Review: Bringing Home the Bad Boy by Jessica Lemmon (Second Chance #1)

Synopsis

The Bad Boy Is Back

Evan Downey needs a new beginning. Since the death of his wife five years ago, the brilliant tattoo artist has shut himself away in a prison of grief that not even his work can break him out of-and what's worse, Evan knows his son Lyon is bearing the brunt of his seclusion. Moving back to the lake town of Evergreen Cove where he spent his childhood summers is his last chance for a fresh start.

Charlotte Harris knows she owes it to her best friend's memory to help Evan and his son find their way again, but she can't stop her traitorous heart from skipping a beat every time she looks into Evan's mesmerizing eyes. Charlotte is determined to stay strictly in the Friend Zone-until a mind-blowing night knocks that plan by the wayside. Now, if they're brave enough to let it, Charlotte and Evan might just find a love capable of healing their broken hearts . . . 

My Review

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

I'm not gonna lie. I clicked on this book because of the cover. I found myself just staring at it...LOOK AT IT. Yum. Then I read the synopsis and I was SOLD. I am a huge fan of the friends turned lovers story line and I also love a second chance romance. And this book has both! BONUS!

At the beginning of the book Evan and his son Lyon are saying goodbye to their home. They have been living in the house where his wife Rae died and they both need a change. The two of them are moving back to Evergreen Cove, which is where Evan he spent his summers growing.  It is also where Charlotte, or Aunt Charlie, as Lyon calls her, lives.

Charlie was Rae's best friend. She was there when Evan and Rae met and now she feels responsible for both Evan and Lyon. Charlie lives next door and she knows that she will become a big part of their lives, but before she knows it she is not only spending a lot of time with them, but she also starts to experience feelings that she is not comfortable having.  

Here is the thing I liked most about this book. This was a story about people moving on after experiencing the death of a loved one. But when it came down to it, the person who is having the most trouble moving on isn't the one you would expect. The phrase "I'm sorry Rae" is spoken numerous times during the book and my heart broke every time it was said. The author makes is clear throughout the book that Charlie feels guilty about having feelings for Evan, but it's more than that. 

The other day I was trying to come up with a list of book boyfriends.  Well now I can now add another one to the list...Evan Downey. Thank you Jessica Lemmon. He's a smart, sexy, loving, funny, tattooed, single father. And a force to be reckoned with. I think Charlie says it best when she uses this description to describe Evan:

The man could talk a nun out of her habit. And a good girl into a series of bad ones.

I love Charlie and Evan together. They have known each other for years. Being together as friends is very easy, but Charlie is resistant to return Evan's romantic advances. But when she finally gives in...OH. MY. GOD. The author's writing style is not overly descriptive, but it was just enough to prompt me to do that whole "fanning myself with my hand" movement. I won't give away any details, but I will say that after reading this book you won't be able to think about finger painting without blushing. 

I look forward to the subsequent books in this series. This was my first Jessica Lemmon book and I will definitely be reading all the books in this series, as well as her books from the "Love in the Balance" series because Evan Downey has brothers y'all. 

I also recommend going to the author's website. If you click on the individual books she includes some fun stuff to go along with it! 

http://www.jessicalemmon.com/bringing-home-the-bad-boy/

Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00K5UNVEM

BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY: Bringing Home the Bad Boy (Second Chance #1) by Jessica Lemmon

About Bringing Home the Bad Boy

Creativity is his drug, painting is his escape, but she'll be the addiction that brings him to his knees. 

Evan Downey buried a part of his soul when put the love of his life in the ground. He knows he needs to get his shit together for the sake of their son, but escaping into his art is the only way he can begin to cope with Rae's death. When the chance to move back to Evergreen Cove, one of the few places that has ever felt right to him, he knows it's a chance he has to take. For his sake, and his sons.

Charlotte Harris would give anything to have her best friend back. But if she can't have Rae, then she vows she'll at least be there to support the family Rae left behind. So when she learns that Evan is looking to move home, she does everything she can to help him and Lyon re-build their lives at the Cove. But when sparks start to fly between Charlotte and Evan it's the first glimpse of something bright and beautiful either of them has seen in far too long. And they start to wonder if fate has offered them a second chance at happiness-- if only their brave enough to take the risk and let love back into their lives. 

Excerpt
“Know why I moved here?” he asked, keeping his voice low.

She wrenched her eyes from his and focused on a spot over his shoulder.

“Because you didn’t want to live in Columbus anymore.” That’s what he’d told her. That he wanted a change. That he and Lyon had outgrown the house. And, she imagined it’d be hard to live in the house where Rae had passed.

“But why here?”

“Um…”

His fingers grazed her jaw and turned her head, his palm moving to her neck where he cupped her nape and forced her eyes to his.

Reluctantly, she met them.

“Rae’s more alive when you’re around, Ace.”

Her heart, oh her heart. Kicking against her chest in a confusing, hectic rhythm.

“You bring her to life for Lyon—more than anyone else. I need him to remember her because he can’t remember her alive.” His hold stayed, his palm warming her neck, his gaze unwavering.

She tried to separate the two feelings she was having—one that she was now talking about Rae with Evan and two, that he was touching her while talking about Rae.

Before she could, his lips closed over hers.

Her thoughts short-circuited.

This wasn’t anything like a soft peck hello. This was his lips moving over hers, slanting over hers, warm and firm and then his mouth opened and—

Oh my gosh!

His wet, warm tongue slid along the seam of her lips and she stopped being passive and started kissing him back. When she would have touched her tongue to his, he relocated it, running along her bottom lip instead and tugging with his teeth.

If she’d been standing, her knees would have given out and dropped her right on her butt.

And then there was the palm on her neck, now spearing up through her hair and clutching onto a handful of it. He held her captive, his hand fisting her hair as he angled his mouth again. In response to the soft whimper escaping her throat, he swept his tongue into her mouth. He tangled his tongue with hers once, twice, and released her.

When he pulled his mouth away, a long, satisfied sigh escaped her lips. Because that was a kiss. A kiss to rival all other kisses.

She opened her eyes to realize A) she’d closed her eyes and B) she’d at some point wrapped both hands around his forearms where she was holding tight and C) Evan looked as please as she felt.

“God damn, Ace. Your mouth.” His eyes flicked to her lips. Lips still tingling from the rough scrape from the stubble surrounding his.

She concurred with that sentiment. Not that she said anything. She’d gone dumb; completely mute.

He backed away, but held onto her chin and tweaked it lightly with the rough pad of one thumb. “That’s the way this is gonna go from now on.”

Her breathing went shallow, her thoughts went muzzy and her head blurred as her heart palpated to the point of panic attack.

“Sorry, Rae.”

She didn’t mean to say it, and it had only been a whisper, but by the look twisting Evan’s face—the angry look twisting his face—he’d heard. And he hadn’t liked what he’d heard.

“Sorry,” she said to him this time. “I should go.”

Unbelievably, he leaned closer. She pulled her chin back until she realized she likely had a double chin, then settled her head on her neck in a more reasonable position.

Gosh. He was making her crazy.

About Jessica Lemmon

Jessica Lemmon has always been a dreamer. At some point, she decided head-in-the-clouds thinking was childish, went out, and got herself a job . . . and then she got another one because that one was lousy. And when that one stopped being fulfilling, she went out and got another . . . and another. Soon it became apparent she'd only be truly happy doing what she loved. And since "eating potato chips" isn't a viable career, she opted to become a writer. With fire in her heart, she dusted off a book she'd started years prior, finished it, and submitted it. It may have been the worst book ever, but it didn't stop her from writing another one. Now she has several books finished, several more started, and even more marinating in her brain (which currently resides in the clouds, thankyouverymuch), and she couldn't be happier. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want. (While eating potato chips.)

Jessica's Social Media

Website: http://jessicalemmon.com 

Twitter: @lemmony

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jlemmony 

Facebook: http://facebook.com/jessicalemmon 

Buy Links

Amazon - http://amzn.to/14RWHC3 

BAM - http://bit.ly/1svdJQG
B&N - http://bit.ly/1AMECzW 

IndieBound - http://bit.ly/14X3zO5 

GooglePlay - http://bit.ly/1svdVzo 

iTunes - http://bit.ly/1u2q3cp 

Kobo - http://bit.ly/1CfMGZL 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kimmy's Book Boyfriend List - Part 1

Of course I love all my book boyfriends equally. Kind of. Okay, maybe not, but I do love them all. These are the guys that make me audibly sigh when I think about them. And if you are reading this, you probably know exactly what I am talking about. 

These guys may not always make the best choices and I may have wanted to give them a good Gibbs smack, but I still love 'em. Not sure what I mean by a Gibbs smack?  Here you go:

Haven't we all wanted to do that? Trust me...it comes in handy when discussing characters with your fellow book lovers.   

Now keep in mind...this is only part of the list. It was getting so long that I knew I would never get around to posting the darn thing, so I'm breaking it up. 5 delicious men at a time. And in no particular order.


1. Wyatt

While reading "City of Champions" I started using #wyattistheswooniest when discussing this book. Enough said.

"You and me? We're going to happen, Doc. I'm not afraid to wait. I'm pretty sure you'll be worth it." He let his lips brush her earlobe, sending a shock wave through her body. Then, before Jenna could even fight to get her bearings back, he leaned away and stood to his full height. "See you later, Doc. You too, ladies." As he walked out, Jenna clutched her yoga mat and tried to appear under control.

Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00P8H9EB6

2. Will 

Not gonna lie....part of me wanted to go running in Central Park just to see if I could find my own Will. And I don't run...EVER.  Will is that HOT.

“I bet I can make you come like this,” I said, and slid two fingers carefully inside, feeling her squeeze me. I brushed my nose against hers. “Tell me. Do you like my fingers here? Fucking you?” 

“Will . . . you’re so dirty.” 

I laughed, nibbling at her jaw. “I think you like dirty.” 

“I think I’d like your dirty mouth between my legs,” she said softly. 

I groaned, moved my hand faster and harder into her. 

“Do you think about it?” she asked. “Kissing me there?” 

“I have,” I admitted. “I think about it and wonder if I’d ever come up for air.” 

Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00CGYMTUW



3. Archer

This book is probably one of the best books I've ever read and you know why?ARCHER HALE. 

“What are your dreams, Archer?" I whispered, wanting to know what was in his heart.

He looked at me for another couple beats and then pushed himself back onto his knees and pulled me up so that I was straddling his lap. I smiled at him, wrapping my arms around his neck, but pulling back to let him speak. 

He brought his hands up and said, "I didn't know enough to dream you, Bree, but somehow you came true anyway. How did that happen? He rubbed his nose along mine, pausing and then pulling back again. Who read my mind and knew exactly what I wanted, even when I didn't?”

Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00I29VGMC


4. Nathan

Oh Nathan. Nathan. Nathan. Nathan. He is probably the one I wanted to Gibbs smack the most, but I don't think I have read a book where the guy stayed as loyal to the woman he loves as Nathan did. 

“This letter is a mess of words, a jumble of thoughts. Maybe there’s not a coherent sentence in the above paragraphs. There is only one thing you need to know. I have never stopped loving you. You have always been first in my heart even when my actions didn’t convey that message.

I come to you, on my knees, beseeching you for forgiveness to give me one more chance to show you that I am a man worthy of your heart. I will spend the rest of my days proving to you with my body, with my heart that I am the Nathan of the Charlotte and Nathan that we were meant to be."

Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00QRDKD5Q



5. Evan

His book isn't even out yet (release date is next week, 1/27/15), but I am putting him on this list. Evan Downey is a smart, sexy, loving, funny, tattooed, single father.  And he knows how to treat a lady.  

He kissed her again, then grinned against her lips. “So fucking sexy. Let go, baby.” His hand reached between their bodies to clasp her wrist and increase her speed and pressure, and she felt herself going over. 

“Evan.” She tried to speak, but it was more of a high-pitched squeak. “Evan.” 

“I know, Ace. You need it. Take it.” He kissed her again, guiding her arm with one hand while the other clasped her butt and his chest rubbed against her sensitized nipples. “Take it. You deserve it.” 

“For you,” she heard herself say, cresting, the wave nearly rolling over and drowning her beneath. 

“For me, baby,” he agreed.

Amazon buy link: http://amzn.com/B00K5UNVEM


To be continued.......