Seven years ago, Donovan broke Sofie’s heart. Now her career depends on playing nice in order to pull off the charity fundraiser of the decade. She vows to keep things professional…yet working by his side every day doesn’t make it easy to fight temptation, and it isn’t long before she finds herself falling for this bad boy all over again. But loving Donovan means helping him face his past–so they can fight for a future together.

Her soft touch landed on Donovan’s arm, and the anger shuddering inside him shifted into an ache. She stepped closer, the warmth between them radiating enough heat to set him on fire. But like the fireplaces he built, he could handle it. He could handle the heat from her, not because he was impervious, but because he was strong enough to soak her in and not burn to ash. 

She turned his arm where paint was drying. She swiped at it with her sleeve. “I made a mess.”

He’d forgotten about the paint. “Don’t… I can… There is a shower in the…” He lost his train of thought when she turned those emerald green eyes up to him. He watched her delicate throat work as she swallowed. His eyes traveled up her neck and landed on her mouth. Needing her mouth, he lowered his face, watched her eyes grow dark and wide, watched her lift her chin to meet him.

Heat. He wanted more. If only to test his own strength. 

He moved his lips gently against hers, but resisted holding her to him. She held onto him though, grasping his forearms with both hands, her fingers wrapped around his elbows. Pressing her body against his, pressing her tits against his ribs. 

Hell, sounded like an invitation to him. Deepening their connection, he thrust his tongue into her mouth, reached around, and grabbed her ass with both palms. When he squeezed, she sucked in a breath. 

“Told you,” he rumbled.

“Told me?”

“Not a complaint, Scampi.” He squeezed again. “Perfect.”

A choked laugh left her throat. “Big.”

Still moving his hands over her backside, he said, “First thing I noticed about you at the Wharf.” He’d been plating up a chicken scaloppini when the manager walked in to show around a few new servers. Two he couldn’t remember, and Sofie. Bent over the plate, he’d peeked between the metal shelves framing that perfect ass . He’d stood to get a better look, and she’d pegged him with those moss-greens. 

“Second thing I noticed was your eyes.”

Her lips parted slightly. “And the third thing?”

He kissed her. She tasted incredible. “The first time you talked to me.”

She rolled her eyes. “And what did I say?”

She didn’t think he remembered. She was wrong. “‘Can I get a side of cock?’”

Laughing, she shook her head. 

He smiled back at her, unable to help himself. “Then you cleared your throat and said, ‘cocktail sauce’.”

Shaking her head, she said, “Worst abbreviation ever.”

“Kitchen guys are immature.”

She blinked up at him, studying him, like she was trying to piece him together. He didn't want her to. Once she pieced him together and had the whole picture, she wouldn’t like what she saw. 

He kissed her again, keeping his hands on her body.

“Are you testing my boundaries?” she asked, her tone teasing. He recognized that comment from the night he rescued her from Torsett.

“Mine,” he corrected.

Sofie bit her lip. “I don’t date much.”

“Me either.” At all, actually.

She shook her head, more in thought than in argument. “I don’t think I have any boundaries with you.”

He was beginning to think he had none with her, either.

Seven years ago, Sophie Martin and Donovan Pate had a one night stand that ended horribly. Avoiding each other wasn’t difficult as Donovan left town shortly after and refused to return until his grandmother dies and he inherits the family mansion.

Sophie has been working on the annual benefit held at the Pate Mansion and is running behind. In between stressing about deadlines, Sophie also has pressure from her family to date, and the memories of Donovan that have resurfaced in light of his return to town.

Donovan Pate has avoided the memories that both his childhood home and hometown dredge up, until he can’t avoid them anymore. Everyone thinks being a Pate is a charmed life, but very few know what went on behind closed doors.

There was a lot going on in this story -- his past, their past, and her event. But even with all that, there were a lot of moments that just felt like the book was dragging. Part of me thinks I never connected deeply enough with the characters to really dive into their story. By the time I finished, I wondered if I would have been more invested had it been Asher’s book because there was so much of him in Bringing Home the Bad Boy that I was already tied to him, where Donovan wasn’t a big part of the previous story at all.

I also had moments where I wasn’t sure I could finish the book. His nickname for her, while cute in the past, just felt silly in it’s present day use. There were also a few places where the characters said or did things that just didn’t feel like they fit with the character that had been developed to that point.

Some of the scenes were more setup for other characters than for Donovan and Sophie’s story specifically and that may have played into my slow connection with these main characters. But I also missed seeing more from Evan and Charlie. While there are plenty of scenes with both Sophie and Donovan’s other friends, those two friends were surprisingly absent from the storyline.

But this book was filled with sweet moments as well. When the past didn’t stand between them, in the quiet, in their connection, these two were great complements to each other. The arrival of Dog/Gertie and the kids involved in the event made for some touching moments with each individual character.

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

Bringing Home the Bad Boy(Second Chance #1)

Add to Goodreads
Buy Amazon/B&N/iTunes/Kobo/GooglePlay/Indiebound/BAM

Our 4 star reviews

The Bad Boy Is Back

A Bad Boy for Christmas(Second Chance #3)
Add to Goodreads
Expected September 29, 2015
Pre-order Amazon/B&N/iTunes/Kobo