Marina Adair

4.5 stars.

In A Taste of Sugar, good girl Southern belle, Dr. Charlotte Holden, takes another walk on the wild side with her tattooed, bad-boy not quite ex-husband, Jace McGraw. This second chance at love romance by Marina Adair is a sweet yet scorching hot love story but it is also a beautiful journey of self discovery for the lead protagonists. Although it is the third installment in the sassy Sugar, Georgia series, it can be read as a standalone (but I highly recommend the entire show more series).

Jace and Charlotte impulsively (and secretly) tied the knot four years earlier and just as quickly, their marriage ended. Charlotte eventually returned to their small hometown to work in her family's medical center while Jace steadily built his reputation as a high performance engine mechanic. Now, both are on the verge of fulfilling their longtime career goals when Jace discovers their annulment did not go through and they are, in fact, still married. Dismayed to discover it will take three weeks until their marriage is annulled, Jace and Charlotte decide give their relationship another chance. But with Jace planning on leaving and Charlotte firmly rooted in Sugar, will these two live happily ever after?

Charlotte is a highly successful and well regarded doctor who has worked hard to secure the funding for an outpatient center for children. She has finally bought a house of her own but she is still having trouble standing up to her parents. Despite having no interest in a relationship, she continues going out on blind dates arranged by her matchmaking mother. However, the biggest point of contention for her is the lack of professional respect from her father. Their working relationship is growing increasingly strained as he continues to treat her like daddy's little girl instead of a capable adult. Afraid of disappointing her parents with her decision to keep their marriage a secret all these years, Charlotte agrees to work on her relationship with Jace, but only if he agrees to keep their marriage and current involvement under wraps.

Jace has mostly outgrown his bad boy reputation but he is afraid no one in Sugar views him as the successful man he has become instead of the wild child he used to be. He has a long history of running away from his problems and he continues to blame himself for his parents' death. He has kept both an emotional and physical distance from his family for years but once he agrees to Charlotte's terms, Jace knows he will finally have to face his past mistakes. Repairing his strained relationship with his brothers and reconnecting with his niece is easier than he thought but will it be enough to convince him to reassess his future plans?

Jace's relationship with Charlotte also figures heavily into his decision about his future. Having barely recovered from her broken heart the first time he left her, Charlotte is not willing to risk getting hurt by Jace again. At first, he gives her the space she needs, but he slowly comes to the realization that she will avoid him until it is too late if he does not take drastic action. She reluctantly agrees to let him stay with her and while she would be more than happy to explore their scorching hot attraction, Jace wants more than a physical relationship. He is sweetly romantic but Charlotte resists his touching gestures until she grows weary of playing it safe. With their three week deadline looming over them, Jace and Charlotte agree to explore the possibilities between them, but outside interference eventually threatens their chance at happiness.

A Taste of Sugar is a light-hearted romance that is full of down home, Southern charm. Jace and Charlotte are well developed, charming protagonists and it is utterly delightful watching their personal growth as they make peace with their respective pasts. The secondary cast of characters is quite colorful and add to the novel's overall appeal. The storyline is well-written, unique and quite captivating. Sweet, sexy and oh so gratifying, this third installment in Marina Adair's Sugar, Georgia series is an absolutely outstanding novel that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend to fans of contemporary, small town romances. show less

Good starting over/friends to lovers story. Lexie grew up in St. Helena and dreamed of turning her grandmother's bakery into a bistro. Instead, she followed her high school sweetheart to New York, where they opened their restaurant, Pairings. But somehow, all the things she wanted took second place to Jeff's plans, until the day she found him indulging in his own pairings with her sous-chef. Now she's back home, ready to follow her long-delayed dreams. Only it hasn't started out the way she show more planned.

If it weren't for bad luck, Lexi would have no luck at all. From her late night arrival and sneaking into the apartment over the bakery, to locking herself out on her way to get her suitcase from her car, she has a rough morning. Then she gets stuck in the window of the bakery as she tries to sneak in without being spotted by anyone out on the street, only to be discovered by Marco DeLuca, her ex-husband's best friend and currently the last person she wants to see.

Marc had been looking forward to Lexi's arrival, even though he shouldn't. He's been crushing on her since he was fourteen, but his buddy Jeff asked her out before he could. Now, the "bro-code" says you don't poach your friend's girl, even after they've broken up, but his heart isn't listening.

I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Marc and Lexi had been friends for a long time, except for the period since the divorce. Marc had been unable to figure out what to say to Lexie, and as a result said nothing, leaving her feeling hurt. Now that she's back in town, he has a chance to make it up to her. He begins by trying to be just the friend and supporter that she needs, but his attraction to her keeps growing. I loved his inner conversations as he reminds himself over and over that she's off limits, only to forget everything the minute he's with her. Lexi doesn't want to get involved with anyone right now; she just wants to concentrate on her plans. Unfortunately, her grandmother has a bazillion dates already lined up for her, plus she's trying to fight the crazy things she feels around Marc.

I loved their interactions. Lexi has seen Marc as a player all these years. He's well-known for the variety and short tenure of his women. She gives him a hard time about his current problem, even as she tries to help him. Marc may be a player, but with Lexie, he is completely different. I loved how closely he watched her and saw her struggles. Jeff's actions had done a number on her self-confidence, but Marc had an unexpected sensitivity and seemed to know just what to say or do to give her the boost she needed. He also could think on his feet and came up with a brilliant idea - a faux romance to get her grandmother to lay off the matchmaking and protect him from his more aggressive pursuers. It wasn't long before the "faux" was dropped from the romance, as they began to drop their guards. Marc also has to deal with his reputation within his own family. Because of his actions after the deaths of their parents, his siblings still look at him as the family screw-up. However, he has worked hard to make his hotel a success, and Lexi recognizes that immediately. I loved the way that she gave him the same belief and support that he gave her.

There is also a lot going on around them. The town is getting ready for the Great Wine Showdown, a huge event. Marc has stuck his neck way out in using his recently renovated hotel as the site. There are many issues creating headaches for him. The longstanding feud between the DeLucas and the Baudouins threatens the wine-tasting itself. Marc's brothers are constantly on his case about one thing or another. Marc's sister Abby is running newspaper ads about her "missing Dick" of a husband, the battle for the caterer has come down to Lexi versus the woman who wants Marc for her own, and Marc is keeping a huge secret from Lexi. I loved the small town politics and personalities that brought all of this to life. The grandmothers were a hoot with their mix of modern and traditional values. I loved the food showdown between Lexi and Natasha, as Lexi strives to regain her mojo when it comes to unique dishes.

The biggest obstacle is one that Lexie knows nothing about, except for the jerking around she's been getting from Jeff. He is a man I detested from the get-go. His treatment of Lexi during and after the divorce is scum-of-the-earth worthy, as he made it impossible for her to use the recipes she developed for Pairings in her new place. Jeff has also been lying like a rug to Marc to gain his cooperation for his expansion plans - plans that once again will stick it to Lexie. Unfortunately, Marc doesn't figure this out until he's in deep with Lexie, and then he doesn't know how to fix it. I ached for Lexie when she found out, as her feelings of betrayal nearly leveled her. I loved the support she got from her friend Abby, and how she picked herself up yet again and went on. I ached for Marc too, as he realized just how badly he had screwed up. Though he can have major problems with his brothers, when the chips are down, they are there to support him when he needs it. I loved Gabe's comment "you don't fuck with our family, our wine, or our women." Marc's "go big" moment at the end is amazing, and he comes through for Lexie in a big way.

This was my first book by this author, but it won't be my last. Her other books are now on my "plan to read" list. I'm especially looking forward to reading Frankie and Nate's book. show less

I love Marina Adair. She takes life moments and brings out the magic. Her characters are a mix of quirky and emotional. What I enjoy most about her stories is that she encourages uniqueness. In Need You For Mine, Harper didn't realize that her ability to help others and lend an ear or a shoulder was what made her special. Her heart and empathy were more important than all the things she lacked. That she ended up where she belonged was worth all the uncertainty along the way. Stories like show more these are why I always come back again. show less

I entered the Goodreads Giveaway for the second book in the ‘When in Rome’ series because it included a character who was on the spectrum. That and because the first book got so many good reviews. I probably would have got more out of this if I’d read the first book since the bits about the supporting characters’ own stories sounded intriguing but it still worked as a stand-alone read. I liked that it was more than just a typical contemporary romance – much of it dealt with the show more challenge of juggling caregiving with a career and still finding time for oneself. The autism tie-in didn’t have what I’d call an #ownvoices level of authenticity but it was clear the author had done her homework. The situations in the book were relatable and overall I felt it took a positive step toward raising autism awareness. show less