Pros to dating Lex Bailey: Sexiest man I've ever seen Panty-Melting British Accent Talented Baker
Cons to dating Lex Bailey: Turned me down when I asked him out... in front of my entire family... at my brother's engagement party.
Oh, and he has a secret. A big secret.
So... no. I don't think I'll be giving him any second chances. But my foster dog? He has other ideas. This dog has issues... and Lex's cat has the cure.
Unfortunately, I'm not exactly a forgive and forget kind of person. And even though both my dog and I appreciate the help, this time, I'm not going to let him get close enough to break my heart. This time, Lex Bailey is staying at arm's length.
Katana Collins is a USA Today bestselling author of over twenty novels, novellas, and comic books in a variety of genres. She is most known for her sensual contemporary romances and her wildly popular comic book— Batman White Knight Presents: Harley Quinn with DC Comics.
When she was younger and stole her mother’s Harlequins to read beneath the covers with a flashlight, she wanted to read about the tough as nails heroine. The perfectly imperfect girl with quirks and attitude and sass. And the anti-heroes who were anything but “Prince Charming.” Forget the knight on a white horse … she wanted the bad boy on a motorcycle.
An avid animal lover, she lives in Portland, Maine with her kind of mean cat, derpy lab-pitt mix, mellow chihuahua, and very not mellow cairn terrier puppy. Oh, yeah… there’s a husband somewhere in that mix, too.
She can usually be found in a coffee shop with her nose buried in a laptop wearing fabulous (albeit sometimes impractical) shoes.
She loves connecting with book lovers like herself, and fellow sassy storytellers, so feel free to drop her an email, visit her on her website. She also loves connecting on Instagram, Facebook or in her reader group, Kat’s Kittens!
I have finally read Ronnie’s story and I’m soooo happy I did!
And Lex, the bakery owner with the sexy British accent...I couldn’t wait for his story and was thrilled that he was in this book as the Hero. Because he’s dreamy. *sigh*
These two have been dancing around their attraction for two years. Ronnie finally got up the nerve to ask him out...only for him to turn her down.
Um...wait...WHAT?
But, Lex has very good reasons. Reasons that squeezed my heart and made me swoon for him that much harder. And want him that much more.
These two together equaled perfection. They didn’t lie to each other, they were honest with one another, they understood each other. And they just couldn’t stay away from each other. And I’m glad they didn’t. They way they connected was a beautiful thing. The sparks between them made ME sizzle.
This author always leaves me with a huge smile on my face after I finish one of her stories. And Sweet on You did exactly that. This story was real and sweet and steamy and full of so much goodness I just wanted to squeeze and hug someone when I was done.
If you’ve read and loved the other books in the Maple Grove series, you’ll definitely want to read this one. So, so good.
I didn’t know this novel, but when I saw it on an author’s newsletter, I thought the story could be nice. So I was pleased to get started.
In this novel, we follow the story of Ronnie and Lex, two characters we enjoy discovering. But here it is, Lex refused to go out with the young woman, so she gets used to the idea, until he proves to her that it’s not exactly that. Because Lex is hiding a secret and his life is a bit complicated.
I had a little trouble hanging on to the story, even though I finally had a good time. Maybe because everything’s going so fast with Ronnie and Lex’s relationship? Maybe because sometimes there are lengths? Maybe it wasn’t the right time? In any case, if I found the novel nice in its entirety, it will not have left me a great memory. However, I really liked the connection between Penny, Ronnie’s dog and Frost, Lex’s cat.
Anyway, it was a pretty cool novel with difficult themes and I was quite happy to see the connections between the characters.
4 1/2 stars. Finally back in Maple Grove and really loving it. This is a sweet story with such awesome and extremely likable characters. I’ve enjoyed this whole series by Katana but this couple is one of my favorites. Ronnie and Lex are just adorable together and I love the way they finally open up to each other and let their feelings take over. Lex has worked so hard to come back from some serious missteps in his life and it is just amazing to see him finally get everything he deserves. Ronnie is amazing! I just love everything about her. The story line is wonderful, with funny, sweet, and emotional moments and everything else I expect from this series. And what an epilogue! Can’t wait to read Noah’s story!
Sweet on You by Katana Collins is the first book in this series that I have read, and felt that it was a complete standalone with enough backstory given that I was not left out by not having read the previous books. But after meeting these other characters in the book I now want to go read their stories. This book was fun and sweet and emotional and had me both laughing and tearing up throughout the whole story. Ronnie and Lex both have a past that they must come to terms with before realizing they want to date the other. I enjoyed every minute of this story and want to move to Maple Grove, NH tomorrow!
ARC for honest review with no compensation received from BookSprout 4.5 stars
This next Maple Grove story, Sweet on You is about Lex and Ronnie who have been dancing around each other for a few years but when Ronnie asks Lex to go on a date...he turns her down...not because he doesn’t want to date her but he has secrets that he’s not ready to share. What happens next is such an emotional, angsty, some humor and finding their way through it all ...
This book was so adorable! I loved the rich backstories the characters had and the relationships they showed. Ronnie and Lex are such a cute couple and I loved reading their story. My favorite part of this book was the support for past mistakes and how friends and family help you through so much! I wish I could have more Ronnie and Lex!
Tropes: Cat Dad Single Dad small Town British Accent He baKES for her sweet & Emotional Found Family Bakery Owner MMC Gym Owner FMC grumPY x Sunshine Surprise Pregnancy
This book was absolutely adorable!! I loved every moment of it! The connection between Ronnie & Lex. The tension! Also, did like that this book was in first person point of view. The scenes with Penny & Frost might be my favorite🤭
Ronnie hasn't had the best record with her boyfriends and now after years of living the single life, she asks Lex out, but gets rejected. Her meddling sister without knowing signs up Ronnie to be Lex's personal trainer for a month, causing her to not only spend time with Lex, but also adopt a dog😅
Lex fell for Ronnie the moment she came into his cafe, but his life has been a mess to even think about a relationship, hence the rejection. Now with him finally finding the person he's been looking for. A life with Ronnie seems within reach.
Ronnie & Lex' relationship was one that took 2 years, but definitely worth the wait! While they dated and fell in love quickly the 2 years of friendship they had definitely set a strong foundation for them. The connection & love between the two were so genuine. Ronnie's touch exterior literally melted for Lex & his daughter. Her swearing she's not a pet person, then falling for Penny was hilarious & adorable!
This was an emotional rollercoaster! I was not expecting Lex' past to be this intense, but the story was written in such a wonderful manner, that shows the reality of addiction.
Ronnie had so much baggage she had to deal with & like most relationships, it did effect hers as well, but I'm glad she along with Lex & her family didn't allow her to self sabotage.
This is definitely an emotional, yet sweet story that shows people can change, & some just need a more of a push than others. I'm excited to read the rest of the series!
After suffering an embarrassing rejection from Lex Bailey in front of everyone she knows, she has decided the man will forever be in enemy zone. But what if he had a really good reason for saying no?
Sweet On You is a delightfully penned second chance romance story that is bound to have you smiling and swooning throughout! These two are literary perfection, their banter, tender moments, and steamier ones show just how much they need to be together... even if Ronnie has her doubts about that! She gave him a chance, he denied her. But what she didn't know was that he had a secret that prohibited him from saying yes... and that certainly changes things now that she knows. But can she really trust him?
Oh how I loved these two, from the moment I met them I knew they were going to be fun to meet. Their story had all the sweetness, laughs, and feels my heart could handle. After reading the first two installments I thought I had a favorite of the series, but these two totally just stole the top spot. They stole my heart and attention at first meet! Highly recommend!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
This story is about Ronnie believing in love again and trusting that not everyone is out to break her heart. Enter my British book boyfriend Lex. Who has his own issues but is a stand up guy all around. He knows that this isn’t a good time to start anything with Ronnie (even though he really wants to) but when it happens he doesn’t shy away from it, just kinda goes with the flow. Love him!! As you can tell this was my favorite so far in this series. I loved all the characters and kept wondering who was going to end up with who and who was going to get their own books. The relationship with Ronnie and Lex flowed really well and I loved how Lex new there was more to her than just a tough exterior. And don’t get me started on Frost, the wonder cat and Copper Penny. Loved them!!! Yes there was some things I could have done without but from start to finish this book came together nicely and made me smile. So overall, LOVED IT!!!
This is a slow burn, it has a recovering addict who managed to turn his life around, it's good that it has a HEA, but I would have liked more on how he struggled to overcome his addiction, it's not an easy road to get back from, in fact it's dam hard and painful at times, but with a goal of having his daughter in his life it gave him purpose to keep clean, I enjoyed the story of the main characters getting together and the fact that even pets can be stressed very true to life. I would definitely recommend this book, it has laugh out loud moments especially with the cat and dog, life struggles, finding love and overcoming addiction which isn't easy but can be done if the person really wants it.
I really loved this read. It hit the feels, and gave us two characters that have struggled in the past with different things and that has put a lot of caution into who they are now. Ronnie and Lex have tiptoed around each other, building a friendship, and fighting that pull. I love going back to this world, visiting with these friends and family, and how they are always there for each other. The story flows, we get sweet and spice. Lex and his precious little girl are perfect. I loved Ronnie, her strength and her heart. It's a great read from the start and I'm looking forward to Noah's story!
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I liked this book. It was so much more than I thought in the opening chapters. Life is hard and trying to change ones path to a better life is not an easy ride. I would like to see what happens to them in future books and learn about their lives.Enjoy!
The Maple Grove Series is so good and this is a great addition:l. Lex and Ronnie have had feelings for one another for years …there’s a definite attraction but Lex is a little hesitant to go on a date. He has his reasons.
Once they both let their guard down a little. They begin to trust and share their feelings. Filled with emotions, love and an amazing HEA.
✨ Small Town Romance ✨ Contemporary Romance ✨ British Hero
Ronnie and Lex
I can totally relate to poor Ronnie. Finally getting the courage to ask out the one who you are attracted to, only to get turned down. How embarrassing. But sure. Lex has his reasons, ones that Ronnie isn’t aware of, of course. With that said, Lex is someone you will like more after discovering that. When these two finally are opening up and are honest with and towards each other, it is beautiful and sweet. Both deserve the love, life and a happy end. An entertaining and also funny story to read.
This is such a Sweet story! The writing draws you in and keeps you involved throughout the whole story, I found myself in love with not only the characters but also the world that was created.
The descriptions of the characters and their feelings are so involved, you can truly picture it in your mind. Their attitudes toward the events that are happening makes the story even richer.
I received a copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily.
By this point, I was bored; this series felt like a lecture about dogs and rescue shelters disguised as a romantic series They are cute, but not to the point of reading three books about them. If you like pets. This author is for you as they feature heavily in each book, and I was bored. It was too much.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sweet on You takes place in my favorite small town of Maple Grove, following Ronnie Tripp and Lex. For anyone who has read any of Katana Collins’ Maple Grove series, Ronnie is a familiar face since she is a member of the Tripp family. Lex is a new addition to the town, he is British and has moved to Maple Grove, starting a bakery and setting out to find answers about his past. Ronnie has started a gym that focuses on CrossFit but has a little something for everyone and is just looking to maintain stability. But as all romance readers know, it’s never that simple.
I would describe Katana’s Maple Grove series as a dirtier version of Lifetime movies which I love, I am a hopeless romantic but let’s be real sometimes I need a little angst and some spice. Maple Grove delivers that and more. Sweet on You is the third book in the series, along with additional novellas, and it does not disappoint. (Hey Katana, I wouldn’t be mad if you got Noah’s book out like tomorrow, I might be a teeny bit excited for the elusive Noah.)
Ronnie has only had two serious boyfriends in her life and the most recent one left her heartbroken and betrayed to the point where she did more to avoid love than seek it out. Battling demons from her past, she feels she has finally hit her stride and is on the right path well until Lex shows up. She has a successful gym and is becoming content with her life until Lex becomes one of her clients.
Lex comes to town for personal reasons, he is a pretty private person but he opens his bakery and is a fixture in Maple Grove. Due to his odd hours, he is not incredibly social in the town but is still well known. He has a past that he is still working through but unfortunately, he is doing that alone since he doesn’t have any friends. Lex decides to get some personal training from Ronnie and he may have bit off more than he can chew.
Ronnie and Lex are so freaking cute together, I just want to squeeze them. They both have pasts that they aren’t proud of and are still trying to deal with but it brings them together in the best way. I could probably gush about this book for quite a while but I want you all to enjoy it as it comes without me spoiling it. Side note: Ronnie is my FAVORITE name for a girl character pretty much ever and I have to laugh a little bit because Lex makes me think of Lex Luthor from Superman. Anytime they talk about Lex being British or attractive, I giggle because I am picturing a bald guy. I know some chicks dig bald guys, but I prefer hair but to each their own.
The two of them finding each other and finally trying to date after two years of admiring each other from afar was so sweet. They compliment and challenge each other in the best way. Katana does a great job of creating authentic characters and a story that sucks you into their world. I mean, can I go to Maple Grove? Seems like the cutest town full of happy people finding love. Sign me up. I guess my husband can come too.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Full of heartache, healing, compassion, friendship, addiction, passion, love, and second chances. Lex owns the local bakery and moved to Maple Grove in hopes of finding his ex. Ronnie is the owner of the local gym and has a hard time trusting men her ex left her at the altar.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sweet and emotional with some humor, this definitely isn’t the story I expected it to be but I enjoyed it all the same. Based on the blurb, I thought this would be an enemies to lovers type romance with the hero reluctantly winning over our heroine, but this is definitely not that. It’s much more a story about two people who have been flirting for years but circumstances have prevented them from moving forward. Lex would love nothing more than to date Ronnie (and she would too), but he’s got a lot going on in his life at the moment and he’s not willing to play with her feelings if he’s unable to follow through on a relationship.
The writing is great - I really felt like these two grew and connected. Though I would’ve loved more of the focus to be about these two growing together as a couple (rather than the big secret), we still got to see Ronnie and Lex as individuals who fit together perfectly. I never would’ve expected a baker and a gym owner to be a perfect fit, but they actually have a lot in common and their lifestyle choices sync up very well. Lex really steals the show here - he is not the alpha male you see in a lot of romance novels, he’s just a great, sweet guy with a complicated history. He’s made a lot of changes in his life (for the better), and balances out Ronnie’s personality well. She may be a bit of a ballbuster with a strong personality, but we see the softer side of her with Lex. Overall, it’s a solid story with a hero that’s easy to like. I would definitely check out more by this author in the future, especially since she introduced some intriguing side characters here. I received a free copy via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the next book in the Maple Grove series. I haven’t read any of the other books yet but after this one they are definitely going on my to be read list. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything or felt lost from not reading the other book so this one reads as a standalone.
I absolutely loved this story. Seriously it has all the feels. I smiled, laughed, and cried a little. I love a good book that can’t touch all my emotions, plus I didn’t feel like I wanted to strangle the characters when things got troubled, so the author is good at making things emotional without going overboard. I really had a hard time putting this book down and the sexy times where hot without being overly descriptive, not that I have an issue with that either. I love books in all the ranges from mild to holy cow get me a fan because I’m pretty sure the pages are on fire. This one is right in the middle for me.
Ronnie owns the local CrossFit gym. She was hurt badly, emotionally, when her ex left her at the alter for his ex-wife. Lex owns the local bakery and is a recovering addict, searching for his ex. They both like each other but Ronnie asks Lex out and he turned her down, not because he doesn’t like her but because he has some serious complications in his life. They end up in a relationship, but Ronnie’s scared the past is going to repeat itself. Can she get through her fears to find something good with Lex?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love this author. I first found her when she wrote Callback, and have loved everything she writes since, including Sweet On You. I really enjoyed Lex and Ronnie’s characters, those of us who have family members who have fought with addiction can truly relate to this story in a big way. You completely feel yourself hurting deep down for Lex and the situation he’s put himself in, but so proud of him for making himself a better man, especially when it comes to letting Ronnie into his life. Ronnie has her challenges too, practically left at the alter, she’s not been in a relationship since her boyfriend left her the night before her wedding, so when she and Lex finally give into their desire to go on a date, it’s pretty explosive! Olivia is just adorable, your heart breaks because of the choices her drug addict mother made, but how emotional was it when Lex meets his daughter for the first time, and we can all totally relate on how things went down his first night with her. Truly loved it. Adored Ronnie’s family, and really loved the ending, It was perfect. Overall another incredible book from an author who writes well written stories that sucks you in from the very first page and finally lets you go on the very last word. She’s pretty darn good at this steamy love scenes too!
A good storyline with lots of detail that makes you feel like a part of the story. I got lost in this book and found myself reading into the early hours of the morning, which is always a sign that it's a good book :) It is pretty steamy in parts, which I hadn't realised as this is a new author to me, so just be sure you're aware of that before you read it.
I have been waiting for Lex and Ronnie’s story and Katana did not disappoint! Sweet On You is part of the Maple Grove Series; It can be read as a stand alone but the books are so good, you should read them all! It will give you all the feels! Laughter, love, heartache, and tears wrapped in one amazing book!
Honestly, I hated Lex after he turned Ronnie down. You could tell how much they cared about each other but he wanted to throw that away!! In my eyes he was not worthy of her! Until I started reading Sweet On You!!
Lex made me swoon! I quickly found out why he turned Ronnie down and I couldn’t stay mad at him! Ronnie on the other hand; she can hold a grudge!!
Will Ronnie ever allow Lex to have a second chance or will he remind her too much of the past?
I don’t want to give too much away since I was surprised by several events in the book!! Katana kept me guessing the entire time! Penny and Frost made my heart melt - not only are they made for each other, so are their humans ❤️
I love all the Maple Grove books, each one has an equally amazing story!! The set up for Noah’s story...😳😮
Sweet on You by Katana Collins is everything you would expect from a book with this title. It is part of the Maple Grove series and can be read independently from the series. In fact, this is my introduction to Maple Grove and I loved it. Lovers of small town romance will love this novel. It features Lex, the owner of Latte Da, a coffee and pastry shop. He is single, has a British accent and is hiding something. Veronica "Ronnie" Tripp is a Maple Grove native and is crushing hard on Lex. She gets deflated when she asked him out and was rejected. I honestly really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read, had a great fluid story and downright made me chuckle in some moments. It is sweet but has some heavy topics that were handled in a very relatable way. Both characters were carrying some heavy emotional baggage and it was displayed heavily and resolved throughout.
I look forward to reading the other Maple Grove books.
Favorite Quote: "They say that you can’t make a junkie get clean… they have to want it for themselves."
I have read several books by this author, and I have enjoyed some of her books but not others. So, I wasn't sure what I was going to get with this one. I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed this book. It is definitely about a lot more than the romance, but I don't want to give it away. Let's just say the hero has some growing up to do, and the novel has an excellent story arc about that. I enjoyed the interactions between the hero and heroine as they were first trying to sort themselves out in the beginning, as there were some misunderstandings between them. Things shifted as the hero’s story arc became almost bigger than the romance. I feel like the story was a little out of balance in that regard for a romance. But the hero’s arc will definitely tug at your heartstrings. I found this to be a sweet and lovely romance that actually held a few surprises. If you like contemporary romance like that, you might enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Lex has had some issues in his life, but has been working on making a better life for himself for the past couple of years. He’s an amazing pastry chef with his own business. Ronnie has a few issues herself: she was dumped just before her wedding, because her ex-fiancé went back to his ex-wife; needless to say, she has a little trouble trusting men.
Lex is trying to get his life totally straightened out, so he has put off dating anyone. However, he has been flirting consistently with Ronnie for the past two years. He hasn’t let her know about his past, so she has no idea what she’s up against. Nevertheless, at some point, they do start sharing the challenges they have faced and that helps move the story along!
There were so many things about this story that are interesting and wonderful. It’s a little hard to reconcile the Lex we meet in this story with the Lex of the past, but the details given make it believable. Both protagonists undergo quite a bit of change in this story. They are faced with challenges and situations that are well beyond their comfort zone, yet they somehow make it work.
Ohhhh this book was so swoony, sweet and had all the feels! I loved getting lost in it. Full review to come. . . . This book was so much fun to get lost in! I adored Lex and Ronnie! Lex had a past, one that he worked every day to overcome. He realized his mistakes and was trying to right the wrong. Lex was a good man. He was making a life for himself, he cared for his friends and he was interested in Ronnie, even though things in his life were up in the air. Ronnie was a tough nut to crack. She didn’t let many people in. I enjoyed the chemistry between this couple and how realistic life was for them. Sure, they had some things thrown at them that were not your every day but they were adults and handled it as it came. I enjoyed the way Lex and Ronnie cared for each other and did the necessary things to make their lives easier. I adored them and didn't want to leave their world! And now that I know how this book ends, I'm SOOOOOO looking forward to what's next from Katana Collins! Don't let this book pass you by!
Sweet on You is yet another fantastic novel from Katana Collins. She really is a brilliant writer. She creates complex characters without needlessly torturing them, excellent world building which didn’t leave me confused or lost.
The characters grow and are so relatable and human - it’s beautiful. Sweet on You based on the cover and a rapid read of the blurb seems like a kitschy small-town syrupy romance, which isn’t really my cup of tea - and it’s nothing like that at all. It’s actually a wonderful take on human relationships and what life throws at us. There’s healthy communication and mature conflict resolution. And even without the high drama I was kept hooked. I was interested in the story!
Great work.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.