“Dylan Locke is a must have in your book boyfriend collection!” – Jana Aston, NYT Bestselling AuthorThe conclusion of the Dirty Sweet DuetDylan Locke knows that pining over the young ingenue Audrey Lind is pointless. He can’t offer her what she wants. He definitely can’t give her what she needs. Thank goodness she’s half a world away, and he doesn’t have to deal with his attraction head on.But … she needs.
Thank goodness she’s half a world away, and he doesn’t have to deal with his attraction head on.
But fate has other plans for him, and when Audrey once again lands in his path, it’s only too easy to fall back into their easy rhythm. And then their easy banter. And of course, each other’s arms.
He tells himself nothing has changed. She still wants forever, and he still thinks tomorrow is long enough.
But watching her search isn’t as easy as he thought it would be, and now Dylan must figure out if he’s really the love Scrooge he professes to be or if he’s been Fate’s willing victim all along.
“A well-deserved 5 STARS to one of my most FAVORITE FICTIONAL COUPLES EVERRRRR.” – Anj, Hiding Behind Books Blog
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OH MY, HOW I LOVED THIS BOOK! If I could give this book 10 stars, without hesitation I would. I loved Sweet Liar, Book 1, which gave us more of a glimpse of Dylan Locke and his introduction to Audrey Lind. I expected to love Sweet Fate, Book 2 also. To simply say my expectations were met, does not seem adequate enough. About 9% into this book, I had already shed a happy tear. By 10% in, I remembered exactly why I loved Dylan Locke in Book 1. By 15% in, I was BEYOND head-over-heals in love with him in Book 2! Book 2 gives us Dylan Locke at his most sexy, charming, adorable, funny, vulnerable, insecure self. Like a fine wine that gets better with age, Dylan Locke gets better and better the further you read. You just want to reach into the pages and smack him, hug him, kiss him and love on his understandably misguided butt! Audrey Lind and her beautiful, sweet, young, unbridled zest for life (and Dylan) bring out the best and worst of him. Believe me, you wouldn’t want it any other way. Audrey is wise beyond her years, and a truly captivating and endearing character. Their story takes off from page one, taking you on a bumpy ride through their life and into their future. It will give you all the feels, grins, giggles, laughs, tears, sighs and swoons you could ever want. I was completely and utterly enchanted by Sweet Fate. Laurelin Paige’s writing has given me everything I want when I pick up a book to read. She is a master storyteller who brings her characters to life before your eyes so you can fall in love right along with them. Sweet Fate reigns supreme at the top of my 2019 Favorite Reads List! DO NOT MISS IT!
Laurelin Paige never stops mesmerizing and surprising me. She stuns me in a different way with every new book. No two stories are same by her yet they are all alike in a way because they are mindblowing greatness. Sweet Fate was no exception. Dylan Locke. One name. Multiple talents. More layers than I can count. And another perfect alpha man created by Laurelin Paige. If I loved him in Sweet Liar, I love him even more in this book. If that is possible.
Dylan Locke is a full on cynic when it comes to love. He wants Audrey, the sweet young free soul who lights up his dull boring and lonely existence. But he is afraid of commitment as he doesn’t want to get hurt again. His bitterness from old life is holding him back. He is sure he can’t give Audrey what she wants from life. Relationship. Future. Kids. So he is denying the deep emotional bond and attraction between them. but fate has something else in store for them. So he meets Audrey again in London by accident as she is living in London working as intern in National Gallery. I love this girl so much. She may believe in Kismet. She may be waiting for the One. But that doesn’t stop her from loving Dylan and putting her heart on the firing line. She knows all the risk and still this adorable compassionate loyal girl is ready to take a chance. Dylan’s vulnerability made my heart ache so badly. He almost lost her due to his stupid hangover and inability to see the good in himself. But Audrey is breaking down his walls. She does not need a young sweet guy. She needs a bossy ultra protective caveman like Dylan. Dylan needs her sweetness. They complete each other.
Laurelin Paige pulled all stops in this story. This is a slow burn romance where the relationship is built slowly to a blazing inferno. A teasing sensual dance to bring us to the grand finale when Dylan and Audrey could no longer stay away from each other. Hell I was desperate as a reader to get them together. I wanted to get inside the pages and make something happen. And that is what Laurelin Paige’s magic writing does to you. She made my heart go so deep in the story that the boundary between friction and reality gets blurred. The friendship between two odd souls slowly but surely became the all encompassing earth- shattering love. And a special mention for the sex scenes. This story has some of the dirtiest and kinkiest sex scenes you have ever rerad from Laurelin Paige. EVER. I was so turned on that it was embarrassing.
In Sweet Fate, Laurelin Paige has created a colorful collage of every emotion possible. Love. Companionship. Despair. Heartbreak. Hope. Regret. Second chance. Passion.Absolution. Happily Ever After. Everything passed in front of my mind’s eyes in full high definition glory. This was a divine reading experience for me.
Received ARC for honest review.
“The feel of her, the weight of her in my arms, was like finding gravity. Like discovering the best ballast. Like being firmly anchored after too long adrift at sea.”
OH. MY. GOODNESS. I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. Sweet Fate was everything I wanted and SO MUCH more! Dylan and Audrey are seriously one of my absolute favorite couples. I could not have been more addicted to their story. The Dirty Sweet Duet covered so many of my romance bases. Older man. Younger women. Age Gap. British Alpha. DILF. Kismet. It’s a original, and engaging read. After this duet age gaps have definitely made my list of favorite troupes. The chemistry this story packed was off the charts. I melted. Swooned. And melted again. The more I read, the more I wanted. I could NOT devour the pages quick enough. Every page was only making me greedier than the last. This is one of those stories that stick with you. I feel a book hangover coming. I wanted more. I could have read about Dylan and Audrey for many more books. They were simply beautiful together. They was as complicated as they were magical. I never quit rooting for them. Their growth and development over this duet brought fourth all the feels. Dylan and Aubrey are a emotional rollercoaster ride you are not ready to end.
“She was a cataract covering the lens of the eye— it was impossible to see the world without seeing her.
Audrey is seriously one of my favorite heroines. Everything about her lured you in. It was easy to see why so many characters loved her. Shes the heroine you want to make your bestfriend. She was sweet innocence, with a mix of carefree and young. I loved how Audrey’s character knew what she wanted, and refused to settle for less. She was headstrong and wise beyond her years. Her witty, enthusiastic attitude was easy to admire. She brought a light this story desperately needed.
“And while I fell more and more in love with him, all I could do was hope beyond hope that the stars had something in store for us that I couldn’t begin to imagine.”
Dylan Locke is mine. Seriously I call dibs. I have officially found my next book boyfriend. He is one of those damaged, stubborn, set in his ways alphas every women wants to change. He is the perfect contradiction. He is one of those alphas who keeps you on your toes. One minute he has you wanting to strangle him for being so stubborn. The next he has you melting in his charm. My heart broke for the vulnerable Dylan, haunted and drowning in his past. Even at his weakest, his character always remained strong.
“Though I could never have her, though we were fated to be two ships that passed in the night, Audrey Lind was not a woman I was getting over anytime soon.”
*5 STARS*
I honestly wish I could give this book more stars like it deserves. This was one explosive ending to a even more explosive duet. Sweet Fate is going straight into my best reads of 2019 folder. I can not recommend reading Dylan and Audrey’s story enough.
SWEET FATE is the second instalment and conclusion to Laurelin Paige’s contemporary, adult DIRTY SWEET erotic, romance duology focusing on forty-four year old, billionaire businessman Dylan Locke, and twenty-four year old, art graduate Audrey Lind. The DIRTY SWEET series is a spin-off from the author’s Dirty Games Duet. Audrey is Sabrina Lind’s younger sister, and Dylan is partners in Reach Inc.
NOTE: SWEET FATE should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up one year after the events of book one Sweet Liar.
Told from first person point of view (Dylan Locke) with an epilogue from Audrey, SWEET FATE picks up one year after the events of book one in which forty-three year old, billionaire businessman Dylan Locke, and twenty-three year old, art graduate Audrey Lind had a torrid one week affair that ended with Dylan Locke returning to his home and business in England, and Audrey returning to college to finisher her degree. Fast forward one year wherein Dylan will come face to face with the woman he loves when she accepts an intern position at the National Gallery of London. Continuing to struggle with their age difference, and his attraction and need for Audrey Lind, Dylan refuses to acknowledge the elephant in the room, as he stands by the side lines when Audrey attempts to locate the ‘one’. Agreeing to a friends with benefits relationship, Dylan continues to fall for the woman he will eventually push out of his life. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Dylan and Audrey, and the potential fall-out as Dylan is unable to admit his love for our story line heroine.
Dylan Locke doesn’t do relationships, in fact, he hasn’t been with anyone else since he walked away for Audrey Lind. Audrey Lind has a bubbly and vivacious personality but has never stopped loving our story line hero-she slowly breaking down the barriers around his frozen heart.
The relationship between Audrey and Dylan is one of instant chemistry but a highly sexual relationship wherein their mutual attraction is tempered by Dylan’s inability to trust or move on. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense but I struggle with the use of a certain four-letter word in a romance story line.
The secondary and supporting characters include several of the Dirty Games Duet characters :Audrey’s sister Sabrina Lindt and Donovan Kincaid; Weston and Elizabeth King; Nate and Trish; sales division manager Amy; Dylan’s son Aaron, and his ex-wife Ellen Wallace; and Audrey’s boss Jana Spruce.
SWEET FATE is a story of family, friendship, perseverance and love. The premise is playful, emotional and engaging; the romance is hot and heavy; the characters are sassy, colorful and captivating.
Nothing can keep Audrey and Dylan apart!!! It’s kismet. Lana~ White Hot Reads
A loving conclusion to this couples extraordinary chemistry and love story. Fate has played a huge part but so have other factors. Dylan still thinks that he’s too old for Audrey even though they fit perfectly together. Audrey does the chasing which I totally love since you hardly see the heroine go after the hero. So glad they got happily ever after.
Kismet, fate, and patience. That is what their story is all about. He felt he was too old and their lives just wouldn’t connect. She was just starting out and he was so far ahead. But sometimes the stars align and things happen for a reason. Sometimes with a little help it kind of speeds things along. Dylan fought it every step of the way. But Audrey would not give up. Laurelin Paige did such an amazing job with their story. She kept you thinking when is he going to accept that they belong together. Age is just a number. They were perfect together if only he would let down his walls. Dylan did not believe that love lasted forever. He was burned before and lost before he didn’t want to risk it again. But in life nothing you have to take chances. You have to face your fears if you ever want to overcome them. Audrey was perfect. She faced her fears and showed Dylan that is was all worth it. Stop hiding behind your walls and live. Never once did she allow their difference in ages come between them. She got him in ways women his own age didn’t. Their romance was such a beautiful thing to watch. Their HEA was so worth it.
ARC received for an honest review
You need to have read Sweet Liar before diving into Sweet Fate.
Dylan and Audrey’s story is all about fate, kismet, destiny – whatever you like to call it.
It took me a minute to remember how the first book ended, however once I remembered where I was at, it was a goer!
I didn’t think I could like a book more than I did Sweet Liar, however Sweet Fate took things to a whole new level.
I was hooked on the story, just as Audrey and Dylan were hooked on each other. I couldn’t put this book down once I had started it.
It didn’t exactly go the route I thought it would go, and for that I am grateful. I like to be surprised by my stories.
Dylan and Audrey are just perfect for each other, and I wanted, no I needed them to make their HEA, no matter what trials and tribulations that had to endure.
Sweet Fate was the perfect end to our lovelies story, now I can’t wait to see what Ms Paige brings us next.
Sweet Fate is the conclusion to the Dirty Sweet series. Dylan has close off his heart to anymore possibilities of love until he meets Audrey. He still holds back. Audrey believes is the romantic happily ever after love. Sweet Fate is a sweet and sexy story. Told in Dylan’s POV, it’s fun to know what he is thinking.
Review copy was received for a honest opinion.
Dylan thinks he’s too old and too burned to open himself up. His first marriage ended in divorce, leaving him emotionally cut off from thoughts of a forever love. It doesn’t last, you only get hurt, so why bother? Audrey Lind is the exact opposite she believes that true love exists,she just waiting on fate.
Audrey is the perfect match to Dylan’s broody disposition.
I loved how Sweet Fate gives you Dylan’s perspective,the struggle he goes through,fighting what he feels for Audrey,to denying its more than lust. You will love him while wanting to strangle him at the same time.
A beautiful sexy love story that gives you all the feels!
I am in love with Dylan and Audrey’s story! It’s so rare for an author to have something I normally don’t want in a book, and I didn’t love it despite it, but because of it. So what is it? Call me old fashioned but I want the hero to chase the heroine. That’s what I love but in this duet Audrey does the chasing. It not only worked, I’m actually glad she did it.
There were a few factors that made this work for me. The biggest is that this was done in Dylan’s POV. I knew what he was thinking and I knew how badly he wanted Audrey. There is a huge age difference between these two. She is in her 20’s and he is in his 40’s. She is just starting out her life and he is already weighed down by life. He knew he wasn’t what was best for her and he truly wanted her to have what she deserved. That right there won me over.
Audrey is 24, and she is a mature 24 year old. She is young and vivacious and exactly what Dylan needed to get him to believe in happily ever after again. It was a slow transformation and I loved seeing how she brought him to life.
If you aren’t a fan of girl-chase-boy like me, give this one a try. It’s so worth it!
Some men need to learn their lessons of the heart in the most difficult ways possible. Exhibit A: Dylan Locke, who really thinks he is impervious to love in general and Audrey Lind specifically.
Dylan thinks he’s too old and too burned to open himself up. His first marriage ended in divorce, rendering him (he believes) emotionally incapable of forever love. It doesn’t last, you only get hurt, so why bother?
Enter Audrey, whose youthful essence and vibrancy throws him off his steady path. When last we saw them in Sweet Liar, they shared a glorious night of passion, but Dylan thought that was the end of it. You almost feel bad for him because he truly believes this. That heart he thinks he controls, though? It has different ideas. That heart wants Audrey.
Laurelin Paige makes you (not to mention Dylan) wait for the sexy times. Dylan needs to earn those. He needs to stop fighting his heart and all of the love that he sequesters and denies. He also needs to stop thinking he knows what’s best for himself and for Audrey. He makes mistakes, but then he tries to convince himself that those mistakes were necessary.
Those sexy times you wait for are delicious and perfectly detailed. They will make you swoon and sigh and squeeze your thighs. Dylan, dear readers, has SKILLS.
I love everything about this book. I love how Laurelin Paige draws Dylan, showing you his cranky, curmudgeonly stubbornness, while at the same time letting you see how much he wants to love and be loved. Dylan will alternately frustrate you and make you want to hug him and tell him, “You are worthy.”
***ARC Provided by the Author***
How do you review perfection? What the heck do you say about a book that was just absolutely perfect? Do you talk about the characters and how much you liked them? Do you say you couldn’t put it down? Do you say that books like this are the reason the author is one of your favorites?
I guess you start with that, by saying it was exactly what you wanted it to be…for all of those reasons.
There were no parts of this I would change, there was nothing that seemed out of place or out of character. It flowed, I didn’t want to put it down. I was up way too late reading, and finishing this book was the first thing I thought of when I woke up this morning.
Dylan. I felt for him so completely. With his struggle, with the reasons for it, and with how heartfelt it was. A lot of times heroes in books have things that are keeping them from the relationship that is right in front of them, and often you find yourself annoyed that they are missing what is right in front of them. But Dylan and his story is different…you don’t get annoyed, your heart breaks for him because he believes what he is saying, he believes that what he is doing is right, he believes that love isn’t in the cards for him, that it won’t work, and that Audrey is better off with someone else.
Imagine his surprise, and his angst (which the reader shares) when he realizes what we already know…that he is in love with Audrey. And, that he can’t be with her because of those fears. he tries to ignore it, and then realizes that he really can’t.
By that time, Audrey (and everyone else in his life, albeit in different ways) are calling him out on it, telling him that his fears are holding him back. But, and I won’t spoil the “who” of it, he finally hears it from the person who actually gets through to him. And, isn’t that just the way life works? You can be told the same thing 937 times, but there is always the one time, the one person, the one way of telling you, that you finally hear it. This scene is perfection…it’s beautiful for it’s raw emotional honestly and for how healing it is in a number of ways. This has to happen for them to get the HEA that we know is coming, but as is true about romance, since we know where it is going, it’s all about the story and character development and the path the characters take to get to the HEA.
This book is told through Dylan’s POV, and I think it is stronger for it. Audrey is fine with the age gap, with who Dylan is, with what he wants out of life, and the things he says he doesn’t want in his future are things she is ok with compromising on (except loving him) so…the problem is Dylan, and it’s really his book.
For someone who says she has a cold, back heart, Laurelin Paige sure knows how to write a compelling, angsty, beautiful romance…kind of makes me suspect she is secretly loving, kind, and a romantic. (Don’t tell her I said that.)
I loved and recommend this book.