Icing on the Cake by Ann Marie Walker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


How does a heart bounce back from being Walkerized? Amidst the laughter and temptation, lies an enchanting amount of emotion. Icing the Cake takes the sweetest part of romance and turns into a spicy brand of fun. 

In honor of the 4th Anniversary of the launch of The Chasing Fire series (where did the time go?), all four books now have amazing new covers (thanks to the talented Simone Renou) and for the first time are available in PRINT!

The re-launch schedule is as follows:

REMIND ME  - Available now! https://amzn.to/2D74xLy

RELEASE ME - Available now! https://amzn.to/2D5QpC0

RECLAIM ME - Available now! https://amzn.to/2WXfoz2

EMBRACE ME - Available 5/7 https://amzn.to/2VCb8on

REMIND ME by Ann Marie Walker & Amy K. Rogers

Excerpt:

Allie reached for her lemon drop martini, her second of the night, and licked a bit of sugar from the rim. The tangy beverages were going down much too smoothly. If she didn’t get some food in her stomach, she’d be paying the price come morning. The last thing she needed was to roll into work with a hangover. “We should order.”

Harper took a generous sip of something called a Strawberry Blonde and grabbed a menu off the marble tabletop. She flipped through the small leather binder, bypassing the extensive wine list in favor of colorful drinks with elaborate descriptions. “Oh!” Her eyes grew wide. “How about a Sucker Punch?

“I meant something more along the lines of dinner, but what the hell.”

Harper craned her neck, searching for the waiter she’d been flirting with all night. She startled when he was suddenly at her side.

“Can I bring you ladies another round?” he asked. Allie had to admit he was a bit of a doll. Big brown eyes with lashes that wouldn’t quit, dark hair a little longer than most, and a smile to make you forget what you were going to order. At least that was the effect he seemed to be having on Harper.

Allie came to her rescue. “Two Sucker Punches, please.” As soon as he was out of earshot she jumped on the chance to tease her tongue-tied friend. “Harper Hayes, speechless. Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Oh, shut up,” Harper grumbled. Her cheeks were rosy pink as she reached for her glass. “He just caught me off guard, that’s all. They should tell him not to sneak up on people like that.” She finished off the rest of her cocktail and plucked the strawberry garnish from the edge of the glass. Allie could almost see the wheels turning as Harper regained her composure. “I’m going to give him my number,” she announced.

The waiter returned a few minutes later with two oversize hurricane glasses on his tray. The size alone assured Allie the drinks would live up to their name, but when she tried a sip she knew she was in trouble. The fruity concoction was far too delicious considering the pleasant buzz she was already feeling. She stirred the drink with her straw, watching in awe as Harper jotted her number on a napkin and slipped it into the waiter’s hand.

Allie shook her head. She could never be as daring as Harper. Then again, she’d had a pretty daring afternoon.

Images filtered through her mind. Hudson’s body pinning hers against the mirror . . . his warm breath fanning out across her neck . . . his fingers teasing and taunting before sending her spiraling over the edge . . .

“So what’s the real scoop with you and Mr. Hottie from the party?” Harper asked as if reading her wayward thoughts.

Allie tried to hide her blush behind her glass, needing a moment to regroup before once again denying any interest in the man who’d brought her to orgasm during her lunch hour. In a dressing room. At Macy’s. Dear lord. She tipped the glass higher, practically gulping her cocktail.

“He seems like a man who knows his way around a bedroom and would be more than happy to give you a tour.”

Allie choked on her drink.

Harper sucked in a sharp breath. “Oh my God, you slept with him.” It was a statement, not a question, and one Allie knew there was no point in denying. The proof was all over her face, not to mention spilled half way down her blouse.

She wiped her chin with the back of her hand. “A little louder, Harper. I don’t think the valet heard you.”

“Sorry. It’s just . . . I don’t know, you’ve always been so reserved. You’re not exactly the type to get down and dirty with someone you just met.”

“We didn’t just meet.”

A B O U T TH E A U TH O R S:

Ann Marie Walker writes steamy books about sexy boys. She’s a fan of fancy cocktails, anything chocolate, and 80s rom-coms and her super power is connecting any situation to an episode of Friends. If it's December she can be found watching Love Actually but the rest of the year you can find her at AnnMarieWalker.com. Ann Marie attended the University of Notre Dame and currently lives in Chicago. 

Amy K. Rogers writes contemporary romance about sexy, alpha men. She loves good wine, cheese of any variety and finding hidden speakeasies. On a rare quiet night she can be found watching old James Bond films. After living in San Francisco for 20 years followed by a short stint in Oregon, Amy recently relocated back to the beaches of Los Angeles.

"The perfect balance between blistering physical desire and heartfelt connections..." ~ RT Book Review on REMIND ME  ★★★★ 1/2

Cassandra/Cassie hadn’t had sex in a long time. Her best friend was Livvy also her silent partner in the bakery.  Cassie had been putting every spare minute she had into the bakery- Sugar Rush. The grand opening was in two months and cassie felt there was so much to do. Livvy hadn’t envisioned Cassie working eighteen hour days. Cassie hadn’t wanted to take the weekend off but it was her brother Mathew’s wedding  Cassie hoped to find the one and be happy but it would be awhile yet right now she had a shop to open. There were invoiced to check, shelves to stack, and vendors to meet with and ads to place. The lists went on and on which meant Cassie had no time for men. Cassie was making Mathew and Emily’s wedding cake, groom’s cake and cupcakes as her gift to them. Three years ago cassie had quit her job as a CPA in one of Chicago’s top accounting firms to follow her passion. Henry/ Hank knew that a change of this magnitude could cause an international incident. Because what Henry was about to propose went against all acceptable procedure. But for the weekend Prince Henry just wanted to be hank an ordinary man and told his detail this.henry and his grandmother argued about the topic of his travel when he traveled on leisure henry wanted his  location to be a need to know basis . his father the Crown Prince Edgar was a little more understanding. A royal bloodline came with a lot of perks but at a price. Edgar was head of henry’s security team. Henry was going to Mathew’;s wedding as he had been one of his best friends from university. While Cassie is working in her borrowed bakery to bake for the wedding Hank walked in to ask for directions. Hank is immediately taken with Cassie. Cassie sees Hank at her brothers wedding and decides to go ahead and have some fun and let her wild side out and hank seems more than willing. Then eventually through the press Cassie realizes who hank really is and the lies he told her.

I liked this book a lot. It was a fun easy read. I advise you to read the first book in this series for a smooth flow and knowledge of the characters as some are carried forward into this book. I didn’t really care that Henry didn’t tell her the truth and she had to find out by the press. He could have trusted Cassie instead she had to be hurt more than necessary. I chuckled at times while reading this. This had a kind of Cinderella feeling to it with a “ common” woman and a ‘royal” male. This dragged a little for me at times. I did enjoy the plot. This was predictable but I still liked it and finished it. I liked hank and Cassie together. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend.

Olivia thought how just like clockwork the SUV came to a stop alongside the curb as it stopped a full alne of Chicago's morning rush hour to a grinding halt.  Then Coleman/Cole Grant III gets out of the vehicle to get the same extra hot double shot Americano from the same big chain coffee shop. It looked like Cole ran Nasa from the back seat of the vehicle not just a business. The commute from his Gold Coast penthouse to his loop headquarters was less than two miles. Everything about Cole oozed power and sex. Olivia went to Cole and he said most people simply make an appointment with his assistant. Olivia said she had tried but for some reason his schedule was always full. Olivia had no plan to stop the sidewalk sessions until Cole agreed to her demands or he filed a restraining order. Olivia was fighting for the northern long-eared bat. Then coleman said they were really the most vile creature had she ever considered taking up the fight for  a more appealing animal. Then Cole handed Olivia a cup of coffee. Olivia wondered if Cole thought he could charm his way out of the hot seat? Olivia had spent her entire adult life and most of her teens speaking on behalf of those who couldn’t. As he got in the car Cole flashed her a grin that could have made her drop her latte also her panties if she didn’t find him to be lacking if not only morals and ethics but quiet possibly a soul. Olivia's best friend was Cassie and they were going to Vegas. Cole went to the hospital to see his sister Rebecca. He hated seeing her in a hospital bed as tubes dripped and machines beeped. But for Rebecca it was business as usual. Cole reminded her she needed to rest. Then he left. Cole made a trip to vegas and it happened to be the same time Olivia was there. Olivia and Cole run into each other and they get drunk and end up in bed together. They had planned to keep everything in Vegas that had happened. But Cole needed to be married to beat the clause in his father's will. The business Cole had  build up and put so much into. Otherwise his grandmother would get the business. Cole suggest he and Olivia marry then she would save that bat and he would get the business. So they married in front of an Elvis look alike. Cole met Olivia's parents and saw how much they still loved each other and he thinks maybe this is something he could want. Cole had never really been part of a family as he had been brought up by servants and nanny’s.

I enjoyed this book. It was a fast cute read. But I do think there were a few too many conflicts entered into this book. But I loved how Olivia was not intimidated by Cole  and she told what she thought including of him. I did feel the ending was rushed. I liked the plot and pace. I laughed at times while reading this. I loved the way Olivia and Cole interacted with each other. I really enjoyed the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend.

Icing on the Cake

by Ann Marie Walker

Publication Date: January 30, 2018

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Notting Hill meets The Prince & Me in Icing on the Cake, the second standalone laugh-out-loud romance in Ann Marie Walker’s Wild Wedding series

Cassandra Miller doesn’t have time for men. She’s far too busy trying to open a cupcake shop with her silent partner and best friend, not to mention catering her brother’s wedding. And let’s face it, it’s not like Prince Charming is going to stroll into the bakery and sweep her off her feet.

Henry has been a prince his entire life but for one wild wedding he wants to be nothing more than an “Average Joe”, or in this instance, “Average Hank”. However, when a case of mistaken identity and a batch of burned cupcakes ends in a night of passion, Cassie and Hank must decide if theirs is a recipe for disaster or the makings of true romance.

Icing on the Cake by Ann Marie Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 2nd book in the Wild Wedding series. This book can be read as standalone novel. For reader enjoyment and understanding of the series, I recommend reading in order.

Cassandra is busy trying to build a new life for herself. She is starting a new business, and really does not have time to date. Going to her brother's wedding gives her the chance to have a fling with a sexy someone.

Henry AKA "Hank" just wants to be a normal guy for the weekend. Just wants to enjoy hanging with his college friends without the paparazzi following him around. Then he meets this amazing woman he wants to spend time with.

I loved this story from the start. The banter wasn't the only thing zinging all over. The heat in this book was seriously turned up! Had a steady pace and characters that were so much fun to read.

***This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review, by Netgalley and its publisher.

View all my reviews

 About Ann Marie Walker:

Ann Marie Walker writes steamy books about sexy boys. She’s a fan of fancy cocktails, anything chocolate, and 80s rom-coms. Her super power is connecting any situation to an episode of Friends and she thinks all coffee cups should be the size of a bowl. If it’s December she can be found watching Love Actually but the rest of the year you can find her at AnnMarieWalker.com where she would be happy to talk to you about alpha males, lemon drop martinis or supermodel David Gandy. Ann Marie attended the University of Notre Dame and currently lives in Chicago.

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