Tuesday, April 26, 2016

review || RETURN OF THE BAD BOY { promo tour } by Jessica Lemmon


Forever | April 26, 2016 | Contemporary Romance
Second Chance, book 4
★★★★1/2

SOURCE: AUTHOR
TOUR HOST: ROCKSTAR LIT

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.

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.

{ about jessica lemmon } .



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.


{ 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 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."

"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.

"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 . . .

{ review } .

When Jessica Lemmon first introduced her bad boys of Evergreen Cove inBringing Home the Bad Boy with Evan and his adorable boy, Lyon, and his late wife's b.f.f., Charlie... I knew this series was going to be a hit. And quite frankly, I was shocked because I, personally, couldn't quite get on her previous bandwagon and was shocked to find that Evan and Lyon were the Evan and Lyon in Kimber and Landon's book, The Millionaire Affair. With just that one book, with Evan, and Lyon, and Charlie, too, I was hooked on this small cabin town that these friends (...and the infamous Penis Bandits) grew up in, made friends in, and still came to visit (only to eventually place roots).

Each time a new book was announced, I was ready to pounce on it.

And then Jessica Lemmon further made me a die-hard fan by going all Sam Hunt on her Facebook group, which lead to Asher revelations, which in turn made me absolutely, positively sure I was going to lover Asher and Glo's story.

I mean, how could you not -- their story has been slowly burning behind the scenes since the beginning. Finally, it was time for them to explode.

Gloria and Asher had an intense attraction to one another, but one night at a mansion further exploded what was between them, leading into a three year relationship -- from there, though, everything fell apart. 

"We are always a we..." -- Asher

Now, Asher's trying to make a seasonal home for him and his son in Evergreen Cove, all while working on band things, song writing things, and children's book career things that he and his buddies have embarked upon -- and these books sound freaking cute. Heroes named Swine Flu? A potential Cat Scratch Fever? How fun!

From the beginning of this book, the sexual tension and the romantic chemistry these two have simply jumps from the pages. You know, without a doubt, that these are two souls who will fit together just perfectly, even though there will definitely be rough moments in their journey.

What I loved the most about this book was how hard Asher fought for Gloria, even though he knew he couldn't offer her everything she wanted. He was well aware that him getting a groupie pregnant was the proverbial nail on their coffin, but he still craved Gloria's sassy attitude, her quick comebacks, and her fun wit -- and the soft, vulnerabilities she so rarely showed. Asher was just as strong of a hero as the previous three; Gloria was just as strong of a heroine as the previous three -- and this final, full and true relationship that ensues was just as beautiful, with just as many heartbreaking moments, as the previous.

Also of note... I love the nicknames these boys give their ladies. My favorites was definitely Scampi (and the added one at the end of that particular book). Asher is no different, calling Gloria "Sarge" because, as Glo says in monologue, Ash insisted she 'barked orders' at him whenever she had her 'agent' hat on -- because even when they're just Ash and Glo, she's still Sarge to him, and I loved it. And, as it's the last in this series (sad), we get to see everyone settled and together -- at least, settled and together while Asher and Gloria figure their schtick out. I adored all of the friends together -- even when there was grumbling about fireplaces.

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