I have included a full review of "Bad News" at the end of this post, but in short, I enjoyed this fast-paced, enemies-to-lovers romance and would recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance. I wouldn't exactly describe it as a romantic comedy, but there were certainly funny moments and very little angst, so it may well appeal to rom-com fans as well.
About "Bad News"
Do I want the story? Or him?
Do I want the story? Or him?
Jack Galloway is an award-winning journalist, a star at The Examiner, and he’s got the chiseled jaw and deep blue eyes that light me on fire.
Oh, and I hate his arrogant guts.
He told my boss that I can’t hack it as a reporter. He actually said it was a mistake to hire me. But I just landed a scandalous story that will launch my career and prove him forever wrong. Yeah, it steps on Jack’s beat a little. Okay, a lot.
So our boss is making us report it together for an entire weekend. At a gorgeous oceanfront villa with sailboats and cocktails and oh…he looks good in a sport coat.
Jack brings out my insecurities. He makes me doubt my instincts. And ignites a desire in me that I haven’t felt before.
But I know he’s hiding something. And I know I’m risking more than my job by pursuing the truth.
If I have to choose, do I want the story? Or him?
Read an Excerpt from "Bad News"
“So why the little performance for Chad?"
“Sometimes it helps to stir the pot.” The glimmer of a smile forms, like he’s playing a game of chess and just made a bold opening.
“Oh.” I’m not sure what to say, which is unusual for me.
“That’s all you got?”
“Um, well, I have questions.”
“Of course, you do; you’re a reporter.”
I take a step back and stare at him, backlit by twinkle lights that cast a flattering glow on his already-beautiful face. “Are you going to answer them?”
He shrugs. “You haven’t asked anything yet. Is that how you usually go about your reporting? You just wait for the other person to answer questions you haven’t even posed?”
“Just when I thought I might like you a tiny bit, you have to ruin it, don’t you?”
His smile is a smirk now and he reaches for my hand, pulling me a little closer. “You like me? ”he asks, his voice a quiet rumble.
“I’m still deciding.”
Then he whispers, “Let me help you decide.” He leans his face an inch closer to mine but doesn’t close the gap between us. A chill runs through me as my body responds to him, betraying the logical part of my brain that says I need to focus on my job and only my job. The only clear thought I have right now is how much I want to feel his lips on mine again. But he’s still inches away, holding out, not willing to give me what I want until I meet him partway.
“I think…Chad seems like the kind of guy who needs a lot of convincing before he decides he has no chance.”
“So, for the sake of a good story…” I say, moving an inch closer but stopping before my lips meet his so he knows I’m in control of my emotions. Even though I’m not.
“…I know how important good journalism is to you,” he says. I can feel his breath like a breeze across my face. It’s hypnotizing and I struggle to keep from closing my eyes and giving in to what I want.
“I’m one hundred percent devoted to the craft.”It’s a struggle to get the words out when I can barely breathe.
“I’m happy to help however I can.”Our faces are mere inches apart and I feel pulled closer, unable to resist the magnetic force of his lips. I tip my head up and feel his lips melt into mine, pressing gently but intentionally. It’s sweet but urgent. Tongues that can’t get nearly enough, lips that want to consume. This isn’t a sweet fake-date kiss. This is a year and a half of working together and wanting to hate him but hating how much I wanted him, all tangled up in a kiss that can’t last long enough.
My Review
"Bad News" by Stacy Travis was a fast-paced workplace romance, featuring likeable main characters who must fake a relationship in order to investigate a big story for the newspaper where they both work. I'm a fan of workplace romances in general and thought this one was particularly well-crafted, with a fun enemies-to-lovers vibe and lots of witty banter as the relationship between lead characters Linden Sandoval and Jack Galloway slowly evolved into a real romance.
Linden and Jack had a lot of misconceptions about each other at first, but when they were forced into working together, they discovered that they had more in common than they realized. They were both very driven, ambitious, and focused on their careers at the expense of their personal lives, but their reporting styles were very different, which is what led to a lot of their conflict. Once they were able to figure out each other's quirks and learn better ways of communicating, not only did their working relationship improve, they began to see each other in a whole new light on a personal level.
In addition to the central romantic relationship between Jack and Linden, I really enjoyed this book's behind-the-scenes glimpse into newspaper journalism. I've read stories set behind the scenes of magazines and TV news programs, but can't specifically remember having come across anything about a newspaper before. The author really seems to have done her research into what goes on in a newsroom, or maybe has worked for a newspaper herself, and I found it to be fascinating.
Overall, I enjoyed and would recommend "Bad News" for all fans of contemporary romance. I will plan to check out more books by Stacy Travis in the future.
*ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR. All opinions expressed are my own.
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