RESCUING THE BAD BOY

For Donovan Pate, the lake town of Evergreen Cove is a minefield of tough memories—including the day he had to let go of Sofie Martin. Years later, he still can’t forget the taste of her lips and the feel of her killer curves. He knows he’s too damaged, that he should stay away for her own good. But what the head says and the heart wants are two very different things…

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.

Release Date: May 26, 2015

Forever Hachette Book Group

Second Chance Book 2

Review copy provided by the publisher

Nikki's Review:

Sigh…This book just did me in. I was captivated from the first page. There was so much angst. Heart wrenching moments that made my breath catch. There was also funny moments between friends, flirty banter, and sizzling hot chemistry! 

We meet young twenty somethings, Sofie and Donovan who have very different views of the world. Sofie is full of optimism and excitement for what life has in store for her. Donovan however, is jaded, angry, and waiting for the right moment to get out of Evergreen Cove. His home life has been both physically and emotionally painful. Donovan’s childhood was an utter nightmare. A tyrannical father and a grandmother who turned the other cheek to the obvious abuse that was being inflicted. Before he can leave and never look back, Donovan wants a moment of peace. Something that hasn’t seen the crappy side of life. Sofie has had the hots for Donovan since the moment she laid eyes on him. One night after a company party, things get wild and crazy between the two. Sofie throws her whole self into the encounter, giving him something she hasn’t offered to another man. He takes it. And then he throws it in her face. I seriously wanted to punch Donovan in the throat. This prologue just about killed me! I was devastated after only a few pages in. Ms. Lemmon wrote this scene so perfectly. It made me see red and my heart broke for the heroine. If you meant to make me cry after a few pages…mission accomplished Ms. Lemmon! I was a hot mess.

When Sofie and Donovan are reunited 7 years later, the sparks fly. They are both carrying around a lot of hurt and anger. Sofie swears to never let Donovan back in, but thats a big fat lie that she tells herself to feel more in control. After agreeing to help Sofie pull off a charity dinner for a home for abused children, Donovan starts to open up. I loved when he lets her see into his nightmares. I could literally feel the oppression of his childhood abuse being lifted away each time he confides in her. Inside, she’s falling apart for him, but on the outside she offers him compassion without the pity. These characters are so incredibly strong. They are completely and perfectly flawed, which made them real to me. I felt like they could have been friends of mine. This author knows how to write stories that are believable but still have a delicious fantasy factor.

Ummm…the utility room. How Ms. Lemmon made utility room sex so delicious, I’ll never know. But seriously, they were both covered in sticky paint and hot damn, they made good use of the washer. Laundry sex, yup laundry sex. And it was so wonderfully dirty. 

The journey that Sofie and Donovan have to take to get their happily ever after is long, hard and heartbreaking. But it’s also beautiful and exciting. He inevitably messes up again, but she’s stronger this time. She doesn’t let him run for long. It felt like a piviledge to watch them make their way through the muddled crap that seemed insurmountable. To be a witness to the healing that needed to happen and to finally see them both find the peace that their souls craved.

I’m already itching for the third book! I can’t wait to sink my teeth into Connor and Faith’s book. I can only hope that Jessica Lemmon continues to shred my heart and put it back together again with her fabulous story telling.