SWEETER THAN HONEY

A fake relationship sparks real feelings between a baker and the sheriff in a small town.

Rylee Harris and Canten Barnes, both widowed, are neighbors in Honey Hill, North Carolina. They each lost their spouses to violence and are now more focused on their careers than romance. That doesn’t mean Rylee isn’t aware of how attractive she finds Sheriff Barnes, best friend to her older brother. When her mom tries to set her up on a date with a man Rylee is not at all interested in, Rylee panics and says she’s secretly dating Canten. Luckily, Canten agrees to go along with the ruse for a couple months while Rylee’s parents are visiting. They intend for it to be kept quiet, but news travels fast, so soon they are trying to fool the whole town. Fooling themselves turns out to be the hardest part of all, though, as they each try to ignore their very real emotions. Avery delivers the heart that fans of small-town romances love while also turning up the heat. The Honey Hill residents of all ages are funny, eccentric, and lovable. Rylee and Canten have both faced hardships, and it’s uplifting to see how they are bolstered by their community. The chemistry between the leads is fiery, and they add a sizzling sexual component to their “fake” relationship early on. The conflicts keeping them apart are thin at times, which leads to the plot meandering, but the story still charms.

An emotionally rich story featuring bighearted leads.