Being A Bad Girl

Mills & Boon
April 7, 2006 (Paperback)

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BEING A BAD GIRL is the follow-up to FEATURED ATTRACTION. It’s the story of Jack’s best friend Oz–aka clinical psychologist Oscar Strummer, Ph.D, who meets born-again bad girl Marianne Webb.

When she was good, she was very very good... When she was bad, she was even better!

Marianne is used to playing it safe. But with a new identity, in a new town, suddenly the old rules don't matter. The moment she sees Oz on stage at a charity auction, Marianne knows she has to have him--he is big, bad and straddling a motorcycle. He couldn't be more different from the life she has left behind.

Her attraction to the hot, sexy stranger makes Marianne reckless, wanting more, even if it means letting her past catch up with her...

And even if that means discovering Oz isn't all that he seems...

More About Being A Bad Girl

I had never ever been on a motorcycle before I wrote this book. So to do research, I went to Harleys R Us in Lewiston, Maine, and talked to a really nice guy called John, who answered all my questions from helmets to chaps. I chose this bike for Oz, though I think it needs some flames.

Oz's Harley

Subsequently, I talked to Harley owners and a friend of mine took me on the back of his bike.

I totally want one of these things now.

The Harley in BEING A BAD GIRL belongs to Kitty's brother Nick Giroux, who's the hero of a book that should be released in 2007.

On a more serious note, I learned most of what I knew about Marianne's eating disorder from years of working with teenage girls and through the excellent educational sessions provided for the students at the school where I work. You can find out more at the Eating Disorders Association UK website.

I always make soundtracks for my books, to help me with the mood and the characters. Here's the soundtrack for BEING A BAD GIRL, with some of the things the songs are about:

This Love by Maroon Five (this song inspired the story)
Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf (Oz on the motorcycle--this song is in the book)
Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand
Rudie Can't Fail by The Clash (I named Oz after Joe Strummer in The Clash, because he died the same week I invented Oz)
Outside by George Michael (these characters like to be outside)
Mr Blue Sky by ELO
Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield (Oz is.)
Faith by George Michael (Oz)
Those Sweet Words by Norah Jones
Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road by Elton John (Marianne plays Oz this song)
Mary's Prayer by Danny Wilson (Oz plays Marianne this song)
She Will Be Loved by Maroon Five (Marianne)
Save It For a Rainy Day by The Jayhawks (Marianne)
Valley Winter Song by Fountains of Wayne (the snowstorm)
Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word by Blue with Elton John
You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC

Other Covers

BABG Australian BABG Italian

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"I loved this book. Cohen really shines here, with well-developed characters and realistic conflict. She’s a must buy in short romance authors!" -Romance Reader at Heart

5 kisses "Where her debut novel, FEATURED ATTRACTION, was a lighthearted, quick-witted love story, BEING A BAD GIRL is sweetly emotional…This is a touching, layered story of the disguises both Oz and Marianne wear at different levels of their relationship." -Romance Divas

Excerpt

Oz straddled the motorcycle and held it steady for her as she climbed on behind him. “Ever been on one of these before?” he asked her over his shoulder.

“Never.”

“Low riders are built for comfort rather than speed, but this one will go pretty fast anyway. You should hold on tight to me.”

Like she needed to be asked twice. Marianne scooted forward on the leather seat so her thighs were close against Oz’s legs. She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned forward against his back.

Oh dear goodness he felt wonderful. His back was strong and broad; she could feel him breathing. She rested her head on his black cotton t-shirt between his shoulderblades and she could hear his heartbeat, every breath he took. And his smell–the same smell as his jacket, clean and masculine.

Her hands rested on the firm muscles of his stomach. She tightened her fingers on him, breathing in Oz and the hot chrome and oil of the Harley.

In the parking lot, after he’d kissed her, he’d had a hard-on. She’d seen its length beneath his faded jeans and it had sent a thrill through her. She wondered if he was still aroused.

If she let her hands creep just a few inches lower, she’d know.

Marianne was definitely aroused. With her legs open to straddle the motorcycle and Oz, the seam of her jeans pressed against her crotch and made her feel tender and swollen. Wearing jeans had seemed like a good idea, but now they were too tight. She shifted on the seat, resisting the urge to push even closer and rub herself against him.

Good grief. Now she was thinking about behaving like a dog in heat.

“Try to keep yourself still,” Oz said, and she felt and heard his voice through his body, low and vibrating. “Lean into me and follow my lead. We have to let our bodies work together with the bike.”

His muscles underneath her cheek and arms and hands were hard. He felt tense. She saw and felt him shake his head slightly, and take a deep breath. Her breasts flattened against him.

“Relax,” he said. She wasn’t sure if he was speaking to her or to himself, but she loosened her grip a little. More like embracing him than clinging on for dear life.

He started the engine and Marianne gasped. The bike rumbled underneath her and suddenly her whole body was vibrating with it.

Her legs trembled. The fabric of her t-shirt thrummed against her nipples. Her body moved against Oz like a million tiny caresses. And between her legs there was an irresistible warm throb, like a teasing, insistent hand.

Or mouth.

It was the most exquisite foreplay she’d ever experienced, and they hadn’t even moved yet. They were still at the curb in front of the bar, the noise of the Harley’s engine filling the empty street.

“Oz?” She stretched up so she could speak close to his ear. “What are you waiting for?”

“I’m trying to remind myself to concentrate on the road and not you wrapped around me.” He spoke quietly, but she could hear him perfectly even above the engine.

“Oh,” she said. So he was turned on too. The knowledge was even better foreplay than the motorcycle.

“Do–do you think you can concentrate on the road?” she asked.

“I’ll try. Hold on.”

The Harley roared and they leapt forward. The air rushed around her and she was pulled backwards by the jerk of speed. Marianne cried out and tightened her arms and legs around Oz.

Goody Two Shoes Marianne Webb was on a big, bad motorcycle with the hunkiest man she’d ever seen.

From the book BEING A BAD GIRL, by Julie Cohen
Mills & Boon Modern Extra, April 2006
ISBN: 0-263-84986-4
Copyright 2006 by Julie Cohen
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A. For more romance information surf to www.eHarlequin.com

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