Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Every book in this series reminds me so much of “Hope Floats.” The drama, love, family... everything. Green valley Tennessee is officially my new favorite place and where I want to raise my kids and grow old. Ok, Gunner Erickson and Frankie Reeves, wow. I envision Gunner as Bjorn from Vikings but as this amazing, understanding, and warm beautiful man that wears his heart on his sleeve. Frankie is a stark contrast from Gunner. She’s clinical, logical, and a creature of habit. Jiffy Kate did a beautiful job capturing childhood PTSD and it’s long term effects on victims. Gunner really is a special person to be able to recognize the internal turmoil this woman was experiencing and give her the space and time she needed to adapt and overcome her emotion. Beautiful Broken but loved fiercely in spite of those imperfections. This story was beautiful and I wish it didn’t have to end. An absolute must read ❤️❤️
3.25 stars. Quickie review: This was only okay for me. The writing was very good and the characters were nice and layered. There was an interesting story. Gunnar was sweet and fell for Frankie at first sight. I didn't love her though. She was too closed off. They had no chemistry and the book was too slow moving, which left me feeling bored at times. I never felt the love between the couple.
4.5 Stars
This is book 4 in the Donner Bakery series and one that had me hooked right from the beginning. I love Gunner. He is prime yummy hero material. I loved watching him with Frankie. She needs someone like him in her corner. She keeps emotion inside and no attachments, but Gunner is going to slowly pick away at her walls. This book has plenty heart and humor, but it also has action and suspense elements. This is a story you don't want to miss. It will be hard to put this one down. One of my favorite parts of the book is the healing and blossoming Frankie does in the book. It made my heart so happy for her. She deserves an HEA.
This is book 4 in the Donner Bakery series and one that had me hooked right from the beginning. I love Gunner. He is prime yummy hero material. I loved watching him with Frankie. She needs someone like him in her corner. She keeps emotion inside and no attachments, but Gunner is going to slowly pick away at her walls. This book has plenty heart and humor, but it also has action and suspense elements. This is a story you don't want to miss. It will be hard to put this one down. One of my favorite parts of the book is the healing and blossoming Frankie does in the book. It made my heart so happy for her. She deserves an HEA.
Disappointing...I quite enjoyed Stud Muffin, but I found this one too insta love, too much kitsch and the writing not as good.
I got about half way through the book, skipped to the last two chapter and decided it wasn't worth going back to finish.
I got about half way through the book, skipped to the last two chapter and decided it wasn't worth going back to finish.
At least it was better than book #3 in the series and I actually managed to finish this one.
I enjoyed the previous Jiffy Kate effort so this book was a bit of a let down. It felt very rushed and 'clinical'. The love story felt forced and I couldn't connect to the characters.
Taking a break from the Donner Bakery series for a while.
I enjoyed the previous Jiffy Kate effort so this book was a bit of a let down. It felt very rushed and 'clinical'. The love story felt forced and I couldn't connect to the characters.
Taking a break from the Donner Bakery series for a while.
I love the every growing Green Valley TN families. I loved getting more from the men of Viking MMA. There was a mystery around Frankie that kept me reading. She was closed off in the beginning. It was wonderful reading how Gunnar pealed back her layers. I really enjoyed seeing them come together and work through the trials. Great book!
Beef Cake
After reading “Stud Muffin” by Jiffy Kate, I didn’t think anyone could top Cage Erickson. And those girls said “hold my beer” and here we are. (That being said- you do not need to have read “Stud Muffin” to enjoy “Beef Cake”.)
I honestly could not settle on a quote, because a quarter of my book is highlighted. There were so many poignant thoughts and it was just a truly beautiful story of a woman finding herself and a man who supports her and is exactly what she needs. Frankie and Gunnar made each other better, and watching their relationship was altogether touching and heartbreaking yet encouraging. There were moments where the emotions overwhelmed me and I had to wipe the tears away at the bravery of our heroine. And the Hero was right there, whether she needed his presence or space. I think it’s a really special thing for an author(s) to convey emotions so significantly without resorting to to many ‘difficult to read’ details.
This review is purposefully vague, because it needs to be... just go, read this book.
After reading “Stud Muffin” by Jiffy Kate, I didn’t think anyone could top Cage Erickson. And those girls said “hold my beer” and here we are. (That being said- you do not need to have read “Stud Muffin” to enjoy “Beef Cake”.)
I honestly could not settle on a quote, because a quarter of my book is highlighted. There were so many poignant thoughts and it was just a truly beautiful story of a woman finding herself and a man who supports her and is exactly what she needs. Frankie and Gunnar made each other better, and watching their relationship was altogether touching and heartbreaking yet encouraging. There were moments where the emotions overwhelmed me and I had to wipe the tears away at the bravery of our heroine. And the Hero was right there, whether she needed his presence or space. I think it’s a really special thing for an author(s) to convey emotions so significantly without resorting to to many ‘difficult to read’ details.
This review is purposefully vague, because it needs to be... just go, read this book.
Five Big, Beefy Stars
My goodness this book!
Days after finishing Beef Cake, I was still feeling a hangover from it. This book had depth that surprised me. It's the story of Gunnar, an MMA fighter, and Frankie, a nurse who is so opposed to violence it makes her physically ill. The two meet when Gunnar ends up in Frankie's ER. It's something akin to love at first sight for him, but she takes quite a bit of convincing.
While Gunnar is a perfect, swoon-worthy boyfriend, Frankie is more complex. She has layers. As I read, I felt like Donkey peeling back Shrek's layers - and based on the tears in my eyes, they were layers like an onion, not a parfait.
A couple of notes to fellow readers to help manage expectations:
1. A few scenes in this book were tough to read - tougher for me than 'Beard With Me' by Penny Reid.
2. Despite being billed as 'Donner Bakery Book 4,' we do not visit the bakery in this book. While we see Tempest and Cage again, this book could easily be recoined 'A Viking MMA Novel' or something similar. However, it's an excellent story on its own.
Audio on Authors Direct: http://bit.ly/2x3fpdf
Audio on iTunes: https://apple.co/3a1u3A4
Audio on Google Play: http://bit.ly/2UeMWZJ
Audio on Kobo: http://bit.ly/2WnjXWm
Audio on Nook: http://bit.ly/2wekK1b
** OTHER LINKS **
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/38ipiAU
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/364MzVJ
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/30tZjUD
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2FX2D15
My goodness this book!
Days after finishing Beef Cake, I was still feeling a hangover from it. This book had depth that surprised me. It's the story of Gunnar, an MMA fighter, and Frankie, a nurse who is so opposed to violence it makes her physically ill. The two meet when Gunnar ends up in Frankie's ER. It's something akin to love at first sight for him, but she takes quite a bit of convincing.
While Gunnar is a perfect, swoon-worthy boyfriend, Frankie is more complex. She has layers. As I read, I felt like Donkey peeling back Shrek's layers - and based on the tears in my eyes, they were layers like an onion, not a parfait.
A couple of notes to fellow readers to help manage expectations:
1. A few scenes in this book were tough to read - tougher for me than 'Beard With Me' by Penny Reid.
2. Despite being billed as 'Donner Bakery Book 4,' we do not visit the bakery in this book. While we see Tempest and Cage again, this book could easily be recoined 'A Viking MMA Novel' or something similar. However, it's an excellent story on its own.
Audio on Authors Direct: http://bit.ly/2x3fpdf
Audio on iTunes: https://apple.co/3a1u3A4
Audio on Google Play: http://bit.ly/2UeMWZJ
Audio on Kobo: http://bit.ly/2WnjXWm
Audio on Nook: http://bit.ly/2wekK1b
** OTHER LINKS **
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/38ipiAU
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/364MzVJ
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/30tZjUD
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2FX2D15
I fell immediately in love with these characters. Frankie is very much a heroine who I can relate to and Gunnar is a hero we all want. Jiffy Kate has done it again and I cannot wait for more Erickson books and I just want everyone to read this book.
I knew this was going to be good after their last book in the Smartypants Romance world but man oh man these ladies did it again and somehow got even better?!?
Guunar is the little brother of Cage who we meet in their first book and comes to help him out with the new studio and to training under him. They meet Frankie when they go to the ER and she is his nurse. She hates violence and he is a MMA fighter. We get Green Valley community with those yummy Jelly donuts, the community near GV, and the MC.
Jiffy Kate do a wonderful job of having serious issues of abuse, domestic violence, and MC culture but also have humor and witty comments throughout the whole book. The do a wonderful job of balance and blending. I love these two writing and like I said I think it got even better with this one. The fully developed characters and slow burn of their relationship was just perfect that fit the commitment issues from Frankie and her past (which we also learn about with her).
The only thing I wish there was more Donner Bakery characters in this book, I wanted some of the other books to come into play. But this is a great book to kick off the second round of Smartypants Romance books!
Overall, 5 stars and 3 steams!
Thank you so much SmartyPants Romance and Jiffy Kate for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Guunar is the little brother of Cage who we meet in their first book and comes to help him out with the new studio and to training under him. They meet Frankie when they go to the ER and she is his nurse. She hates violence and he is a MMA fighter. We get Green Valley community with those yummy Jelly donuts, the community near GV, and the MC.
Jiffy Kate do a wonderful job of having serious issues of abuse, domestic violence, and MC culture but also have humor and witty comments throughout the whole book. The do a wonderful job of balance and blending. I love these two writing and like I said I think it got even better with this one. The fully developed characters and slow burn of their relationship was just perfect that fit the commitment issues from Frankie and her past (which we also learn about with her).
The only thing I wish there was more Donner Bakery characters in this book, I wanted some of the other books to come into play. But this is a great book to kick off the second round of Smartypants Romance books!
Overall, 5 stars and 3 steams!
Thank you so much SmartyPants Romance and Jiffy Kate for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.