Fans of the NA genre will want to add Just a Little Crush by Renita Pizzitola to their reading list as the characters are memorable and the path to HEA emotionally intense. Keep reading to get a glimpse of this book, along with my impressions of it, and learn even more about it by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour. You'll also learn about what makes a (good) bad boy courtesy of Ms. Pizzitola. Make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $25 bookstore GC and a mug and tote too!
Falling for a (good) Bad Boy.....
There’s just something so incredibly sexy about a good bad boy. You know the type. He can’t begenuinely a bad person, but, instead, he straddles the line of good and bad. Maybe he’s misunderstood, or harboring some regret, maybe even a little anger, something that serves up a bit of angst, but under that facade he’s just a good guy waiting for the right girl to come along and accept him…imperfections and all.
And what’s even better? That bad boy finding love with a good girl. Of course, she doesn’t necessarily have to be the perfect, prim and proper good girl, just someone who isn’t his typical type. Maybe she’s studious, or a little naive, or even too focused on life to have time for any detours, but inside she’s also the kind of person looking for someone to help her step out of her comfort zone and add a little temptation to life.
In JUST A LITTLE CRUSH, Brinley and Ryder are just that—a bad boy with a good heart, and a good girl who can see past flaws. And though they are total opposites, they are drawn together only to discover they might be exactly what the other one needs. So in honor of their opposites attract love story, I thought I’d share my top five bad boy/good girl movie romances!
5. Crazy, Stupid, Love—Ryan Gosling…enough said.
4. The Notebook—So this one is a book, of course, but I’m going with the movie version here because I think it really played up the young love side of the romance more. And really, can we say passion with a side of angst!?! Of course, Noah is more of a kid from the wrong side of the tracks than true bad boy, but it’s still one of my favorite opposite attracts movie. And again…Gosling.
3. 10 Things I Hate About You—Patrick sings to her in a stadium full of people, c’mon, how bad can he really be??
2. The Breakfast Club—Nothing like a good 80’s movie romance! John Bender and Claire. A criminal and a princess… Wait, why were we rooting for them again?
1. Dirty Dancing—Okay guys, this was my very first bad boy crush. I was just a kid (probably way too young to even be watching this) when I fell head over heels for Johnny. (Seriously, I’d carry a watermelon to a party any day if it meant I’d get to meet this guy.) I think every girl secretly wanted to be Baby, sitting in that corner, just waiting for Johnny to rescue her…. Just me?
So there you have it, a few of my favorites. Of course, this list could go on, considering how many times this theme has made an appearance in popular movies, TV series and books, but I, for one, don’t think I’ll ever tire of a good bad boy.
Brinley Dawson doesn’t drink, she studies—and despite the accusations of her alcoholic mother, she’s still a virgin. But if Brinley’s life is so put together, why is she freaking out to be going to college with the gorgeous, green-eyed jerk she kissed on a stupid dare in high school? Ryder Briggs can have any girl he wants . . . and the rumors say that he does. So why, after publicly embarrassing Brinley four years ago, is he suddenly acting like he’s interested?
Ryder never forgot Brinley. In fact, those perfect seven minutes permanently raised the bar for what a kiss could be. The truth is, Ryder doesn’t dare get too close to anyone. He knows how that worked out for his parents. But when his roommate takes a shot at Brinley, Ryder can’t contain his jealousy. Now he must do the hardest thing he’s ever done: forget about sex and convince Brinley his feelings are real.
Brinley isn’t sure whether she believes Ryder, but for the first time, her body isn’t playing by the rules. Then she discovers that she’s an unwilling part of a cruel game, humiliating her all over again—and Ryder might be to blame. Has Brinley’s little crush turned into a huge mistake . . . or has she found the one guy worth trusting with her heart?
Ryder never forgot Brinley. In fact, those perfect seven minutes permanently raised the bar for what a kiss could be. The truth is, Ryder doesn’t dare get too close to anyone. He knows how that worked out for his parents. But when his roommate takes a shot at Brinley, Ryder can’t contain his jealousy. Now he must do the hardest thing he’s ever done: forget about sex and convince Brinley his feelings are real.
Brinley isn’t sure whether she believes Ryder, but for the first time, her body isn’t playing by the rules. Then she discovers that she’s an unwilling part of a cruel game, humiliating her all over again—and Ryder might be to blame. Has Brinley’s little crush turned into a huge mistake . . . or has she found the one guy worth trusting with her heart?
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
In the crowded field of NA books it's hard to set yourself apart from the pack. While some of this story feels familiar there's still enough fresh and unexpected feelings to make this a memorable read. As a fan of misunderstood bad boys I found myself completely enthralled by Ryder the moment he came on the scene. Pairing him up with the inexperienced but strong-willed Briney made for a romance that was both sweet and full of sexual tension and following their path to HEA kept me rooting for them with a smile on my face.
Ryder first met Briney at a party when they were paired off during spin-the-bottle. That one moment where he let her tell the others a tale instead of doing the deed showed Ryder's true colors of being a good guy hiding behind the facade of a bad boy. Since then Ryder's always thought of her as the one who got away and when he sees her again he subtly enacts a plan to finally claim her by first being her protector and then becoming something more. Ryder doesn't deny his past transgressions but he's become tired of them and wants to become the kind of guy Briney deserves. Though he stumbled slightly from time to time I still adored him and enjoyed their emotional tug of war and their playful and sensual interactions. For me he became my new book boyfriend and I'm still dreaming of his hidden gentlemanly nature.
Briney is a delightful heroine who tells it like she sees it, sometimes almost painfully so. There's no rose-colored glasses on this girl! She's not considered popular and she might not believe in love but she can't help being drawn to Ryder even though she doubts his changing ways. She's always seen him as a player and because of that doesn't see them as ever getting together. It's a twisty emotional journey that leads them to each other and through it all Briney remained true to herself.
Along with these strong lead characters are a vast array of secondary ones who add color and emotional depth to the story. Most notable is Briney's friend Mason who became her protector and support system after the bottle incident. He's one of the cool kids but doesn't care what people think of him as he's his own man as well as a bit playful in his dealings with Briney. There's a sibling vibe between them which sometimes gets muddied, but through it all their bond is unbreakable and I hope to see his story told soon. This story was full of witty banter, characters who said and did believable things, and a drool-worthy hero. Some of the story was a bit predictable and the ending was a bit rushed with a lack of steam throughout, but I still found this a strong story more than able to stand on its own. This was a great start to the Crush series and I look forward to more emotional drama from Ms. Pizzitola.
My rating for this is a B+
*I got this book from NetGalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Renita Pizzitola is the author of New Adult contemporary romance and Young Adult fantasy. When not writing, she can be found feeding her caramel macchiato addiction and reading just about anything she can get her hands on. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two children.
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ReplyDeleteAlas, I don't use any of the social media listed in the giveaway, but I wish the author good luck with the tour! Thanks for the nice review.
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