Chef Sugarlips: A small town girl next door romantic comedy

another good book from the author. 2 scenes were lmao, the cookie scene and the end when Sean makes his apology. I felt a little for Amber, she had this "goodie" image that made females wanted to be her and males want to... and it carried through to her adulthood. I felt like Sean couldn't have really loved Amber when he wasn't very truthful with her. Sean and his mother don't have a great relationship so that doesn't help either. can't wait to read more from the series

3.75 stars- CHEF SUGARLIPS is the second instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult PONDEROSA RESORT ROMANTIC COMEDIES romance series focusing on the Bracelyn siblings. This is twenty-seven year old chef Sean Bracelyn, and twenty-five year old, marketing specialist and co-owner of Jingle Bell Reindeer Ranch Amber King’s story line. CHEF SUGARLIPS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Told from dual first person perspectives (Amber and Sean) CHEF SUGARLIPS follows the building romance between twenty-seven year old chef Sean Bracelyn, and twenty-five year old, marketing specialist Amber King. Sean Bracelyn has lusted after Amber King for close to ten years but Amber had no idea about the who and how of Sean Bracelyn. Desperate for someone to cater a wedding at their family owned Jingle Bell Reindeer Ranch, Amber, along with a crossbow and stuffed turkey make Sean an offer he cannot refuse. What ensues is the building romance between Sean and Amber, and the potential fall-out as Sean struggles with family secrets, secrets that are about to be revealed. The relationship between Sean and Amber is one of immediate attraction but Amber’s history is men is questionable, and Sean battles between head and heart knowing not everything is as it appears to be. Embarrassed by the possibility of the truth being revealed, Sean is willing to push Amber out of his life, leaving a devastated and heart broken woman in its wake. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. The secondary and supporting characters include Sean’s mother Melody, and his large assortment of half-siblings: sister Bree, brother and lawyer James, Mark and Jonathon, and cousin Brandon Brown (Studmuffin Santa #1), and Amber’s sister Jade; and an assortment of bridal clients, and friends. Bree Bracelyn’s story is next in Sergeant Sexy pants. CHEF SUGARLIPS is another story of family, secrets, friendship and love. There are moments of heart break, fun, humor, and laughs-wait for the meatball massacre. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is flirty and sexy; the characters are energetic and colorful. The conflict is limited to our hero’s inability to look beyond the past.

I’m loving this series. It has laughter and heart and so much emotion. I love how these books blend side-splitting funny situations with deeply touching moments. The underlying message of this story seems to be all about how we respond to other people’s opinions of us; living up (or down) to their expectations. Amber was always seen as ‘the perfect girl’, and perfect is a really hard standard to maintain. Sean might have a bit of a martyr complex. He’s bad at opening up to other people but very good at looking after them. He’s been half in love with Amber from the time he first saw her. But will those feelings survive him getting to know the real Amber instead of the fantasy girl who’s lived in his mind all this time?