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Sweet as Sin

by Inez Kelley (Goodreads Author)

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 3,161 ratings · 309 reviews

John Murphy is tormented by nightmares. A bestselling young-adult author, he writes the ultimate fantasy: stories where good always triumphs. He knows better. His past has shown him the worst in people—and in himself. When he moves next door to the sexy, vibrant Livvy—a woman completely unlike his usual one-night stands—he's driven to explore every curve of her delicious b...more

ebook, 288 pages

Published January 31st 2011 by Carina Press

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Mar 13, 2013 Blacky *Mistress of doom* marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: read-contemporary

DNF

This book is just a big WTF for me. I don't get what I'm supposed to like here, but it's definitely not making me want to read it to the end.

Sorry to all the fans of this book, don't lynch me or something, if you feel you'll be offended by this review - just don't read it :D

Anyway, the book starts with them meeting and the HUGE attraction between them hmmmm I can't say sparkles, it pretty much explodes. And it keeps exploding every time they're near each other.
I guess the writing style does...more

69 likes · like · see review

Apr 01, 2012 Dina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Dina by: AJ

Shelves: contemporary-romance, netgalley, dik, ebook

Don't let the title of this book fool you. This isn't a sweet and playful read. The story is dark, tough and unforgiving - and I loved every punch it threw at me.

John Murphy is a man tormented by his past. A bestselling young-adult author, he writes dark and frightening fantasy books about monsters where good always triumphs and hope can be found behind the darkness. What no one - except his sister Gina - knows is that those monsters are very real in his mind and hope has no real place in his li...more Don't let the title of this book fool you. This isn't a sweet and playful read. The story is dark, tough and unforgiving - and I loved every punch it threw at me.

John Murphy is a man tormented by his past. A bestselling young-adult author, he writes dark and frightening fantasy books about monsters where good always triumphs and hope can be found behind the darkness. What no one - except his sister Gina - knows is that those monsters are very real in his mind and hope has no real place in his life.

Pastry chef Livvy Andrews, John's new neighbor, isn't anything like his usual one-night stands and he knows better than to start any kind of relationship with her. He can't resist flirting with her, though. Livvy figths the attraction, sensing that John carries a heavy emotional baggage inside him. She's got her own baggage to carry and doesn't need the heartache that will be waiting for her if she gets involved with him. Nonetheless, involved with him she gets, even though she knows he isn't looking for forever or anything close to that. What she doesn't know is how to prevent herself from falling in love with him and how to protect her heart from the onslaught of his inner monsters when they rear their ugly faces.

I loved this book! Its title - yes, I was fooled by it - and its first pages made me think I was in for a nice and easy sexy read. Even though John was described as a man "tormented by nightmares" in the book description, his first appearances in the story led me to believe that his "torment" would be nothing more than a plot device designed to add some conflict to what seemed to be a fun story about a summer fling that eventually turns into love. John was cocky and flirty, with just a hint of darkness and secrecy in his eyes to make him dangerously appealing to Livvy - and to the readers too, of course. As the story progressed, the walls he'd built around his heart and his inner monsters started to crumble and I realized that I'd been completely mistaken in my first impression of the book and, for that matter, John.

Indeed, this read was anything but nice and easy once John's secrets were revealed. He was definitely a tortured and broken hero, traumatized by his past and imprisoned by guilt. His journey towards recovery wasn't an easy one and Ms. Kelley didn't give him a miraculous "cure" in the end, for which I was very glad. Not that I enjoyed seeing John suffer, but you know what I mean.

Compared to John, Livvy's life was a walk in the park, but she had problems of her own too. Having witnessed her father cheat on her mother for as long as she could remember, Livvy had some trust issues and was rightfully wary of John at first. On the professional front, her business was struggling to overcome the economic crisis: she was still in the black, but she needed to come up with something new to boost her revenue if she wanted to keep it that way. Little did she knew how much those problems would ultimately be used by John to hurt her... Oh boy, how I wanted to hurt him back for that! At the same time, I didn't want to hurt him either because I could see the reason behind his actions. I think Ms. Kelley's writing was great in the way she showcased John's inner turmoil. She made John call Livvy a f*cking b!tch - oh yes, he did! - and while I gasped in shock, I felt he didn't mean to say it. It takes some skills to write that without killing my sympathy/empathy for a hero.

John and Livvy had a sizzling chemistry and their love scenes were steamy hot. Based on their first encounter, I thought John and Livvy would jump into bed at lightning speed. Once again, I was mistaken - and not the least unhappy about it. Livvy's wariness about getting involved with John gave them the time they needed to know each other and made their first time together mean something more than the mere beginning of a summer fling. Not to mention, there's nothing like some sexual tension to keep the heart beating. :)

I found Ms. Kelley's writing very engaging, emotionally speaking, and I really liked the way she's inserted passages of the book John was writing into the story. John's book was as compelling and dramatic as his life. In fact, his book was a reflection of his life and provided an interesting insight into his feelings. Having said that, I must add that the way it was written, the epilogue didn't fully satisfy me. Don't get me wrong, I liked it and it gave closure to the story, but I wanted to see more of John and Livvy.

This was my first read by Ms. Kelley and I don't need to say I was very pleased to "meet" her, do I? :) (Uh-oh, did you hear that? It was the sound of my Wish List groaning in anticipation of the addition of Ms. Kelley's backlist, LOL.)

Note: I received this eARC from Carina Press via NetGalley. That had no influence on my review/rating.
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42 likes · like · see review

Nov 12, 2012 Alex rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: don-t-even-know-what-this-is

I'm done with this! Warning: a lot of 4 letter words ahead, so

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'Damn, I love this bra!', he says. Why don't you fucking wear it instead of her, you big pussy?? This guy eats sweets like he's a diabetic! And every fucking inch of that annoying woman's skin is compared to sugar, or sweets, or cream, or cookies, or cake!

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What is she, a fucking ginger-bread woman?

I feel sick and nauseated from all this. I feel like I've gained 10 pounds since starting this book. And to think I actually liked the beg...more

24 likes · like · see review

Aug 31, 2012 Leslie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, steamy, romance

I absolutely devoured this book and loved every minute of it! The hero, "John," is a hot, flirty, ex-construction worker, who quits his job to become a widely popular young adult fantasy book writer. (Although, most people don't know it as he writes under a different name.)

The heroine, "Livvy," happens to be his beautiful, ginger-haired neighbor, which is convenient, but Kelley's excellent writing makes it completely believeable. Once John and Livvy meet, sparks ignite and they experience instan...more

13 likes · like · see review

Jul 02, 2011 Baba ♥♥♥ Marcus, Tyler, Tate, Dan, Ty, & Hunter rated it 4 of 5 stars

"If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. And if they don't, they never were."
- Kahlil Gibran -

When author John Murphy moves in next door to Olivia, the pastry chef, the chemistry between them is instantaneous. At first, Livvy is not happy to get involved with a neighbor, but the appeal of the brooding bad-boy next door outweighs her concerns. Man, the sparks are flying!!But it doesn't take long for her to see something isn't quite right with John. John crea...more

11 likes · like · see review

Jan 14, 2011 I ♥ Bookie Nookie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: z-netgalley, genre-romance, zz-reviewed, 2011-read-in

I am had a very tough time getting into this book. My problem with a lot of erotic & romance novels...and I read a lot of them, is that they "fall in love" over night, but I am forgiving if the story that follows is good!

In the beginning, I felt that I would have enjoyed the book better if John and Livvy had taken a little more time getting to know each other. They dove into a relationship that was not at all convincing to me. When people start dating, they are supposed to be giddy and elat...more

8 likes · like · see review

Feb 25, 2011 KatLynne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: g-contemporary-romance, hero-tortured-flawed, smokin-hot-steamy, kindle-lendable, setting-blue-ridge-mtns, hero-rake-bad-boy, author-writer, chef-caterer-baker, 2011-reads, keeper

“Once upon a time, in a land where dreams are real and wishes grow like flowers, there lived a dragon.....” -Inez Kelley, Sweet as Sin

I loved this book!

There is way more to this than just a sexy read - (even though the table scene in chapter 6 is pretty amazing)!

John Murphy fights his nightmares; Livvy has trust issues. Their story is heartwrenching and my emotions were on a roller coaster ride! I laughed, I cried and became so angry and by the end I found myself sighing in pure bliss.

This is m...more

18 likes · like · see review

Jul 31, 2012 Annie the Destroyer *Leather Lust* rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-go-rabid-over, covers-to-covet, ebooks, favorites, drinks-on-me, king-of-the-harem, my-hottie-harem, genre-contemporary-romance, read-in-2012, keep-a-spare-pair-of-knickers, tortured-bad-boys

Posted on Under the Covers

This book is a complete lie!

SWEET AS SIN starts off with John Murphy, a successful YA writer walking over to his neighbour’s home to return a scarlet demi bra that flew into his yard on a gust of wind. Naturally, the lingerie catches his attention and causes erotic fantasies to fly and rumble around in his head.

I had a similar experience as this, though mind you, mine involved hot pink panties instead of the scarlet demi bra but I can tell you my story didn’t end up as...more

14 likes · like · see review

Apr 01, 2012 Becs - Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Becs - Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews by: Leslie

Shelves: contemporary-romance, tortured-abused-hero, dark-angsty, favourites

This was a totally absorbing read. At first glance it feels like it's just going to be a fairly erotic contemporary romance. Gorgeous ex-construction worker turned writer type guy moves next door to sweet Livvy, a baker - her bra blows off the washing line into his garden, he returns it and the touch paper is lit. They're deeply attracted to one another. She wants romance, Mendelssohn's wedding march and babies - he wants great sex and no commitment.

Livvy resigns herself to a summer fling with J...more

9 likes · like · see review

Mar 22, 2012 AnneOK rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

Whoa! This one totally took me by surprise. Definitely didn't get to the "sweet as sin" until we waded through some really muddy waters. It was well-worth it. One of my favorite reads so far this year. Awesome new-to-me author whose backlist I'll be checking out soon.

A powerhouse contemporary romance that runs the gamut of dark, gritty and heart-wrenching emotions. It made me laugh, cry, broke my heart, and it also stole my heart. John is a very successful and popular author of YA books based on...more Whoa! This one totally took me by surprise. Definitely didn't get to the "sweet as sin" until we waded through some really muddy waters. It was well-worth it. One of my favorite reads so far this year. Awesome new-to-me author whose backlist I'll be checking out soon.

A powerhouse contemporary romance that runs the gamut of dark, gritty and heart-wrenching emotions. It made me laugh, cry, broke my heart, and it also stole my heart. John is a very successful and popular author of YA books based on characters - some best friends - who just happen to be monsters. In truth, some are the very beings that provided John and his sister a safety net throughout their traumatic upbringing. John is a complex, bad boy with commitment issues, and for a majority of the time a not-so-nice kinda guy. Livvy, on the other hand, is the owner of a bakery who pours her heart and soul into her sweet treats. She’s a delightfully loving and giving person, although carrying burdens of her own. When John moves in next door, sparks ignite and they begin a steamy affair.

The title is misleading because you have to look long and hard for much sweetness other than from Livvy’s sugar-filled products. Yet there is so much to love and enjoy about this book. It grabs hold of your heart almost immediately and doesn’t let go until the very end. The stories in John's books parallel his life and will capture and hold you captive. Reading the parts of John’s past abuse and watching as he struggles to overcome his tortured past is not an easy read. And although the relationship between John and Livvy provides readers with off-the-chart sensual and breathtaking emotional scenes, within these moments there are still times when John strikes out against Livvy in horribly hurtful ways. Sometimes I found this is hard to forgive.

Kudos to Ms. Kelley for her amazing ability to write such an extraordinarily dark and intense story, while still satisfying the demands of romance readers with a sinfully sweet happily-ever-after. This book will stay with you long after the last word is read.
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12 likes · like · see review

Feb 24, 2011 Jess (Gone with the Words) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, adult, multiple-narrators, read-2011, contemp

Read review here! --> http://www.gonewiththewords.com/2011/02/review-sweet-as-sin-by-inez-kelley.html

Upon first meeting John Murphy, I fell for him because he is hot, and he irritated me because he knows he’s hot. But John is also a writer. I love stories where one of the main characters is a writer, especially when it’s a guy and he’s attractive. I find intellectual hot guys irresistible, so I let his cockiness slide, just a little though.

There was no way Murphy was not going to fall for Liv...more Read review here! --> http://www.gonewiththewords.com/2011/02/review-sweet-as-sin-by-inez-kelley.html

Upon first meeting John Murphy, I fell for him because he is hot, and he irritated me because he knows he’s hot. But John is also a writer. I love stories where one of the main characters is a writer, especially when it’s a guy and he’s attractive. I find intellectual hot guys irresistible, so I let his cockiness slide, just a little though.

There was no way Murphy was not going to fall for Livvy. Livvy is great! She is attractive, smart, funny, sweet and self-sufficient. She doesn’t need a man, but she wants one. She wants a marriage and kids and is aware that Murphy is not that guy. That doesn’t mean she’s not lusting over him as much as he’s lusting over her, and so her sister convinces her to have a fun summer fling with him.

Even though they enter this fling knowingly, Livvy is not prepared to immediately jump into bed with Murphy, which he takes in stride. The sexual tension build-up between the two is electric and soon enough, everything aligns and they give in. Without realizing it, especially on Murphy’s part, they begin to fall in love. Livvy starts to see below Murphy’s surface. She begins to see that Murphy’s pain runs incredibly deep and she coaxes some details from him but not many. I never anticipated just how damaged Murphy would be. I never thought his deep secrets would make my heart ache for him. No child should ever have to suffer like that. Murphy can’t fathom why in the world he keeps sharing pieces of his past with Livvy. But she is really easy to talk to, laugh with, care for and this begins to scare him. When they both finally give in to their emotions, and openly voice their love to each other I was so incredibly happy for them.

Then Murphy freaks. And he pushes Livvy away in an incredibly cruel way. To be honest, I don’t know how Livvy stood there and took half the things he flung at her. I would’ve walked away after the first. But she knows Murphy is not an easy man to love and she tries to make him see that she loves him despite his monsters. Of course, this only makes him push harder, and crueler, until he hits her in the one spot guaranteed to shatter her. In turn, my heart broke as well. I think I spent the last third of this book crying.

While all that is going on, we also get to read parts of the book Murphy is writing. It’s obvious that the characters in the book are all parts of Murphy, and so we get to in a way decipher his feelings by what the characters are going through. It was a really nice part of this book. I haven’t read any book with that particular aspect in it.

Sweet as Sin is my first contemporary romance read, so I can say with absolute certainty that it is the best one I’ve read to date! :) I loved it. I went into it thinking it was going to be a fun, sexy story, but it was so much more than that. It was so emotional! It was also a really steamy read. The intimate scenes are very well written and will leave you fanning yourself. I fell in love with ALL of the characters in this book, they were just so real that you can’t help it. I will definitely be reading this book again and again, so I recommend you give it a try.

(This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley.com for an honest review)(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Apr 01, 2012 ~Megan~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, dangerous-dudes, scarred-tortured-hero

Wow! What an emotional book...I feel like I've been through a battle. John and Livvy certainly didn't have an easy road to happiness, and I'm still not sure when it ended that they would always be happy, but I felt like they could work through anything together.

John was tortured and beaten horribly as a teen, and his emotional scars and PTSD rule his life now. He meets Livvy and they are both attracted right off the bat. Their affair begins and it turns to love, which scares them both, but espe...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 06, 2012 ♠ Sharon is an emotional book junkie ♠ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: emotional-angsty-books, read-in-2012

Livvy and her sister, Andy, get a new neighbor, John Murphy, who from the get-go seems intent of getting Livvy. Livvy tries to resist him but her sister suggest she have a summer fling and why not? Little did Livvy know what she was getting into.

I have to admit that it took till about 20% for me to get into the story. It just seemed like a easy and somewhat erotica romance but then we got a glimpse of the real John and everything changed.

John had a rough upbringing to say the least and the way...more

7 likes · like · see review

Oct 20, 2012 Carisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: g-contemp, hero-type-performer, t-hero-in-pursuit

Very good, but I didn't like that the tone started very sassy and then became very dramatic. The conflicts and their resolution were so obvious that it took away my interest on the love scenes.
HERO is a Performer, abused until a teen, a very well known author who pours his demons in his books. He’s dated many women but has never fallen in love until he meets his sexy neighbor..
CONTENT/SCENES: several/steamy
GENRE/TONE: contemporary/mixed
LENGTH: 268 pages

5 likes · like · see review

Feb 09, 2013 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: love-love-love, couldn-t-put-down, oh-so-steamy

Wow! I absolutely LOVED this book! This story completely absorbed me. I found myself heartbroken more then once when John let his broken past tarnish what was happening between him and Livvy. I fell in love with these characters! The writing was fantastic! I didn't expect the story within the story, whereas John is a writer, and I love how it all came together! 5 HUGE STARS!

5 likes · like · see review

Mar 14, 2011 Sophia (FV) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Holy mother of emotional books batman! Wow!!

I sat down to write this review right after I finished reading Sweet As Sin but had to put it aside for a while to get my thoughts together. This was one of the most emotionally intense books I’ve read in a long time and my thoughts and feelings were all over the place. Even after a few days I was still thinking about this story and feeling a wide range of emotions.

There is a new resident bad boy in town and as luck would have it, he’s moved into the...more Holy mother of emotional books batman! Wow!!

I sat down to write this review right after I finished reading Sweet As Sin but had to put it aside for a while to get my thoughts together. This was one of the most emotionally intense books I’ve read in a long time and my thoughts and feelings were all over the place. Even after a few days I was still thinking about this story and feeling a wide range of emotions.

There is a new resident bad boy in town and as luck would have it, he’s moved into the house next door to Livvy. He’s sexy and clearly interested in his new neighbor but Livvy isn’t in the market for a bad boy fling. She owns her own home, owns a successful bakery and she’s ready for a serious relationship that might lead to marriage, babies and the white picket fence.

John Murphy doesn’t just have the sexy bad boy thing going for him. He’s an author of a popular Young Adult urban fantasy series. He seems fairly easy to figure out on the surface: sexy, smart, interesting, and did I mention sexy? The chemistry between Livvy and John is off the charts and when John turns up the charm Livvy finds it difficult to resist the thrill of a wild summer fling. Throwing caution to the wind they go for it promising to keep it fun, with no strings attached.

I’ve read a few titles by Inez Kelley and really enjoyed her stories and so I was really looking forward to reading Sweet As Sin. I like this author’s voice and when I have the chance to read one of her books I jump at it. As much as I’ve enjoyed Ms. Kelley’s other works, I have to say Sweet As Sin caught me totally by surprise. I expected a fun, sexy romance and got so much more.

The emotional depth of the characters in this book was extraordinary, taking me on an emotional roller coaster that had me clinging to my e-reader one minute and wanting to toss it across the room the next. John comes off as a cool, sexy bad boy but he is so tormented and complex it made my heart ache. He is not the perfect romance hero by any means. His actions were atrocious at times, making me cringe, but because of the raw pain and torment he suffers as a result of his past I found his actions to be so believable and painfully authentic. John battles his darkness on a daily basis and has learned to cope by creating the monsters in his books. His monsters are a reflection of him really added so much depth to John’s character.

Livvy has a few of her own demons from the past and at times I wondered if her devotion to John would or should waver. She fell hard for him in a fairly short amount of time, but she went into the relationship knowing it was to be only a fling. When the heavy stuff started to surface she dug in her heels and was in for the long haul. She seemed to see the light in John where he could only see the dark.

I know I’m making this story seem very dark and it is. But it’s also fun, sexy and incredibly romantic. This is a fantastic love story that stayed with me for quite some time after The End. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to John and Livvy, and I need a follow up novella NOW.

Favorite Quote:

She tasted like forbidden things. Things he yearned for and rarely received. Like chocolate birthday cake and strawberry ice cream. He preferred spicy to syrupy delights. But she was that, too. Red Hots, the candies that burned your mouth but tasted so good you couldn’t stop eating them. Livvy was red hot.

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Jul 23, 2012 Purple rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: it-was-just-o-k, mixed-feelings, hot-steamy, tortured-hero, telenovela-presenta-d, over-dramatic, melodramatic, cheesy

This is one of those books that you feel you should have liked, because most of the other readers did, but the only thought you had while reading them was like: how much more to go?
I couldn't decide between giving it 2 or 3 stars at first, because the writing style of the author was o.k., but the last 20 pages of the insufferable cheesy content decided it for me. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't connect with the plot or the characters.

The story had its ups and downs literally (wish I...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 25, 2012 Paula (Romantic Book Affairs Blogspot) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, fantabulous-favorites

Sweet as Sin took me by surprise. It’s a dark and intense well-written book. This story left me breathless and speechless. I was so enthralled by this book, I had the hardest time putting it down.

Livvy is the owner of a pastry bakery; the Sugar Shack. She is a strong and independent woman who is taken by surprise when she meets her new sexy neighbor John Murphy and his proposal of a Summer fling.

The chemistry between these two is sizzling. Combustible. They both only expect a fling that will la...more Sweet as Sin took me by surprise. It’s a dark and intense well-written book. This story left me breathless and speechless. I was so enthralled by this book, I had the hardest time putting it down.

Livvy is the owner of a pastry bakery; the Sugar Shack. She is a strong and independent woman who is taken by surprise when she meets her new sexy neighbor John Murphy and his proposal of a Summer fling.

The chemistry between these two is sizzling. Combustible. They both only expect a fling that will last until it’s no longer fun, but what they didn’t expect is to fall for one another so fast and so hard.

John Murphy brought me to my knees. He is one of the most intense, complicated, and layered men I’ve read in a long time. He suffered abuse as a child that most people would never have survived. As a child, his way of coping with the monster who abused him are the imaginary monsters he creates in his head. As an adult, John took his imagination to a different level and started writing Young Adult Urban Fantasy books about his imaginary monsters, Jondi and Thorn. The way Inez Kelley integrates John's monster story into the love story is fascinating and original which also played an integral role into getting into John's head and what he is thinking. Until he meets Livvy, he has lived his life alone and made his prioriity to protect his sister. Being with Livvy has churned up feelings he has spent his life trying to avoid by only having friends with benefits or one night stands. He sees her as an angel and worries he will taint her with his dark demons. Livvy being the stubborn woman she is will not let him shut down or retreat when things get serious between them. While Livvy may have issues of her own, she is very understanding and patient with John even though he is a difficult man to love.

“Loving John Murphy was easy except when it was hard to love John Murphy.”

Livvy is fantastic. She's gentle yet stern with John. She stands up to him and his demons. She never downplays his issues. She learns early on from his sister that he needs to be loved hard and strong. That he will push her away and when he does to push right back and hold on tight. Such a unique and interesting couple. Light and dark. Happy and sad. My heart hurt for John but my heart also hurt for Livvy. I wanted this couple to be happy.

The emotional rollercoaster this story took me on had me laughing, crying, frustrated and angry. The emotional depth of the characters was incredible. John is not only a tormented soul but he is also cool, sexy, witty, and has a brilliant imagination on paper and in the bedroom. I’m not sure I will be able to look at another cupcake the same. Yowzers!

The end resolution wasn't perfect. I couldn't imagine this story being wrapped up into a pretty bow. It was realistic and I was satisfied.

I highly recommend this book. I'm already looking into reading other books by Inez Kelley.

-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review
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Jan 30, 2011 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review, romance, read-in-2011

Review can be found at my blog here:
http://lifeaccording2nicole.blogspot....

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 1/31/11
How I got this book: NetGalley

John Murphy has just moved into a new home and come to find out his next door neighbor is a sexy little number that he would love nothing more than to seduce for a few nights. But Livvy isn't looking for some short term fling, she wants the white picket fence and a happily ever after. But the attraction between them won't stop burning her up, and...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 16, 2012 Jenny - totallybookedblog rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult

This was a pretty dark book which I wasn't expecting.

I thought this book was amazing. It was so emotional and seeing John deal with his demons had me riveted and I had to read in one sitting.

John is hot and sexy, but there were times he tried my patience and I wanted to slap him.

This is also a fun and sexy book as well as extremely emotional and one I won't forget.

4 likes · like · see review

Feb 07, 2011 Mandi Schreiner rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, favorite-2011

Favorite Quote: “Love him hard. And when he pushes you away – and he will – love him harder.”

Livvy has a new neighbor – a very sexy new neighbor. John is an author writing a very popular young adult fantasy series that he also illustrates. But he has been having writer’s block for the past month. Once he meets Livvy, the words start to flow. John grew up with an extremely abusive step-father and has many, many demons. He uses his writing and illustrating as an outlet. When he meets Livvy, their...more Favorite Quote: “Love him hard. And when he pushes you away – and he will – love him harder.”

Livvy has a new neighbor – a very sexy new neighbor. John is an author writing a very popular young adult fantasy series that he also illustrates. But he has been having writer’s block for the past month. Once he meets Livvy, the words start to flow. John grew up with an extremely abusive step-father and has many, many demons. He uses his writing and illustrating as an outlet. When he meets Livvy, their attraction is very immediate. They find this love together, but the demons do not always let the love smile upon them.

Livvy owns a bakery and when she meets John she decides it is time for her to have a passionate summer love affair. But she soon learns, that there is nothing easy going about John and her heart falls hard and fast.

I wish I could portray the amount of emotions I went through when reading Sweet As Sin. The depth of John really amazed me in this book. When you first read it – John is this really sexy neighbor who finds Livvy’s bra in his backyard (it blew off the clothesline) and I thought I totally had the book figured out – sexy neighbors will jump in bed together the end. Boy was I wrong. Because a few chapters later I was riveted to my Kindle and couldn’t believe what a complex character John turns out to be.

He has very dark demons. He is a very, very tormented man. He writes young adult adventure books, with furry little monsters, yet those little monsters are actually his dark, scary childhood rearing its ugly head. His demons present themselves in a variety of ways. From lashing out at Livvy, or at himself, or at his beloved sister. To closing down and not letting anyone near him. Cowering at an unexpected slight touch. There are points where he is SO brutal to Livvy. Yet, he can compartmentalize, pushing those demons to the back and can be a charming, loving human being. Livvy recognizes this from the start (maybe even a little too understanding) and decides she wants to be there for him..through bad and good. Livvy for the most part is an extremely understanding woman. She has a father who had numerous affairs, so her jealousy does come into play, but for a man who she comes to love quite quickly, she is extremely patient when his dark side comes out.

Even when John admits to being in love with Livvy, things are not magically better. Love does not cure the demons – his torture is still present, and it is just another reason why I think John is so well written. Bottom line is – John is not always an easy hero to like. But I believed in his pain, I believed in his demons. Therefore, I believed in his actions.

I wish the ending resolution would have played out just a little longer. John crosses some big lines, and Livvy trusts him very quickly again. I believe in their love for each other, I just would have wanted a little bit more time for them to evolve back into a serious couple. We also get a glimpse into the wonderful world John writes – it mirrors what is happening in his real life and I really think it adds so much to this story.

Sweet as Sin really blew me away. I loved it and I hope it finds its way to you.

Rating: A-(less)

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Jan 14, 2012 Kajal Nehra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, made-me-cry, favorites, so-sweet-that-i-might-be-a-diabetic

4.5 damn straight! Seriously? No shit!

Kill me if this book doesn't do justice to the title.
Because that's exactly what it was: SWEET. Not just sweet, but sugary sweet. *giggles*

Just to tell you that the book was worth the time I gave to it: Yes, I CRIED! :D

I liked Livvy quite a lot. She was stubborn (which was one thing I loved in the book), and John was - WOW- he was awesome, and at one point I was so involved and enraptured by the story I was literally like "Whatever the hell!? Kick him in the...more

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Feb 21, 2011 Allstarme79 rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read on some review sites how wonderful this book was but I didn't actually read the reviews until I was done. (I mostly just looked for 4 and 5 star ratings and saw a lot). As a Kindle download, this was my secondary book (I like to have two going at once.) And man, I had to actually put this down a few times for a few days because it was heartbreaking and mentally exhausting.

When John meets Livvy, there is an instant sexual connection but he finds himself trusting her more and letting her in...more

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Mar 09, 2012 Ann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, romantic-drama, favorites

4.5 Excellent romantic drama. My heart went out to poor sexy, tortured, tormented bad boy author John "Murphy" in desperate need of saving by his neighbor Livvy. Liked both H/h which is unusual. More often than not I want to smack the h for something. Livvy was pretty but not gorgeous (except to the H) intelligent, sexy, sweet, independent and understanding with a little dose of good sarcasm every now and then, my favorite type of h. First time to read Inez Kelley - hope to find another bk by th...more

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Jul 26, 2012 potatochip rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, dropped

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This author pretends to understand what a child abuse victim is like many years after growing up and escaping his father, but it's an understanding that only touches the surface and thus the story feels unbelievable; clearly, someone didn't do her research (or at least not nearly enough research). She makes John look more amusing and whiny rather than someone the reader can legitimately sympathize with and root for. So he's got these 'monsters' to deal with and apparently the only psychological...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Jenni rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, romance, e-books, erotica

OMG! It was such a sweet and great book! I just read Love Unscripted, so I'm on a contemporary romance freed right now and decided to read "Sweet as Sin". I definitely made a right choice! The story was heartbreaking and it dealt with some heavy issues that our main male character, John Murphy, had experienced in the past. But our heroin, Livvy, managed to "save" him from it and that was a journey that pulled my heart apart and mended it at the end of the book.
I loved how the author gave us read...more

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Feb 25, 2012 Michelle [Helen Geek] rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone - don't let the blurb fool you - this is an Excellent READ

Shelves: nook-tbr, gr-high-recommend, imag-galore, 5_star

02/25/1012 bumping this to 5 Stars. Months later I still think about this book often and have rec'd it to so many people. It is a hidden treasure. Very unexpectedly excellent.

A solid 4.5/5 stars. I really liked this book, but the cover and the title along with the "blurb" don't tell you anything about this books. It was NOT a sweet story -- not even close. It was a story of a man's journey to survive a horrificly abusive childhood; John. He was an author of YA Sci-Fi and created a monster world....more

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May 05, 2011 Patty Blount rated it 5 of 5 stars

I ordered this book after visiting a blog where the recipe for Chocolate Orgasm Brownies was posted, believing the book to be like dessert - full of empty calories.

Not even close. Don't the title fool you; this story is NOT mind candy. SWEET AS SIN is a story about Livvy Andrews and John Murphy, neighbors who figure they'll have a nice, no-strings-attached, summer fling. Livvy is a pastry chef and John is a writer of a best-selling young adult fantasy series about monsters. In the opening scene...more I ordered this book after visiting a blog where the recipe for Chocolate Orgasm Brownies was posted, believing the book to be like dessert - full of empty calories.

Not even close. Don't the title fool you; this story is NOT mind candy. SWEET AS SIN is a story about Livvy Andrews and John Murphy, neighbors who figure they'll have a nice, no-strings-attached, summer fling. Livvy is a pastry chef and John is a writer of a best-selling young adult fantasy series about monsters. In the opening scene, John finds a scarlet red bra in his driveway and returns it to the owner of the house next door. There's more than enough heat and double-entendre in this scene to convince you - "Yep, mind candy."

Keep reading.

A few scenes later, John is quoting Bible passages and Livvy is trying hard not to see the pain in his eyes. This is a pair of deeply-layered characters, one more flawed than the other. Then, there are the sisters. Gina, John's sister, and Andrea, Livvy's sister. Both serve more than walk-on roles in the story that turns out to be more SIN than SWEET. Through Gina, we see John as protector and through Andrea, we see Livvy as best friend.

Without divulging many spoilers, I'll say this - Livvy takes one look at her sexy new neighbor and immediately understands John is not a guy who's interested in a commitment but decides to take him on anyway. She falls hard for him and he falls hard for her, but fights just as hard to deny it.

It's the "why fight it" part of the story that holds the most sweetness. John is a deeply traumatized man. The stories he writes let us get glimpses into a mind so full of agony, your heart will ache for him even though he's not real. While Livvy also bears scars of her own, hers do not induce anxiety attacks or flashbacks, as John's do. He's a complicated man who jealously and zealously protects those he loves. That Gina is a well-adjusted adult with a family of her own is a testament to how well John protects.

Those sound like wonderful traits but believe me, John manages to take both to extremes and nearly loses Livvy for them.

The love story in this book is written with equal parts sugar and spice - hot, hot spice. There is also a great deal of humor in it, so don't be surprised to reach for a Kleenex a page before you're giggling again. John's latest story is also baked into the book and the scenes he writes always seem to reinforce the scene's Kelley writes. Finally, there are various questions and little sub-texts sprinkled throughout that many authors fail to resolve. Kelley DOES and to great satisfaction.

This was a wonderfully complex story that reads like dessert but fills like a whole meal. Bon apetit! (less)

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Mar 25, 2012 Jerri rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: All my girls

Recommended to Jerri by: Website

Don't be misled by the title. I am amazed at how much I loved this book. I simply could not put it down. I was reminded of the days when I read romance novels voraciously. I fell in love with both of the main characters immediately and became invested in their relationship. I can see why the "tortured hero" sub-genre of romance is so popular. My inner psychologist came out as I watched John and Livvy try to navigate the rough waters of John's past. This is a must read for contemporary romance re...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Lady rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a passionate and enthralling book.
Don't be fooled by its title or assume from its initial lead-in that this book is just some lustful romp; it’s so much more than that. It’s a deeply satisfying love story that feels candid and real and taut. Eloquently written, with an almost a poetic lyric and a heartbeat of its own that makes your own heart beat as fast as theirs.

Thank you Inez for the journey....

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About Inez Kelley

Inez Kelley lives in the Midwest in a house affectionately called The Brady Bunch place. She spends most of her time in a cramped little office (Alice’s room) surrounded by a multitude of books, a plastic gecko and her computer. The growing horde of dust bunnies, her children’s request for meals and a never-ending laundry pile vie for her attentions.

She is a multi-published author of various roma...more

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Quotes from Sweet as Sin

“Just because you're in the market for a minivan doesn't mean you can't test drive a hotrod.” — 20 people liked it

“A man could be content with bread alone if he'd never tasted anything else. But one taste of sugar and John knew he'd never know such sweetness again.” — 8 people liked it

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