Book Review: Bad Reputation

Bad Reputation by Samantha J Ball

New Haven Book 1

Amazon

ISBN 9798690377120

Bad Reputation by Samantha J Ball

I connected with the author, Samantha, recently through two friends who both know her as she lives locally. She gave me a copy of this book.

I really enjoyed Bad Reputation. I was surprised to find an author living in SW London writing American smalltown romance but Samantha has explained to me that she grew up on this kind of writing and it does remind me of the Harlequin (Mills and Boon) books I used to devour in my misspent youth!

It’s got a lovely autumnal East Coast vibe with Hallowe’en, and Thanksgiving and Christmas all featuring so if you like that cosy Pumpkin Spice Café small-town feel then you’d really like this. But not if you’re looking for something steamy – it’s a closed-door sweet romance, despite the title and the photographic snogging cover which might give you a different idea!

That’s not to say there’s no heat. Steven and Melanie are high school sweethearts who are separated due to misunderstandings and career progression. We know, but Steven doesn’t, that he fathered Sophie (now seven) in a single teenage night of passion with Melanie. When he returns to the small down of New Haven seven years later the sparks fly, the attraction between Melanie and Steven is still so strong. Despite being closed-door, Samantha does a really good job of ramping up the sexual tension between these two.

They’re both stubborn and independent-minded people who are too proud and too scared to tell each other how they really feel and explain what really went on. It’s one of those ‘ggngg if only they’d just TALK to each other!” type books!

Lots to recommend here – a sweet read.