Jessica Lemmon

Not All Scars Heal 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 fund-raiser 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. "Jessica Lemmon is an author to keep your eye on!" -Katee Robert, New York Times bestselling author "Everything I love in a romance." --- Lori Foster, 2014

Rescuing the Bad Boy

Beatriz Aguiar

The plot is awfully like Fifty Shades. No depth to the dialogue and narration. Didn't like the POV.

Lover of Romance 

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
  

 
  
    Summary
  
 
Donovan Pate, has returned to Evergreen Cove, a lake town but also a place that is packed full of bad memories that he is going to have to face if he wants closure...he plans on sticking with his motto "Straight Through". Donny hates what the memories have done to him when his grandmother's estate needs to be sold, Donny knows that he has little choice in returning, if for a little while. But there is a catch, his grandmother made a contract with Sofie Martin to run a charity fundraiser at the mansion, a charity for children struggling with abuse. Donny knows he can't refuse and he can't resist Sofie Martin and what she has always meant to him despite the horrible way he treated her seven years ago. Sofie is a event planner and has been working hard to make sure this charity fundraiser goes off without a hitch. But when Donny returns home, she is full of mixed feelings. Her first time had been with Donny and at first it was beautiful and then it ended up being the worst night of her life. But both Donny and Sofie will have to go Straight Through the bad memories and create happy ones, and they find rebuilt trust but will their love be enough to create their own future and not the one fate designed for them?

 
  
    The Hero
  
 
Donovan Pate suffered from horrible abuse at the hands of his father. His mother left them when he was young, and his grandmother never did anything to help him. Over the years, his body is covered in tattoos to cover the scars and the horrible memories that still haunt him. Donny left Evergreen Cove as soon as he could, and built a life for himself in New York, even if its a bit of a lonely life. When it becomes apparent that he will have to return to the one place he despises, he decides to just stick with his motto "Straight Through" and he will be able to overcome anything that still haunts him.

  
    But he wasn't one to avoid the monsters lurking in the dark. He preferred to deal with things head on. Cheaper than therapy. 
  

But as he starts to work on getting the mansion ready to be sold, every room reminds him of the bad times, of the horror and the pain he suffered as a little boy. Donny is a hero that just about broke my heart. He is tough and has done certain things to protect himself since no one ever protected him when he needed it most. At first I really didn't like him, because of the way he treated Sofie at first, but as the story progresses, you see how much suffering he has been dealt and I was won over to just love his character. He has that "tortured male" going on and it definitely appealed to me. I love a character that is tough and strong and willing to face the bad in order to get some of the good in life.
 
  
    The Heroine
  
 
Sofie was a virgin seven years ago, when she saw Donny and he took her to the library in his mansion, and she always thought that there would be some positive memories for her first time. However, once he realizes that she is a virgin, he practically kicks her out the door. Sofie still after this long time, is hurt by what Donny did to her because she fell in love with him that night and despite her pain, she still does.

  
    She couldn't afford to love him. She couldn't afford to give him another single part of her. Not after he'd taken the part she hadn't realized was precious until she'd trusted it with him. 
  

Sofie is an event planner and has made a prestigious business for herself. She isn't as close to her family as she would like, but she is a 'daddy's girl' and that relationship does play a part in this book. Sofie is strong and independent, but she also is lonely at times and wants to find love again. What I liked most about Sofie was how she stands up to Donny. She is zesty and spirited, and I loved how she stands firm on what she believes in and doesn't let his bad boy attitude change anything.
 
  
    Plot and Story Line
  
 
Rescuing The Bad Boy is the first book I have ever read from Jessica Lemmon, and dang but it was superb. At first it started out a bit slow, but it picked up pace pretty quickly and I was hooked within a couple chapters. It begins with these two meeting and having sex, and not exactly a night to sing about but it really sets the tone for the story and helps the reader understand what happened seven years previous and I enjoyed this aspect because it really adds more of an emotional tune to the story that I felt is needed if you want to delve deep into this one. At first when these two meet again, they have sparks but they are at opposite ends of the argument and neither wants to back down from the fight. I really enjoyed the "second chance" romance trope that is found in this story, and from what I can gather every book in the series has this theme. I was really captivated by the connection that these two have with each other. It isn't an easy one or light-hearted one, its full of tough emotion, but this is the part of the book I loved the most. I couldn't help but fall for both of these characters, both have healing to do and we see how it happens with them working together on the charity event. Now I want to talk about the chemistry these two have going...which boy is it hot.

  
    Donovan ignored the warnings in his head. Now that he was drinking Sofie in, her warm half naked body pressed against his, there was no stopping. There was nothing he wanted more than to taste her, to feel her against him. There was only Sofie and there was only him and the scorching heat burning between them. 
  

They definitely have some great sparks, and they don't struggle with each other too much to just let it happen. I had a jolly time seeing them work through their issues and stumble a bit, but they get right back up and fight. I felt the supporting characters really added some more power to the story and livened it up more.

  
    His friend's eyes cut past him. "Giant mattress."
  
  

  

  
    "Huge"
  
  

  

  
    Connor gave him a shit eating grin. "You bought her a bed."
  
  

  

  
    "Piss off. I bough A bed."
  
  

  

  
    "To sleep with her in."
  
  

  

  
    Donovan was sick of fighting one structural impediment or another. He wanted to lay her down and take the time to do the things he wanted to do to her. 
  
  

  

  
    And there were a lot of things.
  
  

  

  
    "Lotta room to groove," Connor put in. 
  
  

  

  
    "Don't you have something to mulch?" Donovan grumbled 
  
  

  

  
    "Yeah, yeah," He turned to leave.
  
  

  

  
    Donovan followed, but before he flipped off the lights, he studied the big, spacious bed again. And thougt of Sofie on it. 
  
  

  

  
    Acres of room to groove. 
  

And the dog..."Gertie" she totally won me over. I do love it when authors implement animals into stories, and it added that touch of sweet to help balance the story out in a harmonious way. Definitely can't wait to read the first book now.
 
  
    The Cover
  
 
Is that men drool worthy sexy or what ladies? I mean, I am not all for tats unless they are done just right, but boy that man I would take any day or night!! He definitely makes that shirt look yummy!!
 
  
    Overall View
  
 
Rescuing The Bad Boy is a stunning romance that just had me craving more....I loved the bad boy, the feisty heroine, the sweet "Gertie", the lively friends and the kids. A tale of love, redemption, and healing. SIMPLY FANTASTIC!!

  

  
    
      He was inside her, wrapped in her from head to toe. And right now, she was everything he needed.
    
    

  


  


  
    Bringing Home The Bad Boy (1)
  
  


  
    Rescuing The Bad Boy (2)
  
  


  
    A Bad Boy For Christmas (3)
  
  


  
    Return of the Bad Boy (4)

Rescuing the Bad Boy

Reviews