Cleopatra Paige hates one thing in this world – just one – and his name is Zachariah Prince. In grade school, he pulled at her pigtails. In middle school, he spread false rumors about her. And in high school, he ruined her prom. She hates that his smirks are unfairly sexy. And she definitely loathes that his dark eyes seem to follow her everywhere. Sometimes, even in her dreams. It doesn’t … in her dreams.
It doesn’t matter that he’s rich and popular or that he lives in a freaking mansion full of butlers and maids. He’s rude and arrogant, and she wants to stay as far away from him as possible.
But unfortunately for Cleo, she lives in the same freaking mansion as Zach.
Only he’s the prince and she’s the lowly maid who serves him.
NOTE: This is a STANDALONE, full length novel set in the world of St. Mary’s
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Lord did I LOVE this book. I also love this author (just saying). Her books are fantastic, and this book was indeed a fantastic read. Well written. Well paced. Told in a dual POV format. The plot was engaging. Full of witty banter. Sweet moments. Sad moments. Romantic moments. Moments that will make you want to punch people. Moments that will make you cry. A great cast of secondary characters (especially little Art). Two fantastic main characters. A virgin heroine (meh). A smidge of OW drama. Crackling sexual tension. Smokin’ sex scenes. Last, that ending…gaah. The last 10% of this book had me sobbing. The only small niggle…I wish this had an epilogue. I wanted a peek into this couple’s future.
Bully themed books seem to be a “thing” at the moment, and Zach was definitely a bully and an asshole. Things are not all as they seem though. He has a past that shaped who he was, and it is a sad one. The Zach of present day was still very much an asshole, but he also had a vulnerability to him that softened his harsh edges and made me want to just hug the stuffing out of him. Added into the mix was a fantastic heroine with spunk, a huge heart, and a smart mouth. She looked past Zach’s asshole facade and saw the damaged little boy hiding beneath. I loved her for that. And I loved how much growth both these characters showed over the course of this book. If you are anything like me, you won’t be able to NOT fall in love with this couple. Their back and forth bantering. Their slow burn fall into love. Gaah…this was another great book from this author and I can’t wait to see what she has up her sleeve next. Two thumbs up from yours truly.
I’ve been wanting to read SAK’s book since a while but I’m so easily distracted and my decisions change faster than my hairfall. Finally I picked a random book from her list and as expected it was intense and hot. This is an enemies to lovers romance and has the forbidden romance trope too.
I realised after reading few of SAK’s books that she likes bold colours. In The Unrequited the h likes purple, in My Darling Arrow the h applies dark lipstick which had meaning and in Bad Boy Blues the h loves blue. How SAK uses those gastly, eye-catching, slutty (‘slutty’ in case of judgemental relatives/people), distractive colours and makes a story – it’s a tiny detail she uses to make a beautiful issue out of it.
‘There’s a line in the town I live in.
It’s invisible, this line. It’s also paper-thin and razor-sharp.
But it’s there.’
Cleopatra-Blue Paige (19), lives on the less luxurious side of the town, meaning she is in the poor side but the happy side. Her parents worked hard to send her to a school of prestigious where the rich children study. But there was a boy who made her school days terrible.
‘When girls my age were falling in love with cute boys, I was falling in hate with Zach.’
‘He screams rebel. Bad boy. He screams that he doesn’t give a fuck.’
Strong she was with a backbone. As much as she gets she gives good too. But there was something else too, while his friends played prank on his orders she looked up to him. There was something they didn’t realise.
‘Her name’s like her.
Loud and dramatic and a fucking handful. Or mouthful. Whatever.’
Zachariah-Zach Prince (21), is the son of the owner of the town. Son of a rich man he is far from spoiled as people think. Behind this aura of aloofness lies a boy who is lonely and craves love.
‘Blue is still the same. Loud, spunky… bright. Brimming with so much life that it’s hard to look at her.
But still I looked.’
He is quiet and moody. He knows everything. There is this girl who caught his attention from the beginning, who would fight him rather than step down from his bullying, who is after his secrets and looks up to him as if he is her savior.
“You’re getting brave, aren’t you?” he asks, instead of answering my earlier question.
“What?”
“But there’s a very thin line between being brave and being stupid.”
A barely-leashed threat lingers in his tone. A threat that steals my voice.
He cocks his head to the side and licks his lips. “You don’t wanna cross that line. You don’t wanna be stupid and steal my stuff or run your mouth off about my dick.”
Three years later Cleo is orphaned and working as a maid in the Prince’s estate trying to pay mortage and keep her parents house. Her enemy suddenly comes back. Zach who mysteriously dissapered three years ago is surprised to see Cleo working in his home. Cleo who remembers the pain and hurt she went through decides to play prank on Zach in retaliation by spreading rumors about his ‘dead’ dick and ruining his curtard.
‘I don’t need love. I don’t need acceptance or approval. I reject them before they can ever reject me.
But Blue’s different. She’s still naïve. She thinks love is this amazing, magical thing. She wants to fall in it.
It’s funny how people forget that it’s called falling in love. There’s a reason for that. You fall and you break your fucking leg and you bleed. That’s what love is. Bleeding, cutting yourself open on purpose.
It’s a weakness to be that crazy, that you’ll hurt yourself for someone else. Or that you’ll love someone despite how much they’ve hurt you.’
Both of them are hurt and went through a lot. While the adolescent rivalry evolves to adulthood but this time they are more expressive of their attraction and feelings.
‘He’s always been the bully and I’ve been the bullied.
But maybe I’m a little bit of a bully too.’
Zach is a defect and he has been abused mentally for this by his own. The world looks at the colourful image his family presents but beneath it is hatred and pain. He was loveless until Cleo who was adament and supportive to love and care for him. I totally symphatize him for being a bully.
“I didn’t mean that kind of kissing.”
Zach’s smile is still in place, a lopsided, horny smile. “Not my problem. This is how I kiss, Blue, when…” He trails off and leans in, like he just can’t help himself. He can’t help himself from taking a sniff of my covered core.
It makes him groan and my head falls back on another whimper.
“When what?” I manage to ask anyhow.
His lips are right there, right on my clit, separated by just cotton underwear. “When my dick’s pissed off.”
Giving me his eyes, he kneads the flesh. “Are you being a good little maid for me right now?”
I nod, turned on out of my mind. I think I even orgasmed a little too, with the way my inner muscles are fluttering.
“You gonna soothe my pissed-off cock, baby?”
I nod again, this time with a moan.
“Yeah? You gonna let me French kiss your virgin pussy, even though anyone might walk up to us and see you riding my mouth?”
I live for SAK’s dirty talk. So hot, sexy and intoxicating. Some of the scenes are erotic, heartbreaking and emotional. I find them realistic and lovely.
‘I’m going to save him from his glass tower and I’m going to save him from all the cruel people in his life.
And while I’m saving him, I’m also going to kiss him.
On his mouth.’
This book is not my favourite of SAK’s but it’s a consuming and favoured book. No surprises that this book is intense with a beautiful love story. A maid who is body shamed and a prince with a defect. I’m familiar with this authors emotional twists in her books so go into it expecting it and making you lovey-dovey mush from time to time. And finally I’ll leave with my favourite line:
‘If he’s a false prince, then I’m his street Cinderella. I don’t need glass slippers or a pretty gown to change our stars. I can do it in my quiet leather boots and my gray uniform.’
Bad Boy Blues was an intense, emotionally charged, steamy, enemies-to-lovers romance that shed light on some sensitive issues.
Zach was this mysterious rebel and dark Prince who exuded an air of a troublemaker. But when the walls he built around him started to crumble, the real Zach was a man who deserved so much more than he allowed himself to have.
Cleo, aka Blue, was a strong-headed maid, who stealthily took justice in her hands. She was a fighter who, despite years of bullying, had no qualm in standing up and defending herself and those around her.
Back when they first met, they had a connection their younger selves didn’t quite understand. Despite the all the hate that brewed over the years, they still had the type of sizzling chemistry that made butterflies flutter in the stomach and pain aching in the chest.
I loved that with every encounter, Zach and Cleo began to understand each other on an emotional level and their real feelings beneath all the hurt and hatred began to emerge. Zach and Cleo both had a beautiful character growth where they broke the cycle of misery and became each other’s prize.
All the angst and emotional drama my soul craves, wrapped up neatly in Saffron A Kent’s stellar Bad Boy Blues. My heart wept for Zach and Cleo. Their lives couldn’t have been more different, and from their first meeting at a young age, they sparred at every turn. Zach, the seemingly entitled bully, and Cleo, the scrappy girl who refused to be a victim.
This book is packed with raw and unexpected emotion. Ms Kent mastered the art of slow burn with this book. And I’m pleased to say she kept surprising me…Zach is a unique hero, with a backstory unlike other books I’ve read. Riveting and well paced, I think this might be my favorite read this year!
Wonderful book. In the realm of bullies, this one was pretty bully-lite. All of it has mostly happened in the years leading up to it. Plus, the heroine is not without fault in some ways. The ending was sigh worthy and I loved it so much.
I LOVEDDDDDDD this book; the writing is amazing and beautiful, the heroine fabulous and the hero irresistible!
4 Stars
Review by: Alysia
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Promise You by Fabiola Francisco is a great, easy and fast read. Reese and Dex are very down to earth characters, they remind me of the people next door. The book is based in Nashville where Dex is an up and coming singer. Reese works for a marketing company but is very supportive of her brothers and friends who are musicians. That’s where she meets Dex.
Dex has wanted Reese since the first time he saw her while he was playing a gig at Riot bar. When she keeps shutting down his advances he settles to be her friend with the full intent to win her over. When she finally agrees to a date months later, he is over the moon.
Reese has been burned before by a musician and doesn’t trust her heart to fall again and it not end the same way. Her family and friends all tell her it’s about damn time when she finally agrees to let her guard down and let him take her out.
Dex promises her that he is not like her dumb ex-boyfriend and will always make time for her, even when he is on the road touring.
Promise You alternates between Dex’s and Reese’s point of view, depending on the chapter. I enjoyed how fast you fall in love with the characters and their love for each other, even if they try and hide it. I’ve never had the chance to go to Nashville, but Fabiola Francisco makes it seem like its just another small town, which I love.
Now for the things that weren’t my favorite about the book. I felt it dragged a lot and there wasn’t enough action or suspense to it. I understand that not all books have a lot of action or suspense, but I felt that this one could use a bit. I felt that the ending was in the middle and it took a while to pick back up again.
This was a story written in the stars
What a pleasant surprise this story was.
I’m not new with Saffron’s writing. In fact, it was exactly that magnificent writing style that drawn me into her books. And I think, if this would have been my first book by her, it would have given me the same feelings the first book gave to me.
This a story that will leave you thinking even after you finish reading. It will make you question what it takes to break that fine line between love and hate. When it’s time to let go and move on. And mainly, to see, to really see, how words are capable to destroy a life and leave just the ashes, especially when they come from the people you love the most.
I think this author made and excellent job, bringing topics that even today, feel forbidden.
Through love, Saffron A Kent gave us a different perspective about bullying, parenting and human behavior in general.
We all get consumed by love. And even when everything looks almost unbearable, love keeps up fighting not only for the people we love, but also for us. Even when we are not with them, we keep fighting for love. And that’s one of the most beautiful messages I got from this story.
Bad Boy Blues will change the way you see the world and even love in such a way, that the next day, it would be inevitably to dream about the story and the characters. It’s simple unforgettable.
I will definitely recommend this book over and over again
“You haven’t changed a bit, have you? I bet you still think you own the world.” He shakes his head, slowly, dangerously. Hypnotically. “I don’t give a fuck about the world. But I do own you.” Fully knowing that it might make my situation worse, I scoff. “You’ll never own me. Not now. Not ever.” “Is that a challenge, Blue?”
Sure, these two hate each other, but there really is a fine line between love and hate. Both characters were so dear to me. The more I read abot them, the more I loved them for who they were.
This book also deals with some heavy topics, and the author handles it beautifully.
Saffron A Kent’s, Bad Boy Blues is more than a contemporary romance. It’s a social commentary on bullying, and, to an extent, rising above it.
While I could spend the entire review gushing over the hotter than hell sex scenes, and how Zach is epic book boyfriend material, it’s what’s written between these sections that resonates so strongly. In Kent’s world, a victim isn’t weak. They’re more powerful than the aggressor, and it’s this concept that litters beauty within the pages. She explores how different people respond to bullying—whether by remaining quiet, partaking in it, or standing against it. While some might view Cleo as a willing victim and Zach as a heartless tormenter, by the end of the story, their perceptions are challenged as the lines blur and irrevocably shift.
So yes, Bad Boy Blues is a hot romance. Yes, it plays on the forbidden trope. However, it’s so much more than this. Its strength lies in the message behind the romance, in its purpose and commentary on a topical issue that many can empathise with.
4 Star review of Bad Boy Blues by Saffron A Kent
Saffron A Kent is a new author to me. This was a bit of a challenge for me as I really couldn’t stand the hero Zach, for most of the book. His behaviour was obnoxious and put me off side from the start. Luckily he redeemed himself somewhat as the the story progressed and I found myself cheering for him and Cleo (Blue) to get their happily ever after.
I found myself frustrated with Cleo on numerous occasions and wanted to talk some sense into her. Zach is the rich boy, and Cleo is the poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks who works at his estate.
From the time Zach and Cleo met he has bullied her, along with his cohorts they generally made her life miserable and now that he has returned home, it appears that nothing is going to change.
There is more to Zach that initially meets the eye and as the story progresses we get a glimpse into his life and what has made him the way he is.
There were quite a few emotional moments reading this story and I did find myself becoming invested.
Will Zach and Cleo forget the past and move on to have a future together? One click and find out.
I don’t usually read the blurb because I don’t want to go in with any expectations. This time, the blurb caught my attention and left me saying, “I have to read this book.” And by the time I got done, I know that I had made the right decision. Please make sure to read the author’s dedication. By the end of the book you may want to send her a thank you.
Cleopatra “Cleo” Paige is an honorable young woman even though what she does may be a little unorthodox. She likes to fight for the underdog. At some point in your life you may even have been in her shoes.
Zachariah “Zach” Prince seems to be mad at the world. Instead of directing his anger where it belongs, he finds someone else to be his target. But someone sees something in him that he can’t see for himself
The author covers two themes here. The biggest one is bullying. A bully can be any size, any gender, and any age. On top of that, our author covers a learning disability. I’m sure that was a tough thing for our author to do and it impressed me.
Her story had an easy flow to it and nothing seemed to drag or stick in neutral as if something was going on just a little too long. There was one scene where I actually wished that I had been there so that I could clap rather loudly – it just called for it. At no time did I feel as if something was missing. Her main characters were a great mix of a**hole and someone who was spunky with a very smart mouth – and who had me chuckling a time or two. One thing was certain; this was a very pleasant surprise. It will be interesting to see what she has in store for her readers next.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
4.9 Stars
Cleo is 19 years old. She’s living and working at this huge estate in her hometown. She badly needs the money to buy her childhood home back from the bank. They grabbed it after her parents left her with too much debt when they died last year.
The only ‘thing’ she hates more than working as a maid for the Princes … is the son of the family. Who is suddenly back in town after three years. She thought she was finally free of his bullying ways after he made her highschool years feel like hell.
But nope – he’s back and he’s just as …. grrrrr as he used to be. But he’s also so much more and maybe she wasn’t always fair to him during their fights either … But surly the prince and the maid can never get a happily ever after, right? There’s too much hate and past and social status between them.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO CLEO & ZACH???
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!
Well, that was beautiful.
We’re in this typical fictional town. Mega summer heat all year round. The line between the rich north side and the poor south side. The heroine working for the hero’s family.
Cleo and Zach met on her first day at the rich-kids-school and it was hell from day one. Zach and his buddies constantly made fun of her, pranked her, hurt her feelings … total bullies!
But thinking back now – all is not really as Cleo stored it in her I-Hate-Him-Memory.
There’s so much more to Zach’s story. And she wants – needs – to get to the bottom of things. She just can’t stay away from him. But it’s completely forbidden for the help to fraternize with the family – and she can’t lose her job!
I really loved reading this book. It was so heartbreaking and sweet and erotic and so full of hate and love. Both Zach and Cleo are still really young. You couldn’t even guess their ages in some moments. If they hadn’t said she’s 19 and he’s 21, I would’ve put them in their late twenties or so. The book doesn’t feel young. It feels like they’ve both been through so much in their lives. Maybe it’s because they’ve known each other for almost ten years. Anyway – the ages didn’t really matter here anyway. Only maybe in the sense that they have a lot of happy life in front of them – should they get that happy end with each other.
I had some moments where I thought, ugh? How can I love the hero if he’s this horrible bully? But we love Zach – he’s such a lonely and sad little boy – we can’t help but love him. And hate him. But mostly love him!
Such a great book with so many heartbreaking and adorable and erotic and sad moments.
A beautiful new adult love story. A story about growing up and finding your place in life. About being alone. About bullying. About love. About forgiveness. About hope. About overcoming whatever life throws at you. About hate. (Oh, how we hate some people in this book! Grrr.) About fighting for what you want and deserve. And about so much more. PLEASE READ IT!
The only thing that I didn’t love was the cover. The guy is not my type – which can happen of course. But the finger-mouth-situation is just so gross in my opinion. I don’t get that at all. Why would a photographer tell his model to do this? If it’s not for a cheap porn promo. And why would a model do it? Why would a cover designer pick it and why would the author approve it and love it?
Aside from the mouth thing – I think something different would’ve fit better with the story. Maybe a blue-haired girl in a summery dress running away from or towards a mansion down/up a grassy hill. No idea – just something more book-related. BUT – it’s not my book – the author loves the cover and I should just shut up about it now! Oh and some people might think there’s too much porn in here – I liked it, but even I sometimes thought, oh, again already? But it’s not too bad!
4.5 stars
Bad Boy Blues, yeah. I have the Bad Boy Blues. It sounds like it should be a smoky voiced siren singing her blues away in a jazz club. But there’s no singing away this bully. No way to avoid the haunting face from her past. No where to run.
Bad Boy Blues is a twisted love story. Twisted fragments of heart being out back together to form a bond. It’s dark. It’s beautiful. It’s blue. Definitely blue. Bad Boy Blues is hope shards in a haystack of hate. It’s everything you never knew you wanted from this particular prince.
Reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
From the first heartache until the last tear falls Paige and her Prince are a sight to behold. Bad Boy Blues is a tale of glass houses and shadowed hearts. Kent delves into a world where the good life hides ugly truths. Trapped in a world where almost is never good enough, less than becomes the saving grace for a couple of wounded souls searching for their chance to heal. Bad Boy Blues proves that there is no perfect life, only courageous survivors. What a magnificent read.
Bad Boy Blues by Saffron A. Kent is the story of Cleopatra ‘Cleo’ Paige and Zachariah ‘Zach’ Prince.
Cleo was teased and picked on by Zach and his friends when she was growing up. Which made her never like him but there was always something there that drew her to him and her thoughts. But he left and she now having to work as a maid at his family mansion to earn money to save her home. Now in the present day he is back and his eyes are on Cleo. But they are on different class levels and can either get past what has happened to them?
There is some bullying and other hurtful scene but overall for me I enjoyed their story.
Saffron has quickly because one of my favorite authors and every new release has me waiting with bated breath to see what she comes up with next and boy was I not disappointed. Her newest tale shows us the thin line between love and hate and how everything is not always how it appears on the surface.
I looooved how confident Cleopatra was about herself and that she didn’t take anything lying down and fought back. It’s hard when you grow up being bullied and even harder to come off stronger on the other side and to not let it break you down. Then we have the bullier, Zachariah (oh my poor damaged complex sexy bad boy), who made Cleo’s teenage years at school hell and had his own demons. There were so many layers to his character and seeing them pulled away made me fall deeper in love with him, bullies usually turn into that for a reason and her was no exception. I was so invested in these two that it had me turning (well sliding) to the next page with my heart racing breathless with anticipation. The connection and sexual tension between Cleo and Zach was so electric it was palpable and when it explodes BOOM was left needing a cold shower or 10. This book was everything that I look for it a romance. It was intriguing, hot, funny, angsty, touching, complex, sexy, with an ending that had me almost in tears the whole time. It was a long road for Blue and her Dark Prince’s happy ending but it was an amazing ride and a love that was written in the stars. Don’t hesitate and give Saffron and these amazing characters a chance.
Another 5 Star read from Saffron A. Kent. I am learning that with this author you’re always going to get so much more than what may be expected. I swear her stories are so much more than tropes. They are so emotional and always touch on deeper subjects/topics.
Bad Boy Blues is not your typical bully/enemies to lovers romance. This was a story about anger and pain; a of keeping up appearances and hidden truths; a story of belonging or being outcasted; a story that perfectly shows that all that glitters isn’t gold. Money isn’t always everything.
Zachariah Prince and Cleopatra Paige were no strangers to each other. Zach has tormented Cleo since childhood and throughout elementary, junior, and high school. Zach did whatever was in his power (and he had a lot of power) to make Cleo miserable. He and his friends succeeded in doing just that; however, Cleo was no pushover. She was not afraid of being different and she stood up for herself. Cleo survived those awful years.
Cleo had plans after graduation but an unfortunate tragedy kept her in town and employed for non other than the Prince family. Just as she did before, Cleo handled herself. She needed the job at the Prince estate in order to get her own home back. the one good thing about her situation was that Zachariah had skipped town after graduation and had not been seen since. Cleo didn’t have to deal with him, or at least she didn’t until the Prince himself for some unknown reason came back home.
Again, there is so much more to this story that what I’ve even written. The angst between Cleo and Zach was intense. She hated him so much, but she couldn’t deny her attraction to him and Zach couldn’t understand his attraction to her. Just like many of the other characters that Saffron A. Kent has written, Zach and Cleo had a connection that went beyond attraction. Cleo was vocal, expressive and bold. Zach was another first class angry asshole who took it all out on Cleo, but my God the sexual tension and chemistry between the two of them was fucking hot and electrifying.
You know what I love about Saffron A. Kent? She is so talented with her words that she sort of tricks you into believing that the heroine in her stories are the flawed and broken ones; that they are the ones who believe themselves to have deep rooted issues and cause destruction, but the reality is that her female characters are strong AF. As you read her books you realize that while the female main characters may be flawed, it is the heroes in her stories that are the broken ones. They are the ones who have experienced trauma, abuse, and tragedy. I love this so much because her stories are to necessarily about the hero saving the heroine and vice versa. They are not about one person trying to fix the other, but about the hero and heroine seeing the best in each other through those broken pieces, navigating obstacles and eventually saving one another.
I truly cannot get enough of her words.
08/20/2021 “Bad Boy Blues” (nook) was a bit “dark.” The story is definitely sad and full of anguish. Ms. Kent has produced a well-written book about bullying. I cried a lot! Thank goodness, there is a happy ending.
I am so disappointed. This book had so much potential and then down the deep hole of page after page after page of every form of sex you can imagine. The plot was unusual and kept me reading. Zach and Cleo were in “hate” with each other because of constant bullying. She was a servant in his parent’s home. The theme “blue” was extremely well represented. The reason Zach was so hated by his father was stellar writing. Saffron A. Kent has such a beautiful story going, tons of angst and totally different from the run of the mill romance books. I was fascinated by the way Blue (Cleo’s nickname) kept challenging Prince, and by the way Prince would handle her and literally throw her out of his room, naked. The ending was incredible. A TOTAL change and while I assumed there would be an HEA, I had no idea how it was going to be done. Amazing. So, what was my problem? Pages and pages and pages of dirty sex. It actually made me cry. She had a beautiful story going and then trashed it. Sex scenes can be handled so beautifully, even if it’s rough a bit, but twice there were so many pages of REALLY disgusting sex that I had to flip, flip, flip, and decide that I can’t possibly read another book by Kent. I am so sad that she had to have two “bottom of the barrel” sex scenes. It would have been a TEN-star book if she’d written those scenes similar to the way Nora Roberts addresses them. I am just beyond sad that this story dipped so low. I would love a rewrite of those scenes.