Cute & sassy from the very start! This book just solidified my putting Jamie Wesley at the top of my new favorite authors list! August and Sloane’s story is a fun read with likable characters and a sweet HEA! Oh Nicholas, watch out cause hopefully your story is next!!

A cupcake backing football player? Sign me up! This is a second chance romance between August and Sloane. I really wanted to like this more than I did but unfortunately it was not for me. It was a very slow burn and I didn't like that August has a long term girlfriend he was essentially emotionally cheating on.

I can encapsulate my feelings about this book in one word: sweet! Initially unaware that it was the second installment in a series, I now eagerly anticipate delving into Donovan and Jada's story in their own dedicated volume. The characters are as comforting as freshly baked cookies—well-developed, immensely lovable, and charmingly flawed. This slow-burn romance culminates beautifully, despite experiencing a few lackluster moments in the middle. It serves as a light, enjoyable read, ideal for a day cozied up on the couch or out on a porch on a cool day. "A Legend in the Baking" is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. I am rating it a robust 4 out of 5 and have officially become a fan of this author.

Always There

I didn't read the first book in the series. I enjoyed traveling with Slone and August as they navigate from friends to enemies, back to friends, while trying to love themselves. This was a slow burn, as both were dealing with past hurts. When things were strained between them, they still supported each other. Sloane's brother and Nicholas were the perfect secondary characters. I will go back and read book one before three drops.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers of A Legend in the Baking for an ARC above is my honest review and opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jamie Wesley for the advanced copy of A Legend in the Baking!

I really enjoyed reading Sloane and August's story. I loved that August defended women who work their asses off and shut down toxic masculinity, even though it led to some unfortunate events for him. I don't think the whole plot point of August needing to date was necessary, but I liked how they turned it around.

My only hang up on this book is that it's heavily implied that Sloane and August had a full-on tryst, but as discovered in a series of flashbacks, it was only a one-sided kiss and crush.

I found the complete lack of communication between the two characters to be so frustrating. 66% of the way in and all they have done is mildly pine for each other without a single conversation to acknowledge feelings. I wanted to enjoy this story more but I found it hard to be invested when not much plot had happened (or character development).

A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley is a delightful romance that blends the worlds of culinary arts and unexpected love. The story follows a talented baker who, while trying to secure her future in a competitive baking competition, finds herself entangled with a charming rival. Wesley’s engaging writing and well-developed characters create a sweet and satisfying narrative filled with tension, humor, and heartfelt moments. This book is perfect for those who enjoy romance infused with delicious recipes and a sprinkle of friendly competition!

Watching these two learn and grow and find themselves together was such a fun read. Their chemistry was off the charts and I was hooked from the first chapter.

This sequel of A Legend in the Baking was just as good as the first in the series. Jamie Wesley has created really likable characters but ones that are cookie cutter but have flaws too.
The premise was a good reason for them even though at times silly.
I did get to start to hate the phrase riding my brothers coattails though. lol
Oh and also loves the not typical third act conflict.
Now will we get a third book for Nicholas? I do hope so.
Thank you Net Galley, Jamie Wesley and St. Martins Griffen for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I wasn't personally a fan of this book. While people who may have enjoyed things such as "Hook, Line, and Sinker" might enjoy it. The plot was boring at most times. This wasn't my taste but it may be yours.

DNF at 25%
I couldn’t believe how long it took me to read 25% of this book which should have been my first clue to put it aside. But two things really put me off it.

First, when the male character goes viral, his place of business is swarmed by women who touch him, kiss him, and pinch his butt without consent. Gross.

And second, the female main character is competing for a job. The potential employer asks her to do two weeks worth of work FOR FREE to “prove herself”. Absolutely not. We do not give away our labor in the year of our Lord 2024, especially not women and women of color.

I received a gift copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The pacing was all over the place and the slow burn was SLOW. However, I read the first book in this series (by accident) and fell in love with the writers style so I was excited to see a second book in this universe pop up. I didn't think it was as good as the first, but still a fun read!

I really wanted to love A Legend in the Baking. After devouring the first book in this series, I was excited to dive back into Jamie Wesley’s world, especially with a premise as promising as a cupcake-baking football player and a social media maven! But unfortunately, this one didn’t quite deliver the same punch for me.

The story revolves around August Hodges, a football player turned baker, and Sloane Dell, his best friend’s younger sister. There’s a lot of potential here—August’s viral fame, the sparks between them from the start, and their shared history. But instead of the gripping, fast-paced romance I was hoping for, this book felt like a slow burn that dragged a bit too much.

I love a slow burn when it’s done right, but this one just felt… overly slow. There were so many moments when it seemed like things were about to heat up between August and Sloane, only for them to be interrupted or for Sloane to run off. That kind of back-and-forth is fine in moderation, but it became repetitive and, by the 35% mark, I was craving some action or excitement. Instead, I found myself waiting until around 70-75% for things to really pick up.

As much as I loved the premise and the chemistry between August and Sloane, this story could’ve used a bit more drama and excitement earlier on. It’s sweet, but not a page-turner, and the lack of spice or dramatic tension left me wanting more. If you enjoy a very slow burn with minimal drama, this might be for you, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations after the first book’s high.

Happy to see Sloane and August have their happy ending! I was invested in them since the first book in the series so it was nice to have that resolved. My biggest suggestion is that it needed more rounds of edits. The plot got a bit confusing and there were unnecessary acronyms for everything but the characters felt so real that I can forgive a bit of a mixed-bag plot.

I also just love Wesley’s writing style. I will 100% be on the lookout for Nicholas’s book in the series. I mean it has to be coming right?!

I received this arc from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

A Legend in the Baking was everything I hoped it would be! It was such a fun and super sweet slow burn romance, and such an easy read!

While there were cute moments in this book and I enjoyed the premise (football players, cupcakes), I hated the setup of the story itself. I didn’t like the backstory of the MCs (especially the questionable kiss), and the whole job application subplot was so utterly unrealistic and unethical. I remember liking the first book in this series a lot more.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Legend in the Baking is book two in the amazing Fake It Till You Bake It Series by Jamie Wesley.
I just adored book one in 2022. And was probably too excited when I seen book two was available on NetGalley.

I’m obsessed with this series where we have football players who open a cupcake bakery together.
I mean seriously? That’s just too cute!

This new romance from Wesley follows a cupcake-baking football player who gets assistance from a social media maven—who is also his best friend's little sister who helps him promote his new bakery after accidentally going viral online.

The chemistry between August and Sloane was believable and I was rooting for them throughout the book. Their banter is the best.
The author has written these characters with depth that shows throughout the story. Both main characters have some really solid character development. I really loved their individual personalities. They both stood out and had their own distinct voices.

A funny and warm hearted story with a delicious ending!

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

4⭐️

Overall, this book was decent but the plot is pretty similar to book #1 of the series. Deny their attraction, business brings them together, run and hide from love, etc… Would have loved a deeper history between the two. But overall, I liked reading from both characters’ perspectives.

I give this book 3.5 stars. ACS to second book for the series, I actually enjoyed this book more than the first book. Sloane and August story was definitely a slow burn but really cute. This book is a solid read and looking forward to the next book of the series. The love scenes were good but it took so long to get to. I just wanted the story to come together sooner but I do not think it took away from the story. My rating is based on me wanting more but still a good read for anyone who enjoys romance novels.

A Legend in the Baking was so cute! I love the male characters the most. They were perfectly blended and the author added so many layers to their characters.