BAD BOY SAM + GOOD GIRL IVY = LEARNING TO LOVE AGAIN
After her last disaster of a relationship, Ivy Stephens is content being single. She has her job, her apartment—and the cute little puppy she’s seen hanging around. When he escapes, she finds her search efforts aided by a big, burly, devastatingly handsome man. One who claims a prior claim on her dog.
Sam Hamilton is at loose ends since his best friend fell in love. He finds a sense of purpose in rescuing strays. The puppy who’s stolen his heart just happens to run into blond, beautiful Ivy. And Sam can’t help hoping she’ll take in one more stray—him—for good.
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Excerpt:
They walked down the street and turned right. After a few more blocks they passed the middle school, heading toward the park bordered by Blaine Street. Despite the late hour, a few parents and children still played on the swings.
Ivy felt a moment’s envy, that her own perfect family didn’t exist and likely never would. She should be glad, really. Imagine if Max had gotten her pregnant the way he’d wanted to when they’d first started dating? All those years supporting him through undergraduate school had been difficult enough. But with a baby on board? Then his leaving her high and dry for law school and that perky blond would have hurt a lot more.
She should be glad to be strong and independent and single. Who the hell needed a man anyway?
Someone shouted from the other side of the street, and she started.
“You okay?” Sam put a hand on her shoulder to keep her from tripping over her own feet.
She felt safe next to his large presence. “Yeah, wasn’t paying attention.” Then, to prove she really didn’t need a man to protect her or stop her from being clumsy, she stepped away and called out for Cookie. By herself.
They walked all around the park and deeper into the West Queen Anne neighborhood. Despite Sam still being a stranger, he seemed on the up and up. He called out for the dog. They walked near each other but not too close. She saw him watching her, but when she’d look at him, he appeared to make an effort to seem nonthreatening. Hands in pockets, keeping his distance.
She found his actions comforting—and charming, oddly enough—because he didn’t seem to be trying to impress her. He’d sworn. Called her a hot chick, and he—
“Sam.” She pointed to a small moving shadow near a house on the corner of 4th and Blaine.
He nodded and raised his voice. “Scruffy. Come.”
The shadow picked its head up and took a step in their direction.
“Cookie, come here,” she added and made a few kissy sounds. “Come here, boy.”
A tiny yip, and then the little guy was bounding toward them. Sam and she crouched low, so as not to threaten with their size. But Cookie didn’t seem to care. He went to Sam first, his tail wagging and his tongue licking everywhere he could reach.
Ivy watched Sam’s stern demeanor melt into a smile that stole her breath. When he wasn’t looking so serious or tough, he was…beautiful. His smile reached his eyes, and the joy on his face was infectious.
BLP REVIEW ~ Tracy
LOVED IT!! Gods, Sam and Ivy are fab together!
We’ve seen glimpses of Sam in the previous books in the series and he was rough, gruff and a bit of a pita at times (think Cyn & Foley and the exes!!) but in Zero to Sixty we get to see the real Sam Hamilton!!
Sam has had a really awful upbringing (tempered by the fact that he was unofficially adopted by Foley and his mum, Eileen) and this has led him to believe that he’s unlovable and not worth anyone the attention of anyone he considers to be ‘good’. Enter Ivy…… Ivy herself has been made to feel worthless, uncared for and completely unlovable by her family who always seemed more focused on her brother and his success! As the pair get to know each other better, they realise they have much more in common than animal rescue – which is how they originally came into contact!
Full of laughs, emotion, love and affection – especially when it came to family of choice – heat and attraction as well as a healthy dose of heartbreaking secrets, this was another fabulous installment in the Body Shop Bad Boys series from one of my favourite authors, Marie Harte!
In all honesty, I think this is my top book of the 3 released so far; reading about Sam, his insecurities and discovering the gentle giant living within the tattooed, angry man was engaging and had me rooting for him and a happy ever after with his lady love (and their cute puppy)
As ever, we caught up with the other guys in Webster’s Garage as well as Del’s new family, we caught a glimpse of the Donnigans and McCauleys and got a clue as to who Lou’s love interest is going to be in Collision Course (the fourth book in the series)
A great 5* read for me!
Giveaway
Prize ~ 3 bundles of Test Drive & Roadside Assistance
About the Author:
Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, MARIE HARTE is a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after.
Award-winning author Marie has been writing professionally since 2005. She’s both a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author and has written over 100 books and counting. Marie writes books with heat, humor, and character. She writes independently and for several publishers, to include Sourcebooks and Samhain. Though currently writing contemporary romance, she also writes paranormal and romantic suspense. Before turning to writing full-time, she earned a B.A. in English from Pennsylvania State University and spent several years in the United States Marine Corps as a communications officer.
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