Anna returns to her roots when she inherits her grandmother's bakery in her southern hometown. When her boyfriend leaves for the west coast without asking her to go with him, she finds her inheritance from her grandmother also includes a magic sugar that will change her life forever.

The Baker's Man
by Jennifer Moorman
Pub Date: February 14, 2023
Harper Muse
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book! This was a new author for me and I just didn't like it very well. The one great thing about this book is the cover. That's what drew me to request this ARC. . I'm sorry that it didn't deliver.
Flat characters, lifeless writing, ridiculous plotline. I am not recommending it or purchasing it for our library.
2 stars

1.5 stars

I didn't like this book that much. I just finished it and I sit here thinking: Was that it? What was this?

This was a book about a woman who inherited a bakery (and maybe some magic) from her grandmother. She ends up baking her dream man and that causes some not that dramatic problems (Does he really love her or is it because she is his baker? How does free will work for baked people?). In the end, all is well that ends well.

I guess this book reminded me of the Spellbound in Hawthorne series but not very well done.

The problem is that the main character and her group of friends were just too irritating, too superficial. I ended up loosing interest on what would happen to these people. Also, it felt like nothing really happen when a lot of things that were trying to be dramatic did - maybe it was the pacing that didn't work. Another point is that it is marketed as magical realism but when you end up explaining too much how the magic works and magic is a weird, unexpected and unknown thing in this world, it makes it something but not really magical realism. That irritated me. Besides all this, I feel like all the mentions of the wind were supposed to make this really magical, but they ended up just being annoying.

The one great thing about this book is the cover. That's what called to me. I'm sorry that it didn't deliver.

All in all, what sums up my reading of this book is being bored and irritated at the same time. Weird experience, do not recommend.

I love this book so much. It makes me want to live in Mystic Water & eat all the wonderful treats mentioned.

Calling all fans of magical realism, lovers of sweet treats and baked goodies, cupcake fanatics, dreamers and enthusiasts of whimsy: It’s time to take a trip to Mystic Water and immerse yourself in the lives of the quirky and enchanting lives of those who call this Southern town, home. Anna runs her late grandmother’s bakery, but harbours dreams of opening her own bakery by the sea. One night, after one too many drinks with her friend, Anna follows a recipe left by her grandmother. The next morning, a mysterious but handsome stranger is cooking donuts and seemingly knows all about Anna. But who is he, and where did he come from? Anna must figure out her grandmothers secret recipe, deal with the delectable new arrival in the bakery, learn to follow her heart, and maybe, just maybe find love along the way.

Author Jennifer Moorman expertly weaves a tale of friendships, family secrets, and hearts desires into a feel-good novel which will make your heart happy, make you smile for no reason and which may induce a baking frenzy of your own

Cute, quick read about a woman running her family bakery falling in love.

It was charming. Loved the setting and all the sweet bakes. The love story fell incredibly flat. But otherwise a fun read.

I love Jennifer Moorman's books so much and this one didn't disappoint. The cover first drew me in and didn't stop from there! Magic, baking, romance...this one has it all :)

Anna is a bakery owner in the quaint town of Mystic Waters. Her boyfriend of two years has a surprise for her and it’s not at all what she’s expecting. Later that night after drinking a lot of rum with her best friends in the apartment above her bakery, Anna reveals a family secret that leads to giggles and inebriated baking.

I fell in love with this book full of magical romance. I love the author’s description of smells to describe each person’s arrival or mood. You can almost smell the tantalizing aroma of baked goods throughout the entire book. The ending made me so happy. Perfect for readers who like a little magic with their romance!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for this ARC.

Thank you Harper Muse for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Bakery owner in the small town, Mystic Waters, Anna O’Brien, is down on her luck when it comes to love. Her fiancé (or so she thought) seems to be leaving her in the lurch and moving to California. Without her. Anna’s besties come to cheer her up with an excessive amount of rum and she remembers a box her beloved grandma had left her after her passing with a note saying to “open when you need to”. Inside Anna discovers a recipe for “the perfect man” and “magic sugar” so she proceeds in doing what she does best and bakes.

Much to her surprise Anna wakes up with a huge hangover and something else. A gorgeous man in her bakery. Is this possible? Did she really bake herself the perfect man? Is this all in her head or is this really magic? Anna’s about to find out!

This book is delightful and was such a treat to read! I fell in love with the small town of Mystic Waters and of Anna’s story. She teaches you that your life is yours to mold (or in this case bake) into whatever you want and that you alone are responsible for your own happiness. A lesson that is truly sweet. Check out this book when it’s released on February 14th! Thank you Jennifer Moorman for writing such a beautiful book!

Read if you :
- Love to bake 👩🏻‍🍳
- Ever wished you could make your perfect dream man 💭
- Wanted to branch out and follow your passions 🥰

This book drew me in from page one. Mystic Water is home to Anna. She runs what used to be her Grandma’s bakery.
She makes wonderful desserts that draw people in every day. She’s left with a box from her Grandma with magic sugar and a recipe to bake the perfect man.
Can Anna find her perfect man and follow her heart’s desire.
I really enjoyed this magical feeling book. I could almost smell the sweetness of the bakery wafting through the air.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy.

Anna is a baker, as was her grandmother. She has inherited her grandmother's magical gift for baking along with a box containing a magical ingredient. When her boyfriend leaves her behind she decides to bake the man of her dreams. Surprise it works! But there are some complications. This is an enjoyable read.
When Thanks to NetGalley for proving a ARC of this title.

What a delicious read! The Baker’s Man was a joy from start to finish! Written with words that tantalize the tongue and tickle the senses, Jennifer Moorman delights in this first foray to the town of Mystic Water.
The Baker’s Man is the story of Anna and her gift of baking. With a touch of magic Eli is brought into her life. But will the truth of his past and the strength of Anna’s family secret prove too much for their burgeoning attraction?

Jennifer Moorman always weaves such wonderful, whimsical tales together. Baker's Man is a lighthearted, magical story of a woman that decides to bake the perfect man. One just so happens to show up and she ponders on the thought of is he too good to be true.

This is a fun & sweet read. We have magic and baking, and a wonderful setting and characters.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

The Baker’s Man is packed full of mouthwatering treats and thoughtfully crafted characters mixed with heaping tablespoons of relatable friendships, magic, and sweet romance. This book kept me cheering for Anna on her often humorous and unpredictable journey of finding her truth and her perfect man. It’ll make you want to run to your local bakery for dessert and a chance sighting of the delectable Eli. I’ve loved every Mystic Water book by Jennifer Moorman and found The Baker’s Man was just as hard to put down.

It was such great fun to read this unusual book! I love stories that merge real life with fantasy and this one did it beautifully. I especially liked that the author included Eli’s thoughts and feelings and the backstory of Anna’s grandmother was interesting.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sweet story about family, friends, and how life doesn't always turn out the way you expect, but just the way it should.

After a breakup with the man she thought was going to propose, baker Anna inadvertently uses the family "magic" and makes her soulmate. But it isn't happily ever after quite yet--she has to contend with her mother's expectations, being unsure if she should keep running her inherited bakery, or open her own bakery by the sea, and if Eli should be hers or live his own life.

I really enjoyed all the descriptions of baked goods, and Anna's internal dialogue. I didn't love Tessa, she seemed more like a boy crazy teenager than fully formed adult.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I loved this book! It was a twist I wasn't exactly expecting, but what a sweet ride! I wish I could taste some of her creations and meet Eli, but we know fiction is better than reality. It was the perfect weekend read!

Me being such a lover of food and anything food related I loved the sound of this book. The story of bakery, inherited by New York City–trained pastry chef Anna O’Brien. Located in a small town is this something Anne wants to do,!?

I love this charming read, it's wonderful descriptions of the mount watering treats (that made me hungry for sure) and the little bit of magic left by a grandmother. There is a bit of everything in this heart-warming, feel good book about friendship, family and love.

This is a very easy to read book, it made me smile, it had that warm and fuzzy feel and it was a delight to read. I whizzed through it and very much enjoyed it.

From the magical town to the relatable characters and the perfect man this is a delicious tale! Loved loved loved