Sometimes I’ll admit I judge a book by its cover and Sweet Southern Bad Boy is one of them; I saw the cover and decided it looked like something I’d like, then I read the description and I knew I had to take a chance on this new to me author and I’m so glad I did. There was something endearing about the downtrodden heroine, the intriguing but closed off hero, his adorable nephews and niece, the crazy town folks, and the impossible situation they found themselves in. This book was charming, it was humorous, it was witty and it was sexy and I loved every single minute I spent inside its pages.

Katie McKnight knows she’s found the perfect house for her father’s next mini -series, now she only needs to convince her dad and the man who owns the house and property. Making a deal with NY Times best-selling author Vance Kerner to help with his nephews and niece for the next month as he finishes the third book in his series, seems like a great idea but the more time she spends with Vance the more confused her life seems to get.

There was something magical about the relationship between Katie and Vance and considering they didn’t even get physical until very late in this book. I loved the way Vance appreciated every facet of Katie’s personality and her ability to wrangle the kids into submission with her unusual but effective tactics. Katie’s ability to see past Vance’s manwhorish tendencies and her determination to get to the bottom of his rift with his father, made me love her even more. I also appreciated how much she respected the people of the town and the town itself and while she was there to secure a location for the mini-series, it soon became evident that Katie was beginning to want more out of her life than being at her father’s beck and call.

Sweet Southern Bad Boy was an absolute delight, I laughed so many times, I rejoiced, and I even shed a tear or two, but overall this book was low on drama and high on fun and sexiness and I can’t wait to discover more from author Michelle Summer.

Katie McKnight is working for her father who owns a movie studio and she thinks she has found the perfect location for a new series that they are going to be making. She loves the house, the old trees, and is just the feel for the vampire series. What she does not except is the screaming coming from inside the house and the little boy she is looking at who is a mess, along with the inside of the home. When she meets the owner Vance Kerner who is an author and is late for a meeting, she cannot get a word in edge wise because of all of the noise. After a fantastic whistle that calms everyone down for a short while she explains that she is not the nanny from the agency, but a location scout for a movie studio. She also agrees to watch the three children while he goes to his meeting. Vance is so taking by Katie that he wants to do anything to keep her there with him. He is watching his brother’s three children while he is deployed and his sister in law is recovering from a fall she took. Taken back by the quietness and the house being cleaned when he comes back from his meeting the two of them come to an agreement of Katie helping him with the children so he can meet his deadline for his new book, and will sign the contract. This at least is what he tells her because Vance has fallen for her and just does not know how far yet. Both of them are attracted to one another, and at the same time have to work through issues with their fathers. What really makes this book is all of the characters that surround these two people and how the author weaves them in and out of the story to make it funny, or a little serious at times. Both the lead characters are ones everyone likes and everyone wants them together but they need to take care of the past in order to have a future. This is a very good book, and has some very funny moments. I really enjoyed all of the characters also.

So we have a location scout on her last chance with the studio who finds the perfect setting only it’s owned by a writer reluctant to extend to the craziness of his life with adding Hollyweird to a book deadline and responsibilities for his brother’s three precocious kids. Bargaining is at its finest when the sparks of attraction fly, small town gossip sizzles, secret deals are struck in this sizzling, fun small town romance.

Sweet Southern Bad Boy is the third book in the Harmony Homecoming series. I wasn’t paying attention and picked it up based on the blurb and new to me author. Turns out, I got lucky and this worked fine as a standalone. I could see who the earlier couples were and there were references to their situations, but no series spoilers were given so I can easily go back for the others if I want.

Katie McKnight needs to prove herself to her famous producer dad and her occasional fiancé who is kissing her dad’s butt to advance with McKnight Studios. Nobody thinks she has talent or skill or the ability to stick with a career. She will prove herself by nailing the contract on the location for her dad’s popular teen vampire TV show. Vance Kerner’s barn and farmhouse are exactly perfect. If only she can talk the attractive flirting writer into signing the papers. Katie is so determined that she agrees to watch his energetic nephews and niece to allow him to make a writing deadline even while she is confused over his attraction and approval of her when her ‘taking a break’ fiancé seems uninterested.

Vance is at wits’ end when the cute location scout shows up and whips his brother’s kids into shape. He’s got writer’s block, but it really has little to do with the distraction of the kids. This latest book in his trilogy is just not coming to him. With Katie’s arrival blow the winds of change for Vance, for his dad, and for a chance at love if the secrets he’s keeping don’t ruin it all.

Alright, this one was in the tone I enjoy for light southern small town romance. The quirky denizens of Harmony were colorful and the gossip was flowing fast. The overall feel for the story was more over the top than I like when it came to the town craziness and his friends’ ‘interventions’ in his love life, but it was still a fun element.

Vance is a home town boy and everyone knows his business and has an opinion including his matchmaking friends. He was a rebellious teen after his mom died and his dad’s strictures and withdrawal divided them. He’s had his affairs, but for the most part has settled down to his work and doing what he can for family. He quickly acts on his attraction to Katie and patiently pursues her though she pulls back each time. The way he kept secrets around her made it obvious what the big conflict was going to be in the end- yep, those secrets will come out, buddy.

Katie on the other hand has no real roots, but her whole life has been spent as a doormat for her self-absorbed parents. Katie acts mousy and looks mousy and has trouble believing a guy like Vance is really interested and she has no clue what to do with his interest. She is the product of long-term emotional abuse from parents who put her down constantly so she can’t see her gifts, skills, personality, and looks like everyone in Harmony does. I struggle with this type of heroine because I don’t have a lot of patience for the sort of stuff she allowed and put up with, but I also was angry on her behalf and really wanted her to come into her own and tell her parent’s off.

I really felt Katie’s need to stand on her own and Vance’s need for a repaired relationship with his dad were more front and center than the romance which came on quick with the feelings of love once they did something about the attraction. It made sense that they had to deal with individual situations before they were ready for something together.

All in all, Vance was definitely a Sweet Southern Bad Boy and Katie was a fun California girl to match him in this light, slightly spicy small town Contemporary Romance that I can recommend to those who enjoy it, too.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love small town romances, and SWEET SOUTHERN BAD BOY is sure to appeal to anyone that loves this genre. Vance is a writer with writer's block and also responsible for his sister's kids while she recovers from an accident. Katie enters his life when she comes to scout sites for her father's movie business.
Katie is smart and she does a lot of changing in this story. She has a way with kids and this brings a lot of fun to the story. Unfortunately, she is not strong when it comes to her family or ex-boyfriend. She loves teaching kids but is manipulated into returning to the family business. To them, she is a failure. To me, this brings a sense of realism to the story. People can be one way out in the world, but the dynamics can be quite different in family.
Vance is fascinated by Katie and the magic way she handles the kids. There are lots of sparks between the two as they get to know each other. The road to romance hits some bumps when Katie's dad tries some more interfering, but the sexy Vance shows that the "bad boy" has a real good side, especially with those he loves. I haven't read a book by Ms Summers before, but I will definitely be reading more of her writing in the future. This story is fun and sexy and it hit the right notes with me.

4 out of 5 stars!! Katie (Kathryn) has been called a free-spirit most of her life, though the term wasn’t one of endearment and it was something she always tried to curb because of her parents domineering ways. Therefore, when she meets Vance it is under the guise of trying to have him sign a contract so she’ll have the rights to use his house and land in one of her father’s upcoming movie productions as an attempt to get into good light with her Dad. Yet what seems so simple at first, turns into controlled chaos when Vance and Katie get into another arrangement all together. Now with their lives pushed together, they find shared common ground, shared passions, but what will happen with them once their deadline arrives and their arrangement ends? Will they find that being together is truly where their hearts are at, or is moving on best for the both of them?

An unexpected delight that knocked me out of left field. I had been hearing about this novel non-stop for a while, and because I really enjoyed Ms. Summers’ "Not So New In Town" (Book 2), I was excited to check this novel out too. Yet though it had the charming dynamic, I anticipated from a Ms. Summers novel I was surprised when the plot hits you sideways and takes you on a ride that you didn’t foresee coming. All in all, after the paced picked up after the beginning, I became enchanted with this story of “women power” and having Katie find that true family is one who cares for you no matter what, even if they aren’t blood related.

Although I say all of that, Pirate Man and California Cupcake, i.e. Vance and Katie REALLY steal the show. It’s not just their instant attraction or the way they ARE the main characters, I mean they both have a vivacious quality about them they was compelling to read about; even during times when I struggled reading through parts. In addition, I liked how both Vance and Katie turned around their circumstances, which from my perspective made them both very powerful characters. It doesn’t hurt that they are just perfect for one another … I mean … come on. 😉

What also sealed the deal for this novel, for me, was being back in Harmony, North Carolina. It has a crazy cast of characters, yes, but you cannot help but wish you could find a way to visit all of them too. PLUS, the updates on the previous characters were fun too!

Overall, I recommend this novel to those who are fans of the Harmony Homecomings Series, fans of Ms. Summers, and/or are looking for a quirky contemporary romance!

Review By: From Me to You ... Book Reviews
-- read more of this review and TWO TEASERS on my blog: frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com --

This was my first book by this author, Michele Summers and I really enjoyed it. Though at times I did feel like there were a few too many supporting characters. Still, Katie and Vance were great together. And the kids! Oh my gosh, I adored them. Who I did not adore was Katie's dad. Overall an enjoyable read.

I liked and enjoyed this story. Great characters with strong chemistry and a great story line. Cant wait to read more