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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Zack alone is dark, angry, and lonely. Cleo is light, love, angry and also alone. Together Zack and Blue are where the ocean meets the sky! Dark and light. Pinks and purples turn to blues and a black star filled sky. They are two souls that knew they needed each other long before their hearts and minds did. This isn’t a bully romance, this is about facing your bully and winning. Not out of anger, hate or revenge, but to find peace and move on. This is a story of hope, love and acceptance. This story will move you, make you cry and keep you begging for more.
4.5 stars
First of all this book was so hot it made me blush, Cleo and Zach have phenomenal chemistry, you can feel the tension between at all times. This book also has amazing character growth and healing at the center of it. Cleo and Zach are both going through some serious things and to watch them evolve and grow as characters was at times hard but overall so rewarding, I adored them
It’s obvious that I am not going to make it thru this book without sobbing… I want to cry for Cleo because she lost her parents, and nothing is easy. I want to cry for Zach as a child that just wants his parents to love him. This book had me crying thru the whole thing. I loved Cleo. I loved how she thought about things. She was always pushing the boundaries of the rules. Zach on the other hand was always hiding. I loved them together! How she helped him see himself. It was such a great book!
**ARC REVIEW**
Not sure how to begin this review… I still don’t know how I feel about Cleo & Zach. I feel like something was missing between them…
Cleo has been bullied her high school years by a click in her private school. The ring leader is Zach, the handsome young heir of The Pleiades. He and herself are constantly in detention and opposite from everyone else in their school. Cleo has feelings but is confused by them. She starts hating on Zach/the school and becomes resentful. She has tragedy occur and ends up working at The Pleiades.
Zack is going through a difficult time in his life, with his parents and a secret that is being held closely and tight. After leaving for 3 years, he’s back and the first he see’s is the one girl who has never left his mind.. The one he bully all those years ago, is right in front of him. In his actual house!
The book goes through 2 people who actually have been bulling each other throughout the years. They later find each other and realize they were not who they thought they were. Lots of secrets, revenge and hope.. Hope in finding their true inner selves and healing their wounds.
Enemies to Lovers..
As usual, Saffron didn’t disappoint with her latest offering.
I knew instantly that I was going to love this book and it’s two main characters, after I couldn’t put it down within the first few pages. Cleo is the perfect heroine, she can hold her own and has a feistiness to rival the most feistiest! But she is also loving and gentle, especially with Art. Their relationship is a lovely thing. And Zach. What can I say. He is not who he seems. You immediately want to slap him and hug him all at once. He’s dark and broody and it all makes sense as the story unfolds.
In true Saffron form, she sucks you in with her wonderful storytelling and words, this is a wonderful love story and I can’t recommend it enough.
4.5 stars.
4.5 Blue and her Bad Boy Bully stars
They say there’s a very thin line between love and hate… and that couldn’t be more true when it comes to Bad Boy Blues. Zach and Cleo’s story was just the perfect epitome of that saying, and they did nothing but take all of my emotions to one insanely consuming and engrossing roller coaster ride.
“A pain shoots up in my chest and I realize it’s my heart. Maybe it’s bleeding. Maybe the butterflies that he created in me a long time ago are slashing it with their savage wings. In love, you bleed forever. I wonder if in hate, you bleed forever too.”
Bad Boy Blues is my very first Saffron A. Kent book and I must say, she did not leave me disappointed. I completely fell in love with her words and where she took me with this story. Right off the bat, Zach and Cleo captivated me and took me on a journey filled with so much love and hate, passion and grief, angst and heartache. The kind of story with an intensity that will just pierce your heart, and make you crumble and bleed a little more inside with every chapter you read.
“Everything inside me is… in chaos. The pounding of my heart, all the extra air that I’m sucking in, the tug in my stomach. It’s like an earthquake. I’m a victim of an earthquake. I’m a victim of him.”
Cleopatra Paige was a badass. She’s been bullied and beaten down through the years, but she tried her best to hold up her own—and I admired that. I just hate that Zach brought out the worst in her since the very first time they met… because this girl has such a huge and good heart. She was sweet and tender and even a tad mischievous in her own way. But to go through what she did, even I’m surprised she still had all that light and brightness in her.
“I knew the moment I tasted your lips I’d become a fiend for them. And now you’ve fucked up. Because you’re mine now, Blue. Mine.”
Zachariah Prince was a straight up, grade A asshole. He’s a big bully who’s made it his life’s mission to pick on Cleo ever since he was twelve. He was rebellious and arrogant—a guy who’d take a ton of love and patience to crack open and figure out. But see, Zach might be a spoiled, rich boy who had zero fucks to give, but he’s also hiding secrets so close to his chest that would melt your heart and change the way you see him. Secrets that, once you learn about, will give his standoffish demeanor and his cold, hardened exterior so much more sense.
“We are destiny, Zach and I. We’re stars, aren’t we? You can’t run from destiny. You can’t outrun fate. You can’t stop a moth from perishing in flames and you can’t stop a sharp object from making a fragile thing bleed.”
Zach and Cleo’s tale was far from the hearts and flowers kind of romance. Hell, it even bordered on being a tragedy rather than a love story, like Cleo said. But as heartbreakingly rough as it was, Bad Boy Blues was also an incredibly steamy, angst-filled and slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance that will not only capture every ounce of your attention, but will also hit you in all the spots that matter and make you feel everything the characters were going through. It’s the kind of book that hooks you right in, sinks its claws deep into you and not let you go until you reach that long-awaited and well-deserved happy ever after. And now, after devouring Zach and Cleo’s story, I’m definitely on a mission to read all of Saffron A. Kent’s books before this one. Because that was just amazing.
I loved this book so much!!
From the first time I caught wind of it, I knew it was going to be phenomenal and that I had to read it.
Zach and Cleo go to school together, grow up together until Zach leaves abruptly for a few years. By his return, Cleo is working as a maid for his parents and in turn, him
You see the beautiful and ever changing state and development of their relationship. You see the troubles Zach faces. You see the sass, class and bravery in Cleo.
Both characters have grown so much while apart that when they finally come together again, the chemistry is combustible.
And finally, the bullying element. Yes, Cleo is bullied by and in love with Zach. But she holds her own and in some ways, bullies him right back. But Bad Boy Blues took bullying to a broader and unfortunately more realistic spectrum. It shows bullying in the most unlikely and utterly heart breaking of places too.
A wonderful, unconventional, steamy read!
* Reviewed by Ali at Fallen For Books.
Enemies to lovers, angst, bully romance, two characters that are damaged, this story has it all. I enjoy Saffron Kent’s writing, she has a way with stories that keep you wanting more. Easy read, steamy and angsty couldn’t of ask for a better read.
4 Stars!
Read an ARC and this is my honest opinion
I could read enemies to lovers all day every day, and I fell hard for Zach from page 1. Zach had my heart (and my thighs) clenching while I fell for him right along with Cleo.
Saffron cranks the heat with Zach and his filthy mouth and his dirty deeds. I just love how the story evolves. It’s a simple romance, but Saffron’s writing makes it feel spectacular and grand. Cleo was very relatable. Others criticize her niavete, but that was point: she wasn’t worldly; had never left her hometown. She’s 19, orphaned and perpetually single. In spite of it all, she’s got a feisty spirit and she still goes toe to toe with Zach and the other 1%-ers in her town.
I’ve always really enjoyed Saffron’s writing, but there’s a quality to Blues that felt so sincere and personal. At the end when I read the book was based on the writer’s own experiences, it clicked. I can feel Saffron’s truth resonating in Blue’s narration. This couple grabbed me.
Definitely Saffron’s dirtiest hero yet.
Bad Boy Blues by Saffron A. Kent is the story of Cleopatra Paige and Zachariah Prince.
Cleo and Zach are enemies. Cleo is bullied by Zach and his friends all through school, but she always stood up for herself, never letting the bullies get her down. Fast forward 3 years after high school graduation and Cleo is now working at the Prince Family Mansion. Her reason for working there is beautiful yet sad and you root for her from the start. Zach is back and he is firmly focused back on Cleo. Cleo just wants to do her job and keep out of Zach’s way. These 2 have a love/ hate relationship going on with it being more of a hate/hate at the start. There’s so much sexual chemistry between them that its going to explode so be prepared for that to happen. There is bullying in this story and it is sad. I liked how the author addressed it and also worked it into the relationship between the main characters. There are twists, turns, drama, angst, heat, heartbreak, laughter, push/pull and romance that makes this a great read.
My Rating: 4.5 stars ******
I have been waiting for this book for a long time!
I fell in love with Saffron’s writing after reading Gods and Monsters, and every book of hers has always been a pleasant surprise! Oh the angst, the drama, and the sex. Oh god, can she write a smoking hot sex scene. The premise of this book intrigued me, and I was eagerly anticipating the wringer she’d put me through.
The town Cleopatra Paige lives in is divided into two parts: the wealthy and the poor. Cleopatra belongs to the poorer class and life is not so easy for the girl. Regular bullying is bad enough, but her bully is fixated on her. Zachariah Prince is the town bad boy. He’s rich, and he’s horrible, atleast to Cleo. He seems hellbent on making her life miserable, and he does so for many years. Until he disappears one day. People say he’s gone on to Oxford. He could die in a fire for all Cleo cares.
After life deals her a blow, Cleo finds herself working for the people that she hates: she’s a maid at the Prince’s palatial mansion. Zachariahs not there, so life is not that hard. She’s earning her keep, making it work. And then the bane of her existence comes back, and Cleo finds herself on his radar once again.
I really enjoyed Bad Boy Blues. Cleopatra was the optimistic sort of girl you want to be friends with, and Zachariah was the broody bad boy. I hated him in certain parts, and enjoyed the hell out of him in others. This book has so much angst, which is quickly becoming a Saffron specialty. While I did enjoy the sexy times, one thing I wished was for more communication and less sex between the characters. Zachariah’s growth as a person seemed kind of sudden, and Cleo should have made him grovel more.
Saffron Kent is now a one-click author for me! I can’t wait to see what she cooks up next!
This enemy to lover’s story of rich boy Zach and poor girl Cleo will possess you, Be Prepared!! Saffron Kent has definitely done it again with her incredible writing skills. This book has it all, from intense moments of anger, sadness and hate to passionate scenes that will have you writhing in your seat! The steamy scenes and Zach’s dirty mouth are scorching HOT!! Zach and Cleo’s character’s are pushed to the maximum. I was totally intrigued by their story, so well developed that I found myself reading well into the night, unable to put the book down! I loved the push and pull between them as the story unfolded, Cleo becoming stronger and more self assured and determined. Can Cleo over look the pain Zach had caused in her life? Will Zach get the revenge he had set out to accomplish? I promise you this, BAD BOY BLUES will be a novel you won’t soon forget and I’m sure will become a definite favourite for 2019!!
I’ve been a book slump and this book was able to get me out of it! Cleo who’s lost everyone close to her tries to keep going with her life. She is working at The Pleiades for the Prince family who are town royalty. Her bully for many years comes back and he happens to be a Prince. Zach has come back into Cleo’s life and it’s everything I wanted out of a book written by Saffron. This book is full of hate to love vibes! I also love when the characters can’t stand each other than a couple of chapter’s later can’t keep away from each other. Zach has a sad background and it’s heartbreaking to read. I’m glad Blue (Cleo’s nickname) is there for him to help and love him. Like all of Mrs.Kent’s book… the steam factor is off the charts. One of my many reason’s for reading her books. I can’t wait to see what she right next!
This is my first book by this author and I’m still reeling. What a strong writing style! Full of passion and verve! Interspersed with little moments of humor, a lot of passion and angst, love and compassion, this was one unforgettable read.
Cleo is a memorable character. Her favorite color is blue and she shows it, freely and exuberantly. Blue dyed hair, blue lipstick, blue nail color, blue undergarments, blue car, even her pens are glittery blue. She was a remarkable girl, who gave as good as she got. Relentlessly bullied by Zack Prince since she joined the uppity private school where he assisted, she didn’t take his bullying sitting down. She retaliated, ending up with Zack in detention most days. The coup de grace was when he ruined her date for senior prom and she gave him the best speech about how hating him made her a worse person. After that, he left unexpectedly, and wasn’t seen or heard from for three years.
Three years later, Zack is back, and now Cleo is living under the same roof. Previously from the wrong side of town, where the poor working class lived, now she’s an orphan and works as a maid at The Pleiads, the mansion where the Prince family lives. Cleo faces her bully in a like manner to David and Goliath. After several pranks, she realizes that like her, he’s just a lonely person, rejected by his parents, neglected during childhood, diminished because he was “defective” in his parents view. Her love/hate feelings for Zack are twisting inside of her and as events occur, the balance is changing the other way. The “bullied” is now getting free and the bully is getting entrapped in Cleo’s charms.
I found this book highly entertaining with Cleo’s antics, her melodramatic actions, her strong and passionate feelings. She doesn’t let go, she feels with her whole heart and acts accordingly. Even when Zack is cruel, she wins anyway because she’s dignified and true in her feelings. This story feels like the vanquishing of a bully but both win because they found in each other the recognition and the love they sorely needed.
Whenever I read a Saffron A. Kent book, I know it would be beautiful and be feeling all the things!! She proved yet again in this story. I loved Cleo and Zac. They gave me a whirlwind of emotions and I ate up every word! Also I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers stories and this one was sexy, sweet, and so much angst. I loved it so much!
Bullies are vile and nasty. They choose the victim because they are easy pickings. But underneath the nasty veneer is usually someone who is striking out because they are suffering and wounded too.
And so Zach Prince is a bully. He reminded me of LJ Shen’s Vicious. Rich boy picking on the help. He’s bullied Cleopatra Paige since she was a little girl at school. Now she’s grown up and beguiling with her blue hair and blue eyes.
The sparks between Zach and Cleo sizzled. I loved how his shield was broken away, piece by piece as Cleo got under his skin.
Once the relationship shifted away from bully and victim it lost me a bit. I wanted more angry Zach and more petulant Cleo.
3.5 stars.
Let me start by saying I have devoured all of Saffron’s books. She has a way with dark and stormy stories that grab your soul. Bad Boy Blues was no exception. Zachariah and Cleopatra’s story will pull at your heart and stir your mind. I love that Saffron wrote this in dual POV so you can really see both sides of this story, especially with how relevant the topic of bullying is today. If you are an enemies to lovers fan you are definitely not going to want to miss this one!
As Qandeel Baloch once said: “Love me or hate me, both are in my favour. If you love me, I will always be in your heart, and if you hate me, I will be in your mind.” and that couldn’t be a more fitting quote for Cleo and Zach.
Ever since Cleo met Zach back in elementary school, they hated each other after their first encounter. She hated him because for some unknown reason, he was her bully. He practically ruined her life when they were growing up and she’s been dealing with this innate hatred within her even after she left school. Even with Zach being gone for the past 3 years, Cleo STILL harbors that hatred and anger towards him. Now, years after high school, and one big trauma in her life, she’s found herself working for Zach’s rich family and now without her knowledge and understanding, Zach has come back home. Her tormentor has returned. She fears he’s going to pick up right where they left off in high school and the bullying will continue, but soon she learns that there is more to Zach than being a bully. As she uncovers his multiple layers, she realizes she wants to know more about him and even tries to save him from himself. But will he allow her to or is he going to continue to bully her?
This is the second book I have read from this author and I love the fact that she writes about our flaws (human flaws). She did it back in MEDICINE MAN and now she did it again in BAD BOY BLUES and I LOVED it. At the beginning, I couldn’t understand this obsession Cleo has for Zach, but as soon as Zach appeared, I was drawn to this story. There is just a thin line between love and hate and Zach and Cleo knew it. The sexual tension was intense and they couldn’t be apart. The had an undeniable pull.
If you love hate to love romance, with some angst and heartrending moments combined with sexy scenes, this book is for you.
In true Saffron A. Kent’s style, this book is an angsty, emotional roller-coaster, with troubled characters and bruised souls. Zach and Cleo’s animosity from their childhood morphs into a slow burn love story; a journey of forgiveness and healing wounds that ultimately leads to their HEA. It’s one thorny path for sure, but that’s the thing with Saffron’s books – she makes you bleed with the characters during that trip, she makes you question their actions, either love them with passion or hate them with vengeance. But you’ll love the process nevertheless.
Enemies to Lovers. Angsty. Off the chart HOT!!!! Gahhhhhh I LOVE Bad Boy Blues! Saffron outdoes it again. I’m totally blown away. You will hate Zach and fall in love him. Talk about a 180 from beginning to end. I felt every emotion possible wrapped in this story. I cried, I laughed and I swooned. If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would in a heartbeat. AMAZING!!! <3
"I haven't just loved you for years, I've loved you for lifetimes. Because I don't love you with just my heart. Heart's just an organ. It can be ripped away from the body, stomped on, squashed into a pulp. I don't love you with all my heart. I love you with all my soul. You're in the core of me. You're in my f****** essence. And no one can take that away from me. Not even death."