Baby Cakes: The Complete Bite Series: The Bite Series, Books 1-3

Bite Series #1-3

by S.J. Tilly, Gomez Pugh (narrator), Callie Dalton (narrator)

When a holiday baking competition goes incredibly wrong. Or right…

Michael

I'm starting to think I've been doing this for too long. The screaming fans. The constant media attention. The fat paychecks. None of it brings me the happiness I yearn for.

Yet here I am. Another year. Another holiday special. Another Christmas spent alone in a hotel room.

But then the lights go up. And I see her.

Alice

It's an honor to be a contestant; I know that. But right now, it feels a little like punishment. Because any second, Chef Michael Kesso, the man I've been in love with for years, the man who doesn't even know I exist, is going to walk onto the set, and it will be a miracle if I don't pass out at the sight of him.

But the time for doubts is over because Second Bite is about to start "in three… two… one…"

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Holiday, Novella, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published December 10, 2024

About the author

S.J. Tilly lives in Minnesota with her husband and their herd of boxers. She spends an unhealthy amount of time with her face buried in books, reading and writing. If she’s not nose deep in text, or harassing her dogs, she’s probably playing with her plants, pretending she knows how to garden.

You can find her stumbling around on Instagram @sjtillyauthor

https://www.amazon.com/S.J.-Tilly/e/B...

Reviews

[S.J. Tilly]

Available now!

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
https://a.co/d/hUaOhkX

Audible: https://bit.ly/4iiG6Na
Narrated by: Gomez Pugh & Callie Dalton

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3YE6XLH

Tropes:
Contemporary
Rom Com
Baking Competition
Judge - Contestant
Plus Size Heroine
Celebrity Chef
Holiday

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby Cakes: The Complete Bite Series by S.J. Tilly, is a compilation of all three novellas of The Bite Series. These three books were my first by this author and wow, what a way to get to know a new to me author. I fell in love with Alice and Michael and couldn’t put this down. You can either read the three novellas individually or all together in this beautiful box set. First, do we all need to gaze at the beauty of this cover?!



In the first book, we meet Chef Michael and Alice who is a recently unemployed woman who loves to bake. Alice’s cousins signed her up for the baking competition program knowing her long time celebrity crush would be a judge. Saying that sparks flew would be an understatement.



The second book, Snowed In Bite, starts out on Christmas Eve. Michael has decided that Alice is his and he will do whatever it takes to make her happy. He is taking Alice with him to his next competition in Canada but a blizzard changes their plans a bit and they find themselves in a beautiful holiday cabin, waiting for the storm to clear.



The final book, New Year’s Bite finds Alice and Michael at the competition hotel in Canada. Only once again, someone is playing with their lives and they have one surprise after another. But, Michael has a few surprises up his sleeve as well.

These three stories were romantic, sweet, swoony and steamy. They had a couple of little twists along the way. There were some hints at the end of some possible new projects and I can’t wait. I loved these little stories and will be thinking about Alice and Michael for a long time.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

So we got 2 new stories in this series. If you read the second bite, you know this couple. Now that they said the i love you there taking a mini vacation for Xmas in the mountains. Lots of romance, talking about baking 😭 and them getting down and dirty all over that rental, lol. But there is drama a scandal someone took pictures of them, when they were fucking and posted it in magazines.

Not a great look even if they both agree it looks hot this wasn't suppose to happen. And now onto book 3. They are both judging a baking contest this time with celebrities and one happens to be Michael ex. And she tries to start drama. But Michael is that MAN who doesn't give a fuck and makes sure that woman doesn't touch him or bring his woman down.
And Alice she was a angel making sure she killed his ex with kindness.

It's a sweet ending. And a surprise that the Alliance men are going to take cooking classes!!!


No om drama tiny ow drama, No cheating, tiny drama, Sexy times, no virgins

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶


Slowinsta
Pinning
Age gap
45H/30h
Praise kink
Masturbation
Nudes exposed
No condom
Hea
Epilogue

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not usually a big fan of holiday books, but this one was so cute. I love all the men that SJ Tilly writes and Michael was perfection. The second Michael meets Alice he decides that she’s going to be his. From this quote alone I knew I was going to love this book. “If there was another man, he’s done now. He let her out, let her cross my path, and that’s his own fault. Because if she was mine did keep her tied to my side. Literally, if necessary.” If you’re looking for a fast paced, insta love, obsessed with each other, spicy holiday read, this one is for you.

[Cheesy (Rhysand's wife) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,0 💫 | Le doy tres estrellas porque me reí un montón, es muy chistoso y ridículo jskaj pero esta muy lejos de ser su mejor libro. Se nota que fue de los primeros escribió.

Solo mencionaré la nota final de la autora: como siempre, los libros de Tilly están conectados de alguna u otra forma, y yo no até cabos de que este es el programa de repostería (second bite) que sale en el libro de Dom jajaja.
Y la autora dice que es probable que escriba un extra donde salgan los hombres de la Alianza llevando a sus mujeres a una clase de cocina de Alice y Michael (protagonistas de este libro). Ya quiero 😂💖 Con volver a leer a Hans y su mariposa me doy por bien servida 💞.

[Tyler | bookishwithty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Baby… Cakes! 😍🎂

“Baby Cakes” is a magical blend of three Christmas novellas in the Bite series— A cheeky Christmas tale brimming with naughty excitement!

Imagine being a contestant on a live TV baking competition, with your long-time idol and celebrity crush as a judging chef!

Better yet, the chemistry is *chefs kiss* and the sexual tension so sharp you could cut through… a cake? 😏

From the spice and role-playing & even those pesky awkward moments, everything captures the festive spirit, and then some ;)

You definitely won’t want to miss adding this story to your holiday TBR!

…. and that ending is the cherry on top!

[Clairsreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

There is just something so comforting about an SJ Tilly book that you just can’t replicate the feeling no matter what you try. Being chosen for the ARC team for this release felt so unreal and I still am pinching myself.

Alice is cast on a reality tv baking show facing her idol and the man of her dreams, Michael. When the two come face to face for the first time not only is it her dream come true but also her nightmare. On the other hand, once Michael sees Alice for the first time he realizes his life will never be the same and will have to make her his.

Baby Cakes is three separate novellas following Alice and Michael’s trysts throughout the holiday season. The first novella, Second Bite, follows the time on the show. The second, Snowed in Bite, follows Michael and Alice as a couple when they have a private weekend in a snowy cabin. And the third, New Year’s Bite, the couple heads back to the show to face the music, and the New Year, together.

There is something about the way that SJ writes that takes you on such a sweet journey that is just unmatched to anything else I have ever read. Her characters are endearing and loving and cozy and comfortable and just about everything you could possibly need for a comfort read. Her MMC’s would literally move mountains for their FMC’s and thats truly all I want in a romance.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This was exactly that cozy, warm, holiday vibe I needed to get me into the Christmas spirit this month and I couldn’t be happier that it came in the form of this ARC. Thank you SO SO much to SJ + team for this eARC for review ✨🎄🖤

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was as adorable as I thought it would be - and much needed light read after all the dark/horror stuff I’ve read this year. 😊 🎄 🎅

[jordanlilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cringe insta love on steroids but well written and a fun holiday novella. I honestly would have loved if part 1 had been dragged out into an entire book of them falling in love while the show took place over a couple weeks. Insta attraction but no “I love you’s” right away lol

[sof · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was horrifying

[Mer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ this was a super fun and cheesy Christmas book! I actually like the insta love in this and thought it was funny. I wish the fmc wasn’t so whiny but we can’t win them all!

[thevampireslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like The Great British Bake Off? Imagine that but replace Noel Fielding (sorry Noel) with a sexy man and Mary (sorry queen) with a hot plus size FMC.... this week you will be making SPICY PIES GUYS (sorry can you tell I'm overexcited) Have you been naughty or nice? 👀 I was nice because I got an early copy of Baby Cakes 😇 which is a tantalizing tasty blend of S J Tillys Christmas novellas in the Bite Series (they feature in my favourite mafia series by her called The Alliance WHO ELSE LOVES IT WHEN BOOKS ALL CONNECT AHHH ITS ALMOST LIKE ITS REAL LIFE ) no one writes men like Tilly, seriously the feminism? Leaves me body, it's gone, cannot be found, I don't even want it back, keep it ✋️ tropes below 👇 @sjtillyauthor
.
Celebrity Chef 👨‍🍳 (did I mention he's real sexy??)
.
Judge X Contestant (this trope reminds me of professor student...can I earn extra marks..hahahaha sorry omg I'm all flustered)
.
Plus sized heroine (I think I'm gay)
.
This was a super fun (Tilly's writing has me literally guffawing, do people guffaw anymore? ) and spicy festive read, I recommend all of Tilly's books because they're just feel good (not in that way ok..ok maybe a bit)

[❁ lilyreadsromance ❁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. This was another cute story by this author. It's official, guys. She's a favourite now.

In this one, we have an aspiring baker, Alice (oh how I love her name), joining in a baking competition tv show. She has this huge crush on one of the judges, Michael (who is a total hottie silver fox).

This whole book is separated into 3 parts. The first part was about the baking competition where Alice was one of the contestants. The yummy part where one party had to be impartial and another had to be judge by her creation. It was lovely and daunting at the same time. The second part is when the competition ended. They were stranded in the middle of nowhere in Canada due to a huge storm. Lots of sex. Pretty much the filler of the series. Final part is where Alice came back as a judge alongside Michael. In hindsight, it made no sense to me for a normal contestant to be a judge but fuck it. It's a romance. Who fucking cares.

The whole thing was cute and steamy at the same time. The whole love at first sight for our guy cemented the romance for me. It's such a simple plot, low angst and pretty much straight smut. No drama (well, there was this little ow drama in the third part but it was pretty much inconsequential) and that made me very happy. Sometimes, I just want a simple love story ya know.

[Maddie ✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’d like to start this review off with a quote from the book - “And I fill her to the brim with my christmas cream”


I hated this. I really did go into it wanting to enjoy it as I have a special edition copy but holy hell this was horrible. I don’t even know where to start. So we get a FMC who is obsessed with this chef guy and has a shrine to him basically. they meet on his baking competition show and he’s immediately in love with her. Home girl can’t even form complete sentences around him until after their second sexual encounter. After that it’s just basically all porn and the “plot” is dumb. Throughout the book they call each other cringe names and say extra cringe shit like “well stuff my stocking, that sounds amazing!” I am totally ok with cringe like that when meghan quinn has done it but this book was really off putting with it. The entire relationship (you know, the 3 days between when they met and got married, basically) felt very surface level. I didn’t connect with either character nor did I find them compatible.

I bought this because people at a book con said it was good. I was lied to.

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so in love with this book/The Bite Series!

When a holiday baking competition goes incredibly wrong. Or right…

This is such a fun and super sexy series of novellas that has just as much naughty as nice- and so much fa-la-la-la-ing…wink. And with a Great British Bake Off Vibe + a delicious, hunky Paul Hollywood but even sexier leading man? I mean come on, it’s DELICIOUS (pun intended). As always the chemistry and sexual tension are sooo yummy. And the finale to the series of novellas is so sweet and charming, it’s the proverbial (and perhaps literal) icing on the wonderful Bite cake.

Baby Cakes is now live and has the completed all three novellas:
🍪Second Bite
❄️Snowed In Bite
🥂New Year’s Bite

About this book
🎄GBBO style baking competition
🍪 Celebrity chef/judge x competitor
🎄Age Gap (15 years)
🍪 Praise
🎄Pining
🍪 NAUGHTY
🎄Novella Series
🍪 Plus sized heroine
🎄Dirty talking
🍪Holiday
🎄Instalove

[juwel · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️
3🌶️

6 stars, idc idc idc. S.J. Tilly can do no wrong and when you put holiday vibes and Wander on the cover I lose all ability to review with dignity.

TLDR; a cutesy spicy set of holiday novellas featuring insta-love, a 15 year age gap, lowkey touch her and die vibes, lots of open door spice all the while theres a baking competition going on. Oh, and did I mention Wander as Chef Michael?

[Rose DeVault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your honor I love this man.

Idk what SJ Tilly put in this book, but I DEVOURED it, Michael Kesso can do no wrong. It’s the fake that he just looked at Alice and was instantly like “mine.” Like brb while I drop to my knees for him.

I loved how easy the flow of all three of these novellas were as you read them back to back. You get the adorable meet cute in the first third of the book and then the rest is their adorable and hot love story. I love how open their communication skills are even when there’s a little bit of a hiccup. It doesn’t deter their love for each other.

I will forever recommend their story year round even if it’s technically around holiday book 😜

[lived_athousandlives · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the early early copy 😏

Holiday yummy 😋

Chef Michael is Santa Daddy. That is all.

Will add more after the release ❤️💚

[Meagan Grauel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Groooooooossssss. I'm really not even sure why I finished reading this one. And the fact that the spice was fairly decent and descriptive did not redeem this one. And it is not the 15 year age gap that did it for me. I'm all for an age gap. It was how creepy the MMC came across. He sees the FMC, locks eyes, and determines in that exact moment that she's "his." Based on what? Her tits?? And it doesn't really help that the FMC is all on board because she has a secret obsession shrine to him that she's been collecting for years. They both need help, and no one should be encouraging their sudden and way too intense relationship. This was three smaller novellas all combined into one book, but if I were you, I would skip this one.

[Jocelynereadsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby Cakes is a sweet and spicy bind up of all three novellas in S.J. Tilly's Bite Series. This bind up is the prefect holiday treat for any lover of Tilly's work and is a perfect gift for anyone looking to explore Tilly's style! Tilly's tone is equal parts romantic and sexy as she easily weaves together an insta-love tale between the hero and heroine. Tilly uses these three novellas to explore the romantic beginnings and early journey of Michael and Alice, which all center around a baking show al la Great British Bake Off Style! Tilly beautifully brings to life this love at first sight romance and imbues it with chemistry and tension that feels sexy and real to these characters. Baby Cakes is well paced and structured with lots of short chapters which really create a swift and smooth pace to the story. The relationship between Mike and Alice sizzles with tension and possessiveness making this romance extremely spicy and the perfect escape from everyday life!

I really loved these romance novellas and found them to be the perfect way of spending a cold holiday evening. I would highly recommend these to anyone who loves an insta-romance that focus on the discovery of a relationship with minimal angst. S.J. Tilly has definitely proven herself to be someone I just really enjoy exploring her works and I am delighted that I have her backlist to work through as I eagerly anticipate her new releases.

Thank you so much to Valentine PR for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely pick this one up if you're in the mood for a Hallmark Holiday after dark R rated romance with more spice than substance. This age gap, celebrity baker, reality tv star who falls hard for one of the contestants and then makes her a co-judge on his show felt really rushed and sudden but honestly not that unexpected for a book like this. That said, I did enjoy it but don't go in looking for a lot of emotional depth in this one (aside from jealousy and possessiveness). Recommended for fans of Tessa Bailey, Kayla Grosse and Netflix's Nailed it or Sugar Rush shows. I did enjoy that part of the book takes place in Canada and that the FMC was plus-sized.

[Kacie (kacie_booked_up) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby Cakes by SJ Tilly Review

“𝑫𝒊𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒐𝒆 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔?”

“𝑼𝒉-𝒉𝒖𝒉.” 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌.

“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚’𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏, 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒐𝒆.” 𝑰 𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒎 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒔𝒔. “𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎.”
Tropes:

🧁Holiday RomCom
🧁Plus Size FMC
🧁Celebrity Judge FMC
🧁Age Gap
🧁GrumpyxSunshine
🧁Snowed In

This was a fabulous holiday read. The vibes were immaculate, I mean a holiday baking competition romance between a judge and contestant? What more could you possibly want?!?!

Michael was so hot and grumpy but it was all over for him the minute he meets Alice. Swoon 🫠

As far as winter/holiday romances go, my top tier trope is when they get snowed in, especially if it’s at a cozy cabin or cottage and SJ wrote it perfectly in this one!

Baby Cakes is the Complete Series of three novellas Second Bite, Snowed in Bite, and New Year’s Bite. They are all available in paperback, ebook, Kindle Unlimited and audiobook on Audible today!

This collection is a must read so add it to your holiday TBR!

[thespicybooknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

We first met Michael and Alice in Second Bite, the insta-love holiday novella that brings all the sugar and the spice. Now, their extra spicy story has been completed with two more novellas in Snowed in Bite and New Year's Bite, and all three novellas are found together in Baby Cakes. I absolutely adore shy, sweet Alice and her obsession with reality baking show judge Michael. Their individual inner monologues as they watch each other are hilarious and, for Alice anyway, very sweet. And the growliness from Michael...hello! I adore how much Michael boosts Alice's confidence and brings her out of her shell as the novellas continue, and Michael is...still his sexy growly self.

"You are my everything. My f'ing world. My future. And you are f'ing stunning."

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

instant love.

[Lisbeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

El diálogo es terrible, la escritura me pareció infantil.

[Hannah Glenn]

DNF: not because it’s bad, I’m just mad at the false advertising of the cover. You put a silver fox on the cover, and then he turns out to be 45??? I’m lowkey mad😂

[Katie Magruder · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.75

[Romance_book_obsessed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for this ARC!!
When I read Second Bite, 2 years ago, it was my first introduction into the Tillyverse!

I am so happy SJ gave us more of Alice and Michael! There are 3 novellas in this one version beginning with Second Bite. Michael is a judge on a baking show and Alice is a contestant! There’s instant obsession and of course it’s spicy! Think a spicy Great British Baking show with a hot older man and a plus sized FMC 🧁

The other 2 novellas follow the couple after the end of second bite! I don’t want to spoil, but I’m so glad there was an extended story to finish up this couple’s HEA! There’s no 3rd act break up and chocolate spicy scenes 😍 definitely check this one out this holiday season 🎂👨🏼‍🍳🎄🎅🏻

[ChristiLovesBooks_smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby Cakes, The Complete Bite Series, by SJ Tilly @sjtillyauthor. SJ is an author that everything I've read I've loved!

I absolutely adored this book about Michael & Alice! Tropes: Contemporary, MF, Instalove, Laughing out loud funny scenes, Spicy, Snowed In, a bit of outside drama that Alice & Michael were subjected to & a wedding!

[Claire Ingledew · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time reading S.J Tully, given as a n Arc for my honest review.

I was so looking forward to this book when I saw the blurb, but for me it was a ok read, the first part i enjoyed but as the book went on i didn’t really enjoy it.

For me it’s 3 stars as i enjoy the first part.