Wicked Innocence by Missy Johnson
Publication Date: August 4, 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Purchase from: Amazon • Nook • Kobo
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Synopsis
Don’t let my petite and innocent appearance fool you, because I’m one person you don’t want to cross. I’m Micah, the youngest member of Resurrection…If only they knew how young. My fake ID says I’m twenty-one.
And I will be…in four years.
What can I say? I blossomed early. Home sucked, so I left, determined to do something with my life.
Landing the gig as lead vocalist in the band was a dream come true. I’ve worked hard to make something of myself and nothing is going to ruin that for me.
Then He showed up.
He’s hot as hell and so into me. But he’s also twenty-five.
I don’t want to lie to him, but if the truth comes out I’ll lose everything, including him.
Review
Wicked and Innocence don’t sound like words that should go together; in fact, they are the antithesis of each other. If one is wicked, s/he has devious tendencies, looking to do harm to others or wreak the most havoc possible for personal gain, but innocence means purity and lack of corruption, so in putting those two words together as a way of describing the heroine, Micah Lawson, Missy Johnson illustrates the dichotomy of her character and what she’s had to do to survive as well as live fully.
Micah Lawson’s life as Mikayla Hale was a hellish existence, so at 14 years old, she fled her old life, changed her identity, purchased a fake id and became 18 year old Micah, refusing to go back to the life and the person she used to be. The only aspect of her life that remains is her love of music and her dream to be the lead singer in a band. Fast forward three years and Micah’s dream becomes reality when she is hired as the front woman for Resurrection – an up and coming indie band. But when their manager, Saxon Waite, ex bad boy turned loner, enters her life, 17 year old Micah feels a pull towards him that she’s never felt before. The only problem is he doesn’t know her real age, and since he’s 25, this connection cannot only undo their personal lives, but the band’s success as well.
Saxon Waite has his own damaged past, which makes him a bit more cautious entering into a relationship with Micah. He can’t deny that he’s drawn to her; her innocence off the stage and her wicked stage presence captivates him, and even though he’s afraid to cross that line with her, he can’t help himself because he feels alive when he’s with her. But the truth has a way of always coming out, and when Micah’s real age is revealed, will it be just another blemish in a long line of mistakes, or will he be able to see past it because he’s in that deep with her?
In Wicked Innocence, Missy Johnson puts a twist on the forbidden romance storyline, and I enjoyed mixing it up a bit. I liked the characters and the rock and roll atmosphere, but I just think that with all the baggage the hero and heroine had that there needed to be a bit more angst and drama, especially when Saxon learns the truth about Micah’s age. Both Micah and Saxon are damaged due to tragic events in their past, and while Saxon helps Micah to deal with hers, in a way, I wanted there to be further discussion about everything that happened with Saxon and his cousins and sister because it dramatically changed all of their lives in significant ways.
Wicked Innocence is a quick, steamy read, and while, in my opinion, readers see way more innocence than wickedness, Micah and Saxon’s story is still enjoyable because of the dual point of views, the banter amongst the characters, and the way that Micah and Sax’s relationship was developed, not rushed into right away. If readers are looking for a fun and sexy text, Wicked Innocence is a good choice.
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 poison apples
Excerpt
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his ipod. “Put on some music if you like.”
I took it, letting my fingers glide over his. His eyes darted toward me briefly and my heart jumped. I quickly looked down, busying myself with his music collection. I ran through artists until I came across Severed. Smiling, I clicked play.
“You have your own music in here,” I said with a giggle.
He shrugged. “If I don’t appreciate it, then why should I expect anyone else to?”
“I guess. I just think it’s cute. Like an actor going to see themselves at the cinema.”
“You don’t think Nic Cage or Brad Pitt go to the movies?” he asked in mock horror.
“I don’t know. I met Brad Pitt once in Starbucks.”
He chuckled. “I can just imagine how that went down.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
“Well, you were kind of freaked out when you realized who I was. Meeting someone actually famous? You’d lose the plot,” he laughed.
“Well, in my defense, I didn’t have posters of Brad Pitt all over my walls—” I shut my mouth, but it was too late. No, no, no…
“You had posters of me on your walls?” he repeated, amused. “Micah, that is adorable.”
“Shut up,” I mumbled, coving my face with my hands. He chuckled loudly next to me, clearly not ready to let this go. “No! No laughing. Just shut up and drive.”
About Missy Johnson
Missy lives in a small town in Central Victoria with her husband, and her confused pets (a dog who think she’s a cat, a cat who thinks he’s a dog…you get the picture).
When she’s not writing, she can usually be found looking for something to read.
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