Susan’s Review of Baking it Merry by Samantha Chase

For two months out of the year, Daphne Noelle got to live her dream of owning a bakery. Her little pop-up bake shop—one that looked just like a gingerbread house—brought joy to every customer who stopped by to enjoy her sweet treats. She loved meeting people and making them smile, and being in such a festive setting every day was just the icing on the cake! For the last three years, everything had gone smoothly, but this year, there was one guy who was determined to ruin it all.


One of the things Tristan appreciated most about the office complex where his architecture firm was located is how upscale and elegant it was. Unfortunately, every year for eight long weeks, a holiday shop set up in the lobby, turning it into the equivalent of a traveling circus, and the bake shop booth was the worst offender. The giant gingerbread house was an eyesore and the woman running it was too cheery for his liking. This year, he was determined to do everything he could to have her and her booth removed.

Samantha Chase is one of my favorite authors and I look forward to her holiday stories each year. Baking it Merry is a slow burn romance with great characters, a bit of drama and lots of sweet treats.

I loved that instead of a swoony, romantic hero Baking it Merry has a grumpy hero who has no holiday spirit!! Think Cindy Lou Who meets the Grinch on top of Mt. Crumpet!

Daphne Noel sets up her pop up bakery in the lobby of an upscale office building in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her storefront is a life size gingerbread house decorated with large candy canes, ornaments and colored twinkling lights.

Daphne has no idea that architect Tristan Knight cringes each year when the lobby is filled to capacity with the small Christmas shops. Tristan is a Grinch. He is not a fan of the holidays, decorations or the people who crowd the bake shop. He complains to the landlord about the bake shop and about Daphne’s cherry holiday spirit!

I loved Daphne and Tristan’s story. Samantha Chase has created two complex yet; relatable characters. Daphne is a graphic designer and her goal to save money from the holiday shop to open a bakery. Tristan loves order and structure. The holiday season and its chaos interferes with his work goals.

Loved the slow burn opposites attract romance. Tristan’s snarky attitude towards Daphne when she presents her ideas for his holiday parties is perfectly written—I imagined Tristan rolling his eyes and shaking his head.Tristan’s was speechless when his family and friends were wowed by the décor, food and cocktails and Daphne!

Baking it Merry is feel good story about celebrating the holidays and with family and friends. Daphne genuinely loves to spread the joy of Christmas. Tristin learns the true meaning of the season as he and Daphne work together on his holiday parties. Loved that Samantha Chase added several plot twists in this story – it made me root for the couple’s HEA!

With its holiday baking theme, charming characters and opposites attract romance—Baking it Merry would be the perfect Hallmark movie!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman
Purchased via Amazon kindle