Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 108862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Letting him into your bed is another.
WYATT
I have a problem. His name is Diego Valdez.
Tattooed. Hotheaded. Built like a bad decision.
He's my former neighbors' nephew, left to watch their house until it sells.
Now he's got me pinned against a wall at two in the morning, glaring at me like I've done something wrong just by existing.
With my parents off in an RV to "find themselves", I've been left running their flower shop and earning the title of Spruce's resident people-pleaser. I say yes too much and smile at strangers.
I've never met a problem I couldn't kill with kindness.
Until Diego.
Inviting him inside is obviously the last thing I should do, right?
DIEGO
I don't trust guys like Wyatt Callahan.
Too sweet. Too friendly. Too nice.
So ending up inches from his face with my hands on the guy wasn't exactly the plan.
Neither was wanting to kiss him.
All I wanted was peace and quiet.
A break from the noise that drove me to this town.
A place to disappear until my aunt and uncle's house sells.
Then this guy has the nerve to smile at me.
Looking the way he does.
I don't know what he wants. Or what I want.
And with the house for sale, I'm running out of time to figure it out.
From USA Today bestselling author Daryl Banner, DOWN BAD is a steamy hottie-next-door romance in the Spruce Texas series packed with stolen kisses, bad ideas, one very traumatized orchid, and a guaranteed happy ending. Can be read as a standalone.
✔️ M/M grumpy/sunshine
✔️ Hottie next door
✔️ Opposites attract
✔️ Small-town romance
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
SPRUCE GLOSSARY
The Spruce, Texas family is a big one with lots of characters and locations you will become as familiar with as if this town was your home. I’ve compiled a nice little glossary of all the main families and locations around Spruce that have been introduced up until this point, in case you’re not as familiar with Spruce yet or just need a refresher. Of course, you’re welcome to skip on ahead to the story if you prefer. (I won’t tell anybody, wink, wink.)
CHARACTERS
THE STRONGS & THE TUCKERS
TANNER TUCKER-STRONG: Formerly a college football star, he now proudly coaches football at Spruce High. He’s married to his hometown sweetheart Billy Tucker with whom he has two sons Marcus and Joshua. They live on the Strong property in a cozy house by a pond. He has one younger brother Jimmy.
BILLY TUCKER-STRONG: After years working at his parents’ diner Biggie’s Bites serving off-the-menu desserts, he finally went to culinary school and now owns and operates the T&S Sweet Shoppe serving pastries, ice cream, and sweets to all of Spruce. His parents still own and operate Biggie’s Bites. Billy is the loving, devoted (and maybe sometimes high-strung) hubby of Tanner Strong with two sons Marcus and Joshua.
JIMMY STRONG: Younger brother of Tanner Strong who lives with his lifelong love and husband Bobby Parker. The two have athletic backgrounds, Jimmy being a dancer, and Bobby playing soccer. After graduating college together, they opened the Strong Fitness Zone, a gym complex they now operate in the heart of the town. At the end of every summer, Jimmy is known to perform a special finale dance at the Spruce Ball, now and then with Bobby as his quick-footed dance partner. It’s low-key adorable and melts everyone’s hearts.
NADINE & PAUL STRONG: The lively, loud and proud matriarch of the Strong family, mother to Tanner and Jimmy, as well as the Mayor of Spruce. Her calm-natured husband Paul is her rock (and some say balance her out perfectly). She and her husband are co-owners of Nadine’s, a fine-dining restaurant named after her in the neighboring town of Fairview.
JACKY-ANN: Longtime housekeeper of the Strong ranch and friend of Nadine, whose secret recipe for a notably tasty lemonade eludes Nadine even still after all these years.
GARY & MARIBEL STRONG: Nadine’s brother-in-law and his adoring wife, who run a ranch together just outside Spruce. Gary is known for his kindness and patience, and Maribel for her quick thinking when troubles arise on the ranch—two peas in a pod.
LAURA & WILLIAM TUCKER: Billy’s sweet parents who run the popular Biggie’s Bites diner. Well, Laura’s only sweet until you cross her or her son. But her heart (and William’s mustache) are the biggest in all of Spruce—and they are endlessly happy their Billy found love with Tanner and their two incredible kids.
THE ARNOLDS & DAVISES
TREY ARNOLD-DAVIS: Following in the footsteps of his father, Trey is the young reverend of the Spruce Fellowship church, as well as a registered nurse at the Spruce Clinic working under Dr. Emory. His mother passed away when he was 15 and lives on in his and his father’s memories. He is the proud husband of Cody Davis.
CODY ARNOLD-DAVIS: After suffering a near-fatal injury in the Army saving the life of his buddy Pete, he was discharged, shipped back home to Spruce. Turned out to be for the best, as he’s now happily married to the man who nursed him back to health: Trey Arnold, also known as the only man on earth who seems able to put up with his attitude.
BETHIE DAVIS: Cody’s mother. Single, but spends an awful lot of time around Trey’s father since their sons got married. She works at the courthouse.
MITCH ARNOLD: Former reverend of the Spruce Fellowship church, who enjoys reading fantasy books and tending to his flower garden, planted in honor of his late wife. He is the father of Trey and proud father-in-law to Cody.
NOTABLE COUPLES AROUND TOWN
HARRISON KEMP & HOYT NOWAK: Harrison happily runs a furniture business on Gary Strong’s property while his boyfriend Hoyt attends college at Fairview Community and works part-time at the gym. Harrison is a former football player and close friend of the Strongs, particularly Tanner. Hoyt is a pain in everyone’s ass, but over the years seems to be coming around. He has an adorable little sister named Gemma who is a total princess.
LANCE GOODWIN & CHAD LANDRY: Keeping mostly to themselves on a small ranch halfway out to the neighboring town of Fairview, Lance runs a fashion business called Goodwin Designs (heavily financed by Cassie Evans) while his devoted boyfriend and former Spruce High wrestler Chad tends to the ranch. This unlikely pair reconnected at their high school reunion not too long ago, and the rest is history.
TOBY MICHAELS & DONOVAN “VANN” PANE: This young couple is known for causing quite the scene during their senior year at Spruce High before moving away to the thriving colorful beach town Dreamwood Isle, where it’s said they are living a happy, art-filled, enriching life with new friends.