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Evergreen Cove #2
Bad Boy Crush
A stormy past leads to an unexpected reunion.
Lourdes Daniels’s divorce came with a fallout: losing close friend Anthony Renaldo. Now she’s ready to heal their rift under one condition…this time, she’s protecting her heart at all costs. But when a surprise and very public kiss fast tracks them to the bedroom, Lourdes is suddenly seeing Anthony in an entirely new way…
After spending five years at arm’s length from Lourdes, chainsaw artist Anthony Renaldo isn’t about to miss his second chance. Proving his prowess in bed is easy, but getting Lourdes onboard for more is practically impossible. He has a choice to make: settle for less with Lourdes once again, or convince her that he’s worth the risk.
Lourdes Daniels’s divorce came with a fallout: losing close friend Anthony Renaldo. Now she’s ready to heal their rift under one condition…this time, she’s protecting her heart at all costs. But when a surprise and very public kiss fast tracks them to the bedroom, Lourdes is suddenly seeing Anthony in an entirely new way…
After spending five years at arm’s length from Lourdes, chainsaw artist Anthony Renaldo isn’t about to miss his second chance. Proving his prowess in bed is easy, but getting Lourdes onboard for more is practically impossible. He has a choice to make: settle for less with Lourdes once again, or convince her that he’s worth the risk.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 4, 2022
7 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Lemmon
200 books1,914 followersJessica Lemmon is a former job-hopper who resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dogs. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she’s not writing emotionally-charged stories, she spends her time drawing, drinking coffee, and laughing with friends. Her motto is Read for fun, and she believes we should all do more of what makes us happy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 4, 2022
"There's no removing the tattoo on my heart with your name on it."
This is a sweet read with some steamy moments between a man and a woman who thought they would never get a second chance in life. This is also my favorite book of Jessica's in a while – her self-published books, as opposed to the Harlequin books, are much richer, more vibrant, and a lot more steamy.
All good things as far as I’m concerned!
"He wasn't a poetic guy but swore he could feel his soul lean in whenever those eyes met his."
I fell in love with Ant right away. This guy carves wood sculptures, so he's the 'normal' guy I sometimes crave in romance novels. Plus, he's been in love with Lourdes for a long time, ever since the first time he ever saw her, actually, only to realize she had a fiancé. Then, she got married, so she was absolutely off-limits. He remained friends with her throughout her marriage, and that had to hurt. But now, she's free. What is he going to do this time? Just wait around? Or is it time to actually do something about his feelings?
"To him, she was everything."
Lou is the woman who seemed to have the perfect marriage, except her husband cheated on her and left her feeling unworthy and unwanted. Stupid for not having seen it coming. So she moved to Evergreen Cove and found friends there, she loves her job, and everything seems fine. Except it's not, especially on those stormy nights when she finds herself alone.
"They say you find someone when you're not looking. Do I want to be found?"
And and Lou are not even friends now. He did something she saw as unforgivable, but she never gave him the chance to explain his reasons. However, they do live in the same small town, so they were bound to bump into each other at times. Ant still sees her as nothing short of perfect, and that warmed my heart. Maybe this time she can see beyond the grudge she's holding, and even beyond the whole friendship thing.
"I'm not going to kiss you again."
"No?"
"Not until you ask me to. And Lourdes, you are going to have to ask. No more freebies."
Ant shows his feelings, and his vulnerability. He wears his heart on his sleeve. We see how hard it was for him to see Lou with another person. There's some tension between them that didn't use to be there, and it's both sexy and endearing at the same time. They don't really know what to do with it. And then there's one kiss – a very public one – and everything changes. Granted, they still don't know what to do, but they're determined to explore whatever this thing is.
"Then I met you. And it was like the entire world stopped."
I loved being back in Evergreen Cove. The small-town magic always gets to me, and you get to see the couple from the previous book, as well as cameos from another series. My only issue was Lou. She should be relatable because of my own personal life. Doubting herself and her choices, and wondering about the future and what to do is perfectly normal, especially after the way her wedding ended. But it felt like too much for me - Ant never once gives her a reason to doubt him, but she keeps pushing him off. It seemed very childish to me sometimes for someone who is in her 30s.
"I used to think of you as a thread in the tapestry. You're not. You're the backing holding the whole thing together."
The ending is one of those that gives you hope. I can't really explain it, but it felt amazing to see Ant finally happy and getting the HEA he deserved all along. They can't really turn back time, but they can enjoy both their present and their future.
I'm intrigued about the next couple in this series, so I'm looking forward to it!
This is a sweet read with some steamy moments between a man and a woman who thought they would never get a second chance in life. This is also my favorite book of Jessica's in a while – her self-published books, as opposed to the Harlequin books, are much richer, more vibrant, and a lot more steamy.
All good things as far as I’m concerned!
"He wasn't a poetic guy but swore he could feel his soul lean in whenever those eyes met his."
I fell in love with Ant right away. This guy carves wood sculptures, so he's the 'normal' guy I sometimes crave in romance novels. Plus, he's been in love with Lourdes for a long time, ever since the first time he ever saw her, actually, only to realize she had a fiancé. Then, she got married, so she was absolutely off-limits. He remained friends with her throughout her marriage, and that had to hurt. But now, she's free. What is he going to do this time? Just wait around? Or is it time to actually do something about his feelings?
"To him, she was everything."
Lou is the woman who seemed to have the perfect marriage, except her husband cheated on her and left her feeling unworthy and unwanted. Stupid for not having seen it coming. So she moved to Evergreen Cove and found friends there, she loves her job, and everything seems fine. Except it's not, especially on those stormy nights when she finds herself alone.
"They say you find someone when you're not looking. Do I want to be found?"
And and Lou are not even friends now. He did something she saw as unforgivable, but she never gave him the chance to explain his reasons. However, they do live in the same small town, so they were bound to bump into each other at times. Ant still sees her as nothing short of perfect, and that warmed my heart. Maybe this time she can see beyond the grudge she's holding, and even beyond the whole friendship thing.
"I'm not going to kiss you again."
"No?"
"Not until you ask me to. And Lourdes, you are going to have to ask. No more freebies."
Ant shows his feelings, and his vulnerability. He wears his heart on his sleeve. We see how hard it was for him to see Lou with another person. There's some tension between them that didn't use to be there, and it's both sexy and endearing at the same time. They don't really know what to do with it. And then there's one kiss – a very public one – and everything changes. Granted, they still don't know what to do, but they're determined to explore whatever this thing is.
"Then I met you. And it was like the entire world stopped."
I loved being back in Evergreen Cove. The small-town magic always gets to me, and you get to see the couple from the previous book, as well as cameos from another series. My only issue was Lou. She should be relatable because of my own personal life. Doubting herself and her choices, and wondering about the future and what to do is perfectly normal, especially after the way her wedding ended. But it felt like too much for me - Ant never once gives her a reason to doubt him, but she keeps pushing him off. It seemed very childish to me sometimes for someone who is in her 30s.
"I used to think of you as a thread in the tapestry. You're not. You're the backing holding the whole thing together."
The ending is one of those that gives you hope. I can't really explain it, but it felt amazing to see Ant finally happy and getting the HEA he deserved all along. They can't really turn back time, but they can enjoy both their present and their future.
I'm intrigued about the next couple in this series, so I'm looking forward to it!
October 3, 2022
First of all, I don’t get the title. Ant isn’t a bad boy, he’s the sweetest man ever. The crush, though, is real. And it might be what I enjoyed the most.
So we have Lourdes, who’s been betrayed by her cheating–and overall terrible–husband, and doesn’t trust anyone anymore. She hasn’t dated since her divorce almost two years earlier, and she doesn’t see love in her future. She doesn’t see Anthony either, as he was a friend of the married couple, and he made a mistake that broke their friendship too. She has friends, she has her job, and that’s it.
Circumstances put Ant back in her life, and they decide to mend their relationship. Except that it isn’t easy for Ant: since he saw Lourdes for the first time, he’s had a crush on her, only keeping a leash on his feelings because she was engaged, then married. And he kept up appearances for her sake, and the sake of his heart. Now the husband isn’t in the picture anymore, and there’s so much potential between them.
So yes, we have the main male character who’s been pining for the main female character for a few years, but who’s never acted on his feelings. Give me a man with feels any day, I’m all for it. He often shows his vulnerable side, sometimes hidden behind anger and frustration, but he’s definitely sensible. And one of the aspects I loved the most was the fact that he’s a manual worker–though more an artist than an artisan. He’s successful in his trade, but he’s not a billionaire. Plus he has a learning disability. Ant was a unique character, and I loved him.
I was more wary of Lourdes. I get it, her husband’s betrayal was awful, but she disconnected herself from her feelings–she didn’t want to risk hurting again–so efficiently that she has no idea of what she feels for Ant. That alone puts a strain on their relationship once they get together. Between Ant who’s afraid to admit what he felt for a long time, and Lourdes who refuses to acknowledge her feelings, they don’t start on the right foot. Yet I loved watching their relationship develop. They have cute and sweet moments, and also very sexy moments.
They also don’t live in an isolated bubble. They have common friends, and there are a lot of ensemble scenes when Lourdes and Anthony interact with them. Some of those scenes help moving the relationship forward, as they both show other sides of themselves in various situations–good side or bad side. I haven’t read the books related to this one, so I didn’t have any particular feelings for the friends, but I got enough information in this book to understand who they are and where they’re coming from. It didn’t feel too much like fan service.
And in order to build a coherent world, the author sprinkles clues about who will end up with whom in the upcoming books of the series. It’s still a standalone, but the series should definitely be read in order. And now I can’t wait for the next book!
Quickie
- Series: Evergreen Cove #2 (can be read as a standalone, but linked to another series by the same author)
- Hashtags: #small town romance #friends to lovers #age gap
- Triggers: past cheating
- Main couple: Lourdes Daniels & Anthony Renaldo
- Hotness: 4/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + long pining from the man? love it
- – I get where Lourdes comes from, but she should get in touch with her feelings
So we have Lourdes, who’s been betrayed by her cheating–and overall terrible–husband, and doesn’t trust anyone anymore. She hasn’t dated since her divorce almost two years earlier, and she doesn’t see love in her future. She doesn’t see Anthony either, as he was a friend of the married couple, and he made a mistake that broke their friendship too. She has friends, she has her job, and that’s it.
Circumstances put Ant back in her life, and they decide to mend their relationship. Except that it isn’t easy for Ant: since he saw Lourdes for the first time, he’s had a crush on her, only keeping a leash on his feelings because she was engaged, then married. And he kept up appearances for her sake, and the sake of his heart. Now the husband isn’t in the picture anymore, and there’s so much potential between them.
So yes, we have the main male character who’s been pining for the main female character for a few years, but who’s never acted on his feelings. Give me a man with feels any day, I’m all for it. He often shows his vulnerable side, sometimes hidden behind anger and frustration, but he’s definitely sensible. And one of the aspects I loved the most was the fact that he’s a manual worker–though more an artist than an artisan. He’s successful in his trade, but he’s not a billionaire. Plus he has a learning disability. Ant was a unique character, and I loved him.
I was more wary of Lourdes. I get it, her husband’s betrayal was awful, but she disconnected herself from her feelings–she didn’t want to risk hurting again–so efficiently that she has no idea of what she feels for Ant. That alone puts a strain on their relationship once they get together. Between Ant who’s afraid to admit what he felt for a long time, and Lourdes who refuses to acknowledge her feelings, they don’t start on the right foot. Yet I loved watching their relationship develop. They have cute and sweet moments, and also very sexy moments.
They also don’t live in an isolated bubble. They have common friends, and there are a lot of ensemble scenes when Lourdes and Anthony interact with them. Some of those scenes help moving the relationship forward, as they both show other sides of themselves in various situations–good side or bad side. I haven’t read the books related to this one, so I didn’t have any particular feelings for the friends, but I got enough information in this book to understand who they are and where they’re coming from. It didn’t feel too much like fan service.
And in order to build a coherent world, the author sprinkles clues about who will end up with whom in the upcoming books of the series. It’s still a standalone, but the series should definitely be read in order. And now I can’t wait for the next book!
Quickie
- Series: Evergreen Cove #2 (can be read as a standalone, but linked to another series by the same author)
- Hashtags: #small town romance #friends to lovers #age gap
- Triggers: past cheating
- Main couple: Lourdes Daniels & Anthony Renaldo
- Hotness: 4/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + long pining from the man? love it
- – I get where Lourdes comes from, but she should get in touch with her feelings
October 4, 2022
***ARC Provided by the Author***
There was something about this book, about the connection with Lourdes and Ant (Anthony) that just made it a lot of fun to read.
Don't get me wrong, there's some drama and a lot of emotion, and some amazing chemistry...but this was one of those books you enjoy and can't wait to pick up again (if you are unfortunate enough to have life happen and require you to put it down) and are just fun to read.
I think, at least in this one, it was the characters and the fact that the story is just slightly quirky. (I've never before read a book where the hero enters a chainsaw carving contest, have you?) And I think the quirky setting, the sort of 2nd chance of it, and the characters all blended together to make this into a story I really enjoyed.
I have read the first in the series, but if you haven't, while I recommend it, you are fine to read this one first.
I enjoyed and recommend this title.
There was something about this book, about the connection with Lourdes and Ant (Anthony) that just made it a lot of fun to read.
Don't get me wrong, there's some drama and a lot of emotion, and some amazing chemistry...but this was one of those books you enjoy and can't wait to pick up again (if you are unfortunate enough to have life happen and require you to put it down) and are just fun to read.
I think, at least in this one, it was the characters and the fact that the story is just slightly quirky. (I've never before read a book where the hero enters a chainsaw carving contest, have you?) And I think the quirky setting, the sort of 2nd chance of it, and the characters all blended together to make this into a story I really enjoyed.
I have read the first in the series, but if you haven't, while I recommend it, you are fine to read this one first.
I enjoyed and recommend this title.
September 20, 2022
Bad Boy Crush (Evergreen Cove Book 2) by Jessica Lemmon
Friends to ex friends to lovers... Lourdes Daniels (Lou) and Anthony Renaldo (Ant) She is getting over a bad divorce and he has been interested in her before her marriage. He kept information from her and she blamed him. He doesn't want to miss his second chance. There are wonderful friends we catch up with, angst, fear, misunderstandings, laughter, tears, insecurity, and plenty of steam. I loved this couple and laughed and cried with them to get to their HEA. I can't wait for BAD BOY FOR HIRE.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Action-packed Easy-to-read Entertaining Funny Great world building Happily Ever After Page-turner Romantic Steamy Tear-jerker Wonderful characters.
Friends to ex friends to lovers... Lourdes Daniels (Lou) and Anthony Renaldo (Ant) She is getting over a bad divorce and he has been interested in her before her marriage. He kept information from her and she blamed him. He doesn't want to miss his second chance. There are wonderful friends we catch up with, angst, fear, misunderstandings, laughter, tears, insecurity, and plenty of steam. I loved this couple and laughed and cried with them to get to their HEA. I can't wait for BAD BOY FOR HIRE.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Action-packed Easy-to-read Entertaining Funny Great world building Happily Ever After Page-turner Romantic Steamy Tear-jerker Wonderful characters.
October 5, 2022
Once upon a time, Anthony Renaldo and Lourdes Daniels were friends, and then they weren’t because in her eyes he did something unforgivable and did not tell her than her husband was a lying cheater. Lou realizes that her friendship with Ant is more important when he comes to her rescue and she feels they can start over, but Ant wants more than just friendship, see he has been in love with her for 5 yrs and he wants her forever and ever. Can she trust him with her heart and can he convince her that they are more than just friends with benefits? But is Lourdes, after the betrayal of her marriage, ready to have love again in her life. And is Ant the man to show her how?
I loved this book. I think that Jessica Lemmon brought a lot of depth to these two characters. I loved how she worked all the friends into this book to help the two to find their way back to their friendship and eventually to the love they both had for one another. She gave us some wonderful happy and funny moments and some deep and oh so many hot and sexy moments that could burn the house down. It gets a solid 5 stars from me.
I was given a copy of this book for my honest opinion. Thanks, Jessica Lemmon, for a great read.
I loved this book. I think that Jessica Lemmon brought a lot of depth to these two characters. I loved how she worked all the friends into this book to help the two to find their way back to their friendship and eventually to the love they both had for one another. She gave us some wonderful happy and funny moments and some deep and oh so many hot and sexy moments that could burn the house down. It gets a solid 5 stars from me.
I was given a copy of this book for my honest opinion. Thanks, Jessica Lemmon, for a great read.
March 28, 2023
3.5 stars. Very cute.
September 22, 2022
4 waiting stars☆
Their story was interrupted by Lou's marriage, an union that crashed and burned, leaving Lou in a beach house in Evergreen Cove to recover.
Ant has been falling for her from the very first moment he laid his eyes on her, however, she was engaged, so "off-limits ". Now is another story: after a mind blowing kiss, burning down the bed sheets and just being around each other, has Ant falling even more deeper in love with Lou. The question here is: does she feel the same?
After reading Bad Boy Blues, Ant and Lou's story was one that every reader was waiting for, and Mrs Lemmon didn't disappoint. This is a journey of rediscovering: not only each other but themselves, especially for Lourdes, who lost herself along her divorce and has been trying to find her balance on her own. They'll have to find their footing along their new and improved relationship, will this be their chance at a HEA or will they crash and burn along the way? I recommend you read it and enjoy the ride, it won't disappoint.
**Disclaimer: I’ve received this book as an ARC from the author and this is my honest review**
Their story was interrupted by Lou's marriage, an union that crashed and burned, leaving Lou in a beach house in Evergreen Cove to recover.
Ant has been falling for her from the very first moment he laid his eyes on her, however, she was engaged, so "off-limits ". Now is another story: after a mind blowing kiss, burning down the bed sheets and just being around each other, has Ant falling even more deeper in love with Lou. The question here is: does she feel the same?
After reading Bad Boy Blues, Ant and Lou's story was one that every reader was waiting for, and Mrs Lemmon didn't disappoint. This is a journey of rediscovering: not only each other but themselves, especially for Lourdes, who lost herself along her divorce and has been trying to find her balance on her own. They'll have to find their footing along their new and improved relationship, will this be their chance at a HEA or will they crash and burn along the way? I recommend you read it and enjoy the ride, it won't disappoint.
**Disclaimer: I’ve received this book as an ARC from the author and this is my honest review**
October 11, 2022
A year and a half ago, Lourdes Daniels divorced her cheating husband, but she also severed her friendship with Anthony Renaldo when she found out he knew about her husband's cheating.
Now, living in Evergreen Cove, and with some therapeutic journaling, Lou is starting to feel like herself again. One thing she hasn't yet resolved is her shattered friendship with Ant. Lou is given an opportunity when Ant helps her clear a downed tree from her yard after a bad storm rolls through Evergreen Cove. It's soon apparent, however, that they have a deeper connection than friendship, but is Lou ready to start something serious after having been so deceived by the last person she loved?
I loved going back to Evergreen Cove. Jessica Lemmon's Second Chance series (which also takes place in Evergreen Cove) was the first set of books I read by her, and what initially got me hooked on her as an author. So I was happy to revisit this place and see some mention of familiar past characters.
I enjoyed how Ant and Lou's relationship progressed. I wish we had gotten more of a glimpse of their friendship before because it was obviously something dear to both of them. I really wanted to feel the weight of its loss and then reestablishment before moving into romantic territory.
Regardless, I just loved their connection. I enjoyed seeing the interactions between the friendship group and determining who would get their story next, which is basically told to you at the very end of this book. I'm looking forward to more stories from Evergreen Cove.
Now, living in Evergreen Cove, and with some therapeutic journaling, Lou is starting to feel like herself again. One thing she hasn't yet resolved is her shattered friendship with Ant. Lou is given an opportunity when Ant helps her clear a downed tree from her yard after a bad storm rolls through Evergreen Cove. It's soon apparent, however, that they have a deeper connection than friendship, but is Lou ready to start something serious after having been so deceived by the last person she loved?
I loved going back to Evergreen Cove. Jessica Lemmon's Second Chance series (which also takes place in Evergreen Cove) was the first set of books I read by her, and what initially got me hooked on her as an author. So I was happy to revisit this place and see some mention of familiar past characters.
I enjoyed how Ant and Lou's relationship progressed. I wish we had gotten more of a glimpse of their friendship before because it was obviously something dear to both of them. I really wanted to feel the weight of its loss and then reestablishment before moving into romantic territory.
Regardless, I just loved their connection. I enjoyed seeing the interactions between the friendship group and determining who would get their story next, which is basically told to you at the very end of this book. I'm looking forward to more stories from Evergreen Cove.
October 4, 2022
Wow! What can I say about Lou and Ant?
Lourdes “Lou” is still getting over her divorce from Ant’s best friend, Liam. Anthony “Ant” has loved Lou for more than 5 years and he’d do anything to have her speaking to him again.
Ant doesn’t feel like he can ever live up to the social class of person that Lou’s accustomed to. Lou never even considers this an issue.
This is a steamy love story where the guy may be a hometown “Bad Boy”, but he is also a hopeless romantic when it comes to the girl that got away!
Lourdes “Lou” is still getting over her divorce from Ant’s best friend, Liam. Anthony “Ant” has loved Lou for more than 5 years and he’d do anything to have her speaking to him again.
Ant doesn’t feel like he can ever live up to the social class of person that Lou’s accustomed to. Lou never even considers this an issue.
This is a steamy love story where the guy may be a hometown “Bad Boy”, but he is also a hopeless romantic when it comes to the girl that got away!
September 18, 2023
First of all, I did like the story. So much so that I read it in day. The last few chapters are amazing, specially when Ant has to confront his own feelings of inadequacy, that was great.
I also LOVED the sisterhood and the portrayal of female friendship. I want those kind of girlfriends myself! I enjoyed this new group of girls more than the previous cast: May, Lisa, Lou, Elliot, you can really feel the kindship and sorority between them and I loved it.
However...this book is not perfect and I do have a few things to criticize:
The conflict between Ant and Lou is already resolved by the time the story begins. There's a secondary conflict that shows up after they've already got together, but the main thing, which was to get them from former friends to lovers was solved in the previous book. They were already on speaking terms in Bad Boy Blues, so by the time this story begins, there's not even that much tension between them anymore.
Neither one of them puts any real resistance into being with each other. Like, we get Lou's thoughts about how weird she feels about the whole thing but the next second she's throwing herself at him like she never had an issue with him at all. I wanted to see Ant and Lou go from friends to enemies back to friends and finally lovers, but that entire journey is something we don't get, which is a shame.
I think these two deserved a whole series dedicated to them alone, and not just one spin off book where they actually do feel like secondary characters in their own story, overshadowed by all the other richer, younger, prettier and more famous characters from the previous books that keep popping up here and there with their wonderful happy lives already resolved.
Which takes me to the next point: the author insits on writing cameos with these previous characters but the whole time I'm wondering "what happened to everyone's personalities?" They all blur together in a mush: now all the guys talk the same way and all the girls act the same way. It's like the moment they get married they cease to exist as separate individuals and lose all the quirks that we liked them for in the first place. They are no longer Sophie, Faith, Donnovan, Ash...they are suburban husbands and wives with kids and dogs who only talk about being suburban husbands and wives with kids and dogs. I'm sure this happens in real life as well but come on. But is not only them, is Lou and Ant as well. Lou was so sassy when we first met her in Bad Boy's Blues, but here she is all shy and dull and she acts all coy when the girls ask her about her dates with Ant like...come on, Lou, where's my adventurous travel blogger turned influencer? Where's the witty woman who wouldn't miss a beat when bantering with Ant? I miss her.
I think the magic of Evergreen Cove it's starting to dwindle for me. I don't see myself reading on future romances involving the town's folk, (as promising as the whole thing with Xavier and May looks). I might read some other series from this author but for now, aside from possible re-reading the original Bad Boy series, I think I'm done with Evergreen Cove and it's HEA couples.
I also LOVED the sisterhood and the portrayal of female friendship. I want those kind of girlfriends myself! I enjoyed this new group of girls more than the previous cast: May, Lisa, Lou, Elliot, you can really feel the kindship and sorority between them and I loved it.
However...this book is not perfect and I do have a few things to criticize:
The conflict between Ant and Lou is already resolved by the time the story begins. There's a secondary conflict that shows up after they've already got together, but the main thing, which was to get them from former friends to lovers was solved in the previous book. They were already on speaking terms in Bad Boy Blues, so by the time this story begins, there's not even that much tension between them anymore.
Neither one of them puts any real resistance into being with each other. Like, we get Lou's thoughts about how weird she feels about the whole thing but the next second she's throwing herself at him like she never had an issue with him at all. I wanted to see Ant and Lou go from friends to enemies back to friends and finally lovers, but that entire journey is something we don't get, which is a shame.
I think these two deserved a whole series dedicated to them alone, and not just one spin off book where they actually do feel like secondary characters in their own story, overshadowed by all the other richer, younger, prettier and more famous characters from the previous books that keep popping up here and there with their wonderful happy lives already resolved.
Which takes me to the next point: the author insits on writing cameos with these previous characters but the whole time I'm wondering "what happened to everyone's personalities?" They all blur together in a mush: now all the guys talk the same way and all the girls act the same way. It's like the moment they get married they cease to exist as separate individuals and lose all the quirks that we liked them for in the first place. They are no longer Sophie, Faith, Donnovan, Ash...they are suburban husbands and wives with kids and dogs who only talk about being suburban husbands and wives with kids and dogs. I'm sure this happens in real life as well but come on. But is not only them, is Lou and Ant as well. Lou was so sassy when we first met her in Bad Boy's Blues, but here she is all shy and dull and she acts all coy when the girls ask her about her dates with Ant like...come on, Lou, where's my adventurous travel blogger turned influencer? Where's the witty woman who wouldn't miss a beat when bantering with Ant? I miss her.
I think the magic of Evergreen Cove it's starting to dwindle for me. I don't see myself reading on future romances involving the town's folk, (as promising as the whole thing with Xavier and May looks). I might read some other series from this author but for now, aside from possible re-reading the original Bad Boy series, I think I'm done with Evergreen Cove and it's HEA couples.
October 10, 2022
Bad Boy Crush is the second book in the Evergreen Cove series, but the first I've read so I was a little worried that I'd be either lost or overwhelmed by the cast of characters. Happily, that didn't end up being a concern at all. The core group of friends that makes up this series was a fun group, and easy to figure out thanks to how much time they all spend together. The author did a great job of introducing all of the couples—and the singles—in a way that never felt like an info dump. At it's core, this story is very much a friends to lovers romance, but it's also so much more. The FMC, Lourdes, is a woman learning to trust herself again after the pain of a marriage ending due to her spouse's infidelities. The feelings Lou dealt with were all too familiar, and seeing her put up walls to protect herself all too real. It's not a sad story though. Not at all. There's hope throughout, especially from the perspective of Anthony(Ant), once a friend of Lou and her husband and now someone that sees Lou is his chance at a happily ever after. I'll admit to being a little confused by the title as Ant is the furthest thing from a bad boy. Instead, he's a dependable and loyal friend with hurts and insecurities of his own. Most importantly, he's 100% sure that he and Lourdes will be amazing together!
While the book started out a little slow for me, and I wasn't a big fan of all the time spent on the Paul Bunyan games, the last third of the book absolutely sold me on this couple needing to be together forever. I adored how when the other partner was down, both Lou and Ant stepped up to make sure the other person realized that they were seen. Perfect, perfect ending!
While the book started out a little slow for me, and I wasn't a big fan of all the time spent on the Paul Bunyan games, the last third of the book absolutely sold me on this couple needing to be together forever. I adored how when the other partner was down, both Lou and Ant stepped up to make sure the other person realized that they were seen. Perfect, perfect ending!
September 28, 2022
I really enjoyed this friends to lovers romance. Ant and Lou met years ago and Ant was immediately smitten. Unfortunately, Lou was already engaged so the two struck up a friendship. A few years later, after Lou has suffered an embarrassing divorce from her cheating ex and several months of silence between her and Ant, the two decide to rekindle their friendship. But it turns out they do much more than that. The kindling turns into a raging fire as things turn physical. But they aren’t exactly on the same page with their relationship, and both are harboring some big insecurities. I loved the relationship between the two main characters, as well as the friendships they shared with other residents of the lakeside town. I don’t know if places like that really exist, but they do sound pretty dreamy. And Ant was a great romantic lead. He was sweet and sexy and beneath the bad boy exterior there was an absolute heart of gold. He was completely smitten with Lou, and all the small things he knew about her, all the little ways he took care of her, were so romantic. He really paid attention and that was beyond sexy. I wasn’t quite as enamored of Lou at times (how do you not recognize the amazing man right in front of you?!), but she managed to redeem herself eventually. There was a bit of angst, some laughs, a few very sexy times and lots of sweet, warm friendship all wrapped up in a story I enjoyed from start to finish. Highly recommended.
October 4, 2022
I loved Lou and Ant’s love story in Bad Boy Crush by Jessica Lemmon, book two in her Evergreen Cove series, is a wonderful and heartfelt friends to lovers romance. Anthony Renaldo and Lourdes Daniels were friends, until they weren’t, because in her eyes he did something unforgivable; he did not tell her that her husband was a lying cheater. Lou is now living in Evergreen Cove, and with some therapeutic journaling, she is starting to feel like herself again. She is bothered by the fact that she had yet to forgive Ant and renew their friendship. When Ant helps clear a downed tree from her yard after a bad storm rolls through Evergreen Cove, Lou is given the perfect chance to do so. Ant has been falling for her from the first moment he laid eyes on her; however, she was engaged, so he backed off. Now is another story: after a mind blowing kiss, setting the bed sheets aflame, and spending time with each other, Ant has fallen deeper in love with Lou. He wonders how he can convince her that they are more than just friends with benefits. Lourdes, after the betrayal of her marriage, is not sure she is ready to love again or trust Ant with her heart. It’s going to take the advice of friends and serious reflection on Lou’s part before she realizes her true feelings for Ant. I highly recommend Bad Boy Crush to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
September 30, 2022
3.5 stars
If you've been a fan of Ms Lemmon for a while, then you will be familiar with Evergreen Cove. Bad Boy Crush returns us to this entertaining community with Lou and Ant. Don't worry if you are new to the Cove, this is an excellent stand alone.
I truly enjoyed getting to know Lou, Ant, and their friends. This is an entertaining group and it was fun to see Lou and Ant repair their friendship and then potentially grow into something more. Both characters are coming to this point with baggage, some of which is very relatable. I found myself able to put myself in the shoes of both Ant and Lou at various points and that made it easy to root for both of them to try to figure things out.
The larger group of friends adds layers to the story and helps our characters figure things out while also adding a bit of side story too. Not only so we have cameos from the origianl cast that introduced us to Evergreen Cove, but we also see appearances from people that I hope to see stories about in the future.
If you've been a fan of Ms Lemmon for a while, then you will be familiar with Evergreen Cove. Bad Boy Crush returns us to this entertaining community with Lou and Ant. Don't worry if you are new to the Cove, this is an excellent stand alone.
I truly enjoyed getting to know Lou, Ant, and their friends. This is an entertaining group and it was fun to see Lou and Ant repair their friendship and then potentially grow into something more. Both characters are coming to this point with baggage, some of which is very relatable. I found myself able to put myself in the shoes of both Ant and Lou at various points and that made it easy to root for both of them to try to figure things out.
The larger group of friends adds layers to the story and helps our characters figure things out while also adding a bit of side story too. Not only so we have cameos from the origianl cast that introduced us to Evergreen Cove, but we also see appearances from people that I hope to see stories about in the future.
October 4, 2022
This was like revisiting with old friends you hadn't checked in on for a while- if you've read other Jessica Lemmon books/series you will recognize the location and many of the characters in this story. And like how it happens with old friends, the return is seamless as we get the much awaited story of Ant and Lou. Let's be honest, who hasn't been waiting for the fedora wearing chainsaw artist's story?? And he's a really, really good guy...respectful of other relationships and past history, even while harboring some serious feelings for a long time. But at the heart of their relationship is a friendship. I want to hang out on the dock with them or sit around the fire pit for a night of fun, because that's how much this book just draws you in. That and I want a front row seat for the next couple's story as it unfolds! (little nuggets were intersperced to peak curiosity, so the wait for their story has begun!!) Can read as a stand alone, but I would recommend at least reading the first of Evergreen Cove for a fuller story with the side characters.
October 3, 2022
Sweet and sentimental meets steamy goodness in the second book in Jessica Lemmon's Evergreen Cove series and I loved it! This fast paced frenemies to lovers story is sure to please as snarky meets goodhearted and hearts collide. I wanted a bit more development to the character's as a whole, but I enjoyed their reconnection and personalities a lot. I'm looking forward to more to come in the series.
Lourdes is a delight. She's snarky and direct and downright full of attitude, but she has a heart of gold and warmth galore.
Anthony is such a sweetheart and totally misunderstood in his disagreement with Lou. I loved seeing her forgive him and step into what they could be.
I recommend this book as well as the rest of the series to anyone that enjoys a semi-small vacation town filled with relatable characters and their friends as each one pairs off into their happily ever after.
Lourdes is a delight. She's snarky and direct and downright full of attitude, but she has a heart of gold and warmth galore.
Anthony is such a sweetheart and totally misunderstood in his disagreement with Lou. I loved seeing her forgive him and step into what they could be.
I recommend this book as well as the rest of the series to anyone that enjoys a semi-small vacation town filled with relatable characters and their friends as each one pairs off into their happily ever after.
October 19, 2022
Bad Boy Crush by Jessica Lemmon is book #2 in the Evergreen Cove series. I really likes this storyline with activities at the Paul Bunyan Festival being the most entertaining. I got a kick out of Lou's friend sneakily surprising her by naming her Master of Ceremonies for the games. I could just picture Lou sitting in the rough throne-like chair wearing a horned headpiece (to represent Babe the Blue Ox). It was fun reading along as Lou revisited her friendship with Anthony after freezing him out because of her cheating ex-husband and then moving on to the Happily Ever After. This is a fun, sexy read and I look forward to the next book in the series.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
October 8, 2022
Bad Boy Crush was another perfect Jessica read.
Ant & Lou were friends who ended up falling out before circumstances brought them back together.
This was a friends to lovers book vibe with a bit of small town thrown in.
Any was a seriously swoony sounding hero, he has all his feels and you honestly can’t help but love him. He’s also a tree surgeon and wood sculptor which was unusual in terms of jobs to come across in books and I loved that!
Lou has been burned in the past and has to overcome hurdles to make it, but they get there and it’s perfect.
The supporting cast of friends is brilliant, and the little Easter egg set ups for future books have me super intrigued already!
Ant & Lou were friends who ended up falling out before circumstances brought them back together.
This was a friends to lovers book vibe with a bit of small town thrown in.
Any was a seriously swoony sounding hero, he has all his feels and you honestly can’t help but love him. He’s also a tree surgeon and wood sculptor which was unusual in terms of jobs to come across in books and I loved that!
Lou has been burned in the past and has to overcome hurdles to make it, but they get there and it’s perfect.
The supporting cast of friends is brilliant, and the little Easter egg set ups for future books have me super intrigued already!
September 25, 2022
Lourdes and Anthony used to be friends but she broke off their friendship after her divorce, when she found out he knew her now ex was cheating on her. Now that she is in Evergreen Cove and seeing a therapist she is rediscovering herself. When Anthony finds out he can help Lourdes he hopes she will want to be friends again as he has never forgotten her in the 5 years since she last spoke to him. I really enjoyed their relationship but wish there had been more spoken about their previous friendship. But it was great to be back in Evergreen Cove.
October 7, 2022
Bad Boy Crush is the latest in the Evergreen Cove series and is centered around Ant and Lou, 2 former friends turned lovers. This story is so sweet (with the trademark Lemmon spice of course). These two characters have amazing chemistry. Ant is so adorably romantic and a perfect candidate for your new book boyfriend. There's lots of entertaining moments as well and a fun cast of characters that round out the story. It's another solid, romantic read from Jessica Lemmon.
Thank you to the author who provided an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the author who provided an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 8, 2022
I just loved this book! It was sweet, lighthearted and easy to get lost in! Ant and Lou go way back. And their friendship fell apart when he didn't communicate something important to her. But life has brought them back together and the chemistry between them was palpable through the pages. I enjoyed the friendship and watching as that evolved. I liked how Ant supported Lou and was there for her when she needed it. And Lou was his biggest supporter as well. This was a book I hated when it was over!
October 3, 2022
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. Lou and Anthony are excellent. I didn't anticipate falling for Anthony so hard. I think he might be one of my faviore heroes from Jessica Lemmon. The chemistry he has with Lou is off the charts. I really liked Lou's resilience and strength. The story was great and the characters are unforgettable.
ARC is provided for free, and I’m leaving this honest review voluntarily
ARC is provided for free, and I’m leaving this honest review voluntarily
October 5, 2022
Enjoy the second chance at romance aspect; cute connection between Lourdes and Anthony. Plus, good steam! Lourdes has walls built up because of a bad marriage, and Anthony has always crushed on Lourdes, but there’s been obstacles in their path to love. He was a friend to her ex-husband. Now, they have a chance to reconnect and possibly become more than friends, but both have their issues getting in the way. Sweet, entertaining romance with likable characters. Good read!
October 5, 2022
A great cast of characters. Lourdes is divorced and putting her life back together in Evergreen Cove. Anthony is the guy who has been attracted to her for several years. It is a fun read as Lou and Ant explore their new found attraction. Their friends join in on the fun offering advice and helping them solve provide. It is at times steamy and sexy as they connect in the bedroom. It all leads to a beautiful happy ending.
October 3, 2022
Lou and Ant used to be friends until Ant didn’t tell Lou her husband was cheating on her. When Ant comes to help Lou after a bad storm, she realizes how much she missed their friendship. I loved the way Jessica Lemmon brought these two together with their friends and community. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
October 9, 2022
Oh Anthony, you wiley dude! I was so stoked to get this story in my hot hands! I enjoyed getting to revisit the Cove and hope to see more here. The character progression was delightful to see. The long journey of Ant finding his happily ever after, was a fabulous ride.
I have yet to find a Jessica story I don't love.
This is an honest review of my ARC.
I have yet to find a Jessica story I don't love.
This is an honest review of my ARC.
October 11, 2022
Bad Boy Crush is the story of Lou and Ant who get a second chance at knowing each other. Ant is pretty far from being a bad boy, in fact I found his character to be rather sweet. This was an enjoyable book to read with some really cute moments between the characters, though it took me a few chapter to warm to them.
October 4, 2022
Sweet and sultry with a tumultuous twist. Bad Boy Crush will have the heart surrendering to the irresistible power of romance. From stormy to endearing, Lemmon turns unpredictable heartache into unforgettable romance.
October 4, 2022
A sweet and lighthearted story. It will captivate you from the beginning. I loved the characters, the connection and the flying sparks. I enjoyed Lou and Ant’s journey as they overcome their differences and learn to forgive and love. It’s fun and entertaining. Looking forward to reading more.
October 8, 2022
You can never go wrong with a Jessica Lemmon book. EVER !!!
Sweet second chance story between 2 people who thought they would never have a 2nd chance at love.
Lots of steamy scenes ( of course ) just the way we like it .
Loved it and i hope you go grab your copy right now !!!
Sweet second chance story between 2 people who thought they would never have a 2nd chance at love.
Lots of steamy scenes ( of course ) just the way we like it .
Loved it and i hope you go grab your copy right now !!!
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