Bad Romeo is by newcomer Leisa Rayven. The NEW part completely befuddled me because it in no shape or form felt like I was reading a story by anyone other than a seasoned writer. ~ Kimber, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
When Cassie Taylor met Ethan Holt at acting school, sparks flew. She was the good girl actress. He was the bad boy about campus. But one fated casting choice for Romeo and Juliet changed it all. Like the characters they were playing, Cassie and Ethan’s romance seemed destined. Until he broke her heart and betrayed her trust. Now the A-list heartthrob is back in her life and turning her world around. One touch at a time.
Cast as romantic leads once again, they’re forced to confront raw memories of the heartbreaking lows and pulse-pounding highs of their secret college affair. But they’ll also discover that people who rub each other the wrong way often make the best sparks.
Bad Romeo is by newcomer Leisa Rayven. The NEW part completely befuddled me because it in
no shape or form felt like I was reading a story by anyone other than a seasoned writer. In fact, after I finished I went a little crazy trying to get my hands on everything she’s ever written, only to find out Bad Romeo is her first book. What the hay??? Well, I venture out and read new authors every once in a while. It’s like an Easter Egg hunt and sometimes you get really lucky and you find the golden egg. Bad Romeo is definitely my golden egg. I was completely blown away by this story. Not to mention, I don’t normally pick a book by its cover, but this one grabbed me and once I read the blurb, I was sold. I’m so very glad I took a chance because it paid off big-time.
Bad Romeo is a story that switches back and forth between past and present. It’s a second chances book and we are gifted or cursed, depending on how you look at it, with a look into how our main characters first meet their freshman year in college and the events that led up to the what I can only imagine is going to be a tear-your-heart-out-of-your-chest break-up. The present chapters are of them being reunited to co-star in a play three years after college.
Kassie and Ethan meet in acting school and don’t particularly like each other. She’s the good girl with a few insecurities but a likable and relatable character. He’s the sexy, yet brooding bad boy with a chip on his shoulder. They eventually become friends or at least try to be. Their on again off again friendship and the fact that she has fallen for him hard and he pushes her away at every turn bring a good bit of angst to the story, but if there’s a good kind of angst, this story has it. OMG did he fight not wanting to be with this girl. I mean, it was for her sake because he’s a messed up guy, but the sexual tension is off the charts. My stomach was in knots the entire book and the only reason I didn’t sit in a ball and ugly cry is because it has a lot of humor in it too. Her roommate Ruby is a riot and the rest of her close friends from acting class will keep you laughing in between the crying fits. Seriously, MAJOR emotional rollercoaster ride and a bit of a mind-fu*k because you want these two people together so bad it hurts. Chapter after chapter of you thinking, ok, this is it, it’s going to happen. Then, NO, door slammed yet again. I love books like this though, you know the ones where you’re so deep into the story, when something happens, curse words start flying, and you find yourself screaming at your Kindle. Regardless, I enjoyed the hell out of this book.
The present chapters are not as hard to get through because they give you some hope. Hope that maybe they can work it out, hope that they still have some deep down feels for each other, but you definitely get the feel it is NOT going to be an easy road.
Things I loved about this story besides the writing which is original and pulled me in from page one, is for one, the humor. As gut-wrenching as it can be, it’s really really funny at times. I adore humor in books. I also adore sex in books, and this doesn’t have a ton of it but it’s a nice change of pace. Not say it isn’t sexy and won’t make you squirm in your seat, cause it will. Another aspect of the story that I loved are the ALL of the secondary characters. The banter and dialog are comical and you completely feel part of the gang who tease and support each other.
Be warned, it doesn’t end on the best note. The second book releases next month so you don’t have long to wait, but I always like to warm my reader friends when the book doesn’t have an HEA. I can’t wait to get started on Broken Juliet and I’m praying hard everything is resolved and they’ll finally be together after all this time. That would make me really happy.
4.5 Stars
THANKS FOR THE REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY!
I loved this book!!
Thanks for the author intro Kimber