Better When He's Bad

By: Jay Crownover

Narrated by: Mia Barron, Leland King

Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Welcome to the Point…

There's a difference between a bad boy and a boy who's bad.… Meet Shane Baxter.

Sexy, dark, and dangerous, Bax isn't just from the wrong side of the tracks, he is the wrong side of the tracks. A criminal, a thug, and a brawler, he was the master of bad choices, until one such choice landed him in prison for five years. Now Bax is out and looking for answers, and he doesn't care what he has to do or who he has to hurt to get them. But there's a new player in the game, and she's much too innocent, much too soft…and standing directly in his way.

Dovie Pryce knows all about living a hard life and the tough choices that come with it. She's always tried to be good, tried to help others, and tried not to let the darkness pull her down. But the streets are fighting back, things have gone from bad to worse, and the only person who can help her is the scariest, sexiest, most complicated ex-con the Point has ever produced.

Bax terrifies her, awakening feelings she never thought she'd have for a guy like him. But it doesn't take Dovie long to realize…some boys are just better when they're bad.

©2014 Jennifer M. Voorhees (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

GREAT...HEARTACHE, REDEMPTION & UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

Why is it that we love bad boys so much?.... whether they're Alpha Vampires, Playboy Billionaires, handsome Highlanders, Regency Rogues or, in this case, just a Contemporary criminal whose rotten childhood, poverty and a violent life on the streets of The Point has made him the man/thief he is today. Although Bax is bad he doesn't make any apologies for it or has any dreams of changing himself as he's happy with who and what he is.

Dovie also had a terrible childhood too but she is caring, compassionate and has an inner strength but her brother goes missing and he's the one person that holds the answers as to why his best friend Bax got caught and had to spend 5 years in prison. An action-packed sizzling/emotion filled romance with twists and turns as two unlikely lovers unite and together they dig for answers and the truth but the more they dig the more mystery, treachery and danger finds them but they must take down the criminals once and for all before it's too late.

Worth a credit? This well written, well described and enjoyable plot is all about second chances and overcoming life's obstacles, and the reward is a deep unconditional love and a sense of belonging, self-worth and an understanding that it's ok to be bad sometimes. The plot was raw and gritty with a Hero that was cold when needed but so loving, protective, caring and romantic to the woman that believed in him and stood by him no matter what.... so a very creditworthy listen.

Bad Has Never Been So Good.

Crownover builds the story, slowly giving the details as Bax uncovers the truth and finds his brand of HEA with Dovie. In audiobook, the narrator gives a spot-on performance in relaying the emotion and the danger. I'm so glad I listened to this on audio because I didn't want to put it down once I started. Instead, I popped in my ear buds and listened while I cooked and while I weeded the garden.

Crownover stepped it up with Better When He’s Bad. From the intensity of their world to the angst between the characters, this book takes readers into a world where it just might be good to be bad.

FULL REVIEW on our site, Guilty Indulgence Review Site.

Loved ♥️♥️

Although it's been years, I've read the story before. Listening to it made it even better!!! Both narrators were awesome and they really brought it to life!

Just alright

Not sure what happened here. I thought I would love this and I DID LIKE it; but something was missing for me. I loved bad boy Bax & that there was a bit of a "mystery" but there were parts that were a little just too slow or something for me

VT.FAN

Would you listen to Better When He's Bad again? Why?

This is not my usual genre but I recently discovered Crownover's audiobooks and loved them. This one is darker but so well done I listened in one night and cant wait for the next one.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Better When He's Bad?

His reconnection with his brother.

Have you listened to any of Mia Barron and Leland King ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No..But I thought they did an excellent job and hope they continue with this series.

Any additional comments?

If you have not read or listened to Crownover's other books..DO SO even if it is not your genre they are so well written that they are worth a try.."JET" is the first audiobook in her series.

Jay crownover does it again

Every just as bit as good as the marked men books. Makes me want to start it over every time I finish it. Can't wait for the next in the series,

A true-believer: ALL of Jay's Books are Winners!

Any additional comments?

I own all of Crownover's books; They are an easy addiction.....The writing, the narration.... the whole Audible package is classic perfection!

Looking for a Guarantee enjoyable story? You'll find it here in Jay Crownover's books! Period.
:)

Wow!!

I listen to a lot of books… I have for many years so when I say this is fantastic please know it’s in comparison to thousands of others. The story is amazing and sweet and just enough ‘bad’ but the way the author writes pulls you in and keeps you. Im sad this one ended so soon. It will be a repeat read for sure!

Sexy, well-written

I really enjoyed this story of a hot, tattooed, marked-up, bad boy thief coming together w/ a red-haired, not-model-pretty, inexperienced-but-not-virgin girl. I loved that the two main characters were not perfect in any way, though Shane Baxter (aka Bax), the H, was described as very hot. Dovie, the h, was described in plainer though special ways, per Bax’s usual taste.

My dislikes include Dovie too often saying that she acts in a way that she doesn’t want to b/c she is, in some way, out of control b/c of her reaction to Bax. Her common speeches about a lack of self-control resulted in her coming across as weak. However, in other ways, she didn’t come across as weak; maybe not strong, but, at least, not weak. And “Tell me stop,” as stated by Bax, was a bit overused for my taste. Used at their first sexual encounter made sense but at the 3rd, not so much. I also disliked some of Bax’s love-struck gushing. It seemed very, very contrary to who he was even in a state of being changed and falling in love. It was a bit too much sometimes and, therefore, unconvincing.

The author said that she tried to create an actual bad guy. I’m unsure if she succeeded. Yea, Bax was an admitted and convicted thief, but I don’t necessarily equate a “bad guy” w/ a non-violent convicted criminal. Bax had no problem w/ physical violence, but it wasn’t gratuitous, just to hurt someone or just for fun. It was either for money or because someone “deserved it.” And he was a man-whore, but…. So, he didn’t come across as “bad” to me. Plus, having the H described as a guy who grew up on the bad side of town seemed to mitigate his behavior somewhat.

I really liked the male & female narrators. Though they didn’t sound like 22 and 20-year-olds, but the lives of the characters didn’t coincide with American folk that young either, not even ones with a challenging upbringing.

There were about 4 sex scenes. They were sensual but not explicit. Though they were not quickies either and included oral sex.

What a better listen

Hot hot hot story. Love the hero.
Hero is Bax. Real name is Shane Baxter .heroine is Dovie
It was hard for me to get right in the chapter and totally understand what was going on .

Dovie seems to bring out the best in Bax. Bax has had a hard life. He was in jail. He knows how to Hotwire vehicles. And he knows all about Tattoos and piercings. He was unfortunately caught trying to hotwire a car and he spent time in jail.
The day he gets out is his lucky day. That is where he meets Dovie. Sexy Dovie with her long legs and red hair....l but she’s innocent for him. That’s what he thinks.

The narrators were great first time I heard of them Mia and Leland was great