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Sweet Like Candy
Jason never deserved me. I know that now more than ever. He spun his web of lies and deceit so deep, and he had me fooled for far too long. But the truth always comes to light, one way or another. After suffering in our toxic relationship for over a year, I finally know my self-worth.
I’m ready to take back my life, even if that means ending his.
Knox came into my life like a wicked storm. Beautiful and brutal, turning my world upside down. He ignites a fire within me that I thought had long ago lost its spark. His passion and fury challenges me to embrace my darkness and fulfill my daunting desires.
He says I’m sweet like Candy, but one can only stay sweet for so long.
I’m ready to take back my life, even if that means ending his.
Knox came into my life like a wicked storm. Beautiful and brutal, turning my world upside down. He ignites a fire within me that I thought had long ago lost its spark. His passion and fury challenges me to embrace my darkness and fulfill my daunting desires.
He says I’m sweet like Candy, but one can only stay sweet for so long.
82 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2026
About the author
Cadence Smoke
5 books1,463 followersCadence Smoke is a Romance, Dark Romance & Gothic Romance Author from Canada. In addition to writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and fur babies, as well as reading books of various genres.
Cadence likes to write stories that don’t always end in a happily ever after. Instead, she strives to write stories that make you feel a plethora of emotions and a deep-rooted connection to her characters that linger in the back of your mind long after you put the book down.
Cadence likes to write stories that don’t always end in a happily ever after. Instead, she strives to write stories that make you feel a plethora of emotions and a deep-rooted connection to her characters that linger in the back of your mind long after you put the book down.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
4⭐️
2🌶️
🍭Sweet & Spicy Novella
💜Touch Her & ☠️
🍭Good Girl Gone Bad
💜Revenge
🍭Protective MMC
💜Knife Play
🍭Dual First Person POV
Sweet Like Candy is a tastey snack of a novella and I ate it up. No crumbs were left. Prepare for an instant connection that is both sweet and unhinged. Candace is fed up with her boyfriend lying, using, and abusing her. She follows him to a strip club, where she meets Knox. He helps her take back her power and get revenge. This lives up to the series name of Monaing, Murder, and Madness.
🚩Be sure to read the author’s note and content warnings before reading.
Plot: 4
Engaging: 4
Character: 4
Thank you Candace Smoke and The Dark Romance Team for the gifted advanced copy.
📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads🐦🔥
2🌶️
🍭Sweet & Spicy Novella
💜Touch Her & ☠️
🍭Good Girl Gone Bad
💜Revenge
🍭Protective MMC
💜Knife Play
🍭Dual First Person POV
Sweet Like Candy is a tastey snack of a novella and I ate it up. No crumbs were left. Prepare for an instant connection that is both sweet and unhinged. Candace is fed up with her boyfriend lying, using, and abusing her. She follows him to a strip club, where she meets Knox. He helps her take back her power and get revenge. This lives up to the series name of Monaing, Murder, and Madness.
🚩Be sure to read the author’s note and content warnings before reading.
Plot: 4
Engaging: 4
Character: 4
Thank you Candace Smoke and The Dark Romance Team for the gifted advanced copy.
📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads🐦🔥
April 22, 2026
Tropes:
🍭Good Girl Gone Bad
💗Touch Her & 💀
🍭Knife Play
💗Sweet & Spicy
🍭Revenge
👏PLEASE👏LET👏ME 👏READ THIS👏AGAIN👏FOR👏THE👏FIRST👏TIME👏
Listen, I love a short and steamy read. This novella DELIVERED and it was everything I could’ve hoped for. It left me dumbfounded and at the edge of my seat. These characters were rightfully so unhinged and gosh did I eat them up!! You guys are not prepared for Candace and Knox. Have your note pads ready besties because you’ll have some quotes you’re going to want to jot down for the future. 😉
🍭Good Girl Gone Bad
💗Touch Her & 💀
🍭Knife Play
💗Sweet & Spicy
🍭Revenge
👏PLEASE👏LET👏ME 👏READ THIS👏AGAIN👏FOR👏THE👏FIRST👏TIME👏
Listen, I love a short and steamy read. This novella DELIVERED and it was everything I could’ve hoped for. It left me dumbfounded and at the edge of my seat. These characters were rightfully so unhinged and gosh did I eat them up!! You guys are not prepared for Candace and Knox. Have your note pads ready besties because you’ll have some quotes you’re going to want to jot down for the future. 😉
May 4, 2026
Oh sweet Candy! How absolutely lovely it was to get to read about her courage and literally get to see her evolution from being a meek little lady to a strong and sexy woman!
I loved everything about this story! While it’s a quick read it has so much substance to it and I loved watching Candy become who she has always been but didn’t know she could be.
When she finally had the encouragement and support she deserved, she fully embraced the woman she is. I love getting to see a woman discover her strength and femininity through a story and Candy found all of that. A quick and unplanned emotional reaction brought her to the place that would actually show Candy who she can be or always has had inside of her. When faced with the reality of her situation and what has been going on in her relationship, Candy finds the best support and encouragement in Knox who shows her she is worthy. Knox sees Candy for who he knows she already is but also for the hauntingly beautiful darkness he also sees in her. While dealing with her pitiful, abusive boyfriend Knox is also determined to keep his sweet but twisted Candy he has now become addicted to. Candy feels strong but also knows she can be weak because Knox will be there for her in any capacity. While she embraces that dark side of Knox, she also accepts and learns of her own dark side that Knox knew she had.
I loved everything about this story! While it’s a quick read it has so much substance to it and I loved watching Candy become who she has always been but didn’t know she could be.
When she finally had the encouragement and support she deserved, she fully embraced the woman she is. I love getting to see a woman discover her strength and femininity through a story and Candy found all of that. A quick and unplanned emotional reaction brought her to the place that would actually show Candy who she can be or always has had inside of her. When faced with the reality of her situation and what has been going on in her relationship, Candy finds the best support and encouragement in Knox who shows her she is worthy. Knox sees Candy for who he knows she already is but also for the hauntingly beautiful darkness he also sees in her. While dealing with her pitiful, abusive boyfriend Knox is also determined to keep his sweet but twisted Candy he has now become addicted to. Candy feels strong but also knows she can be weak because Knox will be there for her in any capacity. While she embraces that dark side of Knox, she also accepts and learns of her own dark side that Knox knew she had.
May 7, 2026
This novella was spicy and gruesome all at the same time. Cadence packed so much into just a few pages.
Knox and Candice have an instant connection. He speaks to her like she is the most precious thing in the world to him and this is the first time she met him. Knox is morally grey and a very dangerous man, especially those who wrong Candice.
I also love the revenge Candice gets. I am a sucker for feminine rage. And when she gets a sexy man also, yes please. Also… who doesn’t love a good lollipop scene.
Knox and Candice have an instant connection. He speaks to her like she is the most precious thing in the world to him and this is the first time she met him. Knox is morally grey and a very dangerous man, especially those who wrong Candice.
I also love the revenge Candice gets. I am a sucker for feminine rage. And when she gets a sexy man also, yes please. Also… who doesn’t love a good lollipop scene.
May 7, 2026
First off I’m so thankful I had opportunity to arc read this . This novella may be short but it does not disappoint. It’s addictive like it immediately pulled me in. Sweet
Like candy is dark, intense, chaotic in the best way possible. I think I haven’t read book by Candence smoke I don’t like . Sweet & unhinged yes please !!
Like candy is dark, intense, chaotic in the best way possible. I think I haven’t read book by Candence smoke I don’t like . Sweet & unhinged yes please !!
Review of advance copy
I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the author, and the Dark Romance PR Team for allowing me the privilege of being able to arc read this novella I really appreciate it.
This for me is a 3.5 star rounded up. It was a good quick enjoyable beginner baby dark romance novella with nods that vibe with Brynne Weaver but it does have its faults.
There are a few inconsistencies espeically regarding Jasons ex Ivy. There's differing thought processes when it comes to what she went through at the beginning its very obvious that Cadence knew about it, but then towards the end its like some shocking revelation that Ivy was abused. Also the handful of mentions to Jason of whether he killed Ivy or not. If we're going with she actually took her life its not necessary to keep asking. If she had the ability and desire to write everything he did to her and when, down then she would have put her reasons in a goodbye letter. Also the talk about jason being high its very literally obvious from the beginning that he is but then its a shock when "she realizes he is" a few pages later.
But in regards to Ivy's death with how often he was asked I really thought they'd get Jason talking and he'd say he accidentally took her life and then covered it up. I figured that's what all the "did you killl her" was going to lead up to but nope. The torture of Jason was what really did it for me. It was anticlimactic and what actually dragged this novella down for me. If we really didn't care to get him talking why not end him in a different way. For all the attitude displays the guy was putting on throughout the story you'd figured he'd either cave or slip up and want to brag. It could have been all drawn out and added so much more to not just the torture but also to the story. The torture wasn't even that much and was mainly just Cadence running out of the room and crying because Jason said mean words to her or because Knox really meant what he said he was going to do. There's so much potential here and I really wish it had been drawn out more and then it could have been a truly fantastic spicy dark romance.
It also would have been great to have more than a couple pages in total of Knox's pov interactions and thoughts. I'd have love to see him describe all his thoughts from watching Cadence and Jason it would have given a little more oohpm to the slight stalking aspect which was never elaborated on and could have added so much more. Its not even really that stalkerish and not much worth the mention in the end. Truly the only dark aspect to this read is the slight torture of Jason. If you can sit through the christmas episode of Supernatural you can handle this. The torture moments and that episode vibe very similarly.
Overall this novella has so much more potential to be elaboated on, but as it stands as just a novella its just an all around fast paced baby dark tomance with some spice that most readers will enjoy for the fun it gives you, including myself. Despite all of what I said I still really enjoyed this story, it was a fun break from everything I've been reading lately.
Thank you so very much again for allowing me the absolute privilege of being to arc read this novella I truly appreciate it.
This for me is a 3.5 star rounded up. It was a good quick enjoyable beginner baby dark romance novella with nods that vibe with Brynne Weaver but it does have its faults.
There are a few inconsistencies espeically regarding Jasons ex Ivy. There's differing thought processes when it comes to what she went through at the beginning its very obvious that Cadence knew about it, but then towards the end its like some shocking revelation that Ivy was abused. Also the handful of mentions to Jason of whether he killed Ivy or not. If we're going with she actually took her life its not necessary to keep asking. If she had the ability and desire to write everything he did to her and when, down then she would have put her reasons in a goodbye letter. Also the talk about jason being high its very literally obvious from the beginning that he is but then its a shock when "she realizes he is" a few pages later.
But in regards to Ivy's death with how often he was asked I really thought they'd get Jason talking and he'd say he accidentally took her life and then covered it up. I figured that's what all the "did you killl her" was going to lead up to but nope. The torture of Jason was what really did it for me. It was anticlimactic and what actually dragged this novella down for me. If we really didn't care to get him talking why not end him in a different way. For all the attitude displays the guy was putting on throughout the story you'd figured he'd either cave or slip up and want to brag. It could have been all drawn out and added so much more to not just the torture but also to the story. The torture wasn't even that much and was mainly just Cadence running out of the room and crying because Jason said mean words to her or because Knox really meant what he said he was going to do. There's so much potential here and I really wish it had been drawn out more and then it could have been a truly fantastic spicy dark romance.
It also would have been great to have more than a couple pages in total of Knox's pov interactions and thoughts. I'd have love to see him describe all his thoughts from watching Cadence and Jason it would have given a little more oohpm to the slight stalking aspect which was never elaborated on and could have added so much more. Its not even really that stalkerish and not much worth the mention in the end. Truly the only dark aspect to this read is the slight torture of Jason. If you can sit through the christmas episode of Supernatural you can handle this. The torture moments and that episode vibe very similarly.
Overall this novella has so much more potential to be elaboated on, but as it stands as just a novella its just an all around fast paced baby dark tomance with some spice that most readers will enjoy for the fun it gives you, including myself. Despite all of what I said I still really enjoyed this story, it was a fun break from everything I've been reading lately.
Thank you so very much again for allowing me the absolute privilege of being to arc read this novella I truly appreciate it.
April 29, 2026
🍭 Sweet Like Candy
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
This book is pure feral romance energy wrapped in cotton candy aesthetics and dipped in absolute chaos.
Our FMC starts off in a very relatable place—spiraling insecurity, betrayal, and the kind of heartbreak that makes you question everything. But instead of breaking her, she snaps, and I mean that in the most iconic way possible.
What follows is a revenge-fueled, emotionally charged descent into a world where:
* protection turns possessive
* trauma turns into power
* and revenge turns into performance art
Knox is that MMC. The kind who is calm until he’s not, protective until it becomes terrifying, and completely unhinged when it comes to her. The “I’ll be your anchor” energy? Yeah. That.
The banter is sharp, the pacing addictive, and the emotional whiplash is real—one second you’re soft, the next you’re watching someone threaten violence like it’s foreplay for justice.
And yes… this book is very spicy. Like, no-warning, fully committed, morally questionable spice that escalates fast and does not apologize for itself.
Including what can only be described as a notorious lollipop scene that lives rent-free in my brain and should probably come with its own warning label 🍭
The revenge arc? Satisfying.
The found loyalty? Addictive.
The romance? Possessive, intense, and consuming in a way that makes you forget common sense exists.
For how much happens emotionally and narratively, it’s wild that it all unfolds in just 60-ish pages—but somehow it still hits like a full-length emotional rollercoaster.
By the end, it’s not just love—it’s obsession, survival, and “we survived something awful together so now we’re bonded for life.”
Overall: unhinged in the best way, emotionally messy, spicy beyond reason, and impossible to put down.
🍬 Verdict: I came for the candy aesthetic and left emotionally compromised.
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
This book is pure feral romance energy wrapped in cotton candy aesthetics and dipped in absolute chaos.
Our FMC starts off in a very relatable place—spiraling insecurity, betrayal, and the kind of heartbreak that makes you question everything. But instead of breaking her, she snaps, and I mean that in the most iconic way possible.
What follows is a revenge-fueled, emotionally charged descent into a world where:
* protection turns possessive
* trauma turns into power
* and revenge turns into performance art
Knox is that MMC. The kind who is calm until he’s not, protective until it becomes terrifying, and completely unhinged when it comes to her. The “I’ll be your anchor” energy? Yeah. That.
The banter is sharp, the pacing addictive, and the emotional whiplash is real—one second you’re soft, the next you’re watching someone threaten violence like it’s foreplay for justice.
And yes… this book is very spicy. Like, no-warning, fully committed, morally questionable spice that escalates fast and does not apologize for itself.
Including what can only be described as a notorious lollipop scene that lives rent-free in my brain and should probably come with its own warning label 🍭
The revenge arc? Satisfying.
The found loyalty? Addictive.
The romance? Possessive, intense, and consuming in a way that makes you forget common sense exists.
For how much happens emotionally and narratively, it’s wild that it all unfolds in just 60-ish pages—but somehow it still hits like a full-length emotional rollercoaster.
By the end, it’s not just love—it’s obsession, survival, and “we survived something awful together so now we’re bonded for life.”
Overall: unhinged in the best way, emotionally messy, spicy beyond reason, and impossible to put down.
🍬 Verdict: I came for the candy aesthetic and left emotionally compromised.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2026
4.75/5
Sweet Like Candy is a short, fast-paced novella where Candace takes back her life and Knox is everything she needs. This read was a perfect palette cleanser for me between longer reads giving me a nice, quick dopamine hit. If you love seeing a good girl go bad, a man who is absolutely protective over her and a story with delicious revenge, Sweet Like Candy is an excellent choice!
Candace’s boyfriend is not the one! When she decides enough is enough, she will go through a determined fight to regain her power from someone who took it and doesn’t deserve it. I love the moments of seeing Candace go through this because when she steps out of the suffocating control of Jason, she is an absolute queen! Hers is a powerful and beautiful transformation that unfolds in these pages.
While she may not need him, she finds a person to give her all the support she could ever dream of...and his name is Knox (and we all need one)! He may have his own motivation to see Jason fall but Candace quickly becomes a priority for him. I love his ability to push her when she has doubts and support her, being her soft place to fall, in equal measure allowing her to truly come into her own.
The chemistry between these two is on point! The spice heats up quickly and Knox is nothing if not giving!
I really enjoyed this novella. It is a quick look into the lives of these two. I like the fact that this is not necessarily a story from beginning to end but more of a snippet, a window into a moment in their lives. This is a great read if you are looking for something quick and satisfying.
Sweet Like Candy is a short, fast-paced novella where Candace takes back her life and Knox is everything she needs. This read was a perfect palette cleanser for me between longer reads giving me a nice, quick dopamine hit. If you love seeing a good girl go bad, a man who is absolutely protective over her and a story with delicious revenge, Sweet Like Candy is an excellent choice!
Candace’s boyfriend is not the one! When she decides enough is enough, she will go through a determined fight to regain her power from someone who took it and doesn’t deserve it. I love the moments of seeing Candace go through this because when she steps out of the suffocating control of Jason, she is an absolute queen! Hers is a powerful and beautiful transformation that unfolds in these pages.
While she may not need him, she finds a person to give her all the support she could ever dream of...and his name is Knox (and we all need one)! He may have his own motivation to see Jason fall but Candace quickly becomes a priority for him. I love his ability to push her when she has doubts and support her, being her soft place to fall, in equal measure allowing her to truly come into her own.
The chemistry between these two is on point! The spice heats up quickly and Knox is nothing if not giving!
I really enjoyed this novella. It is a quick look into the lives of these two. I like the fact that this is not necessarily a story from beginning to end but more of a snippet, a window into a moment in their lives. This is a great read if you are looking for something quick and satisfying.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sweet Like Candy by Cadence Smoke
Overall Rating: 3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Sweet Like Candy is a short, sweet, and spicy novella that follows Candace as she gets revenge on her abusive ex-boyfriend, with the help of Knox, a strip club doorman.
Candace, also known as Candy, is our FMC who finally decides to confront her abusive partner, Jason. She follows him to a strip club and takes matters into her own hands, stepping on stage to grab his attention and set her revenge in motion.
Knox, the sadistic MMC, helps Candy execute her plan and takes things one step further after Jason shows his true colours.
What I Loved:
• I enjoy the insta-love trope, and I love a fast-paced novella that gets straight to the point without unnecessary filler.
• This book was a gory, spicy ride from start to finish.
• The scenes involving the knife and screwdriver were particularly gruesome. They genuinely made me cringe!
• The spice was actually spicy, with a great balance between the plot and the steamy moments. It didn’t completely overshadow the storyline.
What Didn’t Fully Work for Me:
• I’m not a huge fan of the trope where the FMC is completely okay with the MMC being a murderer just because the victim is her ex.
• The epilogue felt a bit questionable… honestly, it read like a one-way ticket to an infection.
Final Thoughts:
This is a great pick for readers new to dark romance who want something a little darker and a lot spicier, without committing to a full-length novel.
Overall Rating: 3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Sweet Like Candy is a short, sweet, and spicy novella that follows Candace as she gets revenge on her abusive ex-boyfriend, with the help of Knox, a strip club doorman.
Candace, also known as Candy, is our FMC who finally decides to confront her abusive partner, Jason. She follows him to a strip club and takes matters into her own hands, stepping on stage to grab his attention and set her revenge in motion.
Knox, the sadistic MMC, helps Candy execute her plan and takes things one step further after Jason shows his true colours.
What I Loved:
• I enjoy the insta-love trope, and I love a fast-paced novella that gets straight to the point without unnecessary filler.
• This book was a gory, spicy ride from start to finish.
• The scenes involving the knife and screwdriver were particularly gruesome. They genuinely made me cringe!
• The spice was actually spicy, with a great balance between the plot and the steamy moments. It didn’t completely overshadow the storyline.
What Didn’t Fully Work for Me:
• I’m not a huge fan of the trope where the FMC is completely okay with the MMC being a murderer just because the victim is her ex.
• The epilogue felt a bit questionable… honestly, it read like a one-way ticket to an infection.
Final Thoughts:
This is a great pick for readers new to dark romance who want something a little darker and a lot spicier, without committing to a full-length novel.
May 6, 2026
ARC Review
This book completely consumed me from start to finish. Sweet Like Candy is dark, addictive, and unapologetically intense in all the best ways. From the very moment I opened this book, I was pulled into Candy’s twisted, emotional journey of reclaiming her power after being trapped in a toxic, manipulative relationship.
Jason’s character made my skin crawl, he is the kind of villain you love to hate because he feels so real, unfortunately. Watching Candy finally recognize her worth and break free from his lies was incredibly satisfying, but what really elevated this story was Knox. He isn’t your typical love interest, he’s dangerous, unpredictable, and brings out a side of Candy that’s both thrilling and terrifying and don't forget hot. 😂 Their chemistry is explosive, walking that fine line between passion and destruction.
What I loved most was Candy’s transformation. She’s not just healing, she’s evolving into someone darker, stronger, and completely unafraid to take control of her life, no matter the cost. The writing captures that shift beautifully, balancing vulnerability with raw intensity.
This story isn’t soft or sugar-coated, it’s gritty, bold, and laced with tension that keeps you hooked. If you love dark romance with morally gray characters, high stakes, and a heroine who refuses to stay broken, this one is absolutely worth the read.
Sweet, but only at first… 🍬
This book completely consumed me from start to finish. Sweet Like Candy is dark, addictive, and unapologetically intense in all the best ways. From the very moment I opened this book, I was pulled into Candy’s twisted, emotional journey of reclaiming her power after being trapped in a toxic, manipulative relationship.
Jason’s character made my skin crawl, he is the kind of villain you love to hate because he feels so real, unfortunately. Watching Candy finally recognize her worth and break free from his lies was incredibly satisfying, but what really elevated this story was Knox. He isn’t your typical love interest, he’s dangerous, unpredictable, and brings out a side of Candy that’s both thrilling and terrifying and don't forget hot. 😂 Their chemistry is explosive, walking that fine line between passion and destruction.
What I loved most was Candy’s transformation. She’s not just healing, she’s evolving into someone darker, stronger, and completely unafraid to take control of her life, no matter the cost. The writing captures that shift beautifully, balancing vulnerability with raw intensity.
This story isn’t soft or sugar-coated, it’s gritty, bold, and laced with tension that keeps you hooked. If you love dark romance with morally gray characters, high stakes, and a heroine who refuses to stay broken, this one is absolutely worth the read.
Sweet, but only at first… 🍬
Review of advance copy received from Author
4⭐ARC Review 🍭 SWEET LIKE CANDY 🍭
I devoured and flew through this! For a shorter read there was a lot packed! Revenge, passion, embracing desires, finding self worth, spice and a death deserved. Theirs nothing like a good lollipop if you know what I mean 😉 and who wouldn't want a Knox with his presence of protection. Excellent recommendation for those seeking a quick, dark, fast paced read!
Thankyou for the opportunity to ARC read 🩵
🍭 Revenge
🍭 Protective MMC
🍭 Sweet and Spicy
🍭 Exotic Dancer
🍭 Good Girl Gone Bad
🍭 Knife Play
🍭 Touch Her and 💀
Jason never deserved me. I know that now more than ever. He spun his web of lies and deceit so deep, and he had me fooled for far too long. But the truth always comes to light, one way or another. After suffering in our toxic relationship for over a year, I finally know my self-worth.
I’m ready to take back my life, even if that means ending his.
Knox came into my life like a wicked storm. Beautiful and brutal, turning my world upside down. He ignites a fire within me that I thought had long ago lost its spark. His passion and fury challenges me to embrace my darkness and fulfill my daunting desires.
He says I’m sweet like Candy, but one can only stay sweet for so long.
#romancerecs #romancereader #darkreads #cadencesmoke #BookRecommendations
I devoured and flew through this! For a shorter read there was a lot packed! Revenge, passion, embracing desires, finding self worth, spice and a death deserved. Theirs nothing like a good lollipop if you know what I mean 😉 and who wouldn't want a Knox with his presence of protection. Excellent recommendation for those seeking a quick, dark, fast paced read!
Thankyou for the opportunity to ARC read 🩵
🍭 Revenge
🍭 Protective MMC
🍭 Sweet and Spicy
🍭 Exotic Dancer
🍭 Good Girl Gone Bad
🍭 Knife Play
🍭 Touch Her and 💀
Jason never deserved me. I know that now more than ever. He spun his web of lies and deceit so deep, and he had me fooled for far too long. But the truth always comes to light, one way or another. After suffering in our toxic relationship for over a year, I finally know my self-worth.
I’m ready to take back my life, even if that means ending his.
Knox came into my life like a wicked storm. Beautiful and brutal, turning my world upside down. He ignites a fire within me that I thought had long ago lost its spark. His passion and fury challenges me to embrace my darkness and fulfill my daunting desires.
He says I’m sweet like Candy, but one can only stay sweet for so long.
#romancerecs #romancereader #darkreads #cadencesmoke #BookRecommendations
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sweet Like Candy is a super fun, spicy, fast-paced read that fits a ton of action into less than 100 pages.
Candy's been trapped in a pretty toxic relationship with her boyfriend Jason for far too long. She's finally had enough of his lies and abuse, and decides to track his location and follow him to the strip club he's hanging out at.
Enter Knox - the super hot bouncer that meets Candy at the door, and we get a glimpse at the start of some insane chemistry between the two of them. He even talks her down from a bit of a panic attack and helps her come up with a plan to humiliate Jason and get some revenge on him.
Turns out... Knox has been watching Jason for months, and has his own reasons for wanting Jason to pay. 😈 From there, everything ramps up really fast - especially the spice 🔥 and lots of revenge + knife play.
I flew through this incredibly quick - it was so much fun, and Knox was absolutely amazing. I would have even liked to see this expanded on more into a longer novella or a full-length book with more of Candy and Knox's relationship playing out, and maybe more into the future.
Definitely check this one out if you're into: good girl gone bad, knife play, protective MMC, sweet & spicy, revenge, touch her & die, instalove 🖤
Candy's been trapped in a pretty toxic relationship with her boyfriend Jason for far too long. She's finally had enough of his lies and abuse, and decides to track his location and follow him to the strip club he's hanging out at.
Enter Knox - the super hot bouncer that meets Candy at the door, and we get a glimpse at the start of some insane chemistry between the two of them. He even talks her down from a bit of a panic attack and helps her come up with a plan to humiliate Jason and get some revenge on him.
Turns out... Knox has been watching Jason for months, and has his own reasons for wanting Jason to pay. 😈 From there, everything ramps up really fast - especially the spice 🔥 and lots of revenge + knife play.
I flew through this incredibly quick - it was so much fun, and Knox was absolutely amazing. I would have even liked to see this expanded on more into a longer novella or a full-length book with more of Candy and Knox's relationship playing out, and maybe more into the future.
Definitely check this one out if you're into: good girl gone bad, knife play, protective MMC, sweet & spicy, revenge, touch her & die, instalove 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sweet Like Candy by Cadence Smoke is a dark romance novella, the 1st book in the Moaning, Murder & Madness interconnected series. Thank you to Cadence Smoke for the gifted advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
This book can be described as:
🖤 Dark Romance
🍭 Good Girl Gone Bad
🖤 Revenge
🍭 Protective MMC
🖤 Touch Her & 💀
🍭 Sweet & Spicy
My honest opinions:
I’m gonna keep this review short, sweet and a little spicy… just like this book!
This was a really quick read about a woman, Candace (Candy), who is desperate to break it off with her abusive boyfriend and follows him to a strip club one night. There she meets Knox, the protective MMC who has seen her worth more than she knows and helps her give the horrible ex-boyfriend what he has coming to him. Please check your trigger warnings!
The chemistry was instant and hot between Candy and Knox! I loved his protectiveness and her sweetness. There wasn’t a ton of spice… but what was there was very nice! 🥵 2🌶️’s
Finally, this novella was exactly what it needed to be… a quick little story without a lot of extra fluff or depth with a touch of darkness. If you need a short story in between novels, that’s a bit sweet and spicy, this would be a good fit. Overall I would rate this book 4⭐️’s
This book can be described as:
🖤 Dark Romance
🍭 Good Girl Gone Bad
🖤 Revenge
🍭 Protective MMC
🖤 Touch Her & 💀
🍭 Sweet & Spicy
My honest opinions:
I’m gonna keep this review short, sweet and a little spicy… just like this book!
This was a really quick read about a woman, Candace (Candy), who is desperate to break it off with her abusive boyfriend and follows him to a strip club one night. There she meets Knox, the protective MMC who has seen her worth more than she knows and helps her give the horrible ex-boyfriend what he has coming to him. Please check your trigger warnings!
The chemistry was instant and hot between Candy and Knox! I loved his protectiveness and her sweetness. There wasn’t a ton of spice… but what was there was very nice! 🥵 2🌶️’s
Finally, this novella was exactly what it needed to be… a quick little story without a lot of extra fluff or depth with a touch of darkness. If you need a short story in between novels, that’s a bit sweet and spicy, this would be a good fit. Overall I would rate this book 4⭐️’s
Review of advance copy received from Author
Can I just say, that I loved this book, and not only because the FMC and I share a name and nickname given to her by our tall, dark, and handsome fmc, Knox.
This little novella took me on a ride. From page one, poor Candace, is going through it. Sleezy boyfriend with some major "God's gift to women 🙄" energy. He's emotionally, mentally, and physically abusive. (So please check your triggers before diving in!) And sweet Candy has had enough! Que the confrontation! And enter Knox! Yes he is everything you think he would be. Kind, hot, supportive, and did I mention they just met? Yep! It's good and only gets better.
There are a lot of emotionas and tough topics discussed throughout this novella, but it comes together in such a way that I loved it, trigger warnings and all. It was fast paced and the relationships fell apart and came together quickly, but it worked, considering the circumstances. Ultimately, this book is about a girl, beaten, broken, and losing her self-esteem, taking back her power and putting a STOP to her tormentor.
If you want a book that will hit you hard, fast, and with every emotion you could imagine, in rapid succession, this is definitely one to pick up. Best hour of my night last night.
This little novella took me on a ride. From page one, poor Candace, is going through it. Sleezy boyfriend with some major "God's gift to women 🙄" energy. He's emotionally, mentally, and physically abusive. (So please check your triggers before diving in!) And sweet Candy has had enough! Que the confrontation! And enter Knox! Yes he is everything you think he would be. Kind, hot, supportive, and did I mention they just met? Yep! It's good and only gets better.
There are a lot of emotionas and tough topics discussed throughout this novella, but it comes together in such a way that I loved it, trigger warnings and all. It was fast paced and the relationships fell apart and came together quickly, but it worked, considering the circumstances. Ultimately, this book is about a girl, beaten, broken, and losing her self-esteem, taking back her power and putting a STOP to her tormentor.
If you want a book that will hit you hard, fast, and with every emotion you could imagine, in rapid succession, this is definitely one to pick up. Best hour of my night last night.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sweet Like Candy by Cadence Smoke completely pulled me in from the very first page. Even though it’s a shorter read, it delivers so much emotion and intensity.
Candace’s journey hit hard for me. Watching her finally see through Jason’s lies and break free from that toxic cycle felt so real and honestly empowering. You can feel her pain, her anger, and that moment where something inside her shifts and she decides she deserves more. That kind of growth was written in a way that felt raw and personal.
And then Knox enters and everything changes. He is dark, intense, and completely unpredictable. The connection between him and Candace is electric and a little dangerous in the best way. I loved how he didn’t try to soften her edges but instead pushed her to embrace every part of herself, including the darker side she had been holding back.
The whole sweet like candy theme is perfect because Candace might seem soft at first, but there’s something much sharper underneath. This story really leans into reclaiming your power and not being afraid of who you become when you finally stop letting people break you.
For a short read, this one packs a serious punch. It’s emotional, a little chaotic, and so satisfying to watch Candace take her life back.
Easy 5 stars for me.
Candace’s journey hit hard for me. Watching her finally see through Jason’s lies and break free from that toxic cycle felt so real and honestly empowering. You can feel her pain, her anger, and that moment where something inside her shifts and she decides she deserves more. That kind of growth was written in a way that felt raw and personal.
And then Knox enters and everything changes. He is dark, intense, and completely unpredictable. The connection between him and Candace is electric and a little dangerous in the best way. I loved how he didn’t try to soften her edges but instead pushed her to embrace every part of herself, including the darker side she had been holding back.
The whole sweet like candy theme is perfect because Candace might seem soft at first, but there’s something much sharper underneath. This story really leans into reclaiming your power and not being afraid of who you become when you finally stop letting people break you.
For a short read, this one packs a serious punch. It’s emotional, a little chaotic, and so satisfying to watch Candace take her life back.
Easy 5 stars for me.
May 6, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐-> ♾️🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶
💕 Sweet & Spicy Novella
✨️ Good Girl Gone Bad
💕 Touch Her & ☠️
✨️ Knife Play
💕 Revenge
✨️ Dual First Person POV
⚠️ CHECK YOUR CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS! Protect your mental peace ☮️⚠️
✨️ 📖 ARC 📖 REVIEW ✨️
This was the PERFECT palate cleanser between books, but the only problem I had was that it wasn't long enough! Yeah, I know its a novella, but this story was so good I would have read 350 pages of it!
Candace has had enough of BS men, so she goes to a Club and meets Knox who was able to help her take back every bit of power that was stripped from her!
Knox was the man that you always dream of when you are at your worst. He is there to help you, but also to make you moan. Throw some murder in the mix along with some madness and you have the perfect recipe for this masterpiece.
This is one of the books that I would pay a pretty penny to be able to go back and read it again for the first time! I am beyond hopeful that this will come to audio, so that I can read it immersively! It would be perfect!!
If all that wasn't enough TL;DR: Just buy the book and read. Then come tell me what you loved or hated!
Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Cadence Smoke ✨️ for the complimentary 📖 ARC 📖. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest, and voluntary✨️.
🌶️🌶️🌶
💕 Sweet & Spicy Novella
✨️ Good Girl Gone Bad
💕 Touch Her & ☠️
✨️ Knife Play
💕 Revenge
✨️ Dual First Person POV
⚠️ CHECK YOUR CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS! Protect your mental peace ☮️⚠️
✨️ 📖 ARC 📖 REVIEW ✨️
This was the PERFECT palate cleanser between books, but the only problem I had was that it wasn't long enough! Yeah, I know its a novella, but this story was so good I would have read 350 pages of it!
Candace has had enough of BS men, so she goes to a Club and meets Knox who was able to help her take back every bit of power that was stripped from her!
Knox was the man that you always dream of when you are at your worst. He is there to help you, but also to make you moan. Throw some murder in the mix along with some madness and you have the perfect recipe for this masterpiece.
This is one of the books that I would pay a pretty penny to be able to go back and read it again for the first time! I am beyond hopeful that this will come to audio, so that I can read it immersively! It would be perfect!!
If all that wasn't enough TL;DR: Just buy the book and read. Then come tell me what you loved or hated!
Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Cadence Smoke ✨️ for the complimentary 📖 ARC 📖. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest, and voluntary✨️.
May 9, 2026
Our movements slow, the sensual lust still buzzing in the air around us.
I rest my head on his shoulder, still seated on him, while he strokes the back of my hair.
"You know you're mine now, right?" He chuckles, and I sit back to stare at him. "Sorry, Candy, but there's no way I'm fucking letting you go." I giggle. "Yours," I say and nod my head. "I like the sound of that." His smile widens as he holds me in his arms, and I melt into this
moment that I never want to end.
After everything we've been through tonight. There's no way I'm letting him go. We're stuck together, through moaning, murder, and madness.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ - 4-5 (good, would recommend)
I’m a feral whore at the moment for horror, I’ve been watching scream on repeat (ofc 1 & 4 duhhhh) for no reason, maybe it’s because I’m ovulating, maybe it’s just my inner freak, idk but either way I’m on a high and my reading is back on track!!!!!!!!
any dark romance that’s actually good that I can get my perfectly manicured ballerina slippers mixed with romper room, muchi muchi & boatloads of love by essie shaped almond square with a hint of sheer shine polished nails on I’ll read and eat up like a deprived french child in the revolution
I rest my head on his shoulder, still seated on him, while he strokes the back of my hair.
"You know you're mine now, right?" He chuckles, and I sit back to stare at him. "Sorry, Candy, but there's no way I'm fucking letting you go." I giggle. "Yours," I say and nod my head. "I like the sound of that." His smile widens as he holds me in his arms, and I melt into this
moment that I never want to end.
After everything we've been through tonight. There's no way I'm letting him go. We're stuck together, through moaning, murder, and madness.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ - 4-5 (good, would recommend)
I’m a feral whore at the moment for horror, I’ve been watching scream on repeat (ofc 1 & 4 duhhhh) for no reason, maybe it’s because I’m ovulating, maybe it’s just my inner freak, idk but either way I’m on a high and my reading is back on track!!!!!!!!
any dark romance that’s actually good that I can get my perfectly manicured ballerina slippers mixed with romper room, muchi muchi & boatloads of love by essie shaped almond square with a hint of sheer shine polished nails on I’ll read and eat up like a deprived french child in the revolution
April 23, 2026
After being beaten down and lied to for months by her boyfriend, Candace decides to confront him at the strip club his location is pinned at. When she arrives on site, she initially panics and wants to back out, but a helpful bouncer encourages her to take a breath and come up with a plan. While she wants to humiliate him, she is afraid to face his wrath, but her new friend has a better plan.
Knox has been watching Candace’s boyfriend for months, trying to come up with a plan to enact his own brand of revenge, but had always planned to keep her out of it. When she taunts him and he sees the man’s reaction, he knows it’s time to bring his plans to fruition, but only two of them will be walking out alive.
I received an early copy of this book from the author and absolutely loved it. Despite its darker themes, the story itself ended up being quite lighthearted, and I loved how Knox and Candy formed an instant connection. He shows his respect for her by allowing her to take back her power, without forcing her to do anything she isn’t comfortable with. More importantly, he shows her how a woman deserves to be treated, and treats her like a queen from their first encounter.
Knox has been watching Candace’s boyfriend for months, trying to come up with a plan to enact his own brand of revenge, but had always planned to keep her out of it. When she taunts him and he sees the man’s reaction, he knows it’s time to bring his plans to fruition, but only two of them will be walking out alive.
I received an early copy of this book from the author and absolutely loved it. Despite its darker themes, the story itself ended up being quite lighthearted, and I loved how Knox and Candy formed an instant connection. He shows his respect for her by allowing her to take back her power, without forcing her to do anything she isn’t comfortable with. More importantly, he shows her how a woman deserves to be treated, and treats her like a queen from their first encounter.
Review of advance copy received from Author
So... I didn't realize that this was a novella. I was expecting a longer story with a drawn-out revenge with some psychological elements. I feel like the tropes also don't really accurately encompass the story either. Our fmc is not an exotic dancer - I don't know what she is but putting on an outfit and dancing on stage once doesn't make you an exotic dancer. I don't get "good girl" vibes from the fmc from the start so it's hard to see the "good girl gone bad" aspect. It's more like... Normal woman goes off kilter torturer when (lightly) fueled by mmc. There's also connotations to the term knife play and I don't think that applies here; the fmc cutting someone isn't knife play it's just torture. I am pretty disappointed overall because I was really expecting more and was actually really excited for this but it just fell completely short. I found our mmc more interesting than our fmc but we only see his perspective a couple times. This just felt random and a little all over the place for me.
You might like this if you like:
Instalust/Instalove
Revenge plot
Multi pov
Nicknames
Short and sweet
HEA
Protective mmc
Side note: please do not stick candy inside of your lady pocket ☠️
You might like this if you like:
Instalust/Instalove
Revenge plot
Multi pov
Nicknames
Short and sweet
HEA
Protective mmc
Side note: please do not stick candy inside of your lady pocket ☠️
May 7, 2026
Sweet Like Candy –ARC Review
I stepped into the dark with this dark romance novella… and honestly? I didn’t want to leave.
From the very first page, the writing pulled me in completely. There’s something so addictive about the way this story is told, it grips you instantly and doesn’t let go.
We follow Candy, who is stuck in a toxic, abusive relationship with a man who is as pathetic as he is cruel. She’s finally ready to confront him and take back control… but things don’t exactly go to plan.
Enter Knox.
Ripped, dangerous, and absolutely lethal when it comes to protecting her, but beneath all that? Soft only for Candy. The kind of MMC that walks in and shifts the entire atmosphere.
The chemistry? Immediate.
The tension? Insane.
The connection between them? You can feel it.
It’s fast-paced, intense, and so satisfying to watch everything unfold—especially when the villain gets exactly what he deserves 👏
And that ending?
Absolute perfection.
A dark, spicy, hard-earned happily ever after that hits just right.
🖤
Thank you Cadence and team for the opportunity to ARC Read Sweet Like Candy. I absolutely loved it!
I stepped into the dark with this dark romance novella… and honestly? I didn’t want to leave.
From the very first page, the writing pulled me in completely. There’s something so addictive about the way this story is told, it grips you instantly and doesn’t let go.
We follow Candy, who is stuck in a toxic, abusive relationship with a man who is as pathetic as he is cruel. She’s finally ready to confront him and take back control… but things don’t exactly go to plan.
Enter Knox.
Ripped, dangerous, and absolutely lethal when it comes to protecting her, but beneath all that? Soft only for Candy. The kind of MMC that walks in and shifts the entire atmosphere.
The chemistry? Immediate.
The tension? Insane.
The connection between them? You can feel it.
It’s fast-paced, intense, and so satisfying to watch everything unfold—especially when the villain gets exactly what he deserves 👏
And that ending?
Absolute perfection.
A dark, spicy, hard-earned happily ever after that hits just right.
🖤
Thank you Cadence and team for the opportunity to ARC Read Sweet Like Candy. I absolutely loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Jason never deserved her, and the truth proves impossible to hide forever. Trapped in a toxic web of lies for far too long, Candace finally recognizes her self‑worth and makes the choice to reclaim her life, no matter the cost.
Enter Knox, dark, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. He crashes into her world like a violent storm, equal parts beautiful and brutal. Knox awakens a fire Candace thought had burned out long ago, pushing her to embrace her darkness and confront desires she’d never dared to claim. He calls her “sweet like Candy,” but sweetness only lasts so long.
I absolutely loved this novella. Watching Jason finally get what he deserved was beyond satisfying, and honestly, everyone needs a little Knox energy in their life. I flew through this story and immediately wanted more. I would have loved to see this expanded into a full novel, or even a follow‑up that explored Candace and Knox’s relationship further, maybe with a before‑and‑after look at their dynamic.
Thank you to Candence Smoke for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. This was dark, gripping, and completely addictive.
Enter Knox, dark, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. He crashes into her world like a violent storm, equal parts beautiful and brutal. Knox awakens a fire Candace thought had burned out long ago, pushing her to embrace her darkness and confront desires she’d never dared to claim. He calls her “sweet like Candy,” but sweetness only lasts so long.
I absolutely loved this novella. Watching Jason finally get what he deserved was beyond satisfying, and honestly, everyone needs a little Knox energy in their life. I flew through this story and immediately wanted more. I would have loved to see this expanded into a full novel, or even a follow‑up that explored Candace and Knox’s relationship further, maybe with a before‑and‑after look at their dynamic.
Thank you to Candence Smoke for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. This was dark, gripping, and completely addictive.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sweet Like Candy by Cadence Smoke is a dark, fast paced novella that’s equal parts sugary and savage. As the start of the Moaning, Murder & Madness series, it delivers an addictive, slightly unhinged ride you can easily devour in one sitting... AND I DID!!
Candace’s shift from broken to empowered is so dang satisfying, especially with Knox..quietly dangerous and fiercely protective...by her side. Their chemistry is instant and intense, with just enough spice to keep things burning without overpowering the story. And of course candy is involved!!🍭😉
For this being such a short read it really packed in all of my favorite tropes. It’s bold, it’s messy, and it doesn’t hold back. I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of this series!!
"There's no way I'm letting him go. We're stuck together, through moaning, murder, and madness."
🍭 Revenge
🍭 Protective MMC
🍭 Sweet and Spicy
🍭 Exotic Dancer
🍭 Good Girl Gone Bad
🍭 Knife Play
🍭 Touch Her and 💀
Huge thanks to Cadence and the Dark Romance PR Team for the ARC!! This was a wickedly fun ride.
Candace’s shift from broken to empowered is so dang satisfying, especially with Knox..quietly dangerous and fiercely protective...by her side. Their chemistry is instant and intense, with just enough spice to keep things burning without overpowering the story. And of course candy is involved!!🍭😉
For this being such a short read it really packed in all of my favorite tropes. It’s bold, it’s messy, and it doesn’t hold back. I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of this series!!
"There's no way I'm letting him go. We're stuck together, through moaning, murder, and madness."
🍭 Revenge
🍭 Protective MMC
🍭 Sweet and Spicy
🍭 Exotic Dancer
🍭 Good Girl Gone Bad
🍭 Knife Play
🍭 Touch Her and 💀
Huge thanks to Cadence and the Dark Romance PR Team for the ARC!! This was a wickedly fun ride.
April 17, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🔥🔥🔥
“When in doubt, eyes on me, Sweetness.” - Knox
Candace baby, even when you were scared you did what you needed to do and took control back! Tears can fall, they aren't always a sign of weakness. You made him your bitch.
Jason you're an Asshole who's getting everything coming for you.
And Knox hey! Green flag walking even if he Kills Assholes.
Showing a woman what it's really like to be loved and worshiped.
Candace walks into a strip club a scared women with her head low and walks out holding her head held high with a man she never thought she would ever have.
This lost .5 of a star because I can't do eyes! And it has a part in that I couldn't do. (If this wasn't in it would 100% be a 5⭐️ read for me!!)
Sweet Like Candy is the first book in the moaning, murder & madness interconnected series. Each book is a standalone with connected characters and themes.
This book contains Triggers so make sure you read them. Your Mental Health Matters 💋
🔥🔥🔥
“When in doubt, eyes on me, Sweetness.” - Knox
Candace baby, even when you were scared you did what you needed to do and took control back! Tears can fall, they aren't always a sign of weakness. You made him your bitch.
Jason you're an Asshole who's getting everything coming for you.
And Knox hey! Green flag walking even if he Kills Assholes.
Showing a woman what it's really like to be loved and worshiped.
Candace walks into a strip club a scared women with her head low and walks out holding her head held high with a man she never thought she would ever have.
This lost .5 of a star because I can't do eyes! And it has a part in that I couldn't do. (If this wasn't in it would 100% be a 5⭐️ read for me!!)
Sweet Like Candy is the first book in the moaning, murder & madness interconnected series. Each book is a standalone with connected characters and themes.
This book contains Triggers so make sure you read them. Your Mental Health Matters 💋
May 2, 2026
Title: Sweet Like Candy - ARC
Author: Cadence Smoke
Review: Sweet Like Candy is a short, sweet but an oh so spicy novella with all the revenge to boot!
Candace, aka Candy, is our anything but innocent FMC who has finally had enough of her abusive boyfriend, Jason. After being told he was working late, she tracks his location to a strip club and decides enough is enough. She wants to get his attention and Knox is the right man for the job.
With a plan in motion, she steps on stage and lets the revenge play out.
Knox, the sexy as sin MMC, helps Candy execute her plan, but he wasn’t anticipating just how captivated he would be when she gets on that stage and starts swinging that hot little body. But Knox has a secret… he already had his own agenda for Jason. Now, he has his sights set on Candy, and she’s not going anywhere.
I was hooked from the first page, the sexual chemistry between these two will leave you panting with anticipation. And what happens in the RED ROOM, stays in the RED ROOM. We want more!
I received an (ARC) Advanced Reader Copy for MY honest review for free.
Tropes
🩷Touch Her & Die
🩷Good Girl Gone Bad
🩷Revenge
🩷Protective MMC
🩷Knife Play
🩷Sweet & Spicy
🩷Exotic Dancer
Stars: 4.5/5 ★
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Author: Cadence Smoke
Review: Sweet Like Candy is a short, sweet but an oh so spicy novella with all the revenge to boot!
Candace, aka Candy, is our anything but innocent FMC who has finally had enough of her abusive boyfriend, Jason. After being told he was working late, she tracks his location to a strip club and decides enough is enough. She wants to get his attention and Knox is the right man for the job.
With a plan in motion, she steps on stage and lets the revenge play out.
Knox, the sexy as sin MMC, helps Candy execute her plan, but he wasn’t anticipating just how captivated he would be when she gets on that stage and starts swinging that hot little body. But Knox has a secret… he already had his own agenda for Jason. Now, he has his sights set on Candy, and she’s not going anywhere.
I was hooked from the first page, the sexual chemistry between these two will leave you panting with anticipation. And what happens in the RED ROOM, stays in the RED ROOM. We want more!
I received an (ARC) Advanced Reader Copy for MY honest review for free.
Tropes
🩷Touch Her & Die
🩷Good Girl Gone Bad
🩷Revenge
🩷Protective MMC
🩷Knife Play
🩷Sweet & Spicy
🩷Exotic Dancer
Stars: 4.5/5 ★
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
May 6, 2026
I had the pleasure of receiving this as an e-ARC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. This was a sweet and easy novella with spice. Loved the chemistry between Candace and Knox. This book made me wanting more!! What a great read!!
“Jason never deserved me. I know that now more than ever. He spun his web of lies and deceit so deep, and he had me fooled for far too long. But the truth always comes to light, one way or another. After suffering in our toxic relationship for over a year, I finally know my self-worth.
I’m ready to take back my life, even if that means ending his.
Knox came into my life like a wicked storm. Beautiful and brutal, turning my world upside down. He ignites a fire within me that I thought had long ago lost its spark. His passion and fury challenges me to embrace my darkness and fulfill my daunting desires.
He says I’m sweet like Candy, but one can only stay sweet for so long.”
“Jason never deserved me. I know that now more than ever. He spun his web of lies and deceit so deep, and he had me fooled for far too long. But the truth always comes to light, one way or another. After suffering in our toxic relationship for over a year, I finally know my self-worth.
I’m ready to take back my life, even if that means ending his.
Knox came into my life like a wicked storm. Beautiful and brutal, turning my world upside down. He ignites a fire within me that I thought had long ago lost its spark. His passion and fury challenges me to embrace my darkness and fulfill my daunting desires.
He says I’m sweet like Candy, but one can only stay sweet for so long.”
May 7, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sweet Like Candy by Cadence Smoke was such a quick but addictive dark romance read that completely pulled me in from the beginning.
Even though it’s a shorter book, the emotional intensity and toxic relationship dynamics still hit hard throughout the story.
Candy is trying to finally reclaim her self-worth after being trapped in a toxic relationship full of lies and manipulation, and I honestly loved seeing her slowly step into her own power.
Then Knox enters her life like absolute chaos 😮💨
Their connection felt dark, intense, messy, and emotionally consuming in a way that worked really well for the story.
I also liked how the book explored embracing darker desires while still focusing on Candy finding herself again after everything she endured.
Overall, Sweet Like Candy is a fast-paced dark romance filled with emotional tension, toxic relationship dynamics, intensity, and chemistry that makes it incredibly easy to binge in one sitting.
Sweet Like Candy by Cadence Smoke was such a quick but addictive dark romance read that completely pulled me in from the beginning.
Even though it’s a shorter book, the emotional intensity and toxic relationship dynamics still hit hard throughout the story.
Candy is trying to finally reclaim her self-worth after being trapped in a toxic relationship full of lies and manipulation, and I honestly loved seeing her slowly step into her own power.
Then Knox enters her life like absolute chaos 😮💨
Their connection felt dark, intense, messy, and emotionally consuming in a way that worked really well for the story.
I also liked how the book explored embracing darker desires while still focusing on Candy finding herself again after everything she endured.
Overall, Sweet Like Candy is a fast-paced dark romance filled with emotional tension, toxic relationship dynamics, intensity, and chemistry that makes it incredibly easy to binge in one sitting.
May 7, 2026
Sweet Like Candy was such a fast-paced addictive read that I genuinely couldn’t put down. From the moment Candace walked into that strip club with her pink hair and shattered trust, the story had me hooked. The tension between her and Knox was immediate and electric. Him calling her Candy the entire time? LOVED IT 🖤 I folded instantly.
What I loved most was watching Candace slowly reclaim herself. Knox doesn’t just protect her — he pushes her to stop shrinking herself for people who don’t deserve her and to finally embrace every darker part of who she is. Their chemistry was insanely hot, the spice delivered HARD, and underneath all the obsession and chaos there was something empowering about her taking her life back. If you like toxic relationships getting burned to the ground, possessive morally gray men, touch-her-and-die energy and a romance that feels dark, messy and consuming, this one absolutely hits.
What I loved most was watching Candace slowly reclaim herself. Knox doesn’t just protect her — he pushes her to stop shrinking herself for people who don’t deserve her and to finally embrace every darker part of who she is. Their chemistry was insanely hot, the spice delivered HARD, and underneath all the obsession and chaos there was something empowering about her taking her life back. If you like toxic relationships getting burned to the ground, possessive morally gray men, touch-her-and-die energy and a romance that feels dark, messy and consuming, this one absolutely hits.
May 16, 2026
Sweet Like Candy by Candace Smoke
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨(4.5)
💕 good girl gone bad
🔪 revenge
🍭 sweet and spicy
⛓️ possessive MMC
💕 exotic dancer FMC
🔪 touch her and ☠️
🍭 knife play
💕 bouncer MMC
🔪 club setting
⛓️ blood/violence
💕 "good for her"
HAPPY SWEET LIKE CANDY RELEASE DAY!!!
Looking for a fast paced sweet & spicy read with banter and some knife play?? I gotchu!🔪🍭
Sweet Like Candy by Cadence Smoke is the perfect read for if you're looking for a quick read with an exotic dancer FMC, club bouncer MMC and a sickly sweet revenge plot as well. Candy and Knox's chemistry is instant - and as pliable as saltwater taffy🍬
Also a big fuck Jason. Certified Jason hater.‼️ And ANYONE like him can get fucked.
As always check your triggers and happy reading 💕
Thankyou again to Cadence for the opportunity to ARC read.🩷
~
quotes:
“Sweetness, you’re going to hurt him. I’m going to kill him.”🔪
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice? I might hit you with my car." ⛓️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨(4.5)
💕 good girl gone bad
🔪 revenge
🍭 sweet and spicy
⛓️ possessive MMC
💕 exotic dancer FMC
🔪 touch her and ☠️
🍭 knife play
💕 bouncer MMC
🔪 club setting
⛓️ blood/violence
💕 "good for her"
HAPPY SWEET LIKE CANDY RELEASE DAY!!!
Looking for a fast paced sweet & spicy read with banter and some knife play?? I gotchu!🔪🍭
Sweet Like Candy by Cadence Smoke is the perfect read for if you're looking for a quick read with an exotic dancer FMC, club bouncer MMC and a sickly sweet revenge plot as well. Candy and Knox's chemistry is instant - and as pliable as saltwater taffy🍬
Also a big fuck Jason. Certified Jason hater.‼️ And ANYONE like him can get fucked.
As always check your triggers and happy reading 💕
Thankyou again to Cadence for the opportunity to ARC read.🩷
~
quotes:
“Sweetness, you’re going to hurt him. I’m going to kill him.”🔪
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice? I might hit you with my car." ⛓️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Revenge is a dish best served... sweet. Sweet Like Candy is a fast paced novella following Candace ("Candy") as she finally confronts her cheating boyfriend but not in the way you expect.
I loved Knox; that man is the definition of "I got your back" and his gentle ways around Candace as the night went on was cute. The minor characters (the strippers) added a bit of fun and humor while the revenge aspect was building. Then you have Candace who works through heavy emotions and situations regarding her ex and what she observes. J names really are the biggest a-holes of dating 😑
This is a heavy read as far as the triggers. There is emotional trauma and stuff from Candy's ex but the buildup was so good. I just wish that the book was longer. And I'm not a fan of insta love so I was kinda meh about that. Everything else was great!
*Thanks to Cadence Smoke for the ARC!
I loved Knox; that man is the definition of "I got your back" and his gentle ways around Candace as the night went on was cute. The minor characters (the strippers) added a bit of fun and humor while the revenge aspect was building. Then you have Candace who works through heavy emotions and situations regarding her ex and what she observes. J names really are the biggest a-holes of dating 😑
This is a heavy read as far as the triggers. There is emotional trauma and stuff from Candy's ex but the buildup was so good. I just wish that the book was longer. And I'm not a fan of insta love so I was kinda meh about that. Everything else was great!
*Thanks to Cadence Smoke for the ARC!
Review of advance copy
Sweet Like Candy by Cadence Smoke was short, sweet, and packed with heat, this perfect little novella left me wanting so much more from Candace and Knox.
Candace is determined to catch her boyfriend, Jason- (ugh hated him from the start), in a lie, but what she is not prepared for is Knox—the bouncer of the 6to9 strip club. And honestly? Neither was I.
Knox completely stole the show for me. I swear this man has one of the biggest hearts you could imagine. The way he showed up for Candace, supported her, and helped her work through her fears made him the perfect match for her. He was caring, protective, and exactly what she needed when her world started shifting. Where can I find me a Knox?
Absolutely loved Candace and Knox together. The way Knox was able to help Candy take back her life was everything and more.
Candace is determined to catch her boyfriend, Jason- (ugh hated him from the start), in a lie, but what she is not prepared for is Knox—the bouncer of the 6to9 strip club. And honestly? Neither was I.
Knox completely stole the show for me. I swear this man has one of the biggest hearts you could imagine. The way he showed up for Candace, supported her, and helped her work through her fears made him the perfect match for her. He was caring, protective, and exactly what she needed when her world started shifting. Where can I find me a Knox?
Absolutely loved Candace and Knox together. The way Knox was able to help Candy take back her life was everything and more.
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