Review: Steamy story... with icing on top!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 6, 2013
"This city better watch out, because the new cupcake queen has just been crowned."With a lot of determination and talent, Liv is ready to start her own adventure. And with the help of a mentor and a lot of cash, Liv's dream of owning a bakery is finally coming to fruition. After working her way successfully through the ranks of her mentor's bakery and being a part-time bartender, Liv is ready to branch out on her own. The pressure is on to make her sweet treats the best, but with supportive friends surrounding her, Liv is ready for the challenge. What Liv hadn't anticipated was to get involved in a different kind of venture altogether - a more personal one. Just as her business is about to open its doors, the man of her dreams steps in and refuses to let her hesitancy sway him. He's everything Liv never thought she was missing in her life and for the first time ever she is contemplating letting another man into her heart. And just when Liv thought she was safe to give in to that temptation, the sweet smell of personal and professional success quickly turns sour. Now she must decide if any of it is worth picking up the pieces."For the love of all cupcakes, please don't let this man take my heart."Jake is on the hunt for a prestigious promotion and nothing and no one is going to get in his way, but he didn't count on a sweet smelling slip of a woman to be his downfall. If only she wasn't the "mission" his boss wanted him to complete in order to land the job, then falling into bed with her wouldn't be a problem. Just when Jake thinks things can't get anymore complicated, the "spark" his grandfather told him about is exactly what he finds with Liv. The woman of his dreams just couldn't have come into his life at a worse time or under worse circumstances. The more Jake gets to know Liv, the worse the temptation becomes to give in to the chemistry between them, but the lies are mounting. Now Jake has to figure out a way of how to have his cake and eat it too before it's too late.Deception, sex, cupcakes, and chemistry - quite an intriguing combination and wow did it work for this story! Between the underlying saboteur plotline, the effects of a deadbeat dad, a misunderstood womanizer, and getting all hot and bothered by Jake and Liv's sexually charged encounters, the pages just seem to fly while reading. Add in a humorous group of friends and many delicious references to cupcakes with a naughty tip on how to use frosting for things other than just eating it and you have the recipe for a fantastic read!It was refreshing to read a male lead that is sweet and romantic instead overbearing and extremely alpha, which seems to be all the craze these days. This is not to say Jake's character isn't instinctive in both protection and possession of Liv and he takes care to prove it throughout the story. And I liked that the lust wasn't immediately acted upon, so the buildup was that much more for when it finally happened. Both characters are likable and possess a depth that is nicely drawn out in the story. The road to Jake and Liv's HEA is definitely not a cakewalk, but neither is it as confrontational as I would have expected. A couple events left me wanting a bit more after all was revealed. It just seemed to be that the people involved got off a little too easy. Aside from that, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the two main characters and their eccentric friends and wouldn't mind stories on them.In the mood for a scrumptious read with just A Taste of Trouble? Then this one's for you! But beware you may experience a craving for cupcakes (among other things) while enjoying this story.