Sugar Free

A Sugar Bowl Novel

Ebook

Bestseller

October 11, 2016 | ISBN 9781101968147

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About the Book

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Sela and Beck’s deliciously sinful tale of sex, lies, and vengeance reaches its explosive conclusion in the final chapter of Sawyer Bennett’s Sugar Bowl trilogy

For years Sela Halstead dreamed of revenge, but the quest for payback has been anything but sweet. Now, once again, she finds herself at the mercy of Jonathon Townsend, his hands crushing the very breath from her body. And even though she escapes with her life, Sela fears she may never recover. In desperate need of shelter and comfort, she runs to the one man she can trust. Beckett North has stood by Sela since the beginning. But can he handle the brutal truth?

Beck will do anything to protect what is his—and make no mistake, Sela belongs to him, heart and soul. The passion between them runs hot, even as their world begins to unravel. With the legacy of his ruthless business partner hanging in the balance, Beck stands to lose everything: his fortune, his family, his freedom. But each touch of Sela’s mouth on his skin, her nails down his back, makes it harder to let her go—and it might not even be his choice to make.

The Arizona Vengeance series from New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett can be read together or separately:

BISHOP
ERIK
LEGEND

And don’t miss her Carolina Cold Fury novels:
ALEX
GARRETT
ZACK
RYKER
HAWKE
MAX
ROMAN
LUCAS
VAN
REED
MAREK

The Love Hurts series features sexy standalone novels:
SEX IN THE STICKS
JILTED

And the Sugar Bowl series is one treat you’ll want to read in order:
SUGAR DADDY
SUGAR RUSH
SUGAR FREE
 
“One of the best voices in contemporary romance.”—New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne

Praise for Sugar Free

“Now that all three books are out, you really should pick them up, pour yourself your favorite beverage (either in a glass or in a cup) and settle in and enjoy this wild ride!”—Unconventional Book Views

“A really good high-intensity read with this couple from start to finish. A lot of twists and turns in the relationship and with Sela’s past thrown in along with off-the-charts hot bedroom antics. . . . A fast-paced and action-packed ride from start to finish. . . I enjoyed the entire series.”—Carrie’s Book Reviews

“My rating: Five of five stars. Devoured this in two hours. What an intense read. Anticipation is everything. I live for the suspense of this book!”—Quirky Debutante’s Bookshelf

Includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
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Praise for Sugar Free

“Now that all three books are out, you really should pick them up, pour yourself your favorite beverage (either in a glass or in a cup) and settle in and enjoy this wild ride!”—Unconventional Book Views

“A really good high-intensity read with this couple from start to finish. A lot of twists and turns in the relationship and with Sela’s past thrown in along with off-the-charts hot bedroom antics. . . . A fast-paced and action-packed ride from start to finish. . . I enjoyed the entire series.”—Carrie’s Book Reviews

“My rating: Five of five stars. Devoured this in two hours. What an intense read. Anticipation is everything. I live for the suspense of this book!”—Quirky Debutante’s Bookshelf

Sugar Free does not disappoint and is more engaging than both Sugar Daddy and Sugar Rush combined. Sawyer Bennett knocked this series out of the park by combining fun and sexy moments between Sela and Beck mixed with an intriguing revenge plot.”—Rant & Rave About Books

“This was the best finale to this crazy book series. The characters were developed so carefully and intricately that I believed they could do no wrong. The storyline played out in such a way that I was so convinced one way, only to have the plot twist and then I was left [with my mouth] gaping open. This was a perfect installment and a fun book to get caught up in.”—FMR Book Grind

“I highly recommend the Sugar Bowl series if you are looking for something different and a story to keep you on the edge of your seat.”—Slow Reader’s Blog

Sugar Free is a five-star book and the third book in the Sugar Bowl series.”—In Patti’s Imagination

Sugar Free is five stars because it was an excellent way to finish the Sugar Bowl series, the books that have made me fall in love with Sawyer Bennett’s writing. This woman is so freaking talented. I loved this story, the revenge plot, the chemistry and the depth of her main characters. So if you love Sawyer’s writing and you want a darkish version of it, you definitely have to check out this series. I highly recommend it!”—Alba and Her Secrets

“Wow! What a wild ride Sugar Bowl has been! I am telling you, Sawyer Bennett has hit her stride with this series. This is her best work yet. Really compelling characters, very fast but well-paced writing and just the right amount of suspense to keep you guessing without losing the romantic core of the story.”—Words We Love By

“A very well-written, nail-biting, fast-paced story. I’ve read multiple series by this author and I can say that this series is by far my favorite.”—Liezel’s Book Blog
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Excerpt

Sugar Free

Beck slips his key into the lock of the condo door and silently opens it. He pushes it open all the way and motions me in ahead of him. It’s almost one a.M. and both of us are exhausted from stress, lies, and a lack of sleep.

We’ve been at JT’s parents’ house in Sausalito, just two miles from their son. Neither Beck nor I wanted to go there, but we felt it was what innocent people should do. We both knew the police had us in their sights, and while they might also be following the theory that JT was killed by a Vegas bookie, they were not going to leave us alone.

The time we spent at Candace and Colin Townsend’s home was dreadful. We arrived to find Beck’s parents were already there, because of course they were going to call their closest friends first with the awful news. JT’s mom was wailing in the arms of her husband, who eventually gave her a Xanax to calm her down. It wasn’t until she polished off a vodka tonic that she finally slipped into sort of a silently numb state of shock where she sat on a velvet couch while Beck’s mom patted her hand in an awkward show of comfort.

Beck’s dad though?

You could tell he was devastated, more so than Colin Townsend appeared over the news of the death of his son. He faced the windows of the library, where we were all congregated, and stared out into the blackness. He barely acknowledged Beck when we arrived and was clearly distracted. I wondered if he was trying to manage some type of internal pain that he may have been suffering as a father.

We weren’t surprised when Beck’s mom called us not five minutes after the cops left to deliver the news. Beck, in turn, told his mom about the cops being there and that we were on our way.

Again, we really didn’t want to go, but it was what was expected of a grieving friend and partner of Jonathon Townsend. As Beck’s girlfriend, I was expected to go as well, although what I really wanted to do was open up a bottle of wine and drown my misery over what has gone down as the single worst day of my life.

Yes . . . even worse than the day I was gang-raped.

Killing another human being—even one who brutally violated me—was more traumatizing and damaging to my soul than I could have ever imagined. I was such a fool to initially even think it was an appropriate course those months ago, and now with the benefit of hindsight, I wish with all my might that I had never concocted the foolish plan to kill JT. I wish I would have gone straight to the police and let them handle it. I wish I’d turned to my dad to let him comfort me when I learned my attacker’s identity.

In this moment, I even wish I had never stepped foot in the ballroom of that Sugar Bowl Mixer where my intent was still to confront and kill JT, but instead I met Beck, his business partner, who enslaved my body, and later my heart.

Yes, I’d even give up Beck if I could go back in time and change things so I wouldn’t have this guilt pressing down on me. And it’s not just guilt that I took another life. I think given time, I’m going to be able to accept that in that moment I had no choice. I was reacting on survival instinct and I think most people would have done what I’d done.
But I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive myself for the course of events I started with my stupid plan for vengeance, which led to the police knocking on Beck’s door and looking at him as a potential suspect.

I will never forgive myself.

Beck did an admirable job at the Townsends’ of portraying the devastated friend but also the one with strong shoulders who bore everyone else’s grief. We “learned” some details of what happened to JT from his parents, who were contacted soon after his body was found.

Sugar Bowl Series

Sugar Free
Sugar Rush
Sugar Daddy

About the Author

Sawyer Bennett
Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Sawyer Bennett has written more than thirty books and been featured on both the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists on multiple occasions. A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Bennett uses real-life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to contemporary romance, she writes something for just about everyone. Bennett likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Bennett is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great workout, cake, or a combination of the two. More by Sawyer Bennett
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