Return of the Bad Boy
Second Chance, 4
Jessica Lemmon
Forever Romance
April 26, 2016
Blurb:
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.
When I first read we first met Asher in Bringing Home the Bad Boy, he was one hot mess that needed his own story. At the time, Jessica didn't know if he would get his own story. Thankfully I wasn't the only one who thought the same, because Asher's story came to life. He has been a work in progress through the series, and he has done some idiot things. To see him try to win Gloria (aka Sarge) back wasn't an easy feat. The dude had his work cut out for him. In each book, he has done something stupid: Bringing Home the Bad Boy- he sleeps with groupie while starting something with Gloria. Rescuing the Bad Boy- I believe the said groupie climbed into his window to cause trouble (I'm pretty sure, but my copy is packed away). A Bad Boy for Christmas- groupie drops bombshell that he's a father while he was trying to find away to get back with Sarge. He hasn't made it easy on himself.
Now Gloria has decided she's tired and needs a fresh start, because Asher can be toxic. Yet, he's so hard to quit. However, she does give it a try with another guy, Brice. When Jessica mentioned that there might be another love interest for Gloria, I freaked. Here's why: 1) I don't do well with love triangles. I absolutely hate them. 2) The guy is going to need his own story, because he would be heartbroken. Not to worry, no love triangle. When you meet him you will go eww. He's too sleazy to get his own story. Brice does play an important part in getting these two together. How else is Asher going to realize he needs Gloria in his life or truly wants her. Competition can be a great motivation.
A couple of things I wish happen: 1) Asher punching Brice. The dude needed to be punch. Reeked of sleazy. However, Asher didn't have to punch the guys lights out. 2) Gloria decking Jordan (the groupie with Asher's child). The girl needed to be put in her place, because she was nothing but trouble. She totally desired to be punched out, but Gloria is classy and knocked her down a peg verbally.
In Return of the Bad Boy, we see Asher finally growing up. Had he not he would have lost the most important thing in his life and that was Gloria. Granted it did take him three previous books to make him realize this, but it was worth the wait. In each of the Second Chances we saw him grow more and more. I loved this story, because we get to see more on how this relationship has been working it's way to this point. We also get to know Gloria's background. She's pretty amazing, because she basically built herself up out of nothing. Now that this series has come to an end, there are a couple of things I wish for: 1) Officer Brady Hutchins get his own story, but it's probably not going to happen. 2) Asher's bandmates get their own stories. We meet them in this book and I would love to see them get a happy ever after, especially one. However, Return of the Bad Boy is definitely the perfect ending to the series. You can read this by itself, but you wouldn't get the full evolution of Asher and Gloria. So worth the wait.
Copy provided by Forever Romance via NetGalley.
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.
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 . . .
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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.
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