The Sugar Bowl series is a contemporary romance with a revenge theme.
The author lists it as romantic suspense, but I think differently.
It's dual perspective with explicit content. Be warned that there is an assault trigger for those who prefer to avoid those.
Hopefully my reviews of these books inspires someone to give them a try.
Sugar Daddy
Sela Halstead lost her innocence in a way that no sixteen-year-old should ever have to endure. She’s spent years trying to forget that night even while wondering about the identities of the monsters who brutalized her—until a telltale tattoo flashes across Sela’s TV screen. The incriminating ink belongs to Jonathon Townsend, the millionaire founder of The Sugar Bowl, a website that matches rich older men with impressionable young women. Obsessed with revenge, Sela infiltrates Townsend’s world, only to come face-to-face with a tantalizing complication: Beckett North, his charismatic business partner.
The tech mastermind behind The Sugar Bowl, Beck always gets what he wants, in business and in bed. And yet, for a man who’s done every dirty thing imaginable, there’s something about the naïve, fresh-faced Sela that sparks his hottest fantasies. Because with her, it’s not just about sex. Beck opens up to her in ways he never has with other girls. So why does he get the feeling that she’s hiding something? In a world of pleasure and power, the shocking truth could turn them against each other—or bind them forever.
I love a good revenge plot and while Sela's plan was absolutely nuts, I was ride-or-die. We'll go down together, girl!
There was something special about the relationship that grew between Beck and Sela. I don't know how she was able to do it, because anyone in J.T.'s orbit would be off-limits for me, but I guess the vengeance fire was blazing hot within her, blocking out the discomfort and fear.
Beck's blindness to everything that was J.T. drove me crazy. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry.
The cliffhanger was predictable and although Beck's reaction was very dramatic, I couldn't blame him.
Sugar Rush
After posing as an escort for the Sugar Bowl online dating service, Sela Halstead is looking for one thing: payback. She's closing in on the site's heartless founder, Jonathon Townsend, and she needs Beckett North, Townsend's business partner and her lover, by her side. She'd thought that their intimate nights together had forged an unbreakable bond, but after a shocking betrayal, Sela begins to doubt the brilliant bad boy. When push comes to shove, can she trust Beck to do the right thing?
Now that he understands the truth, Beck will stop at nothing to secure the reckoning Sela deserves. But between his desire for her and his disgust for JT, Beck doesn't exactly have a lot of control over his emotional state. Left with no other choice, he must summon all his discipline to maintain JT's trust and pretend that they're still friends. But how far will Beck go to prove his loyalty to Sela? He nearly lost her once. To keep her, Beck might have to kill for her.
Aww Beck. That immediate regret was real. I love how he humbled himself and got on the right side of things, despite the history he shared with J.T.
The truth of his relationship with J.T. kind of devastated me and I wish that it was explored more.
Was I the only one who still wished that Sela followed through with her original plan?
The ending conflict was well done and I don't feel terrible about it at all. It was about time! I just hope Sela can get out of her own way so that she and Beck can find some happiness on the other side.
Sugar Free
For years Sela Halstead dreamed of revenge, but the quest for payback has been anything but sweet. Now, once again, she finds herself at the mercy of Jonathon Townsend, his hands crushing the very breath from her body. And even though she escapes with her life, Sela fears she may never recover. In desperate need of shelter and comfort, she runs to the one man she can trust. Beckett North has stood by Sela since the beginning. But can he handle the brutal truth?
Beck will do anything to protect what is his—and make no mistake, Sela belongs to him, heart and soul. The passion between them runs hot, even as their world begins to unravel. With the legacy of his ruthless business partner hanging in the balance, Beck stands to lose everything: his fortune, his family, his freedom. But each touch of Sela’s mouth on his skin, her nails down his back, makes it harder to let her go—and it might not even be his choice to make.
Please save us all from Sela's foolishness. At least I was entertained.
Beck really stepped up in this book and I'm in love with the man he has become for Sela. He was so strong for her, being her ear and her protector. He was just so amazing!!
I'm not a huge fan of the ending, though I did appreciate how much of an ending we got. It's great that they got a happy ending (thanks Dennis), but it fell flat for me. It was like a quick wrap up to the dangling bits when those pieces needed a bit more time.
Or maybe I'm just greedy.
While I might be willing to sacrifice myself for the good of the world, I know Carrick won't put me in mortal danger.
The Rise of Fortune and Fury by Sawyer Bennett
Chronicles of the Stone Veil #5
Release - May 4, 2021
Genre - Urban Fantasy
Dual POV - Finley/1st person & Carrick/3rd person
Heat Level - 1.5/kisses with sex alluded to
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 285 pages
Publisher - Big Dog Books, LLC
It’s time to meet my destiny.
Kymaris has everything she needs to bring down the veil between Earth and the Underworld. If she’s successful in completing the ritual, Earth will be darkened by evil. Demons will swarm our lands and the human race will be decimated.
It’s up to me to stop her.
My fate is to thwart the prophecy, but I’m not sure what to do. While I may have some gifts, I am still merely a human facing the queen of the Dark Fae who holds unimaginable power.
But I have something she doesn’t. Something she could never comprehend.
I have love.
Deep, abiding love which gives me the strength and courage to face down evil. Family, friends, and unexpected allies, who will stand shoulder to shoulder with me against this enemy. Should I fail, they are prepared to go down with me, but only after we have given our all.
My sacrifice may destroy everything I am. Fate may require my demise. But if that happens, I will leave this realm without regret, knowing that I have loved and been loved in return.
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I know that this isn't really a fantasy romance series, but I have to tell you this... I lived for Carrick and Finley. Their epic love made every hardship, every loss, every twist, and every obstacle extremely worthwhile.
After the huge betrayal revealed at the end of the last book, I had no idea where this story was going to go. With Kymaris gaining so much, having everything she needed to begin the destruction of Earth as we know it, what could the 'Scooby gang' possibly do to stop her? Granted, I never had a doubt that our team would win. I had a strong feeling that I was destined to get a happy ending (which I did), but I also knew that I wouldn't be getting there the easy way.
I'm remembering how much I couldn't stand Finley at the beginning of this series. How she rubbed me the wrong way, got on my nerves, and had me thinking I couldn't care less what happened to her. Look at me now! I'm so proud of the development of this character. She could still be annoying (I'm not gonna lie), but she became such a fierce, smart, and easy to cheer for heroine and I was completely invested in her stake in the war against evil.
If you haven't started this series, start now!
"Life is so fragile," he murmurs gently. "No stronger than glass. And it seems from the moment I met you in this lifetime, that was something you inherently accepted. You lost your parents, and you understood how fleeting it all is. The strength you've shown these last few months, especially after leanring about this sacrifice you'll have to bear, is greater than some of history's bravest warriors. Time and time again, you've acknowledged that fate will not take a backseat, and you've faced it head-on with not only brute confidence, but also with a graciousness that comes from the beauty of your heart. It's because your heart is so fucking big and loves so goddamned generously that you've been marching forward to greet your destiny without ever taking a moment to be scared. And now... you're taking it, and I'm here for it. I'm here to shoulder the burden with you. I'll take on all of your worries, pain, and fear if you'll let me. I will continually remind you that you brought a demi-god to his knees time and time again, and you are more magnificent than all the gods put together. It's with that knowledge I know I'll have to let you go until I find that shining star again. Until then, I hope it's enough that I will be by your side every step of the way. And if the fates are kind to us, hopefully I'll be holding you as you leave this world to wait for me in the next."
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.
If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).
A Battle of Blood and Stone by Sawyer Bennett
Book 4 - Chronicles of the Stone Veil
Release - April 13, 2021
Genre - Urban Fantasy
Dual POV - Finley/1st and Carrick/3rd
Heat Level - 2.5/spoken about but not descriptive
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 239 pages
Publisher - Big Dog Books, LLC
Another day, another step closer to Hell on Earth being unleashed.
With every piece that falls into place for the queen of the Underworld, Kymaris gains strength and power that will make it more difficult to defeat her when the time comes. It feels as if we’re in a desperate race to get just one step ahead of her, but my demise feels closer than it ever has before with still so much to do.
The first order of business is to unlock the angelic powers with which I was gifted at birth, and Carrick insists on getting help from my archnemesis to do so. Yes, I have to save the world, but my priority has now become rescuing my sister from the Underworld. While there are many questions still to be answered about my long-lost twin, I know I will not win this battle without her by my side.
In the midst of all the doom and gloom, Carrick has become my beacon of shining light. Our connection unimaginable, my heart recognizes his as the other half of its whole. Inexplicable and deeper than one could ever imagine, the love I hold for him is forged by destiny, however ill-fated it may turn out to be.
And those are the feelings I must hold close…to keep me going. Because a painful lesson is on the horizon—betrayal never comes from your enemies.
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Well, when this was said...
I can't help but sound petulant. "He has time to reach out to his businesses but not to me?"
"It's not like that, Finley," Zaid chastises. "If Carrick hasn't reached out to us, it's for a good reason. Trust me on that."
"Trust you on that?" I ask, incredulously.
"I know Carrick, so —"
"See, that's just it," I snap harshly, throwing my hands out to the side in frustration. "I don't know him. Apparently, I've fallen in love with him over and over again throughout history, yet I don't know a damn thing about him. You might trust him, but don't ask me to."
I honestly didn't think I was going to get what I was looking for. How could I when Finley was once again being so annoying? I felt like I was back to the beginning. Where was the growth? Where was the girl I was starting to care for? And then it all changed and I was caught up in a story that was more than I could ask for.
A Battle of Blood and Stone has magic, murky alliances, family, love, hope, and a surprising betrayal, all of which make it such an enchanting read. I'm in love with the epic romance that is steadily building between Carrick and Finley. I'm not sure if it's because I'm a hopeless romantic or if I just can't get enough of the demigod. With one powerful, intense, unreal mindboggling cliffhanger, I'm left on edge until I can get The Rise of Fortune and Fury in my hands. Will Finley finally truly connect with her twin? Will there be a trip to the Underworld in my future? And will Finley actually survive the prophecy, Rune's curse, and get a happy ending with Carrick? I'm telling you now... Carrick better get everything he deserves. The male has been put through enough and needs to be freaking happy!!
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.
If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).
"One Bean is destroyed."
"I know," he murmured.
"I almost died," she said.
"I know," he replied softly.
"You saved me." Her tone was filled with a bit of awe.
"I won't ever let anything bad happen to you," Carrick vowed.
He said it while looking her straight in the eye and with the purest of intent, for he cared about Finley more than she could ever imagine.
But he also knew he was most likely telling her a lie because he didn't think he could protect her from the horror that was coming.
The Evolution of Fae and Gods by Sawyer Bennett
Chronicles of the Stone Veil #3
Release - March 23, 2021
Genre - Urban Fantasy
Dual POV - Finley/1st & Carrick/3rd
Heat - 3 out of 5/a bit descriptive and yet still pretty vague
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 269 pages
Publisher - Big Dog Books, LLC
Evil is coming.
A dark malevolence the likes of which this world has never seen, and it comes straight from the depths of Hell. Darkness meant to destroy. A prophecy I am fated to fulfill but will most likely not survive.
Through it all, Carrick Byrne has stood strong by my side. Something has deeply changed between me and the man I once despised, and all it took was a kiss of provocation for both of us to feel it. I know deep in my soul we’re being guided by destiny, but I don’t know if I can trust it. Carrick is holding something back, and I fear the consequences could be deadly once his truth is revealed.
We’re not ready, but calamity waits for no woman. I have discovered a power within myself I must learn to master. A new connection in the Underworld has been revealed to me, one that I hope is friend but is just as likely foe. We are in a race against time as we try to figure out how to stop the end of the world from occurring. The battle is coming, and I can only hope we’re prepared for what happens next.
The Evolution of Fae and Gods is book three of the Chronicles of the Stone Veil series and is best enjoyed if read in series order.
⭐ Answers — although some of them led me to more questions
⭐ Moving Plot — obviously I ain't spoiling but so much happened, some of which I predicted, which led to those answers I needed and the new questions I now have
⭐ Romance — WOOHOO!! It happened and I couldn't have been more thrilled. What was brewing between Carrick and Finley in the first two books finally boiled over and it was amazing! Walls came down, communication became easy, and their connection... their feelings for one another... I can't get enough of all of it.
⭐ Further Character Development — not only did the people I had come to care for seem to expand in personality, but my feelings towards Finley have turned a corner. Was she still annoying? Yup. Was she still bogging me down with the minutiae of her daily life? Absolutely. But either she's growing on me or she's growing up because I was far less frustrated with her than I've ever been.
This series has quickly turned into something I'm going to be recommending to all urban fantasy readers and to those who are looking to try it. It's character-driven, plot-heavy, and I cannot wait to get my hands on A Battle of Blood and Stone.What's going on with Carrick? How will the heroes stop fake Fallon? And what other world will they be hopping into?
Check out my review of book 2, A Discovery of Secrets and Fate:
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Carrick doesn't yell. No, he thunders. "How could you be so fucking stupid as to leave this place alone? I don't know how many times I need to impress upon you the danger you face, but, apparantly, your skull is obviously thicker than concrete because it's not penetrating. You not only put yourself in danger, but you also put the fucking planet in danger, which speaks to your inherent selfishness, which is only outmatched by your stupidity."
"I am not stupid," I yell back, the constant stream of insults too much for me to take.
I note the red in Carrick's pupils and it's not the hazy film I'd seen before, but it turns fiery. To my surprise, Carrick actually shakes me hard enough to rattle my head. Putting his face even closer to mine, he snarls, "You are, without a doubt, the most idiotic person I've ever encountered in my almost five thousands years of living."
Okay, that's overboard. Surely, he's met someone dumber. But I don't get a chance to retort because I'm threatened again.
"I think," he says in a low rumble, far scarier than when he was yelling, "that you might just need to be secured in this condo."
Secured?" I whisper fearfully.
Carrick's eyes glitter with malice, the red still glowing while the irises dull to a muddy brown. "I think I'd like you in chains down in the library."
"You can't do that to me," I sputter in outrage. "I am not yours to command."
For a moment, Carrick doesn't reply — he merely gives a slow shake of his head while looking me dead in the eye. "No... you're something far more infuriating. You want to act like a woman, trying to play the seductress with me, but do you want to know the reason it doesn't work?
A stab of pain lances through my heart because now he's getting personal.
I don't want to know.
Please don't tell me.
"It doesn't work," he says darkly with scorn in his expression, "because you're a fucking child, not a real woman. A spoiled little brat, actually, and I find none of those traits attractive."
Oh, God.
My eyes immediately well with tears, and I hate myself for the weakness. Does he honestly think that? Was that kiss we shared in the gym all in my imagination?
Does he think so little of me?
In my entire life, I have never felt so small.
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.
If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).
A Discovery of Secrets and Fate is book two of the Chronicles of the Stone Veil series and is best enjoyed if read in series order.
A Discovery of Secrets and Fate by Sawyer Bennett
Chronicles of the Stone Veil #2
Release - March 2, 2021
Genre - Urban Fantasy
Dual POV - Finley (1st)/Carrick(3rd and rare)
Heat Level - none
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 250 pages
Publisher - Big Dog Books, LLC
In its place is an existence even the wildest imagination could never fathom. Strange creatures walk among us, plotting our demise, and I’ve come to find that the fate of our world rests squarely on my shoulders. We’re all in danger and I’m trying to figure out how to make it through each day.
The key to my survival is a man I can’t figure out. As dangerous as the darkest fae, I have no choice but to work with him to stop the prophecy that’s foretold to be the ruination of mankind.
Carrick Byrne continues to be my only source of information, but he doles it out as he sees fit. He intrigues and scares me in equal measure, yet I can’t help but be attracted to him. And the more I discover about him, the more it becomes clear he feels the same.
As we travel to Faere in search of answers, we find that every piece of information leads to more questions, that every question leads to a new piece of the puzzle, and that, most importantly, no one can be trusted.
The more secrets we uncover, one thing is certain— if we have any chance of saving the world, we have to do it together.
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While many of my questions were answered and while I got answers to questions I didn't even ask, I'm left at the end of A Discovery of Secrets and Fate with a confused look on my face. Knowing what Carrick is (and yes, I was totally right!), knowing what his reward is, has only made my journey going forward with this series that much harder. So will there or will there not be a romance in the future? Because this author has me practically begging for something to happen. If this is a slow burn kinda thing, it has to be the slowest freaking burn in the history of all burns.
I'm still not Finley's biggest fan. Again, I had to constantly remind myself that she was in her late 20s because she was a bit too childish and immature for words. However, her nonsense worked in some situations so I'll admit that she's growing on me.
Obviously I liked what I got out of this part of the story. I do believe I've been spending way too much time in Finley's head and there was a bit too much itemization of the minutiae of her daily life, but I am most definitely looking forward to what happens in book three. The Evolution of Fae and Gods is next and I'm looking forward to more Carrick, more Zaid, more everyone, but especially what the heck happens after the fiery cliffhanger I'm still a bit hungover from.
Leaning into me, Carrick warns, "Do not get aggressive with any form of fae or daemon. You stepped into Echo without any regard for your own safety. Had she wanted to, she could have hit you in the chest with enough force to rupture your aorta. You completely underestimated her, and you could have been seriously hurt."
"But... but... I had you, Titus, and Maddox there," I stutter a lame excuse.
"And you saw that neither one of us were able to stop her from doing that to you," he snaps, then lifts a finger and taps me on the head with it. "You need to think, Finley, or you're going to get yourself hurt or killed."
I wrench my arm away from him, now angry at being treated like a child. "I do think, I'm clever and yes, I may have underestimated her, but I went up against an incubus and won, I was smart enough to get out of an enclosed space in my bedroom, and lure him to my backyard so I could use my whip to —"
"You got lucky," he snarls. "Humans are no match for fae or daemons in strength. Don't ever forget it and always be wary, even if one appears to be on your side."
"Like Zaid?"
"Zaid isn't on your side," he replies, pointing out. "He's on my side."
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.
If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter (sawyerbennett.com/signup).
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