I sat down to write this review right after I finished reading Sweet As Sin but had to put it aside for a while to get my thoughts together. This was one of the most emotionally intense books I’ve read in a long time and my thoughts and feelings were all over the place. Even after a few days I was still thinking about this story and feeling a wide range of emotions.
There is a new resident bad boy in town and as luck would have it, he’s moved into the house next door to Livvy. He’s sexy and clearly interested in his new neighbor but Livvy isn’t in the market for a bad boy fling. She owns her own home, owns a successful bakery and she’s ready for a serious relationship that might lead to marriage, babies and the white picket fence.
John Murphy doesn’t just have the sexy bad boy thing going for him. He’s an author of a popular Young Adult urban fantasy series. He seems fairly easy to figure out on the surface: sexy, smart, interesting, and did I mention sexy? The chemistry between Livvy and John is off the charts and when John turns up the charm Livvy finds it difficult to resist the thrill of a wild summer fling. Throwing caution to the wind they go for it promising to keep it fun, with no strings attached.
I’ve read a few titles by Inez Kelley and really enjoyed her stories and so I was really looking forward to reading Sweet As Sin. I like this author’s voice and when I have the chance to read one of her books I jump at it. As much as I’ve enjoyed Ms. Kelley’s other works, I have to say Sweet As Sin caught me totally by surprise. I expected a fun, sexy romance and got so much more.
The emotional depth of the characters in this book was extraordinary, taking me on an emotional roller coaster that had me clinging to my e-reader one minute and wanting to toss it across the room the next. John comes off as a cool, sexy bad boy but he is so tormented and complex it made my heart ache. He is not the perfect romance hero by any means. His actions were atrocious at times, making me cringe, but because of the raw pain and torment he suffers as a result of his past I found his actions to be so believable and painfully authentic. John battles his darkness on a daily basis and has learned to cope by creating the monsters in his books. His monsters are a reflection of him really added so much depth to John’s character.
Livvy has a few of her own demons from the past and at times I wondered if her devotion to John would or should waver. She fell hard for him in a fairly short amount of time, but she went into the relationship knowing it was to be only a fling. When the heavy stuff started to surface she dug in her heels and was in for the long haul. She seemed to see the light in John where he could only see the dark.
I know I’m making this story seem very dark and it is. But it’s also fun, sexy and incredibly romantic. This is a fantastic love story that stayed with me for quite some time after The End. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to John and Livvy, and I need a follow up novella NOW.
Favorite Quote:
She tasted like forbidden things. Things he yearned for and rarely received. Like chocolate birthday cake and strawberry ice cream. He preferred spicy to syrupy delights. But she was that, too. Red Hots, the candies that burned your mouth but tasted so good you couldn’t stop eating them. Livvy was red hot.
Sweet As Sin by Inez Kelley
January 31st 2011 by Carina Press
Contemporary Romance
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About Sophia (FV)
This is so a story for me
The next time I can go on an e-book splurge it’s going to be mine!!
THIS review is making me get this book! TY!
Rachel
Wow, five stars? I’ve heard so many good things about this book and your review really has me wondering if I should break down and get this.
@Leontine: I think this one is right up your alley Leontine.
@Rachel Tops: Oh yay! I really enjoyed it, I hope you do too.
@Catherine: I hope you like it as much as I did.
OK. This sounds very very compelling to me. I think I need to read this one. Thank you for the review, I am in the mood for something just like this.
@Spaz: It seems a little light in the beginning but wow it gets intense!! Enjoy!!
I loved this one, too. Easily the most emotional book I’ve read in a long, long time.
@Amber: I agree. had to put it down a couple of times because it was so intense. LOL
That good?! No, don’t tempt me, I have too many books to read!!
This sounds pretty amazing! I’ll definitely be looking into it =)
@blodeuedd: This one is worth pushing to the top of the TBR.
Yes..so dark..yet so romantic. I am STILL thinking about this one. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. Great review!
@Mandi Schreiner: My chest hurt while reading it. You could have warned me! lol
I really like this one as well. One minute I was feeling so sorry for John and in the next breath I was calling him a f@*king moran. Great range of emotion.
I had the same response as you! I loved this book but when I first started to write the review I just stared at the computer screen. So glad that you had the same feelings as I did. This is the most gripping book I’ve read in years! Thanks for the review!
@Judi L: I think I had a headache once it all over. LOL
@Barb: Glad I’m not the only one! LOL
LOVE!!!! Great review Sophia! You got it right on the nose!
I’ve been reading great reviews of Sweet as Sin but I’m afraid it will be too dark for me *bites nails* Your review makes me want to go for it!
I bought this book for my Kindle the instant I finished your review. I love romances with a lot of honesty and depth, but find I’m often left wanting when stories are to fluffy. Thank you so much for this recommendation, I’m really looking forward to it.
Yes! I loved this book. It was a very sophisticated contemporary romance/erotica. I will definitely be reading more by Ms Kelley.
Another fantastic review! I have already placed this book on my TBR list thanks to Julie (Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chick’s) review on it and I am very excited to pick it up!