The Sweetest Thing: Just Desserts, Book 1

Mello (Hearts Afire) delivers a delectable romance that explores family values while ladling on the hotness. Feisty Harper Donovan comes to Memphis, pushed by her indomitable grandmother, to attend her estranged father’s funeral. She’s stunned to learn that he left her all his possessions, including Just Desserts, his pastry shop. His two surviving foster sons, Quentin and Troy Elliott, who work at Just Desserts and didn’t know Harper existed, are likewise shocked. As the three of them grieve and learn to get along, Harper jumps right in to learn about her father and the bakery business. Soon Quentin and Harper begin to flirtatiously tease, tempt, and torment each other, and a six-month moratorium to deal with grief and practical matters before making a commitment encourages them to be creative in satisfying their passionate affections. Complicating matters, Quentin’s former best friend, Dwayne, offers to buy the shop—abetted by Quentin and Dwayne’s scheming mutual ex, Rachel. A wealth of multifaceted characters adds to this scrumptious and satisfying treat. (Mar.)