The Issue with Bad Boy Roommates

The good: I love the Baileys and their home, Lake Starlight. The books about the next generation are like coming home in a way because the original books about the Baileys were unique and special and those books, those stories hold a special place in my heart. The disappointing: For those who have read the series about the Baileys, Brinley’s personality took a 180 and instead where her personality was like Savanah’s, now all of a sudden she becomes like Liam. Not so good - I felt that Van was written like a Bailey clone and not someone who went through all that he did. Worse - Van sounds like a girl sometimes instead of a man who was on his own from the time he was 16 and then joined the Coast Guard living as a recruit with a bunch of guys. Example- …”I have mirrors, and yes, I’ve been blessed with this amazing face and body, but my personality, that’s all me.” This among other comments by Van make him sound girly or just stupid. The phrasing seems odd whether for a girl or boy who was basically living on the street but really, a boy who was basically living on the street from 16 on?!?! I’m still not quite clear on how a 16 year old from California got to Alaska to enlist in the Coast Guard. Some of how things were written was annoying so I flipped pages So I’m mixed on this. If this book had been written about any other group of persons or places I would not recommend it but for nostalgia sake it was nice to be back in the setting.

Highly recommend this book.

What a wild ride! I definitely want to go back and read the other book in the series, as well as any other books relating to these characters, because I definitely felt like I was missing some backstory when starting this one. Brinley has been surviving rather than living her life after the tragic death of her fiancé four years ago, and all that changes when she puts an ad in the local paper for a roommate and Van responds. Forced to go on leave from the coast guard, Van is looking to stay in town for a few months until he is able to re-enlist again, as his job is his life after a traumatic childhood. When he meets Brinley, he’s instantly attracted to her, but won’t let anything happen because he’s not going to be in town long, until these two can’t fight the feelings they’ve developed any longer, and the truth about their pasts comes out. This was definitely an emotional read, and I was happy these two got their HEA they both deserved after what happened to them previously, as well as the twist of fate that these two had their lives intertwined. I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

I have read every book available by Piper Rayne and this so far is my favorite. The story really showcases what they are good at and that is drawing you into a magical world where love, tragedy, family and a couple of meddling old ladies come together to created beautiful novels. I love every time I travel to Alaska with my Bailey and Greene family, so much so that I am actually planning a trip to Alaska for late next year!! Thank Piper Rayne so much for sharing your creativity with me, I feel as though each book was created just for me!

I loved being back with the Bailey’s in Lake Starlight. The slow burn between Brinley and Van was *chefs kiss* When they finally got together **SPICY HOT** loved the touch of Uncle Austin’s story with the first time in the truck. I really felt the connection between Brinley and Van and my heart shattered when they discovered the connection they didn’t know they had. I’m loving Great Grandma Dori’s cabin and the role she is playing in the lives of her “Greats” even though she has passed on. Can’t wait until August 8th to make the trip back to Lake Starlight!!

I just THOUGHT that Rylan & Calista’s story was the book I was absolutely needing from Lake Starlight. But as I told one of my book friends last night ,this is definitely the Bailey next gen book I needed. Like…I didn’t know how much I needed Brinley to have a man just like her dad. Someone to bring her out of her shell & show her her true self 😍😍. And the way that this man was dirty talking her without even dirty talking 🤣. How is that even possible!? Brinley Kelly has experienced more heartbreak in her short adult life than anyone should have to suffer. And though she’s stuck in a rut, she doesn’t want to be. Because all she wants, is to be normal. Van Adler is the wildcard that rolled in to town that no one was expecting. He rode into town on his motorcycle & tipped the life of the town’s “charity case” on its axis. He’s big, tattooed, and working at Lucky’s bar is not one to be messed with. Except Liam Kelly isn’t scared (maybe because he sees a kindred soul). The way that Van had me swooning all over the place, even though every expectation was for him to be a hardass. The way that he treated Brinley at every turn. He brought her back to the woman she was meant to be, and I couldn’t help but love every aspect of him & her together. He gives her everything she needs at any given second, and holds back when he knows it might be too much for her. She knows, from the start, that she is beautiful & desired in his eyes…& there’s really nothing more beautiful than that. When it comes to Van, his inability to see his true worth is annihilated when a town like Lake Starlight, a family like The Bailey’s, & a woman like Brinley accepts & embraces him. It’s a life he’s never known he longed for, but one he doesn’t want to let go. The way that these two just fit perfectly. Not just physically, but emotionally, with wit, with likes & dislikes, & just in total personality. There was something absolutely perfect in how they challenged each other, yet supported each other fully. I could go on gushing about this book, this couple, this series, & this author…but I’d rather you experience the amazing ride for yourself. Audiobook Review: Connor Crais & Melissa Moran’s narration was SUPERB! The emotions, vulnerability, confidence, & friendliness in their voices just resonated. I loved the dual narration, it brings an extra punch to the perfectness of the story through audio.

The Issue with Bad Boy Roommates by Piper Rayne is the second novel in the Lake Starlight series about the next generation of Baileys. This book is about Brinley, who was a 25 year old widow, and Van, who was taking eight weeks of forced leave from the Coast Guard with orders to find a life. Since Calista married and moved out, Brinley had placed an ad in the paper to find a new roommate. Van responded to the ad, but she mistakenly believed that a woman was moving in. She was surprised when a gorgeous, tattooed man wearing leather and riding a motorcycle arrived to move in. It wasn’t long before sparks are flying between them, but what could they do since Van would be returning to the Coast Guard after eight weeks? This was a classic Piper Rayne novel with lots of Bailey interference and additional contributions from the Lake Starlight Retirement Community as well as laugh out loud comedy full of crazy situations. I expected to experience some heavy emotion from this book given the need for Brinleigh to move on from her tragically short marriage, but this book was much more lighthearted than Calista and Rylan’s story. I cannot imagine ever reading a Piper Rayne book that I did not recommend wholeheartedly, and that trend continues. I recommend this book for fans of Piper Rayne, Julia Kent, Max Monroe, and Meghan Quinn who love contemporary romcom novels. I am voluntarily submitting this honest review after listening to an advanced complementary copy of this audiobook thanks to Valentine PR and Piper Rayne Inc.

Love love love this book! Brinley’s strength & Van’s vulnerability is everything!!! Great job Piper Rayne 🥰

This book is so entertaining, wonderful and funny. A great addition to this series. Brinley is looking for a fresh start but is dealing with her overprotective, overbearing family. She decides to take charge of her life and start taking some chances…outside of her comfort zone. Brinley is a wonderful character who is facing some trauma, a little fearful of a new relationship but is determined. Van is swoony, new to town and a very kind person. He is immediately smitten with Brinley but tries to keep a respectable distance….he’s a great listener, encourager and friend. The conversations between these two are fantastic, funny and endearing. The camping scene is classic!! A fanatic story that will have you laughing, swooning and enjoying every word.

4.5 Stars Book two of the Lake Starlight series centers around young Widow Brinley Kelly. Brinley was married at 20 and widowed at 21. She has been going through the motions for the past four years. When her cousin and roommate moves out, she needs someone to pay the other half of the rent. In walks Van Adler. He needs a place to live, and it doesn’t hurt that his new roomie is attractive. Brin and Van bring out the best in each other, however, both of them are keeping secrets from each other,and one of those secrets threatens to tear them apart. Overall, this was such a fun, quick read. I received an ARC of this book from the author for my honest review.