Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

This one had such promise. I loved the premise of the bachelor bake-off with a man determined to live a bachelor lifestyle and the woman who only wants a home. And actually, for most of the book, I was really enjoying it. I was enjoying watching Lacey convince Zac to open his heart to small town life and Zac pushing Lacey to see that she actually wanted more. But then the ending came.

***spoilers below***

It ended so quickly and with the purchase of a house and marriage proposal after one kiss. ONE KISS? I don't mind insta-love but this was a lot for me. I wish there would have been more leading up to this point in their relationship to make this step an appropriate one.

The Bachelor Bake-off series is just making me smile. I am so enjoying reading about all the bachelors and how hard they fall. Zac and Lacey’s story is so lively, funny and romantic.

Zac starts off as an ornery, uptight ass. Back in a small town bringing back memories of a time he worked his whole life to forget. Lacey is persuasive but it the reason why she’s helping organize the bake-off that pulls Zac in. Facing his past may be hard but learning to bake may be the death of him. But, he knows that he has to make the Aunts proud and he has to do this for the kids. What he’s not ready for is the impact it’s having on him and making him realize how empty his life is.

Lacey is attracted to the moody accountant living in her Aunts B&B but isn’t prepared for the zing she gets just when he walks into a room. Well, that’s when he graces them with his presence. When her brother backs out of the bake-off, she’s at her wit’s end. She needs to find someone to fill in for him. Zac it is … now to convince him why he should do it. Then, everything falls apart … he’ll do it as long as she learns to bake right alongside of him with a little side bet. But, spending time with Zac is proving to be somewhat of a challenge for her. He has her feeling things that she knows she shouldn’t. He has her talking about her past and why Marietta is really where she thinks she wants to be. He has her rethinking her life plan and thinking about moving on.

While both of them are battling the demons within, facing the decisions they made, enjoying learning to bake and just spending time together, love blossoms.

I adored this story. Witnessing Zac and Lacey face their pasts and start looking to the future was so fulfilling. Lacey’s family was fantastic. The Aunts were unique and had back-stories of their own that were wonderful. I know that this series is about the Bachelor Bake-off but it’s so much more.

Baking For Keeps was just plain fun. It was well written and brought in some zany characters. Jessica Gilmore, a new to me author, really had me interested in the way this story was going. She was innovative and original with her characters and her story-line. She brought the plight of the down-trodden to the forefront and made me realize just how much more than a bake-off this series is about. She gave me a happily-ever-after that was original, if not unexpected. I am really looking forward to see who’s next on the list of bachelors and hoping that the next author keeps up the with the sweet, sassy and romantic that I am coming to expect.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I haven't read other books in this series, but I did not feel that I missed anything because of it. This is a quick rainy or snowy day romantic read, nothing overly exciting or breathtaking.

Baking for Keeps is sweet as pie. In Lacey and Zac’s story, author Jessica Gilmore has delivered a truly charming, feel-good romance that is sure to leave you smiling.

Lacey has a sunny personality that I absolutely adored. After a rootless childhood spent travelling with her musician parents, Lacey Hathaway yearns for stability. Putting down roots in Marietta has been all she’s ever wanted, so she’s content with her life. That is, until Zac Malone comes to town and challenges her perspective. Zac’s a loner by choice and his childhood has made him skeptical that Marietta could be as caring a community as Lacey claims it is. But even though he wants to do the job he came to Marietta to do and leave, knowing how much Harry’s House could mean to a child means he can’t turn down Lacey’s plea to participate in the Bachelor Bake-Off.

Zac and Lacey are a case of somewhat-opposites attract and I adored their banter as they fell in love. The two of them challenge each other’s outlooks on life and each of them tempts the other to move outside their comfort zone. Their romance is soft and sweet and just about melted my heart. I’ve read Baking for Keeps twice now and both times I’ve found it heartwarming and fun. The residents of Marietta continue to be a delight and the baking show fan in me can’t help but be entertained by Zac and Lacey’s various attempts at baking. If you’re looking for a genuinely sweet romance with kind characters, a sprightly love story, and a picture-perfect happily ever after that will sweep you away for a little while, I highly recommend Baking for Keeps.

I have enjoyed every single one of these books. The characters are warm and I love the intertwining stories and book series based around Marietta. I just wish I could find a list so I know what books I am missing!

Baking for Keeps follows the two main characters of Lacey Hathaway and Zac Malone. The story flips back and forth between the two characters flawlessly throughout the book. This type of writing makes it so much easier to get to know the characters on a much deeper level. It brings both Lacey and Zac to life and lets the reader see how the character evolves throughout the story.

The hard nut to crack in Baking for Keeps is Zac Malone. He left the small town he grew up in and never looked back. Now big city living is for him and he doesn’t ever see himself wanting to go back. All it takes though in this case is the right woman, Lacey to make him see what he has been missing all these years. What started as a business trip for Zac has turned into learning more about Lacey and his feelings for her. Reading how he evolves from such a single man without looking for more, and to see him open up to Lacey and make her see her full potential was so heartwarming and well written.

The pace of the book moved right along throughout the entire story. I was never left wondering why a character did something or where they were in a point in time or location. I found Baking for Keeps to be full of details and never left me wanting. That is why I give Baking for Keeps a Rose that Rules All rating. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Love Lacey and Zac's sweet, heartwarming and funny love story. Enjoyed reading the Bachelor Bake Off series. Recommended read.

Baking for Keeps: A Bachelor Bake-Off Romance by Jessica Gilmore
This is Lacey Hathaway and Zac Malone's story.

Lacey and Zac's story is another sweet and clean addition to the Bachelor Bake-Off series.

Lacey wants security in life after being moved everywhere by her parents. Zac had a bad childhood so in order to protect himself he doesn't let people get close to him. Will these two let their guards down to take a chance on love?

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

This is the fourth installment in the Bachelor Bake-Off series, I found this one well written and enjoyable.

Super sweet read in the Bachelor Bake-off series- Baking for Keeps is the 4th book. Jessica Gilmore writes with such a happiness that you can't help but to fall in love along with Lacey & Zac.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was well written and a little fast-paced but I don't like when a story drags, either.

Lacey had lived a life that was constantly on the go when she was growing up and she never wanted to live like that again. She had come home to Marietta, Montana and wanted to stay there forever. She lived with two of her elderly aunts and had lots of family nearby. She worked as the managing director at the very small local radio station and she was content.

Zac had lived a life of upheaval and deprivation and he didn't want to get close to anyone and her certainly never wanted to live in a small town again. He was successful and owned his own business and had a beautiful penthouse in San Francisco. He was constantly traveling for work and was rarely home and he liked his life like that. Then he had a job in Marietta, Montana and it was a little too close to where he had lived when he was growing up. It made it uncomfortable and restless. He wanted to do his job and get out of there as fast as he could.

Then Zac met Lacey and there was something there that neither of them wanted to acknowledge or pursue because they were only going to be in the same place for such a short time. Would they be able to see into their future and want more than they currently had? Was that going to be possible for them?

This was a clean romance but with some definite chemistry between Zac and Lacey. I loved Lacey's two aunts and their backstories, too.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story has so much potential but goodness it was very wordy and slow. The aunts were great and the mini bake off between them was fun, but it could have used more fun and flirty times between them, it was just depressing and it had a very sad and lonely undertone to this book.

‘Opposites attract’ is what this book is about. On one hand we have Zac, who likes to keep to himself and cannot wait to get away from Marietta once his business is done. On the other hand, we have Lacey, a bubbly and charming girl who has only known the community life of Marietta. With Lacey’s brother backing out at the last moment, Lacey needs to find a bachelor to step in and save the day. Zac would have probably not cared otherwise but the bake off was for a cause even he could not ignore. But he sets a condition that if he has to learn to bake, then so does Lacey. With their paths crossing, and spending more and more time together it gets harder to ignore the chemistry between them. But is this attraction enough to keep them together forever? Especially when Zac’s time in Marietta is coming to an end and it is the only home Lacey has ever known.

I loved this story because of both the characters and their dynamics. The characters of Zac and Lacey are well developed. They are simple and complicated at the same time. And irrespective of the fact that their personalities are so poles apart, they make a couple that is easy to believe in. They are the anchors of the book. Apart from that the author has an easy going narrative and constant flow of the story also make the pages keep turning. The climax was predictable and expected, however that doesn’t take away much from the reading experiences.

This is the fourth book in the story but can be read as a standalone. A sweet romance that is good for a couple of hours of entertainment.

This series was an ok read for me. Each one was kind of the same.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

This book was a quick and cute read. Lacey and Zac both struggled with expectations and hurts from their childhoods, but understood that those experiences could be standing in the way of a brighter future. Both characters were likable, and their relationship felt natural. Interesting, but somewhat predictable, resolution. The parts of the book discussing recipes and cooking were fun and never felt forced or overdone. I look forward now to reading other books in the series. Recommended read.

Lacey had traveled all over the world with her parents when she was growing up, but for her home is in Marietta. Zac avoids making friendships and engaging in relationships with others, so when he finds himself in the small town of Marietta and part of a bachelor bake off he doesn't exactly know what to make of the situation. Lacey and Zac begin to develop a bond while he is staying at her aunt's B&B and their feelings for one another grow. No longer afraid of his feelings Zac and Lacey fall in love.

This was a good read and fit well with the other books in this series. Great read.

Jessica Gilmore's Baking for Keeps is the fourth in the Bachelor Bake-Off series. Lacey and Zac are opposites that fit together wonderfully. I liked both Lacey and Zac. There was more depth than might be expected in such a sweet romance. I enjoyed learning more about Zac and seeing where their relationship was headed.

The Bachelor Bake-Off series has been a fun series to read. I'll be sad to read the last in this series.

Zac Malone and Lacey Hathaway are complete opposites whose current lives are influenced by their pasts. Zac is a loner who prefers not to make connections or rely on anyone. Lacey craves familiarity, surrounded by people she knows and loves.
When Zac’s job brings him to Marietta, the only place available for him to stay is a room at the B&B run by Lacey’s aunts, who also have a small baking business they run out of the house. Preferring sterile hotel rooms, Zac’s plan to keep to himself is quickly blown out of the water. Lacey is content with her life and excited about her involvement in the Bachelor Bake-Off. When her brother backs out of his visit to Marietta and participation in the Bake-off, Lacey and her Aunts are scrambling to find a replacement for their Sponsorship. Zac is intrigued by the way the people of Marietta are actually working together to help those in need, unlike the town he grew up in. His only condition: Lacey has to learn to bake with him, and participate in a mini bake-off before his actual competition.
I enjoyed Lacey and Zac. Their intereactions were fun and Lacey was a genuinely likeable person whowas ccontent with where she was in life. Each challenged the other’s view of their life and saw that they could have more than they realized, and that sometimes being a bit of a nomad or having ties to people or places is not such a bad thing.
This was a well-written story packed with interesting characters. The bake-off and its goals were front and center, and I had fun with the mini competition between Lacey and Zac. The secondary characters were enjoyable as well, and I loved Lacey’s Aunts and their place in the town. This was a very enjoyable read and a great addition to both the Bachelor Bake-off Series and Marietta.

Another sweet story set in Marietta, Montana. Lacey is the manager of the local radio station. Zac comes to town to audit the city books. When Lacey's brother fails to show up for the bachelor bake-off she talks Zac into taking his place. A fun story, and the competition takes another view when Zac challenges Lacey to a smaller contest just between themselves. Naturally there is a HEA, and the growth of both was fun to read about. Highly recommend this book and author and series. This is book 4 out of 5, but can be read by itself.

This is my least favorite of the series so far. The characters had no spark, no chemistry. I haven't ever read this author before- maybe she want totally into the whole "bake off" idea, but I like think it's a unique premise.