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All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes
Kat inspected rows of the same old cupcakes. They seemed to blink back at her, as if they knew she was capable of so much more.
Kat Varland has had enough of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. At twenty-six years old, Kat is still living in the shadows of her family in Bayou Bend, Louisiana. Still working shifts at her Aunt Maggie's bakery. Still wondering what to do with her passion for baking and her business degree. And still single.
But when Lucas Brannen, Kat's best friend, signs her up for a reality TV bake-off on Cupcake Combat, everything Kat ever wanted is suddenly dangled in front of her: creative license as a baker, recognition as a visionary . . . and a job at a famous bakery in New York.
As the competition heats up, Lucas realizes he might have made a huge mistake. As much as he wants the best for Kat, the only thing he wants for himself, her, is suddenly in danger of slipping away.
The bright lights of reality cooking wars and the chance at a successful career dazzle Kat's senses and Lucas is faced with a difficult choice: help his friend achieve her dreams . . . or sabotage her chances to keep her in Louisiana.
Kat Varland has had enough of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. At twenty-six years old, Kat is still living in the shadows of her family in Bayou Bend, Louisiana. Still working shifts at her Aunt Maggie's bakery. Still wondering what to do with her passion for baking and her business degree. And still single.
But when Lucas Brannen, Kat's best friend, signs her up for a reality TV bake-off on Cupcake Combat, everything Kat ever wanted is suddenly dangled in front of her: creative license as a baker, recognition as a visionary . . . and a job at a famous bakery in New York.
As the competition heats up, Lucas realizes he might have made a huge mistake. As much as he wants the best for Kat, the only thing he wants for himself, her, is suddenly in danger of slipping away.
The bright lights of reality cooking wars and the chance at a successful career dazzle Kat's senses and Lucas is faced with a difficult choice: help his friend achieve her dreams . . . or sabotage her chances to keep her in Louisiana.
313 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2014
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2038 people want to read
About the author
Betsy St. Amant
47 books881 followersBetsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of almost thirty romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her hubby, two teenagers, and one furry schnauzer-toddler. Betsy has a bachelor of arts in communication and loves teaching and speaking on the craft of writing. When she’s not suffering through a CrossFit workout or baby talking her dog, she can usually be found in the vicinity of an iced coffee. She writes frequently for iBelieve, a devotional site for women, and offers author coaching and editing services through Storyside LLC.
also published under Betsy Ann St. Amant
also published under Betsy Ann St. Amant
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 336 reviews
January 10, 2015
Yes, even after seeing the title, I still decided to go ahead and read this book. The premise sounded at least somewhat intriguing, and I was bored. Many rash book decisions have been made by the bored. This review/rant contains spoilers for basically the whole book. You have been warned.
We start off with Kat Varland. Poor, oppressed Kat. You see, for her entire life, Kat has had to live in the shadow of her younger sister, Stella. (Except for, you know, when Stella wasn’t born.) Stella is pretty. Clearly, this makes her superior in the eyes of the Varland parents. Stella is also blonde, which is a fatal flaw in her personality. This is because Kat had an old boyfriend who dumped her and decided to ask Stella out instead, ostensibly because Stella was blonde and Kat had dark hair, although personally, I think the breakup may have had more to do with Kat’s extremely bitter and resentful personality. The resentment about the whole blonde hair thing was kind of confusing and totally illogical on Kat’s part. Blonde is apparently Stella’s natural hair color, AND SHE TURNED THE GUY DOWN WHEN HE ASKED HER OUT. What more do you want from her, Kat? Maybe if Stella had dyed her hair green as an act of contrition, it would have appeased Kat’s wrath. Anywho, this event apparently completely dictated the direction Kat’s life took after the breakup, as the memory of her old boyfriend, Chase, continues to haunt her. He apparently took a major toll on Kat’s self-esteem and ruined her life forever, but the only evidence we see of that is the fact that Kat and Lucas both say so. It doesn’t seem to affect anything else in Kat’s life or personality, except maybe that it’s made her really bitter and resentful towards her sister. But wait! Who is Lucas, you ask? Oh, how could I have forgotten to introduce Lucas? Silly me! Lucas is Kat’s best friend. He is sweet, humble, funny, smart, and totes adorbs. He’s always there for Kat, except when he’s busy being the totally amazing coach of the local football team. In short, Lucas is perfection. He is also really, really creepy. More on that later.
Other characters in this colorful cast include:
-Aunt Maggie. Relies on structure and stability in her life and bakery, probably partially due to the life-threatening cancer that she has been diagnosed with. Kat resents her.
-Mrs. Varland. Disappointed in Kat for absolutely no reason except that she isn’t more like Stella. She’s a very deep and complex character, if you couldn’t already tell. Kat resents her.
-Mr. Varland. I think he’s a pastor? Not much to say here, other than Kat resents him.
-The Best Friend (a.k.a. Rachel). The Best Friend is self-explanatory. They exist for no other reason than to push our protagonist out of their comfort zone and into a world of more attractive hairstyles, makeup and clothing. Also, for sending cryptic text messages at inopportune times. Kat doesn’t actually seem to resent that much about Rachel, except for her hair. Rachel’s hair is the only real description we get of her character, though, so who knows?
The story starts out in the town of Bayou Bend. Kat is working at her Aunt Maggie’s bakery, Sweetie Pies, and absolutely nothing about this bakery makes sense. They literally only sell three kinds of cupcakes. If it’s not a chocolate, vanilla or strawberry cupcake, they don’t sell it.
Issues with the bakery that came to mind while I was reading the book:
-How does this bakery stay in business selling roughly two dozen cupcakes a day? (The numbers were vague. Kat mentions selling two dozen cupcakes every Friday to the football team, and no other customers were really mentioned besides a few regulars who decided to treat themselves to a cupcake once a week. I decided to be charitable and assume that they managed to unload about two dozen a day, although customers really seem optional when it comes to keeping Sweetie Pies financially afloat.)
-HOW DOES THIS BUSINESS SUPPORT THREE PEOPLE? Not only does this bakery somehow manage to keep one part-time employee; it apparently generates enough profit to completely support both Kat and Maggie. HOW? How much are they charging for these cupcakes?
-Any profits the bakery makes go completely out the window whenever Lucas stops in. I don’t know why he bothers even buying cupcakes for his football team, since he seems to freely munch on complimentary cupcakes whenever he stops in to chat with Kat. Which, incidentally, seems to be nearly every day.
-And finally, why is it called Sweetie Pies if they only sell cupcakes? There is nary a pie in sight at this bakery. Also, this name seems oddly quirky for the utterly prosaic Aunt Maggie to have dreamed up.
Poor Kat. She’s trapped in Bayou Bend. Nobody believes in her. Nobody supports her dream to make more than three types of cupcakes. And it’s not as if she earned a business degree in college that might land her a job in another town where she could make a fresh start or anything. Nope. Poor Kat. Stuck forever in miserable Bayou Bend. However, Lucas, the knight in shining armor has a plan: He secretly enters Kat in a reality TV cupcake-baking competition. After initially refusing to go and kicking up a huge fuss, Kat exhibits one of the most ridiculous mood swings I’ve ever read, and decides that she should participate after all. Cupcake Combat, here we come!
This leads to all the problems I had with the competition, and there were a lot of them.
-How does this TV show actually work? Kat was gone for five days to film what I can only assume was one episode’s worth of material. Granted, they did say it was a special episode, but why did Kat qualify to be on this special episode? Was she competing for the grand prize? And if it’s not the grand prize, then did they really give away these internships to the winners of every single episode? I mean, they can’t possibly be handing out internships to a very prestigious bakery to like, twelve people, can they? Why is this not more clearly explained?
-The competition was really boring. This was supposed to be the main part of the book, and, amazingly enough, it was even more boring than the Lucas and Kat drama. And sticking caramel corn and animal crackers on top of your cupcake does not make it gourmet, Kat.
-Mean teammates. The drama! And then they unexpectedly turned nice. Must have been because of Kat’s winning personality, even though Lucas describes her as being a totally different and slightly less likeable person the whole time they were filming the episode.
-The end of the competition. This one is extra spoilery, so, SPOILERS!
Kat loses the competition. Oh no! But really, she won it fair and square. She only lost it because a judge was taking his revenge on her for refusing his advances. Maybe I might be able to buy this, if it weren’t for the way the people running the show treated the whole thing. Allegedly, they fired the sleazy judge after the whole scandal threatened to break loose. Cut all ties with him, so to speak. But guess who owned the bakery that offered internships to the winner of the show? That’s right! The sleazy judge himself! And guess what the show offered Kat as a consolation prize after they found out that she should have won the show? An internship to the bakery!
WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD ACCEPT AN INTERNSHIP AT A BAKERY WHEN THE GUY WHO OWNED IT HAD TRIED TO HIT ON YOU AND CAUSED YOU TO LOSE A VERY PRESTIGIOUS COMPETITION? And who in their right mind would offer it? Why would the cupcake competition continue to support his bakery after they had allegedly severed all ties with him?
But really, as bad as all of this is, my main problem with the book was actually Lucas. Lucas is so utterly creepy that I don’t even know where to start. Let’s forget the fact that he is basically Kat's only friend (aside from Rachel, who doesn't seem to see Kat that often and doesn't really count). Let’s forget the fact that he seems to see Kat almost every single day. Let’s forget the fact that he winds up at her house pretty late at night fairly routinely. Because Lucas’s creepiness really seems to start when he signs Kat up for the competition without her knowledge or consent. And how does he do this? By using a video of Kat that she didn’t realize existed. Creepy enough for you yet?
Later, after the show is over, Kat is being offered a consolation prize over the phone. Unbeknownst to Kat, Lucas has been listening on the other phone, and proceeds to haggle over the prize, once again without her consent. He refuses the internship and demands a cash prize, stooping low enough to hint at blackmail towards the TV network. Kat doesn’t even seem mildly bothered by all of this, so whatever. I guess they deserve each other.
But what I found to be the most disturbing scene was when Kat and Lucas are off in LA, and they have a disagreement about something. Kat tries to leave, and it’s at this point that Lucas grabs her ankle, trips her, pulls her onto his lap, covers her mouth, and tells her not to disagree with him. Totally normal, right?
And then, finally, at the end of the book, Kat and Lucas confess their love for each other… and promptly get engaged. They haven’t even been dating and they’re engaged.
And just like the book ends on this abrupt note, so ends my review.
We start off with Kat Varland. Poor, oppressed Kat. You see, for her entire life, Kat has had to live in the shadow of her younger sister, Stella. (Except for, you know, when Stella wasn’t born.) Stella is pretty. Clearly, this makes her superior in the eyes of the Varland parents. Stella is also blonde, which is a fatal flaw in her personality. This is because Kat had an old boyfriend who dumped her and decided to ask Stella out instead, ostensibly because Stella was blonde and Kat had dark hair, although personally, I think the breakup may have had more to do with Kat’s extremely bitter and resentful personality. The resentment about the whole blonde hair thing was kind of confusing and totally illogical on Kat’s part. Blonde is apparently Stella’s natural hair color, AND SHE TURNED THE GUY DOWN WHEN HE ASKED HER OUT. What more do you want from her, Kat? Maybe if Stella had dyed her hair green as an act of contrition, it would have appeased Kat’s wrath. Anywho, this event apparently completely dictated the direction Kat’s life took after the breakup, as the memory of her old boyfriend, Chase, continues to haunt her. He apparently took a major toll on Kat’s self-esteem and ruined her life forever, but the only evidence we see of that is the fact that Kat and Lucas both say so. It doesn’t seem to affect anything else in Kat’s life or personality, except maybe that it’s made her really bitter and resentful towards her sister. But wait! Who is Lucas, you ask? Oh, how could I have forgotten to introduce Lucas? Silly me! Lucas is Kat’s best friend. He is sweet, humble, funny, smart, and totes adorbs. He’s always there for Kat, except when he’s busy being the totally amazing coach of the local football team. In short, Lucas is perfection. He is also really, really creepy. More on that later.
Other characters in this colorful cast include:
-Aunt Maggie. Relies on structure and stability in her life and bakery, probably partially due to the life-threatening cancer that she has been diagnosed with. Kat resents her.
-Mrs. Varland. Disappointed in Kat for absolutely no reason except that she isn’t more like Stella. She’s a very deep and complex character, if you couldn’t already tell. Kat resents her.
-Mr. Varland. I think he’s a pastor? Not much to say here, other than Kat resents him.
-The Best Friend (a.k.a. Rachel). The Best Friend is self-explanatory. They exist for no other reason than to push our protagonist out of their comfort zone and into a world of more attractive hairstyles, makeup and clothing. Also, for sending cryptic text messages at inopportune times. Kat doesn’t actually seem to resent that much about Rachel, except for her hair. Rachel’s hair is the only real description we get of her character, though, so who knows?
The story starts out in the town of Bayou Bend. Kat is working at her Aunt Maggie’s bakery, Sweetie Pies, and absolutely nothing about this bakery makes sense. They literally only sell three kinds of cupcakes. If it’s not a chocolate, vanilla or strawberry cupcake, they don’t sell it.
Issues with the bakery that came to mind while I was reading the book:
-How does this bakery stay in business selling roughly two dozen cupcakes a day? (The numbers were vague. Kat mentions selling two dozen cupcakes every Friday to the football team, and no other customers were really mentioned besides a few regulars who decided to treat themselves to a cupcake once a week. I decided to be charitable and assume that they managed to unload about two dozen a day, although customers really seem optional when it comes to keeping Sweetie Pies financially afloat.)
-HOW DOES THIS BUSINESS SUPPORT THREE PEOPLE? Not only does this bakery somehow manage to keep one part-time employee; it apparently generates enough profit to completely support both Kat and Maggie. HOW? How much are they charging for these cupcakes?
-Any profits the bakery makes go completely out the window whenever Lucas stops in. I don’t know why he bothers even buying cupcakes for his football team, since he seems to freely munch on complimentary cupcakes whenever he stops in to chat with Kat. Which, incidentally, seems to be nearly every day.
-And finally, why is it called Sweetie Pies if they only sell cupcakes? There is nary a pie in sight at this bakery. Also, this name seems oddly quirky for the utterly prosaic Aunt Maggie to have dreamed up.
Poor Kat. She’s trapped in Bayou Bend. Nobody believes in her. Nobody supports her dream to make more than three types of cupcakes. And it’s not as if she earned a business degree in college that might land her a job in another town where she could make a fresh start or anything. Nope. Poor Kat. Stuck forever in miserable Bayou Bend. However, Lucas, the knight in shining armor has a plan: He secretly enters Kat in a reality TV cupcake-baking competition. After initially refusing to go and kicking up a huge fuss, Kat exhibits one of the most ridiculous mood swings I’ve ever read, and decides that she should participate after all. Cupcake Combat, here we come!
This leads to all the problems I had with the competition, and there were a lot of them.
-How does this TV show actually work? Kat was gone for five days to film what I can only assume was one episode’s worth of material. Granted, they did say it was a special episode, but why did Kat qualify to be on this special episode? Was she competing for the grand prize? And if it’s not the grand prize, then did they really give away these internships to the winners of every single episode? I mean, they can’t possibly be handing out internships to a very prestigious bakery to like, twelve people, can they? Why is this not more clearly explained?
-The competition was really boring. This was supposed to be the main part of the book, and, amazingly enough, it was even more boring than the Lucas and Kat drama. And sticking caramel corn and animal crackers on top of your cupcake does not make it gourmet, Kat.
-Mean teammates. The drama! And then they unexpectedly turned nice. Must have been because of Kat’s winning personality, even though Lucas describes her as being a totally different and slightly less likeable person the whole time they were filming the episode.
-The end of the competition. This one is extra spoilery, so, SPOILERS!
Kat loses the competition. Oh no! But really, she won it fair and square. She only lost it because a judge was taking his revenge on her for refusing his advances. Maybe I might be able to buy this, if it weren’t for the way the people running the show treated the whole thing. Allegedly, they fired the sleazy judge after the whole scandal threatened to break loose. Cut all ties with him, so to speak. But guess who owned the bakery that offered internships to the winner of the show? That’s right! The sleazy judge himself! And guess what the show offered Kat as a consolation prize after they found out that she should have won the show? An internship to the bakery!
WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD ACCEPT AN INTERNSHIP AT A BAKERY WHEN THE GUY WHO OWNED IT HAD TRIED TO HIT ON YOU AND CAUSED YOU TO LOSE A VERY PRESTIGIOUS COMPETITION? And who in their right mind would offer it? Why would the cupcake competition continue to support his bakery after they had allegedly severed all ties with him?
But really, as bad as all of this is, my main problem with the book was actually Lucas. Lucas is so utterly creepy that I don’t even know where to start. Let’s forget the fact that he is basically Kat's only friend (aside from Rachel, who doesn't seem to see Kat that often and doesn't really count). Let’s forget the fact that he seems to see Kat almost every single day. Let’s forget the fact that he winds up at her house pretty late at night fairly routinely. Because Lucas’s creepiness really seems to start when he signs Kat up for the competition without her knowledge or consent. And how does he do this? By using a video of Kat that she didn’t realize existed. Creepy enough for you yet?
Later, after the show is over, Kat is being offered a consolation prize over the phone. Unbeknownst to Kat, Lucas has been listening on the other phone, and proceeds to haggle over the prize, once again without her consent. He refuses the internship and demands a cash prize, stooping low enough to hint at blackmail towards the TV network. Kat doesn’t even seem mildly bothered by all of this, so whatever. I guess they deserve each other.
But what I found to be the most disturbing scene was when Kat and Lucas are off in LA, and they have a disagreement about something. Kat tries to leave, and it’s at this point that Lucas grabs her ankle, trips her, pulls her onto his lap, covers her mouth, and tells her not to disagree with him. Totally normal, right?
And then, finally, at the end of the book, Kat and Lucas confess their love for each other… and promptly get engaged. They haven’t even been dating and they’re engaged.
And just like the book ends on this abrupt note, so ends my review.
September 10, 2014
Definitely a sweet-tooth worthy surprise!
“All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes” had one of those sweet heroes that literally made my hopeless romantic heart go pitter-patter. Lucas loves Kat with a beautiful, sacrificial love that is stuck in limbo between “best friends” and “something more”. I couldn’t help but ache for him just a little and wish he would walk off the pages of the book and be the “boy next door”.
Between the combination of sugary cupcake sweetness and kisses that would make any girl swoon, this novel did nothing short of entertain and delight me from beginning to end. Sassy humor with a spunky story line, I cheered for Kat and wanted her to see her dream come true—and yet realize that love was directly in front of her…if she would only open up her eyes and her mouth to communicate it! Much can be said for the romantic tension, but I’ll leave it at that for now.
Kat is loveable and sweet, though she has her faults and I anxiously counted the pages until she realized it’s not just about the cupcakes, it has never been just about the cupcakes. I loved the themes threading through the book and the sacrificial surrender of each of the characters in the end, in the face of their ultimate desire.
All together, thumbs up and I will eagerly wait for more!
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers and Litfuse for my copy to review.
“All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes” had one of those sweet heroes that literally made my hopeless romantic heart go pitter-patter. Lucas loves Kat with a beautiful, sacrificial love that is stuck in limbo between “best friends” and “something more”. I couldn’t help but ache for him just a little and wish he would walk off the pages of the book and be the “boy next door”.
Between the combination of sugary cupcake sweetness and kisses that would make any girl swoon, this novel did nothing short of entertain and delight me from beginning to end. Sassy humor with a spunky story line, I cheered for Kat and wanted her to see her dream come true—and yet realize that love was directly in front of her…if she would only open up her eyes and her mouth to communicate it! Much can be said for the romantic tension, but I’ll leave it at that for now.
Kat is loveable and sweet, though she has her faults and I anxiously counted the pages until she realized it’s not just about the cupcakes, it has never been just about the cupcakes. I loved the themes threading through the book and the sacrificial surrender of each of the characters in the end, in the face of their ultimate desire.
All together, thumbs up and I will eagerly wait for more!
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers and Litfuse for my copy to review.
September 25, 2015
One and a half stars. Seriously, these characters need to get a grip and just have a conversation. I get being insecure, but come on. This book could have been condensed into about ten pages.
August 21, 2014
On paper this book seemed like it would be right up my alley. The best friends becoming more than friends trope. Reality tv competition. Cupcakes. All the ingredients (pun intended) were there. Unfortunately, it just didn’t quite live up to its potential.
Lucas and Kat are best friends that are secretly in love. A good portion of the book is spent with each of their POVs pining for the other and debating whether or not to express their feelings, for fear of them not being returned. I feel like this might have been ok if we were only given one POV and we had to guess at the other’s feelings, but getting both POVs and finding out right off the bat that they both feel the same took away a lot of the tension. It was also very redundant, hearing the same thing again and again.
I also had a hard time rooting for them as a couple. While Lucas had some sweet moments in the beginning, I spent most of the book thinking he was a big jerk. He was selfish and condescending and sometimes childish. He also used way too many football metaphors. It got kind of ridiculous.
On the other hand, I did find Kat to be a likable and relatable character. She had her moments of whininess, but for the most part I found her insecurities realistic and enjoyed seeing her grow more confident throughout the story.
What was easily the most interesting part of the story was Cupcake Combat, the reality competition Kat enters. Unfortunately, a lot of the competition was skipped over, or spent with Kat or Lucas’s inner monologues about their pining for the other instead of focused on the game.
Overall, All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes was an ok read. While there was an overall message of self-acceptance and trusting in God’s plan for your life, it was overwhelmed with repetitive romantic whining and longing. It had some enjoyable moments, but didn’t quite live up to it’s potential.
Rating (out of 5):
Plot: 2.5
Characters: 2
Readability: 2.5
Enjoyability: 2
Overall Rating: 2.25 Stars
Lucas and Kat are best friends that are secretly in love. A good portion of the book is spent with each of their POVs pining for the other and debating whether or not to express their feelings, for fear of them not being returned. I feel like this might have been ok if we were only given one POV and we had to guess at the other’s feelings, but getting both POVs and finding out right off the bat that they both feel the same took away a lot of the tension. It was also very redundant, hearing the same thing again and again.
I also had a hard time rooting for them as a couple. While Lucas had some sweet moments in the beginning, I spent most of the book thinking he was a big jerk. He was selfish and condescending and sometimes childish. He also used way too many football metaphors. It got kind of ridiculous.
On the other hand, I did find Kat to be a likable and relatable character. She had her moments of whininess, but for the most part I found her insecurities realistic and enjoyed seeing her grow more confident throughout the story.
What was easily the most interesting part of the story was Cupcake Combat, the reality competition Kat enters. Unfortunately, a lot of the competition was skipped over, or spent with Kat or Lucas’s inner monologues about their pining for the other instead of focused on the game.
Overall, All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes was an ok read. While there was an overall message of self-acceptance and trusting in God’s plan for your life, it was overwhelmed with repetitive romantic whining and longing. It had some enjoyable moments, but didn’t quite live up to it’s potential.
Rating (out of 5):
Plot: 2.5
Characters: 2
Readability: 2.5
Enjoyability: 2
Overall Rating: 2.25 Stars
October 2, 2014
Isn't the cover perfect? How could I not read the book -- though if the cupcake had come with it, it would have been even better! This is a story of finding your way and coming into your own. Of growing out of the shadows of those around you and learning what you truly want. It's of stretching wings and coming home. Of letting go and discovering who you truly are. All of this in a story filled with cupcakes, reality TV, and a high school football game. Small town America and big city lights. It's a story that will keep you coming back to participate in two people discovering how their dreams cam merge as they both become willing to give them up for the other.
Occasionally you might want to yell to Kat and Lucas to just sit down and talk. But at the same time, it's easy to understand why they can't, don't and won't.
I really enjoyed this story and hope the characters reappear in a future book. Highly recommend it for those who love a sweet story with surprising depth.
Occasionally you might want to yell to Kat and Lucas to just sit down and talk. But at the same time, it's easy to understand why they can't, don't and won't.
I really enjoyed this story and hope the characters reappear in a future book. Highly recommend it for those who love a sweet story with surprising depth.
February 7, 2020
Don't read if you're hungry!
A cupcake competition is just what is needed to spur Kat and Lucas to explore the idea of moving from friends to lovers, but much like a piping bag overfull of buttercream frosting, things become a huge, sticky mess instead.
Kat and Lucas have an unusual best friendship because they seem to keep so many secrets from each other and things seems skewed more to one side, which drove me a little batty at times. All it takes is a little communication to keep the friendship from turning into a battlefield, people.
Kat is so determined to stand out in the world like a pumpkin scone cupcake that she can't see that sometimes strawberry is okay. The stress of this baking competition was almost the downfall of something great, but I loved watching the events unfold through the delicious and unique flavors and challenges.
St. Amant does a great job of blending multiple tropes into a charming, cut-throat story, but do not read this if you're hungry, or you'll be craving a sugary treat (or two or three...) all day long.
Content: mild romance; moderate religion
*I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
A cupcake competition is just what is needed to spur Kat and Lucas to explore the idea of moving from friends to lovers, but much like a piping bag overfull of buttercream frosting, things become a huge, sticky mess instead.
Kat and Lucas have an unusual best friendship because they seem to keep so many secrets from each other and things seems skewed more to one side, which drove me a little batty at times. All it takes is a little communication to keep the friendship from turning into a battlefield, people.
Kat is so determined to stand out in the world like a pumpkin scone cupcake that she can't see that sometimes strawberry is okay. The stress of this baking competition was almost the downfall of something great, but I loved watching the events unfold through the delicious and unique flavors and challenges.
St. Amant does a great job of blending multiple tropes into a charming, cut-throat story, but do not read this if you're hungry, or you'll be craving a sugary treat (or two or three...) all day long.
Content: mild romance; moderate religion
*I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
January 30, 2022
This was a sweet rom-com with moments of deep pondering and raw feelings. The cooking aspect of it was fun and a great setting.
The chemistry between the two characters was intense and there were not any stupid misunderstandings that took ages to restore. The romance got a little heated at times and, though “nothing more” happened, kisses were intense. Conservative/younger readers may not want to read this.
This is a Christian book and there were prayers and a few Scriptures. The message seemed slightly disjointed at times, though both characters had good character growth and development.
It gave all the right “feels” for a contemporary story with lighthearted moments balanced in reality.
The chemistry between the two characters was intense and there were not any stupid misunderstandings that took ages to restore. The romance got a little heated at times and, though “nothing more” happened, kisses were intense. Conservative/younger readers may not want to read this.
This is a Christian book and there were prayers and a few Scriptures. The message seemed slightly disjointed at times, though both characters had good character growth and development.
It gave all the right “feels” for a contemporary story with lighthearted moments balanced in reality.
August 20, 2015
Kat Varland’s life is quite simple and ordinary. She works at her aunt’s bakery, does not have a boyfriend and hopes that someday her life will change and lead her to complete happiness. All Kat wants is a chance to prove her family that her dream of baking cupcakes is important and may turn into a proper job, if only they believed in her. The only person who really believes that Kat can become a successful chef is Lucas Brannen, Kat’s best friend, who has always supported her and always showed her how much he cared about her. But maybe he needs to do more to really show Kat what she means to him.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked it but sadly I did not love it. I say sadly because the plot was cute, the characters were endearing (though Kat’s thoughts were sometimes a little depressing) and the events that took place were often engaging. But it did not win me over. I found that the protagonists were too focused on talking to themselves instead of speaking their mind and confessing their love to each other. I like it when there is a bit of angst and people do not talk immediately, but when a book is more than three hundred pages long I expect it to be a little different. It was frustrating to see the love between two people growing without them being able to accept it. They were constantly scared of hurting the other person, but keeping secrets and lying is never the right choice especially when it comes to love. Kat and Lucas wanted the best for each other and were afraid that together they could not have it, but the more they tried to stay away from each other, the more everything became annoying and sometimes boring. The whole story would have been more interesting if they had been more determined and honest with each other.
Though I liked the somehow original idea of setting this book mostly in a television studio (Kat is one of the participants in a reality show where she must bake the best cupcakes), I did not like the things that happened in that studio. Such as silly attempts at sabotaging the other competitors, panic attacks while recording an episode, and unpleasant attentions from a sleazy judge. Maybe I was a little biased because I am not a fan of reality shows, but I hoped I could change my mind somehow. I did not. But whoever likes this kind of programs may enjoy this story more than I did.
All in all “All’s Fair in Love and Cupcake” was an OK read. I enjoyed reading some parts, especially when Kat and Lucas had real conversations, and I would recommend it to those readers that someday will need to read a light, cute, contemporary story.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked it but sadly I did not love it. I say sadly because the plot was cute, the characters were endearing (though Kat’s thoughts were sometimes a little depressing) and the events that took place were often engaging. But it did not win me over. I found that the protagonists were too focused on talking to themselves instead of speaking their mind and confessing their love to each other. I like it when there is a bit of angst and people do not talk immediately, but when a book is more than three hundred pages long I expect it to be a little different. It was frustrating to see the love between two people growing without them being able to accept it. They were constantly scared of hurting the other person, but keeping secrets and lying is never the right choice especially when it comes to love. Kat and Lucas wanted the best for each other and were afraid that together they could not have it, but the more they tried to stay away from each other, the more everything became annoying and sometimes boring. The whole story would have been more interesting if they had been more determined and honest with each other.
Though I liked the somehow original idea of setting this book mostly in a television studio (Kat is one of the participants in a reality show where she must bake the best cupcakes), I did not like the things that happened in that studio. Such as silly attempts at sabotaging the other competitors, panic attacks while recording an episode, and unpleasant attentions from a sleazy judge. Maybe I was a little biased because I am not a fan of reality shows, but I hoped I could change my mind somehow. I did not. But whoever likes this kind of programs may enjoy this story more than I did.
All in all “All’s Fair in Love and Cupcake” was an OK read. I enjoyed reading some parts, especially when Kat and Lucas had real conversations, and I would recommend it to those readers that someday will need to read a light, cute, contemporary story.
July 27, 2014
This is a cute book.
I loved the premise of the book and I love when best friends realize they love each other.
But, because the only thing going on in the story was the cooking competition, there were a lot of pages filled with just the characters' thoughts, going on and on about how they felt, which made me get frustrated at them and a little bored.
I liked the characters, and would have liked to see more about Kat's resolution with her family.
My favorite part was how well Lucas knew her.
Overall, it's a light, fluffy read. Fans of clean fiction will enjoy the sweet romance.
I was given a copy if this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the premise of the book and I love when best friends realize they love each other.
But, because the only thing going on in the story was the cooking competition, there were a lot of pages filled with just the characters' thoughts, going on and on about how they felt, which made me get frustrated at them and a little bored.
I liked the characters, and would have liked to see more about Kat's resolution with her family.
My favorite part was how well Lucas knew her.
Overall, it's a light, fluffy read. Fans of clean fiction will enjoy the sweet romance.
I was given a copy if this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2014
I had the great privilege of being given a copy of All's Fair In Love And Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant to read, and it was a real treat.
Kat and Lucas are best friends. Kat bakes cupcakes for her Aunt Maggie's shop - strictly chocolate, strawberry and vanilla - but there are so many more flavours just bursting out of Kat! Kat has very little self confidence, as she feels everyone around her is putting her down, all but Lucas, and she longs to break free from the small town constraints.
Lucas is a successful boys football coach, who loves his job, and who loves Kat, but doesn't know how to tell her.
Lucas knows Kat needs to believe in herself, and enters her for a national television cupcake competition, believing the prize to be a monetary one. Kat, annoyed at first, decides to compete, especially as the prize is now a year's apprenticeship at Blooms in New York. She needs an assistant, so chooses Lucas. Together the two of them head to L.A.
Kat and Lucas have always had a good relationship, but thrust together for a week, it begins to crumble. Kat loves Lucas, and Lucas loves Kat. Neither reveal their feelings, which they fight, each convinced they are not worthy of the other.
Tensions rise. Relations take a roller coaster ride. Kat is desperate to win the competition. Lucas is desperate for her to lose. Both want to be together forever, but neither reveal their feelings.
Through it all, both are praying to God for what they want. However it is only by surrendering to God's will and plan for their lives, that they will find peace.
So does Kat win the competition? Is it happy ever after for Kat and Lucas? Will they each lay down their dreams for God's plan? The answers can be found by reading the book.
I found All's Fair In Love And Cupcakes to be a compulsive read. It was cleverly written in the third person, while alternating between the point of view of Lucas and Kat. The banter between them was a pleasure to read; and their silent love for each other was beautifully portrayed. The Biblical principle of putting others first shone throughout the book.
I loved the characters and the setting, with descriptions drawn so well that the reader becomes totally immersed. I want more novels from Betsy St. Amant, her words are delightful to read.
Kat and Lucas are best friends. Kat bakes cupcakes for her Aunt Maggie's shop - strictly chocolate, strawberry and vanilla - but there are so many more flavours just bursting out of Kat! Kat has very little self confidence, as she feels everyone around her is putting her down, all but Lucas, and she longs to break free from the small town constraints.
Lucas is a successful boys football coach, who loves his job, and who loves Kat, but doesn't know how to tell her.
Lucas knows Kat needs to believe in herself, and enters her for a national television cupcake competition, believing the prize to be a monetary one. Kat, annoyed at first, decides to compete, especially as the prize is now a year's apprenticeship at Blooms in New York. She needs an assistant, so chooses Lucas. Together the two of them head to L.A.
Kat and Lucas have always had a good relationship, but thrust together for a week, it begins to crumble. Kat loves Lucas, and Lucas loves Kat. Neither reveal their feelings, which they fight, each convinced they are not worthy of the other.
Tensions rise. Relations take a roller coaster ride. Kat is desperate to win the competition. Lucas is desperate for her to lose. Both want to be together forever, but neither reveal their feelings.
Through it all, both are praying to God for what they want. However it is only by surrendering to God's will and plan for their lives, that they will find peace.
So does Kat win the competition? Is it happy ever after for Kat and Lucas? Will they each lay down their dreams for God's plan? The answers can be found by reading the book.
I found All's Fair In Love And Cupcakes to be a compulsive read. It was cleverly written in the third person, while alternating between the point of view of Lucas and Kat. The banter between them was a pleasure to read; and their silent love for each other was beautifully portrayed. The Biblical principle of putting others first shone throughout the book.
I loved the characters and the setting, with descriptions drawn so well that the reader becomes totally immersed. I want more novels from Betsy St. Amant, her words are delightful to read.
October 2, 2014
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my review.
I really wanted to love this book. I have seen hype about it in several of my reading circles so I was looking forward to a book that I could fall in love with. Unfortunately, "almost like" is more the term I would use for this one. It had its high points, but I just didn't love it.
First there is Kat. Kat has zero confidence in herself. Thanks to her preacher daddy, haughty-taughty mom, and beauty queen sister, who could really blame her. She works for her aunt at her cupcake shop, but dreams of being out on her own with her own cupcake bakery. While her lack of confidence made her likable in the beginning of the book, it really began to grate on my nerves about the mid-way point.
Lucas is the local football coach, and has been Kat's best friend since junior high. We learn in the very beginning that he had developed very strong feelings for Kat. The guy is thinking about marriage and babies before we ever get a chance to really know him. He decides that his big love declaration is going to be entering Kat into this cupcake competition. Of course he ends up going with her as her assistant, and he quickly decides that he has made a huge mistake.
The thing that really irked me about this book was the lack of dialogue. I would guess that 98% of this book is just the characters' thoughts. The chapters alternate between Kat and Lucas, and I found myself getting mad at them for their unwillingness to just talk to each other. With that said, had the characters actually talked to each other, the entire story could have probably been told in about four chapters.
The actual story line for Kat and Lucas was pretty good, and kept you thinking that things were going to go terribly wrong. On more than one occasion, I was pretty convinced we weren't going to get the happily ever after that we are so accustomed to in books. I was pleased at the ending (even though it seemed pretty obvious several chapters from the end), and glad I got to know these characters.
I really wanted to love this book. I have seen hype about it in several of my reading circles so I was looking forward to a book that I could fall in love with. Unfortunately, "almost like" is more the term I would use for this one. It had its high points, but I just didn't love it.
First there is Kat. Kat has zero confidence in herself. Thanks to her preacher daddy, haughty-taughty mom, and beauty queen sister, who could really blame her. She works for her aunt at her cupcake shop, but dreams of being out on her own with her own cupcake bakery. While her lack of confidence made her likable in the beginning of the book, it really began to grate on my nerves about the mid-way point.
Lucas is the local football coach, and has been Kat's best friend since junior high. We learn in the very beginning that he had developed very strong feelings for Kat. The guy is thinking about marriage and babies before we ever get a chance to really know him. He decides that his big love declaration is going to be entering Kat into this cupcake competition. Of course he ends up going with her as her assistant, and he quickly decides that he has made a huge mistake.
The thing that really irked me about this book was the lack of dialogue. I would guess that 98% of this book is just the characters' thoughts. The chapters alternate between Kat and Lucas, and I found myself getting mad at them for their unwillingness to just talk to each other. With that said, had the characters actually talked to each other, the entire story could have probably been told in about four chapters.
The actual story line for Kat and Lucas was pretty good, and kept you thinking that things were going to go terribly wrong. On more than one occasion, I was pretty convinced we weren't going to get the happily ever after that we are so accustomed to in books. I was pleased at the ending (even though it seemed pretty obvious several chapters from the end), and glad I got to know these characters.
May 26, 2014
Betsy St. Amant has whipped up a romance as yummy as her heroine's cupcakes. Against the backdrop of a familiar--but fresh--reality television cupcake competition, best friends Kat and Lucas battle their own fears and search to reconcile their dreams with the real world. Kat's insecurities ring with truth, and Lucas's desire to call every play--as he does on the football field--make him even more relatable. I especially appreciated a realistic look at falling in love in contemporary Christian circles, where actions have consequences but no failure is fatal. A generous dash of humor and a pinch of sass are just icing on the cupcake. A wonderfully fun read from a talented author. Her best yet.
August 13, 2016
To see full review with gif click here.
I’ll read a lot of things, but I sort of draw the line at Inspirational romance. While I am a quasi practicing Catholic (meaning, I only attend mass at holidays and when I’m dragged to it—i.e. when it’s my mother’s birthday—and don’t believe the church’s views on several social issues), I don’t like reading about people’s religion that are like a written version of all those lame Kurt Cameron movies. All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes is marketed as a contemporary, which was why I picked it up, but it soon became clear after reading the author’s bio and some brief God allusions that this is light inspirational lit.
I still continued on though, because it wasn’t blatantly in Kurt Cameron territory, but I couldn’t finish the sucker because it was just bad. And that’s not include the random Bible versions and come to Jesus talk which is annoying enough when it would randomly appear in a text conversation of all things.
The summary of the book drags you in, the book is set in a cooking competition that looks like it’s akin to Cupcake Wars—but this show is called Cupcake Combat. It’s sort of funny they changed the name when the fictional show airs on the Food Network in this book, it’s like be a little more obvious St. Amant but I’ll relent. But seriously, what’s wrong with making up a network like I don’t know like even the Food Channel. You have to use the Food Network’s name but then blatantly change the obvious show you’re trying to mimic.
Anyway, set in a food competition this book features around a woman named Kat who is the blandest crybaby to ever live. You see her life sucks because she wasn’t born blonde like her sister—STELLLA (always have to put a Streetcar Named Desire reference when I hear/read that name) and she banished to working at her aunt’s cupcake shop (apply named Sweetie Pies, even though they only sale three flavors of cupcakes) because everyone in her family hates her. And her life is so horrible mixing those Duncan Hines cake mixes of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Because no one in the town Kat has been banished to have ever heard of the special cupcakes that she likes to do—like throwing cherries into her chocolate cupcakes—and it’s just draining the life out of her. Luckily, she has her best friend and resident asshole Lucas to fix things for her.
Obviously, I have little sympathy towards Kat. Maybe if her problems weren’t so superficial I’d care. Or maybe if I could understand why the bakery called itself Sweetie Pies when it served no pie, or made do with just three cupcake flavors despite being in freaking Louisiana which is sort of known for their variety of desserts. And really, Kat, red velvet isn’t that hard of a cupcake to make for an experienced Southern baker. You are just showing your inexperience. But I guess when you mix three flavors of Duncan Hines mix all your life, red velvet would be a difficult to make. And as much as Kat likes to complain about her life, I really didn’t think it was that bad. I just wondered how a bakery stayed open making three cupcake flavors and how they named themselves Sweetie Pies when there’s no freaking pies? Talk about misrepresentation. The only somewhat coherent explanation I made up in my head is that Aunt Maggie is making some special pies that she sells when Kat’s not there that would get her in trouble with the local sheriff. Either that, or the town only has one bakery, and you’re sort of stuck with three flavors of cake.
I think I was supposed to feel sorry for Kat, but I there wasn’t really any significant development for her whining to look anything more than first world problems. Really, if you don’t like making Duncan Hines cake mixes be assertive, work and compromise with your aunt rather than having your Duck Dynasty wannabe best friend entire you into some faux Cupcake Wars competition—again, did Cupcake Combat have to be on the Food Network? Really, did we need to be that obvious?
I could not stand the male lead in this one folks. He is creepy as fuck. And looks down at anything that is not deep fried and generica. Seriously, they leave a nice restaurant in order to go for the pink slime at a fast food restaurant. Seriously, he basically pouts when Kat was like let’s eat at this nice place, though she eventually agrees that fine dining= snotty people. Note, I might be a little prejudice in this regard since the last time I ate a Mickey D’s burger I received such severe food poisoning I haven’t gotten anything more than a Coke from there in about a decade. But regardless of my own fast food prejudice, I just found it a little odd that someone who is entering a food competition would be more happy with a gross Mystery Meat burger than fine dining. And who gives a fuck that a salad is fifteen dollars? It’s fine freaking dining. If you didn’t want to spend so much on food, you could’ve looked up restaurants near you on Yelp. But alas, it’s fifteen dollars a salad or Mickey D’s. And it just doesn’t end with the we take pink slime instead of filet mignon incident, Lucas constantly snarks at people for dressing “metro” and says he doesn’t want Kat looking one of those evil city people with makeup and shiny lips.
Really, he mocks anyone with any education or culture background that is different from his own? Honestly, I think one of the reasons I despised Lucas is because he rang Trump voter to me. That and besides being anti-intellectual he is creepy as fuck. So, he secretly tapes Kat to get her on the show and then he follows her around like a puppy dog and is just God awful controlling and their not even together yet. Like he snaps at her for watching The Wizard of Oz instead of football.
Well, Lucas, if it would’ve been me I would’ve told you to fuck football. I was forced to attend stupid football games in high school because I had to be in stupid marching band so that I could be in concert band and I still have no interest or know how that fucking game works.
And at this point dear reader you’re probably like resentment much?
Hell yeah, when idiots like Lucas say that football games are better than classic movies and who like fucking McDonalds better than surf and turf.
I actually ranted about more of the superficial problems that I had with Lucas (sans creepy taping Kat behind her back scene, I honestly wondered if the douche had one installed in her shower that’s how big of a creep he came off as). The real problem with the character is that he’s emotionally manipulative and as a result emotionally abusive. There’s obvious control issues there, and while what I mentioned was petty it’s just examples of how the character acts throughout the book. Full disclosure, I DNF’d this one, but the way the book was going it was clear that Lucas was thinking about sabotaging the MC so that she wouldn’t win and could be his woman and make him some special cupcakes (note, not specialness is not the same as my head cannon Aunt Maggie’s special pies).
Like I said, the pairing was really wasn’t working for me. And from the page flipping I did there seems to be some complications with a creepy judge. But really, from what I saw the judge wasn’t as creepy as Lucas—but from the various page flipping and reviews I read he transforms to being really creepy.
Besides the bland characters and horrible ship, the other HUGE problem I had with this book was the fucking cupcakes. I’ll admit I’m not a baker. I can’t really bake unless it’s gluten free shit, and to be honest if you ever try to make something gluten free you know that it’s a) going to taste bad or b) you’re going to need a whole lot of skills so unless it’s those bake and break gluten free cookies, I usually don’t go there unless the flour has already been properly mixed with the proper thickening agent—and FYI, getting preprepared gluten free flour with xanthium gum already mixed in it is expensive. However, I have binged profusely on a lot of baking shows—because when you can’t eat delicious bake goods you might as well enjoy watching people talk about them. I will say without a doubt, Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood would’ve crucified Kat and everyone else in this stupid competition about the quality of their bakes.
Seriously. I’ll just go through some of the cupcakes that were made. The first competition cupcake ingredient included a mixture of peanut butter, chocolate chip, and caramel with a stinking topping decoration of an animal crackers and caramel corn. Mary and Paul would probably remark how it wasn’t an innovative use of the ingredients, I mean sticking a freaking animal cracker as decoration. On most food shows they probably would’ve at least crumbled the sucker and incorporated it into the batter somehow. The same with the caramel corn using it as garnish and decoration is just downright lazy. The peanut butter, caramel, chocolate combination to me seemed to be a little too heavy—peanut is a heavy flavor on it’s own and while chocolate can work with it, with caramel added to it to me would seem overly sweet. You’d have to balance it somehow correctly (often with the amount and quality of ingredients), but nothing is said here at all. Instead, all we get is Kat bad mouthing someone’s brownies because they were gooey. And gooey brownies are just bad, ya’ll.
At the end of the day, I gave up on this one before it could cause my headache to get any worse (172 pages). Oddly enough, the inspirational crap didn’t even get to me. Yes, there were some annoying biblical quotes—really book, people don’t text Bible quotes—but other than that I didn’t want to throw this book against the wall at least for that. I did want to throw the book against the wall for it’s judgmental hillbilly leads who think apparently adding animal crackers as a decoration in a food competition is innovative.
I’ll read a lot of things, but I sort of draw the line at Inspirational romance. While I am a quasi practicing Catholic (meaning, I only attend mass at holidays and when I’m dragged to it—i.e. when it’s my mother’s birthday—and don’t believe the church’s views on several social issues), I don’t like reading about people’s religion that are like a written version of all those lame Kurt Cameron movies. All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes is marketed as a contemporary, which was why I picked it up, but it soon became clear after reading the author’s bio and some brief God allusions that this is light inspirational lit.
I still continued on though, because it wasn’t blatantly in Kurt Cameron territory, but I couldn’t finish the sucker because it was just bad. And that’s not include the random Bible versions and come to Jesus talk which is annoying enough when it would randomly appear in a text conversation of all things.
The summary of the book drags you in, the book is set in a cooking competition that looks like it’s akin to Cupcake Wars—but this show is called Cupcake Combat. It’s sort of funny they changed the name when the fictional show airs on the Food Network in this book, it’s like be a little more obvious St. Amant but I’ll relent. But seriously, what’s wrong with making up a network like I don’t know like even the Food Channel. You have to use the Food Network’s name but then blatantly change the obvious show you’re trying to mimic.
Anyway, set in a food competition this book features around a woman named Kat who is the blandest crybaby to ever live. You see her life sucks because she wasn’t born blonde like her sister—STELLLA (always have to put a Streetcar Named Desire reference when I hear/read that name) and she banished to working at her aunt’s cupcake shop (apply named Sweetie Pies, even though they only sale three flavors of cupcakes) because everyone in her family hates her. And her life is so horrible mixing those Duncan Hines cake mixes of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Because no one in the town Kat has been banished to have ever heard of the special cupcakes that she likes to do—like throwing cherries into her chocolate cupcakes—and it’s just draining the life out of her. Luckily, she has her best friend and resident asshole Lucas to fix things for her.
Obviously, I have little sympathy towards Kat. Maybe if her problems weren’t so superficial I’d care. Or maybe if I could understand why the bakery called itself Sweetie Pies when it served no pie, or made do with just three cupcake flavors despite being in freaking Louisiana which is sort of known for their variety of desserts. And really, Kat, red velvet isn’t that hard of a cupcake to make for an experienced Southern baker. You are just showing your inexperience. But I guess when you mix three flavors of Duncan Hines mix all your life, red velvet would be a difficult to make. And as much as Kat likes to complain about her life, I really didn’t think it was that bad. I just wondered how a bakery stayed open making three cupcake flavors and how they named themselves Sweetie Pies when there’s no freaking pies? Talk about misrepresentation. The only somewhat coherent explanation I made up in my head is that Aunt Maggie is making some special pies that she sells when Kat’s not there that would get her in trouble with the local sheriff. Either that, or the town only has one bakery, and you’re sort of stuck with three flavors of cake.
I think I was supposed to feel sorry for Kat, but I there wasn’t really any significant development for her whining to look anything more than first world problems. Really, if you don’t like making Duncan Hines cake mixes be assertive, work and compromise with your aunt rather than having your Duck Dynasty wannabe best friend entire you into some faux Cupcake Wars competition—again, did Cupcake Combat have to be on the Food Network? Really, did we need to be that obvious?
I could not stand the male lead in this one folks. He is creepy as fuck. And looks down at anything that is not deep fried and generica. Seriously, they leave a nice restaurant in order to go for the pink slime at a fast food restaurant. Seriously, he basically pouts when Kat was like let’s eat at this nice place, though she eventually agrees that fine dining= snotty people. Note, I might be a little prejudice in this regard since the last time I ate a Mickey D’s burger I received such severe food poisoning I haven’t gotten anything more than a Coke from there in about a decade. But regardless of my own fast food prejudice, I just found it a little odd that someone who is entering a food competition would be more happy with a gross Mystery Meat burger than fine dining. And who gives a fuck that a salad is fifteen dollars? It’s fine freaking dining. If you didn’t want to spend so much on food, you could’ve looked up restaurants near you on Yelp. But alas, it’s fifteen dollars a salad or Mickey D’s. And it just doesn’t end with the we take pink slime instead of filet mignon incident, Lucas constantly snarks at people for dressing “metro” and says he doesn’t want Kat looking one of those evil city people with makeup and shiny lips.
Really, he mocks anyone with any education or culture background that is different from his own? Honestly, I think one of the reasons I despised Lucas is because he rang Trump voter to me. That and besides being anti-intellectual he is creepy as fuck. So, he secretly tapes Kat to get her on the show and then he follows her around like a puppy dog and is just God awful controlling and their not even together yet. Like he snaps at her for watching The Wizard of Oz instead of football.
Well, Lucas, if it would’ve been me I would’ve told you to fuck football. I was forced to attend stupid football games in high school because I had to be in stupid marching band so that I could be in concert band and I still have no interest or know how that fucking game works.
And at this point dear reader you’re probably like resentment much?
Hell yeah, when idiots like Lucas say that football games are better than classic movies and who like fucking McDonalds better than surf and turf.
I actually ranted about more of the superficial problems that I had with Lucas (sans creepy taping Kat behind her back scene, I honestly wondered if the douche had one installed in her shower that’s how big of a creep he came off as). The real problem with the character is that he’s emotionally manipulative and as a result emotionally abusive. There’s obvious control issues there, and while what I mentioned was petty it’s just examples of how the character acts throughout the book. Full disclosure, I DNF’d this one, but the way the book was going it was clear that Lucas was thinking about sabotaging the MC so that she wouldn’t win and could be his woman and make him some special cupcakes (note, not specialness is not the same as my head cannon Aunt Maggie’s special pies).
Like I said, the pairing was really wasn’t working for me. And from the page flipping I did there seems to be some complications with a creepy judge. But really, from what I saw the judge wasn’t as creepy as Lucas—but from the various page flipping and reviews I read he transforms to being really creepy.
Besides the bland characters and horrible ship, the other HUGE problem I had with this book was the fucking cupcakes. I’ll admit I’m not a baker. I can’t really bake unless it’s gluten free shit, and to be honest if you ever try to make something gluten free you know that it’s a) going to taste bad or b) you’re going to need a whole lot of skills so unless it’s those bake and break gluten free cookies, I usually don’t go there unless the flour has already been properly mixed with the proper thickening agent—and FYI, getting preprepared gluten free flour with xanthium gum already mixed in it is expensive. However, I have binged profusely on a lot of baking shows—because when you can’t eat delicious bake goods you might as well enjoy watching people talk about them. I will say without a doubt, Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood would’ve crucified Kat and everyone else in this stupid competition about the quality of their bakes.
Seriously. I’ll just go through some of the cupcakes that were made. The first competition cupcake ingredient included a mixture of peanut butter, chocolate chip, and caramel with a stinking topping decoration of an animal crackers and caramel corn. Mary and Paul would probably remark how it wasn’t an innovative use of the ingredients, I mean sticking a freaking animal cracker as decoration. On most food shows they probably would’ve at least crumbled the sucker and incorporated it into the batter somehow. The same with the caramel corn using it as garnish and decoration is just downright lazy. The peanut butter, caramel, chocolate combination to me seemed to be a little too heavy—peanut is a heavy flavor on it’s own and while chocolate can work with it, with caramel added to it to me would seem overly sweet. You’d have to balance it somehow correctly (often with the amount and quality of ingredients), but nothing is said here at all. Instead, all we get is Kat bad mouthing someone’s brownies because they were gooey. And gooey brownies are just bad, ya’ll.
At the end of the day, I gave up on this one before it could cause my headache to get any worse (172 pages). Oddly enough, the inspirational crap didn’t even get to me. Yes, there were some annoying biblical quotes—really book, people don’t text Bible quotes—but other than that I didn’t want to throw this book against the wall at least for that. I did want to throw the book against the wall for it’s judgmental hillbilly leads who think apparently adding animal crackers as a decoration in a food competition is innovative.
August 6, 2018
Love love and love!! Sometimes the dreams that we thought we always wanted come in a different form and different direction that we never saw coming, but sometimes that's what makes them even sweeter. God is full of surprises and loves to take our breath away, because once all the puzzle pieces come together it is so obvious that He knew what was best for us all along!
July 9, 2023
Cute story overall. Several lines made me laugh and the ending was good. What I didn’t love about the story was not enough resolution to one of the elements of the story and I had issues with Lucas at times. Liked this one.
February 1, 2021
What I want is to align with many of the other reviews here and write about how shallow & predictable this romantic drama is.
However. Maybe it’s better for my own sake to talk thru some of the more often discussed annoyances brought up in this book.
The drama. Readers... this is a DRAMA. It should come as no surprise that the main character, Kat, exhibits traits of angst, a sometimes cynical worldview, and feels misunderstood and/or ignored by those around her. Blessed be the person who has never felt any of these things toward those in their own personal lives.
The love interest. In a world of gender role equality, blurred lines, and smash the patriarchy attitudes, I fully understand the irritation brought on by Lucas. Love interest, small town hero, manly man yet sensitive. The kind of guy that doesn’t actually exist, yet lives on in fiction. I find some of his controlling nature to be over the top protective, especially given his role of ‘just best friend’. On the other hand, my own husband protects me like a holy relic and I can attest that I would have it no other way. So interpret Lucas’ actions how you will.
Childhood friends to engaged in the blink of an eye. So... reading this one must bear in mind that Kat & Lucas have been close friends their entire lives. It isn’t as if they met, had a racy hormonal fueled romp and decided what the hey, and got engaged on a whim. They’ve basically unofficially dated for years, growing an organic relationship that evolved into something more. Are there plot holes here? Yes. Did their love story unfold in a believable way? No. Because this is a fictional story. Is it somehow unrealistic that they would go from friends to engaged in the matter of a couple months? I’m not qualified to answer. I was engaged after two months of dating... give me another sixteen years of marriage, and I’ll get back to you.
The ‘close calls’. I have no right, reason, or desire to stand atop a soapbox built of false piety and rail against the physical or emotional attractions in this book. The fictional close calls are reality for the vast majority of people who find themselves subject to high biblical standards of romantic relationships.
Shallow Christianity. If you want a book with outstanding Christian morals in center stage, with varied biblical references backed by sound doctrine, this is not the book for you. This is a book with one verse, which I find laughably ironic. ‘Do not stir up love before it’s ready’, while the entire book is a bubbling cauldron stirred rather frequently.
Overall, 2 Stars from me, based on my biased opinions, genre prejudices, and the one line, “Kat already had a Savior. And it wasn’t Lucas.”
However. Maybe it’s better for my own sake to talk thru some of the more often discussed annoyances brought up in this book.
The drama. Readers... this is a DRAMA. It should come as no surprise that the main character, Kat, exhibits traits of angst, a sometimes cynical worldview, and feels misunderstood and/or ignored by those around her. Blessed be the person who has never felt any of these things toward those in their own personal lives.
The love interest. In a world of gender role equality, blurred lines, and smash the patriarchy attitudes, I fully understand the irritation brought on by Lucas. Love interest, small town hero, manly man yet sensitive. The kind of guy that doesn’t actually exist, yet lives on in fiction. I find some of his controlling nature to be over the top protective, especially given his role of ‘just best friend’. On the other hand, my own husband protects me like a holy relic and I can attest that I would have it no other way. So interpret Lucas’ actions how you will.
Childhood friends to engaged in the blink of an eye. So... reading this one must bear in mind that Kat & Lucas have been close friends their entire lives. It isn’t as if they met, had a racy hormonal fueled romp and decided what the hey, and got engaged on a whim. They’ve basically unofficially dated for years, growing an organic relationship that evolved into something more. Are there plot holes here? Yes. Did their love story unfold in a believable way? No. Because this is a fictional story. Is it somehow unrealistic that they would go from friends to engaged in the matter of a couple months? I’m not qualified to answer. I was engaged after two months of dating... give me another sixteen years of marriage, and I’ll get back to you.
The ‘close calls’. I have no right, reason, or desire to stand atop a soapbox built of false piety and rail against the physical or emotional attractions in this book. The fictional close calls are reality for the vast majority of people who find themselves subject to high biblical standards of romantic relationships.
Shallow Christianity. If you want a book with outstanding Christian morals in center stage, with varied biblical references backed by sound doctrine, this is not the book for you. This is a book with one verse, which I find laughably ironic. ‘Do not stir up love before it’s ready’, while the entire book is a bubbling cauldron stirred rather frequently.
Overall, 2 Stars from me, based on my biased opinions, genre prejudices, and the one line, “Kat already had a Savior. And it wasn’t Lucas.”
September 10, 2014
Lucas and Kat are friends. For years. You know -- easy relationship, lots of camaraderie. They can almost finish each other's sentences. Who wants to mess with that? The agony of knowing that Lucas is falling in love with Kat but doesn't want to tell her in case it wrecks their friendship and Kat is in love with Lucas but doesn't want to tell him in case it wrecks their friendship...oy...the tantalizing attraction zinging across every page. I was ready for them to kiss and declare undying love around page 18! What exquisite torture that it took nearly three hundred pages. Three hundred toe-curling, heart-palpitating pages.
I was an inanely blathering pile of mush by the end. Emotionally exhausted, with very few finger nails left and a permanent nervous twitch under my left eye. The lengths this reader will go to for a good book! And this book is more than good. It's if-you-don't-read-this-book-now-you-will-regret-it-the-rest-of-your-life good. I could say more. Wax poetic about complex characters, riveting plot, laugh out loud humour, emotional angst of every kind and a whole lot more but I'm not going to. Just. Read. The. Book. 'nuf said.
My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group and Zondervan for my review copy of this book.
I was an inanely blathering pile of mush by the end. Emotionally exhausted, with very few finger nails left and a permanent nervous twitch under my left eye. The lengths this reader will go to for a good book! And this book is more than good. It's if-you-don't-read-this-book-now-you-will-regret-it-the-rest-of-your-life good. I could say more. Wax poetic about complex characters, riveting plot, laugh out loud humour, emotional angst of every kind and a whole lot more but I'm not going to. Just. Read. The. Book. 'nuf said.
My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group and Zondervan for my review copy of this book.
September 3, 2014
ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND CUPCAKES is a totally cute contemporary romance. I love reading contemporary romances, and am so glad they are beginning to make more of an appearance in the market place.
ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND CUPCAKES is a light-hearted story of a woman stuck baking plain old vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry cupcakes. No German chocolate. No dark chocolate. No lemon. She needed a little variety in her life, and she wasn't getting it--until Lucas steps in and signs her up for a baking competition. Which all the plain, normal people discourage her from doing. But her flavorful friends are all one-hundred percent behind her.
I totally enjoyed reading ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND CUPCAKES and highly recommend this book to anyone (like me) who can't get enough contemporary romance. It's laugh out loud funny in places. Recommended.4.5 stars, rounded up .
ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND CUPCAKES is a light-hearted story of a woman stuck baking plain old vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry cupcakes. No German chocolate. No dark chocolate. No lemon. She needed a little variety in her life, and she wasn't getting it--until Lucas steps in and signs her up for a baking competition. Which all the plain, normal people discourage her from doing. But her flavorful friends are all one-hundred percent behind her.
I totally enjoyed reading ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND CUPCAKES and highly recommend this book to anyone (like me) who can't get enough contemporary romance. It's laugh out loud funny in places. Recommended.4.5 stars, rounded up .
May 27, 2015
Build me up buttercup, but don't break my heart
Lucas loves Kat so much he's not only her number one baking fan, but also secretly inscribes her into a cupcake competition in NYC. Kat's really excited, and doesn't hesitate to take him along as an assistant. But sadly, as her chances to win keep growing, Lucas fears he will loose her after the show is done. Is it okay to sabotage Kat's chances just to keep her to himself?
Although, the reality show part was a fun concept, it was difficult not to be disappointed with Lucas'personality. He had guts to stand up for Kat, to encourage her dreams in numerous ways -- but when it came to say I love you he couldn't. Not that he lacked the opportunity.
A bit too repetitive, but I admit, the cupcakes recipes look yummy.
Lucas loves Kat so much he's not only her number one baking fan, but also secretly inscribes her into a cupcake competition in NYC. Kat's really excited, and doesn't hesitate to take him along as an assistant. But sadly, as her chances to win keep growing, Lucas fears he will loose her after the show is done. Is it okay to sabotage Kat's chances just to keep her to himself?
Although, the reality show part was a fun concept, it was difficult not to be disappointed with Lucas'personality. He had guts to stand up for Kat, to encourage her dreams in numerous ways -- but when it came to say I love you he couldn't. Not that he lacked the opportunity.
A bit too repetitive, but I admit, the cupcakes recipes look yummy.
May 28, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! It had Hallmark movie vibes, but was so much better than one of those movies haha.
Not gonna lie this book made me very hungry.
I was originally going to give this 4 stars, cause I had to wait 30 chapters for the characters to learn how to communicate…but then I realized that was the point. The author was trying to teach you a bunch of really good lessons. One being that communication is key, if the characters would’ve communicated this whole story wouldn’t have happened. Praying when you’re confused and unsure before anything else, not letting stress run your life, and waiting on God’s timing and focusing on him were some of the other lessons.
Highly recommend!!
Not gonna lie this book made me very hungry.
I was originally going to give this 4 stars, cause I had to wait 30 chapters for the characters to learn how to communicate…but then I realized that was the point. The author was trying to teach you a bunch of really good lessons. One being that communication is key, if the characters would’ve communicated this whole story wouldn’t have happened. Praying when you’re confused and unsure before anything else, not letting stress run your life, and waiting on God’s timing and focusing on him were some of the other lessons.
Highly recommend!!
January 16, 2020
3.5 stars
* - Its a non-Amish Christian romance(!)
** - Reality TV
*** - Cupcakes
.5 - Miscommunication and misperceptions aplenty
A feel-good, quick read. Plus cupcakes.
Reading the descriptions of cupcakes made me hungry.
* - Its a non-Amish Christian romance(!)
** - Reality TV
*** - Cupcakes
.5 - Miscommunication and misperceptions aplenty
A feel-good, quick read. Plus cupcakes.
Reading the descriptions of cupcakes made me hungry.
June 23, 2016
Absolutely LOVED this book! So excited to find another to add to my favorites list!
January 14, 2022
was fun to read about a fictional baking reality show & the relationship between a contestant & assistant
June 9, 2023
I'm really glad this book only cost me a quarter. It started off okay - boy likes girl, girl likes boy, but neither of them know it. But then it continued like that, with almost NO progress, for over 300 pages! No two best friends in love have ever been as oblivious as these two. I don't mind light fluff reads, but after about a hundred pages, I just skimmed the rest of the of the predictable plot.
September 9, 2024
An excellent read. What appeared to be just a friends-to-lovers rom com, turned out to have tons of hidden gems about insecurities, fear, encouragement, dependence, and the real meaning of love. Kat and Lucas don’t just fall in love - they find themselves, each other, and the Lord’s purpose for their lives. I really enjoyed both the introspection and the humor - all wrapped up in a mouthwatering ode to cupcakes. Have one handy while reading and enjoy!
December 11, 2021
I think this book is a good read for people who like tingly romances and drama. I like the book, but I can defiantly see that it could use some necessary changes, such as character upgrades, and the plot was kinda weak. I like romance (and a little drama), but the book was just a little to weak of a plot for me to really enjoy it (I also think the ending was predictable, but cute).
November 1, 2022
This was a fun read based off TV baking competitions. The writing is good and I enjoyed the story. The only thing I didn't like was the couple not sharing their feelings with each other for so long. It didn't make a lot of sense to me that they would go to such lengths to keep their feelings a secret.
I believe fans of Christian and clean romance will like this one.
I believe fans of Christian and clean romance will like this one.
August 16, 2024
Fun book about a cupcake baker and her best friend who end up on a food channel cupcake contest on TV. This is a friends to lovers trope with lots of twists and turns and is a sweet romance set in Louisiana and Los Angeles, CA.
I listened to the audiobook and liked the narration.
I listened to the audiobook and liked the narration.
July 19, 2022
I was disappointed. Between her insecurities and lack of communication, she seemed more like a teen them adult. The constant fights, but never really resolving them, and then they suddenly go from awkward friends to engaged in 2 paragraphs. Not impressed. I gave it two stars because I did like the baking show aspect.
July 23, 2022
For me this was not a good book at all. I could not get into the book because there was no spark, and the scenes were not well written clearly as they jumped from one point of view to another with no transition into it at all which made some parts leaving you with confusion while trying to figure out who said what dialogue and the character thoughts. So, for me this book is no for me.
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