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Lily McDermott #2

Baked with Love

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Lily McDermott is back!
The hotly awaited sequel to The Girl I Was Before

Everything is going great for Lily. She and Sam are more in love than ever and she is about to open her very own bakery but she soon discovers that no matter how much time you spend perfecting delicate pastries, running your own business isn’t always easy. When Sam announces he has to move to New York for work, Lily is miserable but when he surprises her with a proposal life is perfect, right?
But Lily finds it hard to let go of old hurts and when Sam eventually loses patience, Lily is left devastated.
Can Lily finally learn to leave the past in the past or will she let it ruin the future for her?

"A perfect, heart-warming romance.”

Audible Audio

Published January 1, 2018

147 people are currently reading
123 people want to read

About the author

Izzy Bayliss

19 books51 followers
Izzy Bayliss lives in Ireland with her husband, children and their dog. A romantic at heart, she loves nothing more than cosying up in front of the fire with a good book. Her motto is that reality is over-rated and she is happiest staring into space and day-dreaming.

You can find her hanging about on Facebook @izzybaylissauthor or Twitter @izzybayliss

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5 stars
530 (54%)
4 stars
285 (29%)
3 stars
130 (13%)
2 stars
25 (2%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Profile Image for Sarah.
2,951 reviews222 followers
August 7, 2018
I really enjoyed The Girl I Was Before, which is the previous book to this one, so was dying to read this one and it was worth the wait. 

It was great to be back with Lily and her friends and family again. Things arn't quite as rosy as we last left them though and I wondered what was going to be in store for them this time.

The story is very much about relationships. Not just with a partner but friendship as well as sisterly love. If anything the bits to do with Lily's sister really had me chuckling. She is someone who would really get my back up in real life but she really does bring some humour into the story. 

I love Frankie and she's like a best friend and sister all rolled into one. At times in this book she was a bit like Lily's mum also, trying to knock some common sense into her. It was great to see much more of their relationship and just how much they will do for each other.

I think this story shows us that relationships are not all plain sailing and explores what comes after the happy endings that we see so many of. There is also lots of mentions of cakes and baking which really isn't good on the waist line as I was straight off to buy a variety of cakes after reading this! The author does very kindly pop a recipe at the end of the story but with my past history of baking it wouldn't be anywhere near as nice!

Baked With Love is a bitter sweet read that I devoured in one go. There's just something about this authors writing skills that almost put you into a trance and I was quite happy to stay inside the book, losing myself into the story. Not sure if there will be any more books featuring all the characters but I sincerely hope so.
Profile Image for Andrea.
1,081 reviews29 followers
December 19, 2023
More cakes, more misunderstandings, more of the same. Entertaining, but that's enough now.

Free on Audible.
46 reviews2 followers
April 21, 2018
This book gave me a roller coaster of emotions. Finally, it seems, everything is going well for Lily; she has Sam and a new bakery opening.
But Lily's insecurities start to get the better of her and throw her ex husband into the mix and it could be a recipe for disaster.
A wonderfully descriptive story, which had me wanting to eat cake and drink champagne the whole way through whilst willing things would turn out okay.
Profile Image for Jo Lee.
1,165 reviews23 followers
December 27, 2024
The first of this series is currently included in audible, and I enjoyed it so much that almost immediately I finished it I purchased this title. It was almost as lovely as the first, sweet and funny, yet sad and poignant. Comforting in its predictability delivered from the voice of Aoife McMahon.
Profile Image for Sue Wallace .
7,399 reviews140 followers
April 24, 2018
baked with love by Izzy Bayliss.
Omg a fantastic read. this was a lovely feel good read.
Lily McDermott is back!
she is just about to open a bakery. She thinks things are looking up but her ex comes back plus Sam may have to move. what will Lily do?
I loved Lily's character. didn't like Clara at all. i liked frankie. she stood by lily when clara just bad mouthed Lily. just couldn't put it down. I loved the girl before and this was even better. I do hope there is more to come. highly recommended. 5*.
35 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2018
Easy summer read following Izzy as she finally opens her own cafe/bakery. Unfortunately, nothing is straightforward including her love life or those of the people around her, causing some hilarity but much heartache. Good as a stand-alone book as well as a sequel.
Profile Image for Sue Ross.
142 reviews1 follower
April 20, 2018
A lovely read! I now need to read more from this author, especially the prequel to this book. I loved the way the gorgeous recipes and the wonderful characters. I want to open a bakery like this one! The characters felt real and I cared what happened to them. It was a real joy to read!
Profile Image for Audrey.
Author 11 books107 followers
April 2, 2018
This is a sweet little read in more than one sense of the word. The baked goods descriptions had me salivating (and I'm not a cake person). It's a genuinely charming book – if a little predictable – and I enjoyed reading about Lily's journey both in terms of building her business and her up-and-down relationship with Sam. Friend Frankie is a warm and caring character, as is Lily's dad. Less so is sister Clara, who faces her own romantic troubles. Although it can be read as a standalone novel, I wish I'd read The Girl I Was Before in advance, if only to get more of the back story about Lily and Marc. Nonetheless, I devoured it in two days and even succumbed to a couple of Easter chocolates. If you're looking for something light and entertaining, I can recommend this. Thanks to TBC (The Book Club) for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Monica Mac.
1,682 reviews41 followers
April 14, 2018
I didn't read the first book but it doesn't matter a bit, this book reads well as a standalone too.

Lily is a lovely girl who has had a few things go wrong in her life. Now, however, she has the lovely Sam and she is running her very own bakery, which is brimming with delicious pastries. Her dad is giving her a hand and there should be no reason why her life shouldn't continue on this delightful path. Right? Wrong!

The stresses and strains of the past are not quite over for Lily yet and she will need a fair bit of grit and determination to make it through. She has her dad, her best friend Frankie.....does she have Sam? And what about her sister Clara, whose idea of support doesn't seem to be all that supportive, truth be told. Her ex, Marcus, also makes an appearance.

This really is an enjoyable read, twists and turns included.

I give it 4.5 stars.

Profile Image for Danni.
7 reviews
December 29, 2023
Unfortunately, there was no further character development for Lily, and the story seemed forced. After the first one ( The Girl I Was Before), where Lily and her sister Clara have a heart to heart I thought that would be reflected in this book and that Clara would change, however, she is the same awful person towards Lily. Sam, her new partner, is also awful in this book. He goes to work overseas and doesn't return Lily's calls, goes out a lot, and then dumpd her because she isn't ready to get married and treats her terribly. Then, all of a sudden, 20mins to go in the book, he appears in her house to make it work, then is angry at her again, and then they are engaged, and the story is over. Again, I love the character of Lily, and I feel like this story could have so much potential, but it just felt rushed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Priya.
2,152 reviews78 followers
April 20, 2018
This is a delicious, sweet read.. quite literally so!
The decadent and rich cakes described and their very preparation uplift the mood!
I agree with Lily when she says cake can make the world seem very much a better place!
I haven't read the first book in the series but there was enough background in the story.
Lily has finally moved on and set up her own cake shop and is happy with Sam.
When they are forced to be apart from each other due to his job, old uncertainties rise up in her and he also loses patience, hurt with what he sees as her lack of trust.
Can Lily put the sweetness and freshness of her cakes, cronuts and cookies back into her own life?
I found this a very easy read and I liked all the people in the story.
A light, feel good read.
Profile Image for Fiona (Titch) Hunt.
529 reviews88 followers
April 22, 2018
I want to thank Izzy Bayliss for writing a superb sequel to The Girl I Was Before.

I found the sequel to be as good as the 1st book. It brought laughter and insight into brilliant characters. Lily now has her own bakery called Baked With Love. It starts off really slow (not the book the bakery lol) like all businesses, but she still has the awful and interferring ex husband Marc, her meddling sister Clara, her delightful father Hugh (who I adore), her best friend Frankie (who is a scream at the best of times) and Sam (who is so lush). More hilarious antics and things that Lily gets up to. She has some things going on and the poor woman never knows if she is coming or going lol.

Can't wait to see if Izzy Bayliss will do more for Lily McDermott and gang as we follow her life.
281 reviews8 followers
March 26, 2018
What an adorable sequel. I loved the first book and I am pleased to say I loved the second. Such a lighthearted read, which allows me a break from some of the psychological thrillers I have a penchant for.

Lovely to see Lily making her dreams a reality and I feel that as Izzy describes the cake delights that I am actually partaking myself.

The story of course comes with some lows too and it wouldn’t be much of a story if it didn’t. Is Lily as strong as she is in the first one, you’ll have to wait and see. Lovely read, would definitely recommend this one. Read the first one before you do though.
75 reviews4 followers
April 23, 2018
Izzy has just opened her bakery and life is looking good in her personal life as well. She’s living with Sam and life is good until Sam is sent to work in New York for 6 months. As she was cheated on by her husband before she met sam Izzy is insecure when she hears Sam talking about his female coworker.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to other work by this author. I didn’t realise that this was the 2nd book in this series but it worked well as a stand-alone as well.
Would recommend
1,478 reviews47 followers
April 22, 2018
A real rollercoaster ride! It’s been a while since I read the story of Lily and Sam and it was good to reconnect with them.

I loved their story so it was good to see an update on how they were progressing and the delights of Lily’s bakery.

It didn’t disappoint though it did make me want to bake!

4* a rollercoaster yet enjoyable read
Profile Image for Michelle Ascott.
24 reviews4 followers
April 21, 2018
A fantastic follow on book to “The girl I was before”. Really enjoyed catching up with Lily, Sam and the other characters and finding out how their lives have changed since the first book. I really love Izzy Bayliss writing style and find myself immersed in the story very easily. Highly recommend. Will definitely be trying the recipe included at the end.
Profile Image for Debra.
3,464 reviews13 followers
November 5, 2018
Baked With Love

This is the second book about Lily and Sam. In this one she has opened up a bakery and Sam had been transferred to New York. Will they have clear sailing? No, there are past issues of trust that need addressed. And when things get tuff things tend to call apart. Can they have their own HEA ending?
Profile Image for Karen Farrow.
724 reviews14 followers
September 5, 2018
Nice easy read, very lighthearted. This follows the story of Lily following from the first book, The Girl I Was Before. Life isn’t all roses round the door this time and we are led through the minefield of divorce and new love for Lily and her baking! Great beach read, not too taxing.
Profile Image for Cassie.
13 reviews
November 11, 2018
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THESE BOOKS!!! I haven't been able to sit down to read and enjoy a good love story in years until this weekend. I started with The Girl I Was Before and I was totally able to connect with Lily, I loved her relationship with her father and her best friend Frankie. Her sister Clare was something else but I later understood why. OMG, the first book had me so engaged that I couldn't wait to start the sequel Baked With Love. It picked up right where the other book left off and held me hostage the entire time anxious to see what happened, how it ends...will they, will she, wait will he....

I LOVED IT!!! To the author: I hope and pray there is a sequel in the works I'd love to know about what was starting with the new couples and how everyone is progressing.
Profile Image for Robyn Chumley.
127 reviews
February 27, 2025
Bayliss aces it

I love baking shows—particularly Brit shows, like The Great British Baking Show. Baked with Love called my name and I thoroughly loved it. Lily, with help from others, built the cottage and all the coffee, tea and various temptations inside and outside. Trouble is Sam. She thinks she’s in love with him, but worries about him going from Dublin to NYC for six months. It doesn’t help that he’s accompanied by a beautiful blonde. All sorts of chaos ensues, to include Lily getting pregnant. Highly recommend reading!
Profile Image for Sarah Hamilton.
721 reviews2 followers
August 15, 2020
A Good Sequel

I liked this book. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first, but revisiting Lily and all of them was enjoyable. I think I was frustrated that the last quarter of the book seemed needlessly rushed and I was getting tired of communication being the big problem (again). Would still read other books by Bayliss.
Profile Image for Georgina Roberts.
271 reviews1 follower
April 14, 2018
Enjoyable read which I read in one sitting last night, good heartwarming story which was well written.
I’d not read the first book but it didn’t detract from the story and the previous things that had happened were explained in a good way.
440 reviews
April 17, 2018
Izzy is just getting her life back on track after her divorce, her dream of opening a bakery has come to fruition, her love life is good and then life sends her a curveball when her boyfriend is seconded to New York.

A well written book.

An enjoyable read.
75 reviews
July 7, 2018
Lovely Sequel to the First Book

Simple story of complicated relationship told in an easy to read style. Enjoyed the Irish words and different meaning for everyday things. Wonderful conclusion to the characters stories.






28 reviews2 followers
July 22, 2018
Loved the story.

I really enjoyed the story of Lily and Sam. It was hard at times to read the turmoil that Lily was going through but everything worked out in the end. Both books were enjoyable.
Profile Image for Mary Barrett.
809 reviews11 followers
November 18, 2022
4 stars

This is book two in the Lily McDermott series. Both of the first two books are amusing and will keep you laughing. Izzy Baylor's is a very promising author and I love reading her books based in her beautiful home of Ireland.
216 reviews4 followers
April 10, 2018
Amazing heartwarming story that will melt even the hardest heart . Wonderful characters and amazing story
Profile Image for Sharon.
180 reviews12 followers
April 14, 2018
I loved this second book about Izzy. Great to see what was happening in her life now & I loved all the descriptions of the food! Fabulous sequel.
76 reviews
July 7, 2018
Loved Lily McDermott and Sam. I haven't read a book based on Ireland lately so it was fun looking up some of the words I didn't know. Fun book and I would love another in this family.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews

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