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Bad Reputations
Can a dash of scandal and a dollop of seduction be the recipe for his greatest image makeover?
Image consultant Blake Matthews is facing his toughest PR challenge yet: salvage the reputation of celebrity chef Kirin Hart. Once he does, he’ll be able to acquire San Francisco’s most successful PR firm. But Kirin’s no easy fix. She’s stubborn about changing her comfortable homemaker image and is unapologetic for wanting to present her authentic self after her ex-husband trashed their collective public image. She needs a PR lifeline fast. Only problem is that Blake wants more than to make her over
Kirin doesn’t believe she needs a makeover—her true fans love will love her as she is. But she could lose everything if the scandal perpetuated by her ex, and the loss of reputation that has followed it, doesn’t get quashed right away. Kirin agrees to let model-perfect Blake work his magic for two weeks, but things get complicated when she can’t deny the way her body flares to life when he’s near.
Bad Reputations is Book One in Barbara DeLeo's Breaking Through series.
Image consultant Blake Matthews is facing his toughest PR challenge yet: salvage the reputation of celebrity chef Kirin Hart. Once he does, he’ll be able to acquire San Francisco’s most successful PR firm. But Kirin’s no easy fix. She’s stubborn about changing her comfortable homemaker image and is unapologetic for wanting to present her authentic self after her ex-husband trashed their collective public image. She needs a PR lifeline fast. Only problem is that Blake wants more than to make her over
Kirin doesn’t believe she needs a makeover—her true fans love will love her as she is. But she could lose everything if the scandal perpetuated by her ex, and the loss of reputation that has followed it, doesn’t get quashed right away. Kirin agrees to let model-perfect Blake work his magic for two weeks, but things get complicated when she can’t deny the way her body flares to life when he’s near.
Bad Reputations is Book One in Barbara DeLeo's Breaking Through series.
222 pages, Paperback
Published June 22, 2021
64 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Barbara DeLeo
17 books142 followersBarbara DeLeo’s first book, co-written with her best friend, was a story about beauty queens in space. She was eleven, and the sole, handwritten copy was lost years ago, much to everyone’s relief. It’s some small miracle that she kept the faith and is now living her dream of writing sparkling contemporary romance with unforgettable characters.
After completing degrees in Psychology and English then travelling the world, Barbara married her winemaker hero and had two sets of twins.
Barbara still loves telling stories about finding love in all the wrong places, with not a beauty queen or spaceship in sight.
Visit Barbara on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/BarbaraDeLeoA...
After completing degrees in Psychology and English then travelling the world, Barbara married her winemaker hero and had two sets of twins.
Barbara still loves telling stories about finding love in all the wrong places, with not a beauty queen or spaceship in sight.
Visit Barbara on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/BarbaraDeLeoA...
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 7, 2022
Sweet and romantic.
Who doesn’t love a sweet story with a happy ending. Kirin and Blake’s story was great. A successful women betrayed by her husband that left her a widow with her lively hood headed down the drain and a sexy younger man who wants to help save her career, stir in a little complication and love and it becomes a a romantic story. Great job!
Who doesn’t love a sweet story with a happy ending. Kirin and Blake’s story was great. A successful women betrayed by her husband that left her a widow with her lively hood headed down the drain and a sexy younger man who wants to help save her career, stir in a little complication and love and it becomes a a romantic story. Great job!
June 29, 2021
Ever since Kirin's husband died while doing the dirty with his younger mistress, Kirin, and her cooking business, have been suffering. She and her husband were a celebrity couple, known for their wholesome appearance and loving marriage. But that couldn't have been further from the truth. Kirin and her husband had been living separate existences for years, but maintained their image in the media to help their company flourish. He had the business smarts and Kirin had all the luck in the kitchen - a perfect team where it counted.
But it wasn't until a sexual harassment claim made by a male employee against Kirin did everything really suffer. She passed him over for a promotion and he made sure she regretted it, and with the lawsuit payment she was told to give him, the public's opinion of the grieving widow was now deep in the gutters. With her brand suffering and facing horrific media attention, Kirin needs the help of an image consultant to turn everything around. Which is where Blake comes in. He's famous for making over celebrities and changing their images nearly overnight. But he's in for a challenge when it comes to Kirin. Even though she knows she needs to change in order to fix her company's reputation, she's been in the same outfits, makeup, and lifestyle for decades and doesn't know anything different. But she's fiesty and opinionated and downright difficult for Blake to get through to, until he finds the right path to convince her to change.
This book was fine. I like Kirin just fine as a character. She was older, a grieving widow who also found out her husband was cheating on her with a younger woman while she was slaving away in the kitchen for their business and brand. She had completely changed herself to fit the image her husband wanted for their brand, and she'd only ever been with one man her entire adult life. But Kirin is a firecracker and she's fiesty, and yet, she's down-to-earth and completely different from any other well-known celebrity in how she acts privately and with others. Kirin also had to develop maturity from a young age because of how she grew up - the child of a poor single mom (only looking to men to save her) who was forced to grow up to make sure they survived. And that's how she met her husband. He was older than her and the child (or nephew) of the diner owner at her first job. They dated and got married and started their business, and that was it. Suddenly they had an empire, but her marriage had basically fallen apart. And with her husband dead, she's struggling to maintain everything they built.
On the other hand, Blake was kinda unlikeable. I didn't care for him. He sucked. He was famous for being hot and good at his job. But all that mattered to him was the outside image of others. The readers don't learn much about him or see him grow. Yes, he has a twin brother and parents that live on a farm in Ohio (or something) and that's about it. He was estranged from them for years and claimed it was because they didn't like his business, and then he never took the time to talk with them whenever they reached out (even though they were trying). Blake felt immature, unchanging, and that didn't really make him a good fit for Kirin.
The romance between Kirin and Blake also didn't feel realistic. I didn't feel like I really saw them have any chemistry that made their "love" feel real. I'm glad they ended up together in the end, but it didn't feel resolved or built up enough to enjoy. The steamy scenes in this book were great though. I almost wish we saw more issues with the lawsuit come out, or even see the claims get denied and him sued for defamation. Especially when he started spreading a deep fake sex tape to media outlets to force her to give him more money. I don't know, it felt like things weren't really plotted very well and there weren't enough stakes to enjoy the romance between Kirin and Blake. And then the pacing, especially at the beginning, was really slow with the texting between Kirin, Ellie, and Gwin during their weird self-help motivation classes. Which was also weird and unexplored, but whatever.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
But it wasn't until a sexual harassment claim made by a male employee against Kirin did everything really suffer. She passed him over for a promotion and he made sure she regretted it, and with the lawsuit payment she was told to give him, the public's opinion of the grieving widow was now deep in the gutters. With her brand suffering and facing horrific media attention, Kirin needs the help of an image consultant to turn everything around. Which is where Blake comes in. He's famous for making over celebrities and changing their images nearly overnight. But he's in for a challenge when it comes to Kirin. Even though she knows she needs to change in order to fix her company's reputation, she's been in the same outfits, makeup, and lifestyle for decades and doesn't know anything different. But she's fiesty and opinionated and downright difficult for Blake to get through to, until he finds the right path to convince her to change.
This book was fine. I like Kirin just fine as a character. She was older, a grieving widow who also found out her husband was cheating on her with a younger woman while she was slaving away in the kitchen for their business and brand. She had completely changed herself to fit the image her husband wanted for their brand, and she'd only ever been with one man her entire adult life. But Kirin is a firecracker and she's fiesty, and yet, she's down-to-earth and completely different from any other well-known celebrity in how she acts privately and with others. Kirin also had to develop maturity from a young age because of how she grew up - the child of a poor single mom (only looking to men to save her) who was forced to grow up to make sure they survived. And that's how she met her husband. He was older than her and the child (or nephew) of the diner owner at her first job. They dated and got married and started their business, and that was it. Suddenly they had an empire, but her marriage had basically fallen apart. And with her husband dead, she's struggling to maintain everything they built.
On the other hand, Blake was kinda unlikeable. I didn't care for him. He sucked. He was famous for being hot and good at his job. But all that mattered to him was the outside image of others. The readers don't learn much about him or see him grow. Yes, he has a twin brother and parents that live on a farm in Ohio (or something) and that's about it. He was estranged from them for years and claimed it was because they didn't like his business, and then he never took the time to talk with them whenever they reached out (even though they were trying). Blake felt immature, unchanging, and that didn't really make him a good fit for Kirin.
The romance between Kirin and Blake also didn't feel realistic. I didn't feel like I really saw them have any chemistry that made their "love" feel real. I'm glad they ended up together in the end, but it didn't feel resolved or built up enough to enjoy. The steamy scenes in this book were great though. I almost wish we saw more issues with the lawsuit come out, or even see the claims get denied and him sued for defamation. Especially when he started spreading a deep fake sex tape to media outlets to force her to give him more money. I don't know, it felt like things weren't really plotted very well and there weren't enough stakes to enjoy the romance between Kirin and Blake. And then the pacing, especially at the beginning, was really slow with the texting between Kirin, Ellie, and Gwin during their weird self-help motivation classes. Which was also weird and unexplored, but whatever.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 21, 2022
First in this series from BD. Everything I've read of hers is fantastic, can't get enough!!
September 19, 2021
Celebrity chef Karin in is having a terrible time. Her husband of many years died sleeping with his mistress. And she's been accused of sexual harassment by a male underling. Clearly, she needs to reform her image, which is where Blake, image consultant to the stars, comes in to save the day. Although Karin initially wants nothing to do with him, she realizes she needs to do all she can to restore her image in the minds if her fans, even if that means doing Blake himself!
The sexual tension between these two characters was palpable and easily felt by this reader! Their chemistry was off the charts! And for such a short novel, their relationship didn't feel rushed to me. I thoroughly enjoyed this enemies to lovers romance. Looking forward to checking out more by Barbara DeLeo in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
The sexual tension between these two characters was palpable and easily felt by this reader! Their chemistry was off the charts! And for such a short novel, their relationship didn't feel rushed to me. I thoroughly enjoyed this enemies to lovers romance. Looking forward to checking out more by Barbara DeLeo in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
July 18, 2021
Kirin Hart is a celebrity chef with a huge following. But she has had a couple of rough years. Her soon to be ex husband died of a heart attack in the arms of his much younger mistress. Then an employee accused her of sexual harassment. Taking some bad advice she settled out of court so of course everyone thinks that means it was true!
She is in dire need of an image makeover! Blake Matthews is a whiz at just that thing, and it is in his best interests to take on the reinvention of Kirin Hart! Two weeks is all they have to turn things around. Can they do it?
A wonderful story of a thirty something woman learning to be her own person.
My first Barbara DeLeo book but won’t be my last!
She is in dire need of an image makeover! Blake Matthews is a whiz at just that thing, and it is in his best interests to take on the reinvention of Kirin Hart! Two weeks is all they have to turn things around. Can they do it?
A wonderful story of a thirty something woman learning to be her own person.
My first Barbara DeLeo book but won’t be my last!
June 4, 2021
Reputations can be a fragile thing
Kirin Hart had it all. Until she didn’t. Until her reputation suffered a blow that she had trouble recovering from, thanks to her dead ex. Oh, yeah, and that pesky employee sexual harassment accusation suit that her lawyer told her to pay out a settlement of a lot of money just to make it go away. Which, of course, it did not.
Blake Matthews, a PR guy, says he can fix her reputation. He ends up doing so much more. You have to read the book to see exactly how much more. Trust me on this one….it’s worth the read.
Kirin Hart had it all. Until she didn’t. Until her reputation suffered a blow that she had trouble recovering from, thanks to her dead ex. Oh, yeah, and that pesky employee sexual harassment accusation suit that her lawyer told her to pay out a settlement of a lot of money just to make it go away. Which, of course, it did not.
Blake Matthews, a PR guy, says he can fix her reputation. He ends up doing so much more. You have to read the book to see exactly how much more. Trust me on this one….it’s worth the read.
June 15, 2021
What happens when someone ruins your reputation.. well for Kirin she hired Blake a former model to her her looks and attitude back on track. But when he's trying to fix her, Kirin has found a way to help Blake fix his own reputation.
Absolutely love Barbara DeLeon and I can't wait for the next book of this series!
I received a free ARC and this is my honest review.
Absolutely love Barbara DeLeon and I can't wait for the next book of this series!
I received a free ARC and this is my honest review.
January 16, 2022
Great love story
Enjoyed the chemistry between Blake and Kirin. How an incouraging, steady, constant reflection of truth can uplift and change the downtrodden.
Enjoyed the chemistry between Blake and Kirin. How an incouraging, steady, constant reflection of truth can uplift and change the downtrodden.
May 31, 2021
I LOVED this book so freaking much. This is the story of Blake and Kirin and it is swoony, with all the feels.
Kirin is coming off a PR disaster and her brand and business are circling the drain. Enter Blake who knows he can turn around this PR disaster that is Kirin Hart. Well, Kirin is having none of it in the beginning. She does not need another man barging into her life telling her how to dress, talk, and speak. Her cheating ex-husband taught her to trust herself. What Kirin doesn't know is that he is about to buy the PR company he's representing and he has ten days to convince the owners he can turn around Kirin Hart who is adamant she does not need his help.
Blake knows what he wants and it was wonderful watching Kirin soften him and how he began to trust her with his heart that he's kept guarded for so long.
What a journey for Kirin. I adored watching her grow into the woman she's always wanted to be but lacked the confidence. Blake's little gestures and showing her how beautiful she really is made me heart beat hard for this gorgeous man.
A game of give and take unfolds, and an attraction turns into a steamy, romance. This is a new heat level for Ms. DeLeo and I've got to say I LOVED it. FANS SELF
I loved hanging with Kirin, Blake, and Dudley the dog, and we were introduced to a trio of interesting women I cannot wait to read. Bring on Ellie, please!!!!!
If you love a tender, heartfelt, gorgeous setting with the most amazing food, hot sex scenes and a happy ever after that makes you swoon, then this book is for you.
I adored it and can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Kirin is coming off a PR disaster and her brand and business are circling the drain. Enter Blake who knows he can turn around this PR disaster that is Kirin Hart. Well, Kirin is having none of it in the beginning. She does not need another man barging into her life telling her how to dress, talk, and speak. Her cheating ex-husband taught her to trust herself. What Kirin doesn't know is that he is about to buy the PR company he's representing and he has ten days to convince the owners he can turn around Kirin Hart who is adamant she does not need his help.
Blake knows what he wants and it was wonderful watching Kirin soften him and how he began to trust her with his heart that he's kept guarded for so long.
What a journey for Kirin. I adored watching her grow into the woman she's always wanted to be but lacked the confidence. Blake's little gestures and showing her how beautiful she really is made me heart beat hard for this gorgeous man.
A game of give and take unfolds, and an attraction turns into a steamy, romance. This is a new heat level for Ms. DeLeo and I've got to say I LOVED it. FANS SELF
I loved hanging with Kirin, Blake, and Dudley the dog, and we were introduced to a trio of interesting women I cannot wait to read. Bring on Ellie, please!!!!!
If you love a tender, heartfelt, gorgeous setting with the most amazing food, hot sex scenes and a happy ever after that makes you swoon, then this book is for you.
I adored it and can't wait to read the next book in the series.
July 9, 2022
I enjoyed this first book in the Breaking Through Series by Barbara DeLeo. Kirin Hart is at a low point in her life. Her husband dies when he was with his mistress. They were a team on a Celebrity Chef show. An employee tried to ruin Kirin’s reputation because she wouldn’t promote him. Kirin at that time finds support in two women she meets anonymously on line. They don’t know who she is, so she can be open and honest without having what she confides in them going public.
Enter Blake Mathews who is an Image Consultant. He has been given the task of fixing Kirin’s image. If he is able to complete this assignment, the business Blake wants to purchase will accept his offer. When Kirin meets Blake, she is not very cooperative and she is distrustful of him. Blake shares with Karin that he wants to show her in a different light, as an independent woman.
Blake has his own demons. Coming from a family of overachievers, they make fun of his profession although he is doing extremely well. He works hard to prove himself worthy. His relationships were never long term. Focusing on his career is his number one priority. The two weeks Blake has with Kirin results in more than improving her image. The attraction grows between the two of them with some unexpected romance and angst. All of this results in a very fulfilling love story to warm the heart. Second chance for Kirin and new beginnings for a once self-absorbed, handsome Image Consultant. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am happy to leave a review voluntarily.
Enter Blake Mathews who is an Image Consultant. He has been given the task of fixing Kirin’s image. If he is able to complete this assignment, the business Blake wants to purchase will accept his offer. When Kirin meets Blake, she is not very cooperative and she is distrustful of him. Blake shares with Karin that he wants to show her in a different light, as an independent woman.
Blake has his own demons. Coming from a family of overachievers, they make fun of his profession although he is doing extremely well. He works hard to prove himself worthy. His relationships were never long term. Focusing on his career is his number one priority. The two weeks Blake has with Kirin results in more than improving her image. The attraction grows between the two of them with some unexpected romance and angst. All of this results in a very fulfilling love story to warm the heart. Second chance for Kirin and new beginnings for a once self-absorbed, handsome Image Consultant. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am happy to leave a review voluntarily.
Want to read
November 5, 2021Can a dash of scandal and a dollop of seduction be the recipe for his greatest image makeover?
Image consultant Blake Matthews is facing his toughest PR challenge yet: salvage the reputation of celebrity chef Kirin Hart. Once he does, he’ll be able to acquire San Francisco’s most successful PR firm. But Kirin’s no easy fix. She’s stubborn about changing her comfortable homemaker image and is unapologetic for wanting to present her authentic self after her ex-husband trashed their collective public image. She needs a PR lifeline fast. Only problem is that Blake wants more than to make her over
Kirin doesn’t believe she needs a makeover—her true fans love will love her as she is. But she could lose everything if the scandal perpetuated by her ex, and the loss of reputation that has followed it, doesn’t get quashed right away. Kirin agrees to let model-perfect Blake work his magic for two weeks, but things get complicated when she can’t deny the way her body flares to life when he’s near.
Bad Reputations is Book One in Barbara DeLeo's Breaking Through series.
Image consultant Blake Matthews is facing his toughest PR challenge yet: salvage the reputation of celebrity chef Kirin Hart. Once he does, he’ll be able to acquire San Francisco’s most successful PR firm. But Kirin’s no easy fix. She’s stubborn about changing her comfortable homemaker image and is unapologetic for wanting to present her authentic self after her ex-husband trashed their collective public image. She needs a PR lifeline fast. Only problem is that Blake wants more than to make her over
Kirin doesn’t believe she needs a makeover—her true fans love will love her as she is. But she could lose everything if the scandal perpetuated by her ex, and the loss of reputation that has followed it, doesn’t get quashed right away. Kirin agrees to let model-perfect Blake work his magic for two weeks, but things get complicated when she can’t deny the way her body flares to life when he’s near.
Bad Reputations is Book One in Barbara DeLeo's Breaking Through series.
May 29, 2021
Kirin's current PR nightmare is underlining her distrust of men, but she needs to trust Blake's skills as an image consultant if she wants to get her life back in order. Blake doesn't trust anyone at all, but he has just found the one woman who makes everything seem different. They have a real rock and hard place situation going on, and it is not clear who is going to win. I liked that Blake saw the best in Kirin from the very beginning, and I liked that Kirin got to show everyone exactly how brave she really was.
June 16, 2021
While Kirin did get on my nerves a bit through out this book I really did enjoy it. A bit of a different take on a celebrity romance is always refreshing.
The writing was well done. It got my attention from the start and kept hold. The only thing lacking for me was a better resolution when dealing with Trent. It felt a little too unfinished for me
The writing was well done. It got my attention from the start and kept hold. The only thing lacking for me was a better resolution when dealing with Trent. It felt a little too unfinished for me
November 15, 2021
Ok
This story was just ok for me. I expected more and it was totally basic. The characters were alright but not overly interesting. Not all issues addressed.There was no epilogue to show what the future held. Did he get the company? Did Trent tell the truth? Just not enough here to complete.
This story was just ok for me. I expected more and it was totally basic. The characters were alright but not overly interesting. Not all issues addressed.There was no epilogue to show what the future held. Did he get the company? Did Trent tell the truth? Just not enough here to complete.
May 11, 2022
I loved the story of Blake and Kirin. for most of the book I just hated blake, I thought he was totally selfish, even though deep down I knew he really cared about kirin on a personal level, and for most of the story, you believe that kirin is just fragile. But then the book takes a turn and you realize a whole new story. And that was fantastic and that's why I loved the book.
June 1, 2021
Great Book. This is the beginning of a new series I really enjoyed this book I highly recommend this book to everyone Dorothy Schaefer
July 11, 2021
Blake & Kirin had an intriguing read. I got a copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving my review.
Read
July 24, 2021[did not finish @ 26%]
Want to read
November 6, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/6/2021)! 🎁
February 10, 2022
Quick read
Great storyline and great characters! Very well written even though it was a quick read it makes up for that being a quality read!
Great storyline and great characters! Very well written even though it was a quick read it makes up for that being a quality read!
May 25, 2022
Not bad but very predictable.
June 22, 2022
This was such a sweet romance. Sometimes all we need is to start over and have a new image and with that maybe a love story. Page turning and emotional book. Can't wait for more!
January 8, 2024
⛔️(in notes)
April 23, 2022
Kirin has had a bad run of luck since her husband died being with a younger woman and a sexual harassment scandal. Blake is trying to buy a new company but the owners want to see what he's made of. Blake must help Kirin change her image and he changes more than he bargains for.
Kirin is a chef and Blake barely eats real food. Fall in love over food and image consulting. This is a must read!
Kirin is a chef and Blake barely eats real food. Fall in love over food and image consulting. This is a must read!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews