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

Susan's Review of Love Me Sweet by Cindy Kirk--Jackson Hole-- #11

Cinderella and Prince Charming don't only live happily ever after in fairy tales...

Sylvie Thorne doesn't consider herself a runaway fiancée. Okay, she did leave her fiancé, Dr. Andrew O'Shea, behind but logic told her it was for the best. She should have never accepted his ring. She was a struggling baker trying to rise above her humble beginnings and he was a Boston blueblood. It was obvious, at least to his family and friends, that they were an imperfect match.

When Sylvie bolted, she didn't leave a glass slipper for Andrew to find, only a simple text. She never expected him to follow her to Jackson Hole wanting closure.

Twenty-one days with Sylvie is all he asks. Three weeks for him to accept that they were never meant for happily ever after. Instead of proving how little they have in common, all the conversation and togetherness makes for a sweet reunion and has this prince-of-a-guy hoping fairy tales really can come true .

Sylvie Thorne Andrew O’Shea are featured in Cindy Kirk’s Love Me Sweet. I enjoyed this story of second chances and loved the author’s passionate descriptive voice.

Dr. Andrew O’Shea travels from Boston to Jackson Hole to seek out his former fiancé Sylvie Thorne. Andrew is devastated that Sylvie broke up with him via text and vanished into thin air. He can’t move forward until he understands why she ended their relationship. Loved the unusual plot twist—Andrew wants to immerse himself into Sylvie’s life to understand her. He hopes to find out that they are too different so he can move forward. The author does a fabulous job balancing the simmering passion between the couple, their need to be open and honest with each other and their need to belong.

Cindy Kirk is one of my go to authors because she creates captivating characters. Being together 24/7 worked for Sylvie and Andrew. Both of them were at an emotional crossroads –this drew me into their story. It was apparent that they cared deeply for each other—but was that enough to build a future? Loved the honest, often emotional conversations between the couple. Sylvie learned to trust Andrew and opened up to him about her childhood and her desire to belong, to be valued. Andrew understood that Sylvie expressed herself through her baking. Baking wasn’t a hobby for Sylvie—it was her passion. Andrew learned to trust Sylvie and he experienced a sense of freedom in Jackson Hole. He met other doctors in the community who shared his passion and he volunteered at a free clinic.

Love Me Sweet is an engaging, compelling second chance romance. Cindy Kirk writes a fabulous story for Sylvie and Andrew. Loved that both characters had the opportunity to become friends while their chemistry sizzled in the background. Loved that each chapter revealed a new clue, a new layer to their relationship. I rooted for this couple and wanted them to realize that their love for one and another was the icing on the cake!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Amazon purchase

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery

By Jenny Colgan

Audible version

★★★★★

Polly has got her life in perfect order. 

She gets up early every day. And she bakes.

It is what soothes her heart. Bakery is her

life and joy. Well, that and Huckle. 

Her wonderful handsome patient boyfriend. 

They live together in Mount Polbearne.

Polly bought a charming lighthouse to live in. 

 Then, there is Neal. The puffin that doesnt 

really understand he is a puffin. Neal is a 

big part of the community at Mount Polbearne. 

Polly has always felt at home at the bakery.

She made the decisions and choices. Polly was

in charge. She liked it that way. 

It had been that way for so long that Polly had

 really forgotten that she wasnt the owner.

Until the day the owner died. 

Then everything changed. Everything. 

Polly and Huckle have to figure it all out. 

Can they manage it all? They have to take 

care of each other. And Neal. 

Not to mention the lighthouse. 

It almost seems impossible. 

Alison Larkin is the narrator. She is perfect

for the sweet, emotional, community book 

the Jenny Colgan has written.  

I completely enjoyed listening to this story.

I bought my copy from Amazon.

Review by Lisa Hutson