ARC Review: 5 Big Stars for Bad Girl Reputation (Avalon Bay #2) by Elle Kennedy

Bestselling author Elle Kennedy returns to Avalon Bay in this sexy second chance story about two exes who can't stay away from each other, Bad Girl Reputation.

When former bad girl Genevieve West returns home for her mother’s funeral, she’s prepared to keep her distance from her ex-boyfriend, Evan Hartley. Their history is rife with turbulence. And passion. A heck of a lot of passion...which she’s trying desperately to forget.

But it’s impossible not to run into Evan in the small coastal town where they once ran wild. And the moment she sees her gorgeous ex again, it’s clear to Gen that Evan is still as unruly, sexy, and irresistible as ever. This time around, however, she’s resolved to walk a new path. No more partying. No more foolish mistakes. Her plan is to temporarily remain in town to help her father run his business, but the second he finds somebody else, she’s out of there.

Evan has other ideas. He knows they can be good together, but he just has to convince Genevieve of that, even if it means turning over a new leaf himself. But can a bad reputation ever truly be shed? Do second chances really work? Genevieve and Evan are about to find out.

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What I thought about Bad Girl Reputation

After her mom dies, Gen returns to the home she abruptly left behind a year ago. Leaving was the only way she could get away from her own bad habits and reputation to turn her life around.  But when her father asks her to stay and help out, she also has to deal with Evan Hartley, the man she left behind.

Evan Hartley is a proverbial bad boy, not afraid to mix it up when he feels like it.  But his soft spot for Gen could get them both in trouble.  He's still nursing wounds from her leaving the last time, but he can't stay away from her.  He loves her.  I just adored his character -- he has such a good heart, but he's not a pushover by any means. He loves his twin brother fiercely but they can get into it, and he's drawn to Gen like no other woman. He's a sexy beast in love, and that makes for swoony material for sure.

 

But Gen's put a lot of effort into ditching her bad girl reputation and she doesn't want to backslide.  I adored her for her resolve to grow up and put her bad ways behind her.She left at that proverbial moment when she knew if she didn't change now it was going to get ugly for her and she is committed to her new life. 

I loved these two together.  They are hot, hot, hot and it's not just sex.  There's a level of caring between them that is so natural, they almost miss what they have together. The back and forth between them as they figure out their relationship was portrayed in what I thought was a realistic manner. And Evan ripped out my heart perfectly for Gen to put back together as these lovebirds finally figure out what's important. This ending rocks for sure.

I did like what this story said about family, especially estranged family members.  The story of the twins and their mother was particularly touching and it didn't skirt the issue that it's just darn hard to get over these sorts of familial issues.  And when Gen gets information from her Dad about her mother that causes her to see her mom in a new light -- that was a truly beautiful moment in this book.

There were many lovely moments in Bad Girl Reputation.  I appreciated how Gen wasn't put down for wanting to have some fun, and that she recognized herself that her path wasn't a good one. 

Bad Girl Reputation is a sweet second-chance romance between two long time friends and lovers.  It left me feeling good.  This is what romance is about! 

 

 

 

About Elle

A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle writes romantic suspense and erotic contemporary romance for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

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