Review: Sweet by Erin McCarthy

Sweet

Erin McCarthy

Oct. 15, 2013

True Believers #2

Penguin Group (Intermix)

Jessica Sweet thought going away to college would finally make her free of her parents’ constant judgments and insistence she play chastity club role model for their church events, but if anything, the freedom has made her realize she can’t go home and be a hypocrite anymore. Tired of dodging their questions, she stays at school over the summer and lands in an unexpected crash pad: Riley Mann’s house.

Sarcastic, cocky, and full of opinions, Riley is also sexy personified with tattoos and biceps earned from working as a roofer all day. Not the right guy for her even if Jessica was looking for a relationship, which she is definitely not. But Jessica knows that Riley hides the burden of having to raise his younger brothers behind that grin and as she helps him get his house in order for a custody hearing, they begin to fall hard for each other, and she is forced to question what she’s hiding herself.

Jessica has never had a problem getting naked with a guy, but when it comes to showing Riley how she truly feels inside, her fear of rejection may just ruin the best thing—the best guy—to ever happen to her…

Review

Sweet is Jessica Sweet’s story, Rory’s fun loving, boy crazy girlfriend and older brother Riley is the hero.  We see a total 360 from Jessica when she meets and slowly starts to fall in love with older brother Riley, a 360 that is believable.  Often times, authors find it hard to turn a character around, but McCarthy seems to be a pro about it.  And Riley was so dang cute in his jealousy and protectiveness!  I just about died.  Why can’t all guys be like that…and look like that.

Jessica’s progression from a slut to a dedicated, home decorating girlfriend is amazing, and I loved reading how she transformed when she met the right guy.  Riley was a little frightening in his jealousy and anger, but you have to remind yourself that he was defending Jessica from all the guys that came before him.  I was pretty stunned during the ending pages by the outcome of their relationship; I never expected them to become engaged before Rory and Tyler.  But that just goes to show, that predictability is not something you’ll find with Erin McCarthy.

I also loved the family dynamic that began in the first book; True.   Tyler, Rory, Easton, Jayden, Jessica, Riley, and Rory somehow reminded me of the TV Show; Roseanne in a way.  Dysfunctional yet loving at the same time. We also got a taste of the next installment in this series, Believe which is Robin’s story.  Can’t wait to read that one!