Blog Tour: Return of the Bad Boy by Jessica Lemmon (Guest Post + Excerpt + Giveaway + Review)
It’s Monday morning in the U.S. and we’re back to kick off a busy blog tour/book review week with the fourth book in author Jessica Lemmon’s Second Chance series for Grand Central Publishing’s Forever Romance line…RETURN OF THE BAD BOY.
Have you ever wondered why women love bad boys? If so, we’ve got a fantastic guest post from Jessica Lemmon about that very topic. And if that isn’t enough, we’ve also got an excerpt and book teasers from RETURN OF THE BAD BOY, plus my personal thoughts on the book and a way for you to win print copies of the first three bad boys in the Second Chance series, Bringing Home the Bad Boy, Rescuing the Bad Boy, and A Bad Boy For Christmas.
Are YOU ready to meet Asher Knight?
Return of the Bad Boy
416 Pages
Releasing 04/26/2016
Publisher: Hachette Books | Grand Central | Imprint: Forever
Genre: Romance | Contemporary Romance
Book Summary
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.
Add to Goodreads | Goodreads Series Link
Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo
Guest Post
Five Reasons Women Love Bad Boys
Oh, the bad boy. Who doesn’t love a guy in black leather, with a wicked curve to his smile, and a gleam in his eye that says, “Come on, baby, let’s get into trouble.”?
I never knew I was the bad boy type…until I started writing them. Now I can’t get enough. What’s beautiful about bad boys is there is a wide range. From down and dirty to hard and gritty to the kind of bad boy I love to write the most: the sweet heat.
You know the type. The kind of guy who is a good family man at heart, but won’t hesitate to toss his woman over his knee. The man who is loyal to his friends, but still takes physical risks that put him in danger. From billionaires, to ex-military landscapers, to rock stars, I’ve written many, many bad boys. And I’m not stopping any time soon.
Here are my top five reasons women like you (and me!) love bad boys. I’ve also included a few of my bad boys as recommendations. Which one is for you?
- Bad Boys know who they are. They may be jerks, but they know they are and aren’t afraid to be that way. The key to any successful pairing with a bad boy is to find a heroine who challenges him. Bad boys don’t shy away from challenge. They take it on.
See: Fighting for Devlin
- Bad Boys are confident in the sack. Because they have had so much *ahem* experience in the bedroom, the woman who lands a bad boy is going to find he’s pretty darn good at what he does in there. He knows how to please her, and because of a stubborn streak a mile wide, he’s not going to stop until he does.
See: Bringing Home the Bad Boy
- Bad Boys are unpredictable. The girl of his dreams probably dated some schmoe before she dated him, and that guy likely ironed his socks. Meanwhile, her new bad boy beau is telling her to pack a bag because he has a surprise for her, and he’s not going to tell her what it is.
See: A Bad Boy for Christmas
- Bad Boys are loyal. He won’t abandon his true friends, or a family that’s done him right. While bad boys often run from what’s hurting them, they still have a network of friends they will never cut out of their lives.
See: Rescuing the Bad Boy
- Bad Boys love endlessly. Once you win a bad boy’s heart, he’s not going anywhere. He values the love of a good woman the way he values a shot of the best whiskey: through to his soul. Bag one of these boys and you’ll experience a lifetime of love and loyalty, and a healthy dose of toe-curling unpredictability.
See: Return of the Bad Boy
Excerpt
From Return of the Bad Boy by Jessica Lemmon:
Asher ate the tomato, sliding his gaze to Gloria and then peeling his body away from her. Before her brains could leak out of her ears and she did something horrifying, like swoon, she went on the offensive.
“What BS were you telling Evan out there?” she asked.
His smile held. “Don’t worry about it, toots.”
He rested a palm on her hip, leaned past her, and lifted her wineglass. Gloria most certainly did not watch as he took a drink, then licked his lips when a single red droplet clung to his mouth. No, she did not. And she did not feel every internal organ lean a little closer to him while she forced her feet to stay firmly planted on the exact spot of the kitchen’s tiled floor. Nope. That didn’t happen, either.
“I’m here for the main course,” he told Charlie, relinquishing the wineglass to Gloria and holding out his hands. Charlie handed over the tray holding the burgers and dogs.
“Sarge, follow me out.”
“What? Why?”
“Because Evan is opening the whiskey and we’re all doing shots.” He sent Charlie a sharp smile. “Ace, you’re invited, too.”
“I’ll stick with wine, thanks.”
“Me too,” Gloria said.
Lyon ran through the kitchen, Tank following. “We’ll go out!”
“No whiskey for him either,” Charlie put in. “Give me this.” She swiped the tray and walked out to the patio, leaving Gloria and Asher in the kitchen.
Alone. Intentionally, no doubt.
“Not like you to turn down whiskey,” he told her.
“I’m trying to be a good guest. We fight when we drink whiskey.”
“That’s not all we do when we drink whiskey.” His smile was penetrating.
No. He was right about that. They also kissed. And hugged. Full-body, no-clothing-necessary kind of hugs. The best kind. Gah.
My Thoughts
*E-ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review*
In Return of the Bad Boy, author Jessica Lemmon takes us into the heart and soul of rock star and children’s book author Asher Knight and his agent, Gloria Shields, two people torn apart by doubt and circumstances and yet, thanks to their jobs and their mutual friends, still forced to work together and socially interact. It’s a mess not easily handled, and yet, somehow, despite the fear, hurt, and uncertainty that lay between them, they’ve found ways to not only work together but to do so in a way that prevents them from ever truly breaking up.
Return of the Bad Boy is a dynamite, beautifully-written read that goes through a gamut of psychological issues and deep, heartfelt emotion. It shows us how the traumas in our childhoods can have lasting, lingering effects well into adulthood, and in ways we are neither prepared for nor ready to face and change on our own.
Gloria is a strong, independent woman who’s become so good at running, she’s almost forgotten what it is she’s running from. Until bad boy Asher reminds her, that is. And even though part of Gloria wants to give into Asher and the very real connection they share together, a larger part fears what might happen once she does. It’s a dilemma Gloria has become well versed in since meeting Asher and becoming his agent, but never more so than now that they are both living and working in Evergreen Cove.
Asher has never made a secret of wanting Gloria in his bed again, but he knows getting her back there will be a challenge unlike any he’s faced before. Add in a few serious adult responsibilities like working on a new album and getting to know the three year old son he only recently discovered he had, and Asher’s up to his neck in more complication and emotion than he knows what to do with. Yet, even in the midst of his own doubt and his new life’s many perplexities, Asher knows exactly who Gloria is and exactly what she means to him.
Man, I completely adored Asher and Gloria’s rocky road to love. It was uncertain and a little trying for them at times, sure, but underneath all the doubt and fear they each faced, a real connection and heart beat between them. Which made this read not only captivating, but also entertaining and alluring, sexy as well as heartwarming. And I loved every single piece of it!
If you’re in the mood to fall in love with a charming and hella sexy rock star, pick up a copy of Return of the Bad Boy by Jessica Lemmon. Asher Knight is totally worth it…and then some!
Rating: 5 Stars
***
Want to know more about the Second Chance series bad boys?
Check out my reviews for:
Rescuing the Bad Boy | A Bad Boy For Christmas
Giveaway
Up for Grabs:
One Print Set of Second Chance Series Bks 1-3 and $10 Amazon GC
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway Here
Out tomorrow!
Add to Goodreads | Goodreads Series Link
Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo
About the Author
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.
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Pinterest
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What a fabulous review!!! Thank you so much for hosting!