My Sweet Enemy by Jenny Hartwell – a Review

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Description:
The only thing tempering their insta-hate is delicious attraction.

Sunny chocolatier Charlotte Beecher is unemployed, in student debt, and on the verge of hawking her beloved copper pots just to make ends meet. So when a gourmet chocolate factory chooses her as one of five candidates to help re-launch the company in their Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired competition, Charlotte begins to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Fellow contestant Luke Wells complicates her plans to win by a landslide with his flow charts and marketing projections. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Haughty is all about the bottom line and is as bitter as she is sweet. And when he snubs Charlotte in the first challenge, misunderstanding or not, she transforms from cream puff to jawbreaker. Bring. It. On.

But when these two rivals find themselves distracted by delicious attraction, will they let their passion get in the way of winning the competition?

Review:

My Sweet Enemy by Jenny Hartwell is part of her Simone’s Chocolate series.

“Charlotte Beecher was having chocolate for breakfast.  Again……”

When a book starts with that sentence, how could you not pick it up and read it. And then throw in comedy, punchy one liners, and romance, well it sounds like a great recipe for a book. I don’t watch reality tv (I know shock right!) it just doesn’t appeal to me, but if it was made into a movie, I’d grab popcorn and M&S’s and watch it. 

Charlotte needs a new job, she left the last one after being taken for a ride, people not being replaced and Charlotte was having to pick up the slack!! And after three weeks she will take anything! Her money is dwindling away and she needs to prove to herself that she can do this…..

Luke needs to strike out on his own, he needs to show his father he can do a job without family trying to step in and help. Stiff and uncompromising, he can’t afford to fail……

They are both up for the same job, both bringing something unique. There are also a few other hopefuls all vying for the job. Becoming a chief of operations would set that person on their feet and open many doors. 

And when Luke and Charlotte first meet there is a spark, Charlotte is definitely interested, Luke doesn’t want to know, he hasn’t got time to waste on romance. But as Luke spends time with Charlotte, he sees behind the smiles, he sees a large heart and a lust for life (and chocolate) he gets pulled into her orbit, and struggles hard to ignore it. 

Laughs and passion aplenty in this book. Witty comebacks and sharp retorts had me chuckling. And sabotage and a little backstabbing (people are wanting the save job, you didn’t expect all five to be nice did you?) Five people all wanting the same job, but with five different people bringing five different skill sets how will one be picked? 

Different challenges are set to work out who is suitable for the job, chaos can be assumed and a few sneaky tactics are used!! I did like Charlotte, her Sunny disposition did make me smile, she tried really hard to make friends and be liked (which isn’t always easy). Luke I wanted to loosen up just a little bit more. I just loved her best friend Beth, so funny and a straight talker. She was there to offer support and to throw her in at the deep when she thought Charlotte needed it. 

My only gripe is the pettiness that once took hold, took a little time to get worked through (and a fair few pages are dedicated to this!). Don’t know if this is a Charlie and the chocolate factory comparison, but it is fun, and it will keep you busy for a few hours. But I’d grab some chocolate before you sit down (I ended up craving chocolate all the way through) ??❤️

Reviewed by Julie

Copy provided by Publisher