Bad boy rock stars with hidden hearts of gold always call to me, and in this second chance love story between a man trying to do right by the son he recently discovered and the woman fighting her attraction, this sexy rocker is just one of the highlights. Keep reading to get a tantalizing taste of Return of the Bad Boy by Jessica Lemmon, the fourth installment in the Second Chance series, along with my impressions of it and then add it to your bookshelf!
He's a mess...
Asher Knight has three constants in his life: music, beautiful women, and a bottle of Jack. He lives for the next gig, the next city, and dreams only of a life spent in front of an arena full of screaming fans. But Asher's nomad ways come to a sudden stop when he learns he's the father of a three-year-old from a past relationship and suddenly this rock star bad boy is forced to put down roots.
Asher Knight has three constants in his life: music, beautiful women, and a bottle of Jack. He lives for the next gig, the next city, and dreams only of a life spent in front of an arena full of screaming fans. But Asher's nomad ways come to a sudden stop when he learns he's the father of a three-year-old from a past relationship and suddenly this rock star bad boy is forced to put down roots.
Only she can clean up...
Gloria Shields is no one's fool. Sure, the sexual chemistry between her and Asher has always been intense, but she'd never risk giving her heart to a man who has a perfect record for breaking them. Except the man desperate to make things right with his newfound son is nothing like the rock god she's guarded her heart against for years. And it isn't long before she starts to wonder if life with this bad boy might be the best thing that's ever happened to her.
Gloria Shields is no one's fool. Sure, the sexual chemistry between her and Asher has always been intense, but she'd never risk giving her heart to a man who has a perfect record for breaking them. Except the man desperate to make things right with his newfound son is nothing like the rock god she's guarded her heart against for years. And it isn't long before she starts to wonder if life with this bad boy might be the best thing that's ever happened to her.
EXCERPT:
Gloria nodded at Evan, and he and Brice made their way through the crowd—which hadn’t thinned even a little despite the band leaving the stage—and walked in the direction of the bar. Gloria figured they’d get back about the time the band took the stage again, which left her with Asher in the interim.
“I didn’t realize you were invited,” she said over the melee.
“I see that.” The corners of his mouth turned down.
“Why did he invite you?” she asked, curious.
“He wants me,” Asher said, a bored expression on his face.
“No. He wants me.” She pressed her fingers into her chest.
Asher leaned closer to speak to her and it took everything in her not to back away a step. Him close had a way of messing with her equilibrium...even more than the whiskey.
“I didn’t realize you were invited,” she said over the melee.
“I see that.” The corners of his mouth turned down.
“Why did he invite you?” she asked, curious.
“He wants me,” Asher said, a bored expression on his face.
“No. He wants me.” She pressed her fingers into her chest.
Asher leaned closer to speak to her and it took everything in her not to back away a step. Him close had a way of messing with her equilibrium...even more than the whiskey.
“I meant he wants to sign the band, Sarge. He’s probably buttering you up to get to me."
“What?” she asked, slightly offended. “How egotistical are you?"
“I’m not being egotistical,” he said. “That’s a fact. And you’re welcome."
Oh, he was too much. “I’m welcome?"
“Yeah. Now that I’m here, you won’t have to touch him. He won’t get within three feet of you.” Stubble lined his jaw, fire burned in his eyes, and he stood close enough that his body heat blanketed her. “Promise."
“What?” she asked, slightly offended. “How egotistical are you?"
“I’m not being egotistical,” he said. “That’s a fact. And you’re welcome."
Oh, he was too much. “I’m welcome?"
“Yeah. Now that I’m here, you won’t have to touch him. He won’t get within three feet of you.” Stubble lined his jaw, fire burned in his eyes, and he stood close enough that his body heat blanketed her. “Promise."
“Listen, Asher”—she cleared her throat and tore her eyes away from his biceps, which were absolutely delicious and testing the limits of his T-shirt in the most distracting way possible—“I don’t know what you think you’re doing—"
“No, you listen.” He palmed her hip much like Brice had earlier, but unlike Brice, when Asher touched her, her nipples perked up and every inch of her grew warm. Asher’s nearness, one hand gripping her firmly as he looked down at her with dark hunger in his eyes, was so hot she couldn’t think.
The crowd milling around them were having loud, drunken conversations, so he lowered his face to her ear to speak.
“No, you listen.” He palmed her hip much like Brice had earlier, but unlike Brice, when Asher touched her, her nipples perked up and every inch of her grew warm. Asher’s nearness, one hand gripping her firmly as he looked down at her with dark hunger in his eyes, was so hot she couldn’t think.
The crowd milling around them were having loud, drunken conversations, so he lowered his face to her ear to speak.
“I’m coming for you, Sarge.” His hand moved from her hip to her lower back, his fingers splaying wide and slipping beneath the material of her shirt. “Bet you’ve never had anyone come for you, have you?” His nose moved along her ear, warm breath tickling her skin. “Bet you were a rebellious teen with a nose ring and a bad attitude and all you wanted was to feel good."
No nose ring, but the rest was scarily accurate.
“Well, guess what, honey?” he continued, his fingertips sizzling on her bare skin. “I’m going to make you feel good. I’m the only one who can."
He pulled his face away and she had to will her mouth to close. Her teeth clacked together as her brain scrambled to figure out what part she should argue with first. Wrenching a fist around his T-shirt, she tugged him close. A small smile played on his mouth, and his hand went higher beneath her shirt. He was anticipating a kiss, but she wasn’t going to kiss him.
“Listen up, you arrogant bastard.” Anger vibrated through her arms and a charge shot from her toes to the crown of her head. “You don’t get to claim me. I’m not your property. I can do whatever I want.” Because she wanted to wipe that stupid smirk off his face, she added, “And I can do whomever I want."
His lips flinched, but he didn’t back away, stepping even closer and touching the tip of her nose with his. Her vision was now swimming in dark hair, dark eyes, and the sexiest smirk she’d ever seen.
It’s not sexy. It’s stupid, remember?
But it wasn’t. And the rest of her knew it. Her nipples tightened, her body tingled, and the hand she’d wrapped around his shirt began to sweat . . .
No nose ring, but the rest was scarily accurate.
“Well, guess what, honey?” he continued, his fingertips sizzling on her bare skin. “I’m going to make you feel good. I’m the only one who can."
He pulled his face away and she had to will her mouth to close. Her teeth clacked together as her brain scrambled to figure out what part she should argue with first. Wrenching a fist around his T-shirt, she tugged him close. A small smile played on his mouth, and his hand went higher beneath her shirt. He was anticipating a kiss, but she wasn’t going to kiss him.
“Listen up, you arrogant bastard.” Anger vibrated through her arms and a charge shot from her toes to the crown of her head. “You don’t get to claim me. I’m not your property. I can do whatever I want.” Because she wanted to wipe that stupid smirk off his face, she added, “And I can do whomever I want."
His lips flinched, but he didn’t back away, stepping even closer and touching the tip of her nose with his. Her vision was now swimming in dark hair, dark eyes, and the sexiest smirk she’d ever seen.
It’s not sexy. It’s stupid, remember?
But it wasn’t. And the rest of her knew it. Her nipples tightened, her body tingled, and the hand she’d wrapped around his shirt began to sweat . . .
FIND AT GOODREADS here.
BUY LINKS: AMAZON | BN | KOBO | iBOOKS | GOOGLE PLAY
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
As a reader who loves rock star romances and the gritty edge it gives those involved in this world, it's that aspect of Asher that makes him even more appealing. From the sensuality that oozes out of every one of his pores to the sweetness he shows his newfound son, it all adds up to a perfect hero that I'm still dreaming of. Add in the rocky romance he has with the woman who's scared of opening her heart to others and you end up with a steamy second chance romance with enough angst to keep their HEA in jeopardy.
Tough girl Gloria grew up the child of a parent with addictions, forced into taking care of herself before being put in the foster care system. By then her heart had been hardened and she realized that the only person to count on was herself. She grew up a loner and it's only recently that she's found a group of people who accept and care about her, but it's still hard for her to talk about herself. Not opening up her heart has put her connection to rock star Asher in jeopardy as the intense feelings he has for her have her wanting to run. As his plans for their future, and the familial interactions he wants to include her in, become clearer she starts fighting back in self-defense of her heart in scenes that involve harsh words. With the charming Asher forcing her to stay and fight for them though it all makes for an emotional conclusion to a story full of erotic encounters and sensual banter. Gloria's a strong-willed woman who doesn't hesitate to speak her mind, going on the attack before thinking of the outcome. She's protective of Asher's son though as she understands the affect an uncaring parent can have on a child which showed a softer side to her. She's serious-minded, always following the expected path, but being with Asher has her doing the unexpected and living life to the fullest. Their connection is crackling and teems with sexual tension which brought out a playful and fiery side in both of them and made them an exciting couple to watch. Being with Asher made her a better person as she was forced into dealing with her painful past to make a future for herself full of love and support.
Before meeting Gloria, Asher was a bit of a player and enjoyed the company of many groupies which has left him with a son he's just getting to know. Once he crossed paths with Gloria though he knew she was the one and set out to claim her in a journey that took some rocky turns because of her trust issues and a vindictive groupie. Theirs is a second chance romance that had me cheering him on every step of the way as outside forces, and Gloria's fears, constantly tried to pull them apart. Asher oozes sex appeal with his rock star looks and talent for dirty talk. The time he spends with Gloria has him putting on the charm and forgiving her for every time she lashed out. Asher pushes her to be a better person, to go after what she wants despite her fears, and does so out of love. He stood by her and in turn she finally started to stand by him as he fought to spend more time with his son. His interactions with his son showed a sweet and caring side to the edgy rocker and endeared him to me even more. He's a delicious hero, perfect in and out of the bedroom, good with children and animals, and was the highlight of this story for his mix of compassion and intense sensuality.
Though this is a rock star-themed romance, the rocker lifestyle is only a small part of the story as Asher is currently working on a new album and not having to deal with the logistics of touring. The small town setting is quaint and charming and allows him to live as an average person, with very few fame moments, despite his notoriety. That's not to say that readers don't get a taste of the rock star world as Asher's bandmates come to town and leave their mark on me with their edgy looks and compelling personal issues just hinted at. I hope we get to see more of them in the future as they're a sexy and heartbreaking group of men who aren't afraid to talk about their feelings in support of one another. As a main couple Asher and Gloria are a strong-willed match who are combustible when together and ooze sexual tension as seen by their numerous encounters. It's a journey with an emotional tug of war that kept me invested every step of the way as their interactions were playful, erotic at times, and immensely entertaining. With such engaging main characters came a slew of intriguing secondary characters, some I liked while others left me frustrated. It was sweetly nostalgic seeing past characters from the Second Chance series return though their inclusion stretched the story out a bit longer than necessary. The inclusion of a fellow agent tempting Gloria and the time spent with Asher's baby mama further frustrated me as these characters were highly annoying with all the melodrama surrounding them. Despite that small quibble this is a romance that entertained and charmed me. With its near-perfect hero and witty and sensual banter this story had me rooting for the main couple and hoping to revisit this rock star family in the future!
Tough girl Gloria grew up the child of a parent with addictions, forced into taking care of herself before being put in the foster care system. By then her heart had been hardened and she realized that the only person to count on was herself. She grew up a loner and it's only recently that she's found a group of people who accept and care about her, but it's still hard for her to talk about herself. Not opening up her heart has put her connection to rock star Asher in jeopardy as the intense feelings he has for her have her wanting to run. As his plans for their future, and the familial interactions he wants to include her in, become clearer she starts fighting back in self-defense of her heart in scenes that involve harsh words. With the charming Asher forcing her to stay and fight for them though it all makes for an emotional conclusion to a story full of erotic encounters and sensual banter. Gloria's a strong-willed woman who doesn't hesitate to speak her mind, going on the attack before thinking of the outcome. She's protective of Asher's son though as she understands the affect an uncaring parent can have on a child which showed a softer side to her. She's serious-minded, always following the expected path, but being with Asher has her doing the unexpected and living life to the fullest. Their connection is crackling and teems with sexual tension which brought out a playful and fiery side in both of them and made them an exciting couple to watch. Being with Asher made her a better person as she was forced into dealing with her painful past to make a future for herself full of love and support.
My rating for this is a B+
*I got this book from NetGalley for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
A former job-hopper, Jessica Lemmon resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dog. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she's not writing super-sexy heroes, she can be found cooking, drawing, drinking coffee (okay, wine), and eating potato chips. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want.
Jessica is a social media junkie who loves to hear from readers.
A former job-hopper, Jessica Lemmon resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dog. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she's not writing super-sexy heroes, she can be found cooking, drawing, drinking coffee (okay, wine), and eating potato chips. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want.
Jessica is a social media junkie who loves to hear from readers.
No comments:
Post a Comment