Romance
Bad Reputation: A Sweet and Spicy Small-Town Good Girl Meets Bad Boy Romance
3
Readers
2
Reviews
4.5
Avg rating
About the book
A church-going chef. A tattooed mechanic every mother in town warns her daughter about. One reckless night. One very bad reputation. Maria Moralez has never broken curfew. Never missed Sunday Mass. Never done a single reckless thing in her life. Until she does all three in one night. Fresh out of culinary school, Maria spends her days running the kitchen at her family's restaurant and living up to her reputation as Pinehaven's dependable good girl. She's the daughter every Tía points to with pride, the woman everyone expects to make sensible choices. Roman Castillo is not one of them. He's the tattooed mechanic with grease-stained hands, a motorcycle, and a reputation that has followed him for years. The man every parent warns their daughter to stay away from. The last person anyone expects Maria to be seen with. Everyone in Pinehaven has an opinion about Roman Castillo. Maria is about to find out none of them have the full story. What starts as one impulsive decision turns into stolen kisses, secret dates, and a romance neither of them saw coming. But in a town where gossip travels faster than traffic, keeping a relationship hidden is nearly impossible... especially when Maria's overprotective older brother, Pinehaven's new deputy sheriff, used to be Roman's best friend. And he absolutely will not approve. A sweet and spicy small-town romance filled with laugh-out-loud family chaos, filthy banter, sizzling chemistry, motorcycle rides, and a tattooed hero who looks like trouble but loves like home. Perfect for readers who love good girl × bad boy romance, he falls first, protective heroes, mutual pining, and happily ever afters without the third-act breakup. Start Bad Reputation today and find out why Pinehaven’s baddest mechanic was worth the risk. Heat Level: Spicy Tone: Sweet, Funny & Heartfelt Series: Marked Universe — Reckoning Series (Interconnected Standalone) Ending: Happily Ever After POV: Single POV, First Person
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Reader reviews
Kelly
I absolutely loved this one! Such a fun, spicy and heartwarming small town romance. Maria had me laughing so much with her overthinking and Catholic guilt and Roman was the perfect “bad boy with a soft side.” I loved their chemistry and all the family chaos too, the Moralez family was hilarious and brought so much warmth to the story! A really easy, entertaining read with plenty of spice, banter and a gorgeous happily ever after. Definitely recommend!
Jack
A fun, easy read! Maria's anxious, overthinking narration made me laugh, Roman is a lovely softie under the bad boy image, and her big chaotic family was a highlight. The pacing slows a little in the middle, and the family drama resolves fairly quickly, but it suits the cosy, low-angst feel of the book. A great pick if you enjoy funny, spicy small-town romance.
Author thank-yous & replies
From the author to Jack
Thank you
25 Sep 2026