Sweet Bliss

Sweet Bliss is the kind of treat that you won't feel guilty consuming. In this debut novel by author Helena Rac we get a taste of sugar, spice and everything nice. It's a lighthearted, easy read with just enough angst to give it some crunch.
I received this Advanced Copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. But, I liked this so much that I've pre-ordered it as well. It is available to purchase tomorrow!

This is the publisher's summary:
From debut author Helena Rac, a sassy, sexy comic tale of second-chance romance and the many uses of icing. Tessa loves cupcakes. They're tasty and comforting, and they've made her bakery a success. Men, on the other hand, are unreliable jerks who are bound to break her heart. Even if they're hot enough to melt her frosting. Tessa is smitten with Luke after a less than graceful encounter on the streets of Chicago, and fate keeps reuniting them. She's certain he'd be delicious in bed, but there's just one problem: Tessa's sworn off long-distance romances, and Luke lives in London. Besides, he's proven himself to be bad news. Although Tessa's sexy stranger swears to set aside his player ways after she carries out sweet revenge, she's far too smart to believe in happily-ever-afters. Luke will need to use every weapon in his arsenal - including a spatula or two - to convince Tessa they're meant to be together

Tessa and Luke run into each other (literally) one more morning and there is an immediate chemistry that makes the encounter one that neither of them can forget. When coincidence reunites them, they give into their attraction in a moment that I can only describe as "scorching". But, Luke lives in a different country and their parting after that encounter leaves a not so sweet taste in Tessa's mouth. When her sister's wedding brings them together again almost a year after they met, Tessa's determined to have the upperhand this time. But Luke's also got a plan and his sincerity and persistence when combined with his delicious sexiness make him a force that Tessa's not able (or willing) to resist. Their sexual chemistry is off the charts and it leaps off the pages whether they are having a witty text message exchange or in between the sheets. But Tessa's a bit of a control freak and she is hanging onto some baggage from a relationship that ended 3 years ago. This is where Tessa lost me a bit. Three years is a long time. Long enough to be able to a point where you can see the difference between a jerk and genuinely good guy.

I felt sorry for Luke (even though he made his fair share of mistakes early on) having to pay for the sins of someone else. And Tessa's back and forth made me a little batty. At the same time, I could see why she was so reluctant to give Luke a serious chance. There were a lot of non-ideal things about pursuing a relationship with Luke. And her sister's fiance Marcus didn't help things at all. In fact his actions must have broken some sort of "bro code" and I wish Luke had gotten the chance to call him on it. This book promises to make you smile and it fulfills that in spades! It's sexy, funny and will make you crave strawberry chocolate cupcake.

This is a very promising first novel from Ms. Rac. I would love to read more work by her!

I enjoyed this delightful, romantic book. As soon as I saw the cute cover I wanted to read it and I was not disappointed. The story begins with the two main characters, Tessa and Luke, literally running into each other on the street. It was such a fun way for them to meet each other and it really set the tone for the whole book.

There are a few supporting characters but most of the book deals with the relationship between Tessa and Luke. Wow do they have chemistry! There are quite a few sex scenes in the book, I actually felt like there needed to be fewer of these and more dialog because it was the cute exchanges between Tessa and Luke that really made this book fun to read.

If you are looking for a fun, light hearted romance with some great characters, this book is for you. The fact that Tessa owns a bakery and there are lots of references to some delicious cupcakes is an added bonus. I know I finished reading this and wanting a perfect chocolate cupcake.

3.75 Letting Go and Feeling Your Way Through Stars
* * * 3/4 There are two themes running through this which are really important life lessons in my book...

The first is you can not live your life with just doing things from pragmatic lists...of always thinking of outcomes and results. Those traits are commendable but if you do not allow yourself to feel... be vulnerable... willing to sometimes throw caution to the wind... then you are limiting the scope your life and might miss out due to fear.

The other lesson is perfectly summed up by this famous quote:
“If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. If they don't, they never were.” Kahlil Gibran

So there are the most important take-aways from this book...

We have this self assured Bakery owner, Tessa. At only 26, she has made her shop successful and loves what she does. Her cupcakes, specialty cakes and loose leaf teas are the backdrop to the feelings of welcome for her customers. There they come to enjoy the sweet icing and moist cake wrapped up in a paper cup with friends having conversations or just reading in a corner. This Lovely Cakes bakery is Tessa's domain and she should be proud. All of the thank yous, pictures of events she catered, new babies from the showers she has baked for decorate her walls.

What isn't on the walls or in the persona she presents is the deep feelings of betrayal and abandonment she has experienced in her young life. Her first heartache was when she lost her father to a sudden heart attack. Her father was her hero and she had the best relationship with him. He taught her to be strong; plan things out ... be able to follow through and see the outcomes for success. His business success was the way he listed the needs of the company and it worked all his life. He was a loving father and very close to his daughters and wife. Losing him so unexpectedly was a huge impact on all in the family.

It was during this emotional time, Tessa was in college and met her thought-to-be- first-love. They were very much alike... lists and thoughts for the future and all...for three years...and then they weren't... with no warning, the man she thought was her HEA called to tell her he was going to London for his next future career step... and then never came back... leaving her devastated.

After finally coming around and focusing on her life, she put together the bakery and is loving where she is. Tess devised a perfect personal plan, too.
Have a little fun when feeling like it, get physical if desired and then Break...Detach....Run .
This way Tessa will not get hurt ever again. She also stops her feeling or being that girl she was before ....but it is a fair trade off, after all, she has her cupcakes...

This is the woman we meet as she is speed walking to a new client meeting. She is inhaling one of her cupcakes for breakfast as she is texting her appointment and smacks into a hard wall of a hard body attached to a eyes that sparkle and a grin made for sin. With icing smashed all over her mouth and chin, she looks up and loses her ability to speak...for this stranger is everything a romance reader dreams of...
He holds her shoulders, straightens her out and gazes at her mouth with a look telling Tessa he would like to lick off all that icing. Her mind is racing because she would nod yes, please do...

They step away...looks and few comments made and then just like in a dream... he is gone.
But this stranger made his impact on her... and dormant parts of Tessa's body are awakening as if from a poison apple....they tingle and will not be ignored.

For Luke is with his own issues with love, caring and abandonment. His mother left his dad and he just never got over it...He saw his dad crumble inside... wanting the woman he loved to return to him...Luke's pattern has been to have flings of one or two dates tops and move on...This way he will never become his dad... pining away for a woman who is never coming back...

Tessa's younger sister has found her "one". Clara is free spirited and sees life as uncomplicated. Her boyfriend Marcus is liked by Tessa and the mother, so all is perfect in Clara's world. Tessa is about to head home even after being invited out by her sister when Marcus walks in with his visiting college friend from London, Luke...Wall of Hard Man...Man who made her parts tingle and brain not work...

As they look at each other, words are being said by those around them of dinner and movie and let's go etc....Clara takes Tessa to her bedroom and they change; coming out in a dress which shows Tessa off and Luke is having difficulty breathing.

It is this encounter which sets so much in motion... these two have the chemistry and during the movie, things become, shall we say heated between them. There is a tad more than just lusty attraction which both feel and are reacting to in different ways...It causes confusion and hurt in Tessa...It makes Luke not understand his fascination and get what is happening emotionally...

Months pass and it is wedding time for Clara and Marcus. The events and week before the I Do's is the backdrop to the majority of this engaging first novel.

We are treated to a number of pluses... the back and forth verbal sparring of Luke and Tessa, their coming together with icing and oh, my experiences which will weaken the knees...and Luke's persistence in owning up to his past mistakes ... wanting to make things right. All of these parts were very solid and you fell for Luke, for real.

Tessa was fun but carried some series issues which caused her to doubt herself with men. It was understandable... yet when confronted with Luke and his sincere admittance to mistakes and revealing his desire for Tessa... it was Tessa's reaction I did not relate to-
It could be my personal take... as my husband proposed in 5 days of knowing each other... and we were married for quite a long time....My rating is reflective of my bit of frustration with our gal.

I will say, though, this was a very pleasant surprise and Helena Rae has a way with creating need, sexual tension, use of Icing and a spatula for every readers' liking. There was sly humor, real heart and no perfect cookie cutter ending. There was a bit of freshness to the "cute meet, rom com" and I hope there are more to come.
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Did someone say Cupcakes....
Did someone say Stranger who is stunning, charming and makes the toes curl...
Did someone also mention playing tit for tat in an early encounter with said Stranger...

Well, this is right up the Wendy'sThoughts alley...

If Sweet Bliss has anything to do with outstanding kissing and sweet treats, then...

I Am All In....

A gifted copy was provided by Tryst Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

Sweet Bliss shocked me as a debut novel. Helena Rac is going on my auto buy author list based on the talent she displayed in this novel! Sweet Bliss has it all; vivid, multi-layered characters with clear voices, a really great premise, a second chance at love story that is fresh and vibrant, and a story that is infused with humor and passion. I was entertained from beginning to end by this character driven offering. I really appreciated that though the characters experienced growth and change throughout the story, Ms. Rac was able to make those changes seamless and fitting in the character profiles she developed. Stellar dialogue and lovely love scenes make this an all around great read. Well done, I look forward to more.
*I received my copy through NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

I actually really liked this book. It was the fun cover that made me request it from NetGalley but the story was a good one. It is a bit steamy but cute. Thanks so much