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Stone Brother Billionaires #2
Sweet Escape
She wants to leave. He has to stay.
Hannah Lockhart travels the world and blogs about love. At least she used to before she promised to look after her sister's bakery. Now, stuck in small town California for the next six months, Hannah is desperate to find romantic content for her blog or risk losing both readers and income.
Then a whipped cream disaster sends her into the arms of sexy, charming Evan Stone, heir to the Sugar Rush Candy Company.
Since childhood, Evan has been battling his overprotective family. Known as "The Heartbreaker," he's found an outlet with women. And when bad news strikes him, he seeks a diversion by offering to show Hannah the romance of the Bay Area.
Hannah jumps at the chance...as long as they keep things platonic. But soon Evan's hot combination of charm, perfect kisses, and a serious sweet tooth melts her defenses.
As Hannah and Evan surrender to their delicious attraction, they are forced to confront the reality of her wanderlust and his responsibilities. When love and hearts collide, can Hannah and Evan find their sweet ending?
WARNING! Contains Sparkle Pops, knee-high socks, wanderlust, road trips, and wicked acts involving a chocolate mousse cake laced with Kahlua and ancho chilies.
SWEET ESCAPE is a sexy contemporary romance by New York Times bestselling author Nina Lane. It can be read as a standalone or enjoyed as part of the Sugar Rush series.
The Sugar Rush series in order:
SWEET DREAMS
SWEET ESCAPE
SWEET SURRENDER
SWEET TIME
SWEET LIFE
Hannah Lockhart travels the world and blogs about love. At least she used to before she promised to look after her sister's bakery. Now, stuck in small town California for the next six months, Hannah is desperate to find romantic content for her blog or risk losing both readers and income.
Then a whipped cream disaster sends her into the arms of sexy, charming Evan Stone, heir to the Sugar Rush Candy Company.
Since childhood, Evan has been battling his overprotective family. Known as "The Heartbreaker," he's found an outlet with women. And when bad news strikes him, he seeks a diversion by offering to show Hannah the romance of the Bay Area.
Hannah jumps at the chance...as long as they keep things platonic. But soon Evan's hot combination of charm, perfect kisses, and a serious sweet tooth melts her defenses.
As Hannah and Evan surrender to their delicious attraction, they are forced to confront the reality of her wanderlust and his responsibilities. When love and hearts collide, can Hannah and Evan find their sweet ending?
WARNING! Contains Sparkle Pops, knee-high socks, wanderlust, road trips, and wicked acts involving a chocolate mousse cake laced with Kahlua and ancho chilies.
SWEET ESCAPE is a sexy contemporary romance by New York Times bestselling author Nina Lane. It can be read as a standalone or enjoyed as part of the Sugar Rush series.
The Sugar Rush series in order:
SWEET DREAMS
SWEET ESCAPE
SWEET SURRENDER
SWEET TIME
SWEET LIFE
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2016
160 people are currently reading
965 people want to read
About the author
Nina Lane
50 books2,290 followersBorn and raised in California, NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling author Nina Lane now lives in Wisconsin where the winters are freezing and the cheese is exceptional. Mom to two teens and a neurotic dog, half her life consists of laundry, Girl Scouts, horses, and football, while the other half is filled with hot, swoony alpha heroes and the women who bring them to their knees.
Nina's a fan of popcorn, print magazines, working out, and checking the weather daily with her meteorologist husband. She holds a PhD in Art History and an MA in Library and Information Studies, but considers writing epic, emotional romances her one true calling in life. Thus, she is grateful and ecstatic to be able to bring the stories in her head to life for all her amazing fans. ♥
Please join my email list for new book alerts & fan extras (zero spam!)
→ www.ninalane.com/subscribe-to-the-new...
Nina's a fan of popcorn, print magazines, working out, and checking the weather daily with her meteorologist husband. She holds a PhD in Art History and an MA in Library and Information Studies, but considers writing epic, emotional romances her one true calling in life. Thus, she is grateful and ecstatic to be able to bring the stories in her head to life for all her amazing fans. ♥
Please join my email list for new book alerts & fan extras (zero spam!)
→ www.ninalane.com/subscribe-to-the-new...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
December 20, 2016
*****FIVE STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
He tangled his other hand in her hair and cupped the back of her neck. His grip was certain, gentle as if he were securing her rather than holding her in place. Then he lowered his head and pressed his mouth to hers. And inside Hannah, a light clicked on.
Sweet Escape is the second installment in the SUGAR RUSH series and now that I have read both books so far, I can say with certainty that Nina Lane has struck gold again!! I thought that the SPIRAL OF BLISS series was fantastic and now it is clear that Ms. Lane is no “one hit wonder” and that these stories will be a hit with the reading community as well. Ladies are we ever in for a sweet and decadent treat because there is a total of 7 Stone siblings!! The six brothers appear to be blessed in the looks department and from what I have read so far they are beyond gifted with their sexual prowess as well. The Hero and Heroine in this one are Evan Stone and Hannah Lockhart, Luke’s younger brother and Polly’s older sister. The sexual chemistry between these two is sure to get quite a few hearts racing!!
Evan Stone is currently the acting CEO of Sugar Rush while his brother Luke spends his sabbatical in Paris with his girlfriend, Polly. This is his chance to prove to everyone that he is more than capable of running the family business. For most of his life, his family has handled him as if he were fragile because of his congenital heart issues but Evan has always tried to prove that he is a lot tougher than everyone gives him credit for.
Hannah Lockhart is a world traveler and not one who likes to be tied down to one place. She feels a tremendous amount of guilt over the fact that she was not around while her mother became very ill from cancer. She knew that it was wrong to leave her mother’s caretaking in the hands of her younger sister, Polly, but Hannah didn’t have it in her to watch her mother wither away. This stems from the loss of her father and also the loss of her first love. Hannah’s afraid to get close to people because she fears that they will be taken away from her since she’s already dealt with so much loss. But currently, she’s back home running her family’s bakery while Polly is off in France, enrolled in a Culinary school. Hannah is itching to take off but is sticking to her promise to keep the business going until her sister returns home in a few months.
Evan and Hannah have formed an easy friendship but there is definitely a very strong underlying attraction between them as well. Both do not have any desire to be in a long-term committed relationship. Hannah is determined to travel the world again and continue posting about all of her journeys and stories of love on her travel blog. Evan has never let a woman get too close because of his heart condition and doesn’t want to put anyone through a life that could only end in heartbreak because of his illness.
Hannah ends up placing a winning bid on Evan during a high-priced bachelor auction. It was an impulse move on her part in which she momentarily forgot that she doesn’t have the funds to pay for the weekend getaway date, but Evan comes to her rescue and ends up footing the bill. He even convinces Hannah to still go on the date and the heat that builds between them had me having major heart palpitations. There’s one thing you need to know about Nina Lane, if you haven’t read any of her books yet, she can deliver the schmexy like no other!! She is sure to get your temperature rising and definitely in the mood for some serious lovin!!
Evan keeps his condition a secret from Hannah for a while but ultimately he has to explain the scar he has in the middle of his chest and surprisingly she doesn’t end up running with this new discovery. On the contrary, Hannah is determined to stay by his side but what happens when things get scary between them and Evan is unwilling to be the anchor that weighs her down?
Sweet Escape was just as incredible as its predecessor and all I can say is that if you haven’t picked up this series yet, you need to bump these up your TBR. The Stone brothers are sure to be added to your top favorite book boyfriends list!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Escape-S...
iBooks: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/...
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
He tangled his other hand in her hair and cupped the back of her neck. His grip was certain, gentle as if he were securing her rather than holding her in place. Then he lowered his head and pressed his mouth to hers. And inside Hannah, a light clicked on.
Sweet Escape is the second installment in the SUGAR RUSH series and now that I have read both books so far, I can say with certainty that Nina Lane has struck gold again!! I thought that the SPIRAL OF BLISS series was fantastic and now it is clear that Ms. Lane is no “one hit wonder” and that these stories will be a hit with the reading community as well. Ladies are we ever in for a sweet and decadent treat because there is a total of 7 Stone siblings!! The six brothers appear to be blessed in the looks department and from what I have read so far they are beyond gifted with their sexual prowess as well. The Hero and Heroine in this one are Evan Stone and Hannah Lockhart, Luke’s younger brother and Polly’s older sister. The sexual chemistry between these two is sure to get quite a few hearts racing!!
Evan Stone is currently the acting CEO of Sugar Rush while his brother Luke spends his sabbatical in Paris with his girlfriend, Polly. This is his chance to prove to everyone that he is more than capable of running the family business. For most of his life, his family has handled him as if he were fragile because of his congenital heart issues but Evan has always tried to prove that he is a lot tougher than everyone gives him credit for.
Hannah Lockhart is a world traveler and not one who likes to be tied down to one place. She feels a tremendous amount of guilt over the fact that she was not around while her mother became very ill from cancer. She knew that it was wrong to leave her mother’s caretaking in the hands of her younger sister, Polly, but Hannah didn’t have it in her to watch her mother wither away. This stems from the loss of her father and also the loss of her first love. Hannah’s afraid to get close to people because she fears that they will be taken away from her since she’s already dealt with so much loss. But currently, she’s back home running her family’s bakery while Polly is off in France, enrolled in a Culinary school. Hannah is itching to take off but is sticking to her promise to keep the business going until her sister returns home in a few months.
Evan and Hannah have formed an easy friendship but there is definitely a very strong underlying attraction between them as well. Both do not have any desire to be in a long-term committed relationship. Hannah is determined to travel the world again and continue posting about all of her journeys and stories of love on her travel blog. Evan has never let a woman get too close because of his heart condition and doesn’t want to put anyone through a life that could only end in heartbreak because of his illness.
Hannah ends up placing a winning bid on Evan during a high-priced bachelor auction. It was an impulse move on her part in which she momentarily forgot that she doesn’t have the funds to pay for the weekend getaway date, but Evan comes to her rescue and ends up footing the bill. He even convinces Hannah to still go on the date and the heat that builds between them had me having major heart palpitations. There’s one thing you need to know about Nina Lane, if you haven’t read any of her books yet, she can deliver the schmexy like no other!! She is sure to get your temperature rising and definitely in the mood for some serious lovin!!
Evan keeps his condition a secret from Hannah for a while but ultimately he has to explain the scar he has in the middle of his chest and surprisingly she doesn’t end up running with this new discovery. On the contrary, Hannah is determined to stay by his side but what happens when things get scary between them and Evan is unwilling to be the anchor that weighs her down?
Sweet Escape was just as incredible as its predecessor and all I can say is that if you haven’t picked up this series yet, you need to bump these up your TBR. The Stone brothers are sure to be added to your top favorite book boyfriends list!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Escape-S...
iBooks: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/...
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...
February 7, 2017
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
Pour some sugar and lovin’ to Nina Lane’s newest sticky and sweet contemporary romance, Sweet Escape. I have a sweet tooth and a sugar rush when it comes to the Stone siblings. And in this second installment, Nina Lane has perfected her recipe when it comes to these sweet and delectable romance. A pinch of sass, a teaspoon of drama, a tablespoon of laughter, a cup of sex, and a whole heaping of love. And oh yeah, a sprinkling of Evan Stone. Mix it all together and you got one sugary treat that was dangerously addicting!!!
“Oh, did he kiss her. His mouth moved with deliberate ease over hers, urging her lips apart so he could dip his tongue inside. He tasted like sweet, spicy peppermint, and his breath was cool against her lips. Hannah’s pleasure blossomed outward, filling her veins with heat.”
If you read the first book, Sweet Dreams, then you were all introduced to Hannah Lockhart, the older sister of Polly and Evan Stone, the younger brother of Luke. And so in Sweet Escape, Hannah is taking over Wild Child Bakery while her sister is enrolled in a pastry course in Paris. Unlike her sister, Hannah has always been the wild child, who loves to travel. She is always on the go, never settling in one place that is until Polly asked her to watch and take over the bakery while she is away. Hence, Hannah for the first time in several years find herself staying put temporarily.
Evan Stone is a thirty one years old bachelor who has been coined as “Heartbreaker.” Well this heartbreaker ain’t breaking lots of heart per se but he makes it known to the ladies that relationships aren’t his thing especially since he has a defective heart. His illness has always been his armor when it comes to protecting his heart and disappointment. He doesn’t want his family seeing him as someone who needs special care because of his defective heart and so he tries to work really hard to show his family that he is strong, reliable, and capable of taking care of himself.
“Curious girl. A wanderlust photographer who found beauty in strange places other people wouldn’t think to look. What other secrets did she have? She was like a present wrapped in bright shiny paper that he couldn’t wait to tear open.”
When Hannah was asked to help cater this bachelor auction, she suddenly finds herself accidentally bidding on Evan Stone, which in turn leads her to agreeing to going on several dates with him. Evan is easily smittened with Hannah. She intrigues him and ignites a desire and addiction that he craves. She is one treat that he would like to bite into.
As Hannah and Evan begins to get close, a friendship begins to form that soon leads to a sexual romantic affair. It was inevitable for these two as the chemistry and sexual tension was palpable from the start. And let’s just say these two knew how to get things sticky!!! But what happens when Hannah itch for wanderlust begins to set in? Will Evan give Hannah a reason to stay? And will Hannah discover that home might be in the arms of Evan Stone?
“His heart beat steady and strong against her ear, like a rhythmic knocking on a door. In response, her own heart softened, like it wanted to answer. She pressed her hand to her chest as if to stifle the urge.”
Sweet Escape was a playful, fun, sexy, steamy, and sinfully addicting read that had a touch of raw emotions. This book had relatable characters who were raw, honest, and vulnerable. I loved Hannah as readers got to discover a heroine, who is just looking for love and a place to call home. And home happens to be with Evan Stone. So can a girl who blogs about the magic of love find her sweet escape and forever love in Evan? I guess the only way to find out is to give this hunky, sexy, dirty talking hero a lick!! Yes, so if you like your romance dirty, sexy, sweet, tarty, and sticky then Sweet Escape is the book for you. Go on and discover why Evan Stone has a sweet tooth for the only woman who has been able to unlocked his heart.
Nina Lane
Pour some sugar and lovin’ to Nina Lane’s newest sticky and sweet contemporary romance, Sweet Escape. I have a sweet tooth and a sugar rush when it comes to the Stone siblings. And in this second installment, Nina Lane has perfected her recipe when it comes to these sweet and delectable romance. A pinch of sass, a teaspoon of drama, a tablespoon of laughter, a cup of sex, and a whole heaping of love. And oh yeah, a sprinkling of Evan Stone. Mix it all together and you got one sugary treat that was dangerously addicting!!!
“Oh, did he kiss her. His mouth moved with deliberate ease over hers, urging her lips apart so he could dip his tongue inside. He tasted like sweet, spicy peppermint, and his breath was cool against her lips. Hannah’s pleasure blossomed outward, filling her veins with heat.”If you read the first book, Sweet Dreams, then you were all introduced to Hannah Lockhart, the older sister of Polly and Evan Stone, the younger brother of Luke. And so in Sweet Escape, Hannah is taking over Wild Child Bakery while her sister is enrolled in a pastry course in Paris. Unlike her sister, Hannah has always been the wild child, who loves to travel. She is always on the go, never settling in one place that is until Polly asked her to watch and take over the bakery while she is away. Hence, Hannah for the first time in several years find herself staying put temporarily.
Evan Stone is a thirty one years old bachelor who has been coined as “Heartbreaker.” Well this heartbreaker ain’t breaking lots of heart per se but he makes it known to the ladies that relationships aren’t his thing especially since he has a defective heart. His illness has always been his armor when it comes to protecting his heart and disappointment. He doesn’t want his family seeing him as someone who needs special care because of his defective heart and so he tries to work really hard to show his family that he is strong, reliable, and capable of taking care of himself.
“Curious girl. A wanderlust photographer who found beauty in strange places other people wouldn’t think to look. What other secrets did she have? She was like a present wrapped in bright shiny paper that he couldn’t wait to tear open.”When Hannah was asked to help cater this bachelor auction, she suddenly finds herself accidentally bidding on Evan Stone, which in turn leads her to agreeing to going on several dates with him. Evan is easily smittened with Hannah. She intrigues him and ignites a desire and addiction that he craves. She is one treat that he would like to bite into.
As Hannah and Evan begins to get close, a friendship begins to form that soon leads to a sexual romantic affair. It was inevitable for these two as the chemistry and sexual tension was palpable from the start. And let’s just say these two knew how to get things sticky!!! But what happens when Hannah itch for wanderlust begins to set in? Will Evan give Hannah a reason to stay? And will Hannah discover that home might be in the arms of Evan Stone?
“His heart beat steady and strong against her ear, like a rhythmic knocking on a door. In response, her own heart softened, like it wanted to answer. She pressed her hand to her chest as if to stifle the urge.”Sweet Escape was a playful, fun, sexy, steamy, and sinfully addicting read that had a touch of raw emotions. This book had relatable characters who were raw, honest, and vulnerable. I loved Hannah as readers got to discover a heroine, who is just looking for love and a place to call home. And home happens to be with Evan Stone. So can a girl who blogs about the magic of love find her sweet escape and forever love in Evan? I guess the only way to find out is to give this hunky, sexy, dirty talking hero a lick!! Yes, so if you like your romance dirty, sexy, sweet, tarty, and sticky then Sweet Escape is the book for you. Go on and discover why Evan Stone has a sweet tooth for the only woman who has been able to unlocked his heart.
Nina Lane
December 12, 2016
5 'Sahnehäubchen' Stars!
ARC provided by the author via InkSlingerPR in exchange for an honest review.
Nina Lane is one of my favorite authors, especially when it comes to emotional, swoony but still so-sexy love stories. Earlier this year she started a new series and I have to say I am loving these books! Sweet Dreams was a great start but Sweet Escape, for me, was even better!
Sweet Escape is the second installment in the Sugar Rush series and it’s all about Ethan Stone and Hannah Lockhart, aka Luke’s brother and Polly’s sister. So, Hannah is helping with the bakery while Polly is in Paris with Luke and everything changes when she ends up falling in love with Ethan. Both are escaping different aspects in their lives (Hannah wants to go back on her travels and Ethan wants to prove that his heart defect will not affect his value as CEO).
“You have a sweet tooth,” he said. “Everyone has a sweet tooth. You’ve just misplaced yours.”
“I assure you…” […]“I have not misplaced my sweet tooth.”
“Yeah, you have.” Evan narrowed his eyes. “But don’t worry. I’ll find it for you.”
I loved this story so much! I felt so connected with the characters and how they deal with the circumstances that appear in their lives. I loved that Hannah is a blogger and is making a living from that. I loved that Ethan is such a strong character even though he can’t stop feeling scared from his heart disease. I love how this couple find their own escape together.
“Why have you spent so many years traveling the world?” he asked.
To escape.
He was careful to keep his emotions guarded and cautious with women, but if he let her, Hannah could breach his guard. She might be the only woman in the world who could.
Here is the thing: not Hannah nor Ethan want a serious relationship. Hannah only promised 6 months to her sister and Ethan does not want to risk his heart. However, it’s impossible for them not to fall in love because they have such an amazing connection. They understand each other and they gave us adorable, heartfelt and lots of sexy moments! This woman knows how to write the sex, that’s for sure! Ethan is so powerful and hot!
“You did it,” she whispered, brushing her lips against his.
“Did what?” His voice was a sleepy murmur.
“You found my sweet tooth.”
“I want to fuck you in every way imaginable. And in ways that haven’t been invented yet.”
But as I mentioned before, the best thing about Nina’s books are the emotions she is can make you feel with her words. I loved Sweet Dreams but I loved Sweet Escape even more because of the feelings it provoked in me. Who complains about a couple with crazy chemistry who gave you all the feels by the end of the book? Not me! I loved this story and how it ended (even though I always miss my epilogues! lol).
If anything would make him not only realize he was still alive but revel in the glory of being alive, it was the sight of Hannah Lockhart.
“You’d never be the reason I’m trapped,” she said. “You’re the reason I’m free.”
Therefore, my rating for Sweet Escape is 5 STARS because this is Nina Lane at her best, giving us all the feels and her swoony worthy heroes! I can’t wait to see who is next because I know this whole series will be fantastic! So, if you enjoyed Nina’s writing in the past or you want a sweet, touching but still off-the-charts hot, check this series out. I can tell you, you will not regret it!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
ARC provided by the author via InkSlingerPR in exchange for an honest review.
Nina Lane is one of my favorite authors, especially when it comes to emotional, swoony but still so-sexy love stories. Earlier this year she started a new series and I have to say I am loving these books! Sweet Dreams was a great start but Sweet Escape, for me, was even better!
Sweet Escape is the second installment in the Sugar Rush series and it’s all about Ethan Stone and Hannah Lockhart, aka Luke’s brother and Polly’s sister. So, Hannah is helping with the bakery while Polly is in Paris with Luke and everything changes when she ends up falling in love with Ethan. Both are escaping different aspects in their lives (Hannah wants to go back on her travels and Ethan wants to prove that his heart defect will not affect his value as CEO).
“You have a sweet tooth,” he said. “Everyone has a sweet tooth. You’ve just misplaced yours.”
“I assure you…” […]“I have not misplaced my sweet tooth.”
“Yeah, you have.” Evan narrowed his eyes. “But don’t worry. I’ll find it for you.”
I loved this story so much! I felt so connected with the characters and how they deal with the circumstances that appear in their lives. I loved that Hannah is a blogger and is making a living from that. I loved that Ethan is such a strong character even though he can’t stop feeling scared from his heart disease. I love how this couple find their own escape together.
“Why have you spent so many years traveling the world?” he asked.
To escape.
He was careful to keep his emotions guarded and cautious with women, but if he let her, Hannah could breach his guard. She might be the only woman in the world who could.
Here is the thing: not Hannah nor Ethan want a serious relationship. Hannah only promised 6 months to her sister and Ethan does not want to risk his heart. However, it’s impossible for them not to fall in love because they have such an amazing connection. They understand each other and they gave us adorable, heartfelt and lots of sexy moments! This woman knows how to write the sex, that’s for sure! Ethan is so powerful and hot!
“You did it,” she whispered, brushing her lips against his.
“Did what?” His voice was a sleepy murmur.
“You found my sweet tooth.”
“I want to fuck you in every way imaginable. And in ways that haven’t been invented yet.”
But as I mentioned before, the best thing about Nina’s books are the emotions she is can make you feel with her words. I loved Sweet Dreams but I loved Sweet Escape even more because of the feelings it provoked in me. Who complains about a couple with crazy chemistry who gave you all the feels by the end of the book? Not me! I loved this story and how it ended (even though I always miss my epilogues! lol).
If anything would make him not only realize he was still alive but revel in the glory of being alive, it was the sight of Hannah Lockhart.
“You’d never be the reason I’m trapped,” she said. “You’re the reason I’m free.”
Therefore, my rating for Sweet Escape is 5 STARS because this is Nina Lane at her best, giving us all the feels and her swoony worthy heroes! I can’t wait to see who is next because I know this whole series will be fantastic! So, if you enjoyed Nina’s writing in the past or you want a sweet, touching but still off-the-charts hot, check this series out. I can tell you, you will not regret it!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
December 9, 2016
Nina Lane has done it again! She has developed a sweet, sexy, and romantic story with a couple that melts your heart and has you rooting for them right from the start! This story also includes a lot of quirky fun facts from both characters, and made a great addition in their romance. I have found in most of Nina Lane's books, she includes these little fun messages...or interesting facts that all her heroes and heroines exchange. Whether it be in the notes they leave for one another, or text messages; they just make it so that there is an originality in her romances that I really enjoy!
As far as the story itself goes, I enjoyed it...there is very low angst, and a lot of sweetness to it....but you would expect that from a "Sugar Rush" series!! LOL
I am going to keep this short for now, and hopefully when I have a bit more time I will expand on my review...If you are a Nina Lane fan, then this will definitely be a book you must read!! It could be read as a stand alone, but you would get much more benefit in reading book one first. There are six brothers in this series, and the first book included the oldest brother, and in this one we had Evan. I can't wait to hear who the next ones story will be about!!!
As far as the story itself goes, I enjoyed it...there is very low angst, and a lot of sweetness to it....but you would expect that from a "Sugar Rush" series!! LOL
I am going to keep this short for now, and hopefully when I have a bit more time I will expand on my review...If you are a Nina Lane fan, then this will definitely be a book you must read!! It could be read as a stand alone, but you would get much more benefit in reading book one first. There are six brothers in this series, and the first book included the oldest brother, and in this one we had Evan. I can't wait to hear who the next ones story will be about!!!
December 16, 2016
5 Heartbreaker Stars!
(ARC provided by author)
Evan Stone is a 31 yr. old gorgeous man born with a heart defect. He is one of seven siblings & his family owns the Sugar Rush Candy Company in the coastal California town of Indigo Bay. Dealing with his heart condition has become a way of life for him. He didn't know life without it, or a time when his family wasn't overprotective of him. He still hasn't found his place in the company & wanted to show he was capable of running it. When his oldest brother Luke takes a leave of absence, Evan takes over as CEO. He's thrilled to finally be able to prove himself.
Hannah Lockhart is s woman from Rainsville, California who left home years ago after her mother was sick. She is an independent world traveler & has a love themed travel blog called Lock Heart. She's been in Rainsville for three months now running her sister Polly's bakery called Wild Child while her sister is away in Paris taking a pastry course. She has agreed to stay for six more months. She will do what's needed and then she plans to leave town and return to her own life.
Hannah doesn't want to make any ties or connections while in town. She always seems to end up alone, which she thinks is what she wants until she begins spending time with the beautiful charming Evan Stone. Evan is the brother of her sister's fiancé which makes him almost family. She develops a major crush and decides maybe some fun with Evan wouldn't be such a bad thing.
Evan finds Hannah captivating & spending time with her is just what he's needed. He wants to feel in control & craves an adventure. Hannah is the perfect distraction & he's determined to have her. Once things really heat up between them, they both get attached quick & are addicted to one another.
-"I like you a lot, Lockhart."
-He'd never felt so right with a woman before. He'd known the moment he first saw her that his pull toward her was inordinately powerful.
-She reminded him of the ocean, constantly moving in different directions, pushed by both the winds and the water's own undercurrents and riptides.
-He'd never felt this way about a woman before, never been willing to let his heart control him to this extent.
Evan & Hannah enjoy spending time together & at times Hannah feels like she's living a fairytale, but will her wanderlust & Evan's health complicate things? I really fell hard for Evan Stone! He's such a beautiful, delicious man. Nina made me swoon again & I can't wait for the rest of the Stone brothers! I'm hooked!!! Bring on Tyler! :))
-She'd never met a man with a stronger heart than his, one that had unlocked her own.
-She loved everything about him.
-She hadn't known all the magnificent experiences of the world would pale in comparison to the idea of a lifetime with Evan.
-"Your worth everything, especially my heart."
(ARC provided by author)
Evan Stone is a 31 yr. old gorgeous man born with a heart defect. He is one of seven siblings & his family owns the Sugar Rush Candy Company in the coastal California town of Indigo Bay. Dealing with his heart condition has become a way of life for him. He didn't know life without it, or a time when his family wasn't overprotective of him. He still hasn't found his place in the company & wanted to show he was capable of running it. When his oldest brother Luke takes a leave of absence, Evan takes over as CEO. He's thrilled to finally be able to prove himself.
Hannah Lockhart is s woman from Rainsville, California who left home years ago after her mother was sick. She is an independent world traveler & has a love themed travel blog called Lock Heart. She's been in Rainsville for three months now running her sister Polly's bakery called Wild Child while her sister is away in Paris taking a pastry course. She has agreed to stay for six more months. She will do what's needed and then she plans to leave town and return to her own life.
Hannah doesn't want to make any ties or connections while in town. She always seems to end up alone, which she thinks is what she wants until she begins spending time with the beautiful charming Evan Stone. Evan is the brother of her sister's fiancé which makes him almost family. She develops a major crush and decides maybe some fun with Evan wouldn't be such a bad thing.
Evan finds Hannah captivating & spending time with her is just what he's needed. He wants to feel in control & craves an adventure. Hannah is the perfect distraction & he's determined to have her. Once things really heat up between them, they both get attached quick & are addicted to one another.
-"I like you a lot, Lockhart."
-He'd never felt so right with a woman before. He'd known the moment he first saw her that his pull toward her was inordinately powerful.
-She reminded him of the ocean, constantly moving in different directions, pushed by both the winds and the water's own undercurrents and riptides.
-He'd never felt this way about a woman before, never been willing to let his heart control him to this extent.
Evan & Hannah enjoy spending time together & at times Hannah feels like she's living a fairytale, but will her wanderlust & Evan's health complicate things? I really fell hard for Evan Stone! He's such a beautiful, delicious man. Nina made me swoon again & I can't wait for the rest of the Stone brothers! I'm hooked!!! Bring on Tyler! :))
-She'd never met a man with a stronger heart than his, one that had unlocked her own.
-She loved everything about him.
-She hadn't known all the magnificent experiences of the world would pale in comparison to the idea of a lifetime with Evan.
-"Your worth everything, especially my heart."
December 18, 2016
4 Sweet Stars!
It's no secret I love Nina Lane. Ever since the Spiral of Bliss series I've been a huge fan. She gives me detailed romance stories that leaves me feeling breathless and indulged. There's something about her writing that always makes me emotional. Her stories whisks me away and I have to force myself back into reality.
Evan Stone is Luke's younger brother and the second oldest of the Stone siblings. Evan has dealt with a defective heart his entire life...even with his heart condition he's still known as "The Heartbreaker". He's sexy, swoonworthy and has a way with the ladies. From the moment he set eyes on Hannah Lockhart Evan wanted her and Hannah was drawn to him, but the problem is neither one wants a serious relationship. I loved reading about their romance and it was beautiful seeing it blossom into something more.
At first, I had a hard time warming up to the third person writing...I'm getting really spoiled with first person, but once I got into it I didn't notice it much anymore and I was able to really enjoy the story.
I definitely recommend this story to anyone who wants a beautiful, heartfelt romance! Nina doesn't disappoint!
*ARC graciously provided in exchange for an honest review*
It's no secret I love Nina Lane. Ever since the Spiral of Bliss series I've been a huge fan. She gives me detailed romance stories that leaves me feeling breathless and indulged. There's something about her writing that always makes me emotional. Her stories whisks me away and I have to force myself back into reality.
Evan Stone is Luke's younger brother and the second oldest of the Stone siblings. Evan has dealt with a defective heart his entire life...even with his heart condition he's still known as "The Heartbreaker". He's sexy, swoonworthy and has a way with the ladies. From the moment he set eyes on Hannah Lockhart Evan wanted her and Hannah was drawn to him, but the problem is neither one wants a serious relationship. I loved reading about their romance and it was beautiful seeing it blossom into something more.
At first, I had a hard time warming up to the third person writing...I'm getting really spoiled with first person, but once I got into it I didn't notice it much anymore and I was able to really enjoy the story.
I definitely recommend this story to anyone who wants a beautiful, heartfelt romance! Nina doesn't disappoint!
*ARC graciously provided in exchange for an honest review*
December 6, 2016
NOW LIVEEEE ~ http://amzn.to/2gYNyhI
5+++ Stars
I always know what I'm going to get when I pick a Nina Lane book up and that's toe curling sensuality, storytelling Nina knows how to keep you on your toes and she just takes you to a different world. Honest to goodness I indulge in her reads. They are a REAL ESCAPE for me and I devoured this book from beginning to end.
So what's it about?
Hannah is the sister of Polly back in Sweet Dreams and while Polly got her HEA and is off enjoying her dream in Paris Hannah has promised Polly she'll stay put and help out in their bakery/coffee shop but only for 6 months until Polly is back home and then they'll be off on her travels again. The thing is Hannah owns a blog journaling her experiences, watching live and writing and taking photos of all the places she see's. But for now she's staying still which is very foreign for her yet she's trying her hardest.
Evan is the brother of Luke and is now running the Sugar Rush he wants to prove his worth but he's also holding secrets of his own and so he just needs to do this alone and make sure he does this on his own terms.
Hannah and Evan though know each other the odd meet up but they have had chemistry from the beginning that explodes the pages and although these are two souls who are lonely they ultimately find something in each other that they need... they have a set up of sorts that provide something they need NOW! Not the future just one date at a time.
I will say this: Nina just knows how to provide the right mix of sex, emotions and storytelling in one. She had me wanting to read on and on and on! I couldn't put it down and Evan gah he was lovable, endearing, caring but also protective and yes I had a few tears at times, I wanted to hold him and tell him he's NOT ON HIS OWN, it's ok to let people in, so many feels. He pulled my heart in the right way.
Overall I'd highly recommend this book and series, it was FABULOUS and just what I needed this week. If your wanting a delicious new protective hero and a fun free spirited heroine to enjoy go meet Evan & Hannah they are SEEEERRRWWWWEEETTT!!
Enjoy Xo
ARC generously gifted in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews and blog posts
5+++ Stars
I always know what I'm going to get when I pick a Nina Lane book up and that's toe curling sensuality, storytelling Nina knows how to keep you on your toes and she just takes you to a different world. Honest to goodness I indulge in her reads. They are a REAL ESCAPE for me and I devoured this book from beginning to end.
So what's it about?
Hannah is the sister of Polly back in Sweet Dreams and while Polly got her HEA and is off enjoying her dream in Paris Hannah has promised Polly she'll stay put and help out in their bakery/coffee shop but only for 6 months until Polly is back home and then they'll be off on her travels again. The thing is Hannah owns a blog journaling her experiences, watching live and writing and taking photos of all the places she see's. But for now she's staying still which is very foreign for her yet she's trying her hardest.
Evan is the brother of Luke and is now running the Sugar Rush he wants to prove his worth but he's also holding secrets of his own and so he just needs to do this alone and make sure he does this on his own terms.
Hannah and Evan though know each other the odd meet up but they have had chemistry from the beginning that explodes the pages and although these are two souls who are lonely they ultimately find something in each other that they need... they have a set up of sorts that provide something they need NOW! Not the future just one date at a time.
I will say this: Nina just knows how to provide the right mix of sex, emotions and storytelling in one. She had me wanting to read on and on and on! I couldn't put it down and Evan gah he was lovable, endearing, caring but also protective and yes I had a few tears at times, I wanted to hold him and tell him he's NOT ON HIS OWN, it's ok to let people in, so many feels. He pulled my heart in the right way.
Overall I'd highly recommend this book and series, it was FABULOUS and just what I needed this week. If your wanting a delicious new protective hero and a fun free spirited heroine to enjoy go meet Evan & Hannah they are SEEEERRRWWWWEEETTT!!
Enjoy Xo
ARC generously gifted in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews and blog posts
December 10, 2016
5 stars
If you haven't read this series you are looking all the fun!!Nina Lane is one of my favorite authors!This series is different from her other books yet so good!!
Sweet Escape was another delicious,super hot,intense,passionate,sweet and emotional story!So far Evan is my favorite man!!!I don't know where to start !He was sexy,sweet,funny and charming.Hannah was also fantastic,I loved her personality!!
If you are looking for a delicious read this is the perfect book!!
If you haven't read this series you are looking all the fun!!Nina Lane is one of my favorite authors!This series is different from her other books yet so good!!
Sweet Escape was another delicious,super hot,intense,passionate,sweet and emotional story!So far Evan is my favorite man!!!I don't know where to start !He was sexy,sweet,funny and charming.Hannah was also fantastic,I loved her personality!!
If you are looking for a delicious read this is the perfect book!!
December 18, 2017
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
After meeting Hannah in the first Sugar Rush book I was a little nervous about reading her own book even though I can't exactly explain why. But for whatever reason I kept putting this story off and it's something I regret doing now. I ended up loving her and Evan's journey and they made such an amazing couple.
I really liked that they both were so different but that they could explore those differences. Evan showed Hannah that she didn't need to run to find happiness but at the same time Hannah showed him that it wasn't always bad to run. The fact that their personalities kind of contradicted each other's is why I loved seeing them together and why I would definitely recommend reading this book.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
After meeting Hannah in the first Sugar Rush book I was a little nervous about reading her own book even though I can't exactly explain why. But for whatever reason I kept putting this story off and it's something I regret doing now. I ended up loving her and Evan's journey and they made such an amazing couple.
I really liked that they both were so different but that they could explore those differences. Evan showed Hannah that she didn't need to run to find happiness but at the same time Hannah showed him that it wasn't always bad to run. The fact that their personalities kind of contradicted each other's is why I loved seeing them together and why I would definitely recommend reading this book.
December 5, 2016
Nina…be still my heart, you have brought us another swoonworthy hero! Since I read the first book in the series, Sugar Dreams, I couldn't wait to read Evan and Hannah's story! No joke, I totally did PM Nina about it a few times.
In the first book, we find out that Evan was born with a heart defect. He hasn't let it get in the way of living his life though. He has this way about him in that he doesn't let his heart issue define him. He wants people to like him not just because they think they can fix him or heal him, but the REAL him. The real him is a non-materlistic, sexy, dirty-talking, sweetheart that will have you falling in love.
Hannah as you may remember is Polly's sister. While Polly is away with Luke, Hannah's running Wild Child, their late mom's bakery. Hannah cannot be any more different than Evan. She's more of a hippie, world travel blogger, never really putting roots down.
The first time they meet up in the book will have you rooting for them the entire time. Their connection is instantaneous and combustable. This meeting is actually quite funny and sets the backdrop for a cute running joke throughout the book.
These two are perfect for each other. They both sort of ground each other, Evan brings out a more "stay in one place" Hannah and in Evan she brings out a man ready to fall in love.
Nina has a way with words and adds such detail to her stories. One of their ongoing jokes had me pulling up Google as I had to know what they meant. For me, that's what I love in books, learning quirky facts, new words, and finding new things I want to eat! Nina, can we please get a cookbook from all these amazing foods that Hannah was making please?
This was such a fun read. And sexy! Yes, Nina is literally the master of writing the best sex out there. No joke! This is part of a series but I can ensure you, it can most definitely be read as a standalone.
In the first book, we find out that Evan was born with a heart defect. He hasn't let it get in the way of living his life though. He has this way about him in that he doesn't let his heart issue define him. He wants people to like him not just because they think they can fix him or heal him, but the REAL him. The real him is a non-materlistic, sexy, dirty-talking, sweetheart that will have you falling in love.
Hannah as you may remember is Polly's sister. While Polly is away with Luke, Hannah's running Wild Child, their late mom's bakery. Hannah cannot be any more different than Evan. She's more of a hippie, world travel blogger, never really putting roots down.
The first time they meet up in the book will have you rooting for them the entire time. Their connection is instantaneous and combustable. This meeting is actually quite funny and sets the backdrop for a cute running joke throughout the book.
These two are perfect for each other. They both sort of ground each other, Evan brings out a more "stay in one place" Hannah and in Evan she brings out a man ready to fall in love.
Nina has a way with words and adds such detail to her stories. One of their ongoing jokes had me pulling up Google as I had to know what they meant. For me, that's what I love in books, learning quirky facts, new words, and finding new things I want to eat! Nina, can we please get a cookbook from all these amazing foods that Hannah was making please?
This was such a fun read. And sexy! Yes, Nina is literally the master of writing the best sex out there. No joke! This is part of a series but I can ensure you, it can most definitely be read as a standalone.
November 27, 2017
I liked it. Since I’m slightly OCD and I am gearing up to read the next release in the Sugar Rush series, I had to catch up with all the books in between that and the first one, Sweet Dreams, which I really liked alot.
Unfortunately, since I really liked her sister Polly (the heroine in the first book), I had a preconceived idea of Hannah. It was not good. Now, I did get to know Hannah better in this entry, so she grew on me, and she paired well with Evan, but
Yes, I looked at her like that for the majority of this book. Evan was also fine as a hero, and his medical issues certainly gave a basis for his need for control, but I liked his brother better. This is not my favorite in the series, but there’s still alot here to intrigue me and characters I want to get to know better, so onward..
**ARC provided by author PR for review**
For more reviews, visit
December 12, 2016
Sweet Escape (Sugar Rush #2) by Nina Lane
4.5 stars!!!
For those that have a sweet tooth this is the book for you. There is a lot of sticky and sweet in this book and I’m not only talking about the pastries. This is a cute, honest, sweet romance that touches every single romantic bone in your body. As ever, fantastic character connection and a swoon worthy man in the form of Evan Stone. Nina Lane never fails to deliver a hero to die for and Evan Stone is another one of those men, even the hardest of hearts will be melted by the “Heartbreaker.”
Evan Stone has fought an uphill battle from the moment he took his first breath. Born with a heart condition his life has been a constant force of doctors’ visits, operations and an over bearing and over protective family that want to do nothing more than wrap him in cotton wool and keep him safe. Now in his thirties he wants normality, he wants to be treated the same as his brothers, he wants to do things, but his heart is always holding him back and none more so than with love. How can he love anyone when he may not be around? How can his broken heart fall in love with anyone anyway? He just hadn’t met the heart that beats with his.
Hannah has a severe case of wanderlust, since graduating college she has been a traveller, wrapped up in her blog and her photography bringing love to life through vivid imagery and words as she shares her experiences and expresses life’s meanings. Now in her home town running her sister’s bakery while she is on a course, Hannah is getting itchy feet being in the same place for months at a time. Her home town is a place she never envisioned returning to, but for once, she was putting family first, Hannah was flighty, but she had her reasons and it seemed it ran in her blood, but she found herself enjoying the bakery and especially one of the customers who had a penchant for their Declairs.
Nina Lane delivers the perfect mix of plot, passion and emotion as Evan and Hannah struggle to see what everyone else can see around them. Neither thinking they have the propensity to love or be loved they could not have got it more wrong. These two light up the pages from the beginning as Nina Lane delivers on that character connection in spades and brings to life a romance that will have your heart racing and a perma grin etched on your face from ear to ear.
The chemistry was electric, the passion intense, the getting to know you was fun, the opening up was beautiful, everything about this couple screamed longevity. They may have been total opposites, but together they were the Ben to the Jerry, the peanut butter to the jam, they just went, they “got” each other, they understood their little idiosyncrasies, the complemented each other. Yes, it takes them a while to get there, Nina Lane does take you on a little angst fest to get there, but underneath the warm and fuzzies are the ones that leave a lasting impression. Totally loved it.
www.theromancecover.com
4.5 stars!!!
“You’d never be the reason I’m trapped… You’re the reason I’m free.”
For those that have a sweet tooth this is the book for you. There is a lot of sticky and sweet in this book and I’m not only talking about the pastries. This is a cute, honest, sweet romance that touches every single romantic bone in your body. As ever, fantastic character connection and a swoon worthy man in the form of Evan Stone. Nina Lane never fails to deliver a hero to die for and Evan Stone is another one of those men, even the hardest of hearts will be melted by the “Heartbreaker.”
“You are my sweet tooth.”
Evan Stone has fought an uphill battle from the moment he took his first breath. Born with a heart condition his life has been a constant force of doctors’ visits, operations and an over bearing and over protective family that want to do nothing more than wrap him in cotton wool and keep him safe. Now in his thirties he wants normality, he wants to be treated the same as his brothers, he wants to do things, but his heart is always holding him back and none more so than with love. How can he love anyone when he may not be around? How can his broken heart fall in love with anyone anyway? He just hadn’t met the heart that beats with his.
“His heart was anything but defective. She’d never met a man with a stronger heart than his, one that had unlocked her own.”
Hannah has a severe case of wanderlust, since graduating college she has been a traveller, wrapped up in her blog and her photography bringing love to life through vivid imagery and words as she shares her experiences and expresses life’s meanings. Now in her home town running her sister’s bakery while she is on a course, Hannah is getting itchy feet being in the same place for months at a time. Her home town is a place she never envisioned returning to, but for once, she was putting family first, Hannah was flighty, but she had her reasons and it seemed it ran in her blood, but she found herself enjoying the bakery and especially one of the customers who had a penchant for their Declairs.
“Is that what we are? An escape?”
“I don’t know exactly what we are… It doesn’t feel like an escape, though. It feels like a return.”
Nina Lane delivers the perfect mix of plot, passion and emotion as Evan and Hannah struggle to see what everyone else can see around them. Neither thinking they have the propensity to love or be loved they could not have got it more wrong. These two light up the pages from the beginning as Nina Lane delivers on that character connection in spades and brings to life a romance that will have your heart racing and a perma grin etched on your face from ear to ear.
“She wanted to make him healthy again, to give him her heart. And yet she already had.”
The chemistry was electric, the passion intense, the getting to know you was fun, the opening up was beautiful, everything about this couple screamed longevity. They may have been total opposites, but together they were the Ben to the Jerry, the peanut butter to the jam, they just went, they “got” each other, they understood their little idiosyncrasies, the complemented each other. Yes, it takes them a while to get there, Nina Lane does take you on a little angst fest to get there, but underneath the warm and fuzzies are the ones that leave a lasting impression. Totally loved it.
“Now I know why they call you Heartbreaker…”
www.theromancecover.com
February 7, 2017
I feel like I should have liked this one better. Part of it was I didn't care for Hannah due to her actions in the last book and how it seems like Polly had to almost blackmail Hannah to stay and help Polly out with the bakery, after having not come home while their mother died. Another part of it was that Evan came off as a closet man-whore, a fact he was a bit proud of. Nor did it help how he felt the need to hide his medical condition. I think it's time to grow up and realize that you have a serious condition and your family will always worry about you.
December 11, 2016
I didn't think much of book 1 but liked Evan in that book so decided to read his story but unfortunately this series is not for me. This story followed a similar format to book 1 but it was predictable and I never felt their love.
I can't believe this is the same author who wrote the Spiral of Bliss series. This new series is really below par.
I can't believe this is the same author who wrote the Spiral of Bliss series. This new series is really below par.
June 19, 2017
Let me start by saying that I dove into this read straight after I finished Sweet Dreams. I was a bit anxious about reading it as I was totally in love with Luke and Polly and worried that Ethan and Hannah might not measure up. I was worried the 2nd Stone/Lockhart combo might not mesh... Lesson learned. With Ethan Stone and Hannah Lockhart I found myself completely captivated and over the top in love with them. Once I started I couldn't put this down and I read it into the wee hours of the morning.
Sweet Escape tugged at every sentimental cell in me. I adore the details and the symbolism and how Nina brings it together in their connection. Ethan's lifelong heart condition and Hannah Lockharts' wanderlust are plot drivers that connect Ethan and Hannah and propel this story into one of the most beautifully told love stories - I can feel the prick of tears in my eyes just reflecting on this.
Maybe I was primed after reading Sweet Dreams, but likely it's a combination of Nina's storytelling and the state Sweet Dreams left me in. Because of this, this is a 5++ star story and I 'm going to take the opportunity to share some of my favorite lines from it. Some are inner dialogue and some are character dialogue ~ character interactions making for this perfect and beautiful love affair. It's the kind of story that makes me want to smile and weep at the same time. It's a #MustRead and an all time favorite.
**********************************************
"But was this what people meant when they talked about the perfect kiss? Was it this wild, riotous combination of tenderness and excitement, the sense that you were both simultaneously falling and floating?"
"Was it feeling as if you were being kissed right to your soul?"
"And though the spontaneity of traveling had soon become part of her, she knew her wanderlust stemmed from the fear of loss. Her father. Andrew. Her mother. Maybe even Polly, who’d never had the older sister she deserved."
"She appreciated that Evan didn’t find it necessary to talk all the time— one of the reasons she preferred traveling alone was that she was never forced to make conversation when she didn’t want to. But with him, compatible silence felt both comfortable and natural. "
“You can talk all you want about being a reporter who just dishes out the facts, but you write about love because you know it’s the one concept everyone in the world has the capacity to feel— at any time, anywhere, regardless of who they are or what else they believe. That’s the reason people in dozens of different countries have traditions celebrating love. Everyone knows how powerful it can be.”
"His heart beat steady and strong against her ear, like a rhythmic knocking on a door. In response, her own heart softened , as if it wanted to answer."
"How many other things did she have to discover about Evan Stone? He was like an entire country, mapped with secret landscapes and hidden rivers that she wanted to navigate and explore until she found the very center of him. And there she wanted to curl up and rest."
“It was an escape ,” Hannah said. No one understood the need for escape better than she did. Evan opened his eyes. Something indefinable flickered across his face. “Is that what we are?” he asked. “An escape?” “I don’t know exactly what we are.” Hannah ran her hand over his chest. “It doesn’t feel like an escape, though. It feels like a return.”
"Hannah stepped away from the bed and stared out the window at the rooftops of Indigo Bay. No one had believed her capable of staying. Not even her."
"Was this love? This wild, complex yearning for another person? The sharp fear of losing him mixed with the overwhelming joy of being with him right now, his body warm and solid against hers and his breath stirring her hair? Was true love this tangle of emotions, this breathtaking need, the feeling that she would give anything to be with Evan rather than alone? Was it knowing in some deep -seated part of her being that she belonged to him, and only him? Yes, whispered a little voice in Hannah’s heart."
"All the sexy things I’ll never tell anyone but her. Because when I’m with her, I see hearts everywhere. "
* I was gifted with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Sweet Escape tugged at every sentimental cell in me. I adore the details and the symbolism and how Nina brings it together in their connection. Ethan's lifelong heart condition and Hannah Lockharts' wanderlust are plot drivers that connect Ethan and Hannah and propel this story into one of the most beautifully told love stories - I can feel the prick of tears in my eyes just reflecting on this.
Maybe I was primed after reading Sweet Dreams, but likely it's a combination of Nina's storytelling and the state Sweet Dreams left me in. Because of this, this is a 5++ star story and I 'm going to take the opportunity to share some of my favorite lines from it. Some are inner dialogue and some are character dialogue ~ character interactions making for this perfect and beautiful love affair. It's the kind of story that makes me want to smile and weep at the same time. It's a #MustRead and an all time favorite.
**********************************************
"But was this what people meant when they talked about the perfect kiss? Was it this wild, riotous combination of tenderness and excitement, the sense that you were both simultaneously falling and floating?"
"Was it feeling as if you were being kissed right to your soul?"
"And though the spontaneity of traveling had soon become part of her, she knew her wanderlust stemmed from the fear of loss. Her father. Andrew. Her mother. Maybe even Polly, who’d never had the older sister she deserved."
"She appreciated that Evan didn’t find it necessary to talk all the time— one of the reasons she preferred traveling alone was that she was never forced to make conversation when she didn’t want to. But with him, compatible silence felt both comfortable and natural. "
“You can talk all you want about being a reporter who just dishes out the facts, but you write about love because you know it’s the one concept everyone in the world has the capacity to feel— at any time, anywhere, regardless of who they are or what else they believe. That’s the reason people in dozens of different countries have traditions celebrating love. Everyone knows how powerful it can be.”
"His heart beat steady and strong against her ear, like a rhythmic knocking on a door. In response, her own heart softened , as if it wanted to answer."
"How many other things did she have to discover about Evan Stone? He was like an entire country, mapped with secret landscapes and hidden rivers that she wanted to navigate and explore until she found the very center of him. And there she wanted to curl up and rest."
“It was an escape ,” Hannah said. No one understood the need for escape better than she did. Evan opened his eyes. Something indefinable flickered across his face. “Is that what we are?” he asked. “An escape?” “I don’t know exactly what we are.” Hannah ran her hand over his chest. “It doesn’t feel like an escape, though. It feels like a return.”
"Hannah stepped away from the bed and stared out the window at the rooftops of Indigo Bay. No one had believed her capable of staying. Not even her."
"Was this love? This wild, complex yearning for another person? The sharp fear of losing him mixed with the overwhelming joy of being with him right now, his body warm and solid against hers and his breath stirring her hair? Was true love this tangle of emotions, this breathtaking need, the feeling that she would give anything to be with Evan rather than alone? Was it knowing in some deep -seated part of her being that she belonged to him, and only him? Yes, whispered a little voice in Hannah’s heart."
"All the sexy things I’ll never tell anyone but her. Because when I’m with her, I see hearts everywhere. "
* I was gifted with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
December 15, 2016
I just want to crawl inside Nina Lane’s mind as she magically brings her oh-so-swoon worthy heroes and their romances to life. It never fails. Each time, with every story penned, Lane touches the very heart of me as I become so totally lost within her fantastical worlds. Everything around me simply fades away until all that remains is the beauty created from her written words. It’s no surprise how easily Evan “Heartbreaker” Stone stole my heart with all his sugary sweetness and off the charts hotness. He melted me like a delicious piece of fine chocolate. I savored Evan and Hannah’s passion filled journey in Sweet Escape ~ from their no-strings-attached fling to undeniable true love.
My love story starts with a broken heart.
In Sweet Dreams, (the first book in the Sugar Rush Series), we met the adorably stubborn Evan Stone and learned all about his serious heart condition. Constantly under the watchful eyes of his family, he was frequently reminded of his life-long illness and limitations, much to his vexation.
One of the reasons why I loved Evan’s character in Sweet Escape (aside from his sexiness and luscious gorgeousness) was seeing his unwavering determination to push the envelope. He lived life to the fullest, as much as his circumstances would allow, and approached every obstacle head-on. Loved that his physical weakness only served to strengthen his resolve. He fights for what he wants, especially when it came to the family business and eventually Hannah’s presence in his life. But there’s a vulnerable side to Evan that moved me. Because of his health issues, Evan had insecurities, thus felt the need to avoid long-term romantic relationships. He’s nicknamed “Heartbreaker” for that reason. So when Hannah Lockhart stepped into his life, with her willingness to eventually leave and travel the world, she seemed to be the perfect woman for a fleeting sex-filled fling. The only problem… the connection between them became too powerful to deny. As much as Evan’s fears and stubbornness tried to convince him otherwise, Hannah was in his heart. And oh boy, these two were passionately hot and heavy. Nina Lane certainly knows how to turn up the heat level to scorching.
I have to admit I had some reservations with Hannah’s character for part of this read, as well as when she was introduced in the first installment. She was a self-proclaimed wanderlust, making her way around the world, blogging about her adventures. The last place she wanted to be was stuck in a small town, running Wild Child Bakery, during her sister’s absence. Her flightiness had me anxious as it caused a bit of push-and-pull within the story line. Even though I always relish the build up of angst, there were times her actions had me worried about how their relationship would turn out. But given the opportunity, seeing the reasons why Hannah felt the need to run from her family and past, I eventually understood her mindset. In the end, she proved to be the right girl for lovable Evan.
I loved seeing this couple work through their fears and difficulties while feeding each other strength. How Hannah never focused on Evan’s weaknesses, only his love and determination. I adored the way Evan got all that was Hannah, never judging and always supportive. For a man with a “broken heart”, I found his character to have the biggest and most compassionate heart of all. And holy crap was Evan dominating and HOT! The sexual chemistry this couple shared was explosive. Honestly, Nina knows how to write a sizzling sex scene that makes my heart flutter every time.
Sweet Escape was a great emotional, steamy treat with just the right amount of drama, laughter and heartfelt moments built into the story line. I’ll never get my fill of Lane’s writing style, the way her stories flow and how she brings to life a cast of such lovable characters, especially her sincere heroes. This is the perfect read for when your in the mood for a truly feel good romance. Although part of a series, this can absolutely be read as a standalone novel. Thank you Nina for another wonderful reading experience. Looking forward to more from the sexy Stone Brothers.
I voluntary an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
December 14, 2017
After reading Sweet Dreams, I couldn't wait to dive into Hannah and Evan's story! I loved both of their characters in the first book. Plus, I couldn't wait for them to prove their siblings "wrong" - for Hannah that meant staying at the bakery for a few months rather than giving into her wanderlust and for Evan that meant being a successful temporary CEO. As it turns out, this book was EVEN BETTER than the first one!
I loved the dynamic between Hannah and Even. It was the perfect distribution of adorable and sexy. Plus, the banter between them was fantastic - their chemistry just poured out. I also enjoyed reading about the trips they took in the book as well as the struggles they faced at work. More importantly, I liked that adventure hungry Hannah finally found a home in this! It warmed my heart to see her so happy and content. In all, Sweet Dreams is a fanatic follow-up!
4 stars!
I loved the dynamic between Hannah and Even. It was the perfect distribution of adorable and sexy. Plus, the banter between them was fantastic - their chemistry just poured out. I also enjoyed reading about the trips they took in the book as well as the struggles they faced at work. More importantly, I liked that adventure hungry Hannah finally found a home in this! It warmed my heart to see her so happy and content. In all, Sweet Dreams is a fanatic follow-up!
4 stars!
April 29, 2020
Sweet Escape was a sexy and fun romantic story where you are going to want to escape to all these amazing places that get mentioned throughout the book. Evan and Hannah are people that are just living for the now without any expectations and it's in the mind frame that they don't even realize that they are falling in love.
In Sweet Dreams we all think that we have Hannah all figured out but we finally get to read about why she is always gone and how she feels about missing out on not being there for her mom while she was sick. We meet Evan Stone and this Stone brother brings the heat and the candy any where he goes.
Sweet Escape was another well written story in the Sugar Rush series, I think I like Evan and Hannah a little more than Polly and Luke but overall these stories in this book series will have you smiling and blushing all at the same time.
Can't wait to read what the other Stone men have in store for us.
~Glori💜
In Sweet Dreams we all think that we have Hannah all figured out but we finally get to read about why she is always gone and how she feels about missing out on not being there for her mom while she was sick. We meet Evan Stone and this Stone brother brings the heat and the candy any where he goes.
Sweet Escape was another well written story in the Sugar Rush series, I think I like Evan and Hannah a little more than Polly and Luke but overall these stories in this book series will have you smiling and blushing all at the same time.
Can't wait to read what the other Stone men have in store for us.
~Glori💜
December 14, 2016
4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed the first book, 'Sweet Dreams'. Having been introduced to Evan and Hannah as support characters there, I was super excited about them getting their own book. Turns out, I liked 'Sweet Escape' even more than the first book.
Evan has finally been given the opportunity to play CEO while his brother is out of town, but business and health issues are not making things easy. With his history of heart defect, he's been lavished with love and protection from his family, but it's hindered him as well. With Hannah, she has her own history and family issues to overcome. She's the flaky, traveling sister, never around long enough to take care of anyone but herself. So when she's forced to stay in town to take care of her sister's bakery, she's also forced to look at herself and what it means to find a home.
Pairing Evan and Hannah together was a perfect mix. I loved the balance between sexy and sweet, strength and vulnerability, courage and fear, love and hope. It was quite the journey, exploring this tentative relationship between them, with the future so unknown due to Hannah's impermanence and Evan's "heartbreaker" status. But I loved their journey. Their friendship, the dates, the romance, the sugary sweetness, the unknown - Evan and Hannah touched my heart and I absolutely loved them as a couple.
'Sweet Escape' was a solid 4-star-read until the last third of the book, where it got even better and hit the 5 star level! I felt so much emotion that I was afraid I was going to tear up at work on my lunch break when I was trying to finish the book. I definitely fell in love with Hannah and Evan's beautiful (and sweet) story.
I really enjoyed the first book, 'Sweet Dreams'. Having been introduced to Evan and Hannah as support characters there, I was super excited about them getting their own book. Turns out, I liked 'Sweet Escape' even more than the first book.
Evan has finally been given the opportunity to play CEO while his brother is out of town, but business and health issues are not making things easy. With his history of heart defect, he's been lavished with love and protection from his family, but it's hindered him as well. With Hannah, she has her own history and family issues to overcome. She's the flaky, traveling sister, never around long enough to take care of anyone but herself. So when she's forced to stay in town to take care of her sister's bakery, she's also forced to look at herself and what it means to find a home.
Pairing Evan and Hannah together was a perfect mix. I loved the balance between sexy and sweet, strength and vulnerability, courage and fear, love and hope. It was quite the journey, exploring this tentative relationship between them, with the future so unknown due to Hannah's impermanence and Evan's "heartbreaker" status. But I loved their journey. Their friendship, the dates, the romance, the sugary sweetness, the unknown - Evan and Hannah touched my heart and I absolutely loved them as a couple.
'Sweet Escape' was a solid 4-star-read until the last third of the book, where it got even better and hit the 5 star level! I felt so much emotion that I was afraid I was going to tear up at work on my lunch break when I was trying to finish the book. I definitely fell in love with Hannah and Evan's beautiful (and sweet) story.
December 12, 2016
I received an ARC from the author for an honest review.
This book was sweet & steamy! The romance builds slowly, and you get to experience it along with the main characters, Hannah & Evan! I LOVED both these characters. They were both tortured internally in their own ways, and so good together. Nina Lane always creates the best worlds in her books. You can almost taste it in this book (get it...candy...taste it :)! I highly recommend this book and series! I will read anything from Nina!!
"None of them had spun clouds in the middle of her soul"
"Her soul filled with more colors and light than existed in the world"
This book was sweet & steamy! The romance builds slowly, and you get to experience it along with the main characters, Hannah & Evan! I LOVED both these characters. They were both tortured internally in their own ways, and so good together. Nina Lane always creates the best worlds in her books. You can almost taste it in this book (get it...candy...taste it :)! I highly recommend this book and series! I will read anything from Nina!!
"None of them had spun clouds in the middle of her soul"
"Her soul filled with more colors and light than existed in the world"
June 17, 2018
This was a fun and sexy read; I enjoyed the story overall, still many elements bothered me throughout the book. Hannah is the unreliable sister, the one who run away from town leaving her dying mom under the sole care of her little sister who had to drop out of college and save her mom's business on her own while Hanna travelled the world... That issue was half solved in the previous book, and could be a non issue in this book, only that having the hero, Evan, having a serious heart condition, her dealing with her issues with the hero's health and limitations, and her own wandering lifestyle, seems doubly tainted considering the back story... My case? It does not sit well with me to read how she's now willing to stay "for love", or... for a really special guy when she did not for her mom and sister.
Also, Evan and Hanna were both set on having a short term affaire, which we know will turn into a relationship and a HEA, yet I found upsetting how there were both very ok with having a mock relationship acting out all sort of romantic scenarios when they were very clear on not having a future together... What's the logic in that?? Weird plot device... I did not follow how that could be a thing (I've read a zillion stories about no strings attached flings, but never one where both parties are acting as if they were in love on purpose, to me it rings out cynical and supperficial).
Also, Evan and Hanna were both set on having a short term affaire, which we know will turn into a relationship and a HEA, yet I found upsetting how there were both very ok with having a mock relationship acting out all sort of romantic scenarios when they were very clear on not having a future together... What's the logic in that?? Weird plot device... I did not follow how that could be a thing (I've read a zillion stories about no strings attached flings, but never one where both parties are acting as if they were in love on purpose, to me it rings out cynical and supperficial).
April 27, 2017
SWEET ESCAPE (SUGAR RUSH 2) by NINA LANE
One of the loveliest series out there. Nina Lane proves us that she is a talented storyteller in SPIRAL OF BLISS and now this. She just makes one of the loveliest stories out there that makes you want to hug your phone and shower the characters she created with so many hugs.
We met the Polly & Luke in and book 1 and fans of this series will have to agree that we did root for the sister and brother-in-law to hook up and Nina did so by giving us their story in Sweet Escape. It was lovely, emotional and sexy. The kind of books that I love is something that makes me want more and she did. Nina always delivers and so much more.
Fans of this series better be ready because this book is sexy and emotional and will sure bring you to tears. Coz I did and I loved it. I love every minute of reading it. I kinda feel similar to Hannah but in the end she found what was missing and is brave enough to face and embrace it. She and Evan is such a pair.
It will always be a pleasure to receive an advance copy of a book from a writer that you so adore and I am thankful I am one.
♥
One of the loveliest series out there. Nina Lane proves us that she is a talented storyteller in SPIRAL OF BLISS and now this. She just makes one of the loveliest stories out there that makes you want to hug your phone and shower the characters she created with so many hugs.
We met the Polly & Luke in and book 1 and fans of this series will have to agree that we did root for the sister and brother-in-law to hook up and Nina did so by giving us their story in Sweet Escape. It was lovely, emotional and sexy. The kind of books that I love is something that makes me want more and she did. Nina always delivers and so much more.
Fans of this series better be ready because this book is sexy and emotional and will sure bring you to tears. Coz I did and I loved it. I love every minute of reading it. I kinda feel similar to Hannah but in the end she found what was missing and is brave enough to face and embrace it. She and Evan is such a pair.
It will always be a pleasure to receive an advance copy of a book from a writer that you so adore and I am thankful I am one.
♥
April 27, 2020
Reviewed for a Book Nerd, a Bookseller and a Bibliophile.
Sweet Escape was a sexy and fun romantic story where you are going to want to escape to all these amazing places that get mentioned throughout the book. Evan and Hannah are people that are just living for the now without any expectations and it's in the mind frame that they don't even realize that they are falling in love.
In Sweet Dreams we all think that we have Hannah all figured out but we finally get to read about why she is always gone and how she feels about missing out on not being there for her mom while she was sick. We meet Evan Stone and this Stone brother brings the heat and the candy any where he goes.
Sweet Escape was another well written story in the Sugar Rush series, I think I like Evan and Hannah a little more than Polly and Luke but overall these stories in this book series will have you smiling and blushing all at the same time.
Can't wait to read what the other Stone men have in store for us.
Sweet Escape was a sexy and fun romantic story where you are going to want to escape to all these amazing places that get mentioned throughout the book. Evan and Hannah are people that are just living for the now without any expectations and it's in the mind frame that they don't even realize that they are falling in love.
In Sweet Dreams we all think that we have Hannah all figured out but we finally get to read about why she is always gone and how she feels about missing out on not being there for her mom while she was sick. We meet Evan Stone and this Stone brother brings the heat and the candy any where he goes.
Sweet Escape was another well written story in the Sugar Rush series, I think I like Evan and Hannah a little more than Polly and Luke but overall these stories in this book series will have you smiling and blushing all at the same time.
Can't wait to read what the other Stone men have in store for us.
July 9, 2020
Rating ~ 3.5 stars
May 3, 2021
Pov: male & female
Main characters: Evan & Hannah
Minor characters: Luke & Adam (his brothers), Polly (her sister)
My thoughts:
I enjoyed this story. I do wish the separation was a little more drawn out. These stories have an overall more lighthearted tone than the Spiral of Bliss series, but they’re still good. I would have liked for Evan to have to work harder to earn her trust back, or for her to have felt more guilt and pushed him away when he got sick. I think I just wanted more drama.
I do enjoy how the siblings are worked into the story without distracting from the story. The next book is about Tyler, and he’s only mentioned once in book 1.
Synopsis:
Evan is the 2nd oldest of 6 siblings. His family runs a candy company. He was born with a heart defect and needed 3 surgeries to correct it. When he was in college his mother and sister got in a car accident. His mother died and his sister was badly hurt. His father dedicated himself to his sister and the company started failing. Luke left college and took over the company. Evan tried to stay out of the way and not cause any more worry.
He always felt like “the sick one”. He wanted more responsibility at work but Luke wouldn’t give it to him. He came up with an idea to start a sustainability branch of the company, but Luke wouldn’t put him in charge because it would require traveling to some remote locations.
Luke meets Polly (book 1) and moves to Paris with her while she takes a culinary course. He agrees to leave Evan in charge for the year while he’s gone.
Hannah is the oldest of 2 girls. They were raised by their mother in a hippie commune. When she was 12 her mom took them away from the commune and opened her own bakery. Polly loved it and helped. Hannah always felt left out.
Their mom got cancer and Polly left college to take care of her and the bakery. Hannah left town. She couldn’t handle seeing her mom so sick.
She started traveling the world, and eventually started a blog about her travels. She wrote about different love customs everywhere she went. Her blog was popular enough that it supported her travels, and she was offered a book deal.
Polly met Luke and won a contest to study cooking in Paris. (Book 1). Hannah came back and decided to run the bakery so Polly could go. She was counting down the days until Polly returned so she could get back on the road.
Evan met Hannah while helping Luke fix the bakery with Polly. He was instantly attracted to her.
Hannah mentions wanting to leave town to Polly, who mentions it to Luke who mentions it to Evan. Evan doesn’t want Polly and Luke to come back early because he wants to prove himself at the company. He tells Evan he’ll keep an eye on Hannah and the bakery.
Evans aunt throws a charity bachelor auction and Evan and his brothers are some of the bachelors. Hannah is hired to cater the event. Evans ex girlfriend is there so he escapes to the kitchen to see Hannah.
He helps her prepare the food and she appreciates it. There’s a mutual attraction between them. At the auction his ex outbids the others. Hannah can tell he’s uncomfortable so she blurts out $50k. She wins the auction and he finds her in the crowd and kisses her.
The prize is 3 dates with him. She doesn’t want to go. She knows she could really like him and doesn’t want to. He takes her to a carnival to persuade her.
They have a great time and are both attracted to each other. When he drops her off he kisses her and they get carried away. She tells him that’s why they shouldn’t go on the dates. He tells her he’ll keep his hands to himself. That if she wants to go further she’ll have to make the first move.
She agrees to the dates.
The book publisher calls and tells her they like her blog but want her to rework it. They want her to write about being a single woman looking for love and hooking up around the world, which isn’t what she did.
He has a doctors appointment and finds out he needs to have another open heart surgery to replace a failing valve. He doesn’t tell anyone about it. He doesn’t want Hannah to look at him differently.
They go on date 1, a weekend getaway to a winery.
They have a great time and like each other more and more. They talk about their families and she mentions her blog and book deal. He mentions the fair trade sustainability branch he started at the company.
At the end of the night the sexual tension is too much for her and she decides to go for it. She tells him it’ll only work if it’s temporary. He says yes.
They start fooling around and he tells her about his heart. They have sex. They decide to keep seeing each other when they get back home.
Back at work his aunt warns him to be careful with Hannah. That he’s easy to fall in love with, and Hannah will be part of their lives forever since Luke and Polly are getting married.
They spend all their free time together.
One day she goes to the beach during a storm and almost gets washed away. Evan sees her and saves her. She finds out he lives on the beach in a shack, not a fancy mansion like she assumed. She likes him even more.
She stays over and uses her mouth on him, then they have sex.
In the morning his brother Adam comes by. They talk about the company and how the fair trade group Evan started, but Luke wouldn’t let him run, is moving in the wrong direction. She mentions a friend who worked in eco tourism and it inspires Evan.
He gets an idea to start a research and education program that would get volunteers and students. Adam agrees to help.
She decides they should do one of their dates her way, which is cheap traveling on a budget. He agrees.
On the road trip she realizes how much she enjoys traveling with him.
They drive to Los Angeles and have a great time. He realizes he loves her. They drive out to Joshua Tree (in the desert) and he gets into a bar fight. On the drive back into the city the van breaks down.
They have no cell service and wait in the dark for a car to come by. Suddenly he has a heart twinge. It gets worse and his breathing becomes labored. Hannah is terrified. She blames herself for taking him out of town where they couldn’t reach anyone. He tells her it’s not her fault. That he doesn’t want her to regret their time together. That it was just bad timing. She thinks it was the bar fight.
A car comes by and takes them to a hospital. He asks her not to tell his dad. She calls Polly and tells her what happened. Polly tells Luke who tells their dad and the rest of the family.
The doctor gets him stable and tells them his cardiologist probably wants to do the surgery ASAP. Hannah is confused and Evan explains he knew a few weeks ago he would need surgery.
She’s hurt he didn’t tell her. He tells her he knew if he told her she wouldn’t have wanted to go on the trip. She realizes he wasn’t planning on telling her because he assumed she’d be gone before he had the surgery.
His family shows up and takes over. He’s irritated but she explains it’s because they love him. That they don’t want him to be alone. She realizes she left her mom and Polly alone when she left.
She drives back to San Francisco alone. Polly tells her his surgery is planned for the next morning.
She and Polly go to the hospital when she gets there and she overhears Evan telling Luke to go back to Paris. She hears Luke telling him he just wants to keep an eye on Hannah again.
She asks about the surgery and why he didn’t tell her it was planned. He tells her he didn’t want her to worry. He tells her she didn’t sign up for any of that. She tells him she wants to be there for him.
She asks about keeping an eye on her. He tells her it wasn’t like that. That he’s been interested in her since they met. That it was his chance to keep her in town.
She realizes no one thought she would keep her promise and stay around.
She tells him she loves him. He doesn’t say it back. He’s scared telling her would intensify his fear of everything he could lose.
He has his surgery. She imagines staying in town forever.
Polly thanks her for all her help. She apologizes for leaving her and their mom. Polly understands. That she never wanted Hannah to feel trapped. And she understands if Hannah needs to leave again.
Hannah tells her she wants to stay.
She gets an idea about her blog. She realizes she doesn’t know what happened after the people fell in love. She contacts one of the couples to see how they are.
Evan surgery is a success. He’s released and goes home.
She goes to visit and he asks about her book deal. She tells him she missed the deadline for it. He tells her it’s her big chance. That she should tell the editor where she plans on going next.
She tells him she wants to stay. That she wants to help him. He tells her no. That he wants to travel with her and see the world, but he can’t. That he’ll always have heart issues and he won’t hold her back.
She leaves town, but keeps in touch with Polly.
He goes back to work.
They’re both miserable without each other.
She visits the couple she wrote about in her blog and sees how happy and in love they are. She decides to write her book about that.
He tells Luke his plan for the sustainability program and Luke loves it. Evan decides he and Adam can run it together. That Adam can visit the remote locations and be the international director, while Evan visits the major cities and runs the program from home.
There’s a huge earthquake in Italy and Polly can’t get ahold of Hannah, she had mentioned going there. They tell Evan and he’s terrified she’s hurt. He realizes he was only worried about something happening to him and her being left behind, that he never considered something could happen to her.
She writes a blog post about the couple she visited and tells her readers she fell in love. Evan sees it and responds asking her to meet him.
A month after she left she comes back. He tells her he loves her. That he wants her to travel the world, and he got an ok from his doctor to do it with her. That he can’t do everything, but he can do some. That he still wants her to go if she needs to for her blog, but he wants her to come back to him.
She says yes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2017
3.5-4 stars, I can't decide.
This book didn't capture me instantly like the first book, but as the story progressed it grew on me and by the end of it I was left a sobbing mess.
"Is this what we are? An escape?"
"I don't know exactly what we are. It doesn't feel like an escape, though. It feels like a return."
It took me a while to warm up to Hannah, but when I did I found myself being able to relate to her so hard; I, too, have a strong wanderlust and I sometimes just want to drop everything and leave, and I admire Hannah for being able to do just that. I love the concept of her blog, Locked Hearts, in which she traveled to places and talked about the love customs in those places. I identified with her restlessness, having to takeover her late mother's cafe for her sister so that Polly can go study in Paris.
Now Evan Stone is so charming I love him instantly when I met him. He has a defective heart, and he's frustrated with his family, especially with his big brother Luke who he feels is limiting his potential because of his heart issue.
Hannah and Evan together are adorable. Evan's an easygoing dude, he's well-traveled and knowledgeable, and for some reason when she's with him she finds peace from her restlessness. I really love Evan's passion with untranslatable words (dude did a whole thesis on foreign words that can't be translated into English, amazing), and how he tries to show Hannah that sometimes you don't have to travel far to find adventures, and that sometimes you just need the right person with you to feel like you're on an adventure.
"I wrote a section in my thesis about the word hygge. It conveys the idea of the emotional contentment that comes from enjoying life's little pleasures. Like sitting by a fire, or walking into a warm house after being out in the cold. A type of happiness."
"So do you have a favourite moment that brings you hygge?"
"Right now is definitely one of them."
"For me too."
Amazing.
Copy is received by the author in exchange for a honest review.
This book didn't capture me instantly like the first book, but as the story progressed it grew on me and by the end of it I was left a sobbing mess.
"Is this what we are? An escape?"
"I don't know exactly what we are. It doesn't feel like an escape, though. It feels like a return."
It took me a while to warm up to Hannah, but when I did I found myself being able to relate to her so hard; I, too, have a strong wanderlust and I sometimes just want to drop everything and leave, and I admire Hannah for being able to do just that. I love the concept of her blog, Locked Hearts, in which she traveled to places and talked about the love customs in those places. I identified with her restlessness, having to takeover her late mother's cafe for her sister so that Polly can go study in Paris.
Now Evan Stone is so charming I love him instantly when I met him. He has a defective heart, and he's frustrated with his family, especially with his big brother Luke who he feels is limiting his potential because of his heart issue.
Hannah and Evan together are adorable. Evan's an easygoing dude, he's well-traveled and knowledgeable, and for some reason when she's with him she finds peace from her restlessness. I really love Evan's passion with untranslatable words (dude did a whole thesis on foreign words that can't be translated into English, amazing), and how he tries to show Hannah that sometimes you don't have to travel far to find adventures, and that sometimes you just need the right person with you to feel like you're on an adventure.
"I wrote a section in my thesis about the word hygge. It conveys the idea of the emotional contentment that comes from enjoying life's little pleasures. Like sitting by a fire, or walking into a warm house after being out in the cold. A type of happiness."
"So do you have a favourite moment that brings you hygge?"
"Right now is definitely one of them."
"For me too."
Amazing.
Copy is received by the author in exchange for a honest review.
December 14, 2016
4.25 stars--
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 6, 2016
When dessert goes wrong…
Hannah Lockhart travels the world and blogs about love. At least she used to before she promised to look after her sister’s bakery. Now, stuck in small town California for the next six months, Hannah is desperate to find romantic content for her blog or risk losing both readers and income.
Then a whipped cream disaster sends her into the arms of sexy, charming Evan Stone, heir to the Sugar Rush Candy Company.
Since childhood, Evan has been trying to overcome family concerns about his defective heart. Known as “The Heartbreaker,” he’s found an outlet with women. And when bad news strikes him, he seeks a diversion by offering to show Hannah the romance of the Bay Area.
Hannah jumps at the chance…as long as they keep things platonic. But soon Evan’s hot combination of charm, perfect kisses, and a serious sweet tooth melts her defenses.
As Hannah and Evan surrender to their delicious attraction, they are forced to confront the reality of her wanderlust and his heart condition. When love and hearts collide, can Hannah and Evan find their sweet ending?
••••••••••••
REVIEW: 4.25 stars--SWEET ESCAPE is the second installment in Nina Lane’s contemporary, adult SUGAR RUSH romance series focusing on the Stone family who own and operate the Sugar Rush Candy Company. This is heir to the Sugar Rush company and current head of operations Evan Stone, and bakery shop co-owner/ blogger Hannah Lockhart’s story line. SWEET ESCAPE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. We were first introduced to Hannah and Evan in book one-Sweet Dreams.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Hannah and Evan) SWEET ESCAPE focuses on the building relationship between Hannah Lockhart and Evan Stone. Hannah is Evan’s brother Luke’s fiance’s sister (say that again five times), and a woman whose presence in Rainsville, California has caught the attention of Evan Stone. Hannah is working at the family owned Wild Child bakery while her sister Polly attends an exclusive baking school in Paris, France but Hannah’s need to be on the move is increasing our heroine’s anxiety. Never one to stay in one place for very long, Hannah isn’t ready to set down roots especially in Rainsville, California where memories of the past continue to haunt our heroine’s life. At a local bachelor auction for charity, Hannah bids fifty thousand dollars to protect Evan Stone from his former fling, and in doing so steps into a relationship that changes her perspective about travel, being on the move, and the man with whom she will fall in love. What ensues is the building love between Evan and Hannah, and Evan’s need to push Hannah away when his heart condition threatens once again.
The relationship between Evan and Hannah is a friends to lovers trope full of fun, romance, and very relatable interactions and emotions. Evan struggles with the knowledge that his heart condition threatens any possibility of a long term relationship but Hannah is a woman determined to prove that nothing will stand in the way of happiness and love. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense.
There are six Stone siblings with stories to tell-Luke, Evan, Adam, Hailey, Spencer and baby brother Tyler. We are reintroduced to several members of the Stone family including Aunt Julia and their father Warren, as well as Hannah and Polly’s co-workers and friends at Wild Child- Ramona and Mia. Gavin Knight of Knight security silently sits to the side while Mia tries her best to attract the quiet man’s attention.
The world building focuses on the relationship between Hannah and Evan; Hannah’s need to run when life becomes overwhelming; the Fair Trade Foundation (aka Cocoa Bean Team) –where Evan and Adam Stone will lead in the sustainability of cocoa bean crops; and Evan’s health issues that threaten his relationship with the woman he loves.
SWEET ESCAPE is a romantic journey; a provocative tale of heartbreak and love. The premise is encouraging and real; the romance is passionate and inspiring; the characters are dynamic and heartwarming. SWEET ESCAPE is a sweet, sultry and intense story where fates intervenes to bring to lonely hearts together for a lifetime.
Copy supplied for review
www.thereadingcafe.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 6, 2016
When dessert goes wrong…
Hannah Lockhart travels the world and blogs about love. At least she used to before she promised to look after her sister’s bakery. Now, stuck in small town California for the next six months, Hannah is desperate to find romantic content for her blog or risk losing both readers and income.
Then a whipped cream disaster sends her into the arms of sexy, charming Evan Stone, heir to the Sugar Rush Candy Company.
Since childhood, Evan has been trying to overcome family concerns about his defective heart. Known as “The Heartbreaker,” he’s found an outlet with women. And when bad news strikes him, he seeks a diversion by offering to show Hannah the romance of the Bay Area.
Hannah jumps at the chance…as long as they keep things platonic. But soon Evan’s hot combination of charm, perfect kisses, and a serious sweet tooth melts her defenses.
As Hannah and Evan surrender to their delicious attraction, they are forced to confront the reality of her wanderlust and his heart condition. When love and hearts collide, can Hannah and Evan find their sweet ending?
••••••••••••
REVIEW: 4.25 stars--SWEET ESCAPE is the second installment in Nina Lane’s contemporary, adult SUGAR RUSH romance series focusing on the Stone family who own and operate the Sugar Rush Candy Company. This is heir to the Sugar Rush company and current head of operations Evan Stone, and bakery shop co-owner/ blogger Hannah Lockhart’s story line. SWEET ESCAPE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. We were first introduced to Hannah and Evan in book one-Sweet Dreams.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Hannah and Evan) SWEET ESCAPE focuses on the building relationship between Hannah Lockhart and Evan Stone. Hannah is Evan’s brother Luke’s fiance’s sister (say that again five times), and a woman whose presence in Rainsville, California has caught the attention of Evan Stone. Hannah is working at the family owned Wild Child bakery while her sister Polly attends an exclusive baking school in Paris, France but Hannah’s need to be on the move is increasing our heroine’s anxiety. Never one to stay in one place for very long, Hannah isn’t ready to set down roots especially in Rainsville, California where memories of the past continue to haunt our heroine’s life. At a local bachelor auction for charity, Hannah bids fifty thousand dollars to protect Evan Stone from his former fling, and in doing so steps into a relationship that changes her perspective about travel, being on the move, and the man with whom she will fall in love. What ensues is the building love between Evan and Hannah, and Evan’s need to push Hannah away when his heart condition threatens once again.
The relationship between Evan and Hannah is a friends to lovers trope full of fun, romance, and very relatable interactions and emotions. Evan struggles with the knowledge that his heart condition threatens any possibility of a long term relationship but Hannah is a woman determined to prove that nothing will stand in the way of happiness and love. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense.
There are six Stone siblings with stories to tell-Luke, Evan, Adam, Hailey, Spencer and baby brother Tyler. We are reintroduced to several members of the Stone family including Aunt Julia and their father Warren, as well as Hannah and Polly’s co-workers and friends at Wild Child- Ramona and Mia. Gavin Knight of Knight security silently sits to the side while Mia tries her best to attract the quiet man’s attention.
The world building focuses on the relationship between Hannah and Evan; Hannah’s need to run when life becomes overwhelming; the Fair Trade Foundation (aka Cocoa Bean Team) –where Evan and Adam Stone will lead in the sustainability of cocoa bean crops; and Evan’s health issues that threaten his relationship with the woman he loves.
SWEET ESCAPE is a romantic journey; a provocative tale of heartbreak and love. The premise is encouraging and real; the romance is passionate and inspiring; the characters are dynamic and heartwarming. SWEET ESCAPE is a sweet, sultry and intense story where fates intervenes to bring to lonely hearts together for a lifetime.
Copy supplied for review
www.thereadingcafe.com
April 21, 2023
Evan and Hannah, I love them so much ♡
December 1, 2016
Hold onto your heart because I just lost mine. And I couldn't be happier. In a word, Sweet Escape is divine. It’s the reason why I lose myself in gloriously written books such as this one and never want to leave. The sweetest kind of book hangover that I never want to get over. With Evan Stone's story, we get his constant struggle to feel worthy, as he continues to allow his defective heart to rule his love life. But when Hannah Lockhart enters his life, he may just have to reconsider and finally let someone take hold of not only his heart but his soul as well.
I cannot tell you how much I absolutely adored their story. Evan and Hannah never set out to find love but there was no way they could deny it. Even though they decide to keep things light, the chemistry between them, the way they could open up to each other about their fears, their hopes, their realities, was evident from the start. They could share things with the other without the threat of judgement or disappointment.
And the passion. My goodness, no one does sex scenes quite like Nina Lane. The heat from these two is unbelievable. The way Evan takes control...holy moly, he may be weak of heart but that does not hold him back. Every breath, every dirty thought these two share is explosive. I couldn’t look away.
Nina Lane's style of writing completely consumes me. She pays attention to detail and does her research. I promise you, you will be hungry for all the decadent desserts and recipes described in this book. I felt as if I was privy to Hannah's adventures right along with Evan and I now want to experience it for myself.
Well-written with wonderfully-flawed yet extremely likable characters, Sweet Escape is the type of book I crave. I teared up more than once but it's the smiles I'll remember most when thinking about Evan and Hannah and their touching romance. A much deeper kind of read than Sweet Dreams (book 1 in the series), this one will definitely grab hold of you and you’ll find it hard to let go.
It’s one of those books that you simply don't want to end. Thank goodness there will be more from the Stone brothers, since I clearly cannot get enough. Trust me, you'll feel exactly the same way.
5 brilliant stars!
I cannot tell you how much I absolutely adored their story. Evan and Hannah never set out to find love but there was no way they could deny it. Even though they decide to keep things light, the chemistry between them, the way they could open up to each other about their fears, their hopes, their realities, was evident from the start. They could share things with the other without the threat of judgement or disappointment.
And the passion. My goodness, no one does sex scenes quite like Nina Lane. The heat from these two is unbelievable. The way Evan takes control...holy moly, he may be weak of heart but that does not hold him back. Every breath, every dirty thought these two share is explosive. I couldn’t look away.
Nina Lane's style of writing completely consumes me. She pays attention to detail and does her research. I promise you, you will be hungry for all the decadent desserts and recipes described in this book. I felt as if I was privy to Hannah's adventures right along with Evan and I now want to experience it for myself.
Well-written with wonderfully-flawed yet extremely likable characters, Sweet Escape is the type of book I crave. I teared up more than once but it's the smiles I'll remember most when thinking about Evan and Hannah and their touching romance. A much deeper kind of read than Sweet Dreams (book 1 in the series), this one will definitely grab hold of you and you’ll find it hard to let go.
It’s one of those books that you simply don't want to end. Thank goodness there will be more from the Stone brothers, since I clearly cannot get enough. Trust me, you'll feel exactly the same way.
5 brilliant stars!
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