FAKE IT TILL YOU BAKE IT – Jamie Wesley
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN: 978-1-250-80185-2
June 21, 2022
Romantic Comedy

San Diego, California – Present Day

Jada Townsend-Matthews became the most hated woman in America after she turned down the marriage proposal from the bachelor star on a reality show. She has been keeping a low profile—and trying to avoid social media—but with her twenty-sixth birthday almost here, she needs to find a job to appease her grandmother, who holds the purse strings on Jada’s trust fund. Her grandmother owns the San Diego NFL football team and the team’s star defensive end owns a cupcake bakery, so it is decreed that Jada work there. The problem is that Jada is all too familiar with the cupcake shop and its owner, Donovan Dell. She recently went into the bakery and insulted Donovan’s business. Now she has to spend the coming months working for him.

Donovan doesn’t really want Jada working for him, but since there are delicate contract negotiations going on to extend his football contract, he can’t tell the owner no. He figures he can put Jada out front at the counter and she will do little damage, but it doesn’t stop him from watching her. Jada has her ups and downs, yet also has some good ideas, even if they do clash occasionally. But one day, a customer recognizes Jada from the TV show and asks if Donovan is the man that she claimed on the show finale was the reason why she couldn’t accept the marriage proposal. Jada, in a panic, turns to Donovan and kisses him.

With the rumor going strong that Jada and Donovan are romantically involved, the bakery, called Sugar Blitz, takes off. People come in to gawk at both Jada and Donovan, as well as buy lots of cupcakes. Donovan decides he likes the idea of pretending to be Jada’s boyfriend. But soon, fake becomes reality. They’re attracted to each other. As soon as Jada gets her hands on her trust fund she will be gone. Can Donovan convince her to stick around? How will their relationship affect his future with the football team?

FAKE IT TILL YOU BAKE IT is a funny and romantic tale about a man and woman who are polar opposites, yet still manage to fall in love. Donovan grew up in a family struggling with poverty and he used his football skills to parlay it into a lucrative NFL career. He’s always enjoyed baking cupcakes, so with two fellow football teammates, they opened Sugar Blitz. However, the business is now struggling a little bit. Enter Jada, who is from a wealthy family. She has struggled to “find herself” and is willing to do what it takes to access her trust fund when she turns twenty-six. Even if it means working with the surly (and decidedly attractive) Donovan. Despite their battles with each other, their sexual chemistry soars off the charts. But can it lead to more than a fling? Things are not so easy for them on their road to a happily-ever-after. Will they succeed—or will their differences derail their romance?

An intriguing and fun premise makes FAKE IT TILL YOU BAKE IT a must read for lovers of romantic comedy. Don’t miss this enjoyable tale.

Patti Fischer