Make It Sweet by Kristen Callihan Published by Montlake Publication Date: March 9, 2021
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From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Callihan comes a charming, emotional romance about redefining dreams and discovering unlikely love along the way.
Life for Emma isn’t good. The world knows her as Princess Anya on Dark Castle, but then her character gets the axe—literally. The cherry on top is finding her boyfriend in bed with another woman. She needs a break, and sanctuary comes in the form of Rosemont, a gorgeous estate in California promising rest and relaxation.
Then she meets the owner’s equally gorgeous grandson, ex–hockey player and current recluse Lucian Osmond, and she sees her own pain and yearning reflected in his eyes.
He’s charming when he wants to be but also secretive and gruff, with protective walls as thick as Emma’s own. Despite a growing attraction, they avoid each other.
But then there’s an impromptu nighttime skinny-dip, and Lucian’s luscious homemade tarts and cream cakes start arriving at Emma’s door, tempting her to taste life again…
In trying to stay apart, they only grow closer—and their broken pieces just might fit together and make them whole.
Cocktails and Books received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.
I love everything Kristen Callihan writes, so I was excited to read her newest book Make it Sweet. This is an enchanting story about two people who meet when they are both going through unexpected career changes, that leave their world tilting out of control.
Luc and Emma both come to Rosemont to licks their wounds when their careers go in unexpected directions. Their first encounter is momentous and they immediately dislike each other and don’t bother to hide it. Gradually, they come to admire each other and there is a lot of chemistry flowing between them. They do their best to ignore their growing feelings, but it is hard with all the sexual tension between them.
Luc is a former professional hockey player, who had one too many concussions and couldn’t take the chance of any more head injuries, so he reluctantly retired. Luc broke my heart. He is a tortured soul and is having a difficult time adjusting to his new life without hockey. Luc has many layers. He is reserved and has a tough exterior but inside he is soft and enjoys taking care of others.
Emma is shattered when she learns she is being let go from the popular TV show she stars in. Emma is beautiful and successful but she doesn’t have a big ego and her success hasn’t gone to her head. She is sweet and protective of those she cares about.
Luc and Emma meet at Rosemont where they both come to decompress and lick their wounds in private. I liked all their encounters and verbal foreplay. They are immediately attracted to each other but pretend they aren’t. This is a beautiful slow burn love story that is at times, is heartbreaking and at other times, lighthearted. Luc and Emma are good together and help each other heal. This beautiful sensual story brought out many of my emotions and left me with a good feeling.
