQ6R

Instagram - http://bit.ly/2r3u1ld

Pinterest - http://bit.ly/2scHurz

Reviews

[Coco.V]

💝 FREE on Amazon today (12/27/2017)! 💝

[Nadyrah · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was way to unrealistic and just bad!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cold Hard Cash: Los Angeles Bad Boys #1 is by author Frankie Love.
Published: July 24, 2016
Read: February 1, 2017
Cover: 5
Series: Los Angeles Bad Boys: Cold Hard Cash; Hollywood Holden; Saint Jude

In the past year I have become a fan of this author. I began down that literary road with her Mountain Man series. Those books are super short, super sexy and features strong bearded alpha heroes and the woman they love.

Los Angeles Bad Boys series is a bit darker. They're written with a different vibe. There is suspense and a bit of violence in Cold Hard Cash resulting in serious consequences. Each book in this series is a standalone but they are all related with a familiar cast of characters.

Cassius (Cash) and Evangeline (Evie).....

Cash is an ex-convict having been in prison for 18 months. The situation that landed him there was gang related. Although Cash has made poor choices, resulting in his incarceration, deep down he has a good heart.

Trying to make a name for himself in the music business, his brother helps to manage his career while betraying him at the same time. After Cash signs with a huge music label, he finds himself on a fast track to instant fame. He should be happy. But how could he when fame and money means nothing without someone special to share it with. Someone special. Someone specific.

Evie's father owns the record label that Cash signed with. She has had a tough year after losing her mother to a tragic death. Evie takes a year off from school where she studies music. Piano specifically. When her father turns her down after begging him for a job she is devastated. Evie wants normal for once in her life. A life she has lived sheltered in. It is directly after her meeting with her father that she meets a man in the elevator who will help her in so many ways...........Cash.

An instant bond is formed between Cash and Evie. Their connection is more than just physical attraction. Cash and Evie together was beautiful. I loved both these characters. They were loyal and selfless and their love was real. They are two people from completely different lifestyles and yet they came together effortlessly and fell instantly in love. Yes it was as close to love-at-first-sight as you can get but the author wrote their thoughts with care. I felt their love. It wasn't all about lust. I'll say it again.....I truly adored these two characters.

There is a bit of danger and suspense brought to the story by a few of Cash's old gang members. And as a result, someone is badly hurt but the situation is resolved quickly and satisfactorily.

There is also a cast of secondary characters we meet as well who will be the protagonists in their own books, Hollywood Holden and Saint Jude. As I am writing this review, I can tell you that I have already read these two books and will be writing my reviews directly. I will also add that there is another of Frankie Love's series' called Las Vegas Bad Boys that Los Angeles Bad Boys spins off of. I haven't read those yet but I plan to.

.

[Fatmata Sankoh · Rating 2 out of 5]

There wasn’t much of a romance. Insta-love more like it. Just couldn’t connect with it.

[Mysti]

Ummmmm I just couldn't. I DNFd around the 20%-ish mark??

I'm not giving a full review. He's a white rapper named "Cash Flow" fresh outta prison when he gets signed to a major record label. He's from the wrong side of the tracks and tells the girlie to think of his life as the one depicted in 8 Mile - the Eminem movie. 🙄 🙄

She's the spoiled daughter of the record label owner. She's so sad and pouty because her daddy won't let her do anything. She takes him home and wants to have sex but he says no when he finds out she's a virgin. They go on a date later that night and she loses her V card. Then da da da they end up at her house with her dad and other folks and dad forbids them from seeing each other. You know what that means??? No more sex.

The writing was childish - he talks like a uneducated rapper. No judgment but I'm just not here for it. That's not my thing.

This is another one where I chose the book for the sole purpose of Joe Arden's voice - without reading the description for the book.

I'm not rating it with stars because I don't feel it's fare considering I didn't read the description before I started.

[Carolyn Tidwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book did nothing for me. There was no chemistry

[Nerd4life_94 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story, but I couldn't really connect with the characters.

[Meghann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!

Cassius “Cash Flow” is from the wrong side of the tracks but found a second chance as a rapper when a music executive is in the crowd at one of his shows. When he visits the label to sign his record deal he runs into Evangeline who tells him she’s an intern but she is really the CEOs daughter, and off limits. He asks her out to dinner and she asks him to take her virginity. But when her dad finds out she doesn’t want Cash to lose his chance at a record deal so she tells him it was meaningless and breaks his heart. But he doesn’t give up on her. Because for him, she was everything his heart has been looking for.

I LOVED their chemistry and I felt every crack in Cash’s heart. I wanted to jump into the book and hold him. I love how feisty and determined Evie is to get what she wants and not live in her mother’s shadow or the box her father tries to keep her in.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Sexy California Sunset Stars ✨

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Aunica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m pretty sure this book could be cut in half if you took out the word f*^k and chad

[Diana Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Frankie Love. Cassius and Evangeline are from 2 different worlds but they both have troubled pasts. She is chained to her mothers alcohol and suicide. Cash is chained to his mothers alcohol and self disruptive behavior. She had a drunk driving accident and Cash is left with the bills. He went to prison for people that he thought would have his back but they didn't. His music career is breaking out and the two people closest to him betray him. His brother and his girlfriend at the time. He uses his music to vent his rage. Then he meets Evangeline. His whole world changes. They are destined for each other. No matter what happens they will stay together. Even after his brother sends an old gang member ex friend of his after them and Evangeline is seriously hurt. They stay together and in the end they are each other half to make them both whole. A great book. I can't wait to read Holden. The next book.

[fairchild · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5
I'm absolutely not a fan of insta-love, they were so cliché and I didn't connect at all. Evie's plot was to be 'not like the other girls' but she was exactly like the other girls!! I laughed so much when she said she suffered as a privileged white high class woman! A lot of miscommunication and the later on drama??
With a brother like Chad you definitely don't need an enemy.
The steamy scenes were good.

[kris · Rating 1 out of 5]

so dumb.

[Welterl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of hokey.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hero, Cash = 5/5
Heroine, Evangeline = 5/5
Secondary Characters = 4/5
Chemistry = 5/5
Sex = 4/5
Plot = 4/5
Mystery = 2/5
Action =  2/5
Darkness = 1/5
Humor = 1/5
POV = Dual POV
Ending = HEA
Stars =  4 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Author = Frankie Love
Would I recommend this book = Yes
Would I re-read this book = Yes
Would I read future books by this author = Yes

Likes:
• insta-love
• love that the hero, Cash, is from the wrong side of the tracks.
• love the drama
• I love how Cash makes Evie his main focus when he's able to

Dislikes:
• seemed to be on the shorter side
• I want more on what Cash had on his brother and ex girlfriend.
• didn't care for the nickname Cash gave Evie (Girl)

[Pat Bettinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it four stars because of the length of the book. More like a novella. Because of that there was not enough time to really get into the backstory of Cash. You get hints but not as much as you would like to show you how he came to be who he is today. Evie's story is pretty much out there but again more pages would have filled it out so much better. That being said it was a very easy read and the characters were people you could believe in and identify with. I read second book first and went back to get Cash and Evie's story cause I liked them in the second book Hollywood Holden. The sex fits the storyline and although detailed it works. A possible re-read on a day that I don't have lots of time.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the main characters in this story, but I didn't feel any stronger than that. Oddly, I felt that you get to know the male lead much better than the female lead. The male lead's backstory was fairly well developed, but you never did learn much about the female lead and her life before him. One major problem, and the reason I gave this story three stars, is that I didn't feel much chemistry between the main characters. I never experienced that magical connection between them and that is why I didn't give this book a high rating. I am really looking forward to Holden and Jude's stories though!

[Jolina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just got absolutely nothing out of this. I started it and then was waiting for it tjj ok be over. It's insta love and to be fair I didn't read what it even was before starting it (a listened to the audiobook because Joe Arden narrates it😭) Also, he calls her "girl" like that's her nickname. And she's a virgin and all she wants to do when they meet is have sex which makes no sense. One person I did like was Holden and if he got a full length book (cause I feel like this author would make all novellas insta love) I would prob read it. I feel like 1 star is harsh but there's really not one thing that could make the rating go up

[Will Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read, but not a great one either. There is some character development, but nothing with any depth. The romantic scenes are well painted and numerous. The editing is clean enough with only a few typos. Though the author tries to bring in emotion with all the drama that takes place, it falls flat. I do believe in the music industry that something like this story could really happen, which added a touch of realism. Overall though, just okay.

[Book-Lovin-Momma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cash (Cassius) is a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, growing up to try to be a good man, establishing his rapper career. Evie is innocent, predictable, and likes it that way. When they meet, nothing is as expected, and their relationship grows, despite the rapper/music lifestyle Cash leads. This was a hot and steamy bad boy book, and I loved it!

[_letsread · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really sure if i found this book entertaining or just annoying. I mean what is up with Frankie Loves take on love?? Why must all the stories spin out over a maximum time frame of six months? And in this case, the oh so happy couple spent two days together before they LOVED each other, i kid you not. What the eff.... reminds me of my childhood crushes and not in a particulary good way.

[Deemahrling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

I cried while reading this book. I was upset about how Cash was treated and how Evie was so hurt by what happened with her mother and then with Cash. When they finally got their emotions together it was a beautiful thing.

[Lizette Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cashand Evie

Absolutely loved Cash and Evangeline story. Cash finds his redemption with sweet and honest Evil and I love how they find their future together. Always a great read from this author.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annotations & Quotes:

I'm sure that it's my first time hearing a straight male say, "oh girl"... :3

"With love, you can't play it safe all the time. Sometimes you have to take a risk. But sometimes, maybe even most of the time, you need to think about the other person. What they need. What they want. Even if it's scary or fucking hard."

[Tasha Millner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but sweet

This story was a quick short and enjoyable read. Cash and Evie meet by chance and with a quick hold of hands, fall in love, and learn what sacrifices are. Take a read and meet Cash and Evie….

[Phoenix L Rosario · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold Hard Cash: Los Angeles Bad Boys Book 1

The book is about Cash, who is an excellent rapper, and he meets Evie, who is the most significant woman in his life. However, her father is his record producer, and he doesn't want them to be together. Stay tuned for more.

[Emily Wardropper · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters just felt so unrealistic. I also found myself cringing with a lot of the dialogue. Just wasn’t for me. Cassius definitely isn’t my type. I almost DNF’d the book at 20% but I held on hoping it got better. This just wasn’t my cup of tea.

[Courtney Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cash is the first LA bad boy and boy does he deliver. He’s hard to get soft, and this love story will keep you on your toes till the very end

[Cristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. I liked their romance and the sexy scenes. Some of the language was a little weird, like when they were getting down, it was kinda off putting.

[Tabi Mueller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt the story was missing some details to make the characters complete.