He’s the kind of guy that keeps me up all night, but only in my dreams. And it’s agony, sweet agony.From the moment I laid eyes on Brantley Cardwell, I knew he was too good to be true—sexy, southern and charming.There are some guys that are just too everything for their own good.I should’ve kept my distance that summer, but I didn’t.I should’ve known better than to fall for someone like him. But … didn’t.
I should’ve known better than to fall for someone like him. But at seventeen, taking control of my heart wasn’t so easy.
I thought he’d be my first kiss. I thought he’d be my first everything.
He became my first crush. And then he crushed me.
Twelve years later he’s back in town and there’s no way I’ll fall for that sexy southern drawl, irresistible smile and all that charm.
No matter how well he fills out a pair of old faded Levi’s.
Maybe it’s the taste of bourbon on his lips that burns so good. But the bourbon holds a secret igniting a firestorm neither one of us can stop.
Now Brant is risking his legacy, his family, his heart—all for me.
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Small town, second chance!!
This was a fun, sweet small town romance. But don’t get me wrong, it was sweet, but there was also heat! Brandt was a dirty talker and Caroline was a level headed, caring woman. Together, they are perfect! I enjoyed the characters in this book, particularly those we revisited from previous books. I also appreciated the low level of angst and drama.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Unrequited love has Caroline mad when Brantley Cardwell returns to their hometown. Little does she know that things have changed and all bets are off. What else does Brant have to do to show Caroline that he wants her? Can Caroline trust Brant not to break her heart again? And who can resist cake!! Loved this story!!
Everyone in town is happy to see the return of Brant to takeover the family business except for Caroline. As a teenager she and Brant were friends however her feelings developed into love and she was devastated when he left without telling her and with no further contact.
Brant had his reasons for leaving but now that he is back the connection and chemistry between them is stronger than ever. Will this be their second chance?
Sweet and sexy this small town romance hits the spot. Witty banter, romance, great characters and all the feels.
Sweet Agony by Christy Pastore is a beautiful 2nd chance romance read that will have you feeling all kinds of emotions. From the prologue to the time Brant and Caroline are back in each other’s lives years later then the intense flair of the passion that still exists between them which means that 2nd chance romance but Caroline isn’t so quick to forgive Brant for what happened years before and how he left her…will their love get a 2nd chance? This 2nd chance romance is set in Kentucky Bourbon country. The cast of secondary characters adds to the story and I loved how Ms. Pastore wrote the small town romance which was a great standalone. The plot was amazing, the characters real and believable, the chemistry between the main characters steamy and sweet, and most of all, a likeable and relatable romance. I enjoyed reading this book so much!! The ending quite beautiful.
My Rating: 4.8 stars *******
Sweet agony! Brant and Caroline had a sweet teenage friendship but timing and circumstances pulled them apart. Twelve years later, Brant is back and drawn to his former friend. Caroline is reluctant to get involved with her former crush. What follows is a slow burn romance with a lot of heat and a lot of sweetness. I enjoyed both of the main characters and there were quite a few twists that definitely kept my interest. I’m looking forward to more from this series!
How can you not swoon over Brant? Just find me a real life Brant and point me in his direction. Is he too good to be true? Maybe, but I don’t mind. Not all the world has to be about the bad boy. I personally love that he’s a good, hardworking, loyal kind of guy. I loved the slow burn between he and Caroline. Just because he’s a good man doesn’t mean he’s vanilla and boring. Once the heat was turned on, it was like an inferno. I loved Caroline too. She was selfless and giving and turned the other cheek with the mean girls. She deserved to have a romantic second chance with her crush. There’s always some kind of drama, but this was an easy, get-sucked-in read for me, and I loved it! Now I need some air.
This was a sweet and sexy story, the characters connected really well and the story flowed perfectly.
Well….I just loved everything about this book! So…where to start…
The characters were fantastic. The way author Christy Pastore created, visualized, and gave them to us in this wonderful story just filled me. From their personalities to their thoughts and actions was such a perfect combination! Swoon-worthy Brantly Cardwell, who crushed Caroline Stratton’s heart on her eighteenth birthday, and is now back in town.
Then you have the storyline…it was so good! The backstory was very well written. The banter was there but not extremely intense. There were moments of heartache and love and warmth and humor…yeah…it was just perfectly put together. It is a wonderful second-chance, small town romance, (with a little mystery involved) novel!
I absolutely enjoyed this two person POV story! Looking forward to the next release from this author!
BRANT….. he is everything
I loved this book. It had all the feels
Sweet Agony is a wonderful mix of heart, laughter, heat and a dash of small-town mystery that hooks you in and keeps you there until the very last page.
Brandt is the best kind of hero – sweet, driven, willing to do what’s right, and a total dirty talker. Caroline is the type of heroine you can picture as your best friend – level headed, always willing to help out a friend, and is no BS. Put these two together, things are bound to explode in the best way possible. I loved watching their story unfold and their character development while their relationship heats up.
I loved going back to Mayfield, and can’t wait to see what comes next.
Sweet Agony Recipe:
A Double Shot of Passion, a Twist of Fate, and Barrel Proof Love
Sweet Agony is intoxicating and irresistible. The chemistry between Caroline and Brant is potent and pulsates throughout every encounter. These two characters share their dreams and fears with one another as they learn to lean into love. The sexual tension sizzles and the payoff is blissful. Add in some small town troublemakers, a few interesting rumors, and a bit of mystery to fuel the story along. Ms. Pastore does a magnificent job of infusing emotion, passion, and hope into this story. Caroline and Brant will make you believe in fate and love. Cheers!
This book was sweet and beautiful! It gave me all the feels!
Brant and Caroline are a couple that I completely get and understand the push and pull. They both have their reasoning’s for so many things, but deep down they love each other wholeheartedly. Brant is back to take over his family’s business, the business that is also has history with Caroline’s family.
Caroline sees Brant is back, she tries to hold off on her feelings, but the pull toward him is so real. What is truly beautiful is to see them work as a team and encourage each other, they truly in tune with one another.
How many of us get a second chance with our first crush? Can I handle it if this crush ends up crushing me again
More my review ~click here~https://youtu.be/8wdJwEoldMQ
This is the first book by this author that I have read and I am so happy that I did. A great second chance romance. Brant and Caroline had a past so when he returns to his hometown, they realize that the attraction is still there between them. They are really going to have to work on several things before they can actually move on in the present. Can they be friends again or can it be something much more? Can she trust him not to break her heart again? If you pick up this book, you will get these questions answered and I think that you will like the outcome. As I said, this was the first book that I have read from this author but it won’t be my last.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
When Caroline runs into Brant after all these years, the old feelings she used to have for him swim to the surface. She wants to know why he up and disappeared all those years ago, he’s the reason she can’t eat cake after all. Told in alternating points of view, Sweet Agony tells the story of Caroline and Brant, life in Mayfield and so much more.
I’m really loving the town of Mayfield and all the characters that Christy is introducing us to. Caroline is a lot of fun who is always helping out others. and I love the way she handles Courtney Leigh. Brant is a good and honest guy who has worked hard in his life, he’s returned home to do right by his family. He treats women with respect and even tried to help out Courtney Leigh, even though she twisted everything around, as we’ve learned she’s known to do.
I like how good Brant and Caroline are together, it’s fun and easy-going, and oh so hot. They are a fun couple who make a great addition to the town and I’m looking forward to seeing more of them in future books. Sweet Agony has a great storyline with wonderful characters, both new and old, and I love how Christy is weaving together such a fun town to live in. Nicely done!
This book kept me flipping the pages to see what was going to happen between Caroline and Brant. When she was in high school, she had a crush on him, but he never pursued her because she was underage. When he returns home, he keeps running into Caroline and he wonders why she’s so upset with him. Wait until you find out why, lol. Things really heat up, when they finally talk. I loved the suspense in this story and how everything worked out in the end. I loved catching up with the characters from Beautiful March also. I hope to read more books from this author, in the future.
5 Swoon Worthy Stars!!!
OMG I have totally fallen in love with Brant Cardwell! The perfect gentleman was written in this book. Bourbon sipping, fills out a pair of Levi jeans like a man should, manners abound, looks totally delicious in a suit, knows his way around the kitchen even managing to cook a couple satisfying dinners, Honest, treats the dog like family, Good looking, came home to take over the family business so that his father could step back and enjoy his retirement. The list goes on and on…
Caroline Stratton has never left the little Kentucky town that everyone knows everyone and the gossip spreads quicker than soften butter on fresh bread. Holding down several jobs just to make ends meet, she is just surviving.
Rumor has it that Brant is back in town. After leaving without even saying goodbye all those years ago, Caroline can’t knock that feeling she had way back when she had a serious crush on him. Like monarch butterflies migrating south all at once. The flutters in her belly just thinking about Brant back in the day… Being 17 just turning 18 and he was 22.
Will seeing him again bring back the flutters or will seeing him again be a confirmation that it was best to try to forget about him?
Absolutely loved reading this swoon worthy Frenemies to Lovers!
Sweet Agony is a small town, second chance romance at its best!! I loved this feel good, humorous and light hearted romance with its relatable plot that captured my attention and consistently kept me engaged.
I was more than looking forward to reading Brant Cardwell’s story and boy did he exceed my expectations. He was an absolute dream with his smooth demeanor and his dirty mouth gave me all the hot feels. He met Caroline when they were younger and although they both crushed on each other, she was too young for him at the time. They reunited years later and it’s obvious that their connection and passion never died.
Sweet Agony is a swoon worthy romance packed with sexy heat and steamy moments that you don’t want to miss. And once again, Ms. Pastore did an excellent job with writing memorable secondary characters that will have you begging for their stories to be written. It’s a definite must read!!
This book just made me feel good. From the prologue you just got the instantaneous feel that this was going to be filled with all kinds of food for thought . Even though it’s a second chance romance there’s so much more to delve into within these pages. Can a first crush be real? Can it sustain the test of time? Are first impressions lasting impressions or can we let out minds jump to conclusions too quickly without finding out all the facts? Can there really be truth in old stories or are they usually just myths? Can one person truly change how we feel about ones long standing beliefs?
Yes, these are just some of the issues that came into my mind as I read this book.
Brantley, is the Southern Charmer any girl would be proud to call her own. He’s smart, kind, successful in his own right but he has some of his own baggage that he has to sort through.
Caroline, is a smart, independent no nonsense girl with dreams and desires of her own. She doesn’t have time for petty trivial people. She’s loyal and true to her friends and family. Just like so many she struggles with her own insecurities. Can she trust her own judgment when it comes to her heart, business and her long held beliefs, especially where Brantley is involved?
Of course these two have undeniable chemistry but is that enough? So many factors influence their lives can they overcome the obstacles in front of them? Well that’s why you have to read the book. I’m not going to tell you. Where would the fun be in that?
Within this story there are so many interesting characters; good, nasty, fun and some I’m hoping appear in future stories. I’ll just say I’m hoping to see a book for Weston. I have no idea if that’s in the works but I’m hoping.
This is my first book by this author and let me tell you I truly enjoyed it. It won’t be my last. In all honesty I wouldn’t have minded if this book was just a little longer. I could’ve stayed with these people for quite a while. Yes, I fell in love with Brantley. You will too! This is a story that brings all the feels. Don’t worry, you’ll get the heat you’re looking for but it’s also so romantic. Romance comes in many forms! Sweet agony never felt so good!
Sweet and steamy small town romance. Caroline has had feelings for Brant for a while. They were close friends for a short time, but Brant felt that Caroline was too young (17) and he unintentionally broke her heart. Fast forward many years later and Grant is back to take the reigns of his family’s bourbon distillery. Can they rekindle their friendship and maybe have more? Will old betrayals stand in their way?
I loved that they got their history out of the way quickly. Caroline told him point blank how she felt and they moved on. I can’t tell you how happy this made me. No unnecessary push/pull, no irritating “I hate him, but I love him when he kisses me.” The author establishes a relationship fairly early on, so we are able to see a true progression of their relationship and how they handle any obstacles. The banter was sweet and the steamy scenes were so hot. I loved how Caroline handled the mean girls. A roll of the eyes is often enough to get across how much someone really cares about a particular situation. We also get to see friends and family in their relationships old and new, which really helped me connect to the story as a whole. Well written with great flow, no stilted dialogue, and great descriptions. Great read full of heat, heart, humor, and happiness!