Sweet as Honey: An Aster Valley Novel

I found it very hard to put this book down at any point as I was always wondering what was coming up next. I figured out fairly early in the story who was behind most of the problems that popped up, but the author had me questioning my conclusion until almost the end of the book. That makes this an exceptionally good story.

Though not as captivating as the first in the series. This one was good. I would have ended here but definitely want to see what the new sheriff and actor get up to.

Well written story and well developed characters! I love this series of books! They are best if read in order. Truman has returned to Aster Valley to run his own business. He knows it won't be easy, but he doesn't expect it to be dangerous!

" A sassy-mouthed chef, a laid-back footballer, an overgrown goat with wild-ass hair, a jolly diner-owner slash coconspirator, a pair of lesbian knitters who looked more like sisters, a famous musician, his beautiful husband, and their oddball uncle, a stern-faced deputy whose watch face surprisingly had a tiny rainbow flag on it, and a beloved spice merchant with bruised knuckles. "An artfully crafted and wonderful story. The second installment of the Aster Valley series is just as good, if not better than the first! A quirky cast of characters set in the richly described small town of Aster Valley makes the story extra compelling.There's something about the adorkable man in the bumblebee costume that catches the attention of and hooks into Sam Rigby, the best friend of Mikey Vining. Actually the bumblebee, Truman Sweet, is in a roadside field trying to avoid his harasser and a beating. Sam to the rescue!From that point on Sam is smitten by Truman. But Truman appears to attract trouble for his whole life it seems. Truman is taken with Sam who, for the most part, comes to Truman's aid.I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is funny, witty, cute, sweet, and compelling. I highly recommend this book!

Ok. So the first in the series was easily five stars. This one starts with too many references back to the first book. You CAN read it alone, but,the opening will be a bit confusing. The first description of the main character is silly and makes little sense until later.These characters are not as well developed as the first book and I found the ending a bit too predictable.Having said all that it was still a fun read.

There is so much in this one to like, and dislike, that it's a tribute to Lucy Lennox to proclaim that in the end this one works.The problems are all over the place:Truman Sweet is too sweet, too compliant, too hesitant. Sam is too oversexed, too oblivious, too procrastinating, too afraid of his leeching family.The minor characters, who turn out to be major, are really annoying, especially the librarian. Only Tiller and Mikey, MC's from the previous book, and Winter and Grant, from the introductory book, have any common sense.But i couldn't put it down.One of the reasons is that, as is her wont, Ms. Lennox tosses in important, but eventually, seemingly irrelevant characters who help solve the mysteries, problems, and hang-ups of the MCs. In this case that character is obvious from the moment he walks onto the page and figures prominently in the Epilogue as one of the MC's in the next book.Still, this one, eventually, gets to the point: This small town, like many small towns all over the world, is totally immersed in its past, its current rumors and suppositions, and almost swallows itself hole. That is, until Truman comes to his senses and turns out to be a much bigger man than his height would indicate and a very lucky charm for a marshmallow of a hunk named Sam.

Oh my goodness Truman and Sam are the swooniest couple. They definitely gave me all the feels. Truman owns a spice shop and farm in small town Aster Valley. He also has a bit of infamy in the town. Sam is visiting his friends Mikey and Tiller in Aster Valley. On the way into town he sees Truman dressed as a bumblebee being chased by a man and he stops to help. The bully immediately runs over Sam’s motorcycle in retaliation for interfering. Thus begins the exciting, roller coaster ride of Sam and Truman’s HEA. This book has a little bit of everything you’d expect from romantic suspense - sweetness, fan your face steam, dangerous moments, strong friendships, dysfunctional families, painful pasts, mystery, plot twists, uber protective men, real life issues, imperfect characters, and even chuckles. The story was well written, the characters had depth and growth, and the storyline was engaging. While the bad guy in the story was fairly easy to guess, that did nothing to diminish the ratcheting up of the mystery or the enjoyment of the story. I am loving the Aster Valley couples.

This second book in the series is as sweet and emotion laden as the first. There is a mystery element to the story, though true mystery buffs will figure out the villain quite quickly.The MCs in this book are Sam, Mikey from book one’s best friend, and Truman, the owner of the local spice shop and someone carrying heavy burdens and a big secret.The story arc moves at a good pace and the characters are well developed. We learn enough about the characters early on so that we become invested in their ultimate happiness at the beginning of the book. There are no weird, artificial means of separating them, no ridiculous misunderstandings. Just a nice relationship progression with some outside obstacles that need to be dealt with and two men who act like adults in doing so. It’s a refreshing change of pace. The drama comes from the mystery and the resolution of a long time issue.Once again we don’t get to see the bad guys get what’s coming to them on page. We just have to assume that justice was done. The epilogue gives us the segue into book three which I will be starting immediately.

Well, I was going to give this one 4.5/5 stars, but then a few things happened...1. I got fed up of Truman's extremely passive stance [doormat behaviour] on almost everything, including the fact that he knew so much bad stuff about the Stanners, but seemed utterly clueless as to where he could get help from higher up the law enforcement ladder that completely bypassed his local corrupt cop Sheriff Stanner, and his nightmare of an extended family. Really?? And he and Sam were using the L word after about a week, so yes, insta-lust rather than love IMHO.2. There was an archetypal villain [I would name him but that would spoiler it for others], but just be aware...you CAN'T miss him. Practically everything that goes wrong for Truman is his fault, and you'll be tearing your hair out in frustration too, booing and hissing at your screen 🤬🤬. How could all those people be so dense when he practically had a huge neon sign above his head saying 'I'm the baddie'??3. We had the same ending for this story as we did in Right as Raine...and by that I mean that we get a little taster of the next story in the series from one of the next MC's Hot as Heller. I didn't like it in Right as Raine, and I haven't changed my opinion. I DID however like the marriage proposal...🥰🥰🥰Don't get me wrong, I still liked all the characters [well, apart from one overbearing, slimy, creepy individual...sweet pea indeed 🥵, and Sam's money-grabbing family 🤯], but throw in a few editing niggles too and I went down with my rating I'm afraid. 😕

If there were more stars I would have given them! What an absolute joy this book is from the first couple of pages you will be lol then feeling emotional for the main characters. It’s heartwarming with all the love and caring from their chosen family oh and there’s plenty of hot sex as well as shy virgin Truman gets to act out his desires.This book takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as it slowly peels back the layers of all the past and present hurts Sam and the beautiful sweet Truman have endured over the years. I could have cried for Truman who came over as fragile and in need of protection and as the story unfolds we realise just what a strong character he actually is and what Sam has endured for 15 years with his awful uncaring family made me mad but the conclusion made me cry for him, mainly from relief!There are so many lol moments as you would expect from a Lucy Lennox book and as it’s so descriptive you can visualise Sam’s face as the bee “spun on his heel and started walking down the side of the highway the fuzzy black stinger on his butt wiggled back and forth as he moved away from me” you can see why Sam fell in love😂 I also fell in love with Truman’s best friend Chaya, what a sassy lady with a smart mouth and huge hair and the picture in my head of her rushing out of the tool shed dressed as a goat cracked me up!!I can’t recommend this book enough❤️

I love Lucy Lennox's writing, it's always a special day when there's a new Lucy book.I loved the previous two books, and while you can read this as a stand alone, I'd urge you to read Winter Waites and Right as Raine first - not only because you'll get to read Winter and Gent and Tiller and Mikey's stories, but because they're both great.So with that done, moving on to Sam and Truman. Right from the minute I met Truman in Winter Waites, I was hoping we'd get his story and it was far more than I ever thought it'd be. Truman is so damn sweet and hopeful and he's been through so much, there was nobody that deserved their HEA more than him. We also meet Sam first in Right as Raine as Mikey's best friend so it was good to get to know him better. They were just so damn adorable together, I guess I'm a sucker for little nerdy guys that can stand up for themselves, Truman might be geeky and shy but he can stand up for himself when he needs to. Sam has also been through a lot with his crappy family, and as a smart man once said on one of my favourite shows 'Family ain't just blood'.This is Truman and Sam's story, yes but it's also a story of family, and how it can be found as well as something you're born into. Your born family might not end up being your real family, and that's what I took away from this.It's a deserved full 5 stars because it made me laugh out loud, almost made me cry in places and now I want more. Bring on Finn Heller and Declan Stone.

What can I see, utter brilliance yet again?So many twists you would think you were on a mountain road, but I loved every minute of it.In this book, we meet Truman Sweet and Sam Rigby. Complete opposites that shouldn't work.Truman has so many secrets. He's also ashamed of his past and how he deals with the present. But he has friends looking out for him now, even though he still believes he's alone.We also get to meet some great new charactersand the old ones from book one, all who live in Aster Valley.A truly great book, we have an old accident, lives ruined, children blamed, families who shouldn't have children, love, hurt, injury and motorbike accidents—vengeful people. Well written and immersive.Sweet as Honey(Aster Valley #2)byLucy Lennox❤❤❤❤❤ Overall

...or is he actually just what Sam needs?I love Aster Valley, do I love all it's residents - no, definitely not, do I love it's newest visitor/resident to be- yes, yes I do! Sam is so growly, Alpha protector but he is also a listener and listens to both what you do say and what your body says you are leaving out! He doesn't take over but he acts with permission and quietly supports the rest of the time, exactly what Truman needs. Truman is very adorably geeky and sweet, his geeky fact rambles when he is nervous are both hilarious and very endearing. Watching him light up and grow in confidence as Sam supports and encourages him is heartwarming, and seeing him rage on Sam's behalf will make you smile. Together they are unstoppable, steamy hot, loved, understood and supported unconditionally....swoon.I read this on Kindle Unlimited, as I did the novella prequel and book one.