“A Legend in the Baking” by Jamie Wesley

Title: A Legend in the Baking
Author: Jamie Wesley
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Year: 2024    
Genre(s): romance
Part of a Series: Yes. Read my review of Book 1 here.

Why I read it: Because I enjoyed the first book.

Summary: August Hodges never wanted the spotlight, even though he is a professional football player and co-owner of one of the hottest cupcake shops in the city. But when his rant in support of women goes viral, the spotlight finds him. He finds himself needing to navigate his newfound fame as he and his partners prepare to open a second location. Since fame doesn’t come naturally to him, he’s going to need help.

Enter Sloane Dell, the sister of his friend and business partner Donovan. Sloane is building a career as a social media manager and helping to manage her brother’s business will be a great stepping stone toward her dream job. She agrees to help August channel his fifteen minutes of fame toward helping the shop grow. However, working closely with August brings back feelings she thought were in the pass. Will she be able to help August and possibly get a happy ending she never thought possible? Or will they both just get burned?

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“The Undoing of Violet Claybourne” by Emily Critchley

Title: The Undoing of Violet Claybourne
Author: Emily Critchley
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Year: 2025    
Genre(s): historical fiction
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club Pick

Summary: When Gillian Larking goes to spend Christmas with Violet Claybourne, her friend and roommate at boarding school, she sees it as her chance to experience a proper family and the high society life the Claybournes enjoy. But instead of a glittery lifestyle, she finds a crumbling manor house and a darkness that soon threatens to consume her as well. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to prove herself to Violet’s sisters when tragedy strikes?

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“Happy Place” by Emily Henry

Title: Happy Place
Author: Emily Henry
Publisher: Berkley
Year: 2023
Genre(s): romance, contemporary
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club Pick

Summary: Six friends – Harriet, Wynn, Sabrina, Parth, Cleo and Kimmy – arrive in Maine for their annual summer vacation. It will be their last year there as Sabrina’s family is selling the house in Maine. And while they are there, she and Parth plan to get married. As everyone prepares for the wedding, Harriet and Wynn have to hide a big secret from their friends – they called off their own engagement and broke up six months earlier. Can they make it through the week? Or will they lose their Happy Place forever?

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“The Lost Bookshop” by Evie Woods

Title: The Lost Bookshop
Author: Evie Woods
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year: 2023
Genre(s): historical fiction, contemporary 
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Recommendation from Storygraph

Summary: Escaping an arranged marriage and a tyrannical brother, Opaline eventually finds refuge in a store that seems to be alive. Years later, Henry goes on a quest to find the store and encounters Martha, who is reclaiming her life after leaving her abusive husband. Their stories entwine into a beautiful mosaic that hopefully leads to their happy endings.

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“The Daughters of Foxcote Manor” by Eve Chase

Title: The Daughters of Foxcote Manor    
Author: Eve Chase 
Publisher: Penguin
Year: 2020
Genre(s): historical fiction, contemporary 
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Sylvie is learning that when it rains, it pours. As she navigates through several family emergencies, she realizes she needs to finally confront her past. It leads her to a property once called Foxcote Manor, where in 1971, Rita arrives with Mrs. Harrington and her children for the summer after a family tragedy. But another one may loom when a baby is found in the woods and an dangerous visitor arrives. The events of that summer reverberate and affect Sylvie’s present and future.

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“The Family Inside” by Katie Garner

Title: The Family Inside
Author: Katie Garner
Publisher: Mira
Year: 2025
Genre(s): suspense
Part of a Series: No

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Facing eviction, Iris accepts her boyfriend’s invitation to move in with him. He has moved back to his family’s home as he renovates it. Iris and her teenage daughter Ellory struggle to fit in with his family and Ellory ends up running away. Worried about her daughter, Iris realizes that she is not safe in the house as dark secrets start to come to light. Will she ever find out the truth…or will blood prove to be thicker? 

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“Queen of Snow” by Laura Burton and Jessie Cal

Title: Queen of Snow
Author: Laura Burton and Jessie Cal 
Publisher: Self-published
Year: 2021
Genre(s): fantasy, romantasy
Part of a Series: Yes, Book #1.

Why I read it: Saw it recommended on Facebook and was intrigued by a Beauty and the Beast/Man in the Iron Mask combo. But realized it was part of a series so decided to start with Book #1.

Summary: After his grandfather’s death, Jack falls through a mirror in his study and ends up in the Chanted Forest. There he befriends Aria, a young woman with magical ice powers and who is running from her evil stepmother, the Queen. Jack teams up with her to try to get back home but will he realize that maybe he’s already there?

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