No Whisk, No Reward, an all new romantic comedy with twists and turns from Ellie Kay, is available now!
How do you know if a risk is worth taking? If you knew, there wouldn’t be any risk.
Following a disastrous appearance on a televised baking show, Sophie Copeland is certain things can’t get any worse. Several calamities later, Sophie finds herself in Green Valley, Tennessee with no plan, no place to stay, and no prospects. But at least she has a temporary seasonal arrangement with the famed Donner Bakery. And that's something, right?
It's not permanent, and it's not a home, but it's still something.
Enter Joel Barnes, a Green Valley mystery, wrapped in rumors, and a whispered connection to the local notorious biker gang. Joel’s got a name for being bad news, but he also has an apartment for rent.
Intrigued by the dichotomy of Joel’s reputation and sexy southern pull, Sophie can’t help but be tempted, even though she knows—given her (bad) luck—she should stay far, far away. . .
Yet as everyone knows, without risk, there’s no reward.
'No Whisk, No Reward' is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#3 in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
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Review:
3 stars
***
No Whisk, No Reward is the third book in the Donner Bakery series, which is a spin off of the Winston Brothers series by Penny Reid and part of the Smartypants Romance world. This book was kind of a mixed bag for me. This is Sophie and Joel's book. Sophie is a pastry chef. She recently appeared on a TV pastry competition show (think Gordan Ramsey), on which she failed spectacularly and was humiliated. As a result, she was fired from her actual pastry chef job afterwards and has found herself adrift. So she decides to drive across the country to Boston from Seattle, to where her best friend lives to help her open a bakery. But, fate has other plans. Along her drive, her car breaks down in Green Valley, Tennessee. While stuck for a few days waiting for her car to be fixed, she explores the town and, eventually, decides to take a temporary job at the Donner Bakery for a few months. She also meets Joel, who is a mysterious guy who rents her a room. They become friends and eventually begin a relationship.
This is the first book I have read by Ellie Kay and I think it is her first book published. While I applaud her for her bravery and effort, the writing felt a little amateurish and unpolished. Some of the dialogue felt silly and unnecessary. There was not a ton of character depth. Joel had very little personality. Sophie was supposed to be cute and quirky, but I found her clumsiness, awkwardness and odd personality annoying. I didn't really enjoy her fascination with Paul Newman (and the way she "conversed" with him). There was hardly any chemistry between the couple. I think the book is supposed to be slow burn, but I didn't feel any burn. I didn't like the way Joel pushed Sophie away, and without much discussion, they get back together at the very end. Also, there was a lot of page time for Penny Reid's characters, especially Jennifer and Cletus Winston. But I didn't find them to be much like the original characters that Penny wrote. I also found Tempest, a character from the second book in the series, Stud Muffin, to be completely different than her book, as well.
As it was, I considered not finishing this book, but I did stick with it and I enjoyed it a bit more by the end. I did like the story in general. I do think this was a pretty good try for a first book, even if I didn't totally love it. I am still enjoying the Smartypants Romance books and look forward to reading more of them in the future.
That’s when I saw Joel sitting alone in a booth by a large window, eating a sandwich, and reading a newspaper.
Oh. Hello, conflicted feelings. You’re looking extra conflicting today. Did you do something with your hair?
His gorgeous brown hair was a mess and the sleeves of his gray shirt were pushed up revealing his forearms which looked even thicker than I remembered them being, as he worked to fold the gigantic pages of the newspaper into neat manageable folds.
This man was seriously hotter than a melting ice-cream analogy.
And also, possibly involved with a crime organization! I reminded myself as I continued to stand uselessly trying to find somewhere to sit.
I tried not to stare, but it was impossible not to smile at the indelicate way he shoved the corner of his sandwich into his mouth and then proceeded to chew as though it might try to escape.
He picked up his coffee and was mid-sip when his eyes rose up from the rim of his cup and saw me standing by the entrance staring at him.
Busted.
“Take a seat wherever you can find one, hon, I’ll be along shortly to take your order,” a lady with a nameplate that read Janice, instructed me as she hurried by with a tray of coffee and doughnuts.
I looked back over at Joel who was watching me and gestured to the empty seat across from his.
My mind immediately went to Joy and Tempest’s reaction when they found out he was my landlord, but I quickly reminded myself that he’d done nothing to warrant any rudeness on my part.
Despite their apprehension, I figured this was a good opportunity to try and get more insight into whether I thought their response carried any weight.
Plus, I really needed coffee.
I made my way over, feeling his eyes on me as I crisscrossed around tables while trying to be ever vigilant of any sudden movements from other patrons.
My good sense will not be thwarted by your blue-green eyes and frowny brows, you magnificent biker beast.
“Good afternoon,” he greeted in a smooth as hot honey drawl. I was glad that I was already halfway into the seat because I felt my knees completely give out.
Traitor knees.
My armor of detachedness was not as hefty as I’d hoped.
“Taking a break from work?” I inquired, proud of my cool, even tone.
“Yep, just grabbing something to eat. You?”
“I’m done for today,” I replied reaching for a menu and unfolding it as though it were just as informative as his newspaper.
“Nice. Got any plans?”
“Not really, I was going to check out the bookstore downstairs, but that’s about—”
I was interrupted by the feeling of fingers gently stroking my cheek and looked up to find him reaching across the table, his eyes focused on a spot as he gently swiped at something on my face.
“Sorry, you got flour or something on your cheek it was driving me crazy,” he said before pulling away and leaning back coolly against his seat.
I’m gonna get thwarted, aren’t I?
This is the first book I have read by Ellie Kay and I think it is her first book published. While I applaud her for her bravery and effort, the writing felt a little amateurish and unpolished. Some of the dialogue felt silly and unnecessary. There was not a ton of character depth. Joel had very little personality. Sophie was supposed to be cute and quirky, but I found her clumsiness, awkwardness and odd personality annoying. I didn't really enjoy her fascination with Paul Newman (and the way she "conversed" with him). There was hardly any chemistry between the couple. I think the book is supposed to be slow burn, but I didn't feel any burn. I didn't like the way Joel pushed Sophie away, and without much discussion, they get back together at the very end. Also, there was a lot of page time for Penny Reid's characters, especially Jennifer and Cletus Winston. But I didn't find them to be much like the original characters that Penny wrote. I also found Tempest, a character from the second book in the series, Stud Muffin, to be completely different than her book, as well.
As it was, I considered not finishing this book, but I did stick with it and I enjoyed it a bit more by the end. I did like the story in general. I do think this was a pretty good try for a first book, even if I didn't totally love it. I am still enjoying the Smartypants Romance books and look forward to reading more of them in the future.
Excerpt
About Ellie Kay
Ellie Kay is an Australian born living in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada who honed her creative writing skills in the colorful, and imaginative world of Corporate Insurance.
Socially awkward, she loves to respond to theatre ticket vendors who say, “enjoy the movie” with, “Thanks, you too,”, but she also likes to cook, travel and spend time with her partner and cat Taako.
Ellie is on a mission to help change the stigma surrounding the Romance genre and hopes to see a day when they are no longer considered “guilty pleasures,” but rather, just a pleasure.
Connect with Ellie Kay
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