The pacing was all over the place and the slow burn was SLOW. However, I read the first book in this series (by accident) and fell in love with the writers style so I was excited to see a second book in this universe pop up. I didn't think it was as good as the first, but still a fun read!

I really wanted to love A Legend in the Baking. After devouring the first book in this series, I was excited to dive back into Jamie Wesley’s world, especially with a premise as promising as a cupcake-baking football player and a social media maven! But unfortunately, this one didn’t quite deliver the same punch for me.

The story revolves around August Hodges, a football player turned baker, and Sloane Dell, his best friend’s younger sister. There’s a lot of potential here—August’s viral fame, the sparks between them from the start, and their shared history. But instead of the gripping, fast-paced romance I was hoping for, this book felt like a slow burn that dragged a bit too much.

I love a slow burn when it’s done right, but this one just felt… overly slow. There were so many moments when it seemed like things were about to heat up between August and Sloane, only for them to be interrupted or for Sloane to run off. That kind of back-and-forth is fine in moderation, but it became repetitive and, by the 35% mark, I was craving some action or excitement. Instead, I found myself waiting until around 70-75% for things to really pick up.

As much as I loved the premise and the chemistry between August and Sloane, this story could’ve used a bit more drama and excitement earlier on. It’s sweet, but not a page-turner, and the lack of spice or dramatic tension left me wanting more. If you enjoy a very slow burn with minimal drama, this might be for you, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations after the first book’s high.

Happy to see Sloane and August have their happy ending! I was invested in them since the first book in the series so it was nice to have that resolved. My biggest suggestion is that it needed more rounds of edits. The plot got a bit confusing and there were unnecessary acronyms for everything but the characters felt so real that I can forgive a bit of a mixed-bag plot.

I also just love Wesley’s writing style. I will 100% be on the lookout for Nicholas’s book in the series. I mean it has to be coming right?!

I received this arc from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

A Legend in the Baking was everything I hoped it would be! It was such a fun and super sweet slow burn romance, and such an easy read!

While there were cute moments in this book and I enjoyed the premise (football players, cupcakes), I hated the setup of the story itself. I didn’t like the backstory of the MCs (especially the questionable kiss), and the whole job application subplot was so utterly unrealistic and unethical. I remember liking the first book in this series a lot more.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Legend in the Baking is book two in the amazing Fake It Till You Bake It Series by Jamie Wesley.
I just adored book one in 2022. And was probably too excited when I seen book two was available on NetGalley.

I’m obsessed with this series where we have football players who open a cupcake bakery together.
I mean seriously? That’s just too cute!

This new romance from Wesley follows a cupcake-baking football player who gets assistance from a social media maven—who is also his best friend's little sister who helps him promote his new bakery after accidentally going viral online.

The chemistry between August and Sloane was believable and I was rooting for them throughout the book. Their banter is the best.
The author has written these characters with depth that shows throughout the story. Both main characters have some really solid character development. I really loved their individual personalities. They both stood out and had their own distinct voices.

A funny and warm hearted story with a delicious ending!

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

4⭐️

Overall, this book was decent but the plot is pretty similar to book #1 of the series. Deny their attraction, business brings them together, run and hide from love, etc… Would have loved a deeper history between the two. But overall, I liked reading from both characters’ perspectives.

I give this book 3.5 stars. ACS to second book for the series, I actually enjoyed this book more than the first book. Sloane and August story was definitely a slow burn but really cute. This book is a solid read and looking forward to the next book of the series. The love scenes were good but it took so long to get to. I just wanted the story to come together sooner but I do not think it took away from the story. My rating is based on me wanting more but still a good read for anyone who enjoys romance novels.

A Legend in the Baking was so cute! I love the male characters the most. They were perfectly blended and the author added so many layers to their characters.

This book was very sweet (pun fully intended). I’m not always a fan of second chance romances, but this one was well done and made sense with how long the characters had to grow and develop. Sloane is highly competent and clearly knows what she wants, which makes reading her perspective quite fun. The chemistry between her and August is very much there as is the spice. The pacing is solid, with a little bit of absurdity in the plot.

A Legend in the Baking
2.75 ⭐️

This one seemed like a light cozy romance which felt like it would fit nicely in between a few heavier books. While it was light, it honestly felt like it had a little too many directions it was trying to go for. Not my favorite, but maybe for you if you’re really into cupcake shops and social media.

A Legend in the Baking is book 2 of the Fake It Till You Bake It series. This book is focused on August Hodges, a football star and silent partner in his two friends' (and teammates') cupcake business, and Sloane Dell, the little sister of teammates and co-owner. Their relationship, as well as their romance, was contentious throughout the book. Even though I knew that the book would eventually lead to an HEA, I initially had my doubts.

I liked that the author let August and Sloane's characters have a regular friendship-to-relationship deal. I also liked how August was pulled, kicking, and screaming into it. I wondered why he fought so hard against his feelings for Sloane, but it is revealed later in the book.

Even though I liked Sloane, I thought she was a little much. In parts of the book, she comes across as overbearing and controlling. But, again, the author explained her actions, and instead of detracting from her overall character, they added layers to her.

There was an amusing sub storyline with a secondary cupcake location and some geriatric protestors. I got why the protestors were so up in arms. Gentrification is something that people should take seriously. But, thankfully, the guys had an explanation for everything that was going on.

The end of A Legend in the Baking was nice. I liked that it was a HEA and hoped it would become something more permanent for Sloane and August.

I really enjoy Jamie’s writing overall. I have a soft spot for black romances that are normal and she knocks it out of the park.

I really enjoyed the internal struggle both Solan and August experience as they’re coming to terms with the truth. I also appreciated the backstory that fueled the animosity we picked up on from book one.

I will definitely continue the series!

This was my first read in the “Fake It Till You Bake It” series and I had a good time with it. I really liked the MMC, a feminist football star who loves baking cupcakes. I liked Sloane, our female lead, but I occasionally found her quirkiness veering into parody territory. This is a slow, slow burn, so if that’s not a romance trope you enjoy, this one wouldn’t be for you. I had an issue with some non-consent scenes thrown at the MMC, but overall it was a sweet, fluffy book with an enjoyable cast of characters and main characters with flaws (which is how characters should be written, imo).

I have waited two years for this book. Patience not a virtue I possess. The moment Jamie Wesley teased this couple in fake it til you bake it, I had to know their story. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Jada and Donovans story but there was something about the strong and silent August that I had to know more about
Sloane, despite getting in her own way, was a great FMC. Making a name for herself despite her brothers success is very admirable. But hurting your own feelings of love over a job is wild! But Im glad she got it all the way gathered in the end. I love watching black men get the healing they deserve. Its a vulnerability that I find so sexy because in the end they realize it was a burden they didnt have to carry this whole time. Also the way August caters, respects, and listens to Sloane undoubtedly makes him the perfect MMC. Now there was no teasing of Nicholas but this was an Earc. Only the more reason for me to buy the book in a couple of months.

I thought the premise of this book was darling and was so excited to read it during football season! However, the slow burn didn't work for me. It just dragged on.

A sweet story about second-chance love filled with past trauma, cupcakes, and football stars!

I really enjoyed this story! I felt that it was original & witty. I laughed, I cried, and most importantly I related to the characters.

I mean, honestly what’s not to love about 3 good lookin’ men who play pro-football and also BAKE?! Then you have August…oh sweet sweet “month of the year” August who just made me want to hug him until he realized his worth. Then we have Sloane..who is relatable on every single level there is!

Thank you NetGalley for an arc copy of this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This book ended up not being a great fit for me, while there were portions that I enjoyed, I really struggled with the slow pacing and some of the plot choices made by the author.
I would definitely try another book from this author in the future and would still recommend this book to someone who enjoys a slow burn romance.

Thank you Jamie Wesley, Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Football player August is supposed to be the “quiet” partner in the cupcake business he and his two best friends own. But he accidentally goes viral after a rant defending baking and masculinity and suddenly becomes the town's hottest bachelor. At the same time, his best friend’s little sister, Sloane, shows up to handle the business’s social media. She’s had a thing for him forever, and working together stirs up all those old feelings. It’s fun and full of romantic tension as they navigate their past and chemistry. The “will they / won’t they” parts dragged on a bit, and the flashbacks to their “past encounters” weren’t as satisfying as I would’ve liked, but overall it was a solid, feel-good read!

When people look at August Hodges, they see a macho football player, not a baker. August has always loved to bake, but he's not one for the spotlight, so he prefers his co-ownership of Sugar Blitz Cupcakes to stay under the radar. But one viral rant later about how baking cupcakes isn't a threat to masculinity, and August is crowned the internet's SugarBae. With August and his partners on the cusp of opening another store, they want to capitalize on August's fifteen minutes of fame to help cement themselves into the community by hiring social media maven Sloane Dell. As the sister of his best friend, August and Sloane have known each other for years, but things have been awkward since August spurned Sloane's teenage declarations of love. As the pair begin working closely together, they can't deny the spark between them, but are they willing to take a risk for love?

It's fitting that this centers around baking and a cupcake shop because it was sweet as sugar. I liked both our main characters. Sloane was strong and capable, and I liked how determined she was to make a name for herself. August was sweet and introverted, and I liked how much he loved baking despite people's narrow-minded views. The romance between them was a little too slow-burn for my tastes, especially since we know their feelings for one another early on, so my interest did start to wane after a while. Romance aside, I found the overall plot to be just okay. It was cute but not the most memorable. While it's not a new favorite, I'd still recommend it if you're wanting a quick read.