N.G. Peltier is a new to me author and I look forward to reading her next title. This was very well written, I could smell and taste the baking. I really enjoyed Cherise as a character. Everything about her felt genuine even at times when she would doubt herself. Unfortunately, I just wasn't that keen on the love interest. I could have grown warmer to them if they didn't take weeks to solve the issue that leads to the blackout moment. I am not against 3rd act breakups to an extent. I like to see what drives them apart and what ultimately drives them back together. I don't think the love interest put any work at all into groveling. He embarrassed himself singing in front of people? Everything about him seemed too immature for Cherise.
The audiobook was very well narrated. I look forward to more titles by Peltier because I did enjoy aspects of the romance as well as the side characters.

Thank you NetGalley, author N.G. Peltier, and Dreamscape Media, LLC for giving me a free arc audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4.5 stars
If you are looking for an enemies-to-lovers/wedding romance, look no further, this book is for you.
Set in Trinidad, Cherisse is a talented baker who makes much sought after sweets. Keiran works in the music industry, which is an immediate strike against him for Cherisse. Her ex-boyfriend, who cheated on her, was a musician and she now wants nothing to do with men in that industry. But as Keiran is the best man and Cherisse is the maid of honor in a wedding, they are forced to work together. Let the games begin! Who will come out on top, the sweet queen or the mixing king?
This book hit all the notes I look for in an enemies-to-lovers romance. I loved their banter as well as the building underlying chemistry that steadily grows as they planned the Bachelor/Bachelorette party, making the decorations and wedding favors. Both, Keiran and Cherisse, have a lot of assumptions about each other, which lead to some very laugh-out-loud/secondary embarrassment throughout the story. I loved how this book did not just focus on the wedding, but the events and planning leading up to the big day. I loved all of the secondary characters as well. The author did an amazing job not just developing the main characters, but also gave dimension to the supporting characters as well. The audiobook narrator was wonderful. She really brought the characters to life. The only downside for me was the ending wrapped up a bit too quickly. I would have preferred a slightly more drawn out ending once the characters are finally together, possibly with an epilogue. This felt a bit rushed. Overall, this was my first book by this author and it will not be my last!

Set in Trinidad, Sweethand follows Cherisse, a baker that is famous for her cookies and public break up with her ex-bf music star. Despite butting heads with Kieren, they must work together as the maid of honor and best man to help plan their best friends wedding. Although they love to antagonize each other, they have to admit theres something more there but Cherisse doesn't know if she can fully commit to another man in the music industry.

Sweethand is a sweet romance with some spicy scenes and some really fun banter. I really loved seeing their friend group interact and see how Kieren slowly worms his way into Cherisse's heart even though she is super reluctant and in denial. Kieren is not shy about his feelings but gives her the space to figure out how she feels without too much pressure.

While the romance was cute, I thought it went on for a little too long and the 3rd act conflict was not much of a conflict and resolved very quickly. Wish the ending was a little more fleshed out.

Overall, super cute and will definitely pick up more books from the author in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and DreamscapeMedia for allowing me to listen to Sweethand in exchange for an honest review!

Romance is not a genre I naturally gravitate to. I am starting to dabble in it and I’ve noticed that if it’s done right, I enjoy my time reading the book.

I’ve DNF’d several romance novels because it’s just too cringy, superficial or no depth to the actual story. But in this case, I found this to be enjoyable, cute and sometimes funny.

I found myself thinking about it and wanting to know how the love interest was going to go.

Here we have a hate to love romance that takes place in Trinidad and Tobago. We have Cherisse, who’s a pastry chef, and Kieran, who’s a local musician. Both Cherisse and Kieran have a LONG history of disliking one another until one day they are put in a situation that requires some type of tolerance from one another.

I really enjoyed my time listening to the audio book. I loved that the author included phrases that Trinidadians and Tobagonians may be familiar with. It made it feel much more authentic. I enjoyed the banter and chemistry between the two main love interest. It didn’t seem too cheesy. I also loved how they acted as adults. They communicate and allow eachother to have time when needed. We have some LGBQA representation and beautiful friendships within this book. However, one thing that really left me confused was I didn’t get what was the exact reason why the two main characters hated eachother. There was no solid explanation of it; therefore it took a bit away from the story for me.

All in all, I really enjoyed my time reading N.G. Peltier debut novel.

I loved the dynamic between Cherisse and Keiran. I went into this audiobook with not knowing what to really expect and came out of it a fan. The food, the settings, the banter between characters, and the enemies to lovers trope was really amusing / adorable. Cherry's mom constantly trying to control Cherisse's dating life through matchmaking was also hilarious to follow along with.
I recommend it if you enjoy enemies to lover tropes, and a focus on food/culture.

Cherisse puts all her focus into being a pastry chef!! Keiran is a local music producer. The two have know each other as kids and have always pushed each other’s buttons. They are forced together as maid of honor and best man in an upcoming wedding. This book has both POVs and is such a fun read. I loved the food talk and their banter throughout. This was a slower burn enemies to lovers which made it more enjoyable! The narrator did an excellent job and I can’t wait for more from the Island Bites series! Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen in exchange for a honest review.

This was such a great audiobook! I’d heard great things about this book and the main characters’ chemistry and it absolutely surpassed expectations. A fun, foody romance with just enough depth and emotion. Looking forward to whatever Peltier writes next!

A charming and steamy opposites attract contemporary romance set in Trinidad featuring Cherisse (Cherry), a pastry chef, and Keiran, a music producer. The two have known each other since childhood but have always rubbed one another the wrong way. When wedding activities keep bringing the two together, sparks start to fly and the chemistry between the two is electric. Misunderstanding and secrets lead to heartache but the two eventually get their happily ever after. Really loved all the food descriptions in this book and can't wait for the next one in what appears to be a new series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance listening copy.

LOVEDDDD ITTTT! Idk what I was expecting but this exceeded my expectations! I thought it was really cute but it also kept me interested the whole way through I deff recommend

**2.5!**

I really thought I was going to love this book so obviously I'm a little disappointed in my rating. While the premise of this book was great and right up my alley, but I just found that it dragged on and went in circles for most of the book. I usually love enemies to friends to lovers but something about this just didn't scratch that itch for me.

Cherisse and Keiran have known each other forever but that does not mean they have gotten along all that time. In fact, there is some muddy water between them before that progresses into full blown bad blood when their paths are forced to cross again.

The story between these two was natural building and when it hit it's height, it was hot and steamy. The quick-witted quips between them were hilarious. The cast of characters all around them were enough to pull out some belly laughs.

I enjoyed the narration of this book. There was a slight accent it seemed, but not too much that I couldn't speed up the narration (I normally listen at a 1.2 or 1.5 rate, this book was best, in my opinion, was at 1.2).

I will definitely be recommending this book and look forward to reading others in the series!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for an advance audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lighthearted romcom with a food theme set on the island of Trinidad. Growing up in a tight-knit group of friends, Cherisse and Keiran never got along with each other. Mostly giving each other space and when that didn't work, trading verbal barbs for fun. Cherisse is a semi-celeb baker who provides deserts and sweet showpieces for events. Keiran is a well-known music producer on the island. It is quite awkward when they are the best man and maid of honor for Cherisse's sister's wedding. They have to plan a special joint bachelor/bachelorette party for all the friends on both sides to celebrate together. Yep, forced proximity and a little bit of enemies to lovers. The banter is fun and the chemistry is quite steamy. Keiran is bi and there are other LGBTQ+ characters as well. The group of friends is supportive and full of personality. This is a delicious confection. Sweet, but not overly so. The strong island vibes make this perfect for a breezy summer vacation read. Enjoy with the cocktail of your choice. You might want a little cake after.

Wow, wow, WOW! First off, the cover is PERFECT! Secondly, this audiobook was so much. It was fun, romantic and super entertaining. I loved the food aspect of this book as well.

Sweethand is a romcom enemies to lovers book. Cherisse is a baker and Kieran is a music producer. They both happen to be forced together before the wedding of her sister and his friend. Wedding preparations forced them to work together and obviously, chemistry starts between the two. I thought I would really like this book but it just didn't do it for me. First off, it was never really clear why Cherisse and Kieren disliked each other so much. Maybe I just missed it. Second, it was very predictable and just didn't seem to have much of a plot for me. I didn't really care for the characters and didn't really like all the language either. The cover was beautiful and the narrator fantastic. Just wasn't the story for me. #dreamscapemedia #NetGalley

Cherisse has sworn off dating after a terrible experience with her cheating ex-boyfriend, but her mom is set on making her a wife. She's setting Cherisse up with dates left and right, but Cherisse just isn't into it. Unfortunately, Cherisse's sister is getting married in a few months, so weddings are on her mother's mind. But Cherisse has enough to think about with her booming baking business and being the Maid of Honor in the upcoming wedding. Enter Keiran, a man who may look good, but who really gets on Cherisse's nerves. Keiran is the Best Man in the wedding, meaning that he and Cherry have to work closely together for months... and Cherry may discover there's more to Keiran than she thought. Meanwhile, her mother is still on her case about dating and marriage, and expresses her clear dislike of Keiran. After lots of banter and some great revenge in the first half of the book, the second part of the book takes a steamy turn. But where will Keiran and Cherry end up in the end?

Amazing things you'll get in this book:
-Enemies-to-lovers
-Banter
-Black romance
-Island vibes: takes place in Trinidad
-LGBT representation
-Steam
-Dual perspectives

This was such a cute romance!
Both of the characters were fully developed and had enormous chemistry. Both of the characters were passionate about their careers. Also, I LOVED the representation. (especially Keiran being sensitive because you rarely see Black men written like this) The only thing that I disliked about this book was the pacing, I felt that at times it was too slow.

This was very...dare I say...sweet! The narration was a little rough in spots (my version ended abruptly at the end of chapter 19 also, not sure how to review tech problems) but the story was cute, enemies to lovers is my jam, and I wanted to eat ALL the pastries.

I received and eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sweethand is a delectable enemies-to-friends-with-benefits-to-lovers romance. The chemistry between Cherisse and Keiran sparks off the page and the entire story is simmering with romantic tension as they try to deny their feelings for each other. Though the third-act conflict, mostly miscommunication, is a bit too obvious for my liking, this a thoroughly enjoyable read!

3.75

Sweethand by N.G. Peltier was a fun contemporary romance that is perfect for summer. Cherisse and Kieran are a classic enemies to lovers pair and were delightful to read about. I enjoyed the secondary characters quite a bit and loved that it's set in Trinidad. And how cute is this cover??

The main thing that kept this from being a 4 star read or higher for me was the dialogue. Sometimes it was just a little too over the top for me. Otherwise, Sweethand is a cute, steamy romance you won't regret reading.

Chrystal Bethell was an excellent narrator for the story!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio-arc!

The narration of this audiobook is phenomenal, adding an extra layer to the wonderfully writing and plot of the novel itself.