Format Read: Print Galley provided by the author
Number of Pages: 352 pages
Release Date: April 2nd 2013
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Series: Delicious #3
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Formats Available: Paperback, ebook
Purchasing Info: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Book Depository US | Book Depository (UK) | Author Website | Goodreads

Book Blurb:

USA Today bestselling author Lauren Dane delivers a second serving of sexy in her new Delicious novel, in which taste and temptation make up a sweet recipe…

Mary Whaley has her hands full running a successful catering company and overseeing her supper club. She has everything she ever wanted—or so she thought. When she meets ridiculously hot and very dirty rock star Damien Hurley at her friend’s engagement party, the attraction she feels is overpowering—and she isn’t about to deny herself.

Damien is used to a hard and fast life. He and two of his brothers started a band when they were fresh out of high school—then they hit the big time and stayed there. He’s also a legendary madman on the stage and in the bedroom. But when he meets Mary, something clicks, and the bad boy starts thinking he may have finally found something good.

What begins as a series of fleeting trysts soon gets much more complicated. Damien can’t figure out why Mary doesn’t want more from him. And before long, it’s Damien who wants more from Mary. But it turns out Mary is no stranger to celebrity news, and he’s got a very big job ahead of him: proving that he’s worth more than a one-night stand…

My Thoughts:

Lush is the third book in Dane’s Delicious series and oh my it really is that- delicious. As always, Dane creates a wonderful story around not only our usual cast from this series but also about our loved characters from her Brown Siblings books. I love to dive into these stories as they always give me a warm fuzzy feeling inside- and I don’t mean the smexing here- even though that is hot too. I’m talking about the connections and commitments- the love and friendship which keep these people together. I love to see how they care and worry for each other. It’s not often that I feel such a connection but Dane made me crave it.

Mary is an independent woman with a successful business. Her supper club is booming and her catering gigs are filling up her schedule. She is happy and content with her current situation. She enjoys focusing on what she wants to do and how to evolve her business- the last thing she planned was a relationship. A fling with a sexy rockstar? Hell yes, but to commit herself to someone any more than that? Not in her picture right now. It’s  pretty refreshing that the female character is the reluctant one. I understood where she came from and could relate to her reasons but that didn’t stop me from wanting to see how Damien would woe her into giving in.

Damien is a hotshot gorgeous rockstar. He’s the drummer in a band he founded with his brothers and he really knew how to rock my boat. I loved to see the diversity in his character- on one side the dirty and raunchy rockstar with all the facets we love about those but still on the other hand the loving brother and sun who still loves to get home to the family ranch and work with his hands.

As always the romance is fabulously done- you fall in love as Mary and Damien do. The chemistry is undeniable and together they turn your pages on fire. This drummer knows what to do with his hands and other parts. *wink*

As I already said, one of my favorite aspects are the group dynamics in Dane’s novels. Besides the previously introduced characters we meet some new ones in Lush. I loved Damien’s brothers and it really mixed it up  a bit. I loved to see them laugh together and tease each other as brothers do. I really hope we will see more of them in some future books (hint hint, Susi wants that!!).

The only thing that irked me a bit about this one was the plot towards the conflict at the end. I so saw that one coming and still it felt too forced to be smooth. Still it didn’t diminish my love for this one.

Lauren Dane’s writing is unique and never fails to draw me in. Lush makes you feel cozy and at home but still pumps up the temperature with masterly written sex scenes. The romance is cute and sexy and you won’t be able to put the book down until you  get the HEA Mary and Damien deserve. The climax isn’t as new as I wished it to be but the rest totally made up for that. If you haven’t read one of the Delicious novels- what are you waiting for?

I give Lush 4 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 Susi

Susi is a geeky vegetarian from Gemany. She just finished university and now works as a civil engineer in steel construction. Besides her reading addiction she also knits like a maniac while listening to audiobooks. Susi also blogs at the Secret HEA Society.

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