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A Good Excuse To Be Bad Paperback – July 1, 2011

by Miranda Parker (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 19 ratings
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Smart, gorgeous, and too tough for her own good, bail recovery agent and single mom Evangeline Crawford moved to the burbs for a quiet life. Fortunately, it's not turning out that way...
Angel has to admit she's feeling restless. The only excitement in her new life is her schoolgirl crush on the town's new pastor, Justus-too-Hot-to-be-Holy Morgan. But a fateful encounter and a job gone wrong at Club Night Candy in underground Atlanta is about to change all that... Soon, Angel's trying to save her divazilla twin sister from her big mouth and a scandalous murder charge, and probing a church cover-up--with none other than Justus by her side. But Angel has one more pressing concern: will Bella be ready for kindergarten? Only time will tell for this bad girl gone good whose days are once again far from boring--and hopefully far from numbered...

"This novel has been a long time coming, and there will be many more knock-outs from Miranda Parker--one of the brightest authors on the horizon." --Creston Mapes, author of Dark Star and Nobody

"Miranda Parker's debut is deliciously fun! It has the perfect amount of intrigue, romance, action and all-out girl-power!" --Tiffany Warren, author of In the Midst of It All


"A fast-paced, kick butt, bad boy chase, sexy thrill ride. Can't wait for the next manhunt." --ReShonda Tate Billingsley
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Kensington
  4. Publication date
    July 1, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0758259506
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0758259509
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Author

For fans of Janet Evanovich,Walter Mosley, Richard Castle...I've been a book critic for over ten years. A few years ago I noticed a trend in storytelling, particularly in tv, graphic novels, and movies--this strong, bold, yet very feminine female leader who struggles with family responsibility. But I didn't see this character in contemporary American stories. A single mom kicking butt and taking names. However, this character embodies what I believe an American woman was yesterday, is today and forever more. So I wrote this novel, I created Angel, because it was past time for her story to be told. The humor in this story, comes from me. Every time I tried to write something hardboiled or intense, I couldn't help, but sprinkle a little comedy in. That's the cornball in me. I'm glad Angel is a nerdball, too. Likewise, Angel is also bits and pieces of spicy galpals who have changed my life.

About the Author

Miranda Parker is the author of the Angel Crawford Bounty Hunter Series. After graduating from college, she began working as a features editor for various magazines and spent many years as a publicist for national recording artists, actors, ministers, and authors. However, writing fun, fiesty, redemptive bad girl gone good stories is her passion. She resides with her family in Georgia near a horse ranch and her daughter's Girl Scout Troop. On a perfect day she can be found curled up with a good book or in a movie theater with a bucket of popcorn. 

Some Random Facts About Miranda...  

Favorite Fictional Characters:  Nancy Drew, Sofia, Princess Leia, Mr. Darcy, and Easy Rawlins
Favorite Films:  Inception, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Devil in a Blue Dress, The Sound of Music
Family: She is a twin.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington; 1st edition (July 1, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0758259506
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0758259509
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 19 ratings

About the author

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Miranda Parker

Miranda Parker

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Miranda Parker is the author of A Good Excuse to Be Bad, book 1 in the Angel Crawford Bounty Hunter Series. She has been featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, RT Book Reviews Magazine and Publishers Weekly. She has also made featured author appearances for the 2011 (NBCC) National Book Club Convention, Black Pearl Magazine’s Chocolate Social, The Decatur Book Festival, and the Atlanta Press Club. She is also the Social Media/Marketing Head for the ITW Debut Authors Program and a contributing editor to The Big Thrill. Bestselling Author Reshonda Tate Billingsley states that "Angel is a good girl in a fast paced, kick butt, bad boy chase, sexy thrill-ride. Can’t wait for the next man hunt." She resides with her family in Georgia near a horse ranch and her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. On a perfect day she can be found curled up with a good book or in a movie theater with a bucket of popcorn. Visit her blog at www.mirandaparker.com or on facebook at www.facebook.com/mirandaparkerbooks

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
19 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars In Atlanta, there is always an excuse ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2011
Verified Purchase
Freshman novelist, Miranda Parker, writes a witty and entertaining story dealing with family, faith, friends, and even the finances needed to survive in Metro Atlanta. Each of these dynamics can give "A Good Excuse to Be Bad."

Evangeline "Angel" Crawford is a single-mom, twin sister, daughter, and bounty hunter, a role that truly makes her a woman of many hats and, often, disguises. In the middle of uncovering the details about murder accusations against her sister, Angel finds herself falling for Justus Morgan, her single and extremely sexy pastor. Her hunt for the truth leads her to down the dangerous path of discovery about herself, her family, friends, and her faith. Her finances ... well, that's one of the reasons she's a roaming reporter turned bounty hunter.

Atlanta, as well as the surrounding areas, is just as strong a character as the personalities. The city lives and breathes while its culture silently influences the actions and reactions of those surviving in the steamy, hot, and luring metropolis. It even has a biscuit and a captivating Brit.

This book does not disappoint and is good enough reason to let the dishes pile up for a few hours. Yes, Miranda Parker gave us "A Good Excuse to Be Bad" in a wonderfully written, summer read.
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Crystal
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2013
Verified Purchase
I liked the overall story. Sometimes I felt like it jumped around and left some information out. Good quick read.
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Trina Burchett
3.0 out of 5 stars Too Tough For Her Own Good
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2011
Verified Purchase
Evangeline (Angel) Grace Crawford used to be an investigative journalist, but now she is a bail recovery agent with a black belt and ballistics training. She's a strong, independent black woman who can handle a tough situation. And that's a good thing, because her twin sister, Ava, has a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The beginning of this story had me on the edge of my seat, and at one point I spoke to the book the way I do when I'm watching something intriguing on television. I was like `Oh no! C'mon, girl, get up! Fight!' I expected to enjoy this book immensely after reading the first chapter. I did like it, but not as much as I thought I would. Why? Even though the investigation was interesting and kept me wondering, I had a problem with whatever was going on between Angel and Justus. I did not like how Angel wouldn't allow Justus to be himself around her. He was a man of God - she knew that - so, of course, he was going to speak of the things of God when he felt led to do so. He wasn't preaching at her or judging her; he was trying to help her. Justus was a good man, and Angel was too hard on him. She obviously had issues where the church was concerned, so how she could have feelings for Reverend Dr. Prince Justus Morgan in the first place was a mystery to me.

I'm not clear about everything that happened in Angel's past, but whatever went on back then clouded her opinions of others. She also stayed on her guard, always thinking someone was judging her. Her attitude was irritating at times, as well as certain comments she made. I did get a better understanding of some of her words and actions near the end of the book, and I felt for her a bit then. But, still, I won't decide right now if Miss Evangeline Grace Crawford is a character I'm fond of. I plan to read the next book in the Angel Crawford series, so I can get to know her better. I also have a couple questions - `Someone Bad and Something Blue' should have the answers.
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Kimberley Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Exscuse to Be Bad
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2012
Verified Purchase
Very awesome read, she was a new author to me but not the book world. A page turner from start to finish, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND.!!!!
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Cyrus Webb
5.0 out of 5 stars Miranda Parker's GOOD EXCUSE TO BE BAD Is A Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2011
In A GOOD EXCUSE TO BE BAD author Miranda Parker delivers a literary treat with all of the components needed to deliver a great read.

Evangeline Crawford aka Angel is a character that so many of us can relate to in one form or another. It's not easy to try and change, especially when you have the antics of a twin sister to contend (or compete) with, a demanding job and the temptations that come from an unlikely source: the new pastor. Told in her own voice and with a look into her perspective we are able to see how someone's past can affect the way they view their life in the now and the events that come at you with no warning.

As Angel goes on her journey working on herself and using her skills as an investigator to look into some murder cases that literally seem to be hitting too close to home, we also find her on the search for something that can help her solve everything: the truth. Truth with herself and truth when it comes to who really is responsible for the death of people that are in her life.

One question I came away with at the end was who decided what was "good" and "bad"> Both terms can be relative, and I think that Angel and the cast of characters we are introduced to find that out and learn that life is so much easier when you don't waste it with labels and limitations and just LIVE.

Funny, smartly written and filled with life lessons, Parker's debut is as "good" as it gets when it comes to a summer read.
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