I loved this. It was so good I wish it was a little bit longer. Was enjoying every second of this read. ( )

This book! Holly shit!

"The bad guy" is a romance novel told from the perspective of the bad guy - a psychopath, who kidnapped a woman. However, it is a lot lighter for a dark romance and a whole lot of wholesome!

The story is told from three POVs - Sebastian (the kidnapper), Camille (the victim), and Link (Camille's boyfriend).

The writing was absolutely phenomenal, the spice was scratching hot, and the chemistry was sucking you into their world. I loved reading every chapter, every page, every word. The plot was absolutely brilliant, and the end was as enjoyable as they come.

Sebastian is a clinically diagnosed psychopath, who doesn't feel anything, however, he was far away from broken, scary, or gross. I loved every second in his head. I think the portrayal was perfect - neither too stereotyped nor over the top. I loved him. Totally jumps into my favorite heroes list. The fact that he wasn't cruel or mean, and only wanted to have her, made me adore him so much more!

Camilla - she was a strong and feisty heroine, not naive, but not annoyingly stubborn. I loved how she tried to escape, but that wasn't all that was on her mind. Her kindness and compassion were the perfect combination for Sebastian, and I devoured every interaction between them.

Overall, I couldn't get enough of this book, and I wished there was more. I'd love to reread it in the future, and I strongly recommend it to everyone, who isn't prejudiced. ( )

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Me = Villain lover.
Sebastian = Villain.
Me Sebastian = Happily Ever After. *insert church emoji and bride emoji.*
Celia = The woman who gives me all my favorite villains.

It's pretty obvious I am a fan of our main character, the bad guy, Sebastian, right? He's dreamy and a psycho. There also is a good girl, Camille, who has a secret lust for all the bad guys. She's got herself a man, Link, who has less than polite thoughts. Camille and her man attend an event where Sebastian, Link's boss, spots Camille and recognizes her soul's deep longing for someone just like him. There's shared looks and confusing feelings, this single moment in time pushing Sebastian over the edge. He's found what he wants and like a true villain he makes sure he gets what he wants, no matter the cost.

"The fair maiden wanted the monster more than she needed the knight.

The Bad Guy gives us two complex main characters, a questionable secondary character, and a handful of background characters that bring this dark romance to life. You have the friends, the students, the dad, the boyfriend, and you have the heroine and the villain. Unlike Celia's more gothic tales, The Bad Guy takes place in a city that reads like many others. There's office, men in business suits, bars, and plenty of opportunities for one women to disappear in the blink of an eye. Camille, our good girl with dark desires, seems boring at first. She has a boring relationship, she teaches, and her friend constantly tries to break her from her shell. Sebastian, though, sees deep inside her and his complexities bring out hers. They shouldn't work as a couple, we've all been told the villain doesn't get the girl, but when Camille is her true self she and Sebastian just work. Celia successfully, and at a very fast pace, brings the Stockholm syndrome-esque situation to life. It's a dark romance that features minimal depravity, but the perfect amount of evil to keep me happy. I ended up liking the mousy Camille, I loved the dark Sebastian, and I really like that nothing was as it really seemed. Celia keeps the twists in this novel close to her, revealing them just as you think things are settling down.

"..You enjoy dancing with the devil. Our deals? You play the good girl, but you wanted my kiss."
(I love this quote.)

Though the plot was slightly underdeveloped and the general conflict a little underwhelming, I devoured this book and enjoyed it from start to finish. I found I didn't need it all to be fully fleshed out in order to enjoy it, because my vivid imagination could see this all happening as I read. Readers may find that Camille gave in a little fast, but she'd secretly been wanting much of what Sebastian and she shared all along. Plus, I hate Link. Make him go away.

"He felt. And, in turn, I felt for him."

Readers looking for a fast read that fulfills all their devious desires should be reaching for The Bad Guy as soon as it releases. Celia has once again given her dark fans a book boyfriend that's equal parts villainous and endearing, the cover only feeding into just how hot this bad guy is. Plus, there's an epilogue, the kind ALL readers love. Swoony heart be still. ( )

This was my first Celia Aaron book, and it won't be my last. I LOVE an author that thinks outside the box. The synopsis really caught my attention, and I couldn't believe how different this story was for me. It most certainly isn't your mama's romance, that is for sure. Sebastian is the bad guy in this, only he doesn't see it that way. When I was reading it, I saw traits of my child that has aspergers syndrome, and all I could think was, good lord, I am glad my kid isn't this severe.
Camille, she was no wilting flower that is for sure. She gave as good as she got and more. You could really feel the angst in her as she battled with Sebastian, as well as herself. This was dark, it was gritty, and it was so real you felt like a fly on the wall. This book was in short. Amazing. Please keep up the good work Ms. Aaron. This story is told in alternating views. ( )