Book Review: Baking it Merry by Samantha Chase

4⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Setting ~ North Carolina
Publication date ~ November 19, 2024
Publisher ~ Dreamscape Media
Est Page Count ~ 237 (12 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 6 hours
Narrator ~ Melanie Mendez
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, enemies to lovers, no steamage

My review:

Daphne & Tristan
Daphne’s dream is to open up her own bakery, but in the meantime while she gets enough cash she puts up a pop up bakery in an office building in November and December.

A certain someone, aka “Grinchy Grincherson”, is not too thrilled that his building hosts these pop ups every year. They are just so tacky, especially the one that looks like a gingerbread house. But when he needs a caterer for some holiday parties last minute he has no choice but to ask Daphne to help. And then he’s asking her for more help when his mom assumes they are together, so she pretends to be his girlfriend.

The grump/sunshine and enemies tropes were well done. I almost thought I was never going to warm up to Tristan, but he eventually won me over. Daphne is full on sunshine all the time, but when she’s upset she’s not afraid to show it. The support of her parents was phenomenal.

Overall, a cute, festive read that’ll satisfy your sweet tooth if you have one, if not then you might just develop one. This totally gives Hallmarky vibes.

Narration notes:
Another dual POV with only one narrator, grrr. I’ve listened to many of Samantha’s books, so I just know it’s how it always is, but this was someone new. Overall, she did fine, but I wasn’t overly in love with her voice.

Add to your never ending TBR ~ goodreads

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve read it.

Book blurb:

A Small Town, Enemies to Lovers, Holiday Romance from New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Chase

Everyone in the building loved the bake shop a lot.
Except for the guy on the top floor, who most certainly did not.
If it were up to him, there wouldn’t be a hint of Christmas in the building.

For two months out of the year, Daphne Noelle got to live her dream of owning a bakery. Her little pop-up bake shop—one that looked just like a gingerbread house—brought joy to every customer who stopped by to enjoy her sweet treats. She loved meeting people and making them smile, and being in such a festive setting every day was just the icing on the cake! For the last three years, everything had gone smoothly, but this year, there was one guy who was determined to ruin it all.

One of the things Tristan appreciated most about the office complex where his architecture firm was located is how upscale and elegant it was. Unfortunately, every year for eight long weeks, a holiday shop set up in the lobby, turning it into the equivalent of a traveling circus, and the bake shop booth was the worst offender. The giant gingerbread house was an eyesore and the woman running it was too cheery for his liking. This year, he was determined to do everything he could to have her and her booth removed.

When Tristan finds himself in the middle of a delicate family situation, only Daphne can help him. Now, he’ll have to beg and plead and promise to be on his best behavior while dealing with her exuberant holiday joy. But the more time he spends with her—and the more awkward situations she saves him from—he begins to realize there’s more to her than over-the-top holiday cheer. And maybe, when you’re with the right person, Christmas can mean a little bit more.

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