ARC Review -- Smug Bastard
Title: Smug Bastard
Author: Stacie Marie Brown
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Type: Standalone (A Cocky Hero Club Novel)
POV: Dual
Release date: 28th June 2020
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It was my time, a cross country drive heading home for my brother’s wedding to figure out my life after college. Me, my dog named Goat, and the open road. That’s all I wanted.
He wasn’t supposed to be part of it. My older brother’s high school friend and my sister’s ex. The cocky boy my eleven-year-old-self hated.
The infamous Smith Blackburn.
AKA Smug Bastard.
The guy every girl wanted to be with and every guy wanted to be.
The day after graduation, he left town and disappeared, losing contact with my family. But nine years later, he resurfaces and becomes a thorn in my side once again.
After his motorcycle breaks down, my older siblings convince me to let him ride home with me. Kyle wants his old buddy at his wedding, and Kasey, still carrying a torch for him, wants nothing more than to see him again, convinced they are meant to be. It’s the last thing in the world I want, but I learned long ago going up against the powerhouse twins is futile.
After nine years, we’ve both grown up, but our mutual dislike lingers. Though I can’t deny he is the sexiest man I have ever seen in my life. His piercing blue eyes, gorgeous rugged face, and muscular, tall figure belong on magazine covers. But he’s still a smug bastard, and I’m still the annoying little “Baby K.”
Spending every minute together in a tiny camper van starts to twist the lines of hate, igniting feelings and passions I’ve never felt before, shoving me out of my safety bubble. Tension grows, and nights are filled with strain and forbidden desire.
But I can feel him holding back. Cagey and cryptic, Smith’s dark past hints at the surface.
When it finds us, nothing could have prepared me for the truth—the secrets that flip everything upside down.
I wasn’t supposed to fall for him.
He was never meant to be mine.
He wasn’t supposed to be part of it. My older brother’s high school friend and my sister’s ex. The cocky boy my eleven-year-old-self hated.
The infamous Smith Blackburn.
AKA Smug Bastard.
The guy every girl wanted to be with and every guy wanted to be.
The day after graduation, he left town and disappeared, losing contact with my family. But nine years later, he resurfaces and becomes a thorn in my side once again.
After his motorcycle breaks down, my older siblings convince me to let him ride home with me. Kyle wants his old buddy at his wedding, and Kasey, still carrying a torch for him, wants nothing more than to see him again, convinced they are meant to be. It’s the last thing in the world I want, but I learned long ago going up against the powerhouse twins is futile.
After nine years, we’ve both grown up, but our mutual dislike lingers. Though I can’t deny he is the sexiest man I have ever seen in my life. His piercing blue eyes, gorgeous rugged face, and muscular, tall figure belong on magazine covers. But he’s still a smug bastard, and I’m still the annoying little “Baby K.”
Spending every minute together in a tiny camper van starts to twist the lines of hate, igniting feelings and passions I’ve never felt before, shoving me out of my safety bubble. Tension grows, and nights are filled with strain and forbidden desire.
But I can feel him holding back. Cagey and cryptic, Smith’s dark past hints at the surface.
When it finds us, nothing could have prepared me for the truth—the secrets that flip everything upside down.
I wasn’t supposed to fall for him.
He was never meant to be mine.
PURCHASE LINK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
AUDIO LINK
https://www.audible.com/pd/
FIRST CHAPTER
All my reviews can be found on my blog : ABSTRACT BOOKS
Smug Bastard is another standalone novel in the Cocky Hero world by Stacie Marie Brown.
Damn, this author never fails to deliver an absolutely swoon-worthy hero and a spitfire heroine. This time too she has done it!!!
I absolutely loved Smug Bastard. It was everything you can expect from this author ,it was full of love, passion and angst. The main leads of the book were just amazing.
In this book we meet Kinsley , who is used to being in her siblings shadow. She ver wanted the spotlight and was happy to give it to them. Smith is her brother's best friend and has always been a charming asshole , who gets his way through life by using that charm. For Smith , Kelsie has always been Baby K and he always saw her as this annoying little sister.
However after many years, when they meet again , there spark re-ignited!!
Kelsie realises that she might not hate Smith as much as she once thought and Smith notices that Kelsie is so not the baby K he once knew. The woman in front of him is all sorts of grown up and smartass.
There were many reasons why they both were bad for each other , but they just could stay away .After a lot of push and pull they both give in to their attraction to see where it goes. However things do not go as good as they expected and their affair blows up in their faces .
Kelsie realizes that Smith has been hiding a lot from her and he was never supposed to be hers, which in turn leaves her heart broken.
On an overall basis , I absolutely loved the sexual tension between the main leads and the pain and angst the author has portrayed so perfectly!!
Smug bastard is a slow-burn contemporary romance read for anyone who is addicted to second-chance and redemption themes , much like me!!!
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