Sweet by Tammara Webber

Jacque's Review:

I would like to thank Tammara for providing a review copy of Sweet in exchange for an honest review.  I have been a fan of hers since I had the pleasure of reading Easy a few years ago.  I have recommended her books to countless friends, but I should warn the younger readers that this is a New Adult series.  There is adult language and content that is not appropriate for all ages.

Sweet is the third book in the Contours of the Heart series, but each book can be enjoyed separately.  They are all stand-alone novels focusing on a different character.  For those of you who have read Easy and Breakable, Lucas and Jacqueline do make an appearance in this book, but it is very brief.  This is by no means a continuation of their story.

Tammara changed things up a little with this book and used dual narrative instead of just one character's point of view.  Boyce Wynn is Lucas's best friend from high school.  At the age of seven he saved the life of a younger girl who was drowning.  That girl was Pearl Frank, the step-daughter of a local surgeon.  He has been in love with her since the day he pulled her out of the ocean, but he never felt like he was good enough for her.  He grew up with an abusive father who owns the local auto repair shop.

Pearl has been attracted to Boyce since she awoke from her near death.  She went on to become her class valedictorian and was accepted into several medical schools, but she decides to return to her hometown to pursue a graduate degree in marine biology.  Boyce and Pearl have been close friends over the years, but neither of them believed the other was interested in a relationship.  They suppressed their feelings for over a decade, but unforeseen circumstances finally bring them together in this novel.

There are several flashbacks that provide the history of their individual lives as well as their relationship from the time of the accident.  Boyce comes off as a little rough around the edges compared to Lucas, who is personally more my style.  He didn't always make the best choices as a child/teen, but he has come a long way since then.  He is a very hard worker and is motivated to overcome his past.  

Tammara wove a couple of twists into the story that I never would have anticipated.  Both situations added a considerable amount of drama and even danger to what I thought was going to be a "sweet" love story.  I enjoyed seeing these characters grow throughout the book and I felt like the ending was perfect.  I just wish would could have had a little bit more of Lucas ;)