A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley is a really cute second chance romance. I found it to be entertaining and really good read.

I would rate this wonderful story Five Star read and Recommend it to all readers.

Brothers best friend
Boss babe
Past traumas


“Never ever say the day couldn’t get any worse, because it absolutely could.”



Sloane is a social media manager and a damn good one at that. During her work day she believed she was going to get the promotion but ultimately did not. Her boss would take credit for the work she would do so she was overlooked. She decided to quit right then & there.

Her brother part owns the local Sugar Blitz donut shop with his two teammates and he needs social media help. She has never wanted to work for him because she doesn’t want anyone to think she’s riding on his coat tails.

During an interview with a company she’d love to work for she’s in competition with her college nemesis where they have to help a companies social media get better over a few weeks. She takes her brother up on his offer of her working for them but she says it’s only temporary to get her this new job.

August is a part owner of Sugar Blitz with two of his football teammates after dealing with a divorce from his ex. He’s quiet and reserved and rarely seen at the business. One of the days he’s working out front he over hears some young guys saying men owning a bakery is emasculating. August goes off on them in a heartfelt way that when he is recorded by the bystanders he ends up going viral for standing up for women.

The viral videos are exactly what Sloane needed to propel herself forward with her task to try and get her dream job.

Sloane & August have a past though as 12 years before they were pretty close friends. They met because August is best friends and was roommates with her brother Donovan. Sloane ends up falling head over heels for him but he has a girlfriend who he ends up marrying. Sloane confesses her love for him and he shuts her down immediately. She’s heartbroken of course but moves forward with life.

In present time they spend every day together as he is now her rising social media star and they are capitalizing on everything they can. Without giving too much away they continue to get close to each other and flirt but spook each other off saying it’s a mistake because they both don’t want to be hurt.

In the end they find their way to each other and they are spicy. I enjoyed this book so much and I didn’t want to put my phone down!

This was a super cute read. This is a great book or anyone that loves light hearted romcom books & movies. Despite the fact that it is the second book in a series, it can be red as a stand alone, but read both books 😉

I can’t wait for the 3rd installment in the series.

Jamie Wesley’s A Legend in Baking serves up a wonderful mix of romance, laugh out loud moments, and the temptation of those cupcakes, all frosted with the right amount of social media drama and personal growth. This delicious addition to the Sugar Blitz series, centers on August Hodges, a cupcake baking football player who is a silent partner in the business, finds himself going viral after an incident that instantly grabs the hearts of ladies all over. Teamed up with Sloane Dell, a social media enthusiast, they deliver a charming, sweet romance that gives them the hea they were destined for.

August Hodges tries his best to stay the silent partner. When a couple of guys came in and said some disparaging things, he found himself being the next viral hit grabbing the hearts of ladies everywhere. With the help of the little sister of one of his co-owners, Sloane Dell saw this as an opportunity not only to capitalize on the moment to promote them but also draw up some excitement for the upcoming second location and let the community get to know them better.

Despite their history together, Sloane decides to power forward to not only help them get to where they need to be but also help jumpstart her career in social media. To be able to work together, they agree to leave their past in the past. The only problem is when a steamy moment brings to the surface unresolved feelings towards each other, they are put in a situation that challenges the task at hand and tempting the fate of what's meant to be.

A Legend in Baking balances its lighthearted plot blending subjects of personal and chasing dreams. August and Sloane, their journey was worth the wait. The perfect tale of the wrong time but the right person finding their fate later is always a good read. If you are a fan of sweet romances and a little spice you will find this as sweet as those devouring cupcakes. Loveable characters, moments that will make you laugh, and who wouldn’t want to be in a cupcake shop will satisfy your sweet tooth with the sequel in this wonderful series. If you haven’t read the first book, Fake It Till You Bake It, make sure to catch it because you won’t want to miss this fun series.

Title:  A Legend in the Baking  
Author:   Jamie Wesley       
Genre:  Romance       
Rating:  3.8

August Hodges was supposed to be the silent partner in Sugar Blitz Cupcakes. Emphasis on silent. That is until his impromptu feminist rant about how women bakers are the backbone of the industry and baking cupcakes isn’t a threat to masculinity goes viral, making him the hottest bachelor in town. With a new location in the works, August and his partners decide to capitalize on this perfect opportunity to help cement their place in the community. But the hiring of his best friend’s younger sister, the woman who has haunted some of his best dreams for years, was as much of a shock as his new-found fame.

Social media manager Sloane Dell fell hard for her brother’s best friend the moment she met him more than a decade ago, but that teenage infatuation cost her dearly. Still, she accepts her brother’s request to revamp the bakery’s social media presence to take advantage of August’s newfound popularity, knowing it’s the big break her fledgling career needs. She’ll just ignore the fact that August is still August, i.e. sexier and sweeter than any man has a right to be. And that he drives her crazy with his resistance to all her ideas.

They vow to leave the past in the past. But when an explosive make-out session makes it clear their attraction burns hotter than ever, Sloane and August are forced to reconsider what it means to take a risk and chase your dreams.

As they’re both about to find out, all’s fair in love and cupcakes.

This was a decent read (I DNFed the first book in the series, so this one was clearly more to my taste). I enjoy second chance romances, although this one wasn’t quite that. I didn’t feel like there was much conflict here, except the manufactured one with the protestors—there was no hint of trouble, then, boom, they’re picketing? Again, this was decent, but nothing out-of-the-ordinary.

Jamie Wesley holds a master’s degree in sports management. A Legend in the Baking is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

If you love a SLOW BURN, this is the book for you! I’m not really a slow burn girlie, but I did enjoy this book. I was so excited for this book, but it did take me a minute to finish this book because I never really read slow burn books. Once the book got into the nitty gritty, i couldn’t put it down and really enjoyed it. This book had me kicking my feet and smiling!

3.5⭐ A Legend in the Baking is a sweet, second-chance slow-burn romance. The story is charming and the characters are well-developed. The writing was a little repetitive at times and sometimes slow, but overall a cute read with a good representation of healthy masculinity.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the advance review copy.

Jamie Wesley serves up a delightful rom-com with A Legend in the Baking, blending humor, heart, and just the right amount of heat. This story of second chances, sizzling chemistry, and sweet ambition is a treat for fans of lighthearted romance.

August Hodges, the reluctant but unexpectedly viral face of Sugar Blitz Cupcakes, is the perfect mix of charming and awkward, winning readers over with his feminist rant and genuine love for the bakery. Enter Sloane Dell, his best friend’s younger sister and a social media manager with big dreams. Their shared history—and undeniable tension—sets the stage for a delicious slow burn that keeps you turning the pages.

Sloane’s fiery determination and creative drive are the perfect counterbalance to August’s slightly grumpy resistance to change. Their back-and-forth over her social media ideas feels authentic and engaging, with plenty of sparks flying along the way. The humor is sharp and witty, while the romance strikes a satisfying balance between sweet and steamy.

While the plot is fairly predictable—complete with a few classic rom-com tropes—it’s executed so well that it doesn’t detract from the story. Wesley’s vibrant descriptions of the bakery and its mouthwatering creations add an extra layer of charm, making it almost impossible not to crave cupcakes while reading.

All’s fair in love and cupcakes indeed, and A Legend in the Baking proves that Wesley knows how to craft a love story that feels warm, funny, and oh-so-satisfying. This book is perfect for readers looking for a romantic escape with just the right mix of passion and pastry.

August Hodges was the silent partner in Sugar Blitz Cupcakes, but a feminist rant goes viral, making him the hottest bachelor in town. Capitalizing on this new fame to build up the hype on a new location, his best friend’s younger sister is hired as their social media manager. Sloane Dell was just as infatuated with August, but isn't willing to revisit her teenage crush. She needs the job to boost her fledgling career, but it's difficult to ignore August.

A Legend in the Baking is the second book in the Fake It Till You Bake It series of romances starring bakers and football stars. Sloane quit her job when passed over for a promotion despite everything she put into the company, leaving her free to work as a social media manager for Sugar Blitz as they're opening a second location. She wants to prove she can handle being project manager, and that she can support herself without leaning on her famous brother or any man. August is still trying to impress his father, a famous chef and chauvinist, and is socially anxious. Putting himself out there for a social media blitz isn't in his wheelhouse, but he does it anyway. It becomes more than just taking pictures of renovations, but also going on dates for social media purposes. This puts Sloane and August in close proximity, which continually brings up memories of the past when they had crushes on each other as teens.

We see flashes of the past, and how it shaped their interactions in the present. We also see how much they push themselves for their careers and to make the new shop flourish. August must push past his anxiety, Sloane must swallow her pride. Both have worries about their history and how they relate to people now, yet still have that great connection that keeps them circling each other even outside of Instagram posts. The greatest message is realizing that no one is unlovable, and as anxiety-provoking as it is to reach out to someone, getting acceptance and love back is a wonderful feeling. It was great to see that happen for August and Sloane in this novel.

Super cute
Brothers best friend/ best friends sister

Cashing in on a viral moment, Sloane needs the help of August to keep up momentum.

- fear of rejection
- slow burn

I was super hype for this book as I really enjoyed Fake It Till You Make It. This story follows Donovan's little sister Sloane, a social media marketer who quits her job after being passed up for a promotion, and August, one leg of the trio of owners of Sugar Blitz. August and Sloane were friends 12 years ago until something happened and then they were polite acquaintances. The reader gets some flashback scenes of what went down mixed in with the development of their relationship in present day. I liked this book, but I didn't love it as much as the first one. Sloan is an interesting character with a lot of drive and determination. August has had a tough life, and it was nice to see him work through things. I liked their relationship when they were having fun but I didn't care for some of the scenarios that Sloane put him in (even if he agreed to them). I really liked seeing Donovan and Jada pop up here and there! I really disliked the sugarbaebies. They had some strange characterizations. All of them were sexually harassing August most of the time and it was kind of played like a joke? I didn't appreciate that so much. I also felt like the plot got sidetracked a few times in a way that was irritating to me. I am very interested to see where Nicholas' book goes as I don't recall any sort of hints about who it could be.

The trio of football player cupcake shop owners are back in A Legend in Baking. August accidentally goes viral with a rant about feminism and baking! Now, he and his partners are ready to ride that wave of fame to help with the opening of their second shop, and they bring in Sloane Dell, a social media whiz who has some history with August to help.

These two have been tiptoeing around their crushes for 12 years, and honestly, I felt for August. He’s a bit of a loner whose past experiences have made him feel unlovable and scared of failing in love. Sloane is all about getting things done with her killer marketing skills but she’s dealing with her own past relationship issues. The way the story flips between past and present really shows off their connection, which I loved!

Their slow-burn romance is packed with tension and longing, and it’s super satisfying to watch them build trust and realize they’ve found the partner they didn’t think they’d ever have. I couldn’t put this book down and I finished it in a day! If you’re in the mood for a charming story with a sprinkle of sweetness and humor, this one’s for you!

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

I really liked the first one in the book series so when I saw the NetGalley release of the book I jumped on the chance to have it. I think this one was better then the first. August was a great character, so brilliantly sp[eaking the truth throughout this book. Sloan was a great counterpart for him and I completely understood her hesitation to get together with August after their history 12 years prior. A wonderful romance!

This is the second book in the series, but it stands fine on its own.

This story was charming, but I felt it dragged a bit, and the conflict/resolution left me flat. That being said, I did like the characters and the overall story/writing. It's not a bad book, just not as exciting as I was hoping for after the first one.

Another fun and sweet addition to the Fake It Til You Bake It series, filled with slow-burn and second-chance energy that keep you invested throughout.

August's plan was to be a silent partner at Sugar Blitz, but when his feminist rant goes viral, he is forced into the limelight. With the help of the new social media manager, Sloane, they come up with a plan to improve the business and earn the trust of the community. The more time that August and Sloane spend together, the more their past feelings begin to grow again.

I loved the way that the author approached August and Sloane's relationship as it feels authentic and realistic. I can't wait to read more from the Sugar Blitz family.

Thank you St. Martin's and NetGalley for the ARC for review!

A legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley

This is book 2 of the series but it works as a standalone. So we have August, a football player and co owner of a cupcake store. Sloane is the sister to another one of the owners and August can’t seem to keep his thoughts in check around her. When they work together on a social media campaign the oven temp starts to rise!

It’s super cute and I loved the chemistry between both of them. I loved the plot, a gentleman who treats women with respect and as an equal. I loved the plot, it was a great romance read, well worth it!

4 stars

This was a cute story. I really like this world with the NFL players running a cupcake business. I liked how mature the characters were at the end during the final conflict. However, if found it a bit slow and sluggish at times.

After reading Fake It Til You Bake It, I was ready for this book! And did it live up to my expectations, yes it did! If you don't like slow burns this book may not be for you but babyyyy I lived for this one here!! I wanted them to just say how they felt a few times because we all could see they loved one another even if they couldn't admit it to themselves. Now I did scream "GIRL WTF YOU DOING" to Sloane on a few parts, especially when she went Meridith Grey lol. But she got it together and they did what needed to be done to get it right. Definitely a good read that will give you great laughs and all the feels. Can't wait for book 3 to see what playboy Nicholas will be up to.

I enjoyed the first book in the series and was excited about this book.

August is Sloane’s brother’s best friend. She has had a crush on him since she was in high school and he was in college. She confessed her feelings for him back then and he rejected her.

Years later, she has lost her job and needs to show what she can do as a media marketer to get another job. He recently went viral while defending women and his masculinity as a cupcake shop owner.

The two of them worked together and fought their feelings for each other for a while. Then he decided that she was what he wanted and decided to go after her. She never stopped having feelings for him and finally gave in to her feelings.

Watching these two was fun. She was trying to do her job while attempting to get another job. He was trying to help her while dealing with being uncomfortable at all the attention. August and Sloane both had a lot of issues they needed to work through. The best part was, no matter what, they were friends and were there for each other.

This was a really good book. I enjoyed it a lot. I really hope there is another book about the last of the trio of football playing, cupcake baking best friends.

Five star read.

When I read Fake It Till You Bake It, I hoped Sloane and August would get their own book. Yay! And Sloane is even more of a strong, independent woman than I thought. She doesn’t take crap from anyone and knows her worth. I loved it! Yet sometimes Sloane tended to get in her own way. August saw that but knew she had to figure things out for herself, so he let her. Swoon!

I love August and Sloane together. I love when they banter and flirt, even when they try not to. I love their connection and how, no matter how close August is to his partners and how close Sloane is to her brother, they notice things about each other that nobody else does. And I love how those same friends and family are silently rooting for the couple even while the couple thinks they are being so slick and secretive with their kissing slip-ups.

All of that love for this book, yet I still have realized that this author may not be for me. While I can easily see how many readers will greatly enjoy this author, I am not a huge fan of the slow burn. And let me tell you, this burn is excruciatingly slow. There are two real-time kisses (that are interrupted) and one memory of a past kiss in the first 75% of this book. Nope! That is not for me. I know some people eat that up with a spoon. For me, I tend to lose interest and feel the candle flickering on the romance when it takes that long, especially if there aren’t other ways the passion is playing out during that time. These two were in the same room but avoiding any sort of touch, or even looking at each other, most of the time.

While the slow burn may not be for me, I do want to say that I appreciate that this author has started incorporating more inclusive language in her books. It is done in such a way I didn’t notice until I was going back to write this review and realized how she had worded certain things. It not only makes her books more inclusive, but does so in a way that flows with the prose and dialogue. On the other hand, in this book and a few others I have read recently, I am getting uncomfortable with how often male presenting athletes are touched without permission without someone calling out the person touching them. Yes, the love interest will get jealous or have thoughts about the touching, but nobody ever seems to say that it’s not okay to touch the man! No matter the person’s gender identity, no matter if they are a public figure, it is not okay to touch someone without permission! Especially in a sexualized manner. Be it a butt grab or a finger run down their chest. Just NO.

Anyway, when I look back at this story and the book before it, I remember them with fondness. That’s why I will recommend the series to those who enjoy a super slow burn and strong women. I’m sure there will be a third book as there is a third business partner/friend in the bakery, but I will most likely skip it. I’m sure it will be a wonderful story, as this one was. The author’s writing style and my reading style just don’t mesh.