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The Romance Bride #1
The Baker's Bride
Ruth’s beau died - simply because he was a slave.
She is determined to help other enslaved people as she assists with the Underground Railroad. Recently freed and illiterate, Ruth is hired to bake mouth-watering delicious bread in a Philadelphia bakery. Her boss Joseph is kind, handsome, and determined to put an end to slavery. She feels emotionally connected to him as they work together for a common cause. His presence is like a fresh splash of spring rain on her parched soul.
However, Joseph has plans. He’s determined to make some major changes in his life. He desperately wants to escape from his overbearing mother and leave the family business behind forever. As his mother tries to match him with beautiful Francine, an upper-class Black woman, he feels trapped and unhappy.
As he pursues his dreams – can he convince Ruth to give him a chance?
Can Ruth open herself up to fall in love again?
The Baker’s Bride is a heartwarming emotional unforgettable historical novella.
Download today!
She is determined to help other enslaved people as she assists with the Underground Railroad. Recently freed and illiterate, Ruth is hired to bake mouth-watering delicious bread in a Philadelphia bakery. Her boss Joseph is kind, handsome, and determined to put an end to slavery. She feels emotionally connected to him as they work together for a common cause. His presence is like a fresh splash of spring rain on her parched soul.
However, Joseph has plans. He’s determined to make some major changes in his life. He desperately wants to escape from his overbearing mother and leave the family business behind forever. As his mother tries to match him with beautiful Francine, an upper-class Black woman, he feels trapped and unhappy.
As he pursues his dreams – can he convince Ruth to give him a chance?
Can Ruth open herself up to fall in love again?
The Baker’s Bride is a heartwarming emotional unforgettable historical novella.
Download today!
120 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2023
150 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Cecelia Dowdy
33 books187 followersLoving Luke (A Christmas Novella)(Cookies and Kisses):http://amzn.to/1LjHc3o
Raspberry Kisses
A sweet, charming romance is available to order:
http://amzn.to/1oSyRi3
I'm a Christian fiction author and I'm also a book reviewer. If interested in my novels, you can find them here:
https://www.amazon.com/Cecelia-Dowdy/...
Connect with me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ceceli...
To find out more about me, visit my website and my blogs:
http://ceceliadowdy.com/
http://ceceliadowdy.com/blog/
https://ceceliadowdy.com/category/hal...
Raspberry Kisses
A sweet, charming romance is available to order:
http://amzn.to/1oSyRi3
I'm a Christian fiction author and I'm also a book reviewer. If interested in my novels, you can find them here:
https://www.amazon.com/Cecelia-Dowdy/...
Connect with me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ceceli...
To find out more about me, visit my website and my blogs:
http://ceceliadowdy.com/
http://ceceliadowdy.com/blog/
https://ceceliadowdy.com/category/hal...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 10, 2023
A very “good read”. I enjoyed Ruth’s simplicity and humbleness. For the son to be smitten instantly at such a simple woman was amazing. But when you consider Mr. Adam’s uppity mother and Francine, he saw Ruth as a bright shining ray of hope. I was very pleased with the storyline and the historical imaginings.
December 13, 2023
disappointed
The book is definitely a quick read, but it was predictable. It was definitely clean and wholesome, but,in my opinion, it lacked depth. So much potential with a little more character development.
The book is definitely a quick read, but it was predictable. It was definitely clean and wholesome, but,in my opinion, it lacked depth. So much potential with a little more character development.
July 4, 2025
The Baker’s Bride by Cecelia Dowdy is a heartfelt historical romance that I truly enjoyed. It’s a quick, single-sitting read—perfect for fans of Beverly Jenkins, especially if you’re looking for something shorter and just as rich with feeling. I’m rating it 4 out of 5 stars.
The story follows Ruth, a formerly enslaved woman who gains her freedom after the person who enslaved her dies. She travels to Philadelphia to start a new life and, as a baker who cannot read, applies for a position at a prestigious bakery. There, she uses her senses—especially smell—to navigate the work. She also meets Joseph, the baker’s son, who happens to be an abolitionist helping people escape via the Underground Railroad.
What I loved:
The chemistry and sweet connection between Ruth and Joseph was well-developed, even in such a short format. I appreciated that Joseph had to challenge his mother’s elitist and outdated views—especially her bias against those who had been enslaved, despite her own financial success. Cecelia Dowdy managed to build a compelling world, introduce layered characters, and explore real tension—all within a novella.
There are some soft Christian elements throughout, so keep that in mind if that’s something you’re tracking in your reads.
A beautiful, meaningful read. Definitely recommend for historical romance lovers looking for something tender and quick.
The story follows Ruth, a formerly enslaved woman who gains her freedom after the person who enslaved her dies. She travels to Philadelphia to start a new life and, as a baker who cannot read, applies for a position at a prestigious bakery. There, she uses her senses—especially smell—to navigate the work. She also meets Joseph, the baker’s son, who happens to be an abolitionist helping people escape via the Underground Railroad.
What I loved:
The chemistry and sweet connection between Ruth and Joseph was well-developed, even in such a short format. I appreciated that Joseph had to challenge his mother’s elitist and outdated views—especially her bias against those who had been enslaved, despite her own financial success. Cecelia Dowdy managed to build a compelling world, introduce layered characters, and explore real tension—all within a novella.
There are some soft Christian elements throughout, so keep that in mind if that’s something you’re tracking in your reads.
A beautiful, meaningful read. Definitely recommend for historical romance lovers looking for something tender and quick.
February 3, 2024
An interesting historical fiction set in Pennsylvania just before the Civil War. Joseph and his mother own a bakery in Philadelphia and both are free, wealthy, blacks. Rose is a phenomenal baker who has been freed in Maryland by her slave owner when he died. She has safely made it to Philadelphia and is looking for a job. She can neither read nor write and her speech is not standard English. When she bakes a fruit bread to show Joseph and his mother how great a baker she is, Joseph hires her on the spot against his mother's wishes as she does not think Rose stands up to her standards of a free black.
Will Rose be able to keep her job or will she be kicked to the curb to make it on her own?
This book is a look inside the thoughts and feelings of free blacks who had done well in comparison to those who had escaped or been freed from their slavery. I thought Dowdy did an excellent job of writing about this within the context of the time period.
Will Rose be able to keep her job or will she be kicked to the curb to make it on her own?
This book is a look inside the thoughts and feelings of free blacks who had done well in comparison to those who had escaped or been freed from their slavery. I thought Dowdy did an excellent job of writing about this within the context of the time period.
April 2, 2024
Title: The Bakers Bride
Author: Cecelia Dowdy
Publisher: Divine Desserts Publishing LLC
Series: The Romance Bride Series Book 1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:
"The Baker's Bride" by Cecelia Dowdy
My Thoughts:
'The Baker's Bride' was an excellent novella with a little mystery, history, romance, and scripture during this time of the underground railroad. After all that was said and done, will this story bring together a mother, son, and someone else—the newly hired baker's helper? The mom seemed to have someone else in line for her son to marry, but was that to be now that he had met Ruth? This helper had been placed at this spot at the right time and knew how to bake bread. The secondary characters were interesting in how some helped develop the story to keep the reader turning the pages in this short story.
By the time we got to the end, we were given a heartwarming story of how this underground railroad story ended.
August 20, 2025
Ruth’s beau died - simply because he was a slave.
She is determined to help other enslaved people as she assists with the Underground Railroad. Recently freed and illiterate, Ruth is hired to bake mouth-watering delicious bread in a Philadelphia bakery. Her boss Joseph is kind, handsome, and determined to put an end to slavery. She feels emotionally connected to him as they work together for a common cause. His presence is like a fresh splash of spring rain on her parched soul.
However, Joseph has plans. He’s determined to make some major changes in his life. He desperately wants to escape from his overbearing mother and leave the family business behind forever. As his mother tries to match him with beautiful Francine, an upper-class Black woman, he feels trapped and unhappy.
As he pursues his dreams – can he convince Ruth to give him a chance?
Can Ruth open herself up to fall in love again?
She is determined to help other enslaved people as she assists with the Underground Railroad. Recently freed and illiterate, Ruth is hired to bake mouth-watering delicious bread in a Philadelphia bakery. Her boss Joseph is kind, handsome, and determined to put an end to slavery. She feels emotionally connected to him as they work together for a common cause. His presence is like a fresh splash of spring rain on her parched soul.
However, Joseph has plans. He’s determined to make some major changes in his life. He desperately wants to escape from his overbearing mother and leave the family business behind forever. As his mother tries to match him with beautiful Francine, an upper-class Black woman, he feels trapped and unhappy.
As he pursues his dreams – can he convince Ruth to give him a chance?
Can Ruth open herself up to fall in love again?
April 19, 2024
Heartwarming and Engaging: 'The Bakery Bride' is a delightful blend of history, romance, and redemption. Cecelia Dowdy's characters leap off the page, drawing readers into their world with every turn of the page. Ruth's determination to overcome her past and Joseph's struggle to forge his own path create a narrative that is both relatable and inspiring. Dowdy's clean and Christ-centered approach to storytelling adds depth to this heartwarming novella, making it a perfect choice for readers seeking a feel-good read.
November 22, 2025
I enjoyed reading Joseph and Ruth’s love journey. I like how he was smitten with her from the start and how she stood up for herself showing Joseph and his mother Elizabeth that she was in fact a the best baker that they had ever met. I like that even though Joseph was well off, he had the heart to help the less fortunate, helped with the Underground Railroad, and fell in love with a poor ex-sláve. Francine was just scandalous and it’s weird that I read her book first and was glad that she was humbled.
February 23, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It was a delightful glimpse into the world of free Blacks in Philadelphia just prior to the Civil War. The characters, Ruth and Joseph were very likeable. I admired Ruth's strength and courage as she came north after being recently manumitted from slavery. Joseph cared so much for his mother it tugged on my heartstrings. I love how everything wrapped up in a happily ever after. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
June 20, 2025
What an enjoyable story with a candid look at life in Philadelphia for free blacks or in Ruth's life freedom bestowed after death. I am interested in knowing more history because of the book. A semi historical story with a bit of romance. Interesting the fact of social class discrimination. I enjoy the author's writing as i have read the series, "Bakery Romance" and "Candy Beach". Anticipating the next "The Doctor's Bride".
September 29, 2023
A good Christian read.
Loved the book. A great book for the entire family. As an African American, it's more like a history to me to learn that black people did more than just work the fields.
Loved the book. A great book for the entire family. As an African American, it's more like a history to me to learn that black people did more than just work the fields.
November 18, 2023
Lovely
I enjoyed reading this wholesome clean love story. God will put you in the right spot and the right people around you and your life will change. I recommend this book. Short and sweet.
I enjoyed reading this wholesome clean love story. God will put you in the right spot and the right people around you and your life will change. I recommend this book. Short and sweet.
April 12, 2024
The Baker's Bride
This is an excellent book about a gifted lady and her desire to help end slavery and all the other characters in the book with a happy ending! I would recommend this book for others to read
This is an excellent book about a gifted lady and her desire to help end slavery and all the other characters in the book with a happy ending! I would recommend this book for others to read
June 7, 2024
Inspirational history
Please continue to write clean, wholesome,historical books. These books are uplifting and inspiring. I'm glad you have chosen not show African Americans in positive light with our own unique set of problems and history.
Please continue to write clean, wholesome,historical books. These books are uplifting and inspiring. I'm glad you have chosen not show African Americans in positive light with our own unique set of problems and history.
December 26, 2025
The Baker's Bride
Joseph is a young black man work in in the family bakery with a mother that tries o control him Ruth is an ex slave and he hired her after tasting the bread she baked They helped with the underground railroad and they fell in love
Joseph is a young black man work in in the family bakery with a mother that tries o control him Ruth is an ex slave and he hired her after tasting the bread she baked They helped with the underground railroad and they fell in love
August 20, 2023
The Bakers Bride
I so enjoyed this it was a heart warming story I love stories of the underground railroad I hope you will right more books like this.
I so enjoyed this it was a heart warming story I love stories of the underground railroad I hope you will right more books like this.
December 13, 2023
I still want to know what herbs she was putting in that bread!
March 18, 2024
Wonderful
This was beautifully written. The storyline was realistic, yet it was described clean and Christ based. It's was absolutely refreshing to read this book
This was beautifully written. The storyline was realistic, yet it was described clean and Christ based. It's was absolutely refreshing to read this book
June 4, 2024
A short sweet story
This novella reminds us with prayer and faith, God will do wonderful things in your life. Be patient and prayer for guidance in all things
This novella reminds us with prayer and faith, God will do wonderful things in your life. Be patient and prayer for guidance in all things
July 5, 2024
The Baker's Bride
Good book never read one like this before. I was sure someone was going to get murdered. It had happy ending . read it in one day. Going to read the next one.
Good book never read one like this before. I was sure someone was going to get murdered. It had happy ending . read it in one day. Going to read the next one.
July 29, 2024
nice historical novel
I love historical novels. This was a nice, realistic novel. It’s a quick read as well. Good summer read or vacay read.
I love historical novels. This was a nice, realistic novel. It’s a quick read as well. Good summer read or vacay read.
January 5, 2026
A cute novella. I enjoyed this book. It wasn't sappy and had a good storyline. Wish it would've been longer.
October 2, 2025
A short and heartwarming novella! I really enjoyed this one — the characters were charming, and the storyline was easy to follow but still felt full. Perfect for when you want a quick romance read with a satisfying ending. Loved it! 💕📚
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews