Bad Judgment

Bad Judgment

2016 • 359 pages

This is a PSAWhen friends rave about a book don't dawdle. Goodness could be sitting right at your fingertips while you're trudging through ho-hum stories.I promptly purchased this beauty when it came out, the cover alone is dreamy, but for some bizarre reason kept putting it off for later. Big mistake. Or maybe subconsciously I knew I'd need something to savor in low times and savor it I did. I actually forced myself to take this in small doses, one or two chapters at a time, letting the the writing, and story just seep into me. Bliss. The bare bones: Brogan Smith is an army veteran, still haunted by Iraq, but now working in the personal protection industry. During his latest assignment he meets Embry Ford, personal assistant to Brogan's primary. The rest is a love story for the ages which touched me deep and had me considering a soundtrack. It also brought to mind some of my favorite bodyguard/size difference stories, namely [b:Close Protection 13481282 Close Protection Cordelia Kingsbridge https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1391963345s/13481282.jpg 19014110], not the specifics of plot, but the relationship between the MCs, their physical selves, and sometimes their dynamic.I don't know what to to say without revealing too much so I'll just say what I loved. Everything. I probably highlighted half the book just because of a turn of phrase or because I cracked up at Brogan's inner monologues. Despite or because he came back from the horror of war, Brogan is determined to live in the here and now, giving himself wholeheartedly to those he loves. Including his dog Giz. On the other hand Embry is all sharp edges and dark corners, that conceal almost unfathomable horror and pain. He feels incapable of letting himself love or be loved, for absolutely valid reasons, but he didn't count on Brogan, who's immovable once he's given his loyalty, and Embry had that almost from the moment they met. Also a man who listens to Nina Simone has a beating heart whether he knows it or not. I loved that the size difference never implied that Embry needed Brogan's help or rescue, but it did fit beautifully with their physical chemistry. I loved how [a:Sidney Bell 1655174 Sidney Bell https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1469319088p2/1655174.jpg] stressed Embry's intelligence as the real asset over brute force. I love how the plot itself was, sadly, believable, and I absolutely adore her for that epilogue which deals so perfectly with the final events in the story and gave Brogan & Embry much needed closure. I'll say no more because I wish others to experience this the way I did. It's the best way. ps.“I Wanna Be Yours” by Arctic Monkeys can easily be Brogan's theme. Just sayin'

February 23, 2019Report this review