Review: What to Do with a Bad Boy by Marie Harte

Title: What to Do with a Bad Boy by Marie Harte
The McCauley Brothers Series Book Four
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: A

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

WHAT IS WITH MIKE McCAULEY?
Every time Delilah Webster runs into Mike McCauley, he practically bites her head off. The rough-and-tumble contractor clearly has baggage. Del has her own emotional scars and knows she’s better off keeping her distance, but Mike’s temptation in jeans and a T-shirt and she’s always been good with her hands…

There’s something about the strong-willed mechanic that sets Mike’s motor running-and scares the hell out of him. Mike has loved and lost and will never hurt like that again, even if that means walking away from a woman who makes him feel alive for the first time in years.

When a simple kiss turns hot and heavy, Mike discovers he can’t stay away, no matter how certain he is they’re destined to crash and burn…

The Review:

While it is a little sad to see The McCauley Brothers series come to a close, Marie Harte brings the series to a strong and absolutely perfect conclusion with What to Do with a Bad Boy. This wonderfully entertaining romance is full of witty dialogue, charming characters and plenty of smoking hot love scenes. But it is the heartfelt and emotion filled scenes that make this novel such an outstanding read.

The oldest of the McCauley brothers, Mike is a widowed single dad who has yet to move on from his wife’s tragic death. He is an all around great guy, devoted to his young son, Colin and works hard in the family owned construction business. His family is extremely close-knit and they eagerly step in to help Mike care for Colin when needed. Mike is extremely dismayed by Colin’s infatuation with tattooed mechanic Delilah “Del” Webster but he is even more disconcerted by his unexpected attraction to her.

Del is a delightful breath of fresh air and I absolutely adored her. Comfortable in her own skin, she is a straight shooter who tells it like it is and does not play games. Confident, strong and sexy, she does feel a little out of place in Mike’s suburban life, but Del does not let her discomfort keep her from enjoying the new friendship she has found with Mike’s soon to be sisters-in-law. She is also quite charmed by Mike’s rapscallion son and her scenes with Colin are definitely some of the best in the novel.  Del is a little uneasy with her budding relationship with Mike, but she is more than ready to explore their simmering desire for one another.

Mike and Del’s romance is so much fun to watch unfold. Neither of them is interested in a long term relationship, so they agree to a “friends with benefits” type arrangement. Their sex scenes are graphically detailed, exquisitely raunchy and incredibly hot, but it is their interactions out of the bedroom that are the most captivating. The conversations between Mike and Del are often humorous, but they are also heartbreakingly poignant on occasion.

The McCauley and Webster families are fully engaged in one another’s lives and this sometimes leads to some pretty hilarious matchmaking efforts. However not all of the interference is appreciated or welcome despite the fact it is well-intentioned. This meddling becomes the catalyst for a long overdue discussion about the past but it is just the first step in the healing process. It is going to take another absolutely gut-wrenching, tear inducing conversation to fully overcome the tragedy that keeps Mike from fully committing to Del.

While Mike and Del have some serious issues to overcome, What to Do with a Bad Boy is mostly a light-hearted, fun and super steamy read. Colin is incorrigible but he is so adorable that it is impossible not to love the little scene stealer. The supporting cast of characters is equally lovable and while all of the McCauley brothers have found their happily ever afters, I am hoping that Marie Harte has plans for a future novel starring Del’s brother J.T.

An absolutely outstanding addition to The McCauley Brothers series, I highly recommend What to Do with a Bad Boy to fans of contemporary romances. It can be read as a standalone story, but you really do not want to miss any of the novels in this wonderful series.