Release Date: September 10, 2018
Carina Press
Cake #2, Whiskey Sharp #3.5
Contemporary Romance
Review copy provided by publisher

Nikki’s review:

I loved this novella! I fell hard for Gregori and Wren in Cake. It's been a few years, but I got that same feeling reading them in this sequel.

Gregori and Wren have been together for 6 amazing years, and Gregori is determined to finally make her his wife. And then there's a wacky road trip across three states, and too many laughs to count!

Gregori and Wren are still heating up the sheets and slinging sarcasm all over the place. I absolutely love these two together.

I gotta tell ya, one of my favourite moments in the book is when we get a visit from Brody and Elise from the Brown Sibling series! And then there was mention of the ever delicious Hurley brothers! If you're a true Lauren Dane fan, you know the Hurley and Brown series are amazeballs!

This book was just fun and crazy sexy. It was delightful to meet up with some of my favourite Lauren Dane Characters.

This book can't be read as a stand-alone. You need to read how Gregori and Wren get together in Cake.

Rating: 4 Stars (A)

Gregory and Wren have shown up as secondary characters in the Whiskey Sharp series. What I didn't realize until I read this one that they were first introduced in Cake which was part of an earlier contemporary series by the author. While this is a sweet short story I was disappointed that it was not even Novella length.

Gregory and Wren are both artists. Wren has resisted marrying Gregory until she's made a name for herself and it appears now is the time. Gregory surprises her with a proposal and a perfectly planned getaway to New York so they can get married and he gets to spoil her with all her favorite things.

Of course everything that can go wrong does and they end up having to abandon the private jet and drive through some interesting small towns exploring the next level of their relationship. It's a nice interlude but not much to chew on.

Sugar was HOT and HEAVY! Loved every single minute of and was dripping in lust until the very last page. Lauren Dane did not disappoint with this book!

Such a wonderful story. I loved the connection between Wren and Gregori, the way they see the world, and the way they grow even closer throughout this little story. I would love to spend more time in this world.

Lauren Dane has written another fun love story with strong characters. I really enjoy her books, and this was no exception. Wren and Gregori met years ago and became a couple, but she would not agree to marry him at that time. He is a very famous artist and she is an up and coming one and wanted to earn her fame on her own. While Gregori understood and supported Wren in this, it was frustrating to him. Finally though, she agrees. He has it all planned out for the perfect wedding, honeymoon and everything. But as they say, the best laid plans of mice and men don't always go as you want. If you want to find out about how this goes and have some laughs and giggles, you HAVE to read this. It's well worth it.

I received and ARC from Netgalley for an honest opinion on this book.

Lauren Dane has done it again with Sugar. Excellent storyline and follow-thru. Loved the plot and enjoyed the HEAT>

Wren and Gregori were a cute couple. Gregori has been trying to get Wren to marry him. Wren wanted her career to get started before marrying Gregori. The plans go awry when the couple crash in Idaho. This was a good read.

I’m a big Lauren Layne fan, so it was disappointing when this one fell flat for me. Sugar doesn’t add much to Wren and Gregor’s story. If you’re the type who wishes their story had gone on and on, you’ll probably enjoy this novella. Otherwise, I say give it a pass.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

GAH!! This book was so sexy and fun and it was so nice seeing Gregor and Wren together again. I absolutely love this series and hope for more from them in the future!! As usual Lauren Dane brings the swoons, sass and heat. I absolutely love everything she writes!! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review!

Sugar picks up with the couple six years after they finally got together. Gregori finally gets a yes from Wren when he proposes. On their way to eloping, weather diverts them and they decide on an impromptu road trip wedding/honeymoon. While I enjoyed this one, it wasn't my favorite of the two. The adventure was fun, but it didn't really add much to their story. It was a nice check-in and still worth checking out.

Sugar by Lauren Dane is book Two in the Cake series and book 3.5 in the Whiskey Sharp series. This is the story of Gregori Ivanov and Wren Davis. I haven't yet read the previous book 'Cake' that start the story of Gregori and Wren. I was able to make this a standalone but enjoyed their story so much I do want to back track to read it.
This was a quick novella that caught you up with their story and Gregori goal to marry Wren. But his perfect planning hit a snag that leads them to an adventure.
Really enjoy Ms. Dane's writing...always get a great story from her.

Six years after Gregori and Wren got together, they're finally getting married. Wren was waiting for her career to approach the trajectory of his. Now they're on their way to New York to get married. Except there are storms and they get grounded in Idaho. They decide to road trip it back to Seattle.
A nice story but didn't add much but to the Wren and Gregori story.

Three stars
This novella came out September 10
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

The very strong and memorable Gregori and Wren have finally tied the knot and their honeymoon becomes just as unique and memorable as their love is when their plans go awry and they end up on an impromptu road trip. Very sexy and romantic with lots of sizzling chemistry and scorching hot passion that holds readers captive throughout the steady paced plot. Readers can’t help but fall in love with this couple as they can practically feel the love that flows from the pages of this delightful romance and the author ensures that readers are treated to adventure and wonderful settings on a road trip that has readers feeling as if they are tagging along because it is so vividly portrayed.

There have been glimpses of Gregori and Wren in the Whiskey Sharp series, but it had been a while since I first read their book, Cake, so I did a quick re-read just to get reacquainted. I’m so glad I did this! I had forgotten much of their story, and I fell in love with them all over again. In Sugar, a sequel novella, Wren and Gregori are six or so years into their relationship and planning to get married. Gregori has it all planned out, and honestly, his plans are amazing—romantic and luxurious, and totally swoon-worthy. However, fate has something else in mind, and Wren—the more spontaneous of the two—takes over the wedding and honeymoon plans. For me, the best part of Sugar was seeing a whole new side of Gregori. He’s always come across as the quintessential hot, brooding Russian. A temperamental, demanding, often surly and arrogant artist used to getting his way and with a love for the finer things in life. Wren, on the other hand, is more down to earth, with a great sense of humor and a tremendous sense of fun and adventure. After Gregori’s plans are thwarted, Wren comes up with a completely new plan, and even then, not everything goes as planned. But the two of them end up having a truly interesting and unique wedding and honeymoon. Gregori enjoys himself despite the less than ideal circumstances. This to me showed not just a new, charming side of Gregori, but made me feel his love for Wren and how happy he was to spend his life with her.

I really enjoyed Sugar! It was fun, romantic in an offbeat, quirky way, sexy, and yes, sweet.

Short and sweet. I read Cake a looooong time ago that I can't remember much of it anymore. Reading Sugar reminded me that Gregori's grumpy Russian came before the Petrovs and Orlovs of Lauren Dane's current series and that Wren typifies the sassy and capable heroines she excels in writing.

I enjoyed this nearly conflict-free road-trip novella. My husband and I did a similar road trip when we were newly married and I relate so much with Gregori and Wren's adventures and their responses to the situations happening around them.

Sugar just made me smile the entire time I was reading it and sometimes that's all you need. Thanks, Lauren Dane for writing this gift to your fans.

I enjoyed this one a lot! These characters are a great balance for one another. Gregori all grumpy roughness and Wren the calm in his storm. Their chemistry is off the charts! I do recommend that you read Cake before reading this one though. Otherwise you may feel like you started the story in the middle. These characters first get together in Cake and Gregori has finally convinced Wren to marry him. He's made big plans to celebrate their marriage. Plans that apparently aren't going to happen after they get stranded in Idaho. Looks like they'll have to make a road trip back to Seattle. Let all the grumpy, sexy times begin! I definitely recommend this book.

I was so excited when I found out Sugar was a sequel to Cake, because Cake is one of my favorite Lauren Dane stories. After seeing glimpses of Gregori and Wren in the Whiskey Sharp series I wanted more from them because I always felt like there could be more to their story. I’m so happy that Sugar didn’t let me down. Sugar follows them on a trip that hits one road bump after another in what turns out to be a surprising amusing vacation. Gregori is still just as hot and moody all while being completely lovable, and Wren is his perfect match.

It has been six years since Gregori gave in to his feelings for Wren. Now that she has achieved success in her art, she finally agrees to marry him. He has the wedding and honeymoon in New York all planned out but the weather and a mechanical problem with the plane disrupts it all. Wren can make anything fun. This leads to a wacky adventure home after getting married in Idaho.

Loosely connected to Whiskey Sharp, The Brown Siblings, and the Hurley Brothers series. Gregori is cousin to Alexsei from Whiskey Sharp, the others are friends and acquaintances. This is a fun story. Gregori is so serious and grumpy and Wren is carefree and fun. Together they are perfect for each other.

Book Info
Kindle Edition
Expected publication: September 10th 2018 by Carina Press
ASIN B01AREQRUU
Edition Language English
Series Cake #2, Whiskey Sharp #3.5
Other Editions (3)
Source:Netgalley EARC

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BOOK BLURB


A Cake sequel

An impromptu road trip makes for the honeymoon Gregori and Wren didn’t know they wanted

Bad-boy artist Gregori Ivanov wants nothing more than to marry Wren Davis. He’s asked her before—more than once—but she insisted on waiting until she’d established her own career. Now that the time is finally right, Gregori has one hell of a celebration in mind. Restaurants, museums and NYC luxury all the way…on top of all the newlywed sex they’ll be having.

The universe, unfortunately, did not get the message. When their plane is grounded in Idaho, they’re forced to improvise a road trip to get back to Seattle instead of the romantic getaway Gregori painstakingly planned. But that they’re together is what’s important, and with giant roadside potato museums, funky galleries in towns with little more than two stoplights and some seriously great diner food—in between all the great sex—Gregori and Wren find a honeymoon as unique and memorable as their love.

My Thoughts


When first met Gregori Ivanov and Wren Davis in book 1, Cake the pair were immediately easy to relate to in many ways and in others not so much. Now 6 years later they are settled in with each other with only 1 little detail left to make Gregori happy, getting Wren to marry him.

Gregori is a man who knows what he wants and he lives his life taking full advantage of every decadently sinful aspect to it that he possibly can. That includes the best places to eat, the best places to stay and the beautiful women who find him to their liking. However all the other women are no longer in the picture and the one woman Gregori loves, Wren, keeps him fully satisfied in almost every way.

Wren is a woman whose hesitation to commit to a lifetime with her man is the only fly in what otherwise is a fairly smooth relationship between the two.

Now the time has finally come and Wren has said yes to Gregori's latest proposal of marriage, the fun comes when all his well laid plans become toast which leads the two to improvise.

Not only is this an eye-opening experience for Gregori but Wren as well when their new plans take them on a honeymoon journey neither are likely to ever forget.

To say that Gregori Ivanov and Wren Davis were enjoyable in book 1, Cake is actually an understatement. But in this sequel they are crazy fun as well as hotter than a 3-alarm fire!

[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

3 stars
This one said it could be read as a standalone. So, I gave it a shot. To be honest, in my opinion, it can't. I felt lost at times. Trying to figure out what I was missing. Fair warning, if you want to enjoy this book, read the other books in this series first.