ANYTHING BUT SWEET by Candis Terry

Publisher:  Avon
Date published:   June 25, 2013
ISBN 978-00622377224
Genre:   Romance
Format:  Paperback
Obtained via:  Publisher
Reviewed by name and email address:  Angie angie@angieonline.net

4 ½

Charlotte Brooks and her crew bring their skills to Sweet, Texas to make over the small-town for reality TV.  While almost everyone is excited, Reno Wilder likes his town just the way it has always been.  He doesn’t care what Charli wants, she will not be touching his hardware store.  He has seen a lot of change in the past few years – his brother being killed in the war, his father dying and his fiancé dying in a tragic accident.  He just wants to be left alone with his life, the way it should be.

Charli blows into town with her little dog, Pumpkin and beings making changes.  Reno eventually has to admit her changes are for the better and that he may just be ready to move on with his life.  His mother even starts dating and changing the family home, but Reno is finally okay with love and wants the best for his family and town, just not himself.  He doesn’t deserve happiness.

ANYTHING BUT SWEET is a heart-warming story that will leave readers sighing in delight.   This is a cozy little novel that should be read while relaxing in front of a fire with a cup of coffee… Or in a warm bubble bath, while drinking a glass of wine.  It is a book to be savoured and sighed over.  CANDIS TERRY is a talented author who brings true love to the pages with a modern day Cinderella story. 

Ms. Terry creates perfect scenes for today’s world when modern day life is all about reality TV shows.  Her characters are spot on for small town life, from the hardware stores really being “general” stores and their owners carrying a bit of everything, to the old geezer who flirts with any woman.  She will have readers wanting to live in their own “Sweet” spot, and find their own man to makeover.

As a reader, I will definitely be returning to the town of Sweet when Ms. Terry releases her next novel Sweetest Mistake.

 

ANYTHING BUT SWEET by Candis Terry

Avon Books
June 25th,
2013 978-0-06-223722-4
Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Publisher




Charlotte ‘Charli’ Brooks is determined to give Sweet, Texas a makeover but she never anticipates meeting Reno Wilder, a man who is as ornery as a polecat and just downright cranky. Charli is determined to show Reno that change can be good for the body and the soul…these two just never anticipated sparks flying between them or falling in love.

I never read Ms. Terry before but found Anything But Sweet to be a fun, light hearted romance that was a perfect beach read on a sunny afternoon. The writing is tight with a fast moving storyline to keep the reader engaged to the see what happens next between Charli and Reno. The cast of characters are quite intriguing and very enjoyable. I loved how Charli was as determined to show Reno how even a little bit of change to Sweet, Texas is a good thing as Reno tries to resist the temptation that is Charli. Two very strong willed persons that are about to find that love is the most unpredictable force of all.

ANYTHING BUT SWEET looks to be the set up of a new series by author Candis Terry with the introduction to Reno and his brothers and the small town of Sweet, Texas. I loved the small town charm that came across the pages and felt the author does a great job in capturing that element within the story. Charli was warm, enjoyable and quite relatable. She was a wonderful character to root for while I flipped the pages to see what happens next between Reno and Charli.

What didn’t work for me was Reno’s tragedy. I mean the way he was in the book at times had me wondering if he needed to go in a dark corner and rock back and forth. He was a bit too much up and down personality wise and frankly, I felt Charli shook his world up just at the right moment. Once these two started verbally sparring on everything, well you could see the sparks flying fast and furious between them.

The secondary characters were a gem and I loved how the author has a possible future books set around Reno’s brothers. ANYTHING BUT SWEET is a charming tale with a captivating cast of characters and a small town charm that had me eager for more of Sweet, Texas. Ms. Terry does a wonderful job in her introduction to this great town. Now if only I can find it on the map to visit. If you are looking for a good summer beach read then try ANYTHING BUT SWEET and settle in your hammock or beach towel for a fun filled ride as you laugh, sigh and smile till the very end. I look forward to seeing what else this author has coming in the future.

This was an objective review and not an endorsement