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girlwithhearteyes's review
DNF @ 25%. I found it hard to connect with the story, even with the emotional moments that made me tear up early on. The story reminded me of a fast-paced crime movie, with glossy-grit vibes. I also couldn’t get into the first book in this series, so maybe Helena Newbury's books just aren't for me.
wilwarinde's review
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
lilywhite0789's review
2.0
I’m not sure I can properly identify exactly how I feel about this book. Frustrated, irate, maybe some disappointment? So far it’s my least favorite in the series. I read Outlaw’s Promise first and really enjoyed that book. I’m really starting to wonder if the same author actually wrote these other books because they have not been anywhere close to the same feel of Outlaw’s Promise.
Bad For Me was 70% okay and 30% ‘are you fucking kidding me?’ It has its cringy moments, and the slow burn “when will they?” in the first 70% but it was tolerable. But then shit just went down real quick. There were several instances I wanted to throw this book at the fucking wall. The only reason I didn’t was because it was on my kindle rather than a physical copy.
The pacing could have been much better. The first 70% the story was okay, but there wasn’t as much that happened to move the plot along. There was a lot of internal monologues, detailing fantasies each MC had of the other MC. Like, in the beginning shortly after being in the elevator with Sean, Louise has this elaborate sexual fantasy that’s pages long. It’s one thing to have spicy scene be long and detailed, kind of dragging it out. But a fake scenario that she’s making up in her head to masturbate to did not need to be that long.
Then there were a lot of ‘two weeks later’ or ‘in the last month…’ to move the story along while basically Sean and Louise dance around their feelings. Then the last 30% was just boom boom boom. One thing after another after another just kept happening too quickly to feel authentic. It was like everyone has to go wrong, they can’t catch a break. They’re being forced out of their grow house, she goes to Murray for more money (more on that one later), they make the deal with Malone but he steals the drug from them, they go on basically a suicide mission to get it back, almost die getting it back but now have no one to sell to, hit up the cartel, almost get caught by a TX cop for 500k worth of weed, haggle with a cartel boss, almost die again, barely make it in time to get Kayley to treatment she needed. It as just too much to shove into the last 120 pages of the book.
So a few specific things that frustrated me. Right from the beginning when Sean asked Louise to never go back and see Murray, we knew it was going to happen. But I still didn’t anticipate her to be such a fucking idiot about dealing with him. She didn’t even fully read the contract Murray wants her to sign. From what little we are given, sounds like she's agreeing to be a porn star. Wait, more like a prostitute, and even though she signed a contract, she’s not exactly a willing participant. So basically she’s agreed to get raped on camera for the next two years, but that’s fine (this is dripping with sarcasm in case it wasn’t obvious). I was so fucking pissed with her with this decision, I was ready to DNF right then. Up until this point, she was supposedly the careful one, logical one, the brains of the operation, but she's a fucking moron.
I was honestly surprised how quickly and easily this was dealt with, and with how Sean responded. I figured he would’ve been pissed that she made this decision without him, that she went back to Murray even after he told her not to and he’d stormed off or push her away again. But no, just simply traded her rape contract for his car. Feel like it took away from how severe and rash her decision was, that Sean had to suffer the consequences of her mistake. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I want her to be stuck on that disgusting contract and I’m glad it was handled relatively quickly.
Also, what was the plan for paying Murray back to begin with? She was loaned 12k with 400% interest, which would’ve been a total of 60k that she would owe Murray. Kayley's treatment is 500k and she was only asked for 500k from Malone for the weed she grew. Where is she getting this 60k? And then it’s never addressed later at the end of the book. We know she has more money left over than she anticipated and can fully pay back Murray, but it’s like he’s been completely forgotten about.
The only reason I finished this book was because I’m reading the series. I’m pushing forward hoping as I get closer to Outlaw’s Promise things get better.
Bad For Me was 70% okay and 30% ‘are you fucking kidding me?’ It has its cringy moments, and the slow burn “when will they?” in the first 70% but it was tolerable. But then shit just went down real quick. There were several instances I wanted to throw this book at the fucking wall. The only reason I didn’t was because it was on my kindle rather than a physical copy.
The pacing could have been much better. The first 70% the story was okay, but there wasn’t as much that happened to move the plot along. There was a lot of internal monologues, detailing fantasies each MC had of the other MC. Like, in the beginning shortly after being in the elevator with Sean, Louise has this elaborate sexual fantasy that’s pages long. It’s one thing to have spicy scene be long and detailed, kind of dragging it out. But a fake scenario that she’s making up in her head to masturbate to did not need to be that long.
Then there were a lot of ‘two weeks later’ or ‘in the last month…’ to move the story along while basically Sean and Louise dance around their feelings. Then the last 30% was just boom boom boom. One thing after another after another just kept happening too quickly to feel authentic. It was like everyone has to go wrong, they can’t catch a break. They’re being forced out of their grow house, she goes to Murray for more money (more on that one later), they make the deal with Malone but he steals the drug from them, they go on basically a suicide mission to get it back, almost die getting it back but now have no one to sell to, hit up the cartel, almost get caught by a TX cop for 500k worth of weed, haggle with a cartel boss, almost die again, barely make it in time to get Kayley to treatment she needed. It as just too much to shove into the last 120 pages of the book.
So a few specific things that frustrated me. Right from the beginning when Sean asked Louise to never go back and see Murray, we knew it was going to happen. But I still didn’t anticipate her to be such a fucking idiot about dealing with him. She didn’t even fully read the contract Murray wants her to sign. From what little we are given, sounds like she's agreeing to be a porn star. Wait, more like a prostitute, and even though she signed a contract, she’s not exactly a willing participant. So basically she’s agreed to get raped on camera for the next two years, but that’s fine (this is dripping with sarcasm in case it wasn’t obvious). I was so fucking pissed with her with this decision, I was ready to DNF right then. Up until this point, she was supposedly the careful one, logical one, the brains of the operation, but she's a fucking moron.
I was honestly surprised how quickly and easily this was dealt with, and with how Sean responded. I figured he would’ve been pissed that she made this decision without him, that she went back to Murray even after he told her not to and he’d stormed off or push her away again. But no, just simply traded her rape contract for his car. Feel like it took away from how severe and rash her decision was, that Sean had to suffer the consequences of her mistake. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I want her to be stuck on that disgusting contract and I’m glad it was handled relatively quickly.
Also, what was the plan for paying Murray back to begin with? She was loaned 12k with 400% interest, which would’ve been a total of 60k that she would owe Murray. Kayley's treatment is 500k and she was only asked for 500k from Malone for the weed she grew. Where is she getting this 60k? And then it’s never addressed later at the end of the book. We know she has more money left over than she anticipated and can fully pay back Murray, but it’s like he’s been completely forgotten about.
The only reason I finished this book was because I’m reading the series. I’m pushing forward hoping as I get closer to Outlaw’s Promise things get better.
nikiryther's review
5.0
you need to read this
I cannot get enough of these bada$$ brothers! Each one is just as gruff and mean and volatile as the next, but they’re also squishy teddy bears for their women.
Louise and Sean are as opposite as can be, but they’re basically a dream team when put together. Their story was full of intense action and steamy scenes, with the tension practically wafting from the pages.
In other words, an absolute MUST READ book.
I cannot get enough of these bada$$ brothers! Each one is just as gruff and mean and volatile as the next, but they’re also squishy teddy bears for their women.
Louise and Sean are as opposite as can be, but they’re basically a dream team when put together. Their story was full of intense action and steamy scenes, with the tension practically wafting from the pages.
In other words, an absolute MUST READ book.
kazza248's review
5.0
Another great story from this Author. Once again one of the O'Harra brothers melt your heart with the fierce loyalty to protect the woman that they love, I loved this book, Sean and Louise were a couple that were miles apart in their lifestyle, he was a hammer swinging bad boy, and her an innocent good girl that lived by the law, but came together to save Louise's sister, to break the law in order to raise the money. This book grips you from the start to the end, highly recommended.
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