I want a bad boy like Dax, he may act all rough and growly,"supposedly" happy with a new woman a night, but someone has him hot and bothered. Dax's dad Rowdy took Ava in when she was alone and pregnant , in a way they adopted each other. The chemistry is a flowing between Dax and Ava , the emotions are all over the place and I'm loving it. You'll need ice to cool down, tissues for any crying and a drink by you because you won't want to leave your seat after you start reading. I'm ready for my next bad boy and I know that I'm going to enjoy it also ( )

Dax is the town bachelor, a single mechanic and volunteer firefighter who spends his evening drinking and enjoying the various women who visit Willow Valley as tourists. He's got no desire to settle down, but when the loss of his father hurts the only girl he ever had some sort of feelings for he finds himself a changed man. Ava and Olivia were the apples of his father's eyes and Dax feels like he finally understands why his dad was pushing him to let Ava in. Together they stumble through the loss of Rowdy and the uncertainty that comes with trying something new. When Ava must rely on Dax to protect her and Olivia from the past she discovers he is a changed man and might be the right one to give her heart, and trust, to.

"Hot and cold. Water and fire."

Dax, book one in the Bad Boys of Willow Valley series by Shannyn Leah, was a great bad guy turns good read. From the very first page Leah thrusts us into the small town of Willow Valley, allowing us to see the beach, the fire station, the mechanic's shop, and the quaint streets that us city people dream about. It's a classic small town romance, everyone knows everyone's business, but there's a twist that makes Dax a bit more exciting. Dax is your classic handsome alpha with a distaste for real romance. Ava is the sweet teacher, the goody-two shoes, and the mother of little princess Olivia. She has a past, a background that we only get a glimpse at, but it's enough to tell us things with her aren't as they seem. She and Dax share chemistry, a blazing inferno that everyone can see, but them. Their romance really is the entire story, but Olivia and Rowdy, Dax's father, really make it that much better. They're the best kind of secondary characters, especially for a story like this one.

"It was crazy. He was crazy. Heck, she felt a little crazy lately..."

Dax is a story about love, loss, grief, forgiveness, and strength. Dax and Ava must face the terrible loss of Dax's father and together they work through the mess that they made when they failed to acknowledge how much they care for one another. They work trough the grief, they work through caring for Olivia, they deal with Dax's history as a playboy, and they face Ava's ugly past when it catches up to her. The story is similar to many others, but I enjoyed the characters and I really enjoyed how Shannyn Leah worked through their differences. The moments with Olivia were so perfect, I just wish that the past Ava kept from Dax, and Olivia, wasn't such a surprise. I knew there would be twists, but I wish some of it had been teased in the beginning on the novel. In this case, we get over 50% through before it is brought up and it felt like an addition to the story rather than something that was a part of it from the start.

"There is an us. There's always been an us."

I love bad boys, I love single mom stories, and I really love a book that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. Ava and Dax are the kind of couple that makes you say awe, especially as Dax embraces the changes he has to make in order to win over a woman like Ava. Olivia is the comedic relief and really makes the story the right level of complex. Dax is definitely a great new release from Shannyn Leah and I look forward to the rest of the men known as the Bad Boys of Willow Valley.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. ( )

DAX by Shannyn Leah
Bad Boys of Willow Valley #1

Rowdy Colyn, widow and father of Rowdy, brought unwed pregnant Ava Anderson into his family after his wife died. Ava found a second and better father in Rowdy than the one she grew up with. Ava is definitely running from her past but makes a wonderful life for herself and her daughter in her new town. Rowdy and Ava are attracted to one another but fight it for years. The blurb for the book sets the right tone and background for the book while indicating that there will be a HEA in the end. There is loss and heartache and coming to terms with issues in life that both Ava and Rowdy have to deal with. Olivia, Ava’s daughter, is a charmer.

To me this felt like a New Adult romance with a bit of suspense at the end. I have to say that I really disliked Rowdy and had trouble sticking with the story due to the way he behaved in the beginning. I saw nothing redeeming in him at all and could not see why Ava or any female would want anything to do with him. Thankfully that changed when he was required to step up to the plate…well…perhaps not even then but perhaps a few days afterward. In the end he did redeem himself and I was better able to see why perhaps Ava and Rowdy would end up together. It was an okay story and one I would recommend for New Adult readers and even, perhaps for young adult readers.

I would like to thank the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 ( )

Oh my! The emotion, the angst, the romance! Dax is an alpha mechanic, volunteer fireman, love 'em & leave 'em man. He's arrogant & cocky & he's keeping a secret. He's interested in single mother Ava. He's managed to hide it from everyone by engaging in one night stands to keep his mind off her.

Dax's father Rowdy had befriended Ava when she was pregnant & alone. He had her move into his house as a "form of a foster" daughter to give her a hand up. She's now a respected teacher with a young daughter. She's looked down on Dax for his attitude but still is drawn to him. When tragedy struck, will it pull them together or push them apart? The chemistry is there but can it develop into more?

Shannyn Leah has done it again. The story pulled me in from the beginning & quickly tapped into my emotions. I cried! I actually sobbed through several chapters & used multiple tissues. I loved the idea that Olivia, Ava's daughter, has these rough, tough mechanics wrapped around her finger. It was a sweet side that generally isn't portrayed but tugs your heart. I can't wait to see what Ms. Leah comes up with next. ( )