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The Food and Fornication Fables #1
Guilty Pleasures
Gorgeous, narcissistic, self-absorbed Lance Packhard is a sex therapist specializing in Awakenings, helping anorgasmic women find sexual fulfillment.
Lance’s spare time is dedicated to the cult of his body and writing a how-not-to book entitled Sexual Secrets of a Sexual Surrogate. His personal life consists of Sunday tea with his grandmother and a monthly night out with his best friend, George. Oh, and no sex, none whatsoever.
When a wealthy, ruthless mother offers him an enormous sum to seduce and impregnate her thirty-six-year-old daughter, Millicent Deafly, a debt-ridden Lance hesitantly agrees.
However, Millicent is not into sex, and definitely not into Lance. She’s chosen the other end of the sensuality spectrum and is heavily into food. She is bright, bouncy and joyous, uninhibitedly plump, natural, and completely dedicated to her palate. The only way Lance will get her attention is if he dabs soy sauce on his pulse points.
Determined to get close to her, Lance creates an alter ego—sweetly shy Wilfred Pecklise—and takes a job at Millicent’s dinner club, Guilty Pleasures.
Guilty Pleasures caters to the flamboyant and the eccentric: supermodels pigging out, trash-metal rock stars with penis-piercings and their loving grannies, the widows of billionaires, and many more oddities.
Lance finds himself immersed in a sensuous world of scents, tastes, and color, and befriended by Serge Moreno—a homosexual black dwarf who has had a colorful life as a prostitute in Istanbul, a fluffer in skin flicks in Vegas, and is now a celebrity chef in London.
Ironically, Lance isn’t just failing to seduce Millie, but falling madly in love with her.
Balancing the two lives of Lance and Wilfred becomes next to impossible when his geeky best friend, George, suddenly marries and decides to hold the reception at Guilty Pleasures. Will the truth be uncovered?
Lance’s spare time is dedicated to the cult of his body and writing a how-not-to book entitled Sexual Secrets of a Sexual Surrogate. His personal life consists of Sunday tea with his grandmother and a monthly night out with his best friend, George. Oh, and no sex, none whatsoever.
When a wealthy, ruthless mother offers him an enormous sum to seduce and impregnate her thirty-six-year-old daughter, Millicent Deafly, a debt-ridden Lance hesitantly agrees.
However, Millicent is not into sex, and definitely not into Lance. She’s chosen the other end of the sensuality spectrum and is heavily into food. She is bright, bouncy and joyous, uninhibitedly plump, natural, and completely dedicated to her palate. The only way Lance will get her attention is if he dabs soy sauce on his pulse points.
Determined to get close to her, Lance creates an alter ego—sweetly shy Wilfred Pecklise—and takes a job at Millicent’s dinner club, Guilty Pleasures.
Guilty Pleasures caters to the flamboyant and the eccentric: supermodels pigging out, trash-metal rock stars with penis-piercings and their loving grannies, the widows of billionaires, and many more oddities.
Lance finds himself immersed in a sensuous world of scents, tastes, and color, and befriended by Serge Moreno—a homosexual black dwarf who has had a colorful life as a prostitute in Istanbul, a fluffer in skin flicks in Vegas, and is now a celebrity chef in London.
Ironically, Lance isn’t just failing to seduce Millie, but falling madly in love with her.
Balancing the two lives of Lance and Wilfred becomes next to impossible when his geeky best friend, George, suddenly marries and decides to hold the reception at Guilty Pleasures. Will the truth be uncovered?
355 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2013
3 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Manuela Cardiga
31 books8 followersManuela Cardiga was born in Mozambique and raised in South Africa where she studied fashion design. She moved to Europe where she worked as a fashion designer, then moved to the crazy world of advertising as a graphic designer and copywriter.
Manuela is a designer by profession, a cook by vocation, and a writer by compulsion. She currently resides in Lisbon, Portugal where she writes contemporary and historical fiction, designs book covers, illustrates children’s books, and mothers a gorgeous daughter while juggling a day job. She also dabbles enthusiastically in exotic, experimental cuisine, much to the discomfort of family and friends.
Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/mariamanuela...
Manuela is a designer by profession, a cook by vocation, and a writer by compulsion. She currently resides in Lisbon, Portugal where she writes contemporary and historical fiction, designs book covers, illustrates children’s books, and mothers a gorgeous daughter while juggling a day job. She also dabbles enthusiastically in exotic, experimental cuisine, much to the discomfort of family and friends.
Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/mariamanuela...
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 5, 2013
I've never read anything quite like this, it was a cross between a sex manual, a sensual cookery book, a history book and a romance!
Each chapter starts off with a snippet from 'Sensual Secrets of a Sexual Surrogate', Lance's book that he is writing, he's a sex therapist, some of them are absolutely hilarious.
Lance takes on the persona of Will reluctantly, his job is to get Milly pregnant, he hadn't bargained for falling in love with her. He gives up his day job to become a kitchen assistant to a black, Russian dwarf called Serge who has an unbelievable history, including being a sex worker, but now makes decadent dishes to delight discerning diners. He's a rogue, he's gay, he's absolutely loveable, and he's survived some truly awful experiences, and he'd kill anyone who hurt his beloved Milly who he this of as a daughter.
Milly has lost her father who she loved dearly and was probably her only true claim to family, her mother may be a millionairess but she seems to lack any maternal instinct at all and can be incredibly cruel and self centred. One of the best scenes in the book for me is a showdown between her mother and Serge.
Guilty Pleasures is a private dining club that encourages extravagance and excellent food, from a wake to celebrate a divorce to a full Dickensian evening, the events unfolding leave you laughing out loud and very untrusting of cello players! The menus created in the book are downright gluttony at times, and this is where the cookbook element comes in, every time the menu is discussed there's a real passion for food shown. Some of the dishes described make your mouth water, but often the evening descends into drunken debauchery.
This book is a lovely journey through one couples reluctant romance, both terribly hurt in the past, trying to take things slowly but with an insatiable appetite for each other.
As with secrets they have a habit of being found out, people get hurt, and lives are upset.
This is a hugely entertaining story, with endearing and fascinating characters that was a real pleasure to read.
Each chapter starts off with a snippet from 'Sensual Secrets of a Sexual Surrogate', Lance's book that he is writing, he's a sex therapist, some of them are absolutely hilarious.
Lance takes on the persona of Will reluctantly, his job is to get Milly pregnant, he hadn't bargained for falling in love with her. He gives up his day job to become a kitchen assistant to a black, Russian dwarf called Serge who has an unbelievable history, including being a sex worker, but now makes decadent dishes to delight discerning diners. He's a rogue, he's gay, he's absolutely loveable, and he's survived some truly awful experiences, and he'd kill anyone who hurt his beloved Milly who he this of as a daughter.
Milly has lost her father who she loved dearly and was probably her only true claim to family, her mother may be a millionairess but she seems to lack any maternal instinct at all and can be incredibly cruel and self centred. One of the best scenes in the book for me is a showdown between her mother and Serge.
Guilty Pleasures is a private dining club that encourages extravagance and excellent food, from a wake to celebrate a divorce to a full Dickensian evening, the events unfolding leave you laughing out loud and very untrusting of cello players! The menus created in the book are downright gluttony at times, and this is where the cookbook element comes in, every time the menu is discussed there's a real passion for food shown. Some of the dishes described make your mouth water, but often the evening descends into drunken debauchery.
This book is a lovely journey through one couples reluctant romance, both terribly hurt in the past, trying to take things slowly but with an insatiable appetite for each other.
As with secrets they have a habit of being found out, people get hurt, and lives are upset.
This is a hugely entertaining story, with endearing and fascinating characters that was a real pleasure to read.
December 5, 2013
Happy Release Day!!!
This was such a FUN book! This is not your basic PWP (Porn WithOUT Plot). Yes, it IS erotica, but it's all wrapped up in a cute, funny, steamy, sweet, YUMMY story!
Lance, aka as Willie to Millie and the crew at Guilty Pleasures, has been hired by Millie's mother to make her a grandma. Lance is hot, he's built, he KNOWS women and what makes them tick. He figures it's a bit skeevy, but the money is good and it shouldn't take him long. Well, he knows most women, and Millie is something else.
Millie is not fat, but she's not a toothpick. She loves food and she loves to eat it. Her chef at Guilty Pleasures is brilliant. He's also an elderly dwarf who has had a varied life. He loves her like a daughter and he's always looking out for her. Serge knows his knives and Lance/Wilfred Pecklise had better watch himself.
Each chapter starts with a quote from Lance's WIP, Sexual Secrets of a Sexual Surrogate. They end with notes from Millie's diary. I enjoyed these little tidbits.
Something else I enjoyed a LOT were the descriptions of the food served at Guilty Pleasures. I need a cookbook from Ms. Cardiga and Serge!!! Goodness, I drooled over the food, over Lance, over the funny lines.
I enjoyed it all.
FIVE BOOKMARKS!
*Thank you, NetGalley and TWCS, for the opportunity to read Guilty Pleasures
This was such a FUN book! This is not your basic PWP (Porn WithOUT Plot). Yes, it IS erotica, but it's all wrapped up in a cute, funny, steamy, sweet, YUMMY story!
Lance, aka as Willie to Millie and the crew at Guilty Pleasures, has been hired by Millie's mother to make her a grandma. Lance is hot, he's built, he KNOWS women and what makes them tick. He figures it's a bit skeevy, but the money is good and it shouldn't take him long. Well, he knows most women, and Millie is something else.
Millie is not fat, but she's not a toothpick. She loves food and she loves to eat it. Her chef at Guilty Pleasures is brilliant. He's also an elderly dwarf who has had a varied life. He loves her like a daughter and he's always looking out for her. Serge knows his knives and Lance/Wilfred Pecklise had better watch himself.
Each chapter starts with a quote from Lance's WIP, Sexual Secrets of a Sexual Surrogate. They end with notes from Millie's diary. I enjoyed these little tidbits.
Something else I enjoyed a LOT were the descriptions of the food served at Guilty Pleasures. I need a cookbook from Ms. Cardiga and Serge!!! Goodness, I drooled over the food, over Lance, over the funny lines.
I enjoyed it all.
FIVE BOOKMARKS!
*Thank you, NetGalley and TWCS, for the opportunity to read Guilty Pleasures
October 24, 2013
This was a very unique and interesting read! This book combined elements of humor, romance, cuisine, and sex advise, all into one story!
Lance is a sex therapist, hot and in control. He helps women to find their sensual side, but is shocked when he's approached by a mother of a client with a dubious request.
Broke from living an extravagant lifestyle, Lance accepts his fate and changes his identity to sweet and shy Wilfred to get close to his client. His new life is an emotional roller-coaster as he submerges himself into Millicent's world.
Millicent is the curvy owner of Guilty Pleasures and Wil's new client. Providing a private dinner club and making her clients sensual culinary fantasies come true, she is a triumphant business women, strong, kind, and determined.
The attention to detail makes this book every chef or food lovers dream come true! This book is wrapped up with romance and friendship, intrigue and mystery. I enjoyed this story and you will too! Thank you to Netgalley.com and the publisher for this read.
Lance is a sex therapist, hot and in control. He helps women to find their sensual side, but is shocked when he's approached by a mother of a client with a dubious request.
Broke from living an extravagant lifestyle, Lance accepts his fate and changes his identity to sweet and shy Wilfred to get close to his client. His new life is an emotional roller-coaster as he submerges himself into Millicent's world.
Millicent is the curvy owner of Guilty Pleasures and Wil's new client. Providing a private dinner club and making her clients sensual culinary fantasies come true, she is a triumphant business women, strong, kind, and determined.
The attention to detail makes this book every chef or food lovers dream come true! This book is wrapped up with romance and friendship, intrigue and mystery. I enjoyed this story and you will too! Thank you to Netgalley.com and the publisher for this read.
March 4, 2015
I defy anyone to read this book and not wish it was scratch and sniff! The food in it is to die for, and the relationship between Lance/Will and Millie is equally fantastic, full of lust and UST. Guilty Pleasures has a great deal of humour alongside the romance and food porn. Some of the chapter openers - snippets from Lance's book (which I REALLY want Manuela to write next!) - had me laughing out loud for days. And can we pause a minute to appreciate the cover... *sigh* I highly recommend this wonderful debut novel.
December 5, 2013
Funny and delicious! A very entertaining read!!
And, might I add... what a cover! WOW.
And, might I add... what a cover! WOW.
December 3, 2013
I picked this book up while browsing through the erotica section but I'm not really sure if erotica is the right category?? It's actually mostly about food with the slow building romance coming in second place. Most of the "steam" occurs after the 50% mark... In order to really like this book you need to be someone who appreciates and loves food and having it described to you in such detail it makes your mouth water. This book made me very hungry...
Guilty Pleasures is a dining club and those who are members book dining experiences that appeal to their food fantasies. The majority of the book focuses on these very interesting and entertaining events that occur at Guilty Pleasures. Each dinner party is unique and entertaining and full of characters from the naughty to the eccentric and sometimes just ordinary people doing ordinary things like parents needing a night off from cooking or a birthday celebration.
My favorite character was the dwarf who is a whiz in the kitchen but has a foul mouth and a foul attitude against people in general. He's one of those characters that you kinda' roll your eyes because you can't believe what comes out of his mouth but at the same time he has qualities that you admire.
Will was sent on a mission to seduce Lillie by her mother who wants a grandchild and is willing to pay a hefty sum to get what she wants. Will is a Sex therapist and she is certain he is up to the task. He is also working on a self-help book and the beginning of each chapter always starts with an excerpt from his book... tips for those who need advise on how to properly seduce a woman. Some of these were very amusing... or eye rolling.
Will didn't expect to find himself up against a challenge like Lillie and he definitely didn't expect to fall in love. I loved this very slow moving tension filled romance that bloomed between them. And, I think Will got some sex therapy in reverse.
So, a book for food lovers, lovers of slow building passion and eccentric characters. I loved the originality of this story and I do love food so this book worked for me.
ARC provided by The Writers Coffee Shop via netgalley
www.ktbookreviews.blogspot.com
Guilty Pleasures is a dining club and those who are members book dining experiences that appeal to their food fantasies. The majority of the book focuses on these very interesting and entertaining events that occur at Guilty Pleasures. Each dinner party is unique and entertaining and full of characters from the naughty to the eccentric and sometimes just ordinary people doing ordinary things like parents needing a night off from cooking or a birthday celebration.
My favorite character was the dwarf who is a whiz in the kitchen but has a foul mouth and a foul attitude against people in general. He's one of those characters that you kinda' roll your eyes because you can't believe what comes out of his mouth but at the same time he has qualities that you admire.
Will was sent on a mission to seduce Lillie by her mother who wants a grandchild and is willing to pay a hefty sum to get what she wants. Will is a Sex therapist and she is certain he is up to the task. He is also working on a self-help book and the beginning of each chapter always starts with an excerpt from his book... tips for those who need advise on how to properly seduce a woman. Some of these were very amusing... or eye rolling.
Will didn't expect to find himself up against a challenge like Lillie and he definitely didn't expect to fall in love. I loved this very slow moving tension filled romance that bloomed between them. And, I think Will got some sex therapy in reverse.
So, a book for food lovers, lovers of slow building passion and eccentric characters. I loved the originality of this story and I do love food so this book worked for me.
ARC provided by The Writers Coffee Shop via netgalley
www.ktbookreviews.blogspot.com
October 7, 2013
ARC via NetGalley
Lance Packhard is a sex therapist who helps women, couples, lovers over come obstacles in the bedroom. When he runs into some money troubles due to how he lives and paying his Gran's bills; a women comes to him for help. She wants Lance to seduce her daughter and get her pregnant. Only a few red flags there....one he doesn't have sex with his clients EVER...and two he thinks its a horrid idea...who does that to their daughter. She insists and offers him 3 million! Desperate for money he hesitantly agrees...Millie Deafly isn't into sex or relationships at all...unless it consists of her restaurant Guilty Pleasures or her staff Serge and Hendricks. Lance turns himself into Wilfred Pecklise and begins working for Millie in her restaurant...where there is more cooking than just whats in the kitchen.
I loved parts of this book and others I had to just skim over it. I could have done without all the foody stuff but then that would have messed the book up so...I dealt with it. the writing was well done and the story flowed very well. Although I felt there should have been some more to the end. Like, does Serge forgive Lance or does he kick Lance's ass...does Lance go back to Guilty Pleasures or what? SO many questions but over all I enjoyed it very much.
Lance Packhard is a sex therapist who helps women, couples, lovers over come obstacles in the bedroom. When he runs into some money troubles due to how he lives and paying his Gran's bills; a women comes to him for help. She wants Lance to seduce her daughter and get her pregnant. Only a few red flags there....one he doesn't have sex with his clients EVER...and two he thinks its a horrid idea...who does that to their daughter. She insists and offers him 3 million! Desperate for money he hesitantly agrees...Millie Deafly isn't into sex or relationships at all...unless it consists of her restaurant Guilty Pleasures or her staff Serge and Hendricks. Lance turns himself into Wilfred Pecklise and begins working for Millie in her restaurant...where there is more cooking than just whats in the kitchen.
I loved parts of this book and others I had to just skim over it. I could have done without all the foody stuff but then that would have messed the book up so...I dealt with it. the writing was well done and the story flowed very well. Although I felt there should have been some more to the end. Like, does Serge forgive Lance or does he kick Lance's ass...does Lance go back to Guilty Pleasures or what? SO many questions but over all I enjoyed it very much.
November 30, 2013
Received from Netgalley.
3.5 stars
I dont know if this book made me hungrier or hornier! It was a mix of recipe book and sex manual.....a strange combination!
We have sex therapist Lance Packhard that is hired by Millicent Deafly's mother to seduce her and give her the grandchildren she so desperately wants. Lances rules are clear......never sleep with the clients. But when debt is a major problem for him can he say no? Enter Wilfred Pecklise....Millicents new hire at her exclusive restaurant. Follows is a story of man and woman getting to know each other but having to overcome the lies that brought them together.
I thought this story was based on a unique plot idea and it was a very unique read. I did find bits of it boring though and I just scanned them, but other bits were fantastic to read. The story itself was well written and it flowed so it was easy to read. I just found sometimes there was just a little bit to much food talk! But maybe thats just me! <3
3.5 stars
I dont know if this book made me hungrier or hornier! It was a mix of recipe book and sex manual.....a strange combination!
We have sex therapist Lance Packhard that is hired by Millicent Deafly's mother to seduce her and give her the grandchildren she so desperately wants. Lances rules are clear......never sleep with the clients. But when debt is a major problem for him can he say no? Enter Wilfred Pecklise....Millicents new hire at her exclusive restaurant. Follows is a story of man and woman getting to know each other but having to overcome the lies that brought them together.
I thought this story was based on a unique plot idea and it was a very unique read. I did find bits of it boring though and I just scanned them, but other bits were fantastic to read. The story itself was well written and it flowed so it was easy to read. I just found sometimes there was just a little bit to much food talk! But maybe thats just me! <3
October 1, 2013
Ok....this book really made me hungry!!! Not just for food, but the really good good..lol!! This was a good read. I enjoyed Lance and his struggles. The fact that he was romantic and caring and would whisper sweet nothings in her ear. Romance is nice. I would have liked to hear what Serge would have said to Lance after the truth come out. This book is full of puns and had me laughing. Millie of course is the woman who has issues. Considering everything, not bad issues when you really think about it. This was a good read and I did enjoy it. Just know you will be hungry afterward! I am no chef...but the food reads to be DELICIOUS!!!
I received this ARC via Net Galley for my honest review. Thanks!!!
I received this ARC via Net Galley for my honest review. Thanks!!!
October 9, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. If you are expecting a book full of sex this in not the book for you. Manuela Cardiga has done such a great job with writing a story that takes Millie and Lance from feeling flawed to being well loved.
If you like unexpected twists that you don't see coming this is the book. The love scenes are very well written.
This book also gives a new meaning to food play. The description of the food and parties are so detailed you feel just like you have walked into the room and joined the party.
Not only does this book make you hunger for a love like Millie and Lance but you will defiantly find yourself wanting to look up how to make some of these dishes to satisfy your food hunger too.
If you like unexpected twists that you don't see coming this is the book. The love scenes are very well written.
This book also gives a new meaning to food play. The description of the food and parties are so detailed you feel just like you have walked into the room and joined the party.
Not only does this book make you hunger for a love like Millie and Lance but you will defiantly find yourself wanting to look up how to make some of these dishes to satisfy your food hunger too.
Read
October 10, 2013This is a DNF for me. I tried to finish the book, I truly did but there were a few things that I just couldn't get past.
1. Lance changes his name to Wilfred to get close to Millicent. Out of all the names in the world, he chooses Wilfred. How is that name suppose to be sexy, hot and seductive? I keep thinking of the movie Wilfred and expected to see rats running around the restuarant or pop out of the book to kill me.
***to read more of my review please go to
http://divasdiscussing.blogspot.com/
Until Next Time...
Happy Reading :)
1. Lance changes his name to Wilfred to get close to Millicent. Out of all the names in the world, he chooses Wilfred. How is that name suppose to be sexy, hot and seductive? I keep thinking of the movie Wilfred and expected to see rats running around the restuarant or pop out of the book to kill me.
***to read more of my review please go to
http://divasdiscussing.blogspot.com/
Until Next Time...
Happy Reading :)
October 11, 2013
ARC Copy by NetGalley
Una sinopsis muy llamativa
Solo espero que este libro sea publicado y que puedan disfrutarlo como lo hice yo.
Es una historia muy cómica y romántica y sus protagonistas son realmente creíbles.
Una sinopsis muy llamativa
Solo espero que este libro sea publicado y que puedan disfrutarlo como lo hice yo.
Es una historia muy cómica y romántica y sus protagonistas son realmente creíbles.
September 24, 2013
Warning: Do NOT read this book if you are even remotely hungry.
This book was sexy. I do not mean sexy as in erotica, although there was plenty of sexytime. I mean sexy as in erotic. The tagline should read : "Food is Sexy".
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was sexy. I do not mean sexy as in erotica, although there was plenty of sexytime. I mean sexy as in erotic. The tagline should read : "Food is Sexy".
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2013
Review to follow...
December 19, 2013
♦4.5 Deliciously Sexy Funny Stars!♦
How do I even start with this one? I LOVED it! What an interesting spin for a story. The banter between the characters was awesome. The sexual chemistry was hot hot hot! To put it in a nutshell, this book reads like a fine piece of pastry....LOL It is part exquisite cookbook, mixed in with a touch of self help and well written information for the man, about how to care for his woman and to finish it off, a hefty dose of sexy, proud, resilient, know it all therapist Lance.
Lance is currently working on his first book, a sexual how-not-to treat your woman. He is a practicing sex therapist by day, specializing in Awakenings. He helps to teach women find sexual fulfillment. That they are capable of finding and bringing pleasure back into their lives. What he is not expecting is to be propositioned by a very well to do woman. She has come to offer Lance a solution to his mounting debt. He just has to impregnate her daughter. Who is more concerned about running her private dining club, Guilty Pleasures. She does not date, she is in a relationship with her business and herself for the most part. She lives a very quiet life. Her mother wants Lance to shake her up a bit. He is very hesitant to take the offer and decides to check things out for himself. What he finds is an amazing woman, who under normal circumstances he would not have an attraction too. He soon finds himself employed by Millicent, under a false identity. And the web of deceit begins to spin. He never had any intentions of falling in love with her.
Millicent Deafly, owner of Guilty Pleasures. A very private, invite only dining club, that specializes in just that. Fulfilling your palate and stomach, with the most amazingly sinful, fatty foods. Clients were subject to medical and psychiatric evaluations before they were even allowed to make reservations. Anyone with medical issues or eating disorders, were not allowed. She has become fairly well know and has clients from all over the world. Her private life, is just that, private. Her mother drives her crazy and she tries to steer clear of her as much as possible. All the woman does is point out her flaws and make her feel like crap. Her father, has passed away and he was the one person she was closest too. She has had one relationship in the past, but has sworn off men for the most part. When Will Pecklise walks into her life. Slowly her walls begin to fall as she lets Will into her life.
The staff at Guilty Pleasures is crazy. Serge, the cook, a black Russian dwarf, with a wicked sense of humor and mad culinary skills to boot. He has lived a very rough life. But has now found happiness working for Millie. He is a surrogate father to Millie. He will do anything to protect her. And as the reader will find out, he had a very close relationship with her father. The banter between he and Will is nuts. I was laughing all the time. What I would give to be a helper in his kitchen. Just to smell and taste the creations that he cooks. You can't help but be hungry while reading this book. Throw in some crazy clients, with crazy wants and needs and cello player that cannot keep their hands to themselves and you have the mixing's of a very interesting story. That keeps you turning the page.
This is Manuela Cardiga's first novel and I think she did a great job, telling a unique story about finding ones self and the happiness that they deserve. We are not all perfect and through her characters we learn that it really doesn't matter what the person looks like, it is what is inside that matters most. In the end will Millicent and Lance be able to make their lives work together, in and out of the kitchen. Can Millie find it in her heart to forgive him for his betrayal? Will they find the happiness that they both so deserve? I look forward to the next book in this series. Job well done Manuela!
How do I even start with this one? I LOVED it! What an interesting spin for a story. The banter between the characters was awesome. The sexual chemistry was hot hot hot! To put it in a nutshell, this book reads like a fine piece of pastry....LOL It is part exquisite cookbook, mixed in with a touch of self help and well written information for the man, about how to care for his woman and to finish it off, a hefty dose of sexy, proud, resilient, know it all therapist Lance.
Lance is currently working on his first book, a sexual how-not-to treat your woman. He is a practicing sex therapist by day, specializing in Awakenings. He helps to teach women find sexual fulfillment. That they are capable of finding and bringing pleasure back into their lives. What he is not expecting is to be propositioned by a very well to do woman. She has come to offer Lance a solution to his mounting debt. He just has to impregnate her daughter. Who is more concerned about running her private dining club, Guilty Pleasures. She does not date, she is in a relationship with her business and herself for the most part. She lives a very quiet life. Her mother wants Lance to shake her up a bit. He is very hesitant to take the offer and decides to check things out for himself. What he finds is an amazing woman, who under normal circumstances he would not have an attraction too. He soon finds himself employed by Millicent, under a false identity. And the web of deceit begins to spin. He never had any intentions of falling in love with her.
Millicent Deafly, owner of Guilty Pleasures. A very private, invite only dining club, that specializes in just that. Fulfilling your palate and stomach, with the most amazingly sinful, fatty foods. Clients were subject to medical and psychiatric evaluations before they were even allowed to make reservations. Anyone with medical issues or eating disorders, were not allowed. She has become fairly well know and has clients from all over the world. Her private life, is just that, private. Her mother drives her crazy and she tries to steer clear of her as much as possible. All the woman does is point out her flaws and make her feel like crap. Her father, has passed away and he was the one person she was closest too. She has had one relationship in the past, but has sworn off men for the most part. When Will Pecklise walks into her life. Slowly her walls begin to fall as she lets Will into her life.
The staff at Guilty Pleasures is crazy. Serge, the cook, a black Russian dwarf, with a wicked sense of humor and mad culinary skills to boot. He has lived a very rough life. But has now found happiness working for Millie. He is a surrogate father to Millie. He will do anything to protect her. And as the reader will find out, he had a very close relationship with her father. The banter between he and Will is nuts. I was laughing all the time. What I would give to be a helper in his kitchen. Just to smell and taste the creations that he cooks. You can't help but be hungry while reading this book. Throw in some crazy clients, with crazy wants and needs and cello player that cannot keep their hands to themselves and you have the mixing's of a very interesting story. That keeps you turning the page.
This is Manuela Cardiga's first novel and I think she did a great job, telling a unique story about finding ones self and the happiness that they deserve. We are not all perfect and through her characters we learn that it really doesn't matter what the person looks like, it is what is inside that matters most. In the end will Millicent and Lance be able to make their lives work together, in and out of the kitchen. Can Millie find it in her heart to forgive him for his betrayal? Will they find the happiness that they both so deserve? I look forward to the next book in this series. Job well done Manuela!
December 30, 2013
Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2013/12/release-day-review-guilty-pleasures.html
I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book, but boy am I glad to have been on for the ride. I loved this book. Cardiga has a talent for mixing romance and humor...and food, such delicious food. I love all the detail Cardiga added in this book. I didn't even know a lot of the food listed, but it sure as hell sounded delicious. I loved all of the elaborate events.
The story was quite an interesting one that I just couldn't put down. Lance is approached by Millie's overbearing and quite evil mother. She wants Lance to impregnate Millie so she can have a grandchild to raise. He is desperate for money that will help save his mother, so he agrees. He takes on the persona of a man named Will so he could work at Millie's unique restaurant, Guilty Pleasures. It is a restaurant that offers more than just food, it offers fantasies. People who want elaborate plays or supermodels who want to pig out on nothing but chocolate without being ridiculed, Guilty Pleasures will give it to you. Will soon falls in love with the place. It is something fun and exciting every night and he has warmed up to Serge, who causes a lot of people to quit. He soon starts to have feelings for Millie and wants to leave Lance behind and live his life as Will, start a new life. He is afraid of what would happen if Millie found out why he was there in the first place.
I really loved the characters in this book. Millie was adorable and very funny She was also very perky. I think it is a crime for someone to be that happy at 4 AM in the morning. I loved hearing her backstory. It made sense why she didn't want anything to do with men. I wasn't a big fan of Lance's, at first. He was the kind of guy I would punch in the teeth before I talked to him. When he first sees a picture of Millie, all he can do is point out her cellulite and other tiny things he doesn't like. I did warm up to him after a while though. When he took on the persona of Will, we see a different side of him and I liked it a lot. I also loved his story. He is a sex therapist that refuses to have sex because he has been used and tossed aside and he won't go through that again. I also loved Serge. He was an absolute riot. You never know what he was going to say, but you know it will be entertaining. I also enjoyed Mrs. Belmont. Oh what a great lady. Her and Serge were just too much.
I am so in love with this book. Seeing these two people who have been damaged in the past find their way to each other was a great experience. You willl find yourself rooting for them and you will want them happy. I love the chemistry between them. They really steamed up the pages. I love the characters, the twists and this incredible story. Cardiga definitely has a winner here. I am so in love. Highly recommended.
I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book, but boy am I glad to have been on for the ride. I loved this book. Cardiga has a talent for mixing romance and humor...and food, such delicious food. I love all the detail Cardiga added in this book. I didn't even know a lot of the food listed, but it sure as hell sounded delicious. I loved all of the elaborate events.
The story was quite an interesting one that I just couldn't put down. Lance is approached by Millie's overbearing and quite evil mother. She wants Lance to impregnate Millie so she can have a grandchild to raise. He is desperate for money that will help save his mother, so he agrees. He takes on the persona of a man named Will so he could work at Millie's unique restaurant, Guilty Pleasures. It is a restaurant that offers more than just food, it offers fantasies. People who want elaborate plays or supermodels who want to pig out on nothing but chocolate without being ridiculed, Guilty Pleasures will give it to you. Will soon falls in love with the place. It is something fun and exciting every night and he has warmed up to Serge, who causes a lot of people to quit. He soon starts to have feelings for Millie and wants to leave Lance behind and live his life as Will, start a new life. He is afraid of what would happen if Millie found out why he was there in the first place.
I really loved the characters in this book. Millie was adorable and very funny She was also very perky. I think it is a crime for someone to be that happy at 4 AM in the morning. I loved hearing her backstory. It made sense why she didn't want anything to do with men. I wasn't a big fan of Lance's, at first. He was the kind of guy I would punch in the teeth before I talked to him. When he first sees a picture of Millie, all he can do is point out her cellulite and other tiny things he doesn't like. I did warm up to him after a while though. When he took on the persona of Will, we see a different side of him and I liked it a lot. I also loved his story. He is a sex therapist that refuses to have sex because he has been used and tossed aside and he won't go through that again. I also loved Serge. He was an absolute riot. You never know what he was going to say, but you know it will be entertaining. I also enjoyed Mrs. Belmont. Oh what a great lady. Her and Serge were just too much.
I am so in love with this book. Seeing these two people who have been damaged in the past find their way to each other was a great experience. You willl find yourself rooting for them and you will want them happy. I love the chemistry between them. They really steamed up the pages. I love the characters, the twists and this incredible story. Cardiga definitely has a winner here. I am so in love. Highly recommended.
February 2, 2016
Read more book reviews at The Perfictionist.
This book is wonderfully exquisite, both in the romance aspect and in the mouth-watering dishes featured within its delightful pages. It was not a very good idea to read this book from midnight until the wee hours of dawn because it made me crave for dishes I haven't even tasted but sounded soooo good based on the descriptions in the book alone. Yes, I might sound crazy, but trust me, if you read this book, you will experience such a thing, too.
Plot-wise, it is somewhat like a paid-gigolo trope, but better. I'd have to say that while Lance Packhard and Christian Grey had similarities in background and in how they became the person that they are, how their stories turned out and even their personalities are vastly different. I also love the way Lance worked to gain Millie's affection, which is not a typical courtship. I really thought it was creative how Lance went on to such great lengths just to be close to Millie. The how-to entries in the book he was working on were really witty, too!
The characters are also unique and I would say very much developed and complex. You could not help but feel for the characters and think of them as real people. Lance is your typical handsome-and-he-knows-it, arrogant ladies' man. The twist is that he puts so much effort to maintain such persona, which is a huge relief for me, because I believe that an attractive man has to have some sort of regimen to maintain his physique and looks. Think models. (Newsflash: It is not easy to look model-gorgeous.) This puts a bit of realism to Lance as a character, which is something I really appreciate. As for Millie, I love how she's her own person. She's an unconventional female lead and pursues her passions rather than be boy crazy. She's really shy and oblivious to other people, but when she's in her element, she shines so brightly.
I also really like the parallelism of Millie and Lance's expression of passion. While Lance thinks of passion as sex and love-making, Millie pours hers into her business and cooking -- this is something that I've always believed. Different people have different passions, and it would not be wise to judge one based on another. It was very interesting to witness Lance slowly understand Millie's motivations, and despite of it all, falls for her harder.
Oh, and I love Serge so much! He's gay, he's black, and if that isn't enough, he's a dwarf. He also has a pretty foul mouth and unpredictable temperament. Above all of these, he's very witty. He's a colorfully complex character and I love how entertaining his quips are. I wouldn't have enjoyed this book so much if it weren't for him.
All in all, this book is a solid read. While it has a few common romance elements, it is highly entertaining (and mouth-watering) and can stand on its own.
December 27, 2013
Guilty Pleasures. Manuela Cardiga.
ARC supplied via Netgalley.
Gosh, where to start with this book? Its not just a romance but also an exercise in psychology, and how peoples nature can change with the right motivation – and then there's the food!! wow, and of course the fabulous characters....So we have Lance, narcissistic, self obsessed man whose only concern is his gran, and his friend George. His parents mostly ignored him while he was a child, and its led to his weird obsessive nature now – he uses people, but when we know him better we can see why. Desperate for the money to pay grans nursing home fees he takes a job to seduce Millicent. Lance is a fanatic about his health, weighs himself and trains vigorously, sticks to a typical wheat-grass, organic veg and soya diet, he decides the best way is to get the job of kitchen assistant in Millie's business, a gourmet restaurant. Here's where scene stealer Serge comes in; he's a gay, black dwarf, and the book contains fabulous tales of his fantastical exploits of his upbringing and past – and the food..... He made my mouth water, the descriptions were amazing. Guilty Pleasures is a one of a kind, dining club where the food is incredible. To call it just food seems so wrong somehow – its art on a plate. Soon Lance is tucking in to fresh made warm bread, dripping with meting, golden butter, accompanied by the finest cheeses, tiny tart olives and home-made preserves, washed down with the best wines. Diet flies out the window, and Lance learns just how wonderful truly good food can be. He gets on well with Serge, gets up at 4am to go to market with him or Milly to buy the freshest foods and flowers, according to what that evenings menu is, and he gradually leaves his old life behind. Where Lance saw Milly as fat and unattractive his new alter ego Will sees her as a person, and seducing her becomes what he wants to do and not just a job any more. Of course love hits, and for a time all goes well then the truth comes out, we learn more about Serge, Millie is devastated to know how Will/Lance has deceived her, and Lance is heartbroken – he's been wanting to come clean for a while but feared just this outcome.
Along with the gastronomic tour we get an insight onto how all these characters changed priorities, and why they were as they first appeared. Its a wonderful book, I really enjoyed it and my mouth still waters at the descriptions of the food. I wonder if there's a real Guilty Pleasures somewhere – if not there's certainly a business idea for someone with the talent and money to set it up.
Stars: 5 – lovely book. One to savour though, not to be rushed.
ARC supplied via Netgalley.
Gosh, where to start with this book? Its not just a romance but also an exercise in psychology, and how peoples nature can change with the right motivation – and then there's the food!! wow, and of course the fabulous characters....So we have Lance, narcissistic, self obsessed man whose only concern is his gran, and his friend George. His parents mostly ignored him while he was a child, and its led to his weird obsessive nature now – he uses people, but when we know him better we can see why. Desperate for the money to pay grans nursing home fees he takes a job to seduce Millicent. Lance is a fanatic about his health, weighs himself and trains vigorously, sticks to a typical wheat-grass, organic veg and soya diet, he decides the best way is to get the job of kitchen assistant in Millie's business, a gourmet restaurant. Here's where scene stealer Serge comes in; he's a gay, black dwarf, and the book contains fabulous tales of his fantastical exploits of his upbringing and past – and the food..... He made my mouth water, the descriptions were amazing. Guilty Pleasures is a one of a kind, dining club where the food is incredible. To call it just food seems so wrong somehow – its art on a plate. Soon Lance is tucking in to fresh made warm bread, dripping with meting, golden butter, accompanied by the finest cheeses, tiny tart olives and home-made preserves, washed down with the best wines. Diet flies out the window, and Lance learns just how wonderful truly good food can be. He gets on well with Serge, gets up at 4am to go to market with him or Milly to buy the freshest foods and flowers, according to what that evenings menu is, and he gradually leaves his old life behind. Where Lance saw Milly as fat and unattractive his new alter ego Will sees her as a person, and seducing her becomes what he wants to do and not just a job any more. Of course love hits, and for a time all goes well then the truth comes out, we learn more about Serge, Millie is devastated to know how Will/Lance has deceived her, and Lance is heartbroken – he's been wanting to come clean for a while but feared just this outcome.
Along with the gastronomic tour we get an insight onto how all these characters changed priorities, and why they were as they first appeared. Its a wonderful book, I really enjoyed it and my mouth still waters at the descriptions of the food. I wonder if there's a real Guilty Pleasures somewhere – if not there's certainly a business idea for someone with the talent and money to set it up.
Stars: 5 – lovely book. One to savour though, not to be rushed.
July 17, 2014
The cover alone gets its own star, you know? In fact, the cover is what piqued my interest in the book.
The plot is unique. The genre is supposedly erotica, but I wouldn't shelve it as such. It was more of a steamy, humorous, contemporary romance.
Lance Packhard is a relationship therapist/self-help author. At the beginning of each chapter, we're gifted with an excerpt from his work-in-progress that supposedly is a man's guide to pleasing a woman. I found his insight into all things female quite hilarious. Near the beginning of the book, this is how Lance was described: "Everything about him screamed absolute bastard and he came across as absolutely irresistible." Surprisingly, though, and a pleasant surprise at that, Lance was subdued as far as bastards go. I guess I read over where it stated that "he came across as absolutely irresistible." Personally, I've grown tired of all of the rich manwhores that pop up in the NA/YA genre. So I liked Lance. He was neither an absolute bastard, nor a manwhore.
Anyway, Lance is hired by the mother of one Millicent Deafly to seduce and impregnate her daughter. What does she offer Lance to do the deed? A ridiculous amount of zeros. What's more is that Lance is in such financial trouble at the time, that he dare not refuse her offer.
Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the imperfect leading lady: "Millicent had a round face with pretty, dark eyes and a sultry, pouty mouth. She was also not a low-fat-no-sugar person. Her five-foot-three frame was well fleshed, with full rounded hips and thighs, and she obviously didn't go to the gym." Not to mention that as Lance looked at her picture he noticed that she carried "the dreaded bane of butts and thighs: cellulite." Her diary entries at the end of each chapter give readers a fun look into her mind as well.
A delicious recurring theme in the book is FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!! I have never read so many descriptions of delectable foods all in one novel before, at least not in the detail that Ms. Cardiga delivers. Add in a gay black dwarf, and you've got yourself an interesting read, if nothing else.
Interestingly unique characters, an original plot, multi-dimensional supporting characters, all amid the backdrop of Millicent's exclusive and private, membership-only restaurant Guilty Pleasures, make for an entertaining read.
The plot is unique. The genre is supposedly erotica, but I wouldn't shelve it as such. It was more of a steamy, humorous, contemporary romance.
Lance Packhard is a relationship therapist/self-help author. At the beginning of each chapter, we're gifted with an excerpt from his work-in-progress that supposedly is a man's guide to pleasing a woman. I found his insight into all things female quite hilarious. Near the beginning of the book, this is how Lance was described: "Everything about him screamed absolute bastard and he came across as absolutely irresistible." Surprisingly, though, and a pleasant surprise at that, Lance was subdued as far as bastards go. I guess I read over where it stated that "he came across as absolutely irresistible." Personally, I've grown tired of all of the rich manwhores that pop up in the NA/YA genre. So I liked Lance. He was neither an absolute bastard, nor a manwhore.
Anyway, Lance is hired by the mother of one Millicent Deafly to seduce and impregnate her daughter. What does she offer Lance to do the deed? A ridiculous amount of zeros. What's more is that Lance is in such financial trouble at the time, that he dare not refuse her offer.
Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the imperfect leading lady: "Millicent had a round face with pretty, dark eyes and a sultry, pouty mouth. She was also not a low-fat-no-sugar person. Her five-foot-three frame was well fleshed, with full rounded hips and thighs, and she obviously didn't go to the gym." Not to mention that as Lance looked at her picture he noticed that she carried "the dreaded bane of butts and thighs: cellulite." Her diary entries at the end of each chapter give readers a fun look into her mind as well.
A delicious recurring theme in the book is FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!! I have never read so many descriptions of delectable foods all in one novel before, at least not in the detail that Ms. Cardiga delivers. Add in a gay black dwarf, and you've got yourself an interesting read, if nothing else.
Interestingly unique characters, an original plot, multi-dimensional supporting characters, all amid the backdrop of Millicent's exclusive and private, membership-only restaurant Guilty Pleasures, make for an entertaining read.
December 23, 2013
Where do I even start to mention what attracted me to this book...and kept me enthralled? Yes, the blurb, and that hot cover, of course. But other than that... This felt like a novel within a novel within a novel - I could've read this one simply for the opening paragraphs of very chapter, with Lance's sexual advice. Often hilarious, more often than not totally to the point, it would've been a fab read just to grab these snippets alone.
Then there were Millie's diary entries - a story within itself! These often proved entertaining because we get to see Millie's POV, and how she saw a scene often proved very different from what Lance observed.
And in the middle of these, the story.... Absolutely enthralling! Never mind the opening paragraphs and the diary entries - the story sandwiched between these will keep you riveted. Rarely have I seen characters so well-defined and shining out almost in 3D like in this story. Serge, of course; then Millie, with whom many of us will empathize - life's not just all about finding a man and keeping him; it's more about pleasures and what makes us feel good. Still, for all she comes across as self-actualized, Millie is also a very human woman who reaches out and grabs your heart with the very private person she is inside.
Then there's Lance. Oh my goodness! I don't think I've ever laughed so much at a hero. All the beauty treatments and the gym visits and the radical beauty/health diet? I never thought a man could be such a beauty freak, and it was oh-so-nice and refeshing to find the tables turned and the hero being shallow instead of a vapid heroine. Yet, for all his being vapid, you cannot help but love Lance. Something about him calls to you on an emotional level and you just want to reach out and hug him and let him know that it's okay to not be perfect.
Don't get me started on the food - do NOT read this book on a empty stomach! The very idea of Guilty Pleasures, the 'restaurant', deserves thumbs up for its originality and the twists and turns it brings into this story.
Laughter - lots of it! - hunger pains - lots of those, too! - soul searching, advice, delving into human psyche - find all this and so much more in this book! Well worth the read - you'll regret missing this one, trust me!
Then there were Millie's diary entries - a story within itself! These often proved entertaining because we get to see Millie's POV, and how she saw a scene often proved very different from what Lance observed.
And in the middle of these, the story.... Absolutely enthralling! Never mind the opening paragraphs and the diary entries - the story sandwiched between these will keep you riveted. Rarely have I seen characters so well-defined and shining out almost in 3D like in this story. Serge, of course; then Millie, with whom many of us will empathize - life's not just all about finding a man and keeping him; it's more about pleasures and what makes us feel good. Still, for all she comes across as self-actualized, Millie is also a very human woman who reaches out and grabs your heart with the very private person she is inside.
Then there's Lance. Oh my goodness! I don't think I've ever laughed so much at a hero. All the beauty treatments and the gym visits and the radical beauty/health diet? I never thought a man could be such a beauty freak, and it was oh-so-nice and refeshing to find the tables turned and the hero being shallow instead of a vapid heroine. Yet, for all his being vapid, you cannot help but love Lance. Something about him calls to you on an emotional level and you just want to reach out and hug him and let him know that it's okay to not be perfect.
Don't get me started on the food - do NOT read this book on a empty stomach! The very idea of Guilty Pleasures, the 'restaurant', deserves thumbs up for its originality and the twists and turns it brings into this story.
Laughter - lots of it! - hunger pains - lots of those, too! - soul searching, advice, delving into human psyche - find all this and so much more in this book! Well worth the read - you'll regret missing this one, trust me!
June 14, 2014
Warning: Do not read this book when hungry. I had to stop reading several times to feed my growling stomach after reading the descriptions of the delicacies held within the pages of Guilty Pleasures. Now, with your tummy full, proceed to the tale of love in a fanciful food nirvana.
Lance is a celibate sex therapist in financial crisis. Millie is a curvy food lover who runs an exclusive club that caters to the ultimate food desires of her clients. From seemingly simple hamburgers, hot dogs, and pizzas to the overly extravagant Quail in Port with Plum sauce on a bed of Asparagus, all dishes are served from the kitchen of Guilty Pleasures.
Lance is hired by Millie's mum to seduced Millie and eventually get her pregnant. He is weary from the start, but takes the initial deposit with plans to pay it back and end the job as soon as his book advance comes in. What Lance doesn't expect is to fall hard and fast for the vivacious creature that is Millicent Deafly.
Almost every chapter is told in three parts. First, an excerpt from the book Lance is writing, Sensual Secrets of a Sexual Surrogate, then, a third person narrative, and closes with a diary entry from Millie. I love that we are essentially getting three points of view, but it didn't seem at all confusing or take away from the story. Lance's excerpts are very informative and often humorous. Millie's diary entries are a salacious treat, her personality really shines in her short, yet poignant, entries.
As for the heat from these two, it is a slow delicious burn well worth waiting for. I continued to wait for the proverbial shoe to drop and when it did, the unexpected happened. Not to give anything away, but Cardiga gives us several twists and turns in one of the most innovative settings I've read to date.
A big thanks to Manuela Cardiga for gifting me with a copy of Guilty Pleasures in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to reading more of her tantalizing tales in the future.
Lance is a celibate sex therapist in financial crisis. Millie is a curvy food lover who runs an exclusive club that caters to the ultimate food desires of her clients. From seemingly simple hamburgers, hot dogs, and pizzas to the overly extravagant Quail in Port with Plum sauce on a bed of Asparagus, all dishes are served from the kitchen of Guilty Pleasures.
Lance is hired by Millie's mum to seduced Millie and eventually get her pregnant. He is weary from the start, but takes the initial deposit with plans to pay it back and end the job as soon as his book advance comes in. What Lance doesn't expect is to fall hard and fast for the vivacious creature that is Millicent Deafly.
Almost every chapter is told in three parts. First, an excerpt from the book Lance is writing, Sensual Secrets of a Sexual Surrogate, then, a third person narrative, and closes with a diary entry from Millie. I love that we are essentially getting three points of view, but it didn't seem at all confusing or take away from the story. Lance's excerpts are very informative and often humorous. Millie's diary entries are a salacious treat, her personality really shines in her short, yet poignant, entries.
As for the heat from these two, it is a slow delicious burn well worth waiting for. I continued to wait for the proverbial shoe to drop and when it did, the unexpected happened. Not to give anything away, but Cardiga gives us several twists and turns in one of the most innovative settings I've read to date.
A big thanks to Manuela Cardiga for gifting me with a copy of Guilty Pleasures in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to reading more of her tantalizing tales in the future.
November 19, 2013
I was really excited to get this one. I mean, have you seen the cover? Visions of hot sex and food flashed in my mind as I read the summary—two of my favourite things. I immediately dived right in, all but drooling on my reader as I started the first page and prepared for the blurry vision I expected to have from staying up all night to get as much of this treasure as I could before exhaustion took over.
I’m still asking myself where I went wrong.
*sigh*
First let me just say do not read this book if you’re hungry. But even if you’re not hungry prepare to be. The author does get your mouth watering with all the delicious meals described in the book, but I wanted more than my mouth to water. Again, have you seen that cover? And read that summary? Where was the hot sex I had dancing in my head like naughty little cherries coated in chocolate and rolling around in whipped cream?
My disappointment of the lack of sex in an erotic novel aside, it was just so long. At times it felt like the author was writing a cookbook rather than a novel with all the food that was involved. Yes, I understand that the book centers around food because of Milly, but there was just so much of it. It got to be repetitive. I would have liked to have seen more interaction between Milly and Lance/Will in a social setting than always at the restaurant.
That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the book, it just wasn’t what I expected. I did really love Serge and all his stories and foul mouth. He was the highlight, in my opinion. I just went into it expecting something completely different than what I received. Again, not a bad thing, just different. Ms. Cardiga definitely has a talent for storytelling (and making ones stomach grumble).
I’m still asking myself where I went wrong.
*sigh*
First let me just say do not read this book if you’re hungry. But even if you’re not hungry prepare to be. The author does get your mouth watering with all the delicious meals described in the book, but I wanted more than my mouth to water. Again, have you seen that cover? And read that summary? Where was the hot sex I had dancing in my head like naughty little cherries coated in chocolate and rolling around in whipped cream?
My disappointment of the lack of sex in an erotic novel aside, it was just so long. At times it felt like the author was writing a cookbook rather than a novel with all the food that was involved. Yes, I understand that the book centers around food because of Milly, but there was just so much of it. It got to be repetitive. I would have liked to have seen more interaction between Milly and Lance/Will in a social setting than always at the restaurant.
That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the book, it just wasn’t what I expected. I did really love Serge and all his stories and foul mouth. He was the highlight, in my opinion. I just went into it expecting something completely different than what I received. Again, not a bad thing, just different. Ms. Cardiga definitely has a talent for storytelling (and making ones stomach grumble).
May 26, 2014
Gorgeous, narcissistic Lance Packhard- a sex therapist specializing in helping anorgasmic women- is writing a revolutionary book entitled Sexual Secrets of a Sexual Surrogate. When a ruthless mother offers him an enormous sum to impregnate her daughter, Millicent Deafly, a debt-ridden Lance hesitantly agrees.
Millicent, however, isn't into sex. She's carefree, joyfully voluptuous, and dedicated to her palate. Lance will only get her attention if he dabs soy sauce on his pulse points. To get close to her, a determined Lance takes a job at Millicent's dinner club. Guilty Pleasures, as an assistant to her irascible and eccentric chef, Serge Moreno.
But for Lance, nothing goes according to plan. He's not only failing to seduce Millie, he's falling madly in love with her. Lance's life becomes next to impossible when his best friend, George, gets married and wants to hold the reception at Guilty Pleasures.
Will the truth be uncovered?
I really like the detail the author puts into the story. It's like you can see into the characters minds. I liked the romance and loved the erotic tendencies. The characters were fun and had me laughing. The story was beautifully written.
I would recommend this book
Millicent, however, isn't into sex. She's carefree, joyfully voluptuous, and dedicated to her palate. Lance will only get her attention if he dabs soy sauce on his pulse points. To get close to her, a determined Lance takes a job at Millicent's dinner club. Guilty Pleasures, as an assistant to her irascible and eccentric chef, Serge Moreno.
But for Lance, nothing goes according to plan. He's not only failing to seduce Millie, he's falling madly in love with her. Lance's life becomes next to impossible when his best friend, George, gets married and wants to hold the reception at Guilty Pleasures.
Will the truth be uncovered?
I really like the detail the author puts into the story. It's like you can see into the characters minds. I liked the romance and loved the erotic tendencies. The characters were fun and had me laughing. The story was beautifully written.
I would recommend this book
May 24, 2014
"Received an ARC for an honest review"
What an amazing story, I didn't know what to expect but believe me when I say it wasn't what I thought it would be at all. It truly surprised me.
I love how Lance went from no sex, no commitment, no nothing to well Millie, I love her character she is just a regular girl that loves food, btw I hope to get some of those recipes they where just mouthwatering. The rest of the characters are also well built, the story flows perfectly and I just couldn't stop reading, each chapters showed a sexual secret from Lance and ended with Millie's diary, I love this parts.
It is a great story, hot, romantic, funny, well it has it all. I would definitely recommend it for anyone. I will also be looking forward for next installments of the series.
What an amazing story, I didn't know what to expect but believe me when I say it wasn't what I thought it would be at all. It truly surprised me.
I love how Lance went from no sex, no commitment, no nothing to well Millie, I love her character she is just a regular girl that loves food, btw I hope to get some of those recipes they where just mouthwatering. The rest of the characters are also well built, the story flows perfectly and I just couldn't stop reading, each chapters showed a sexual secret from Lance and ended with Millie's diary, I love this parts.
It is a great story, hot, romantic, funny, well it has it all. I would definitely recommend it for anyone. I will also be looking forward for next installments of the series.
October 6, 2013
Im not a big eater, can I start by saying that. I dont eat like Milly but I sure don't eat like Lance. I thought this book was supposed to be more erotic but I guess it felt like it was all about food. Even the descriptions made me think food, and I was leaning toward the sex. This book was mostly theatrical and while I was reading it, it made me think of Moulin Rouge... Guilty pleasures was her restaurant which not only served calorie laden food but also she had wierd set ups. Her mother even made me zone out, and while Lance/will peckerless devised a way to get closer to Milly a sense of impending doom grew louder and louder. Definitely havent read a book like it, but it wasnt for me.
June 22, 2014
Fun, sex, recipes and human interest: Where does this book belong? Manuela how could you make it so difficult to classify a genre? One genre it most definitely does not fit is "children". This is pure adult entertainment.
If you want a rollicking, well written recipe book with naughty bits thrown in – well this is the book for you! If you are after a naughty novel with some culinary delights thrown in – once again this is it! If you are looking for a well written story – you must buy it!
Oh and I nearly forgot! Characterisation – superb! This book has something for everyone!
If you want a rollicking, well written recipe book with naughty bits thrown in – well this is the book for you! If you are after a naughty novel with some culinary delights thrown in – once again this is it! If you are looking for a well written story – you must buy it!
Oh and I nearly forgot! Characterisation – superb! This book has something for everyone!
January 3, 2014
I have to say this book was unique - part sex manual, part cookbook, part erotic romance. It was written with humor and a light hand. I commend Manuela Cardiga on creating a strong read. I also was impressed by the author's ability to add in a mystery and balance all the elements. The characters were engaging, the premise fun, the story well plotted and the settings beautifully detailed. A fast paced fun read.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2021
I absolutely loved the concept of the restaurant! I laughed with the characters, hurt, cried, and definitely wanted to eat with them. This was a fantastic book, with just the right amount of romance. It was a very realistic book, which is what made me call is love with it. If I could be a fly on the wall of the restaurant....and then eat there!
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