Sugarcoated by Erin Nicholas Series: Hot Cakes #1
Published by Self-Published on March 24, 2020
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 322
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Apple
She's his best friend's little sister. He's known her all his life. He's practically part of the family. There is nothing either of them could do to surprise the other at this point.
Then she showed up in his bedroom in lingerie and asked him to take her V-card.
Okay, that was a surprise. Aiden is pretty sure Zoe was equally surprised when he told her no.
To say that he didn't handle it well would be a massive understatement. Almost as massive as the amount of work he's going to have to do now to convince her that he wants her. Forever. Right after he tells her that he's bought the company that's her bakery’s biggest competitor.Maybe if he tells her he’s in love with her first, that will help sugarcoat the whole we're-rivals-in-business-now thing.
The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point).
Kindle freebie on May 25, 2022 (currently free at Anazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)
Overall rating 4.09 with 2,178 ratings and 370 reviews
Sugarcoated by Erin Nicholas Series: Hot Cakes #1
Published by Self-Published on March 24, 2020
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 322
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Apple
She's his best friend's little sister. He's known her all his life. He's practically part of the family. There is nothing either of them could do to surprise the other at this point.
Then she showed up in his bedroom in lingerie and asked him to take her V-card.
Okay, that was a surprise. Aiden is pretty sure Zoe was equally surprised when he told her no.
To say that he didn't handle it well would be a massive understatement. Almost as massive as the amount of work he's going to have to do now to convince her that he wants her. Forever. Right after he tells her that he's bought the company that's her bakery’s biggest competitor.Maybe if he tells her he’s in love with her first, that will help sugarcoat the whole we're-rivals-in-business-now thing.
A Best friend’s sister- rivalry in business romance that’s both saucy and sultry with the frosting and sprinkles added. Ever since reading a book pal’s reviews for this book and many other books by the author, I was interested and wanted to give Sugarcoated a try when I had the chance.
Aiden might be a big city millionaire, but his heart is back in his small Iowa town. He turned down Zoe wanting a one nightstand, but that was the moment that set him to thinking of her as more than Cam’s little sister. Now, he’s back in town with a dual agenda. Start a committed relationship with Zoe and buy the failing snack cake factory that many in the town depend on for their livelihood. The catch? Zoe considers Hot Cakes to be the business rival and enemy of her family-owned bakery.
Sugarcoated is packaged as a sweet and spicy small town romantic comedy and it was just as described. There’s a trope blend of best friend’s younger sister, business rivalry-style enemies to lovers. I enjoyed the light and sassy tone from the start and the banter was hilarious and well done whether it was Zoe and Aiden or Zoe and her two besties. Even in the opening scene when Zoe felt awkward and a little odd, I thought there was good comedy.
But, this book produced mixed feelings. I was not impressed with Aiden’s determination to have a meaningful relationship with Zoe, but keeping a very big secret from her that he and his partners are buying Hot Cakes. I could appreciate that he wanted to try to get her to be open-minded, but it felt a little underhanded even if he was totally on her side and fully supportive of her own bakery- even helping out when she needed an extra hand or good business advice. Zoe also got to me with her insistence on the old family grudge with no real reason for it- her little mom and pop bakery that made specialty cakes, muffins, cookies, and cake pops wasn’t even being rivaled by a packaged sweets company like Hostess or Little Debbie. Felt a little contrived.
To be fair to both, they realize they are wrong on their separate issues and don’t make a big production of getting things worked out. Largely, her friends and his friends give fab advice and helpful nudges to both of them.
For a romance involving a virgin, this was steamy and flirty in all the fun ways. I could easily be convinced that cake toppings and fillings could be marketed and sold at adult sex stores right beside the vibrators. They might have difficulty in other areas of starting a relationship, but they connected from the start when they got physical which led them to a stronger, deeper bond as they went.
All in all, it was sassy and fun and I enjoyed the author’s light and airy writing style. I enjoyed the larger cast of characters and the Hot Cakes series setting so I’d eagerly pick up other books in the series. RomCom fans should give it a look see.
COYER Buddy Read with Brandee @ Unconventional Bookworms
These are only Kindle freebies, or ones through author newsletters which anyone can sign up and get for free. I don’t include things like Kindle Unlimited or Prime Free Reading . Both Tantor and Audible have occasional free audios (to anyone) and I do include those.
About Erin Nicholas
Erin Nicholas is the author of sexy contemporary romances. Her stories have been described as toe-curling, enchanting, steamy and fun. She loves to write about reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines and happily ever afters. She lives in the Midwest with her husband who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books, her kids who will never read the sex scenes in her books, and family and friends who say they’re shocked by the sex scenes in her books (yeah, right!).
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
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I have enjoyed this author. I have this one as a freebie also, plus some others.
Shari read this series and a few others and I thought they looked cute so when the freebies were offered I one-clicked. I’ve got a couple of her Boys in the Bayou series and another from this one. Definitely fun, Anne!
This sounds real sweet. I just checked an I so happen to own a copy. So I guess I need to get cracking on this one. 😊
LOL, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to add a book to my kindle that I saw on someone’s review and already had it. This was a cutie, Nadene. Hope you like it.
Glad to hear even though there were some issues with the conflict they easily got over the hurdles and worked things out. I hate it when it’s a big production!
Yes, the author kept it light and moving forward which is what I look for in a romcom.
It sounds fun and cute. Sometimes, that’s all I want.
Exactly, a light, quick fun romcom.
I have this one in on my ereader, but haven’t had time for it yet. Sounds like its good, especially for a freebie. Thanks!
It’s a cutie and perfect when you want something easy and light.
I wish I had liked this more
No worries. Sometimes it just doesn’t jive for you. 🙂
I have this freebie as well! I’ve read like 2 other books by this author. And I have one I might have DNFed, but it was audio I think and I want to try reading it.
I’ve got a couple more of hers for freebies. On a few occasions, I have to set aside an audiobook if the narrator doesn’t feel like a good match for the book or I don’t like the way they’re voicing the character.