book recs, author services, general badassery
  • Blog
    • Free Romance Reads
    • Our Thoughts
    • 1-Click Wonders
    • Author on Authors
    • Chattin' with Authors
    • So You're New To...
  • Book Recs
  • Reviews
    • 5-Star Reads
    • Contemporary Romance
    • Historical Romance
    • New Adult Romance
    • Paranormal Romance
    • Romantic Comedy
    • Romantic Erotica
    • Romantic Suspense
    • Teen Young Adult
    • Hall of Shame
  • About
    • Contact
    • Review Policy
    • Guest Post Guidelines
    • Advertising on Romance Rehab
  • For Authors
    • Romance novel blurb help
    • Referral Program
    • Romance Remedy
    • Romance Author Services
    • Online Writer's Resources
    • Proofreading Test >
      • Proofreading Test Answers
  • Blog
    • Free Romance Reads
    • Our Thoughts
    • 1-Click Wonders
    • Author on Authors
    • Chattin' with Authors
    • So You're New To...
  • Book Recs
  • Reviews
    • 5-Star Reads
    • Contemporary Romance
    • Historical Romance
    • New Adult Romance
    • Paranormal Romance
    • Romantic Comedy
    • Romantic Erotica
    • Romantic Suspense
    • Teen Young Adult
    • Hall of Shame
  • About
    • Contact
    • Review Policy
    • Guest Post Guidelines
    • Advertising on Romance Rehab
  • For Authors
    • Romance novel blurb help
    • Referral Program
    • Romance Remedy
    • Romance Author Services
    • Online Writer's Resources
    • Proofreading Test >
      • Proofreading Test Answers
Picture

The Bad Guy

6/14/2017

3 Comments

 
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

​Title:
The Bad Guy

Author: Celia Aaron
Publication date: 05/19/2017
Publisher: Celia Aaron
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Cliffhanger: No
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
 
Amazon blurb
My name is Sebastian Lindstrom, and I’m the villain of this story.

I’ve decided to lay myself bare. To tell the truth for once in my hollow life, no matter how dark it gets. And I can assure you, it will get so dark that you’ll find yourself feeling around the blackened corners of my mind, seeking a door handle that isn’t there.

Don’t mistake this for a confession. I neither seek forgiveness nor would I accept it. 
My sins are my own. They keep me company. Instead, this is the true tale of how I found her, how I stole her, and how I lost her.

She was a damsel, one who already had her white knight. But every fairytale has a villain, someone waiting in the wings to rip it all down. A scoundrel who will set the world on fire if that means he gets what he wants. That’s me.

I’m the bad guy.
Picture
My Review
I’m going to contradict myself a bit with this review. If you read my other reviews, you know that I don’t tolerate heroines who accept abuse, in any form, from the so-called hero. I don’t believe that Stockholm Syndrome is the same as love. I want women who are kidnapped to get the drop on their kidnappers and kick the shit out of them. The end. Unless, I guess, the hero is Sebastian Lindstrom. Then...I dunno. Being kidnapped by Sebastian might not be so bad. There, are you happy, Celia Aaron? You made me turn my back on all my feminist beliefs.
 
Now, that is not to say that I condone men who chloroform and kidnap women, then hold them prisoner. Men, if you’re reading this, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. It will not end well for you.
 
But I will point out to any of you who are concerned (and in my own defense, I guess), Sebastian doesn’t hurt Camille in any way while he’s holding her prisoner. (There’s a little sexual coercion, not any rape—but if that kind of thing bothers you as a reader, you’ll want to skip this one.)
 
But anyhoo, about Sebastian...sigh. I might find him more intriguing than other readers because I was a psych major in college. Various mental issues fascinate me. I probably would’ve loved this book even if Camille hadn’t existed. Just reading about how his father taught him to “pass for human” and how he struggled with empathy would’ve kept me thoroughly entertained all on its own. The whole thing had a very Dexter feel to it. (And I loved me some Dexter, folks. If you didn’t watch it, stop reading this review and start binge watching that show. It was all kinds of awesome. Until the last episode. That one sucked. But I digress…)

The fact of the matter is that Sebastian is a psychopath. A high-functioning, extremely intelligent, ridiculously sexy, dirty talking psychopath. And after about 20% of the book, I completely stopped being horrified by what he was doing and started rooting for him. I wanted him to win. I wanted him to get his girl. I kind of wanted Camille to let him kill Link. I’m not sure what that says about me as a reader, but I loved Sebastian. I make no apologies.

​(And off topic: I offer mad props to the cover model who is 
working it. Nicely done, sir. Nicely done.)   

 
Long-story-short, if you’re a fan slightly unhinged, dark, obsessive, possessive heroes who would burn the world down for those they love, this book is your catnip. One-click the hell out of it. For those of you looking for a story in which the heroine rides off into the sunset with a tame, vanilla, Prince Charming type? Well, y’all will need to look elsewhere.  
     
Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
I question the psychology a bit (I kinda doubt that someone who struggled with empathy as much as Sebastian did would be capable of loving anyone), but I’m willing to totally overlook that. This isn’t a psych textbook, after all. This is fiction. And it’s well-written, engaging fiction, at that. Therefore, I would have to say that this one crushes the romance stigma. No rehab needed!  
 
Other reading suggestions
Check out the Celia Aaron backlist. Dark Protector is another favorite of mine. On the even darker side, try Prisoner by Skye Warren and Annika Martin.

3 Comments
L.E. Wilson link
7/12/2017 11:11:14 pm

Holy sh*t.
I read this strictly because of this review, and I feel that I need to give future readers a warning: Do not start reading this book if you don't have the time to read it all in one sitting. I repeat, do not start this book if you have other things to do, like life. Because once I started reading it, I could not put it down. And it's been a long time since a book has captured my attention like that (other than Isabel Jordan's series). It's deliciously bad, and I loved every second. And if you know me at all, you know that I love dark characters.
Thank you for introducing me to this "new to me" author! I will definitely be reading more of her!

Reply
Jennifer, Romance Rehab
7/13/2017 11:31:06 am

You're so welcome! Thanks for commenting! (And all of her work is this good. If you pick up her backlist, you won't be disappointed!)

Reply
manga rock not downloading chapters link
9/10/2018 02:10:23 pm

Very nice post, I certainly love this website, keep on it. :)

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Romance Rehab newsletter sign up

    FOLLOW US 
    Reedsy Top Book Reviewer 2019

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017

Picture

BLOG
FREE Romance books
​Book Recommendations

Our Thoughts
1-Click Wonders
5-Star Reads
Authors on Authors
Chattin' with Authors
So You're New To...
What Not to Read
REVIEWS
​
Contemporary Romance
Historical Romance
New Adult Romance
Paranormal Romance
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Erotica
Romantic Suspense
Teen/Young Adult
ABOUT
Contact
Review Policy
Guest Post Guidelines
Advertising on
​Romance Rehab

​
FOR AUTHORS
Online Writer's Resources
Proofreading Test
ROMANCE AUTHOR SERVICES 
Romance novel blurb help
Romance Remedy program

Referral program

Romance author services
  • Book cover critique
  • Animated book covers and social media graphics
  • Beta reading
FREE Romance Rehab newsletter: ​Subscribe here
KnockinBooks LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
​© 2020 KnockinBooks LLC