Sweet (True Believers, #2)

by Erin Mccarthy

[Angie]

Sweet is a bit of a mixed bag for me. There were parts I really loved, parts that got on my nerves, and stuff that got on my nerves but I grew to love. Overall I did enjoy it a lot, but just wish a few things had been different. This time we're following Rory's roommate and Tyler's brother. Jessica and Riley don't really get along, but when she needs a place to crash for a week, he lets her stay at his house. It's the last place Jessica thought she would end up, but with her parents thinking she's doing mission work in West Virginia, it's actually kind of perfect. Of course, their semi-hate for each other is really denied attraction, and it becomes impossible to ignore it when constantly in close proximity.

One of things that I liked best about Sweet was that Jessica wasn't some shy virgin, or sexually abused girl. She has sex, likes it, and is able to separate the physical from the emotional. She's also Christian and a preacher's daughter, but doesn't like all of the hypocrisy she sees in her parents and church members. She doesn't throw her religion away for the sake of finding herself and discovering all that life has to offer, but she doesn't want to be boxed in by what her parents think a good Christian girl should be. However, I didn't like how Jessica seemed to use sex to manipulate men. She's use to getting what she wants, and she's not afraid to offer the goods to get it. Although I suppose the guys are partly to blame to giving in to her every whim also.

The author also seemed to be trying really hard to break down gender stereotypes and flip them around in Sweet. It wasn't just Jessica being sexually liberated and not wanting a relationship, just enjoying sex. That's all great, except that Jessica was constantly pointing out how this was a typical male trait, but it's okay for women to have it too. And then Riley would like a relationship before jumping into the sack and makes comments about how that must means his "balls dropped" or whatever. Okay, we get it, you two aren't following normal gender roles! You don't need to point it out every single time you do something "atypical." I would have enjoyed this aspect a whole lot more if it had just been parts of the character development rather than some forced feminist message.

Those complaints are pretty minor and didn't keep me from enjoying Sweet. I was really into Jessica and Riley's relationship, since they seemed to have a real connection and were helping each other out along the way. Jessica cleaned up the house and offered suggestions on how to make it more homey, since Riley was up for custody of his younger brother. Meanwhile, Riley was helping her get some life experience, since she's always been sheltered and supported by her parents. I loved these low drama problems, since they balanced out the impending relationship drama. Which I loved! I don't want to spoil anything, but I thought the fights that they had were quite legit, and different than I've read in other NA romances.

Where Sweet kind of lost me, and prompted me to rate down was the ending. Jessica goes from not wanting any relationships to engaged in a week. I know it's not my place to judge how others relationships progressed, but as fiction, I have to say that was too much of a leap. They're still getting to know each other and still hadn't had sex (there is a notable lack of sexy times!!!) and BOOM they're getting married. It just really bothered me, especially since Jessica was so adamant about not falling to the wife role.

In the end, I did really like Sweet. It had a lot of great stuff going for it, which did make up for most of the annoyances.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.