Sugar Creek: A Destiny Novel [Mass Market Paperback]

Despite a challenging, successful job in Chicago, Rachel Farris wastes no time in returning to Destiny, Ohio to help her ailing grandmother at the family apple orchard. The first person she runs into is Destiny police officer Mike Romo - as in the generations-long Farris vs. Romo family feud Romos. Clocked and ticketed by Officer Romo for speeding on her way into town isn't quite how Rachel anticipated being welcomed back and the two quickly and repeatedly begin to butt heads until there's the smallest hint of a spark. When the speeding tickets begin piling up, those embers begin to increase in intensity.

Rachel has financially assisted her family for a long time and while she's starting to feel slight tugs of settling down in Destiny to take over the orchard, she worries that it won't provide the income necessary to keep everyone's heads above water. Frustrated that her grandmother will only share the story of her long ago romance with Giovanni Romo in small increments, she begins to realize that her grandmother had experienced the very same weakness when it came to a Romo male. Rachel further realizes that her grandmother suffered a broken heart as a result and she's determined not to let her heart become involved.

Mike is a small town boy with a heavy guilt hanging over him, keeping him from finding any sort of true happiness. Rachel is a city girl who thrives on the congestion, shopping and general busy-ness of Chicago. Mike and Rachel both have heady sexual appetites and while Rachel is unashamed about her experience, Toni Blake has successfully written that forwardness without making Rachel seem slutty or promiscuous. Watching these two lose themselves in each other, while insisting that nothing is going to change in the long run, is especially fun. Rachel and Mike have an undeniable love-hate relationship and no one is more shocked over the "love" portion of the relationship than their families and friends. Neither understands what is happening between them and likewise, neither is in any hurry to see their "sex only" fling come to an end. There is backstory explaining the Farris-Romo feud that is a sort of story within the story, a bonus of sorts, that will cause a tight pull in your chest and a lump in your throat. Secondary characters are as familiar, charming and aggravating as your own family and friends and lend a touch of reality. Also interesting is Toni's trademark pet name for the heroine is reversed in SUGAR CREEK; the hero gets the nickname this time - so fun! This has long been one of my favorite things about picking up one of Toni's books - the anticipation of what that pet name will be!

I adore small town stories and returning to Destiny with Toni Blake is a wonderfully enjoyable visit. I was slightly disappointed that Jenny and Mick from ONE RECKLESS SUMMER, the first in the "Destiny" series, weren't more visible in SUGAR CREEK, but other secondary characters were colorful and intriguing enough to curb that disappointment and make me curious as to whose story will be next.
I give SUGAR CREEK a very strong recommendation for all readers who appreciate well-written contemporary romance that's full of emotion, intricate attention to detail, and passion that is positively molten.

A feud between the Farris and Romo families is the catalyst that ignites the sparks between Rachel Farris and Officer Mike Romo. Toni Blake's second DESTINY installment, SUGAR CREEK, is a hot one. Don't miss it!

Rachel Farris has not returned to her hometown in fifteen years. The only reason she is returning now is because her advertising career has run into a snag and her grandmother needs her help on the family's apple orchard. Rachel's first few minutes in town set the tone for her return in the form of police officer Mike Romo. Not only does Officer "Romeo" give her a stern lecture and an expensive speeding ticket, he also gives Rachel enough eye candy to keep her awake at night. It's really too bad that the Farris and Romo families have been feuding for as long as Rachel can remember because if she is honest, she will admit that Mike Romo makes her sweat. And that is something that Rachel will never do.

Talk about oil and water! Mike Romo is sex on a stick but very much aware of his job as a police officer. At first he refuses to even admit his attraction to Rachel - she is a "Farris" after all. Speaking of Rachel, I found her to be a typical career woman until I read further and realized just how original she is. Rachel loves her family and falls in love with her own Romeo. From the advertising room to the bedroom, Rachel Farris gives her all - and Mike Romo is putty in her hands. Or is she the putty in Mike's hands?

The feud dividing these two families is the true matchmaker of Toni Blake's SUGAR CREEK. The fireworks between Rachel and Mike shined on every page. If you like a well-written, sensual, and often delightfully funny romance then SUGAR CREEK is the book for you. I most definitely will read this one again and again.

Natalie S.

Only for her grandma Edna would Rachel Farris return to Destiny, Ohio. However, when her granny tells her she is lonely needing help with apple harvest, Rachel runs home.

As soon as reaches town, Rachel has an incident with police officer Mike Romo. Since their families are feuding as they have for years over Edna's apple farm, the pair ignores their attraction. However, Rachel learns Mike has offered to purchase the Farris Family Apple Orchard which angers her further. Still as Mike and Rachel fall in love, will their feelings for one another supersede the animosity between their families. It will take courage to do so.

This is an amusing entertaining contemporary Buckeye version of Romeo and Juliet that pays "homage" to the Bard as even the cat is named after him. Sugar Creek stars two interesting opposites as he is small town and she is big city to keep them even further apart beyond the chasm caused by the family feud. Neither trusts their heart or the other as love returns to Destiny, Ohio (see One Reckless Summer).

Harriet Klausner

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