Bad Son Rising
Julie A. Richman

RELEASE DATE: Sept. 12, 2014

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... Zac moore was never, ever going to play it safe. It just wasn't who he was. 

When we first met Zac Moore in Searching  For Moore he was a troubled bad boy...egocentric, selfish, manipulative, hateful, confused and did things that hurt others. But as the series went on, we began to see some healing and growth in him.

Zac is gorgeous, built, cocky, wealthy by birth right, and is like a magnet for the ladies. He can usually have any woman he wants, but is soon done with them. Then one night he meets Liliana Castillo. A shy, smart, giving, college student who makes a huge impression on him, but barely gives him the time of day.

Zac's life moves on to experience college and new friends. During this time we really get to know Zac. Sure he is still a bit arrogant, flippant, and a big player. But he is also more...intelligent, a  loyal friend, creative, and thinks outside the box. He carries damage and insecurities from events in his childhood/teens that still affect him. He does not always make the best decisions in hindsight, but he is no longer just the mean, selfish, isolated bad boy we loved to hate. He uses some of his ingenuity and entrepreneur skills in creative ways that gain him attention and have consequences. But he loves his family and core group of friends and will do anything for them. Most women have only wanted to use him for his looks, body, or what he could do for them. And he has never had a meaningful romantic relationship. 

When an opportunity comes up two years after their initial meeting, Zac takes on a new adventure following Lily to do volunteer work in the Congo. He likes the idea of  new experiences, using his practical engineering skills, and most of all protecting and being near the girl he can't seem to forget. 

As their volunteer work together begins, it is challenging for Zac in many ways. There are new people, adversaries, problems to solve, and work to accomplish. And most importantly his strategy to gain the attention and favor of Lily while not drawing unwanted attention of others. 

Lily is a bit of an enigma at times. She could seem cold and shy, but then fiery and assertive. She challenges and intrigues him like no one else. She is strong willed and has definite beliefs and plans. But deep down she also has fears and insecurities. But she also has her own set of tricks up her sleeve and could be surprising.  I admired her spunk, strength, initiative, heart, and her willingness to fight for what was important to her. 

"Lils, you're not some girl I'm just going to screw...You're the girl I don't want to f*** up with."

Their time in the Congo has consequences, good and bad. Zac wants to protect her, but sometimes protection comes with a cost. These two seemingly different people who truly do compliment each other face challenges, fear, heartbreak, distance, and misunderstandings. It is not an easy road for them personally or together. 

Zac Moore prayed that his dream wouldn't be ripped from him, but his track record of good things remaining in his life was not exactly stellar. 

This is the story of Zac coming to terms with his past, finding his purpose and passion, and fighting for what is important. He has been hurt and made his share of mistakes. He is far from perfect, but the real Zac Moore is so much more than a cocky, selfish schemer. Sure he has skills, charm, and charisma that often pave the way for him. But he is also loyal, protective, and loves freely those people he lets get close to him. He can be sympathetic and tries to help fix problems for others. I have loved seeing the growth in him in all of the books and peeling back his layers. Oh I hated him in Searching  For Moore and it took a while to begin to see anything positive in him but he wore me down as I saw more of what he was hiding under his challenging exterior. He was a a young broken boy who had only ever felt used and unloved and had a skewed sense of right and wrong and felt unworthy. His positive response to the power of love and support was not a fast, easy journey, but it was a meaningful one. He truly became a bad son rising. 

"I think you've let the bad sh** dictate who you are, Zac. You need to stop that. You need to rise above it."

I enjoyed the side characters especially his best friends Brian and Liz, Liz's mother Neelie, and even quirky Niles. Of course, more Schooner, Mia, Portia and Nathaniel from the Needing Moore series always makes me smile. I really enjoyed seeing the progression of their family unit and connections. The characters, even the supporting ones, have personality, strength, and depth. They add comic relief, support, drama and complications. 

The story line covers time, distance and personal growth. Despite an instant attraction, it is not a tale of insta-love, but is a slow building relationship based in perseverance, friendship, openness, passion and true feelings with a more realistic time line. The characters have time to change, grow, connect, and react on many different levels. It is a full and emotional story of self discovery, hope, love, sacrifice, and redemption.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Zac Moore has never been a perfect son. From his devious activites during the Needing Moore series, to the illegal and questionable activities he engages in during his first two years at Bryson College, Zac Moore is a bad boy. He is confident and has a major ego that follows (or leads) wherever he goes. Despite some major mistakes, he is beginning to grow up, beginning to look out for the people around him. But still, his streak as a bad boy continues, and his choices are not always on the up and up, even if he does have the best of intentions. 

Liliana Castillo, on the other hand, is the epitome of good girl. At least, she is until she leaves her Yale pre-med path behind for time working on water projects in remote and impoverished areas of the Congo. She is generally quiet, shy, and dedicated to her pursuits. 

Zac had some big shoes to fill. Schooner Moore and his love for Mia set the bar high for Zac and Lily. But they were both up for the challenge. The ups and downs throughout the story felt natural. The course of the entire relationship, facing serious dangers, and dirty pasts, everything about Bad Son Rising was nearly perfect as a spin off of Needing Moore and as a standalone in it’s own right. 

On the surface, these two are complete opposites, but following an attraction sparked at Mia and Schooner’s wedding, they discover they have far more in common than they could have ever imagined. I loved watching Zac try to figure out how to get Lily to notice him -- a challenge he had not faced when attracting female attention ever. And Lily made him work for her attention. 

Bad Son Rising became everything I could have hoped for in Zac’s story. It was as much his story as an individual as it was a story about a couple. Interactions with Schooner, Mia and his siblings, learning about himself and taking chances on a real relationship show a Zac beginning to move beyond the troubled teenager we initially met. Yes, his past is still a big trigger for him, and something he has to face. But there is such a fantastic arch of events that bring Zac from the boy who hated everyone around him to the man who will someday influence his surroundings just like his father. And Lily? She’s just about the perfect compliment to Zac’s mischievous, fun-loving self as I can imagine.

Though this is a spin-off, having read the Needing Moore series is not a prerequisite. I devoured the original series, and this edition was no exception. Readers of the original series will love the continuity, and the chance to see more of Schooner, Mia, Nate, and Po as they pop in and out of Zac’s life.

Bad Son Rising is a standalone, but Zac is introduced in the Needing More Trilogy

Box set: 
All three Bestselling, Top-Rated Books from The Needing Moore Trilogy by USA Today Bestseller Julie A. Richman, PLUS never before seen BONUS CHAPTERS for each book.