Customer Reviews

Just Like Candy

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Davis Strong is the single white father of a biracial daughter who is starting to get in trouble at school. When Davis's wife died, she asked him to ensure that their daughter had a positive black female influence in her life, and Davis begins to suspect that finding someone to fit the bill might help with his daughter's disruptive behavior. The problem is that the only woman he knows who fits the bill, the new director of the youth center that is his Aunt Mildred's pet project, is completely unsuitable. Candy Cain is unconventional with her penchant for wearing fabric wrapped around her body instead of proper clothes, her seeming indifference to what other people think, and her stubborn refusal to conform to social norms despite her position of power influencing youth. And Davis finds himself completely enamored of her, to the point where he wakes up hot and sweaty with images of Candy on his mind.

Candy Cain also has trouble sleeping, but her thoughts are plagued by the father of one of her students. Candy's sexual attraction to Davis Strong is a distraction that she doesn't need, but when he asks her to help his daughter, Candy can't refuse. Candy has experienced firsthand what it's like to grow up without a mother and she wants to soothe the wounded feelings that Angelica might have about the issue. It also doesn't hurt that in doing so she'll get a little closer to Davis.

Just Like Candy delivers exactly what its title promises--a sweet and satisfyingly decadent treat. Kimberly Kaye Terry has crafted a story with imperfect characters who you can enjoy because they accept their flawed natures and work to overcome them. Candy is the exact opposite sort of woman that you'd picture a straight-laced guy like Davis to falling for, but it works in the context of this story. And Davis is a good father, a protective lover, and an all-around good guy. Read Just Like Candy when you're in the mood to read a well-written story of interracial romance, where the story isn't just about the color of the characters' skin. But keep a glass of water nearby, because this story is HOT!

First off, the cover? SMOKIN' I don't know who it is but call me? Every time I picked up the book to read I had to lust after the cover for a good second before I could move on...

The book itself was OK. I agree with one of the reviewer that said it was nice that the characters weren't fighting each other (like in a lot of romance books) even though they wanted each other badly. They did fight the attraction in the previous nine months (this books picks up after they've known each other nine months) and a couple of chapters into the beginning of the book but neither doubted that the other wanted them. So that was a nice change of pace.

The book is pretty much about Candice Cain whose nickname is Candy Cain..cute right? She works with young girls at a place called Girls Unlimited to help them with whatever situation they may have (I'm skimming her job her but she is highly qualified and educated). Davis Strong is a father whose daughter goes there and his daughter, Angelical, is tripping out. Skipping school, forging signatures and all that good stuff. He is scared he may lose his daughter (truancy at the school) so he enlist Candy to assist him since this is her field.

This is when, without giving much away, the characters (more so Davis since the ball was always in his court) start being real and finally gives into their attraction. Previous to this, Davis thought Candy was young, too unconventional of awoman who wasn't fit to teach young girls about anything and because he wanted her SO much he disliked her that much more for it and Candy was just going along with the vibe she was getting from Davis.

Davis was a hot lead hero who I liked a lot but felt a lot of things he did and said went unaccountable. Just because he was a hot man and could throw down (and could he throw down!) in the bedroom (so to speak) doesn't mean that washes away his sins. He had a lot of misconceptions about Candy based on nothing really and I would have liked it if he was put through the ringer. Also there was a bit of a taboo that went on and Candy NEVER mentioned it to him..WTF? Had that been me? Davis would have picking up his pieces from Hell! And I know 99.9% of women would feel me on this.

Also if you've read Pull My Hair and Design of a Lifetime by Kimberly Kaye Terry then your in for a treat. It is the same Girls Unlimited from those books and we do get to touch base with those characters which was very nice. More so with one than the other which sucked since the other heroine was the one I floved the most.

I liked this book but there was too much problems to give it a 4 which I was first inclined to do. There were typos. A lot of them. Easy ones at that. I'm not one to nitpick on typos, mistakes happens, but when I notice and consistently at that then that means the editor wasn't doing his or her job. Also there were parts of the book where it just didn't flow right. That left me scratching my head in bafflement in how she (author) got to that area when there was still loose ends to tie before it. And lastly, the characters weren't together enough (despite the fact they've known each other 9 months) for them to be in love since before the book begins they weren't really interacting. I believe that they lusted after each other A LOT but not that they've fallen in love. I also believe they care but not in love. It just wasn't shown in the book. I would have liked it more if they did stuff together that didn't involved sex and work. Like I don't know..go out on dates!

Just Like Candy is a nice light book to read with hot sex and a promise of happily every after. Just my cup of tea.

the cover alone is worth the five stars but i liked the stuff between the covers too. i read romance to escape and to live vicariously through the characters. i would never have the guts to carry on the way Candy and her man did but if the man on the cover showed up at my house i'd bet i'd be tempted to. this book was a guilty, dirty pleasure of the best kind.

So...maybe in another world it's completely rational to hook up and decide to get married all in a couple of weeks. I mean, I'll be the first to extoll the benefits of a hot (really hot) fling, but that ain't exactly romance, you know?

While I like IR romances I just wish the authors would give more thought on developing the relationship between the two people involved. In these two people, I just saw an initial, inexplicable sexual itch that needed to be scratched and this somehow, also inexplicably, leads to Deep Feelings and then Commitment.

However, kudos for being one of the first romances I've read with an explicit back door scene. Yikes.

I bought this book due to the fact that most of the comments were positive and that was a mistake. The author was hard to follow; either grammatical errors, spelling, tense misplacement, etc. The story went no where from the sister with the cane to the friends from the community center; this was everywhere. *Spolier* After Davis completely humiliates Candy, she forgive he because he says "I Love You"! When will we get female characters to actually stopping looking like idiots, who are willing to put up with anything to get or keep a man?

He's successful, a single parent with a thriving company, and has no time for flighty women. Why he's unable to get "Candy" out of his mind is a mystery to Davis Strong. What adult woman calls herself Candy and wears clothing more appropriate for a teenager. Candy prides herself on her individualistic nature, she doesn't conform to society's expectations of how she should act, dress or behave. As a directory for a youth center she's always there for the parents and children of the center.

When the father of one of her students comes to her for help with his bi-racial daughter she's more than willing to assist the man who's been the star of her steamy midnight dreams since she first laid eyes on him. Too bad he thinks she's all wrong for the center, for the girls she mentors and especially for him.

As opposite as they are in nature, what they do have in common is their unstoppable chemistry, one that won't be ignored or denied. Davis and Candy together are a match made in explosive heaven and one that has a promise of something more if they let it.

Sexy yet lackluster are the words I would use to describe Just like Candy, a tale about two opposing personality types who find a common thread in their combustible passion. In the throes of a crisis with his daughter, Davis is trying to fight his uncomfortable attraction to a woman who leaves him panting like a teenage boy with the onset of puberty. Candy is flashy and adventurous but with that also comes her experience and direction with the young children she works with. Unconventional is what I would call the couple Kimberly Kaye-Terry has created. The backdrop of the plot about Davis' past adds a slight depth to the storyline that outside of passion lacked any substantial storyline. I would really like to see this author raise the bar with her plots and create stories with more substance and not just fluff.

Indy
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

This is a nice read . This is the first book that I have read by this author and it was enjoyable . There were a few typographical errors and some plot points that were a bit thin it was a nice storyline. I will definately read more of her work.

Kimberly Kaye Terry is a romance writer through and through. There was a definite romance between the hero and heroine that was believable. I cared about them and their struggles. And the level of the eroticism was perfect. I couldn't wait to get back to the story as I commuted to work. This was my first book by her, but I have to add her to my list. She did a good job.

When Kimberly Kaye Terry writes a story you know it's gonna be GOOD!!! Her characters are written wonderfully. Candy Cain is the youth director for a center who's board of directors include Davis Strong. Davis' grandmother likes Candy but Davis thinks she's too flamboyant & young to be youth director but Candy shows Davis she capable of doing her job and doing him! Davis and Candy have an immediate attraction but they dance around each for years before finally giving in to their desires and loving each other every chance they get. This story is hot, sexy, funny, and poignant. I couldn't put it down until I had read the whole book. But that's how it is with Kimberly Kaye Terry's books! There are few authors that I buy without reading the excerpt and Kimberly Kaye is one of them.

Youth center board member Davis Strong knows he must ignore his desires for Candy, but has found it impossible to pay no attention to her. Youth center director Candice Cain knows she must ignore her desires for Strong, but has found it impossible to take no notice of him.

Davis dreams of making love with the woman who infatuates his every thought. Candy dreams of making love with the man who infatuates her every thought. Both wants their hot wet respective fantasies hard rock real, but neither seems able of turning hard core wet dreams into reality. Yet each considers but who will make the first move remains to be seen; for each knows one taste will never be enough.

This relationship drama stars two likable hesitant protagonists who each fear rejection and even more that the reality will not be as good as the fantasy; that is until the Jacuzzi, which readers will never look at the same way. Fans will need asbestos gloves as this is a scorcher even when the audience just reads the thoughts of Davis and Candy. JUST LIKE CANDY is an equatorial heater as the audience will appreciate the sexual antics of this pair as Nash is right that "candy is dandy".

Harriet Klausner