A
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotica/Erotic Romance, Romance
Theme: Age Difference
Archetype: Chef/Foodie/Bartender, Single Parent/Guardian
This RITA® Reader Challenge 2016 review was written by Kate. This story was nominated for the RITA® in the Erotic Romance category.
The summary:
From the author of Spice, another sweet and sexy story about the women of the Sugar & Spice Café
Uninhibited passion is all she needs to turn her life around…
Siobhan “Sugar” Malloy, co-owner of Sugar and Spice Café and part-time burlesque dancer, believes that love is for the young and foolish—and at thirty-five years old, she is neither.
But a new business venture with the sexy twenty-something owner of Crimson Bay Couriers is quickly changing her mind. Charlie O’Halloran is beyond charming—and his flirtatious manner is an unexpected breath of fresh air for Siobhan. Soon an explosively steamy affair begins, and Siobhan discovers that she loves making up for lost time.
When Charlie comes clean and admits he wants a relationship, Siobhan is struck with memories of the troubled past she is desperate to forget. But when her estranged daughter makes a surprise appearance, Siobhan must choose between the family she left behind and the new life—and new love—she’s always wanted…
Here is Kate's review:
The stock blurb for this book is misleading in several ways, so here’s a more accurate version:
Thirty-five year-old Siobhan “Sugar” Malloy, co-owner of Sugar and Spice Café and a part-time burlesque performer, is “treading emotional water,” reluctant to get involved with anyone due to some emotionally damaging events in her past—especially a handsome younger man who seems to have his life together. Responsible, hardworking, and dedicated to his career, Charlie is immediately attracted to the confident, mature Siobhan. Despite their powerful sexual attraction, however, each of them has secrets they have to work out before they can accept a romantic relationship.
The most efficient way for me to review this is probably to just list off all the things that made me squee about this book.
– The sex scenes are wonderfully balanced. Siobhan takes the initiative the first time they have sex, and they trade off during the subsequent scenes. This is an erotica novel, so there is plenty of sex and some basic kink (light bondage, food items, anal play), but it NEVER becomes about degradation or control. Instead, this is a book about two sexually adventurous people having fun together in a consenting, mutually enjoyable way. The scene where the two of them are talking smack to each other while picking out items at a sex shop was perfect.
– Siobhan dresses in 50s pin-up/rockabilly style!
– She also does burlesque for her own enjoyment, because it’s fun and empowering!
– Siobhan has a supportive group of flawed yet badass female friends!
– While Charlie’s and Siobhan’s secrets present real conflict, they each make the characters more three-dimensional and sympathetic. I won’t spoil the reveal, but each of them is dealing with a lot of things that aren’t their fault, and a few things that are. In order for them to be happy, they have to recognize what they can/should change, and what they need to let go.
Their emotional journeys were very well handled and the ending was highly satisfying. If you’re interested in what the dark secrets are . . .
Charlie, on the other hand, lost both his parents in a car accident. He’s been taking care of his three younger siblings since he was a teenager. He cares deeply about them, and he doesn’t want to do anything that will upset them or disrupt their lives – even if that means sacrificing his own happiness. If you’re thinking he refuses to date Siobhan “for the good of his family,” don’t worry – he had a chance to be very douchey, but passed the test with flying colors.
This book was a solid A for me. I read and enjoyed the first book of Seressia Glass’s urban fantasy series several years ago, and after Sugar, I’ll definitely being checking out the others.
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Yay! Concurring reviews! ‘Scuse me while I click this buy.