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
more
Final Score – 5 Stars!
Tale as old as time … Rich boy from the right part of town vs. the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Zach and Cleo have known each other since grade school, and it’s been an epic battle of wills ever since. Zach was Cleo’s bully and tormented Cleo for years. But, like all tormentors, appearances are deceiving. And then he disappeared. For years. Cleo finally thought she was safe and started breathe again. But circumstances have a funny way of changing. Now Cleo works on the other side of town – Zach’s side. In his house. For his family. She needs to save money to buy back her childhood home and she can’t afford any distractions. So when the prodigal son returns, well that’s just too big of a distraction for her to handle. And Zach is no longer the demon boy she once knew. He’s all grown up. He’s now a brooding, tattooed, sexy alpha male of a man. And he’s got Cleo once again in his sights. Game on!
From the first heartbreaking moments until the last, I was engrossed with this book. Bullying is a topic that still strikes a chord with me – as I was a victim of it in my younger years. But there is so much more – abuse, dyslexia, self-loathing, & social status just to name a few. I loved how the author integrated all these topics together to create this complex and multidimensional story that just tugged at my heart and made me weep not only for Cleo but for Zach as well. Both of them are victims bullying, either by peers or by a parent.
Bad Boy Blues is going to stay with me a for a while, I can feel it. My emotions were high with this one. This was truly a a beautiful tale of two broken souls and hearts that were stitch back together with kindness, patience and most of all – love. Zach and Cleo are not only courageous survivors, but an epic love story.
This Bad Boy is a keeper!
THIS BOOK!!!! NOBODY WRITES LIKE SAFFRON KENT.
NOBODY!
I’m not going to give any spoilers here, but anybody who has ever had anything to do with someone who has the challenges faced by Zach would know…just KNOW how heartwrenching it is. Being a mother to one of these…God, this book touched me. The bullying is just the start. This book is heartfelt, honest and shows the brutality of human nature. This journey is told with such love, as only Saffron Kent can tell a story. Loved every minute of it.
What can I say about Saffron that I didn’t said. In every book she writes, she surprises me again.
This time the subject she wrote so touched my heart, that I identified completely.
We as a society know how to judge other people, but we do not judge ourselves.
I can not explain how much power we have as human beings, About the behavior of others.
How to get the company to accept the special and different person.
And in her writing a Saffron draw out all my emotions.
In order not to do spoilers, I recommend you read the amazing book.
Thanks again for the continuous pleasure of reading.
Within a couple of pages I was in love with Cleopatra, she is that perfect combination of fearless, feisty and unapologetic. She is definitely someone you would want on your side. this doesn’t make her a hard character, she is soft and lovable and has her own vulnerabilities but they make her more endearing.
Zach, although dark and dangerous, doesn’t seem as black as he is painted. He was the ringleader of the group that tormented and bullied Cleo throughout her school life and yet she is still drawn to him. The connection between these two is palpable and intense leading to some scorching scenes.
I loved watching these two push and pull at one another, fighting their own feelings as well as each other. I also adored watching them both with Art, he is the most adorable secondary character.
I love the way Saffron Kent tells a story, its never a simple journey, but its always beautiful and intense and well worth taking that trip!
4.5 Stars
When Saffron A. Kent announced she was writing an enemies to lover trope, i was stoked! I couldn’t wait! She delivered and then some.
I never wanted to stop reading Cleo and Zach’s story. I want to follow them through their lives.
Saffron A Kent created a world of blue velvet where the hero is a tattooed biker prince trapped in a glass tower; A raven haired beast with an ancient curse. And the heroine is a rebel Cinderella, a gothy, cobalt Marilyn Monroe, who prefers to wear combat boots because the glass slipper never really fit right.
This realm beyond the mist has the scent of voodoo and stardust, motorcycle exhaust and leather, blueberries and man, lace and threadbare T-shirts… I felt book drunk on the second hand smoke coming from Zach’s cigarettes because all of Kent’s book are hedonistic sensory experiences.
Aside from the story being in it’s own universe and a tale of epic love through and through, the author still has her finger on a hot button issue facing this generation: Bullying. Bad Boy Blues seems ripped right off of the headline where a child labeled as being different, endures rejection and is denied access to love, eventually becomes a bully himself. Sometimes when you don’t feel kinship, cruelty is an easier emotion to access… Apathy and anger give back a sense of control because Zach aims those weapons with practiced precision towards Cleo and himself.
As the story progresses the book probes the nature of what it means to have a bully—and what it costs to give others so much power. But it also offers a catharsis to powerlessness since Love, in the most anguished of circumstances, makes us feel less lost, brave and, more hopeful about life. Love, the Siamese twin of acceptance, helped Zach cross over the line of doubt and self loathing to where he felt worthy of Cleo’s forgiveness and heart.
If I had to give this book one criticism it would be this utopia in the epilogue where Zach overcomes his disability in a way…part of me is not sure if I really needed that because I already fell in love with the characters; with all their imperfections, so there was no need to achieve this ultimate wholesomeness in my opinion…however I am still very moved by the empowering message Kent is conveying and her willingness to have a character that is diverse neurobiologically.
Final thoughts:
1. This book is sexy, furious, tragic, humane, wonderfully fringe, funny, and dares you to crawl out of the comfort zone.
2. it is an epic read for the heart and soul.
3. The author’s note is so moving..there was errr something in my eye as I read it.
4. Kent’s heroines are kick ass, display positive body image and totally to my relief not skinny enough to fit through a fax machine
5. I feel like a better person having experienced Zach and Cleo’s book.
6. Why are you still reading reviews just go read the book 🙂
Cleopatra Paige lives in a mansion. A palace really. The problem is she’s the maid. And when her biggest tormentors, biggest bully in town and the Prince of the mansion return home, there’s only one thing in her mind. Revenge.
Zacharia Prince is dark. He is that beautiful dark Prince. No body really knows him accept that he is the Prince. Rich and spoiled. Evil in all his gloriness. And when he return home then see his high-school victim as his maid… It feels like things never changes.
At one glance Bad Boy Blues feels like bully romance or enemy to lover romance, but it’s more.
Yes, Zach have bad mouth that just make you want to clean it with soap. And Cleo is blue. I mean, her love for the colour blue goes long way like her hair and attitude. But Bad Boy Blues is a lot more.
What if the bully is really the victim and the victim is the Victor all along??
With every page you will see the truth. The heart-breaking childhood abuse. The hurt words cause to someone,when you deliberately saying them or not. How strong people mind and heart to forgive and keep on living. How love can be two side of a sword. It can hurt and kill you. Or make you stronger.
Love how Saffron tackle this sensitive and important but often being sweep under the rug. Bullying.
Cleo’s words to Zach, I would say are the words from every bullying victims to their bullies.
And Zach… He is not without scars. My heart break for him. For that little boy who need and seek love. For that man who lost and just need someone to love him.
And my God the steamy scenes! Ms. Kent goes hot and dirty with Zach and Cleo in this book! Five star alone from these steamy scenes!
Another great hit, Ms. Kent!
Love Zach and his blue.
Saffron had just painted the Booklandia sky purple with her soulful, heart wrenching, UNREQUITED and I was instantly in love with her writing. She majors in angst and twisted hearts, broken alpha stories .
Over the years we’ve had some good books by her and this story continues in the same vein
There’s a Tabboo, forbidden kind of love butchered apart by class divide.
An age old tussle between haves and have nots. Cleopatra Paige and Zechariah Prince couldn’t have been any farther, if they were on different poles, literally.
Their lives are filled with hate, bullying and constant humiliation
I liked the characters and I liked the plot.
It’s a different style of execution and narration that Kent has adopted for this particular book
Pick it up if you like slow burns
I loved Cleo and Zach’s incredible story. An enemies to lovers story that will suck you in. They always when you little that when a boy or girl picks on you it’s because they like you. When it comes a little more than just picking and it’s a bully but you just can’t seem to stay away… I loved Saffren’s books
Saffron what have you done to my heart again. It’s seeping with so much want and desire that’s its lost it’s memory on how to beat. You seriously have made my lungs collapse with hyperventilating breaths and had my soul feel things that have stayed dormant for such a long time.
This book will have you star gazing, eating blueberry pie and taking cold showers with each chapter you read. It’s mesmerising, haunting and all consuming. The characters of Zach and Cleo were just written in the stars. They are fighting such a pull towards one another that leaves the readers breathless and wanton.
Bullying was a huge part of this story. It changes you, makes you question yourself and your morals and has you doing things you never thought you were capable of doing. Sometimes the change can be all inspiring or it can be defeating. Everyone just needs to read this book. If you are not seriously moved by it’s brilliance and fist pumping the air then maybe you are one of the lucky ones and have never been in a path of a bully.
Somehow Saffron has a way of making you feel every emotion while reading her books. And of course her newest doesn’t disappoint. I fell in love with Blue at the very start. Like I’ve said to many friends, you can never go wrong reading a book by Saffron. And this book is absolutely amazing, just like her others. You will laugh, cry, get pissed off, and feel many emotions while reading this book. Definitely a ‘do not miss.’ Be prepared to stay up to all hours reading!
Bad Boy Blues is an enemy to lover book. If you are looking for a good bullying book that plays with all your emotions, Bad Boy Blues is it!
No weak heroine-checked.
A hero who redeems himself-checked.
Fast paced and entertaining plot lines-checked.
Seriously, Saffron A. Kent’s writing is superb. I love Bad Boy Blues so much and I think you will too.
Overall: ++
“He’s running in my veins and beating in my chest.”
How do you know a book is a GREAT book? For me, there are several qualities that help me give a book a 5 +++ star review:
*Usually, I’ve read the author previously, and he/she has bowled me over with his/her books. This is DEFINITELY the case with Saffron A. Kent. Medicine Man was the first book I read by her, and she broke my heart with that beautiful story. That lead me to The Unrequited where she once again skewered my “ticker.” When she began posting about Bad Boy Blues, explaining that this was the most personal book to her, I KNEW I needed to get an ARC of it, so I could give it its proper due. And, once again, she does not disappoint with this book. Her books carry intentional messages related to societal topics. With this book, the big topic is bullying and the impact of learning disabilities on one’s sense of intelligence. She looks at it from various perspectives, and, as the reader, you feel the weight of these issues. I think this is the reason I love her books. I know when I read them I am reading more than romance; I’m reading about a relevant issue that surpasses the romance in the story. I love that depth of writing; hence, I love Kent’s books.
*The story makes me cry over and over again. I’m a sap. I love my heart strings pulled because it reminds me I’m human. If I read a book, and the story makes me cry in one chapter, then laugh, and then cry again in another chapter, I know the book has meaning. I am relating to the characters because I can empathize with their feelings.
Bad Boy Blues follows two characters: Cleopatra Paige (Cleo) and Zachariah Prince (Zach). Cleo is the girl from “the other side of the tracks” while Zach is the “prince” of the town in which they live. They are very different. They meet in school when Cleo is enrolled in the privileged private school where Zach attends. From almost her first day, Cleo is intrigued with Zach because she sees something kindred in him. Unfortunately, this seems off-putting to Zach, and he begins to bully her. Even more, he allows his friends to make her school experience miserable, and she lives the next several years of her life (after high school) in the shadows of that torment. Thankfully, for Cleo, Zach leaves school and town before graduation, and she gets a reprieve. She believes she will never see him again, but this proves wrong when he shows up a few years later. All of the torment and fear from her school days return, and she struggles every day as she worries he will torment her again. Through all of this, as the reader, you can feel her pain. When she encounters Zach over and over, you can’t help but want to protect her. Her pain becomes your pain. That is the power of Kent’s writing. Her characters are so relatable that you imagine yourself as them, and your heart breaks when their hearts break. And Bad Boy Blues embodies this.
*The characters of a book need to be redeemable. I love an “alpha-hole.” If you have read any of my previous reviews of other authors, then you know the redemption of the seemingly unredeemable male character is my favorite romantic trope. Zachariah Prince typifies this role, or seemingly so. With an alpha-hole, nothing is ever what it seems. This is true for Zach. Yes, he bullied Cleo in school. Yes, he continues to torment her on his return (even though this torture is much different than her youth). However, there is something that runs deeper in Zach’s past and his present that explains his nature. And this secret is the headiness of his character. It shows us his layers, and he becomes admirable and intriguing. His redemption through his relationship with Cleo is beautiful and the cornerstone of Bad Boy Blues. His growth along with Cleo’s awakening about Zach is constructed beauty in this story. It is what made me shed the most tears .
*The words of the story have to bear into my soul. If you read any of my other reviews of Kent’s works, then you know how much I love her style. Bad Boy Blues is no different. I have pages and pages of highlighted notes because her words are a melody of pain and love. The writing is fluid and helps you feel the essence of these characters as you read it. So much so, that you simply cannot stop reading her words because they feed a little something in you.
“I wished for someone who’d care for me. Someone who’d love me. Who would put up with me and all the destructive things that I just felt compelled to do. I wished for someone soft. Someone shiny and bright. But more than that, I wished for someone I could be better for. I wished for you…”
That is but a tidbit of the power of her words. There is more to this passage, and Saffron A. Kent’s words simply bite into your soul and leave an imprint.
Bad Boy Blues is a contemporary, enemies-to-lovers story that grinds at your heartstrings. It is layered with messages about bullying, learning disabilities, and overcoming pain while wrapped in a package of romance and $exual chemistry. Kent makes us question what it means to be soul mates. Is it the brutal hazing of bullying, or is it something more? What is bullying anyway when you feel a strong spiritual connection to another?
“I love you with all my soul. You’re the core of me. You’re in my fucking essence. And no one can take that away from me. Not even death.”
I absolutely could not put this book down because it felt necessary to read Zach and Cleo’s story. They are just like many of us, trying to move beyond the hurts of our pasts to find peace in our future. Thankfully for Cleo and Zach, their peace comes in a beautiful HEA, which should give us all hope for our own HEAs.
Blurb:
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 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.
_____________________________________________________________
Many a heart wrenching love story has been written throughout history about the forbidden love that exists between the haves and the have nots. There’s just something magnetic and irresistible about going after what you think you shouldn’t have. Despite your best efforts, you struggle to resist the pull it has over you.
Make no mistake-despite knowing in a bone deep way that he should stay away from Cleopatra Paige, Zach Prince plans to HAVE. Repeatedly.
In. every. single. way. he. can.
In fact, Master Zach plans to do far more than have…he plans to OWN her.
He just can’t help himself. At times, he can’t help her either.
No matter; prepare to turn over your heart to the “Dark Prince”.
This book hammered away at my emotions. It was sweet, sexy, entertaining, witty, romantic, hopeful, sad, and had me so frustrated at times that I seriously wanted to hurt people!!
Basic point I’m trying to make here….it was perfect for me!!
What’s not to love about a redemptive story that features a beautiful, energetic young girl falling in love with her bully, and in doing so, teaches him what it really means to HAVE?
Saffron is the master of writing captivating, angsty, forbidden romances that contain hidden messages geared towards addressing society’s misconceptions of others. In this addictive storyline, she has crafted a compelling romance that addresses the influence of economic status, society’s assumptions of happiness, child & teenage behavioral traits and the effects of bullying, parental roles and responsibilities to their children, and what it truly means to live a life fully pledging all of your love to another person. Even their secret pain. Saffron always makes me teary-eyed!!!
Before my eyes misted tho……HOT!!!!
Cleo and Zach had insane chemistry; and lucky for Cleo…Zach has quite the mouth on him.
Our lovable, but ridiculously cocky alpha a-hole excelled at dirty-talk, taking charge, and laying it all out there at every turn.
-“I knew the moment I tasted your lips that I’d become a fiend for them. And now you’ve fucked up. Because you’re mine now Blue and you’ve got no idea what I’m gonna do to you.”
-“Show me how much you hate me Blue. Spread your fucking legs.”
Told in a dual POV style, we really delve into the inner workings of the minds of Cleo and Zach. We see what makes them tick, and why they make some of the choices that they did.
The connection between these two is intense, even when they were too young to recognize it as such. After a decade of ups and downs, our lovebirds finally get it!!
-“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 fucking essence. And no one can take that away from me. Not even death.”
Zach and Cleo ‘s journey explored the fine line between love and hate in this slow burn enemies to lovers romance. There’s was not an easy love, but they proved that love & forgiveness could indeed conquer all. They both grew so much as characters during the story! I loved that Cleo’s vivacious spirit called to Zach and that Cleo was able to connect with him in such a way that allowed Zach to open himself up to her. Seeing the softer side of Zach was so thrilling!
Another terrific, emotionally charged, and engaging read by one of my favorite authors. Like all of her books, just buckle up and enjoy the ride!! Another one-click worthy read for me.
Highly recommend if you’re an angst lover, or like bad boys who may seem hard to love, but are ultimately so worth the effort of peeling back those layers.
Bad Boy Blues has definitely claimed a top spot of my favorite reads of 2019
Bad Boy Blues is the typical enemies to lovers, YA/NA romance but it’s also so much… more! It’s emotional at times, funny, heartfelt, heartbreaking, it’s everything! Really well written, the pace is absolutely perfect, it’s told in dual POV which is always a plus for me, and the characters are so relatable and well developed that it feels like they are friends of yours! Saffron Kent is an AMAZING writer! Like seriously I haven’t found one thing that she’s written that I haven’t liked, which is no easy feat!
This is Zach and Cleo’s story.
Zach and Cleo met on her first day at St. Patricks, A.K.A the rich kid’s school, and from that first day, it’s been a constant battle between the two of them.
For years Zach stood by and watched as his friend’s made fun of, pranked, and completely bullied Cleo. Cleo was no slouch though, that’s for sure, and she gave just as good as she got but it’s hardly a fair fight when it’s THEM against YOU. Their torment continued all the way up until prom when that night Zach mysteriously leaves town. His parents would have you believe that he’s in Oxford like his father and his father before him but Cleo knows better. She’s always suspected there was more to the story of Zach’s leaving.
But that was three years ago. Cleo now works at The Pleiades, otherwise known as Zach’s families mansion. She’s finally gotten used to not checking over her shoulder for her tormenters when low and behold the sexy bad boy comes back home.
Cleo wants to stay out of Zach’s way for fear that he and his minions will start up their abuse again but she can’t afford to quit her job. Cleo’s parents passed away the year before and the bank took her home. If she wants to get her childhood home back then she needs the job.
Cleo has no idea what to expect but what happens isn’t what she expected. Zach seems different, still a total asshole but… different.
“There’s a thing between us, see. This thing makes us aware of each other. doesn’t matter where we are. In the school hallway, in the empty detention room, or in crowded ballroom. Somehow, he’s always been able to find me and I’ve always been able to find him. Maybe this is how hate works, mysteriously and annoyingly.”
Before long Cleo is seeing a different side of Zach. There’s more hiding behind that sexy ass smirk of his and looking back now, maybe things didn’t play out exactly the way Cleo remembers them…
Cleopatra Paige, gahhh I love Cleo! She takes NO shit! Even when she was being bullied, though it’s affected her in adulthood and she’s held onto so much anger and pain, she never let them see her sweat and she gave as good as she got. Even now when Zach shows back up, she has her moments but she holds her head high. She’s independent, feisty, has a HUGE heart, dances to the beat of her own drum and doesn’t give a SHIT what other people think of her! I absolutely love that blue haired girl!
Zachariah Prince is the definition of a sexy alpha anti-hero! There is more to Zach’s story then meets the eye. There are quite a few times that you want to hate him and other times you just want to wrap him up and show him what love really is. Just remember, behind every bully, there’s usually a bully.
I love a good bully romance where a sexy-alpha anti-hero finally turns sweet for that one special girl that brings him straight to his knees! You know that old saying if a boy picks on you it’s because he likes you? Well, that’s exactly what we have with Zach and Cleo.
After an almost decade long war between these two, the sexual tension is combustible and when they finally come together…
“You fucked up, Blue,” he growls over my mouth. “What?” I pant. “Now you’re fucked, baby.” His scans my face. He looks like he’s memorizing it. He’s committing me to memory. “Why?” His eyes, black and threating and so beautiful, come up to mine. “Do you have any idea how long, how fucking long I’ve wanted to kiss that mouth?” I shake my head. “A thousand years.” He studies my parted, blue-painted lips. “Or at least, it feels like it. I’ve wanted to kiss it ever since you first put on your lipstick in eighth grade.” Oh, I remember that. I got my highlights too. Tiny strips of navy blue in my dark hair with a sparkly dark blue lipstick. “I knew the moment I tasted your lips I’d become a fiend for them. And now you’ve fucked up,” he keeps growling, jacking up my heartbeats. “Because you’re mine now, Blue. Mine. And you’ve got no idea what I’m gonna do to you.”
As I write this I’m listening to this badass playlist, something I hardly ever do (I have ADHD so it’s just easier for me to write in silence) and man, this is seriously the PERFECT playlist for Zach and Cleo’s story! I can FEEL the moments that each song lines up with and OMG… I will be doing this with EVERY playlist from now on!
The only negative I really have is, I hated the cover. If it wasn’t for the blurb AND for me knowing that Saffron is a BOMB ass writer, I highly doubt I would have chosen this book just from the cover alone. The guy wasn’t for me (which I’m sure happens more often than not) but he just didn’t fit the Zach that was described… plus that pose UGH that finger thing is just gross.
I was really hoping that as much time as they spent with little Art and talked about his grandmother getting up into age that something was going to happen and these two would end up adopting him, even if it was just in the epilogue or something. I hated that he was left behind.
I REALLY wish there was an epilogue, but that’s probably me just being greedy because I was NOT ready to say goodbye to Zach and Cleo.
Saffron Kent did an amazing job with this one, you couldn’t NOT fall for these characters and this story! I was so invested in them that I was screaming when they screamed, crying when they cried, happy when they were happy. An absolutely beautiful love story about love, hate, and forgiveness. Wonderful read. Bad Boy Blues is at the very top of my fave reads of 2019 for sure!
I can’t recommend this one enough! If you enjoy new adult bully/enemies to lovers romances, with just enough angst and a totally kickass heroine, and a sexy alpha asshole, then give Bad Boy Blues a try!
*I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.
This is a new author to me, and I will certainly be looking out for her work in the future. Cleo spent her childhood being bullied by Zach. Now as adults Cleo is a strong and confident woman, and Zach is a complex character who is secretive, broody and sexy. No spoilers; this is a definite must read, you will not be disappointed. This is a well written story which is filled with angst and fun which leads to an all round entertaining read. I recommend this for all enemies / lovers stories.
What Saffron Kent has created with Bad Boy Blues is as close to perfection as I’ve ever read. She has, without a doubt, upped her game with this angst-filled tale of Cleo and Zach. A love story that should have never been but is clearly written in the stars. Two people who are filled with hurt and loneliness and an uncertain future. Who manage to throw their hurtful past to the side as they maneuver the present even when it’s filled with pain that is beyond daunting.
Blue and her Dark Prince. The girl who is as tough as nails, yet is filled with a compassion that can only come from experience. And the brooding bad boy who could make Cleo wither with just a look but is at the same time unnervingly vulnerable to her. This book, told in alternating POVs, gives us glimpses of the past. When Cleo and Zach met at the ages of 10 and 12 and began their love/hate relationship. Neither one ever ‘crossing the line’ and actually becoming friends when they had so much in common despite their differences in class and town stature. Instead becoming bully and bullied and both suffering dearly in the process.
I loved that Cleo was able to peel away the hardened layers of Zach’s heart, even when he didn’t want it. The way she takes such good care of his psyche and comforts him even when she knows she may get hurt in the process, had me over the moon for her. Her stubborn nature, her ability to take most of what is and has been thrown at her, is unreal. No matter what the outcome might have been, I was firmly Team Blue and just wanted her happy.
And Zach. Oh my. The neglected little boy buried deep inside of the sexy man. My heart broke more times than I can count as we get the whole story and how his ‘charmed’ life was anything but. His feelings bleed onto every page even as he tightly holds his emotions in check. I wanted to crawl right into the pages of my ereader and give him the hugs and love he so deserved but never received. Thank goodness Cleo never let up. She never gave up. And she never stopped wanting to offer her body, her affection and most importantly her heart to the man who would forever own her soul.
Kent took a very sensitive and timely subject and was able to intricately weave it throughout a most unlikely romance, just beautifully. I was invested in Cleo and Zach’s story right from the start but also had the feeling I would shed some tears along the way. I wasn’t wrong on that one but I’m here to say that every single emotion I felt, I felt to my core. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I welcomed the hurt and felt incredible once the last words were read.
I highly recommend this book. It is masterfully written and full of all the feels I crave. A huge 5+++ stars!
Do you have one of those authors that’s always been a one-click? Where you don’t read the blurb, you don’t care what the book is about, because you just KNOW you’ll like it. Nah…. you know you’ll love it?
Saffron is easily mine. She’s always making me look beyond the surface. To FEEL—-it’s what I love about her books; how they aren’t the typical reads of boy meet girl, everything is peachy keen and they have a fight, then they reconcile.. nah. Saffron’s books aren’t easy, relaxing reads. They are the kind of book that may be best described to a flower with a thick outer petals, and Saffron peals away so many layers of shock petals to reveal true, real events that resemble the inner beauty.
So, I’m not gonna lie. The beginning of this book was hard to read. Mentally, hard. Why? Because I struggled with my own misconception of bullying. I struggled with the characters, and how they started out in her book. But here’s the thing, the book started out the way it should have. The characters; Zach and Cleo(Blue) developed and evolved. Their inner strength triumphed. Their bravery (yes, both of theirs) rang true and loud. Zachariah and Cleopatra are two unique characters , where their roles swirl and twist into different capacities.
Saffron reminded me, again, that behaviors are always done for a reason…. often times the reason is not what it appears to be, and this applies to everyone, including the bullies.
Bad Boy Blues was the first book I have read by Saffron A. Kent and it certainly won’t be the last because I have to say I’m struggling to understand why she hasn’t crossed my radar before now.
I don’t want to write a review that’s full of spoilers because I believe you need to read this book with no expectations to get the best from it so all I’m going to tell you is how this book made me feel.
This story has all the feels you want in a great read , it’s heart wrenching at times and it’s all about that thin line between love and hate, it’s got the perfect mix of passion and angst and characters you will fall in love with. Two lost souls who on the face it couldn’t be more different but opposites attract and that’s exactly what’s happens with Blue and her dark prince so can they make each whole…..Well I guess you need to read the book to get the whole story.
If you love Slow burn love stories with plenty of twists and turns you will want to read Bad Boy Blues.
I love a good enemies to lovers book…. and this was a GREAT one! Zack and Cleo are just crazy together. They have each other feeling all the highs and all the lows. From the very beginning Saffron has you believing that he is not the same guy that he was before. Their first encounter when he returns was not one that made you think that he was the same bully that tormented her in school. So it makes if easy for you to love him and root for them together. I really just loved this story. I feel like their connection was a really strong one from the time they met when they were 10 ans 12. They always say its a thin line between love and hate…. Saffron emphasizes that point with this book. It was very well written and I found myself fist pumping when Cleo made a good jab at someone., and smiling like a loon when Zack would say something nice…ever if he hadn’t meant it to be. Worth all the blue stars…. but they only let me give 5 so that will have to do I suppose.