DNF Review: Sneaking Candy by Lisa Burstein

book cover of Sneaking Candy by Lisa Burstein

Title: Sneaking Candy
Author: Lisa Burstein
Release date: December 9, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Embrace
Source: Netgalley
Reading level: NA

All I ever wanted was to make a name for myself as Candice Salinas, creative writing grad student at the University of Miami. Of course, secretly I already have made a name for myself: as Candy Sloane, self-published erotic romance writer. Though thrilled that my books are selling and I have actual fans, if anyone at UM found out, I could lose my scholarship…and the respect of my faculty advisor, grade-A-asshole Professor Dylan.

Enter James Walker, super-hot local barista and—surprise!—my student. Even though I know a relationship is totally off-limits, I can’t stop myself from sneaking around with James, taking a few cues from my own erotic writing…if you catch my drift. Candy’s showing her stripes for the first time in my real life, and I’ve never had so much fun. But when the sugar high fades, can my secrets stay under wraps?

Sneaking Candy by Lisa Burstein was an impulse request on Netgalley and I quickly came to regret that request. I knew right from the start that Sneaking Candy was not going to be a book for me but I made myself stick it out for a while and see how it went.
Candice (Candy) is an erotica writer as well as a creative writing grad student. She sells her erotica work to make money to pay for her schooling but she hides her erotica career from everyone because she’s embarrassed by it. Things work for her until she meets James who is not only her love interest but also her student. Oops. That part reminded me a bit of Losing It but it was not done nearly as well this time. Candice went to dinner with James knowing he was her student, got drunk, blacked out, and had sex with him. Classy. Really, that was where the book totally lost all interest to me. I gave up after that.
Overall, Sneaking Candy did nothing for me. The characters, the writing, the story, it was mediocre at best. I gave up about 30% through and I don’t regret that at all. I’d say pass on this one.
What others are saying about Sneaking Candy:
Harlequin Junkie’s review: “Overall, Sneaking Candy by Lisa Burstein is a fun story with a lovable heroine and an interesting story which keeps you hooked throughout.”

Writing My Own Fairy Tale’s review: “Sneaking Candy is adorable and sexy and fun.”

Actin’ Up With Books’ review: ” If you are looking for something funny, fresh, smart, and sexy, then this is the book for you!”

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7 comments

  1. Aww, it’s always so disappointing when you hit a dud. Especially on NetGalley, because you know you kind of have to slog through at least some of it in order to give feedback and not kill your ratio. This one doesn’t sound like something I’d be into, so I think I will take your advice and pass. 🙂

  2. This one didn’t work for me as well. Like you, I never enjoyed the characters or the plot or the romance. It was pretty much lackluster.
    I’m sorry this didn’t work for you, Katie.

  3. I enjoyed this one but I’m sorry you didn’t. I think I’ll have to try Cora Carmack’s series if you thought it was better than this one. Thanks for quoting my review!

  4. Too bad it wasn’t as good as Losing it! I thought it would be a good twist by having the girl be the teacher and the boy the student, kinda change the trope a bit.

    These kinds of stories depend on good character depth because you pretty much know the end will see them together.

    The author’s other books were pretty good, maybe give them a try if you like flawed characters.