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Bitter Sweets: A Small Town Romantic Comedy
Olympia "Liv" Saintclair left her pastry chef career in Manhattan after a spectacular meltdown on live television. Now she's in Cupid's Corner, ready to prove she can still create magic, starting with winning the Valentine's Festival's legendary Best Sweet competition.
One Beckett Crane, third-generation owner of the town's beloved candy shop, thinks newcomers shouldn't even be allowed to compete.
As they trade barbs and baking disasters, Liv starts to wonder if the best recipe for happiness might include the one ingredient she never expected… him.
Competition Romance • Rivals to Lovers • Opposites Attract • Grumpy Hero • Sunshine Heroine • Small-Town vs. Big City
One Beckett Crane, third-generation owner of the town's beloved candy shop, thinks newcomers shouldn't even be allowed to compete.
As they trade barbs and baking disasters, Liv starts to wonder if the best recipe for happiness might include the one ingredient she never expected… him.
Competition Romance • Rivals to Lovers • Opposites Attract • Grumpy Hero • Sunshine Heroine • Small-Town vs. Big City
99 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 22, 2026
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 27, 2026
Bitter Sweets by Shayla Sullivan is a deliciously charming small-town romance that proves sometimes the sweetest love stories start with a little bitterness.
Olympia “Liv” Saintclair is licking her wounds after a very public career implosion—yes, a full-on pastry chef meltdown caught live on television. Trading Manhattan chaos for the cozy charm of Cupid’s Corner, Liv is determined to rebuild her confidence the only way she knows how: by baking her heart out and winning the town’s legendary Valentine’s Festival Best Sweet competition.
Enter Beckett Crane.
Grumpy, guarded, and fiercely protective of his family’s candy shop, Beckett believes traditions matter—and outsiders shouldn’t waltz in and claim them. Especially not a big-city pastry chef with something to prove. The sparks fly fast as flour dusts the air, tempers flare, and baking mishaps turn rivalry into something far more tempting.
What makes this story so satisfying is the contrast between Liv’s bright, determined energy and Beckett’s rigid, old-school resistance. Liv is sunshine with a steel backbone, trying to reclaim her passion and prove she still belongs in the kitchen. Beckett is all scowls and rules—until Liv’s presence cracks his carefully controlled world. Their banter is sharp, the competition deliciously tense, and the chemistry impossible to ignore.
Set against a cozy Valentine’s backdrop, Bitter Sweets blends rivals-to-lovers, small-town charm, and opposites-attract magic into a romance that feels comforting and fresh. Watching Liv rediscover her confidence while Beckett learns that change doesn’t have to threaten tradition is immensely rewarding.
If you love competition romances, grumpy heroes falling for sunshine heroines, and stories where love sneaks in between failed recipes and stolen glances, Bitter Sweets is the perfect treat—equal parts heart, heat, and happily ever after.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Olympia “Liv” Saintclair is licking her wounds after a very public career implosion—yes, a full-on pastry chef meltdown caught live on television. Trading Manhattan chaos for the cozy charm of Cupid’s Corner, Liv is determined to rebuild her confidence the only way she knows how: by baking her heart out and winning the town’s legendary Valentine’s Festival Best Sweet competition.
Enter Beckett Crane.
Grumpy, guarded, and fiercely protective of his family’s candy shop, Beckett believes traditions matter—and outsiders shouldn’t waltz in and claim them. Especially not a big-city pastry chef with something to prove. The sparks fly fast as flour dusts the air, tempers flare, and baking mishaps turn rivalry into something far more tempting.
What makes this story so satisfying is the contrast between Liv’s bright, determined energy and Beckett’s rigid, old-school resistance. Liv is sunshine with a steel backbone, trying to reclaim her passion and prove she still belongs in the kitchen. Beckett is all scowls and rules—until Liv’s presence cracks his carefully controlled world. Their banter is sharp, the competition deliciously tense, and the chemistry impossible to ignore.
Set against a cozy Valentine’s backdrop, Bitter Sweets blends rivals-to-lovers, small-town charm, and opposites-attract magic into a romance that feels comforting and fresh. Watching Liv rediscover her confidence while Beckett learns that change doesn’t have to threaten tradition is immensely rewarding.
If you love competition romances, grumpy heroes falling for sunshine heroines, and stories where love sneaks in between failed recipes and stolen glances, Bitter Sweets is the perfect treat—equal parts heart, heat, and happily ever after.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 31, 2026
This book was so good. Liv is a ray of sunshine that loves what she does. Beckett is the grinch that’s too serious about his love. He’s a stuffed shirt lol. And he’s got nothing nice to say to Liv about her being there in this small town, going into the baking competition. This book was so much fun, I could see the two of them at their posts, aprons on, and game faces ready. Her all smiles, him all scowls. The banter between them was so funny. But as time goes by Beckett is rethinking hope he’s going about things and how he’s being towards Liv. Tensions settle, hearts warm, and these two come together in the cutest way. This was an absolute joy to read. I had such a fun time with this be.
February 12, 2026
This book was a very enjoyable read. The length was perfect. I recommend it to anyone that enjoys reading but not a lot of time.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews