This is the second in a series about a trio of professional football players who also open and run a cupcake bakery. Sloane Dell is the sister of the male MC in the first book, Fake It Till You Bake It (June 2022). She quits her social media job after getting past over for a promotion she felt she’d earned. Interviewing for a new dream job, she is in direct competition with an old college classmate. She needs to show her skills and takes over the social media for the bakery to demonstrate her abilities.

August Hodges, one of the owners goes viral in a pro women bakers rant. Sloane wants to capitalize on the situation for her and the bakery. She had a crush and was friends with August when he played in college with her brother. He has some insecurities of his own after a failed first marriage.

I enjoyed this more than I was expecting. Sloane was likable and a go getter, but it did feel like she was using him outside of his comfort zone. It takes more than half the book to get to a first kiss and longer for more. It is hard to be overly concerned about a bakery that is essentially a side gig for millionaire pro athletes. But the story is easy to read and can be read as a stand alone novel if you missed the first book. I did like the secondary storyline about the impact of gentrification on neighborhoods. (3.5 Stars)

A Legend in Baking was the perfect blend of slow=burn romance and "friends" to lovers. Sloane and August were friends once upon a time. But something happened to them that led them to not talk to each other for years. Fast forward, August is not the hot NFL bachelor in need of some social media management for his new bakery. In comes Sloane, who was once in love with her brother's best friend August.

As the two of them are working together to balance August's popularity, they find themselves in a bit of a relationship predicament. I love the tension between August and Sloane. All too often, this tension gets over used and drug out, but not in this instance!

It is definitely a slow-burn, so be prepared for the rise and falls.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Fake it Till You Bake It. I loved the storyline and men breaking gender roles. I was excited to receive an e-arc of the next book in the series, A Legend in the Baking. This book follows August, a fellow football star/baking enthusiast who is one of the three men who own Sugar Blitz. August prefers remaining in the background of Sugar Blitz, but when a viral video circulates of him standing up for women in baking, he’s suddenly thrust into the one place he never wanted to be: the spotlight. Enter Sloane. Diego’s baby sister and social media manager. Sloane encourages August to cash in on his new found popularity by creating content online for Sugar Blitz. She pushes August out of his comfort zone, both in his personal life and his romantic life. The two have history, which causes some tension and misunderstandings. Despite all this, however, the two decide to work together and through this perhaps discover a second chance they didn’t know they needed.

Overall I enjoyed A Legend in the Baking. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first book in the series, but it was a cute and easy read nonetheless. I look forward to the next book in the series

When Jamie Wesley released Fake It Till You Bake It, I was excited to read it. Now, the series continues with A Legend in the Baking, starring Sugar Blitz co-owner August and Donovan’s younger sister, Sloane.

Sloane has just been passed over for a promotion she deserved, so she quits and decides to pursue a better marketing job. As part of the interviewing process, she needs to prove her social media prowess by working with another client for two weeks. So she finally takes up her brother’s offer to help out with the cupcake bakery he co-owns, Sugar Blitz. His best friend August works there, too… the man Sloane was once friends with and had a huge crush on. And when he accidentally goes viral, he becomes the star of her social media campaign. But will spending so much time together give the two a chance to finally pursue something sweeter between them?

Tropes & Narrative Devices:
• Former friends to lovers
• Second chance romance
• Workplace romance
• Dual timeline
• Dual third-person POV (Sloane and August)

What I Liked:

• Cupcakes! Real talk: I love baked goods, and cupcakes are definitely near the top of the list of deliciousness. This is what first drew me to both Fake It Till You Bake It and A Legend in the Baking, and reading about Sugar Blitz, cupcakes, and all things baked comfort was both a delight and a bit mouthwatering. It’s probably best to have some cupcakes to snack on while reading this!

• Feminism! I love that here, the feminist ideals first come from August’s impromptu speech to some sexist guys who think cupcakes and baking aren’t “manly.” Shoutout to him for speaking out about it, even if it was unintentional how it spiraled from there. Yes, men can and should bake, enjoy sweet treats, and stand up against outdated, sexist thinking.

• SugarBae! This is how August becomes known as SugarBae and inadvertently becomes a sort of mascot for Sugar Blitz. A bit objectifying to him? Perhaps. But he rolls with it despite being an introvert who avoids attention as much as possible. (As a fellow introvert, I can relate.)

• Baking contest! When Sloane and August have a little baking contest in the Sugar Blitz kitchen? Loved that!! It was a highlight in developing their relationship and reminding readers to reach for those cupcake snacks I mentioned.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
• She went after a guy with a girlfriend. Girl, no!! (In the past; no cheating really happens, thankfully.)

Final Thoughts
A Legend in the Baking is a great mixture of career ambition, friendships and family relationships, baked goods sweetness, and a delicious love story. I enjoyed getting to know August and Sloane, and I definitely want to continue the series. I still need to read Fake It Till You Bake It, and I’ll be ready for Nicholas to get his HEA in the third book!

After reading "A Legend in the Baking" I'm definitely going to pick up the first book in the series and now really looking forward to the next book! The banter between August and Sloane is so great. Two words I would use to describe this book are charming and captivating.

A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley is a delightful blend of romance, humor, and personal growth. The story centers around August Hodges, a football player who co-owns a cupcake shop, and Sloane Dell, his best friend's sister and the new social media manager for their bakery. When August's impromptu feminist rant goes viral, he becomes an unexpected internet sensation, and Sloane is brought in to capitalize on his newfound fame.

Wesley's writing is engaging and full of charm, making the characters come alive. August is a refreshing romantic hero—secure in his masculinity and passionate about his bakery. Sloane is equally compelling, with her determination to succeed in her career and navigate her complicated feelings for August.

The chemistry between August and Sloane is palpable, and their journey from past heartbreak to rekindled romance is both heartwarming and realistic. The novel also touches on themes of family, friendship, and the courage to pursue one's dreams, adding depth to the sweet romance.

While some plot elements could have been more fully developed, the overall story is satisfying and leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. A Legend in the Baking is a perfect read for fans of contemporary romance who enjoy a mix of sweetness and spice.

I loved the first book in this series - Fake It 'Till You Bake - when I read it last year. This one definitely lived up to that and did not disappoint!

This book is full of tension and slow burn between the main characters. As much as the plot could feel un-realistic at times, there were lots of parts that made it feel like this could be a real story: the social media aspect of it, the emotions behind August feeling ashamed of his love for baking, and the romantic vibes definitely felt realistic too! There were so many little details that tied this one together.

Overall it was a very fun read with a great setting. It was entertaining and had a good ending. I can't wait for the next!

I loved this quick, easy read that focused on Sloane Dell (Donovan from the first books little sister) and his business partner, August. Sloane was helping them and their third partner with the social media for their cupcake shop since August blew up on social media and they needed to capitalize on his sudden fame. They knew each other in high school, but August was slowly trying to break down the walls that Sloane had put up. I love the baking storyline and of course there was plenty of spice. Their chemistry was great and I love when a couple is truly friends first, even if the went through a period of not liking each other.

If the reader is looking for an entertaining quick read this is the book for them. They will thoroughly enjoy the push and pull interaction between Sloane and August.

Author Jamie Wesley's development of these two characters was believable and I found myself really wishing to do an intervention so they would take down their walls and talk. This part of their relationship felt very real and twisted my heart with pain.

Sloane was my type of female character she was smart and quick witted in business. Her character opened my eyes to the fact that we can overprotect our heart so much that we will lose out on love.

My first impression of August was that he was the strong silent type, but nothing stood out as memorable and it took me a while to warm up to him. Once the author revealed other facets to his personality I became quite enamored with him.

I hope the reader enjoys this story as much as I did.

this wasn't a bad book overall, I was just bored. I do think maybe I was reading it at the wrong time. I wasn't in the mood for it.

I did like the banter between them. I will read more book say this author.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Legend in the Baking is the second in the Sugar Blitz series. I loved Fake it Till You Make It and was so excited for this one. This book is also centered around the cupcake shop but this one is the story of August and Sloane (Donovan’s sister) - Sloane lost her job and is using August and the cupcake shop to help launch her new career in social media. I love the dynamics of the football stars running the cupcake store together, I love the way this series features strong, intelligent women and sensitive and caring men. And I love that these characters all feel very real and relatable and are not afraid to show their flaws and fears. And I love hearing about the cupcakes, of course. This one has some 🔥 in it too.

A Legend in the Baking is book two of the Sugar Blitz series by Jamie Wesley. August Hodges is one of the owners of the Sugar Blitz cupcake shop with two of his NFL teammates and best friends. Sloane Dell is Donovan Dell’s younger sister. Donovan was featured in book one of the series. Sloane is at a crossroads in her career where her focus is social media and marketing. August is dealing with frustrations based on his father not respecting his career choices.

As the book unfolds, it is obvious that August and Sloane have a past which damaged their relationship. Sloane still has it bad for August and he feels the same way. The attraction from the past never went away and is brewing under the surface. An accidental touch here and there is electrifying. An interaction that August had with some sexist men thrusts him in the spotlight. He is even referred to by Women as “Sugar Bae”. He does not want the attention at all and prefers to stay in the background. Sloane comes to the rescue to help August and Sugar Blitz navigate this and other publicity issues that arise with their new location, which they hope to open soon.

The book is building up to a climax that readers are eager to see unfold. August and Sloane’s passion is reignited and was always there under the surface. Their first kiss says it all and when the pair finally have a date (that Sloane didn’t realize was a date), it is perfect.

There are a lot of cute moments in this book like the cup cake bake off. August and Sloane share a passion for each other that is unmatched. Despite a passion for baking, August and his friends Nicholas and Donovan are as masculine as men can get and have features that would attract any woman. I enjoyed this book and hope that there will be a book three.

Read if you like:
🧁 Cupcakes & All the Goodies
🏈 Hot Football Players
🖤 Black Love
👑 Boss Ass Bitch Energy
💪🏾 Strong FMC
🥈 Second Chance Romance
👨🏽 Brother’s Best Friend
⏳ Flashbacks

Honestly, this was such a great follow up to Fake It Til You Bake It and I loved being back in the bakery with all the characters!

I absolutely loved how August trying to be helpful put himself in a situation he absolutely didn’t want to be in, with the women and being a piece of meat and someone the women all wanted to score a date with, in order to try to do his part to help the bakery as it was struggling with public opinion while in the midst of trying to expand to a new location in a new neighborhood.

And what perfect timing for this as his best friends little sodger that he has had feelings for for a while is now in the picture to help with the Bakery’s social media and by default, Gus’ media nightmare he got himself into.

I absolutely loved getting the story from Sloane’s PoV as she left her job where she wasn’t being valued and was trying to get a new job, with the need to run a social media campaign as part of her interview process and forced her to finally take her brother up on his offer that would put her in forced proximity with her brother’s best friend and her childhood crush that she never fully got over.

This all together is a recipe for LOVE! And I ate up every crumb!

Thank you so much to SMP for my ARC, ALC, & finished copy in exchange for my review!

A Legend in the Baking was an absolute delight! I am so thankful to Once Upon a Book Club for introducing me to this series! I loved August, but Sloane was a bit domineering for me, I feel like it took her a long time to get out of her head and let someone else have a their chance to explain. Overall, I missed the characters in this series and can't wait to read Nicholas's happy ending soon.

A Legend in Baking is the second book in a series of interconnected contemporary romance standalones. It features football players who co-own a cupcake store.

This is August’s book. It can be read as a standalone. However Donovan (co-owner of Sugar Blitz Cupcakes and August’s best friend) who was the male lead in the first book is in this book a lot.

This book alternates between the male and female POVs. The book takes place in the present. But we get a few brief glimpses of 12 years before.

The series takes place in San Diego. August is shy. But he has liked Sloane for years. Sloane is a social media expert. She is Donovan’s sister. And had a major crush on August when she was younger. When August goes viral he (and the cupcake shop) need Sloane’s help.

This is a cute fun read. I liked both August and Sloane. And they were great together. Major second chance and slow burn vibes. I also really loved seeing so much of Donovan. Overall an enjoyable sequel.

A LEGEND IN THE BAKING by Jamie Wesley Is the second book I read by the author and overall I really enjoyed the read

During the read we follow football player August a football star and co-owner of a cupcake shop who is now divorced, and Sloane the sister of one of his best friends and business partner who has been building a successful career in social media marketing. She’s offered a chance for her dream job if she can demonstrate a successful media campaign, what better to champion than her brother’s cupcake shop.

Both Sloane and August have unresolved history and feelings for each other and I enjoyed watching them navigate as the story progressed

These characters were captivating just like the first book to this series , and I enjoyed their journey and growth throughout the read as they struggled through past hurts to finding redemption, acceptance and love with each other and for themselves. I loved the flashback moments of August and Sloane when the first means and become friends.

My heart went out to August as he struggled with not believing he was good enough and losing his worth. Seeing him overcome this feeling and find his voice and stand up for himself was beautiful.

I really enjoyed this story and excited to see what the author has in store next for this series.

This series is so slept on!! What is not to love? Hot football players, yummy baked goods, great chemistry and banter, real, relatable characters! Can’t wait for more.

Talk about a slow, delicious burn! That’s everything that I want in a romance. The flirting, the tension, it all had me giggling and kicking my feet. Mix in a cupcake bakery and second chance romance? The perfect book.

I was happy to return to Sugar Blitz, this time with the spotlight on August and Sloane. August and Sloane had something when they were much younger, but it never panned out. Now, they are given a second chance at love, but pride is their biggest downfall. The book is a slow burn, open door romance. I would say even for a slow burn, the beginning of the book, is a lot of set up and therefore moves pretty slowly. Once the romance part becoems more evident and in the forefront, it moves a lot more freely and naturally. I enjoyed this book, although I think I enjoyed the first one more. I'm excited to read Nicholas' story if and when we get it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

No pun intended, I absolutely DEVOURED this book. Sloane and August were so easy to relate to, despite being very different from myself. Their story was eye opening, heartwarming, and a little spicy. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read an early copy