ON THE SWEET SIDE – Audrey Carlan
The Wish , Book 3
HQN
ISBN: 978-1-335-91639-6
January 4, 2022
Contemporary Fiction

Pueblo, Colorado – Present Day

Isabeau “Izzy” Collins was raised by her gay fathers and has had a wonderful life. She recently earned her culinary degree alongside her best friend, Jasper, with plans to open a bakery in the future when she can afford to. One day, two women show up in Chicago where Izzy lives to notify her that they are her half-sisters and that their father has gifted her over a million dollars in his will. Turns out the three women all share the same mother, who died several years ago. Overwhelmed and shocked, Izzy prepares to better her life—and go to Pueblo, Colorado, where her sisters live, to learn more about her mother and her Native American heritage. Jasper comes along as moral support.

Once in Colorado, Izzy is quickly embraced by her sisters, and they decide to help her realize her dream of opening a bakery. They introduce her to a local contractor, Kyson, who is not only helpful, but attractive. Her sisters encourage her to pursue a relationship with Kyson, though his past remains murky as he always leaves by a certain time each night to head home. She knows about his parents and his siblings, but what else is he hiding? Meanwhile, the remodeling of her bakery gets going and Izzy learns more about her mother and why she made the decision to birth her and give her to Izzy’s two fathers. But on the horizon is a trip that has Izzy nervous: meeting her mother’s father on the nearby reservation. How will her grandfather react to meeting her?

It’s an emotional journey for Izzy in ON THE SWEET SIDE. The title of the book comes from the name she selects for her bakery. She is embraced by her new family, and despite being well loved by her fathers, feels at home in Colorado. Her sisters throw her and Kyson together, yet no one explains to her about his past. It takes until well into the book that we learn more about him. For much of the first half of ON THE SWEET SIDE, we embrace the relationship between the three sisters, who are each different in many ways. The first two tales in The Wish series revolved around them, but I haven’t read them. Reading and enjoying ON THE SWEET SIDE doesn’t detract from that.

Like I said, it’s an emotional tale for Izzy. It isn’t easy to give up everything you had in one state and move to another, even if your best friend is along for support. But Izzy embraces and fully enjoys her new experiences and, along the way, finds love. Once she learns about Kyson’s past, she is all in on her new man. Will this mean a happily-ever-after for them? Will Izzy’s bakery be successful? What will happen with all three women in ON THE SWEET SIDE? Find out the answers by picking up a copy of this sweet and sensual tale today.

Patti Fischer