| Title | : | Sweet Dreams (Sugar Rush #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | First published September 20, 2016 |
He may own a candy company, but this wealthy bachelor is no Willy Wonka.
Sugar Rush Candy Company CEO Luke Stone is a devoted businessman who doesn't do relationships. He does short-term affairs with clearly defined rules. But when a sexy bohemian angel propositions him in a bar, Luke is tempted to want more.
Polly Lockhart is horrified when she wakes the morning after her twenty-third birthday to realize she made a fool of herself with a sinfully delicious man. She tells herself she doesn't have time for romance anyway, as she's fighting to keep her mother's beloved bakery afloat and finish her culinary studies. That all changes when her class tours the famed Sugar Rush headquarters, and Polly collides with her dream man again.
As she succumbs to their hot attraction, Polly soon realizes her bakery isn't the only thing that needs saving. Luke, driven and unyielding, will burn out unless someone convinces him to taste the sweetness of life. But can Polly remember this sugar rush is only temporary?
Sweet Dreams (Sugar Rush #1) Reviews
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ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
I have a sugar rush and I can thank Nina Lane for that. Sweet Dreams was a sticky molasses of sex, romance, and charm!!! It’s been awhile since I last read a Nina Lane book but after reading this sweet treat, I am addicted.
“She wanted to do more than live a little. She wanted to live a lot. And if the universe was telling her to get started with Mr. Luke Stone, then Polly would damn well listen. ”
Luke Stone may own a candy company but this alpha CEO is no Willy Wonka. Luke Stone is on a whole different level as this hunky, dominant, workaholic, protective and sexy as sin CEO will take you to the candy shop and will most definitely let you lick his lollipop especially if you happen to be a curvaceous small-town brunette who owns a hippy bakery. One taste of Luke Stone was enough to have Polly Lockhart addicted to his lollipop.
Polly Lockhart has lived her life pleasing others and doing what is right. And so when Polly finally decided that enough is enough and that she wanted to fulfill her dreams to go to Paris and learn about French patisserie, she took a chance and enrolled in pastry and confectionery classes. One of her programs happened to be an exclusive tour of Sugar Rush, a top candy making company. Polly was so excited to explore Sugar Rush but she didn’t expect to see Mr. Hottie, the man that she made a drunken fool of the night before. To her surprise, Luke aka Mr. Hottie wanted her and of course wanted to taste her sweetness. Also he was intrigued that she didn't care for his wealth and status.
“I love your body to the point of obsession, and I could spent an eternity learning all the facets of your mind. In other words, you are the glaze on my doughnut, the sugar on my cookie, and the chocolate on my éclair.”
As Luke and Polly agreed that their sexual attraction would be nothing more than just sex, it opened a whole new sexual side to Polly as she discovered her inner beauty. As these two began to develop a meaningful friendship, Luke’s dominant alpha protective side begins to show as he wants to help Polly with her lackluster bakery. But what happens when they both realize that this sexual relationship must come to an end before feelings could come into play, will Luke and Polly be able to walk away from each other when Polly gets accepted to a Paris culinary program? Or will Luke discover that Polly is the only sugar rush he needs and letting her go will be the biggest regret that he will ever make?
Sweet Dreams was a highly entertaining, fun, sexy, steamy, and sinfully addicting read that had me on a sugar high. This book had relatable characters who were raw, honest, and vulnerable. I loved Polly as she was able to get out of her shell and discover her own happiness and dreams. And as for Luke Stone, this workaholic CEO just needed the right morsel to give him that sugar rush that he was looking for. So if you like your romance dirty, sexy, sweet, tarty, and sticky then Sweet Dreams is the book for you. So are you ready to go to the Candy Shop and discover what has Polly nuts over Luke Stone?
Nina Lane
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DNF @35%, no rating. Review posted October 17, 2016
I actually thought I shouldn't review Sweet Dreams at all, but then some readers would have accused me of "protecting" an author whom I'm very fond of. I don't want to do that because that's not who I am. I'm not afraid to voice my opinion whether it's negative or positive. Besides, it's just a book; it's not my raison d'être.
Sweet Dreams did not work out for me at all due to several reasons. I'm 44 and while I can deal to a certain degree with a heroine's inexperience, I have no patience for a character's silliness, awkwardness, and/or stupidity. Polly's clumsiness and inexperience were not sexy at all. Period. You can be sure that her behavior never endeared her to me. What bloody annoyed me was mousy Polly's constant mentioning of Mr. Hottie. Argh. Whether she was tipsy or drunk, I honestly could not have cared less about this stupid girl. And even drunk and vomiting all over the hero's shiny shoes, this is. No. Excuse. Whatsoever. And, the case in point, I don't want to pick a book up that reads like NA.
Honestly, I was surprised that this silly twenty-three-year-old girl hadn't been electrocuted due to all the zings of electricity she had to endure during my short and unfortunate encounter with her. Excuse my ambiguous phrasing. Somehow that does not sound right to me. Of course the electricity whooshed between hero and heroine; I was just the reader who witnessed their silly "game".
Another issue of mine was that I did not recognize Nina Lane's writing style. It felt pretty strange to me. I am all for diversity and exploring diverse (writing) styles, story lines, and characters. However, it is unfortunate that Sweet Dreams missed the mark completely, IMO. Or, let's just say, it did not meet my rather high expectations. What I've read was riddled with unfortunately sugared (candy) analogies, the tone of the story was too sweet and came off as trivial to me. Also, I neither connected with the heroine nor the hero, whom I did not found especially intriguing or sexy, and the first embarrassing sex scene did me in because even before the bedroom scene I was already totally bored and decided it'd be best to throw in the towel.
Long story short, if you like sugary-sweet fluff and you dig New Adult in general, then Sweet Dreams might as well work out just fine for you.
But
If you haven't read anything by this author yet, then steer clear of Sweet Dreams and do yourself a favor and check out
Break the Sky
Arouse
Allure
Awaken
Adore
Always
The novella
Arrive
QUOTES FOR YOUR PERUSAL
Mr. Hottie surely did, though. He exuded self-confidence, control, and oodles of sexual experience. He could really teach her a thing or two. Or several dozen. Oh, yes. He was the man she needed and wanted—even though just getting close to him was nerve-wracking.
His voice was like melted dark chocolate. Maybe if Polly just kept her mouth shut, he would forget she was there and she could just stare at him in awe. She’d thought men like him were a myth—the sexy, utterly masculine, controlling kind who made a girl want to drop her panties on the spot.
One look at this oh-so hot man and mousy Polly knows that he's the controlling kind of guy. Worse, she knows that she needed and wanted that guy. I mean…puleeze!?! I can't even.
Whatever it was, it was making Polly all hot and damp between her legs. And strongly wishing she could drop her panties.
She could smell him again too, that potent combination of sex and masculinity that sparked a heavy pulsing in her lower body. "You smell amazing," he murmured, his voice deep and smoky. "Like a ripe peach."
Their gazes collided with a force that almost knocked her off the barstool. She grabbed the edge of the bar, her heartbeat going from normal to crazy-wild in two seconds flat. The air sizzled with a current of electricity that arced right between them, setting her nerves alight and pooling heat in her core. Her sex actually throbbed, as if he were parting her legs and gliding his fingers right up north to—
This paragraph provoked one of my many eye-rolls.
Her lips crashed against his, hot and damp. Omigod. She was totally kissing Mr. Hottie.
Moreover, she was doing it with her mouth open, and holy God, his tongue swept across hers, and he tasted like salt and scotch, and shivers of pure lust rained through her body, and she wanted to keep kissing him forever and ever . . .
Lust zinged through her, even though she couldn’t fathom how such a thing could ever fit inside her.
Yeah. Right. Mousy Polly could not fathom how such a "THING" could ever fit inside her. The "thing". Do I have to repeat it again? The "thing". Come on. Just say a dick, or a cock. I thought I was reading an adult book. *cue eye-roll*
Zing! Electricity coursed through her the instant their eyes met.
...sizzle lit through the air.
Polly laughed. “What do you know about my landscape?”
“Pols, I’ve known you since we were ten.” Mia wagged a purple Licorice Twirl at her. “You didn’t let me pluck your eyebrows until we were in college, and when I told you about the Brazilian wax, you gave me a lecture about the anthropological history of hair removal.”
“Well, I was taking a women’s studies class at the time.”
“Really.” Mia narrowed her eyes. “Are things at least neat down there?”
“Things are always neat down there, thank you. Why are you so interested anyway?”
I'm being nice when I say that I thought we left "down there" in the darkest recess when we burned Fifty Shades of Shit. Thank you very much.
Tingles like brightly colored sugar crystals surged through her.
A bolt of electricity shot through her.
...hot, electric current sizzled between them.
She stared in shocked fascination at the massive bulge tenting the loose cotton of his pants. The hard length appeared to be throbbing, and her own body responded with a surge of lust so sharp she almost gasped.
Seriously?
“Maybe we can just fool around first,” she said breathlessly. “Not go . . . you know. All the way. Yet.”
He continued looking at her, faint amusement glimmering in his eyes. “We don’t have to go all the way,” he agreed gravely.
“Is that lame? I mean, I’m sorry if I—”
“Polly, if you don’t take my cock out right now, I’m going to come in my pants and we won’t even get halfway to all the way.”
She sat back on her heels and licked her lips. “Um . . . wow.”
Luke groaned, reaching down to wrap his hand around his thick shaft. “If you lick your lips one more time, you’d better do it closer to my dick.”
"Oh. Do you want me to . . .”
Um…ahem…oh…wow. *smh*
Past the fog of lust, she dimly thought she didn’t want to come quite so soon, but she couldn’t stop her whole body from simply yielding to him. A hot melting sensation filled her veins, the swirl of thick cream into dark French roast coffee, the slow dissolve of sugar into boiling water, the softening of bittersweet chocolate on your tongue.
32 x "hottie":
Serious, panty-melting hottie alert.
Oh, wow. Hottie, indeed.
Polly stopped beside Mr. Hottie.
Mr. Hottie surely did, though.
"Peachy," Mr. Hottie drawled, his beautiful mouth now joining in the amusement…
Mr. Hottie was no myth, though.
Mr. Hottie chalked his cue and stepped forward to take his shot.
Hottie charm definitely overpowering steel…
…caught a glimpse of Mr. Hottie's very expensive-looking leather shoes.
Then maybe Mr. Hottie would lick her, bite her, eat her…Oh, lord.
She was totally kissing Mr. Hottie.
Mr. Hottie put his hands on the sides of her neck, lifting his head from hers again.
"Come on, Mr. Hottie, kiss me again."
Even drunk, this is a no-go. It's bloody embarrassing. In fact, the heroine is effin' ridiculous.
"Mr. Hottie. You know, cuz you're so damned smoking hot. And, of course, a mister."
…kiss me again, Mr. Hottie," she pleaded, stepping toward him. "Pretty please?"
…not even Mr. Richie Rich Hottie Pants, is out of your league.
etc.
Pre-reading Sweet Dreams:
A hot guy and candy! Yep, count me in!
All quotes are taken from the pre-published copy and may be altered or omitted in the final copy
**ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review** -
*****FIVE SINFULLY SWEET STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
It felt like he’d first seen her a lifetime ago, when in reality it had only been a couple of months. And yet, Polly had filled him so completely, her presence so softening and soothing, that somehow without his even realizing it, she’d become part of him.
It’s looking to me like Nina Lane has the makings of another HIT on her hands. I will always love her Spiral of Bliss series but now I am convinced that Ms. Lane is FAR from a one hit wonder. There was never a doubt in my mind that she could write a story that I was going to fall in love with but I didn’t think there was a chance that the Hero could be as captivating and swoon-worthy as Dean West. I was proven wrong!! Ladies, get ready to meet your next book boyfriend who is going to melt your panties and get your hearts racing!! You are going to fall for this utterly delicious alpha male – Luke Stone!!!
Polly Lockhart is a young woman who hasn’t really begun to live her life yet. She put her dreams on hold temporarily and had left college to come back home in order to help her very sick mother run the family bakery. Almost a year after her mother’s death, Polly is still living at home and trying to figure out how to bring her mother’s thriving bakery back to life so she has started to take culinary courses at the local community college in hopes of learning new skills that will help her do just that. Having spent most of her time taking care of her mother has caused Polly to put romance on the back burner. She had been seeing someone she met at school but the guy’s idea of a Friday night date was to hang out in his parent’s basement eating take out Indian food and playing World of Warcraft. Polly’s boring existence is about to get injected with a good dose of a sugar rush when she meets the extremely gorgeous CEO of the Sugar Rush Candy Corporation during a birthday celebration night out with her girlfriend!!
Luke Stone catches Polly’s eye at a local bar and with a healthy dose of birthday cake shots to lower her inhibitions, she tries to hit on the handsome stranger. At first, she thinks she completely bombed with the man but later on the two share a passionate kiss where she begs him to take her back to his bed so that they can get even better acquainted. Let’s just say the birthday cake shots end up ruining Polly’s plans of seduction and she winds up being taken home without getting the handsome stranger’s name or number!!! The stars and fate will lend her a hand when she runs into Luke during her culinary class’ tour of Sugar Rush Candy Corp. the following day.
Luke and Polly end up starting a tentative romance. He makes it clear that he’s never been involved with a woman for too long, and that all his relationships have an impending expiration date. Polly is going into this thing with Luke only looking to have her toes curled by getting some mind numbing sex from a real alpha male. Polly is one adorable and utterly charming Heroine. Her spunky attitude and in-depth knowledge of astrology have a bewitching effect over Luke. This woman’s innocence and desire to enjoy life to the fullest helps Luke realize that maybe there’s more to life than just running his family’s corporation.
I have to take a moment to mention that the steam level in this story is freaking out of this universe HOT!!! Ladies, depending on how fast you read, I’d say you’re going to go through at least a few panty changes during this story. Nina Lane delivers her usual signature delicious schmexy in this one!!! You’ll definitely understand why I fell so hard for Luke!!!
As the two grow closer, will they both be able to try for something more or will their fears and outside influences cause Luke and Polly to go on their separate paths?
Nina Lane fans and those of you who haven’t read any of her books yet, you will not be disappointed with this story!! I highly recommend that you make this your very next read!!!
SWEET DREAMS is available now!! Make sure you one-click!!!
Amazon:
http://amzn.to/2cbH1QY
iBooks:
http://apple.co/2c8mhsx
Kobo:
http://bit.ly/2c5pkQa
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4.5 'Polly Promises' Stars!
ARC provided by the author via InkSlingerPR in exchange for an honest review.
Nina Lane is one of my favorite writers ever. She is the creator of one of the best book boyfriends in the book community (the sweet and hot Professor Dean West) and that got me incredibly excited about her new series. And what a great way to start, Nina! I am sure this will be another fantastic series!
Sweet Dreams is the first installment in Nina's Sugar Rush series and it introduces a candy company and the family that owns it, the Stones. In this case, this story is about the oldest brother and CEO of Sugar Rush, Luke Stone, and Polly Lockhart, a young woman who is fighting to keep her mother's bakery afloat while finishing her culinary studies. This all gets better when one night, she meets Mr. Hottie and sparks start flying!
“Come on, Mr. Hottie, kiss me again.”
He looked faintly amused. “What did you just call me?”
“Mr. Hottie. You know, cuz you’re so damned smoking hot. And, of course, a mister.���
She knew what she wanted. As long as she didn’t get swept up in silly thoughts of romance, then Luke Stone was exactly what she both wanted and needed.
This was hilarious, super-sweet and, of course, crazy hot too! Nina changes all that we lived with her Spiral of Bliss series for a less-dramatic, funnier version of her writing and I loved it. I really enjoyed all the food related stuff (yum!) and, obviously, the relationship between Polly and Luke. This starts quite differently, with an instant attraction that builds into something more profound as these two get to know each other.
“Fuck, you’re sweet,” he muttered, pressing a line of kisses over her neck as he slid his hand up her bare leg. “You taste like cherries. Bet you’re juicy like one too.”
“Tell me you believe in love,” she whispered.
His eyes flickered with an indefinable emotion. “I believe in you.”
I love how Nina writes love stories. I love the absolute scorching hot chemistry between the couple. I love how this develops into a sweet, adorable and deep relationship. Luke and Polly are so good together! I have to say, Luke is very close to my adoration of Dean West lol Still, Professor is my favorite ;) But Sweet Dreams was just the perfect light and lovable read for me!
“You are the glaze on my doughnut, the sugar on my cookie, and the chocolate on my éclair.”
So sweet <3 Therefore, my rating for Sweet Dreams is 4.5 STARS because it was a great start for Nina's new series on this yummy candy company and its owners! I loved Luke and Polly and their lovely and hot relationship! I can't wait for all the next books, this is going to be awesome, for sure! So, if you love Nina's writing or you want a light, funny and sexy read, check this one out :)
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TOTALLYLIKEABLELICKABLE!
Stand-alone book 1
Release: September 20, 2016
Pre-order: |
AMZ US |
AMZ UK |
Blurb:
Sugar Rush Candy Company CEO Luke Stone is a devoted businessman who doesn't do relationships. He does short-term affairs with clearly defined rules. But when a sexy bohemian angel propositions him in a bar, Luke is tempted to want more.
Polly Lockhart is horrified when she wakes the morning after her twenty-third birthday to realize she made a fool of herself with a sinfully delicious man. She tells herself she doesn't have time for romance anyway, as she's fighting to keep her mother's beloved bakery afloat and finish her culinary studies. That all changes when her class tours the famed Sugar Rush headquarters, and Polly collides with her dream man again.
As she succumbs to their hot attraction, Polly soon realizes her bakery isn't the only thing that needs saving. Luke, driven and unyielding, will burn out unless someone convinces him to taste the sweetness of life. But can Polly remember this sugar rush is only temporary? -
5-stars *ARC given by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Sweet Dreams is absolutely amazing. A new series!!! Nina Lane delivers a tale of a CEO for a candy factory and a struggling owner of a bakery called Wild Child; who wants more in life than what she's been handed, due to her deceased mother. The author's characters are very intriguing; not once did I skip any pages. Yes, it'll pull you in and will leave you wanting more. Readers won’t be able to stop reading until the very last page. It’s just as special as the Spiral of Bliss series, so far.
Polly gave up college after finding out that her mother was fighting a deadly decease and her sister Hanna didn't want anything to do with it with the bakery. Polly feels that in order to make her mother happy, she needs to continue with the business. As for Luke, he's a CEO, who is a workaholic. Who can't offer more than a notch on his bedpost, no long-lasting relationships for him; it's always been that way and he isn't planning on changing it anytime soon. Or so he said. He meets Polly at a dive bar called Troll's House, where she gets intoxicated, spewing words that are so out of her character...
"I really want to have sex with a man who knows what to do, and God knows I'm ready to jump your bones right now, so I'd totally be into it. Especially if you have feather pillows."
Begging for Luke to take advantage of her. But Luke is being a gentleman, he just took her home. And when they went their separate ways, Polly couldn't seem to stop running through his mind.
Since Polly and Luke come from two different worlds, they will both be tested. After they agreeing to their plan, they end up spending a lot of time together that, Luke's no strings attached plan, comes to a halt. Catching him off guard, not a clue how to go about it. With Polly to the rescue, she shows him how it feels like to relax. To be able to have fun without worrying about Sugar Rush. Together they experience something they didn't plan to happen.
Sweet Dreams is the perfect start to the new series. I love Nina and his characters. She knows just how to lure her readers into another world full of emotions, and steamy scenes, that is not to be missed. I am looking forward to reading about Hannah, Polly's sister and Evan, Luke's brother. LOVE IT NINA!!!
:::REVIEW IS ALSO ON FOUR CHICKS FLIPPING PAGES:::
http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly... -
4.5-5 STARS
Sweet Dreams was a sweet, refreshing, sexy, funny and delicious story! It has it all! A lovely heroine, a swoon worthy hero with amazing chemistry between them and super hot and steamy moments!
Once you start it you will fall immediately in love with Luke and Polly! They were so different yet so perfect together! They were sweet, sexy and passionate.
Isn't this enough to make you want to read it? Pick it, it's perfect and fast paced! I'm so glad we finally have a new series by Nina Lane! Love her writing and I can't wait for the next book!
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4.5 sexy and delicious stars****
I love Nina Lanes writing, her storytelling and her sentimental thoughts that are tangled into her books. This was just that but it was also delicious, sexy, hot and light hearted. I enjoyed the hell out of it and it was just what I needed...
So what's it about?
Polly is a loner, she lost her mum to cancer and is left trying to keep afloat the cafe/bakery her mum ran until she passed. But unsuccessfully even though she is career minded and full of aspirations. If you don't have the resources though it's a hard life...
That is though until she meets CEO of Sugar Rush but she didn't know he was that when they met..
Luke is sexy, hot and an Alpha in all ways. He's protective and goes after what he wants the only thing is, he's trying to protect polly against him, he 'thinks' he's the not right man for her yet really Polly wants to live a little so ultimately he is right... to her anyway..
This is a character driven read. I loved everything about the sweets, the way Nina crafts the scenery into the pages. That Luke just needed to let go, and how Polly knows how to live and enjoy life, her background kind of warmed my heart. So really they both gave something to each other. It was HOT yet thoughtful and emotional at times too, it has a good mixture of everything and is a perfect read for those wanting to just have some fun!!
That. Is. All
ARC generously gifted in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews and blog posts
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Title: Sweet Dreams
Series: Sugar Rush #1
Author: Nina Lane
Release date: September 20, 2016
Cliffhanger: No
HEA
Nina Lane is an incredibly talented storyteller. Admittedly, it's been a while since I've opened up one of her books, but hers are the kind that stand apart from a million others and stay with you for a long time to come. So when I saw that she had a new series coming out, I just had to introduce myself to her fresh set of characters. While Sweet Dreams was quite a bit different in tone to her Arouse series that I read, the lightness of it was a welcome escape for a few hours with a considerable amount of heat thrown in to the mix. While this wasn't an enthusiastic five star read for me, there was plenty here for me to enjoy and I already have book two,
Sweet Escape locked onto my TBR.
What are some words that come to mind when I think about Polly? Hmm. Embarrassing? Artless? She's one of those characters that humiliates herself so badly that you're embarrassed right along with her. I think my face may have gotten a little hot at her drunken antics during her disastrous first meeting with the sophisticated CEO Luke Stone.
"Hi," she managed.
Amusement flashed in his dark eyes.
"Hi," he replied.
"How...um, how are you?" Polly stammered.
"I'm fine, thanks," he said. "How are you?"
"Peachy."
Oh, God. Peachy?"
At the same time, it was probably her humble and genuine personality that helped me connect with her the most. She's a very relatable type of character, and one that will inevitably end up charming you. She's a woman that struggles with confidence, but is far from a pushover. The way she got into Luke's intimidating Aunt's face when she insulted her was pretty amazing.
Luke was a bit of an odd character for me. At first impression, he seems to be mature, worldly, maybe a bit jaded. It was most certainly an opposites attract type situation with these two. While she was free-spirited and open, he was a workaholic and very reserved.
Despite the fact that he owned a candy company, he didn’t do sweet. His women were cool, sophisticated, and carefully vetted. Polly was not. Unfortunately, that was exactly what made her so intriguing.
As he grew more invested in spending time with Polly, he was clearly in uncharted waters. You could see how unprepared he was for his emotions getting mixed in with the sexual attraction, and there were times that he didn't handle things very well. One particular occasion towards the end, he acted like a giant ASS and it really took me aback. It was extremely childish and I didn't quite get where it came from, not only that, but I wanted to pull him out of the book and body slam him for how he treated poor Polly.
It seemed like there was relatively low drama throughout the book, and then two different conflicts popped up close together toward the end that had a rushed resolution. But if you're looking for something with very low angst, this will be a sure bet for you.
All in all, this was a sweet and sexy read. It wasn't my favorite by this author, but I'm very interested to see what she delivers in Hannah's book. She wasn't the most likable person for me, but I'm definitely intrigued with the person she's being matched up with. I look forward to more from these Sugar Rush characters in the future.
“Sometimes you don’t know that’s where you’re headed. But you sure do know when you get there.”
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3.5 Delicious Stars
Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books
I have read one Nina Lane book, Arouse, and I loved it hard. She swept me away into Prof. Dean's and Liv's world and left such an impression that I still remember their names, which doesn't happen very often. I intend to read all the other Spiral of Bliss books and judging from the reviews they have received the series only gets better. But I digress, since this is not supposed to be a rave about this author's previous works.
Luke Stone is the well known, good looking and workaholic CEO of Sugar Rush Candy Company who likes to spend his nights in a dive bar when he wants to stay anonymous. He is driven, controlling and there is no room for long lasting relationships. Work is all he lives for. When he goes into a relationship, he has a set of rules ready. One night at the bar he locks eyes with a pretty bohemian and drunk girl. She proposes a night of fun...but this one doesn't end as expected.
When Polly's mom died she asked her daughter to live her life. Her mother left her and her sister the bakery and in her memory she wants to continue running it. Part of her plan to do this is taking confectionary and pastry classes. She has lived her life pleasing other people, always putting other people's needs before her. Breaking up with her boyfriend is the first step into her new life. Introducing more fun the second. When she wakes up after the night of her twenty third birthday and remembers how it ended her embarrassment knows no bounds. Things get even more awkward when she runs into the object of her desire on the evening of her birthday after leaving such a terrible impression.
Luke was everything I look for in a male lead. Strong, dominant, sexy, protective. The way he treats Polly in the beginning is sweet and you watch him fall for her, despite him repeatedly reminding her that he can't offer anything long lasting. I really liked how he took care of his girl but he was also stubborn and unreasonable and towards the end the jerk came out to play which was one of the things that brought my rating down. They had a discussion in the last 15% of the book which had me scratching my head in confusion."Our affair has a deadline"
Irritation speared through him. "Who said it has a deadline?"
"You did"
"I never said that."
"You said your relationships have parameters and deadlines."
"I meant my relationships with other women. Not with you"
How was Polly to know when he kept insisting that this wasn't long lasting. Sounds to me like a deadline. So where did that come from? Sorry, beats me. At no point, however, I doubted his devotion to this heroine.
Polly was as sweet, open and friendly as they come with a good dose of strong will. She stands up for herself and doesn't let people walk over her. She is set on making her life better and enjoying it. Polly accepts Luke the way he is without wanting to change him and that includes accepting that their relationship will end at some point.
I love a well written sex scene as much as the next girl. I love the slow build up and the tension. This book had really good ones...until Polly opened her mouth. What came out sounded to me artificial and not in character. Polly is sweet and not very experienced in the men/sex department so her getting it on like a pornstar was a little bit irritating.
You will find sweet and funny moments in this story:"Luke" she whispered. "Are you asleep?""No", he mumbled.
"You can turn around now."
"No, I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because I have a boner the size of a redwood tree."
I really loved most of the secondary cast, especially aunt Julia, who had hysterical conversations with Polly.
Overall this story was cute, low in the angst department and with a healthy dose of steam. The characters were likable and there were some wonderful and sweet parts I really adored. While this wasn't a complete winner for me, I would like to urge you to read this book to form your own opinion. There are a lot of people who loved this story so who knows, you'll probably love it too! I loved it enough to see the potential in this series and will definitely read the next installment!
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:::4.5 Sweet Stars!!:::
Ah, I can't put my finger on it. There's just something about Nina Lane's books that's so damn magical! I bet if she were to write about a sack of potatoes it would be sensational. The ease of reading (which means the writing is just that superb, readers shouldn't notice bad writing), the solid, well-developed characters, the lovable plot with just the right amount of angst...this is why I've become a huge fan of this author.
When I received this ARC I was over the moon excited! I think I pretty much told everyone and anyone lol! This title says it all: Sweet Dreams! Luke Stone is a hot, playboy millionaire and CEO of Sugar Rush. He lives in a world of hard work, ambition and intense control over his company. There is no room for anyone in his life and he doesn't realize how lonely he is until Polly.
Polly Lockhart always played it safe. Since her mother's death, her only goal was to keep Wild Child, her mother's bakery, up and running. This was a haven for her because she didn't have to step outside of her comfort zone, but circumstances forces Polly out of her comfort shell. Polly and Luke were made for each other, but she thinks she can only dream of being with someone like Luke. I loved the way their romance unfolded and all the sugar talk made me want a nice dessert!
I so loved these characters, especially the secondary ones. The back and forth bantering and this story was just so sweet it warmed my heart like a cup of tea on a cold night.
Every girl should meet Luke Stone! He's unforgettable! And I'm so excited for Evan and Hannah's story!
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I LOVE...Love
THIS is why I read romance.
Sweet Dreams gave me everything I adore in my romance reads. The characters are original, a little quirky and very lovable. There are enough ups and downs to make it real without the dreaded angst overload. It was sexy, sweet, funny and exciting.
Fairytales come alive when you least expect it. Some fairytales start with a glance, while others can start with a challenge. The best fairytales have sizzling attraction, a need to connect and a desperation to stay together. Sweet Dreams was my kind of fairytale.
Sweet Dreams was a story about love, family, commitments and loyalty. Two people living very different lives who find out they have a lot in common. They meet, connect and separate. Lucky for them, fate sees them meet again and neither can deny their attraction.
I loved Sweet Dreams and I'm sure the Sugar Rush will be my new weakness. If you're looking for a sweet, sexy and romantic read, I definitely recommend. -
5 "You're Everything" Stars!
(ARC provided by author)
Polly Lockhart is a woman living in Rainsville, California, a small town south of San Francisco. Her mother passed away about ten months ago, and she's been trying desperately to keep her mothers bakery afloat. She loves The Wild Child Bakery & wants to follow in her mother's footsteps. So while she's trying to avoid bankruptcy with the bakery, she's also attending a nearby community college & working on earning her Culinary Arts certificate.
Polly really hasn't been putting herself out there or living life to the fullest lately. She's living in the apartment over the bakery & in a dead end relationship. She finally breaks up with her loser boyfriend & decides she wants happiness in her life. On her 23rd birthday her best friend Mia tells her they are going out for some fun, & part of that fun is finding a delicious guy that can rock Polly's world in the bedroom. Polly spots a gorgeous man across the room, & after some liquid courage decides she's going to approach him. On a mission to get laid on her birthday, she grabs hold of her confidence & hits on Mr. Hottie.
Mr. Hottie is Luke Stone, the CEO of The Sugar Rush Candy Company. Luke is a hot, wealthy, successful bachelor who doesn't make promises to women or do commitments. He'd been burned in the past by women, so he now didn't let them get too close to him. He's a workaholic who took over his family owned business eleven years ago. He lives & breathes his job & rarely relaxes or takes a break. He's always focused first on protecting the company.
Luke is immediately attracted to the bohemian beauty coming on to him, but she's had too much to drink for him to act on his attraction. Polly thinks she embarrassed herself with Luke & doesn't expect to see him again, so she is shocked when her class tours his company headquarters & they once again cross paths. Sparks fly & they begin spending time together.
Soon they both grow quite attached to one another & feelings develop. What was supposed to be just fun and casual turns into more. Polly helps Luke really stop & enjoy life again. He begins to slow down & have some fun with this beautiful woman he's falling for.
I loved this book so much! It was fun and flirty & I adored the sexy candy man Luke Stone aka Mr. Hottie. I can't wait to get more of the Stone brothers! Bring on Evan!!! ;))
-Luke Stone had come into her life right when she needed someone like him the most.
-From the instant she'd seen Luke Stone, she hadn't wanted any other man. She only wanted him.
-"You belong with me."
-"I need you to be mine."
-"I love everything about you."
-"You are the glaze on my doughnut, the sugar on my cookie, and the chocolate on my eclair."
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A friend told me that I was an idiot for having never read a Nina Lane book before, and after reading Sweet Dreams I'm going to have to agree. I really enjoyed this stories and getting to know these characters. The writing was intriguing and kept my interest from the first page to the last. There was always something happening, but never to the point that it got to be too much.
Luke and Polly were very different characters but with the same interests. I thought it was fun how they were both in the candy business and yet their future dreams for said businesses were the complete opposite. Luke was the determined candy maker, wanting his already successful company to be even bigger and better while Polly was a small time candy maker wanting nothing more than to have one successful shop. I loved that we got to see them coming together to help one another with their businesses and personal life. Luke definitely needed Polly in his life to be able to let go and just have fun.
This story was super sweet, and not just because of all the candy making. I really liked how Luke and Polly were together and it's a good thing I have such a sweet tooth because I ate their interactions right up. But there were times that it got to be a little too sweet and I wanted something more and I found myself wishing they would ditch the sugary sweet candy and make something a little spicier. I still enjoyed them together, but they did leave me wanting just a little more.
Overall, if you're craving something sweet, then this book is the one for you. Sweet Dreams was addictingly sweet, funny, a little sexy at times, and thoroughly enjoyable. I can already tell that Nina Lane is going to do something amazing with this series and I can't wait to see what else she has for us. -
****4.5 stars****
Nina Lane has captivated me again with her latest book "Sweet Dreams!!" Her writing is brilliant as far as I am concerned. She has a way with words and is able to make those words come alive in my head every time I read her work. Her sex scenes also are so hot, it is a challenge not to be squirming in your chair!!!
In this story Polly Lockhart comes across a sexy CEO of a family run company named Sugar Rush; Luke Stone, in a dive bar. Of course, in this kind of bar Polly would never have expected to run into such a successful man there!! She doesn't find out exactly who he is until she visits his company and runs into him. Whenever these two are with in the same vicinity, the sparks fly!!! Considering Luke has his emotional walls up skyscraper high, Polly figures there is no way that she could have much of a chance with him. She is at a point in her life though where she wants to "live on the edge" and get laid!!! Why not do it with someone like the untouchable Luke!!! Nothing ever goes according to plan in romance land, and very quickly they develop feelings for each other...each remain cautious though, because neither one of them want to get hurt.
I loved that Nina Lane incorporated her quirky humor into this book; it's the same humor that she used with her other popular series and it works just as well in this book too!!! I also am very eager to have more in this series with stories about Luke's other siblings! It is going to be one feel good ride, and I hope we don't have to wait too long for the next installments!
This story was very low on angst, and it reminded me of what a classic romance should be like. Instead of it being about a couple who is struggling to be together, or fighting all of the time; this book features that wonderful ride we all go through when it is the "honeymoon stage" of a beginning relationship. It gave me the warm fuzzies, and the giggles that I enjoy when I read a romance book! It seems to be harder to find this kind of romance nowadays, so when I do I feel like I have come across a real treasure! This book was definitely a treasure for me! My only complaint that caused me to give it a half star off was the very end. It felt like it was an abrupt ending. I would have liked it to be a bit smoother, or have a tiny epilogue in there. It just fell flat for me right at the end. At least there was no cliffy though! Otherwise, it was a gem of a book! You won my heart again Nina!! You always know how to captivate my attention!!!
Thanks so much Steph for another wonderful Buddy read!!! -
4 eat the whole bag of candy stars
Polly Lockhart is celebrating her birthday with her bestie at a dive bar. Determined to start living her life, she notices Mr. Hottie. They start talking, but she is a wee bit drunk and gets sick all over his designer shoes. A few days later she runs into him again while doing a school tour of a candy factory. She was not only shocked to see him again, but to also find out he is the millionaire CEO of Sugar Rush.
Luke Stone is a workaholic. He lives for the company that he runs with his brothers, but he struggles with delegating the work. He surely doesn’t understand how he cannot stop thinking about Polly and is getting excited about spending time with her again. Polly is sweet and caring, unlike any of the women he normally “dates”.
This was a sweet easy read that I really enjoyed. No OW/OM or any OTT drama. It was just a story of two people that were similar in some ways, yet opposite in their lifestyle. Polly is a cool hippie chick, struggling to keep her bakery open, while Luke is a millionaire, struggling in the life department. I loved how Luke didn’t even realize he was falling in love, such a new emotion for him.
In other words, you are the glaze on my doughnut, the sugar on my cookie , and the chocolate on my eclair~Luke
”And because maybe the best way to find happiness is to look for it with someone you like~Polly
This looks like a series I will be continuing with. I liked all the side characters, especially Evan, Luke’s brother. I am hoping that I do get to see more of Polly and Luke throughout the series.
The only thing I didn’t understand was, how they all can eat candy, eclairs, and doughnuts and not even have to work out. Just wondering…. -
4 Stars
This book was scrumptious! I absolutely loved it! Nina Lane is back and she has delivered a charming, lighthearted and mouth-watering romance, with vibrant characters and a feel good plot that kept me flipping the pages.
Polly Lockhart needs to find a way to keep her family’s bakery afloat and finish her semester in a culinary arts program. She is a bit socially awkward and would like to become more self-confident. To this purpose, she propositions a man in a bar, but ends up throwing up all over his shoes. The hottie in question happens to be Luke Stone, CEO of Sugar Rush, the company hosting a class tour as part of Polly’s training program.
This story uses an opposites attract trope, and I found it irresistible. Polly knows that Luke is totally out of her league. She is sweet, quirky and overly enthusiastic, he is a control-freak, driven and arrogant. On paper, they have nothing in common, and yet despite their differences, their attraction is strong.
Luke has been the center of an ugly paternity scandal that has damaged his company’s reputation and he needs a distraction. He knows he makes a mistake coming on to Polly, but he is bewitched by her. Polly likes him, he is straightforward and caring. He intends to help her with the business aspect of the bakery, to get it back on track, but he is convinced he can’t make her promises. Their dynamic was so much fun, Luke can’t resist Polly’s enthusiasm and finally accepts to change his view of life for her.
This story had the perfect balance of humor, emotions and chemistry. There was no unnecessary drama and lots of great supporting characters. I absolutely loved Luke’s nosy aunt Julia! This book is the first in Nina Lane’s new series “Sugar Rush” and I can’t wait for more!
An advanced copy of this book was provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review. -
This was an okay read. The writing was great, so was the h - everything but the H, IMO he wasn't exactly a match for the h.
The h Polly was raised by her hippie mom, she's been kind of in a haze after giving up college to take care of her sick mom. Now 23, and after breaking up with a lame excuse for a boyfriend, she's trying to find the courage to put herself out there, make her life less gray - like her mom would have wanted. In a bar, the drunk h hits on the hot, over-a-decade-older H, assuring him all she wants is a hookup with a guy who knows what to do with a woman's body but ends up puking on his shoes, lol. Being in the h's POV was funny, sweet and she was adorable!
The H's POV was different, he came across as cold, jaded, someone who never listened to anyone, someone with a lot of baggage. He had "been around a lot". H was dating women while still maintaining a harem of f**k-buddies. He had had a paternity suit filed by a women with kid. Luckily the DNA test exonerated him, but it created a scandal. Many other women came forward after that, but the DNA tests backed the H. Obviously this meant that the H had slept with them all:( All this just left a bad taste in my mouth, even though the open-minded h is accepting and just brushes this info away.
Apart from his thoughts, in his actions the H was actually quite generous to the h. h wanted good sex-he gave it to her! In fact he goes a bit sugar daddy on her and invests in her dying business and h accepts on the condition she repay his loan and also take him on a few dates and show him how to have fun. H agrees. The only thing he's clear about is he can't offer h anything permanent - he's a control-freak-workaholic, plus he's been burned after the paternity suit/dating few gold-diggers and wants to avoid relationships.
h isn't looking for anything serious, but eventually she falls for the H- I had a problem with that, while H is generous with his money and body and he is okay company, the guy just seemed dull and stuffy. All the life, the energy between the couple was from the h! I felt she deserved someone more dynamic, someone who made her laugh and experience life in all its shades. It felt like the h was mistaking gratitude and chemistry for love. But still I admired her - she had the courage to be vulnerable,she took a chance on love. But when it was time to make a decision on where this was going, h didn't decide from a place of fear but was smart about it.
So eventually the H is an ass and the h dumps him and there is a Sabrina-the-movie style ending in Paris. Whatever, I wish the h had found some hot French dude and dumped the d**khead. The H and h had siblings who were interesting though - and assuming they're series-bait, I'll definitely read more books in this series bcos the writing was just that good and the h was just that adorable.
3.5 stars -
Nina Lane’s Spiral of Bliss series quickly became one of my most loved due to her unfettered talent for making readers swoon. Her writing and likeable characters make for a hugely pleasurable reading and have she has firmly allocated herself as one of my go-to authors.
Polly Lockhart is an adorable baker with big dreams. Left in charge of mother’s ailing bakery after her death, she struggles with not only the loss of her mother, but of making a success of her legacy also. Her social life is also in dire need of a revival also. With a push from her best friend, her night big night out results in a hilarious and unforgettable introduction to the delicious treat that is Luke Stone.
I have to admit I also found myself curious to experience Nina Lane’s kind of Alpha male. I can excitedly say, she does not disappoint! As CEO to the Sugar Rush Candy Company, Luke Stone is a man adept to getting what he wants. He’s a workaholic determined in driving the success of his company. What should be another routine day ends up with him coming face to face with the lady left a lasting impression for all the (wrong) right reasons.
As intrigued with her as he may be, he convinces himself it’s purely in a business sense. As he takes it upon himself to advise Polly in her business matters, he gets some lessons of his own from her in matters of the heart.
Sweet Dreams is a sexy yet playful novel that instantly appealed to my sweet tooth. Once again Nina evidences her penchant for romantic heroes that leave readers sighing in both adoration and lust.
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This was indeed sweet and sexy thanks to the handsome and yummy CEO Luke Stone of Sugar Rush candy company. He was just what baker Polly Lockhart needed to relax and have a good time but of course their friendship turned out to be so much more than fun.
Polly was an honest, open and trusting woman who just wanted to save her mother's bakery. She was dedicated and determined in her work to accomplish her goal. She had a close group of friends and a sister Hannah which she wasn't as close to anymore. When she met Luke at that bar it was the beginning of something new and special.
I really enjoyed Polly and Luke's relationship and how it changed them both in particular Luke. He had always been a workaholic because of a certain experience in his past but the way Polly came into his life and brightened it was the heart of this story. She showed him how to have fun, to enjoy life. He wasn't into commitment and just wanted it to be casual. But because of Polly's easygoing personality Luke couldn't stay away. Their interactions were so much fun and their chemistry delicious just like his candy. Their slowly build romance was well written with some great heat and tension.
The other characters were also great and I enjoyed the Lockhart and Stone family dynamics. Luke's brother Evan was a fabulous brother who had his own issues to deal with but was always supportive of Luke. I can't wait to read his story when Polly's sister Hannah is going to be his opposite. Hannah had been traveling most of her life and not laying down roots anywhere. She hadn't had as close a relationship to their mother as Polly had. I loved how Hannah also turned out to put her needs aside and help Polly when it mattered the most. These two was slowly on their way back to being sisters again and I enjoyed that part of the story too.
I can't wait to get more of Hannah and Evan's story in the sequel.
I'm a huge fan of Nina Lane and especially her Spiral of Bliss series because of a certain professor but with this book she has succeeded in creating not one but to fantastic male characters in the form of Luke and Evan Stone. They are definitely giving Professor West a run for his money.
4 BadAssDirtyPeachStars
Arc generously provided by InkSlingerPr for an honest review -
💝FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (7/25/2018)!💝
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NEW ADDICTIVE SERIES ALERT! #SugarRush
I finished SWEET DREAMS by Nina Lane last week and OMG! I am SO HOOKED! I need more time in a day so I can binge-read this entire series! If you are in the mood for a SWEET, SEXY, and SWOONY romance, START THIS SERIES TODAY!
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This book sounds too delicious...
Can I have some, please...?
Yummyyyyyy.....
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Definetely a case of don't judge a book by its cover! I never know what to expect when the cover is just a shot of and but I was so pleasantly surprised!
Absolutely adorable story with a sweet heroine and a swoon worthy brooding hero. -
3 Stars
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Such a cute story
Although it's not Liv and Dean, two characters I absolutely adored in the authors previous books. I still enjoyed reading Polly and Luke's story. Polly was a character easy to warm to, she was funny a little hair-brained but a very real character. Luke took some time to really understand as he was a very complicated character and at times was annoying. But in the end it all worked out to be a great love story and that's really all that mattered! -
insta luv
lot of sexy hotness
lots of candies/patisseries making talks (be sure to have some of those or both handy)
but will I read the next one (the siblings love story)? not sure
edit but I see there is a book about their father... that I might actually be intrested in -
Sweet Dreams is the first book by Nina Lane in her new Sugar Rush series. This one is a bit different than her Spiral of Bliss series but just as yummy!
Polly is a struggling bakery owner. Her mom’s passed away and she has devoted herself to carrying on her mom’s legacy by keeping her bakery, Wild Child, alive. While working full-time at the bakery, she’s also attending school. With both school and Wild Child on her mind, her personal life has taken a bit of back seat. Luke is the CEO to his family’s candy company, Sugar Rush Candy Company. He is a workaholic who also doesn’t have time for any real sort of relationships. The only sort of relationships he allows himself are ones with clearly defined parameters and an expiration date.
Polly needs a night out after her friend makes her realize she's not really living her life. Her and a girlfriend go to a hole-in-a-wall bar and she ends up meeting sex-on-a-stick Luke. She is determined to get laid and thinks he is the perfect candidate. Unfortunately, she's had a bit too much to drink and she's not able to execute her plans.
When Polly’s college class goes to tour the Sugar Rush facility she comes head-to-head with Luke. After realizing this, she hopes he doesn’t notice her. When he does, their attraction to each other is still palpable. Luke offers to help Polly with her fledging bakery and they start to spend more time together. Will their relationship have an expiration or can Polly change Luke?
“…you are the glaze on my doughnut, the sugar to my cookie, and the chocolate on my éclair.”
What I liked most about this book was that there wasn’t too much drama or angst. Both Polly and Luke were such likeable characters and you want nothing but the best for them to find their HEA. Both are completely different from one another and yet they totally are perfect for each other. She helps him loosen his tie a bit and he teaches her how to be successful. The secondary characters were a perfect addition and I CANNOT wait for the second one.
Lastly, Nina writes the best sex ever. Hands down, this book was DELISH. Thank you Nina for letting me indulge my sweet tooth without the calories with this sweet, sexy, and swoony read! -
oh wow! I've had Nina Lane on my TBR for a while. I've read good things about her books and her writing, but actually reading a book by her was amazing. I kept smiling and rereading sentences because her way with words is awesome! Her candy and sweets descriptors were on target! I loved it!
I also loved Polly and Luke. Luke was a control freak and Polly was such a free spirit. Total opposites, but they were wonderful together. She made him relax and he made her brave. I kind of wanted to smack Luke in the head at one point, and I'm glad Polly called him out on it. I would have kept my mouth shut LOL
Polly's sister is an interesting character and I liked Luke's brother Evan. His aunt Julia was something else LOL I'm curious to meet the rest of the Stone children. I'll be looking forward to more from this series :)
*thanks to InkSlinger PR for sharing a copy of this in exchange for an honest review* -
new nina lane book! My life is complete
