A Review by Wendy
5 She Never Dared to Dream Stars
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Spoiler Free
When I read Erin Nicholas, I know I am going to get Everything I Want...and More. She is going to give me strong complex women who have their sh%t together against all odds. She will have an equally strong and compelling man who sees this woman, what she is going through and want to make things better. The journey these two will go through will cover many different circumstances depending on the different series focus but overall, there will always be an incredible insight, a surprise of personal understanding which can be carried into the readers' personal life.
Oh, and all of this is wrapped in an engaging, charming, sexy-as-hell story that will take you away from your everyday life...but with all of the ooey-gooey yummy stuff surrounding these tales, Nicholas hits you right in the heart and you will swoon every time.
Forking Around is the second entry to the Hot Cakes series. We meet Dax and Jane in the first book but if you are new to this series, that is perfectly fine. You totally can read this without reading the first...But I promise you...you will go and get Surgarcoated immediately after finishing this and then preorder the rest of the series...THIS BOOK is THAT GREAT.
If you look into a picture dictionary circa 2020 for Cinderella 2.0 you would have Jane's Picture there. Her dad married a woman who was 10 years younger with her own daughter and seemed to forget the part of supporting in sickness and health as part of her marriage vows. Instead of supporting Jane's dad when he started to deteriorate from a mysterious disease caused by his past work, she turned her back and gave the responsibility to Jane. Her dad ended up needing major care and he is now in an assisted living home.
This leaves Jane's younger sister having to deal with the stepmother and spoiled stepsister. It is the everyday stuff of being forced to clean and take care of everything dictated by the stepmom and look out for her dad that takes a toll on Jane and her sister. Although Jane has been out of the house for a while, Jane and her sister are stuck dealing with this for two more years. It is their mantra. Just Two More Years.
Which is why Jane is the kind of person who does not want complicated, extra work responsibilities, or even a promotion. Jane just wants to go in, do the job she has been doing since high school, and then go home. Maybe once in a while have a beer with friends or go to a barbecue. The idea of even having sex is complicated because of small-town guys her age are on the wifey track. Something Jane has no time for. Her plate is more than full.
But there is one thing she will never have a full plate of...Strawberry Pie. Yes, her best friend's bakery provides the substitution for happiness and sexual satisfaction...wonderful, sugary treats.
It is over one of the latest treats Zoe has started making, Cake Balls that Jane's life will change at the first big gathering of the new owners of Hot Cakes. This is the factory where Jane has been working and the guys who bought the business are determined to make working there better than what the workers had before.
Thus the long table of food and a special display of the new cake pops. Jane is standing there feeding her normal need for sugar. She has consumed a few of the chocolate ones but has zeroed in on the Red Velvet ones. In fact, there aren't any left. She has the last red velvet in one hand while she is finishing the pop she has in the other.
Dax, one of the new owners has been observing this amazing woman comfortable in her own skin enjoying something so simple as a cake pop and making him think all sorts of dirty, filthy things. As one of the four guys who created a video game and became millionaires overnight, Dax is the one who thinks of ways to make happy things happen. He is a big thinker, a man who is creative, sure in his visions, and has a religious devotion to all things Frank Sinatra.
Dax comes up to the table and teases Jane about how there is no red velvet pops left...except the one in her hand. He continues to pitch his desire for the pop in her hand and Jane plays back telling him there is no way that pop is going to be his. Jane knows this charming sexy man is her boss and that is a line she knows she cannot cross no matter how much her girly parts are screaming let's come out and play!
This set up is perfection. We have Dax who sees Jane and wants to ease her life, make her happy. Forget the fact he also wants to get into her pants...He understands this is not the usual deal. He has had women throwing themselves at him. This is something very different and he is feeling like a 7th grader...awkward and wanting her all the time.
Dax also wants to see how he can make the employees happy in their workplace, too. Things happen to improve morale and working conditions and Jane is impressed with these actions. But there is the issue of how Jane knows Dax is a short-timer. He is a man who likes quick fixes, lots of rewards, and lives in Chicago. There is no way this is something that can work for Jane.
I LOVED THIS STORY. IT HAD EVERYTHING. It gave me humor, charm, girl power friendships, sexy, dirty talking, yummy actions, and a heartfelt story to take me away from anything that was going on in my head. It was PERFECT. I Swooned, I rooted for Dax and Jane, I wanted Cake Pops and Strawberry pie. I wanted it all.
So Don't Wait, You can have it right now. Then you can anticipate the next book between Grant and Piper, Making Whoopee. It is going to be a doozy.
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
Erin Nicholas is the New York Times bestselling author of over thirty sexy contemporary romances. Her stories have been described as toe-curling, enchanting, steamy, and fun. She loves to write about reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters. She lives in the Midwest with her husband who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books, her kids who will never read the sex scenes in her books, and family and friends who say they’re shocked by the sex scenes in her books (yeah, right!).
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