Baking Bree

Recipes for Romance #1

by Sarah West

Drifting through life with no direction, Bree is sick of her dead-end job, her dull boyfriend, and her crappy Boston apartment. But when her grandmother dies in a hang gliding accident, leaving Bree a small fortune and a house, she uses the opportunity to reinvent herself.

Despite her family’s disapproval, and the fact she can’t boil water without a fire extinguisher nearby, Bree enrolls in a culinary course, taught by the dreamy Chef Simon. After a rough start, she is shocked to discover that she is actually enjoying herself…and Simon!

When things start to heat up outside the kitchen, Bree is faced with the difficult task of figuring out what she wants...before it’s too late.

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Humor, Fiction, Food

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 30, 2013

About the author

As a young kid (heck, until I was 21, let’s be honest here), I refused to eat. I was simply the pickiest, most stubborn eater ever, and it’s amazing that I made it this far without succumbing to a horrible disease as a result of my terrible diet. But a stint working as a pantry chef at an Italian restaurant followed by getting my first 9-5 job ever instilled in me the desire to learn how to cook. It seemed like the next logical step in becoming an adult!

My initial attempts were terrible, but I found that with my biggest supporter (hi, mom!) I could take my time figuring out new cooking methods and trying new things. After a few months of experimentation, I came up with the idea to start a blog! In it’s initial stages it was to document my successes and failures as a brand new chef. As time progressed, however, it began to shift into more of an actual food blog, with less failures and more successes.

I am in no way done growing as a chef, and I realize I am still in my infant stages as a blogger, but I hope that this blog encourages many of you to start cooking!

If the girl who lived on spaghettios and cereal for 22 years can try new foods and make some messes in the kitchen, you can too!

Reviews

[Goddess Of Blah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading 60% of this book (the bedroom scenes were unnecessary for this book as it had so much comedy in it - that that alone made it entertaining, but I appreciate many reader require hanky panky).

Comedy:
There are too many hilarious scenes to recount - but a few of my favs (without giving too much away) is a scene at an Art Gallery party where Brie's friend Ray pretends to be Brie's lesbian lover. And another scene where clear references are made against the 50 Shades book - it's laugh out loud funny.
Additionally, the analogy to the breakup film moment was funny too (Brie watches Die Hard after a break up rather than cheesy chick flicks).

Cooking:
I loved reading how Brie learns to cook. That was awesome. Her journey was funny, enjoyable and refreshing to read. That was the best bit about this book. The author manifests Brie's journey of Life via her cooking independence. I also enjoyed reading about the other characters in the cooking school, particularly Mary and her husband. And Christian, the divorced dad learning to cook for his kids (that was a seriously aawwwww moment).

Romance:
The romance was a subplot and pretty ok during the beginning. It's not the high octane, melodramatic and engrossing kind. It's sweet and fun. However, what ruined the book and the romance for me was the ending. This isn't a spoiler - but I've hidden it just in case.
...Simon dumps Brie because she doesn't have a backbone to stand up against her family. But then she's the one running back to him - how is that learning to have a backbone? If a dude dumped me for such a lame a$$ reason - I would solider on and show him what he's missing.

I'd be like - You say I don't have a backbone- well see how I've grown one b*tch!...

If Brie wasn't such a push over with Simon - then I'd be happy to give this book at 5* as the comedy is awesome.

Family:
Brie's family are awful. Her mother has no class. She has a shrill voice and is constantly nagging. Clearly good manners are lost upon her. Someone needs to teach her that money does not buy class.
However, I loved reading about Maw Maw and Paw Paw (grandparents). I also enjoyed reading about Ethan (Brie's nephew)

Protagonist:
Brie is a pretty, slim blonde 27 year old. Simon is a tall, dark and handsome 33 year old. But don't worry - they don't follow a cheesy Mills and Boon recipe. Both are hilarious - Brie is goofy without being stupid (klutzy but not ditsy) and Simon is hot without being a damaged playboy billionaire type.

Towards the end of the book, the plot was rushed and everything fell into place a bit too neatly. It was just too contrived (Bree's career, the relationship with Simon). I also hope book 2 isn't about Emily and Trent breaking up (or if they do, they get back together) as I avoid reading about family break ups.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I liked the story, and the writing was okay. She's definitely good at the one liners. I was going along at enjoyable, until...

SPOILER ALERT






I LOATHE the fact that Bree took Simon back after he told her she was great and all, but he wasn't waiting around for her to perfect herself. Her response? To go perfect herself and win him back by showing him how perfect she had become, just like he asked. I get what the author was trying to do, and I can't say I necessarily disagree - Bree needed a push. But if a man had told me I wasn't good enough for him, getting him back would most definitely not be what I would be planning. Removing parts of his anatomy, yes. Enjoying said parts ever again? Absolutely not. I don't care how right or wrong Simon was about Bree, dumping a girl b/c she doesn't measure up to your image of what she should be is prime asshole behavior.

[Nola Arganbright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cooking magic

A wonderful contemporary romance that I expect to read over and over. The book is funny and romantic relationships and a joy to read. Cooking is a whole new world for Bree and Simon is lighting her fire

[Lauren Brownlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the most part, I did enjoy the book. It wasn't great, but it wasn't the worst thing I've ever read, either.
Unpopular opinion: I feel like the relationship in the book actually took away from it. I know, it's a contemporary romance, beach read, fluffy girl-meets-boy sort of book but I can't help but feel that it missed the mark a little. I was more interested in what Bree what going to do with her windfall, and how she was going to handle the next thing her crazy family did. I really enjoyed the cooking classes, and Bree's take on the assignments. As an amateur in the kitchen myself, I felt the parts where she was failing and picking herself back up had more heart. The way she interacted with her sweet nephew had me going 'awww' more than her relationship portions.
This book could have had so much more potential if it was just about Bree becoming her own person without the love interest pushing her to be more.

[Njkinny (Njkinny's Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brianna or Bree is twenty seven yet she is still "drifting through life with no direction" . She has long gone stagnant in a job she had high hopes from, is in a relationship with a boyfriend she no longer feels any passion for and lives in a crappy Boston apartment.
So when, owing to her grandmother's death in a hang gliding accident, she is suddenly handed a big house and money, "more money than she could ever dream of needing" , she suddenly feels a freedom she has never had and decides to use this opportunity to give her listless life a makeover!

But thinking is simple and actually doing is difficult and Bree finds herself undecided on what she wants to do as she has no interests and absolutely no passion for anything.

"I don't have a passion that I love, something that brings me so much happiness I could see myself doing it every day for the rest of my life. I could do anything with this money, and not a single damn thing pops into my mind."

A chance discovery of her grandmother's cookery journal prompts her to signup for a cooking course which is taught by a very handsome instructor with a cute Australian accent, Simon. For someone who has so far relied only on Chinese takeouts, pizzas at your door and who cant even manage the simple task of re-heating food without actually causing an accident, it comes as a surprise when Bree actually starts enjoying her classes and of course her very charming instructor, Simon!

Life finally has a goal and Bree is content for the first time but soon her bubble of happiness is punctured and she is forced to re-evaluate her priorities and her motives before it is too late and before she loses everything she holds dear!

I absolutely loved the cover of the book,"Baking Bree", which is so so suited to Bree who it seems attracts accidents every time she tries to do something! This is the first book by Sarah West that I have read and I enjoyed reading it. The first part is particularly good with some very ROFL moments that left me laughing so hard that it brought tears to my eyes!
Some very memorable moments that had me laughing like a goon are:

1) "What did you expect, Brianna?" she asked herself angrily.
"That you would be lifted onto their shoulders and paraded down the streets because you have an intimate understanding of the inner workings of frozen pizza and Chinese take out?"

2) 'Ok, chicken. That cant be too difficult, right? It's meat, and meat has to be cooked. Raw meat is bad. She smiled, proud of herself for remembering at least that much..'

3) 'His smile was wide, but his eyes were checking out her dish with apprehension, and maybe a bit of fear. After all, he had to taste it'

The characters are beautifully developed and the author has succeeded in extracting the right emotion from the readers for each of her characters. Whether it be the confused and a bit muddle-headed, Bree; the super cool and confident, Ray; the handsome and very composed, Simon; the shy but adorable, Ethan; the controlling and pompous mother of Bree, Kitty; the exact replica of Kitty and Bree's elder sister, Emily etc.

The story is breezy, light and an engaging read with many memorable moments in it. I enjoyed the overall cooking plus romance background and specially liked the closure Sarah gave to it. The overall makeover of Bree from a confused, directionless woman to a confident, take charge of your life Bree was a welcome end treat. :)

I give "Baking Bree" a 4 out of 5 and recommend everyone to read this humorous romantic story of Bree who represents many of us who have felt goal-less and direction-less at one or the other point in our lives.
I also look forward to reading more from Sarah West. :)

[Lisa Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bree is stuck in a rut; blah job, blah apartment and blah relationship. Her beloved Maw Maw dies (even the description of the grandmother's death had me grinning), leaving her house and a large chunk of change to Bree. Bree quits her job and dumps Jared, the blah boyfriend. In cleaning out Maw Maw's house, Bree finds a journal, which includes several recipes, prompting Bree to take a beginning cooking class; the class is taught by the hot hunk, Simon. That's our story in a nutshell (without the spoiler, of course). Along the way, however, is a cute little story.

Ms. West had me laughing at so many scenes -- possibly the hardest at the clear reference to bad writing in 50 Shades! Bree and Simon's rapport was easy and fun. Simon is a really nice hero. He wants to support Bree (in the way her horrible family doesn't) and to help her grow as a person. And believe me, Bree does need to grow. I have to admit, I have a hard time reading about a heroine whose mother is this horrible to JUST ONE of her three children. I was blessed to have the most amazing mother in the world, and as a mother myself (who loves each of her children more than they understand), I can't imagine raising a child the way Kitty has raised Bree, and the way Emily (Bree's sister) is raising her own son, Ethan.

I enjoyed reading as Bree learned to cook and grew more confident, and would have liked to see more of that confidence spill over into other areas of her life sooner. Bree allows her mother to treat her so poorly, and as a result, she questions, doubts and second-guesses herself in every aspect of her life.

I do wish Bree had been a little more developed -- I mean, what did she do all every day while waiting for the next cooking class, and later the next date? But that wasn't a deal-breaker for me. I mean, come on, it's a romance, not War and Peace, right?

There are sex scenes and some language in this book. Overall, I enjoyed Baking Bree. If Bree had grown a little more, I'd have given it five stars.

[Bungluna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is certainly light and funny for the most part, but I just couldn't understand the heroine or where she was coming from. Bree is from an affluent Boston family, with a bullying mother, a mother-clone sister, an ineffectual father and an absentee brother. She's the baby and the only slacker one in this group. At 27 she inherits a beachfront property from her grandmother and promptly quits her job, drops her useless boyfriend and moves there to 'find herself'.

I have little patience with this prototype of heroine. What's believable in the early 20's becomes annoying (for me) by the late 20's. Bree is a bundle of ignorance that's incongruous with her background added to so much self-doubt and self-pity that she was just plain annoying to me.

The love interest (Aussie for no discernible reason) was too perfect except that he broke up with her at the right time to add angst to the plot. The resolution was magical, and not in a good way.Under all this were the bones for a much better story, imo.

[Letta Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings on this one...
Bree, 27 & feeling aimless inherits a house and money when her beloved grandmother dies. She is bullied constantly by her overbearing mother and sister (her brother is only mentioned) while her father has no backbone & looks the other way.

After getting hit on the head by a cookbook Bree takes a cooking class where she falls for the perfect, handsome teacher she doesn't think she is good enough for.

I like the writing, yet the story was not as compelling as it could be. She wanders around a aimless and dissing herself then at the end everything just magically falls into place without her really thinking about it.

The love relationship feels off at times, unsure if it is just sexual or deeper. Simon is charming if at times ridiculously sexist, which feels odd. He likes to throw her over his shoulder and not every woman is into that.

A quick romantic read but not on the classics list.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

[Earms · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baking Bree

It was a good story. Needs a bit of editing as it moves abruptly from one scene to another. Found the ending was a bit rushed.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, it has so much going for it. First the cover. Loved it. I 100% unabashedly judge books by their covers. In these days I buy books through amazon and if their cover doesn't interest me then chances are I won't even bother to click on the blurb.

Ok, so cover good. I really like stories with kooky relatives that leave their loved ones inheritance to start over-the basic premise of the story. The reason I couldn't rate the book any higher were the main character's mother and sister. Maybe it's become I come from a loving family but even for a fictional story they are just too evil. Seriously, we're talking Disney character level evil, even then I think Cinderella's family were polite to her on occasion-Bree's family isn't. It's just too much. I almost gave up on the book.

The main plot line, I did like. Bree's grandmother leaves her her house and money and she decides to enroll in cooking lessons and meets hot Aussie teacher and that's where the romance starts. I liked that part of the book, honestly if there had been more Bree and her hot Aussie teacher and less Bree and her horrible family I would have liked it a lot more.

I liked West's sense of humor, she even hilariously makes fun of 50 Shades of Grey. Like I said, I want to really like this book.

One very annoying thing is that the author initially called hot Aussie's restaurant by one name then by another then I think it reverted back to the original one. It was a free book, and I think with some proper edits could be a lot better.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's smart, sexy and fun. Bree is delightful and she's goofy but she's endearing even when she messes up. She's a great character and the main guy is great too. But I feel like this story is more about how Bree grows up a bit and has her life get put together than a straight up romance book. She's a mess, very directionless in the beginning then something amazing happens to her and she inherits some money, a house and a new lease on life. She does what I would do if I were in her situation. She takes initiative and does things that would make her happy. She meets an amazing guy, but she tries to stay away and not jump him. She wants to prove that she can do things and see it through. I think I liked this story because I feel like she's a version of myself. I'm not really directionless, but I understand where she's at and where she wants to be. I think the author did a really good job writing her character, the others that fill the pages help mold who she is and who she wants to be.

This is probably one of my newest favorite books that are in the vein of a romance book. I'm happy I read this through. It actually took me awhile to even just start this book. I think I read the first few pages and then I just stopped, but I'm glad I started up again and finished it. It's really cute and very enjoyable. There's also a bit of a lesson to be learned throughout the book, but it pops up front and center at the end.

[Kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gotta love a book that starts with a death...

Bree's Maw Maw had passed. Her mother and sister can't wait to get their hands on Maw Maw's seaside property so they can sell and bank the profits. What they didn't expect was for Maw Maw to leave everything to Bree, cutting them out completely.

Bree quits her job and moves to the beach. While cleaning out the house she discovers a recipe book in Maw Maw's handwriting. Interspersed with photos of her grandparents from places all over the world displaying the stories behind the recipes, and Bree is instantly intrigued and inspired to work her way through the recipes.

There is one small problem.

Bree can't cook.

Enter a cooking class and a sexy Australian teacher, and the scene is set.

However... Aside from following Bree's disastrous attempts at cooking, and her budding romance with the Aussie hunk, I really had no idea what this book was actually about until I was nearly three quarters of the way through, which is the only reason I gave this book 3 stars instead of 4.

Great characters you'll either love or hate (appropriately), brilliant emotion, and once you finally work out the point of the story, a great story and message.

[Meka♥books · Rating 4 out of 5]

***3.5 stars***

Baking Bree was a well crafted story of a young woman’s self discovery about how to accept yourself even if you feel like a failure and/or have no family support. More so it’s a practical and humorous account of learning how to cook when all you know how to do is order Chinese take-out. This is Bree’s life until she inherits a home and large sum of money from her maternal grandmother and decides to attend cooking school. Baking Bree took me and my olfactory glands on a charming journey of kitchen mishaps, scrumptious recipes, family agreements, and love.

What I enjoyed about this comedic read is the dynamic between Bree and her cooking instructor turn lover, Simon. Their emails and conversations in general were always met with sarcasm and innuendos which made this book fun. Not to give any spoilers away but there comes a time when their relationship hits a bump in the road sort of speak. It is during this time Bree makes changes in her. The bump in the road incident is also a good discussion topic for those in book clubs.

Baking Bree is an engaging story of learning how to cook and ultimately believing in yourself. If you like romance intertwined with food and a little angst, Baking Bree is for you.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is cute and fun but I wish there was a disclosure saying how much sex they were going to put in the book. I prefer not to read about that and there was A LOT!

Story is about Bree who has a dysfunctional family, inherits a house and money from her dead Maw Maw and decides to take some cooking classes where she gets a huge crush on her hunky instructor. Typical plot line ensues from there.

The things I didn't like however, aside from the language and sex, was that it was a beginners cooking class and I didn't feel like the things they were going through would be beginner stuff. Example, on day one, they have to cook a meal with ingredients that were given to them. Not a beginner sort of thing in my opinion. Also, she keeps going back and forth between having her boy toy tell her how amazing she is and being plagued with self doubt to the point that it was really getting old. This wasn't resolved until the end of the book, so it was extra agonizing for me.

All in all, it was okay, funny at times even, but I won't read it again and I have no interest to read the other one about her sister.

[PelicanFreak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just couldn't get into this. Normally whether I get into a book or not , I will see it through. This was just terrible. Poorly written as in I seriously just want to edit it for this poor author. Predictable from the start, I just couldn't put myself through any more; I cannot think of any other time I failed to see a book through - I always have that hope that it will pick up but... this one was just not worth my time. I would give this author another chance, I think there is potential. Everyone has to start somewhere. As or this particular book, I'd skip it.


**That said, I recently heard from the author. She made a point to contact me, and very politely offered me the opportunity to edit this and give my input! A very gracious response to my cold review indeed and I do plan to take her up on her offer, as soon as I can find the time. I am excited to read anything else she writes as she is obviously eager to please and did show promise as I stated above.**

[Birgit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun book to read!! Brianna is drifting in life, not getting on with her well-to-do family until her grandmother dies and she inherits her house and her money. After a while she enrols in a cooking class, but with her being prone to accidents, the resulting chaos and mishaps are inevitable - especially as she is also distracted by her sexy cooking instructor.
Fluently written, with a heroine everyone finds something to identify with, we follow Brianna's development from shy and insecure to self-confidence and willing to take responsibility - some scenes I think the author should have expanded, but apart from that, it's a well and fluently written story, with hilarious mishaps - fun and lovely to read. I want more please!

[Diana Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's about a girl named Bree who is wandering aimlessly through life when her Grandmother dies and leaves her a lot of money and a great house. Now, some of the beginning is rushed and I didn't like that. I felt like it was stuff being said and done for no reason, and that confused and irritated me. Once you get to the meat of the story, it's actually really fun and sweet. Bree learns a lesson about standing up for herself, and I was happy to go along for the ride.

The male character, I forget his name, but the Aussie instructor, he really got on my nerves btw. He was not swoon worthy imo.

[Nancy Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story line was written smoothly with interesting characters. I always love a happy ending.

SPOILER ALERT: One less star because of the following story flaw.
It didn't make sense how the author told of the main character, who was continually pushed with verbal abuse by her family for not becoming what they thought she should be, and the romantic interest character treated her the same way as the family. First he makes fun of her several times in front of the class, which would be frowned on in real life classes, then broke up with her when he should of supported and encouraged her as she faced her awful family. He was praised for deserting her and her nephew.

[L.J. Scar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baking Bree by Sarah West was like a breath of fresh air in the romance genre. Bree was an extremely likeable, relatable character trying to find her niche in life and get a backbone along the way. The background of cooking classes, a hot instructor she falls for, and the trials and tribulations of dealing with jealous, encouragement lacking, pretentious family members really added to the storyline. Currently free on Kindle - it is a definite recommend in the romantic HEA with a touch of comedy category!

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once you get past how annoying and sniveling the main character is, it ends up being a cute fluffy read. Lets be honest, its all a bit far fetched: girls life is a wreck, she hates her family, except for her grandmother, who dies and leaves everything to her (rest of the family be damned). Girl wallows in self pity until super hot guy makes her feel special. yada yada.

With that being said, I liked it enough that I'll read the sequel. Haha.

Rom-com with some wonderful sounding food thrown in.

[Shanice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It made me laugh from beginning to end. Bree is a girl stuck in life, she doesn't know how to move forward. It's not until her grandma dies that she decides to start cooking her way through her grandmothers old home recipe book. Signing up for a class she meets Simon, the sexy Australian, and her life begins to roll ahead. Drama with her family and Simon begin to put a strain on Bree and as has to decide what she wants and go after it. Really great read 5 stars

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually found this book quite refreshing!

It wasn't instalove and it was a bit lengthier than most books out today. The author took the time to develop the characters and to establish a relationship before any declarations of love. The humor had me laughing so much that I cried at times. I honestly loved reading about Bree learning to love herself and discovering her own passions.

This was a great read!!

[Rhea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. I got it because it was being offered for free and I like books that deal with cooking and romance. Every night I tried to only read a little bit because I didn't want it to end. Ms. West truly knows how to weave an entertaining tale. The story is fun, funny and engaging. I can't wait to read the upcoming sequel. In the meantime, I have read Ms. West's other book, "Passion's Tide" and keep up with her blog.

[Amber Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as it had just the right mix of cooking themes, family drama and of course romance. The book follows a 20 something year old and she discovers herself along the course of the novel. This was a really quick read because you just kept wanting to know what's going to happen next!

[Monica Savidge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute chick lit/romance. I got this free through an email list I get that tells me about good deals/free books on Kindle. I can't wait for Ms. West's next story about Bree's sister! I will buy that one. I have found many good escape stories and bought subsequent books through email lists like this.

[Viengprasong Tran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about cooking, finding yourself and finding love

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A good love story that also combined newfound love for food and finding yourself when you think you have nothing. Would recommend to anyone who loves a feel good love story that ends the way you want it to.

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, Bree started off as such a confused wimp. Liked how the author developed her character. Simon was wonderful just the kind of man she needed. Her nephew Ethan was a great addition to the story. I Cannot wait for the next book Starting from Scratch.
this was a very good read.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Loved the journey of Bree finding herself, connected to her in a few aspects. A little frustrated at how Simon ended things/expected Bree to be the only one to work for them, but still enjoyed the story. Great Amazon freebie.

[Nicole Melzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book! Since it was free I thought the storyline might be dry but I was definitely intrigued and wanted to keep reading. Story comes full circle but I'm excited to read the next book about Bree's sister!