Bad Cruz

This book reminded me why I fell in love with L.J Shen writing almost immediately, and why every book of hers is an instant buy for me. For the last few months I was so excited about this book, and now that I finally had the chance to read it, I am OBSESSED! Every time a read a new L J Shen book I say that this is her best work, and every time she writes another one, I am completely blown away by her talent and writing. And this time, she did it again. This time with a standalone, a second chance love story. I couldn't put the book down, I was fascinated by the story and I finished the book in only a few hours. Bad Cruz is about love, life, loss, about finding yourself and your voice, about speaking up, overcoming your fears and fighting for what you want and for those who you love. It is a book about mistakes, and about forgiving yourself for those mistakes, about new chances and starting again. This book is the perfect combination between sexy, hilarious, emotional and angst. It was a rollercoster of feelings the entire book. I fell in love with Cruz and Tennessee instantly. These two characters have a complicated history, and their interaction are priceless. So entertaining and so well written, making them one of my favorites couples. Their constant bickering and chemistry was everything.It was so WORTH IT the wait for them, because they are amazing together.You can lose yourself so easily in this book, because it has a bit of everything. It is the perfect combination between angst, fluff, romance, heartbreak and steamy moments. I had many laughs while reading, and overall it just made the read so enjoyable and so hard to put it down. This book was so good, it made me swoon. The story is beautiful and sweet, and also easy to read because the writing is good. This was such a beautiful reading experience, it has been a moment since I’ve read a book that gave me all the feels.This book is one of those books, which you want to read of forever and never reaching the end. It is so good, with great writing and amazing characters. The plot is well defined, the action is not rushed, and you have the time to enjoy, and later fall in love with the characters. And of course, to root for them and their happiness. This is one of those books that remind me why I fell in love with romantics novel, and why I love so much those happily ever afters. This book is the perfect recipe for a great and successful book. It’s pure bliss, sunshine, happiness and love, with a touch (the perfect amount) of angst, all wrapped in perfect writing and great, lovable and relatable characters. My girl Tennessee stole my hearts in a matter of seconds. She is a single mother to a smart yet sassy thirteen year old, is a beautiful, strong, hardworking and confident woman. She is such a mama bear, and would do anything for her child. She is beautiful, charismatic, intelligent and stubborn. She is feisty, stubborn, and once she realized what she was worth, there was no turning back. I liked that she was strong and determined to make it on her own. She is driven, hard-working and honest.I loved her so much, she has such a beautiful, funny and vibrant personality, it is almost impossible not to love her. She is sassy, smart and always has the perfect response. Doctor Cruz is every woman dream, he is handsome, and he knows it, with a body that could make the Greek Gods jealous, is easy-going, charismatic and has a smile that makes every girl and woman week in their knees. But also, he is hard-working, smart and super dedicated to his job. He is one of the best pediatrician there is, loves working with tiny humans and is also great with them. I loved the way his character was build, I fell in love with him instantly. No matter how hard I tried at first, I couldn't find something to hate about him. The care he treated Tennessee with, when he realized the truth, made me love him even more. The attraction and chemistry between Tennessee and Cruz was undeniable, and their story so well written. It wasn't one of those instant love story, their story was a steady one, filled with back and forth steps. Their constant banter gave me so many laughs, and their passion was so hot.They are both driven and hard working, and I found it amusing how they tried, and later failed, to keep their distance, even though the attraction and connection between them it was undeniable. They gravitated towards each other, always looking for the other or seeking the presence of each other. The ending was the perfect one for this couple, it was everything I had hoped for them, and I know for sure that the readers are also gonna fall in love with it. If you are a fan of happy endings, romance and characters that would raise all of your expectations when it comes to love in real life, this is the perfect book. Hands down to the amazing and extremely talented L. J. Shen. This queen did it again, she delivered another masterpiece. If you want a book that is gonna give you all the feels, and turn all your insides intro mush, that this book is definitely the one for you!

I’m surprised to see the negative reviews here, I thought the book was a ton of fun and really enjoyed it! Anyone who thinks that Tennessee was too much of a doormat maybe hasn’t had to deal with insufferable family to the extent that she did. When you’re raised to believe you’re a disaster by the people who are supposed to love you unconditionally, it’s gonna leave some pretty deep scars.I really enjoyed the dialogue and the story progression as well as Tennessee learning to come into her own (and her creative ways to NOT swear). I’m a single mom with a 12 year old son so I really adored her relationship with Bear.I wish I could have seen a little more of Cruz moving past his golden boy image. While we get to read from his POV and understand his feelings for Tennessee (and therefore his motivations to do things like change her wardrobe or have her stand up to her family), if I was in her shoes I would feel like he was just one more person trying to boss me around and tell me who I should be. The only other thing I really struggled with was the final “grand gesture” scene…I just didn’t love that setting and felt the aftermath was a little rushed.Overall, though, I couldn’t put this one down! The characters were compelling to read and even when I wanted to punch one or several of them, the story was really well-written and made me keep turning the pages. I laughed several times out loud, it was a fun read!

Bad Cruz was completely unexpected. I have never been so blown away, have my expectations so blown away or have a book that I couldn’t have imagined in my wildest dreams. ZLJ Shen out did herself with this story. OK…admittedly I have loved everything that she has written. How does she do it and where do all these ideas come from? I have no idea but keep them coming!!!!Cruz and Tennessee were so beyond any characters that I have ever read. I laughed out loud at some of the words that flew from Tennessee’s mouth. Her all out avoidance to swearing was funny. By the end of the book I found myself filling in the blanks for her as this was a highly addictive tendency that I might just adopt. There was so much more to this character. She was so strong, brave, fearless, caring, sweet and oh so broken. She was the ideal puzzle of emotions for Cruz since they were toddlers. **Sigh** Cruz was every girls dream. He loved Tennessee from the beginning and he held fast despite all the challenges that they faced over the years. He faced his own challenges as he was seen as the golden boy that could do no wrong. But he was more than all his good deeds. He just needed for Tennessee to help him live for himself and not the expectations everyone else in town had for him. I honestly think my heart melted at the wedding. All the truth and honesty they shared in front of the whole town. It was the perfect way to end the story. Well, her getting pregnant under the bleachers was the perfect ending.There were lots of other hilarious aspects of the book that need mentioning. The lies that kept building and spreading while they were on the cruise. After all haven’t we all been tempted to do that? I know I have and now I have some new material to use. I also loved the side notes in parentheses throughout the book. They added a bit of insight into the characters and told us more was to come. I have to say that I enjoyed them so much that they became my favorite passages to highlight.There is so much that you don’t expect but are delighted to read in this story. You will find yourself rooting for this couple. Hoping that they will find a way to each other and loving everything about the book on the way. This is a 2021 must read!!!ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Protect Tennessee at all costs. I cried so much reading this, she deserves the world. One of the best reads of 2024

Wow. I haven’t read a book this good in a while. It was funny and so well written with good character development. Couldn’t put this book down and stayed up way too late to finish.

As usual, L J Shen's books never disappoint.. The only disappoint I had was over the heroine. I felt thought that she was too weak whenever her family was involve. However, the banter between the two main characters was amazing. Well 👍

Best birthday gift ever! I loved Cruz being the all or nothing guy. He had his priorities straight throughout. Few of the decisions resonated with me. Him being compared to Ryan is so apt, as both of them share Scorpionic energy. Intense. All or nothing attitude. Superb observational skills. And as the last words describing him-the real deal.

This is a totally different LJ Shen writing that we are used to, she write the best A holes ever usually, but please do not let that deter you. This book is AMAZING, honestly I loved every word and mostly every character. LJ Shen's writing is as per usual perfection. Her characters are mesmerising and addictive to read. This book is funny, sweet and romantic with a small dose of angst thrown in for good measure.So we get to meet Cruz, town doctor, gorgeous and popular, from a good family and well respected. A good honest man and I fell totally in love with him from the first words that popped out of his gorgeous sexy mouth. Cruz has known Tennessee all their lives but they have always been at loggerheads with each other; lets face it he has the attention of every woman in town as the most eligible single batchelor and is never short of admirers. Tennessee is the towns disappointment. Pregnant at sixteen to her high school boyfriend Rob, who ran and left her as soon as he found out he was to become a dad. Now she is raising her son all alone with the help of her awful judgemental family and works in the local diner to make ends meet to provide a life for herself and her son Bear who is now thirteen. The whole town has an opinion about Tennessee and none of it good, she is labelled the town slut. She dresses and acts the way people perceive her until she really believes this is the part she has to play. Tennessee lets people put her down constantly and yet never defends herself, ultimately believing this is what she deserves in life for her mistakes. Really this lady is the bomb. Funny, strong (but underneath vulnerable ) she has no filter when she speaks her mind which leads to some awkward but hilarious situations that made this book what is is, amazing in all ways. I loved Tennessee but felt so sorry for her at the same time too.With her sister getting married to Cruz's brother very soon, all the families decide to take a cruise together, only Tennessee having had one too many to drinks this particular night and feeling very sorry for herself she ends up booking her and Cruz onto the wrong ship and this is where the fun really starts.I loved the way no matter what happened Cruz had Tennessee's back, he sees the woman and the potential she could really be and sets out to show her just that, but things start to get complicated and before they know it a little thing called chemistry is playing with their feelings, each fighting to ignore what they really feel for each other.A wonderful feel good book that made my heart ache with joy. A book that makes you smile, believe in humanity and one I won't forget in a hurry.PS. There are plenty of A holes in this story, just not the ones you would expect!!!LOVED LOVED LOVED - end of.