I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Sweeter Than Honey by Joy Avery 
Published by Montlake on June 28, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Black & African American Romance Fiction, Romance
Pages: 320
A talented baker and a small-town sheriff forced into a fake relationship decide whether to take a chance on love in this delectable romance from Joy Avery.
Baker extraordinaire Rylee Harris has a recipe for everything—except love. It’s been five years since she lost her husband, but romance is still a struggle for Rylee. In her small hamlet of Honey Hill, North Carolina, Rylee knows she’ll be the talk of the town when she finds someone new.
To ease her mother’s worries about her love life, Rylee impulsively invents a fake relationship with the only man who’s caught her eye: the town sheriff, Canten Barnes. It’s supposed to be a secret, but secrets don’t last long in Honey Hill. One bit of gossip leads to another, and soon the whole town thinks Rylee and Canten are an item.
As Rylee and Canten embark on a make-believe relationship to save face, they slowly realize that their feelings for each other aren’t fake at all. Can Rylee and Canten keep the charade going—or will the town’s prized baker and respected lawman take a real chance on love?
Sweeter Than Honey is a book I didn’t know I needed in my life. I always say romance is not the first genre I reach for when grabbing a book on my shelf, but I believe Author Joy Avery has changed that.
Sweeter Than Honey introduces readers to the entertaining and lovable characters of Honey Hill, North Carolina. The story centers around Rylee Harris, a local baker, and the town sheriff, Canten Barnes, who have eyes for each other but are afraid to take a step forward. Rylee tells her mother that she is dating the sheriff to prevent her mother from playing matchmaker for her. But when her parents show up – Rylee and Canten are forced to pretend they are in a real relationship. That’s when the sparks start to explode between the two of them.
I had an array of emotions while reading this book – from laughs to tears – I couldn’t put this book down. The characters’ chemistry flowed naturally, making for an easy read. Author Joy Avery’s writing style wrapped me up like a warm blanket and a cup of hot cocoa – which is not an easy thing to do. But Author Joy Avery pulled it off effortlessly.
Sweeter Than Honey is one of my favorite reads of 2022.
Reviewed by: Orsayor
