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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
WARNING - Gunnar Erickson will ruin you for future heroes. He's just so perfect! So sweet, so caring, so patient, so wonderful....so everything! Stud Muffin was one of my favorite books in 2019 and when we first met Gunnar, I was so hopeful that he would get his own story. And, it was even better than I dreamed!
Frankie reminds me of a hedgehog: super cute and a little prickly! But, if you know just how to handle her, she will love you forever. And boy oh boy does Gunnar know how to handle her!
Beef Cake is a slow burn, sweet, small town romance. But, it isn't all fluff. (Don't get me wrong, I love fluff. I'm a fan of all fluff!) There is a pretty serious domestic violence storyline that weaves through the book. It can be pretty unsettling so be warned, but not warned away - it's a great story. There is hope and humor and kindness and love truly conquers all.
You should absolutely download it TODAY!
An advance copy of this book was received. Receipt of this copy did not impact the content or independence of this review. BFF Book Blog also uses a set of icon ratings. This book received additional icons for: butterflies, character development, hero, heroine, romance, supporting characters, sweet and world creation!
Frankie reminds me of a hedgehog: super cute and a little prickly! But, if you know just how to handle her, she will love you forever. And boy oh boy does Gunnar know how to handle her!
Beef Cake is a slow burn, sweet, small town romance. But, it isn't all fluff. (Don't get me wrong, I love fluff. I'm a fan of all fluff!) There is a pretty serious domestic violence storyline that weaves through the book. It can be pretty unsettling so be warned, but not warned away - it's a great story. There is hope and humor and kindness and love truly conquers all.
You should absolutely download it TODAY!
An advance copy of this book was received. Receipt of this copy did not impact the content or independence of this review. BFF Book Blog also uses a set of icon ratings. This book received additional icons for: butterflies, character development, hero, heroine, romance, supporting characters, sweet and world creation!
I’m loving these Smartypants Romances! Jiffy Kate did a fab job of blending their story into the Green Valley setting. Beef Cake has the perfect amount of drama, angst, and Iron Wraiths suspense. Not to mention the sizzling chemistry between Gunner—what an awesome guy—and Frankie. Both characters are very well written. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
A swoony love story that starts with a beautifully gentle slow chase
I just loved the way Gunnar gently, lovingly, and beautifully helped Frankie come out of her self-imposed prison and begin to live. Gunnar and Frankie’s love story has a little bit of everything - sweet moments, swoons, semi-dangerous moments, painful pasts, family moments, and even some chuckles. Expect to feel all the things - fear, love, anger, redemption, tears, joy, and so much all encompassing, nurturing, protective love. The dance between Gunnar and Frankie was so beautifully choreographed that the emotions it evokes in the reader were a natural extension of the words on the page. On their way to their HEA, Frankie has to come to terms with the darkness in her past in order to embrace a beautiful life. This was at its core a heart warming story about love, loss, family, and damaged but not broken people. And while most of us will never be in the situations the main characters are a part of, the author nevertheless makes who they are as people so relatable and real that it is easy to fall in love with them. I cannot wait to hear what happens for the next Erickson brother.
I just loved the way Gunnar gently, lovingly, and beautifully helped Frankie come out of her self-imposed prison and begin to live. Gunnar and Frankie’s love story has a little bit of everything - sweet moments, swoons, semi-dangerous moments, painful pasts, family moments, and even some chuckles. Expect to feel all the things - fear, love, anger, redemption, tears, joy, and so much all encompassing, nurturing, protective love. The dance between Gunnar and Frankie was so beautifully choreographed that the emotions it evokes in the reader were a natural extension of the words on the page. On their way to their HEA, Frankie has to come to terms with the darkness in her past in order to embrace a beautiful life. This was at its core a heart warming story about love, loss, family, and damaged but not broken people. And while most of us will never be in the situations the main characters are a part of, the author nevertheless makes who they are as people so relatable and real that it is easy to fall in love with them. I cannot wait to hear what happens for the next Erickson brother.
This book is a heavy hitter (MMA pun intended). The heartache kept it strong, I read it a long time ago and just did it again before reading the newest release in the series.
Beef Cake is the next in the Donner Bakery series and SmartyPants Romance releases! This one features Frankie, an ER nurse who takes care of patients, her mom, abused women in a shelter, and in between all of that, fixes up members of the Iron Wraiths in exchange for information about her father.
Gunnar is the next MMA star – and is currently training with his brother Cage (from Stud Muffin). Gunnar meets Frankie when he’s brought into the ER by his brother, but she’s not impressed by his good looks, sexy charm, or his muscles. Not at all. Nope.
The two dance around each other and you soon discover why she’s afraid to get involved with him, and the ties she has to the shelter, and is freaking out about his MMA fighting.
This was another fun read, and while I’m new to the writing of Jiffy Kate and haven’t read their books before entering the PennyVerse / Smarty Pants Romance group, I’m absolutely a fan!
Gunnar is the next MMA star – and is currently training with his brother Cage (from Stud Muffin). Gunnar meets Frankie when he’s brought into the ER by his brother, but she’s not impressed by his good looks, sexy charm, or his muscles. Not at all. Nope.
The two dance around each other and you soon discover why she’s afraid to get involved with him, and the ties she has to the shelter, and is freaking out about his MMA fighting.
This was another fun read, and while I’m new to the writing of Jiffy Kate and haven’t read their books before entering the PennyVerse / Smarty Pants Romance group, I’m absolutely a fan!
I'm conflicted with my thoughts on this book. It was okay. It mostly kept my attention.
This book touched on a couple of good topics like domestic violence, shelters, etc. It didn't go too deep into the heavy topics, but gave just enough for the big picture to seen and understood.
I had a hard time connecting with these characters though. I couldn't feel any chemistry between them. I liked them both, but as a couple there was something missing for me.
I'm still over here trying to figure out why this is part of the Donner Bakery series. The three previous books centered around a character that worked at the bakery. This one did not. The characters are connected to the bakery through other people. There wasn't even a scene at the bakery. That really threw me off. It's not a big deal, just confusing.
Overall, this was a good book. It just didn't win me over like the previous books did. I wish I could put my finger on what was missing for me.
This book touched on a couple of good topics like domestic violence, shelters, etc. It didn't go too deep into the heavy topics, but gave just enough for the big picture to seen and understood.
I had a hard time connecting with these characters though. I couldn't feel any chemistry between them. I liked them both, but as a couple there was something missing for me.
I'm still over here trying to figure out why this is part of the Donner Bakery series. The three previous books centered around a character that worked at the bakery. This one did not. The characters are connected to the bakery through other people. There wasn't even a scene at the bakery. That really threw me off. It's not a big deal, just confusing.
Overall, this was a good book. It just didn't win me over like the previous books did. I wish I could put my finger on what was missing for me.
Frankie Reeves and Gunnar Erickson are pretty much on opposite ends of the feelings spectrum. Gunnar is from a boisterous and tight-knit family, and he knows that someone will always have his back. He tells things like he sees them, and doesn't hesitate to go after what he wants. And, yep, he wants Frankie.
Frankie's past has made her guarded, and somewhat of a loner, but even she is not immune to the new Erickson in town. Gunnar sees how hard it is for Frankie to trust, and lets her take her time to warm up to him. He's a true gem, loving and patient, and the perfect foil for Frankie. Gunnar is the sun to Frankie's moon. Where Gunnar is bright and open, Frankie is serious and solitary. But he's used to working hard to achieve his goals, and when he sets his sights on Frankie, Gunnar is going all out.
Being my first read from Jiffy Kate, I had high hopes for BEEF CAKE, and it did not disappoint. The ladies have written a book both romantic and gritty, no mean feat when I think about it. This is the perfect addition to the Smartypants catalog, and I look forward to reading more books by these talented authors. ❤️
If you liked Claire/Scarlet's story and are prepared for a difficult read, you'll appreciate this book. Beef Cake deals heavily with family trauma and abuse, and particularly violence against women. It's not an easy romance read and it certainly won't be for everyone!
Toxic masculinity and violence are central to the story here. Our female lead Frankie has been traumatised by violence and subsequently gives a lot of her time to women's shelters. Her unlikely love interest Gunnar just happens to be a professional athlete who engages in violence regularly for sport. Their relationship could so easily go wrong but it doesn't.
Gunnar is supportive, communicative, and asks all the right questions, but ultimately respects boundaries. He tries to break down the heroine's walls but without being invasive, and when she needs space to heal on her own he provides that. While there's a plotline linking MMA to a women's shelter that sounds preposterous in theory, it's handled pretty deftly and with respect.
This book would be a damn mess if it were written by a man, but it's handled with empathy, care, and understanding.
I just wish it were a bit longer to really flesh out Frankie's story and tie up some loose ends with her mother. The subject matter gets really heavy toward the end, and I wanted a bit more time to sit with these characters and let them heal. I hope we get to see them further down the track!
Toxic masculinity and violence are central to the story here. Our female lead Frankie has been traumatised by violence and subsequently gives a lot of her time to women's shelters. Her unlikely love interest Gunnar just happens to be a professional athlete who engages in violence regularly for sport. Their relationship could so easily go wrong but it doesn't.
Gunnar is supportive, communicative, and asks all the right questions, but ultimately respects boundaries. He tries to break down the heroine's walls but without being invasive, and when she needs space to heal on her own he provides that. While there's a plotline linking MMA to a women's shelter that sounds preposterous in theory, it's handled pretty deftly and with respect.
This book would be a damn mess if it were written by a man, but it's handled with empathy, care, and understanding.
I just wish it were a bit longer to really flesh out Frankie's story and tie up some loose ends with her mother. The subject matter gets really heavy toward the end, and I wanted a bit more time to sit with these characters and let them heal. I hope we get to see them further down the track!
honestly where did their chemistry, infatuation, romance, etc. come from?? too much insta love for me & very few productive conversations