Melody Bryant has heard it all before. Sure, she’s the epitome of the stereotype for a librarian. Loves order. Loves rules and deadlines. Loves books. But what she doesn’t love is still being a virgin at twenty-four. Unfortunately, the only guy she’s ever been interested in turned her down flat. And then left town. Eight. Years. Ago. Ugh. Now her birthday is fast approaching, and she just can’t … and she just can’t take it any longer. She’s finding a guy before her birthday in five weeks, or she’s adopting two more cats and fully embracing becoming “the crazy cat lady.”
But when her latest date ends in epic failure–everyone thinks of her as the “proper librarian”–she realizes what she needs is to ruin her reputation. And she knows the perfect guy to help her: the baddest bad boy in town. This Army vet won’t know what hit him…
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This was my first book by this author and it definitely won’t be the last. I need to read more of the Victory Vets!!
Mel has a birthday coming up and with Adam now home from his last tour overseas, she’s ready to recruit him for her improvement project. Restyle herself and finally lose her V-card. With the guy who turned her down before he left 8 years ago.
I loved these two together. They balance each other so perfectly but they also push each other to be more than others think they are. I loved the other characters introduced in this story and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*
How To Seduce A Bad Boy is the first in Traci Douglass new series called Victory Vets and is available starting today, January 14th. The premise of this series is a group of Army vets arriving home, starting new lives and finding love. Victory Vets also happens to be the name of the auto garage the vets started and/or work for. Never having read any of Ms Douglass previous work, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Sure the title and description reeled me in but I had no idea what I was getting into. It’s a nice story that hit a little too close to home for me.
Melody “Mel” Bryant is the only, she thinks, 24 year old virgin in Point Beacon, Indiana. She might be right. Mel may be stunning but…she’s a librarian, dresses like Mrs. Cleaver in 1950, and owns a cat. First dates don’t lead to second dates. She feels dependable, predictable, boring, and invisible. For those of us not popular, not head cheerleader types, this stings. Wondering why your friend, but not you, attracts men who buy drinks and want to dance. Oh yes, it stings. Mel decides that if she wants to be an un-virgin by her next birthday she needs an overhaul. Her BFF agrees, makes her a hair/makeup appointment and then flakes at the last minute. The plan must continue, cannot be derailed. There’s only one thing to do, one person she wants to help her, her girlhood hearts desire.
Adam Foster is her brothers best friend. He was always around when they were kids and Mel’s crushed on him forever. She tried to lose the v card to him 8 years ago but he said no and joined the Army. Way to feel special, not. She works up the nerve to ask Adam for help and manages to talk him into it. If he doesn’t want her surely someone will. Adam does want Mel, always has, but she’s James little sister. He can’t ruin his friendship, can’t screw up the business they started together. Mel is driving him crazy but he must resist as long as possible. That’s about a week. Adam is sure disaster lies ahead but jumps in with both feet anyway.
Their story is sweet and relatable. A wallflower who doesn’t know how attractive she really is, how to flirt and can’t find out from a book. A bad boy with a bad reputation trying to live it down and forge a new, good life for himself. These two deserve a happily ever after and you’ll want it for them too.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC. Receiving a free book ARC is a privilege and one I enjoy. Being able to share my opinion is a pleasure. Both are free and without obligation. Happy reading.
#Netgalley #victoryvets #TraciDouglass #HowToSeduceABadboy
HOW TO SEDUCE A BAD BOY is the story of Melody Bryant and Adam Foster.
Melody is the town librarian who is of course bookish but she still has her innocents that she would like to shed. But the only one that has ever gotten her to feel something to move forward in that directions is her brother’s best friend. But when she approaches him he doesn’t want to cross that line with her brother friendship. But when he sees that she is changing her looks and looking for that change to her innocents he can’t stop feel that she is his.
I really enjoyed their story and the good girl turning the ‘bad boy’ to no longer ignore his feelings.
I hope to read more from this author!
What a fun romantic witty read from a new author to me, this is my first Traci Douglas book and it won’t be my last I really enjoyed How to Seduce a Bad Boy.
Melody Bryant is the local librarian she goes to work in twin sets and pearls and she spends her evenings alone. Her 25th birthday is fast approaching and she needs a make over and her v card gone so she turns to the only bad boy she know her older brother best buddy and business partner.
Adam is back in town after serving in Afghanistan and he is now running is own business while waiting for Melody ‘s brother to return from his service overseas. When he is approached by Melody he turns her down flat he won’t risk the friendship of her family as they have become the only family he knows and he certainly won’t risk hs business. Problem is Melody won’t take no for an answer and if Adam won’t help there is bound to be a man who will……..
An entertaining fun read with the added bonus of falling for your best friends sister and a hint of second chance love. Characters you will fall in love with and a story that will keep you intrigued to the very last line. Looking forward to more from this very talented author.
A determined small town librarian decides to break with past behavior and go after what she wants. That just so happens to be her brother’s business partner and best friend, a man with a reputation well earned but no longer valid after military service.
Hope there’s more in the series. Would like to know what happens to Lilly and James.
A really enjoyable read. I found I couldn’t put it down once I started on the first page. Adam is Mel’s older brothers best friend and she has had a crush on him for years. When she decides she needs a makeover and dating advice she turns to Adam for help. Even though he’s reluctant he finds the idea of her with someone else doesn’t sit very well with him.
They embark on this journey knowing that it could cause friction.
This was okay. The writing flowed okay, but I wasn’t really a fan of the story. Melody was pretty immature, and I’m not completely sure why she asked Adam for help in the first place. I don’t understand how a man is going to help her with a makeover. The “ruin her reputation” part maybe, but not a makeover. Then it seems like the only reason Adam is interested in her is because of the makeover. I never really felt a connection between them. James was an overprotective jerk, and Melody was a grown woman who didn’t need a protector. Lily wasn’t a very good friend in my opinion either. Maybe they’ll be good together.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
This is a fun, entertaining and sensual story that brings together Melody Bryant and Adam Foster, the bad boy in town and also Mel’s brothers best friend. Mel is determined to learn how to have fun, flirt and be different from the typical librarian, but to do that she needs some help with a makeover and with Adam back in town he is the perfect person, if he will help.
Melody is fast approaching twenty five and there are a few things that she has not done yet and the guy she has had a crush on forever is back in town and Mel wants him badly and will do just about anything to seduce the bad boy, but getting him to help is not easy but when she does the sparks fly and her feelings are put to the test.
Adam is sure this is a bad idea to help Mel find the man of her dreams and protect her at the same time, but he is having a hard time keeping his emotions intact, he is convinced that he is not the right person for Mel, he comes from the wrong side of town and besides Mel’s family is like a family to him can he cross that line to love and still be friends with her brother.
Mel and Adam were made for each other if only Adam can get over his bad boy reputation and as for the librarian who with a makeover becomes more confident and witty, this is a great story I smiled and cheered them both on the sensual pull heats up pulling them closer together, this is a story that I highly recommend MS Douglass knows how to bring her characters to life, I do look forward to the next one is the series.
While there are a lot of stereotypes/tropes covered here, I felt like Douglass handled it well. While there isn’t anything new, what we are given is well written – with likeable characters and an enjoyable storyline. My only complaint is that we didn’t get to see their interactions as a couple. We got the back and forth of them getting together, the stress over being together, and what happens afterward. But we didn’t get to see them actually being together, in order to get that warm & fuzzy about their coupleness. Instead we spend most of the book in their heads. And I liked them so much from those peeks at their thoughts that I really wanted that. Overall, though, a good read and I’m looking forward to seeing what Douglass has in store for Melody’s brother & her best friend.
**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**
Sweet story about falling in love for brother best friend. After another disaster date Melody decides to make a change and that the one who will help with changes will be her teenage crush and her brother best friend, Army vet and the town bad boy, Adam. At first, Adam doesn’t want to participate with al her makeover but after giving some thoughts he decides that is better for him to help her than some stranger. Of course, sparks start flying the more time they spend together and they start a secret relationship. Adam insecurity is the one that in the end brakes them apart. Lovely read with great characters and really likable HE.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly
Thoroughly enjoyed this sweet romance of the young town librarian being tired of being the miss goody two shoes so who does she ask to help but the town bad boy, even worse it’s her brother’s friend. Melody has always had feelings for Adam, but as their friendship develops Adam does not know how to handle his growing feelings towards Melody.
This was a fun sweet read that I could not put down, Very likeable characters. A new author for me and looking forward to reading more.
I love this author and that she writes clean reads but there was something missing here. I love the friends to lovers and the history they had. Him slaying her dragons and her dressing his wounds. The present story of him helping her step up her dating game well. . . . I wanted their story and would have liked more feels. I mean it really became a little repetitive with them saying the same reasons and falling in old patterns. I liked the story but it didn’t rock me like they normally do but that doesn’t mean it’s bad I’m greedy and wanted more from this author because she usually gives it freely. While I’m fussing about wanting more I have to say I like these two as a couple and really hope they will show up again in another of this authors books.
Melody Bryant works in my wheelhouse and I understand her clothing choices. I can picture myself going to her place of business taking this book along and finding a quiet corner to read and to people watch. Adam Foster gets an eyebrow-raising proposition. Can a self-proclaimed bad boy reform?
What I loved was watching an alpha male squirm. Melody is curious but Adam doesn’t want to cross an invisible line. Our author makes it very easy to picture how uncomfortable some things can be. I also liked to see a young woman finally get a chance at what she thought was unattainable. Again, the author made it very easy to picture her frustration because she wants to be a woman but she has a brother that’s standing in her way. I did have one issue and that was the quick turnaround her brother had. I do understand though because it would have added into the length of the book. The ending will make you smile and a quizzical look on your face. We get hints of what the next book may be about but I can neither confirm nor deny that – but one can always hope.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
HOW TO SEDUCE A BAD BOY by Traci Douglas is a contemporary romance with an entertaining heroine who wants major life changes by her 25th birthday and a bad boy hero home from the service.
Melody Bryant loves being a librarian in her hometown, but she wants to break out of the stereotype. Her 25th birthday is in a few weeks and she has decided it is time for a makeover, which also includes her personal life. She has only every loved one bad boy who is her brother’s best friend. Before he left for the Army eight years ago, she offered him her virginity and was turned down. Now she has plans to get rid of her virginity and seduce the bad boy.
Adam Foster has always had a bad reputation in his hometown. He was abandoned by his mother and his father was a drunk. Lucky for him he made a friend who saw past his family and befriended him as a brother. He was entranced by his friend’s little sister and was always protective. After eight years, he is home and building up the car repair shop he and his friends always dreamed of owning. When Melody comes to him and asks for his help with men, what else can he do but agree to date her himself to protect his friend’s little sister once again.
Melody has five weeks before her birthday to lose her virginity and get the bad boy she has always loved.
I really enjoyed Melody and her journey of change. I cheered for her to finally get her man. Adam was a not-so bad boy whose protectiveness of Melody made him endearing, but I would have preferred much less inner dialogue on how he was not good enough for Melody. The plot is not new and had no new twists, but it was fun to watch this relationship develop. The chemistry between these two was well written without explicit sex scenes. An entertaining romance read that has secondary characters with the potential for future spin-off books.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.
Okay
This is my first book by Traci Douglass.
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from NetGalley.
Interesting, fun, entertaining story about falling for the best friend’s sister.
I simply enjoyed reading it from the start till the end. I loved the plot and characters Melody Bryant and Adam Foster, local librarian and ex military now working in auto shop bad boy.
It is a perfect story to pass the holidays during this snowy and cold weather.
I am looking forward of reading the next books written by this author.
Melody is a easy character that you could picture yourself being like her. With Adam in the picture you also can see why the pulse quickens around him. With him also being a ex military he has the heart sealed. This one is easy to fall into with the characters giving you a good one to melt into. Like I mentioned you can easily feel the parts with it being something that could happen for sure. Not being to fond though of the brother story line since it gets used alot still enjoyed this story.
This book was such a sweet book. I seriously loved every minute of it! Mel is my kind of girl. Works in a library, loves books and doesn’t dress like everyone else. She totally reminds me of myself in a way. Anyway, she wants to change her image and find a good man. Adam just happens to appear in her life and she found someone to help her in her task. While it started out innocent, feelings start to happen and they cross the line. While I know she was only trying to help, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Mel’s best friend. She came across negative at times and not really supportive at all. I realize Adam has a reputation in the town but that doesn’t mean he can’t change. Here’s my take on Adam.. I like him. He rough around the edges. Seen some things that others haven’t and hasn’t had the best life growing up. He’s jaded when it comes to love. This is where my problem lies with him. He’s so down on himself. Thinks he’s not worthy of love or affection. Mel makes him think love is possible but he’s still not sure plus there’s still the issue of James.. Mel’s brother and best friend to Adam. This book was so much fun to read.
Such a cute and inspiring story!
While the premise of the book was about Mel changing who she was in order to “land a man,” I liked how Adam also morphed into the man he became by the end of the book.
Mel and Adam were each self-deprecating enough to be believable. Because, hey, who doesn’t acknowledge their own flaws? I admired Adam’s devotion to his friends and family, and I really felt for him being caught having to decide between what was best for him and what everyone else expected of him.
I also admired Mel’s bravery at wanting to do a 180 with her life. Her excitement and apprehension along the way were wonderful to read!
On a side note, the internal monologues of Mel and Adam, respectively, about how wrong they were for each other or how they couldn’t be together, etc. got a tad exhausting at times, repeated too often and a bit overkill, in my opinion.
But, the repetition certainly did its job in the final part of the book leading up to Mel’s birthday party. I was an emotional wreck dying to see what happened and how Mel and Adam resolved everything! No spoilers here!
This was the first book of Traci’s I’ve read, and I really did enjoy this clean romance! I am VERY much looking forward to reading what I hope is the next book about James and Lilly!
(I was given this book in consideration of my honest thoughts)