Don’t Go Baking My Heart took me on an ride, but I ended up loving it. At one point in this grumpy sunshine romance, I was stressed out and considering abandoning the book because it was hitting on some of my particular anxieties. I decided to trust the author, kept going, and was rewarded with a sweet and kind romance.
Reba has pink hair and loves wigs, glitter, rainbows and fun. Devon is focused on work, his schedule, his plans and his lists. He does risk assessments before he makes decisions. He has a list of qualities he wants in his life partner. His last girlfriend reacted badly when she found out about the list, so Devon has a clue that there’s a problem, but he isn’t sure what it is. Reba isn’t interested in commitment because she anticipates that her partner will try to tone her down. She really enjoys poking at and teasing Devon. Devon does not appreciate the poking and teasing. He wouldn’t have anything to do with Reba if his boss hadn’t let it be known that he needs to participate in a company bake-off.
Devon was initially hard to like. He spent a lot of time underestimating Reba and judging her exactly the way she expected him to judge her. But there were little moments, cracks in his armor, when his soft interior came through. By the end of the book I was rooting for the two of them. Devon will always be a little uptight and goal focused, but he also has the confidence in himself to let Reba be her glitter rainbow self. Reba was wonderfully complex – confident in her own self, but braced for rejection from others. She delighted in Devon’s discomfort, but was cautious about pushing his so far he became anxious.
One of the things Peltier has done in the two books I’ve read is end with a solid Happy for Now for her couple. It feels honest and hopeful. It feels like their romance hasn’t ended with the book. Cherisse and Reba are people who are going to insist that their partners keep working for them, and they deserve that. The cover by Leni Kaufman is gorgeous and inviting, and so is the book. I’m already looking forward to the net book in the series.
I received this as an advance reader copy from the author. My opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
