Don't Call Me Cupcake is the first book in The Holloway Girls series by Tara Sheets. I am writing this review after the second time I read the book and I have decided to keep the 5 star rating. I believe that the book deserves it. I enjoyed the book almost as much as I did the first time even though, I have to admit that some of the magic is gone (no pun intended). The book has stayed in my memory since the first time I read it and I have very fond memories of it. Yes, sometimes I wanted to slap Hunter in hopes that he would see logic and reason, but I can't say that he is a bad person. I rather liked him. He and Emma (our cupcake maker) didn't have the easiest relationship. One could say that they had their ups and downs, but overall I liked their progress. Having read the other two books in the series, I can safely say that I would recommend all of them!

Loved! This author has just jumped on to my 'Must Pre-order All Books' list <3
Once I started reading, I didn't want to stop. The story is set in a gorgeous, island town in northwest Washington (Puget Sound area). Emma is a kitchen witch who can bake spells into her cupcakes (and OMG, the cupcake descriptions! My mouth was watering for most of the book). Hunter comes to town for purely business reasons (property investment). Emma offers him a Sweet Success cupcake (spelled for success in business) not realizing his new restaurant will likely put her little cupcake shop out of business. Emma and her cousin Juliette, whose talents are with growing things (and who will be featured in the next book), work together combining their magical talents to try to make Hunter leave town. As Hunter and Emma already share a strong attraction, their plans will likely go awry ;)

It's all just so freaking charming! The characters (primary and secondary), the story, the setting, the puppy, I wanted desperately to step into the book and live amongst them all.

Sheets is a debut author but you would never guess. Her prose is beautiful and funny (I highlighted many lines) and the story is a perfect gem. Don't Call Me Cupcake will join the ranks of my favorites that must be reread regularly. I can't want to visit all these characters again in Juliette's story! Hopefully, I'll get to keep visiting Pine Cove for years to come <3

Publisher's Description:

There’s a very special kind of sweetness to life on Pine Cove Island . . .

Most families have a favorite recipe or two, handed down through generations. The Holloway women are a little different. Emma Holloway, like her grandmother before her, bakes wishes into her delicious cupcakes, granting the recipient comfort, sweet dreams, or any number of good things. It’s a strange gift, but it brings only happiness. Until gorgeous, smooth-talking newcomer Hunter Kane strolls into her shop, Fairy Cakes—and Emma makes the mistake of selling him not one, but three Sweet Success cupcakes.

Hunter, it turns out, is opening a fancy new restaurant and bakery right on the waterfront—Emma’s competition. To make matters worse, the town committee has decided to split the upcoming summer festival contract between the two, forcing Emma to work with her nemesis. But she can’t afford to split her profits. The solution: create a recipe that will make Hunter leave town permanently.

The Holloway charms are powerful. But there are other kinds of magic in the world—like red-hot first kisses, secret glances, and the feeling that comes with falling truly, madly, inconveniently in love . . .

My Thoughts:

This debut novel is a can't put down read that makes you want more!
I read mostly Historical romance and fiction but I do enjoy an occasional contemporary romance.

This book has so many enjoyable elements that make it a page turner without any graphic sex scenes. It is therefore suitable for a younger audience. It could easily be read by a teenager.
Emma is the perfect heroine with her inherited magical ability to bake sweet dreams into her cupcakes.After Emma finds out she has sold not just one but there of her precious cupcakes to a man who is likely going to put her out of business by opening an upscale restaurant and bakery in the neighborhood, she goes .bal·lis·tic. The man is threatening her livelihood after all.
After Emma finds out she has sold not just one but there of her precious cupcakes to a man who is likely going to put her out of business by opening an upscale restaurant and bakery in the neighborhood, she goes .ballistic.
The man is threatening her livelihood after all.

Hunter is her perfect opposite with his cynical nature developed by his past and living style. He can't understand this small town way of thinking.

Hunter finds himself drawn to Emma in spite of her dislike of being forced to work with him on the festival committee.

How is it that Emma is attracted to her enemy?

I gave this book 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 2 of 5 flames. Without the need for any graphic sex this book is simply delightful.

I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to read and review.
This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

In the small town of Pine Cove, the Holloway family have been known for their magic for generations. Emma’s family has baked magic infused cupcakes to fix what ails, bring contentment, success, or lift someone’s spirits. Emma meets a new, handsome man in town and sells him her "success" cupcakes. He eats all three, before Emma finds out that he is Hunter Kane, a big city entrepreneur who has come to Pine Cove Island to build a competitive business near her cupcake/sweet shop. Emma can’t afford to lose any business as money is very tight. Her old house is in need of urgent repairs, her mortgage is past due, and she can't pay her rent on her shop. Emma wants Hunter gone, so she and her cousin plan to whip up a cupcake that will make him want to leave. Unfortunately, their intense and irresistible attraction to one another has Emma reevaluating her plan of baking a magical “be-gone” cupcake to get rid of him.

Don’t Call Me Cupcake was a sweet, magical romance that I really enjoyed. Hunter and Emma knock heads a bit when they first meet, but sparks flew every time they were together. They were fun together and even though there was a mutual attractions, they were careful and did not rush into a physical relationship. I loved the magical aspect to the story. We had Emma's special cupcakes, Juliet's magic with plants and flowers and the house itself. Things were moved and found all over the place and always when they were needed. The story itself was sweet, with wonderful townspeople, some good character building, some angst, missteps, and even an ex-boyfriend who causes some problems. Pine Cove sounded like a quaint, beautiful seaside town, making the story even more charming, and a place I would love to visit. I really enjoy the Holloway Girls and look forward to reading Juliet's story in the next book in this series coming out later this month.

Emma and Hunter's story. Emma and her cousin Juliette are the last in their family, and both have special "gifts". Emma's is baking, and she puts good spells into her cupcakes, while Juliette has the touch with plants and nature. Living on their small island in the Pacific NW, their lives are quiet but still it's home. Along comes Hunter, a big time city boy, who decides to open a fancy restaurant and bakery across from Emma's shop, and the game is on. Fun sparks, and really like the house. Enjoyed this one, and look forward to reading the next in the series, which is Juliette's story. Highly recommend if you want a light and quick romance.

Fun, sweet read!

This was a fun read that seems to fit the predictable plot lines at predictable times. The addition of magic brought a fair bit of humour to the story. Perfect quick read when you’re looking for something entertaining with no mind twisting.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book. I am providing my honest review.

Don’t Call Me Cupcake is author Tara Sheets’s debut novel, the first in her Holloway Girls series. This book is outside my normal reading material, but I was quickly drawn in by its charm. The plot is cute, the dialogue fresh and breezy, and the fluffy story a perfect end to a long, frustrating day.

The paranormal aspect adds just enough leavening to make this story rise above its contemporary romance competitors. The magical aspects are cute and deftly woven into the story. The sentient house steals the show!

A big-time Seattle business man, Hunter Kane, moves to a sleepy island town with ideas to open a restaurant and to bring the town into the 21st century. He immediately runs into Emma Holloway, the local baker, who mixes magical spells into her cupcakes. The couple try to ignore their growing attraction which Emma attributes to a misguided magical spell placed by her cousin.

This book utilizes several romance tropes: Billionaire hero: Hunter Kane is a rich alpha male who can buy anything he wants—except true love. Fish-out-of- water: When he moves to the coastal village, he doesn’t fit in but still manages to win his true love’s heart. Opposites attract: Hunter is rich, math- and money- and goal-oriented who doesn’t believe in love and marriage while Emma is a go-with-the-flow woman who still dreams of finding her one-and-only.

Rating: 3.5

TW: use of gypsy on two occasions. Once to refer to a skirt, another when the heroine says her mother, affected by wanderlust, has a gypsy soul. I know a lot of Romani people consider it a slur so just giving a heads up.

The writing is engaging and really draws you in. I loved the tid bits that unfold about Emma’s magic and her cousin’s as well. The sentient house in is hilarious It breaks a step to scare off heroine's ahole ex. It opens door for pup to go do his thing outside. It also opens door to let infuriatingly hot hero in much to heroine's chagrin lol.
Details about the town’s people were really interesting. We got some intriguing characters there, especially the guy who makes the weird blends of beer that all the town’s people are sceptical about tasting. I loved how the author explored that, how it was juxtaposed with Hunter’s lifestyle in the city.
And looord Jesus the author writes tension reallyyyy well. I was on edge, just like Emma and Hunter lol with the chemistry and sexual tension between these two. The sex is closed door but the build-up is so juicy and daaamn girl yesss.
And you know I love a good “this person is my enemy but I am soooo attracted to them help trope” lol Toss in them both keeping secrets: Emma concocting a Go Away cupcake to get Hunter to leave and Hunter intending to buy the waterfront to make some upgrades it was all a recipe for explosive tension.
I didn’t quite get why the house let Emma’s awful ex fix her porch step without reacting/scaring him off? When it had broken the step in the first place to do just that.
Also Emma’s cupcakes sounded so delicious, I wish I had some while reading. I’m looking forward to book 2 as it features her cousin who has a magical green thumb

A little bit of magic and romance mixed with small town charm!

It took me a bit to get into the book, but then I found it to be a fun story with interesting characters. I especially liked Emma's cupcake business and the descriptions of each type she makes.

The story is set in on an island in the Seattle area. The description and feel of the small town were spot on. It reminded me of visiting the San Juans and other areas around Seattle via ferry in the summer.

If you like your romance with just a dash or two of the fantastical, this book is definitely for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not a fan of mystical powers/science fiction elements in a story that is not science fiction. From Emma Holloway's family recipes that grant others charms, like happiness and good luck, to her old family house that has powers, per se. It just doesn't quite fit the otherwise run of the mill romance story line.

I like the main characters of Emma and Hunter. Emma owns a cupcake shop that's barely making it and Hunter is opening a new fancy restaurant nearby that will have a pastry section. It's a threat to Emma's business and while Hunter is a charming man, Emma is worried about her future.

Emma and Hunter are charged with working together on the town's season opening festival. Emma's not keen on working with the enemy, but she has no choice. Now Emma needs to remember that Hunter is the bad guy; but he's so darn nice, it's making it hard.

“Don’t Call Me Cupcake” is a great cute fun story. Light chick lit with laughter and a serious side. Loved knowing Emma, Juliette, Hunter, Buddy & House. Can’t wait for Tara Sheets next book “Don’t Touch My Petunia”. Wished there were a few recipes.

Don't call me cupcake

Really sweet romance, I just didn't feel the connection on his end as much as hers. From his perspective it didn't really feel genuine he was always talking about his past. Great concept still happy to read the next one. I feel like the first book in a series had more explanations in the first book. I just wish the climax and ending didn't happen in 2 chapters.

For a debut novel I loved this book! From the setting: all small-town with down home feel good vibes, a bakery with fantastical yummy goodness, a baker with just the right touch for her baked goods, a family home with extra features, and a alpha male who's oh-so-sexy. The story is presented in a way that's meant to be fun and perhaps slightly whimsical (given Emma and her cousin Juliette and those abilities they have), the writing is clever, sometimes sexy and lots of fun.

Wow. What a magical book once I started I couldn't stop reading. Emma is such a lovable character that I was rooting for the whole time. The descriptions of the cupcakes she made was making me want to make them myself. Hunter at first seems like the egotistical city guy who only cares about money but once he sees Emma and casts her unknowingly spell over him he's a goner. You could sense the magic within the pages even with her house showing her he's the one and trying to show her she can have her day of bliss also even though she couldn't believe it herself. I can not wait to read the next book about Juliette is will be on my preorder list.

Don't Call Me Cupcake is a sweet (pun totally intended) story about finding love where you least expect it. Hunter and Emma are easy characters to root for, and I loved the touches of magic sprinkled throughout--Emma's cupcakes, her sentient house, and her cousin's way with plants--even if I wasn't 100% on board with how/when they chose to use their "powers." Emma did have a tendency toward overreaction at times and her ex was more than a little over-the-top in his villainy, but it's hard to argue with the super cute ending.

How long do we have to wait for Juliette's story? ;)

Rating: 3 1/2 stars / C+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Emma’s family has baked magic infused cupcakes for the small, picturesque town of Pine Cove for generations. Cupcakes to fix what ails, bring contentment, success, or just lift someone’s spirits. Emma is hopping mad when she finds out Hunter Kane, a big city entrepreneur has come to Pine Cove Island to build a competitive business just down the street from her cupcake/sweet shop, and she unknowingly gave him three of her “success” cupcakes. Emma can’t afford to lose any money with her old house in need of urgent repairs, and her ex taking off with her savings. Emma wants Hunter gone! He’s a big city guy who doesn’t appreciate the small-town charms of Pine Cove. But their mutual intense and irresistible attraction has Emma reevaluating her plan of baking a magical “be-gone” cupcake to get rid of him.

Hunter plans on getting his business going, revamping the Pine Cove shops and restaurants and then moving onto his next investment. The feisty, pretty town cupcake baker, Emma, makes him stop and take a closer look, and re-think his plans. The more time he spends with Emma, the more she bewitches him with her beauty and big heart.

Don’t Call Me Cupcake was a sweet, magical romance that made me giggle and swoon. Hunter and Emma knock heads a bit when they first meet, but sparks flew every time they were together! So playful, and fun! I loved the whole magical aspect to the story, from Emma’s special cupcake recipes, to her sentient house that nudged and protected when the need arose. Pine Cove sounded like a quaint, beautiful seaside town, making the story even more charming, and a place I wish I could visit!

I’m eagerly anticipating the next in the series, Don’t Touch My Petunia (love that name, lol!) centering on Emma’s cousin, Juliette, with her own magical gifts. There was a sneak peek at the end that had me wanting to read more!

A copy was kindly provided by Zebra Shout via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review is also posted at The Readers Den.

Like the characters she creates, Sheets strives to spread happiness with her confectionery brand of sunshine. Don't Call Me Cupcake is an ideal introduction to an at times kooky, yet always light hearted series. A gesture of kindness sparks a professional rivalry and an irresistible romance. Tara Sheets' and her Holloway Girls will definitely put a little love in your heart, even as they tempt readers with sugary sweetness.

Don't Call Me Cupcake is a sweet quick romance infused with a little bit of magic. This book was a pleasant surprise. I truly enjoyed it and I can't wait to read the next book!

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

What an absolutely magical debut! This novel was filled with delicious whimsy and undeniable chemistry between the heroine Emma and hero Hunter. It was fun, the pace was fabulous and I couldn't put it down. I will eagerly be awaiting Ms. Sheets next novel!