Format Read: Print Galley provided by the author
Number of Pages: 352 pages
Release Date: November 6th 2012
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Series: Delicious #2
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Formats Available: Paperback, ebook
Purchasing Info: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Book Depository US | Book Depository (UK)| Goodreads | Author Website

Book Blurb:

USA Today bestselling author Lauren Dane serves up a sweet, sensual, and hot-to-the-touch novel in which one woman’s most intimate desires are stirred by two very special ingredients…

Juliet Lamprey is having the time of her life running her successful bakery, TART, when Gideon Carter comes back into her life. Returning home to help his grandfather run the family farm, Gideon is back for good. When they meet again, the spark between them is immediate, and it isn’t long before the former childhood friends play catch up—in bed.

That’s not good news for local lawyer Cal Whaley. Though the sexually open but strictly monogamous Cal has loved Jules for a long time, he’s hardly ever taken it further than friendship. When he sees her start to fall for Gideon, he knows he has to make his move or risk losing her forever.

Who would have anticipated that all three of them would connect on such an intimate level? The trio’s scalding liaisons take them places they’ve never dreamed. But such an intensely passionate and unusual relationship comes with equally as complicated emotions, and when Jules must suddenly leave town, she wonders if she’ll have a choice to make when she returns…

My Thoughts:

It’s no secret that I have been under Lauren Dane’s spell ever since I read Laid Bare, the 1st book in the Brown Series. Tart is the 2nd book in her new Delicious series. This new series is connected to the Browns so it’s just like the family is getting bigger. I’m putting the emphasis on ‘family’ because this is what they are, a fantastic family, even if not by blood. I LOVE that!

Tart is Juliet’s (Jules) story. She’s the baking goddess of the group, and I wish I could have tasted all the pastries she made in this book. It had me salivating every few pages ;). Jules is a successful woman, she has her own business, Tart, where she bakes delicious goodies and she just entered into a partnership with her friends to develop her business.

Gideon is coming back to his hometown to help his grandpa work at the farm. He’s no longer married and is starting a new life. When Jules and Gideon meet you can see the spark between them. The easy flirting soon develops into something more. They are both very direct with what they want and they do not beat around the bush. This chemistry between them is obvious to all of their friends and family…even to Cal.

Jules has been in love with Cal for years, they’ve been friend forever and she always thought one day Cal would find himself and realize he wants her too. Cal is a successful lawyer, he’s openly bisexual and has been with a string of men and women over the years. He values his friendship with Jules and he doesn’t want to lose her. When he realizes that Gideon is not just another passing man in Jules life and that he could seriously lose her to him…he acts and declares himself to Jules. Here comes the only thing that left me unconvinced…I’m not telling you how they got there because you do need to read the book but they end up in a triad. Oh I’m happy about the result for sure, but I just found the set-up of this triad a bit weird and clumsy. I do understand the logic of this decision but it still made me take a step back from the story. They seem to fall for each other a bit too fast, too easily. But oh well, once you’ve accepted that it’s just pure pleasure to read.

Lauren Dane writes the best threesome sex scenes. The book is HOT. Really really hot. And she made this menage work. Jules, Gideon and Cal are different from the other triad we know ( Ben, Todd and Erin from Laid Bare). This feels different and new. Yes, I was a bit scared it would be too much alike but nope the three of them have their own personal flavor. I loved that we did get some fantastic M/M action in there too. It made this triad stronger in my eyes. I do not want my Ménage to be just ALL about the heroine, I want all of them to be equally in love with each other. Oh and how Lauren Dane delivers! Cal and Gideon couldn’t be more different. Cal is the well groomed lawyer, wearing expensive suits and looking absolutely delicious in them. Gideon has this cowboy look that made me melt, he works in the farm all day and everything about him shouts cowboy! He’s the kind of man who opens doors for a woman, or pulls out  her chair at the restaurant. Nom They are both extremely appealing in their own way.

Jule’s fears are completely understandable. Both men in her life enjoys being with each other and Cal has been with men before. She’s scared that one day they’ll realize they are actually gay and don’t need her. This fear made Jules seem very human (because hey, I would have the same concern!). I like that it didn’t change anything for them, Gideon and Cal still enjoy their relationship and aren’t trying to act differently.

This book, like the other books in the Delicious and Brown series, is centered around family, friendship and relationships. Jules’ dysfunctional family brings its own set of problems and trauma. I actually really enjoyed seeing Jules grow into herself and deal with her family. I wanted to shout ‘Good for you!’

I enjoyed this book immensely in big part because we got to see all the characters I came to love in the previous books. This extended group of friend/family is just made of awesomesauce. We finally get to see Adrian and Gillian’s wedding and that was worth all the wait! We also get to learn more about Todd, Ben and Erin and all the others. You know that really made my cheeks ache from all the smiling. Now I think I need to mention something that made me squee… we finally meet Damien!! Damien who seems to have his eyes set on Mary, if you don’t know it yet the next book in the series is about Mary and Damien!! *g* I can’t wait to really meet this Rockstar (yes I have a weakness for Rockstars I can’t help it).

Tart is a beautiful story of love, friendship and family. It made me smile and tear up, it made me blush and hope no one could see what I was reading (*g*). This is a very hot story wrapped in love and deliciousness. You can read it as a stand alone but you’d be missing so much on all the other characters. It’s a perfect addition to an already pretty amazing series. I’m now craving the next book, Lush.

I give Tart 4,5 stars

***FTC Disclaimer: Most books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. Some books we have purchased with our own money and will be noted as such. Any links to places to purchase books are provided as a convenience, and do not serve as an endorsement by this blog. All reviews are the true and honest opinion of the blogger reviewing the book. The method of acquiring the book does not have a bearing on the content of the review.

About Caro The HEA Lover

Caroline is a HEA loving, yarn addicted French who's desperately hoping to get a HEA of her own. If she's not reading then she can be found knitting while listening to Audiobooks or watching Tv shows. Her secret addiction is reading websites that make fun at other people's expense (DYAC, Failbook)! Caroline also blogs at the Secret HEA Society with Susi.

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