Name: JoLee's review of Welcome to Sugartown by Carmen Jenner
Item: Welcome to Sugartown
Rating: 4
Author: JoLee

Carmen Jenner

Ana Belle never wanted anything more than to hang up her apron, jump on her Vespa and ride off into the sunset, leaving Sugartown in the dust. Elijah Cade never wanted anything more than a hot meal, a side of hot arse and a soft place to lay his head at night where he could forget about his past. But you know what they say about wanting: you always want what you can't have. Nineteen year-old virgin Ana is about to discover that's not quite true because a six foot three, hotter than hell, tattooed, Aussie sex god just rode into town. He's had a taste of her pie and he wants more-no really, Ana bakes pies for a living, get your mind out of the gutter. She'd be willing to hand over everything tied up in a big red bow, there's just one problem; Elijah has secrets dirtier than last week's underwear. Secrets that won't just break Ana's heart, but put her life at risk, too. When those secrets come to light, their relationship is pushed to breaking point. Add to that a psychotic nympho best friend, an overbearing father, a cuter than humanly possible kid brother, a wanton womanizing cousin, the ex from hell, and more pies than you could poke a ... err ... stick ... at. And you thought small towns were boring. Welcome to Sugartown. *Content Warning. Intended for a mature 18+ audience. Contains explicit sex, violence, oodles of profanity and a crap-tonne of AWKWARD.

Welcome to Sugartown

Samantha Emery

JoLee

Rating: 4 Stars Loved it


Welcome to Sugartown starts off light, fun with some giggle moments but then turns into a dark read with rape and cheating. This will be one of those novels you either love it or hate it. As for me I loved it. Not many authors would be able to pull this off but Carmen Jenner did a well around great job. She has her own unique writing voice that was easy to get caught up into. The dual POV between Ana and Elijah flowed nicely between the scenes where needed. 

Right from the start Ana and Elijah have chemistry and I was right there with Ana falling for the tattoo-biker riding-bad boy. Elijah and I did have a love/hate relationship through out the novel. By the end of their journey I was in love with his character all over again. What I loved most about his character is the great lengths he will go through to protect and get revenge for the girl he loves. Carmen Jenner knows how to write a yummy alpha male hero that is all about actions and not meaningless words. 

Ana is a spitfire that can hold her own with her over protective father and Elijah. She is a virgin but was just as sexy in the bedroom department as Elijah was. Wish I had Elijah whispering naughty words in my ear from his dirty talking mouth during those yummy steamy-cold-shower- needed moments.

The secondary characters added so much to the novel. I absolutely loved her father. He was tough and had no problems letting Elijah know what would happen if he broke his little girls heart. Holly her best friend was a bit on the out of control, crazy side and did love their times together as there is never a dull moment with them. As for Jackson, Ana's cousin who is also a yummy alpha male hero, would like to know more about him. Curious what is going on through his sexy little head when it comes to Holly.

There is no cliffhanger or epilogue so do not know where this series is going but I am hoping Jackson and Holly have their own story next. If not, I do not mind having more Ana and Elijah as well. Welcome To Sugartown is a good start to a great series.

ARC provided by author for an honest review.

Originally posted at Wickedly Delicious Book Blog

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    "There's a mind-numbing restlessness that comes with living in small towns. The gossip, the people, and the unending monotony that makes you want to poke your eyes out with a fork."
  

I grew up in a small town. It was *NOTHING* like the one Carmen Jenner created in Welcome to Sugartown. If it had been, I probably never would've left. ;) 

  
    "You came strutting in here all cocky, with your dimples and your tattoos and your big brown eyes and expected us to swoon."
"Baby girl, if that's all it takes to make you swoon, then you just wait 'til you see what I do with my hands."
  

Man, did I enjoy this book. It was full of innuendos, smoking hot sexy times, great dialogue, intriguing character, some CRAZY action and plot twists. I loved Ana Belle. I could relate to her dissatisfaction in small-town life. Until, you know, the walking-talking sex god Elijah walked through the door to her pie shop and shook things up. Elijah. Just wow. Hot. Awkward. Sexy. Dangerous. Far from perfect, but somehow wonderful because of that. He and Ana had fantastic chemistry right off the bat and I just knew it was only a matter of time before they gave in and got it on. I was right. And when they did? Day-yum. It was more than just lust, though. I cheered for them to get together and wanted to yell when they (inevitably) found a way to screw it up. 

  
    "With all the shit I've done, the hurt I've caused people, some I barely knew and others I knew too well, for all the worthless hours I've spent wandering through this mess I call a life, looking at this girl before me – who is so perfect and innocent, and downright trusting in every way – I know that, somewhere along the line, I must have done something right for her to want to let me in."
  

Don't get me wrong, this book isn't all sweet and hot sexy times. The plot took some pretty interesting – and serious – twists that I didn't expect at ALL. Some scenes were downright disturbing and more than a little uncomfortable, but somehow I still found myself unable to look away. The author's writing, my connection to the characters and the twists and turns kept me fully engaged until the end. Even then, it left me wanting more. 

  
    "Come on, Ana, would it really kill you to go out with Mr I'm So Freaking Hot Even My Mother Would Sell Her Soul to Get a Piece of This? Would it kill you to have a little fun for once?"
  

Welcome to Sugartown does a really good job portraying life in a small town: the gossip, the scandals and the characters who were just quirky enough to be interesting without being unbelievable. Ana's best friend Holly was always good for a laugh or advice. Sometimes both. Her little brother Sammy was absolutely freaking adorable and I loved the relationship between them. Ana's dad is a trip, too. I loved him. It was particularly fun to read his interactions with Elijah. Not all the characters were good. You'll find that out for yourself. 

If I'm being honest, this book wasn't AT ALL what I was expecting, but that is far from a bad thing. I thought it would be a sexy, fluffy story with a HEA. It was sexy. I'm not telling you anything about the ending. :) But damn, the action in this book. Mind-blowing. It was exhausting – in the best way possible! I laughed, I swooned, I cried, I freaked the hell out.

What a ride. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book, Enjoy Your Stay. It's Holly's story. :)

Samantha Emery &
Welcome to Sugartown by Carmen Jenner

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Welcome to Sugartown by Carmen Jenner