A Flash of Fiction Day One (February): Sweet As Sin by Inez Kelley

Book: SWEET AS SIN
Author: INEZ KELLEY
Genre: CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Published: January 2011, CARINA PRESS

Series: none

I received this book from NetGalley for free, in exchange for an honest review


From Good Reads:
John Murphy is tormented by nightmares. A bestselling young-adult author, he writes the ultimate fantasy: stories where good always triumphs. He knows better. His past has shown him the worst in people—and in himself. When he moves next door to the sexy, vibrant Livvy—a woman completely unlike his usual one-night stands—he's driven to explore every curve of her delicious body.

Pastry chef Livvy knows that giving in to the temptation that is John Murphy won't lead to anything permanent, but she deserves a passionate summer fling. John discovers she's as sweet as the confections she bakes while Livvy slowly unravels his secrets. But what will happen when she uncovers them all?


I Liked -- Plot: Livvy is a passionate woman that takes life seriously, but still lives. John, though, has an ugly past, and it keeps him from forming any lasting relationships. Even the kind that Livvy is looking for: a fling with her attractive neighbor. In SWEET AS SIN, Inez Kelley does such a good job juxtaposing the lightness in Livvy with the darkness in John. Their love scenes were hot, but beyond that there was an extremely satisfying story being told. Instead of just flashing back, or stating the past that haunted John, Kelley peels back the layers of his pysche and inserts Livvy as the antidote to the shadows within.


I Liked -- Character: Wow, John was just one tormented and haunted character. And yet, I loved him. Despite the monsters in his head, and the monsters in his past, there were so many flashes of this great man. The type of man that any woman would be proud to have as a boyfriend, husband, or lover. The type of man that would be a perfect father. Sure, I wanted this couple, this relationship, to find its HEA, but mostly I wanted John to find his HEA. I wanted him to exorcise his ghosts, and find peace.


My Rating:13/15 (4.5 stars)


Links for the author and books:

* Website
* Twitter
* GoodReads
* Facebook


Purchase at:

* Carina Press
* All Romance e-books
* Amazon


Available formats: E-Book


Inez Kelley has also posted a recipe that is used in SWEET AS SIN. Livvy is a pastry chef, and she concocts several goodies that fairly jump off the page with their deliciousness. Find the recipe for Chocolate Orgasm Brownies at Leah Braemel's blog. Braemel is another Carina Press author. Her latest release, Texas Tangle, was a fantastic menage read.