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.

This book was very sweet (pun fully intended). I’m not always a fan of second chance romances, but this one was well done and made sense with how long the characters had to grow and develop. Sloane is highly competent and clearly knows what she wants, which makes reading her perspective quite fun. The chemistry between her and August is very much there as is the spice. The pacing is solid, with a little bit of absurdity in the plot.

A Legend in the Baking
2.75 ⭐️

This one seemed like a light cozy romance which felt like it would fit nicely in between a few heavier books. While it was light, it honestly felt like it had a little too many directions it was trying to go for. Not my favorite, but maybe for you if you’re really into cupcake shops and social media.

A Legend in the Baking is book 2 of the Fake It Till You Bake It series. This book is focused on August Hodges, a football star and silent partner in his two friends' (and teammates') cupcake business, and Sloane Dell, the little sister of teammates and co-owner. Their relationship, as well as their romance, was contentious throughout the book. Even though I knew that the book would eventually lead to an HEA, I initially had my doubts.

I liked that the author let August and Sloane's characters have a regular friendship-to-relationship deal. I also liked how August was pulled, kicking, and screaming into it. I wondered why he fought so hard against his feelings for Sloane, but it is revealed later in the book.

Even though I liked Sloane, I thought she was a little much. In parts of the book, she comes across as overbearing and controlling. But, again, the author explained her actions, and instead of detracting from her overall character, they added layers to her.

There was an amusing sub storyline with a secondary cupcake location and some geriatric protestors. I got why the protestors were so up in arms. Gentrification is something that people should take seriously. But, thankfully, the guys had an explanation for everything that was going on.

The end of A Legend in the Baking was nice. I liked that it was a HEA and hoped it would become something more permanent for Sloane and August.

I really enjoy Jamie’s writing overall. I have a soft spot for black romances that are normal and she knocks it out of the park.

I really enjoyed the internal struggle both Solan and August experience as they’re coming to terms with the truth. I also appreciated the backstory that fueled the animosity we picked up on from book one.

I will definitely continue the series!

This was my first read in the “Fake It Till You Bake It” series and I had a good time with it. I really liked the MMC, a feminist football star who loves baking cupcakes. I liked Sloane, our female lead, but I occasionally found her quirkiness veering into parody territory. This is a slow, slow burn, so if that’s not a romance trope you enjoy, this one wouldn’t be for you. I had an issue with some non-consent scenes thrown at the MMC, but overall it was a sweet, fluffy book with an enjoyable cast of characters and main characters with flaws (which is how characters should be written, imo).

I have waited two years for this book. Patience not a virtue I possess. The moment Jamie Wesley teased this couple in fake it til you bake it, I had to know their story. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Jada and Donovans story but there was something about the strong and silent August that I had to know more about
Sloane, despite getting in her own way, was a great FMC. Making a name for herself despite her brothers success is very admirable. But hurting your own feelings of love over a job is wild! But Im glad she got it all the way gathered in the end. I love watching black men get the healing they deserve. Its a vulnerability that I find so sexy because in the end they realize it was a burden they didnt have to carry this whole time. Also the way August caters, respects, and listens to Sloane undoubtedly makes him the perfect MMC. Now there was no teasing of Nicholas but this was an Earc. Only the more reason for me to buy the book in a couple of months.

I thought the premise of this book was darling and was so excited to read it during football season! However, the slow burn didn't work for me. It just dragged on.

A sweet story about second-chance love filled with past trauma, cupcakes, and football stars!

I really enjoyed this story! I felt that it was original & witty. I laughed, I cried, and most importantly I related to the characters.

I mean, honestly what’s not to love about 3 good lookin’ men who play pro-football and also BAKE?! Then you have August…oh sweet sweet “month of the year” August who just made me want to hug him until he realized his worth. Then we have Sloane..who is relatable on every single level there is!

Thank you NetGalley for an arc copy of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This book ended up not being a great fit for me, while there were portions that I enjoyed, I really struggled with the slow pacing and some of the plot choices made by the author.
I would definitely try another book from this author in the future and would still recommend this book to someone who enjoys a slow burn romance.

Thank you Jamie Wesley, Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Football player August is supposed to be the “quiet” partner in the cupcake business he and his two best friends own. But he accidentally goes viral after a rant defending baking and masculinity and suddenly becomes the town's hottest bachelor. At the same time, his best friend’s little sister, Sloane, shows up to handle the business’s social media. She’s had a thing for him forever, and working together stirs up all those old feelings. It’s fun and full of romantic tension as they navigate their past and chemistry. The “will they / won’t they” parts dragged on a bit, and the flashbacks to their “past encounters” weren’t as satisfying as I would’ve liked, but overall it was a solid, feel-good read!

When people look at August Hodges, they see a macho football player, not a baker. August has always loved to bake, but he's not one for the spotlight, so he prefers his co-ownership of Sugar Blitz Cupcakes to stay under the radar. But one viral rant later about how baking cupcakes isn't a threat to masculinity, and August is crowned the internet's SugarBae. With August and his partners on the cusp of opening another store, they want to capitalize on August's fifteen minutes of fame to help cement themselves into the community by hiring social media maven Sloane Dell. As the sister of his best friend, August and Sloane have known each other for years, but things have been awkward since August spurned Sloane's teenage declarations of love. As the pair begin working closely together, they can't deny the spark between them, but are they willing to take a risk for love?

It's fitting that this centers around baking and a cupcake shop because it was sweet as sugar. I liked both our main characters. Sloane was strong and capable, and I liked how determined she was to make a name for herself. August was sweet and introverted, and I liked how much he loved baking despite people's narrow-minded views. The romance between them was a little too slow-burn for my tastes, especially since we know their feelings for one another early on, so my interest did start to wane after a while. Romance aside, I found the overall plot to be just okay. It was cute but not the most memorable. While it's not a new favorite, I'd still recommend it if you're wanting a quick read.

There's a slow burn type of book...and then there is one that just drags on. Yep, this one drags on. 😫

I wanted to love "A Legend in the Baking" more than I did because I enjoyed the first book, "Fake It Till You Bake It". But this one I really didn't connect with the story or the characters as much. I love how we are introduced to the same cast of characters from the first book, but this time we are following August & Sloane, who we know have some type of history.

I also enjoy how August is more vocal in this story and we see how he puts his foot down on gender stereotypes & roles. There is a instance in this book where I wish the author would have spoken out more on how just because it's a guy doesn't mean that sexual harassment is okay. August also opens up about his father & ex-wife and those feelings he's carried with him for so long.

Usually I finish romance books pretty quickly but with this one I struggled. Like I said, it really dragged on and on about how they just didn't want to communicate their feelings (repeatedly) on the past & present. Yes, there's a few sexy scenes but even they were drawn out 😂. (Never thought I would say that)

I wonder if the 3rd owner, Nicholas, will have his book..🤔

Thank you to NetGalley & St Martin's Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.❤️

This was a fun book to read! The interaction between the characters is funny and entertaining and the storyline was cute.

It's the second book in a series, I'll go back and find the first one to read now! But easy could be a standalone, too. August, a famous football player, owns a cupcake shop with two of his teammates. They're opening the second shop in this book and use the social media influences from Sloane, one of the other owners sister to hype their new location. But some of the townsfolk revolt back.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Another super sweet read from the Sugar Blitz Family!

Sloane and August have some history. Twelve years ago, Sloane laid her heart on the line and got badly burned by August, who was with someone else at the time. They've danced around it in the years since, but never were able to retain their close friendship.

When Sloane spontaneously quits her job and August accidentally goes viral telling off some misogynists in the shop, the two are forced to be close once again -- Sloane is going to capitalize on the ten seconds of fame to boost sales before Sugar Blitz opens a second location and land herself another social media manager gig. The only problem is sweet and shy August has no desire to be in front of a camera -- the only reason he will do it is to help Sloane.

The more they interact the more they both realize the feelings on both sides are very much present -- but they'll need to address the past if they have a shot at a future.

Both characters were really enjoyable -- a fun and fluffy read!

I got a chance to real this early through NetGalley. A Legend in the Baking was so cute! I loved how the main characters clearly knew each other so well because of their past. This felt like a second chance to me and I eat that up every time. 3.5 stars

This book was just so gorgeous! The MMC is EVERYTHING! He's charming, loyal, sweet, and the fact that he's an introvert makes the story so much more fun. Him being a football player who also bakes cupcakes is such a unique combination and I'm so happy the author didn't forget to show him in action. Sloane is the determined, assertive FMC that I didn't realize I craved so much. She knows her worth and that's power. I enjoyed the slow burn with second chance romance, but I do think some things could've gone so much better.

I've read books with a similar scenario with the fame where no one's getting objectified, and if they are, it's not passed off as normal. There were also a lot of themes and sub-plots being juggled here, making the pacing of the book vary at times and the romance took a backseat at times. Now this isn't something that really bothered me, but if you can't stand slow burn or changes in pacing, this book probably isn't for you. That put aside, the side characters were awesome as was the banter, so I'm keeping an eye out for future books in the series, and I also want to read the first one.

This was my first book by this author. The book started off strong but then it started dragging for me. I felt that the few chapters that went into the past, weren't needed. It was actually a bit confusing. August was a likeable MMC as an athlete who was also smart & down to earth. Now Sloane was all over the place. Sometimes I liked her but other times, I didn't because it seemed to be all business for her, and then blam they were connected. The burn was so slow that i found myself not interested at some parts.
Now the spicy parts I did enjoy, but by the time they came, it didn't seem to mesh well & I was largely uninterested in them being together. Overall it could be a better book if it was about 50-75 pages shorter and a bit more character development.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher & of course the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A cute sequel to one of my favorite books. I really enjoyed this one, and it was just my speed. The main characters and the relationship was cute and the slow burn was just enough. I would have did less with the flashbacks... they kind of made the story drag even though it was for the build up. I'll be looking forward to the third (if it's in the works).

Dnf 59%

I’m kinda disappointed because I loved the first book, but there were quite a few issues in here that I can’t overlook.

1. What is up with all these women copping a feel? Grabbing his butt and some being bold enough to try for the front? Why are we playing this off as it being a part of the “game”. Let’s call it sexual harassment and not play it down. It’s no consensual and disgusting.

2. There were comments of he’s not married so he’s still in the market that other women made to dismiss any girlfriend he potentially could have.

3. Someone is in a relationship and you’re still going to kiss them? That’s disrespectful. I truly don’t care how long you’ve had a crush for.

All in all, this is not the book for me.
It’s pushing a lot of themes that I just don’t care for nor tolerate.