Title: The Bad Girl
Series: Westbrook Three
Author: A.D. McCammon
Release: July 16, 2020
Genre: High School Bully Romance
Cover Design by: Pink Elephant Designs

Blurb

Arwen Sullyvan is a real nightmare.
Callous. Cold. Calculating.
And the first girl I ever loved. She’s the bad girl of Westbrook high, and I’m their precious golden boy.

For years, she’s delighted in punishing me. All because I’d fallen for her. And, like a fool, I still want her.

Then a drunken confession slipped through those plump lips, and I saw fear swirling in her stormy eyes.

Aidan Shaw is the bane of my existence.
Charming. Gorgeous. Noble.
He’s everything I never knew I wanted, and it scares the hell out of me. I’ve tried to keep my distance and bury those feelings.

But one stupid mistake—one moment of weakness in the face of temptation—was all it took to turn our flame into a fire.

He’s intent on loving me, but not even his golden touch can change my black heart.
He thinks he can break me.
But a savage can’t be tamed.

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Review

Feels 2
Steam 3
Storyline 3.5
Overall Rating 3.5
Kindle eArc provided by Author
Reviewed by Stephanie

Arwen was less than thrilled when her Dad relocated them from Colorado to Tennessee the summer before her last year of middle school. But luckily for her and she meets Aidan on one of her daily graveyard visits. He declares them best friends and they quickly become inseparable all summer. Then a whole bunch of drama happens. Mean girls, secrets and betrayal.You know the drill. Now all the sudden Arwen acts like he doesn’t exist and for years Aidan has no idea why.

“We’ll never be right for each other. He doesn’t have a single flaw, while I collect them like trophies.”

Fast forward a few years and these two still aren’t on speaking terms. They basically avoid each other at all costs. Aidan is the golden boy in their high school. The football god that all the girls want but really just can’t have thanks to some behind the scenes meddling. Arwen is the bad girl of the school. The bully along with her small group. They may no longer be friends but the chemistry they once had is still there. You’ve got to hand to Aidan. He never gave up on them no matter how hard Arwen pushed or how cruel she was to him. They are thrown back together and there’s so much drama and uncertainty. He wants his Arwen back. The girl from the cemetery and she doesn’t know what the hell she wants. So begins the never-ending push and pull with these two. Aidan fought so hard for them and she fought just as hard to stay away until she just couldn’t anymore. But can they find the love they once shared or did their years spent apart do too much damage to both their hearts?

“My soul still yearns for the girl I fell in love with, but the one standing here now is merely a shadow of her.”

I was excited for this book because I am a huge fan of bully books and second chance romance. I loved the little twist it had going on…the bad girl being the bully to the golden boy. But sadly this book just didn’t do it for me. I wasn’t such a huge fan of this one. I didn’t get the whole bully vibe from it. I get she was supposed to be the mean girl and she was a straight up asshole sometimes. But it glossed over the whole bully aspects. Also, Aidan is supposed to be this golden boy…this god of the school but again there wasn’t a lot to that either. Most of the time it didn’t seem like he was a golden boy and she was a bully. It was like random scenes were thrown together at odd times throughout the book and you’d see slivers of both things but it just wasn’t enough to hold my attention or make me feel it in the story. I did like Aidan. I liked how he wasn’t afraid to show his feelings and wouldn’t give up. Even though at times I really thought he’d be better off just throwing in the towel and speedwalking away. Arwen…I really didn’t like her. Maybe that was my main issue with the book. I thought she was super selfish and annoying. I get she thought she had valid reasons for treating Aidan like crap for years, but they were really lame to me. I guess it’s safe to say this wasn’t a favorite for me. It wasn’t a bad story but it just wasn’t for me.

“All these years, she’s been running. Running from me and her feelings. And she’s finally standing still. Finally giving me a chance to catch her.”

Praise

Mari Acosta – “A.D. McCammon delivered big on this one!”

Leila (Goodreads) – “This way surpassed my expectations, with a powerful message which shone through and resonated with me.”

Amanda Cuff – “This was my first book by A.D. McCammon and I was incredibly impressed!”

Excerpt

My pulse races when she begins to walk toward me, her lips spreading into a wicked grin, like a predator stalking down her prey. I turn to my locker, fumbling with the lock as I rush to get it open. By the time I throw my book inside, she’s at my back.

“Violet is with Thatcher now. Which I’m sure you’ve already heard. And he would not appreciate you eyeball fucking her.”

I sigh, slamming my locker as I turn to face her. “She’s not who I was focused on.”

I’m not sure why I’m baiting her again. For years, I was so hurt that I let her say and do whatever without putting up much of a fight. But it feels like something has shifted between us. I noticed that night at Sal’s and again at the benefit.

Arwen seems thrown by the pushback, her eyes flaring and pink tinting her cheeks. She lets out a hissing breath and leans in, planting her hands on either side of my head. “It sounds like you’re saying the hunger in your stare was for me, but that can’t be right. I know you’re not that stupid.”

My laughter causes her mask to slip again, her features softening with amused curiosity. “It’s not my intelligence in question here, it’s my sanity. You make me fucking crazy, Star.”

She jolts back, standing straight again as her arms fall to her side. “Stop calling me that.”

Star was the nickname I gave her right after we became friends. Until a couple of weeks ago, I hadn’t called her that since she broke my heart. It wasn’t intentional when I called her Star at Sal’s, but hearing it again definitely had an impact on her. There was a sadness and remorse in her eyes that I’d never seen before.

“Why?” I challenge. “Does it make you uncomfortable? Do you not like being reminded that we were friends once? That I cared for you?”

“Let it go, Shaw. Move on. It’s never going to happen.”

“No?” I grin, lovingly brushing her hair away from her face. “Your kiss told a different story.”

Arwen’s eyes darken as a storm brews inside of her, and there’s no shelter in sight. “You clearly misinterpreted the message.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I probably just need to hear it again.”

She grits her teeth at me when I laugh. “If you want me to make you bleed again, all you have to do is ask.”

Binge the Series

When the Saint Falls

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About A.D. McCammon

Amber McCammon decided to take her passion for writing to the self-publishing world in 2017. She’s since published four contemporary adult romance novels and is currently working on a YA romance series.

When she isn’t writing, you’ll find her reading, spending money she doesn’t have in Target, or hanging with her hubby and two kiddos.

Amber lives in Tennessee, where she was born and raised, which means she often gets caught with the south in her mouth. She loves to travel, though, and dreams of being a nomad one day.

For more information, please visit admccammon.com

To contact Amber, please email her at a.d.mccammon@outlook.com