Everything is absolutely perfect for Layla Dupree thanks to her successful patisserie and Raleigh Jacobs isn’t happy with his temporary assignment in NYC. Find out what happens for these two neighbors when you mix together bubbly and grumbly. Readers will want to turn up the heat with this return to hometown romance from KC Enders. The 425 Madison series is back with season two and SWEET ON YOU is now live!
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Lyla Dupree
She’s a bubbly, sugary sweet pastry chef. Living her best life in the Big Apple. Luxury apartment.
Successful patisserie. Everything is great–better than great. It’s absolutely perfect.
Raleigh Jacobs
He’s grumbly and growly–and so very out of his element–working on a temporary assignment in
NYC. He wants to do his job and get out. Back to the clean air in the mountains near Denver.
Throw them together.
Mix things up.
Turn up the heat and what you get is, quite simply, alarming.
After all, 425 Madison is the perfect place to fall in love.
**My Review**
Welcome to my stop on the release tour for the newest addition to the 425 Madison series, Sweet on You. This installment by KC Enders is about sweet and happy pastry chef Lyla who meets a grumpy and moody temporary neighbor named Raleigh. Lyla moved to New York from Denver and opened her own pastry shop. Raleigh has arrived in New York from Denver for a temporary work assignment and makes it known to everyone how miserable he is being in New York City. Somehow, I guess mostly due to Lyla’s persistence, the two slowly form a friendship, which leads to a little bit more. But at the end of the day, all Raleigh wants is to get back to Denver and back to his adorable young son, Matty.
I liked this book for a couple of reasons. First, you can’t help but love Lyla. Granted she appears almost too happy and positive at times, but really, she has some vulnerable moments too that made her very relatable. I did wonder about self-confidence issues at times because she kept going back for more with Raleigh regardless of how rude he was, but whatever. I also loved Raleigh’s son Matty. This little guy is so sweet, smart, curious, and is a ray of sunshine compared to his Dad. This was my first time reading KC Enders but I enjoyed her writing style, finding the novel fast-paced and easy to read while at the same time, having in-depth character development. Lastly, of course, I loved that this story has a happy ending. Like all of the 425 Madison series, it can easily be read as a standalone and a guaranteed HEA – although I certainly recommend the entire series.
What I didn’t like, however, had mostly to do with Raleigh himself. He started out grumpy and mean and for the most part, stayed that way until the end. There were moments here and there where he was friendly (sometimes very friendly with Lyla) but for the majority of the novel, he has a horrible attitude that is just unnecessary. I never really saw any huge transformation in Raleigh, just regrets and then pouting over how he handled things with Lyla. Did he quit being a grumpy ass for no reason? Did he change his horrible attitude permanently or does he still have the same severe mood swings? I was left with questions about him that made it impossible to move away from my initial impression of him.
Besides Raleigh, this was a light and romantic read that I do recommend if you can overlook Raleigh’s issues. I’m glad I discovered KC Enders and will certainly be on the lookout for more from her in the future.
*Thanks to Forever Write PR for providing this review copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
Excerpt
Copyright @ KC Enders 2020
The door next to me swings open, and a giant of lean muscle, scruffy cheeks, and deep
dark brown scowling eyes steps out into the hallway, startling me.
With a really unladylike gasp, I stumble backward until my back hits the doorjamb. “Oh, I’m
so sorry,” I squeak. “You scared me. Welcome. Kent emailed me that he’d sublet his place
for a couple of months, though he didn’t tell me anything about you. Not that he needed to,
I mean, it’s none of my business, really. I’m Lyla Dupree, it’s lovely to meet you.” I thrust my
hand out to shake, but he just stares, so I let it fall back to my side.
I’m rambling, and I can’t seem to stop. It’s my thing when I’m nervous, but my roommate
Sasha tells me it comes off as bubbly and kind of sweet. From the look on this guy’s face,
though, I wonder if she’s just been blowing sunshine up my butt because he looks pissed.
And that just makes me even more nervous, so the bubbly word vomit continues.
“You picked an amazing place to live while you’re here in the city. Where are you from?
Somewhere out west, maybe? I mean, not that I know. I already told you that, so it’s just a
guess, but with the flannel and the beanie…” Dear Jesus, now would be a perfect time for
me to shut up. “Anyway, I just finished testing a new recipe, I’m a chef. I don’t know if Kent
mentioned that when you talked about the sublet, but he should have. I mean, I do pastries,
and my roommate Sasha does more of the real food. Oh my God, she makes the best
mac and cheese, truly she’s amazing. Kent said it was a good thing he had to leave for this
temporary assignment in London. Something about gaining weight if he lived next to us for
too much longer. I don’t know, though, I think something might have happened between
him and Sasha, you know? They both kind of started acting funny and then the next thing I
know he’s taking a job in England for a year. But, whatever. Do you like sweets? Cakes,
cookies, pastries? Any food allergies I should know about?”
And, cue uncomfortable silence.
Karin is a New York Girl living in a Midwest world. A connoisseur of great words, fine bourbon,
and strong coffee, she’s married to the love of her life and is mother to two grown men, she
is proud to say can cook and clean up after themselves, and always open doors for the ladies
(you’re welcome, world).
And when life gets a little too calm, she tends to adopt big old rescue dogs: short on brains, large
on personality.
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