REVIEW: Frisked in Fondant by Nikki Duncan

In Frisked in Fondant (Tulle & Tulips #6) by Nikki Duncan, when Kyle Riley arrives at the scene of a home invasion, he’s shocked by the fact that he knows the victim – Gisella Sands; the one woman that could tempt him to change his mind about relationships. Determined to solve the case to make certain she’s safe, Kyle never expected to fall in love.

Gisella Sands has had her fair share of tragedy in life, so being attacked in her own home is just another horrible experience to add to it all. She doesn’t find it easy to trust anyone with the secrets of her past. However, the more time she spends with Kyle as he works to find those that hurt her, the more she finds herself finally letting someone into her life; someone she feels she can trust completely.

Ever since reading the first book of this series, I have enjoyed every single story that has followed it, and this one was just as enjoyable. Certainly, Ms. Duncan has a way of drawing readers in by her characters emotions, reactions, and dialogue. This sixth book of her Tulle & Tulips series was well-written, compelling, and fast-paced; especially from the moment Kyle discovers how close Gisella came to losing her life.

”Why are you carrying me?”
“I’m taking you to bed.”
“Oh.” She nestled her head against his shoulder again and sighed. “It’s about time.”
He cleared his throat. His heart sped inside his chest, pounding against her body. “So you can sleep.”
“Party pooper. You were a party pooper at the wedding too.”
“I like things simple.”
“Sex is supposed to be simple.” According to her friends anyway.

I really liked Gisella. She’s had a tough past, and the home invasion brings up bad memories for her because of that. It was hard for me, not to feel saddened by what happened to her in the past the more I read. However, what I liked most about her was her resilience; the fact that she didn’t allow herself to be a victim, even though the home invasion had to have scared her. Also, she’s quite bold in her interactions with Kyle, which surprised me, considering she’s a novice when it comes to interacting with men. And of course, I can’t forget about her enthusiasm for her job. It was endearing. While Kyle, he’s hard-working, confident, and tenacious when it comes to his job as a homicide detective. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do to solve a case, as long as it’s legal. He’s also extremely protective of Gisella, and would do anything for her. Even if the ways he helps her may be considered bad ideas.

”Gisella.” His tone sounded threatening, but it didn’t scare her. It only made her want to giggle.
“Do you ever use more than fifteen syllables at a time?”
“I don’t count. How much pain are you in?”
“I only feel you.” She played with his hair and rubbed her nose against his neck. “I feel your arms around me. I like you touching me.”

Gisella brings out the best in Kyle since he’s not much of a talker, which is something the heroine teases him about and had me laughing, because she seems so sweet and innocent. Yet, she’s manages to surprise him with her boldness and her attempts to lure him into her bed. Their teasing banter increases the sexual tension between them, and eventually, their intense chemistry spills over onto the pages in hot sex scenes.

Overall, Ms. Duncan has proven again how talented of a writer she is with this book, and as always, has me looking forward to more of her stories in the future. I really liked how this story ended, as Kyle can be quite convincing when it comes to his plans for their future. I would recommend Frisked in Fondant by Nikki Duncan, if you’re looking for a quick, hot read or enjoy the friends to lovers trope. Also, I’d recommend readers give this whole series a chance.

Book Info:

Publication: January 19th, 2016 | Samhain Publishing | Tulle & Tulips #6

A kiss by any other name would never taste as sweet as his.

When Gisella Sands isn’t busy creating magical wedding cakes, she shows the outside world the lighthearted, teasing manner that fools everyone, even her friends at Tulle and Tulips.

Once she’s home alone with her cats, the façade falls away. No one would guess that her tragic past is her only companion in the night. Or that this confectionary genius has never tasted the sweetness of a man’s kiss.

The less Kyle Riley talks, the more others fill the silence—a handy skill for a homicide detective, not so much for a social life. Dedicated to his job, he’s never been tempted to take more than one taste of any woman. Until he responds to a home invasion and finds Gisella, the bridesmaid he walked down the aisle at a friend’s wedding, bleeding on the floor.

In a heartbeat, all thoughts of keeping his professional distance disintegrate. But when the heat melts the walls guarding their secrets, their recipe for one perfect night could fall flat.

Warning: Contains a man who rarely strings more than fifteen syllables together, and a woman who can read him like a cookbook. When strong and silent meets sweet and bubbly, something’s bound to boil over.