Synopsis:
He’s trouble she doesn’t need . . .
Thanks to a cheating fiancé, Josephina Harrington’s perfect life just crashed and burned. Moving in with her overbearing parents is definitely not an option. No, she needs to prove she can make it on her own. And she will-by turning her great-aunt’s old plantation house into a destination getaway. She’s just not expecting her contractor to be so hands-on-and so totally irresistible.
. . . but everything she wants
Bad-boy golf champion Brett McGraw figured his hometown of Sugar, Georgia was the perfect place to lay low and get his life back up to par. The leggy blonde with a pint-sized pup is the kind of sweet ‘n sassy trouble he never saw coming. She doesn’t know a nut from a bolt and before long, he’s renovating her house . . . as she steals his heart. Can he convince Josephina that his womanizing ways are in the past and he’s ready for forever?
My review:
Sugar’s Twice As Sweet is the first book in author Marina Adair’s Sugar, Georgia Series and as a big fan of Marina and her writing, I was so excited to read this latest work. In true Marina fashion, this book was simply wonderful…choc full of emotion, amazing characters, sass, and wit, I loved every second of this story.
The last thing Josephina Harrington ever imagined she would be doing at this point in her life was staring at her late great-aunt’s old plantation home and actually thinking of tackling a project this big. But she had no choice. It was her last option at this point. Ever since being dumped by her arrogant ex-fiancé she knew it was now or never. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place. No way would she move in with her parents and she really wanted to prove, more to herself than anyone, that she could do something amazing…all on her own. Turning this old plantation into an upscale-with-a-down-home-charm inn was a dream she wanted to see become a reality and when she embraced her great-aunt’s outlook on life, she knew she could do it. What she didn’t need right now was any sort of distraction, and her neighbor Brett McGraw was a distraction waiting to happen. Sure he was all sexy and southern charm, but she needed to stay away from men and focus on her new life. Good thing she had one hell of a workload in front of her to keep her mind off of the sexy golf pro showing up at her doorstep at every turn. Only problem was she really needed some help and eventually his neighborly offers start to wear down her resistance. Would she be able to pull of a project of this magnitude? With’s Brett’s help? More importantly, would she ever want to risk heartache again?
After the media debacle he was in now, golf star Brett McGraw needed to lay low. He needed to stay out of the public eye and out of the arms of star-struck women and that’s what led him back home to Sugar, Georgia. He would stay here, help out with a few organizations, and keep out of the public eye for a few months until things blew over and the next big tour started. That was the plan, anyway. All of that “stay out of the arms of women” talk goes out the window when Josephina comes back into town. Suddenly Brett can’t remember why swearing off women was a good thing. Of course it would figure that the only girl he had eyes for now couldn’t be bothered with him. Figures. Now he had to up his game and actually try…something he wasn’t accustomed to. But something happens along the way…Brett actually starts to grow some serious feelings for the girl he remembered from his childhood. The girl he could see had been hurt and wanted to make a fresh start. Would he be a part of that fresh start? Goodness, he really hoped so.
With a wounded heart and so much turmoil in both of their lives, Josephina and Brett seem to find solace in each other’s company. When things start to heat up and an undeniable attraction starts to blossom, will what they’ve found be able to whether the storm of Brett’s former playboy ways, Josephina’s broken heart, and a few hidden truths?
I have been reading Marina Adair’s work for a few years now and I have enjoyed all of her books…but this, hands down, is my favorite so far. There was so much to love about this story. We are introduced to Josephina at her lowest moment, right after the break up of her engagement, and it was so amazing to read her journey from broken-hearted to determined businesswoman. She stumbles along the way, and second-guesses herself as the enormity of this undertaking starts to show, but she doesn’t give up. I loved that about her. Her tenacity and pride are amazing. Even when things get pretty horrible for her, she picks herself up and keeps going. Brett is also an amazing character with a loyalty to his family and his roots that had me melting. Sure, he’s a ladies man, but he’s got a huge heart and is just waiting for the right woman to give it to. Oh, and his southern charm? Swoon-worthy!
Another one of my absolute favorite aspects of this story are Hattie and her band of misfit grannies. Brett‘s grandmother and her friends are absolute hilarious and added an amazing facet to this already wonderful story. I would love to have a Hattie in my life!
Again, there is so much to love about this book. The town’s description and making me feel like I was there, the secondary characters I can’t wait to read more about, the push and pull between Brett and Josephina, the laughs that ensue along the way, the heartwarming connection between Brett and Josephina…from start to finish I loved it all.
Ms. Adair is an author all romance lovers should have on their to-read list. She tells one hell of a romantic and emotional story each and every time and always delivers many a contented sighs throughout. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the Sugar, Georgia gang!
Five Loves
Book links:
Giveaway:
In addition to this tour-wide giveaway, I have an autographed paperback copy of Sugar’s Twice As Sweet to give away to one lucky winner! To exert that giveaway, comment on this blog post!
About the author:
Every author can identify the exact moment of inception, when the skies parted, the heavens sang, and a divine being came forth, anointing them one of the chosen, blessed to spend the rest of eternity weaving stories of ‘ever after’ for mass consumption.
For me, it wasn’t so much a moment, but an intervention. Sophomore year, my fellow Blockheads sat me down and explained that I had an addiction. I was a NKOTB–A-holic. Afraid of becoming enablers, they refused to listen to another one of my never-ending stories about our passionate intrigues with Jordan, Joe, Jon, Danny, and Donnie. What they didn’t understand was that New Kids on the Block wasn’t my obsession—they were my current romance-medium of choice. Twenty years later, my romance addiction is a hard, bodice-ripping, half-dozen books per week. When I’m not reading it or watching it, I am writing it—or workshopping it—or editing it—or strategizing how my hands to get more of it. In 2010, I realized I was closer to menopause than prom and got serious about my career, writing my way toward a post-graduate degree in creative writing (in the off chance that the first one didn’t stick) and becoming a published romance author.
January of 2012, I sold my first novel, TUCKER’S CROSSING, to Kensington Books and The St. Helena Vineyard series to Montlake Romance. KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE, the first in the series is a National Bestseller and #1 Romance Series bestseller. SUMMER IN NAPA releases May 14, 2013 and AUTUMN AT THE VINEYARD releases October 2013. In 2014 the first in the Sugar Series, BUT SUGAR’S TWICE AS SWEET, will release from Grand Central’s Forever line. I live with my husband, daughter and three neurotic cats in Northern California.
Thank you for this chance!!
Love the cover!
Great review,thank you for the wonderful post and great giveaway 🙂