Book Review
Baked by Colleen Charles
Part 1: Red Velvet Rapture / Baked Series
Publisher: Independent Self Publishing
Publication Date: December 12, 2015
Format: eBook - 80 pages
Kindle - 316 KB
Nook - 238 KB
ASIN: B019BGIDJ8
BNID: 2940152675696
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book:
Baked is FREE on Kindle or Nook during the event.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book blast event hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions.
Book Description:
Ally
The first time I saw Gabe in my sensual cupcake bakery, I had no idea who he was. All I knew was chiseled perfection like him could never really want a girl like me. That didn't stop me from craving and lusting after everything I could never have. Success.
Gabe.
And I was trapped in a twisted frenemy relationship with my douche bag ex fiancee. I never would have dreamed who Gabe really was, what he wanted and why he wanted it.
Gabe
My f*cked up family taught me a lot. Take rather than give. Anything.
Everything.
Ally made me feel clean. Whole. I'd do anything to have her and even more to keep her. In spite of my past but more importantly ... because of it.
I took her tenuous control and worshiped her killer curves. I never suspected she'd steal my heart.
* Please Note: This book ends with a cliffhanger. The story continues in Vanilla Vixen, Part Two of the Baked series.
Book Excerpt:
“I’m so proud of you, Ally. You’re really doing this.”
“It’s been a long time coming,” I murmured, tucking a strand of pale blonde hair behind my ear. I’d wrapped myself in one of those toasty wool ponchos and taken up residence at the front of my new bakery with a mug of hot cocoa sandwiched between my torso and palm.
Snow drifted down from the heavens, blanketing everything in a veil of freshness. Of renewal. Like my life.
“So, that’s it then. Bakery up and running, professional career on track, all you need now is—”
I interrupted Kelly before she hit her stride, giving her a warning grunt. “Don’t even.”
She sighed, a deep exhalation that caused static to crackle into my phone. “Aw, come on, let me set you up with someone. I’ve lost count of the hot guys who walk through our front doors. And it’s Christmas. You can’t spend the holiday season alone.”
“I’m not alone, I have you and Pat. Besides, Kels, I’m going to be so busy with business, I won’t have time for a social life.”
I could almost hear Kelly rolling her eyes. “Ugh, famous last words.”
She was my best friend and had been since I’d moved to Minneapolis from Bemidji and wandered into their coffee shop two years ago . She and her husband, Pat , had taken me under their wing. Those had been strange times, before my break up with Matthew. When I’d had nothing to show for myself. A shiver ran through me at the memory.
Kelly had encouraged me to pursue my dreams.
“Ally?”
“Huh? Yeah, I’m here.”
“You went quiet for a second there.”
A wave of gratitude washed over me. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Kels, you and Pat.”
“Well, you’d be up shit creek without a paddle, of course.”
I chuckled. “I’d better get some rest, big day tomorrow. These bank loans won’t pay themselves off.”
“Tell me about it,” she replied, then paused, the silence stretching out for a few seconds. “If you need help with anything, give me a call.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said, then stuck my tongue out even though she couldn’t see me. “See you tomorrow.”
“Later Allygator,” she said, then hung up.
I put my phone in the pocket of my jeans and sighed. This was it, my first real endeavor at being my own damn person. I glanced around the bakery and grinned. Hard to believe where I’d landed from where I’d jumped.
I picked out the décor myself — it had a burlesque atmosphere, with velvet cushions on the wrought iron chairs and round tables with glass tops. Very French bistro. In fact, in better weather, I could easily move a couple of tables outside.
Silk floral arrangements in lush shades of purple, strung with Swarovski crystals served as centerpieces. The cupcakes would stand up front in the glass front counter, to showcase their sexy designs. And names.
Kelly had rolled her eyes at my idea for a racy theme, but it was tough being an entrepreneur and a woman in business had to face the facts. Sex sells.
That was the thing about baking, it wasn’t sexy unless you made it that way. And I planned on making it damn sexy. And licking the bowl.
“It’s been a long time coming,” I murmured, tucking a strand of pale blonde hair behind my ear. I’d wrapped myself in one of those toasty wool ponchos and taken up residence at the front of my new bakery with a mug of hot cocoa sandwiched between my torso and palm.
Snow drifted down from the heavens, blanketing everything in a veil of freshness. Of renewal. Like my life.
“So, that’s it then. Bakery up and running, professional career on track, all you need now is—”
I interrupted Kelly before she hit her stride, giving her a warning grunt. “Don’t even.”
She sighed, a deep exhalation that caused static to crackle into my phone. “Aw, come on, let me set you up with someone. I’ve lost count of the hot guys who walk through our front doors. And it’s Christmas. You can’t spend the holiday season alone.”
“I’m not alone, I have you and Pat. Besides, Kels, I’m going to be so busy with business, I won’t have time for a social life.”
I could almost hear Kelly rolling her eyes. “Ugh, famous last words.”
She was my best friend and had been since I’d moved to Minneapolis from Bemidji and wandered into their coffee shop two years ago . She and her husband, Pat , had taken me under their wing. Those had been strange times, before my break up with Matthew. When I’d had nothing to show for myself. A shiver ran through me at the memory.
Kelly had encouraged me to pursue my dreams.
“Ally?”
“Huh? Yeah, I’m here.”
“You went quiet for a second there.”
A wave of gratitude washed over me. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Kels, you and Pat.”
“Well, you’d be up shit creek without a paddle, of course.”
I chuckled. “I’d better get some rest, big day tomorrow. These bank loans won’t pay themselves off.”
“Tell me about it,” she replied, then paused, the silence stretching out for a few seconds. “If you need help with anything, give me a call.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I said, then stuck my tongue out even though she couldn’t see me. “See you tomorrow.”
“Later Allygator,” she said, then hung up.
I put my phone in the pocket of my jeans and sighed. This was it, my first real endeavor at being my own damn person. I glanced around the bakery and grinned. Hard to believe where I’d landed from where I’d jumped.
I picked out the décor myself — it had a burlesque atmosphere, with velvet cushions on the wrought iron chairs and round tables with glass tops. Very French bistro. In fact, in better weather, I could easily move a couple of tables outside.
Silk floral arrangements in lush shades of purple, strung with Swarovski crystals served as centerpieces. The cupcakes would stand up front in the glass front counter, to showcase their sexy designs. And names.
Kelly had rolled her eyes at my idea for a racy theme, but it was tough being an entrepreneur and a woman in business had to face the facts. Sex sells.
That was the thing about baking, it wasn’t sexy unless you made it that way. And I planned on making it damn sexy. And licking the bowl.
My Book Review:
Are you ready to read an enticing new series that features decadent cupcakes and sexy romance?
In Baked: Red Velvet Rapture, the first installment in the Baked series, the reader follows the story of Ally Wilson, the owner of Temptations, a racy Minneapolis burlesque themed bakery that features sensual cupcakes like Red Velvet Rapture and Dark Decadence.
The night before the grand opening of the bakery, a fire breaks out in the kitchen, and as Ally is searching for her missing cat Codsworth, she passes out from the smoke only to be rescued by a mysteriously sexy fireman. After repairs are made, Ally opens her bakery, but the mystery of the faceless sexy fireman hero is still on her mind.
Gabe comes into the bakery and there is an instant attraction between him and Ally. Gabe tries to sweep Ally off her feet, but with her focus on the bakery and a past dysfunctional relationship, she refuses his advances until he finally wears her down.
Just when you think Ally and Gabe's relationship will blossom, Ally's ex-fiancee Matthew comes back into the picture and causes a lot of problems that could cost Ally everything, while Gabe has his own dark secrets to deal with. What will happen when temptation meets emotional and vengeful conflict?
In Baked, author Colleen Charles weaves a fast paced and intriguing romantic novella written in the first person narrative, that easily draws the reader into Ally and Gabe's story. The seductive bakery themed storyline is intertwined with an enticing mixture of mystery, tension, conflict, and passionate / sexy romanticism that captivates the reader's interest, while keeping them turning the pages and guessing what will happen next. You can't help but wonder what will happen as Ally, Gabe, and Matthew's worlds collide ... but alas ... there is a cliffhanger ending that leaves the reader wanting more, and eagerly anticipating the continuation of their story in Vanilla Vixen, Part Two of the Baked series.
RATING: 4 STARS
About The Author
Colleen Charles is the pen name of Tami Stark, #1 Bestselling Author on Amazon.
Colleen Charles held a leadership position for a fortune 500 company for 26 years while writing suspenseful romance by night. Thrilled that she's now able to write full time, she can't wait to spend more time connecting with her readers. She’s also a certified life coach and a Reiki Master. She loves reading and writing stories that entertain and sweep women away from their everyday life. Colleen has shown and bred Arabian horses for over 30 years and lives in the Midwest with her human and furry families. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering for underprivileged girls and homeless pets.
Author Website
Goodreads
Contest Giveaway
Win A $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
Author Colleen Charles will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the event, and the author will be awarding all hosts free copies of her starter library which includes a full length novel, two novellas and an exclusive audio book.
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Virtual Book Blast Event
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2: Romance Author Hear Me Roar
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4: Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'
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7: Welcome to My World of Dreams
8: Room With Books
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10: Behind Closed Doors
11: Sapphyria's Steamy Books
12: Beyond My Writing Space REVIEW
13: Jersey Girl Sizzling Book Reviews REVIEW
14: Lampshade Reader
15: Romorror Fan Girl
16: Full Moon Dreaming
17: Romantic Fanatic REVIEW
18: EskieMama Reads
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20: The Certificable Wenches
21: Hope. Dreams. Life... Love
22: Musings of a Writer
23: Independent Authors
24: Deal Sharing Aunt
25: Nana Prah's Blog
26: Linda Nightingale...Wordsmith
27: A to Z Reviews
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29: All I Want and More Books
30: Underneath the Covers
31: Urban Girl Reader
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33: Read Your Writes Book Reviews
34: Wendi Zwaduk ~ Romance to Make Your Heart Race
35: Natural Bri
36: Harps Romance Book Review
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