Bringing Home the Bad Boy (Second Chance Book 1)

I don't know how I would feel if my best friend and my husband got together years after I passed away. It would be strange. But Charlie and Evan have sparks flying almost instantly after he finally leaves behind the home he'd made with Rae. What I thought was well done was actually Charlie's doubts and fears and her tendency to pull away. Her concerns seemed natural. Good read.

I'm totally in love with this book. I started this on a lark. I never expected to be pulled into the book and fall in love with the story, characters…everything. I wanted to live in this book. As soon as I finished, I wanted to go back and experience it all over again.From page one I was transported to Evergreen Cove and into the lives of Evan, Charlie and Lyon. I didn’t want this book to end. I found myself checking the % of how far I was into it, dreading the 100% mark. I wanted to stay with Evan and Charlie forever.I loved Charlie. She was funny and quirky and sweet and caring and just all around amazing. She was also insecure and unsure of her worth when it came to love. The more you found out about her, the more I hated her ex Russell for how he treated her. On the surface he was nice and sweet but he undermined her, looked down on her and overall, made her feel like crap. Add to all of that the fact that he cheated on her then returned to take advantage of her good nature and spewed his horrible venom at her, making her doubt herself and her relationship with Evan and Lyon, and I seriously wanted to go all Queen of Hearts on him…well, after some long drawn out torture. I seriously loved when Evan went all alpha and stepped in to protect his woman and punched that jerk!Evan. How do I describe pure perfection? He’s like my dream man (Nero) all grown up and hot and tattooed and AMAZING. Evan has been through a lot in the last four years. He lost his wife, has been raising his son and is now selling his business and moving to start a fresh life away from the bad memories of how his wife died. My heart broke for him and his experiences. I wanted to reach through my kindle screen and comfort him every time he remembered how his wife died. It’s rare for me to fall in love with a fiction character and love the heroine just as much. So I was really glad Evan had Charlie there to help him move on. One of the things I loved most was the fact that once Evan realized that Charlie was an attractive female, and that he was interested in her, he never deviated from that path. He let his interest be known and when it was reciprocated, he went about making them happen. He knew what he wanted and went after it. There was stuff they had to work through since Charlie was his wife’s best friend, but there was never a time when he was interested in someone else.I never once doubted Evan or Charlie’s interest in each other. Their chemistry was off the charts and their antics often made me laugh. I also have to say that I loved Lyon. It’s been my experience that kids in books are…difficult to get right. Either they’re never around, around too much or they don’t act like real kids. But I thought Lyon felt like a real boy! (sorry, I couldn't resist the Pinocchio reference.)This book was pure perfection.I have not read any books by this author before, and I deeply regret that. After I finished this book, I went to see what else the author has written and I have seen her books around…I just haven’t read them. So, upon completion of this review, I’m embarking on a journey through her backlist.

Hotness Rating 3 out of 5I've never read anything by Jessica Lemmon and really wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. The blurb was intriguing, but the whole thought of a woman starting a romance with her dead friend's husband left me a bit anxious. I seriously didn't think anyone could write a story around this topic where I wouldn't be left feeling squeamish. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with finding love again. It just concerned me that it was with the best friend. With all of that being said Ms. Lemmon did a fabulous job with Bringing Home the Bad Boy, the first book of the Second Chance series. Color me wrong!Evan Downey lost his young wife unexpectedly. He didn't even get the chance to tell her goodbye. He was left behind with a 2 year old son and little time to breathe let alone lose himself in the grief. He was lucky to have fantastic in-laws and his wife's best friend to help pitch in when life got too much. Now, 5 years later Evan and his son are up for another big change. They've decided to move from their home and start new in Ever Green Cove where Evan spent his summers, met his wife and his wife's best friend still lives. It will be nice to start fresh in a slower paced home where he can paint and earn a living for his son. It will be nice to live next door to Aunt Charlie and have her in their life full-time.Charlotte Harris fell for Evan first when they were barely kids and he was visiting for the summer. But, there was no denying the love-at-first sight reaction when he laid eyes on Rae, her best friend. Being the good friend that she was Charlie had no problem letting go of her feelings and being the good supportive friend that she was. She never begrudged them a second of their happiness and is still broken over the death of her best friend. But, having Evan and Lyon next door was sure to help. After all she made a promise to Rae that she would take of her family now that she was gone.Evan has never looked at Charlie as anything more than Rae's best friend. He's always known she was attractive, but that was as far as it ever went. Now, he's seeing Charlie in a completely different light. Charlie has him wanting and needing things he hasn't in years.Evan was amazing! He was honest about his marriage, his love for his dead wife, his love for his son and his feelings on their deserving to have more. Charlie wasn't so honest about her feelings. She loved Evan and wanted him, but the guilt smothered her and kept her from really accepting what was being offered to her. This book made me cry in so many places. It was bittersweet knowing that both Evan and Charlie would give it all up to have Rae back, yet in her absence they found their own real true love.I can't wait to read more in this series and more about the infamous trio making up the Penis bandits.You can find this review and others at www.riverinaromantics.com

Wow. What an emotional story. I don't even know how to start to deal with that. Brilliant story line. Loved it. Ace and Evan were perfect together. The passion between them was out of this world. Roll on the next book.

Really enjoyed this sweet romance, Charlie was very insecure which at times seemed to slow the story down. Lyon was a really cutie and made me smile and Evan was a bad boy with a big heart.

I love this story this is my first book by Jessica lemmon and it won't be my last im in love with Evan, charlie and Lyon. I love that is shows even after a great loss you can still find happiness. Read this book you won't be disappointed

Great book, really enjoyed the whole series.

wonderful to read characters so honestly portrayedto watch Charlie awaken to the reality that her previous boyfriend had controlled and demeaned her and realize that she was worthy of loveand to watch Evan and Lyon learn to be open and hopeful and a family againI look forward to reading more from this author