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Tonic #2

Bad Penny

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Nothing good comes after the third date.

Date three is the crucial point when things get real, which is exactly why I bounce out the door, twiddling my fingers at whatever poor boy I’ve left behind. Because if I stick around, one of three things will happen: he’ll profess his undying love, he’ll get weird and stalky, or I’ll go crazy. Like, Sid and Nancy crazy. Like, chase-him-through-the-streets-begging-him-to-love-me crazy.

Seriously, it’s better for everyone this way.

So when I meet Bodie, I figure it’ll be the same as it ever was. It doesn’t matter that he doesn’t put a single string on me. Doesn’t matter that he’s funny and smart and jacked or that he can play my body like a grand piano. Because even though I’m built for love, love has only carved me up like a Christmas ham.

Resistance is something I can only hang on to for so long, and he has persistence in spades. But my heart isn’t as safe as I want to believe, and neither is his. And the second I ignore my cardinal rule is the second I stand to lose him forever.

261 pages, ebook

First published June 15, 2017

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About the author

Staci Hart

51 books6,139 followers
I was the kid who stayed inside to read.

As a four-eyed nerd with a bad perm, I was no one’s dodgeball pick, but I had a lot of friends. Frodo and Bilbo, for instance. Kristy, Stacey, Claudia and the gang (iykyk). Once, in the third grade, I wrote a teen murder mystery inspired by Christopher Pike. On solving my mystery in twelve pages, I decided I was a terrible writer and should never, ever do that again.

Fortunately, I didn’t take my own advice.

I write romance for that feeling you get at the end, like you’re standing on top of a mountain with a backpack full of hundred dollar bills. I write romcoms because is there anything better than banter and grand gestures? I write because I love to create and I love words. I love books, and I love stretching my imagination. I love love, and if you do too, bring your coffee and have a seat. I think we’re gonna be friends.

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5 stars
1,335 (41%)
4 stars
1,148 (35%)
3 stars
534 (16%)
2 stars
137 (4%)
1 star
57 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 520 reviews
Profile Image for Sophie.
590 reviews472 followers
May 31, 2017
As with any Staci Hart book, here I am, seconds after finishing, penning my review. Puking out all the feelings and goodness I felt while reading and hoping, by some way of a miracle I'm sure, that this makes sense.

Bad Penny is BLOODY BRILLIANT people. An absolute dream to read and a pleasure to experience. My soul kinda feels like it's bouncing around and singing. I'm THAT happy! Because DUDE! DUUUUUDE! This book was so bad-ass, so sexy, so wickedly sinful, freaking off the charts hilarious, super sweet and oh so swoony. Okay so the swoon is totally on Bodie, but OH MY GOD… BODIE!

From the off, from the very first moment we meet Bodie I think I read Bad Penny in the PRAISE HANDS position with hearts in my eyes. He's ridiculously smart and sexy and sweet and sexy and swoony and SEXY! He's a unicorn! I want one! A Bodie that is, not the unicorn. Wait, who am I kidding, I'll take a unicorn too. Annnnyyway! Bodie’s passion and intensity and commitment and ugh, his dirty, devilish side just had me like WOAH BABY! He's the perfect package wrapped in a super duper smart bow! In the words of Penny: “I’m broken. Bodie broke me, and now I’m ruined.”

The star of this show though, yes star, is PENNY! She's fucking awesome! So freaking wicked, wild and funny. So naughty and sexy. My gosh I literally crushed on her, wanted to be her best friend and could have dished out high fives to her like they were going out of fashion! If you have insecurities and lack confidence, Penny is the person you wish you could be. The carefree goddess who just doesn't give a shit. And she was a breeze to read, to connect with and to love! Most of all, she was real, under the BADASS exterior she was oh so real and that just made me love her, even her crazy side, even more.

Bodie & Penny are literally a match made in heaven. I love that this book covered so many bases that book lovers look for. We got that seriously, intense “insta-lust” connection from the off. We got that fire stoking, heat and rawness from one hell of a sizzling sexual connection. We got two people who were booty calls that fell perfectly into a super sweet friendship that developed into all consuming love. For me, living out that journey right alongside Bodie & Penny was just perfect.

Without a doubt, this is Staci's hottest book yet. WITHOUT A DOUBT. It's less angsty and moves quicker than other books but still develops at a slow pace while the characters, unknown to them, fall in love. Yet, we still get the trademark Hart structure that just possesses you while you read. Each and every word, even the funny crazy ones, infiltrate just as deep, punch and grapple at those feelings just as strong. Hart's words seduce and pull you straight to bookish heaven. Reading a Hart book is as natural as breathing. It's freeing and refreshing. Staci just nails it. Each and every time.

Bad Penny is one of those books that no matter what you're doing, you'll put it all aside to read. From the a-mazing cover, to that killer synopsis and then the outstanding words that are formed between the pages, you can't not love it! It's one fantastic read.

Bodie + Penny = infinity stars.
Profile Image for Christy.
4,081 reviews34.6k followers
September 17, 2017
4 stars!!!

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After reading several Staci Hart books, I know she can bring the laughs and bring the feels, but with Bad Penny, she has shown she can really bring the HEAT!

Penny is a single tattoo artist in the city. She works at Tonic, a tattoo shop you might have heard of before… She changes her man like she changes her hair color. Frequently. She has a rule. Three dates. Three times in the sack. That’s it. Otherwise, she gets weird and clingy, or he catches the feelings. Either way, it’s no good.


Then she meets Bodie. Oh Bodie. Bodie is the entire package. Smart, funny, sweet, handsome… he’s pretty hard to resist. And three dates doesn’t seem like enough. Especially when he’s ‘dicknotized’ her. Bodie knows how Penny feels about relationships. He knows this going in, she never hides it, but he has a plan. Maybe, just maybe he can make it work. Maybe he can keep her.
I knew I’d probably get burned if I fell for her, but if I could hang on to her? Well, it’d be worth the risk. Because I wanted more Penny.

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As I said earlier, this book was crazy hot. Like whoa. It kind of caught me off guard how steamy it was. And I mean that in the best way. It was also laugh out loud funny. There were so many one lines and quips that had me rolling. I love a funny and sexy book- it was truly the perfect light and steamy summer romance!

Staci Hart does a great job writing romantic comedies. I always look forward to reading her books because they make me smile. Penny was a lovable and fun character and Bodie was the perfect book boyfriend. If you’re looking for a swoony, sexy, and sassy book- look no further! Pick up Bad Penny!
She was mine. I was hers. And that was it.

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Profile Image for Angie - Angie's Dreamy Reads.
689 reviews13.7k followers
June 5, 2017
Staci Hart's Bad Penny is not only one of the HOTTEST books I've ever read, it's also the most intimate and sweet and funny reads ever. I'm so IN LOVE with this novel. It's hands down my FAVORITE Staci Hart book to date! I can't even tell you how many feels are in this explosively amazing romance. It's WHOA. And Penny, herself, is the most refreshing character! Wild and free, fun and feisty, sweet and authentically her, she's endearing and so lovable. It's safe to say that I'm in LOVE. In absolute love with this book. Full review to come but ALL. THE. FREAKING. STARS.
Profile Image for Alex ♈.
1,568 reviews1,302 followers
December 18, 2018
The idea and potential of this book were good, the outcome was not. Unfortunately.

Not every day you get a book with reversed roles. Anticommitment female with badass personality, and nerd male who had a crush on her when he was 16. Fabulous premises.

But...

My understanding of badass doesn't include desperate female who pretended to play cool, but was the one to chase a guy. She told me about her 3 date rule and then was the one to persuade him?

Badass women don't chase men, they make men chase them.

Nothing against mutual attempts when the relationship is deep, but not at the beginning of a supposed fling.

Dude was sweet, but lame. He liked her, wanted to have more, but did nothing. He didn't text her, didn't woo her, he waited for her to make next move. He didn't fight for her, not once!!!

Badass women don't play their role, they live it. I like my heroines to own their personality and not to pretend to be cool.

Badass women don't beg and whimper so much in bed. I think I expected her to be a bit more aggressive, and not a horny bubbling mess.
The line he told me that she practically begged him to f*ck her bare made me sick. 😷
Badass they say???

Drama-lama. She chased him, he let her chase him. Yeah, great, dude!
And she even groveled at the end. Twice!!! 😖

Nevertheless I appreciate different female protagonists, I only wish this one was different indeed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Megan✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦.
293 reviews487 followers
June 14, 2017



"They call her boy crazy.
Like it's a bad thing."


Bad Penny seriously has to be one of the hottest and most hilarious books I have read so far this year. I always enjoy reading Staci Hart’s stories, so when I read the blurb to Bad Penny, I knew I just had to get my hands on it ASAP. It sounded like such a cool fun read to really sink my teeth into and I had a feeling I was going to really enjoy getting to know Penny… AND… I really did. It was everything I had hoped for. I laughed, I swooned and I fell in love with these outrageous characters. If you are looking for your next book to be so much fun and just a little bit quirky, then definitely one click this.

The title of the book is perfect, because Penny is BAD… SO BAD! She is completely and utterly shameless and I say that with much love and respect. I absolutely adored her and loved that she would always say whatever she wanted whenever she wanted. She was an honest, real and self-proclaimed slut.

“I love being slutty. I don’t make any promises, and I know exactly what I want. What the hell is everyone’s problem with that anyway? Who cares who I sleep with? Does it affect anyone but me and the guy involved? Answer: No. And I tell all the guys I whatever with what my expectations are, and they agree. It’s not my fault if they catch feelings.”


Penny has a theory or should I say a three date rule. She believes that a multitude of things happen after the third date, things Penny is never going to entertain the thought of… that is until she meets Bodie. I mean let’s face it ladies, three dates with Bodie will only be enough to whet your appetite. You know you’ll want to go back for more.

Bodie… WOW… If there was ever going to be a hero to get your panties melting, then Bodie is your man. He’s smoking hot, intelligent, sweet and knows his way around a woman’s body like he was born to pleasure her. I mean a reformed chubby geek, who’s now has the potential to be a male model and is a complete rock star between the sheets; what’s there not to love? He had me fanning myself constantly. I just could not get enough.

Penny and Bodie have such an intense attraction towards each other. The chemistry and fire between them was electrifying, but when you looked deeper into the relationship that was developing between the two, it was so much more than just a quick hook-up. The more they became involved with each other, the more captivating their love was and it kept me hooked throughout.

Bad Penny was such a refreshing and fun read for me. The witty dialogue and one-liners were seriously on point, along with the character development. If you are looking for a fast paced sexually charged story of lust at first sight and second chances, while still owning who you are and not being ashamed of that, then I suggest you check out Bad Penny. I personally think everyone should meet and fall in love with Penny, she’s so bad, but oh is she so good!



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Profile Image for Kandi Steiner.
Author 64 books12.1k followers
June 13, 2017
Bad Penny is a bad betch. This is Staci Hart's steamiest, most hilarious writing yet, and I couldn't get enough. Between the hilarious one-liners that had me spitting out my wine and the steamy, intense scenes that had me blushing like a school girl, this romantic comedy was a home run for me.

Penny is me. She's you. She's pretty much every girl trying to figure out the dating world in 2017. Except SHE has a plan, one that's worked very well for her up until now -- until Bodie. And that's what I love most about this book. It's basically a role reversal. Here's this GIRL who doesn't have time for relationships, who doesn't want to get into feelings, who has a very strict 3 date rule. But how can you stop at just 3 nights with Bodie who is an absolute GOD in the sack, not to mention hilarious and smart to boot?

Hart always writes amazing characters, but the way these two interacted, the chemistry between them, the witty banter -- it was absolutely flawless. I fell in love right along with them, and I'm still reeling.

The Queen of romantic comedy is back and better than ever, proving yet again that no one writes sexy hilarity quite like Staci Hart. Bad Penny isn't just rom com gold, it's platinum.

If you want to laugh, read this book. If you want to swoon, read this book. And if you want to continue falling even more in love with Staci Hart and her brilliance, well... you get it. ;)

This is Staci Hart at her very best. Fun, sexy, and laugh-out-loud hilarious, Bad Penny is hands down my favorite romantic comedy of 2017. Simply brilliant!
Profile Image for • Lisa •.
556 reviews1,562 followers
June 15, 2017
FOUR LOVE ME STARS.

"I didn’t do serious or permanent, not with my hair color and not with my boys.

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Staci Hart is no 'bad penny', nope this author is as shiny and talented and word worthy as you can get. Once again I'm sitting here putting words to a review and all I can keep thinking is that I'm a little love drunk from finishing this book, and I'm not entirely convinced I'll do this book justice with my review musings. With that thought in mind, I'll say this from the beginning - forget my ramblings and go and add this book to your 'must read' list. For those who are interested in my over zealous thoughts, read on.

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What did I adore?
Let's start with this books cover and concept, yummy and original. What more could a girl ask for? Staci Hart is the queen at getting her packaging on point and this books 'look' is no exception. There was loads for me to love about this book, my highlighting between the pages is testament to just how much I love this authors ability to make me weak at the knees. The banter and comedy value was seamless and I can't review this book without mentioning the friendship and camaraderie that Staci Hart absolutely nails. There's no denying that predictably the hero was the absolute star of this book for me, he was an absolute gem, not to mention he had all the words to make me melty and love punched. Yes, this hero was ticking some huge size boxes and I won't be forgetting him for some time to come. Those readers who love it when an author adds the heat to their romance will not be disappointed. Hart, knew exactly what she was doing when she wrote 'those' scenes so be ready for scorching hot. However, my favourite scenes were when everything was stripped back and it was simply boy meets girl with all the feelings and heartfelt moments. That's when Hart grabbed my attention the most and made me sit up, take notice and fall in love.

Why not five?
There's always plenty that I love about this authors work, quite frankly I could list for days all the things that work for me when it comes to Staci Harts writing style. With that being said for reviewing sake, however small my quibble here's where I pen my honest thoughts. I was well aware of what I was signing up for when jumping head first into this book - a feisty, love lost heroine who is as badass as she is broken. And let's face it, this concept sounds fun. But here's where things slid down just a little for me. The first third or more of the book was centered around the lust and heady attraction between the protagonists - all good you may ask? Well, yes for the most part but it had missing that romance and story that I needed to connect fully. Did Staci Hart pull out the big romantic guns towards the end. Yes she did, and amazingly I might add. But if I'm fully honest that missing something at the beginning took off that full five star shine. With all of the above being said this book was so close to a five star it's almost not worth concerning yourself about. This book will undoubtably be winning readers hearts all over the book community and as always I was left feeling love struck when I got the the last page and once again this book proved exactly why Staci Hart is one of my favourite wordsmiths.

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Final thoughts ... (finally)
I adore, cherish and admire, Staci Hart. I am always on the hunt for her words and I'm ready to fall in love with her romantic releases. You can never be sure what you'll be getting when you open a Staci Hart book - originality is her middle name, and each books brings something shiny and new to the table. (Something that is hard fetched to find in this reading world). 'Bad penny' is hilarious, uber sexy and with a hero as charming (and gorgeous) as Bodie you will not be regretting your choice to read this book. Enjoy ... kisses.

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Profile Image for Syndi.
3,135 reviews911 followers
August 17, 2021
I am dilemma rating this book 3 or 4 stars. I had so much fond memory from the first book. Bad Penny has it all. The sexy romance, the hot smoldering smut. Patience, quite hero and sassy, independent heroine.

What is missing.... is the connection between Penny and Brody. They only connect through their physical connection. Not much on emotional. I am bit disappointed with Miss Hart for not bringing out more emotional connection.

Overall this is still enjoyable read.

3 stars
Profile Image for Kim.
732 reviews1,866 followers
December 18, 2018
I don’t mind girls who are sexually active and proud (or in this case loud) about it because double standards are just ridiculous, but apparently there are only so many times I can stand to see the word “dicknotized” popping up on my Kindle.

Penny was basically a tatted up blowup doll who was ready to go 24/7 and whatever the dude’s name was turned out to be sent by Jesus himself when it came to sex. I’m sure he could do a balloon animal with his dick while being inside her, without using his hands.

This book is about 60% sex scenes, 35% Penny and her friends talking about sex and 5% plot.
Profile Image for Shayna.
1,813 reviews615 followers
June 4, 2017
Staci Hart gives us the absolute PERFECT balance of humor, angst, and steam in her latest novel, BAD PENNY. I can NEVER get enough of Ms. Hart's writing. It's so well executed. It's magnetic and emotional. It's full of heart and soul and impeccably beautiful prose. Once again, this author transported me to her world we ease, leaving me in a blissful state of pure happiness. Her writing is magic. Her characters are unforgettable. Hart has a way with words that will leave you breathless and absolutely addicted. She made me fall in love with her writing long ago, and it seems like she just keeps getting better and better and out-doing herself time and time again. I'm a lifelong fan, and after devouring BAD PENNY, you will be too!

Resistance is futile once you get a glimpse of Penny and Bodie. Intense at the get-go, their chemistry was insane, sexy, and scrumptious! Penny's story is both heartbreaking and bold. Being completely manipulated by an ex in her past, has turned her into this man-eater who will not let anyone in. Yes, this makes her strong, independent and what-not, but it also closes her off to some potential happiness. Everything changes when she sets eyes on the gorgeous man across the ice cream shop. It turns out that they are far from strangers, and remembering him, brings her back to a time where she wishes things were different, because she could really fall hard for this man. Fearful for falling too hard, she maintains her cavalier stance on relationships and tries to keep her distance, but the more time she spends with Bodie, the quicker and harder she starts to fall. Bodie is gorgeous, charming, sweet, and oh so patient. I fell HARD for him instantly. He understands Penny and where she is coming from, but that doesn't mean he is giving up after their third encounter. He knows her past, and therefore he knows to take things slow, but as his attraction to Penny grows stronger, so does his urge to make her HIS.

OMG! You guys! I could talk about this story for DAYS, but I must leave you with this. BUY THIS BOOK! Read anything by Staci Hart and you will become addicted! BAD PENNY will sweep you off your feet and these characters will forever be embedded in your heart, because they are so unforgettable, so beautiful and complex, so dynamic, you can't help but fall hard for them. And the secondary characters (some you will recognize) are INCREDIBLE as well. I just want to live in this world and never leave! Another PERFECT romance from an OUT OF THIS WORLD author. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next, because I for sure, will be FIRST IN LINE for it all!

Bad Penny Teaser

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Profile Image for Dilinna.
125 reviews159 followers
July 22, 2017
This was me at the beginning

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Me after Ramonas wedding

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I loved the MCs esp at the beginning and the smut scenes were...

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But after ramonas wedding the story lost its flow to me and i lost my connection to the couple...all the confused back and forth and lets not forget the constant talk about Rodney! Right from the beginning got on my freaking nerves!! Uugghhh!

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Had to skim the last 30 pages cos i lost interest but loved the reconciliation speech by Penny....overall the book was okay...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2017
4.5 ★'s

"You're like the pony whisperer."

This book starts off with a bang when Penny and Bodie first see each other in an ice cream parlor. It gets even better when they run into each other again at a nightclub called the Circus and immediately head to his place for some steamy fun.

To be honest, while I'm a cover whore and this one is quite amazing, it was the blurb that drew me in. Penny had a bad experience and that has tainted her. So, she had a simple rule, three dates and that's it. Three times for fun and then done...no exceptions.

She's really upfront with Bodie about it and even though they have amazing chemistry and a sweet past, that's not enough for her to bend her rule...at least not at first.

He really makes her question it and the simple fact that she cannot resist him, is only in his favor. See, Bodie's crushed on her since they were in high school together and he's not about to let her slip away now that he has his chance. He manages to keep things light and casual...until they aren't.

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Naturally, that's when the drama comes in. And it comes in spades and in the form of the horrible ex who caused Penny to make her rule. It doesn't help that Bodie also has a past with him.

I really enjoyed both Penny and Bodie and they were sooo good together that you can't help but pull for them. I loved getting Bodie's POV and it was pretty funny how he talked about "taming" her.

Ramona and Veronica are Penny's roommates and best friends. They were really great together and I loved how much they supported her.

The ending is pretty sweet and I loved how two years later, they still have it going on!

♦ Note: There is a book out, Tonic, about the owner of the tattoo parlor where Penny works. I couldn't find anything for any of the other characters but I would love one about Veronica...and maybe with Bodie's brother? ;)
Profile Image for B.B. Easton.
Author 20 books4,675 followers
June 9, 2017
Don't let the title fool you. Penny is anything but bad. She's sweet and sexy, bold and brash, skittish and scattered, free and fun and funny as hell. But bad? Never. Penny's the absolute best. She's the girl you always wanted to be, falling for the guy you always wanted to be with. What could be better than that?
Profile Image for Lillian ☁ Cloud 9 Books ☁.
573 reviews345 followers
June 28, 2017
***** 3.5 Stars *****

Can be read as a standalone.

Slightly disappointing, but overall a cute read.

If you've read and enjoyed Tonic, you're probably going to enjoy this book as well. If you didn't like it, just stay away.

Although there were a lot of cute moments, I didn't find this funny at all. Maybe it's just my sense of humor, but nothing made me laugh or giggle.

Penny is loud, gutsy, and bold. She's a fun girl, but her biggest fear in life is commitment. Her worst enemy is herself, and her mind is the only thing stopping her from true happiness.

Bodie knows Penny is easily frightened from relationships. So he tells her that they don't have to be serious, hoping that one day she'll accept that they belong together. He's the perfect hero that knows how to please a woman in bed. He's also patient and compassionate... a perfect 10.

I really liked Bodie and Penny together, but it was just difficult for me to get attached to this book. Some of the sex scenes felt a bit meaningless, and things just felt a bit dry and bland.


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Profile Image for TJ *Book Twins Reviews*.
1,093 reviews2,542 followers
November 20, 2017
4.5 You ARE Fire Stars
Light-hearted, fun, flirty and oh so sexy!! I loved this second chance, friends to lovers romance from Staci Hart. Penny is a such a fun character. She’s kickass and gives 0 fucks about what people think of her. I’m in awe of how colorful (literally) her character is.

Here’s the breakdown:
It’s a sexy spin on the ugly duckling/nerd-geek loves the hot girl who doesn’t know he exists. Except, Penny is so kickass, she remembers him from high school and doesn’t care about the past at all! Penny is a contradiction. She’s been hurt in the past and to protect her heart she now has a twisted 3 date rule. She didn’t expect Bodie and their relationship blossoms despite her hang-ups.

Here’s what I loved:
The story is HOT as hell, but also a lot of fun. If you’re in the mood for something light, fun, sexy and full of steam, look no further. This is it.

The main characters are such a treat. Bodie and Penny are both great characters! He’s determined, sweet, and all around great guy. Penny is a force of nature, self-aware, and so much damn fun. She’s a “white hot flame”. A loud, fearless, sexually free tatoo artist who loves her friends and having a good time. Her past horrors with love have tainted her view of love, so she’d now a self-professed good time girl. There’s no judgement from her friends or those around her. She is who is she and we all accept and love her for it!

The epilogue is so fucking good!!!! A perfect ending to a fantastic read.

**Quirky sidenote: Fade Into You by Mazzy Star makes and appearance and is one of my favorite songs!!

Audiobook Review: The audiobook is narrated by Joe Arden and Kirsten Leigh. Both were fantastic! The dual narration is fantastic and both performances impeccable. It’s not a long listen, just over 7 hours. So great for a super fun and quick read.
Profile Image for Dee Montoya.
942 reviews598 followers
June 15, 2017
5 AWESOME STARS*****

I had never read a Staci Hart book before and now she has a new fan, for life! I can't even begin to explain the awesomeness that this book is. Tons of laughter, tons of hot sex, tons of crazy best friends shenanigans, just over the top amazing. And now I want more!!!!!

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Penny is a tattoo artist who lives life on the fun side. She doesn't have time for heartache, which is why she always keeps it simple with the guys she meets. If the guy is hot and the sex is great, Penny will give him three dates then move on to the next guy. Uncomplicated fun and everybody wins.

Penny has a great job she loves, amazing best friends who are also her roommates and a beautiful array of men willing to show her a good time, so she's having the time of her life.

One day she meets a gorgeous guy that after three dates Penny simply can't give up. This guy is someone from her past who knows exactly why Penny keeps love far away from her.

Bodie is a hot mathematician who develops video games for a living and also loves to surf. Bodie is a fun guy, and he's been crushing after Penny for a long time and now that he has his chance, he will do anything to show her how great relationships can be. The problem is that bad habits are hard to shake and sometimes love just isn't enough.

I LOVED THIS BOOK, it has everything I look for in a great read. The writing style was simple yet skilled and the plot and characters were relatable, easy to love and impossible to forget. I love a book with a strong heroine who makes me laugh and isn't afraid to be herself. I can see myself reading Staci Hart books forever and ever. Make sure to check out her books, because I can tell that they are all full of good times.

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Profile Image for Ari .
933 reviews303 followers
August 4, 2017
After the last two books I read by Staci Hart ended up being total disasters, I had sworn myself off of reading anymore of her books. I felt like her writing and characters weren't for me and it was time to move on. But a few blogger friends convinced me to give her one last shot and told me that I would really enjoy Bad Penny. I crossed my fingers and hoped that they were right because I really didn't want to end up throwing my eReader again while reading another Staci Hart book.

Penny knows what heartache feels like and vows to never have to experience that pain again. She puts up barriers and creates a set of rules to keep her heart safe, but nothing could prepare her for when Bodie walked into her life...again. She tries to play the same game with the same rules and soon realizes that only person she's got fooled is herself.

I guess fourth times a charm because I ended up enjoying Bad Penny more than I had expected. Bad Penny has one of the best opening liners I have ever read and I will never look at a dude's lip color the same way again. I like the writing a lot better in this book and there isn't an overabundance of similes and metaphors, which was what annoyed me with her previous books.

This book is kind of, sort of a second-chance romance as Penny and Bodie both knew each other from high school. Bodie always had a crush on Penny and now he's got his shot at dating his dream girl. Did I mention that Bodie is a hot nerd?! Can you say book boyfriend because hot nerds are my faves and I honestly couldn't get enough of Bodie. He was so sweet and patient with Penny, gaaahhh I want!! I also loved Penny and her personality, although it would do her some good to not be so in her head all the time. The romance had me dying because I just wanted these two to make things official and be happy!! I'm really happy I decided to give in an give Hart one last chance or else I would've missed out on this adorably cute romance. I guess I won't be writing Staci Hart off my TBR just yet.
Profile Image for Simone.
797 reviews33 followers
July 28, 2017
Wow. That was H.O.T.
Same formula as most of Staci's books... but the chemistry between Penny and Body was delicious.
Profile Image for Brina.
376 reviews86 followers
April 25, 2019
3.5 - 4 Stars

Reviewed on: Brina and the Books

After a rather unsatisfying psychological thriller, I was in need of a light and fun read and Bad Penny, Staci Hart's latest release, was the only way to go.

I really like Staci Hart's novels, because her storylines and characters are not only fun and enjoyable, they are also a bit unconventional in the best possible way, and Bad Penny was one of those unconventional reads.
Fans may remember Penny from her appearance in one of Staci Hart's previous novels, Tonic. To me, Penny was not the typical heroine, she was rather the anti-heroine: She's a tattoo artist, a serial dater, a maneater and definitely not the-girl-next-door. And to be honest with you, I really enjoyed that about her. It's not that I don't like the typical heroines in today's NA novels, quite the opposite, but there are so many girls out there like Penny, so why shouldn't there be novels about them too? Her character was tough and witty, and it was refreshing to read about quirkiness.
Bodie was the perfect counterpart to Penny: He was fun, patient, loyal and kept Penny on her toes. Their instant attraction was off the charts. Besides their instant romantic and intimate connection, there might even be another connection between Bodie and Penny that might surprise you.

The storyline itself was simple and easy, and there were no overly traumatic pasts or demons to overcome for either of the characters. The only thing you should be aware of before heading into this novel is, that this story is sexy. Very sexy. Very very sexy! If you don't like a lot of descriptive, sexy scenes, then you should definitely pass on this novel. For everyone else, have fun! :)
The only thing that annoyed me, was Penny's dramatic behavior toward the end. It was a tad bit over the top, repetitive and too whiny. The ending, but especially the epilogue, however, made me give this novel a higher ranking after all.

Bad Penny is a great read and for everyone who is in need of something simple, easy and fun.

**********

Review to come! :)
Profile Image for Whitney.
330 reviews122 followers
October 13, 2019
I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THIS BOOK!



Before I start my big rambling review, how flipping gorgeous is that cover? This is the first book I have read by Staci Hart, and it won't be my last, so I had to do some research. What is the first thing that I have noticed about all her books? The covers are beautiful! The two models on the front are so similar to Bodie and Penny that my imagination automatically used them when I was reading this book. Just. Gorgeous.

Our protagonist, Penny, is such an interesting character. She is a heavily tattooed, pierced maneater who lives by the "three date" rule. Bet it's not the rule you're thinking about! She beds them three times and then ditches them before either one of them catches feelings. Ain't she just so charming!?

See, I didn't do serious or permanent, not with my hair color and not with my boys.

The idea of love terrified her. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to get so emotionally attached to someone only to have that said person crush you. Once that happens to a person, they don't forget it. And for Penny, she didn't know how to move past it.

Totally, terrifyingly romantic. That's what love is. All-consuming, self-destructive, and absolutely not something I'm interested in experiencing.

While at an ice cream shop with her roommates/coworkers/girlfriends, she sees a guy that catches her eye. Using him as an example for a point she's trying to prove to her gals - "Did you know that a man's lips are the came color as the head of his dick?" - she gets smitten. Little did she know that she has met him before and she will again. *winks*

Bodie is chasing his dreams. He just lost his job, so he packed up and moved to pursue an unlikely career with his friend and twin brother. What he didn't expect was to be pursuing her. He has changed a lot since they last saw each other, and now he actually stood a chance. Until, she drops a bomb on him.

"Here's the thing, Bodie. When I love, I don't do it halfway. I go all the way into the fire until it burns me up. It's obsessive. I lost myself once to someone else, and I'm not doing it again."

But here's the thing about Bodie - He doesn't give up.

I could have kissed Penny forever. If I was lucky, maybe I would.



I love when you go into a book with a certain expectation, and it is totally different than what you thought. That's what Bad Penny did for me! In my opinion, it is so hard to effectively write a woman character as a 'player.' Play on, playa. I know, I know that it sounds extremely sexist, but think about it! Staci Hart blew me away with Penny's character. Penny and I are total opposites - well except for the purple hair. *shrugs* She is an overly confident, heavily tattooed commitment-phobe that has gives zero flips about what anyone thinks about her. I thought it would be difficult to relate to her - and it was at times. But there is more to that tattooed badass than meets the eye.

Bodie brought the steam to this book. HOLY COW! Penny and Bodie together will melt your face off. He would do anything for Penny, and it showed. Staci's character development was fantastic. If you follow my reviews, *waves* then you know that I am a sucker for well-developed characters. Bodie was just a huge breath of fresh air for me. He was kind and respectful to Penny. No aggressive alpha-male in this one guys! He was patient and loving. He was just perfect. *swoon*

STACI HART, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE? I already have more of her books locked and loaded on my kindle. Staci is going to make me a very happy reader! I can already tell.

4.5 stars!
Profile Image for Imani Blake (Enamored Reads).
307 reviews113 followers
June 6, 2017
5+++ "Fuck the Pancakes" Stars!

ATTENTION! I am about to word vomit all over this review! Do you know how many times I read this book? Once. Do you know how many times I'm going to read it? As many times as I can until release day and unlimited times after! HOMAGAWD Staci Hart is a legit GODDESS! This is not only my new favorite book by Staci, but it's definitely her best book to date! It's possibly one of THE HOTTEST books I've ever read to the point where I'm STILL fanning myself long after having finished the book! And these characters! These characters are SO relatable! I found myself wanting to be Penny, Bodie, and the soul shattering lust and connection between them! GAH! This book is just EVERYTHING and you all need to read it! If Staci is your jam, read this book. If Staci is not your normal jam, read this book. If you're not sure if Staci is your jam, READ THIS BOOK!

Penny is boy crazy. Ok, maybe a little more than boy crazy, but it that a bad thing? Do you think Penny is complaining about this?

Nope.

Because there's nothing wrong with having a little fun...

No strings attached.

"In fact, I hadn't really seen my actual hair color past a half-inch of roots since high school back in California. I hadn't had a serious boyfriend since then either. Why choose one when you could have them all?"

And when she runs into Mister Tall, Blond, and Surf God, Bodie was no different.

It was hard to resist when he was putting out all the right vibes.

"I should have known right then that I was in big Blondie-sized trouble. But I couldn't seem to find a single fuck to give."

And Bodie well, he was quickly just as enamored with Penny as she was him.

"She'd seem like a girl who knew what she wanted, and that confidence, that forwardness of her actions, had lit a fire in me that no amount of mint chocolate could cool down."

Penny's three date rule was in full effect with Bodie. The only question is,

Will three dates be enough to satisfy the burn inside the both of them can't ignore?

"He was air and sun and soil, just existing around me to give me all I needed to grow."

"She's got her own gravity, and it's so hard not to want to know her, want to orbit her, even if for just a minute."

Would one second past a third date be their ruin?
Profile Image for Mindy (Book Snitch).
704 reviews226 followers
July 1, 2019
BUY THE BOOK

Umm, very superficial, no real conflict, inconsistent characters and it could have been SO much better.

description

The synopsis sounds cute and I love the idea of a chubby, nerdy boy turning hot and getting the girl. But... that really isn't the story. Its mentioned but there is absolutely no relevance to the story or any significant flash back or anything. This is just another average run-of-the-mill new adult romance in a sea of romance.

Few things that annoyed me are... Penny has a "3 date rule" because she doesn't want to get attached or the other guy to get attached. That is immediately thrown out the window and she is the one chasing the guy.

"I didn’t do serious or permanent, not with my hair color and not with my boys."


and then...

"He was air and sun and soil, just existing around me to give me all I needed to grow. And all the while, I’d grown and blossomed and bloomed, not realizing that I needed him to keep me breathing."


Another thing I couldn't stand and I almost DNF'ed this book because of it, is food and sex.

description

Im not knocking anyone who likes to use food during sex, its just not my thing and I really dont like to read about it.

As for Bodie, he wasn't anything special. Just your typical hot pretty boy chasing a girl hes had a crush on since high school. Hes supposed to be this big geek game developer but I dont see it. I mean.. all he and Penny did throughout this book was fuck and it wasn't even that great.

description

There were several attempts at humor but they fell flat for me. Im giving it 2 stars because the writing is good but the story just isn't for me. I was not dicknotized by this story.

BUY THE BOOK
Profile Image for fay.
427 reviews
May 21, 2021
Penny was in love with a guy .
The guy broke her heart .
She became a hoe.
She broke other guys hearts .
She oppressed her self . By oppressing her emotions .Which isn't healthy.
I wouldn't have mindedif she owned her sexuality But I think there's a difference between sexually confident and slutty.
She would have sex with anyone. The criteria. They only need to have a dick .
Not only her ex took her heart and fled he took also her dignity and self respect.
Profile Image for B.L. Berry.
Author 8 books618 followers
June 15, 2017
Seriously exceptional! I read this book at the exact moment in time that I *needed* it. The book world is in for a real treat on release day! Bad Penny is a hootenanny for your hoo-ha! Brillhart is freakin' brilliant. And hot. And hilarious. And I wish I could un-read this to experience reading it for the first time all over again.
Profile Image for Starr (AKA Starrfish) Rivers.
1,021 reviews352 followers
November 22, 2018
This was a good quick read. Not a whole lot of substance, but did make me smile and got me somewhat hot, and pulled my heart strings there in the end.

I knew she was going to hurt him, and I wanted to bitch slap her, but she made up for it, and we're cool now.

I even empathize how crazy and f**ked up she was by her first love. It takes just the wrong guy to bring out the psycho crazy in a girl. And that was obviously the worst wrong guy for Penny. Sometimes, you're so trained to "play the game" you don't even know when the real thing is staring you in the face. So I totally got that. Didn't excuse her for hurting Bodie the way she did, but I get it. And she made up for it.

Why 4 stars instead of 5? Because there might have been a little too much sex. For the first 60% or so, it was sex for 5 pages, normal for 3. That kind of ratio exhausted me a little. I'm all for steamy hot sex scenes, not necessarily to that extent. Esp. since I didn't really feel like they were developing as characters or as a couple beyond just wanting to screw each other's brains out.

Cover girl looks exactly the way h is described in the book. Cover guy don't know. I'm always dreaming of my Mr. Blondie Bun.

Every blond guy I read about, this is who I'm imagining :P

description
Profile Image for Jessica .
2,234 reviews14.7k followers
August 2, 2017
I was a little wary going into this book because I've only read one book by Staci Hart and I wasn't the biggest fan of it. I'm so happy that the main character was so unique and quirky and I absolutely loved her.

Penny knows exactly what she wants when it comes to men. Three dates. After three dates, things get weird and either she or he gets obsessive. Everyone gets hurt. Penny has gone years with her rules and is as happy as can be. Until she runs into Bodie. From the minute she lays eyes on Bodie, there is an instant attraction she can't ignore. Bodie is gorgeous, but he's also got the brains to go with it. Developing a video game with his brother and friend, Bodie has just arrived in New York and is trying to chase his dreams. Penny soon becomes addicted to Bodie, not only for his body but also for his whit, humor, and caring nature. Penny begins to question her three date rule, but can she really risk another broken heart?

From the start, I absolutely loved Penny's character. She is so blunt and to the point and I was laughing out loud so many times in this book. I completely understood her hesitance to start a serious relationship with anyone because of the unhealthy relationship she had in high school. It was fun watching Penny and Bodie have fun and constantly think about each other and question their relationship. Bodie was so into Penny but didn't want to freak her out, so he let her control the speed of their relationship. This, of course, made Penny question everything and their miscommunication was entertaining instead of annoying.

And can we talk about Bodie?? I loved how sweet he was and learning about his past. It was cool how he was really into coding and was creating his own video game. He was so passionate about his project and Penny just took it in stride. His friend and brother were fun, but I wish we could have gotten to see more of that dynamic. Also, I understood that Penny really liked the more intimate relationship she had with Bodie, but I feel like too much of the story centered around their physical relationship. I could have lived with less intimate scenes and more scenes of Penny and Bodie in public together or with their friends.

If you can't tell, I really enjoyed this book. Penny's character was refreshing and I loved how she said the things that everyone else thinks but are too scared to say out loud. Bodie was such a catch and I really enjoyed the lack of communication the two characters had because they didn't want to freak one another out. This book was so fun and you all definitely need to read it!
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