TEST DRIVE is Book 1 in Marie Harte's Body Shop Bad Boys series.  After reading TEST DRIVE, I am interested in reading WHAT TO DO WITH A BAD BOY because the female main character is a prominent supporting character in this book. Suave mechanic Johnny Devlin and hardworking nursing student Lara Valley probably wouldn't have met if not for her job as a bartender. Although Johnny and Lara may seem like opposites and unlikely lovers, I love how well they get along and thoroughly enjoyed their romance in TEST DRIVE.

Complex, well-developed, and likable characters are a highlight of TEST DRIVE. Johnny has lusted after Lara from afar and been half in love with her for years without her knowing. I love stories like this in which a guy is head over heels for a woman and works hard to show her how much she matters to him. Although Johnny had a bit of a wild youth, he is now equally as hardworking as Lara, and proves to be a considerate and sweet hero under the tough guy persona he puts on for his buddies. I adore all the ways Johnny woos Lara, and the many ways he shows he cares. Helping to babysit her nieces and making sure he doesn't distract her from her studies are part of what makes him a keeper. Marie Harte crafts a hero who exudes sex appeal and masculine swagger, but who also has a hidden yet amazing thoughtful side.

One of the things that makes TEST DRIVE so enjoyable, besides the smoking hot scenes between Lara and Johnny, is that the characters and relationships are realistically flawed. I like learning about how the failed romantic relationships Johnny's father had with women contributed to Johnny's own view of relationships, but without making him bitter. This background information makes for a more interesting character. Likewise, Lara's complicated relationship with her sister adds depth to her character. I also like that Lara is willing to give Johnny a chance rather than constantly try to push him away. The fun, snappy, and occasionally racy dialogue makes TEST DRIVE refreshing to read and a total treat.

TEST DRIVE is a romance that runs full throttle with unforgettable characters. The ribbing between Johnny and his fellow mechanics adds humor to TEST DRIVE and is another reason to love this book. I look forward to what romantic entanglements await Johnny's buddies Foley, Sam, and Lou in the next Body Shop Bad Boys book by Marie Harte.

Book Summary

GET TO KNOW THE BODY SHOP BAD BOYS
Johnny, Foley, Sam, and Lou are the rough and tumble mechanics of Webster's Garage. These reformed bad boys are used to living fast, but it's the women in their lives who take them from zero to sixty in a heartbeat.

JOHNNY
Johnny Devlin's a charmer with a checkered past. He's has had his eye on scorching-hot bartender Lara Valley for ages, but she's rejected him more than once. That doesn't mean he won't come to her aid when some dirtbag mauls her. When she asks him on a date as a no-strings-attached thank you, he can't say no. And then he's saying nothing but hell, yes.

Read an Excerpt