Cover Image: Candy King

Candy King

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

2.5 stars.
I am a bit unsure about 2 - 2.5 stars. so we`ll land on 2.5 because i am nice.
The smut was alright, but it felt awkward that he suddenly decided to be interested in her, just because she called her Sugar Tart? Just because she wrote to him and was smewhat persistent? i don`t really get it. It was too insta-love insta-chemistry for me.

Was this review helpful?

This was really interesting, and it's one of the few books recently that I wish had given me more of the story. For being about sugar parents/babies, I thought there would be more of that? I don't typically go for the millionaire/billionaire trope, so this was a different take on it. I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it? Honestly, the word interesting definitely fits my feelings about this story!

Was this review helpful?

Opposites attract and there's a great deal of heat in this passion filled romance. I read Christine D'Abo for many reasons, not the least of which is her stellar character portraits. The hero and heroine of Candy King are both complex and interesting. I had no trouble becoming invested in their story. The love scenes are plentiful and well placed to move the story along. The secondary characters are quirky and engaging as well. Candy King is a flirty sexy read and I recommend it.
3.5
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

Was this review helpful?

This was a good story with lots of steamy scenes. The characters were likeable and kept the plot interesting.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Simone LeBlanc wants to be taken seriously as a journalist by her boss. He only gives her fluff pieces. Now she goes to him with wanting to find the “Candy King” the person who operates the web site her friend Kayla found her fiancé. Working through all of the clues she also signs up on the site as well.
Dylan Williams the owner-operator of the site wants to make sure he is not outed for his family’s name is very well known in Toronto and it would cause problems to him and the family business. How is he going to stay hidden when you have a journalist like Simone who is so driven?
He finally works out a solution, with that solution comes days of the two of them working closely together and for two people who are already attracted to one another this could be a disaster. It is for he lets her walk away and now you have to see if the man who is afraid will go after the women? A very good story, I also like that the author added in mental health issues, very much worth the read.

Was this review helpful?

A journalist, a website about Sugar Daddies, and the owner of said website. What kind of story can be written? A sexy romance about two people who are very different but seem to work for each other. This was a great story that had just the right amount of suspense and a whole lot of sexy.

Was this review helpful?

Hmmm. Interesting. That's how I would describe Candy King. Dylan was mysterious and hot. Simone was on a mission. When they come together, it's interesting, fun and sexy.
Simone is trying to climb the ladder and she thinks uncovering the Candy King is her way up. What she doesn't know is that it can also ruin a lot of people. But, she's willing to take her chances, especially when the Candy King himself starts texting her and offer's her a deal. Let him be her Sugar Daddy and he'll let her write the story.
Dylan knows he's playing with fire but there is something about the sexy, flirty Simone that has him by the …. He's not willing to come totally clean with her but, he's willing to make some concessions. Yea, he'll be her Sugar Daddy and show her exactly what the website is all about. No, he doesn't believe that people that hook-up there fall in love and no, he doesn't believe in love. But, guess what Simone does … makes him believe.
Knowing all the she does, Simone refuses to write the exposé. Especially after all that he's done for her father. Even though he broke her heart, there is no way that she will expose him or the site to scrutiny. Then there comes the final Sugar Daddy message and maybe, just maybe, there's hope for Dylan and her.
I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I started reading Candy King. I liked the blurb so thought I would like the book. Well, I truly enjoyed this story. I loved all the characters from Dylan and Simone to Jonathan and Sarah. The only one I didn't like very much was Carl. The story took some interesting twists and turns … there wasn't much drama … I loved the back and forth between Dylan and Simone. Candy King is a truly complete story that will have you smiling, laughing and loving.

Was this review helpful?

Journalist Simone LeBlanc feels the need to move past the small-time restaurant review and community stories that she has been writing and produce something hard hitting that will put her name on the map and get her promoted to the front pages. She also wants to impress her dad who always wanted to be an investigative journalist. She hits on the idea of an exposé on Toronto’s biggest sugar daddy site that seems to have a high success rate in actually matching people up for something more long term. Simone just needs to find out who the owner actually is, the so-called Candy King. She tracks down Dylan Williams and tries to pin him down for a story but is surprised to find the main reason he started the site is because he given up on conventional relationships and the idea of love. Simone finds she’s down for a little no strings action. Highly enjoyable and unpredictable story. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Candy King is my favorite of this series by far.

I liked Simone as Kayla's best friend in Sugar & Spice. I'm glad she gets her HEA. She's quirky and driven, and I like how Dylan's character doesn't overshadow her. They compliment each other perfectly.

The sex scenes are explosively HOT, and surprising. Dylan's got some interesting kinks.

Candy King is a great wrap up to the Sugar series.

Was this review helpful?

This is a sexy read, but even though I liked the characters as individuals, I did have some difficulty feeling the connection between the characters in the beginning. Dylan is the son of a prominent Toronto family but he also owns a secret online sugar daddy website. Simone, a journalist, wants to ferret out the secrets of this website and make her mark as an investigative reporter. Given how secretive Dylan is of his website, I was surprised on how quickly he responded to Simone's fishing tactic especially given that she was a reporter. However, once they do get together, the smoulder begins - dare I say almost too much since I was skipping some of them.. (And I like my sexy times!) Interesting family dynamics between Simone and her father. The story touches on mental illness in a compassionate way. A good read.

Was this review helpful?

Interesting spin on the whole Millionaire/ Billionaire trope.
The Candy King has created an online store for sugar babies to be "available" for those with money aka the Sugar Daddy. Not every relationship involves consummation, some are just for a date to events, but uniquely this site has a higher average of committed relationship in the end. Simone finds this extremely interesting and wants to do a story on the site. First step, sign up. Second step, uncover the real identity of the owner. Third step, fall for him.
Dylan Williams likes to keep his business life busy and separate from his personal life. He's relationship adverse and usually only does a couple of dates with the women from his site. When Simone tracks him down his first response is NO. Yet he is pulled back into her orbit and let's his guard down. Now he had to decide on whether he can take a chance or go it alone.

Was this review helpful?

Simone is an up and coming reporter doing her best to make her mark in a man's world and make her father proud.
Dylan is a wealthy businessman with family issues reading on his shoulders.
These characters are well developed with full background stories that affect their interactions with each other. The pull they feel got the other is amazing. The dates, projects, and sexual encounters kept my interest. I would recommend this book to my friends.

Was this review helpful?

Dylan and Simone have their own Separate lives. Each with their own goals. Simone is a journalist and is stepping out of her wheelhouse and comfort zone. She is trying to find the owner of the web site the her BFF and her current boyfriend met on. Dylan likes his anonymity with the Sugar daddy website and the influx of women and no strings attached rendezvous that being the owner supplies him. Simone is a quirky and smart woman. Dylan is cynical and a charming long term bachelor. Their world's collide and they are both in uncharted territory. It was ok and not.half bad. It just seemed to be missing something. All in all not bad.

I received this ARC from the publisher at my request for an honest review via Net Galley. The opinions written here in are solely my own. Thank you Net galley!

Was this review helpful?

Oh my goodness! I truly love this story line. The characters are welldeveloped and the issues they go through are written purposely and with good description. I love the concept of a reporter getting to the bottom of a sugar daddy website.
Great job!

Was this review helpful?

This was a smart and sexy read, with two opposites who definitely attract! Dylan is settled and know what he wants and is completely upfront about it. He has a sexy side that is burning hot as well, and Simone matches him spark to spark. Upbeat and optimistic, Simone challenges the serious businessman, and her playfulness is contagious. That is, until reality hits, and things fall apart. Both Simone and Dylan need to seriously think about what they are so sure about themselves. Loved the dialogue and banter between these two characters, and their heat was off the charts sexy!

Was this review helpful?

This is a fun story with a couple of interesting characters. She is a reporter looking to get her big break by revealing a story about a Sugar Daddy website and it's mysterious owner. And for 'research' purposes, she joins the site and contacts the owner. Miraculously, said owner replies and the pair begin their flirting game. She is honest and ethical and tells it like it is... as well as being honest and open with her sexuality. He doesn't believe in love thus starting the website so people can meet for non-committal relationships, though even before they ever meet face to face, he's smitten for this women he only knows through texts. I love how her character isn't shy about letting him know what she likes or wants, yet easily blushes about certain things. He is also open about what his desires are no matter how unconventional they may be. Barely knowing each other they share things with each other that they don't otherwise openly share. While a majority of their relationship (and the book) revolves around the sexual aspect, we get to see their true hearts and what makes them the people they are. The good and the bad. There's a little suspense as we anticipate what happens, not only with the couple but also with the articles she is writing and the possible negative aftermath. There are laughs. Not really any tears, but there are one or two heart warming/breaking moments. Of course there is lots and lots of sex... deeming this a read for mature audiences. It's a well written story. Alternating between POVs.

*I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

Super sexy, full of genuine emotion and imperfect people who manage to find their perfect love. It’s fantastic!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I received an advanced reader's copy of Candy King by Christine d'Abo from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first book that I have read by Christine d'Abo and I was pleasantly surprised to find an enjoyable new author to follow.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel and I found it to be well written. The primary characters' romantic start was both memorable and entertaining (which really is how the entire novel struck me) with the journalist/sugar daddy plot.

I liked the well-crafted characters and the witty banter, but thought that the pacing of the novel could have been tightened up toward the end (it was a little uneven there).

All in all, a fun read.

Was this review helpful?

Simone is an awesome journalist. She'd make a great detective, she follows a lead all the way through. Dylan is lucky that she's so good at it. I liked the needy side of Dylan. He was comfortable enough to ask Simone what he wanted and needed from her. A roll reversal. Usually it's the rich man that is asked for things.

Was this review helpful?

The story of Simone and Dylan.

She is a reporter, desperate for her big break and she is hoping that the story about Candy King (Dylan) will be the one that makes her career. But as she starts to spend more time with him things get complicated, and soon neither of them want what they did in the beginning.

Was this review helpful?