Cheesecake. Everyone has a favorite dessert, but cheesecake isn’t just a dessert to me. It’s a food group. And the best place on the island to get a slice is at a cafe run by gorgeous single dad, Corey Lewis. He bakes, he surfs and he’s the only person on this island worth talking to. But he’s also a lot older than me, so anything between us is nothing more than friendship and a mutual interest in old movies. But as the day I leave for college draws closer, something changes between us. And maybe, just maybe, Corey is interested in me after all.
Get a fork and prepare to dig in, because this quick read is cheeky and over-the-top. It’s filled with tension-filled instalove and heated moments between a curvy girl and the hottest single dad you’ve ever met.
Megan Wade is a USA Today Bestselling Author of curvy billionaire romance featuring confident plus-size heroines and alpha heroes who adore them. With 70+ books published, she's known for steamy love stories with guaranteed happily ever afters. Her signature style: high heat, low drama, and heroines who never have to shrink to find love.
4.5 stars - While it may be a tad over-the-top, I really like that Corey and Penny allow reason to be injected into their burning desires. When they do let loose, even with a modicum of reason seeping in, they are on fire! Raging inferno kind of fire. 💚🔥💥🎉 And always, there's cheesecake. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
This book was everything I needed for the end of the night Corey and Penny are a match made in heaven. Sorry in advance because this book has zero to no drama and gave me all the feels. I know typically we love the spicy but this was just cute and funny . Corey is thirty-fine (35) and Penny is a barely legal COED (18) if this was a film there would be a XXX at the end. This wasn’t sleazy like that they become friends over a mutual love of cheesecake and movies . Penny buys a slice of cheesecake and they discuss the films they’ve given each other to watch. It’s freaking adorkable. I know I spelled that incorrectly. Lol
For my Romance readers *May/December romance *17 year age gap * food puns * past trauma (PTSD) *widower * child from previous marriage *He cooks ladies (Baker vibes) *2 epilogues 4 years/10 years
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Stars: 5 Length: Novella POV: Dual Series: Sweet Curves Book 11 (Stand Alone) Ending: HEA Re-read? Yes
"She says our souls are ageless and that’s why you’ll find yourself drawn to someone much older or younger. It’s all about whether your souls recognize each other."
Another age gap masterpiece for this series. Corey was a great hero. After he and Penny finally admitted how they felt for one another he still wanted to make sure that she left the island to go to school at Berkley. He wasn't going to have her change her life for him. He assured her that he would be right there waiting for him because she was the love of his life. I truly believe that he would have too.
Though I hate it when heroines in age gaps act super immature (because I don't feel like those are ready to be in a relationship with an older man), I could appreciate Penny's slight meltdown. Most of the time is is very mature and her and Corey fit together. But when the pressure gets too much, hey, she's eighteen years old, she slipped and had a bit of a childish meltdown/tantrum. That made her more real to me.
All in all a good book that I will definitely read again. I'm so sad that this series is over... at least for now. A girl can dream.
Age gaps this big are really not for me. I found the wedding thing at the end sweet but that definitely wasn’t enough to overlook the super cringe moments and this one had some of the worst in the series. I think what made this even more unbelievable than all the other age gap moments that have shown up in this series, is the fact that our dude was a 35 yr old widower with a 6 year old kid wanting to get with this 18 year high school graduate. There is just no way this is even feasible. The wants and needs of these two people are not even on the same spectrum let along on the same frequency.
I understand these books are not meant to be super realistic but it’s hard to suspend disbelief here especially with some of her super childish antics. Honestly the one part I am thinking about is what solidified this rating as a 1 star. When she pulled that stunt, I was like, yeah no. If you want to adopt another kids than do it but don’t expect a kid to be your life partner and help you raise another kid. Naw that’s crazy. Think about your son. You need help. Real adult, money contributing, structured help. You’re not getting that from a high school graduate.
Anyways this rant has gone on too long as it is. I’ve finally finished all the books in this series to date. If another comes out, that’s fine but I’m done. On to bigger and better things for 2022. See y’all there.
This book gave exactly what I've come to expect from Wade's insta-romances. Instant connection and a guaranteed happily ever after. This one was a bit different because there's such a big age difference. She's 18, just out of high school, and he's 35, widowed, single-father. It was a fun story that drew me in and kept me turning the pages. I love the humorous moments that were thrown in with side characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This started out decent and was looking at around a 3 star read for me. Penny is 18 and just graduated high school, Corey is 35 and a single dad to a 6 year old boy and lost his wife when his son was only 18 months old. So age gap of 17 years and lonely single dad who connects with a younger girl with an old soul? Yes.
Apparently they live in Hawaii? It says they live on an island named Maui but Penny plans to go to college at Berkeley on the “mainland” but Berkeley is in California.... so I’m confused. It’s almost a 6 hour flight so it isn’t like popping right over would be easy... that’s kinda how they made it seem.
Anyway, aside from that it was fine. They were kinda cute together with Corey teaching Penny how to surf, them talking back and forth about older movies, taking his son to the Aquarium together... but the sex was a whole forbidden kinda topic here. Like Corey was awkward about it and kept pushing it off. It felt weird. They did finally have sex eventually but it was a pretty dull moment for me.
And thennnnn here comes the drama. Penny shows her true immature 18 year old girl side and it just ruined the story for me. The shit she pulled? Oh no, girl. That’s just... *facepalm*
But then Corey basically ignores her afterward and from his POV it makes it seem like he’s done with her... but he comes back with some grand proposal out of the blue and it’s just weird as fuck. The flow of this whole thing just wasn’t right.
Plus! This girl was barely described as curvy so wtf. This BBW-themed book needs more damn BBW theming.
So the story started out fine but went downhill for me. This ends up being a 2.25⭐️
The series overall: There were 1 or 2 of the books that were more enjoyable for me but overall this was a one-and-done series. I doubt I’d read any of these stories again. They were good enough for a short read which is really all I ask for, but there are some authors out there who I enjoy more. The whole BBW-ness of these books are hardly present and that pisses me off. Don’t market it as a plus size character and then not deliver on it. Ugh.
All that being said, I’ll probably still pick up the other series of short stories all labeled with “xxxx Curves” because... just because I can’t help myself. 🤦🏼♀️
Penélope siempre ha sentido una conexión especial con el dueño y padre viudo de la cafetería de la isla donde vive, con el siempre puede hablar, la escucha, se recomiendan películas y siempre esta dispuesto a ayudarla y protegerla.
Ella sabe que si le declara su amor no será bien visto por la sociedad ya que el tiene el doble de su edad. Esta apunto de mudarse para ir a la universidad y la novia de su hermano le da el mejor consejo: "Las almas no tienen edad Penny y si sus almas se reconocen que hay de malo en ello".
El por su parte sabe que ella tiene toda una vida por delante, el ya vivió la suya y no quiere cortarle sus alas para no haber reproches después, pero las simples palabras de la novia del hermano de ella son el detonante para dar rienda suelta a los deseos comprimidos por tantos años.
I love a couple that can find love over food, and that's exactly what happens in Cheesecake. There's just a little bit of drama, and a whole lot of love with this couple that shouldn't go together... kind of like cheese and cake, but they do.
I received a free copy of this book via BookSprout in exchange for my honest review.
I just want to point this out: I am all for age gaps EXCEPT when one of the MC's are "freshly" out of high school. No judgement to those that don't mind it, just a personal preference for me for personal reasons. And this will be my very first review actually having spoilers mentioned so if you don't want to know them, don't keep reading. Just know that this book is just like the other books in the Sweet Curve series, quick reads with a tad of spice. And another note, this is the 3rd book from the Sweet Curve series I have read so far (not reading in order just by the titles that intrigue me) and I understand this is fantasyland in these books but sometimes, some things I don't like in my own fantasyland. But to the book!
So first off, that age gap. I am fine with age gaps UNLESS one of the MC's are "freshly out of high school ESPECIALLY if there is an established "friendship" prior to them turning 18. Because mentally for me, that feels like one of the MC's has been wanting the other before they were legal, just an assumption on my part unless it is established otherwise. And even if it is established, still not ok with it. Even WHILE I ignored the age gap, I couldn't ignore certain behaviors that made it clear their maturity levels are nowhere near ready for them to be a thing. Like for instance, the FMC has these plans to go study to a university away from home, and in one conversation with her mom it is made clear that the FMC has been working on reaching these goals for school for years. Yet the FMC wants to give it all up to stay local and go to a local school. Obvious mom says no, especially doing it all over for a "boy", so FMC gets made. Meets up with MMC the next days, tells him the same idea of changing everything and HE says no, that he will wait for her and that she needs to go live out her dream. Nope, FMC throws a temper tantrum and when she accidentally falls into the water (they are at the beach) MMC tries to get her out. She stays under water and after the MMC pulls her out he gets mad at her because (mind you we know he had a wife and she died but before this point we don't know HOW she died) his wife died drowning. They argue a bit, MMC walks away and disappears. Once he sees FMC again, its to tell her that he will be joining her at the city she will be moving to AND he is taking his 6 year old son with him so they can live as a family. Mind you, son JUST met the FMC eventhough it is established these two have been sort of friends for a good bit of time. Like, I know in the Cupcake book of this series, the FMC is nineteen and the MMC is in his 40's BUT the FMC has a maturity level that works with the MMC. She knows what she wants and is working hard to get there, yet the FMC from this book is willing to drop it all, AGAIN, even with the full support of everyone around her.
Another note, even the MMC makes points of the age gap between them, even saying if it were his daughter he wouldn't allow the relationship. Like hold up, you see the slight issue here and yet still go through with it? And the mom! I LOVED it when the mom told her she wasn't going to allow the FMC give up her dream for a "boy" (mom doesn't know about the MMC at this point and it is cleared out that she hasn't even met the guy eventhough her daughter spends time at his restaurant! Like they are friends and the ONLY person that knows about it is the FMC's older brother?!) But when the mom gave in by the "nice chat" she had with the MMC, like one chat convinced her to give the go ahead?
Now to not include the age gap but the fact the FMC was willing to change her future JUST to stay with the MMC AFTER he said he was willing to wait for her, to support her dreams to go to school and become a gaming developer, like dude he is being supportive and just like the mom told her, if it's true love, it can wait! But no, the FMC wants to be childish, pull out the "I'm 18 and legal adult I can do what I want" card on them and then expect them to just fold over. Again MMC says he will wait for her, even let her go if she wants to end their relationship, so why rush things or ruin chances you have? And its one instance but still didn't sit well with me how she was quick to do this change when she was fully supported all around. And the wedding! I didn't find it cute. Like "oh here is my speech for the graduating class and now I have a priest waiting for me on the other side to marry me." Like, they waited so long to get married, why do it AT AND DURING A GRADUATION CEREMONY. Like did the school approve this? I don't even find proposals during a ceremony cute. It feels selfish to make this big event for everyone about yourself!
Again, I KNOW this is all fantasy and a made up story, but this book just didn't do it for me. This specific age gap alone, but also the small instances I mentioned and a few other things but its all too much to type out so only giving the main points that annoyed me while reading. I am still going to finish the Sweet Curves series but this book specifically isn't even in top 100, more like never gonna reread again. After two good books, was not expecting this sadly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I honestly don't know how to express what I feel for this. It was okay. I liked it, didn't love it; it was sweet, but a little cringey to me. Our heroine has just graduated high school and has a huge crush on our H, who is almost double her age, a widower and a dad, and owns the cafe with the best cheesecake on Maui. When they both decide to take the plunge, she starts freaking out and wants to attend community college instead of Berkley... blah, blah, blah. She lashes out in possibly the worst way she could, which freaks him out... and they both realize they're dumb and can't live without each other... HEA-time. This gives the impression that I didn't like the book, I really did, but there was way too much drama for a novella because it just seemed like everything got solved instantly and like people were still making huge leaps and there wasn't a lot of substance behind them.
I received a copy from BookSprout; this is my honest review. -I've read ~2 dozens of this author's books and this one is my least favorite by far. -Penny was totally fun at first, then goes totally immature right after. I couldn't cope. -When Penny gets her first and second kiss (ever), she wants to jump in the sack otherwise she'll die. Well, die. It's too soon, you drama queen. She came out as desperate and pushy, really pushy. Fortunately, Corey didn't listen right away. -First night unprotected. Why? They wanted to wait until she graduates to have children together. -I loved the banter between them and the exchange of movies; the tasting of cheesecake was great. -Billy seems like a guy who likes to talk - a lot.
About the main characters: despite the Ege Gap "they are fine". For obvious reasons she is a bit immature. Although the fact that she likes to read and she likes black and white movies, from my perspective it gives her a plus point. I liked that he is the one who moves to another city for her, since he wants her to follow her dreams and not give up anything for him. Since normally it is always the girl who makes changes for the "boy".
My favorite phrase from the book: My soulmate is out there. And they probably like cheesecake just as much as I do
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
So these books were all short, OTT and insta-love type books. I knew that going in from the description but I still wasn’t sure what I was excepting. This was not it. There’s no story at all. I gave about 5 books in the series a try before i gave up on it and the author. Not a good fit for me.
The addition starts with the book cover….yeah…yeah…yeah don’t judge a book by its cover they say ….well we all do it and this one here it is the scratch to your itch or better yet the filling to your oreos! Speaking of filling…..wait, that’s for later. Within the first chapters you get the panoramic view of whom you’re dealing with! By the time you’ve figured out who is who and how deep hate can run, you’re already hooked, and you may as well give up the fight and prepare yourself for an all-nighter! Can’t say I didn’t warn you. I love this series book 11 and who doesn’t love a great slice of cheesecake or the whole cheesecake? Corey sexy as all get out, makes amazing cheesecake, single dad, and an amazing personality he runs a café where his cheesecakes have their own display case. Penny is sweet, kind to others, on her way to college, and a curvy girl who loves Corey’s cheesecakes. She has loved Corey for a while now but with an 18 yr. age difference she never thought anything other than shared memories and friendship. Corey has liked her for a while again that age difference, the fact that her life is just starting out and he feels why would she want to be with an old man, single dad no less. As the summer gets underway so do their feelings for each other. Can they get through the misunderstanding to find their own happiness despite age?
I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced reader copy of this book.
Penny has just graduated high school and is ready to start on her future and making her career dreams come true, the only thing that is stopping her from being happy is the fact that she is leaving behind the man she has fallen in love with. Single father and widow Corey, he’s everything she wants and everything she can’t have. That is until they are sharing heated kisses, but the summer is nearly over and she’s finding herself second guessing leaving the island and staying with the man she loves. Can she have love and a career or will she be forced to choose?
Corey lost his wife five years ago when they moved back to Maui, he was lost in his grief for a long time the only thing keeping him going was his son Billy and his cafe, but all that changed when Penny walked into his cafe and fell in love with his cheesecake and he fell in love with her, no matter the age gap. She’s about to leave the island for a new life, one he wants to be a part of and the day they share a kiss is the day he knows he will do anything to make it happen. Is this the start of forever or is it goodbye?
Short, sexy and super cute read. Penny was a little immature in this story and made things more about her than them but it didn’t stop me liking her character, Corey is a perfect alpha male. 4*
A wonderfully enjoyable age gap curvy girl romance
This is #11 in Megan Wade’s “Sweet Curves” series. As with all the others, it is a delightfully heartwarming story with and 18 year difference between the principals. You will love the characters and the narrative, with cheese cake as the spark that started it. It is a feel good story that makes the reader happy and glad that they read this story by such an exceptional author. Cory is a 35 year old widower with a 9 year old son who runs a cafe where cheesecake is the star desert. Penny is an 18 year old recent high school grad who is preparing to go off the collage. Over the years that they have known each other, Penny had developed a major crush on Cory and he has become smitten with her. As the summer progresses, their relationship develops into real true love. There are some misunderstandings, but in the end they discover they are true “soul mates” and that that “LOVE, REAL LOVE, WILL WAIT”. They become engaged and will wait until she graduates from collage four years later to marry. With 4 year and 10 year epilogues, we also get the benefit of the whole story. This is a great story and you won’t want to miss it. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Corey and Penny are perfect for each other. She has been a long-time customer at his cafe since he makes the best cheesecake around. She always had a crush on him, but their age difference made him hold back.
After chatting about movies and Corey giving her a ride home from a bonfire she left early from, they keep getting more comfortable with each other, teasing and enjoying themselves. Things were good, they were close, until Penny makes a foolish mistake. She has a temper tantrum in the middle of a disagreement with Corey and, when she falls off her board into the water, she lets herself sink down to the bottom and makes no attempt to swim back to the surface. Corey had already lost his late wife to drowning in a boating accident. This was the worst thing she could have done to get back at him. It really shook him up badly, and the childish spiteful action drove him away. Will she be able to work things out with him? Will he forgive her? Or will he want to back off of the relationship?
This was a good story line with good characters (and excellent cheesecake, I heard). Will the two of them find a resolution to what happened? Grab your copy and find out if their HEA can be saved.
A great , hot, steamy, romance read. Penny has a thing for Corey, the man who makes the best cheesecakes on the island. Corey is a lot older than Penny and she knows that he would never feel that way about her, they are really good friends and connect so well on a friendship level but she knows it will be nothing more, especially when she is also leaving the island to study. Corey knows that he shouldn’t have feelings for Penny, he knows there is a massive age difference but he ha never had feelings for a woman since his wife passed away. He eventually gives in to his feelings with Penny and he has never felt anything like it before, he knows Penny is his soul mate but with her due to move away to study he isn’t sure what their future holds, one of them is going to have to change their plans if they want a life together. A really great book, lots of hot passion and you could just feel the connection between Penny and Corey. Lovely ending to the book..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Megan Wade continues her Sweet Curves series with Cheesecake, my favourite so far. This is a fantastic, romantic, steamy and sweet age-gap romance. Eighteen year old Penny has lived in Maui her entire life and is getting ready to leave for college at Berkeley soon. However, she has been crushing on the owner of her favourite cafe, thirty-five year old widow and single father, Corey, forever. They have long-connected as friends, sharing a love of movies, but because of their age difference - also both thinking their mutual attraction is one-side - neither has thought anything could happen. However, when they both acknowledge the tension between them, all bets are off. These two have wonderful chemistry together and are perfectly matched. Billy, Rob and Tina were fantastic supporting characters.
Penny and Corey's story is the un-putdownable read we have come to expect from Ms Wade, and it wonderfully enjoyable.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Our souls are ageless This book is about Penny and Corey. She eats at The Hibiscus Café every day. Corey is the owner, and makes the best cheesecakes – Penny’s favourite. Their friendship has grown, and they spend a lot of time just talking and recommending movies of very different genres to each other. He is a widowed, single father to Billy, and has been grieving his wife for years, and finally decides to start living life again. Penny is like a breath of fresh air, and they can’t help but fall for each other, despite their age gap. It’s a fast-paced love story that has both sad and heart-warming moments. They’re obviously meant to be, as their souls recognise each other and let them know they belong together – they fit together like cheesecake and coffee. Honestly though, who can resist a man that gives them cheesecake? Obviously meant to be a rhetorical question! I give this fun read four and a half stars. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
At first I wasn’t sure about this age gap romance. Penny would volley from mature to immature, and then I realized since she’s only eighteen it makes perfect sense for her to have immature moments. Reading it with this new mindset made me LOVE it! Penny and Corey build a friendship based on his cheesecake and their love of movies. You can tell a solid friendship has formed for these two and an attraction builds off of that. I also really loved the way that Megan approached the dilemma of what would happen when Penny leaves for college. I didn’t expect the route the story took but I loved it because I don’t think it’s a route that many age gap romances take. I also really loved the ending and first epilogue. Oh my word that epilogue is beyond words and I loved it. I definitely recommend this book and loved every moment of it!
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Cheesecake is the eleventh book in the Sweet Curves series and is the story of Corey White and Penny Frost. This older man/younger woman romance is sweet, creamy, rich and OOOO so delicious. These two are perfect for each other in so many ways even if there is a lot of age different, after all she is eighteen and just graduated high school and he is thirty-five and a single father to six year old Billy. But there is love blowing on the trade winds as they visit Maui over the summer and these two fall hard for each other. But can they have a future or will it just be a summer love when Penny leaves for Berkley?
Cheesecake is a rich and delicious story with a sweet story-line and wonderful characters. There is no real drama, a bit of angst and a whole lot of attraction and passion. This nicely written book is a great addition to the Sweet Curves series.
Penny goes to Corey's cafe for cheesecake all the time but its not the only thing drawing her there. She's had feelings for Corey for awhile but never thought he would go for her. Corey loves talking with Penny and enjoys their time together. He thinks that he is too old for her so he tries to keep his cool around her. Its not long before they start spending time together away from the cafe and things heat up between them. Corey is drawn to her even more with how she is with his son. He knows that she'll be going to college soon but it doesn't stop either of them from wanting to be with each other. Will Corey end things because of Penny going to college? Can they both get what they want and be together?
This is a great story that will captivate you from beginning to end. This is a well written and very entertaining story. I would recommend this book to any book lover.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Esta historia tambien estuvo linda y se destaca que estas ultimas han venido con el detalle de la diferencia de edad es decir uno de los dos muy mayor digamos de mas de 20 años. Ahora, tambien destaco que son veinteañeras que salieron apenas del instituto o colegio y que se enamoran de mayores y ademas "quieren repetir pronto" .... golozas !!! ... en fin ... Por su parte esta historia se trataba de Corey quien es pastelero o chef, no es claro, y ella saliendo del colegio va a la universidad a estudiar diseño de juegos. Se tienen que esperar y el amor es mas fuerte. Lo romantico que cada que se daban un beso llevaban la cuenta.... al final se dejo ese detalle de lado porque no siguieron contando. Y pasaron 10 aos y juntos.... con niñas y adoptaron un amigo de Corey de la isla. Con esto acabo la serie de Sweet Curves de 11 libros que me sirvieron para la maraton del grupo a donde fui felizmente secuestrada: Rincon Literario. Gracias.
Penny loves cheesecake and is a regular visitor to the Hibiscus Cafe. Hibiscus is owned by Corey a man she has crushed on for years. They have a friendship of cheesecake and movie recommendation 😍 A conversation with her brother's girlfriend changes the way she thinks of Corey; and soon Corey is able to express how he feels. With leaving for University looming she doesn't want things to end - but a misunderstanding nearly drives a wedge between them...
This is such a sweet romance 💕 I LOVED the concept of the story of love and souls being ageless. It's a bit of a slow burn but the chemistry and romance between them ignites when the share a kiss (swoon). Told from dual POVs reveals intimately their thoughts feelings and emotions as they explore their relationship. There's an epilogue and a HEA 💓