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Delilah Horton #1
Always Room for Cupcakes
One day I was be-bopping along jamming to the music in my head while wondering if my thighs could handle grabbing a cupcake on the way home. The next thing I knew, my entire world crashed and burned.
I used to wake up at night in a sweat, crying because I’d dreamt my husband was cheating on me, or he hated me, and resented our kids. He’d always hold me close and tell me it was all just a dream, that he loved me and our family and he’d never let me go.
He was a f*cking liar.
Now I spend my days taking photos of scum just like him, trying to be a champion for others who are being taken advantage of by the losers in our town, and my nights being a single mom to my beautiful twins.
I've got great friends who always have my back, and a sexy, mysterious motorcycle man who keeps showing up when I need him. Things are finally starting to look up. And, one thing's for sure... There's always room for cupcakes.
WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS FOUL LANGUAGE, SEX, SOME VIOLENCE, AND SHENANIGANS. IF NONE OF THAT BOTHERS YOU, GRAB A CUPCAKE AND READ ON!
Cupcake Series - Should be read in order
Always Room for Cupcakes
Cupcake Overload
Lei'd with Cupcakes
Cupcake Explosion
Cupcakes & Macarons: Honeymoon Short
Lei'd in Paradise: A Cupcakes Series Novella (Carmen and Bran)
Crazy for Cupcakes
I used to wake up at night in a sweat, crying because I’d dreamt my husband was cheating on me, or he hated me, and resented our kids. He’d always hold me close and tell me it was all just a dream, that he loved me and our family and he’d never let me go.
He was a f*cking liar.
Now I spend my days taking photos of scum just like him, trying to be a champion for others who are being taken advantage of by the losers in our town, and my nights being a single mom to my beautiful twins.
I've got great friends who always have my back, and a sexy, mysterious motorcycle man who keeps showing up when I need him. Things are finally starting to look up. And, one thing's for sure... There's always room for cupcakes.
WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS FOUL LANGUAGE, SEX, SOME VIOLENCE, AND SHENANIGANS. IF NONE OF THAT BOTHERS YOU, GRAB A CUPCAKE AND READ ON!
Cupcake Series - Should be read in order
Always Room for Cupcakes
Cupcake Overload
Lei'd with Cupcakes
Cupcake Explosion
Cupcakes & Macarons: Honeymoon Short
Lei'd in Paradise: A Cupcakes Series Novella (Carmen and Bran)
Crazy for Cupcakes
198 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2016
1193 people are currently reading
2134 people want to read
About the author
Bethany Lopez
102 books2,119 followersSign up for my Newsletter for more information about my writing: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/61969e...
Bethany Lopez is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than seventy published works, as both Bethany Lopez and DJ Bryce, and has been publishing since 2011. She's a lover of all things romance, which she incorporates into the books she writes, no matter the genre.
When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with family and traveling whenever possible.
Bethany can usually be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine at hand, and will never turn down a cupcake!
Literary Agent - Amanda Wooden, SBR Media amanda@sbrmedia.com
Bethany Lopez is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than seventy published works, as both Bethany Lopez and DJ Bryce, and has been publishing since 2011. She's a lover of all things romance, which she incorporates into the books she writes, no matter the genre.
When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with family and traveling whenever possible.
Bethany can usually be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine at hand, and will never turn down a cupcake!
Literary Agent - Amanda Wooden, SBR Media amanda@sbrmedia.com
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January 25, 2016
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed the premise of this fun little story. Lila is proof that you can’t keep a good woman down. Her life changes in an instant when she catches her husband cheating . Suddenly, she goes from being a sensible stay at home mom of twins to being a feisty investigative photographer devoted to catching unfaithful partners in flagrante delicto.
Lila curses like a sailor and has a colorful vocabulary vast enough to fill up a year’s worth of swear jars. If that bothers you, you’ll have issues with this book. She’s irreverent yet sweet, and her hilarious antics kept me laughing throughout the story. Toss in a mysterious hot biker, crazy cases, a little suspense, and some sexy times, and you have a winning formula for a lively romantic comedy.
This book falls somewhere between a novella and a full-length novel, and I think it would have benefitted from extending the length. There are too many missed opportunities to enhance the plot, which is a shame because it has the potential to be a much better book. Relationships are under developed, scenarios aren’t fully explored, and the overall tempo feels rushed. However, the writing is witty, the story is engaging, and for a quick read it’s highly entertaining. I’m definitely interested in reading more of Bethany Lopez’s work.
Recommended for fans of:
Bikers
Romantic Comedy
Sleuthing
Cupcakes
** ARC received in exchange for an honest review. **
I really enjoyed the premise of this fun little story. Lila is proof that you can’t keep a good woman down. Her life changes in an instant when she catches her husband cheating . Suddenly, she goes from being a sensible stay at home mom of twins to being a feisty investigative photographer devoted to catching unfaithful partners in flagrante delicto.
Lila curses like a sailor and has a colorful vocabulary vast enough to fill up a year’s worth of swear jars. If that bothers you, you’ll have issues with this book. She’s irreverent yet sweet, and her hilarious antics kept me laughing throughout the story. Toss in a mysterious hot biker, crazy cases, a little suspense, and some sexy times, and you have a winning formula for a lively romantic comedy.
This book falls somewhere between a novella and a full-length novel, and I think it would have benefitted from extending the length. There are too many missed opportunities to enhance the plot, which is a shame because it has the potential to be a much better book. Relationships are under developed, scenarios aren’t fully explored, and the overall tempo feels rushed. However, the writing is witty, the story is engaging, and for a quick read it’s highly entertaining. I’m definitely interested in reading more of Bethany Lopez’s work.
Recommended for fans of:
Bikers
Romantic Comedy
Sleuthing
Cupcakes
** ARC received in exchange for an honest review. **
January 13, 2016
Review by Trinette Dungee
When I first saw the title of this book I wasn’t sure what to expect; and considering the synopsis didn’t give me too much I was more than a little skeptical. You know what they say “Never judge a book by its cover”.
Lila is a thirty-something divorced mom of twins just trying to make ends meet. When she’s not working part-time in her bestie’s bakery she doing undercover photography for the local P.I. Insert Cade, he just shows up on his bike one day and whisks Lila away while she’s running from the latest perp who just happened to catch her snapping pics. And that’s all I’m going to give you, the rest you’ll just have to read for yourself and I highly recommend you read this book.
This is a departure from my normal romance-HEA reads; there’s a little bit of mystery/crime-solving involved definitely some other things that I didn’t see coming. The biggest departure is just the story itself, this isn’t your usual “single mom-meets rich guy who sweeps her off her feet-angst driven-drama driven storyline. Not every love/romance story has to have a triangle, a jilted ex-lover, a really rich guy, etc. driving the storyline. Sometimes shit just happens, life gets in the way and two people just have to muddle their way through it all to make it work. And that is just what this was! I loved it!
Lila was going through her stuff, dealing with her emotions, managing her hatred for her cheating ex (a.k.a The Douche), but she was moving on. Cade is definitely a departure from her “type” and he keeps her guessing. C’mon be honest, who hasn’t had that one guy that you meet, you hit it off but he seems a little evasive at times, gives you the best sex of your life, doesn’t call or text the way you’re used to and has you wondering just what the hell is going on? This was a “real character” she was someone you could relate to, she could be your sister, your cousin, your best friend, she couldn’t even be you. Don’t get me wrong, I love my love-swept, fantasy HEAs but this was great.
This is my first ever Bethany Lopez book, I can’t quite put my finger on it but I absolutely love her writing style. The conversations between the characters seem so real, like I could insert myself and any number of my girlfriends into the scenario and it would be the exact conversations we have! What I also liked about it was Lila was not a victim. Yes she was wronged but she also acknowledged her part in the failure of her marriage. Also, she had friends that didn’t just agree with her, they gave her real feedback and made her pause to think. And through it all, she always makes time to indulge in a cupcake.
That’s it, that’s all I’m going to give you. Great story, great laughs.
When I first saw the title of this book I wasn’t sure what to expect; and considering the synopsis didn’t give me too much I was more than a little skeptical. You know what they say “Never judge a book by its cover”.
Lila is a thirty-something divorced mom of twins just trying to make ends meet. When she’s not working part-time in her bestie’s bakery she doing undercover photography for the local P.I. Insert Cade, he just shows up on his bike one day and whisks Lila away while she’s running from the latest perp who just happened to catch her snapping pics. And that’s all I’m going to give you, the rest you’ll just have to read for yourself and I highly recommend you read this book.
This is a departure from my normal romance-HEA reads; there’s a little bit of mystery/crime-solving involved definitely some other things that I didn’t see coming. The biggest departure is just the story itself, this isn’t your usual “single mom-meets rich guy who sweeps her off her feet-angst driven-drama driven storyline. Not every love/romance story has to have a triangle, a jilted ex-lover, a really rich guy, etc. driving the storyline. Sometimes shit just happens, life gets in the way and two people just have to muddle their way through it all to make it work. And that is just what this was! I loved it!
Lila was going through her stuff, dealing with her emotions, managing her hatred for her cheating ex (a.k.a The Douche), but she was moving on. Cade is definitely a departure from her “type” and he keeps her guessing. C’mon be honest, who hasn’t had that one guy that you meet, you hit it off but he seems a little evasive at times, gives you the best sex of your life, doesn’t call or text the way you’re used to and has you wondering just what the hell is going on? This was a “real character” she was someone you could relate to, she could be your sister, your cousin, your best friend, she couldn’t even be you. Don’t get me wrong, I love my love-swept, fantasy HEAs but this was great.
This is my first ever Bethany Lopez book, I can’t quite put my finger on it but I absolutely love her writing style. The conversations between the characters seem so real, like I could insert myself and any number of my girlfriends into the scenario and it would be the exact conversations we have! What I also liked about it was Lila was not a victim. Yes she was wronged but she also acknowledged her part in the failure of her marriage. Also, she had friends that didn’t just agree with her, they gave her real feedback and made her pause to think. And through it all, she always makes time to indulge in a cupcake.
That’s it, that’s all I’m going to give you. Great story, great laughs.
February 24, 2016
Beware of Spoilers!
Star Ratings:
Heroine (Lila): 3.5/5 - a complete pushover when around the H but other than that she was pretty cool!
Hero (Cade): 3.5/5 - from the little interaction we have with him he was good
Plot: 3/5
Grovel: none
Cheating: none
HEA: yes
Triggers: disgusting scene where h is made to open her shirt by a drug-dealer and then was told to hurt herself which she did because she was drugged
Average score: 3.5/5 – the violence dropped the rating slightly
Best Line: “I’d learned quickly that men suck, my children are my saving grace, and there is always room for cupcakes.” – Amen!
“After everything you’ve been through, you deserve to have a man who’ll fuck you like it’s his job.”
Worst Line: there weren’t many bad ones in this
Random stranger to h: “I’m so tired of you women using that shit as an excuse. Any time you don’t want to do anything you blame it on cramps and periods. Well, I call bullshit.”
Personal Review:
A short fun love story between a funny single 35yr old mom (of 10yr old twins!) and a hot 38yr old MC biker.
Well it was fun until all the violence happened which completely took me by surprise!
Random Ramblings:
Loved the hot biker H saying this:
“My mom says a gentleman always carries a handkerchief.”
Overall Feeling:
Star Ratings:
Heroine (Lila): 3.5/5 - a complete pushover when around the H but other than that she was pretty cool!
Hero (Cade): 3.5/5 - from the little interaction we have with him he was good
Plot: 3/5
Grovel: none
Cheating: none
HEA: yes
Triggers: disgusting scene where h is made to open her shirt by a drug-dealer and then was told to hurt herself which she did because she was drugged
Average score: 3.5/5 – the violence dropped the rating slightly
Best Line: “I’d learned quickly that men suck, my children are my saving grace, and there is always room for cupcakes.” – Amen!
“After everything you’ve been through, you deserve to have a man who’ll fuck you like it’s his job.”
Worst Line: there weren’t many bad ones in this
Random stranger to h: “I’m so tired of you women using that shit as an excuse. Any time you don’t want to do anything you blame it on cramps and periods. Well, I call bullshit.”
Personal Review:
A short fun love story between a funny single 35yr old mom (of 10yr old twins!) and a hot 38yr old MC biker.
Well it was fun until all the violence happened which completely took me by surprise!
Random Ramblings:
Loved the hot biker H saying this:
“My mom says a gentleman always carries a handkerchief.”
Overall Feeling:
March 19, 2017
3.5 Stars
Lila becomes a photographer for a P.I firm after she catches her husband of twelve years cheating on her - she snaps a photo of him with his face between some other woman's thighs and subsequently her career begins.
There were parts of this book I really enjoyed. Lila is really likeable and the style of her character (and the story) reminded me of Kristen Ashley's Rock Chick series. Cade is the hero and I was totally on board with all his b****s alpha ways....the guy is HOT. The story is interesting and I have to say I was not expecting the dark turn of events or the degree of violence that went with it.
I thought the scene with her son where she finds him watching something on the computer was not necessary. Also thought if my ten year old was watching what her ten year old was watching I would be really worried but it was played off as normal. Maybe that's just me.
Secondary characters are great and I'm glad there are more books to find out more about Lila, Cade and the rest of the gang.
HEA? More HFN
Cheating? No
Lila becomes a photographer for a P.I firm after she catches her husband of twelve years cheating on her - she snaps a photo of him with his face between some other woman's thighs and subsequently her career begins.
There were parts of this book I really enjoyed. Lila is really likeable and the style of her character (and the story) reminded me of Kristen Ashley's Rock Chick series. Cade is the hero and I was totally on board with all his b****s alpha ways....the guy is HOT. The story is interesting and I have to say I was not expecting the dark turn of events or the degree of violence that went with it.
I thought the scene with her son where she finds him watching something on the computer was not necessary. Also thought if my ten year old was watching what her ten year old was watching I would be really worried but it was played off as normal. Maybe that's just me.
Secondary characters are great and I'm glad there are more books to find out more about Lila, Cade and the rest of the gang.
HEA? More HFN
Cheating? No
February 10, 2016
Former housewife gone badass photographer. Too bad she’s working for a boss who doesn’t always make the best decisions…..
The title alone had me wanting to read this one, come on who doesn’t like cupcakes! I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. It is much different from her other books, I mean that in a good way. The characters are much more mature in my opinion and the story seems to grows more intriguing the further you go in to it. Another thing I love is the humor, though the book has a lot of fun and giggles it isn’t too much. Making the more serious events that happen believable. Other authors have tried this very combo and when it got serious I felt the situation was still being treated as it was all one big joke and I didn’t get that here.
The last thing I want to say is about the (fake) twists thrown in the mix. The twists are ones that keeps it exiting and holy cupcake, hottie alert….no, I’m not talking about the cheating douche, pfft.
I won’t reveal too much about him but he’s all alpha, with a delicous gooey center. And I want one like him for myself. I promise I won’t even look at the cupcakes.
Seriously, I really liked this book, it was fun, it was exiting and sometimes really sad. Also important to mention is that I’m actually seeing a growth in the stories and in the writing of this author. Not that I’m an expert or anything…It just shows….
Anyway thank you Ms. Lopez for writing this story, I love what you did with these characters and I can’t wait to see what you come up with next. But I already know that you’ll somehow manage to surprise me again.
*I've received this ARC in exchange for an honest review, and yes it's all honest ^_^*
The title alone had me wanting to read this one, come on who doesn’t like cupcakes! I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. It is much different from her other books, I mean that in a good way. The characters are much more mature in my opinion and the story seems to grows more intriguing the further you go in to it. Another thing I love is the humor, though the book has a lot of fun and giggles it isn’t too much. Making the more serious events that happen believable. Other authors have tried this very combo and when it got serious I felt the situation was still being treated as it was all one big joke and I didn’t get that here.
The last thing I want to say is about the (fake) twists thrown in the mix. The twists are ones that keeps it exiting and holy cupcake, hottie alert….no, I’m not talking about the cheating douche, pfft.
I won’t reveal too much about him but he’s all alpha, with a delicous gooey center. And I want one like him for myself. I promise I won’t even look at the cupcakes.
Seriously, I really liked this book, it was fun, it was exiting and sometimes really sad. Also important to mention is that I’m actually seeing a growth in the stories and in the writing of this author. Not that I’m an expert or anything…It just shows….
Anyway thank you Ms. Lopez for writing this story, I love what you did with these characters and I can’t wait to see what you come up with next. But I already know that you’ll somehow manage to surprise me again.
*I've received this ARC in exchange for an honest review, and yes it's all honest ^_^*
March 14, 2017
My Rating:
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
“I hadn't seen anything, but that didn't mean the perps weren't inside. They were adulterers after all, so they wouldn't exactly be boning in the front yard.”
“The full view was nothing to write home about. He was totally naked, and really hairy in areas that were not pleasing to the eye... There was nothing happy about that trail... I almost tossed my cookies.”
“'Oh my God! I love you,' I cried then without wasting any time, I ate that cupcake like someone was about to take it from me. Because seriously, if the nurse had come in and caught me, she would have.”
My Review:
Always Room For Cupcakes is a fun, quick, and delightful read that kept a smile on my face as well as occasionally had me snorting and laughing aloud. I was happily entertained by the clever humor and comical depictions as much as I was by the quirky small town characters. The story was well-written and well-paced with a bit of mystery and intrigue along with the frequent wit and occasional hits of steamy goodness. Lila is a recently divorced, single-mom turned investigative photographer for a skivvy PI, who soon found herself in over her head in every facet of her life, and although her adventures were dangerous and scary, the light tone kept the story entertaining and breezy. I would classify it as an enjoyable and entertaining women's fiction/romantic comedy hybrid.
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
“I hadn't seen anything, but that didn't mean the perps weren't inside. They were adulterers after all, so they wouldn't exactly be boning in the front yard.”
“The full view was nothing to write home about. He was totally naked, and really hairy in areas that were not pleasing to the eye... There was nothing happy about that trail... I almost tossed my cookies.”
“'Oh my God! I love you,' I cried then without wasting any time, I ate that cupcake like someone was about to take it from me. Because seriously, if the nurse had come in and caught me, she would have.”
My Review:
Always Room For Cupcakes is a fun, quick, and delightful read that kept a smile on my face as well as occasionally had me snorting and laughing aloud. I was happily entertained by the clever humor and comical depictions as much as I was by the quirky small town characters. The story was well-written and well-paced with a bit of mystery and intrigue along with the frequent wit and occasional hits of steamy goodness. Lila is a recently divorced, single-mom turned investigative photographer for a skivvy PI, who soon found herself in over her head in every facet of her life, and although her adventures were dangerous and scary, the light tone kept the story entertaining and breezy. I would classify it as an enjoyable and entertaining women's fiction/romantic comedy hybrid.
July 23, 2020
Eh so so
See this was recommended in a group that I belong to. The book was suppose to be about cheating. This did NOT have that in it. Yes cheating happened before. When the book starts they are already divorced.
Only reason I have it 2 stars was because she got a HEA or so you are made to believe until is shows a second book.
See this was recommended in a group that I belong to. The book was suppose to be about cheating. This did NOT have that in it. Yes cheating happened before. When the book starts they are already divorced.
Only reason I have it 2 stars was because she got a HEA or so you are made to believe until is shows a second book.
April 6, 2016
Having read a 5 star raving book review comparing Always Room for Cupcakes to a Kristen Ashley read, this avid KA fan was bound and determined to investigate first hand to see if this flattering comparison was true. I am happy to report my literary sleuthing does indeed lead me to agree with that very notion. However, let me make this crystal clear. Ms. Lopez has her own unique writing style, and it definitely shines through in this quick, engaging, at times sexy/steamy, entertaining read.
Lila..Lila...You are one strong, witty, caring, feisty, resilient heroine. With so much to juggle, it’s no wonder you reach for something sugary to keep up your emotional and physical stamina. Your hilarious inner dialogue is entertaining in and of itself. You sure have a knack of putting yourself right out there in the thick of things. Thank goodness your caring posse of great friends and new love interest always have your back.
Cade..What can I say? You obviously can recognize a good thing when you see it. You had your sights on Lila even before you officially met. Now, isn’t that just swoon worthy, romantic, folks? Seems like fate brought this leading lady right to you, just when you’ve been looking for something more than being a carefree bachelor/motorcycle club member.
The biggest surprise about this book? I must admit Lila’s forced involvement/participation in the Cartel showdown involving Moose was rather…to put it mildly….unexpected.
Thank you, Ms. Lopez, for giving this reviewer something to smile about. Not only that, but I actually found myself giggling aloud at times. I’m really looking forward to Book 2, Cupcake Overload, with more of this great couple’s antics, romance, and shenanigans. In fact, I suspect there will always be room on my bookshelf for sequels in this series.
Title: Always Room for Cupcakes, Series: Cupcakes (Book 1), Author: Bethany Lopez, Pages: 143, stand-alone, HEA, no main couple cheating, no OW/OM drama, no love triangle, one graphic scene with drug/mob related violence, a couple VERY steamy scenes with lusty language.
Book 1 – Always Room for Cupcakes, 2/6/16
Book 2 – Cupcake Overload (to release 2016)
(This review is based on ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. No compensation was paid to the reviewer nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher.)
Lila..Lila...You are one strong, witty, caring, feisty, resilient heroine. With so much to juggle, it’s no wonder you reach for something sugary to keep up your emotional and physical stamina. Your hilarious inner dialogue is entertaining in and of itself. You sure have a knack of putting yourself right out there in the thick of things. Thank goodness your caring posse of great friends and new love interest always have your back.
Cade..What can I say? You obviously can recognize a good thing when you see it. You had your sights on Lila even before you officially met. Now, isn’t that just swoon worthy, romantic, folks? Seems like fate brought this leading lady right to you, just when you’ve been looking for something more than being a carefree bachelor/motorcycle club member.
The biggest surprise about this book? I must admit Lila’s forced involvement/participation in the Cartel showdown involving Moose was rather…to put it mildly….unexpected.
Thank you, Ms. Lopez, for giving this reviewer something to smile about. Not only that, but I actually found myself giggling aloud at times. I’m really looking forward to Book 2, Cupcake Overload, with more of this great couple’s antics, romance, and shenanigans. In fact, I suspect there will always be room on my bookshelf for sequels in this series.
Title: Always Room for Cupcakes, Series: Cupcakes (Book 1), Author: Bethany Lopez, Pages: 143, stand-alone, HEA, no main couple cheating, no OW/OM drama, no love triangle, one graphic scene with drug/mob related violence, a couple VERY steamy scenes with lusty language.
Book 1 – Always Room for Cupcakes, 2/6/16
Book 2 – Cupcake Overload (to release 2016)
(This review is based on ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. No compensation was paid to the reviewer nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher.)
February 16, 2016
4.5 Stars (Could have easily been 5 if a bit longer and some areas were developed a bit more)
I came off a bad read so was not in a good mood but this one pulled me out of my funk and had me smiling.
I loved that the H/h were older.
After reading it I was not surprise to see that Bethany is a Kristen Ashley fan as it did have hints of KA-ismims especially in the yummy H (he didn't have the total KA speak but he was a Badass!) However the Author's own style also came through and it wasn't over shadowed by this.
I came off a bad read so was not in a good mood but this one pulled me out of my funk and had me smiling.
I loved that the H/h were older.
After reading it I was not surprise to see that Bethany is a Kristen Ashley fan as it did have hints of KA-ismims especially in the yummy H (he didn't have the total KA speak but he was a Badass!) However the Author's own style also came through and it wasn't over shadowed by this.
February 7, 2016
Okay first I have to say that I love absolutely love Bethany Lopez and her ability to tell a story like no other. I mean I was laughing my arse off as I was reading this book and I also did something I have never done in my life but I went out to the bakery down the road and bought some fresh baked cup cakes to eat while I read.
Lila is your normal wife and mother just living her life and raising her kids. Then one day she gets a wake up call that devastates her and breaks her normal family. After finding her husband cheating she decides she is going to get even and gets a job taking pictures of other cheating spouses. She is good at her job and lord have mercy she knows how to work that camera.
After every case she has a cupcake which I thought was great instead of having a drink or a cigarette my girl Lila has a cupcake! Plus she keeps running into her motorcycle hottie Cade. Man give me a hottie biker and a cupcake any day!
Lila is your normal wife and mother just living her life and raising her kids. Then one day she gets a wake up call that devastates her and breaks her normal family. After finding her husband cheating she decides she is going to get even and gets a job taking pictures of other cheating spouses. She is good at her job and lord have mercy she knows how to work that camera.
After every case she has a cupcake which I thought was great instead of having a drink or a cigarette my girl Lila has a cupcake! Plus she keeps running into her motorcycle hottie Cade. Man give me a hottie biker and a cupcake any day!
March 14, 2024
Spoilers ahead, 3.5*
Delilah Horton is a 35 year old newly divorced mom of twins. She caught her husband cheating and completely revamped her life. She goes from being a stay at home mom to an investigative photographer for a PI. Her job comes with things she can't unsee and sometimes danger follows. On the run from one such dangerous incident she's rescued by a sexy stranger on a motorcycle. With what happened with her husband romance was the last thing that Delilah expected but Cade changed that.
Now she's co parenting with the douche, investigating drug dealers, getting involved with a sexy badass and trying to make ends meet all while leaving room for cupcakes.
****
This was cute and funny for the most part
Cade reminded me of Tack, a sexy crude badass biker most times but sweet and thoughtful sometimes. I did find he didn't apply enough pressure for me. No texts, random dropins and infrequent dates until they finally turned serious. Sometimes the way he spoke to her grinded my gears but overall I liked Cade
Delilah was a hoot
Fun cast of characters
Cute kids
Drug dealing and trafficking, h was drugged and made to do something truly horrifying to her boss
No cheating
H was a manwhore, never had a relationship type
h was divorced with 2 kids
Delilah Horton is a 35 year old newly divorced mom of twins. She caught her husband cheating and completely revamped her life. She goes from being a stay at home mom to an investigative photographer for a PI. Her job comes with things she can't unsee and sometimes danger follows. On the run from one such dangerous incident she's rescued by a sexy stranger on a motorcycle. With what happened with her husband romance was the last thing that Delilah expected but Cade changed that.
Now she's co parenting with the douche, investigating drug dealers, getting involved with a sexy badass and trying to make ends meet all while leaving room for cupcakes.
****
This was cute and funny for the most part
Cade reminded me of Tack, a sexy crude badass biker most times but sweet and thoughtful sometimes. I did find he didn't apply enough pressure for me. No texts, random dropins and infrequent dates until they finally turned serious. Sometimes the way he spoke to her grinded my gears but overall I liked Cade
Delilah was a hoot
Fun cast of characters
Cute kids
Drug dealing and trafficking, h was drugged and made to do something truly horrifying to her boss
No cheating
H was a manwhore, never had a relationship type
h was divorced with 2 kids
February 14, 2016
If you are looking for a sweet, sexy, quick, and fun read then Always Room for Cupcakes is the perfect book for you.
Lila has been through a lot after finding her husband of twelve years cheating on her with the town skank. Using her photography skills, she starts to turn her life around for herself and her twins, Elena and Elin, by working for a P.I. and taking pictures of other cheaters.
However, she quickly finds herself in a dangerous situation that she never expected. Enter Cade, a sexy, badass biker who can’t seem to stay away.
“Absolutely, girl, you deserve this. After everything you’ve been through, you deserve to have a man who’ll fuck you like it’s his job.”
Figuring she deserves a hot fling with a different type of guy, she starts dating Cade. The two together have some steamy fun!
“You’re so wet for me,” he said, his words only getting me hotter. “How do you want my cock?” “Hard…Fast…”
But their fling turned into so much more.
I loved the cast of characters in this book. Cade was gruff, but sweet. Lila was strong and a fighter. Amy May was a perfect BFF—thank goodness she always had cupcakes available! My only complaint is that it seemed things did move a bit fast at times, but like Cade said—when you are in your thirties, you know what you want. I hope we will get another story about Carmen! ~ Tiffany, 4 stars
~~~
That title, though—could it be any more true? There IS Always Room for Cupcakes, and honestly? There's also always room for a funny, quirky, playful and mildly suspenseful book like this one...
Lila’s life took a new twist when he found her husband cheating on her—one that lead her to spending her days photographing liars and cheaters. And also lead her to a sexy, gruff man with a badass attitude and panty-melting motorcycle. Whew—just the premise of a scorned wife getting revenge is a world of fun on its own, and that's not even mentioning that very, very delicious man with the bike. Someone hand me a fan and a cigarette!
I have to say, I love that Bethany Lopez didn't make Lila a wallflower, even after her perfect marriage and life crumbled at her feet. She was sassy, sweary and addicted to cupcakes. Basically, all the things a likeable heroine should be. I really enjoyed her character—and the way she handled herself and her relationships. She was very self-aware; she knew she was a shrew when it came to her ex, and she embraced her need for sweets when the going got tough.
But, Lila also knew when to rely on the people in her life. Her friendships with Bea, Amy May and Carmen were wonderful—well-written, positive female friendships aren't always the easiest to find in books and here they're an absolute highlight. I would happily read more about these women…especially peppy Carmen—maybe with a certain, handsome lawyer?!
The plot in Always Room for Cupcakes is completely charming. It has a touch of mystery and suspense, which was complemented by the laugh-out-loud humor that Ms. Lopez smattered throughout her book. It was very fast-moving—I did feel like the wrap-up came a touch too fast, and I wouldn't have minded getting a little more time with Lila and her MC man—but I had no trouble sitting down and finishing the book in one easy sitting. I was engaged and invested almost from the first page.
This is a great choice to enjoy with a cupcake, and not just because of the title. Because while you should always make room for cupcakes, you should also definitely make room for a book that'll make you smile. ~ Beth, 4 stars
Lila has been through a lot after finding her husband of twelve years cheating on her with the town skank. Using her photography skills, she starts to turn her life around for herself and her twins, Elena and Elin, by working for a P.I. and taking pictures of other cheaters.
However, she quickly finds herself in a dangerous situation that she never expected. Enter Cade, a sexy, badass biker who can’t seem to stay away.
“Absolutely, girl, you deserve this. After everything you’ve been through, you deserve to have a man who’ll fuck you like it’s his job.”
Figuring she deserves a hot fling with a different type of guy, she starts dating Cade. The two together have some steamy fun!
“You’re so wet for me,” he said, his words only getting me hotter. “How do you want my cock?” “Hard…Fast…”
But their fling turned into so much more.
I loved the cast of characters in this book. Cade was gruff, but sweet. Lila was strong and a fighter. Amy May was a perfect BFF—thank goodness she always had cupcakes available! My only complaint is that it seemed things did move a bit fast at times, but like Cade said—when you are in your thirties, you know what you want. I hope we will get another story about Carmen! ~ Tiffany, 4 stars
~~~
That title, though—could it be any more true? There IS Always Room for Cupcakes, and honestly? There's also always room for a funny, quirky, playful and mildly suspenseful book like this one...
Lila’s life took a new twist when he found her husband cheating on her—one that lead her to spending her days photographing liars and cheaters. And also lead her to a sexy, gruff man with a badass attitude and panty-melting motorcycle. Whew—just the premise of a scorned wife getting revenge is a world of fun on its own, and that's not even mentioning that very, very delicious man with the bike. Someone hand me a fan and a cigarette!
I have to say, I love that Bethany Lopez didn't make Lila a wallflower, even after her perfect marriage and life crumbled at her feet. She was sassy, sweary and addicted to cupcakes. Basically, all the things a likeable heroine should be. I really enjoyed her character—and the way she handled herself and her relationships. She was very self-aware; she knew she was a shrew when it came to her ex, and she embraced her need for sweets when the going got tough.
But, Lila also knew when to rely on the people in her life. Her friendships with Bea, Amy May and Carmen were wonderful—well-written, positive female friendships aren't always the easiest to find in books and here they're an absolute highlight. I would happily read more about these women…especially peppy Carmen—maybe with a certain, handsome lawyer?!
The plot in Always Room for Cupcakes is completely charming. It has a touch of mystery and suspense, which was complemented by the laugh-out-loud humor that Ms. Lopez smattered throughout her book. It was very fast-moving—I did feel like the wrap-up came a touch too fast, and I wouldn't have minded getting a little more time with Lila and her MC man—but I had no trouble sitting down and finishing the book in one easy sitting. I was engaged and invested almost from the first page.
This is a great choice to enjoy with a cupcake, and not just because of the title. Because while you should always make room for cupcakes, you should also definitely make room for a book that'll make you smile. ~ Beth, 4 stars
June 6, 2019
What could have been a good story was ruined by a lack of research and proof reading.
First and foremost, any woman with minor children who sues her husband for divorce doesn't wind up living in a miserable little apartment while Daddy lives high on the hog. Mommy and kids live in the marital home and Daddy pays the freight until the children reach majority. I have spent 50 years of my life with the law and have never seen a mother and children reduced to poverty while the husband is financially secure with a high paying job.
Second, vulgarity is unnecessary to a story, particularly when there are other words that can be used. Teats are on animals, breasts are on women. If you want to say "rack" or 'pair", fine, but, tits is degrading and if I were going out with a man who used that term to me, it would be the last time he ever saw me.
Ms. Lopez has a great mind for coming up with scenarios and this was one of them, now if she could only clean them up a bit and do a little research here and there, she might find herself touted as one of the better authors.
First and foremost, any woman with minor children who sues her husband for divorce doesn't wind up living in a miserable little apartment while Daddy lives high on the hog. Mommy and kids live in the marital home and Daddy pays the freight until the children reach majority. I have spent 50 years of my life with the law and have never seen a mother and children reduced to poverty while the husband is financially secure with a high paying job.
Second, vulgarity is unnecessary to a story, particularly when there are other words that can be used. Teats are on animals, breasts are on women. If you want to say "rack" or 'pair", fine, but, tits is degrading and if I were going out with a man who used that term to me, it would be the last time he ever saw me.
Ms. Lopez has a great mind for coming up with scenarios and this was one of them, now if she could only clean them up a bit and do a little research here and there, she might find herself touted as one of the better authors.
Want to read
May 28, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/28/2019)! 🎁
May 14, 2019
3.5 stars - This was cute, fun, sexy and quirky. Our h is spunky, swears like a sailor, and gets herself into some crazy situations. I very much enjoyed this one.
February 11, 2016
DEBBIE'S REVIEW
This book started off fantastic. The first page had me hooked. I loved how spunky Lila was. Her good for nothing husband or as Lila refers to him as “The Douche” really wronged her. After Lila finds him cheating on her she leaves his sorry ass and becomes a photographer for a P.I. guy named Moose. Lila was the one that crawled in bushes to catch cheaters in the act.
“Being a wronged woman myself, I didn’t feel guilty about catching liars and cheaters in the act.”
“No one really suspects a single mother of twins who drives a minivan and has an ongoing love affair with cupcakes to be sneaking around and capturing their bad deeds on camera.”
After a close run in with a not to friendly person that Lila was trying to catch a photos of, Lila is saved by a badass motorcycle guy who is truly one hot alpha male. This is where the story started to not sit so well with me. I felt that Cade’s character wasn’t developed enough. He just apprears out of no where and all of a sudden is deeply in love with Lila. It felt a little rushed between these two. I would of liked to have seen their relationship grow a little more. I also felt the ending needed more closure too. It left me with unanswered questions.
I really loved Lila’s best friend Amy May. I felt she added the perfect layer to this book and had me laughing out loud several times.
“Absolutely, girl, you deserve this. After everything you’ve been through, you deserve to have a man who’ll fuck you like it’s his job.”
Overall I really enjoyed this book and loved the banter between all the characters. I liked the idea of a former housewife turning into a badass private investigator. There was some suspense in this book that had me sitting at the edge of my seat too. I just wish it were a little longer.
February 5, 2016
I wasn't too sure what to expect from Always Room for Cupcakes as I have a few of Bethany Lopez's books on my Ipad to read , but haven't yet read them but I loved Always Room for Cupcakes and found myself really enjoying the main character Lila and her personality. Lila is what I could imagine Veronica Mars would be like if she was 30+ and was a single mother. After Lila's husband was caught cheating with whom Lila nicknamed "Starbucks Girl" , she got a job working for a PI. Tracking down other scumbags and low-level criminals and snapping as she had skills with a camera. The name for the book too comes from the fact that Lila's loves eating Cupcakes after her missions . In this book, Lila seems to be followed by Cade - a MC biker who as the book goes on becomes a sort-of protector from the bad stuff as Lila lately seems to find herself in the midst of trouble - this part reminded me of Stephanie Plum mixed with Izzy Spellman . Near the end, the book's tone does change from light-hearted PI novel to a bit darker when trouble gets too close to home for Lila - think mafia mob style. However, if you love HEA's then it does finish on a good note. If you love PI novels , laughs , romantic comedy and a bit of mystery along the way and some yummy Biker studs, then Always Room for Cupcakes by Bethany Lopez is the read for you.
April 21, 2021
h: My husband whom I haven’t done it with in years cheated on me. No idea why. But it’s all his fault! Well, guess I’ll take a high-risk job as a PI photographer and put myself in daily danger, even though I’m a single mom
with twins. Seems reasonable. Oh and look! A hot guy on a motorcycle just told me in no uncertain terms that he’s been stalking me for a few weeks. I think I’ll jump on this strangers bike then date him after finding this info out! I’m TSTL! Hot bad boys > reason and logic, whoo hoo!
H: I’ve never had a gf. I just use women for sex like they’re objects for my gratification. But you’re super special for some reason, cause uhh I like blue eyes? Yeah must be that. I give no other real answer when asked straight up why so ??? and and and I wanna stalk you/give you my heart and stuff. I know where you live. I see that doesn’t concern you. Good. Gooooood. And I quote, “There’ve been women, all of them willing. They knew the score. It was just about fucking…”
Charming.
The language and visuals in this joke of a book have been...gross. Crass. Icky.
Just no. DNF @ 23%
with twins. Seems reasonable. Oh and look! A hot guy on a motorcycle just told me in no uncertain terms that he’s been stalking me for a few weeks. I think I’ll jump on this strangers bike then date him after finding this info out! I’m TSTL! Hot bad boys > reason and logic, whoo hoo!
H: I’ve never had a gf. I just use women for sex like they’re objects for my gratification. But you’re super special for some reason, cause uhh I like blue eyes? Yeah must be that. I give no other real answer when asked straight up why so ??? and and and I wanna stalk you/give you my heart and stuff. I know where you live. I see that doesn’t concern you. Good. Gooooood. And I quote, “There’ve been women, all of them willing. They knew the score. It was just about fucking…”
Charming.
The language and visuals in this joke of a book have been...gross. Crass. Icky.
Just no. DNF @ 23%
May 12, 2016
I enjoyed this fun little read. I really like this author's writing style. Her stories are laced with humor, have fun sexy times, and leave you with a smile. This book is no exception. I loved Lila and how feisty she was. She's foul mouthed, outlandish, and completely hilarious. After discovering her douche of an ex was cheating on her she takes a job photographing other douches and proving their infidelity. One job though turns out to be a bit more than she bargained for! Lucky for her she has caught the eye of a motorcycle riding hottie who comes to her rescue every time she finds herself in trouble.
This is truly an entertaining read and a book I highly recommend!
This is truly an entertaining read and a book I highly recommend!
January 31, 2016
3.5 stars.
Overall I liked. I'm calling it a light romantic suspense. It's easy to read, not very heavy for the most part. One fairly graphic suspenseful/violent scene, but I enjoyed it.
I had a few minor issues. But one big problem I had was with the ending. It left a lot to be desired. It also left quite a few plot holes wide open. It felt like the author was more concerned with trying to get a set up going for a possible second book (no cliffhangers or anything) but in the process left numerous plot holes open that really should have been tied up or resolved.
Overall I liked. I'm calling it a light romantic suspense. It's easy to read, not very heavy for the most part. One fairly graphic suspenseful/violent scene, but I enjoyed it.
I had a few minor issues. But one big problem I had was with the ending. It left a lot to be desired. It also left quite a few plot holes wide open. It felt like the author was more concerned with trying to get a set up going for a possible second book (no cliffhangers or anything) but in the process left numerous plot holes open that really should have been tied up or resolved.
July 19, 2016
Sweet and a short read!
May 12, 2023
Loved It - Hated It - Really Hated it
I started off loving this hilarious story about a woman who reframed her life after a divorce. I thought it was going to be a quick funny read. Nope… I got past the fact there wasn't any character depth, then hit all the Plot Holes…I hated that. Then, everything really turned to crap. At 78% came the violence and I wasn't expecting it after all that funny… I hated that… I should have just closed my Kindle and let it go.
Besides the funny story turning to a brutal one I went through a plot rant. I hated that the husband was labeled The Douche because he cheated. His real name was never even mentioned until the very end. Lila admitted she was upset and bitter in the marriage, and she didn’t deny what the ex said about his feelings of being ignored, not having sex, and barely ever touched. Yeah Yeah, I get it he cheated, but the way it was written I felt sorry for the guy! And, when I read the description of the new girlfriend, (who looked just the Opposite of his gorgeous wife), I was like good for you, I think you deserve better than you had. And THAT woman is going to love your socks off and appreciate you! He might have been the one that cheated, but they were both wrong.
And, I have questions. Like, how did Carlos know Cade was coming?
How did Cade know where Lila was?
How did the Lawyer know Cade?
What about the bare bones information on Moose’s Will?
The epilogue sucked big time and with a Lousy HFN ending.
Maybe all my questions will be answered in Book 2… NO THANK YOU!
I liked this author's Writing Style, but this storyline needed a lot of work. Maybe another 100 pages would have gotten the job done. But, if I had known about the violence I wouldn't have read it anyway.
Good Read
I started off loving this hilarious story about a woman who reframed her life after a divorce. I thought it was going to be a quick funny read. Nope… I got past the fact there wasn't any character depth, then hit all the Plot Holes…I hated that. Then, everything really turned to crap. At 78% came the violence and I wasn't expecting it after all that funny… I hated that… I should have just closed my Kindle and let it go.
Besides the funny story turning to a brutal one I went through a plot rant. I hated that the husband was labeled The Douche because he cheated. His real name was never even mentioned until the very end. Lila admitted she was upset and bitter in the marriage, and she didn’t deny what the ex said about his feelings of being ignored, not having sex, and barely ever touched. Yeah Yeah, I get it he cheated, but the way it was written I felt sorry for the guy! And, when I read the description of the new girlfriend, (who looked just the Opposite of his gorgeous wife), I was like good for you, I think you deserve better than you had. And THAT woman is going to love your socks off and appreciate you! He might have been the one that cheated, but they were both wrong.
And, I have questions. Like, how did Carlos know Cade was coming?
How did Cade know where Lila was?
How did the Lawyer know Cade?
What about the bare bones information on Moose’s Will?
The epilogue sucked big time and with a Lousy HFN ending.
Maybe all my questions will be answered in Book 2… NO THANK YOU!
I liked this author's Writing Style, but this storyline needed a lot of work. Maybe another 100 pages would have gotten the job done. But, if I had known about the violence I wouldn't have read it anyway.
Good Read
February 9, 2016
4 CUPCAKE STARS
“Lila, there’s times when a word’s just a word, and other times when it comes from the heart.”
Always Room for Cupcakes was the first novel I’ve read by the very talented Bethany Lopez, and I absolutely loved it! I finished the book in less than five hours. One sitting. I just couldn’t put it away. Always Room for Cupcakes is a romantic suspense with a lot of humour. One minute I had chills and shivers from all those kisses and touches, the next minute those chills and shivers arised from fear. Only to be exchanged for tears another minute later. And to top it off, Bethany Lopez made me laugh occasionally. Always Room for Cupcakes is a fast paced tale about betrayal in love, picking yourself up, finding an instant connection with someone who isn’t your type at all, learning to trust again and finally, finding love for the second time.
“Now I figure, I’ve waited a long time and I know what I want. What I want is you… so, no, I don’t think it’s going too fast. I think it’s taking too damn long. I know where I’m at, I’m just waiting for you to catch up.”
Lila is broken, ten months after she caught her cheating husband. Who isn’t named in the entire story, until the last part. Which is funny, because Lila just calls him The Douche, as do her friends. He left her high and dry. After being a housemother for all those years (ten years of being a mother, twelve years of being a wive), Lila needs to pick up a real job to provide for her and her two children: the twins, Elin and Elena. I love those names, BTW. So she picks up shifts at her best friend’s bakery. Because she loves cupcakes and she has a really good friend in Amy May. But, because that is not enough, she has another side job. Lila works for a sleazy PI, delivering photograpic evidence off all the ragtag in town. Nobody, besides her two best friends, knows about these activities. Or so Lila thought…
Tingling head to toe from the adrenaline, and the close contact with a seriously hot man, I couldn’t stop my lips from spreading into a grin as we took off down Main Street.
When her job becomes a dangerous one, she is rescued by the mysterious, motorcycle riding bad-boy. Cade. Apparently, he has been following her for a couple weeks. At first, I didn’t know what to think about him. He came of dangerous and he had that stalker vibe. But Lila and Cade had an instant connection, and even though he was a complete stranger, she seemed to trust him. After their first date, I took a liking to him. He was still mysterious and didn’t like to talk about himself, but his honesty was apparent when he told Lila that this was his first date ever. He really liked her. I loved his bluntness. Cade tells you like it is. He says what he thinks and tells you what he wants. And with the description Bethany gave us of his appearance, I fell in love with Cade. Motorcycle boots, skinny jeans and a leather jacket. *SWOON*. Trimmed beard, dark eyes, dark shoulder-length hair. Sexy! Dangerous!
Everything about him was dark. His eyes, his hair, his deeply tanned skin. He wore a trimmed beard, which only added to his dangerous look, and had what looked like shoulder-length wavy hair, which was pulled back off of his face. Paired with motorcycle boots, jeans that fit like a glove, and a black leather jacket, the man was a billboard for raw male sexuality.
Lila and Cade’s relationship progresses gradually throughout the story. In a believable and natural pace. Sometimes, it seems fast, but it’s just very believable. Fortunately, there is no insta-love, just an instant attraction. Lila wants to do the right thing. So even though she is putting herself in danger, she doesn’t stop. She wants do justice and finish her job. Luckily, her other best friend, Bea, is a cop and she shares all the illegal stuff she sees with Bea. So with the support of her two best friends and the safety of Cade, she wants to finish her most dangerous job yet. Is she going to succeed?
“This is different for me, so it’s kind of good that you’re out of practice. Maybe you won’t realize right away when I fuck up.”
I liked Bethany’s writing. It wasn’t special, but it was good. It gets you hooked on the story. It also makes you form some kind of bond with Lila. And even with the side characters: Amy May, Bea, Cade, Lila’s children. I had the feeling I was experiencing the story together with Lila. Not only because of the high quality of Bethany’s writing, but also because she chose to write the tale in first person from solely Lila’s perspective. You didn’t get to know Cade’s thoughts or his activities when he wasn’t with Lila. I think that’s really what made the story for me. You’re only focused on Lila and you get just as surprised as her when that one nasty twist finds his way into the story. Maybe it wasn’t the most unpredictable story, but it had it’s fickle moments and I thought the storyline was authentic.
“We’ll have dinner, coffee, go to the movies, whatever. And eventually I’ll get my fists in all of this thick red hair.” His hand slid up my back, into my hair, cupping the back of my head. “And I’ll get to see those blue eyes go heavy with desire as I move above you.” I felt my eyes getting heavy, just as he’d described, as he spoke, and my lips parted as I tried to remain focused. “Seeing that lush ass move as you walk down the street, full of attitude and fire, the way your face lights up when you’re laughing with your kids, and the way you felt, arms around my waist, tits against my back when I had you on my bike… Those are just some of the reasons I just became a man who dates.”
Overall, I just loved this story. I loved Lila’s friendships. I loved the attraction, sparks and lust between Lila and Cade. And I loved how Cade did his best to take care of Lila. He has a sweet side after all. I can’t wait to read Bethany’s other books, because of her engaging prose. If you’re looking for a romance with suspence, thrill, humour, a strong heroine and a sexy bad-ass hero, Always Room for Cupcakes is an absolute must for on your TBR-list.
We didn’t rush, instead relishing the feeling of being joined. Loving every moment, every sigh, every touch. Reveling in the fact that we were alive.
*** Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. However, this doesn’t affect my opinion of this book and the words in this review. ***
“Lila, there’s times when a word’s just a word, and other times when it comes from the heart.”
Always Room for Cupcakes was the first novel I’ve read by the very talented Bethany Lopez, and I absolutely loved it! I finished the book in less than five hours. One sitting. I just couldn’t put it away. Always Room for Cupcakes is a romantic suspense with a lot of humour. One minute I had chills and shivers from all those kisses and touches, the next minute those chills and shivers arised from fear. Only to be exchanged for tears another minute later. And to top it off, Bethany Lopez made me laugh occasionally. Always Room for Cupcakes is a fast paced tale about betrayal in love, picking yourself up, finding an instant connection with someone who isn’t your type at all, learning to trust again and finally, finding love for the second time.
“Now I figure, I’ve waited a long time and I know what I want. What I want is you… so, no, I don’t think it’s going too fast. I think it’s taking too damn long. I know where I’m at, I’m just waiting for you to catch up.”
Lila is broken, ten months after she caught her cheating husband. Who isn’t named in the entire story, until the last part. Which is funny, because Lila just calls him The Douche, as do her friends. He left her high and dry. After being a housemother for all those years (ten years of being a mother, twelve years of being a wive), Lila needs to pick up a real job to provide for her and her two children: the twins, Elin and Elena. I love those names, BTW. So she picks up shifts at her best friend’s bakery. Because she loves cupcakes and she has a really good friend in Amy May. But, because that is not enough, she has another side job. Lila works for a sleazy PI, delivering photograpic evidence off all the ragtag in town. Nobody, besides her two best friends, knows about these activities. Or so Lila thought…
Tingling head to toe from the adrenaline, and the close contact with a seriously hot man, I couldn’t stop my lips from spreading into a grin as we took off down Main Street.
When her job becomes a dangerous one, she is rescued by the mysterious, motorcycle riding bad-boy. Cade. Apparently, he has been following her for a couple weeks. At first, I didn’t know what to think about him. He came of dangerous and he had that stalker vibe. But Lila and Cade had an instant connection, and even though he was a complete stranger, she seemed to trust him. After their first date, I took a liking to him. He was still mysterious and didn’t like to talk about himself, but his honesty was apparent when he told Lila that this was his first date ever. He really liked her. I loved his bluntness. Cade tells you like it is. He says what he thinks and tells you what he wants. And with the description Bethany gave us of his appearance, I fell in love with Cade. Motorcycle boots, skinny jeans and a leather jacket. *SWOON*. Trimmed beard, dark eyes, dark shoulder-length hair. Sexy! Dangerous!
Everything about him was dark. His eyes, his hair, his deeply tanned skin. He wore a trimmed beard, which only added to his dangerous look, and had what looked like shoulder-length wavy hair, which was pulled back off of his face. Paired with motorcycle boots, jeans that fit like a glove, and a black leather jacket, the man was a billboard for raw male sexuality.
Lila and Cade’s relationship progresses gradually throughout the story. In a believable and natural pace. Sometimes, it seems fast, but it’s just very believable. Fortunately, there is no insta-love, just an instant attraction. Lila wants to do the right thing. So even though she is putting herself in danger, she doesn’t stop. She wants do justice and finish her job. Luckily, her other best friend, Bea, is a cop and she shares all the illegal stuff she sees with Bea. So with the support of her two best friends and the safety of Cade, she wants to finish her most dangerous job yet. Is she going to succeed?
“This is different for me, so it’s kind of good that you’re out of practice. Maybe you won’t realize right away when I fuck up.”
I liked Bethany’s writing. It wasn’t special, but it was good. It gets you hooked on the story. It also makes you form some kind of bond with Lila. And even with the side characters: Amy May, Bea, Cade, Lila’s children. I had the feeling I was experiencing the story together with Lila. Not only because of the high quality of Bethany’s writing, but also because she chose to write the tale in first person from solely Lila’s perspective. You didn’t get to know Cade’s thoughts or his activities when he wasn’t with Lila. I think that’s really what made the story for me. You’re only focused on Lila and you get just as surprised as her when that one nasty twist finds his way into the story. Maybe it wasn’t the most unpredictable story, but it had it’s fickle moments and I thought the storyline was authentic.
“We’ll have dinner, coffee, go to the movies, whatever. And eventually I’ll get my fists in all of this thick red hair.” His hand slid up my back, into my hair, cupping the back of my head. “And I’ll get to see those blue eyes go heavy with desire as I move above you.” I felt my eyes getting heavy, just as he’d described, as he spoke, and my lips parted as I tried to remain focused. “Seeing that lush ass move as you walk down the street, full of attitude and fire, the way your face lights up when you’re laughing with your kids, and the way you felt, arms around my waist, tits against my back when I had you on my bike… Those are just some of the reasons I just became a man who dates.”
Overall, I just loved this story. I loved Lila’s friendships. I loved the attraction, sparks and lust between Lila and Cade. And I loved how Cade did his best to take care of Lila. He has a sweet side after all. I can’t wait to read Bethany’s other books, because of her engaging prose. If you’re looking for a romance with suspence, thrill, humour, a strong heroine and a sexy bad-ass hero, Always Room for Cupcakes is an absolute must for on your TBR-list.
We didn’t rush, instead relishing the feeling of being joined. Loving every moment, every sigh, every touch. Reveling in the fact that we were alive.
*** Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. However, this doesn’t affect my opinion of this book and the words in this review. ***
June 21, 2019
I have to say that I really enjoyed the story. This is just my type of romance book. Alpha male and kick ass heroine. Reminded me so much of a KA Book.
Only think that I couldn't get past was the narrator. I don't know if it was just me, but it kept sounding like there was some noise in the background. Which really was distracting listening to the story
Only think that I couldn't get past was the narrator. I don't know if it was just me, but it kept sounding like there was some noise in the background. Which really was distracting listening to the story
February 7, 2020
Ok story. Subpar audio.
March 6, 2016
I had never read anything by Bethany Lopez before this book. She is a new-to-me author thanks to March Madness gifting me the book. This book was an awesome choice. Always Room for Cupcakes is the “bomb” as people used to say. The book was mind blowing. When I finish a book I start another almost immediately. I started this one at midnight. You know what I mean??- just a few chapters before bedtime. 4:15 this morning was just a few chapters more and I had reached the epilogue. So much for just getting acquainted with Always Room for Cupcakes.
I disappeared into the book. It flowed really well. I didn’t have to go back and re-read anything. I hate it when I have to stop, reverse and re-read. The storyline was captivating. It kept me interested, excited and hopeful. And the descriptions??? Lets just say I will never look at a hedgehog the same way after Lila captures her husband and a woman in his car with ankles in the air and steamy windows behind a Starbucks.
The heroine in the book is Lila, a recently divorced survivor. She is an inspiration to women. We can survive. We can make it on our own. We just might have to do some strange things. To keep a roof over her head she takes pictures for a P.I. Some of the “perps” she had to photograph were kind of creepy. Many were in compromising positions making divorce attorneys very happy.
There is this one job that makes her uncomfortable. Every time she takes the requested pictures more are wanted. The more she sees and hears the more frightened she becomes.
Lila is spotted by a creepy guy in an alley outside of a nail salon Lila had been taking pictures. She flees to safety. Cade Wilkes (a guy she doesn’t know) rides up on his motorcycle and tells her to get on. Hunky hero to the rescue. He is her safety. Her first bike ride is his first relationship ride. Cade knows what he wants and he wants Lila, the green eyed lady.
Add this all up and you get wonderful romance, new love, suspense, kidnapping. All in a day’s work for a photographic investigator. In the end you have a really good HEA and a craving for cupcakes. I do wish there had been more on what Cade really does, what was the club into, and Lila meeting the members.
I disappeared into the book. It flowed really well. I didn’t have to go back and re-read anything. I hate it when I have to stop, reverse and re-read. The storyline was captivating. It kept me interested, excited and hopeful. And the descriptions??? Lets just say I will never look at a hedgehog the same way after Lila captures her husband and a woman in his car with ankles in the air and steamy windows behind a Starbucks.
The heroine in the book is Lila, a recently divorced survivor. She is an inspiration to women. We can survive. We can make it on our own. We just might have to do some strange things. To keep a roof over her head she takes pictures for a P.I. Some of the “perps” she had to photograph were kind of creepy. Many were in compromising positions making divorce attorneys very happy.
There is this one job that makes her uncomfortable. Every time she takes the requested pictures more are wanted. The more she sees and hears the more frightened she becomes.
Lila is spotted by a creepy guy in an alley outside of a nail salon Lila had been taking pictures. She flees to safety. Cade Wilkes (a guy she doesn’t know) rides up on his motorcycle and tells her to get on. Hunky hero to the rescue. He is her safety. Her first bike ride is his first relationship ride. Cade knows what he wants and he wants Lila, the green eyed lady.
Add this all up and you get wonderful romance, new love, suspense, kidnapping. All in a day’s work for a photographic investigator. In the end you have a really good HEA and a craving for cupcakes. I do wish there had been more on what Cade really does, what was the club into, and Lila meeting the members.
April 2, 2016
This story is a bit of a departure for the author from her usual contemporary romance novels. Instead it's a romantic comedy, with a bit of suspense thrown into the mix, as Lila must support herself after divorcing from her cheating ex husband, and does so by putting in some extra hours as an 'investigative photographer', essentially taking photos of people doing things they shouldn't be doing (naughty, naughty!). But she gets more than she bargained for when her boss, Moose, has her trailing not just the usual cheating spouses but getting embroiled in investigating the local drug trade. Luckily, she's made a new friend in Cade, a tall, dark and handsome man who just so happens to be part of a local motorcycle club. When things start to heat up, will Cade be on her side or part of the problem?
I really enjoyed this! Lila is a hoot, constantly drowning her emotions in cupcakes, and doing her best to support her two kids. Though she and her ex have problems, to her credit, she acknowledges that he is a good father to them, and I appreciated that they had a decent understanding when it came to joint childcare. The ex-bashing is related to his falling down on the spouse side of things and not the parenting. She has a best friend whom she confides in , and despairs of finding a good man out there after her own experience. When Cade enters the picture, a large, confident, secure in his manhood kind of guy, she can't quite believe that he'd be interested in her. But he is, and though he has a love 'em and leave 'em reputation, he's determined to prove to Lila that she means something more to him. They share some funny, sexy scenes together, and definitely are compatible in the bedroom. Things do take a more serious (and slightly gruesome) turn as Lila discovers that her latest photo assignment is a lot more serious and that she's gotten in over her head. It's a fast paced, sexy, and action packed story and I hope we'll get to read more about Lila and her friends! 4.5 stars.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
I really enjoyed this! Lila is a hoot, constantly drowning her emotions in cupcakes, and doing her best to support her two kids. Though she and her ex have problems, to her credit, she acknowledges that he is a good father to them, and I appreciated that they had a decent understanding when it came to joint childcare. The ex-bashing is related to his falling down on the spouse side of things and not the parenting. She has a best friend whom she confides in , and despairs of finding a good man out there after her own experience. When Cade enters the picture, a large, confident, secure in his manhood kind of guy, she can't quite believe that he'd be interested in her. But he is, and though he has a love 'em and leave 'em reputation, he's determined to prove to Lila that she means something more to him. They share some funny, sexy scenes together, and definitely are compatible in the bedroom. Things do take a more serious (and slightly gruesome) turn as Lila discovers that her latest photo assignment is a lot more serious and that she's gotten in over her head. It's a fast paced, sexy, and action packed story and I hope we'll get to read more about Lila and her friends! 4.5 stars.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
February 15, 2016
3.5 stars!! This was a fun, quick read that mixed romance with suspense and even a bit of humor to bring it all together. My first thought as I started this book was “WOW…how long has it been since I’ve read a Bethany Lopez book?” The reason is that this is definitely an adult book – one filled with adult situations and language – and I think I’ve somehow put Ms. Lopez in the YA category in my mind. What’s that got to do with anything, you ask? Well, I was surprised, and pleasantly so! The author has a great voice, no matter the genre, and I love that I can read a variety of books by her!
Lila is a recently divorced mother of two who’s turned into a sassy photographer working for a somewhat shady private eye. Even though she’s been hurt before, I loved that she had a positive attitude about her future and was not afraid to take on challenges. Lucky for us, she’s also willing to take on risks…including Cade, the bad ass, motorcycle-riding bad boy who comes out of nowhere and makes a huge impact on her life. He was definitely not her usual type and a bit of a scary adventure for her but I really liked that she embraced the unknown…took a chance! Cade, with all his alpha-male swagger, still had a soft heart and was focused on getting what he wanted – Lila!!
Their adventures were great and the secondary characters added substance to this story. Lila could definitely be someone I know in real life, a sister or a friend and this was definitely shown by how she interacted with her children and others in the town. The only thing I didn’t get from this book that I would have liked was a few more pages. It falls between a novella and a full-sized book and, because of that, I felt like I didn’t get enough time with these characters. I would have liked to get to know them better and spend more time experiencing the situations they found themselves in. Digging deeper into Lila and Cade as people would have made me very happy. However, overall this was a good read…enjoyable, fast-paced and fun! And I look forward to seeing what Ms. Lopez will do next!
Lila is a recently divorced mother of two who’s turned into a sassy photographer working for a somewhat shady private eye. Even though she’s been hurt before, I loved that she had a positive attitude about her future and was not afraid to take on challenges. Lucky for us, she’s also willing to take on risks…including Cade, the bad ass, motorcycle-riding bad boy who comes out of nowhere and makes a huge impact on her life. He was definitely not her usual type and a bit of a scary adventure for her but I really liked that she embraced the unknown…took a chance! Cade, with all his alpha-male swagger, still had a soft heart and was focused on getting what he wanted – Lila!!
Their adventures were great and the secondary characters added substance to this story. Lila could definitely be someone I know in real life, a sister or a friend and this was definitely shown by how she interacted with her children and others in the town. The only thing I didn’t get from this book that I would have liked was a few more pages. It falls between a novella and a full-sized book and, because of that, I felt like I didn’t get enough time with these characters. I would have liked to get to know them better and spend more time experiencing the situations they found themselves in. Digging deeper into Lila and Cade as people would have made me very happy. However, overall this was a good read…enjoyable, fast-paced and fun! And I look forward to seeing what Ms. Lopez will do next!
February 8, 2016
Storyline: 5
Angst: 1
Tissue: 0
Value: 5
Panty Scorching: 5
Over All Rating: 4.25 Stars
Kindle eARC provided by Author
Reviewed by Robin
Lila thought she had it all with 2 kids, the middle class house and the successful husband. Until she caught him with his face between the legs of the town slut. Then Lila’s life takes a sharp left turn and she’s starting a new career as an "investigative photographer". When hot badass Cade rescues her when things get a little sketchy, will he be a sexy distraction or more bad news?
“’I don’t know, Amy May, I know he’s different. A little dangerous, overbearing, maybe a little scary even but God, I haven’t felt that way with a man in…ever. I think I owe it to myself to see what happens, even if it just ends up being a crazy mistake.’
‘I agree.’
‘You do?’
‘Absolutely, girl, you deserve this. After everything you’ve been through, you deserve to have a man who’ll fuck you like it’s his job.’
I giggled at that, slapping my hand over my mouth at the girlish act.”
I liked this light romance suspense story. The heroine Lila is feisty and trying to take on the world after her hubby is a total asshat. Cade may be a bad boy, but he has a really good heart and seems to care about Lila and her kids. Many times in the story I questioned Lila’s common
sense in blindly doing her job when it seemed like it wasn’t a great idea. Mostly this story was an easy read and I wouldn’t mind hearing more about the characters if it became a series.
This was my first book by Bethany Lopez. I’m glad I got to discover a new author to me and look forward to reading other stories by her. The idea behind this story was kind of interesting and I can get behind a woman scorned becoming independent and finding herself. Cute book.
Angst: 1
Tissue: 0
Value: 5
Panty Scorching: 5
Over All Rating: 4.25 Stars
Kindle eARC provided by Author
Reviewed by Robin
Lila thought she had it all with 2 kids, the middle class house and the successful husband. Until she caught him with his face between the legs of the town slut. Then Lila’s life takes a sharp left turn and she’s starting a new career as an "investigative photographer". When hot badass Cade rescues her when things get a little sketchy, will he be a sexy distraction or more bad news?
“’I don’t know, Amy May, I know he’s different. A little dangerous, overbearing, maybe a little scary even but God, I haven’t felt that way with a man in…ever. I think I owe it to myself to see what happens, even if it just ends up being a crazy mistake.’
‘I agree.’
‘You do?’
‘Absolutely, girl, you deserve this. After everything you’ve been through, you deserve to have a man who’ll fuck you like it’s his job.’
I giggled at that, slapping my hand over my mouth at the girlish act.”
I liked this light romance suspense story. The heroine Lila is feisty and trying to take on the world after her hubby is a total asshat. Cade may be a bad boy, but he has a really good heart and seems to care about Lila and her kids. Many times in the story I questioned Lila’s common
sense in blindly doing her job when it seemed like it wasn’t a great idea. Mostly this story was an easy read and I wouldn’t mind hearing more about the characters if it became a series.
This was my first book by Bethany Lopez. I’m glad I got to discover a new author to me and look forward to reading other stories by her. The idea behind this story was kind of interesting and I can get behind a woman scorned becoming independent and finding herself. Cute book.
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