College man Jase Everly has bad boy written all over him. Rides a motorcycle? Check. Has tats? You bet. Couldn’t give a shit about rules? He’s all over that.
When he’s cut off from the oil baron family funds, he finds a new way to support his education, his bike habit, his bad habits. And his business venture is nothing he’s proud of.
Top-notch student Avery Greene is a good girl. Deans List, never missed a class, straitlaced material. She’s on the college fast track until one night and one jock destroy her life. She hides inside her sweaters. She buries her nose in her books.
She ignores the pain inside her, and she’s sure she hates Jase from the moment she lays eyes on him.
The problem is—Avery needs someplace to stay, and Jase wants a roommate. They’re enemies at first sight. Now they’re going to live together.
Roomies? Maybe.
Romance? Never.
That’s what she said.
Please note: This story includes a discussion of rape. This painful conversation is necessary for the growth of the couple’s relationship.
~ Goodreads
This story really pulled me in! When reading Stone, At Your Service (the first book in the Carolina Bad Boys series) the readers got little snippets of this novella within that story. I thought I knew everything that there was to know about the story and didn’t think I would really enjoy reading the full novella. But boy was I wrong!! The story definitely drew me in and ensnared me! With knowing the “back story” of this novella before I read it, in my opinion it made it that much more satisfying. This novella is a standalone and has nothing to do with the Carolina Bad Boys series.
Jase is a typical college playboy wrapped up in a bad boy personal…or is he? He’s got a secret and is isn’t about to let anyone get close enough to figure it out. Then in walks Avery. She knocks him on his ass and steals his heart way before he ever admits it to himself. Avery on the other hand wants to despise him on sight (not that that really happens!). She has sworn off the male species and with good reason. She’s got a secret too and she’ll be damned if she tells anyone again, only to be laughed at.
This story really makes you ache for Avery. Within the first couple of pages you get the gist of what happened and automatically want to go to bat for her. The story fluctuates between light and teasing to only to slap you in the face with what each of the character is going through and how it’s tearing them up inside.
Despite the heavy subjects the sexual tension and teasing is awesomesauce!! I loved the flirting that they did, and the antagonizing remarks they gave one another. Thank heaven for unlocked bathroom doors That scene was extra hot!!!
Unfortunately it did hit on one of my hard limits for romances…It wasn’t maliciously done but nevertheless is still present within the story. With that being said I still enjoyed the novella. Jase, besides doing what he did, was still overall was very sweet. He was super considerate, like doing things with Avery in mind. Whether to make her life easier or just to do things for her to make her smile.
Having said that, there were a couple things I wish were different. In the beginning the way they interacted with one another after only knowing each other approximately a day, was a little odd. They had such a familiarity, it seemed like they had known each other for months if not years. The other thing I wished it had was just more! I wish the story was continued and we got to see them meeting each other’s parents and possibly a wedding!
I realize that this was just a novella but it did a fantastic job. To capture all the elements of a full length novel and condense it into just a few short chapters is really hard but it was done really well here! I’m so excited to read more from this author, keep the Carolina Bad Boys series coming!!
We’re looking forward to showcasing the next talented indie author!