Lawyer Eric Maxwell has been in love with Ann as long as he can remember. He figured he never stood a chance-don't the beautiful girls always prefer the bad boys to the nerds? So he makes Ann a deal. He'll provide her with free legal services...if she'll move in and help transform him from nerd-without-a-clue to bona fide bad boy.
And once the transition is complete, all he has to do is prove that he's the only bachelor for her... (Pub Date: Jan 11, 2016)
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. Many thanks to Entangled for trusting me with the task, being my first time reviewing for them.
Ann has just been fooled by her business partner and she might go to jail over that, which is just another of to her bad streak of being wronged by the bad boys she always seems to choose, even when in a non-romantic context. With no money, she can only go to Eric for a legal advice, as they have somewhat been friends since forever but with him comes not very pleasant memories from the time they almost dated and she overheard him saying rude things about her. For him, this might be the chance to turn tables and finally get the girl he'd craved for most of his life but was always out of reach for the nerdy Eric. In exchange for his services, he asks she turns him into a bad boy—like the very ones who seem to be her type.
I can't say the official summary is wrong, as mine wasn't supposed to be. However, this book has a weird glitch: the real plot has little to do with nerdy boy turning bad boy. The main issue is how formulaic the actual story was. I will summarize the feel that lingered after finishing it (or even after around 20% in). Ann has problems with the law and goes to the boy she's always been into but may have saw her as trash. Eric has the golden chance with the girl he's always been into but seemed too out of reach, especially when he kept for who knows what reason saying the worst thing at the worst time. There is some attempt of a bad boy makeover as an excuse for them to meet even more.
Despite this or that mention attempting to prove Eric is a nerd, I think it always falls through and sounds forced. I would even guess this wasn't in the original plot. Also, it makes no sense. As a lawyer working for a firm, even the scenes he dresses too nerdy would have been on purpose. Lawyers need to be self-conscious or they simply don't make the cut. The court is all a spectacle, after all. As both a lawyer and a bit of a nerd, it sounded surreal (though I need to note the lawyery bits weren't exactly off). So don't fall for this trap, if you want to read this story. Associated to that, the bachelor in the title... well, he really is single but not the type of 'bachelor' that comes to mind in that title. Again, misleading.
The whole plot is a succession of expectable cliches. However, except for the problems already addressed, it is well executed, still only falling into what you already anticipate. I can say I enjoyed the sisters and the grandfather. The family scenes are very nice, heartwarming. Sometimes, it even made me feel like reading the previous books in the series. On the other hand, it was just too basic. Even the jokes weren't that funny.
This is a sweet and entertaining story you won't regret reading as long as you are aware it is more of the same. More like a 2.5 stars, and the Doctor Who reference earned it turning into 3, not 2 stars.
Rate: 3 out of 5
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