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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I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. It is by far the best book I have read in 2019. I loved everything about it, the words were effortless to read my eyes just flew right over them (when I wasn’t crying- it was more difficult then). Zack and Cleo are so amazing and the author made them come alive. I felt every emotion they had. Bowing down to this author, she torn my heart out and managed to put it all back together. It made my soul sing. If you need a great tear jerker of a book pick this one up.
I went into Bad Boy Blues thinking that it would be like all the other bully books that seem to be the trending romance trope right now, but it was so much more and the underlying message is powerful and compelling! Cleo aka Blue is a 19 year-old working as a maid at the big mansion in her little town. Things get turned upside down when Zach, the boy who bullied her, returns to town after a 3 years absence. Where has he been for the past 3 years and why did he return?
I had a hard time with Cleo at first. My heart hurt for her when I read how she was bullied, but I found her a bit juvenile with some of her pranks at the beginning. However, I quickly came to love her as a heroine in that she had a spunky personality and she really grew as a character. She was full of such compassion and she was able to look past all those thick layers and truly “see” Zach. Zach was a bully and there were times that I wanted to smack him upside the head, but things were not always as they seemed. I cried when I read about him as a 7 year-old child. Even though Zach was definitely a jerk at times, I think that my heart broke for him a little more than it did for Blue. It was evident that he has great self-loathing and that he was truly struggling. Blue and Zach had such an intense chemistry that I was sure my kindle was going to catch fire and I enjoyed seeing how they brought out the best in each other.
This author has written such a story that addresses so many issues – bullying, domestic abuse, and learning disabilities. The characters are well-developed and the underlying messages throughout her book are so important. I really enjoyed Bad Boy Blues, but the last 3 chapters had me swooning. I received this book for free.
Enemies to lovers is one of my favourite tropes and this book adds something new to the genre. Cleo and Zach have a difficult past one where he tormented her and stood by where others bullied her. After years away he’s back and nothings changed except he’s even more of a jerk but there’s no denying the chemistry between them.
This book has so many layers that all have a bearing on Cleo and Zach. There is witty banter, tender moments family secrets and heartbreaking emotion. Two main characters you will be routing for and little Art who you’ll love. I’m hoping that we get a little epilogue ser in the future at a later date.
reviewed by Sweet Spot Sisterhood
Cleo has hated Zach since childhood. As the poor kid in the rich kid’s school she was tormented regularly and she knew that Zach was behind much of it. Or at least he could have stopped it. She needs money to get her childhood home back and taking a job at the Prince Mansion is the only way she can find. When Zach suddenly reappears after 3 years she is determined for payback. Can all the sparks turn into a fire that burns deep?
I really kind of hated Zach in the beginning. I have trouble getting attached to a bully. Cleo in her quest to hate him actually turns him into a human. The author did a good job of developing these characters so they felt very real. I loved Cleo ornery streak as she plots her revenge. Bad Boy Blues kept me laughing when it was steamy. This was a fun, easy read.
I’m generally not a fan of the bullied falling in love with their bully (it just feels wrong on a fundamental level to put that message out there for young girls) but this story was so much more, for so many reasons.
I adore Blue (Cleo). Everything about her is relatable, and likeable and she’s just a rock solid character. Zach should be completely detestable, but there’s something always lingering about him as well. They are a well-matched duo, and their story is engaging, elicits some really fantastic emotional response, has some intensely great sexual content and is well designed all the way through.
Recommend this one for sure – I enjoyed it much more than I thought I was going to!
Once again Saffron A.Kent has left me speechless. I never thought someone would come and take Thomas’s place as my favourite but hot damn the Dark Price has done it. I love Zach and his mood swings. I secretly loved him from the get go because I just knew there was more to him than just being the bastard he was to Cleo. And OMG let’s talk about what a kickass heroin she was. I loved everything about her; from her blue hair to her sassy attitude. I loved that she stood up for herself and wanted something more.
And as we’re used to in SAK book the graveling and HEA were just perfect. This story simply put was FRICKING AMAZING
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
First book that I’ve read from the author but from the first sentence I was drowned in and read it in one sitting.
I loved everything about this book from the writing all the twists and angst that I’ve been throughout all the pages as it’s one of those books that keeps you glued and you just can’t stop reading till you find out what will happen next and then even when you finish reading it you still think about this great love story.
Zachary and Cleo Know each other from early school years and because of some unfortunate fate, he became her bully through all these years.
I laughed out loud so many times as I had my heart in pieces as well.
The sexy scenes are hot and hotter than anything and I always wanted more.
Between hate and love there’s always a very thin line and this book proved how love will always win.
One of the best read of the year for sure
With a past fraught with antipathy, bordering on hate, the young life of Cleo has been blighted by bullying. Written in an almost fairytale style of princes and serving girls, the spoiled rich making life miserable for anyone on a supposed lower social scale, Saffron A Kent has created a modern twist on a familiar story, though a very grown up version!
Added complexities of the nature and causes of bullying, victims and perpetrators, at many points this book has you stopping to think about how any of us would react and feel, where we would draw our strength to carry on. Zach was definitely the tortured hero who hid behind a curtain of cruelty to hide vulnerability, which made him interesting throughout.
At times the book meandered slightly and repeated itself, but this, overall did not detract from a great, passionate story, well told, though this is why I, ultimately, give it 4.5 stars xxx
I was so thrilled to receive my first Saffron Kent ARC. I had her books in my TBR shelf but you know how bookworms get easily distracted with new releases… anyway.
This book is about Zachariah Prince and Cleopatra Paige. It is an enemies to lovers story—my favorite.
It wasn’t really a slow burn but it took off quite slow for me… in the first couple of chapters, I thought Cleo was overreacting… but then again I haven’t walked in her shoes so I guess that’s understandable… Zachariah was definitely an @$$höle but there was more to him than meets the eye so to speak.
There really is a thin line between love and hate… and the heart wants what it wants. And what people fail to realize sometimes is that, it’s not always what it seems… some people don’t wear their heart on their sleeves… some people choose to suffer silently and just keep to themselves… this book will tell you all about it.
I enjoyed the book… you’ll fall in love with the characters as you turn page after page.
If you’re a fan of Tijan Meyer and Leigh Shen, then this is the book to pick up next.