BAD INFLUENCE
Bad Bachelors #3
Author: Stefanie London
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 26th, 2019
Annie Maxwell created the Bad Bachelors app to warn women away from guys like Joe Preston. Too bad she won't take her own advice...
Annie had her whole life figured out...until her fiancé left her when his career took off. If that wasn't bad enough, every society blog posted pictures of him escorting a woman wearing her wedding ring. To help the women of New York avoid men like her ex, she created the Bad Bachelors app.
Outside his stellar career, CEO Joe Preston has made a lot of mistakes. None was worse than leaving the love of his life when she needed him most. Now, he's ready for a second chance. He may still be one heck of a bad influence, but when Annie's safety is threatened by a hacker, Joe is the only one who can save her - and he'll do whatever it takes to win her back.
Outside his stellar career, CEO Joe Preston has made a lot of mistakes. None was worse than leaving the love of his life when she needed him most. Now, he's ready for a second chance. He may still be one heck of a bad influence, but when Annie's safety is threatened by a hacker, Joe is the only one who can save her - and he'll do whatever it takes to win her back.
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EXCERPT
His lips parted hers, his tongue sliding into her mouth as he walked her past the couch toward the huge windows. Even with their eyes closed and hands occupied, they navigated the space with ease. He knew every inch of this place, despite the furnishings being different now. More importantly, he knew that Annie loved nothing more than the cold press of glass against her back.
When they’d walked into the apartment, they hadn’t needed the lights. But the sun had sunk low, and the city was starting to shine as darkness settled over them.
Joseph was tightly coiled—the past and present fusing together until it was impossible to untangle them. Annie let out a soft gasp as she bumped against the glass. Planting one hand next to her head, he spread his fingers wide. Rain splattered, coating the outside of the window in glossy droplets.
“You haven’t told me to stop,” he said.
As much as it would kill him to walk away now, waking up tomorrow and having her regret it would be worse. But for once in his life, he needed to man up and be honest with her. For too long, he’d let his upbringing stifle his ability to communicate. And it had ruined them. Ruined any chance they might’ve had at happiness. And running hadn’t fixed a goddamn thing.
“I don’t want you to stop,” she said, her hands coming to the hem of her cashmere sweater. The fabric lifted up to reveal her trim waist, then the pale-pink lace of her bra as she whipped the sweater over her head. “Whatever it means to you is your business.”
The fabric hit the floor, and her hands automatically went to the fly of her pants.
“I’ve told you what it means,” he replied. The sound of her zipper being undone cut through the air. “And I’m not going to play this game if you think you can shut me out afterward.”
Her hips wriggled as she pushed the fabric down her legs. Her dark gaze speared him like a lance to the heart. “You’re seriously telling me you’ll walk away unless I agree to cuddle afterward?”
“I wasn’t thinking about cuddling as much as burying my face between your legs in the middle of the night.” He watched as she continued to undress, peeling her pink panties down her legs and then reaching behind her back for the clasp of her bra. The action made her breasts thrust forward. “I want to fall asleep with those perfect breasts pressed against my chest and those legs tangled with mine. I want to wake you up with my lips on your skin, and I want to pull you on top of me while you’re still half-asleep.”
She stood naked before him, shadows playing off her porcelain skin. But her eyes were the giveaway—the blackness of her pupils eating away the rich brown irises he loved so much. They shimmered, alight with a potent mixture of defiance and excitement.
His hand was still planted next to her head. His body growing hot beneath his suit and coat. The contrast of him being fully dressed next to her nakedness made it feel even more illicit. “I want to hear that sexy, raspy sound you make when my name is the first thing out of your mouth in the morning.”
She tipped up her nose to him. “This is just sex. Nothing more.”
“Will thinking that help you sleep better at night?”
“Going to bed alone will help me sleep better.” Her voice didn’t give him an inch.
Joseph leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Don’t let the bed bugs bite then.”
He turned and walked through the apartment, stopping to pick up his scarf from the floor. Annie hadn’t made a move to get dressed and remained standing, staring him down. Her shapely figure was silhouetted against the Manhattan skyline, and it was possibly the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.
But trying to ignore what he really wanted was what had gotten him in trouble in the first place. She could huff and puff, but he wasn’t going to sleep with her if she wanted him to act like it meant nothing. He’d rather go home and take a cold shower.
Or twenty.
At least being at home would prevent him from thinking with his dick in the middle of the night.
“Don’t answer the door for anyone but me,” he said. “I’ll call when I’m on my way over first thing in the morning.”
She didn’t say a word as he pulled the apartment door open and let it swing shut behind him.
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My thoughts....
Let's have a moment of silence, for that cover! I don't know who that man is but I can appreciate him... That man is part of the reason, I read Bad Influence, and it was worth it!
Alright now that we have addressed that MAN, let's talk about Bad Influence! We meet Annie, and Joe who are in the middle of packing everything they own, and moving to Singapore. Except Annie is trying to find a way to tell Joe she isn't moving, because she just found out that her mother has cancer. So Annie decides to stay, and help her mother through the chemo, and recovery process. You would think that this conversation would be easy, or at least understanding?? Right, I mean "hey babe I can't move with you to Singapore because my mom has cancer?" Nope, Joe is a....use your imagination. He is "upset" because he heard Annie on the phone, saying "there's no way, I'm moving. I'll stay with you, mom." Joe is upset because Annie didn't "discuss" this with him, I mean after all he will pay for her to fly home every weekend. If they're in a relationship, they need to compromise, and talk about things...Yeah, this is where that man on the cover, lost all my respect.
I understand that Joe, needs Annie, and is in love with her. But to be so full of himself that, he wants her to move, and not be there for her family. Joe kept saying, that she always chooses them (Annie's family) over him...Bro, her MOTHER HAS CANCER! I would have been completely okay, if he was killed off. But nope, he lives, and yes he is a dick throughout the entire book. I did not like Joe, nor there relationship, at all. They knew each other, when they were younger because Annie's mom cleaned his parents home. His parents didn't think she was good enough, and a gold digger....Ooh they were not subtle about how they felt at all.
I cannot harp enough on Joe because Annie basically has to teach him, how to receive/give love. Like his parents are so distant, and don't know how to show or give love. So Annie teaches him..Fast forward 3 years, and Annie is still in NY, and Joe is now moving back to NY... Annie now has an app called "Bad Bachelors" which is an app where you can review men, with whom you've had interactions or dated. Let's talk "Bad Bachelors" I love the app! It's a great idea, it's a safe space where women can be open and honest about exes. And not be told that "all men are like that or boys will be boys". Which is such a toxic trait that people have, we excuse certain behaviors because that's just how certain people are. We should not excuse their behaviors in fear, that you will never find love or whatever you're looking for. Annie also kept her app open and honest, she refused to take down bad/mean comments about a friends boyfriend. Which you're thinking is wrong, correct? I mean after all these are her best friends the least she can do is make sure that her friends, significant others, don't get bad reviews? But no Annie sticks to her guns, and refused to take down the comments, even if it means that her best-friend is no longer communicating with her.
I really did not like how Joe, thought he could check Annie, and keep her in line. Like he was confused on if he wanted to be an alpha male with her or be the man she deserves?? Bro get that **** together!
I really did not like how Joe, thought he could check Annie, and keep her in line. Like he was confused on if he wanted to be an alpha male with her or be the man she deserves?? Bro get that **** together!
In the end Annie fixes things with her friend, and keeps her integrity. Annie is a wonderful well rounded character, who deserves amazing love. Just not from Joe, he sucks honestly throughout the entire book. I really do not like him... Joe was a dick, who realized that if I love this women, I will be the MAN she needs, not who my father wants...I wish Annie had found someone else but ehh she's happy! My review is all over the place because I was definitely in my feelings, and cried wile reading this book.... Like the ending is to-die-for! My rating is 4.5/5
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Stefanie London is the USA Today bestselling author of over twenty contemporary romances and romantic comedies.
Stefanie’s books have been called “genuinely entertaining and memorable” by Booklist, and her writing praised as “Elegant, descriptive and delectable” by RT magazine. Her stories have earned accolades such as the RT Top Pick and have achieved bestseller status with USA Today and iBooks.
Growing up, Stefanie came from a family of women who loved to read. After sneaking several literature subjects into her ‘very practical’ Business degree, she worked in HR and Communications. But writing emails for executives didn’t fulfil her creative urges, so she turned to fiction and was finally able to write the stories that kept her mind busy at night.
Originally from Australia, she now lives in Toronto with her very own hero and is currently in the process of doing her best to travel the world. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, lipstick, romance novels and anything zombie-related.
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