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Love in the Balance #2
Hard to Handle
ONCE BURNED Sadie Howard never dates a guy more than once-but Fate has other plans for her when it comes to Aiden Downey, the one that got away. Aiden loved her, left her, and broke her heart. Yet suddenly she's bumping into him at every turn, driven to distraction by his wicked grin and rock-hard body. Now she can't resist finishing what they started-as long as she doesn't let herself fall in love...
TWICE AS TEMPTING Aiden Downey threw away the best thing he ever had when he let Sadie go, and now he's determined to win back the woman he's always wanted. Sadie agrees to let him into her life—and her bed—as long as there are no strings attached. But Aiden's not about to make the same mistake again. Can he convince her to take a second chance on a once-in-a-lifetime love?
TWICE AS TEMPTING Aiden Downey threw away the best thing he ever had when he let Sadie go, and now he's determined to win back the woman he's always wanted. Sadie agrees to let him into her life—and her bed—as long as there are no strings attached. But Aiden's not about to make the same mistake again. Can he convince her to take a second chance on a once-in-a-lifetime love?
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
52 people are currently reading
1639 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Lemmon
195books1,907followersJessica Lemmon is a former job-hopper who resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dogs. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she’s not writing emotionally-charged stories, she spends her time drawing, drinking coffee, and laughing with friends. Her motto is Read for fun, and she believes we should all do more of what makes us happy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
August 15, 2017
★★★★! Hard To Handle (stand-alone), book 2 of 3. A feel-good, sweet & sexy story about two hurt souls� journey of forgiveness & letting go to give love a 2nd chance!
“I’ll make love to you until your toes are permanently curled.�
These are stand-alones, but most enjoyed when read in order:
Book 1:
Book 1.5: Can’t Let Go
Book 2: Hard To Handle
Book 3: The Millionaire Affair
In Hard To Handle (stand-alone, book 2) bike shop manager, Aiden Downey and bike parts sales rep Sadie Howard attend a wedding a year after they dated briefly. Aiden doesn’t regret leaving (abruptly) to take his mother for cancer treatment out of state, but in retrospect he wished he had been more forthcoming with Sadie so maybe they could have kept in touch.
Aiden and Sadie have both been hurt in the past. Sadie’s ex fiancé jilted her for her sister leaving scars that have been slow to heal. Aiden’s ex-wife cheated on him with his best friend and business partner plus losing his mother has left a void in his heart and an empty bank account.
Meeting up again was awkward, but also made them realize the intense, burning attraction they still have. A few weeks later their paths cross yet again when Sadie becomes the sales rep for the bike shop Aiden is managing and aspiring to own. Working side by side they can get past apologies and discomfort to form a friendship.
“They’d sort of left their� relationship?... on eternal pause.�
But Aiden wants more! He fell for Sadie when they first met and with time he has become more determined to build something deeper with her. Sadie on the other hand is still dealing with her past and not the least bit interested in throwing herself into a relationship.
Hard to Handle follows them on their journey of friendship and impasse as they both learn about dealing with and letting go of past hurts and taking a chance on love!
Six words to describe Aiden Downey: Reflective, easygoing, caring, honest, persistent and noble.
Six words to describe Sadie Ann Marie Howard: Insecure, focused, meek, loyal, dejected and caring.
Hard To Handle, told from dual POVs moves at a pleasant pace, albeit predictable at times, coming to a perfect ending for Aiden and Sadie. Well-deserved for them both!
Excellent story-telling! Adorable hero and heroine! A feel-good read!
***
Hero rating: 4 stars
Heroine rating: 3.5 stars
Sexual tension rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 3.5 stars
Plot rating: 4 stars
Dialogue rating: 4 stars
Storytelling rating: 4.5 stars
Story ending rating: 4.5 stars
Book editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): N/A
***
Overall rating: 4 stars
Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this series: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.
ARC provided to me by Grand Central Publishing, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2022
No. No. No. No. Nononononononono!
Do I make myself clear?
My disappointment is sooooo great this time because I know that it could have been a four stars. It had all the right ingredients to be an angsty story of a man who realized he made the worst mistake of his life and does his best to redeem himself and to regain the heroine’s trust, but the author spoiled it all and wasted a great opportunity for a marvelous love story.
So, recap.
The hero has been divorced for six months because he found his wife in bed with his bff and partner, BUT he still hasn’t told any of his relatives yet.
Jeez, really???
Oh, he’s a sexy biker, a good biker, not those bad ones from Sam Crescent, and sometimes this book made me long for one of them, and that’s all I have to say.
He meets the heroine in a club, she’s been dumped by her fiancé who married her lil sister instead, so she dates only once, trying to forget and get better.
They meet and it’s insta love. They decide to date again, and they are really falling in love like teenagers thinking yes, she’s the one, he’s him for me.
Though.
The hero won’t tell his mother he’s divorced because she had cancer and she would be sorry so when cancer comes back with a revenge and there’s nothing else to do, the hero, who’s the king of all beta heroes and ninnies all wrapped in one, decides he can’t tell her he’s divorced and pretends he’s still married to his slut of an ex.
Mummy dearest decides she wants to try a holistic clinic in another country and the hero dumps the heroine to be with his mother for the months she has left to live.
After all, he’s free and unemployed and living in his parents house, so he has to sacrifice himself and the heroine is a casualty.
The heroine who for the first time after her shitty ex left her is trusting another man, is obviously shattered.
After all he is the true love of her life.
One year goes by and mommy dearest has been dead for a while so we don’t understand why the hero didn’t go immediately after her funeral to the heroine begging on his knee to be taken back, even as a pet if she wants.
Or to mow her lawn.
Or to trim her edge.
Or to do the dishes.
Whatever.
He meets her accidentally at a wedding and then disappears from her life again for months when- accidentally still- he has to work with her on a contract.
Even then, he doesn’t go for it like he should and he stands aside because he has already hurt her enough.
Even if when he understands she’s still interested in him he doesn’t make a move.
Of all the losers he’s the biggest one.
And I started to doubt his oh so great love for her.
He should have courted her, woo her, talked her, but nope, big bad biker is not able to make a move.
It’s the heroine, the poor hurt heroine, who makes a move and decides to give her v card to the idiot.
Yes, the heroine is a 30 yo virgin, a very sexy and beautiful woman of 30 - virgin.
And no, she’s not from some religious groups where celibacy is a rule.
Hello sci fi.
The hero, instead of trying to win her back patiently and at her pace, since she’s been hurt and betrayed by men twice, and instead of trying to rebuild her trust in him with time, proposes.
Yes, like that.
And when she refuses he accepts to have sex with her but the day after he proposes again because he won’t be her sex plaything.
Really???
Really???
And when the heroine of course refuses again and asks for more time - after all it’s been only some days they have been dating and he already left her once, he dumps her again.
The book went down to two stars at once and with a loud bang.
So, this is the man she should trust??? A man that after the first issue in their relationship dumps her and does not even want her back??? Because he was betrayed by his first ex??
Imbecile, the woman is still hurt because after she gave you her already smashed heart you dumped her like garbage never even letting her near your parents so she thought she wasn’t good enough for you, she is giving you a second chance and you bully her into marriage or nothing and are not after her and trying to make her happy with all you can?
No, this man is not the right man for her.
He should have been there for her and he should have been always at her command since he fucked up badly the first time.
But nope, when she goes back to him and tells him she loves him the idiot rejects her again.
And this is where I gave one star.
But then I thought that he has been pining for her one year and has been celibate and thinking about her so I gave two pity stars.
But I’m not happy at all.
Oh, and the heroine’s ex who tries to blame her for his shitty behavior because she didn’t give him enough attention. Well he can go hang himself, again with the worst sister ever, because you don’t steal your sister’s fiancé, ever.
The fact that the author blamed the heroine for this two lowlifes betrayal was, oh, the cherry on the top.
So, sorry nope.
Worst hero ever, worst sister ever, worst ex fiancé ever.
And worst assembling of good potential ever.
Do I make myself clear?
My disappointment is sooooo great this time because I know that it could have been a four stars. It had all the right ingredients to be an angsty story of a man who realized he made the worst mistake of his life and does his best to redeem himself and to regain the heroine’s trust, but the author spoiled it all and wasted a great opportunity for a marvelous love story.
So, recap.
The hero has been divorced for six months because he found his wife in bed with his bff and partner, BUT he still hasn’t told any of his relatives yet.
Jeez, really???
Oh, he’s a sexy biker, a good biker, not those bad ones from Sam Crescent, and sometimes this book made me long for one of them, and that’s all I have to say.
He meets the heroine in a club, she’s been dumped by her fiancé who married her lil sister instead, so she dates only once, trying to forget and get better.
They meet and it’s insta love. They decide to date again, and they are really falling in love like teenagers thinking yes, she’s the one, he’s him for me.
Though.
The hero won’t tell his mother he’s divorced because she had cancer and she would be sorry so when cancer comes back with a revenge and there’s nothing else to do, the hero, who’s the king of all beta heroes and ninnies all wrapped in one, decides he can’t tell her he’s divorced and pretends he’s still married to his slut of an ex.
Mummy dearest decides she wants to try a holistic clinic in another country and the hero dumps the heroine to be with his mother for the months she has left to live.
After all, he’s free and unemployed and living in his parents house, so he has to sacrifice himself and the heroine is a casualty.
The heroine who for the first time after her shitty ex left her is trusting another man, is obviously shattered.
After all he is the true love of her life.
One year goes by and mommy dearest has been dead for a while so we don’t understand why the hero didn’t go immediately after her funeral to the heroine begging on his knee to be taken back, even as a pet if she wants.
Or to mow her lawn.
Or to trim her edge.
Or to do the dishes.
Whatever.
He meets her accidentally at a wedding and then disappears from her life again for months when- accidentally still- he has to work with her on a contract.
Even then, he doesn’t go for it like he should and he stands aside because he has already hurt her enough.
Even if when he understands she’s still interested in him he doesn’t make a move.
Of all the losers he’s the biggest one.
And I started to doubt his oh so great love for her.
He should have courted her, woo her, talked her, but nope, big bad biker is not able to make a move.
It’s the heroine, the poor hurt heroine, who makes a move and decides to give her v card to the idiot.
Yes, the heroine is a 30 yo virgin, a very sexy and beautiful woman of 30 - virgin.
And no, she’s not from some religious groups where celibacy is a rule.
Hello sci fi.
The hero, instead of trying to win her back patiently and at her pace, since she’s been hurt and betrayed by men twice, and instead of trying to rebuild her trust in him with time, proposes.
Yes, like that.
And when she refuses he accepts to have sex with her but the day after he proposes again because he won’t be her sex plaything.
Really???
Really???
And when the heroine of course refuses again and asks for more time - after all it’s been only some days they have been dating and he already left her once, he dumps her again.
The book went down to two stars at once and with a loud bang.
So, this is the man she should trust??? A man that after the first issue in their relationship dumps her and does not even want her back??? Because he was betrayed by his first ex??
Imbecile, the woman is still hurt because after she gave you her already smashed heart you dumped her like garbage never even letting her near your parents so she thought she wasn’t good enough for you, she is giving you a second chance and you bully her into marriage or nothing and are not after her and trying to make her happy with all you can?
No, this man is not the right man for her.
He should have been there for her and he should have been always at her command since he fucked up badly the first time.
But nope, when she goes back to him and tells him she loves him the idiot rejects her again.
And this is where I gave one star.
But then I thought that he has been pining for her one year and has been celibate and thinking about her so I gave two pity stars.
But I’m not happy at all.
Oh, and the heroine’s ex who tries to blame her for his shitty behavior because she didn’t give him enough attention. Well he can go hang himself, again with the worst sister ever, because you don’t steal your sister’s fiancé, ever.
The fact that the author blamed the heroine for this two lowlifes betrayal was, oh, the cherry on the top.
So, sorry nope.
Worst hero ever, worst sister ever, worst ex fiancé ever.
And worst assembling of good potential ever.
October 13, 2013
4 Pleasant Surprise Stars
This wasn't just lust. There was more. There'd always been more.
Let me start out by saying I am not usually a reader of "sweet" romances. I like my romances with a kick, preferably a dirty one. But every now and then, a girl needs some sweet, and I got the perfect dose of it with this book.
I went into this with zero expectations, having never read a book by Jessica Lemmon before. After finishing, I can definitely say I will not hesitate in picking up any of her future books. I fell in like with this book. No, it wasn't quite 'sing the book's praises from the rooftop' love, but I liked it a whole hell of a lot.
So you read the book blurb, and you might be expecting Aiden to be some type of heart-breaking, womanizing, man-whore, right? No? Odd...I did. Maybe because that seems to be all I read lately. Aiden was NOT that. I LOVED Aiden. He was the perfect combination of sexy as hell, sweet and yet also endearingly vulnerable. My heart broke for everything that he went through. I really loved that the reason he left Sadie a year ago was not your typical commitment phobe issues.
He recognized right away the mistake he made and now that he has another chance, he's determined to show Sadie that she needs to take another chance on him.
Sadie was tough, quirky and sassy. I love heroines like her. When Aiden left her a year ago, he left her with a broken heart. She's determined not to let any other man in again, especially the sex on a stick Aiden. So what happens when Aiden starts chipping away at all her hard built walls?
I loved how Aiden pursued Sadie. He wasn't pushy, domineering, or high handed. He simply wore his heart on his sleeve and made no attempts to hide it from her.
But don't get me wrong, while this book was sweet, it still had some steam. And Aiden definitely delivered on that end as well.
This book was just what I needed. It was sweet, with a side of steamy, and a fantastic hero.
We were also introduced to Aiden's brothers, the broody millionaire Landon and the angry, grieving Evan. I hope that we will be getting their stories next, because the set up already has me intrigued.
This book, while part of a series, can be easily read as a standalone.
**ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
For more reviews visit
This wasn't just lust. There was more. There'd always been more.
Let me start out by saying I am not usually a reader of "sweet" romances. I like my romances with a kick, preferably a dirty one. But every now and then, a girl needs some sweet, and I got the perfect dose of it with this book.
I went into this with zero expectations, having never read a book by Jessica Lemmon before. After finishing, I can definitely say I will not hesitate in picking up any of her future books. I fell in like with this book. No, it wasn't quite 'sing the book's praises from the rooftop' love, but I liked it a whole hell of a lot.
So you read the book blurb, and you might be expecting Aiden to be some type of heart-breaking, womanizing, man-whore, right? No? Odd...I did. Maybe because that seems to be all I read lately. Aiden was NOT that. I LOVED Aiden. He was the perfect combination of sexy as hell, sweet and yet also endearingly vulnerable. My heart broke for everything that he went through. I really loved that the reason he left Sadie a year ago was not your typical commitment phobe issues.
When she'd first met Aiden, hot-handed, dead-sexy-smile, two-hundred-pounds-of-delicious-golden-muscle Aiden, he'd been to hell and back. Now he'd been to hell and back, and returned for one more round trip with frequent flyer miles. And he was still clawing his way out of the depths.
He recognized right away the mistake he made and now that he has another chance, he's determined to show Sadie that she needs to take another chance on him.
Sadie was tough, quirky and sassy. I love heroines like her. When Aiden left her a year ago, he left her with a broken heart. She's determined not to let any other man in again, especially the sex on a stick Aiden. So what happens when Aiden starts chipping away at all her hard built walls?
I loved how Aiden pursued Sadie. He wasn't pushy, domineering, or high handed. He simply wore his heart on his sleeve and made no attempts to hide it from her.
But don't get me wrong, while this book was sweet, it still had some steam. And Aiden definitely delivered on that end as well.
This book was just what I needed. It was sweet, with a side of steamy, and a fantastic hero.
We were also introduced to Aiden's brothers, the broody millionaire Landon and the angry, grieving Evan. I hope that we will be getting their stories next, because the set up already has me intrigued.
This book, while part of a series, can be easily read as a standalone.
**ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
For more reviews visit
November 8, 2020
"Do you love her? "
"I don’t think I ever stopped."
After having read "Can't Let Go", the prequel novella to this book, I knew what I was getting myself into. I loved Aiden so much that I couldn't wait for his happily ever after, even if I already knew it was going to take its time.
"Or maybe (...) when she was with Aiden she was more herself than when she was without him."
So yeah, I was already a sucker for Aiden, and then I read Jessica's letter and realized Aiden was Charlie Hunnam (please look him up if you don't know who that is). That only made it worse (or better?). I love the fact that Aiden's been hurt by a woman he shouldn't have married, but that he's still willing to give love another go. And that he's resilient, persistent, protective... and hot. That was to be expected, right?
"Funny how she’d left minutes ago and he was already glad to see her again. She’d turned him into a damn golden retriever."
I absolutely love this quote, because that's Sadie for you. She doesn't even realize she is loved because she has this wall, complete with a moat and possibly a drawbridge to go with it, around her heart and her feelings. But she's not heartless, she's just been betrayed.
"Love shouldn’t be this hard."
Yes, so true. And for these two, life in general shouldn't have been this hard. They've both had it rough, they've had to cope with so much, but they had each other. They just couldn't see it. Infuriating. I wanted to shake them both. Badly.
“You don’t know how long you have with someone in this life, you know."
This sums it all up for me, because you really don't. People are here one day, and gone the next. Sometimes permanently. So I think this book was about forgiveness; I feel like they just needed to forgive themselves and each other to get on the road to their happily ever after (hopefully on a bike!). And together, they really can have everything.
"I don’t think I ever stopped."
After having read "Can't Let Go", the prequel novella to this book, I knew what I was getting myself into. I loved Aiden so much that I couldn't wait for his happily ever after, even if I already knew it was going to take its time.
"Or maybe (...) when she was with Aiden she was more herself than when she was without him."
So yeah, I was already a sucker for Aiden, and then I read Jessica's letter and realized Aiden was Charlie Hunnam (please look him up if you don't know who that is). That only made it worse (or better?). I love the fact that Aiden's been hurt by a woman he shouldn't have married, but that he's still willing to give love another go. And that he's resilient, persistent, protective... and hot. That was to be expected, right?
"Funny how she’d left minutes ago and he was already glad to see her again. She’d turned him into a damn golden retriever."
I absolutely love this quote, because that's Sadie for you. She doesn't even realize she is loved because she has this wall, complete with a moat and possibly a drawbridge to go with it, around her heart and her feelings. But she's not heartless, she's just been betrayed.
"Love shouldn’t be this hard."
Yes, so true. And for these two, life in general shouldn't have been this hard. They've both had it rough, they've had to cope with so much, but they had each other. They just couldn't see it. Infuriating. I wanted to shake them both. Badly.
“You don’t know how long you have with someone in this life, you know."
This sums it all up for me, because you really don't. People are here one day, and gone the next. Sometimes permanently. So I think this book was about forgiveness; I feel like they just needed to forgive themselves and each other to get on the road to their happily ever after (hopefully on a bike!). And together, they really can have everything.
October 20, 2013
Rating: 2 out of 5.
Sadie Howard is a serial dater who never goes out with a guy on more than one date, but then sometimes she breaks her rules... Aiden Downey found out that his mother was dying and even though he was in a relationship with Sadie, he decided to act as if he was still married to his ex-wife so that his mother wouldn't worry.
This just wasn't the book for me.
I found the hero and heroine a bit childish. For example, if the heroine did something the hero would be amused. Firstly, I didn’t find any of the situations he was smiling for, funny. There was this part where he tells this guy that they are married. I mean, hello, just dating would suffice or boyfriend at most. And then he finds it funny when she gets irritated by what he did. Also, the heroine would stamp around and secretly watch the hero and all I could think was, honestly, if you are that into him, just get with him already! There are times when I enjoy such chase and sullenness, but that wasn’t the case for this book.
I also didn’t like how most of the writing was about how attractive one found the other. It made me feel like the hero’s apology was too lust-related. Yes it is good that they find one another attractive, but so much description watered down the sincerity of their ‘love� for one another.
Also, if the hero was that upset that he had lost the heroine, then why wasn’t he doggedly pursuing her? Not only did a year pass after his mother’s death, but after the wedding scene he lets her go on her own way knowing that she loved him. I didn’t think the hero grovelled enough�
Having said that, I understand that some contemporary romance readers might like this book, so give it a go!
ARC Courtesy of NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Sadie Howard is a serial dater who never goes out with a guy on more than one date, but then sometimes she breaks her rules... Aiden Downey found out that his mother was dying and even though he was in a relationship with Sadie, he decided to act as if he was still married to his ex-wife so that his mother wouldn't worry.
This just wasn't the book for me.
I found the hero and heroine a bit childish. For example, if the heroine did something the hero would be amused. Firstly, I didn’t find any of the situations he was smiling for, funny. There was this part where he tells this guy that they are married. I mean, hello, just dating would suffice or boyfriend at most. And then he finds it funny when she gets irritated by what he did. Also, the heroine would stamp around and secretly watch the hero and all I could think was, honestly, if you are that into him, just get with him already! There are times when I enjoy such chase and sullenness, but that wasn’t the case for this book.
I also didn’t like how most of the writing was about how attractive one found the other. It made me feel like the hero’s apology was too lust-related. Yes it is good that they find one another attractive, but so much description watered down the sincerity of their ‘love� for one another.
Also, if the hero was that upset that he had lost the heroine, then why wasn’t he doggedly pursuing her? Not only did a year pass after his mother’s death, but after the wedding scene he lets her go on her own way knowing that she loved him. I didn’t think the hero grovelled enough�
Having said that, I understand that some contemporary romance readers might like this book, so give it a go!
ARC Courtesy of NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
May 10, 2019
I prefer writing from first-person POV. The writing is so confusing!
November 18, 2013
3.5 stars
The Blurb:
ONCE BURNED Sadie Howard never dates a guy more than once-but Fate has other plans for her when it comes to Aiden Downey, the one that got away. Aiden loved her, left her, and broke her heart. Yet suddenly she's bumping into him at every turn, driven to distraction by his wicked grin and rock-hard body. Now she can't resist finishing what they started-as long as she doesn't let herself fall in love...
TWICE AS TEMPTING Aiden Downey threw away the best thing he ever had when he let Sadie go, and now he's determined to win back the woman he's always wanted. Sadie agrees to let him into her life-and her bed-as long as there are no strings attached. But Aiden's not about to make the same mistake again. Can he convince her to take a second chance on a once-in-a-lifetime love?
This book has all the elements to be an engaging read. The MCs are both strong and have a true sense of who they are. Aiden is from a family which is recovering from many losses; the mother from cancer, a sister in law's death and his own broken marriage. On top of all of that suffering, he made the mistake in giving up on a budding love; a love with Sadie.
Sadie has still not recovered from Aiden's rejection of her. Part of the reason is rejection has happened to her one too many times. She was engaged and in the process of arranging all that a girl does to have that perfect wedding, only to find out the man she is to marry has decided to marry her baby sister instead. To add insult to injury, her parents had approved of the switch before Sadie knew she was being dumped.
This tale tells of two people who must learn to trust their instincts; learn that time is precious and there are no guarantees in life. The questions are asked and answered in an entertaining way with lots of cat and mouse sexy times between Aiden and Sadie.
This is a stand alone read with a heartfelt HEA.
Arc was given through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Blurb:
ONCE BURNED Sadie Howard never dates a guy more than once-but Fate has other plans for her when it comes to Aiden Downey, the one that got away. Aiden loved her, left her, and broke her heart. Yet suddenly she's bumping into him at every turn, driven to distraction by his wicked grin and rock-hard body. Now she can't resist finishing what they started-as long as she doesn't let herself fall in love...
TWICE AS TEMPTING Aiden Downey threw away the best thing he ever had when he let Sadie go, and now he's determined to win back the woman he's always wanted. Sadie agrees to let him into her life-and her bed-as long as there are no strings attached. But Aiden's not about to make the same mistake again. Can he convince her to take a second chance on a once-in-a-lifetime love?
This book has all the elements to be an engaging read. The MCs are both strong and have a true sense of who they are. Aiden is from a family which is recovering from many losses; the mother from cancer, a sister in law's death and his own broken marriage. On top of all of that suffering, he made the mistake in giving up on a budding love; a love with Sadie.
Sadie has still not recovered from Aiden's rejection of her. Part of the reason is rejection has happened to her one too many times. She was engaged and in the process of arranging all that a girl does to have that perfect wedding, only to find out the man she is to marry has decided to marry her baby sister instead. To add insult to injury, her parents had approved of the switch before Sadie knew she was being dumped.
This tale tells of two people who must learn to trust their instincts; learn that time is precious and there are no guarantees in life. The questions are asked and answered in an entertaining way with lots of cat and mouse sexy times between Aiden and Sadie.
This is a stand alone read with a heartfelt HEA.
Arc was given through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2015
Hard to Handle is a short, sweet romance in which nothing really happens and everything is wrong.
You know, I initially wrote out this review with detailed descriptions of every single problem I had with this book, but I wasn't even half done and the review was practically a full-length novel, so I decided maybe bullet points are better. I will be happy to provide more examples (and more things I didn't like) if necessary.
� THE TIMELINE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. First and foremost, I cannot for the life of me figure out when things are supposed to be happening. Everything seemed horribly rushed and contrived, but maybe that's because I didn't read book one. (Of course, I didn't know there was a book one until this little guy showed up at my door saying it was book two!) According to my fellow reviewers, not reading book one should have little impact on the understanding of book two, but I still wonder if having that background information would have made the story flow better.
� THE WHOLE DIVORCE/HIDING SADIE THING MADE NO SENSE AT ALL. From what I understand, Aiden and Sadie dated briefly and then broke up because his mom got sick and he had to take care of her, and also he didn't want his mom to know he was divorced and dating a new woman? I don't know, that part didn't make sense to me. Did his mom really like his ex-wife? Would she really have been devastated to find out they'd split? She'd rather live her last days believing a lie than know that her son was happy with a new woman? I mean, it sounds like Aiden and Harmony had a pretty toxic relationship, and it sounds like his mom was a reasonable woman... so from the beginning, the whole relationship drama didn't make much sense to me.
� BE TOGETHER OR DON'T. STOP WITH THE NONSENSE. I'm not sure whether or not I can call this instalove, seeing how Aiden and Sadie dated for some indeterminate amount of time some indeterminate number of months/years ago. Aiden never stopped loving Sadie, and Sadie absolutely despises Aiden. Except when she doesn't. But then she does again. But then she loves him. And then she wants to break up, even though she won't admit they're dating. She can't get enough of him. She wants him to just LEAVE HER ALONE. This is one of my pet peeves in romance novels. If your relationship goes through that many ups and downs and you can't decide whether you love or hate your partner, you probably shouldn't be dating. It's as simple as that.
� SADIE WAS ACTUALLY AWFUL. Yes, Aiden dumped her. It was probably awful, most breakups are. But Aiden had a good reason, and as her best friend actually points out, she needs to stop using it as an excuse to be terrible to him. She feels that she can justify every snide remark or rude action because he left her to take care of his mom. As if it was the worst possible thing he could've done. I think she hates Aiden more for moving away than she hates her ex-fiance for sleeping with her sister.
� AIDEN WAS ACTUALLY AWFUL TOO. Aiden is the worst kind of awful, because he hides in such a sweet persona. I wonder if the author even realizes that she created such an awful character. You see, Aiden wants what he wants. And what he wants is
� WHY IS EVERYTHING ABOUT MARRIAGE? Why does marriage dominate the lives of these men and women? Everything is about a proposal, a dead wife, a ring, did she say yes yet?, wow they're engaged, a fiance... I think that every woman who is mentioned in more than one scene actually has a marriage plot in this book. It is absolutely ridiculous. There's nothing wrong with marriage, or with wanting to have a family, but it almost comes across like the author of this ROMANCE NOVEL is uncomfortable with the idea of unmarried people being together!
I actually enjoyed this book at the beginning. I knew that it wouldn't be one of my favorites, but it was a good way to pass the time. A quick, easy read. But then Aiden got all weird and clingy, and Sadie did a complete 180. I would have liked it better if they'd ended up apart because I just felt like Sadie was shoved into a life she didn't want, a life that she had been insisting that she wasn't interested in.
Final rating: a generous 2/5.
Thank you to the publisher and ŷ First Reads for the free copy.
You know, I initially wrote out this review with detailed descriptions of every single problem I had with this book, but I wasn't even half done and the review was practically a full-length novel, so I decided maybe bullet points are better. I will be happy to provide more examples (and more things I didn't like) if necessary.
� THE TIMELINE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. First and foremost, I cannot for the life of me figure out when things are supposed to be happening. Everything seemed horribly rushed and contrived, but maybe that's because I didn't read book one. (Of course, I didn't know there was a book one until this little guy showed up at my door saying it was book two!) According to my fellow reviewers, not reading book one should have little impact on the understanding of book two, but I still wonder if having that background information would have made the story flow better.
� THE WHOLE DIVORCE/HIDING SADIE THING MADE NO SENSE AT ALL. From what I understand, Aiden and Sadie dated briefly and then broke up because his mom got sick and he had to take care of her, and also he didn't want his mom to know he was divorced and dating a new woman? I don't know, that part didn't make sense to me. Did his mom really like his ex-wife? Would she really have been devastated to find out they'd split? She'd rather live her last days believing a lie than know that her son was happy with a new woman? I mean, it sounds like Aiden and Harmony had a pretty toxic relationship, and it sounds like his mom was a reasonable woman... so from the beginning, the whole relationship drama didn't make much sense to me.
� BE TOGETHER OR DON'T. STOP WITH THE NONSENSE. I'm not sure whether or not I can call this instalove, seeing how Aiden and Sadie dated for some indeterminate amount of time some indeterminate number of months/years ago. Aiden never stopped loving Sadie, and Sadie absolutely despises Aiden. Except when she doesn't. But then she does again. But then she loves him. And then she wants to break up, even though she won't admit they're dating. She can't get enough of him. She wants him to just LEAVE HER ALONE. This is one of my pet peeves in romance novels. If your relationship goes through that many ups and downs and you can't decide whether you love or hate your partner, you probably shouldn't be dating. It's as simple as that.
� SADIE WAS ACTUALLY AWFUL. Yes, Aiden dumped her. It was probably awful, most breakups are. But Aiden had a good reason, and as her best friend actually points out, she needs to stop using it as an excuse to be terrible to him. She feels that she can justify every snide remark or rude action because he left her to take care of his mom. As if it was the worst possible thing he could've done. I think she hates Aiden more for moving away than she hates her ex-fiance for sleeping with her sister.
� AIDEN WAS ACTUALLY AWFUL TOO. Aiden is the worst kind of awful, because he hides in such a sweet persona. I wonder if the author even realizes that she created such an awful character. You see, Aiden wants what he wants. And what he wants is
� WHY IS EVERYTHING ABOUT MARRIAGE? Why does marriage dominate the lives of these men and women? Everything is about a proposal, a dead wife, a ring, did she say yes yet?, wow they're engaged, a fiance... I think that every woman who is mentioned in more than one scene actually has a marriage plot in this book. It is absolutely ridiculous. There's nothing wrong with marriage, or with wanting to have a family, but it almost comes across like the author of this ROMANCE NOVEL is uncomfortable with the idea of unmarried people being together!
I actually enjoyed this book at the beginning. I knew that it wouldn't be one of my favorites, but it was a good way to pass the time. A quick, easy read. But then Aiden got all weird and clingy, and Sadie did a complete 180. I would have liked it better if they'd ended up apart because I just felt like Sadie was shoved into a life she didn't want, a life that she had been insisting that she wasn't interested in.
Final rating: a generous 2/5.
Thank you to the publisher and ŷ First Reads for the free copy.
October 1, 2013
4 Stars!!
This was my very first Jessica Lemmon book and I have to say, I am impressed. I really loved this book. I loved Sadie. She was cute, witty, smart, and everything I love in a heroine. She fell for the super sexy biker Aiden once and was burned and she was bound and determined to not go there again.
Aiden is hot. Smoking hot. All broody, tatted up biker. He burned Sadie, but he totally regrets doing it. And he burned her for good reason. He's been through a lot and he is on the road to recovery. He's taken a vow of celibacy until marriage and trying to wear Sadie down. Sadie wants no part in marriage after her engagement goes bad when her sister steals her man. Sadie just wants some sexy times with Aiden, no strings attached.
So, can Aiden wear Sadie down or can Sadie convice him to just have the sexy times? Oh, and wait til you hear Miss Sadie's secret. You go, girl!
Don't want to spoil it for you, so I'll stop. I think I need to go back and read Crickitt and Shane's book now. I totally loved them in this book!
*Copy kindly provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!!
This was my very first Jessica Lemmon book and I have to say, I am impressed. I really loved this book. I loved Sadie. She was cute, witty, smart, and everything I love in a heroine. She fell for the super sexy biker Aiden once and was burned and she was bound and determined to not go there again.
Aiden is hot. Smoking hot. All broody, tatted up biker. He burned Sadie, but he totally regrets doing it. And he burned her for good reason. He's been through a lot and he is on the road to recovery. He's taken a vow of celibacy until marriage and trying to wear Sadie down. Sadie wants no part in marriage after her engagement goes bad when her sister steals her man. Sadie just wants some sexy times with Aiden, no strings attached.
So, can Aiden wear Sadie down or can Sadie convice him to just have the sexy times? Oh, and wait til you hear Miss Sadie's secret. You go, girl!
Don't want to spoil it for you, so I'll stop. I think I need to go back and read Crickitt and Shane's book now. I totally loved them in this book!
*Copy kindly provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!!
September 27, 2013
No one knows how long you will have the person you love, one day they are with you the next day they might be gone. So enjoy them while you have them, show them that you love them and don’t let one action keep you from telling them how much you love them. Tell them I Love You as often as you can.
I really liked this book! I loved Aiden and his way of being. I loved what he did for his mom and even though his sibling’s didn’t support what he did, he did what his mother wanted. He truly was the strong one of his family. Now as for Sadie, I did like her but it seemed that she could not get over the fact that Aiden had ended their couple of dates, but it’s not like he didn’t want to be with her. I totally understand that she felt hurt and yes maybe he could have asked for her support rather than breaking her heart. He could have told his family the truth about his situation and that he was in love with another woman. Only that at that time he was only thinking about his mother and what she was going through.
This story begins with Shane and Crickett’s wedding and both Aiden Downey and Sadie Howard are in attendance. It’s been about a year and they now find themselves facing each other for the first time since that dreadful phone call. My heart broke for both of them but I’m sorry I felt worse for Aiden maybe because of his situation and what he gave up for his mom. I felt bad for both of them for what they could have had the amount of time they could have shared together, loving each other.
A little over a month after the wedding Aiden and Sadie reconnected when she was trying to get a contract secured in order to be number one in the sales position at Midwest. Aiden is second in command at Axle’s and he was trying to find a way to secure the purchase of Axel’s and the satellite stores. When Aiden signed the contract, Sadie now has to work at Axel’s until the very last part from their former supplier is sold. Now that they find themselves working together day in and day out it was hard for them to not develop feelings for each other again, but then again they never went away they were just buried deep.
Sadie and Aiden went out a couple of times and Aiden opens up to Sadie about what he went though during his mom’s illness. The financially difficulty he has had and about how he is having a hard time coming up with the money to secure Axle’s. Sadie actually asks Aiden to accompany her to a party where Aiden announces that he and Sadie are going to be married. I could not believe him but Sadie got the results she wanted.
The day when Sadie went to a family gathering she went home and sort of had a pity party but then Aiden arrives. That is when Sadie opens up to Aiden about what happened at her step sister’s birthday party and what her ex-fiancé said about her. In order for Sadie not to close up that is when he confesses about what he has been going through with his siblings, how they blamed him for their mom not getting chemo. How he thought he let his mom die. This is where my tears streamed down my face, I felt so bad for him and what he went through and still going through. Now this is where I stop and tell you that you need to read this book in order to figure out what happens after this and find out what Sadie has been hiding about herself.
Hard to Handle is a great read. Ms. Lemmon’s writing is fabulous and engaging; her writing style is clear and focused. The storyline is heartwarming, heart breaking and charming, it had me smiling, laughing but it also made me cry. The dialogue is great and the characters are splendid. The pace of this story was a little slow in the beginning but in a good way because they were still feeling each other out, they were protecting their heart. I did feel bad for Sadie when she went to her step sister’s birthday party and her sister made a big announcement. Then she gets trapped by Trey, her ex-fiancé, he truly had some hurtful words to tell her but I believe they were the truth. At times Sadie is thinking too much about herself and she tends to forget about the people around her. Sort of like with Aiden did she ever think about what he was going through during his mom’s illness then after her death. Yes, he broke Sadie’s heart but he was just thinking about his mom’s well being. I loved Sadie’s personality and how she just seemed to melt when she was with Aiden, just a touch or a kiss from him and she was in heaven. My heart broke for Aiden when he poured his heart out and she could not but then when she was ready to declare her love Aiden walked away. I do have one minor complain about this book and that is the situation between Aiden and his siblings. It seemed like they were okay in the epilogue but it was not clear. I wanted to know how or if they resolved the problem. I did love how Aiden’s father finally opens up about his wife’s death. One last thing, the chemistry between Aiden and Sadie is smokin� hot and they truly deserved to be happy.
I highly recommend that everyone read this book. I certainly know that I plan to read the first book of this series and any other book that Ms. Lemmon’s may write.
I really liked this book! I loved Aiden and his way of being. I loved what he did for his mom and even though his sibling’s didn’t support what he did, he did what his mother wanted. He truly was the strong one of his family. Now as for Sadie, I did like her but it seemed that she could not get over the fact that Aiden had ended their couple of dates, but it’s not like he didn’t want to be with her. I totally understand that she felt hurt and yes maybe he could have asked for her support rather than breaking her heart. He could have told his family the truth about his situation and that he was in love with another woman. Only that at that time he was only thinking about his mother and what she was going through.
This story begins with Shane and Crickett’s wedding and both Aiden Downey and Sadie Howard are in attendance. It’s been about a year and they now find themselves facing each other for the first time since that dreadful phone call. My heart broke for both of them but I’m sorry I felt worse for Aiden maybe because of his situation and what he gave up for his mom. I felt bad for both of them for what they could have had the amount of time they could have shared together, loving each other.
A little over a month after the wedding Aiden and Sadie reconnected when she was trying to get a contract secured in order to be number one in the sales position at Midwest. Aiden is second in command at Axle’s and he was trying to find a way to secure the purchase of Axel’s and the satellite stores. When Aiden signed the contract, Sadie now has to work at Axel’s until the very last part from their former supplier is sold. Now that they find themselves working together day in and day out it was hard for them to not develop feelings for each other again, but then again they never went away they were just buried deep.
Sadie and Aiden went out a couple of times and Aiden opens up to Sadie about what he went though during his mom’s illness. The financially difficulty he has had and about how he is having a hard time coming up with the money to secure Axle’s. Sadie actually asks Aiden to accompany her to a party where Aiden announces that he and Sadie are going to be married. I could not believe him but Sadie got the results she wanted.
The day when Sadie went to a family gathering she went home and sort of had a pity party but then Aiden arrives. That is when Sadie opens up to Aiden about what happened at her step sister’s birthday party and what her ex-fiancé said about her. In order for Sadie not to close up that is when he confesses about what he has been going through with his siblings, how they blamed him for their mom not getting chemo. How he thought he let his mom die. This is where my tears streamed down my face, I felt so bad for him and what he went through and still going through. Now this is where I stop and tell you that you need to read this book in order to figure out what happens after this and find out what Sadie has been hiding about herself.
Hard to Handle is a great read. Ms. Lemmon’s writing is fabulous and engaging; her writing style is clear and focused. The storyline is heartwarming, heart breaking and charming, it had me smiling, laughing but it also made me cry. The dialogue is great and the characters are splendid. The pace of this story was a little slow in the beginning but in a good way because they were still feeling each other out, they were protecting their heart. I did feel bad for Sadie when she went to her step sister’s birthday party and her sister made a big announcement. Then she gets trapped by Trey, her ex-fiancé, he truly had some hurtful words to tell her but I believe they were the truth. At times Sadie is thinking too much about herself and she tends to forget about the people around her. Sort of like with Aiden did she ever think about what he was going through during his mom’s illness then after her death. Yes, he broke Sadie’s heart but he was just thinking about his mom’s well being. I loved Sadie’s personality and how she just seemed to melt when she was with Aiden, just a touch or a kiss from him and she was in heaven. My heart broke for Aiden when he poured his heart out and she could not but then when she was ready to declare her love Aiden walked away. I do have one minor complain about this book and that is the situation between Aiden and his siblings. It seemed like they were okay in the epilogue but it was not clear. I wanted to know how or if they resolved the problem. I did love how Aiden’s father finally opens up about his wife’s death. One last thing, the chemistry between Aiden and Sadie is smokin� hot and they truly deserved to be happy.
I highly recommend that everyone read this book. I certainly know that I plan to read the first book of this series and any other book that Ms. Lemmon’s may write.
July 28, 2015
Hard to Handle is the second book in the Love in the Balance series, I hadn't read book one before picking this up, but I honestly didn't notice. The author did a great job keeping this a self-contained romance.
The story is about Aidan and Sadie, their struggle to let go of the past, to move on in the present towards their future. It is a sweet romance, with some really lovely moments, but there are also sections that were slightly jarring, knocking me out of the scene.
Sadie and Aidan have a past. A year previously they met, talked all night, got hot and steamy, but before things could go further, and as Aidan's mum was dying of cancer, his ex-wife comes back into his life, not because he still has feelings for her, but to save his mother the anguish and worry of finding out they are actually separated and going through a divorce. He also ups and moves to help his mother try and live out her remaining days as she wishes, which has him at odds with his siblings as it's more along the lines of alternative medicine.
Sadie was devastated when Aidan dumped her over the phone. She thought they had connected on a deep level, and was hurt more than she thought possible when he left. A year later, the present day, Sadie sees Aidan again at her friend's wedding, and all those feelings come rushing back.
They dance around each other for a while, but of course they eventually give in, but not before a few truths are aired, secrets are revealed, and lots of feelings are thrown about the place. Fear plays a huge role in Sadie's life, and although her exterior is professional, and hard at times, deep down she finds many things difficult to deal with, especially when it comes to Aidan.
I found their relationship an odd one. On the one hand I could understand their fears, but on the other I just wished they'd get it on already. It was only in the last quarter of the book they actually got down and dirty, after at least three or four false starts throughout the first three quarters of the book.
I was also surprised at some of the decisions from both Aidan and Sadie, and especially the trope of not having sex before marriage, personally it's not a trope I particularly care for, and to be honest was a little disappointed to find it here. But as the plot moved forward, Aidan suddenly goes off the idea just so he can seduce Sadie and orgasm her to death... well, at least into saying yes to marriage. There is quite a bit of starting and stopping when it came to their relationship. When one was ready the other wasn't, then when they caught up the other got cold feet. It was a touch silly and a lot frustrating.
There were also a few places where I cringed, and the repetitive terms "raking" and "rasping" when it came to the romantic scenes just threw me completely out of the moment:
- touching yes, but this sounds painful to me rather than hot and sexy.
- how about brushed over her lips or nibbled her lips, "raking" just doesn't work for me.
There were some sentences that were a little cliché too, and could have done without as they really didn't add anything to the over story or romance:
However, some of the scenes were really hot and steamy, and there were moments when the author's writing really shined. The humour was nice too:
Sadie and Aidan as characters are sweet though. They are warm and I did care about them and their outcome. I had become invested in them which is so important to me when reading any book, but especially when reading a romance, as it's the connection between the two lovers that is basically the entire story and so they need to be captivating and likeable.
There were also a few secondary characters that I really liked. Two of them are the couple from book one, and I assume the series will continue with a few of the others. I liked Aidan's brother Evan, as he seems rather aloof and I think he would be an interesting character.
Hard to Handle has its flaws, with repetitive terms throughout and slightly clumsy prose. However, the characters are extremely likeable, and although their romance is a little too bumpy, which became frustrating, it's a sweet and sexy story with a happy ever after. I would definitely try more from this author.
The story is about Aidan and Sadie, their struggle to let go of the past, to move on in the present towards their future. It is a sweet romance, with some really lovely moments, but there are also sections that were slightly jarring, knocking me out of the scene.
Sadie and Aidan have a past. A year previously they met, talked all night, got hot and steamy, but before things could go further, and as Aidan's mum was dying of cancer, his ex-wife comes back into his life, not because he still has feelings for her, but to save his mother the anguish and worry of finding out they are actually separated and going through a divorce. He also ups and moves to help his mother try and live out her remaining days as she wishes, which has him at odds with his siblings as it's more along the lines of alternative medicine.
Sadie was devastated when Aidan dumped her over the phone. She thought they had connected on a deep level, and was hurt more than she thought possible when he left. A year later, the present day, Sadie sees Aidan again at her friend's wedding, and all those feelings come rushing back.
They dance around each other for a while, but of course they eventually give in, but not before a few truths are aired, secrets are revealed, and lots of feelings are thrown about the place. Fear plays a huge role in Sadie's life, and although her exterior is professional, and hard at times, deep down she finds many things difficult to deal with, especially when it comes to Aidan.
I found their relationship an odd one. On the one hand I could understand their fears, but on the other I just wished they'd get it on already. It was only in the last quarter of the book they actually got down and dirty, after at least three or four false starts throughout the first three quarters of the book.
I was also surprised at some of the decisions from both Aidan and Sadie, and especially the trope of not having sex before marriage, personally it's not a trope I particularly care for, and to be honest was a little disappointed to find it here. But as the plot moved forward, Aidan suddenly goes off the idea just so he can seduce Sadie and orgasm her to death... well, at least into saying yes to marriage. There is quite a bit of starting and stopping when it came to their relationship. When one was ready the other wasn't, then when they caught up the other got cold feet. It was a touch silly and a lot frustrating.
There were also a few places where I cringed, and the repetitive terms "raking" and "rasping" when it came to the romantic scenes just threw me completely out of the moment:
"He rasped her cheek with the back of his knuckles because he couldn't stand being this close and not touching her."
- touching yes, but this sounds painful to me rather than hot and sexy.
"...his teeth raking over her lips as a low, guttural grown emitted from his throat."
- how about brushed over her lips or nibbled her lips, "raking" just doesn't work for me.
There were some sentences that were a little cliché too, and could have done without as they really didn't add anything to the over story or romance:
"Damn, she looked good in pink - like a cupcake with too much frosting. Guaranteed to make his teeth ache."
However, some of the scenes were really hot and steamy, and there were moments when the author's writing really shined. The humour was nice too:
"He worked the corkscrew into the bottle and refilled her glass, sending her a wink that had her sagging against the counter behind her. Then he took both their glasses and swaggered his sweet ass into her living room. Sadie knew because she kept her eyes on it the entire time."
Sadie and Aidan as characters are sweet though. They are warm and I did care about them and their outcome. I had become invested in them which is so important to me when reading any book, but especially when reading a romance, as it's the connection between the two lovers that is basically the entire story and so they need to be captivating and likeable.
There were also a few secondary characters that I really liked. Two of them are the couple from book one, and I assume the series will continue with a few of the others. I liked Aidan's brother Evan, as he seems rather aloof and I think he would be an interesting character.
Hard to Handle has its flaws, with repetitive terms throughout and slightly clumsy prose. However, the characters are extremely likeable, and although their romance is a little too bumpy, which became frustrating, it's a sweet and sexy story with a happy ever after. I would definitely try more from this author.
November 23, 2017
More Reviews in
Hard to Handle is so CUTE and HOT and AMAZING! And I freaking loved it to pieces.... I mean how could you not? Look at this cover, it's to die for! I confess that I didn't read the book "Tempting the Billionaire" but I am on my way to, because if that book is even a third of this one than it will be spectacular. Jessica Lemmon is officially my go-to author for a rainy day when you want to curl up with a book and laugh your ass off.
I loved every single character in here because everyone is so funny and unique. They all have a say in the story, they all help out and they all contribute to the main characters in a way that sometimes other books seem to forget to mention. Crickitt, Shane, Evan, Axel, Aiden's dad and all his brothers and Sister and even Sadie's family (Which I hate) play an important part in here and are never forgotten or dismissed as unimportant.
I am liking Sadie so much that I think I have a girl crush on her. She's this blond, tiny, curvy girl that really likes the color pink... But when she opens her mouth, man you do not want to get her mad at you! She's kickass... I always said that any girl that can rock eight inch heels and deal with a bunch of guys twice her size at the same time deserves my respect! Especially because those heels would kill me should I try to wear them... But there's more. This girl has had her fair share of broken hearts which gave this tough chick a vulnerable side!
With Aiden, she could have anything. She could have everything. There never should have been any doubt.
Aiden is rocking my mind. After his mother passed away from cancer he's determined to start a new life for himself, and even get back the girl who's heart he broke to help his mother. How heartbreaking is that? He broke up with Sadie to dedicate his time to his mother and now he wants her back but he will have to fight for her. At the start I though he would be an idiot because he gave up on Sadie but then his actions and sweet words won me over in an instant. He's a caring, respectful guy with a hard past. But he also has his alpha side that when we finally get to see, it's quite captivating. And that's why Sadie is perfect for him... Seriously, their chemistry is off the charts!
"You should put on a clean shirt," she whispered, not speaking the words he read so easily in her eyes.
"You should kiss me," he murmured.
Shane and Crickitt are amazing and I just found out that they were in the first book of this series so I am about to devour that book, because I also fell in love with them here!
I am sorry but I cannot like Celeste and What's-his-face, mainly because he cheated on Sadie... I mean if he hadn't cheated on her she would be married and without Aiden but it's still cheating... So that is the only thing I didn't like in the book.
YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY! This book is going to rock your socks! It's fast and heavy with romance and hot scenes! It's a light funny read that will make you fall in love with the characters and make you do crazy cheering things and then make you crazy with need. BTW it's not easy to read this if you're single... Just Saying.
*Arc copy of the book received by Netgalley in return of an HONEST review.*
Hard to Handle is so CUTE and HOT and AMAZING! And I freaking loved it to pieces.... I mean how could you not? Look at this cover, it's to die for! I confess that I didn't read the book "Tempting the Billionaire" but I am on my way to, because if that book is even a third of this one than it will be spectacular. Jessica Lemmon is officially my go-to author for a rainy day when you want to curl up with a book and laugh your ass off.
I loved every single character in here because everyone is so funny and unique. They all have a say in the story, they all help out and they all contribute to the main characters in a way that sometimes other books seem to forget to mention. Crickitt, Shane, Evan, Axel, Aiden's dad and all his brothers and Sister and even Sadie's family (Which I hate) play an important part in here and are never forgotten or dismissed as unimportant.
I am liking Sadie so much that I think I have a girl crush on her. She's this blond, tiny, curvy girl that really likes the color pink... But when she opens her mouth, man you do not want to get her mad at you! She's kickass... I always said that any girl that can rock eight inch heels and deal with a bunch of guys twice her size at the same time deserves my respect! Especially because those heels would kill me should I try to wear them... But there's more. This girl has had her fair share of broken hearts which gave this tough chick a vulnerable side!
With Aiden, she could have anything. She could have everything. There never should have been any doubt.
Aiden is rocking my mind. After his mother passed away from cancer he's determined to start a new life for himself, and even get back the girl who's heart he broke to help his mother. How heartbreaking is that? He broke up with Sadie to dedicate his time to his mother and now he wants her back but he will have to fight for her. At the start I though he would be an idiot because he gave up on Sadie but then his actions and sweet words won me over in an instant. He's a caring, respectful guy with a hard past. But he also has his alpha side that when we finally get to see, it's quite captivating. And that's why Sadie is perfect for him... Seriously, their chemistry is off the charts!
"You should put on a clean shirt," she whispered, not speaking the words he read so easily in her eyes.
"You should kiss me," he murmured.
Shane and Crickitt are amazing and I just found out that they were in the first book of this series so I am about to devour that book, because I also fell in love with them here!
I am sorry but I cannot like Celeste and What's-his-face, mainly because he cheated on Sadie... I mean if he hadn't cheated on her she would be married and without Aiden but it's still cheating... So that is the only thing I didn't like in the book.
YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY! This book is going to rock your socks! It's fast and heavy with romance and hot scenes! It's a light funny read that will make you fall in love with the characters and make you do crazy cheering things and then make you crazy with need. BTW it's not easy to read this if you're single... Just Saying.
*Arc copy of the book received by Netgalley in return of an HONEST review.*
December 1, 2013
Hard To Handle
by Jessica Lemmon
Rating: Did Not Finish, 1 of 5 stars
My Review:
It's really hard for me to give reviews this low, but I've tried to get through this one, three times now and somehow I just can't force myself to do it. I didn't care for the writing style and then on top of that the characters just bugged me a lot. They're whiny, irritating and totally unable to make me care about them except for the desire to slap them. Eventually I skipped to the end and read the last 20 pages just to see if it got better and I'd believe their happily ever after and then start caring about the rest. Didn't work, I was still irritated with them at the end.
I don't even know what world Sadie's living in. She dresses provocatively and yet she's so modest and fragile. The idea behind those things being explicitly stated, leaves me feeling like the book is trying to pigeon-hole Sadie into a whore/virgin dichotomy instead of just letting her be a self-assured heroine. See, Aiden is attracted to her because of the way she dresses, but he's MORE attracted because she's really so modest and fragile � because in Aiden-land, if she weren't modest and fragile, she wouldn't be as worthy of the small amount of manly respect that he gives her. In fact, if she weren't so secretly modest and fragile, I think he would have lost interest and moved on. In his manly world, he's only interested in her still because he hadn't gotten into her pants before.
Aiden is sort-of trying to win Sadie back, but he's manipulative, unapologetic and your basic whiny brat. He behaves like a spoiled child and instead of walking away, Sadie just sits and cries about it. I swear these two had the emotional intelligence of toddlers. Sadie has every right to be angry with Aiden for the way he treated her but mostly she's just whiny and pitiful. Like even after a year away from him, she's still throwing herself a pity-party.
Plus there's Sadie's business sense that just seems to be missing. She's the second best salesperson at this company, but somehow she managed to put this whole huge amount of stuff into the contract that was just signed. Including things like she will personally buy up all the competitor's stock from the store if it doesn't sell. Seems a bit shady and even more confusing to know that someone else at the company's legal department supposedly vetted it and put all the details together.
I swear, it felt like the book was trying to prove how Sadie was nothing important without Aiden. Like she's just too “feminine� and “emotional� to live her life on her own. She needs someone big and manly like Aiden to take care of her because she's just too fragile by herself. Even if it's an emotionally abusive, manly man who runs off and angrily pouts if he's told “no�.
Bottom line, these two really needed to get away from each other and grow up on their own. Maybe after they matured, they could think about having a relationship. But for right now, they don't work together in a healthy way and I didn't care enough about them to slough through the
whole book for an ending that still felt manipulative and co-dependent.
I received a complementary ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
by Jessica Lemmon
Rating: Did Not Finish, 1 of 5 stars
My Review:
It's really hard for me to give reviews this low, but I've tried to get through this one, three times now and somehow I just can't force myself to do it. I didn't care for the writing style and then on top of that the characters just bugged me a lot. They're whiny, irritating and totally unable to make me care about them except for the desire to slap them. Eventually I skipped to the end and read the last 20 pages just to see if it got better and I'd believe their happily ever after and then start caring about the rest. Didn't work, I was still irritated with them at the end.
I don't even know what world Sadie's living in. She dresses provocatively and yet she's so modest and fragile. The idea behind those things being explicitly stated, leaves me feeling like the book is trying to pigeon-hole Sadie into a whore/virgin dichotomy instead of just letting her be a self-assured heroine. See, Aiden is attracted to her because of the way she dresses, but he's MORE attracted because she's really so modest and fragile � because in Aiden-land, if she weren't modest and fragile, she wouldn't be as worthy of the small amount of manly respect that he gives her. In fact, if she weren't so secretly modest and fragile, I think he would have lost interest and moved on. In his manly world, he's only interested in her still because he hadn't gotten into her pants before.
Aiden is sort-of trying to win Sadie back, but he's manipulative, unapologetic and your basic whiny brat. He behaves like a spoiled child and instead of walking away, Sadie just sits and cries about it. I swear these two had the emotional intelligence of toddlers. Sadie has every right to be angry with Aiden for the way he treated her but mostly she's just whiny and pitiful. Like even after a year away from him, she's still throwing herself a pity-party.
Plus there's Sadie's business sense that just seems to be missing. She's the second best salesperson at this company, but somehow she managed to put this whole huge amount of stuff into the contract that was just signed. Including things like she will personally buy up all the competitor's stock from the store if it doesn't sell. Seems a bit shady and even more confusing to know that someone else at the company's legal department supposedly vetted it and put all the details together.
I swear, it felt like the book was trying to prove how Sadie was nothing important without Aiden. Like she's just too “feminine� and “emotional� to live her life on her own. She needs someone big and manly like Aiden to take care of her because she's just too fragile by herself. Even if it's an emotionally abusive, manly man who runs off and angrily pouts if he's told “no�.
Bottom line, these two really needed to get away from each other and grow up on their own. Maybe after they matured, they could think about having a relationship. But for right now, they don't work together in a healthy way and I didn't care enough about them to slough through the
whole book for an ending that still felt manipulative and co-dependent.
I received a complementary ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 20, 2013
Sadie may be strong, confident and may have, on occasion suffered from tunnel vision, which cost her a trip down the aisle, but she was willing to break her “one date� rule for Aiden. When a family crisis took Aiden hundreds of miles away, he dropped Sadie with a phone call, and crushed her completely. Of course he thought he was doing the right thing, but he has regretted it ever since and he wants her back. Can he convince her to take a chance on him again? Is she ready to see that, just maybe, the world isn’t colored in pure blacks and whites and that it is okay to need someone?
Hard to Handle by Jessica Lemmon is one of those warm romances with just enough angst and tension to get completely involved in! Sometimes I just love a story where two people just seem perfect for each other, but there are obstacles to overcome first. Jessica Lemmon veered a little off the well-worn contemporary romance path by adding some slightly different plot elements and some completely humorous moments between Sadie and Aiden, giving a fresh feel to this romance with “heart.� Her characters are well-developed, including some of the satellites, who I would love to see more from, by the way!
Light, well-paced, with great world-building and some sigh-worthy moments, Hard to Handle is a good testament to perseverance and learning to trust!
I received a review copy from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Love in the Balance - Book 2
Publication Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Forever
ISBN: 9781455573790
Page Count: 260
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Available from: /
For more reviews check out or find us on .
Hard to Handle by Jessica Lemmon is one of those warm romances with just enough angst and tension to get completely involved in! Sometimes I just love a story where two people just seem perfect for each other, but there are obstacles to overcome first. Jessica Lemmon veered a little off the well-worn contemporary romance path by adding some slightly different plot elements and some completely humorous moments between Sadie and Aiden, giving a fresh feel to this romance with “heart.� Her characters are well-developed, including some of the satellites, who I would love to see more from, by the way!
Light, well-paced, with great world-building and some sigh-worthy moments, Hard to Handle is a good testament to perseverance and learning to trust!
I received a review copy from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Love in the Balance - Book 2
Publication Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Forever
ISBN: 9781455573790
Page Count: 260
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Available from: /
For more reviews check out or find us on .
October 1, 2013
I fell for Aiden and Sadie in their novella CAN'T LET GO. Their story picks up a year after the novella with both Aiden and Sadie reeling from the decision Aiden made. Both of them are miserable and all Aiden wants is Sadie back. Sadie fights the attraction she still feels for Aiden and makes him pay each time she sees him for what he destroyed in her. But when they are forced to work together, the can't avoid how much they enjoy being with each other or hide their true feelings for one another.
You can't help but love Aiden. He made an incredibly hard decision when he chose spending out his mother's remaining days with her rather than building a relationship with Sadie. He regretted hurting both himself and Sadie, but he wouldn't trade what he did for his mom. You can't help but love a guy who would drop everything for his mom or who wears his heart on his sleeve. From the moment Aiden enters the story, you can tell that everything he felt for Sadie is still there a year later. He doesn't try to fight it, instead he tries to figure out just how he can get Sadie to trust him again. He tries to navigate their relationship so he can get a happily ever after with Sadie, but he doesn't count on just how stubborn she can be.
Sadie has been burned: by her now brother-in-law whom she was once engaged and by Aiden himself. She allows her vision of the future to be completely tainted by events in her past. She uses those events as an excuse to build a wall and push people away. I could understand the whole Trey situation, but with Aiden it was frustrating. She continued to push him away and use what had happened the year before as an excuse. I get that she was hurt, but his mother was dying of cancer. Could she not cut him some slack? She knew how she really felt about him, but her heart and her head were constantly warring with each other and her head almost had her losing out on the one man she was meant to be with.
Jessica Lemmon writes with a great mix of heart, emotion, and humor. The storyline and the characters pull you into their world and make you feel like you have a front row seat to all the goings on. This was a pleasure to read and Jessica is now on my list of authors to watch out for.
You can't help but love Aiden. He made an incredibly hard decision when he chose spending out his mother's remaining days with her rather than building a relationship with Sadie. He regretted hurting both himself and Sadie, but he wouldn't trade what he did for his mom. You can't help but love a guy who would drop everything for his mom or who wears his heart on his sleeve. From the moment Aiden enters the story, you can tell that everything he felt for Sadie is still there a year later. He doesn't try to fight it, instead he tries to figure out just how he can get Sadie to trust him again. He tries to navigate their relationship so he can get a happily ever after with Sadie, but he doesn't count on just how stubborn she can be.
Sadie has been burned: by her now brother-in-law whom she was once engaged and by Aiden himself. She allows her vision of the future to be completely tainted by events in her past. She uses those events as an excuse to build a wall and push people away. I could understand the whole Trey situation, but with Aiden it was frustrating. She continued to push him away and use what had happened the year before as an excuse. I get that she was hurt, but his mother was dying of cancer. Could she not cut him some slack? She knew how she really felt about him, but her heart and her head were constantly warring with each other and her head almost had her losing out on the one man she was meant to be with.
Jessica Lemmon writes with a great mix of heart, emotion, and humor. The storyline and the characters pull you into their world and make you feel like you have a front row seat to all the goings on. This was a pleasure to read and Jessica is now on my list of authors to watch out for.
October 1, 2013
Posted on
When I first read Tempting the Billionaire, I always hoped Aiden and Sadie would get their own story. Trust me I even asked Jessica on Twitter if they were going to get their own story. So, when I heard their story was coming, I super excited; more anxious. Then the news finally came Aiden and Sadie story was on it's way. YAY *Kermit flailing arms*. However, there was the prequel Can't Let Go, which highlighted how Sadie and Aiden relationship fizzled. I knew that they broke up, but I didn't quite understand. I knew why, and it was because Aiden was being stupid. Yet, it was more than him being stupid. Aiden is a pretty compassionate guy and he doesn't really want to hurt anyone's feelings. Dude the guy is a big ol' teddy bear when it comes to people he cares about.
In Hard to Handle, we jump ahead a year later. Aiden regrets the decision he made with Sadie, but it's too late can't change the past. When he made his decision he really thought he was doing the best thing for everyone. The chemistry is still there between them. However, Sadie is a tad bit reluctant to let Aiden in again. The great thing about Aiden is he would probably walk through fire to win Sadie's heart again. So, you Aiden trying to woo Sadie, but she keeps throwing the past in his face.
I did enjoy Hard to Handle. I thought the story was a little more emotional than Tempting the Billionaire. Sadie has some serious fears about letting into her heart. Aiden, yes, was dumb to do what he did, but he didn't do it to be malice. Actually, I don't think he has a malice bone in his body. Overall, I good story about conquering fears and letting love in. The great thing about Hard to Handle is that it can be read as a stand alone and you won't be lost. So, if you are looking new read, you might want to checkout Hard to Handle.
Copy provided by Forever Romance via NetGalley
When I first read Tempting the Billionaire, I always hoped Aiden and Sadie would get their own story. Trust me I even asked Jessica on Twitter if they were going to get their own story. So, when I heard their story was coming, I super excited; more anxious. Then the news finally came Aiden and Sadie story was on it's way. YAY *Kermit flailing arms*. However, there was the prequel Can't Let Go, which highlighted how Sadie and Aiden relationship fizzled. I knew that they broke up, but I didn't quite understand. I knew why, and it was because Aiden was being stupid. Yet, it was more than him being stupid. Aiden is a pretty compassionate guy and he doesn't really want to hurt anyone's feelings. Dude the guy is a big ol' teddy bear when it comes to people he cares about.
In Hard to Handle, we jump ahead a year later. Aiden regrets the decision he made with Sadie, but it's too late can't change the past. When he made his decision he really thought he was doing the best thing for everyone. The chemistry is still there between them. However, Sadie is a tad bit reluctant to let Aiden in again. The great thing about Aiden is he would probably walk through fire to win Sadie's heart again. So, you Aiden trying to woo Sadie, but she keeps throwing the past in his face.
I did enjoy Hard to Handle. I thought the story was a little more emotional than Tempting the Billionaire. Sadie has some serious fears about letting into her heart. Aiden, yes, was dumb to do what he did, but he didn't do it to be malice. Actually, I don't think he has a malice bone in his body. Overall, I good story about conquering fears and letting love in. The great thing about Hard to Handle is that it can be read as a stand alone and you won't be lost. So, if you are looking new read, you might want to checkout Hard to Handle.
Copy provided by Forever Romance via NetGalley
December 16, 2013
I received this from Netgalley for an honest review
My first book with Jessica Lemmon. It's #2 in the Love in the Balance series. It stands alone, so don't worry if you didn't read the first one. It's not what I call a biker romance, but Aiden does ride and he works in a motorcycle shop.
Sadie must grin and bear being the bride's maid at her best friends wedding. Her duties include being paired with the man who broke her heart not long ago. Aiden's life had taken a few tragic turns with loosing his business, his wife, and his mother to cancer. He felt he had give up his new romance with Sadie to care for his mother.
With her family relationship strained, her love life in shambles, Sadie throws herself into her job. Aiden is building a new life and wants to mend the relationship he gave up. Attraction still sparks between them but Sadie's been burned twice and she's not going there again.
Nice story with Aiden and Sadie learning to grow and trust in love again. Romance has steam and nice HEA! I am pretty tired of cliffhangers these days, so extra points to authors giving us a complete story! Ms. Lemmon's books will be added to my TBR list.
My first book with Jessica Lemmon. It's #2 in the Love in the Balance series. It stands alone, so don't worry if you didn't read the first one. It's not what I call a biker romance, but Aiden does ride and he works in a motorcycle shop.
Sadie must grin and bear being the bride's maid at her best friends wedding. Her duties include being paired with the man who broke her heart not long ago. Aiden's life had taken a few tragic turns with loosing his business, his wife, and his mother to cancer. He felt he had give up his new romance with Sadie to care for his mother.
With her family relationship strained, her love life in shambles, Sadie throws herself into her job. Aiden is building a new life and wants to mend the relationship he gave up. Attraction still sparks between them but Sadie's been burned twice and she's not going there again.
Nice story with Aiden and Sadie learning to grow and trust in love again. Romance has steam and nice HEA! I am pretty tired of cliffhangers these days, so extra points to authors giving us a complete story! Ms. Lemmon's books will be added to my TBR list.
March 22, 2014
Oh Aiden I do love your sneaky little ways, "I'll sign it." Sadie's shoulders dropped an inch. He told himself to stop there, not to say another word. But in the end he couldn't help but add, "under one condition." Sadie tensed. Aiden smiled. "Go out on a date with me." And well the boy just has the sweetest suggestions, "you're free to go." He backed away from her an inch, giving her room to breathe. Room she didn't want. An easy smile decorated his face. "Unless you want me to drive you home," he offered. "And tuck you in." Sadie can be an honest person, "she told him the painful truth. "I meant I'm finally ready to sleep with someone for the first time. Ever. In my entire life," she reiterated to be crystal clear. "And I was oping that someone would be you." And sometimes Aiden has to use Sadie as a shield to erm... hide his body parts, "Aiden pulled Sadie against him and spoke roughly, "I think you know my answer. Now don't move out from in front of me for a minute or the entire party will know it, too."
October 21, 2013
Aiden broke things off with Sadie, one year ago, when he had to take care of his terminal ill mother, and now he´s second guessing himself. Feeling bad over how he acted a year ago, he tries to apologize, but Sadie wants nothing to do with him. Hurt feelings and not able to forget him, Sadie´s tried to get her life together, but destiny seems to have other ideas.
Her new account at work turns out to be with Aiden and soon they see each other each day. Feelings that can´t be ignored makes for an interesting work day. Can they start over and find their way back together?
Smutty fluff and angst, need to read the first book in the series.
Her new account at work turns out to be with Aiden and soon they see each other each day. Feelings that can´t be ignored makes for an interesting work day. Can they start over and find their way back together?
Smutty fluff and angst, need to read the first book in the series.
November 7, 2013
Cute romance about two broken people, for me I am getting a little tired of the same plot but the author did a good job, I felt for the characters but I thought she could be a little more realistic and sometimes Sadie was getting on my nerves, but I did like Aiden! I am not a big fan of perfect characters so that's why I gave this book 3 stars.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
my-books
January 6, 2014Hard to Handle is book 2 in the Love in the Balance series. Just a note: some readers believe the prequel novella is a NECESSITY, others think this book reads a-okay without it. Either way, I wish you happy reading!
October 17, 2013
This is the first book by Jessica Lemmon I've read but it won't be the last. Love a man who can say "I love you" first. Now I've got to go find the previous book and I hope the next book is Evan. Job well done Ms. Lemmon.
December 11, 2013
I really liked this book..
June 14, 2015
Jessica Lemmon’s HARD TO HANDLE is the second book in her Love in the Balance series. If you read CAN'T LET GO, the companion novella (that’s how I refer it) to TEMPTING THE BILLIONAIRE, then you know what happens between Sadie and Aiden. If you haven’t read it or TEMPTING, never fear-Lemmon provides enough background information and you won’t feel lost. It’s not necessary to read these prior to HARD TO HANDLE, but you’ll have a better understanding of the events and situations if you do.
HARD TO HANDLE picks up a year after TEMPTING THE BILLIONAIRE ends. Crickitt and Shane are now married and Aiden is back in town for the wedding. At first, both Aiden and Sadie put on fake smiles for the sake of their friends wedding, but deep down they are both suffering. Aiden doesn’t anticipate seeing Sadie again other than the occasional chance meeting at Crickitt and Shane’s house. When Sadie runs into him a month later, she’s shocked and angry that he can make or break her career. Sadie wants to be the named the number one sales person for Midwest and she fears Aiden won’t sign the coveted contract. Aiden is willing to sign it provided Sadie agrees to go out on date. Will Sadie and Aiden put aside the past and realize they belong together or will Sadie be prepared to walk away from a second chance at love?
Sometimes it’s difficult for an author to redeem a hero who purposely walked away from the woman he loves without making him into a jerk. Lemmon does a great job writing about two emotionally flawed people who needed to do things the wrong way before finding their footing. We have good character development and it was great getting to know Sadie and Aiden better. Both of them have a lot more in common than they want to admit. We also have a wide cast of secondary characters that play an important role. I adore Aiden’s nephew, Lyon! Of course we get to see Aiden’s brother, Landon (which I’ll confess, I’m DYING for his story because I’m in love with him). In the end, what made HARD TO HANDLE, amazing? Crickitt and Shane! I loved the advice both gave and how both of them were upfront on what Sadie and Aiden needed to do. Everyone should have someone in their life that can speak from the heart and isn’t afraid to tiptoe around the issue.
The writing is engaging and it is a fast paced read. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Lemmon has a talent for writing flawed characters and making you become emotionally invested in them. She can pull on the heart strings and have you crying one moment and laughing the next. I won’t lie, I was grinning ear to ear when Aiden and Sadie were together. I have several favorite scenes, but the one I adore takes place at Axle’s and it involves a female customer Aiden is helping. Oh and I loved the scene where they both attend a party thrown by one of Sadie’customers. Once again, Lemmon includes a few Easter eggs throughout HARD TO HANDLE. One hint is in relation to her favorite movie genre and Sadie going to Axle’s because she forgot something.
One thing that was missing in CAN'T LET GO, was the explanation as to why Sadie’s engagement ended and when we’re told the story, I couldn’t help but feel Sadie’s heartache. Trey is a jerk of the first order especially when he explains how Sadie was responsible for their engagement ending. While we don’t get the Trey and Aiden confrontation I had been secretly hoping for, we do have Aiden standing up for Sadie at an event they attended. No, it’s not with Trey, but a different person. I have to hand it to Lemmon for redeeming this person when she didn’t have to. I also appreciate how Lemmon showcases both Sadie and Aiden’s families and how different they are. I like to think had Sadie’s father lived he’d be right at home with the Downey’s.
What I really like about HARD TO HANDLE? Lemmon doesn’t rely on cheap thrills for the conflict. It would have been really easy to incorporate Aiden’s ex-wife to provide drama or his ex-business partner. Instead, she chucks them aside as excess baggage that belongs in the past and focuses on the now. HARD TO HANDLE may frustrate some readers with regards to Sadie and Aiden refusing to forgive their past mistakes. Here’s the thing: there’s a slight play on the title. In CAN'T LET GO, Sadie says, “She knew the truth about herself, how she’d always been a little too hard to handle.� Aiden agrees with that assessment, but he too has that in common with her. It wasn’t obvious to me until we get about 3/4ths into the book and then it hit me. I’m pretty sure you’ll see it too and appreciate the meaning.
Oh, I just adored HARD TO HANDLE and can’t wait for the next book in the series. If you’re a fan of lovers reunited or are looking to try a new author, I highly recommended Jessica Lemmon’s HARD TO HANDLE. Just don’t start it late at night because you’ll want to read it one sitting.
This review and more are posted at .
HARD TO HANDLE picks up a year after TEMPTING THE BILLIONAIRE ends. Crickitt and Shane are now married and Aiden is back in town for the wedding. At first, both Aiden and Sadie put on fake smiles for the sake of their friends wedding, but deep down they are both suffering. Aiden doesn’t anticipate seeing Sadie again other than the occasional chance meeting at Crickitt and Shane’s house. When Sadie runs into him a month later, she’s shocked and angry that he can make or break her career. Sadie wants to be the named the number one sales person for Midwest and she fears Aiden won’t sign the coveted contract. Aiden is willing to sign it provided Sadie agrees to go out on date. Will Sadie and Aiden put aside the past and realize they belong together or will Sadie be prepared to walk away from a second chance at love?
Sometimes it’s difficult for an author to redeem a hero who purposely walked away from the woman he loves without making him into a jerk. Lemmon does a great job writing about two emotionally flawed people who needed to do things the wrong way before finding their footing. We have good character development and it was great getting to know Sadie and Aiden better. Both of them have a lot more in common than they want to admit. We also have a wide cast of secondary characters that play an important role. I adore Aiden’s nephew, Lyon! Of course we get to see Aiden’s brother, Landon (which I’ll confess, I’m DYING for his story because I’m in love with him). In the end, what made HARD TO HANDLE, amazing? Crickitt and Shane! I loved the advice both gave and how both of them were upfront on what Sadie and Aiden needed to do. Everyone should have someone in their life that can speak from the heart and isn’t afraid to tiptoe around the issue.
The writing is engaging and it is a fast paced read. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Lemmon has a talent for writing flawed characters and making you become emotionally invested in them. She can pull on the heart strings and have you crying one moment and laughing the next. I won’t lie, I was grinning ear to ear when Aiden and Sadie were together. I have several favorite scenes, but the one I adore takes place at Axle’s and it involves a female customer Aiden is helping. Oh and I loved the scene where they both attend a party thrown by one of Sadie’customers. Once again, Lemmon includes a few Easter eggs throughout HARD TO HANDLE. One hint is in relation to her favorite movie genre and Sadie going to Axle’s because she forgot something.
One thing that was missing in CAN'T LET GO, was the explanation as to why Sadie’s engagement ended and when we’re told the story, I couldn’t help but feel Sadie’s heartache. Trey is a jerk of the first order especially when he explains how Sadie was responsible for their engagement ending. While we don’t get the Trey and Aiden confrontation I had been secretly hoping for, we do have Aiden standing up for Sadie at an event they attended. No, it’s not with Trey, but a different person. I have to hand it to Lemmon for redeeming this person when she didn’t have to. I also appreciate how Lemmon showcases both Sadie and Aiden’s families and how different they are. I like to think had Sadie’s father lived he’d be right at home with the Downey’s.
What I really like about HARD TO HANDLE? Lemmon doesn’t rely on cheap thrills for the conflict. It would have been really easy to incorporate Aiden’s ex-wife to provide drama or his ex-business partner. Instead, she chucks them aside as excess baggage that belongs in the past and focuses on the now. HARD TO HANDLE may frustrate some readers with regards to Sadie and Aiden refusing to forgive their past mistakes. Here’s the thing: there’s a slight play on the title. In CAN'T LET GO, Sadie says, “She knew the truth about herself, how she’d always been a little too hard to handle.� Aiden agrees with that assessment, but he too has that in common with her. It wasn’t obvious to me until we get about 3/4ths into the book and then it hit me. I’m pretty sure you’ll see it too and appreciate the meaning.
Oh, I just adored HARD TO HANDLE and can’t wait for the next book in the series. If you’re a fan of lovers reunited or are looking to try a new author, I highly recommended Jessica Lemmon’s HARD TO HANDLE. Just don’t start it late at night because you’ll want to read it one sitting.
This review and more are posted at .
October 14, 2013
Book Info
ebook, 260 pages
Published October 1st 2013 by Forever
ISBN 1455573795 (ISBN13: 9781455573790)
edition language English
series Love in the Balance #2
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
ONCE BURNED Sadie Howard never dates a guy more than once-but Fate has other plans for her when it comes to Aiden Downey, the one that got away. Aiden loved her, left her, and broke her heart. Yet suddenly she's bumping into him at every turn, driven to distraction by his wicked grin and rock-hard body. Now she can't resist finishing what they started-as long as she doesn't let herself fall in love . . .
TWICE AS TEMPTING Aiden Downey threw away the best thing he ever had when he let Sadie go, and now he's determined to win back the woman he's always wanted. Sadie agrees to let him into her life-and her bed-as long as there are no strings attached. But Aiden's not about to make the same mistake again. Can he convince her to take a second chance on a once-in-a-lifetime love?
Aiden and Sadie for me are a perfect example of the best kind of couple in contemporary romance, their honesty with each other along with the totally off the charts chemistry make them very easy to root for and very easy to feel comfortable with in the way one does with a longtime friend.
The main thing that hooked me on believing in the pair as a couple was their ability to accept each other for who they were without wanting them to be someone that fit a mold that society or their family members deemed acceptable.
Aiden was the only man in her life that ever took the time to actually enjoy Sadie's company and to make her feel at ease rather than like she had to be on her guard all the time, that was something that endeared him instantly.
Do not be fooled this was not a simple case of two characters who fell in love and then hit a rough spot, the intensely emotional heartache that caused their breakup was a decision that any of us would have had a hard time dealing with and even though it was handled badly on both their parts their second chance at being happy together more than made up for it!
It was a long hard road for these two with lots of misunderstandings, misgivings and second guessing! The final HEA was worth waiting for as these two worked hard for it.
Order to read books in Love In The Balance Series
Book 1-Tempting The Billionaire
Book 1.5-Can't Let Go
Book 2-Hard To Handle
Book 3-The Millionaire Affair
ebook, 260 pages
Published October 1st 2013 by Forever
ISBN 1455573795 (ISBN13: 9781455573790)
edition language English
series Love in the Balance #2
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
BOOK SYNOPSIS
ONCE BURNED Sadie Howard never dates a guy more than once-but Fate has other plans for her when it comes to Aiden Downey, the one that got away. Aiden loved her, left her, and broke her heart. Yet suddenly she's bumping into him at every turn, driven to distraction by his wicked grin and rock-hard body. Now she can't resist finishing what they started-as long as she doesn't let herself fall in love . . .
TWICE AS TEMPTING Aiden Downey threw away the best thing he ever had when he let Sadie go, and now he's determined to win back the woman he's always wanted. Sadie agrees to let him into her life-and her bed-as long as there are no strings attached. But Aiden's not about to make the same mistake again. Can he convince her to take a second chance on a once-in-a-lifetime love?
My Thoughts
Aiden and Sadie for me are a perfect example of the best kind of couple in contemporary romance, their honesty with each other along with the totally off the charts chemistry make them very easy to root for and very easy to feel comfortable with in the way one does with a longtime friend.
The main thing that hooked me on believing in the pair as a couple was their ability to accept each other for who they were without wanting them to be someone that fit a mold that society or their family members deemed acceptable.
Aiden was the only man in her life that ever took the time to actually enjoy Sadie's company and to make her feel at ease rather than like she had to be on her guard all the time, that was something that endeared him instantly.
Do not be fooled this was not a simple case of two characters who fell in love and then hit a rough spot, the intensely emotional heartache that caused their breakup was a decision that any of us would have had a hard time dealing with and even though it was handled badly on both their parts their second chance at being happy together more than made up for it!
It was a long hard road for these two with lots of misunderstandings, misgivings and second guessing! The final HEA was worth waiting for as these two worked hard for it.
Order to read books in Love In The Balance Series
Book 1-Tempting The Billionaire
Book 1.5-Can't Let Go
Book 2-Hard To Handle
Book 3-The Millionaire Affair
[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]
October 2, 2013
Hottie biker Aiden Downey knows a few things. He knows betrayal, loss and regret. You see Aiden's wife betrayed him with his best friend. He lost his wife, best friend and business due to her betrayal. Loss, he lost his mother from a battle with cancer. Regret. His biggest regret is not telling his mother about his divorce and letting the woman that was made for him go......
Sadie Howard knows a few things too. After her fiance leaves her for her sister, yes sister, Sadie has lost trust in men. Her dates rarely go past the first one. When she first met Aiden she fell in love with him. The broken heart he left her with is a pain she carries each day.....
Fast forward, one year later. Aiden and Sadie's lives keep colliding. First at their best friend and cousins wedding. Then again at the bike shop where Aiden has a new job and Sadie has been working the past few years to gain their contract for the parts distributor she works for. Aiden signs Sadie's part contract and by doing so they see each other daily. Aiden opens up to Sadie about his reasons for leaving her in the past. No longer able to fight their attraction they slowly begin dating. Sadie isn't ready to fully trust in a man due to her ex-fiance and Aiden's past betrayals. She is willing to be with Aiden but not commit to anything long term. Aiden loves her and wants her forever. Can he convince her that what they have together is worth it?
I loved Aiden! He is so sweet and such a gentleman. The sacrifices he made to take care of his dying mother and family melted my heart. He truly is a good guy. Sadie is a strong, smart, and confident woman. I was thrilled to see them work through there issues and achieve the happily ever after they deserve! I look forward to more books in this series.
Hard to Handle is the second book in Jessica Lemmons, Love in the Balance Series.
My Aiden
Sadie Howard knows a few things too. After her fiance leaves her for her sister, yes sister, Sadie has lost trust in men. Her dates rarely go past the first one. When she first met Aiden she fell in love with him. The broken heart he left her with is a pain she carries each day.....
My Sadie
Fast forward, one year later. Aiden and Sadie's lives keep colliding. First at their best friend and cousins wedding. Then again at the bike shop where Aiden has a new job and Sadie has been working the past few years to gain their contract for the parts distributor she works for. Aiden signs Sadie's part contract and by doing so they see each other daily. Aiden opens up to Sadie about his reasons for leaving her in the past. No longer able to fight their attraction they slowly begin dating. Sadie isn't ready to fully trust in a man due to her ex-fiance and Aiden's past betrayals. She is willing to be with Aiden but not commit to anything long term. Aiden loves her and wants her forever. Can he convince her that what they have together is worth it?
I loved Aiden! He is so sweet and such a gentleman. The sacrifices he made to take care of his dying mother and family melted my heart. He truly is a good guy. Sadie is a strong, smart, and confident woman. I was thrilled to see them work through there issues and achieve the happily ever after they deserve! I look forward to more books in this series.
Hard to Handle is the second book in Jessica Lemmons, Love in the Balance Series.
July 26, 2024
Arc provided by netgalley
So... once in a while I decide to tempt fate (or should I say my patience) and stray a little from my usual/favorites reading genres.
Sometimes it works, and I'm pleasantly surprised... unfortunately, most of the times I get a few more lines on my face, due to the amount of:
"Oh no, you didn't say that!"
"Really, that's supposed to be sexy??"
"You're an Idiot, for crissakes!!"
"Correction: Both of you are idiots!"
"Could you two, be possibly more cliched?"
"How old are you people? Fifteen??"
"Oh, my God, why am i reading this ya soap opera??"
Ahem...
*because you requested it...* through netgalley
I'm gonna start by saying that I really hate leaving books unfinished. But, I believe it's better if I stop reading it now because this story and I CLEARLY weren't made for one another, and in such cases it's best to end the relationship as quickly and painlessly as possible...
To summarize the thing, let me just say that this wasn't what I had in mind when I requested it after reading the book synopsis.
First of all, I was hoping to see characters behaving like adults and not like some emo young adults.
Then I'm not the type of reader who likes to be fed cheesy lines, and every time an author tries to force me to like a character, by saying something along the lines of:
"_See?? He's so good and kind!!"
"_He helped his ailing mother with cancer! You have to like him!"
"_See? He was a rich guy, but since he was such a good person he gave his B***Y ex-wife everything she wanted, and now he's broke!"
I hate it!
Stop trying to force me to like him! Or her (the one that her husband/boyfriend left for her classy sister)! I don't like soap operas.
So I'm just going to provide some quotes on why it's better that "we" get an annulment on this situation:
"Minx on the outside, lamb on the inside."
You know what pops in my head when I read this?
Roast beef... and I'm not even food obsessed!!
"Going through a woman's purse was a lot like sticking a hand in the garbage disposal."
Wow! This is incredibly....offensive. And it was written by someone who supposedly wears something of the sort...
My purse may _at times _ be a little messy... but garbage disposal it IS NOT!
This was the side of Sadie people didn't see. Her modest side. Everyone assumed they knew her _with her litany of first dates and explosive personality, Sadie was mistaken as confident and outgoing. While she was both of those things. She was also modest, careful. Fragile.
What a bunch of....clichés!!
He licked dry lips. Good Lord. Sadie, though petite had curves that turned women's and men's heads. Her narrow shoulders give way to a swell of ample breasts before diving inward to her slender waist, and out again to allow for rounded hips."
I'm surprised the homosexual and lesbian community weren't included... since apparently NO ONE can resist her!
And for the pièce de résistance... voilà:
Aiden closed the cover on the proposal. "I'll sign it". Sadie's shoulders dropped an inch. He could tell himself to stop there, not to say another word. But in the end he couldn't help but add, "Under one condition."
Sadie tensed.
Aiden smiled."Go out on a date with me."
That's sexual harassment.
People can argue as much as they want: Hey, they know each other! They used to go out! He's kidding!
I don't care.
DNF at 30%.
If this doesn't bother you, you should give it a try. Maybe you'll enjoy it.
June 5, 2014
To read this review and others like it check out my site at
I love second chance books, let's face it we all make mistakes, and most people don't ever get the chance to push the reset button. So I love when books let two people get a second chance at romance and overcoming their past mistakes and pain. This was a true second chance story for me, these two people had gotten together and things went great, and then it was over and they were more broken then they were to begin with.
So part of what I liked about this story was that when Sadie and Aiden initially met they were both pretty broken in terms of past relationships. Sadie's fiance left her for her sister and Aiden's wife was sleeping with his business partner. Needless to say there was really no reason for either one of them to have any faith in the opposite sex. But even with all their baggage they had opened up to each other and found love. That is until Aiden's mother got sick and Aiden decided to pretend he never got divorced because he never told his mother that, and Sadie was quickly on the outside and broken.
Fast forward to present time and its time to give them a second chance. Aiden for me was my favorite. I liked him because he was so willing to be honest with his feelings. In so many books, it's the woman who is the most honest about her feelings and has to "convince" the man to come around to her way of thinking. But in this book its Aiden who is ready to admit his feelings, it's Aiden who pushes Sadie for a future. He's the one who is really wearing his heart on his sleeve. I also liked that at the beginning of the book he is still kind of figuring out a direction for his life, trying to piece things back together, and that you as the reader get to go on that journey with him.
As for Sadie, I liked her okay. I thought she was too easily swayed by what other people thought of her. If my fiance left me for my half-sister, you can bet your bum that I would not be going to her birthday party or allowing people to make me feel bad about being hurt/angry about the betrayal. So in a lot of ways I wished Sadie would have bucked up and told certain people where to shove it, and honestly this is not a problem that ends with her family. But I did like that she was hard worker, and that she did go for what she wanted, especially when it came to Aiden. Granted, it took her a little bit of time to figure things out before she would make her decisions/move, but I liked that she wasn't decisive. And the chemistry with them was pretty nice too.
If you like second chance romances, or hell if you like romances where the man wears his heart on his sleeve and is ready to risk it all for love, then this is so a book you should pick up. Hope you enjoy it, it was a quick and easy read I enjoyed from beginning to end.
I love second chance books, let's face it we all make mistakes, and most people don't ever get the chance to push the reset button. So I love when books let two people get a second chance at romance and overcoming their past mistakes and pain. This was a true second chance story for me, these two people had gotten together and things went great, and then it was over and they were more broken then they were to begin with.
So part of what I liked about this story was that when Sadie and Aiden initially met they were both pretty broken in terms of past relationships. Sadie's fiance left her for her sister and Aiden's wife was sleeping with his business partner. Needless to say there was really no reason for either one of them to have any faith in the opposite sex. But even with all their baggage they had opened up to each other and found love. That is until Aiden's mother got sick and Aiden decided to pretend he never got divorced because he never told his mother that, and Sadie was quickly on the outside and broken.
Fast forward to present time and its time to give them a second chance. Aiden for me was my favorite. I liked him because he was so willing to be honest with his feelings. In so many books, it's the woman who is the most honest about her feelings and has to "convince" the man to come around to her way of thinking. But in this book its Aiden who is ready to admit his feelings, it's Aiden who pushes Sadie for a future. He's the one who is really wearing his heart on his sleeve. I also liked that at the beginning of the book he is still kind of figuring out a direction for his life, trying to piece things back together, and that you as the reader get to go on that journey with him.
As for Sadie, I liked her okay. I thought she was too easily swayed by what other people thought of her. If my fiance left me for my half-sister, you can bet your bum that I would not be going to her birthday party or allowing people to make me feel bad about being hurt/angry about the betrayal. So in a lot of ways I wished Sadie would have bucked up and told certain people where to shove it, and honestly this is not a problem that ends with her family. But I did like that she was hard worker, and that she did go for what she wanted, especially when it came to Aiden. Granted, it took her a little bit of time to figure things out before she would make her decisions/move, but I liked that she wasn't decisive. And the chemistry with them was pretty nice too.
If you like second chance romances, or hell if you like romances where the man wears his heart on his sleeve and is ready to risk it all for love, then this is so a book you should pick up. Hope you enjoy it, it was a quick and easy read I enjoyed from beginning to end.
April 14, 2014
What can I way about Hard to Handle by Jessica Lemmon, or maybe a better question is what not to say about this book. I loved everything about this amazing story. I have been waiting for Aiden and Sadie's Story since I read about them in Tempting the Billionaire and trust me I am not disappointed. Please let me tell you about this amazing story.
"'I loved you', Sadie said, her eyes wide and ernest. 'And you blew it.'
One year, it has been one year since Sadie Howard's heart was torn apart by Aiden Downey. Sadie, who has trust issues, Sadie, who sets rules and boundries to protect herself and her heart, let Aiden in, and paid the price when he left her. Well not this time, Sadie is going be strong. Aiden may be back in town, she may have to work with him, she might have to be forced to spend time with him, but she is going to protect her heart, even though the only thing that her heart really wants is Aiden.
"'I love you, Sadie. I always have. I never stopped'
Aiden Downey knows that he lost the best thing in his life the day that he called Sadie to tell her he was moving to Oregon, that he needed to take care of his dying mother, that he could not see her anymore. It killed him to walk away from the only person that he every felt connected to, the one person that he could look into the future and see standing by his side forever. No amount of distance or time has changed his feelings for Sadie. Now that he is back in town, he just needs to convince Sadie that their connection is still there, that he loves her and that he will always be there to love and protect her. She will fight him at every turn, but nothing worth having ever comes easily, and Aiden is willing to risk it all for one more chance to prove to Sadie that she is the one, the only one.
Ok, what I loved te most about this story is that while Aiden screwed up with Sadie, there were valid reasons behind their break-up. He is not a mean, hateful person and neither is Sadie. Their connection is true, it was solid, and tangible. I could see it, feel it with each page I turned. They loved each other so fiercely, but both of them had been burned in the past, Aiden by his ex-wife, Saide by an ex-fiance. There are trust issues there. But they each trust the other in ways that they could never trust anyone else, not even themselves. This book had me hooked from the first page and had me sighing at the last.
If you are looking for a wonderful, meaningful, HEA than I would highly recommendt Hard to Handle by Jessica Lemmon. Once you pick up that amazing book you will not be able to put it down until you reach the end.
"'I loved you', Sadie said, her eyes wide and ernest. 'And you blew it.'
One year, it has been one year since Sadie Howard's heart was torn apart by Aiden Downey. Sadie, who has trust issues, Sadie, who sets rules and boundries to protect herself and her heart, let Aiden in, and paid the price when he left her. Well not this time, Sadie is going be strong. Aiden may be back in town, she may have to work with him, she might have to be forced to spend time with him, but she is going to protect her heart, even though the only thing that her heart really wants is Aiden.
"'I love you, Sadie. I always have. I never stopped'
Aiden Downey knows that he lost the best thing in his life the day that he called Sadie to tell her he was moving to Oregon, that he needed to take care of his dying mother, that he could not see her anymore. It killed him to walk away from the only person that he every felt connected to, the one person that he could look into the future and see standing by his side forever. No amount of distance or time has changed his feelings for Sadie. Now that he is back in town, he just needs to convince Sadie that their connection is still there, that he loves her and that he will always be there to love and protect her. She will fight him at every turn, but nothing worth having ever comes easily, and Aiden is willing to risk it all for one more chance to prove to Sadie that she is the one, the only one.
Ok, what I loved te most about this story is that while Aiden screwed up with Sadie, there were valid reasons behind their break-up. He is not a mean, hateful person and neither is Sadie. Their connection is true, it was solid, and tangible. I could see it, feel it with each page I turned. They loved each other so fiercely, but both of them had been burned in the past, Aiden by his ex-wife, Saide by an ex-fiance. There are trust issues there. But they each trust the other in ways that they could never trust anyone else, not even themselves. This book had me hooked from the first page and had me sighing at the last.
If you are looking for a wonderful, meaningful, HEA than I would highly recommendt Hard to Handle by Jessica Lemmon. Once you pick up that amazing book you will not be able to put it down until you reach the end.
October 11, 2013
I've had bad luck with romance as I've gotten older. When I was younger just about any romance did it for me, but that changed as I started wanting more of a plot, more depth than just 'brooding dark hero' and 'hard to get heroine', etc. Of course any genre is filled with tropes, but they have to be well written to be enjoyable and there's a lot of romance out there that just didn't do it for me.
So I went into Hard to Handle hoping that I'd find that changing, and I wasn't disappointed! This is a story that draws two people who are hurting back together, and ultimately it's a story about how sometimes life gives you a second chance.. Getting hurt doesn't mean that it's over.
Oh, and it goes without saying - the sex is hot, too - well worth the wait! This was a great read for me, a fun, hot romance that was a perfect way to start off my day. Definitely recommend to any romance fans!
So I went into Hard to Handle hoping that I'd find that changing, and I wasn't disappointed! This is a story that draws two people who are hurting back together, and ultimately it's a story about how sometimes life gives you a second chance.. Getting hurt doesn't mean that it's over.
Oh, and it goes without saying - the sex is hot, too - well worth the wait! This was a great read for me, a fun, hot romance that was a perfect way to start off my day. Definitely recommend to any romance fans!
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