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The Bake Off
Nicola can't believe it when she is invited to appear in the regional television competition of The Bake Off.
Still reeling over her husband leaving her for a slim, pretty twenty-something, she feels her competitive side flair up when she meets her main rival - a stunning, skinny, twenty-four year old called Gemma.
Nicola is sure that the jaw-dropping gorgeous presenter, David Chambers, is flirting with her - but she has noticed he has his eye on Gemma as well.
He may be attracted to Gemma's pert figure and flirty laugh, but he can't resist Nicola's delicious cooking.
Is David as charming as he seems? Or will someone else catch her eye...?
Can Nicola beat off the rest of the competition in The Bake Off? Will she win first prize... and her man?
Still reeling over her husband leaving her for a slim, pretty twenty-something, she feels her competitive side flair up when she meets her main rival - a stunning, skinny, twenty-four year old called Gemma.
Nicola is sure that the jaw-dropping gorgeous presenter, David Chambers, is flirting with her - but she has noticed he has his eye on Gemma as well.
He may be attracted to Gemma's pert figure and flirty laugh, but he can't resist Nicola's delicious cooking.
Is David as charming as he seems? Or will someone else catch her eye...?
Can Nicola beat off the rest of the competition in The Bake Off? Will she win first prize... and her man?
- GenresRomance
91 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 29, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 28, 2013
Took me about half an hour to read. It makes me sad, because I could have done so much more useful things in that time. Like burying myself in an ant's nest, naked, covered in apricot jam.
November 7, 2019
* The characters are very 1 dimensional and there is no backstory. The only thing we know about the MC is she is recently divorced, has a son called Jay and with the money from her divorce settlement brought a new kitchen🤷🏻♀️ And why oh why do we need to know that Gemma’s breasts are perty🤦🏻♀️
* It is a very very bland story and I just don’t like it, nearly DNF’d it at 42% but a part of me wanted to see what happens wish I didn’t bother as it actually finished at 69% and the rest was just the recipes that the ‘contestants’ baked🙄
* It is a very very bland story and I just don’t like it, nearly DNF’d it at 42% but a part of me wanted to see what happens wish I didn’t bother as it actually finished at 69% and the rest was just the recipes that the ‘contestants’ baked🙄
August 11, 2017
The Bake Off
This book shows a bake off contest from the point of view of a contestant. It shows how a contestant might feel as she prepares and presents her entries, as well as her concerns that the actual judgement might not actually be fair.
It definitely gives us a different point of view. I think it is a great read and highly recommend it.
This book shows a bake off contest from the point of view of a contestant. It shows how a contestant might feel as she prepares and presents her entries, as well as her concerns that the actual judgement might not actually be fair.
It definitely gives us a different point of view. I think it is a great read and highly recommend it.
August 25, 2014
Check out more of my reviews at www.untitledviews.com!
“The Bake-Off” by Susan Willis is a quick, easy read. It’s about Nicola, a divorced mum who was ditched for a younger model. Nicola is encouraged to take part in the local bake-off television show in Newcastle by her son, Jay. Nicola meets celebrity chef and judge, David Chambers, on the first day of filming. Will David Chambers choose Nicola over Gemma, the gorgeous 24 year old school teacher or will history repeat itself and Nicola will lose out to another younger woman…?
As you can see from the synopsis above, the storyline is not amazingly detailed. It is a simple, sweet light, easy read. I couldn’t say that I was gripped or that the characters really jumped out of the page, but I did enjoy the book.
I downloaded the book for free from Amazon UK. It wasn’t a book I would have read otherwise because personally, I am not a fan of baking and avoid the TV programme ‘The Great British Bake-Off’ at all costs. I didn’t think there was a lot of imagination that went into thinking of the setting and it was clear the characters were very much based upon the presenters on the actual show.
If you are a fan of the TV programme and are a keen baker, I would recommend this book as there are many recipe ideas and it is just like watching the actual show, just with a hint of romance.
Rated: 3 ♥♥♥
“The Bake-Off” by Susan Willis is a quick, easy read. It’s about Nicola, a divorced mum who was ditched for a younger model. Nicola is encouraged to take part in the local bake-off television show in Newcastle by her son, Jay. Nicola meets celebrity chef and judge, David Chambers, on the first day of filming. Will David Chambers choose Nicola over Gemma, the gorgeous 24 year old school teacher or will history repeat itself and Nicola will lose out to another younger woman…?
As you can see from the synopsis above, the storyline is not amazingly detailed. It is a simple, sweet light, easy read. I couldn’t say that I was gripped or that the characters really jumped out of the page, but I did enjoy the book.
I downloaded the book for free from Amazon UK. It wasn’t a book I would have read otherwise because personally, I am not a fan of baking and avoid the TV programme ‘The Great British Bake-Off’ at all costs. I didn’t think there was a lot of imagination that went into thinking of the setting and it was clear the characters were very much based upon the presenters on the actual show.
If you are a fan of the TV programme and are a keen baker, I would recommend this book as there are many recipe ideas and it is just like watching the actual show, just with a hint of romance.
Rated: 3 ♥♥♥
October 8, 2013
Take the format for a popular TV baking competition, add a turgid, utterly predictable love interest and this is what you get. The regional version of the Great British Bake Off in this book rips off the original programme entirely, even down to the language the judges use and the set up of the studio. Not sure if that was meant to endear it to me but it just made me think the author had no original ideas in her head at all. The characters are incredibly shallow and the book is riddled with inconsistencies (the award ceremony is "packed" despite each of the three finalists only being given two tickets for guests? But then Nicola talks about having her son, friend and work colleagues there.) The author also seems to have a serious issue with the use of commas - we have huge long sentences that are almost unintelligible for lack of commas, and then come across "Come, on!"
I think the moment I read "Not only was he comparing the competition but he was also the main judge in the bake off..." on page two I knew this was going to be a frustrating read. You can imagine my relief when the book suddenly finished abruptly on 70% and was followed by three recipes and the first three chapters of another book by this author! Suffice it to say I didn't bother sampling it ...
I think the moment I read "Not only was he comparing the competition but he was also the main judge in the bake off..." on page two I knew this was going to be a frustrating read. You can imagine my relief when the book suddenly finished abruptly on 70% and was followed by three recipes and the first three chapters of another book by this author! Suffice it to say I didn't bother sampling it ...
January 19, 2016
This was a cute read, but mostly a time filler. It seemed like there could have been so much more to the story, but it just never made it in there. The characters were easy to relate to, even the main character who sometimes came off as overly bitter towards her young competition. At times it seemed very focused on the characters, and other times it seemed more focused on the recipes they baked. At the end of the day, it gets two stars for being somewhat entertaining, but it could have been a lot better if it had been longer and more developed, or shorter and less detail- oriented.
December 10, 2013
Normally I leave one stars for those books that I want to DNF but, don't because I have never been a quitter. I swear this book was supposed to be a lot of things funny, romantic, quirky....It was nothing to me it fell flat in so many ways I was more confused while reading it then anything is. It was a waste of my time and I normally do not feel that harshly about a book but this one the only thing good about it is now it is off my Kindle.
August 17, 2013
Rating this with 1 star seems kind of harsh, but I don´t know what I exactly read here...
Judging from the cover and the blurb I expected some sort romance story with funny moments.
Unfortunately it wasn´t. I can´t even tell what is was!
I was turning the pages without feeling a pull to do so...and when I felt it eventually, the story came to it´s end...
Judging from the cover and the blurb I expected some sort romance story with funny moments.
Unfortunately it wasn´t. I can´t even tell what is was!
I was turning the pages without feeling a pull to do so...and when I felt it eventually, the story came to it´s end...
September 2, 2013
I bought this by accident thinking it was a much longer book. While a sweet little story it was a bit too short for what it tried to do. There was little chance to get to know the characters and their personalities were weak as most of the writing had to explain what was happening. If this had been slightly longer it would have had more potential.
August 18, 2016
Susan Willis's latest book takes you behind the scenes of a fictitious TV baking programme. Competitor Nicola struggles with her underwear, her desires and her rivals, but ends up learning about more than just puff pastry. The book ends with three mouth-watering recipes from the competition.
July 6, 2016
Very enjoyable!
This short novel was interesting in several ways. The interaction among the contestants in the bake off kept me captivated, and there were several surprising laugh out loud moments:). If you enjoy light funny stories with a message this is for you.
This short novel was interesting in several ways. The interaction among the contestants in the bake off kept me captivated, and there were several surprising laugh out loud moments:). If you enjoy light funny stories with a message this is for you.
August 16, 2013
Short and sweet. A bit predictable but still fairly enjoyable.
September 22, 2013
A nice short story read for anyone needing some light reading.
August 4, 2015
Nice little short read... Looking forward to the bake off starting tomorrow
September 5, 2016
Fun, quick read with delicious sounding recipes included.
November 22, 2020
Cute Novella, with lots of delicious desserts...
want to know more? read my review on my blog: https://www.icecoldpassion.com/2020/1...
want to know more? read my review on my blog: https://www.icecoldpassion.com/2020/1...
April 7, 2017
LIGHT READING
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews