When the Baker Met the Dragon

Leafshire Cove Monsters #3

by Lila Appleton, Alisha Klapheke

She bakes warmth and comfort. He thrives on mischief and adventure. But love has a way of turning even the wildest hearts toward home.

I love my quiet life in Leafshire Cove—early mornings, the scent of cinnamon and honey, the simple joy of kneading dough while the village slowly wakes. Everything in my world is warm, steady, safe.

Except Cyrus, the dragon shifter next door.

With his roguish grin and endless charm, Cyrus runs a rowdy pub, flirts shamelessly with almost everyone, and lives for adventure. Our friendship is built on teasing banter and unspoken understanding.

But what most of Leafshire Cove doesn’t know—what I’ve only ever suspected—is that beneath his carefree façade, Cyrus is desperate to discover the history of his dragon bloodline.

Even if it means poking his handsome nose into dangerous places.

When a noble’s impossibly large pastry order threatens to overwhelm me, Cyrus offers to help bake. During the late nights in the kitchen, I start to wonder if I’ve been wrong about him—about us—all along. But when a mysterious merchant offers him the chance to uncover his true heritage, our burgeoning relationship goes up in flames.

I know some dragons are fated for distant skies, but could some of them—one of them—possibly be meant to stay?



When the Baker Met the Dragon is a spicy cozy fantasy romance about love, longing, and finding home in the most unexpected place.

Tropes/

playboy/shy girl

friends to lovers

found family

animal familiars

spice

tending her wounds

dragon shifter MMC

human FMC

cozy bakery

cottagecore vibes

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Dragons, Cozy Fantasy, Monster Romance, Romantasy, Friends To Lovers

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 3, 2025

About the author

Lila Appleton lives in a small Tennessee town where she does yoga with her cats and drinks more tea than anyone should be capable of consuming. You can also find her on IG @authorlilaappleton and on the clock app @lilaappleton. The Leafshire Cove series are all standalone cozy monster fantasy romance novels that are short, sweet, and spicy.

Reviews

[Soft Nectarine ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ ultra COZY small town monster romance! Low stakes cottage core feels with the ember of excitement for the budding love birds….or I guess love dragon(s)

Kaya & Cyrus have been friends for years and have spend equal amount of time battling their feelings. OPPOSITES ATTRACT when she needs her order filled…no, seriously Kaya gets a large order in and Cyrus volunteers to help because he can’t stay away.

This series has THE COZIEST small town vibes with adorable magical creatures, friendly townsfolk & full of mysterious adventures. The plot isn’t that intense & rather slow but it made me enjoy the small moments like Kaya’s baking.

🥨 wallflower baker x adventurer dragon shifter

💛 adorable May Day festivities & a kissing booth

🥨 slow burn friends-to-lovers

💛 he thinks he’s not good enough

I wish this romance wasn’t as slow burn so we could get more smut 👀 sorry not sorry!! Why save all that top notch smuttiness until the end!?! Because a dominating Cyrus in bed is what every girl DESERVES baker or not. Maybe I just needed more angst?


candlelight romance
charming mmc
friends to lovers
shy fmc
one bed
sick bed
opposites attract
small town
fated mates
HEA


Thank you the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the baker met the dragon (Leafshire Cove Monsters #1) by Lila Appleton

Blurb: She bakes warmth and comfort. He thrives on mischief and adventure. But love has a way of turning even the wildest hearts toward home.

Rating: ****
Feels: Exciting, Adventurous, Mystified,
Style: Fantasy, Cozy Fantasy, Romance Fantasy, Dragons, Shifters
First published : June 3, 2025 : 184 pages Kindle

Mmm reformed rake drake? Cyrus is a player who is easy to fall for as he has all that charm and charisma, ... and happens to be a super sexy dragon shifter. Who doesn't want to fall for a dragon shifter? Well our sweetness Kaya the local baker is on the list. She wants stability and to work hard all the days of her life. Really glad she has good friends and Cyrus being one of those friends in her life. Cyrus is the only dragon shifter he has ever seen which is a true mystery to him and the town and he has no idea how he ended up there. Enter in the Queen who just wants to have a tea party. Some dudes who want to explore but really shouldn't. Oh yah and a cat. Loved watching this whole story unfold. Was an absolute pleasure to read and see what everyone was going to get up to.

Favorite Quote: "You better behave dragon. I have a magical cat on my side now and his teeth are legendary." Sio bares said chompers at Cyrus, who grimaces and holds up his hands. "All right, I'll be a good lad, " Cyrus says. "I swear it." " Don't go promising things you cant deliver," I say , laughing.

This book has:
Friends to Lovers
Small Town
Found Family
Touch her and die
Fated mates
Dragon
Shifters
Magic

[Chasing Silhouettes · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

"I want to do more than kiss her. I want to lay her out on this floury surface and taste every inch of her until I find what makes her moan the loudest." (Ch 10)

Kaya is a sweet and kind baker. One day at the bakery, a noble fairy walks in and commissions a tall order of pastries, offering a large compensation that she is hard pressed to refuse. Upon hearing their conversation, her long-time friend, Cyrus, offers up his assistance.

“If you wanted to do any poking or prodding, I’m yours.” (Ch 5)

Cyrus is a dragon shifter that owns a pub, likes drinking and gambling, but is also a very flirty playboy that Kaya might just have a quiet, secret crush on even though she knows he's not good for her. Even her close friends caution her to guard her heart against his wily, charming ways.

“I’m not saying it’s you. It’s him,” Laini says. “The ultimate playboy gambler, who parties more nights than not, volunteered to make scones. That is incredibly suspicious.” (Ch 6)

There is a mystery surrounding the local ruins that involves a rumored curse and ghost. When a stranger comes to town with a little tidbit of information, it stirs a curiousity and longing within Cyrus that leads him to investigate further. He longs for Kaya, too, but he knows he's not good enough for her. She deserves better than what he could offer her.

Except, as it turns out, he needs her... like life or death kind of need, and he doesn't have much time to figure it all out.

Leafshire Cove's residents continue to bring the cozy, the endearing, and the sizzle! Kaya and Cyrus fit right into it. Read if you have a sweet tooth for a little devourable, heady, and hygge romantasy interlude.

Part of an interconnected series, but can be read as a standalone.

eARC courtesy of Lila Appleton and The Cozy Coven

[KMart Vet · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

Such a fun time! It’s the kind of cozy fantasy romance that makes you want to curl up with a cinnamon bun and a warm, purring cat. Kaya is the kind of quietly competent heroine I love. She’s soft, strong, has good boundaries, and deeply rooted in her community. She's had a little crush on Cyrus for a while, despite knowing that he's not a good match for her. Cyrus, meanwhile, is exactly the right kind of chaos: flirty, wild-spirited, but a wonderful and supportive friend. He also knows that his attraction to Kaya isn't something to act upon since he's a love 'em and leave 'em type. Also, I love her cat familiar. He’s very much a reader stand-in, silently judging or approving from the sidelines.

The romance works because it takes its time despite the limited pages. It’s not just fated mates on fast-forward; there’s yearning, emotional tension, and a very fun kissing booth competition with a heap of smoldering jealousy. You want them to choose each other. The friendship foundation is solid, and when that slow-burn bond finally ignites, it feels earned.

Given that it’s a novella, the worldbuilding doesn't have a TON of depth, but I assume that the world-building is teased out through the other books as well. I've only read this one. The dragon-shifter lore gives it just enough intrigue to add flavor without pulling focus from the romance.

This isn’t a big, sweeping fantasy—it’s a low-stakes, high-heart novella that knows exactly what it’s doing. It’s soft, spicy, and full of found-family energy. Perfect for fans of cozy fantasies with just enough heat and just enough magic.

Thanks so much to the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Lila Appleton brings us another great installment of her Leafshire Cove Monsters series. In this one, Pub owner, Cyrus, and Bakery owner, Kaya, are long time friends that have hidden attraction to each other for just as long. He loves to party and is a bit of a womanizer. She loves her quiet and testing new recipes. How different could two people be. Right? Even their friends tell them they should not date. But, if they’re so different, why do they enjoy spending so much time together? Why do they crave each other’s company? Why can’t they stop thinking about the other?

‘When the Baker Met the Dragon’ is a cozy, sweet, sometimes sad, funny, spicy love story about two imperfect souls who, at first glance, shouldn’t fit together. But, once placed side by side, *snick* together perfectly. This one brought tears to my eyes. Lovely story.

*** Recommended ***

MMC:
* Cyrus
FMC:
* Kaya
HEA/Cliffhanger:
* HEA
Series:
* Leafshire Cove Monsters Book 3
Epilogue:
* Yes
Tropes:
* Monster Romance
* Friends to Lovers
* Fated Mates
* MF
Triggers:
* 18+
* Sex
* Language
Burn Speed:
* Slow
Spice Level:
* 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Kimberly Dijkstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy, cozy and spicy. Heerlijk makkelijk boek om weg te lezen

[Michaela | bumblebeeslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Baker Met the Dragon is a cute and cozy fantasy romance with a hint of spice near the end.

This friend to lovers fantasy is such a cozy read. I love the town of leafshire cove, with all of it's monsters and shifter characters. Kaya, a human, the FMC is just happy living her life baking every day, when a large order from a royal comes through and she is not sure she can make everything in time. Her friend, the hunky dragon shifter, MMC Cyrus, offers to help. Kaya secretly would just love to take it to the next step with Cyrus, but she is certain he will break her heart. And Cyrus, amusingly, feels the same way about Kaya. Neither willing to jeopardize their friendship. That is, until they are both volunteering at a kissing booth (for a good cause of course), and Cyrus sort of loses it when he sees Kaya kissing someone else rather passionately.

All the baking in this story will probably make you crave a croissant or scone, so maybe just grab one to dive into the book with! I have to say my favorite character in this story is Sio, Kaya's magically talking maplecat pet. He is amusing because when he does decide to talk, he sounds rather uppity, which I guess is to be expected from a cat. I love a story with a kissing booth debacle, and this one is just perfect. Cyrus surely cannot deny his feelings when he accidentally burns down the kissing booths due to jealousy/anger towards Kaya kissing another suitor. I also enjoyed learning more about Cyrus's dragon shifter kin when he finally is able to meet some. Sio the talking maplecat is really the hero at the end of this story, and helps Kaya and Cyrus unite so they can...consummate their love.

Some fave quotes:
"Cyrus is walking briskly toward me, a soft look of contrition in his handsome face. With shining scales highlighting his skin and spring-green hair-those horns!-he is stunning. I have always wanted to touch his wings, too..."

"My lips ache to feel her sweet mouth and to make her gasp with delicate strokes of my tongue."

"I want to kiss her. My body hums with desire. I want to do more than kiss her. I want to lay her out on this floury surface and taste every inch of her until I find what makes her moan the loudest."

"...my mind continuously flashes images of another male holding Kaya's hand, kissing her lips, making her laugh, and I am about ready to shift to my wild form and burn the world."

"The muscled lines leading from his chest to his waist have me drooling."

"I can't possibly survive unless he kisses me."

"I want nothing but to have his hands on me, rough and demanding and confident. I want him to claim me in full and in every way he can."

"I adore you more than the stars love the sky, Lady Sunscale."

Thank you so much to the author for a copy of this book!

[Brittanica Bold · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Lila Appleton book to date!! I knew Cyrus would deliver, and deliver he did 😍

What I loved about the book:
1. One of my favorite tropes is when the playboy falls HARD for the shy girl, and that was exactly the case for Cyrus and Kaya. I love that they were friends first while he had it bad for Kaya, and then they became more.

I loved how our playboy had a heart of gold, especially when it came to Kaya. Having been her friend, he put in so much effort to help her with things throughout her life, even when he never foresaw something happening between them. I also loved how he taught Kaya that she didn’t have to work her fingers to the bone everyday to be worthy of existing!! I need to hear that sometimes myself.

Kaya, oh beautiful Kaya. I have been intrigued with her since she was first mentioned in book 1 and I wanted to know who she would end up with because I could already tell she was so deserving of a forever kind of love. I’m so glad Kaya was able to show Cyrus that he was worthy as well and wasn’t just the scoundrel with unknown roots that would never be able to live up to everyone’s expectations. She taught him that he was fun, but not trouble, something he so desperately needed to hear.

2. I continue to love the small town of Leafshire Cove. From getting to see our past MCs in their daily lives to getting to meet and know new folks in the town, I love exploring more and more of this cozy little town that Appleton has created with each new book!

3. I absolutely adored the competing kissing booths and I need Delixian’s story STAT!!

4. I loved the side quest about the ruins outside the town and them being haunted!! I don’t recall hearing about them before, and this expansion of the map in my mind was so intriguing! I also loved that there were two separate journeys outside of Leafshire Cove, one when Cyrus and Kaya delivered her baked goods to the Queen and another when Cyrus went on a quest given to him by a…ghost!

5. Who doesn’t love a surly, talking cat?? I loved Sio and when he deigned to use his voice 🤣 but he also gave some wicked good advice when the time called for it

6. I loved their intimate moments together. From the protective closure of his wings to the fire used in dragon mating rituals, it was utterly fantastic.

Thank you to Lila Appleton for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.

4.5 stars!

[Emily Grizzell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an adorable cozy read with a deliciously slow burn. Cyrus and Kaya are both adorable and frustrating and I loved reading their story. I also loved being in Leafshire Cove again! Excellent read.

[Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Baker Met the Dragon

A cute cozy fantasy that focuses on Kaya and Cyrus’s story.

It was sweet and I enjoyed the mural pining and friends to lovers tropes in here. There was some fun little mishaps along the way along with some steam in the end.

If you enjoy fast-paced cozy romantasy with dragon shifters, magic, mayhem, and a talking cat, then be sure to check this one out!

[Lexi Burgess · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ A cute cosy book. Low angst, HEA. Felt a bit rushed towards the end perhaps but I enjoyed it nonetheless 🐉

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in KU

[a. saint blue · Rating 1 out of 5]

two adults not communicating for 100-something pages straight about their feelings for each other. womp

there's only so much of "i will never deserve her. i am a reckless playboy party nasty monster horrible man she deserves better than me." and "he is a manwhore who is also my best friend but i am a boring kissless virgin and he could never love me even though he like clearly does and also im going to let my friends tell me what to do with my love life even though im 25" i can take

i did skip a lot, i kinda hate the way everyone talks in this book. a lot of stilted dialogue/narration imo. i didnt care that much about cyrus' lore, so i read what i felt necessary and kept it pushing honestly. the reason i even picked this book to read was because i love wild, drunk playboys with a softspot for the person of his affection -- but i *heard* more about how he's a slutty gambling partier more than i ever saw it happen. he seemed really well-adjusted and responsible outside of like sometimes drinking during his shift and going to a dangerous place for research. and the gambling was like a couple games of cards that he's really good at i guess. i never saw it negatively impact anything so idk why that was such a big deal

not a lot to say about kaya. she bakes and doesnt take days off. she also lets hella animals in her shop while shes preparing food so thats really awesome

now i move into spoiler territory regarding things i wasn't a fan of/hated.

early on, kaya's cat, sio, gains the ability to talk. but only sometimes because he doesn't feel like it/doesn't want to. i wish this concept had been chopped because if you're going to make a talking companion then just let him talk? he doesn't add anything new or nuanced to any conversations imo. towards the end he fetches tully to come get cyrus when hes like half dead at the ruins but thats about as helpful as he gets. otherwise hes a regular old cat

there was weird usage of "male" and "female" in this book as well? at first i thought it made sense when cyrus was talking about other fantastical creatures that might not have an obvious gender/sexual dichotomy, but even kaya was calling other characters male and female and it was strange to me.

i thought it was going to pick up more during the devin chapter(s) when cyrus saved kaya from him and they finally shared a kiss, like. okay yeah maybe this kiss will wake them up and make them realize their mutual attraction for each other! kaya will see cyrus' passion for her, that he's willing to step in when another man gets too close and then this is when they can start talking about what their relationship means to the other. but no. they go back to their annoying respective self down-talk of not being good enough for the other and it'll never happen etc. etc. etc.

more chapters pass by, kaya delivers the pastries, im like 60% or more into this book. cyrus still has "im not good enough for her she deserves someone who isnt wild like me" monologue and kaya says "i should find someone who won't break my heart" even though from what i managed to read, he still really hasnt done anything in front of my eyeballs to secure in his personality that he would actually do anything of the sort. maybe i skipped over it while my eyes were glazing over

thennnn the kissing booth. good god. kaya is volunteering at this kissing booth and cyrus suddenly gets so jealous that his brilliant idea is to take over someone else's kissing booth and start this insane competition of who can be a bigger slut, essentially. *now* you want to be a playboy??? *NOW* when she's doing this for *CHARITY*???? are you okay. are you well. and further more ... kaya plays into it. ok. she only even agrees to do this because she wants more experience in kissing. she feels insecure about her inexperience. but now suddenly she feels confident enough to throwdown at an impromptu kissing competition against the one person she *actually* wants to kiss this whole time.

i guess there's my one example of cyrus being a playboy though so thats nice

honestly? delixian, the healer, comes up and starts making out with her heavy and in my head im like. okay well if you're so convinced that cyrus isn't going to work out, then come fuck around with delixian. he's clearly into you, isn't afraid to show how into it he is, he's hot, he's a doctor, he wants to have fun. but of course she's more concerned that the spark isn't *excactly* the same as it is with cyrus. she keeps looking over at him, tongue deep in some other girls mouth and making a show of it all, and not just enjoying the attention this beautiful, toned man is giving her

seeing delixian do exactly what cyrus should've been doing ages ago makes him start raging out, setting shit on fire, injuring delixian and setting back the efforts of the orphanage charity event. he was fucking weird for that. he started this competition. he shouldn't have come in the kitchen if he couldn't handle the heat.

and the cherry on top? multiple cherries actually. first of all, after this transpires, kaya thinks to herself "man. he sure was jealous back there. but not because he wants me romantically or anything. he never would. because he's for the streets" OHHHH. my god.

and the *second* cherry is when cyrus is flying away in shame because yeah you should be fucking embarrassed you fucking weirdo -- i actually wrote this in my notes: "me when im a man and my unbridled rage over a competition i started destroys property, injures someone, and shakes the trust of he woman i love earns me a cutie mark that says we're meant to be together no matter what so it's okay actually"

yeah he uhhh gets his mate mark -- not after saving her from an aggressive man who *wasn't* made for her, didn't understand her, gave her bad vibes, almost hurt her etc., but after destroying her hard work for a charity event and burning her friend's hand. and running away from it after she yells at him.

riiiiightttttttttttttt.

anyway kaya gets her mate mark soon after, cyrus is like dying after finding more dudes like him in a city and he's like shriveling up like a shrimp bc he's romantically horny and so is kaya and sio decides to talk and tell tully to go get him and tully goes to get him and she decides not to take any accountability for interfering with "true love" and then they fuck and i hated it and i didnt read the epilogue

*EDITING TO ADD* i forgot about the one bed trope. they had one bed at the hotel they stayed at. and cyrus slept on the floor. so they didnt even sleep cuddled up together. i hate both of these people LOL

yeah it gets one singular star because it wasn't even entertaining to read. i dont need insanely flowery language or purple prose to enjoy something, and this is probably a personal nitpick. but like i said in one of my update posts, this reads the way cardboard tastes. and the two main love interests couldve solved everything in a ye olde email

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Our MCs start as friends longing for each other. Among baking a large order they realize that maybe there is more.
I love the small town cozy vibes. Just like the other books in the series, the town is its own character and the town people show up in a fabulous way.
If you are into a bit of spice and a lot of baking in your romance books, this is your story.

[Cozy Sabie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He's different when he is alone with me. He's not the gambler, the flirt, the wild dragon shifter. He's just Cyrus and he's perfect."

"She smells like springtime, gently floral and sweet like her spirit."

GENRE: Cozy Romantasy
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75/5 - rounded to 5 in platforms that dont have half star rating
FORMAT: eBook Arc

Would I recommend to others?: If you are looking for a sweet cozy romantasy that is a standalone in this series, then yes! It is the perfect, quick read for someone who wants to just read a feel good book with deep meanings (all cozy fantasy have deep meanings, in my opinion) AND Kaya and Cyrus are just so cute together! This is a monster cozy romantasy with spice and mature content so make sure to look at the trigger list if you need to beforehand.

Long Review:
This Cozy Romantasy has one of my favourite elements in cozy books: multiple type of mystical creatures in the book. One of my favourite Familiar in this book is a Maplecat, which in this book is unique from the Maplecat breed we have in that

"They look as though they are covered in autumn leaves, but when you get close, you see each leaf is made of fur and its incredibly soft."

And not only that, the Maple cat (Sio) has occasional moments where he can talk! A talking cat in a book is always so fun to read about and enjoy

This book is a shy FMC with a player/flirty MMC. We see that they have a great dynamic between them and they already have an established friendship that has been going on for years. However, in the usual way, the FMC has protective best friends (we love them) that warn her to stay away from the MMC and this causes a little bit of a tension throughout the book as they both want to give their relationship a try but they are scared of multiple things

"Kaya, you're a stable hard-working woman who doesn't like to drink and play cards. You're unique in his world. I adore Cyrus, but he is what he is. A player. He would never remain loyal. He would hurt you."

Now, let's discuss the MMC. So Cyrus is a dragon shifter and he was raised by his adopted, non-dragon shifter parents. He doesn't know anything about his birth parents and he thinks he was abandoned. The journey of him finding out more about his own kind if an important theme in the story. Another important element is that Cyrus believes himself to be not good enough for Kaya and Sio (talking cat) advises him that

"She (kaya) deserves to make that choice."

Meanwhile, Kaya thinks that Cyrus, who is wild, loves a party and is always playing a game of card could never settle down in the life she enjoys, which is a quiet one. The dynamic between them slowly develops as they both try (and fail) to hide their feelings from one another

"After all these years, I'm an expert at stealing your pastries, Kaya" I laugh.
"You're a menance."
"I'm your menance."

And one of my favourite elements of cozy fantasy is mentioned in here: Slow living! This is not a main part of the book but is mentioned in order to motivate Kaya to take a break and to unlearn the habits she picked up from living with her parents, who always forced her to work and be afraid of being lazy. Due to this, she has never taken a holiday (does this sound familiar to anyone else?). Cyrus is always encouraging her to take a holiday and that she does not need to earn her breaks

"Of course. You are an expert. An Artist. But perhaps you don't allow yourself to be selfish once in a while, to do something just for you."

"You don't have to earn time off, Kaya. You deserve pleasure and relaxation just because you exist."

I truly enjoyed this cozy romantasy book and I'd highly recommend it as a feel good book. Thank you to the Author for the eArc in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Beba Andric · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author captured this book, so aptly with these words, it's "as rich as cinnamon and sweet as sugar" and hot enough to self combust! Having met Kaya in previous books, I desperately wanted a story about her. And the author delivered. OMG did she deliver! This read brought many a smile to my face, tugged at my emotions and by the end, geez, it was I who threatened to self combust from pure delicious, tender, HOTNESS! This author definitely has a magic touch, she most definitely commands attention with her accessibly charming prose, I could almost hear her chuckling "come into my parlour, said the spider to the fly" and I spread eagled into her web willingly!

Cyrus is flirtatious and so charming, he can melt the icing off a cake, easygoing and sheer delight wrapped up in a very gorgeous package. A package Kaya would love to unwrap, heck, I'D like the unwrap said package! Anyhoo....now that I've shoved my tongue back in my mouth, His Hotness is more than, well, heat evoking in all the wrong places, or the right places...he's a real nice guy. He even offers to help Kaya out when she gets a massive order for the queen. Oh, Kaya is a baker extrordinaire, and totally human, wheres Cyrus is a pub owner and a dragon shifter.

Three things happen in quick succession, first that Cyrus happens to be in Kaya's bakery when the huge order came in, secondly that he offered to help, thirdly that her cool friends, Tully and Laini, who we met in previous books, warn her off Cyrus, well meaning friends, concerned, true friends. Not that Kaya is contending anything happening, or that she feels anything for Cyrus, of course not, she and Cyrus are just friends...but I like Cyrus, very VERY much! Ok, so he might be a smooth taking gigolo, a shameless flirt, an ale chugging, card playing pub owner but behind all the bravado and pleasantries, he has this yearning need to find more of his kind. He's a sole dragon shifter, never having encountered another like him, until he does. Except it's not a living one and he's pointed in a direction he needs to go, to discover, to uncover his roots. I loved the adventure he went on, I loved the revelations he found, but heck did I LOVE the May Day celebration event! What a laugh! Which led to more adventures, which led to more truths, which led to almost ruin...yes, this is a light read, but full of substance.

As with any of this author's books, I was glued to the pages from the beginning. The sexual angst and tension is like an overripe melon, ready to explode at any second, and good grief was I anxious for IT to happen! I wanted to shout out to both of them, "STOP OVER THINKING!" The meandering path the author took was delightfully evocative, I didn't want to veer from this magical path, I devoured Ms Appleton's words as though I was under a spell, lapping up every word and event to it's ultimate climax 😜 yes.... I KNOW what I did there....But, seriously, it's more than just spice and steam, this is about friendship and misconstruing of facts, of fears and of identity and even a bit of mystery and danger thrown in. I have enjoyed these books so very much, I have rooted for the characters so very much and frek was I elated at the outcome!

[Heartless Monster Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, if Leafshire Cove was a real place you wouldn't see me for dust. With every new inhabitant we see, comes another complex and thrilling story. I couldn't put it down!

Kaya, Leafshire Cove's baker, loves her job. So much so that she rarely gives herself time off. When she gets a massive order from the Queen's household she panics that won't be able to fill it in time... Queue Cyrus, Kaya's Dragon Shifter bestie (and huge flirt), who runs a tavern called The Gold Coin. He offers to help Kaya fulfill the order but her friends, Laini and Tully, aren't so sure about his motives.

The secret infatuation they have for one another is so cute and they really struggle to keep their emotions contained and hands to themselves. The dual pov and inner monologues make the tension especially palpable. Even though Cyrus is a well known womaniser, he's really just a secret cinnamon roll only for her and I'm here for it! I love his protective streak and the way it shocks him to his core every time it comes over him, especially when Devin gets a little too handsy.... "Apologise to her or die twice" 🥵

I really feel for Cyrus, not knowing his real family, or anything about his Dragon kin. The isolation, the uncertainty and the loneliness are like an aura around him. So when he found out about Ravina Roxa I was SCREAMING. My heart was genuinely in my mouth after the revelation about the mate mark too!

Perfection is the only way I can describe the sweet and spicy ending.... The Dragon (not quite) tamed. I defy anyone who wouldn't instantly melt into a puddle when Cyrus says "Grip the headboard, Kaya" 🫠

I really hope we get Delixian's story at some point because I'm a little in love with him tbh.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Baker Met the Dragon is everything I want in a cozy monster fantasy—warm, whimsical, and full of banter. Set in the charming town of Leafshire Cove, Lila Appleton once again delivers a story full of swoon-worthy moments, gentleness, and characters you want to hug. I absolutely loved seeing past characters return, adding that perfect sense of found family continuity.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (4.5/5)
🔥🔥.5 (2.5/5)

Cyrus, the dragon shifter with a playboy past, completely stole my heart. Beneath the flirt and charm is a man who genuinely cares—especially for Kaya. I loved that their relationship started as friends, with Cyrus slowly realizing just how deeply he feels for her. His journey of self-discovery, especially tied to his mysterious past, was charming and I was definitely rooting for him.

Kaya is strong, grounded, and wonderfully real. Watching her learn that life isn’t just about hard work—but also about joy, rest, and leaning on others—was so realistic. And in return, she showed Cyrus that he is worthy of the forever kind of love, that fun and adventure don’t equal chaos and trouble.

🌙 “You don’t have to earn time off, Kaya. You deserve pleasure and relaxation just because you exist.” 🌙

The spooky ghost elements gave the story a delightfully eerie twist, and the magical talking cat? Pure gold. That cat had all the sass and attitude of a real feline—perfectly done.

If you love cozy fantasy with monster romance, sweet, charming, and a sprinkle of Halloween-ish mystery, this one’s a must-read. Leafshire Cove is the kind of place you’ll want to return to again and again.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaya the baker and Cyrus the dragon are the next Leafshire Cove residents to figure out they're meant for one another. And they DO NOT make it easy on themselves.

First off, Cyrus thinks Kaya deserves someone better than a dragon shifter who knows nothing of his own people. He's also a bit of a flirt and Kaya is very much NOT that. So he does his best to keep their friendship on an even keel even while thinking naughty thoughts about the little baker. On Kaya's end, she thinks she wouldn't be enough for Cyrus's adventurous spirit. So she clings to the idea that they're better as friends and doesn't let herself imagine anything beyond that.

To be fair, it doesn't help that her friends (in an effort to help her keep her heart unbroken) warn her off him every chance they get.

Anywho. A big pastry order has Kaya and Cyrus spending time together when he offers to help her out. Being a gentleman, he also ends up accompanying her to deliver said pastries. Which leads to an overnight, out of town stay where they are forced to cohabitate. Which is fine. It's all fine. Probably.

THEN, a ghostly encounter with another dragon shifter has Cyrus going on a little adventure after a slight misunderstanding involving a kissing booth and a little case of dragonfire. And that's when things really take a turn.

Enjoyable, but MAN these two made things difficult for themselves. Still, I liked it. *thumbs up*

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking forward to this story since the first book. Lila didn't disappoint. When the Baker Met the Dragon was such a good read.


Kaya is a shy human baker with only a few people she's closest to. She loves her job and her quiet life, and that's enough. She's the very definition of an introvert. Dragon Shifter Cyrus owns a tavern, is at the center of society, has plenty of friends and acquaintances, and loves a bit of adventure. He's the very definition of an extrovert. Miraculously, the pair became friends, but now it's leaning towards something more, but they keep getting in their own way. Doubts about themselves and preconceived notions about each other constantly plague them. However, the romance didn't feel angsty. Maybe it was that they were constantly together and had a great friendship to start with was the reason the negative feelings didn't stir. Either way, they worked it out in a perfect way.


I enjoyed the plot. The story mostly takes place in Leafshire, but there was a sort of road trip to a larger city that was hosting a festival/event. New people, new places, and a new way for Cyrus and Kaya to get to know each other. So that was a lot of fun. There was also a little adventure with a cursed piece of land, and ghosts, and Leafshire also celebrated a holiday. The friend group is back, and Tully is back to her antics, and this time Lanini has joined her. When the Baker Met the Dragon was a fun, light, and perfect cozy that I couldn't help but enjoy.

[Yugie Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leafshire Cove. A cozy magical town where lion shifters, orcs, pixies, gargoyles, minotaurs, and humans live in peace. It's a world where maplecats, dragonfoxes, and gryphons freely roam the town. And it is home to Cyrus, the town's lone dragon shifter, and Kaya, the town's premiere baker. They are two long-time friends who secretly are in love with one another but are too afraid to give in to their feelings for fear of ruining their friendship. Good thing fate knows better!

It is that friends-to-lovers romance that we see unfurl in this charming novella that's so easy to read and lose oneself in. I enjoyed the way both Kaya and Cyrus tried to downplay their feelings for each other only to have such visceral reactions of jealousy whenever some third party dares to enter the picture. It was eventually such a relief when finally it was made clear to both of them that there was going to be none else for Kaya and Cyrus but each other.

Finally, I loved the found family vibes in this story. It was a delight reading about a clique made up of a dragon shifter, gargoyle, and minotaur look out for each other and their mates. And the promise of yet more couples finding their own HEA in future books only makes me excited for this series. I only wish that I'd stumbled upon this series much sooner!

I received a free review copy of this book from the author. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love these monster and human spicy romance series, and in this book we get to meet Kaya, a sweet and gentle baker who loves nothing more than to serve her lovely baked goods to her customers enjoying the sweet smells of cinnamon, sugar and baking dough. She loves her peace and quite, and is very happy to live in the small village where everyone knows everyone and everything about each other. Her best friend is on the other hand a shifter dragon who loves adventure, is a real rogue, who loves gambling, and runs a very noisy pub. These two are total opposites, however they are so attracted to one another, but believe the other is better off without them. Until the mate mark happens and then they had a very short span of time to seal the bond. Their friends also thought they were not good for one another, and wanting to protect Kaya from heartbreak thought to keep them apart, until they knew they had to get them together before it was too late to save them. I really enjoyed this lovely and lighthearted book, the romance is lovely and the heat and spice in the book is just right. I also love Kaya's familiar, he is too cute for words. The fact that Cyrus though a rogue is so gentle and loving towards Kaya melted my heart. I look forward to more monster/human romances in this fun series.

[Spinster Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful journey to lovely Leafshire Cove! I love this world and the characters that call it home. This story is full of fun dialogue, sweet moments, meddling friends, yummy spice, and adorable animal companions. It is cozy joy.

Kaya is a human who owns a bakery and doesn't date. She is very focused on her work and making her bakery a success.

Cyrus is a dragon shifter who owns a pub and dates a lot. He is very focused on enjoying himself and having a good time.

They are really good friends. She has a crush on him. He thinks she is pretty but too good for him and a fling. So, they continue to support & care for each other and say nothing of their feelings. Then she goes on a date. And he kinda loses it. (happy dance) And then things progress from there as their feelings intensify but they continue to fight those feelings and think the other could never want them. It is marvelous.

Kaya and Cyrus are really loveable characters. They are sweet and funny and care so much for the people in their lives.

I enjoyed the writing and pace of the story. And appreciate that it was easy to keep track of people and places. My brain is grateful for that!

I received this as an ARC and am so thankful. My review is based solely on my thoughts and opinions of the book and not influenced byt the ARC at all.

If you like cozy & happy, you need to read this book. It is so fun.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaya the Baker and Cyrus the Dragon; she makes her delightful creations in her bakery while Cyrus has his pub next door. Secretly she is interested in him but is afraid of getting her heart broken, so she keeps him in the friend box. Meanwhile Cyrus is breaking hearts left and right, never settling down with anyone less than his mate. He secretly wants to take things out of the friend zone and on to the next level, but won’t because he doesn’t want to lose her friendship if they’re not compatible.
Neither one will tell the other their true feelings and things get a little heated on May Day at the kissing booth.
Two souls bound for each other. Finally accepting what can no longer be denied, they’re brought together by friends and loved ones. Committed to a future together, they reside in Leafshire Cove with their friends.

I was really excited to read this and I was not disappointed at all. The writing flowed through the story and I felt like it made sense. All of the characters in Leafshire Cove meshed quite nicely and I look forward to reading more about them all.

I thank the author for sending me a copy of her book in exchange for a review.

[Cat Bowser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.

I think I am just an utter sap for an old timey village with small shops run by mythical beings. There’s such a cozy and relaxing feel to it that I think it’s become a subgenre in cozy fantasy and I cannot get enough of it.

One thing I adore about this couple, Cyrus the dragon shifter and Kaya the human, is that there is a strong emphasis on their friendship at the emotional core. Even when they become a deeply intimate couple, they still make reference to the fact they were friends first and I NEED MORE OF THAT! They enjoy one another’s company, tease each other and it’s such a beautiful thing to witness.

There’s such trust in this relationship and it absolutely sells it. One thing I adore the most is that during the spicy scenes, Cyrus is very demanding, making commands and the like…but he does it because Kaya likes it. And we get some of her POV reflecting on how completely safe she is.

Oh and there’s a cat made of maple leaves who gains the ability to talk and is every bit the sassy king you’d think a cat would be.

I can’t wait for more in this world!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of the series…so far. I seem to fall more in love with this small town with each new book.

Our lovely couple in this one are long time friends who finally come to realize how much the other means to them.

I loved how they are each owners of an establishment in the town and are basically polar opposites but complement each other so well.

The greatest part of this book was how it tied the three books that are part of the series together by including previous couples and showing a ‘slice of life’ perspective. It brought so much depth to the world and characters.

A m/f romantic fantasy with a dragon shifter, sweet baker, found family (I want the brother’s story and the lost city of dragons)some great tension, a very feline fiesty familiar and a very happily ever after.

Three POVs told in first person

Main couple -
Kaya - bakery owner, human
Cyrus - dragon
Sio - fiesty old maple cat and my favorite 😍

Steam- some spice with detail

[The Book Dragon's Hoard by A.V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm quite enjoying this sweet series of cozy romantasy novellas. This third instalment presents Cyrus, the dragon shifter tavern owner, and Kaya, the introverted baker, who have been friends for years but feel more than that for each other. This quick read had me curious from the start and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery aspects with Cyrus looking into his past and trying to find other dragon shifters while distracting himself from his attraction for Kaya.

While the romance aspect was fun, following some of my favorite tropes, what made this book really memorable is the talking cat. I absolutely love animal companions in stories and Kaya's maplecat, Sio. The feline added some fun moments and was integral to the final twist of the story, so deserves much love!

If you want short monster romances with a touch of spice and all the low-stakes cozy vibes, this series is definitely for you!

[purrs and plotlines · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, this was a cute cozy fantasy with a HEA. I think Sio is hilarious and honestly wish there was more of him involved. This story has friends to lovers, cozy town vibes, and the potential to dive into a cool bit of history with the dragon shifters.

The writing felt stilted and made the conversations or inner monologue sound a little robotic.

A majority of the story felt like it was only focused on their pining with no plot behind it. I would have loved to have more background on Cyrus after finding the dragon shifters. I would have loved more plot within the story itself. For example, the little trip to deliver Kaya's sweets for the Queen's tea or the little festival were fun. More of that would have helped. Pining can be done right, but it can't be the only point of the story.

I think this book just wasn't for me, but I hope others give it a try and I am thankful for the author for sending me the ARC.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaya is the kind of shy that makes you want to wrap her in a blanket and protect her from all things awkward—including herself. Enter Cyrus: a flirty, fire-breathing cinnamon roll who treats flirting like breathing and casual kisses like polite greetings.

Kaya’s got it bad, but instead of confessing her feelings, she signs up to work the kissing booth. You know, for research. Because nothing says “I’m totally not into you” like kissing everyone but your crush in public. Spoiler: it goes about as well as you’d expect.

Watching these two fumble their way toward each other is a slow-burn delight. When they finally stop tripping over their own insecurities and admit what they want? Swoon. It’s sweet, spicy, and full of that cozy fantasy charm that makes Leafshire Cove such a joy to visit.

Highly recommend if you like monster romance with heart, heat, and a heroine who learns to roar in her own way.

[Livvy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ As soon as I saw this cover I knew I wanted to read this book. This is the first book I’ve read by Lila Appleton. It’s a quick, cozy romantasy featuring Kaya, a shy human baker and her long time friend Cyrus, a playboy dragon shifter. It was a fun journey watching them both struggle to deny their growing feelings for each other. If you’re looking for a quick good feelings book with a dash of spice, this book might be for you!

Friends to lovers
Only one bed
Monster romance
Play boy/shy girl
Slow burn
Found family
Wound healing

Favorite Quotes:

“You’ve had your fun with Halvard the Generous, which is forever his title as of today.”

Although things feel vastly different with Kaya, I’m a huge risk for her and her sweet heart. I won’t experiment with my personal growth at her expense. She’s worth so much more than that. She can’t be my test case