The Baker: a sweet, wholesome, romantic suspense novel

by Cynthia Woolf

She built her dream to keep herself safe. He brought danger straight to her door.

Megan Kincaid learned the hard way that trust can shatter everything. After a devastating betrayal, she pours her heart into the bakery her grandmother started—building a life that’s warm, successful, and carefully guarded.

Ethan Marlowe never intended to get close to anyone again. Hiding from a powerful enemy, he’s content to stay invisible… until he realizes someone is watching Megan. Protecting her means stepping out of the shadows—and facing a past he thought he’d buried for good.

As the threats escalate and danger closes in, Megan and Ethan are drawn together by a connection neither expected. But loving Ethan means risking the walls Megan built to survive—and walking away may be the one choice that puts them both in deadly danger.

If you love sweet, closed-door romantic suspense with a protective hero, a courageous heroine, found family, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after, scroll up and one-click today.

175 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2026

About the author

Cynthia Woolf is the USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author of eighty-five works of romance fiction. Comprising sixty-six historical western romances, ten contemporary romance novels, two contemporary romance novellas, one historical western romance novella, and six sci-fi space opera romances, which she calls westerns in space. Along with these books, she has also published twelve boxed sets of her books and two short stories.

Cynthia loves writing and reading romance. Her first western romance, Tame A Wild Heart, was inspired by the story her mother told her of meeting Cynthia's father on a ranch in Creede, Colorado. Although Tame A Wild Heart takes place in Creede, that is the only similarity between the stories. Her father was a cowboy, not a bounty hunter, and her mother was a nursemaid (called a nanny now), not the ranch owner.

Cynthia credits her wonderfully supportive husband, Jim, and her great critique partners for saving her sanity and allowing her to explore her creativity.



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TITLES AVAILABLE (English unless otherwise stated)

COLORADO BILLIONAIRES (sweet contemporary novels)
THE CEO
THE RANCHER
THE MAVERICK
THE TYCOON
THE ARTIST (coming soon)
THE QUARTERBACK (coming soon)


MONTANA BILLIONAIRES SERIES (contemporary sweet western novels)
Her Secret Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Mysterious Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Royal Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Christmas Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Bachelor Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Wild Cowboy Billionaire (Available in German)
Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire
Her Disguised Cowboy Billionaire


CHRISTMAS AT THE MISTLETOE INN (contemporary novella)
Cooking Up Christmas


THE BRIDES OF THE KLONDIKE
The Gold Rush Bride (Available in German)
The Gold Mountain Bride


THE PRESCOTT BRIDES (Available in German)
A Bride for Ross
A Bride for Frank
A Bride for Tucker
A Bride for Clay
A Bride for Brodie



THE HEART WISH MAIL-ORDER BRIDES SERIES
Heart of Stone
Heart of Shadow


MARSHALS MAIL ORDER BRIDES
The Carson City Bride (Available in German)
The Virginia City Bride (Available in German)
The Silver City Bride
The Eureka City Bride


ANGEL CREEK CHRISTMAS BRIDES
Adele


BRIDES OF GOLDEN CITY
A Husband for Victoria
A Husband for Cordelia
A Husband for Adeline


BRIDES OF THE OREGON TRAIL (Available in German)
Hannah
Lydia
Bella
Eliza
Rebecca
Charlotte
Amanda
Emma Rose
Nora
Opal


BACHELORS & BABIES
Carter (Book 3)


BRIDES OF SEATTLE (Available in German)
Mail Order Mystery
Mail Order Mayhem
Mail Order Mix-Up
Mail Order Moonlight
Mail Order Melody


CENTRAL CITY BRIDES (Available in German)
The Dancing Bride
The Sapphire Bride
The Irish Bride
The Pretender Bride


HOMESTEAD CANYON SERIES
Thorpe’s Mail-Order Bride
Kissed by a Stranger
A Family for Christmas


HOPE’S CROSSING
The Hunter Bride
The Replacement Bride
The Stolen Bride
The Unexpected Bride


AMERICAN MAIL-ORDER BRIDES
Genevieve, Bride of Nevada


THE SURPRISE BRIDES
Gideon


THE BRIDES OF SAN FRANCISCO
Nellie (Available in German)
Annie (Available in German)
Cora (Available in German)
Sophia (Available in German)
Amelia (Available in German)
Violet


THE BRIDES OF TOMBSTONE (Available in German)
Mail Order Outlaw
Mail Order Doctor
Mail Order Baron


DESTINY IN DEADWOOD (Available in German)
Jake
Liam
Zach


MATCHMAK

Reviews

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

HONORING HER GRANDMOTHER’S WISHES

The series will take place in Colorado. It is a contemporary romance with a touch of suspense, angst, and eventually romance. Sometimes, it will take time for them to acknowledge their feelings. The two main characters in the story will be Megan Kincaid and Ethan Marlowe.

Megan Kincaid is the only daughter born to Rocky and Madelyn. She has five brothers and learned young in life to be tough. While her mother wanted the boys to treat her gently, Megan was used to scuffling with the boys. Her one soft spot was her grandmother, who taught Megan the art of running her bakery, The Velvet Oven, which she left to Megan, along with the land and her massive fortune, including millions in investments and precious jewels. Grandma Edith also warned her about men and greed.

Grandma Edith: They’ll come. Men with money, who think they know better than you. And when they do, you’ll say no. Whether they offer you a dollar or a million dollars, you’ll say no. The Velvet Oven is a neighborhood institution. It’s meant to be a neighborhood shop. It doesn’t need to be any bigger than it is. Do you understand?
Megan: I understand, Grandma. The Velvet Oven will never belong to anyone but a Kincaid. I swear it.

In Denver, Ethan Marlowe was also raised learning the trade of a baker from his grandmother. His goal is to own every artisan bakery—and so far, he has capitalized by buying nine bakeries in Denver--every single one but The Velvet Oven. Edith Kincaid wouldn’t sell, but hopefully, her granddaughter, Megan, will take his offer. Yet each offer made, she always replies, ‘No, thank you.’

“I need to understand why she believes she can refuse me. No one refuses Ethan Marlowe.”

The story has the good, the bad, and the ugly of people. Why are so many people wanting to acquire The Velvet Oven? Legend about jewels and gold? The prime property that is vacant? To own all the neighborhood bakeries? Megan doesn’t care about money; she is good to her employees, the people in the neighborhood love her and the baked goods, and she is happy living above the bakery in her late grandmother’s home—all the sweet memories are priceless. Caring about the traditions her grandmother taught her, and maybe, someday, passing them down to her own children and grandchildren.

“I love this bakery. I grew up here. It’s in my blood, my heart, and my soul.”

The story will have mystery, life and death danger, suspense, threats, attempted murder, and even arson. As the threats and men threatening Megan, Ethan has a mysterious side to him that has him knowing more about them, and he convinces Megan to come stay at his penthouse apartment with security. He quits asking her about selling and wants to keep her safe. From early on in knowing each other, there is chemistry between them, and protecting her becomes a priority for him.

I enjoyed this intriguing story and characters, as well as the angst and actions taken. I do feel the story has some contradictions, and it definitely could use better editing, but all in all, it was still a good read. I believe this will be the final story in the Colorado Billionaire series.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the final book in Cynthia Woolf’s “Colorado Billionaires” series, and she definitely ends this series with a fascinating romantic suspense that will hold everyone’s attention.
Megan is an independent woman who has inherited her grandmother’s popular bakery. She takes great pride in achieving the same success as her loving grandmother by using the same methods, recipes and utensils as she did.
Unfortunately, Megan’s love life has not been as successful as her business. Her last boyfriend shattered her trust with a devastating betrayal. Thus, she no longer dates and totally concentrates on her bakery, her family, friends and customers.
However, Megan has a major problem. She is constantly being harassed by bakers who want to buy her bakery from her. Of course she refuses because it would break her heart to sell her grandmother’s legacy to her.
Ethan Marlowe, a millionaire who owns a lot of bakeries in the area, is one of those people who insists on buying her bakery. Of course, Megan refuses, but Ethan has no intention of giving up. So, he decides to work for her as a manager so she can see how good he is. Meanwhile, Ethan is surprised when he discovers that he is attracted to Megan and wants to date her. Megan also is amazed to discover that she is attracted to Ethan. But, since she doesn’t trust Ethan, she fights her feelings.
Meanwhile, Megan begins to receive dangerous threats from people who want her bakery. When Ethan realizes how much danger she is in, he decides he has to protect her from her enemies. During this time both of them finally realize how much they mean to each other.
The author of this exciting story, Cynthia Woolf, took a short break before she released this book, but it was definitely well worth the wait! She has created a complex plot with riveting suspense and lots of action that will enthrall her readers.
Also, the romance between Ethan and Megan is fascinating as the couple try to fight off the attraction that is impossible to ignore!

[Sahar's Honest Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Protecting the Baker
Ethan Marlowe wants Megan Kincaid’s bakery, but he quickly realizes he is not the only one interested in it. Megan refuses to sell The Velvet Oven, the bakery her grandmother built from the ground up, and Ethan wants to understand why protecting it matters so much to her. Going undercover and taking a job at the bakery seems like the perfect way to uncover its secrets.
What Ethan never expects is Megan herself. The more time he spends working beside the stubborn and determined baker, the less interested he becomes in the bakery—and the more determined he becomes to protect Megan. But Ethan is not the only person interested in the bakery, and someone is willing to kill for it. Why is the Velvet Oven so important?
What makes this bakery worth risking lives over? And can Ethan protect Megan when danger closes in around them both?
If you enjoy stories where romance and suspense intertwine, this one is worth picking up. With an undercover billionaire, family loyalty, danger, and growing attraction, this story kept me entertained from beginning to end.

[Margaret Hejmanowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all things Cynthia Woolf, and this does not disappoint; this is the final book in The Colorado Billionaires series. Megan Kincaid owns The Velvet Oven, a bakery her grandmother Edith started; it's a neighborhood institution. Her grandmother told her the bakery does not have to be bigger, and it will only be owned by a Kincaid; and never to be sold!!! Megan lives above the bakery, as her grandmother did. Megan does not have to work, she is a billionaire, from a video game she and her brothers created. Ethan Marlow of Marlow Foods, grew up baking with his grandmother. Ethan comes to Megan, as he did with her grandmother to buy her bakery, and said no thank you; as many others have as well. Why do so many people want to buy her bakery, The Velvet Oven?? Love the plot, great setting, and strong intense interesting characters. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Cynthia Woolf!!!

[Harriet Flowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a lot of the books in this series. To me, it was an easy read. Yes it was filled with everything needed to make it a good romance. The added bonus was the mystery and action sequences added to the book to make it a good story. I have to admit while I did like this book, it was my least favorite. For me, the characters were a little unbearable. Maybe it’s because I had so many questions about Megan’s grandmother. Megan owns the bakery. She actually inherited it from her grandmother. Her grandmother had to have been an amazing matriarch of Megan’s family. She definitely passed down her love of baking. Her grandmother had a lot of advice that Megan finds herself remembering fondly on a daily basis. While Megan loves the bakery and never intends to sell it, someone else wants it. What length will they go to to make it theirs? This book is for those that enjoy romantic mysteries. If that’s you, start it now

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good suspense and mystery. Megan just wants to bake, like her grandmother did. There are several people who want to buy her bakery, but she will never sell. Megan is rich in her own right, and her grandmother not only left her the bakery, but also left her plenty of money and investments. She works for the love of baking. Ethan grew up baking and runs a business, but his real love is baking bread. He wants Megan's bakery but finds that he also wants Megan. When someone starts to terrorize Megan, Ethan is there to help her. She is very independent and doesn't think she needs help, but Ethan is sticking close anyway. Can Megan trust Ethan? Is he like the others, just getting close to her just so he can have the bakery? Can Ethan save her even when she doesn't think she needs saving?

[Becky Claxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Megan and her grandmother had always been close. Megan was as good as baker as her grandmother so she gave Megan the bakery when she passed away. Megan had made millions of dollars along with her brothers. Her grandmother had left her a small fortune also. Megan promised her grandmother she would never sell the bakery. It was amazing how many people tried to get her to sell—some were good people and others weren’t. It was so hard watching the unsavory people do their best to get Megan to sell. I was glad Ethan was one of the people who came to try and buy her bakery. It was good to see that the two had chemistry, and that Ethan did all he could to protect Megan. It was a mystery trying to figure out who was trying to do all the damage that could be done to Megan. I encourage you to read the book.

[Amanda Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ethan is the CEO of a group of bakeries, amongst other things, he's determined to buy out Megan, but she's not having it, the bakery was her grandmother's and it's not just a shop, it's a community, anyway she doesn't need the money, she has plenty!
Ethan won't take no for an answer and keeps appearing, until eventually he seems resigned to her answer, or could it be that he's actually more interested in her than her bakery.
Things seem to be progressing well until first her flat, above the bakery, then her bakery, then his flat are all broken into, what are they after?
When Megan is in danger, Ethan realises how he feels about her, he's trying to protect her and keep her safe. Megan is attracted to him but was very wary when he was after her shop, now things are different, can she believe it's her he's interested in?

Another great romantic suspense in the series from Cynthia

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable Clean Billionaire Romantic Suspense
Megan Kincaid has not felt an attraction to a man in a very long time and she is realizing that she missed it. Ethan Marlowe makes her heart beat faster, but he is a complication that she did not order. Plus he is not being truthful to her. How can she trust him? Ethan is wildly attracted to Megan. More than he has ever been to anyone else. What is it about her and her bakery that has him going to such absurd lengths to buy it. He already owns every bakery in Denver. The final book in Cynthia Woolfe’s Colorado Billionaires Series is a clean billionaire romantic suspense that has lots of tender moments interspersed in the threats, mystery, danger and suspense that continues on through out the book. I found it to be an enjoyable read to complete this series.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

[Jeanne Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Baker invests your heart from page one and its Heroine; Megan finds her joy running the bakery that her grandmother willed her. It causes you to forget she's a billionaire.
Ethan wants to complete his collection of acquired bakeries by purchasing Megan's and is at a loss as to why he cannot persuade her to sell.
In trying to understand Megan's decision, Ethan remembers why he started this venture as his heart becomes involved.
Unexpected adversaries create dangerous threats, and the race is on to find out who before it's too late for a new life together.
Suspense, homemade pastries and romance - the perfect mix!

[Jennie Fortna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Baker is book6 in the Colorado Billionaires series by Cynthia Woolf and the final book in this series 4.5 stars

Up last is Megan who is honoring her grandmother’s legacy for the small, homey bakery she built. It seems someone is determined to get the bakery at any cost…enter Ethan millionaire CEO who wasn’t the bakery to add to his brand but upon meeting Megan something shifts for him. When things happen to threaten Megan, he will protect her at all costs..suspense, action, chemistry neither expected, mystery and more…

I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mary Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

It doesn’t matter to her how much money she or her family has. All she wants to do is to continue her grandmother‘s legacy by running her little bakery and making it the best it could possibly be. It’s not her fault that greedy developers want the land. Her grandmother was smart enough to buy when it was inexpensive, nor is it her fault that there’s a rumour going around that her grandmother was sitting on the cash of diamonds. A multi bakery owner, a land developer and a thief are all trying to pressure her to sell. A very interesting book with likeable characters and many twists and turns. Great job! Sorry to see this series end.

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megan has inherited her Grandmother's bakery. One promise she made was that she would never sale the bakery. Someone wants to buy the bakery , but she is keeping that promise. But soon the offers become threats. Worse to come her mother being kidnapped. It is not the bakery but a bag of diamonds her Grandmother had gave her that the kidnappers want.
Ethan loves his own bakery and he wants Megan’s but his feelings for Megan are more than a man interested in her bakery. When he finds out that Megan has been threatened he steps in to help. Finding the strong independent Megan doesn’t give up and fights for what she wants.

This a great romantic suspence, with drama and spice.

[Rhonda Sledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love suspense but I feel like I missed some background info with this book. I was left with a lot of questions. Where or how did Megan's grandmother obtain the diamonds in the first place? Why did Richard Nelson feel like he was entitled to the diamonds to such an extent that he was willing to kill for them? Why would Megan sew them into the lining of her purse instead of keeping them in a lock box? Ethan lied to her and tried to manipulate her into selling her bakery so why was he the first person she ran to when she was threatened instead of going to her parents or one of her brothers?

[Rick Molitor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good romantic suspense. Megan inherited her grandmother's bakery and runs it even though she doesn.t need the money. Various factions want to buy the bakery from her. Ethan wants the bakery to add to his chain. Others want it because of the land that comes with the bakery. When things go way past the normal pressure to sell, Ethan decides he wants to take care of Megan more than he wants the bakery. Some of the others just keep upping the pressure. Can Ethan protect Megan?

[Vickie Bright · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books in the series. Cynthia Woolf definitely finished up the series with a page turning bang! The attraction between Megan and Ethan is evident from the start even though she doesn’t trust him. When someone threatens Megan and her bakery, she learns to trust Ethan while he fights to keep her safe. Together they overcome the adversary, fall deeply in love and carry on a legacy.

[Joanne S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. What kept me turning the pages were questions of who wanted to kill Megan, why and just who could she trust. The plot is interesting and I could smell the baked bread through the detailed descriptions. A few editorial issues show up but do not take away from the story. A good read.

[Nancy Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! What a great read.

This is one interesting story of Ethan and Megan's journey to find their happy everafter. The storyline is remarkable with some twists and turns along with some ups and down in it along with some heartfelt and realistic characters. I just loved reading this marvelous story.

[Nethanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megan will do everything to protect the legacy of her grandmother, she will never sell the bakery she has inherited, not even to Ethan the man she is attracted to. But he isn't the only one who wants the bakery.....
I really enjoyed this story, it has all the feels, friendship, love and suspense.

[Estie Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anither great book from an amazing author! This final installment of the Colorado Billionaires briught everything to a happy closing. I highly recommend this book. I received a free advance copy and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[TRACEY A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book

The storyline is well written with wonderful characters.

The story is fast paced full of suspense and intrigue with a definite happy ever after.

Can’t wait for more from this author

A must read.

[Delbora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting story. The characters have some interest but not enough layers of personality as expected in modern stories. I also found that something was missing in the ending as the reason for the malicious happenings were not truly explained.

[Sue Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cosy romantic book with lots of suspense and danger around every corner as someone is determined to buy the bakery left to Megan by her grandma, they are also prepared to kill to get their hands on grandma’s diamonds.

[Sue]

Excellent read…romantic and love the epilogue…had not read the first five books of the series but will go read those now…

[Daphne Cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. A sweet romantic suspense with great characters that kept me turning till the end.

[David Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free advance review copy of this book and am voluntarily providing my honest review. As usual, Woolf came out with a winner. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.

[Beckie Johnson Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Ethan & Megans store, and so will you. I loved meeting all the Kincaid clan. Thanks, Cynthia for writing and amazing series.

[Desiree Luhnow · Rating 4 out of 5]

David wants what Megan has. She’s not giving in. He’s not giving up. And so it begins. Add in a third- party stalker and you have an intriguing storyline. This sweet story will pull you in.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this story! She’s such a strong independent woman and he seems so set in his ways. I love how they make each other better. I received this book as an ARC.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great book by this author, it was well written and fun to read. I recommend it.