5 Wine Glass #Audio #Review for Sugared by Jamie Farrell

Title: Sugared
Series: Misfit Brides #4
Author: Jamie Farrell
Narrator: Karen White
Format: Unabridged audiobook, 11 hours and 38 minutes
Published: 8 Nov 2016 (Jamie Farrell)
ISBN: ASIN: B01MQDE9MJ
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Audible
Reviewer: Linda
Source: Author
Rating: 5 out of 5 Wine Glasses

When Chicago’s Hottest Snack Cake Heir…

Josh Kincaid went from rags to riches when he was adopted by the family who owns the Sweet Dreams Snack Cakes empire. But now the company is floundering, and Josh will do anything to save his parents the way they saved him. Including using his charm on a small-town wedding cake baker.

Takes on the Misfit Princess of the Bridal Capital of the Midwest…

Kimmie is flighty, she spouts off weird dreams when she’s nervous, and her frizzy hair and fashion sense make her the girl least likely to snare a debonair snack cake heir. But Kimmie can bake a cake that’ll make a grown man cry, and that’s exactly what Josh needs.

They Just Might Find The Recipe for Love

Josh’s plan should be easy, except Kimmie isn’t all cupcake underneath. Her cooperation comes with a price. If Josh wants to save his family’s company, he’ll have to do something he’s never done: be himself.

Cupcakes have never been so terrifying. 

Linda's Thoughts:

Heaven’s Bakery help them all.

Sugared is the fourth installment in Jamie Farrell’s pure- lighthearted- fun Misfit Brides series set in the fictional small town of Bliss, Illinois. Bliss is the reigning bridal capital of the Midwest located near Chicago. I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every book in this series, but Sugared, without a doubt, ranks as my bestie so far. It is Kimmie Elias’ and Josh Kincaid’s story and is a hysterical laugh-a-minute. Truthfully, I’ve been excited for Kimmie’s story ever since she was first introduced in the initial book and, happily, Sugared did not disappoint in any way!

I listened to Sugared. Karen White nailed the narration - even of the cats! Her pacing was perfect. Her voices sounded genuine exuding the appropriate emotions. She differentiated consistently between the characters so I never had an issue knowing who was speaking. Honestly, it could not have been performed any better! I love to read, but if I see that Karen has narrated a book, I will pick up the audio every single time because Karen’s performances consistently enhance the stories she voices.

In Sugared, Kimmie and Josh enter into a fake relationship each with their own desired outcome. Kimmie is following her mother’s order to woo Josh out of the other half of Heaven’s bakery; Josh needs Kimmie’s cupcake recipes to save his family’s business. Seriously, what could go wrong? Readers can expect utterly enchanting topsy-turvy entertainment!

Kimmie is sweet, funny, loveable and quirky as can be. I love her crazy dreams and imaginative tales. In Sugared, I actually came to love Kimmie even more! However, it’s going to take someone truly special to see the real Kimmie for the awesome person she is and to be strong enough to stand up for her. Kimmie has been emotionally abused and used all her life by her mother, Marilyn Elias, aka the “Queen General”. To please her mother and not anger her, Kimmie has perpetually followed her mother’s orders… until now. I was thrilled beyond measure to see Kimmie’s confidence grow in Sugared.

Josh is a great character as well. Josh is hands-down the hottest eligible rich bachelor in Chicago with a playboy reputation to match.  He’s also the half-owner of Heaven’s Bakery much to Marilyn Elias’ dismay. He is relationship-averse and love-shy because he still holds on to the hurt from his childhood when he lost his mother and foster mother. His adoptive parents, the Kincaids saved him from the streets. He will do anything to save their business.

Previous favorite characters in the series figure solidly in Sugared. I can’t get enough of catching up with them! Supporting characters were awesome too! I have to give a two-thumbs’- up mention to Josh’s mother. Marilyn had never been a loving mother to Kimmie. Josh’s mother took Kimmie under her maternal wing from the get-go, accepting Kimmie and treating her like her own child.

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from Sugared. Just know that it was a very difficult decision as, seriously, the whole book qualified:

“If my mom sees you here, she’ll ---“
“Paper the walls with my innards while the innocents watch?”
--- 

“Is he nice?” one whispered over her gum paste roses for this weekend’s wedding cakes.
“Um, obviously,” Kimmie said.
“You’re why he’s always coming around? I know he’s hot stuff in Chicago, but he always seems so stiff when he comes here,” another added from the sink.
“Honey, you want them stiff,” a third said…
--- 

Josh squeezed her arm. “I’ll behave,” he murmured. “For now.”
She’s going to pickle your cucumbers.”
“He has more than one?” Natalie whispered.
“That’s between me and Kimmie,” Josh replied.
--- 

Her eyes slid closed, her secret places pulsed in anticipation, and his lips settled onto the skin beneath her ear.
That was magic.
She held perfectly still.
He pressed a kiss to her neck. Then another, lower. A third, even lower. 
She squirmed.
He dropped his hands. “Sorry. I---“ 
“Don’t stop,” Kimmie whispered. 

I was completely intrigued by the game these two played with exploding bunnies and blown Trojans. It was side-splitting mayhem and Kimmie was the undisputed champion! Here’s a short snippet about it:
“Have you ever played Killer Bunnies?” she asked.
“Killer Bunnies?” he repeated, blinking the way people always did when they didn’t follow her brain’s train.
“It’s a card game. Not spades and clubs, kings and jacks cards. It’s like a board game, with cards instead of a board. Here. I’ll show you.” She stretched up to the top shelf beside her TV and pulled down a bright blue box. “But I have to warn you, I never hesitate to use the nuclear warheads or the anti-matter raisins. Your bunnies are going down.”

Besides the totally epic epilogue, my favorite scene took place in Josh's kitchen while the couple was making gourmet cupcakes. It was swoony and hilarious all rolled up into delicious icing!

In the third cabinet under the counter, she hit the good stuff. “Oh! You have a KitchenAid.”
“If you’re planning on caressing my mixer, you should know that might make my testicles explode,” he said from behind her.
Her cheeks went hot enough to glow. “That would be awkward.”

This is an audio that I would listen to again and again. The story grabbed my heart from the beginning and never let go. I loved these characters and the development of their romance along with all the sexy cupcakes! Yes, you read that right. Cupcakes can indeed be delightfully sexy with salivating names like Edible Undies, Sex on a Peach and Spank me Strawberries. The author skillfully tied a beautiful bow on the story in the most whimsically brilliant epilogue ever. Kimmie’s and Josh’s story left me with a wonderfully warm and snugly happy feeling – one that persists every time I think about this cool couple and their tale.

Now, I can’t wait to delve into Merried, the next installment in this wonderful series. It is Max Gregory’s and Merry Silver’s story. He is the spare heir of Bliss’ most famous jewelry shop. She is the daughter of a notorious jewel thief.  The family jewels are at risk and Max and Merry desperately need a Christmas miracle. The audio is already on my phone queued to play!



Suggested Reading Order: 
Blissed (CJ and Natalie)- Book #1 (Previously published as The Husband Games)
Matched (Will and Lindsey)– Book #2
Smittened (Mikey and Dahlia)– Book #3
Sugared (Josh and Kimmie)– Book #4
Merried (Max and Merry)– Book #5