Nancy has quite the talent for weaving heart-warming stories that are never overly sweet, but quite satiating. I flew through this book and enjoyed the storyline, and particularly the little, uxexpected "conundrum"/coincidence that occurred at the end. (Sparing details to avoid spoilers)

This book is so freakin' cute if the publisher wasn't already Hallmark I'd say it screams Hallmark. I loved the characters, I loved the story, I really enjoyed the baking competition. One of my favorite tropes is second chance romance and this was such a great one. Kelly and Andrew were highschool sweethearts they met at her dad's diner he was the cook and she waited tables and baked they were kindred spirits. They had made plans to open a restaurant together but when the opportunity for Andrew to study baking in Paris came up he took it with a promise he'll be back for their wedding. Andrew was then offered a spot in a culinary school and he never made it back home.

Kelly may not have had Andrew there to help fulfill her dreams but that didn't stop her from going on alone; she started The Cake Factory. A custom cake business that made it big when a rockstar gave her a shout out at a local music festival since then the business has boomed, it's even helped turn Bent Fork from a quaint little town to a place to be. Fast forward seven years Andrew is finally back stateside and visiting his family before he has to go to New York, he wanted to keep the visit quiet but his sister in her usual fashion couldn't let him which turned out to be a good thing because he got to see Kelly again. The first time in seven years they see each other and his feelings for her haven't changed or diminished in any way. Kelly would love nothing more than to give into her feelings for him but she knows he's just going to leave again. He's made a name for himself in France and while he may not have his own restaurant yet his life is in France and she can't let him in to her heart only to watch him walk away again.

To Kelly's surprise she gets invited to compete in her favorite bake-off competition show's Valentine episode. The only stipulation is that she can't tell anyone she going to be on it. Unbeknownst to her Andrew is also going to be on the show. Once in New York, Naigle builds the anticipation and creates the same feeling you get when watching a baking competition on T.V. She describes the action of the competition so well along with the mouth watering confections Kelly and Andrew make. I really wanted cake after reading this book. Overall, Naigle once again creates wonderful characters in a quirky small town and gives us a statifyingly good romance with such a sweet ending.

I’m fairly new to Nancy Naigle’s work, having only read one other book by her. But, that said, let me tell you this: she is amazing! Having the chance to read this delicious novel was so fun! I loved her writing style, the hope and the characters that are woven together, all of it! It was a phenomenal read!

Andrew and Kelly’s characters were awesome. I loved the way they were chiseled, and seeing them interact together really played out like it was a movie on the Hallmark channel. I truly love when a book can do that!

Andrew’s character was my favorite. I loved how he developed throughout the story, and seeing how things were when he returned home. Though I’ll be honest. I wasn’t sure what to think of his breaking their engagement and traveling away. I wanted to shake him! But, I also saw how it needed to be like that to full feel the emotions of these awesome characters, to fully understand that it needed to be done so he could understand his true feelings.

This is most definitely a 4 star novel that I should high praises to. Andrew and Kelly needed just one thing from Naigle for this book……just one secret ingredient……..and she did it beautifully! Well done, Naigle. This is a keeper book on my shelf and I can’t wait to read more of your work!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*

Nothing like a sweet romance for Valentine’s Day!!! This one sure fits the bill. It’s full of heart, love, angst, and a Happily Ever After…If you don’t have a date for tonight, you should pick this one up. It will definitely soothe the soul. So I finished this a couple days ago, but it was good and I definitely recommend it if you like sweet romance in the style of Samantha Chase.

This is the first book I’ve read by Nancy Naigle and it was definitely a good pick on my part. The bakery chef storyline just sounded to too amazing to pass up. Lucky for me Nancy delivers on all fronts. The recipes were mouth watering as well as the romance. It felt like I was right there in the kitchen with them figuring out the elements to go on a cake. It was great. This is a heartwarming story about high school sweethearts who lose their way for a few years and come back together in a series of strange coincidences. She takes us through the small town with dates and things they do together while figuring out what means the most to them. So you get to know the town, not just on a superficial level, but really a good feel for what it’s like in this place she’s created.

There romance is not the typical second chance, where they accidentally bump into one another. This one is very hard because you got a sense of their love before the break up happened and Andrew is completely in the wrong on this one and has to figure out how to make amends and show Kelly he won’t do it again. After all the stuff he’s done and said, by the end of the book you feel like he has repented enough to get a HEA. Kelly deserves it from the get go, but I love how Nancy makes the time between for Kelly very good and turns her into her own force of nature. It gives her choices in the end and although you know she’s going to choose Andrew, it’s nice to know she has them.

So for a nice quiet read in bed this is the one for you. It’s a quick read that has all the elements I love. And since there are no cliffhangers, I’m giving this a 4.5 of 5. Happy reading…

#TheSecretIngredient #NetGalley

This book was hard to put down! I loved it! Kelly McIntire and Andrew York, have dated since high school, and both love making up new recipes to cook and share. Kelly loves to bake abd Andrew wants to be a chef. When an opportunity presents itself, Andrew leaves Kelly behind, to head to France, to learn from the best pastry chefs, never guessing that he wouldn't be back in his small town, for years to come. Kelly is devestated, when Andrew does't come back, but decides not to let that get in her way. If you love cooking shows and competition in relationships, you will love this book.

Okay, when I first picked up this book I didn't know what I was in for. I had already read one Nancy Naigle book which to me didn't live up to the hype.

This one left me pleasantly surprised. The story was engaging and the characters relateable. It had me turning the pages until I had come to the end.

Kelly dream of running a bakery with her fiance died when Andrew went off to culinary school and France and never returned. Now she's the owner of her own bakery and is so excited when she is accepted to appear on a national baking TV Show. It's a dream come true. Who needs Andrew York.

Andrew knows that he hurt Kelly when he left. But now he's back and everything can go back to the ways things were, right? Wrong. She's a successful baker loving life and he's hates his job mostly because of his boss. Well, at least he has this upcoming baking contest coming up. What can possibly go wrong?

I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves romance and sweets.

Like all Hallmark content, this book is clean and appropriate for all ages. No language, violence, or sexual content are found.

Nancy Naigle has written the sweetest of stories about love that was lost and found. This book has so many things to love: A small-town setting with characters that sparkle; a leading lady, Kelly, who is a very successful baker; the leading man, Andrew, a chef who returns from Paris and finds that he still loves Kelly; and a televised baking competition with enough prize money to make dreams come true. As Kelly and Andrew find themselves in a bake-off, I was hurriedly reading to find out if they got their happily-ever-after. There’s all the ingredients for a fun, entertaining read—and I’m hoping a Hallmark movie. This is the third book I’ve read by Nancy Naigle and this was just as good as the others. Just the book for those times when you want something lighter to read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

4.5 Stars, 5 Stars if they make this into a movie. 😃

Author Nancy Naigle has blended delightful characters, a charming town, a few surprises and some great cooking to create an entertaining and delicious story. Kelly McIntyre is a hometown girl from Bailey’s Fork, North Carolina who loves to bake. Her boyfriend Alex York was the cook and between the two of them they created some delicious dishes. Their dream is to get married and open their own restaurant. Their future seems set, until Alex is offered an opportunity to study under a famous, master chef in Paris. Kelly waits for Alex to come home for seven years, but he never returns. When the story begins Kelly is in Bailey’s Fork and has opened The Cake Factory. Her creative use of flavors has made her famous. She has her own house and loves her pet pig, GRAY (which stands for Good Riddance Alex York.) Alex, still living in Paris, gets an invitation to a baking competition in New York City, so he flies in from Paris a few days early and decides to visit his hometown. He wants to mend some fences with his family. It is a small town, so of course he runs into Kelly and their feelings are still there, yet buried a bit. Kelly insists things are over, but as they run into each other on several occasions, sparks ignite. Is there a chance for them to get back together?

The first part of the book is a bit slow, with them getting to know about each other and their lives, but the second part takes off. This book is wonderful. You will meet characters that become your friends and a town that would be fun to visit. I enjoyed getting to know both Kelly's and Alex's families. I liked how some of the family relationships were mended in a very believable way. The romance is light, sweet and I found it easily believed. As I said at the beginning of my review, this would make a wonderful Hallmark movie. (unless it already is). I loved the recipe at the back of the book for the starring dish, Triple Layer Honey Almond Cake with Berries and Mascarpone Crème Fraiche. Not sure if I will try to make it (I am not much of a cake baker) but it sure sounds delicious. I highly recommend this culinary romance. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

I completely fell in love with THE SECRET INGREDIENT – and yes, Hallmark, this needs to be a movie without a doubt.

Once upon a time Kelly and Andrew had big dreams set in their small hometown. Unfortunately, reality came along and changed everything when Andrew left to study in Paris – and took almost seven years to find his way home. In the meantime, back home Kelly has turned her dreams into more than a reality with her now famous bakery and infamous cakes. She’s doing quite well now, thank you very much, so much so that she barely noticed when Andrew returned for a visit… almost barely noticed. It’s difficult to avoid running into someone in such a small town, and at times it seems the residents of Bailey Fork are determined to see this couple get a second chance to get their romance right.

THE SECRET INGREDIENT has delicious layers to Kelly and Andrew’s story. Some are subtle, others will smack you over the head but when you immerse yourself in their romance you’ll see the subtle changes, the emotions that they still have for each other, the questions, the hopes of finding their way back to each other – along with some amusing competition. I enjoyed myself in this world, although I always have a good time stepping into Nancy Naigle’s imagination. Kelly and Andrew’s second chance romance hit all the right buttons for me, delivers a believable romance with a lively cast of characters. If you love a good romance, especially that second chance to get it right, then you’ll enjoy THE SECRET INGREDIENT.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Andrew and Kelly has their future all planned out, they would get married and open a restaurant together. Everything changed when Andrew was offered an internship to France to train with a pastry chef. He left Kelly behind and their dreams together dissolved. Then 7 years later he shows back up in town and the two are unexpectedly back in the kitchen together. This book was so cute!! Such a perfect read over Valentines Day week.

I've been a fan of Nancy Naigle since I read her very first book. She is my go-to author for sweet romances. The Secret Ingredient was a second chance romance, which happens to be one of my favorite troupes. I adored getting Kelly and Andrew's story in The Secret Ingredient.

Kelly McIntyre and Andrew York were engaged 7 years ago when Andrew is given the opportunity of a life time to study in Paris and he decides to stay after graduation. All their dreams of opening a restaurant together and marriage and family come to an end when Andrew stays in Paris. When Andrew comes home for a surprise visit 7 years later, he honestly only wanted to see his family, yet everything changes when his mom and sister give him a surprisewelcome home party and Kelly is in charge of all the desserts.

Kelly has lived her dream back in their hometown by opening her own bakery called The Cake Factory. Kelly has become a huge success in her business and has helped Bailey 's Fork have a booming economy. Her bakery has allowed her to employ 100 full time bakers and helped other businesses in town. When Kelly is approached to participate in Valentine's Cake-bakeoff, she quickly agrees, not knowing that is the real reason Andrew is back in the states. None of the contestants can let anyone know where they are really going for the secret bake-off, or they will be immediately eliminated from the contest. I enjoyed seeing Andrew and Kelly reconnect before they both headed to New York for the bakeoff. There was such a sweet connection between them.

Most of the story does take place in their small hometown, and Ms. Naigle does an amazing job making the small town and the people in the town come to life. I loved seeing how the town had grown and changed while Andrew was gone and yet was completely welcoming to him when he returned. I find that the small town in a Nancy Naigle book becomes another character in the story right along side the people. I did love seeing both Kelly and Andrew in the baking competition. They had such different training, with Andrew's being from professional chefs in Paris, and Kelly's being from her grandmother, yet were both rockstars when it came to coming up with amazing ideas.

The Secret Ingredient was such a wonderful sweet romance. The small town setting was absolutely perfect for the story and I loved the crazy fun trip to New York every bit as much as I enjoyed the time in the small town. Kelly and Andrew were so much fun to see grow and mature over the course of the story not only as individuals but as a couple. The Secret Ingredient is another winner from Nancy Naigle.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)

Sweeeet!

If you enjoy Hallmark movies, this book is for you. If you enjoy baking shows, this book is for you. If you enjoy baking competitions, this book is for you. If you enjoy second chance romance, this book is for you.

Kelly and Andrew were engaged to be married when Andrew was given the chance to hone his skills in Paris for six months. When six months turns into seven years, Kelly is not waiting for Andrew any longer. She’s become a great pastry chef on her own and she’s had enough. When Andrew returns, they realize they still care for each other. But Andrew is going to NYC to participate in a baking competition. The two end up competing on the same show while rekindling their lost love.

This was an easy read with the Hallmark love lines. Even though it was predictable, it was also a fun love story. All in all, this is a fun, easy, quick read.

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

The secret ingredient is a VERY SWEET story. I had very happy tears while reading this book. You will love it. Ok, this is about Kelly and Andrew, who were high school sweethearts who did everything together. Andrew gets a offer from his aunt to go to France and school/train as a chef from the top chefs in France. Andrew is offered a job before Kelly and Andrew were to be married. The wedding never happened because Kelly wasn’t willing to leave her home and Andrew wasn’t willing to give up his dream of being a chef. 7 years later Andrew shows up to their hometown. Andrew and Kelly have both been nominated for a cooking/baking show to compete. Neither knows the other is going, no one is to know. So they both end up in New York to compete. Andrew and Kelly have never lost feelings for each other, that’s very clear. The prize of this competition is 150,000.00.....will this put a damper on trying to start the relationship back up, and who will win....hmmmm you’ll have to read it to find out. You will not be disappointed. Happy reading!! :)

What a sweet and savory story just in time for Valentine's Day! Being a huge fan of the Hallmark movies, I was excited to read this book. And it did not disappoint. I loved the small town, the lovable characters (GRAY totally stole the show), and the charming plot. And I am a huge lover of second chance romances. This book ticked off all my favorite things and I'll be rereading it often.

A sweet hearwarming second chance romance story. I really loved these story and the characters Andrew and Kelly. It was a wonderful well written story and a page turner. I couldn't put these story down.
I received a complimentary ARC from Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions are of my own.

A sweet story that will keep you licking your fingers right up till the end. That characters feel like your family, friends and neighbors. You'll find out if love can stand the time and distance.

What do you do when life throws you a curve? If you are Kelly McIntyre, you pick up the pieces of your broken heart and you open a bakery and move on with your life.

Kelly and Andrew had big plans... plans to marry and to open a restaurant together. Until, Andrew has an opportunity to go to Paris to study in a culinary academy and he leaves Kelly behind. 7 years pass and Andrew makes a "pit stop" at home on his way to New York for a baking competition and finds Kelly has made a name for herself in her small North Carolina town. He realizes what he lost and wants to reconcile with Kelly.

On the surface, she is not interested in re-kindling their romance but is willing to be friends. Deep down, though, her heart still skips a beat when Andrew is near.

As fate would have it, Kelly and Andrew are entered as contestants in the same competition and this is when it gets interesting! No spoilers here but suffice it to say, the ending is sweet as honey!

This was a darling book and I loved it! It is sweet and clean. Kelly and Andrew were going to get married until Andrew had the opportunity to go to Paris to study baking. He never came home. Seven years later, he is home, just for a short visit, but seeing Kelly makes him realize all that he has missed. The characters are likeable and the story moves along nicely. It took me a while to start the book just because stuff happens. However, once I did get "caught", I couldn't put it down. I would definitely read more books by this author.

A heartwarming second chance romance that will delight all.Andrew and Kelly had their lives planned out, both being chefs until Andrew got a chance to go to culinary school in Paris. Fast forward seven years, Andrew has finally returned home for a visit. Kelly has opened her own bakery, which has flourished. Upon Andrew's return home he is realizing what's missing in his life, his one true love Kelly. Unbeknownst to each other they are competing in a Valentine's Day bake off.

This is book that I could not put down, makes you warm all over. Loved Kelly and Andrew, so perfect for each other. The secondary character of Gray, Kelly's potbellied pig. His name was just perfect!! If you have a sweet tooth this will be the perfect read for you, it made me hungry!! I believe this would be the perfect Hallmark movie!! I highly recommend.

The Secret Ingredient by Nancy Naigle is the first Hallmark book I’ve read. I love watching the movies and I could totally picture everything playing out on the small screen.

As young adults, Kelly McIntyre and Andrew York had their lives planned out. They would get married, live in their small hometown of Bailey’s Fork, North Carolina and open their own restaurant. Kelly and Andrew loved creating new recipes together. Kelly would be the baker and Andrew would be the chef. Their dream got a little side-tracked when Andrew was offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to study pastry under one of the world’s best pastry chefs in Paris. This little life detour took their lives in a whole new direction when Andrew was offered a full scholarship and asked Kelly to join him in Paris. Not wanting to leave Bailey’s Fork and abandon the dreams they once shared, Kelly breaks up with Andrew.

Fast forward seven years and Andrew has finally returned home to visit his family before he embarks on an opportunity that could change his life yet again. Andrew is working for and running one of the top restaurants in Paris for his mentor, while Kelly has fulfilled her dream and opened her own successful bakery. The two reconnect and are surprised to find their attraction to each other is as strong as ever.

It’s soon revealed why Andrew actually came back to the United States. He is supposed to appear on the Four Square Cooking Show, a baking competition where the identities of the contestants are kept secret from everyone, including the contestants. Not only is Andrew competing in this contest, but so is Kelly. As the two compete, you’re witness to seeing just how compatible these two really are. “If it was real love all those years ago, it’s still there.” For Andrew and Kelly, this Valentine’s Day competition will show them that love knows no time nor distance.

The Secret Ingredient was like a perfectly delicious constructed cake. The characters of Kelly and Andrew were very likeable. As were the secondary characters. This was a sweet story that left nothing out. Bailey’s Fork sounded like a town I would love to visit. Of course, the culinary creations created by Kelly and Andrew made me hungry. The love these two had for each other shined through the pages. Be prepared to shed some tears. I know I did.