Jamie Wesley serves up a delightful rom-com with A Legend in the Baking, blending humor, heart, and just the right amount of heat. This story of second chances, sizzling chemistry, and sweet ambition is a treat for fans of lighthearted romance.

August Hodges, the reluctant but unexpectedly viral face of Sugar Blitz Cupcakes, is the perfect mix of charming and awkward, winning readers over with his feminist rant and genuine love for the bakery. Enter Sloane Dell, his best friend’s younger sister and a social media manager with big dreams. Their shared history—and undeniable tension—sets the stage for a delicious slow burn that keeps you turning the pages.

Sloane’s fiery determination and creative drive are the perfect counterbalance to August’s slightly grumpy resistance to change. Their back-and-forth over her social media ideas feels authentic and engaging, with plenty of sparks flying along the way. The humor is sharp and witty, while the romance strikes a satisfying balance between sweet and steamy.

While the plot is fairly predictable—complete with a few classic rom-com tropes—it’s executed so well that it doesn’t detract from the story. Wesley’s vibrant descriptions of the bakery and its mouthwatering creations add an extra layer of charm, making it almost impossible not to crave cupcakes while reading.

All’s fair in love and cupcakes indeed, and A Legend in the Baking proves that Wesley knows how to craft a love story that feels warm, funny, and oh-so-satisfying. This book is perfect for readers looking for a romantic escape with just the right mix of passion and pastry.

August Hodges was the silent partner in Sugar Blitz Cupcakes, but a feminist rant goes viral, making him the hottest bachelor in town. Capitalizing on this new fame to build up the hype on a new location, his best friend’s younger sister is hired as their social media manager. Sloane Dell was just as infatuated with August, but isn't willing to revisit her teenage crush. She needs the job to boost her fledgling career, but it's difficult to ignore August.

A Legend in the Baking is the second book in the Fake It Till You Bake It series of romances starring bakers and football stars. Sloane quit her job when passed over for a promotion despite everything she put into the company, leaving her free to work as a social media manager for Sugar Blitz as they're opening a second location. She wants to prove she can handle being project manager, and that she can support herself without leaning on her famous brother or any man. August is still trying to impress his father, a famous chef and chauvinist, and is socially anxious. Putting himself out there for a social media blitz isn't in his wheelhouse, but he does it anyway. It becomes more than just taking pictures of renovations, but also going on dates for social media purposes. This puts Sloane and August in close proximity, which continually brings up memories of the past when they had crushes on each other as teens.

We see flashes of the past, and how it shaped their interactions in the present. We also see how much they push themselves for their careers and to make the new shop flourish. August must push past his anxiety, Sloane must swallow her pride. Both have worries about their history and how they relate to people now, yet still have that great connection that keeps them circling each other even outside of Instagram posts. The greatest message is realizing that no one is unlovable, and as anxiety-provoking as it is to reach out to someone, getting acceptance and love back is a wonderful feeling. It was great to see that happen for August and Sloane in this novel.

Super cute
Brothers best friend/ best friends sister

Cashing in on a viral moment, Sloane needs the help of August to keep up momentum.

- fear of rejection
- slow burn

I was super hype for this book as I really enjoyed Fake It Till You Make It. This story follows Donovan's little sister Sloane, a social media marketer who quits her job after being passed up for a promotion, and August, one leg of the trio of owners of Sugar Blitz. August and Sloane were friends 12 years ago until something happened and then they were polite acquaintances. The reader gets some flashback scenes of what went down mixed in with the development of their relationship in present day. I liked this book, but I didn't love it as much as the first one. Sloan is an interesting character with a lot of drive and determination. August has had a tough life, and it was nice to see him work through things. I liked their relationship when they were having fun but I didn't care for some of the scenarios that Sloane put him in (even if he agreed to them). I really liked seeing Donovan and Jada pop up here and there! I really disliked the sugarbaebies. They had some strange characterizations. All of them were sexually harassing August most of the time and it was kind of played like a joke? I didn't appreciate that so much. I also felt like the plot got sidetracked a few times in a way that was irritating to me. I am very interested to see where Nicholas' book goes as I don't recall any sort of hints about who it could be.

The trio of football player cupcake shop owners are back in A Legend in Baking. August accidentally goes viral with a rant about feminism and baking! Now, he and his partners are ready to ride that wave of fame to help with the opening of their second shop, and they bring in Sloane Dell, a social media whiz who has some history with August to help.

These two have been tiptoeing around their crushes for 12 years, and honestly, I felt for August. He’s a bit of a loner whose past experiences have made him feel unlovable and scared of failing in love. Sloane is all about getting things done with her killer marketing skills but she’s dealing with her own past relationship issues. The way the story flips between past and present really shows off their connection, which I loved!

Their slow-burn romance is packed with tension and longing, and it’s super satisfying to watch them build trust and realize they’ve found the partner they didn’t think they’d ever have. I couldn’t put this book down and I finished it in a day! If you’re in the mood for a charming story with a sprinkle of sweetness and humor, this one’s for you!

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

I really liked the first one in the book series so when I saw the NetGalley release of the book I jumped on the chance to have it. I think this one was better then the first. August was a great character, so brilliantly sp[eaking the truth throughout this book. Sloan was a great counterpart for him and I completely understood her hesitation to get together with August after their history 12 years prior. A wonderful romance!

This is the second book in the series, but it stands fine on its own.

This story was charming, but I felt it dragged a bit, and the conflict/resolution left me flat. That being said, I did like the characters and the overall story/writing. It's not a bad book, just not as exciting as I was hoping for after the first one.

Another fun and sweet addition to the Fake It Til You Bake It series, filled with slow-burn and second-chance energy that keep you invested throughout.

August's plan was to be a silent partner at Sugar Blitz, but when his feminist rant goes viral, he is forced into the limelight. With the help of the new social media manager, Sloane, they come up with a plan to improve the business and earn the trust of the community. The more time that August and Sloane spend together, the more their past feelings begin to grow again.

I loved the way that the author approached August and Sloane's relationship as it feels authentic and realistic. I can't wait to read more from the Sugar Blitz family.

Thank you St. Martin's and NetGalley for the ARC for review!

A legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley

This is book 2 of the series but it works as a standalone. So we have August, a football player and co owner of a cupcake store. Sloane is the sister to another one of the owners and August can’t seem to keep his thoughts in check around her. When they work together on a social media campaign the oven temp starts to rise!

It’s super cute and I loved the chemistry between both of them. I loved the plot, a gentleman who treats women with respect and as an equal. I loved the plot, it was a great romance read, well worth it!

4 stars

This was a cute story. I really like this world with the NFL players running a cupcake business. I liked how mature the characters were at the end during the final conflict. However, if found it a bit slow and sluggish at times.

After reading Fake It Til You Bake It, I was ready for this book! And did it live up to my expectations, yes it did! If you don't like slow burns this book may not be for you but babyyyy I lived for this one here!! I wanted them to just say how they felt a few times because we all could see they loved one another even if they couldn't admit it to themselves. Now I did scream "GIRL WTF YOU DOING" to Sloane on a few parts, especially when she went Meridith Grey lol. But she got it together and they did what needed to be done to get it right. Definitely a good read that will give you great laughs and all the feels. Can't wait for book 3 to see what playboy Nicholas will be up to.

I enjoyed the first book in the series and was excited about this book.

August is Sloane’s brother’s best friend. She has had a crush on him since she was in high school and he was in college. She confessed her feelings for him back then and he rejected her.

Years later, she has lost her job and needs to show what she can do as a media marketer to get another job. He recently went viral while defending women and his masculinity as a cupcake shop owner.

The two of them worked together and fought their feelings for each other for a while. Then he decided that she was what he wanted and decided to go after her. She never stopped having feelings for him and finally gave in to her feelings.

Watching these two was fun. She was trying to do her job while attempting to get another job. He was trying to help her while dealing with being uncomfortable at all the attention. August and Sloane both had a lot of issues they needed to work through. The best part was, no matter what, they were friends and were there for each other.

This was a really good book. I enjoyed it a lot. I really hope there is another book about the last of the trio of football playing, cupcake baking best friends.

Five star read.

When I read Fake It Till You Bake It, I hoped Sloane and August would get their own book. Yay! And Sloane is even more of a strong, independent woman than I thought. She doesn’t take crap from anyone and knows her worth. I loved it! Yet sometimes Sloane tended to get in her own way. August saw that but knew she had to figure things out for herself, so he let her. Swoon!

I love August and Sloane together. I love when they banter and flirt, even when they try not to. I love their connection and how, no matter how close August is to his partners and how close Sloane is to her brother, they notice things about each other that nobody else does. And I love how those same friends and family are silently rooting for the couple even while the couple thinks they are being so slick and secretive with their kissing slip-ups.

All of that love for this book, yet I still have realized that this author may not be for me. While I can easily see how many readers will greatly enjoy this author, I am not a huge fan of the slow burn. And let me tell you, this burn is excruciatingly slow. There are two real-time kisses (that are interrupted) and one memory of a past kiss in the first 75% of this book. Nope! That is not for me. I know some people eat that up with a spoon. For me, I tend to lose interest and feel the candle flickering on the romance when it takes that long, especially if there aren’t other ways the passion is playing out during that time. These two were in the same room but avoiding any sort of touch, or even looking at each other, most of the time.

While the slow burn may not be for me, I do want to say that I appreciate that this author has started incorporating more inclusive language in her books. It is done in such a way I didn’t notice until I was going back to write this review and realized how she had worded certain things. It not only makes her books more inclusive, but does so in a way that flows with the prose and dialogue. On the other hand, in this book and a few others I have read recently, I am getting uncomfortable with how often male presenting athletes are touched without permission without someone calling out the person touching them. Yes, the love interest will get jealous or have thoughts about the touching, but nobody ever seems to say that it’s not okay to touch the man! No matter the person’s gender identity, no matter if they are a public figure, it is not okay to touch someone without permission! Especially in a sexualized manner. Be it a butt grab or a finger run down their chest. Just NO.

Anyway, when I look back at this story and the book before it, I remember them with fondness. That’s why I will recommend the series to those who enjoy a super slow burn and strong women. I’m sure there will be a third book as there is a third business partner/friend in the bakery, but I will most likely skip it. I’m sure it will be a wonderful story, as this one was. The author’s writing style and my reading style just don’t mesh.

The slow burn was BURNING and I lived for it. I love a then and now timeline, and this was delivered perfectly. At some point, I wanted to shove August and Sloane together and say FIGURE THIS OUT EVERYONE CAN SEE IT. This was a warm and fuzzy, even with the light father issues, and the most important part of brothers best friend, Donovan was very chill about their relationship.

A totally sweet and saucy story. Reading this while I'm currently off sugar was excruciating lol. Jamie describes the cupcakes so vividly that I could almost taste them and while not good for me, it was wonderful writing indeed. Sloane has had a crush on August (MOTY-Month of the Year or Man of the Year - you decide) since she was a teen. Moving forward several years and their relationship is fraught with lots of tense moments. Sloane also carries the weight of disappointment in the love department and her parents past. August, quiet and not loving the spotlight despite being a huge NFL star, has his own disillusions to get past in order for a future. Throw in social media gaffes and viral sensations, you get a forced proximity that will throw them both into a whirlwind. I enjoyed the story and the HEA.

Sloane may have fallen hard for August but I was right there with her. A professional football playing cinnamon roll feminist hero who is handy with tools and also bakes cupcakes? It's like the author created him just for me. Of course, she actually created him for Sloane but, hey, a girl can dream.

Jamie Wesley reeled me in with the first book in this series, Fake It Till You Bake It, and kept me hooked through this second installment, A Legend in the Baking. It's a slow-burn romance with a best friend's sister trope, a second chance, chosen family, well-placed humor, and a fair amount of emotional depth.

I enjoyed the layers Wesley gave both August and Sloane. It made them feel authentic and relatable. My heart ached for August. Watching him work his way through long-held issues and beliefs to emerge at the other end with confidence and knowledge of his own self-worth was immensely satisfying. Sloane's journey was no less impactful. I especially appreciated the fact that she finally came to realize the impact her actions were having, apologized, and grew from the experience. In the end, I was confident their relationship would be long lasting and happy.

I'm really enjoying the bonds of brotherhood that August, Donovan, and Nicholas have formed. These partners both on the football field and in the bakery may not be related by blood but in every meaningful definition of the word, they are family. I can't wait to discover what Wesley has planned for Nicholas, the last (single) man standing.

One more thing, in case the cupcake baking football stars are listening. I really need a recipe for those Lemon Meringue Cupcakes, the drool-inducing confections that August bakes and Sloane devours. I'm not above begging.

4.5 Stars
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley

#SugarBae for the win!

With an opening that will make you want to stand up and cheer in solidarity with the FMC, this book starts off strong and gets better and better as it goes on. Sloane quits her job when it becomes clear she's hit the ceiling, and takes refuge at her brother's bakery, where she runs into August, another of the three bakery co-owners.

August and Sloane have a bit of a slow start, owing to their long friendship and reluctance to mess that up. I appreciated that there wasn't any "her brother/my best friend will kill me" sentiment here - why would a guy be best friends with someone he doesn't think is good enough for his sister? One internet viral sensation, a smidgen of daddy issues, and a sneaky date or two later, they're finally realizing just how good they can be together.

This is a standalone romance that you're going to want to read whether or not you've already read the first book (hint - go read it anyway if you haven't yet). I really enjoy this author's writing style, infusing her well-developed characters with plenty of charm and a hearty sense of humor. I just loved their story, sweet and sassy at the same time, and I was very satisfied with the HEA. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I loved the first book in this baking x football romance, so I knew I had to read this one. I like the behind the scenes look of expanding a business and being a social media manager. The cupcakes sounded delicious. There's a great examination here of social media and what it looks like to work in it. I also appreciate and am interested in the conversation about gentrification. It’s a slow burn, and I like how the author built up the relationship through flash backs to their previous attraction as teenagers.

Thank you NetGalley, Jamie Wesley, and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for an advanced copy of A Legend in the Baking. My review is based on my honest opinion about the book.

The characters from the previous book also appear in Fake It, Till You Bake It. This book features another football star. August Hodges, a shy football player, aspires to be in the limelight. He is the silent partner of a cupcake bakery with his teammates. After a passionate rant is filmed by a customer and goes viral, he has to be in the spotlight. But he needs help.

That is when his former crush, Sloane Dell, comes to the rescue. Sloane is a social media manager. She is also the younger sister of his best friend and business partner. For more than a decade, Sloane has had a crush on August, which is why she is reluctant to work with him. But she needs the break to earn a better position. She also wants to help her brother revamp their business and social media presence.

I enjoyed the first one because the main characters had a love-hate relationship. The book stands out from the rest. It is a slow burn because both like each other but do not want to cross that line. It frustrated me, but it makes sense I understand the two connections in the past. But Jamie Wesley includes small sexy scenes and flirting, which made me glad I continued to read. The moment they finally connect is filled with a delightful sweetness.

I love how the author added dramatic moments to the book in various ways. Reading those scenes had me hooked. I wanted to see how everything ended. This book is perfect for those who love slow-burn romance or second-chance romance books.

A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley, book two in the Fake It Till You Bake series, is a heartwarming second chance romance about regrets and memories.

Sloane Dell, a social media manager, just quit her job after the failure to receive the recognition she deserved; turning to her brother, football player, and part-owner of Sugar Blitz bakery, Donovan, for much needed advice. Visiting the bakery isn't high on Sloane's list of things to do because she knows she will run into August Hodges. Sloane fell hard for her brother’s best friend the moment she met him more than a decade ago, but that teenage infatuation cost her dearly. She accepts her brother’s request to revamp the bakery’s social media presence to take advantage of August’s newfound popularity; knowing it’s the big break her new career needs. She’ll just ignore the fact that August is still attractive and sweeter than any man has a right to be; despite driving her crazy by resisting all her ideas.

They promise to leave the past in the past; although the chemistry still sparks between them. When an intense make-out session makes it clear their attraction sizzles hotter than ever, Sloane and August are forced to reconsider what it means to take a risk and chase your dreams. As they’re both about to find out, all’s fair in love and cupcakes.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.