Return of the Bad Boy by Jessica Lemmon (Second Chances #4)
Contemporary Romance
Released: April 26, 2016
Forever
Reviewed by Helyce
Favorite Quote: “You made me want you” she said. “A future. A son. A…husband. You made me want to love you. You made me want it all.”
I have truly enjoyed this series, but this is the story that I’ve been waiting for. Asher Knight, lead singer for the rock band Knight Time and, interestingly, a children’s book author, has intrigued me since the beginning. Ms. Lemmon has given us little peeks into all the different facets of Asher’s personality, and we know he is super hot, super sexy, and super bad…in a very good way. But alongside his public persona it was clear that there was so much more to Asher Knight on the inside; and while he made no excuses for himself, I knew that there was one woman who could bring him to his knees.
Gloria Shields is Asher Knight’s agent and she is one tough cookie. Her name suits her because she has built a shield around her. Her childhood is to blame. Let down by those who should have cared for her, she’s come to learn that it’s best if she only counts on herself. Though she has a few good friends who she trusts, she prefers to keep to herself and certainly does not need a man to complete her.
But a few years ago, she let Asher Knight past her shields, if only for a short time and it changed how she thought and felt about everything. She began to hope that maybe she could have more…..
Asher Knight has had an on and off presence in this series, but when he’s been on page, he definitely made an impression. A sexy rock God, he can have any woman he wants and he took what was freely offered. The author hints at a flirtation between Asher and his agent Gloria but Gloria’s animosity toward Asher had led me to conclude that something had happened at one point between them. But Gloria originally comes off as a woman who doesn’t need a man, so her remarks seemed out of character and hinted at the fact that Asher may mean more to her. We see her facade falter in a prior book when she decides to give in to what she really wants and heads over to surprise Asher at his home. Sadly, she gets a surprise of her own when she finds a woman there.
I always loved Gloria! With her quick wit and tell it like it is ways, I admired her strength and her seeming to not need anyone but herself. We learn the whys of that in this story and everything becomes a bit more clear. At the same time, though, we see Gloria grow so much in how she begins to let some of her guard down and allow people past her carefully constructed shields.
If you’re a fan of this series than you know that Asher has a son; the product of a one night stand a few years back with a young woman in Evergreen Cove. What we didn’t know was that the boy’s mother, Jordan, had kept him a secret from Asher. By the time it’s confirmed, Hawk is nearly 3 years old. Asher immediately makes plans to move to Evergreen cove so that he can be a part of his son’s life. Unfortunately, Hawk’s mother and grandmother do not make it easy.
In all honesty, the whole baby mama drama was a bit silly for me. It’s clear that Jordan is young, confused, and under her own mother’s thumb. Their antics were ridiculous and over the top where Asher trying to build a relationship with his son were concerned, but I understand the need for these types of hurdles in a story with this theme. What is truly clear, however, is the fact that Asher has changed, grown, matured, and where his son is concerned, he is all in.
But he wants Gloria too. Understandably Gloria is angry, at herself and at Asher. The situation is one she is totally unprepared for, but continues to find herself in a position where she has no choice but to be involved. And along the way she lets her guard down and lets Asher back in, and the true test is how they learn to navigate everything that comes with having a child, an ex and an over involved grandmother.
What is very clear, though, is that Asher and Gloria belong together and we get a lot of really good insight to their connection on a much deeper level:
“This was why she wanted to have sex with Asher. Not just the promise of feeling really good, but knowing she made him feel just as good. Existing together in a space and time where no one could touch them. Where nothing else mattered. This moment.”
And in the end, everyone wins. Asher sums it up best…
“Take my ring and a vow that lasts until our time on this planet stops.” […] “No one makes a better team than we do. You can be my wife, be Hawk’s stepmom. Be the daughter my parents are thrilled they never had to rear through teenage years.”
I loved the journey that these two traveled to get to that perfect place of love and commitment. And along the way we are treated with visits from previous characters, a wedding and baby news. I’m so glad that I happened upon Ms. Lemmon and highly recommend this series.
Grade: A
Previous Jessica Lemmon Reviews
Goodreads l Author Website l Series
Leave a Reply