Sugar Free (Sugar Bowl Series #3)

by Sawyer Bennett

Overview

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 Carolina Cold Fury series from New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett can be read together or separately:
ALEX
GARRETT
ZACK
RYKER
HAWKE
MAX
ROMAN
LUCAS
VAN
 
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

“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. ”—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 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.”—Alba and Her Secrets

Includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399178603
Publisher:	Random House Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/11/2016
Series:	Sugar Bowl Series , #3
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, Sawyer Bennett has written more than thirty books and has been featured on both the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists on multiple occasions. A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real-life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone. Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer 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 goodness of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great workout, cake, or a combination of the two.

Read an Excerpt

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.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Sawyer Bennett’s Sugar Daddy
 
“Sugar Daddy is raw, gritty, and exceptionally hot. I couldn’t put it down.”—New York Times bestselling author Marquita Valentine
 
“Wow! Sawyer Bennett steps out of her ice skates and into her Manolos. Sugar Daddy is a hot read that only gets better with every page.”—New York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker
 
“I read it in less than three hours because I am a freak reader when I like something. This book is great!”—USA Today bestselling author MJ Fields
 
“Sawyer Bennett has talent that knows no bounds and this book proves it. From page one to the end I was captivated and enthralled. I can’t wait for more! ”—USA Today bestselling author Chelsea Camaron
 
“Sawyer Bennett does dark with amazing facility, drawing me in with Sela’s story, and holding me there with Beck’s. Sugar Daddy is compulsively readable, deliciously dirty, and passionately written.”—USA Today bestselling author CD Reiss

From the eBook edition.

From the Publisher