Sugar Spun Sister by Anna Garner (Book Review)

Sugar Spun Sister by Anna Garner

Book 1: Sweet Dreams Series

Publisher: Independent Self Publishing

Publication Date: December 18, 2013

Format: e-Book - 264 pages / Kindle - 2941 KB 

ASIN: B00HFA3QPY

Genre: Chick Lit / Women's Fiction

BUY THE BOOK: Sugar Spun Sister

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Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Book Description:

Life isn’t exactly sweet for Cricket Whittier. Her boss hates her, her work is soul-destroying, and the sexy guy she’s hooking up with doesn’t want to date her. But this girl is far from hopeless. When Cricket’s in the kitchen with her ice cream maker and a few choice ingredients, her troubles slip away as she becomes a delectable dessert-designing powerhouse. She loves it so much, she dreams of opening her own ice cream shop one day.

As it turns out, “one day” just might be closer than she thinks. Propelled by the help and encouragement of her best friends, Lindsay and Nora, Cricket starts making plans to set up shop. Which is easier said than done what with the internal squabbling, the sky-high costs, her parents forecasting failure and her increasingly complicated love life. Despite all these hurdles, will Cricket be able to make her sweet dreams come true?


My Book Review:

Author Anna Garner (aka Libby Mercer) has created a sweet new series called Sweet Dreams that is centered around a trio of best friends, and the forming of their business partnership in a gourmet ice cream shop called Sweet Dreams.

In Sugar Spun Sister, the first book of the series, the reader is introduced to Cricket Whittier and her best friends Lindsay and Nora. Set in San Francisco, this sweet tale follows ad copywriter Cricket Whittier as she deals with a job that she hates and a boss with a Napoleon Complex and a mean streak that makes Cricket yearn to fulfill her dream of opening a gourmet ice cream shop.

Cricket's dream of owning her own business starts with an ice cream maker as a housewarming gift from her brother Daniel (Dusk). Coming up with gourmet ice cream concoctions that provides a therapeutic and relaxing measure to combat the tensions of her job, Cricket's delicious hobby gets high praise from family and friends, that turns into a dream of someday owning her own ice cream shop. With the support and prodding of Cricket's two best friends, Lindsay and Nora, her dream turns into a reality when they form a partnership to open Sweet Dreams, a gourmet ice cream shop. Their journey of becoming business partner is filled with hurdles and humorous trials and tribulations, family issues, and romance drama, but there's nothing like a little ice cream to make life that much sweeter!

Sugar Spun Sister is a heartwarming tale about a woman who follows her dreams with the support of her two best friends and family. This was such a fun story to read, it revolves around friendships, family, and romance, with touching moments that will make you smile, and laugh-out-loud moments that will make you giggle. You can't help but get drawn into Cricket's story and follow her journey with Lindsay and Nora as they make her dream come true. While the main focus is on the development of the ice cream shop from dream to business plan to fruition; the author interweaves into the storyline Cricket's family history, an on/off casual friends with benefits relationship, and a glimpse into the lives of Lindsay and Nora as well.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the author teases her readers with the inclusion of delicious gourmet ice cream recipes at the beginning of each chapter that simply makes the mouth water. I think the inclusion of the recipe at the beginning of the chapter is a great lead into each chapter, and I really enjoyed reading how each chapter's recipe was created.

Cricket, Lindsay and Nora will each have their story featured in one of the books in the Sweet Dreams series.

With a quirky cast of characters; a richly detailed description of San Francisco; and a thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable storyline; Sugar Spun Sister is a must-read for all Chick Lit fans!


RATING: 4 STARS ****

About The Author

Born and raised in the Midwest, Anna Garner's adventurous spirit kicked in after graduating from high school, and she's since lived in Boston, NYC and London. For several years, Anna worked in fashion--first as a journalist and then as a shopkeeper, and for a while she dabbled in design. Although chick lit was her first love, Anna started writing quirky romances, and her first one, Fashioning a Romance, was published in May 2012 under the name of Libby Mercer. This was followed by two more quirky romances: Unmasking Maya and The Karmic Connection. Since Lying to Meet You is written in old school chick lit style and isn't a clear cut love story, Anna decided to publish it under her real name. She currently lives in San Francisco and spends most of her time cranking out more stories.


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