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Liked It “I always enjoy it when a younger hero is interested in an older woman. I liked how this relationship played out as both characters dealt with family problems thereby undergoing some personal growth. Olivia is trying to be more outgoing and joins friends at a brewery where she meets sexy...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“2.5 stars. The relationship felt strained, and the characters were irritating. Dahl novels are hit or miss for me.”
Angela L wrote this review Tuesday, September 18, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I always enjoy it when a younger hero is interested in an older woman. I liked how this relationship played out as both characters dealt with family problems thereby undergoing some personal growth. Olivia is trying to be more outgoing and joins friends at a brewery where she meets sexy bartender Jamie.”
Dawn ♥ romance wrote this review Thursday, June 7, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I loved this book. Jamie has been my favorite character so far. I loved the way he is so comfortable with being around people, and how easily he talks to them. I also really liked the fact that there was much more to him than the easy going bartender that everyone saw, and the screwup that his brother always sees. Olivia first sees Jamie as a way to learn how to have fun. She figures he is the perfect person to help her. But the more time they spend together, the more she sees the man beneath the facade. And with his help, she rediscovers the fun-loving woman in herself. They also work together on a dream of Jamie's, and try to get his family to see it too. Tessa was ok in this book, but still too much the peacemaker. She also couldn't seem to see past Jamie's old mistakes to the new man. I just wanted to smack Eric upside the head with a 2 by 4. He kept throwing Jamie's past in his face and made no attempt to list to what Jamie had to say. It took a combination of Olivia's presentation and Jamie walking away just to get his attention. I'm really looking forward to the next book, and seeing Eric fall.”
ScoutmomSKF wrote this review Sunday, March 25, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“After divorcing a man who had crushed her spirit and cheated on her, Olivia Bishop is determined to get herself a life. When her attempts have her crossing paths with the good looking and charming bartender Jamie Donovan, she throws caution...and maybe even a little good sense...to the wind and makes a trade with him.
Tracy wrote this review Thursday, January 26, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The quintessential bad boy will show her how to have fun and she'll help him, teaching him all she knows about how to effectively start and manage a restaurant. That's what she does, she teaches business classes at the university. One of which, a non-credit course, Jamie attends religiously.
Not that his brother and sister know that. No. Jamie Donovan has long since given up hoping either of them will take him seriously about anything he does or any plans he has for their brewery. Not that he blames them, really. His past hasn't been exactly problem-free. Still, he's grown up more than they will ever give him credit for, especially his brother.
Maybe that's why Olivia seems like such a breath of fresh air to Jamie. She's all kinds of sexy and sophisticated, and at a few years older than Jamie, she's got an air of maturity that he finds very appealing. And she takes his dream for expanding the brewery seriously. Takes him seriously.
Teaching her to have fun serves them both, because being with her makes him happy in a way he's never felt before. Problem is, on a personal level, she's not looking for anything beyond the fun they're having, and for the first time in Jamie's life, he is.
~*~
I have to admit, I wasn't a fan of the characters in Good Girls Don't. I couldn't stand Tessa and felt only slightly more charitable towards Jaime than his brother Eric did. Despite Dahl's unquestionable writing accumen, that book didn't work for me because of it. And for the record, you could've heard the emotional whiplash I was getting as I read this book. I loved it. Not only did I love it, but I gained a whole new level of respect for Dahl. I've admired several of her books as the light, sexy reads they are, but she really struck a chord with me in this one, a chord much deeper than I was anticipating.
Parts of this book were gut wrenching. The confrontations between Jaime and Eric just killed me, and Jaime's insecurities because of his guilt and his helplessness over the brewery were written with such poignant realism that it grabbed me by the throat and squeezed. For all the surrounding lightness and fun of the romance, there was a plethora of significant and painful issues that touched me deeply.
And okay, as much as I loathed Eric for his...well...Eric-ness, I can't help but think back to how I felt about Jamie after the first book. Given the lack of info Eric has, I can sorta understand his feelings. I still think he was a jackass, and out of line more than once, but I understood his motives. This is one deeply wounded family still carrying a tremendous burden over the death of their parents. It fractured them on a fundamental level and Dahl has proven brilliant in the deft portrayal of the many faces of grief.
But lest I give the impression that this book was all weighty, emotional issues, let me assure you - most of it was just flat out fabulous, flirty, sexy romance. Olivia and Jaime were three dimensional and very believable, and their chemistry was wonderful. Part of that chemistry was built around each individual character's quirks and peccadilloes, so it all felt very organic and natural, realistic and believable. Their relationship maintained a unique blend of innocent fun and seductive intensity that both charmed and thrilled me.
I absolutely fell in love with Jaime. He was such a great character. Sexy, sure, charming, absolutely, but his quirks and insecurities added depth and made him three dimensional. It gave him an often nebulous sense of genuine human appeal I've often felt lacking in the characters of lighter-themed modern romance. He was mature, which was a pleasant surprise, and intelligent, and he had an open, honest nature that I liked and admired. I found him thoroughly entertaining and endearing.
I also liked Olivia very much, even though her behavior was suspect in a couple of places. She, too, was a character to whom I could relate. Olivia's latent insecurities and the scars she bears from her past define her character but didn't limit her ability to reach for happiness. Just her willingness to trust that it would last. I got that. I understood her, and more, I respected how she behaved late in the book following the ubiquitous relationship conflict between her and Jaime. I do think she got off a little easy for all she said to the man, some of which was pretty harsh, but that is literally the only niggle of the entire book for me.
I'm still a little stunned by the complete about-face I felt between the first book and the second, but I'm going to try not to dwell. I'm just going to savor the read, content in my respect for Dahl and my appreciation for her touching, poignant, heart-felt...and yes, fun, flirty, and sexy romance. I can't wait to see what she does for Mr. Uptight himself, Jaime and Tessa's brother Eric.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by HQN Books publisher Harlequin via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
http://one-good-book.blogspot.com”
“Okay. I liked it enough to finish it, but perhaps not enough to go looking for the others in the trilogy. She is a bit too neurotic and he needs to grow up a bit.
Voorheesville Library wrote this review Thursday, November 10, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
~Michele”
“Great follow up to the first book in the series. I liked this book particularly because of the well drawn characterization of Jamie as a never do well, blacksheep Donovan who is striving to be more responsible. He is described a a charming, handsome and sexy guy who never seemed to succeed in anything except in bartending. He was attracted to Olivia, a 35 yr old divorcee who agreed to help him in his business plan en exchange for spending some sexy time together. The arrangement seemed too tawdry for me but Jamie is too tempting for anyone to resist. I am also impressed that the titles of the books in this series are so appropriate.”
ALICE S wrote this review Friday, October 28, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Jamie Donovan is supposed to be the happy, carefree one of the Donovan family, the friendly bartender that everyone, including most women, just loves. I must admit, I wasn’t looking forward to his story as he seemed to be just another overgrown frat boy in arrested development. However, near the end of the first book in this series, we saw glimpses of him being something different, enough for me to want to jump right into this one.
Jonetta (Ejaygirl) wrote this review Sunday, October 2, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
My instincts were dead on as there is so much more to Jamie than anyone knows or imagines. This man is gorgeous and his personality and face just sparkle with invitation, and therein lies the contradiction. Jamie has layers beneath that beautiful veneer, which doesn’t help his case with his brother, Eric, who doesn’t take him seriously. Jamie is secretly preparing himself to be better at handling more responsibility at the family brewery but is also afraid to let his family know in case it’s just another of his failures.
When Olivia Bishop connects with Jamie, it doesn’t seem like a match made in heaven but they bring out the best in each other. She’s a divorced, serious and staid 35-year old University instructor to Jamie’s 29. Olivia is looking to be more “fun” and Jamie’s the perfect man to bring out her playful side. She’s able to reach beneath that veneer somewhat and see parts of the man no one else seems to get. Olivia is also helping him develop his business ideas.
While the interludes between Olivia and Jamie are pretty steamy, Dahl has magnificently created romance, erotica and emotional depth in these perfectly written scenes. You cannot help being drawn into both characters as the narrative shifts between them with ease. I was captivated. And, there are scenes that brought me to tears as both Jamie and Olivia struggle with their baggage of the past when faced with confrontations of the present, he with his brother, Eric, and she with her ex-husband, Victor.
I loved this story, better than the first in the series, which I also liked. Dahl’s writing style continues to be a big attraction with her ability to move the story at a perfect pace and craft great dialogue. This is a writer to watch and I cannot wait to start the last book in the series.
I was provided an ARC through NetGalley. ”
“Oh that Jamie Donovan. *sigh*
Kati R wrote this review Monday, September 19, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Here's 5 reasons why he makes me sigh:
1. He looks good in and out of a kilt.
2. He's a great instructor of fun.
3. He's good with his hands; in bed and putzing about the house.
4. For telling a joke or kissing him, first pint's half price.
5. He's charming, approachable and totally panty dropping worthy.
Previously in GOOD GIRLS DON'T, we meet Jamie Donovan who has completely screwed up. He slept with the daughter of the man that the brewery was planning on doing business with and on top of that, the woman he slept with steals the security code so her brother could break in to the brewery to steal sensitive information. Jamie has a rocky relationship with his brother Eric and still thinks of his sister, Tessa, as an innocent little girl.
All his life, he's felt like a no-good fuck up and finally wants to be more than the bad boy who the ladies swoon over when he's wearing his kilt. He's ready to take on more responsibility at the brewery besides being bartender, server and 1/3 owner, and he's got a plan. A really good one. He secretly takes a class on food and beverage management to help him with his plan.
Olivia Bishop doesn't know what fun is. You wouldn't either if you were married to some stuck up tenure chasing professor. Of course, Olivia is no longer married to Victor who she walked in on going at it with a student. Yikes! She's ready to discover who the real Olivia is and well, learning to have fun with Jamie seems like a good way to start.
In exchange for Jamie teaching Olivia how to have fun, she would help him with his plan to expand the brewery into a brewpub. And cue in the bow chicka wow wow music. Insert hot for teacher joke here.
Olivia and Jamie enter into a deliciously hot sexual relationship (hello mirror!) and must deal with creepy, possessive ex-husband Victor, Olivia's insecurity about her age and Jamie's volatile relationship regarding the expansion of the brewery with Eric while trying to deny their growing emotional attraction to each other and pfft-ing it off as hot and heavy sexual attraction. Didja get all that?
FAVORITE QUOTE: "'What the hell?' Jamie muttered, his skin still hot with embarrassment, thought half of his embarrassment was because he wasn't sure what he was upset about: That he'd just been accused of inviting his brewmaster to come on to him, or that his brewmaster had rejected him out of hand?" (***quote subject to change in finished copy***)
OVERALL: Tessa's book (GOOD GIRLS DON'T) was pretty hot but Jamie's book (BAD BOYS DO) was hotter. I'm sure Eric's will be the hottest. Ms. Dahl makes me smile every time I read one of her books and BAD BOYS DO is no different. I like love lust Jamie Donovan. He's a bad boy with a good heart. (Wait, is that like a hooker with a heart of gold?) Anyway, this hot for teacher, older woman/younger man story is well done. Okay, hot for instructor if you want to get technical. Olivia sort of annoyed me when she kept emphasizing on their age difference but I grew to like her. This book is sexy, funny and heart warming at times. P.S. I wanted to punch Victor in the face and may have cheered when Jamie did. :)
***Requested off of NetGalley***”
“So far this is the best addition to Dahl’s Donavon Family Series. I read Good Girls Don’t last week and really liked it and now I have to say that this book is even better. I connected immediately to Olivia. She’s 35, smart, conservative and joined a book club for fun. I thought hey, she sounds just like me. She had a little problem with playing the cougar to Jamie (he’s 29) but I was so glad that Dahl did not make this a big issue in the book. I loved in the first chapter when she’s secretly checking him out while he’s bending over while wearing his kilt. Yes ladies – this yummy man wears a kilt in the year of 2011! LOVE IT!
Janon (Noni Fro) wrote this review Friday, September 16, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Speaking of Jamie – WOW what a hunk of a man. He’s gorgeous, fun, nice, has a bad boy felt and did I say wears a kilt? Jamie is secretly taking a college course in restaurant development and guess who the teacher is? Yep – smart, quit, glasses wearing Olivia. Totally not his type – but he’s drawn to her immediately. Jamie’s trying to turn around his bad boy rep by working on a plan to expand the brewery. There is so much tension between him and his older brother Eric, that Jamie is keeping almost everything a secret. How Jamie transforms in this book is so well written that I really couldn’t put down the book towards the end.
I’m looking forward to reading Eric’s book next. He’s so quit, a recluse and he’s got some kind of secret that was alluded to at the end of this book. I’m sure Dahl can redeem him, since in the last 2 books his been kind of a pain in the rear. Check out this series – you won’t be disappointed.
”
“Redonk Nutshell: Bad boy meets his match in a stickler for tradition good girl
The Raunch Dilettante wrote this review Thursday, September 1, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Bad Boys Do by Victoria Dahl picks up more or less right where it's predecessor, Good Girls Don't, leaves off. This time around we get Jamie's story. Jamie is the handsome bad boy, the guy that gets all the girls and is always finding himself in sticky situations. Now, however, Jamie is ready to grow up and take on more responsibility in his family's brewery business.
Enter Olivia, a smart yet safe brunette who is pulled into Jamie's path. They strike up a friendship that gradually leads to something more, and both Olivia and Jamie are forced to reassess what, exactly, they want.
Who doesn't love a good read about a bad boy? Jamie isn't your stereotypical bad boy, though. He doesn't actively seek trouble - it just seems to find him. His good looks garner him attention, and his natural charm works both with and against him. At heart, Jamie is a good guy, and Olivia is a wonderful complement to him. As for Olivia, she's still coming out of her shell after divorcing her immature husband, and Jamie forces her to test her boundaries.
Their story is sweet and romantic, a lovely little read that is sure to bring a warm smile to your face. I enjoyed Bad Boys Do. I also look forward to the elder brother's story next.
Rating: C+
Romance: 3/5 Raunch: 3/5”
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