Are you ready to get Licked?
It has been a month since I last posted about a book. It hasn't been because I haven't read any books. We all know that is a damn lie. It's mainly because I haven't read any books I felt worth my time and energy in even reviewing. There have been a couple that were so bad I stopped reading them. I recieved an ARC of a paranormal romance that I really do need to review becasue it wasn't horrible. I actually did enjoy it, and I gave it a very positive review on Amazon. There have been a few that helped past the time, but nothing that moved me to sit at my computer and write about it becasue I had to tell my few friends who read this after I share it on Facebook. Until today. It seems that in today's self-publishing society, there aren't too many books that seamlessly combine humor and romance. Hell, there aren't many books that do romance very well. Licked is a diamond in a pile of horse poop. I laughed, I didn't cry (but came damn close), and I wanted Ryleigh to get the guy.
Ryleigh Phillips is the owner of Licked, an ice cream and boozeriy shop in L.A., with the penchant for 50 styles clothes. She is on the brink of turning her shop into a chain when she runs into her High School crush, Cameron Mathis. You would think that the story will be about the two of them kindling a flame that they didn't get the chance to when they were teens. But wait! Enter hunky contractor, Hunter Mogran, and Cameron's best friend and roommate. When Hunter came on the scene, I was sceptical. Is this gonna turn into a love triangle book where I'm going to fall in love with two guys and see the benefits to her being with both of them? Am I going to be happy with her choice? I hate having to have all these emotions when reading a romance novel. Like, I just want her to meet one guy and fall for him and them live Happily Ever After. It's not too much to ask, I just know what I like. But I am stupid, and obviously don't know what's good for me.
This is not a romantic triangle book. I repeat this is NOT a romantic triangle book. Ryleigh falls for one guy, and one guy only. And she chose the right guy. This guy is perfect. He understands her quirks, he loves her desire and drive. He even loves her sense of humor (dirty sex jokes in the form of Ice Cream flavors are a thing that needs to happen in real life, people. Like, yesterday). And what's even greater is that the other guy isn't upset about not getting the girl, because he isn't a douche-canoe and wants his friend to be happy. Which makes me hope that the next book in this series helps find him a girl because that is friendship right there. I'm not going to tell you which guy gets the girl, because I want you to read this book for yourself.
There's not much I didn't like about this one. I was skeptical when the whole roommate potential triangle was introduced, but it was clear straight away that it was not the direction the book was taking. Ryleigh does have a lot of friends, and sometimes it was difficult to keep them all separated in my head. But that is a minor detail. And the sex scenes were very well done. You know how sometimes you read a sex scene and you cringe at the attempt at making it sexy? "His hot rod plunged into my my delicate flower" crap? Not with this one. It is stictly an emotion based love and sex scenes, which I think are hotter and a lot more believable. I mean, seriously, does anyone really say some of the crap you read in bad romance novels? Maybe in porn, but not in the good ones. This has the type of sex scenes I wont cringe thinking about if I share this book with my Mother. Because honestly, who wants to think about their mother reading sex scenes? Not me! My mom is the one who let me borrow her copy of 50 Shades. I blushed thinking about her reading that! Don't get me wrong, I am part of the group who LOVES 50 shades, even though many of my friends don't. I don't care, I love it. But the sex scenes made me uncomfortable. Not for the violence and cringey dialogue, and what many consider abuse and the wikipedia BDSM. It was uncomfortable because my mom read it! With Licked, I am not uncomfortable with the idea that my mom will read it. In fact, I'm going to urgently suggest she does read it. Because with any truly great romance novel. the sex is secondary to the story. The feeling of utter bliss as two people fall in love and make googly eyes at each other from across the room. That is what makes a great romance, and Licked is by far a great romance.
I got this book for free with my Kindle Unlimited account, but this is one I would definietly spend money on. It's the first in the L.A. Liasons seres, with book 2 expected February 2016.
