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Aster Valley #2
Sweet as Honey
When I rode my bike into Aster Valley, it was supposed to be temporary. A quick, relaxing visit with friends. No entanglements. Zero drama.
But then I saw the bumblebee being harassed on the side of the highway.
More specifically, I saw Truman Sweet, Aster Valley’s resident botanist, spice merchant, and bee-costume enthusiast, being harassed. And the second I got involved, all my plans for a quick departure scattered like pollen on the breeze.
It turns out that Truman—adorkably shy, relentlessly sunshiny, hot as all heck, reluctantly-still-a-virgin Truman—has secrets. Secrets someone in this charming small town doesn’t want brought to light. Secrets that rouse every one of my protective instincts just as surely as his kisses rouse… other parts of me.
And before I know it, I’m thinking being entangled might not be so bad… if it’s Truman I’m tangled up with.
I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Truman from the dangers in his past, but after a lifetime of loneliness and disappointment, how can I possibly convince him to trust me with his future?
But then I saw the bumblebee being harassed on the side of the highway.
More specifically, I saw Truman Sweet, Aster Valley’s resident botanist, spice merchant, and bee-costume enthusiast, being harassed. And the second I got involved, all my plans for a quick departure scattered like pollen on the breeze.
It turns out that Truman—adorkably shy, relentlessly sunshiny, hot as all heck, reluctantly-still-a-virgin Truman—has secrets. Secrets someone in this charming small town doesn’t want brought to light. Secrets that rouse every one of my protective instincts just as surely as his kisses rouse… other parts of me.
And before I know it, I’m thinking being entangled might not be so bad… if it’s Truman I’m tangled up with.
I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Truman from the dangers in his past, but after a lifetime of loneliness and disappointment, how can I possibly convince him to trust me with his future?
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2021
About the author
Lucy Lennox
91 books3,882 followersI write M/M romance with humor, heart, and heat. Check out my backlist here on GR for a selection of series and standalone or visit www.LucyLennox.com!
I only keep a small list of my very favorite books and series in my bookshelf here. I read A LOT and it's hard to keep the list updated!
I only keep a small list of my very favorite books and series in my bookshelf here. I read A LOT and it's hard to keep the list updated!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 413 reviews
April 9, 2021
I was highly anticipating Truman and Sam's story, but I was angry the entire time I was reading this book:
- angry at Truman for being a doormat and a victim, withholding information in a hit-and-run case that hurt his friends, and allowing his bullies (including Barney!) to make his life small and fearful;
- angry at the entire town for ignoring Truman's plight and allowing the sheriff and his family to manipulate everything and everyone;
- angry at Sam because he was a huge enabler, spending all his money, time, and energy on his ungrateful mom and sisters, never saying no;
- angry at the ending because it was just one more stupid thing that Truman did without thinking it through;
- and really, REALLY angry at the epilogue because I can't believe the author pulled that shit AGAIN and gave us an epilogue from the perspective of a secondary character as a setup for the next book. WTF?
There were enjoyable moments in the story too, of course:
- Truman's rambling and his bumblebee costume
- Sam finally standing up to his family (but not before giving them money, which amped my mood from irritated to ragey)
- Mikey & Tiller
- Some smokin' sexy times
Still, the ongoing "mystery" (which was glaringly obvious), Truman never telling Barney to shove it (and everyone standing by, just watching Barney's gross, rapey behavior), and the rushed pseudo-HEA made me a little crazy. The disappointment is real.
- angry at Truman for being a doormat and a victim, withholding information in a hit-and-run case that hurt his friends, and allowing his bullies (including Barney!) to make his life small and fearful;
- angry at the entire town for ignoring Truman's plight and allowing the sheriff and his family to manipulate everything and everyone;
- angry at Sam because he was a huge enabler, spending all his money, time, and energy on his ungrateful mom and sisters, never saying no;
- angry at the ending because it was just one more stupid thing that Truman did without thinking it through;
- and really, REALLY angry at the epilogue because I can't believe the author pulled that shit AGAIN and gave us an epilogue from the perspective of a secondary character as a setup for the next book. WTF?
There were enjoyable moments in the story too, of course:
- Truman's rambling and his bumblebee costume
- Sam finally standing up to his family (but not before giving them money, which amped my mood from irritated to ragey)
- Mikey & Tiller
- Some smokin' sexy times
Still, the ongoing "mystery" (which was glaringly obvious), Truman never telling Barney to shove it (and everyone standing by, just watching Barney's gross, rapey behavior), and the rushed pseudo-HEA made me a little crazy. The disappointment is real.
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August 13, 2021
Sweet as Honey is book two in the Aster Valley series by Lucy Lennox. I have loved this series from the start. The only excuse I have for it taking me so long to read this book is my own issues with constantly getting side tracked with all the new books. It’s a constant battle to stay focused. This is our sweet local spice maker, Truman’s story.
Sam Rigby is thirty years old and lives in Houston. He is close friends with Mikey and Tiller. Sam needs a vacation from his overwhelming family so he heads to Aster Valley, Colorado to visit his friends on his motor cycle. Sam owns a construction business and they want to consult with him on some projects they have in the works. Sam loved this picturesque little community when he was here last time and is looking forward to a few quiet days. But on his way into town, the first thing he sees is a man in a bumblebee costume being chased by a very large, very angry looking man whom it was obvious intended to hurt him. Getting involved is not what Sam should do but he can’t help himself.
Truman Sweet is twenty four years old and runs a shop in town selling home grown spices, homemade remedies and all sorts of amazing things. He also owns his farm where he grows everything he needs to make the things he sells. Truman has a history with this town, a history that haunts him every single day. But he is determined that he will stay and help Aster Valley return back to the town it once was.
Truman is a small man, shy, incredibly talented in what he does, and has the most positive attitude I’ve ever seen. Sam is completely the opposite. He’s huge, quiet and grumbly. But the minute he laid eyes on Truman, he couldn’t help but feel blown over by the sweet man. He was like sunshine on his constantly cloudy disposition. The last thing he needed was to get involved. He was only here for a few days, but he could not stop himself from being drawn to this amazing man.
“I was lost to him, this kind and quirky human with the big eyes and crazy hair.”
How could I not fall madly in love with Truman Sweet. This man had suffered so much. His own family was horrible, let alone what he suffered at the hands of Aster Valley’s worst residents. But nothing got to him. He smiled, he helped people, he prospered with his business, and he just shone. He can’t believe that the gorgeous Sam is interested in him. He knows that Sam is just here for a short time but maybe for the first time in his life, he can just live in the moment, enjoy what Sam is willing to offer, and suffer the consequences when he’s gone.
“He made me feel like I was exactly who I was meant to be and that maybe that person was amazing.”
Sam and Truman together were just so beautiful. They were just what each other needed. Truman was able to show Sam what he’d been missing all his life, true happiness. He was that missing piece. And Sam was able to show Truman how strong he really was. And that the community, except for a couple of the bad ones, loved him. He had friends here, a support system. He was accepted.
“Family. Was it possible? Had I finally created a community for myself I could count on?”
I loved this book so much. I loved getting to spend so much time with Mikey and Tiller from the previous book. I loved Truman and Sam together. And I love this quirky little town. I smiled so much, sighed, swooned, and it was surprisingly suspenseful! I can’t wait to get started on book three, Hot as Heller, which is Declan Stone’s book! Lucy Lennox never fails to amaze me with her words and she’s done it again with this one. I can’t wait for more.
“Maybe it wasn’t too good to be true. Maybe it was exactly right.”
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Sam Rigby is thirty years old and lives in Houston. He is close friends with Mikey and Tiller. Sam needs a vacation from his overwhelming family so he heads to Aster Valley, Colorado to visit his friends on his motor cycle. Sam owns a construction business and they want to consult with him on some projects they have in the works. Sam loved this picturesque little community when he was here last time and is looking forward to a few quiet days. But on his way into town, the first thing he sees is a man in a bumblebee costume being chased by a very large, very angry looking man whom it was obvious intended to hurt him. Getting involved is not what Sam should do but he can’t help himself.
Truman Sweet is twenty four years old and runs a shop in town selling home grown spices, homemade remedies and all sorts of amazing things. He also owns his farm where he grows everything he needs to make the things he sells. Truman has a history with this town, a history that haunts him every single day. But he is determined that he will stay and help Aster Valley return back to the town it once was.
Truman is a small man, shy, incredibly talented in what he does, and has the most positive attitude I’ve ever seen. Sam is completely the opposite. He’s huge, quiet and grumbly. But the minute he laid eyes on Truman, he couldn’t help but feel blown over by the sweet man. He was like sunshine on his constantly cloudy disposition. The last thing he needed was to get involved. He was only here for a few days, but he could not stop himself from being drawn to this amazing man.
“I was lost to him, this kind and quirky human with the big eyes and crazy hair.”
How could I not fall madly in love with Truman Sweet. This man had suffered so much. His own family was horrible, let alone what he suffered at the hands of Aster Valley’s worst residents. But nothing got to him. He smiled, he helped people, he prospered with his business, and he just shone. He can’t believe that the gorgeous Sam is interested in him. He knows that Sam is just here for a short time but maybe for the first time in his life, he can just live in the moment, enjoy what Sam is willing to offer, and suffer the consequences when he’s gone.
“He made me feel like I was exactly who I was meant to be and that maybe that person was amazing.”
Sam and Truman together were just so beautiful. They were just what each other needed. Truman was able to show Sam what he’d been missing all his life, true happiness. He was that missing piece. And Sam was able to show Truman how strong he really was. And that the community, except for a couple of the bad ones, loved him. He had friends here, a support system. He was accepted.
“Family. Was it possible? Had I finally created a community for myself I could count on?”
I loved this book so much. I loved getting to spend so much time with Mikey and Tiller from the previous book. I loved Truman and Sam together. And I love this quirky little town. I smiled so much, sighed, swooned, and it was surprisingly suspenseful! I can’t wait to get started on book three, Hot as Heller, which is Declan Stone’s book! Lucy Lennox never fails to amaze me with her words and she’s done it again with this one. I can’t wait for more.
“Maybe it wasn’t too good to be true. Maybe it was exactly right.”
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
November 28, 2021
[1.5] the black friday audio sale fooled me into thinking i won with an impressive deal, but it quickly became apparent i'd taken a big L instead 🤡
i can appreciate a good helping of bizarre, nonsensical absurdity when done tastefully, but i've noticed Lucy Lennox's brand of OTT as of late is increasingly served on a platter of off-putting, indigestion-inducing sauce that has me precariously teetering on the edge of my sanity more often than not.
this book embodies that to the fullest. the quintessential head scratcher.
to sum up my feelings by the end, i present to you this gif:
LUCY BE TESTING MY PATIENCE
i thought Aster Valley was supposed to be this cute, quaint town where people go to settle down and chillax, but apparently it's as corrupt as the day is long and filled with bystanders as inhabitants who really can't seem to bother to stand up for each other even though they claim to care.
Truman, our resident doormat/punching bag, continues to be held accountable for an incident he supposedly committed at the age of five that resulted in the closing down of the town's ski resort and the loss of jobs for many, including the Stanner brothers who now spend their days relentlessly tormenting him (be it physical assault, harassment, etc.) instead of going off to live honorable lives because the resentment lives within them like a poison. everyone knows how awful they are to Tanner, but does anyone ever stop to consider going beyond the town sheriff, who is the Stanners's uncle, to the state police for help? BIG NOPE.
enter Barney "Skeevy McSkeeverson" Balderson, another creep Truman has to suffer at the hands of.
the extreme predatory behavior this clingy old man exhibits is *wildly* concerning. he doesn't know how to take no for an answer, butts into Truman's business even though the interest is very much one-sided, is deluded enough to think they're still an item, blatantly infantilizes Truman to create dependence in their "relationship," is always manipulating Truman's feelings and restricting/controlling his circle of action—telling him to remain under the radar by staying at home to avoid getting harassed ("I'd really like it if you let me come in and hold you tonight" 👁️👄👁️), not allowing him to work at the library, throwing out his costumes—calls him "sweetpea," etc.
*cast expellivomitus*(totally not a made-up word) 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
my ears are still ringing from the legion of alarm bells he set off with his Truman obsession.
NOT DONE YET. i can't decide which is worse: watching Truman defend Barney to others despite clearly being uncomfortable with how Barney acts toward him, or the absence of any intervention by a single human being. even his love interest Sam, our honorary doormat and basic fly on the wall, refrains from acting on his concerns and sticks to comforting him in the background.
speaking of Sam, he has his own share of family drama. his mother and sisters treat him like a personal ATM machine and go so far as to use a "little white lie" to convince him to come home....only to ask him for more money 🙃 he eventually stands up for himself, but not before sending them a final deposit of money in a just barely satisfying mic drop 🤷🏻♀️
to top this dumpster fire off, the side mystery was glaringly obvious, and i was ready to pummel the whole town for being so blind! the perpetrator literally had a spotlight on them but on they walked around without a concern in the world. oh and can't forget about that final scene with Truman acting TSTL! that was another ✨highlight✨
i hate it here 😔
the enduring harassment and victim blaming in this book was honestly revolting, and the lack of worthy retribution on page for these monsters felt like an insult. creepy wacko needs to get castrated and the bullies need to get dropped off on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere.
so, do i keep reading this series? i was going to say no until i saw some friends' reviews that said the next one's their favorite so far….. guess the end is not in sight just quite yet, but give me some time to recuperate first 🤧
----initial thoughts----
i'm not usually this pessimistic but i think maybe it's about time to give up on Lucy Lennox's latest releases (at least after i conquer Hostile Takeover). i'm finding that it's becoming harder to find aspects of the story that i actually enjoy 💀 this one especially had me SPEECHLESS.
review postponed so i can catch some z's before driving over to an escape room (gotta be in peak mental condition because i'm incredibly competitive 🤣). wait till i finish processing and gather my words 'cause this was a doozy!
i can appreciate a good helping of bizarre, nonsensical absurdity when done tastefully, but i've noticed Lucy Lennox's brand of OTT as of late is increasingly served on a platter of off-putting, indigestion-inducing sauce that has me precariously teetering on the edge of my sanity more often than not.
this book embodies that to the fullest. the quintessential head scratcher.
to sum up my feelings by the end, i present to you this gif:
LUCY BE TESTING MY PATIENCE
i thought Aster Valley was supposed to be this cute, quaint town where people go to settle down and chillax, but apparently it's as corrupt as the day is long and filled with bystanders as inhabitants who really can't seem to bother to stand up for each other even though they claim to care.
Truman, our resident doormat/punching bag, continues to be held accountable for an incident he supposedly committed at the age of five that resulted in the closing down of the town's ski resort and the loss of jobs for many, including the Stanner brothers who now spend their days relentlessly tormenting him (be it physical assault, harassment, etc.) instead of going off to live honorable lives because the resentment lives within them like a poison. everyone knows how awful they are to Tanner, but does anyone ever stop to consider going beyond the town sheriff, who is the Stanners's uncle, to the state police for help? BIG NOPE.
enter Barney "Skeevy McSkeeverson" Balderson, another creep Truman has to suffer at the hands of.
the extreme predatory behavior this clingy old man exhibits is *wildly* concerning. he doesn't know how to take no for an answer, butts into Truman's business even though the interest is very much one-sided, is deluded enough to think they're still an item, blatantly infantilizes Truman to create dependence in their "relationship," is always manipulating Truman's feelings and restricting/controlling his circle of action—telling him to remain under the radar by staying at home to avoid getting harassed ("I'd really like it if you let me come in and hold you tonight" 👁️👄👁️), not allowing him to work at the library, throwing out his costumes—calls him "sweetpea," etc.
*cast expellivomitus*
my ears are still ringing from the legion of alarm bells he set off with his Truman obsession.
NOT DONE YET. i can't decide which is worse: watching Truman defend Barney to others despite clearly being uncomfortable with how Barney acts toward him, or the absence of any intervention by a single human being. even his love interest Sam, our honorary doormat and basic fly on the wall, refrains from acting on his concerns and sticks to comforting him in the background.
speaking of Sam, he has his own share of family drama. his mother and sisters treat him like a personal ATM machine and go so far as to use a "little white lie" to convince him to come home....only to ask him for more money 🙃 he eventually stands up for himself, but not before sending them a final deposit of money in a just barely satisfying mic drop 🤷🏻♀️
to top this dumpster fire off, the side mystery was glaringly obvious, and i was ready to pummel the whole town for being so blind! the perpetrator literally had a spotlight on them but on they walked around without a concern in the world. oh and can't forget about that final scene with Truman acting TSTL! that was another ✨highlight✨
i hate it here 😔
the enduring harassment and victim blaming in this book was honestly revolting, and the lack of worthy retribution on page for these monsters felt like an insult. creepy wacko needs to get castrated and the bullies need to get dropped off on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere.
so, do i keep reading this series? i was going to say no until i saw some friends' reviews that said the next one's their favorite so far….. guess the end is not in sight just quite yet, but give me some time to recuperate first 🤧
----initial thoughts----
i'm not usually this pessimistic but i think maybe it's about time to give up on Lucy Lennox's latest releases (at least after i conquer Hostile Takeover). i'm finding that it's becoming harder to find aspects of the story that i actually enjoy 💀 this one especially had me SPEECHLESS.
review postponed so i can catch some z's before driving over to an escape room (gotta be in peak mental condition because i'm incredibly competitive 🤣). wait till i finish processing and gather my words 'cause this was a doozy!
April 13, 2021
4 Stars
Sweet as Honey is a solid addition to Lennox’s small-town, Colorado set, M/M romance series, where the location is idyllic and delectable, and the men are even more so.
In this sequel to Right as Raine, we follow contractor Sam Rigby, as he heads to Aster Valley for a visit with best friends Mikey and Tiller (MCs of book one), and ultimately finds himself an unexpected forever home when he meets and quickly falls-in-love with Truman Sweet, the local spice shop proprietor who has a murky history with some of the more aggressive townsfolk.
Sam and Truman were an absolute dream of a book couple. Their love was pure and came so easy, hitting them both in the solar plexus and making them each start reaching for more from their lives than they could have ever dreamed possible. Their romance was insta-love inspired, but like them, I was all-in very quickly, adoring the way they were together, both in the quiet conversational moments and the heated sexual moments.
Sam Rigby turned out to be quite the tasty dish. His passion, protectiveness, and all-around adoration for sweet and shy Truman was a sight to see. I practically swooned very time he effortlessly pulled out the “sweetheart” card; he was a man of few words but what he did say mattered. Sam was sexy, capable and attentive, which in my esteem made him high-quality book boyfriend material indeed! Truman really was a lucky guy to catch Sam’s eye—although Sam would surely argue it was the other way around.
As for Truman, I liked the man for his sweetness and rambling charm, but he definitely played into the whole damsel-in-distress trope a bit too much. There was a lot that happened in the story (or had happened previously off page) that made me wish he’d been a bit more proactive in dealing with the atrocious treatment he was exposed to throughout his life by the small-town bullies and their enablers—which, in my opinion, encompassed nearly everyone in town that never did a thing to help.
From the beginning, as Truman became the increased focus of unknown attacks, both physically and emotionally, it was crystal clear who was the malevolent perpetrator responsible for causing such havoc in sweet Truman’s life, but despite the predictability, I never once lost interest in devouring this story—rather, I’d say, I was so very invested in Truman and Sam’s rapidly growing relationship, that I whipped through the pages at a quick clip, even if I did know where it was ultimately going.
Like many readers have already expressed, I was frustrated a time or two with some of the story points, particular relating to the small-town bullying, the gross negligence portrayed by the local law enforcement, and even by the behavior of the characters manipulative and unworthy family members. All these elements, and even some of the MC’s reactions to them, were perplexing, no doubt, but I couldn’t help but be won over, time and again, by Truman and Sam and their new love, and by the presence of many dear secondary characters, like the previous series couples’, who elevated the story and my enjoyment to another level.
Once again, the epilogue is told through the POV of the next book’s MC, which, again, I found annoying. I honestly don’t need to be enticed to return—that’s already a given—and I would much prefer my epilogues give me more gooey, sexy moments with the couple at hand than diverge into new territory like the glorified teaser that this proved to be. However vexing, I’m now just assuming this will be the way of it throughout the series, so at least I’m prepared for it now.
Thankfully, despite some of the niggle-worthy moments in this story, I had a really good time reading it, and I look forward to returning, once again (and hopefully soon-ish), to the romantic lives of the Aster Vallians.
Sweet as Honey is a solid addition to Lennox’s small-town, Colorado set, M/M romance series, where the location is idyllic and delectable, and the men are even more so.
In this sequel to Right as Raine, we follow contractor Sam Rigby, as he heads to Aster Valley for a visit with best friends Mikey and Tiller (MCs of book one), and ultimately finds himself an unexpected forever home when he meets and quickly falls-in-love with Truman Sweet, the local spice shop proprietor who has a murky history with some of the more aggressive townsfolk.
Sam and Truman were an absolute dream of a book couple. Their love was pure and came so easy, hitting them both in the solar plexus and making them each start reaching for more from their lives than they could have ever dreamed possible. Their romance was insta-love inspired, but like them, I was all-in very quickly, adoring the way they were together, both in the quiet conversational moments and the heated sexual moments.
Sam Rigby turned out to be quite the tasty dish. His passion, protectiveness, and all-around adoration for sweet and shy Truman was a sight to see. I practically swooned very time he effortlessly pulled out the “sweetheart” card; he was a man of few words but what he did say mattered. Sam was sexy, capable and attentive, which in my esteem made him high-quality book boyfriend material indeed! Truman really was a lucky guy to catch Sam’s eye—although Sam would surely argue it was the other way around.
As for Truman, I liked the man for his sweetness and rambling charm, but he definitely played into the whole damsel-in-distress trope a bit too much. There was a lot that happened in the story (or had happened previously off page) that made me wish he’d been a bit more proactive in dealing with the atrocious treatment he was exposed to throughout his life by the small-town bullies and their enablers—which, in my opinion, encompassed nearly everyone in town that never did a thing to help.
From the beginning, as Truman became the increased focus of unknown attacks, both physically and emotionally, it was crystal clear who was the malevolent perpetrator responsible for causing such havoc in sweet Truman’s life, but despite the predictability, I never once lost interest in devouring this story—rather, I’d say, I was so very invested in Truman and Sam’s rapidly growing relationship, that I whipped through the pages at a quick clip, even if I did know where it was ultimately going.
Like many readers have already expressed, I was frustrated a time or two with some of the story points, particular relating to the small-town bullying, the gross negligence portrayed by the local law enforcement, and even by the behavior of the characters manipulative and unworthy family members. All these elements, and even some of the MC’s reactions to them, were perplexing, no doubt, but I couldn’t help but be won over, time and again, by Truman and Sam and their new love, and by the presence of many dear secondary characters, like the previous series couples’, who elevated the story and my enjoyment to another level.
Once again, the epilogue is told through the POV of the next book’s MC, which, again, I found annoying. I honestly don’t need to be enticed to return—that’s already a given—and I would much prefer my epilogues give me more gooey, sexy moments with the couple at hand than diverge into new territory like the glorified teaser that this proved to be. However vexing, I’m now just assuming this will be the way of it throughout the series, so at least I’m prepared for it now.
Thankfully, despite some of the niggle-worthy moments in this story, I had a really good time reading it, and I look forward to returning, once again (and hopefully soon-ish), to the romantic lives of the Aster Vallians.
April 10, 2021
remember when you were a kid and got annoyed at Dora when she couldn't find the bridge that was behind her?
yeah that was how i felt about the whole "mystery" that was in this book.
Sweet as Honey had some elements that i liked; Truman babbling and getting flustered. the found family aspect, Sam's protective nature.
but the rest bored me to tears and it seemed a little too convenient when literally EVERYTHING came together at the end, it would've been a little more believable if we got to see the sheriff punished a little before the mystery was "solved".
yeah that was how i felt about the whole "mystery" that was in this book.
Sweet as Honey had some elements that i liked; Truman babbling and getting flustered. the found family aspect, Sam's protective nature.
but the rest bored me to tears and it seemed a little too convenient when literally EVERYTHING came together at the end, it would've been a little more believable if we got to see the sheriff punished a little before the mystery was "solved".
May 2, 2021
This series is so much fun
Another hit entry in the Aster Valley series from Lucy.
I've yet to be disappointed with her couples and I can't see that changing given the hints for the next book either.
I loved Sam and Truman and I have to say, I wasn't expecting the narrative to go where it did.
Fab to see all the other couples in the series too and I love the feeling if found family and strong community which is growing in these books.
Seriously sweet and spicy too, Sam and Truman are a lovely pair.
Another hit entry in the Aster Valley series from Lucy.
I've yet to be disappointed with her couples and I can't see that changing given the hints for the next book either.
I loved Sam and Truman and I have to say, I wasn't expecting the narrative to go where it did.
Fab to see all the other couples in the series too and I love the feeling if found family and strong community which is growing in these books.
Seriously sweet and spicy too, Sam and Truman are a lovely pair.
May 26, 2021
This was an ok read. Nothing outstanding at all but at least it didn't make me frustrated like the first book in the series did. So that's something. Right?
Truman and Sam were as different as night and day, yet they just fit. I could see them as a couple and I totally understood their attraction to each other. I was really rooting for them to get their happy ending.
With that said, this book started with a bang, and I was quite confused to what was actually going on in the beginning. It took me a few chapters to get into it.
I really enjoyed the romance in this book. Lucy Lennox is very skilled with words but let's be honest, a mystery writer she's not. It was painfully obvious who the bad guy was.
Truman and Sam were as different as night and day, yet they just fit. I could see them as a couple and I totally understood their attraction to each other. I was really rooting for them to get their happy ending.
With that said, this book started with a bang, and I was quite confused to what was actually going on in the beginning. It took me a few chapters to get into it.
I really enjoyed the romance in this book. Lucy Lennox is very skilled with words but let's be honest, a mystery writer she's not. It was painfully obvious who the bad guy was.
October 9, 2022
My anxiety and I could not handle this book. It had corrupt small town sheriffs, spineless pushovers who never speak up for themselves, and demanding family members. Everything I never want to read about 🤣. It also felt like the romance got lost in the shuffle.
I do love the small town vibes and the set up for book 3 is very promising.
I do love the small town vibes and the set up for book 3 is very promising.
April 7, 2021
I'm typically a fan of Lucy Lennox and enjoy most of her post-Marian books (those old ladies were too much). This one is mostly lovely with two pretty sympathetic characters. But it's also, in some ways, a hot mess. First off, there is a mystery in this book that is not any kind of mystery at all. I don't want to spoil anything, but you'd basically have to be asleep not to know who the true villain of this story is.
Also, there are some frustratingly glaring mistakes in this book. For example, in one scene, Sam, Truman, Tiller and Mikey go out for dinner and are joined by Winter and Gentry and spend a lovely evening together. Later in the book, Sam is introduced to Winter and Gentry as though they've never met before. Where is the editing?! I found it frustrating and I honestly don't know how a mistake like this makes it into the finished book. I get that this author self-publishes but I feel like that is no excuse not to have someone edit this. Anyone! And I get that Truman is learning to stand up for himself and that he's not the most authoritative character. I mean, that's basically at the heart of the entire plot. But it was infuriating to read some scenes where he's just so passive. It was creepy and very unsettling to read. Who eats 5 cookies to please someone else? I mean, I'll eat double that to please myself but that is another story.
Finally, the epilogue is frustrating as it's not an epilogue at all. Rather, it is told from the point of view of a character we barely know. He's in like 3 scenes of this book and we really have no sense of him. So to suddenly find ourselves in his head was jarring and to meet an entirely new character just took away from properly wrapping up a story that I felt needed a bit more. Give us a real epilogue or give us none!
Anyway, still 3 stars because I read it and there is a lot to like here but if you are easily turned off by the types of things I've mentioned above, approach this one with caution.
Also, there are some frustratingly glaring mistakes in this book. For example, in one scene, Sam, Truman, Tiller and Mikey go out for dinner and are joined by Winter and Gentry and spend a lovely evening together. Later in the book, Sam is introduced to Winter and Gentry as though they've never met before. Where is the editing?! I found it frustrating and I honestly don't know how a mistake like this makes it into the finished book. I get that this author self-publishes but I feel like that is no excuse not to have someone edit this. Anyone! And I get that Truman is learning to stand up for himself and that he's not the most authoritative character. I mean, that's basically at the heart of the entire plot. But it was infuriating to read some scenes where he's just so passive. It was creepy and very unsettling to read. Who eats 5 cookies to please someone else? I mean, I'll eat double that to please myself but that is another story.
Finally, the epilogue is frustrating as it's not an epilogue at all. Rather, it is told from the point of view of a character we barely know. He's in like 3 scenes of this book and we really have no sense of him. So to suddenly find ourselves in his head was jarring and to meet an entirely new character just took away from properly wrapping up a story that I felt needed a bit more. Give us a real epilogue or give us none!
Anyway, still 3 stars because I read it and there is a lot to like here but if you are easily turned off by the types of things I've mentioned above, approach this one with caution.
Shelved as 'dnf-or-hated'
July 2, 2021DNF at 25% with no rating.
I am not going to continue reading this because I am literally so angry at almost every circumstance and every character in this story and it's making me feel bad.
This is a completely subjective, personal opinion, but I hate the town, I hate the authorities in the town, I hate the people in the town who have allowed the things to happen that are going on, I'm hating the main character for allowing this to happen and to have willingly moved back to a place where this is happening!
No! I am not going to be angry at fictional characters there is no point to it so I am setting this down, bidding it adieu, and moving on. ✌️
I am not going to continue reading this because I am literally so angry at almost every circumstance and every character in this story and it's making me feel bad.
This is a completely subjective, personal opinion, but I hate the town, I hate the authorities in the town, I hate the people in the town who have allowed the things to happen that are going on, I'm hating the main character for allowing this to happen and to have willingly moved back to a place where this is happening!
No! I am not going to be angry at fictional characters there is no point to it so I am setting this down, bidding it adieu, and moving on. ✌️
April 11, 2021
Lennox has become a go-to for me; her books, in my experience thus far, are never bad reads. I’d go so far as to say that they are usually very good. This one landed right in the middle.
+ We get to see more of our boys from the previous entry!
+ Instalove done about as well as one can do that particular trope
+ Delivers the feels and the steam, especially the latter
- I don’t know what to make of Truman. I enjoy many quirky characters, and I am one IRL, but this is the Mary Sue of the hot nerd archetype: shy-but-courageous; innocent-but-dirrrty; fragile-but-strong; childlike-but-wise; waiflike-but-muscular; inexperienced-but-worldly; etc. My disbelief doesn’t suspend this far.
- Sam and Truman both have gone an unreasonably long time with no serious and desperately needed intervention in their respective shitshows before meeting each other. Sam’s family situation is the more plausible of the two, but it’s not believable to me that this close-knit, golden-hearted town full of nosy-ass neighbors had no idea what Truman was going through.
- Small footnote, but I’m starting to think that HIV prophylactic medication has become a literary device for handwaving the lack of condoms in sex scenes where we would expect reasonable adults to use them.
- This is an M/M novel, not a mystery one, but the culprit was crazy obvious.
TL;DR: If you enjoyed the other books in this series, you’ll probably like this one, too. I dwelled on the “constructive” aspects because the parts that work the best are extremely consistent from one Lennox book to the next.
+ We get to see more of our boys from the previous entry!
+ Instalove done about as well as one can do that particular trope
+ Delivers the feels and the steam, especially the latter
- I don’t know what to make of Truman. I enjoy many quirky characters, and I am one IRL, but this is the Mary Sue of the hot nerd archetype: shy-but-courageous; innocent-but-dirrrty; fragile-but-strong; childlike-but-wise; waiflike-but-muscular; inexperienced-but-worldly; etc. My disbelief doesn’t suspend this far.
- Sam and Truman both have gone an unreasonably long time with no serious and desperately needed intervention in their respective shitshows before meeting each other. Sam’s family situation is the more plausible of the two, but it’s not believable to me that this close-knit, golden-hearted town full of nosy-ass neighbors had no idea what Truman was going through.
- Small footnote, but I’m starting to think that HIV prophylactic medication has become a literary device for handwaving the lack of condoms in sex scenes where we would expect reasonable adults to use them.
- This is an M/M novel, not a mystery one, but the culprit was crazy obvious.
TL;DR: If you enjoyed the other books in this series, you’ll probably like this one, too. I dwelled on the “constructive” aspects because the parts that work the best are extremely consistent from one Lennox book to the next.
November 29, 2022
Reread/relisten-November 2022
4 stars
I liked this read of it more than the first time… soo I am rounding it up! Sam and Truman 🥰, too cute, Barney can go suck a duck, ugh he’s the worst…
3.5 stars-May 2022
So you know who is literally the worst…(don’t want to spoil anything)
But Truman and Sam were cute, to me Truman couldn’t make up his mind of being meek or firm and sassy…
The mystery was kind of easy to spot but I enjoyed it.
Overall cute read but nothing too special.
4 stars
I liked this read of it more than the first time… soo I am rounding it up! Sam and Truman 🥰, too cute, Barney can go suck a duck, ugh he’s the worst…
3.5 stars-May 2022
So you know who is literally the worst…(don’t want to spoil anything)
But Truman and Sam were cute, to me Truman couldn’t make up his mind of being meek or firm and sassy…
The mystery was kind of easy to spot but I enjoyed it.
Overall cute read but nothing too special.
April 3, 2021
Just when I think Lucy Lennox has reached the pinnacle of sweetness with her characters after Raine Tiller, she writes this book, aptly named Sweet as Honey.
Truman is, actually, sweet as honey. I just want to scoop him up and hug the stuffing out of him. But then there's Sam, who's not truly the grumpy one, but he's carrying enough baggage for a lengthy world tour, and I just want to scoop him up and hug the stuffing out of him, too. Together, they're perfect, and Lucy weaves magic with this lovely story. I stopped reading several times just to make it last longer, because I knew I wouldn't want it to be over.
It's hot, sweet, sexy, and just plain fun. A perfect summer read. You may be able to read this without having read the Winter Waites (short) and Right as Raine, but I recommend reading them in order so you're introduced to the characters in order.
I cannot wait to see what she has in store next!
Truman is, actually, sweet as honey. I just want to scoop him up and hug the stuffing out of him. But then there's Sam, who's not truly the grumpy one, but he's carrying enough baggage for a lengthy world tour, and I just want to scoop him up and hug the stuffing out of him, too. Together, they're perfect, and Lucy weaves magic with this lovely story. I stopped reading several times just to make it last longer, because I knew I wouldn't want it to be over.
It's hot, sweet, sexy, and just plain fun. A perfect summer read. You may be able to read this without having read the Winter Waites (short) and Right as Raine, but I recommend reading them in order so you're introduced to the characters in order.
I cannot wait to see what she has in store next!
April 11, 2021
Well, I was going to give this one 4.5/5 stars, but then a few things happened...
1. I got fed up of Truman's extremely passive stance [doormat behaviour] on almost everything, including the fact that he knew so much bad stuff about the Stanners, but seemed utterly clueless as to where he could get help from higher up the law enforcement ladder that completely bypassed his local corrupt cop Sheriff Stanner, and his nightmare of an extended family. Really?? And he and Sam were using the L word after about a week, so yes, insta-lust rather than love IMHO.
2. There was an archetypal villain [I would name him but that would spoiler it for others], but just be aware...you CAN'T miss him. Practically everything that goes wrong for Truman is his fault, and you'll be tearing your hair out in frustration too, booing and hissing at your screen 🤬🤬. How could all those people be so dense when he practically had a huge neon sign above his head saying I'm the baddie??
3. We had the same ending for this story as we did in Right as Raine...and by that I mean that we get a little taster of the next story in the series from one of the next MC's Hot as Heller. I didn't like it in Right as Raine, and I haven't changed my opinion. I DID however like the marriage proposal...🥰🥰🥰
Don't get me wrong, I still liked all the characters [well, apart from one overbearing, slimy, creepy individual 🥵, and Sam's money-grabbing family 🤯], but throw in a few editing niggles too and I went down with my rating, not up. 😕.
1. I got fed up of Truman's extremely passive stance [doormat behaviour] on almost everything, including the fact that he knew so much bad stuff about the Stanners, but seemed utterly clueless as to where he could get help from higher up the law enforcement ladder that completely bypassed his local corrupt cop Sheriff Stanner, and his nightmare of an extended family. Really?? And he and Sam were using the L word after about a week, so yes, insta-lust rather than love IMHO.
2. There was an archetypal villain [I would name him but that would spoiler it for others], but just be aware...you CAN'T miss him. Practically everything that goes wrong for Truman is his fault, and you'll be tearing your hair out in frustration too, booing and hissing at your screen 🤬🤬. How could all those people be so dense when he practically had a huge neon sign above his head saying I'm the baddie??
3. We had the same ending for this story as we did in Right as Raine...and by that I mean that we get a little taster of the next story in the series from one of the next MC's Hot as Heller. I didn't like it in Right as Raine, and I haven't changed my opinion. I DID however like the marriage proposal...🥰🥰🥰
Don't get me wrong, I still liked all the characters [well, apart from one overbearing, slimy, creepy individual 🥵, and Sam's money-grabbing family 🤯], but throw in a few editing niggles too and I went down with my rating, not up. 😕.
April 12, 2021
I really enjoyed this one. Some of my friends had some issues with it but for some reason it just rubbed me the right way. I’m always on the lookout for a Small Town romance and this is really starting to live up to that description.
Just like its predecessor, the parents in these stories are HORRIBLE. HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE people. Although we didn’t actually interact with Truman’s just the memories of them were enough. But Sam’s family? They should burn.
I’m really looking forward to the next one.
I seem to be the one person who actually kind of likes the peek into the next story 😊
Just like its predecessor, the parents in these stories are HORRIBLE. HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE people. Although we didn’t actually interact with Truman’s just the memories of them were enough. But Sam’s family? They should burn.
I’m really looking forward to the next one.
I seem to be the one person who actually kind of likes the peek into the next story 😊
June 22, 2021
Riding his motorcycle into Aster Valley, CO. there is a bumblebee ! Yup, a guy dressed like a bumblebee was being attacked, so Sam pulled over. His bike gets wrecked by the bully, so Sam and the bumblebee, Truman, walk to town. That's where things escalate.
Sam owns his construction company in Houston,
he's a big guy, and is visiting his friend Mikey, the chef, and his husband the football player, Tiller at their lodge.
Tender Truman, 24, curly dark hair, glasses,
a virgin with smarts, runs his farm, and store in town, plus he's a botanist with a green thumb. He's the target for lots of harassment.
Sam thinks he's an adorable nut.
So, Sam has to get his motorcycle fixed, and he wants to fix Truman's gate. They are flirting, and talking, sharing pasts, about Sam's less than stellar family, and Truman's beloved Aunt who left him the farm when she passed.
There is more harassments, near misses and then the fire. Everyone thinks they know who the culprits are, but it's someone no one considered.
It's a wonder Truman is such a happy soul, considering his crappy family. Sam is strong and solid, who's family crosses the line.
Sam will be helping with the ski resort, and figuring out how to protect darling Truman.
We see terrific, vivid characters and quirky townsfolk.
Lucy Lennox gives us a topsy-turvy tale with heartwarming moments, oh, and hot sexy, fantasy fulfilling times !
I loved it.
ENJOY !
=====
Sam owns his construction company in Houston,
he's a big guy, and is visiting his friend Mikey, the chef, and his husband the football player, Tiller at their lodge.
Tender Truman, 24, curly dark hair, glasses,
a virgin with smarts, runs his farm, and store in town, plus he's a botanist with a green thumb. He's the target for lots of harassment.
Sam thinks he's an adorable nut.
So, Sam has to get his motorcycle fixed, and he wants to fix Truman's gate. They are flirting, and talking, sharing pasts, about Sam's less than stellar family, and Truman's beloved Aunt who left him the farm when she passed.
There is more harassments, near misses and then the fire. Everyone thinks they know who the culprits are, but it's someone no one considered.
It's a wonder Truman is such a happy soul, considering his crappy family. Sam is strong and solid, who's family crosses the line.
Sam will be helping with the ski resort, and figuring out how to protect darling Truman.
We see terrific, vivid characters and quirky townsfolk.
Lucy Lennox gives us a topsy-turvy tale with heartwarming moments, oh, and hot sexy, fantasy fulfilling times !
I loved it.
ENJOY !
=====
April 21, 2021
4.75 stars!
I adored this second installment in this series. Truman and Sam complimented each other so well and were so perfect for each other.
This starts months after the epilogue with Sam coming back to Aster Valley "for a couple days" to get away from his life in Houston.
When he gets there, he comes across Truman in a bee costume in a field being harassed by Patrick Stanner, one of the guys who has been harassing Truman since he came back to Aster Valley.
When Sam pulls over to stop the harassing, he and Truman officially meet for the first time.
Truman is sweet and kind, and Same is gruff and everything, but kind hearted underneath is all.
As Truman and Sam get closer, things start happening over and over to Truman, who believes it's the Stanners going after him, as they've gone after him many times before.
Only Sam is there this time, and the more he and Truman get to know each other, the more he's in Truman's corner.
And for the first time, Truman has someone who respects him and loves him for who he is.
This was such a fun tale, filled with some small time twist and turns I didn't see coming. I enjoyed Sam and Truman a lot, even more than Tiller and Mikey from the first book.
My only teeniest tiniest gripe is that the epilogue was mostly about the next couple once again. Truman and Sam barely even featured in the epilogue. It was once again a tease for the next couple. I find it quite annoying. Like the epilogues can be about the main couple of the book and still give a hint as to the next one, is all I'm saying.
But other than that, this was a wonderful second installment in this series and I highly recommend it. Two big thumbs up from me!
I adored this second installment in this series. Truman and Sam complimented each other so well and were so perfect for each other.
This starts months after the epilogue with Sam coming back to Aster Valley "for a couple days" to get away from his life in Houston.
When he gets there, he comes across Truman in a bee costume in a field being harassed by Patrick Stanner, one of the guys who has been harassing Truman since he came back to Aster Valley.
When Sam pulls over to stop the harassing, he and Truman officially meet for the first time.
Truman is sweet and kind, and Same is gruff and everything, but kind hearted underneath is all.
As Truman and Sam get closer, things start happening over and over to Truman, who believes it's the Stanners going after him, as they've gone after him many times before.
Only Sam is there this time, and the more he and Truman get to know each other, the more he's in Truman's corner.
And for the first time, Truman has someone who respects him and loves him for who he is.
This was such a fun tale, filled with some small time twist and turns I didn't see coming. I enjoyed Sam and Truman a lot, even more than Tiller and Mikey from the first book.
My only teeniest tiniest gripe is that the epilogue was mostly about the next couple once again. Truman and Sam barely even featured in the epilogue. It was once again a tease for the next couple. I find it quite annoying. Like the epilogues can be about the main couple of the book and still give a hint as to the next one, is all I'm saying.
But other than that, this was a wonderful second installment in this series and I highly recommend it. Two big thumbs up from me!
April 9, 2021
5 stars for Truman. Sam was great, too. The “mystery” plot was not my cup of tea. It was also glaringly obvious and I’m terrible at figuring out who the bad people are.
Any scene that wasn’t about the mystery/fire/assaults/etc. was fantastic. I loved the previous characters being featured and the amount the appeared was perfect.
Truman was one of my favourite types of characters to read about - I love a dorky character - and Sam was absolutely lovely. They were strong characters with well-made backstories and personalities. The humour was gentle and appropriate. But wow I didn’t like the mystery part! How can one poor man have so many people possibly gunning for him!
Like book 1, I hated the epilogue. It wasn’t about Truman and Sam at all, and I think that defeats the purpose of an epilogue.
3.5 stars. While Truman might be one of my favourite Lucy Lennox (joining Felix and Charlie easily), I didn’t love the book.
Any scene that wasn’t about the mystery/fire/assaults/etc. was fantastic. I loved the previous characters being featured and the amount the appeared was perfect.
Truman was one of my favourite types of characters to read about - I love a dorky character - and Sam was absolutely lovely. They were strong characters with well-made backstories and personalities. The humour was gentle and appropriate. But wow I didn’t like the mystery part! How can one poor man have so many people possibly gunning for him!
Like book 1, I hated the epilogue. It wasn’t about Truman and Sam at all, and I think that defeats the purpose of an epilogue.
3.5 stars. While Truman might be one of my favourite Lucy Lennox (joining Felix and Charlie easily), I didn’t love the book.
June 26, 2021
Lucy has done it again! Another amazing story from Aster Valley. Truman and Sam love story. She just has a way of pulling you into the story line and the characters that makes you want more. To want to move to this town so you can be friends with them too. I love how she incorporates characters from the other books into each of the new ones. When Lucy puts out a book you don’t even have to know what it’s about, you know that you need to buy it. You won’t regret it.
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 28, 2023why?
April 8, 2021
4.0 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a super fun read. Entertaining, sexy, funny, heartwarming, etc etc. The plot is not going to win any literary awards, but I had a good time reading. This is, as I’ve often said, a Hallmark movie with sex (maybe I need to make this a bookshelf 🤔). Honestly it’s one of my favorite genres of romance because it’s easy and with the *right* dynamics of angst/pacing/sweetness it can be the perfect low stakes, engaging read.
I liked Sam and Truman both as individual characters and as a couple. I enjoyed all of the secondary characters, and appreciated seeing Tiller and Mikey again. Even though I saw the conclusion of the plot coming a mile away, I still was quite happy being right.
I had niggles, but honestly this put me in a good mood so I don’t care enough to call them out lol. The only one I will mention is in regard to the epilogue being yet another set up for the next book! This book had a much cleaner conclusion than book 1 so I wasn’t as annoyed by it, but still...
Anyway this was fun and I got to turn my brain off for a bit and enjoy this, which is just what I needed.
PS- I am side eyeing the HELL out of that resolution with Mikey and his terrible mother and a—hole father. Like PUH-LEASE 🙄😒
This was a super fun read. Entertaining, sexy, funny, heartwarming, etc etc. The plot is not going to win any literary awards, but I had a good time reading. This is, as I’ve often said, a Hallmark movie with sex (maybe I need to make this a bookshelf 🤔). Honestly it’s one of my favorite genres of romance because it’s easy and with the *right* dynamics of angst/pacing/sweetness it can be the perfect low stakes, engaging read.
I liked Sam and Truman both as individual characters and as a couple. I enjoyed all of the secondary characters, and appreciated seeing Tiller and Mikey again. Even though I saw the conclusion of the plot coming a mile away, I still was quite happy being right.
I had niggles, but honestly this put me in a good mood so I don’t care enough to call them out lol. The only one I will mention is in regard to the epilogue being yet another set up for the next book! This book had a much cleaner conclusion than book 1 so I wasn’t as annoyed by it, but still...
Anyway this was fun and I got to turn my brain off for a bit and enjoy this, which is just what I needed.
PS- I am side eyeing the HELL out of that resolution with Mikey and his terrible mother and a—hole father. Like PUH-LEASE 🙄😒
September 13, 2021
4 Stars for the Narrator
The narrator does a good job capturing what I would imagine Truman's voice to be like. He also does well with the voices of the other characters.
3 stars for the story
This story has a bit of a mystery attached to it. I knew who was behind the fire the whole time. I was pulling at my hair waiting for Truman to catch on lol. I enjoyed the romance aspect with the shy geeky shop owner, Truman, and the mysterious stranger, Sam.
The narrator does a good job capturing what I would imagine Truman's voice to be like. He also does well with the voices of the other characters.
3 stars for the story
This story has a bit of a mystery attached to it. I knew who was behind the fire the whole time. I was pulling at my hair waiting for Truman to catch on lol. I enjoyed the romance aspect with the shy geeky shop owner, Truman, and the mysterious stranger, Sam.
May 13, 2021
We are back in Aster Valley! I loved Sam and Truman together!
I love characters with awkward rambling and who word-vomits when they are nervous and Truman is exactly that. He did exhibit some doormat behaviour but I guess I can sort of understand where he's coming from. I really wish he acted a bit more earlier, I just feel like it's been going on for a long time. Sam was so caring and really supportive, a great boyfriend. I really loved them together.
The mystery is very predictable and I knew the 'bad guy' from the start. Ugh, he really creeped me out and I cannot believe no one else in town figured it out. Where is your inbuilt radar for creepy people? I'm a very 'vibes' kind of person and I trust my instincts a lot. And yeah, this person was a huge NO.
Loved the cameo from Tiller and Mickey! This is the second book in the series with dual POV and can be read as a standalone.
I also wish that we had a proper epilogue. From the POV of one of MCs would have been great instead of a new character.
Overall if you're looking for a fun, hot and sweet romance, bumblebee costumes and spices, check this out!
I love characters with awkward rambling and who word-vomits when they are nervous and Truman is exactly that. He did exhibit some doormat behaviour but I guess I can sort of understand where he's coming from. I really wish he acted a bit more earlier, I just feel like it's been going on for a long time. Sam was so caring and really supportive, a great boyfriend. I really loved them together.
The mystery is very predictable and I knew the 'bad guy' from the start. Ugh, he really creeped me out and I cannot believe no one else in town figured it out. Where is your inbuilt radar for creepy people? I'm a very 'vibes' kind of person and I trust my instincts a lot. And yeah, this person was a huge NO.
Loved the cameo from Tiller and Mickey! This is the second book in the series with dual POV and can be read as a standalone.
I also wish that we had a proper epilogue. From the POV of one of MCs would have been great instead of a new character.
Overall if you're looking for a fun, hot and sweet romance, bumblebee costumes and spices, check this out!
April 8, 2021
~3.5~ I can confidentially say I love this series! The two MCs were so cute together and even though it leaned a little into insta-love, this time it didn’t bother me. The subplot mystery was pretty obvious in my opinion, and the end did kind of hammer it all in quite quickly but I was ok with it. I didn’t like the quick epilogue and wished we saw more from the MCs and it not been used as the intro to the next book in the series - it just felt misplaced although I understand why Lennox used the opportunity to do so, but I still wanted a better wrap up / more info for these guys.
April 9, 2021
**3.5 rounded up**
“Sweet as Honey” wasn’t my favorite Lucy Lennox novel by any means, but despite it’s flaws, it pulled me in and held my attention from the start.
Truman and Sam are delightful. You can’t help but root for them (but I suppose I that’s to be expected of the main characters of a romance novel).
Now, what really struck me is how quickly and adeptly Lennox sets the reader against Barney. Within a paragraph of meeting him, I was so angry with Barney’s behavior that I was in full rage-ball mode and cursing him out loud. In fact, I was so angry I was seriously worried I wouldn’t be able to finish reading the book. (Of course, my response was magnified by the heavy-handed tactics and actions deployed by the police in the same scene.)
[Note: Nothing above should be considered a spoiler because the scene literally happens within the first several pages of the first chapter of the book.]
Thankfully, things quickly settle down, and we’re taken on a captivating (if rather incredulous) mystery ride for the remainder of the book.
Where the book falls down for me is in the details and the melodrama that make up the foundation of the plot. I just couldn’t ever buy into the idea that an entire family (let alone half of an entire town) would continue to hold such animosity against a man for something that happened when he was a five-year-old child. My disbelief only grew the more we learned about that trigger event and everything that happened in the years since.
Ultimately, despite its problems, I enjoyed the book well enough to recommend it, and I’m looking forward to the next installment.
P.S. I seem to be in the minority, but I didn’t have a problem with the epilogue. I didn’t see anything that lead me to believe the tie back to a plot line in the pervious book was a “all is forgiven” moment (which definitely would have bothered me). I just saw family making an effort, which I think makes them real. (People are seldom completely one dimensional.)
I also didn’t have a problem with the introduction of a new narrator. As the reader, I felt like we’d spent enough time with Stone to comfortably make him the bridge as his story becomes the focus of the next book in the Aster Valley series.
“Sweet as Honey” wasn’t my favorite Lucy Lennox novel by any means, but despite it’s flaws, it pulled me in and held my attention from the start.
Truman and Sam are delightful. You can’t help but root for them (but I suppose I that’s to be expected of the main characters of a romance novel).
Now, what really struck me is how quickly and adeptly Lennox sets the reader against Barney. Within a paragraph of meeting him, I was so angry with Barney’s behavior that I was in full rage-ball mode and cursing him out loud. In fact, I was so angry I was seriously worried I wouldn’t be able to finish reading the book. (Of course, my response was magnified by the heavy-handed tactics and actions deployed by the police in the same scene.)
[Note: Nothing above should be considered a spoiler because the scene literally happens within the first several pages of the first chapter of the book.]
Thankfully, things quickly settle down, and we’re taken on a captivating (if rather incredulous) mystery ride for the remainder of the book.
Where the book falls down for me is in the details and the melodrama that make up the foundation of the plot. I just couldn’t ever buy into the idea that an entire family (let alone half of an entire town) would continue to hold such animosity against a man for something that happened when he was a five-year-old child. My disbelief only grew the more we learned about that trigger event and everything that happened in the years since.
Ultimately, despite its problems, I enjoyed the book well enough to recommend it, and I’m looking forward to the next installment.
P.S. I seem to be in the minority, but I didn’t have a problem with the epilogue. I didn’t see anything that lead me to believe the tie back to a plot line in the pervious book was a “all is forgiven” moment (which definitely would have bothered me). I just saw family making an effort, which I think makes them real. (People are seldom completely one dimensional.)
I also didn’t have a problem with the introduction of a new narrator. As the reader, I felt like we’d spent enough time with Stone to comfortably make him the bridge as his story becomes the focus of the next book in the Aster Valley series.
April 6, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Sweet as Honey is the second book in Lucy Lennox’s delightful Aster Valley series (third if you count the prequel novella). I am finding myself totally charmed by this small town series, filled with found family and slightly oddball side characters. There is so much warmth here, with a nice dash of sexiness thrown in. This story features new MCs in Sam and Truman, but Tiller and Mikey from Right as Raine play a big side role, as Mikey is Sam’s best friend and he is staying with them. So from a plot perspective, all you need is explained here, but from the character end, I do think this one is richer having read the first book.
This story is pretty character driven, mostly focused on Sam and Truman and their developing relationship. I am a sucker for the big, gruff guy who falls for the sweet and sunshiney one, and this is a great example of that trope.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Sweet as Honey is the second book in Lucy Lennox’s delightful Aster Valley series (third if you count the prequel novella). I am finding myself totally charmed by this small town series, filled with found family and slightly oddball side characters. There is so much warmth here, with a nice dash of sexiness thrown in. This story features new MCs in Sam and Truman, but Tiller and Mikey from Right as Raine play a big side role, as Mikey is Sam’s best friend and he is staying with them. So from a plot perspective, all you need is explained here, but from the character end, I do think this one is richer having read the first book.
This story is pretty character driven, mostly focused on Sam and Truman and their developing relationship. I am a sucker for the big, gruff guy who falls for the sweet and sunshiney one, and this is a great example of that trope.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
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April 15, 2021
Sweet as Honey was also a pretty cute and fast read! Truman and Sam were super sweet and, despite how quickly they became close, I really enjoyed reading about their relationship and how it developed.
The plot in this one was way more intense than I was expecting it to be. The points of conflict were a bit darker than in the previous novel and I did have more difficulty reading a few chapters than I did in the first book. This dealt a lot with manipulation and lack of respect for people's boundaries, which happen to be things I'm sensitive towards, but I did like how Lennox addressed those points.
The plot in this one was way more intense than I was expecting it to be. The points of conflict were a bit darker than in the previous novel and I did have more difficulty reading a few chapters than I did in the first book. This dealt a lot with manipulation and lack of respect for people's boundaries, which happen to be things I'm sensitive towards, but I did like how Lennox addressed those points.
August 24, 2023
Es hat ähnlich wie Teil 1 so Dinge, welche ich einfach zu unrealistisch finde. Ich weiß Bücher sollen nicht immer wie im wahren Leben sein. Aber eine Kleinstadt in Colorado, die GEFÜHLT nur aus schwulen Bewohnern besteht. Come on 😅
Aber ich mag den Schreibstil von Lucy Lennox sehr. Die Hauptcharaktere haben hier soviel Tiefe, dass ich relativ schnell wieder Teil dieser Gemeinschaft wurde. Gerade die Verletzlichkeit von Truman ging mir schon sehr nahe. Dieser zweite Teil der Reihe war viel spannender als der erste, da hier die Haupthandlung eher wie ein relativ guter Krimi aufgebaut ist, soweit ich das einschätzen kann🤔😅
Aber ich mag den Schreibstil von Lucy Lennox sehr. Die Hauptcharaktere haben hier soviel Tiefe, dass ich relativ schnell wieder Teil dieser Gemeinschaft wurde. Gerade die Verletzlichkeit von Truman ging mir schon sehr nahe. Dieser zweite Teil der Reihe war viel spannender als der erste, da hier die Haupthandlung eher wie ein relativ guter Krimi aufgebaut ist, soweit ich das einschätzen kann🤔😅
October 7, 2023
oh dear god this was boring.
I had one other attempt to read this a while ago and it was dall AF, i thought it'll be more manageable in audio form. It wasnt.
The character are flat, the chemistry is non existent, the only interesting part abouth this was the mystery and you know you have a problem when in a romance novel you care mora about "who done it", but hey! at least one rediming quality.
I had one other attempt to read this a while ago and it was dall AF, i thought it'll be more manageable in audio form. It wasnt.
The character are flat, the chemistry is non existent, the only interesting part abouth this was the mystery and you know you have a problem when in a romance novel you care mora about "who done it", but hey! at least one rediming quality.
June 11, 2021
✮4 Stars✮
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