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Sweet Revenge

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Former fat girl Jessie James has returned to her small hometown to open her own dance studio, something she's always dreamed of. Driving the local sheriff and former high school football star, who used to ignore her, crazy with lust is a side benefit she hadn't counted on. But revenge is sweet when all the sheriff can think about is frisking the delectable Ms. James. After the hell his ex-wife put him and their daughter through, getting involved with another woman is the last thing Chase Martin wants. His body has different ideas, though. And after all, when an outlaw like Jesse James moves into the house behind his, the sheriff has an obligation to keep his eye on her. Right? To his surprise, this outlaw steals more than his body. She captures his heart, too.

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2005

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277 people want to read

About the author

Katherine Allred

10 books1,103 followers
Katherine Allred was born in Arkansas and spent her formative years there learning to love books at her grandfather's knee. When she was five, her mother remarried and moved them to Michigan, where they stayed for the next ten years. At age fifteen, the entire family moved back home to Arkansas, and she's been there ever since, except for brief stints in other countries and states while her hubby was in the army.

After receiving a BS in journalism from Arkansas State University, Katherine began her writing in earnest. To date, she's had seven books published, with number eight being released in April, 2009, and number nine just completed.

A member of Romance Writers of America, Katherine has achieved many awards for her novels, including the 2006 EPPIE award, winning the PASIC Book of Your Heart contest in 2002, and having a novel named Best Book of the Year by Romance Reviews Today in 2005. She currently writes for Eos, the science fiction imprint of Harper Collins Publishing.

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5 stars
63 (13%)
4 stars
144 (30%)
3 stars
196 (41%)
2 stars
59 (12%)
1 star
16 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves.
1,470 reviews18 followers
April 15, 2023
“After all, he was a grown, intelligent man. Just because he’d been tricked once didn’t mean it would happen again.”
Seriously famous last words, no?
Or a forewarning of disaster/Big-Mu as any romance reader will tell you.*eyeroll*

A school crush gone wrong.
Of course, if we have a chubby nerdy girl and a hot popular jock in the mix, what wouldn't go wrong?
So, now she's back - all svelte and slim. He's the sheriff (still hot) and also her neighbor but divorced and with a young insecure daughter. (Yes, the wife used the oldest trick and had 'trapped' him.)
Great premise and setting, I'd say.
But...

I hate it when an accomplished and beautiful h is made to do the work - and that too for a dipshit guy.
What's so special about him anyways? Throughout, I felt that she was too good for him. He uses her and when it's inconvenient or his insecurities pop up, he just gets moody and pushes her away.
July 1, 2011
**3.5 stars**

Another good story from Katherine Allred. This time it's about Jessie, who was fat in high school but in love with the football star. She didn't think that Chase noticed or even remembered her but he did. After her grandmother passed away, Jessie moves back to town and happens to live right behind Chase.

Pretty straightforward story and easy to figure out but I still love the way Katherine Allred tells a story. I think the only problem is that there wasn't an epilogue which she usually adds and I really missed it!
Profile Image for Melissa.
648 reviews65 followers
March 17, 2011
As I've said before I love Katherine Allred's writing. I love her stories and most of all I love her imagination.

I liked the story, not as much as I liked The Sweet Gum Tree or What Prince Paradise, but it was still a good read. Perhaps I'm used to having her write amazing epilogues and this one did not include one. I'm a sucker for wanting a snippet on what happened next....

Still worth reading! IMO

4 stars
587 reviews1 follower
June 24, 2017
Maybe The Sweet Gum Tree makes me have exceptionally high standards for any Allred books, but this was not even a third of the goodness that is Sweet Gum Tree.

It felt cheesy and rushed.
Profile Image for Karyn.
509 reviews36 followers
September 12, 2014
Colossal waste of time.
The monologues of the main characters and their behaviour made them seem like hormone struck high-school teenagers (sorry teenagers, no insult meant)
Then you get to the rubbish of an ending and you wish this was a physical book instead of an e-book so you could throw it against the wall.

Sigh.

Do not recommend.
Lots of other good books out there, even Katherine Allred ones.
Profile Image for h a y a ☽ (hayainshelves).
125 reviews43 followers
May 1, 2017
I actually really liked this book, at first I didn't want to read it because of the 'cover'. I AM SORRY, BUT—*shrugs helplessly*? The hero has black hair and the guy in the cover is a blonde. Don't blame me.

First off, it was a book with loads of character development. Regarding the heroine. Which is always good.

There was a dog and a adorable 10-year old. A sexy sheriff hero who is considerate. I was sold, you know?

I just wish it was longer. Nothing over the top but a good one-sitting read. You'll enjoy it.
Profile Image for Skye Stewart.
389 reviews106 followers
January 27, 2013
This was on the fast track to be on my favs list with every single other Katherine Allred book I've read. However at 98% it all went downhill FAST! A real shame that there was no epilogue as there has been with all of her other books. Especially with how RUSHED this ending was. I was so emotionally attached to these characters I felt cheated by the ending ;( still well worth the 4 stars :)
Profile Image for Rizki Adi.
48 reviews
December 2, 2025
Other GR reviewers had problably mentioned, it is sweet until it's abruptly ended sweetly 😘

Yes, I expect longer conflict resolution in the end of the book, yes, I expect more grovels from the H. Even the daughter who plays quite an important role in their dynamic is not given bigger chance in their wedding.

But, the rest is sweet, sweet, sweet!
Profile Image for Maureen.
360 reviews7 followers
May 25, 2017
Short but sweet.

The story wasn't exactly about revenge since it was established from the start that Chase didn't exactly do anything to Jessie to warrant hate. Instead of revenge, it was focused more on second chance at love, more on Chase's part. Having had one relationship that ended badly and a child to consider, Chase had to take that leap, learn to trust and open up his heart again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jena .
2,313 reviews2 followers
avoid
August 30, 2022
Self note avoid
Pet peeve. Has a child with someone else.
Single dad H.
Profile Image for charlie.
70 reviews
February 5, 2017
Read this in a day. Katherine Allred never disappoints! ❤️
Profile Image for ★¸. • * ° * ༺*Blanka*༺*°°*•.¸. ♥★.
2,248 reviews336 followers
September 6, 2015
Blurb:

This is a suggestive romance (love scenes are not graphic). Former fat girl Jessie James has returned to her small hometown to open her own dance studio, something she's always dreamed of. Driving the local sheriff and former high school football star, who used to ignore her, crazy with lust is a side benefit she hadn't counted on. But revenge is sweet when all the sheriff can think about is frisking the delectable Ms. James.After the hell his ex-wife put him and their daughter through, getting involved with another woman is the last thing Chase Martin wants. His body has different ideas, though. And after all, when an outlaw like Jesse James moves into the house behind his, the sheriff has an obligation to keep his eye on her. Right?To his surprise, this outlaw steals more than his body. She captures his heart, too.


I love Katherine's work however this one wasn't my favorite..
The hero was too hot/cold with his feelings very wishy washy..and the heroine was just so dang on forgiving!! Like seriously? And the end? Really? It was all wrapped up in a few pages? It needed a longer play.
Profile Image for Berenice BSR.
343 reviews1 follower
September 21, 2013
Ahhhh!,,, I hate to say this, but does not come even close to "The Sweet Gum Tree".
Maybe I am so in love with The Sweet Gum Tree that I keep comparing her other books with it. And they all fall short in comparison. It's a okay book. More like water and sugar kind of book. And then come on....I love romance books and happy endings, but could we be a really more realistic?! When does really happen two people meeting, she's always been in love with him, but he on the other hand did not even remember her and in mere few weeks he loves her already. And I am not talking about the little love we feel in the beginning, I am talking about "I am going to die without you" kind of love. Really?!
Profile Image for Amy.
1,223 reviews
November 10, 2012
Jessie James you are my hero, you became successful, lost a ton of weight and the guy you had a crush on in high school is drooling at the sight of you. Chase is such a great dad and has been wounded so deeply he has trouble trusting anyone. I absolutely loved how Jessie was with Amy, that poor kid broke my heart. Is it wrong that I want Chase to carry me over his shoulder and lock me in a jail cell?
Profile Image for Netty.
473 reviews6 followers
March 17, 2012
I was right. This was a rushed ending which is a shame. It had the scope to have a huge build up and a firework ending. I still enjoyed it and I did like the scene where Chase hurled her back to the police station. It was just a bit disappointing after raving about The Gum Tree. I expected that same level of emotions.
Profile Image for Jemma.
29 reviews
February 19, 2013
My second book from Katherine Allred, the first being The sweet gum tree.
I wasn't disappointed! Very easy reading, and I didn't shed one tear (which was a huge relief to be honest after reading the sweet gum tree)

It has 4.5 stars from me this one, would have been a full 5 if I had an epilogue at the end x
Profile Image for Christine.
745 reviews9 followers
September 28, 2014
This is one of those romantic novels that leaves you smiling whenever the characters interact. This is my second book by Allred and I'm super impressed. I love how natural she is about telling the story and how believable her characters are. The romance didn't feel too rushed and the rest of the book was good enough that I could overlook the cheesy ending.
Profile Image for Sheree.
603 reviews
November 5, 2014
I still liked it. Just not as much as the others so far but I have just bought all of her other books minus the alien ones. Aliens & futuristic aren't my thing but Katherine's other books are most certainly my thing :)
Profile Image for Michele Johnson.
41 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2015
I liked the characters and storyline but a bit weak at times. Like others said it was a bit of a disappointment after loving "The Sweet Gum Tree". However, I did still enjoy reading it and will continue to read Katherine Allred's books.
Profile Image for Southern Sky.
203 reviews34 followers
March 2, 2016
I loved this one and also hated it. Hero just kept going hot and cold too much for me liking. Seriously, I know he'd been done wrong before but he just needed to grow up. Heroine forgave too quickly there at the end. I am glad they ended up together tho.
Profile Image for  ~V~.
1,072 reviews
October 31, 2011
Really sweet story! I agree that it would have been nice to have that Epilogue...especially when she's had one in every other book that i've read from her! Still enjoyed it nonetheless! :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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