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Taste of Lacey

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Lacey never thought she'd be attracted to the blond hair and blue eyed type, but Rye was sexy as hell. And she wanted him. Badly.

Scratching a sexual itch for the hell of it was virgin territory to her, but surely she could give in to the pleasure he offered, if only for one night. It didn't matter that he was her brother's best friend. Or that her focus should be on getting her business on solid footing. Lacey Bishop, independent, logical black female, was about to hit the sheets with the white boy next door. She'd question her sanity later.

Ryder McKay wasn't suffering from lack of female attention, so he couldn't blame his raging need for Lacey on a dry spell. Beyond her being a gorgeous woman, he didn't know what fueled his urgent hunger. Her father and brother would probably want to kill him, but he'd had a taste of Lacey and one just wouldn't be enough. The hard part? Convincing her.

216 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2014

22 people are currently reading
395 people want to read

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Linden Hughes

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5 stars
276 (49%)
4 stars
159 (28%)
3 stars
76 (13%)
2 stars
29 (5%)
1 star
13 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Mspraise50.
1,597 reviews65 followers
May 30, 2014
This is Lacey and Ryder’s story. The book grabbed my attention from page 1 and was a page turner and very engrossing. Both Lacey and Ryder are likable characters each with a stubborn will of their own. Their relationship is passionate, intense and romantic.

Because of Ryder’s playboy past Lacey has trust issues and wonders whether their relationship can go the distance or will he play her like all the others in his past. Ryder does not give Lacey any cause to doubt him she has to deal with her insecurities in order for their relationship to work. Lacey also allows the views of her mother and brother to influence her decision making regarding her relationship with Ryder which only brings heartache and pain to both their lives!

Great read I would highly recommend this book!
Profile Image for Bonita.
109 reviews9 followers
July 25, 2014
Love this! I never thought I'd be attracted to blond-haired, blue-eyed types either but I fell in love with Ryder. What's even more amazing to me is the one and two star ratings this book received. One comment stated the interactions of Ryder and Lacey were unreasonable, there was no build-up to their relationship. I disagree. The author explained in detail how close Ryder and Lacey's brother, Kyle were. They grew up together. Ryder and Lacey knew each other almost as close as siblings. I can see them all of a sudden looking at each other through different lenses. The story line was very plausible to me and I enjoyed the give and take of Ryder and Lacey's relationship. Just a good old-fashioned love story! Love it!
Profile Image for Whit.
3,684 reviews52 followers
August 26, 2025
Laugh-out-loud good! I love this book! It has everything: Lacey, a beautiful, independent business owner, and Rye, a sexy, alpha engineer. They decide that a one night only hookup would be a good idea. Did I mention that they grew up, next door to each other and that Rye is also Lacey's brother's best friend? And believe me, brother-man is not happy! Did I also mention that Rye is tall, blue-eyed and blond and Lacey is...not? Let the games begin! This book goes on the read again and again pile!

This is my 3rd re read of this absolutely delicious book!
Profile Image for Laverne Brewster.
1,395 reviews18 followers
February 12, 2015
"You know me as your friend, learn me as your man."

4.00 stars. The above quote from this book, sums it up. Ryder "Rye" McKay has known Lacey Bishop for nearly 30 years has her neighbor and brother's BBF. One night following an event that she catered and while he waited to give her a ride home, she gets some good news, they hug and kiss and become sexually aroused and agree to a one night stand. The one nighter grows to more, but she has trouble accepting his love and faithfulness to her because of her knowledge of him and her brother as 'players'. Nice story.
Profile Image for Denise.
41 reviews5 followers
May 18, 2014
Finally

this was a well written story. in the midst of not so good IR books lately this was a very good read. I highly recommend this read. Rye and Lacey had a beautiful story.
Profile Image for TinaNoir.
1,892 reviews339 followers
July 15, 2014
Have you ever seen a very pretty woman whose beauty is obscured by a lot of bad make-up or ruined by bad plastic surgery? Well that is how this book seemed to me. Underneath it all, this had the makings of a good book but it was hampered by some pretty glaring issues. A pretty girl undone by bad make-up.

Before I got this book, I read the sample and was cautiously optimistic. There were no glaring typographic or grammatical errors. The premise seemed interesting since I love the friends-to-lovers trope. I really enjoy reading about smart, urbane professionals of which both Lacey and Rye were.

Rye his family are long-time friends of Lacey's folks. He is also the life-long best friend of Lacey's older brother Kyle. So in essence they've all grown up together.

He happens to be the only person on hand when she is handed a hefty check and the glowing appreciation by the Mayor's office for work well done on a catering job. She whoops in joy and she and Rye embrace.

And this is where my problems begin. Because it takes approximately one page to go from a friendly celebratory embrace between two people who had largely regarded each other as quasi-siblings to him having her top off and he's suckling on her breasts. In a public place.

This brings me to my biggest issue with the book.

The Sex.

There is a lot of it. I would venture to guess that approx. 70% this book is sex related.

Now, truthfully a lot of sex in a book does not bother me. I like and read a lot of erotica. I actually prefer my romances to have open-door sex scenes. So it isn't the sex per se that bothers me. It is the bad sex that bothers me.


Here are some quotes:

"His cockhead managed to delve into her glory"

"He groaned in an unrecognizable voice as cum shot from him at high speed"

"Suddenly, her nipples resembled torpedoes and her feminine lips were moist"

"Immediately he sank his aching manhood into her molten tunnel"

"Leaving his seed unfettered in her womb produced feelings he couldn't explain."


I kept being dragged out of the story by the awful sexxing. The prose was purple, yes, but there was also a crudeness to the sex scenes that kept them from being HOT in a good way.

Actually I think the crudeness pervaded a lot of the language around sex in the book. Kyle and Rye's very first scene together in the book has Kyle inviting Rye to a party, proclaiming there would be "nothing but prime pussy there." (BTW, 'Pussy' was used 58 times in this 197 page book, that is once every three pages on average).

The Story:

I could have tolerated the sex if the story had been strong enough to overcome it. But sadly it wasn't. It was really quite riddled with worn out tropes from family members who are waaay to involved in a grown ass woman's love life to a scheming other woman.

The one bright spot in this book is Rye. Even through all the alpha-male chest thumping and "Whose pussy is this!?" demands, he is actually a pretty good character.

But Lacey falls into one of my pet peeve traps. While Rye is jumping through hoops to show that he is in this for the long haul, she is distrustful and illogical and really can't see what is in front of her face.

The rest of my much longer review is here
Profile Image for AD .
34 reviews9 followers
May 31, 2014
So let me tell you about a Taste of Lacey. If Lacey ain’t the luckiest woman in the world, then I don’t know who is. Homegirl is her own woman. Homegirl is gorgeous. Homegirl finds herself in the arms of a white dude who is fine, successful, rich and is, um… packing. In the past he’s experimented with his package, which many a female has, will and wants to attest to. But now, good ole Rye has his sights set on Miss Lacey, and homeboy is working said package. Ain’t a damn thing wrong with Rye. Not a thing.

In fact Rye’s entire package, both brains included, are doing all kinds of right by Lacey and as their relationship unfolds (and progresses rather quickly) I found myself falling in love with Rye despite his man-whore past. Everyone’s got a past, right? Even prissy Lacey, although her past is more wrought with emotion, failed romances, and accusations of being an iced-over, yawn-inducing, frigid bore. With Rye, however, those qualities are balanced out and lead to a little bit of drama and become somewhat endearing until a particular point in the novel where I found myself wanting to snatch her bobbed tresses out her scalp for doing what she did to my Rye. Yes, drama alert (cue the wall slide)! And, oh, do we live for the drama.

Now let me tell you about angst… Angst makes a romance novel go round. Angst begets the turn of a page. If the writer is the heart of a romance novel, angst is the adrenaline giving that extra somethin’ somethin’ to the blood of the plot. Insecurity, jealousy, misunderstanding, miscommunication, even in the midst of a few (just a few… we all make them) missed grammatical errors can’t stop you from wanting to continue reading when you should be in the middle of R.E.M. sleep.

I must say I truly enjoyed this book. There are very few novels that I would read a second time and this is one of them. It’s not a perfect novel, but for me it’s a heartwarming (a cliché term, but here it’s very fitting) story of love, family and some sexy, and I mean sexy, moments. Also, a few characters need their own stories. I see you, Monica and Lisa. Ever seen the movie Something New? Yup, Taste of Lacey has the same vibe. And that’s a good thing. Enjoy.
Profile Image for KBeautiful1.
690 reviews67 followers
July 20, 2014
What a fantastic story about Rye and Lacey.

The author did such an amazing job in creating two characters so believable and life like, that you could not help but be invested in them.

Ryder "Rye" McKay wasn't just your typical man, he is a straight up alpha. He was a playboy extraordinaire, the world was his oyster and he had a job that he loved.

Lacey Bishop was business owner of "Thyme's Catering", she was her own woman, she walked to her own beat and she loved being who she was.

Friends for a long time. Rye is best friends with her brother Kyle so this wasn't a chance meeting for they have always known each other. But a chance encounter from Lacey's excitement of a kiss with Rye because her company's payoff for hosting the Mayor's fundraising was huge. Led these two down a road that neither one of them expected. It was an erotic epic encounter that drew Rye and Lacey like a moth to a flame. It was passionate, real, scorching and painful.

These two had to learn to navigate the oftentimes choppy waters of love. With disapproval's coming from some people, insecurities, jealously, discrimination, fighting for the love to stay together and love each other unconditionally. This is the story of a them both. You will find yourself rooting for them, yelling at people to mind their business. It is in those quarrelsome times that you find out just what these two are made of and better yet can their love survive.

You watch as family and friends battle to be heard over what they believe is good for Lacey. What I loved so much about Rye is that he didn't give a damn about what anybody had to say. He was confident in who he was. Talk about straight alpha in and out of the bedroom, lawd now I am on the hunt searching for my own Rye Woot! Woot!

Lacey on the other hand was such an analytical thinker about everything single thing and (not that its a bad thing) but at what point, of being a grown woman can you tell people to mind their business and that you got this. She allowed the words of others to fracture her mind about who her man Rye is to her. I wanted to shake some serious sense into her too LOL!

I don't do spoilers, I believe it takes away from the reader to draw their own conclusion of the story. So I will leave you with this, If you care to read a story that is of excellent substance, If you care to read a story where you are rooting ferociously for the hero and the heroine, well then this story is for you.

Until My Next Review Ciao Bellas!
Profile Image for Vallsykes.
1,138 reviews13 followers
August 26, 2016
2.5 stars

It really could have been better. It's just...the dialogue seemed silly and I couldn't "see" the characters talking and/or behaving in the given situations without rolling my eyes.

There was some attempt at characterization, especially where the hero, Rye, was concerned. For instance, Rye started the wooing and courtship process of Lacey early on in the story, even though he and she were kinda a throbbing mass of humping sex first, during and until they "got it right", and his point of view was more romantic and "clued in" than Lacey's. Yet, it was the interaction with his dad that was especially endearing and at least the most decent character exchange throughout the whole story.
“Sometimes you never really tame a filly. Sometimes you just hope she slows down and lets you jump on every now and again.”
Rye smiled. “Hell, as long as I get to ride.”
In any case, this story wasn't horrible, it just wasn't "grabbing" enough. It needed more TLC or more baking before it was let out of the oven.
1 review
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August 13, 2022
Contemporary HOT Romance With A Realistic Alpha
Taste of Lacey is a well written, spicy romance book. My favourite authors are Sylvia Day (historical romances), Suzanne Brockmann, Pamela Clare (contemporary), Linda Howard, Lori Foster and Sara McCarty. I was searching Amazon and book websites for hot romance novels. I usually download the book, skim through it and end up returning because it's not long enough or not my cup of tea. "Taste of Lacey" is a keeper.

Both the hero and heroine have very strong characters. Lacey is a good match for Rye's caveman tendencies. I also liked how the reader knew the depth of Rye's feelings before Lacey. The family scenes and tension were realistic and at times funny. I'm looking forward to more from this author.
Profile Image for Romance.
17 reviews6 followers
May 24, 2014
SAME REVIEW ON AMAZON

Lots of people in the Facebook group I'm part of were raving about it. At first, I balked at the price but when I peeked at the sample and saw the table of contents, I knew not to take to take Amazon's wonky pagination. Anyway, I loved Rye. The perfect mix of Alpha and sweet. The drama in the book was realistic and flowed well with the story. I loved loved Lacey's sister, Lisa, and her cousin, Monica. If the author would consider writing a love story with those two characters, I'd happily buy them. Give this book a read. I will definitely buy this author's work again. Well done.
Profile Image for Bev Simon.
541 reviews6 followers
March 26, 2015
Absolutely brilliant, well worth reading. The story, the characters and how they are portrayed is so realistic. I loved the fact that the tackle the interracial differences and how their families/friends react to them getting together. I didn't want the story to end!!! Please can we have another story with Lacey & Rye and their families especially as they touched upon the failed relationship of Monica's mother.....there's a good story there!!!
Profile Image for Peace.
725 reviews9 followers
February 18, 2021
A hot and sexy one night stand that turned into a forever night stand.
Profile Image for Kelly .
406 reviews9 followers
April 20, 2016
OMG!-

OMG!-

This book was smoking hot! Ry is alpha all the way and I melted at his sexy forceful ways! The chemistry was off the charts and the way the families reacted to their interracial dating was hauntingly familiar. Definitely struck a chord in me as to the reactions I received when dating outside my race. I loved how the author showed the good, bad and the intolerance people you thought you knew could flip because you're doing something they don't consider right or normal. Thankfully Ryan was strong enough to show Lacey she was all he ever needed.....sigh!
Profile Image for Camy.
1,661 reviews49 followers
June 14, 2016
I can use my exact same review (minus the italics) from Compassion for this book. Exact.

Here goes: boring, cliche characters - especially the invasive parents, extremely awkward and stilted prose, purple sex scenes, awful sex talk, too much sex, lame and redundant sex, saccharine end, no plot, zero development and pacing...yada yada yada.

These IRRs are cookie cutter at this point. And I'm not spending money for books that can't break the mold, nor will I support authors who write such horrible prose. IRR needs to come up with something exceptional to tempt me next time.
Profile Image for Aquila T..
89 reviews4 followers
July 28, 2015
This will not be my last time reading a book by Linden Hughes. The story was well structured and flowed really well. Also, they were limited spelling errors (which for me is one of the reasons why I gave it five stars).
Lacey and Rye were on fire from the first chapter and their fiery passion for each other only grew from there. At times Lacey kind of annoyed me with her insecurities, but at the same time I understood her feelings. Rye was just the right amount of alpha for me. Overall I enjoyed Taste of Lacey and I will be looking out for more books by Linden Hughes.
Profile Image for Hez.
442 reviews
July 21, 2014
Taste of Lacey was Amazeballs! I absolutely LOVED it! Imagine growing up as next door neighbors not knowing that the person you are meant to be with is right there. Knowing Rye and his playboy ways, Lacey never looked at Ryder as anything other than her neighbor or brothers best friend. And the same goes for Rye until one night where he was helping her out at one of her events. The whole story roped me in. I swear Rye had me sweating (use of a better word) while reading this book. Lawd!!! I LOVED IT. Oh I said that already? :D.... Hoping to see more of these crazy families.
Profile Image for Danielle.
58 reviews2 followers
August 28, 2014
Oh I sooooo loved this book. I loved how Rye knew what he wanted and did not waiver AT ALL. Even though Lacey was stubborn and extra independent, Rye never let her run over him. I fell in love with Rye right along with Lacey and his parents were a hoot! I loved Lacey's character too. She showed how women can be their own worst enemy, but she swallowed her pride and fixed it. I'm ready to read it all over again!
9 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2015
Loved Taste of Lacey

Never read from this author before but I sure will be reading more. Ms.Hughes certainly crafted a very sexy romance weaving Lacey and Ryder's story that just keeps you wanting more. Great characters wonderful story supported by good dialogue just makes this book a keeper which I know I will be reading again and again. Looking for a good read for summer add this one to your list. Enjoy.
Profile Image for Brandi.
622 reviews31 followers
December 29, 2014
Plenty good story. I out off reading this for a while because I had never reqd this author before and thought the book price was a little much for an unknown.But big, was it worth it. Rye put in on the line and also, put it on Lacey. He didn't mess around. Lacey, had all of the normal insecurities that you can expect but not so much that you hate her. Good book.
Profile Image for Mistress.
67 reviews
February 5, 2015
great story

I expected BDSM but got that tender body worship and great hot talk during the love scenes. The possessiveness of Rye was reminiscent of typical black men but it worked well on him. Both characters were completely believable and it added to the romance. Great story
Profile Image for M.J..
373 reviews23 followers
June 2, 2014
Very good read. I like the story of Lacey and Ryder, this is one of the best IR romances I’ve read in a long time. This is my 1st book by this author but it won't be my last!
Profile Image for Shelly.
72 reviews1 follower
June 11, 2014
Good book. Captured my interest quickly and I couldn't put it down. Read the book in one day. Loved the characters and loved the story.
8 reviews
March 2, 2016
Enjoyable

Enjoyable....looking forward to the next book. The hero was strong and determine .The heroine was likable but a little weak
332 reviews2 followers
January 20, 2020
Enjoyed this book

Very nice read. Light hearted and not a lot of racial overtones. Rye and Lacey finally learns that the best gift in our lives can be closer than we realized. Love is a beautiful thing even for us strong and independent women. Our strengths, uniqueness and diversity can be the best of who we are and a joy to share.
Truly will enjoy getting into my next book. Thank you!!
Profile Image for Catalina.
892 reviews48 followers
May 21, 2017
DNF at 30%
I am sorry but cannot muster more patience to get through this. I already know what is going to happen and if I am bored now, I will just want to punch someone when I will get to the drama, so better to put it aside now!
510 reviews2 followers
September 5, 2017
I loved this book. Ryder was a grade A Alpha male and was so sexy it was ridiculous. Probably the best book I've read in the best friend's sister theme. Great job with Ryder and Lacey. Their feelings just hopped off the page.
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