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A Real Good Bad Thing: A Falling for the Enemy Standalone Kindle Edition

by Lauren Blakely (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 591 ratings
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After the year I’ve had, the last thing I need is a hot, tattooed, rugged stranger distracting me from my job.

But when the irresistible man I meet in a dive bar devastates me with a knee-weakening kiss, I throw caution to the wind and spend a scorching night in his arms on the beach.

The next day I discover he’s my brand new rival. We’re racing against time and each other to find millions in missing jewels for my family.

Bye bye hottie.

Except, I keep bumping into him as we chase clues, and he’s much savvier than I am at breaking and entering, plotting and twisting.

Maybe it's better to partner up.

But the more time I spend sneaking into nightclubs and art galleries with the cocky, dirty-talking treasure hunter, the more I want him to do bad things to me.

Soon, I’m not just sleeping with the enemy. I’m falling for a man who has no room in his life for me.

And that’s a real bad thing for my heart.

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  1. Print length
    434 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    November 16, 2023
  5. File size
    1838 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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From the Publisher

Woman on green background
List of Tropes with cover
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A sexy mystery where lust sparkles brighter than diamonds!" - KB on Goodreads

"A joy to read. It was funny, sexy, suspenseful, and action-packed. Blakely kept the mystery and suspense going until the very end." - LitlJen on Goodreads

"Loved this flirty and fun mystery...The chemistry between the two main characters is sizzling." ~ Catherine on Goodreads

"What a very fascinating and interesting enemies-to-lovers romance!! Jake and Ruby's story is filled with intrigue, suspense and a whole lot of passion." ~ Donna Veilleux on Goodreads

"A Real Good Bad Thing is a fabulous mix of romance, mystery, and adventure filled with twists and turns that kept me hooked till the end." ~ Amour.Rebelle92 (Bran.d) on Goodreads

"Jake & Ruby definitely steam up the pages along the way..." ~ Elizabeth Clinton on Goodreads

"Blakely has done it again! She has given us an exhilarating, suspenseful and sexy story that captures you from page one and never lets go." ~ kgagnon on Goodreads
"A strangers to lovers, wild romantic adventure with added seductive suspense and alluring jewel heist vibes that I couldn't get enough of!" ~ JodiReadsnListens on Goodreads

"This is hands down the most delightfully fun book from Lauren Blakely I have read to date. Pure delicious escapism as we are whisked away to an island paradise off the coast of Florida in a gorgeous treasure hunt style mystery but with plenty of spice." ~ Hannah on Goodreads

"Jake and Ruby are very easy to love from the sizzling chemistry to the twists and turns their journey takes us on. A great read that will keep you on the edge of your seat." ~ Jackie Wright on Goodreads

"The best in characters with the plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat. A great read from start to finish." ~ Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase on Goodreads

"Ahh, I devoured this story. This book was very well written with a great story line, I was hooked right from the first few chapters. Highly recommended." ~ Reading with 2 book lovers Sarah P on Goodreads

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CDSWG1XJ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lauren Blakely Books (November 16, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 16, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1838 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 434 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 591 ratings

About the author

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Lauren Blakely

Lauren Blakely

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

You can find Lauren on TikTok at @laurenblakelybooks! A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
591 global ratings
Oh Yeah!
5 Stars
Oh Yeah!
This book is so good. I have already enjoyed a few by this author. I am not gonna describe the story for fear of giving anything away. It's a new favorite though and I am gonna re-read it soon. And let me say...it is full of STEAMY spectacular descriptions that is a wonderful guide or something to dream about. ;)I also love her "Night After Night" and the Seductive Nights Series. Goals!
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Top reviews from the United States

Danielle
5.0 out of 5 stars 5 STARS! Fun & flirty enemies-to-lovers, treasure-hunt themed romcom!
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
Inspired by her Jewel series, Lauren Blakely has re-imagined the 2016 duet in A Real Good Bad Thing. This was no simple re-working of a previously released story, this was a complete re-creation. An absolutely delightful romantic comedy, Blakely blended that delicious enemies-to-lovers tension with a forced proximity twist that made for a truly entertaining and heartwarming read. Her sharp and witty writing style shines through in this laugh-out-loud, irresistibly charming story. The tropically-set, beachy-themed, treasure-hunt elements added an exciting layer of intrigue, turning this enemies-to-lovers romcom into a fun and flirty adventure that kept me hooked from the first page. Jake and Ruby’s chemistry sizzled, their snappy banter was electric, and their journey from adversaries to something more was perfectly paced. I listened to the audiobook, narrated in duet by Stella Hunter and Ryan West. Their performances were wonderful, full of the natural chemistry and charisma that these characters demanded.

Blakely has crafted an intriguing and impossible-to-put-down romcom in A Real Good Bad Thing. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic was brilliantly executed, and the forced proximity element added tension and humor to the narrative. The treasure-hunt plotline was a stroke of genius, bringing a sense of adventure and anticipation that kept me engaged from start-to-finish. Blakely's writing is smart, funny, and filled with heart, she creates characters you can't help but root for, and the way she balanced humor and romance with a touch of adventure was absolutely addictive. A Real Good Bad Thing by Lauren Blakely gets five smooches from me.
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valeen
4.0 out of 5 stars I love this romantic adventure!
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
After Ruby's amazing time with a stranger, she knows she'll never see the man again. Until he shows up, angry at her for something she didn't even do. Now the two of them are on a treasure seeking adventure, and the close proximity is either going to be the best thing for them, or make them even more rivals.

Jake has rules, and Ruby is making him break them all. He can't get the woman out of his mind, especially now that they're seeking the diamonds together. He's still not sure if he trusts her, and it's messing with his mind. Is it possible he's falling for someone he doesn't fully trust? What happened to his 3 rules and why is he falling for his rival?

I love this romantic adventure! It feels like a contemporary version of Romancing the Stone with a side of National Treasure thrown in. The rivals vibe is strong but not so much that it feels like true enemies, the banter is witty, snarky and fun, and their chemistry is delicious. I know this is a revised re-release, I'm hoping that we get more of these two and even an expanded series perhaps? *hint hint*
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Hailey (@h.skog.library)
3.0 out of 5 stars Treasure hunting romcom🌴
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2023
This was such a fun read! Perfect beach vacation romance vibes meets treasure hunting💎 You immediately meet Jake who is a bounty hunter for stolen items and Ruby who is a dive/climb instructor who find themselves in the same city for very similar reasons. The chemistry and banter between these two is topnotch🌶️ Jake soon realizes his rule of not mixing work with pleasure may be crumbling as Ruby breaks down his walls on the hunt for their treasure.

Please read if you like: Romance with a side of Mystery, Beach Reads🌴, Plot Twists and Secrets.
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Stacey
5.0 out of 5 stars Such a fun and romantic adventure!!
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
The great thing about being a Lauren Blakely fan is the seemingly endless story ideas she has. There are so many wonderful characters. Blakely does it again in A Real Good Bad Thing. This was a wonderful standalone that truly felt new and unique.

This adventure side of her story telling was so much fun. It was very much her writing, but with a fun mystery intertwined in the romance. As always she has a perfect balance of humor, banter, swoon, and steam. Ruby and Jake had an enemies to lovers arc with such great chemistry. I loved the way they learned to trust each other and build into something more. The excitement of the plot really added so much to the experience. What a great read from Lauren Blakely!
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Dawn
5.0 out of 5 stars Oh Yeah!
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book is so good. I have already enjoyed a few by this author. I am not gonna describe the story for fear of giving anything away. It's a new favorite though and I am gonna re-read it soon. And let me say...it is full of STEAMY spectacular descriptions that is a wonderful guide or something to dream about. ;)

I also love her "Night After Night" and the Seductive Nights Series. Goals!
Customer image
Dawn
5.0 out of 5 stars Oh Yeah!
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2024
This book is so good. I have already enjoyed a few by this author. I am not gonna describe the story for fear of giving anything away. It's a new favorite though and I am gonna re-read it soon. And let me say...it is full of STEAMY spectacular descriptions that is a wonderful guide or something to dream about. ;)

I also love her "Night After Night" and the Seductive Nights Series. Goals!
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C. Marie
4.0 out of 5 stars Lauren's newest release!
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
Lauren Blakely does it again! Her books are always an instant read for me, and I was fortunate to get an ARC for this one, but I also wanted to listen to it, so I waited to post my review. It is good in both written and audio form!

Jake and Ruby meet by chance, and they are both after the same goal. Sort of. Her stepdad left her mom high and dry financially, and he also allegedly stole some money from a former business partner. Jake is a pro at his job as a recovery specialist, and Ruby is just trying to help her mom get back on her feet. They meet, and it all goes wild.

Like any other LB book, this is full of laughs, witty banter, and steamy scenes.

A solid 4.25, and I'm always eagerly awaiting her next release!

The audio version is perfectly cast, as well! I wasn't familiar with the narrators on this one, but they certainly didn't disappoint.
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Avid Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Good Bad Thing
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2024
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This was a great adventure set in an ideal place (❤️ the FL Keys) and described to perfection the weather, the water, the scuba opportunities and add the mystery of searching for a lost treasure. Now that sets the theme and romance just waiting for us to read and figure out the who dunit and how.
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Top reviews from other countries

Andrea
4.0 out of 5 stars A fun read
Reviewed in Canada on November 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
“I want to do bad things to you.”
“I like bad things. I want bad things.”

This two were straight fire together and I was here for it. They are both looking for answers and their paths cross unknowingly and it helps to create a heck of a story.

Ruby is getting her business back on its feet after her ex boyfriend tried to destroy it. She decides to venture to her next job early in order to look into her step father who cheated and left her mother with scraps.

Jake was hired by a third party to look into Ruby’s stepfather and when they realize, these two decide to team up together and get the answers they needed.

“Kiss me properly.”
“Oh, sweetheart. I’m going to be very improper.”

Lauren sends us on a delicious journey that kept me hooked by the storyline, had me laughing with the banter and tearing up at the emotional parts.

Ruby is a spitfire who gives as much as she gets. I loved seeing Justice where it was deserved and watching these two fall in love was the icing on the cake.
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Dee 54
5.0 out of 5 stars another brilliant story !
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2024
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I loved the whole twist and turn story. Loved the love scenes too !
Easy to read I didn’t want to put it down !
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Liz loves reading 📚
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and engaging read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 19, 2023
Verified Purchase
4.25 ⭐️

I enjoyed this romantic mystery set in a tropical location.

Jake and Ruby were great together, and the twists and turns were fun to read. The steamy scenes were hawt.
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Karen Bee
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Crime Caper
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is a romantic thriller, very much in the lighter side. Jake is working as a proceeds of crime recovery specialist when he meets Ruby, who has a personal connection to the case. The relationship bowls along well with only a couple of hiccups along the way. A fun read.
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MarieMac
2.0 out of 5 stars Five * - seriously!
Reviewed in Australia on January 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
Don’t get all the five star reviews but just glad I didn’t actually pay for it. Basically many, many sex scenes which just got tedious. Mostly just flipped past. The “plot” was highly improbable and really just a device to link the “steamy” content. Took me days to read when I should have just given up. Hadn’t read this author before and won’t bother to again.
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