REVIEW: A Real Good Bad Thing by Lauren Blakely
5 SMOOCHES!
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SYNOPSIS:
Enemies turn to lovers, but can they trust each other as they chase the same prize? A sexy romantic comedy adventure from #1 NYT Bestseller Lauren Blakely…
I live my life by three simple rules. Don’t mix business with pleasure. Always work solo. And family comes first.
But when I head to the tropics for a quick job and meet a fiery woman who makes my pulse roar, I can’t resist bending the first rule for her.
Trouble is, after we spend a scorching night together on the beach, I discover she’s my new enemy. The quick-witted and clever beauty is on a treasure hunt for the same damn prize – beating me in a race to find millions in stolen diamonds.
See you later, sexy stranger.
Too bad I keep bumping into my gorgeous rival all over this tropical paradise as we chase clues.
Maybe it’s better to partner up. But, the more time we spend together sneaking into nightclubs and art galleries, the harder it is to keep my hands off her. And soon, I’m not just sleeping with my very irresistible enemy.
I’m starting to give her my heart.
That breaks my biggest rule of all. Don’t ever fall in love. Because it always screws you over.
*Note: A Real Good Bad Thing will be entirely new to most of you! Some of you might have read an older series of mine called The Jewel series (now off sale). That two-book storyline serves as the source material for this new story, which has been changed to 1st person, and turned into a standalone, with all new dialogue, motivations, setting and so on! But if there’s a touch of the familiar to some of you that’s why!
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REVIEW:
Inspired by her Jewel series, Lauren Blakely has re-imagined the 2016 duet in A Real Good Bad Thing. This was no simple re-working of a previously released story, this was a complete re-creation. An absolutely delightful romantic comedy, Blakely blended that delicious enemies-to-lovers tension with a forced proximity twist that made for a truly entertaining and heartwarming read. Her sharp and witty writing style shines through in this laugh-out-loud, irresistibly charming story. The tropically-set, beachy-themed, treasure-hunt elements added an exciting layer of intrigue, turning this enemies-to-lovers romcom into a fun and flirty adventure that kept me hooked from the first page. Jake and Ruby’s chemistry sizzled, their snappy banter was electric, and their journey from adversaries to something more was perfectly paced. I listened to the audiobook, narrated in duet by Stella Hunter and Ryan West. Their performances were wonderful, full of the natural chemistry and charisma that these characters demanded.
Blakely has crafted an intriguing and impossible-to-put-down romcom in A Real Good Bad Thing. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was brilliantly executed, and the forced proximity element added tension and humor to the narrative. The treasure-hunt plotline was a stroke of genius, bringing a sense of adventure and anticipation that kept me engaged from start-to-finish. Blakely’s writing is smart, funny, and filled with heart, she creates characters you can’t help but root for, and the way she balanced humor and romance with a touch of adventure was absolutely addictive. A Real Good Bad Thing by Lauren Blakely gets five smooches from me.
~Danielle Palumbo
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