The Bad Girl and the Baby (Cutting Loose #3) by Nina Croft

  The Bad Girl and the Baby by Nina Croft

Blurb:

Captain Matt Peterson prides himself on being able to handle anything...until he winds up as the guardian of his baby niece, Lulu. Two years and six nannies later, his well-ordered existence is in chaos. Still, he’s all Lulu has. Except, well...there is an aunt...

Darcy Butler has spent the last three years in prison for beating up her abusive brother-in-law. Her only regret is that she didn’t hurt him worse and stop him from killing her sister in a drunken car crash six months later. But now, Darcy just wants to rebuild her life. Starting with finding her sister’s child.

But Matt doesn't want an ex-con with a record for violence anywhere near Lulu. Unfortunately, he can’t seem to keep away from Darcy, himself. Despite their differences, their chemistry is combustible...and the sex is incredible! Still, it can’t possibly last. Can it?
 

I really loved this book!
Darcy was sweet and her willingness to fight for her niece and the way she tried to do the right thing was heart-warming. She is a heroine with some rough edges but she is also a very warm personality - if you are not her enemy. Obviously, she is kick-ass and can defend herself, on the other hand, she still suffers from the loss of her sister.
Matt, well, he made me mad so many times. What an a....rrogant idiot who is always stomping on Darcy's feelings and who doesn't see a good thing when it bites him in the nose.

Opposites attract and all that stuff, so the chemistry between them is something not even Matt can deny but the way he deals with it....ugh. If you could kick a fictional character's behind, he wouldn't be able to sit for ages, I was so furious.. up until the moment he finally realizes the imperfect might be just the right kind of perfect.
Well written and charming, this is a book that I'll definitely read again!

★★★★