Monday, September 9, 2019

Love You So Sweetly by Tara Lain


Reading his future in a glass of sweet tea.

The youngest son of one of America’s richest families, Remy Merced is so busy trying to save his family company from collapse, he’s never taken time to figure out if he’s gay, much less if he’s happy. Then his meddling mama hires him an assistant who’s everything Remy thinks he doesn’t want. Cute Harper Treadwell, from rural Arkansas, is a brilliant business prodigy… and openly gay. His wit and charm could confirm Remy’s suspicions about his own sexuality almost instantly—if they weren’t both already partnered.

When Remy’s girlfriend and Harper’s boyfriend get a little too friendly, Remy finds that the path to happiness requires a long drive in an old Prius, a growing appreciation for small towns, and a whole lot of sweet tea. But before they can forge a future—they have to let go of the past.

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Book 4
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth in a series, although I have to admit it is my first, and I certainly enjoyed it as a standalone – but will be going back and reading the earlier books.

I really enjoyed the setting of this book, because it was entirely relatable, and yet fitted at the highest level of industry too – the world of retail, trying to set up online grocery deliveries. There is also an element of ethics and discretion when an investment banker wants the limelight. It was cleverly discussed and fitted really well into the romance that ensued. Add in the Southern element, with sweet tea, debutante ball etiquette, suitable behaviour for a gentleman et al, and this is a delicious read.

Remy has been so busy making his mark in the family business that he really hasn't thought about his sexuality at all – and as he unfreezes his emotions, and recognises some of the things clearly in front of his face, he can only act and aim to live a brighter future. I loved that his family, especially his indomitable mother, are both supportive and unsurprised at his revelations. Harper is also a lovely character, although he has made a very dubious decision at the beginning, but it sets up the story beautifully.

Such a sweet, engaging, and happy story. It was perfect bedtime reading... right till I realised I had got to the last page and it was long after midnight!


Sarah☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars

This story is sweet, angsty, and full of Southern Charm. It’s the story of a wealthy tech CEO and the assistant he doesn’t quite mean to fall in love with. Remy Merced’s family is powerful, and his meddling mother is a formidable force. But her meddling does bring Harper into Remy’s life and soon Remy can’t be sure whether Harper is better for Remy’s business or his heart.

Harper is a small town Southern boy who quickly learns that Southern California is a whole new world. By the time he realises he may have made a mistake when he moved West on a whim, he has grown attached to his job at Merced – and to Remy himself. I really love Harper’s brains, his drive, and his complete naivety. Remy is only a couple of years older than Harper, but running his own business has given him experience and made him more than a little bit jaded. I love how the combination of Harper’s ideas and Remy’s experience are the key to business success.

While I did really enjoy the slow burn romance between Harper and Remy, I have to say that the plot to this story is unnecessarily sprawling and messy. For a romance, there are times there is far too much focus on Remy’s internal family politics. At other times, there is far too much focus on Remy’s business. Themes and observations about small town economies and the barriers to internet expansion make things even more complicated. Add in the partners that both Remy and Harper start the book with and there is just way too much going on in a single book.

So, the strength of this story lies in the romance and the characters. The weaknesses are in the burgeoning, messy plots that weave around the central romance. I think British readers will laugh as I did when I compared my regular online Tesco shops to the experience Harper and Remy give their customers. I can’t help thinking that maybe we need a little bit of Southern charm with our grocery deliveries over here too!



TARA LAIN writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her best-selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Erotic Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, and Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. Readers often call her books “sweet,” even with all that hawt sex, because Tara believes in love and her books deliver on happily-ever-after. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. Her love of creating book titles comes from years of manifesting ad headlines for everything from analytical instruments to semiconductors. She does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. She lives with her soulmate husband and her soulmate dog (who’s a little jealous of all those cat pictures Tara posts on FB) in Laguna Niguel, California, near the seaside towns where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says that on her tombstone, it will say “Yes!”

Connect with Tara

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads


https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Love You So Sweetly (Love You So Stories #4) by Tara Lain to read and review.

1 comment:

  1. Thank you so much, Ruthie and Sarah, for reading the book! So happy you liked it. : )

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