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Cake #1
Cake
From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Dane comes the latest release from Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Harlequin.
She won’t be satisfied with just one bite...
Art student-slash-bike messenger Wren Davis pursues what she wants. And what she wants now is Gregori Ivanov, rock star of the Seattle art scene. With his tattoos, piercings and sensual sneer, Gregori is the ultimate bad boy. Wren’s gotten to know the man beneath the body art, too—and it only makes her crave him more.
But Gregori loves women like he loves cake and champagne—intensely, but only for the moment. And after Wren experiences just how scorching sex with Gregori is, she’s determined to show him that just one taste won’t be enough...
She won’t be satisfied with just one bite...
Art student-slash-bike messenger Wren Davis pursues what she wants. And what she wants now is Gregori Ivanov, rock star of the Seattle art scene. With his tattoos, piercings and sensual sneer, Gregori is the ultimate bad boy. Wren’s gotten to know the man beneath the body art, too—and it only makes her crave him more.
But Gregori loves women like he loves cake and champagne—intensely, but only for the moment. And after Wren experiences just how scorching sex with Gregori is, she’s determined to show him that just one taste won’t be enough...
97 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2013
80 people are currently reading
1146 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Dane
112 books4,998 followersLauren Dane has been writing stories since she was able to use a pencil, and before that she used to tell them to people. Of course, she still talks nonstop, and through wonderful fate and good fortune, she’s now able to share what she writes with others. It’s a wonderful life!
The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, she spends her late evenings writing like a fiend when she finally wrestles all of her kids to bed.
The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, she spends her late evenings writing like a fiend when she finally wrestles all of her kids to bed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
September 16, 2013
Cake is a delicious and sexy tale about Wren Davis, a young art student and bike messenger. One of her delivery stops is the wickedly hot, famous Russian artist Gregori Ivanov. Over the course of a year, they formed a close friendship. Wren has longingly watched from a distance as he creates magnificent pieces of art and women come and go out of his life, including his ex-wife. He cultivates a bad boy persona that people come to expect from him. But Wren sees right through the façade and has begun to yearn for more from Gregori than just friendship. Wren herself is an up-and-coming graphic artist that is determined to make it on her own and refuses to be like the groupies that use Gregori for his well-known contacts. Gregori has also become infatuated with Wren. She is beauty and brains and independence -- nothing like the women that have come and gone in his life. Though Gregori fears that getting involved with Wren could break the valuable friendship they have formed. So he keeps her at arm’s length as just his friend. Despite Gregori’s intense fear of becoming involved with Wren, one heated night they give into a tasty moment of passion and desire.
I wouldn’t mind having a piece of Gregori’s ‘cake’. The man is divine with his sexy accent, tattoos, and red Mohawk. Yum. I couldn’t blame Wren for going after what she wants. I love her strong and stubborn personality that is quite a force to be reckoned with. She was determined to make Gregori realize how perfect they are for each other and she never took NO for an answer. Wren knows how to manage Gregori and all his surly demands, stubbornness, and Russian bad boy glory. But underneath his layers is a vulnerable man, whose been hurt badly by his ex-wife. Will Gregori finally realize that Wren is the right woman for him, or will he continue to push Wren away, fearing he would break their friendship that means the world to him?
"You little bird, are welcome to any and all of my cookies. I'd even share my cake with you."
This Novella is such a delectable little piece. Lauren Dane has created a sinfully sexy and tasty treat that will leave you craving for more. I loved this friends-turned-lovers story. I honestly wish this was a full length novel. I loved the vivid and smart characters she has created. It was nice to see the heroine and hero switch roles for once. I got a kick out Wren’s relentless pursuit as she breaks down Gregori’s stubborn walls. Wren is the kind of fantastic heroine that needs to be written more often in romance stories. The chemistry between Wren and Gregori is fierce and meltingly romantic. Cake is a quick read that will hit your sweet spot just right!
Rating: B+
Heat: Hot
-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review
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November 25, 2013
3.5 stars
Buddy read with Ange
Just in case you need an incentive to read this story I thought I'd tell you that Lauren Dane based the character of Gregori on aerialist Brandon Pereyda (is anyone else drooling along with me?!):
Wren is an art student who works as a bike messenger part time to pay her way. In the months she has spent delivering parcels to artist Gregori she has fallen hard for the bad boy artist and is determined to make him see her as more than a friend. Gregori is hot property in the art world and is used to people being more interested in what he can do for them than they are in the real person so he has come to appreciate Wren's friendship and the way she is so determined to succeed at her career on her own terms. He can't help lusting after her but he's had more than enough of relationships thanks to his crazy ex-wife and he doesn't want to hurt Wren by starting a fling when he can't offer her more.
At around 100 pages Cake is a very quick, sexy read from Lauren Dane and it's one I really enjoyed. I have definitely developed crush on Gregori with his body to die for, sexy tattoos and red mohawk! Gregori epitomises everything you think of when you hear the phrase bad boy, he has a snarky attitude and is a bit of a player but he is also incredibly talented and focused on his art. Like a lot of rich and successful men he finds that women often see him as a meal ticket, something his ex has confirmed on more than one occasion so he finds Wren's attitude incredibly refreshing. She likes and respects Grigori for his talent but she wants to be recognised for her own abilities not because he has pulled strings for her. She is reluctant to even show him her work because she'd rather keep that part of her life separate from him. I have to say that as much as I liked Gregori I respected Wren even more, she knows what she wants and she is prepared to put the effort in to earn it.
The chemistry between them is fantastic and I enjoyed reading something that isn't too full of relationship drama. Yes Gregori's ex does try to throw a spanner in the works and he is reluctant to make a commitment but overall they manage to work things out fairly quickly with a minimum of fuss. They make such a great couple because they have so much in common and I enjoyed spending time with them. If you're looking for a fast paced, swoon worthy read then I'm sure Cake will be perfect. I'm looking forward to checking out more of Lauren Dane's back list in the future.
Buddy read with Ange
Just in case you need an incentive to read this story I thought I'd tell you that Lauren Dane based the character of Gregori on aerialist Brandon Pereyda (is anyone else drooling along with me?!):
Wren is an art student who works as a bike messenger part time to pay her way. In the months she has spent delivering parcels to artist Gregori she has fallen hard for the bad boy artist and is determined to make him see her as more than a friend. Gregori is hot property in the art world and is used to people being more interested in what he can do for them than they are in the real person so he has come to appreciate Wren's friendship and the way she is so determined to succeed at her career on her own terms. He can't help lusting after her but he's had more than enough of relationships thanks to his crazy ex-wife and he doesn't want to hurt Wren by starting a fling when he can't offer her more.
At around 100 pages Cake is a very quick, sexy read from Lauren Dane and it's one I really enjoyed. I have definitely developed crush on Gregori with his body to die for, sexy tattoos and red mohawk! Gregori epitomises everything you think of when you hear the phrase bad boy, he has a snarky attitude and is a bit of a player but he is also incredibly talented and focused on his art. Like a lot of rich and successful men he finds that women often see him as a meal ticket, something his ex has confirmed on more than one occasion so he finds Wren's attitude incredibly refreshing. She likes and respects Grigori for his talent but she wants to be recognised for her own abilities not because he has pulled strings for her. She is reluctant to even show him her work because she'd rather keep that part of her life separate from him. I have to say that as much as I liked Gregori I respected Wren even more, she knows what she wants and she is prepared to put the effort in to earn it.
The chemistry between them is fantastic and I enjoyed reading something that isn't too full of relationship drama. Yes Gregori's ex does try to throw a spanner in the works and he is reluctant to make a commitment but overall they manage to work things out fairly quickly with a minimum of fuss. They make such a great couple because they have so much in common and I enjoyed spending time with them. If you're looking for a fast paced, swoon worthy read then I'm sure Cake will be perfect. I'm looking forward to checking out more of Lauren Dane's back list in the future.
September 17, 2013
Cake by Lauren Dane is a delicious bite size read if you’re looking for a quick and sexy romance.
I thought that Wren and Gregori were both likeable characters who suited each other perfectly. Wren was a sassy, take charge, career-minded woman and Gregori was a talented Russian artist bad boy whom I took an instant liking to. I liked the gradual buildup of Wren and Gregori’s relationship which made it all the more genuine. I also enjoyed their interactions and the dialogue in the story. Plenty of sparks were flying between Wren and Gregori and the chemistry was nicely written. There were many sexy times between the both of them and although they were not erotic, the sex scenes were surely top notch sexy!
The writing and pacing flowed smoothly throughout which made this an easy read. I devoured Cake in one sitting and it was a treat!
Cake by Lauren Dane is a fun, flirty, and sexy story that is a great story to pick up if you’re looking for something not too heavy, but still good to satisfy your romance craving.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.
I thought that Wren and Gregori were both likeable characters who suited each other perfectly. Wren was a sassy, take charge, career-minded woman and Gregori was a talented Russian artist bad boy whom I took an instant liking to. I liked the gradual buildup of Wren and Gregori’s relationship which made it all the more genuine. I also enjoyed their interactions and the dialogue in the story. Plenty of sparks were flying between Wren and Gregori and the chemistry was nicely written. There were many sexy times between the both of them and although they were not erotic, the sex scenes were surely top notch sexy!
The writing and pacing flowed smoothly throughout which made this an easy read. I devoured Cake in one sitting and it was a treat!
Cake by Lauren Dane is a fun, flirty, and sexy story that is a great story to pick up if you’re looking for something not too heavy, but still good to satisfy your romance craving.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.
July 12, 2018
Favorite Quotes:
In short, he was a visual buffet. And she was really hungry.
His accent was jagged. Like he was. He spoke in staccato bursts, the sharp twists of his words sliding through the air between them.
In short, he was a visual buffet. And she was really hungry.
His accent was jagged. Like he was. He spoke in staccato bursts, the sharp twists of his words sliding through the air between them.
September 17, 2013
Joint review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2013/09/10/...
MinnChica: I adored Dane’s writing, so anytime she puts out anything, I’m all over it. Given the fact that Gregori is tatted, pierced, and has a mohawk, well… I couldn’t put this quick novella down. I adored the romance between these two, and thought that Dane did a fabulous job telling us a sexy and sweet story in only 80 short pages. I have to say though, I really hope that we get to see more from this group of friends!!
E: Oh MinnChica I am there with you! I have been looking forward to reading this since I first heard about it. It was amazing how much Dane managed to pack into this novella. The sense of a long enduring friendship, the flashes of heat, and the struggle to put the past to rest, and seize the future. The fact that Gregori is so very intense made the peace he could find with Wren special and gave him a logical reason to fear losing it. I also hope that we get more set with this group of individuals because they are all characters.
MinnChica: Gregori was super intense, and while I completely understood his reasons behind running scared, I kinda wanted to punch him for it. :) He was so completely wrapped up in his own little world, and his own little pity party, that he wasn’t able to see what he had with Wren. Despite his sexy broody thing, I would have liked him to wake up a bit sooner. But Wren, oh Wren. I liked her so much! She was strong, knew exactly what she wanted, and wasn’t afraid to fight for it. If I could be besties with any book heroine, Wren would be toward the top of that list!
E: I agree, I think he took the coward’s way out and I loved how Wren and his personal assistant Kresley refused to enable his attempts to keep her in a little corner of his life. Each time Wren stood up to Gregori and demanded what she thought she was worth I had to cheer. I also enjoyed how confused he really was when people weren’t just falling in line like he expected because he is “Gregori”. I also really loved how Wren insisted on making her own way into the world of art and refused to use Gregori for his entree. It was another example of how she didn’t need him but wanted to share her life with him. She would also tell him things as she saw them and seeing Gregori think about her insights was amusing. I also thought it was so sweet that Gregori would go out of his way to have some sort of treat to share with Wren because he knew that she liked them. My heart melted when we got the rest of the story because it showed he really wasn’t all that self-centered and oblivious, just scarred from his past.
MinnChica: All in all I really enjoyed this short novella. Gregori was such an intense and loaded character, and Wren was just all around fabulous. Like E said, another thing that endeared her to me was the way she was so determined to make it on her own merit. I thought the romance was good, but I could have used a little more from Gregori, since he really didn’t seem to atone for his constant running. I hope to see more from Dane with this cast of characters.
I give Cake a B+
E: I loved reading this short novella. It was intense, emotional, vivid and satisfying while leaving me wishing for more stories set in this world. The interaction between Gregori, Wren, Kelsey and rest of the supporting cast was a treat to read. Dane has the ability to provide a great story regardless of the length which is an amazing skill. She continues to revalidate with each release why she has a prominent position on my auto-buy list.
I give Cake an A.
MinnChica: I adored Dane’s writing, so anytime she puts out anything, I’m all over it. Given the fact that Gregori is tatted, pierced, and has a mohawk, well… I couldn’t put this quick novella down. I adored the romance between these two, and thought that Dane did a fabulous job telling us a sexy and sweet story in only 80 short pages. I have to say though, I really hope that we get to see more from this group of friends!!
E: Oh MinnChica I am there with you! I have been looking forward to reading this since I first heard about it. It was amazing how much Dane managed to pack into this novella. The sense of a long enduring friendship, the flashes of heat, and the struggle to put the past to rest, and seize the future. The fact that Gregori is so very intense made the peace he could find with Wren special and gave him a logical reason to fear losing it. I also hope that we get more set with this group of individuals because they are all characters.
MinnChica: Gregori was super intense, and while I completely understood his reasons behind running scared, I kinda wanted to punch him for it. :) He was so completely wrapped up in his own little world, and his own little pity party, that he wasn’t able to see what he had with Wren. Despite his sexy broody thing, I would have liked him to wake up a bit sooner. But Wren, oh Wren. I liked her so much! She was strong, knew exactly what she wanted, and wasn’t afraid to fight for it. If I could be besties with any book heroine, Wren would be toward the top of that list!
E: I agree, I think he took the coward’s way out and I loved how Wren and his personal assistant Kresley refused to enable his attempts to keep her in a little corner of his life. Each time Wren stood up to Gregori and demanded what she thought she was worth I had to cheer. I also enjoyed how confused he really was when people weren’t just falling in line like he expected because he is “Gregori”. I also really loved how Wren insisted on making her own way into the world of art and refused to use Gregori for his entree. It was another example of how she didn’t need him but wanted to share her life with him. She would also tell him things as she saw them and seeing Gregori think about her insights was amusing. I also thought it was so sweet that Gregori would go out of his way to have some sort of treat to share with Wren because he knew that she liked them. My heart melted when we got the rest of the story because it showed he really wasn’t all that self-centered and oblivious, just scarred from his past.
MinnChica: All in all I really enjoyed this short novella. Gregori was such an intense and loaded character, and Wren was just all around fabulous. Like E said, another thing that endeared her to me was the way she was so determined to make it on her own merit. I thought the romance was good, but I could have used a little more from Gregori, since he really didn’t seem to atone for his constant running. I hope to see more from Dane with this cast of characters.
I give Cake a B+
E: I loved reading this short novella. It was intense, emotional, vivid and satisfying while leaving me wishing for more stories set in this world. The interaction between Gregori, Wren, Kelsey and rest of the supporting cast was a treat to read. Dane has the ability to provide a great story regardless of the length which is an amazing skill. She continues to revalidate with each release why she has a prominent position on my auto-buy list.
I give Cake an A.
April 18, 2018
17 August 2014: $0.99 on Kindle
This is a story that's incredibly easy to read and get immersed in. Both main characters are likeable, and I was glad to watch them find their way together. However, something was missing. I can't even really lay a finger on it, but something kept this from being an amazing read.
Wren is a great heroine, one that's secure in herself, determined to go after what and who she wants, and not afraid to work hard to get it. I really admire her actually - a huge bonus after some of the previous books I'd read. The chemistry with Gregori was pretty intense, too. Their flirting was some of my favorite points in the book.
Gregori is a fairly stereotypical artist - temperamental - and brilliant. He's also incredibly stubborn and commitment-phobic (though perhaps after his ex-wife, he has a good excuse). I really enjoyed how he genuinely thought of Wren as a friend and cared about her that way.
There's not much of an overall plot, except for the commitment scare issues that come up about 3/4 of the way in - the rest of it is a pure, simple romance. There are plenty of smexy times, and I think that might be something that actually kept this from being a higher rating for me - I started to get bored, and the sexy times weren't so sexy to me after a while. That's likely a "it's me, not you," thing though.
Overall, I enjoyed this uncomplicated romance with two nice characters. I think this is the first thing I've ever read by Lauren Dane and I can definitely say I'll be digging deeper into her backlist now.
Buddy read with Sarah
This is a story that's incredibly easy to read and get immersed in. Both main characters are likeable, and I was glad to watch them find their way together. However, something was missing. I can't even really lay a finger on it, but something kept this from being an amazing read.
Wren is a great heroine, one that's secure in herself, determined to go after what and who she wants, and not afraid to work hard to get it. I really admire her actually - a huge bonus after some of the previous books I'd read. The chemistry with Gregori was pretty intense, too. Their flirting was some of my favorite points in the book.
Gregori is a fairly stereotypical artist - temperamental - and brilliant. He's also incredibly stubborn and commitment-phobic (though perhaps after his ex-wife, he has a good excuse). I really enjoyed how he genuinely thought of Wren as a friend and cared about her that way.
There's not much of an overall plot, except for the commitment scare issues that come up about 3/4 of the way in - the rest of it is a pure, simple romance. There are plenty of smexy times, and I think that might be something that actually kept this from being a higher rating for me - I started to get bored, and the sexy times weren't so sexy to me after a while. That's likely a "it's me, not you," thing though.
Overall, I enjoyed this uncomplicated romance with two nice characters. I think this is the first thing I've ever read by Lauren Dane and I can definitely say I'll be digging deeper into her backlist now.
Buddy read with Sarah
September 16, 2018
Cake came out before the Whiskey Sharp series. However, I read it after I read the first three books in that series. Wren and Gregori are side characters that show up occasionally in the series, so it was nice to go back and see how they ended up together. The story was cute. I loved Wren and her determination not to give up on something that she knew was amazing between them. I really enjoyed this novella. It's a good stand alone, so give it a shot.
September 19, 2013
I really enjoyed this novella. Lauren Dane has a way of creating strong heroines who are likeable and confident in their own skin without having to be a bitch (excuse my language).
I liked Wren immediately. She's is sassy, smart and is following her dreams of being an artist. She's not into drama and playing games.
Gregori is a famous artist who has tattoos, piercings and a bad boy rep. He's built walls around his emotions and makes a point of having no personal attachments with women. That is until Wren enters his life and wants him for just him, not the famous artist.
What starts out as a nice comfortable friendship between Wren and Gregori, turns into a slow burn and off the charts chemistry with plenty of seriously hot sexy encounters. Oh yes, Gregori definitely has mad skills in the bedroom, among other places of course.
As their relationship progresses Gregori retreats and breaks up with Wren instead of dealing with his true feelings. He allowed his fears to push away the person he wants the most.
What was great about Wren was she knew what he was doing, confronted him about it and didn't settle for what little he was offering. She went on with her life yet never had Gregori far from her thoughts. I cheered when finally Wren took charge and forced Gregori to take a chance.
The ending is wrapped up nicely and left me with a smile.
I liked Wren immediately. She's is sassy, smart and is following her dreams of being an artist. She's not into drama and playing games.
Gregori is a famous artist who has tattoos, piercings and a bad boy rep. He's built walls around his emotions and makes a point of having no personal attachments with women. That is until Wren enters his life and wants him for just him, not the famous artist.
What starts out as a nice comfortable friendship between Wren and Gregori, turns into a slow burn and off the charts chemistry with plenty of seriously hot sexy encounters. Oh yes, Gregori definitely has mad skills in the bedroom, among other places of course.
As their relationship progresses Gregori retreats and breaks up with Wren instead of dealing with his true feelings. He allowed his fears to push away the person he wants the most.
What was great about Wren was she knew what he was doing, confronted him about it and didn't settle for what little he was offering. She went on with her life yet never had Gregori far from her thoughts. I cheered when finally Wren took charge and forced Gregori to take a chance.
The ending is wrapped up nicely and left me with a smile.
August 28, 2013
Cake by Laura Dane
4 Stars
First I want to say I really liked this book. There was no drawn out scenes, the heroine wasn’t whiney about not getting what she wanted and there was no secret waiting to be revealed. It was refreshing. With that being said it was wayyyyyy too short!!!! I have had make out sessions that lasted longer than this read and it frustrated me!!!! I mean this in a good way…I wanted more!!! Wren is a bike messenger who works her ass off making deliveries while trying to become a writer. One of her clients she delivers packages to is the famous artist Gregori. Over time they form a friendship like no other. When it starts turning to love, Gregori pulls back from Wren because he has been burned, wait scratch that, scorched in the past. Wren however, is a pit bull!! She is determined to prove to him that they are meant to be together and that he is just scared. There is a great witty banter between them and its such a fun read. I wanted more!!!! Then a little more. It was such an honest, upbeat love story without unnecessary drama and it got to the point. My only wish was that it had developed a little more. I felt like this was the cliff notes of a great book!!! Looking forward to reading more of the authors work.
4 Stars
First I want to say I really liked this book. There was no drawn out scenes, the heroine wasn’t whiney about not getting what she wanted and there was no secret waiting to be revealed. It was refreshing. With that being said it was wayyyyyy too short!!!! I have had make out sessions that lasted longer than this read and it frustrated me!!!! I mean this in a good way…I wanted more!!! Wren is a bike messenger who works her ass off making deliveries while trying to become a writer. One of her clients she delivers packages to is the famous artist Gregori. Over time they form a friendship like no other. When it starts turning to love, Gregori pulls back from Wren because he has been burned, wait scratch that, scorched in the past. Wren however, is a pit bull!! She is determined to prove to him that they are meant to be together and that he is just scared. There is a great witty banter between them and its such a fun read. I wanted more!!!! Then a little more. It was such an honest, upbeat love story without unnecessary drama and it got to the point. My only wish was that it had developed a little more. I felt like this was the cliff notes of a great book!!! Looking forward to reading more of the authors work.
February 18, 2016
Shamefully, I put off reading this book for quite some time. This was a netgalley arc.
Whats really frustrating about the whole this is that this book was actually excellent.
Engaging characters, that I enjoyed and connected with.
Gregori (Russian) is a successful artist and Wren is his delivery girl.
Wren is also an art student and quite talented herself. These two find that they have much in common and bond over their similarities while sipping on tea and munching down sweet treats.
(I loved that this was the way they connected) Their relationship develops to boiling point after a year of a slow simmer. This puts Gregori into a panicked retreat, which was quite entertaining in itself.
A large, Russian, tattooed artist with red mohawk (for some reason when I pictured him I just could not picture the mohawk) confused by his feelings and retreating into "toddlerhood" as Wren put it..........whats not to like?
And Wren, beautiful, self assured, smart girl Wren, I quite enjoyed her sass.
All in all I am sad that I put off reading this book for so long. It was a great fast paced romance and I plan to delve more into this author.
Whats really frustrating about the whole this is that this book was actually excellent.
Engaging characters, that I enjoyed and connected with.
Gregori (Russian) is a successful artist and Wren is his delivery girl.
Wren is also an art student and quite talented herself. These two find that they have much in common and bond over their similarities while sipping on tea and munching down sweet treats.
(I loved that this was the way they connected) Their relationship develops to boiling point after a year of a slow simmer. This puts Gregori into a panicked retreat, which was quite entertaining in itself.
A large, Russian, tattooed artist with red mohawk (for some reason when I pictured him I just could not picture the mohawk) confused by his feelings and retreating into "toddlerhood" as Wren put it..........whats not to like?
And Wren, beautiful, self assured, smart girl Wren, I quite enjoyed her sass.
All in all I am sad that I put off reading this book for so long. It was a great fast paced romance and I plan to delve more into this author.
September 9, 2013
ARC review: Cake by Lauren Dane
Rating = 4.25/5
Caliber SEAL: AWESOME READ!
Final Verdict: Sizzling chemistry and a Russian hero = Win!
Review goes live at 00:00 hours MVT on September 11, 2013!
Rating = 4.25/5
Caliber SEAL: AWESOME READ!
Final Verdict: Sizzling chemistry and a Russian hero = Win!
Review goes live at 00:00 hours MVT on September 11, 2013!
August 24, 2013
I do believe I am Grigori.... Ok I'm not hot, Russian, a guy , or über rich successful artist... Ok I should probably rethink that statement.
August 22, 2020
4 stars
September 23, 2018
Shy of 3*
Short read but still felt it was a well developed storyline. Loved Wren. She was a no nonsense heroine who didn’t play any games. She laid it all out there and fought for her man. Gregori on the other hand, was wishy washy. He was willing to fight to stay in a toxic marriage, but couldn’t decide to commit to a woman who could truly offer him happiness.
Short read but still felt it was a well developed storyline. Loved Wren. She was a no nonsense heroine who didn’t play any games. She laid it all out there and fought for her man. Gregori on the other hand, was wishy washy. He was willing to fight to stay in a toxic marriage, but couldn’t decide to commit to a woman who could truly offer him happiness.
June 30, 2018
This is a 98-page book that took me three months to read! I guess I am just not super into romance in general these days, nor particularly into this specific one.
April 1, 2019
I was expecting a full length novel, but this was just a novella.
July 20, 2022
Actual rating 3.5 ⭐. This was good and fast, I liked the couple and the characters.
September 22, 2013
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.
Quick & Dirty: Strong female character who follows her heart and a hero that is to die for.
Opening Sentence: She heard the music as she ascended the stairs and knew he’d be working.
The Review:
There are not many novellas that I can truly say that I remember after an hour much less days after reading them. This is a stellar exception. The story was so well built and consuming that I tumbled into the world and remained there until the final words were read.
Some may wonder about the length of this book and whether it conveys the passion, depth and substance that we get from a full novel and I am pleased to tell you that you will not miss any of these in this supremely well crafted novella. I don’t even know that I would categorize this as a novella because of how well the story was stitched together and there is a real sense that every word was agonized over and questioned for relevance and only the epic-ness of the story remains. I think of this as more of a bookette then novella.
So enough of my singing the praises of this book, I’m sure most of you want to know a little bit about our main characters. Wren Davis is an art student that supplements her income by being a messenger. Wren acts as a messenger on behalf of Gregori Ivanov’s assistant taking items that require signature and such direct to Gregori’s home and this is how these two meet.
I love that we are given a glimpse of the past in the beginning of the book, but don’t need three chapters of Wren having a meeting with Gregori that isn’t going to result in anything more than frustration on behalf of Wren and the readers.
Now why is Gregori so amazing, let me count the ways. First, he is an artist with an accent. Can anybody else say “Heck Yeah!” with me. Second, in our first meeting we get to see him sans shirt and gaze in the wonder that is this man’s perfection. Thirdly, he is truly just an interesting individual that has been burned and needs the love of a good woman. I do believe that is what we call in the romance world “The Male Triple Threat”.
To sum up this book is a great example of what happens when you get amazing authors writing quality work and why Cosmo Red-Hot Reads are currently on my must buy list. Lauren Dane is now an author that I look forward to following more closely in the future. She is also my new novella or bookette hero.
Notable Scene:
Pale winter sun gleamed against his bare back. Ink trailed along his spine, over lean muscle. Lines of poetry, mainly in Cyrillic, wrapped around his forearms. Barbed wire marked his ribs, interspersed with more words. When he went shirtless, she’d discovered both his nipples bore silver hoops. He wore fingerless leather gloves, one hand grasping some sort of tool as he prowled around a large metal sculpture he’d been creating for the better part of the past three weeks.
His hair, currently scarlet red, stood up in liberty spikes, but other days he didn’t bother with the full Mohawk effect and he put it in a ponytail to keep it from his eyes. On many it would have looked ridiculous. But on Gregori? It worked. Like really, really worked.
FTC Advisory: Cosmo Red-Hot Reads/Harlequin provided me with a copy of Cake. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Strong female character who follows her heart and a hero that is to die for.
Opening Sentence: She heard the music as she ascended the stairs and knew he’d be working.
The Review:
There are not many novellas that I can truly say that I remember after an hour much less days after reading them. This is a stellar exception. The story was so well built and consuming that I tumbled into the world and remained there until the final words were read.
Some may wonder about the length of this book and whether it conveys the passion, depth and substance that we get from a full novel and I am pleased to tell you that you will not miss any of these in this supremely well crafted novella. I don’t even know that I would categorize this as a novella because of how well the story was stitched together and there is a real sense that every word was agonized over and questioned for relevance and only the epic-ness of the story remains. I think of this as more of a bookette then novella.
So enough of my singing the praises of this book, I’m sure most of you want to know a little bit about our main characters. Wren Davis is an art student that supplements her income by being a messenger. Wren acts as a messenger on behalf of Gregori Ivanov’s assistant taking items that require signature and such direct to Gregori’s home and this is how these two meet.
I love that we are given a glimpse of the past in the beginning of the book, but don’t need three chapters of Wren having a meeting with Gregori that isn’t going to result in anything more than frustration on behalf of Wren and the readers.
Now why is Gregori so amazing, let me count the ways. First, he is an artist with an accent. Can anybody else say “Heck Yeah!” with me. Second, in our first meeting we get to see him sans shirt and gaze in the wonder that is this man’s perfection. Thirdly, he is truly just an interesting individual that has been burned and needs the love of a good woman. I do believe that is what we call in the romance world “The Male Triple Threat”.
To sum up this book is a great example of what happens when you get amazing authors writing quality work and why Cosmo Red-Hot Reads are currently on my must buy list. Lauren Dane is now an author that I look forward to following more closely in the future. She is also my new novella or bookette hero.
Notable Scene:
Pale winter sun gleamed against his bare back. Ink trailed along his spine, over lean muscle. Lines of poetry, mainly in Cyrillic, wrapped around his forearms. Barbed wire marked his ribs, interspersed with more words. When he went shirtless, she’d discovered both his nipples bore silver hoops. He wore fingerless leather gloves, one hand grasping some sort of tool as he prowled around a large metal sculpture he’d been creating for the better part of the past three weeks.
His hair, currently scarlet red, stood up in liberty spikes, but other days he didn’t bother with the full Mohawk effect and he put it in a ponytail to keep it from his eyes. On many it would have looked ridiculous. But on Gregori? It worked. Like really, really worked.
FTC Advisory: Cosmo Red-Hot Reads/Harlequin provided me with a copy of Cake. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
August 24, 2013
Who doesn't love cake? I can almost always find room for a slice when it's this tasty.
Although, the frequently nibbled sweets in this novella were more macaroons than cake.
Disclaimer #1 - I received a free ARC of this novella via NetGalley and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer #2 - I'm (barely) acquainted with Lauren Dane; I hosted her during her Once and Again blogtour, and enjoyed drinks at the same table for a few hours last year.
What I loved about this novella: the romance has developed slowly; at the novella opens, Wren, an art school student and part-time bicycle messenger in Seattle, and Gregori, the famous Russian artist she frequently delivers to, have known each other for a year, and been flirting for a year. They still do not hop right into bed, but the tension and attraction between them is allowed to build deliciously.
Gregori is a multi-media young artist - paintings, sculpture, and more, and cultivates a bad-boy persona that Wren sees right through, but also doesn't judge; she understand it's necessary for him to put on a mask as artiste from time to time. Wren herself is an up-and-coming graphic artist who, unlike many of Gregori's hangers-on, isn't trying to milk him for contacts or assistance. She's grittily determined to make it on her own. Wren is also sexually uninhibited and unafraid to pursue what she wants - and she wants Gregori. Gregori is very attracted to Wren, but he's afraid of ruining their friendship, so he tries to keep her at arm's distance with tea, cake, and macaroons.
The tension sizzles, and the sex scenes are smokin' hot; my only problem is sometimes Dane switches POV in the middle of a sex scene and it's hard to tell whose head I am now in. This was exacerbated for me by some formatting issues - missing paragraph breaks, some words that ran together - which I am assuming will be corrected before the final version is released.
I also liked the intimate friendship among Wren, her cousin Kelsey, and her roommate Zoe, the girlish sharing of all the juicy details. The style is light, it's a very fast read, and very sexy. If you like tattooed artists with bright red Mohawks and sexy accents, and confident, bold heroines who have their own interests, you'll love this story.
Although, the frequently nibbled sweets in this novella were more macaroons than cake.
Disclaimer #1 - I received a free ARC of this novella via NetGalley and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer #2 - I'm (barely) acquainted with Lauren Dane; I hosted her during her Once and Again blogtour, and enjoyed drinks at the same table for a few hours last year.
What I loved about this novella: the romance has developed slowly; at the novella opens, Wren, an art school student and part-time bicycle messenger in Seattle, and Gregori, the famous Russian artist she frequently delivers to, have known each other for a year, and been flirting for a year. They still do not hop right into bed, but the tension and attraction between them is allowed to build deliciously.
Gregori is a multi-media young artist - paintings, sculpture, and more, and cultivates a bad-boy persona that Wren sees right through, but also doesn't judge; she understand it's necessary for him to put on a mask as artiste from time to time. Wren herself is an up-and-coming graphic artist who, unlike many of Gregori's hangers-on, isn't trying to milk him for contacts or assistance. She's grittily determined to make it on her own. Wren is also sexually uninhibited and unafraid to pursue what she wants - and she wants Gregori. Gregori is very attracted to Wren, but he's afraid of ruining their friendship, so he tries to keep her at arm's distance with tea, cake, and macaroons.
The tension sizzles, and the sex scenes are smokin' hot; my only problem is sometimes Dane switches POV in the middle of a sex scene and it's hard to tell whose head I am now in. This was exacerbated for me by some formatting issues - missing paragraph breaks, some words that ran together - which I am assuming will be corrected before the final version is released.
I also liked the intimate friendship among Wren, her cousin Kelsey, and her roommate Zoe, the girlish sharing of all the juicy details. The style is light, it's a very fast read, and very sexy. If you like tattooed artists with bright red Mohawks and sexy accents, and confident, bold heroines who have their own interests, you'll love this story.
September 30, 2013
More like a 2.75/5 stars. Full review to come.
Full Review
Wren Davis has been working as a bike messenger just to make some extra cash while she's in art school. While on her rounds she meets and becomes friends with famous artist Gregori Ivanov, who has a bit of a reputation. Wren decides she wants nothing else more than Gregori, but first she needs to get him to leave behind all the women who burned him in the past - namely his crazy ex-wife who always comes crawling back again. Can Wren get Gregori to give a relationship with her a chance, or will all they ever shared just amount to tea times and fond memories?
I honestly never saw the attraction of Gregori in this book. He's got tattoos, piercings and a mohawk. He's oh-so misunderstood. Give me a break! I did like Wren who seemed very self-assured, but after awhile her inhuman confidence got on my nerves. It seemed a little like she never had any doubts about herself. Gregori was the opposite and despite being a famous artist had zero confidence in his relationships. I would have liked to see more interaction between Wren and her roommates/friends Kelsey & Lindsey. I felt like their relationship was more interesting to me than the "romance" between Gregori and Wren. To me the whole famous artist and student dynamic came off different from anything I've read before, but only because Wren wasn't the cliched bubbly ingenue. I don't know, something about this novella just felt really forced to me and the third person narrative was used in a way that kept the characters at a distance from me as a reader. I just didn't connect and though it was well-written for a novella, it still wasn't the best I've ever read. Overall, I wouldn't even recommend it to anyone honestly because I wasn't a very big fan of the story and over $3 is a bit much for a novella that isn't even 100 pages.
VERDICT: 2.5/5 Stars
*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published September 15th, 2013.*
Full Review
Wren Davis has been working as a bike messenger just to make some extra cash while she's in art school. While on her rounds she meets and becomes friends with famous artist Gregori Ivanov, who has a bit of a reputation. Wren decides she wants nothing else more than Gregori, but first she needs to get him to leave behind all the women who burned him in the past - namely his crazy ex-wife who always comes crawling back again. Can Wren get Gregori to give a relationship with her a chance, or will all they ever shared just amount to tea times and fond memories?
I honestly never saw the attraction of Gregori in this book. He's got tattoos, piercings and a mohawk. He's oh-so misunderstood. Give me a break! I did like Wren who seemed very self-assured, but after awhile her inhuman confidence got on my nerves. It seemed a little like she never had any doubts about herself. Gregori was the opposite and despite being a famous artist had zero confidence in his relationships. I would have liked to see more interaction between Wren and her roommates/friends Kelsey & Lindsey. I felt like their relationship was more interesting to me than the "romance" between Gregori and Wren. To me the whole famous artist and student dynamic came off different from anything I've read before, but only because Wren wasn't the cliched bubbly ingenue. I don't know, something about this novella just felt really forced to me and the third person narrative was used in a way that kept the characters at a distance from me as a reader. I just didn't connect and though it was well-written for a novella, it still wasn't the best I've ever read. Overall, I wouldn't even recommend it to anyone honestly because I wasn't a very big fan of the story and over $3 is a bit much for a novella that isn't even 100 pages.
VERDICT: 2.5/5 Stars
*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published September 15th, 2013.*
August 26, 2013
Reading about art student Wren and her aspiring career was quite entertaining. She is a woman that knows what she wants, and what she doesn’t want. And best of all- she knows how to get it. Gregori, the down-to-earth, bad boy artist is the object of lust in this books and it stands to reason why. He is sexy, smart, and deep. His intimacy issues can be rather annoying and predictable at times, but Wren, being the saucy little number she is, spices things up a bit.
Wren also has her cousin, Kelsey and best friend/room mate, Zoe. The relationships between the three ladies are very typical of the modern, strong and supportive girl friend relationships.
Most of the characters in “Cake” are well developed and the story even goes into a small flashback of family history for Wren and Gregori.
This book is a short read of only 87 pages; I was able to get through 50% of the book in one night. The anticipation to the sex scenes kept me turning each page. By far the best part of “Cake” was the sultry and steamy sex scenes. I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat while reading the play-by-play details of how skilled and tender Gregori could be.
Although this book is a great quick read to entertain you to the fullest I didn’t feel an overwhelming connection to the story. I felt that it could have been more developed and of course less rushed, if it were longer. The characters while entertaining, were not very interesting. As days turned to weeks in “Cake” you were able to predict what may possibly happen next. However, I think Lauren Dane is very talented as a writer and would read some of her other work. Check out Lauren Dane’s other work here. Lauren Dane
“I received this book complimentary from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.”
Wren also has her cousin, Kelsey and best friend/room mate, Zoe. The relationships between the three ladies are very typical of the modern, strong and supportive girl friend relationships.
Most of the characters in “Cake” are well developed and the story even goes into a small flashback of family history for Wren and Gregori.
This book is a short read of only 87 pages; I was able to get through 50% of the book in one night. The anticipation to the sex scenes kept me turning each page. By far the best part of “Cake” was the sultry and steamy sex scenes. I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat while reading the play-by-play details of how skilled and tender Gregori could be.
Although this book is a great quick read to entertain you to the fullest I didn’t feel an overwhelming connection to the story. I felt that it could have been more developed and of course less rushed, if it were longer. The characters while entertaining, were not very interesting. As days turned to weeks in “Cake” you were able to predict what may possibly happen next. However, I think Lauren Dane is very talented as a writer and would read some of her other work. Check out Lauren Dane’s other work here. Lauren Dane
“I received this book complimentary from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.”
September 12, 2013
3.75 stars
CAKE by Lauren Dane is her latest contemporary romance storyline. CAKE is a stand alone novella and is a welcome addition to your reading library.
Wren Davis has been attracted to Gregori Ivanov for a very long time and knows that Gregori feels something for her in return. Their relationship is friendly, flirty and never crosses the line from friendship to sex. But Wren wants something more from Gregori and she refuses to be pushed aside.
Gregori’s failed marriage and subsequent relationship disasters have all amounted to one night stands and drunken parties. As a world renowned artist he is in demand. But Wren Davis tugs at his heart and his soul. When he finally comes to the realization that Wren wants something more from Gregori than friendship, he treads into dangerous waters fearing his friendship with Wren will be lost for all time. Gregori begins to push the proverbial buttons hoping to push Wren from bed but not his heart.
CAKE is a fast paced, short story with a predictable HEA about two people perfectly suited for each other, who have danced around the elephant in the room for far too long. Their sexual relationship is hot, sensual and steamy. Because it is a novella, most of the storyline is character driven as we learn about Gregori’s background from conversations and reflections. There is also some established history and details which helps with the world building and character development.
If you like a quick read, with a dark, sexy and brooding hero who falls for the ‘little bird’ in his life, CAKE is the perfect read for a sunny or rainy afternoon.
www.thereadingcafe.com
CAKE by Lauren Dane is her latest contemporary romance storyline. CAKE is a stand alone novella and is a welcome addition to your reading library.
Wren Davis has been attracted to Gregori Ivanov for a very long time and knows that Gregori feels something for her in return. Their relationship is friendly, flirty and never crosses the line from friendship to sex. But Wren wants something more from Gregori and she refuses to be pushed aside.
Gregori’s failed marriage and subsequent relationship disasters have all amounted to one night stands and drunken parties. As a world renowned artist he is in demand. But Wren Davis tugs at his heart and his soul. When he finally comes to the realization that Wren wants something more from Gregori than friendship, he treads into dangerous waters fearing his friendship with Wren will be lost for all time. Gregori begins to push the proverbial buttons hoping to push Wren from bed but not his heart.
CAKE is a fast paced, short story with a predictable HEA about two people perfectly suited for each other, who have danced around the elephant in the room for far too long. Their sexual relationship is hot, sensual and steamy. Because it is a novella, most of the storyline is character driven as we learn about Gregori’s background from conversations and reflections. There is also some established history and details which helps with the world building and character development.
If you like a quick read, with a dark, sexy and brooding hero who falls for the ‘little bird’ in his life, CAKE is the perfect read for a sunny or rainy afternoon.
www.thereadingcafe.com
September 13, 2013
Why I read it: I’d heard good things about this novella, which is part of the Cosmo Red Hot Reads line from Harlequin, launched this month so I requested a review copy via NetGalley. Cake releases on September 15 but is available for pre-order now.
What worked for me (and what didn’t): I must admit that this book had a lot more story than I was expecting. This probably says something about me more than anything, but I was kind of expecting to jump straight to the sex and for there to be not much characterisation. Something about it being a “Red-Hot Read” perhaps? I’m happy to say I was wrong. There is a story and the pair don’t just jump into bed. There’s sexual tension and flirting but the reader is given a chance to get to know the characters a bit before there is any horizontal tango-ing. There are some books which jump straight to the sex and that can work fine for me – and, it is to be noted that I requested this book even with those expectations. The story is short – about 87 pages so there isn’t a lot of time for huge backstory and character development but I thought the author used the page count cleverly to introduce two characters to me and make me believe their happy ending.
Read the rest of the review here: http://www.kaetrinsmusings.com/2013/0...
Posted 13 September 2013
What worked for me (and what didn’t): I must admit that this book had a lot more story than I was expecting. This probably says something about me more than anything, but I was kind of expecting to jump straight to the sex and for there to be not much characterisation. Something about it being a “Red-Hot Read” perhaps? I’m happy to say I was wrong. There is a story and the pair don’t just jump into bed. There’s sexual tension and flirting but the reader is given a chance to get to know the characters a bit before there is any horizontal tango-ing. There are some books which jump straight to the sex and that can work fine for me – and, it is to be noted that I requested this book even with those expectations. The story is short – about 87 pages so there isn’t a lot of time for huge backstory and character development but I thought the author used the page count cleverly to introduce two characters to me and make me believe their happy ending.
Read the rest of the review here: http://www.kaetrinsmusings.com/2013/0...
Posted 13 September 2013
September 15, 2013
I really enjoyed this story and although it was short, it definitely didn’t lack in romance, story, characters or sex!! ;)
Gregori was such an interesting character not only in appearance but in attitude. Tattooed, alpha, muscled, colored mohawk, pierced ;), Russian, sexy, charming, smart, confident, artistic and he loved his sweets. He was totally yummy and I could not get enough of him. *sigh*
Wren was a great character also and I loved these two together. She was so strong and smart and sassy and I loved the way that she just got everything about Gregori and his work. I also loved how determined she was to get what she wanted. She wasn’t going to let anything stand in her way including Gregori!! I liked the way she pursued him ~ she wasn’t pushy or sneaky and she didn’t play games. I also loved how she was so settled in her life and that she didn’t need any man to complete her but wanted to share her life with someone. They definitely complimented each other as a couple. And of course as being written by Lauren Dane, the sex was smoking hot and intense!! So good!!
Of course, Gregori being an alpha male hero, screwed up with Wren but he definitely redeemed himself. lol
Another winner from Lauren Dane and definitely a favorite of mine.
4 out of 5 rating.
I not only loved this cover but the title as well!! :)
***ARC obtained through NetGalley. Thanks!!
Gregori was such an interesting character not only in appearance but in attitude. Tattooed, alpha, muscled, colored mohawk, pierced ;), Russian, sexy, charming, smart, confident, artistic and he loved his sweets. He was totally yummy and I could not get enough of him. *sigh*
Wren was a great character also and I loved these two together. She was so strong and smart and sassy and I loved the way that she just got everything about Gregori and his work. I also loved how determined she was to get what she wanted. She wasn’t going to let anything stand in her way including Gregori!! I liked the way she pursued him ~ she wasn’t pushy or sneaky and she didn’t play games. I also loved how she was so settled in her life and that she didn’t need any man to complete her but wanted to share her life with someone. They definitely complimented each other as a couple. And of course as being written by Lauren Dane, the sex was smoking hot and intense!! So good!!
Of course, Gregori being an alpha male hero, screwed up with Wren but he definitely redeemed himself. lol
Another winner from Lauren Dane and definitely a favorite of mine.
4 out of 5 rating.
I not only loved this cover but the title as well!! :)
***ARC obtained through NetGalley. Thanks!!
September 23, 2013
Wren Davis, a talented art student and bike messenger wants one thing, to take her friendship with the famous artist and bad boy, Gregori Ivanov. Gregori oozes sex appeal, has the bad boy, devil may care artist facade down pat. But that is not who he really is. After having a hard childhood and having adult relationships where people just use him for their own gain, he has a hard time keeping Wren at bay. Wren is not like anyone Gregori knows. She'd beautiful, talented in her own right, and wants nothing from him other than taking their relationship to the next level, in the bedroom.
What starts out as a steamy friends with benefits arrangement ends up in love. Although it takes the two main characters a little heart ache to get there and realize what is really important. This novella is a signature Dane story, with fun and independent characters who place an emphasis on the importance of family and relationships. The loves scenes are steamy, but do not dominate the story. I recommend this novella to fans of the author. I look forward to reading more from Harlequin's new like of Cosmo Red Hot Reads.
*Thank you to Harlequin for providing a copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review.
What starts out as a steamy friends with benefits arrangement ends up in love. Although it takes the two main characters a little heart ache to get there and realize what is really important. This novella is a signature Dane story, with fun and independent characters who place an emphasis on the importance of family and relationships. The loves scenes are steamy, but do not dominate the story. I recommend this novella to fans of the author. I look forward to reading more from Harlequin's new like of Cosmo Red Hot Reads.
*Thank you to Harlequin for providing a copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2013
My Review:
This is a selection from the Cosmo's Red Hot Reads and boy does this book scream RED HOT!! This is my first Lauren Dane book and it will not be my last. This was a treasure and my first novella that wasn't tied to another series. I enjoyed this steamy read. This novella captured a lot of emotion in a short book and also a lot of steamy sex.
I love strong female characters and Wren is exactly that. She knows what she wants and goes for it no questions asked. She's strong confident and freaking sexy. Gregori just screams bad boy from his red streaked mohawk, Russian accent, tortured artists appeal, and his party boy life style. Gregori is everything we were warned about but are so inclined to want to put our mouth on his yummy parts.
This story was written exceptionally well and I found it extremely enjoyable from start to finish. Every scene in this book left me wanting more and more. The sex was so great and it didn't seem forced or overdone even though this is clearly erotica. I did miss that relationship building that comes with a longer book and that's why it didn't get a perfect score. Hear my plea Ms. Lauren Dane please give us more Wren and Gregori.
This book was provided to me by Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an hones review.
This is a selection from the Cosmo's Red Hot Reads and boy does this book scream RED HOT!! This is my first Lauren Dane book and it will not be my last. This was a treasure and my first novella that wasn't tied to another series. I enjoyed this steamy read. This novella captured a lot of emotion in a short book and also a lot of steamy sex.
I love strong female characters and Wren is exactly that. She knows what she wants and goes for it no questions asked. She's strong confident and freaking sexy. Gregori just screams bad boy from his red streaked mohawk, Russian accent, tortured artists appeal, and his party boy life style. Gregori is everything we were warned about but are so inclined to want to put our mouth on his yummy parts.
This story was written exceptionally well and I found it extremely enjoyable from start to finish. Every scene in this book left me wanting more and more. The sex was so great and it didn't seem forced or overdone even though this is clearly erotica. I did miss that relationship building that comes with a longer book and that's why it didn't get a perfect score. Hear my plea Ms. Lauren Dane please give us more Wren and Gregori.
This book was provided to me by Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for an hones review.
October 5, 2013
My Rating: ★★★★
I actually enjoyed Cake very much and it ranks somewhere between a 3½ and 4 for me but I'm going with 4★'s because I enjoyed the liked the characters and the pace of the story.
For other readers, please note that Cake is not part of Dane's Delicious series it is part of the new Cosmo Red-Hot Reads series that several popular authors contribute to.
Cake is a quick read but it draws you right in because of Gregori and Wren. Poor Gregori. And Prentiss, his evil she-devil of an ex-wife, almost made him lose out on being with Wren. But, I love that that girl fought for her man.
Ratings Detail:
Rating for female protagonist: 4★
Rating for male protagonists: 4★
Steam Level: 4★
Plot Viability: 4★
General Storyline: 4★
Story Ending: 4★
Ease of Reading: 4★
Overall rating: 4★
For more of my reviews visit The BookChick Blog
VERY GOOD: The characteristics of a 4 star book include: a great story; I loved the characters; and there was an interesting plot and unique story elements; there may have been a few odd things kept the story from being amazing. I would read it again and I would recommend it to a friend.My Thoughts:
I actually enjoyed Cake very much and it ranks somewhere between a 3½ and 4 for me but I'm going with 4★'s because I enjoyed the liked the characters and the pace of the story.
For other readers, please note that Cake is not part of Dane's Delicious series it is part of the new Cosmo Red-Hot Reads series that several popular authors contribute to.
Cake is a quick read but it draws you right in because of Gregori and Wren. Poor Gregori. And Prentiss, his evil she-devil of an ex-wife, almost made him lose out on being with Wren. But, I love that that girl fought for her man.
Ratings Detail:
Rating for female protagonist: 4★
Rating for male protagonists: 4★
Steam Level: 4★
Plot Viability: 4★
General Storyline: 4★
Story Ending: 4★
Ease of Reading: 4★
Overall rating: 4★
For more of my reviews visit The BookChick Blog
August 13, 2013
Harlequin through NetGalley gave me an ARC copy of this book for my honest review
4 1/2 stars
Gregori is a bad ass artist; he only shows people his public persona and doesn't get close to women. Wren is an art student working as a bike messenger; she has wanted Gregori for a while and is ready to make her move. One night isn't enough for either of them can Wren show Gregori that things can be different with her, will Gregori realize that he needs Wren or will they both end up broken? I really liked this one; it was a quick steamy read with a hot hero and a take charge heroine who pushed for what she wanted. There was a storyline and reason why the two characters were together, it wasn't all about the bedroom games. There were plenty of sex scenes that were detailed without being crude or sounding clinical. Lauren Dane has created another great entertaining piece that is just as decadent as the title.
4 1/2 stars
Gregori is a bad ass artist; he only shows people his public persona and doesn't get close to women. Wren is an art student working as a bike messenger; she has wanted Gregori for a while and is ready to make her move. One night isn't enough for either of them can Wren show Gregori that things can be different with her, will Gregori realize that he needs Wren or will they both end up broken? I really liked this one; it was a quick steamy read with a hot hero and a take charge heroine who pushed for what she wanted. There was a storyline and reason why the two characters were together, it wasn't all about the bedroom games. There were plenty of sex scenes that were detailed without being crude or sounding clinical. Lauren Dane has created another great entertaining piece that is just as decadent as the title.
March 5, 2014
Wren Davis is an art student as well as a bike delivery messenger who has befriended notorious artist, Gregori Ivanov. Gregori has a reputation of being a hardened lover as well as temperamental, but Wren sees a whole different side to him. When she shows up, they talk and have tea and cookies or sometimes cake, which has Wren supporting a huge crush on the artist.
Gregori doesn't know how to classify his relationship with Wren, on one hand he tries to put her in the employee compartment, but she is not. Unlike those who surround him, Wren doesn't want anything in return, in fact he has to pry information out of her.
When Gregori makes a mistake by kissing her, everything changes. Wren wants what she knows Gregori can give, the problem is Gregori believes he is not good enough for Wren.
Full review on Single Titles
http://singletitles.com/?p=9665
Gregori doesn't know how to classify his relationship with Wren, on one hand he tries to put her in the employee compartment, but she is not. Unlike those who surround him, Wren doesn't want anything in return, in fact he has to pry information out of her.
When Gregori makes a mistake by kissing her, everything changes. Wren wants what she knows Gregori can give, the problem is Gregori believes he is not good enough for Wren.
Full review on Single Titles
http://singletitles.com/?p=9665
August 27, 2013
*Harlequin through NetGalley gave me an ARC copy of this book for my honest review*
Cake is a delicious treat from Lauren Dane! I spent the entire story lusting after Gregori Ivanov , he was everything I want in a hero, sexy, dominant, and caring. Wren Davis was strong, knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it. I love a girl who’s not afraid of who she is or what she wants. Naive, virginal heroines have become so poplar and I love that Ms. Dane stayed away from that! These two heated up the pages and made me sad to reach the end. The sex was amazing but didn’t get so heavy it took away from the story line, but still left the reader fanning themselves. One of my favorite novellas that’s for sure!
Cake is a delicious treat from Lauren Dane! I spent the entire story lusting after Gregori Ivanov , he was everything I want in a hero, sexy, dominant, and caring. Wren Davis was strong, knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it. I love a girl who’s not afraid of who she is or what she wants. Naive, virginal heroines have become so poplar and I love that Ms. Dane stayed away from that! These two heated up the pages and made me sad to reach the end. The sex was amazing but didn’t get so heavy it took away from the story line, but still left the reader fanning themselves. One of my favorite novellas that’s for sure!
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