A hot, funny brother’s best friend rom com . . . with sugar on top!
She’s his best friend’s little sister. He’s known her all his life. He’s practically part of the family. There is nothing either of them could do to surprise the other at this point. Then she showed up in his bedroom in lingerie and asked him to take her V-card.
Okay, that was a surprise.
Aiden is pretty sure Zoe was equally … pretty sure Zoe was equally surprised when he told her no.
To say that he didn’t handle it well would be a massive understatement. Almost as massive as the amount of work he’s going to have to do now to convince her that he wants her. Forever.
Right after he tells her that he’s bought the company that’s her bakery’s biggest competitor.
Maybe if he tells her he’s in love with her first, that will help sugarcoat the whole we’re-rivals-in-business-now thing.
So, first “I’m in love with you”, then “take off your clothes”, then “I’m now your business adversary”.
Sure. Piece of cake.
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No one does sexy small-town romance like Erin Nicholas. This new series does NOT disappoint! I laughed and swooned and fanned myself. Brother’s best friend is my FAVORITE trope, and I devoured this book like cake pops!
Great start to a new series with a serious side, and a sweet side. I loved all the analogies used from baking terms and lol’ed a lot. Zoe and Aiden went from friends to lovers, best friend’s little sister, all kinds of mischief in this.
Happy fast paced read that will have you smiling, feeling good, and with a hankering for sweets.
Enjoyed this so much, I’m still smiling!
SUGARCOATED (Hot Cakes Book #1) by Erin Nicholas is the first book in a new contemporary romance/romantic comedy series. This story is a best friend’s little sister/friends-to-lovers mash-up with all the emotion, humor and sexual chemistry I expect in a romance by Erin Nicholas.
Fluke, Inc. is a highly successful company started by five college friends who sold their highly popular, original video game for millions. Aiden and Camden grew up in a small town in Iowa, which is where they all become involved in the purchase and rescue of the town’s largest employer – Hot Cakes.
Aiden is looking for an investment project so that he can return home and claim his best friend’s sister and live happily ever after. The opportunity to buy and save Hot Cakes to keep three hundred people employed in his hometown pops up and he feels it is the perfect opportunity for Fluke, Inc. and him. How can he tell Zoe he loves her, but he also bought her hated rival and competition?
Zoe has been dreading Aiden’s return to town ever since he turned down her surprise offering of her virginity on Christmas Eve. He is back and shaking up everything she believes in and Zoe does not like change. As Zoe begins to open up and believe in Aiden’s love, he is still hiding his other reason for his return.
This is such a sweet and tasty treat of a romance. When I started this book, I thought Aiden and Zoe were so different, but they both ended up having the same fear. Ms. Nicholas’ dialogue is witty and her sexual tension and inuendo continue to ramp up the heat to a sexy and hot scene in Zoe’s bakery. The sexual banter and sex scenes are explicit, but not gratuitous. The introduction of Zoe’s friends and all the other men in Fluke, Inc. has you anticipating even more fun and sexy romance to come.
I recommend this first book in the Hot Cakes series and I will definitely be waiting for more.
This is the first book in the Hot Cake series based in the town of Appleby, Iowa. Aiden is from Appleby but has been living in Chicago where he has created a gaming empire with a few of his friends. They recently sold the company and Aiden decided to spend some of the money in Appleby. But the way it does is going to upset his family. Then we have Zoe she has lived in Appleby all her life and runs the bakery Buttered Up her grandma. Hot Cakes is a competitor to Buttered Up in Zoe’s eyes but honestly not really. Aiden and his fellow friends bought Hot Cakes and this brings them to Appleby. You have to read this to get started on the Hot Cakes series.
Fun, flirty, cute, and quick. That about sums this one up. It’s a pretty typical story about the best friend’s little sister who suddenly becomes much more than the little sister. It’s typical, unless, of course, you count the Fluke, Inc and millionaire thing before you’re thirty. Oh, and the “have to save the hometown” thing. Then, there’s the hometown feud that rivals any Hatfield/McCoy story you’ve ever heard. Yeah, so things maybe aren’t so typical. This is a great start to a new series and will have you entertained the entire time you’re reading.
I loved everything about this book, small town, friends to lovers, really likable characters and the storyline. Zoe and Aiden have known each other since they were kids. Their fondness for each other grew into love. Aiden is back in Appleby to buy the snack cakes factory, the one that is rivals to Zoe’s family bakery. But can he convince Zoe there is no rivalry, no competition at all really and to get her to marry him. Highly recommended. Can’t wait to read Dax and Jane’s story next.
Sweeter than any cupcake, full of humor & loaded with fun Sugarcoated was exactly the book I needed right now. If you’re looking for a read you can truly escape into and are jonesing for some good steamy romance to leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy Erin Nicolas has got you covered with this one.
I had so much fun reading Zoe and Aiden’s story. It was brother’s best friend, second chance goodness coated in sugary sweet magic and I couldn’t put it down! I’m super excited to see where this series is going to take us now. I managed to not only fall in love with Zoe and Aiden but also their friends and family and cannot wait for more!
I love the cast of quirky characters in this series – not only Zoe and Aiden, but also their friends and families – and the overall small-town flair of this series. Looking forward to reading more in the series (although I’ll admit that I’m especially looking forward to reading Ollie’s story!)
Aiden and Zoe go from life long friends to engaged in a hot, sweet, cream filled cupcake minute.
Zoe needs help losing her virginity and she wants Aiden to do it, but he rejects her offer but not for the reasons she thinks. When Aiden buys up her competition things get heated and the chemistry they feel for one another continues to pull them together, but are they both ready for what is next?
This was fun, I liked the couple and thought it was a great beginning to a new series.
Aiden is back in Applebee to win Zoey’s heart and save Hot Cakes, the bussiness that Zoey and her family jas had a grudge fot too long. Can he convinve her they are mean to be together? great audiobook
Sugarcoated is the first book in the Hot Cakes series. It’s a Rom-Com in a small town, best friends little sister with her V-card trope. The book is well written, has lots of witty dialogue, a family feud, some drama, friendly characters, steamy parts and a HEA. IMO, this is a great start to a Banging series!
Aiden and Zoe have basically known each other their whole lives since he is her brother’s best friend. Aiden is considered part of the family and some think they will eventually end up together. Zoe runs her family’s bakery and Aiden is in business with his best friends and they are millionaires.
Zoe wants someone she can trust to take her v-card, she shows up in Aiden’s bedroom at Christmas in lingerie and asks to him to do the taking. He turns her down flat…
She is humiliated and tries to forget the whole thing happened until Aiden shows up in her bakery and admits he didn’t handle the situation quite like he should have. Now, he is wants to take her v-card and also wants to marry her.
Aiden is also in town because he wants to buy her bakery’s biggest competitor, but how and when to break that to her is the dilemma. Does he do it before or after he tells her he’s in love with her?
Unfortunately, Aiden doesn’t handle it quite like he should have and now must convince her with sugar on top that they can have both.
I’ve found a new one-click author! Really enjoyed the humor and the heat!
I loved this story so much. This was my first Erin Nicholas novel and I loved her writing style. The story centers around a bakery and lots of baking and sweets which I always love. Plus, the main heroine is a virgin which made for a hot steamy plot. I do not want to give anything away but at times the plot was predictable but I still very much enjoyed reading this book and flew through it. I don’t know if I will continue on with the series but I will for sure be picking up another book by the author. Plus, the author and I have the same last name which is totally dope! <3
Really cute and well written.
Loved it. Highly recommend.
Sugarcoated (Hot Cakes, Book 1) gives you a blended mix of bittersweet vibes. I enjoyed every minute of the audio. I loved getting Aiden and Zoey’s history together and the sweet treats too. A romantic comedy with humor and laughter, great chemistry and characters.
Jason Clarke, Lili Valente dual naration performance encompasses the characters perfectly. Jason Clarke’s deep gravelly inflection is always wonderful to listen to. Lili’s sweet and smooth tone is exciting to listen to. Together these two work together wonderfully.
A entertaining listen.
Sugarcoated was a sweet and savory friends to lovers romance that made me swoon! Aiden and Zoe had amazing chemistry and were such a driven and devoted couple. Can we just talk about the kitchen at the bakery? Holy Moly, I am never going to look at frosting or filling the same way again – totally took sexy to a whole new level. I never wanted to be Zoe more than in that moment! You should read this book for the table, the fridge, the strawberry jar and the proposal alone. I would gladly experience all my firsts with Aiden! Sugarcoated will definitely make you hyped up about true love and all the sweet treats forever has to offer.
Tracey, Life Reads with Friends
I personally found the main character annoying and whiny. That’s just my opinion and no slight to the author.
Aiden, his best friend, and three other friends made a video game and are now millionaires. Aiden has known Zoe, his best friend’s little sisterm all his life. He is practically part of the family. Neither thinks they can surprise the other. Then Zoe showed up in Aiden’s bedroom in lingerie and asked him to take her V-card. Aiden is confident that Zoe was equally surprised when he told her no. He did not handle it well. He is going to have a massive amount of work to convince her that he wants her forever, right after he tells her he bought the company that is her bakery’s biggest competition. – This romance is fun but drags. I enjoyed the time between Zoe and Aiden. There is too much discussion about buying Hot Cakes. Then the book ends without us knowing the rest of the story. This is supposed to be a standalone, but I am disappointed.