Sugar Free (Sugar Bowl, #3)

by Sawyer Bennett

[Linda]

This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
Sugar Free nicely ends the Sugar Bowl series... but not after some incredible twists and turns where every possible solution seems impossible.



A lot is going on in Sugar Free, and beware of possible spoilers from Sugar Daddy and Sugar Rush in this review, as it's really very difficult to discuss what happens here without sharing what happened in the prior two instalments. Sela is in a seemingly impossible predicament at the beginning of the story, and Beck jumps in head first to save her and keep her out of harm's way. Even with the horrible actions Sela had to partake in, because she only did it to save herself, I was cheering her on. Beck went way out of his comfort zone on more than one occasion, and while I completely understood the detectives working on the case, I just wanted them to stay away from my characters to let them get on with their lives!

The DA in Sugar Free was the worst possible character, and it was good to have someone to pour my hatred on, especially as she didn't mind using the press to further her own agenda and possible career. It did make for some awesome twists in Sela and Beck's relationship, though, and it definitely tested their loyalty. The trial was heartbreaking, and I could just not see a resolution for the protagonists, not one where they would be free from prison, and possibly happy.

The ending of Sugar Free made me optimistic about a possible sequel or spin-off to Sugar Bowl, as there are many new adventures the main characters and some of the side characters could still go on. Written in first person perspective, with alternating points of view from Sela's and Beck's side, and in past tense, the story unfolded at a fast pace, managing to keep the readers in the dark for most of it. Now that all three books are out, you really should pick them up, pour yourself your favorite beverage (either in a glass or in a cup) and settle in and enjoy this wild ride!



Beck pulls away from me slightly, his hands holding my upper arms with such gentleness. Those eyes I've come to love swimming with fear. My own eyes fill with wetness again and with one blink, the tears go streaming down my face. I haven't been able to stop crying since...

Fuck, I hate hearing these details. She was almost robotic in her retelling, as if she was reciting merely from a bad memory she tucked deep away so as to protect herself, and it was too painful to bear repeating.