First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
A Legend In The Baking by Jamie Wesley was a cute romance between Sloane, a social media manager, and August, a retired football player turned baker.
This book was sweet and cute, but it didn’t really grab my attention. The love felt a little insta-lovey even though it wasn’t technically. I don’t feel like it was a bad book and I really believe lots of people will like this more than I did! I definitely still think this is worth picking up!
3.5⭐️

Read if you like:
🧁 Cupcakes & All the Goodies
🏈 Hot Football Players
🖤 Black Love
👑 Boss Ass Bitch Energy
💪🏾 Strong FMC
🥈 Second Chance Romance
👨🏽 Brother’s Best Friend
⏳ Flashbacks

Honestly, this was such a great follow up to Fake It Til You Bake It and I loved being back in the bakery with all the characters!

I absolutely loved how August trying to be helpful put himself in a situation he absolutely didn’t want to be in, with the women and being a piece of meat and someone the women all wanted to score a date with, in order to try to do his part to help the bakery as it was struggling with public opinion while in the midst of trying to expand to a new location in a new neighborhood.

And what perfect timing for this as his best friends little sodger that he has had feelings for for a while is now in the picture to help with the Bakery’s social media and by default, Gus’ media nightmare he got himself into.

I absolutely loved getting the story from Sloane’s PoV as she left her job where she wasn’t being valued and was trying to get a new job, with the need to run a social media campaign as part of her interview process and forced her to finally take her brother up on his offer that would put her in forced proximity with her brother’s best friend and her childhood crush that she never fully got over.

This all together is a recipe for LOVE! And I ate up every crumb!

Thank you so much to SMP for my ARC, ALC, & finished copy in exchange for my review!

slow burn, cinnamon roll MMC, football player MMC, MMC is close friends with FMC's brother

I listened to this audiobook as a standalone (and may go back and read the first book since I enjoyed this one). I enjoyed the narrators. A Legend in the Baking is a romance that uses a dual timeline to explain the sources of August's insecurities and Sloane's trust issues. The storyline also explores the expansion of August's cupcakery, familial relationships in August's life, and Sloane's new position as social media manager at the cupcakery. Although the story does involve some heat between the two main characters, it is definitely a slow burn (but not so slow that I became uninterested). August was my favorite character. He was a sweetheart who wholeheartedly supported the advancement of Sloane's career.

Book review: 3.50
Narrator review: 4.00

May contain spoilers!

📚 A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Westley
🔖 Series: Fake It Till You Bake It
🎧 Format: Audiobook
🎙️ Narrated by: Jaime Lincoln Smith & Nia Serge
📕 Genre: Contemporary Romance
📖 Read: November 2024
✨ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘶𝘯𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘱𝘤𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱. 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘵? 𝘐’𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯.”

‧₊˚✧ 𝑻𝑹𝑶𝑷𝑬𝑺 ✧˚₊‧
ꕥ Brother’s Best Friend
ꕥ Second Chance
ꕥ Forced Proximity

Sweet, spicy and funny!

This was a super cute read. I enjoyed the setting and atmosphere of the story. The chemistry between Sloane and August was definitely on point. I really liked that even though there was conflict with secondary characters, no one was made out to be a villain. This was such a ‘feel good’ kind of book.

Jamie Lincoln Smith and Nia Serge did such a good job narrating this book! I definitely want to find other books narrated by them.

Overall, a fun, light read that I would definitely recommend.

𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴: 𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥.𝘢𝘯𝘥.𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨/

Thank you NetGalley, Spotify Audiobooks and Jamie Westley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love the strong male feminists in this book. Smashing toxic masculinity one cupcake at a time. August was so sweet and kind and I just wanted to cover him in icing and eat him for breakfast.

The narrators were great and they both had lovely silky voices that you just wanted to keep listening to.

Thank you to #netgallery for access to this ARC.

Genre: Romance (MF)
Format: Audio
POV: Dual
Tropes: NFL but without any actual football, brothers best friend/teammate, childhood friends, cupcakes, no third act breakup, snarky community members, don’t cross the picket line, all’s fair in love and cupcakes.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ /5 ?
Ending: HEA
Age suggestion: 18+

𝗔 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗯𝘆 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘆 serves up a delicious mix of sweet romance and personal growth. August Hodges, a cupcake-baking football player turned viral sensation, steals the show with his swoon-worthy blend of humility and charm. His journey of self-reflection and learning to trust himself after past disappointments is both heartfelt and relatable. Meanwhile, Sloane Dell, his best friend’s little sister and a driven social media manager, brings a lively, if occasionally frustrating, energy to the story. Their connection crackles with chemistry, and their shared history adds depth to their dynamic. While the social media angle feels a bit forced at first, the backstories and emotional stakes eventually make up for it. Some pacing issues arise due to repetitive inner monologues and communication struggles, but the blend of humor, heartfelt moments, and sizzling romance ensures a satisfying read. This cupcake-themed love story is worth savoring!

ALC Review: A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley
Pub Date: November 19

Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks for the ALC and to SMP for the eARC.

This is the second book in this series which follows professional NFL players that own a cupcake shop. Sloane is the sister to one of the owners and has a history with August, one of the other owners. This history has caused a very antagonistic relationship between the two of them so they mostly avoid each other. But when a viral moment causes August to be in the spotlight (which he hates), Sloane helps the cupcake shop use the publicity to their advantage and her own as she tries to get a handle of her career in social media.

I liked the first book in this series but had some issues with the pacing and the fourth act breakup. But I really really enjoyed this one! I loved the relationship between August and Sloane, from them antagonizing each other to them finding common ground once they have to work together.

Read this for:
- Brothers best friend
- Second Chance/It's always been you
- Flashbacks (but not too many!)
- Forced proximity
- Slow Burn

I loved everything about this! I was so excited to get a sequel to Fake it Til you Bake it and I can't wait to get more books from this universe. The audiobook was well done and I will definitely keep reading this series.

Thank you NetGalley, Spotify Audiobooks and the author for this ALC in exchange for an honest review

Firstly I love a book that is about baking and food and this book did not disappoint at all. What I love about this book is that it integrates real life issues such as gentrification seamlessly into the story and it's placement within it makes so much sense. In that way it gives the story more depth and a better understanding of the characters, who they are and their values which in this book was exceptionally. The development of the relationship was fun and well paced. 

Jamie Wesley made all of the characters feel so real and relatable and the narration from Jaime Lincoln Smith and Nia Serge was amazing.

A Legend in the Baking is the perfect low stakes contemporary romance. I'm always a little wary of second-chance romances where there's been an issue but Jamie Wesley manages it really well. August is a delicious strong-and-stoic athlete who alos co-owns a cupcake store and his life is turned inside out when Sloane, the sister of one of the other owners, takes over managing a social media storm and marketing their business. It passes the giggle test. August and Sloane are well matched. It also has realistic mild peril in their relationship trajectory that gives the story momentum. The dual narrators are excellent.

Narrated by the talented Jaime Lincoln Smith and Nia Serge, A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley is a delightful blend of romance, humour, and the irresistible charm of cupcakes set against the backdrop of social media. The narrators bring the characters to life, adding depth and authenticity to their emotions, making the story more engaging and memorable.
The story begins with August Hodges, who becomes an unexpected local sensation after a passionate rant about the importance of women bakers goes viral. His sudden fame is both an opportunity and a challenge, mainly when he works closely with Sloane Dell—his best friend’s younger sister and his long-time crush.
Sloane, a savvy social media manager, leverages August’s newfound popularity to boost the bakery’s online presence. The tension between Sloane and August is palpable from the start, and their shared history adds complexity to their interactions. Their chemistry is undeniable, and their playful banter keeps the narrative lighthearted and engaging.
One of the book’s highlights is its realistic portrayal of the dynamics between past infatuations and present attractions. Sloane’s teenage crush on August and its emotional fallout feel authentic and relatable. With his mix of charm and stubbornness, August is both endearing and infuriating, creating a compelling push-and-pull dynamic in their relationship. Their journey is filled with moments that make you cheer for them and others that leave you wanting to shake some sense into them.
While the story delivers plenty of charm, parts of it feel predictable, and the resolution of their conflicts, though satisfying, comes across as a bit rushed. The supporting characters, including the other bakery partners, add flavour to the story, but some could have benefited from more development.
Overall, A Legend in the Baking is a sweet, romantic read with heartwarming moments and a sprinkle of tension. Perfect for fans of romance, social media antics, and baked goods, this book, combined with its excellent narration, will leave you craving more.

4.25/5

First, can we talk about the cover and how gorgeous it is? I can't wait to track it down and put it next to Fake it Till You Bake it.

I think Jamie Wesley really hit her stride with this sequel. I was 100% invested all the way through. The push and pull of August and Sloane along with their yearning, was so good!

Jamie Lincoln Smith and Nia Serge did such a good job. Adding a male narrator for the male lead point of view character was a great move.

Now, are we going to get a third book? Because I want it! What viral social media moment will Sugar Blitz have next?

Thank you to Netgalley and Spotify Audiobooks for this Early Audiobook copy.

I received a copy of this audiobook 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!

I really enjoyed the first book so I was excited to read Sloan and August's story. August is one of the owners of the cupcake store who is also a famous athlete and is BFF with Sloan's brother.

A situation goes viral and Sloan ends up being the social media content manager for the store and takes advantage of August's viral moment for the new location.

There's history between the two and we get to see what happened 12 years ago.

I enjoyed their interaction but didn't really love how other treated August. Like total strangers grabbing him just felt so odd. There was a lot of subplots which I also enjoyed.

I enjoyed the narration by Jaime Lincoln Smith, Nia Serge.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the audiobook.

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.

August was supposed to be the silent partner in Sugar Blitz Cupcakes 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 fell hard for her brother’s best friend the moment she met him more than a decade ago. 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 sexier and sweeter than any man has a right to be. 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.

I was able to listen to the audiobook narrated by Jaime Lincoln Smith and Nia Serge and I think they did a fantastic job. This book is definitely a slow burn but has so much tension and banter that it had me dying for when they actually got together. I will say it’s brought up a good bit that August is a pro football player but that part of his life doesn’t really come in to play in the story other than making a connection between him and the other owners of Sugar Blitz. I kinda wish it was either a bare hint or more played into. This was definitely one of those warm and fuzzy romances and shoot I’ll totally be a Sugar Baby 🤣🤣 cause August was definitely swoon worthy especially once he got out of his own way.

SUper cute follow up to the super cute book 1!

I love getting to know the love story of friend groups!!

I adored the courtship here and of course the delicious treats and descriptions are a plus!

I loved the first book in this baking x football romance, so I knew I had to read this one. I like the behind the scenes look of expanding a business and being a social media manager. The cupcakes sounded delicious. There's a great examination here of social media and what it looks like to work in it. I also appreciate and am interested in the conversation about gentrification. It’s a slow burn, and I like how the author built up the relationship through flash backs to their previous attraction as teenagers.
Spotify Audio ALC

Thanks St, Martin's Press and Netgallery for the ALC of A Legend in The Baking, book 2 of the Fake It Till You Bake it Series.

READ IF YOU LIKE:
- Second Chance -ish romance
- Brother's Best Friend
- SLOW burn

Review:

Reviewing this book is kinda hard for me because while I enjoyed some of the playfulness of the story, it felt SO flat for me. The reason as to why they were not together, or they didn't communicate their feelings were just not enough for me to believe the sloooooow burn of this book. It's a very low stakes book that had potential to be extremely sweet, but sadly it is forgettable. However, I did love the narrators and how they told the story, as well as the writing! Will be looking forward to read more from Jamie.

I started not liking the female main character but damn she won me over! She had so much trauma from her parents that she just couldn't let love in. That male main character broke my heart that poor man had a rough go of it in the love department I'm glad they got their love and both deserved the best!