I loved the cover, it’s eye catching and pulled me to this story. The storyline was cute and I enjoyed the characters. I really loved the positive representation of black people, that was definitely a plus.

Overall I liked the story but the writing kinda fell flat. It was too many cheesy moments that just didn’t feel authentic. Yes I know Romcon’s are supposed to be like this but this just felt wrong.
Don’t get me wrong this author has so much potential and so much going for them, just some stuff that needed a little tweaking

Rating: 3.5/5
Steam: 3/5
Tropes: Fake Dating, Sports Romance, Celebrity Romance
Rep: BIPOC, Dyslexia

Thank you to SMP Romance and NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was cute, but (forgive me) completely forgettable. I loved this concept of a pro-football playing owning a bakery + some fake dating vibes. But a lot of this story felt like we were stopping and starting concepts/plot points. It lacked the depth that there was opportunity for…and felt both rushed and so slow at the same time. I can say I enjoyed that it didn’t include the typical 3rd act breakup, Mrs. T was a gem, and I did like the side characters. Over all a meh, story for me but I know others might really enjoy it.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Jada Townsend-Matthews is having a moment. Not a good one. She is the most hated woman in America after "breaking the heart" of the most recent reality show bachelor. So, now she is hiding out in her home in San Diego trying to get her life back on track and out of the headlines.

Donovan Dell is a professional football player and 1/3 owner of Sugar Blitz, a local cupcake shop. The other two owners are on his team. Jada's grandmother is the owner of Donovan's team and has Donovan hire her to work at the shop while she tries to figure out her life.

An unfortunate incident leads to a reporter believing that Jada and Donovan are dating and blows up their lives on social media. However, could this be for the best? Sugar Blitz has never been busier and Jada is getting a makeover in social media. Isn't this what all parties wanted?

I really enjoyed this book - look forward to more by this author.

Another reality based storyline that coupled with the romance genre just didn't work out well for me. It was an average romance for me.

I really enjoyed these characters and getting to know them, especially Mrs. T. However the story felt both rushed and drawn out, and it lacked depth. It was a lighthearted read and fun, but not something I would reread.

Not my usual type of read but it's a sweet and charming little rom-com story. It's hard to not root for the mcs as their romance blooms! I'll definitely check out her next book!

As a (ex) pastry chef, any book set in a bakery has a special place in my heart. This is a very cute, light hearted fake dating story. I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two characters. The book starts off a little slow, but it is well worth reading and I definitely recommend giving it a try!

The premise is adorable: a burly football player and an uptight reality celebrity fake date and eat a bunch of mouthwatering cupcakes. Yes!!

The chemistry didn’t work for me, but give it a shot if you love any of the following: grump/sunshine, cupcakes, fake dating, Black romance, cupcakes, reality TV, fashion, cute side characters, or cupcakes. It's really sweet!

Can we say sweet tooth!!! This book made me crave cupcakes from page one all the way to the end. The story was a fun, spicy romance. Jada is running from her past on a reality dating show and Donovan is just trying to get his cupcake shop to be profitable. When the two run into each other in his cupcake shop and Jada's smart mouth puts Donovan on edge, their lives are set on a crash course. Can their "fake" relationship withstand the pressure of social media, and what happens when true feelings become a reality? I really enjoyed this sugar-sweet story even though I still want a cupcake. 4 stars. Thank you, NetGalley, for the eARC.

This was a DNF for me unfortunately :( I could not get into the story. The dialogue was too cheesy and unrealistic in my opinion. Just not for me!

Not 100% sure of why there's a theme of cozy contemporary romances in the market this year, but definitely here for it.

If you love baking, sports, and fake dating romance then definitely pick this one up and give it a try!

Who wouldn't fall in love with a football player who bakes cupcakes? Well, I will! 😁 But it took time for Jada Townsend-Matthews, the most hated celebrity, to like Donovan Dell.

It was difficult not to, especially since he was her boss and they needed to pretend to be in a relationship to promote Sugar Blitz, where she was assigned to work. And perhaps, people would understand why she needed to turn down the proposal on the reality TV show.

This is a very easy read if you are into sweets, sports, and showbiz. I enjoy the exchange of banter between Jada and Dell. I also admired the growth of each character, particularly Jada, who finds herself after the controversies.

Thank you, St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley, for the ARC.

This was an enjoyable read. It was cute and funny and I loved the characters and their dynamic. The writing was great, which is very important to me because bad writing means I automatically hate the book. This book was exactly what I needed, quick, easy, fun and romantic.

This was funny and cute. I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did because I’m new to romance but it was so worth it.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love the concept of this romance book especially since it involves baking! I love baking a lot and the fake dating trope, so I knew I would love this story. I loved the main characters Jada and Donovan and their chemistry was so obvious. It was funny and engaging, so I definitely recommend it! It's for sure a quick fluffy read that provided the perfect escape. If you're looking for a light romance, this book is for you.

This book is an excellent read! It combines some of my favorite things: romance, cupcakes, and business acumen. Stick with me here!

Donovan Deel is a pro football player who loves to bake. He and three friends are co-owners of the Sugar Blitz cupcakery. However business sales have been declining over the past few weeks, and Donovan is not sure how to revive them.

Enter Jada Townsend-Matthews! She comes to the cupcakery with a friend who loves the place. Jada finds the ambience stale, which Donovan overhears. Afronted by her words of his business, he offers her a free cupcake. She refuses to give him an immediate opinion.

Jada has some issues of her own. And inspiring actress or something, anything really, she was recently on a reality TV show called My One and only. At the end she turned down the proposal, and has been slammed on social media and in person too. Her parents have cut her off financially, and her grandmother is giving her an opportunity to earn her trust fund early if she can hold on a job for 6 months. The catch: The job just happens to be at Sugar Blitz, because the grandmother owns the football franchise that Donovan plays for.

Jada cannot bake, but she is great with the customers. She even has ideas for bringing in extra sales. However, this topsy turvy relationship runs into snags very early on, as people figure out where Jada is working. In order to avoid a media frenzy, she claims that Donovan is her boyfriend. He goes along with the ruse!

This novel doesn't excellent job of walking through the emotions of a new business owner and the struggles they have to keep the business afloat and ultimately thriving. It also does a great job of showing a woman who may not know who she is, but grows throughout the book into a beautiful character.

There is definitely some steam in the kitchen in this novel! You will enjoy some back office shenanigans, as well as some closet scenes! But there are certainly more, but I don't like to ruin that for y'all!

Very much worth the read. I hope we get to hear more about Nicholas and August, the other two co-owners very soon.

I didn't buy this romance or the author's knowledge of working in a kitchen or how to bake cupcakes. Legitimately you can read the back of a Betty Crocker box and know that cupcakes won't burn in 20 minutes. Like, not even a little bit. and HEELS in a kitchen? Are you trying to slip and die? Every restaurant I've worked in (which is decidedly different than a bakery but you're still using similar equipment and procedures) required anti-slip soled shoes. Basically so you can't sue them for your injuries from slipping and falling. It's a whole thing.

And that timeline? Who is she? I really struggled with this one.

This was a cute and sexy enemies to lovers arc set in a charmingly absurd plot. I'd recommend for any fans of the Bromance series, although this definitely has the right ingredients to stand on its own without comparison. Witty banter and sweet encounters blended for a perfectly decadent read.

I love romance books and I love baking so this book was perfect for me. Despite it involving football which isn't my go to sport I still really enjoyed this book. As someone who deals with social media for a living I couldn't help but shake my head and laugh a few times because I understood Jada. Also my heart bled for the poor woman. As a fan of reality tv I love seeing the pain that it can cause in a book. And while I'm not the biggest fan of football I'll watch Donovan play any day. Can't wait to read more from Jaime!