Sawyer Bennett

USA TODAY BESTSELLER • “This book devastated me in the most wonderful way,” raves Meredith Wild. In Sugar Daddy, the author of the Cold Fury series proves that vengeance is sweet—but seduction is to die for. Sela Halstead lost her innocence in a way that no sixteen-year-old should ever have to endure. She’s spent years trying to forget that night even while wondering about the identities of the monsters who brutalized her—until a telltale tattoo flashes across Sela’s TV screen. The incriminating ink belongs to Jonathon Townsend, the millionaire founder of The Sugar Bowl, a website that matches rich older men with impressionable young women. Obsessed with revenge, Sela infiltrates Townsend’s world, only to come face-to-face with a tantalizing complication: Beckett North, his charismatic business partner. The tech mastermind behind The Sugar Bowl, Beck always gets what he wants, in business and in bed. And yet, for a man who’s done every dirty thing imaginable, there’s something about the naïve, fresh-faced Sela that sparks his hottest fantasies. Because with her, it’s not just about sex. Beck opens up to her in ways he never has with other girls. So why does he get the feeling that she’s hiding something? In a world of pleasure and power, the shocking truth could turn them against each other—or bind them forever. The Arizona Vengeance series from New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett can be read together or separately: BISHOP ERIK LEGEND And don’t miss her Carolina Cold Fury novels: ALEX GARRETT ZACK RYKER HAWKE MAX ROMAN LUCAS VAN REED MAREK The Love Hurts series features sexy standalone novels: SEX IN THE STICKS JILTED And the Sugar Bowl series is one treat you’ll want to read in order: SUGAR DADDY SUGAR RUSH SUGAR FREE “One of the best voices in contemporary romance.”—New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne Praise for Sugar Daddy “Beck and Sela are so scorching and real together that I didn’t want to let them go. I can’t wait to devour the rest of this series!”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Meredith Wild “A totally gripping take on romance and revenge!”—New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely “Sugar Daddy is raw, gritty, and exceptionally hot. I couldn’t put it down.”—New York Times bestselling author Marquita Valentine Includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

A Sugar Bowl Novel

Sugar Daddy

Bethany Lacey

Link to Blog: http://laceysloveofliterature.blogspo...

So, when I first began this book I was simply astounded at Sela's stupidity. No joke. How on Earth she thought she could get away with an espionage mission and try to infiltrate and murder her rapists with no prior experience and knowledge I'll never know. I just couldn't believe the stupidity I was reading, by one of my all-time favourite authors. I just didn't understand how Sawyer Bennett could write such amazing series, and produce this? 

But I shouldn't have worried! Sawyer Bennett did not let me down! This book was fast-paced and amazing! It didn't take me long till I was hurrying my way through this to find out what was going to happen. And then I turned the last page over and was like "Whaattt?!" I did not have the prior knowledge of knowing this ended on a cliff-hanger, 'cause if I did I would have waited till the others were out. I hate, hate, cliffhangers! I got online as soon as I finished it to find out when the next book was out. Luckily I only have a few weeks wait (less if I can get an ARC (fingers crossed!)). 

So, back to the story. On Sela's 16th birthday she lost her virginity in the most horrific of ways. She's been broken, damaged and lost ever since. Not knowing much about her attackers other than the fact that they all had a red phoenix tattooed on them. Skip ten years and the main antagonist is famous for his company, The Sugar Daddy. It's during one of his interviews that Sela recognises her main attacker and comes up with the scheme to infiltrate and murder them all.

Beckett North is our hero in this story. The mastermind behind The Sugar Daddy, he's sick to death of his dead-weight business partner and long-time friend. He's had enough and wants to buy his partying, whoring friend out.

It's during one Sugar Daddy Ball that Beck meets Sela. And the rest is history.

I adored these two together! I just love the way they were towards each other. Never really trusting men and unable to enjoy intimacy and sex, Sela has always been alone. But Beckett North is special. He makes her feel and want things; diverting her from her plan. However, Beck decides to give his friend one last chance! Hell no! It's Beck's naiveté and well-meaning trusting nature that makes himself vulnerable to vultures like JT. Beck tries to see the best in everyone, whereas Sela only sees the worst.

Then we get to that cliff-hanger scene. I got to the end of it and was like, "WTH?! You can't just end it like that!!! Why the need to torture us?!" However, I've calmed down since finishing reading it a few days ago and am hopefully waiting for an arc (or impatiently for the release!)

This book is amazing. You guys need to read it. However, if you're like me and hate cliff-hangers (foresight is 20:20 as they say! insert rolling eyes) I'd wait to the next book is out. Unless that also ends on a cliff-hanger, then I'd just wait till the whole series out and enjoy it all in one sitting!

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Despite being intrigued by this book when I first saw the cover and read the synopsis, I've been really nervous about going into it. I've heard it was a totally different kind of Sawyer Bennett story and that it was dark. It was both of these things for sure. But it was also really, really good. I'm glad I didn't wait any longer to read it. Sela's story gripped me and held on long after I finished reading. I'm already twitching at the thought of the next two books in the series. That's because, yes, this is a traditional series. All three books follow Sela (and Beck, I hope!) and there is a slightly brutal cliffhanger at the end of this one. But it was so very worth it!

Sela's out for revenge on the man who took her innocence – and a lot more – from her when she was a teenager. She'll go to extreme lengths to get it, too. After identifying Jonathon Townsend on TV, she decides to become a "Sugar Baby," a young, beautiful woman who contracts for companionship (and often more) with Townsend's Sugar Bowl company. She hopes this'll give her the opportunity to get close to him and allow her to carry out her ultimate plan – to kill him. (Which, let's be honest... the man is a vile creature and I can't fault her reasoning. He gave me the willies anytime he was on the page.) What she doesn't expect is the connection she feels to Beckett North, Townsend's business parter, when she first sees him.

I found myself liking Sela and Beck quite a bit, even though they were both had their flaws. I think maybe I liked them because of the flaws, even. I liked watching who they became when they were together and the other things faded into the background. I found myself so conflicted in this book though. I mean, I got Sela's need for retribution, but I also kind of want her to not go down that path. There's no doubt Jonathon is an evil man who probably doesn't deserve to walk the earth, but I'm not entirely sure I want her to be the one responsible for taking him from it either. I think this is why I was happiest when the book focused on this thing growing between Sela and Beck, as inconvenient as it really was for both of them... even if for different reasons. They might've initially only shared passion, but it became so much more than that over the course of this book. Of course, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop once Beck found out the truth about why Sela had come into his life. Beck doesn't deal well with liars, so I knew it could potentially get ugly. But, I'm not gonna talk any more about that now. You need to read it yourself. It's the best way to experience the story.

So yes, this was something totally different from any other Sawyer Bennett book I've read. I wouldn't necessarily call this dark romance, but there's definitely a darker tinge to the overall story. Sela and Beck made it pretty easy for me to root for them. Again, they're not without their flaws, but I like watching less-than-perfect characters grow during the course of a story. As you might imagine, the sexy times were off the chart hot. This book wasn't big on what I would consider "swoony" moments, but there was some definite sweetness to this pair. As I said above, there's also a pretty good cliffhanger at the end of this book and I'm already all twitchy while I wait to get my hands on Sugar Rush. I need that one like, right now.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

FAVORITE QUOTES

  I, Sela Halstead, am not as broken as I thought I was. While I thought Jonathon Townsend took everything away from me, I've realized now that he took nothing. He only warped my perception.

"I think you're the best thing to ever happen to me, and when you're given a gift like that, the prospect of losing it can be a little consuming."

Lacey

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

3.5 STARS

Sawyer Bennett is a go-to contemporary romance author for me – her books are always so well-written and enjoyable! Sugar Daddy has been on my radar ever since I heard the awesome title, and then I read the blurb, which totally sold me. Sugar Daddy is the first book in Sela and Beck’s story, and seriously, I’m dying for more. It’s a good start to a series that has so much potential to become even better. Fans of the author should definitely check this one out!

The plot of Sugar Daddy is intriguing, to say the least. Sela Halstead is on a plan of revenge against the men who raped her on her sixteenth birthday ten years ago. It’s a rash, not-too-smart move, but who can blame her with the hatred she feels against Jonathon Townsend, one of her rapists who’s living the rich life? Her in is through The Sugar Bowl, of which Jonathon co-owns, a dating website for sugar daddies and sugar babies. Sela disguises herself as a sugar baby, and while she planned to get close to Jonathon, she doesn’t expect to get close to his co-owner instead.

Whatever the connection . . . for whatever reason that I’ve given her something that others haven’t, I have a deep gut instinct that it’s something that defies reason or logic. I almost get the sense it’s mystical in nature and I’m intrigued beyond measure. And for the first time in my life, I’m doing something that is completely unlike anything Beck North has ever done before.
I’m exploring something deeper with one woman.
This woman to be exact.

Beckett North is the tech genius behind The Sugar Bowl, though he doesn’t partake in its activities himself. He’s rich enough to be a sugar daddy, but he’s never wanted to be one… until now. From the moment he meets Sela, he wants her bad, and he’ll do anything to have her. So they agree on a contract that will last a month to explore the explosive chemistry between them. Sugar Daddy is seriously HOT – Sawyer Bennett writes some steamy scenes in this book. But what I loved in addition to that was the way Sela and Beck develop feelings for each other slowly. But can they have a relationship when it’s built on lies, and Sela is determined to go through with her revenge?

I, Sela Halstead, am not as broken as I thought I was. While I thought Jonathon Townsend took everything away from me, I’ve realized just now that he took nothing. He only warped my perception.
… I realized that intimacy is actually something that I could learn to crave with a man like Beckett North and that I’ve only just begun to discover the true potential inside of myself.

I loved the way this book started and ended (omg – don’t even get me started on that killer cliffhanger). The middle was a little too slow and repetitive, but I still enjoyed the book overall. The ending made me want to SCREAM – I need the next book yesterday. Sugar Daddy is a great first installment – I may not have completely loved it, but I’m totally invested in Sela and Beck, and can’t wait to see how their story continues.

Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.

Quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change in the final version.

Amazon Ebook: http://amzn.to/1NDtbTP
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/27ZZLYE

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Jessica 

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Seeing that I am a spiteful person (although, I wouldn't say I'm cruel) and love a good tale of love, lust and revenge, Sugar Daddy had a particular appeal to me from the start. It was only an added bonus that the cover art was uniquely minimal, vibrant and sparkling with intrigue. And with the way 2020 was going, I was definitely keen on startling a darkly woven tale of suspense and romance.

The first thing I want to say is that Sugar Daddy has a specific appeal; because of this specific appeal, it won't be for everybody and, frankly, is quite triggering. There's this sense of reality grouped with fantasy all throughout Sugar Daddy that makes for an interesting read. In the end, I realized, I neither hated nor loved Sugar Daddy because of these things. 

So much of the story felt up in the air with questions. Even as things unraveled and the story hit its climax, I couldn't help but to feel like something was missing for my personal preferences. Which is not a dig at the story or the author, because I still found myself compelled to read until the very end. I think my major issues with Sugar Daddy lay in the fact that some bits and pieces of the story felt less like a starter novel/introduction to a series but rather a filler novel. 

There were still a ton of positives: the characters. I thought each one served a very specific brand of morally grayness. It made me intrigued and disgusted by them, depending on the character and their scenarios.

That being said: Sawyer Bennett's prose is very, very well done. Her writing reflects the trauma, steam and betrayal as the story progresses in a way that feels real. Even in its most contradicting and far-fetched moments, you can't help but to believe every inch of this story. Not only this, it makes Sugar Daddy impossible to put down. 

Readers can find themselves flushing just as easily as they flinch. One thing is certain: Sugar Daddy, though flawed, was compulsively readable and viciously sexy.

Sugar Daddy A Sugar Bowl Novel

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