Bad Girl Reputation by Elle Kennedy

Elle Kennedy is fast becoming one of my favorite authors for memorable characters,  engaging banter and passionate romance. 

BAD GIRL REPUTATION has so many of the lesser used themes that are hard to craft like making something funny while the characters are enmeshed in a troubled journey.  This story had me at the edge of my seat because it was about the need for  Gen and Evan either change or continue to bring each other down with their volatile chemistry and wild ways, but as Evan points out in the story, there is no sense trying to change unless you are doing it for yourself first, not someone else,

I loved the chemistry between these two.  They existed in a cloud of volatile gas where one spark set them off on some crazy scheme or hot time.  Evan’s idea of changing for the better include a few pursuits that don’t go quite according to plan.

The secondary stories are so important with Evan’s twin, their estranged mother, Gen’s family and the reason she left town a year ago without saying good-bye.  It’s a story of love and forgiveness - of one’s self and others.

I received an advance copy of this book to read from NetGalley.  My review is my unsolicited opinion.

Stay by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

What I loved about STAY is that the hockey part was really well balanced with the romance part.

But the best part of the story is the chance for Matt and Hailey to get another chance to find the person they were meant to be with.  In this story, I loved how Matt understood what Hailey struggled with in their early relationship and was so incredibly sweet in taking care of her.  I loved how Hailey was a good partner to Matt when it came to his job, his daughters and his ex-wife.

The book had lots of funny moments with the main and secondary characters.  I am really enjoying the series.

The Good Girl Complex by Elle Kennedy

I loved the novel from start to finish. First, the setting drew me because of the small coastal college town riddled by past hurricanes whose locals relied alternately on the tourists during the summer or the wealthy college students during the school year.  The perspective Cooper and the other “townies” had about the treatment they received at the hand of those who lived entitled lives was written so well through the main and secondary characters.

Cooper and Mackenzie come from opposite sides of the tracks and meet under dubious circumstances that drives the story.  I loved how Mackenzie knew what she wanted but needed the encouragement and inspiration to be true to herself.  And Cooper - the bad boy who turns out to be so much more than he believes he can be.

I don’t know if the book is supposed to be inspiring, but it made me think about families and about not letting others define who you are.