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  • Bad Dad by Sloane Howell
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Bad Dad
Sloane Howell
Dark Romance; Sci-Fi
December 27, 2017

My son is my life. Nothing on earth matters but him.

Soon, I’ll have to send him out into society. The cruel machine that gnashes innocence and spits out the hollowed remains of a child’s imagination. It’s a place I know all too well, considering my past. I’ve worked hard to separate myself from it, but it looms in the back of my mind—waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

My son, Logan, wants to have birthday parties, make friends, play at the park—all the normal things that seven-year olds want to do. All the things I want to do with him.

I’ve put up walls around our life to shield us from danger. Giant barriers to ward off possible threats.

Cora Chapman crashes through them like a wrecking ball. She’s intelligent and hilarious with soft curves and a spark that ignites a flame deep inside of me.

There’s only one problem—she’s Logan’s teacher.

When my past wraps its tentacles around my throat and threatens to strangle the breath from my lungs, I’m given an option—fight for my family’s freedom, or die as they’re stripped away from me.

I can’t lose. I won’t lose.

My name is Landon Lane and I am a warrior.

“Always.” 

Intense. That one word describes so much of this book. The hero Landon Lane is intense. The plot is intense. The ending is beyond intense. But this book has something for such a wide variety of readers. Do you love romance with a dark edge? A hint of the paranormal? A science fiction twist? Are you in love with MMA fighters? How about single dads? Forbidden relationships? Mysteries and thrillers? This book literally has all of that. And more.

Landon Lane is a single dad. His son, Logan, is literally his life. He spends his days training MMA fighters and his nights sleeping outside his son’s door. His past is a question mark and his future is much the same. But as long as Logan is safe, he wants for nothing else. Until he meets Cora Chapman, a petite, freckled beauty, with a stubborn streak and a penchant for colored Chuck Taylors. Too bad she’s his son’s teacher. 

Cora Chapman has recently returned to Desire, Montana to continue her teaching career. Her stint in NYC left her alone, afraid and homesick. Although with parents like hers, the last part is definitely confusing. She spends her days teaching elementary school, and the rest of her time reading and being alone. Her MO is to run from anything that scares her. And Landon Lane definitely scares her. From the moment they meet in the school hallway, his intimidating size, his powerful presence and his commanding voice have her captivated. And for some reason, that Cora can’t seem to wrap her head around, Landon Lane seems to be just as entranced by her.

But there are more than a few problems with their relationship. The fact that she is Logan’s teacher is probably the least of them. Some of the other issues, namely Landon’s mysterious and obviously incredibly dangerous past, are near insurmountable. The chemistry is just too strong, though. And Landon and Cora quickly fall into a relationship that is both risky and complicated, while simultaneously being unbelievably hot. While Landon is hypervigilant, and Cora is super cautious, they can not prevent his past from resurfacing. And with its reappearance comes threats, coercion, and even bodily harm. Landon will now not only be fighting for a championship, but to protect the family he loves beyond words. And Cora will have to decide if she should fall back into old habits and get out before things get tough, or if she will stand her ground, and fight alongside the man she has sworn to love for always.

Sloane weaves an Isaac Asimov- like thread through a J.D. Robb-like romance. I don’t know if I’ve ever read another book like it. At times, the actions of the characters will be difficult to stomach, and the fantasy aspect will require you to stretch your imagination wide. But overall, there is no doubt of Mr. Howell’s talent with words.