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Hearts in Bloom #1
Dough & Devotion
Tess never wanted a savior.
She wanted her bakery to survive.
Sunrise & Salt is more than a business—it’s her family’s legacy, her community, and the proof that slow, honest work still matters. Tess has built it with flour-dusted hands, long nights, and an ironclad refusal to take shortcuts. The last thing she needs is a billionaire with a hero complex walking through her door.
Leo Ashford has never been told no.
Until Tess.
A reckless dare lands Leo behind the counter of a struggling bakery, trading boardrooms for early mornings and billion-dollar deals for minimum wage. He expects chaos. He doesn’t expect Tess—brilliant, guarded, and completely unimpressed by his money. And when Leo crosses a line he can’t undo, he learns that intentions don’t matter nearly as much as accountability.
Trust isn’t rebuilt overnight.
Love isn’t a fix.
As Leo is forced to confront who he is without his wealth, and Tess fights to protect the soul of everything she’s built, the line between work and feeling blurs. But devotion isn’t proven by grand gestures—it’s shown in listening, in showing up, and in letting someone choose you freely.
Dough & Devotion is a slow-burn, workplace romance about earning forgiveness, falling in love without shortcuts, and discovering that the most meaningful things in life can’t be bought—only built.
Perfect for readers who love:
• Grumpy x Sunshine (with a twist)
• Billionaire learns real work
• Bakery romance & found family
• Slow burn with earned intimacy
• Consent-forward, emotionally intelligent heroes
• 90s rom-com vibes with modern heart
She wanted her bakery to survive.
Sunrise & Salt is more than a business—it’s her family’s legacy, her community, and the proof that slow, honest work still matters. Tess has built it with flour-dusted hands, long nights, and an ironclad refusal to take shortcuts. The last thing she needs is a billionaire with a hero complex walking through her door.
Leo Ashford has never been told no.
Until Tess.
A reckless dare lands Leo behind the counter of a struggling bakery, trading boardrooms for early mornings and billion-dollar deals for minimum wage. He expects chaos. He doesn’t expect Tess—brilliant, guarded, and completely unimpressed by his money. And when Leo crosses a line he can’t undo, he learns that intentions don’t matter nearly as much as accountability.
Trust isn’t rebuilt overnight.
Love isn’t a fix.
As Leo is forced to confront who he is without his wealth, and Tess fights to protect the soul of everything she’s built, the line between work and feeling blurs. But devotion isn’t proven by grand gestures—it’s shown in listening, in showing up, and in letting someone choose you freely.
Dough & Devotion is a slow-burn, workplace romance about earning forgiveness, falling in love without shortcuts, and discovering that the most meaningful things in life can’t be bought—only built.
Perfect for readers who love:
• Grumpy x Sunshine (with a twist)
• Billionaire learns real work
• Bakery romance & found family
• Slow burn with earned intimacy
• Consent-forward, emotionally intelligent heroes
• 90s rom-com vibes with modern heart
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
June 4, 2026
Dough & Devotion was a sweet, cozy read that hit a lot of my favorite tropes: billionaire romance, baking, and a completely closed-door relationship. If you're looking for a low-spice romance you can relax with, this definitely delivers.
The real standout for me was the FMC. She absolutely carried the story. I loved that she believed in her work, chased her dreams, and genuinely cared about the people around her. Her passion for baking and determination made her easy to root for, and I found myself more invested in her journey than anything else.
The baking elements added a warm, comforting atmosphere, and the billionaire romance was cute without overshadowing her personal growth. That said, I wanted a little more depth in the romance and character development on the MMC's side. The heroine shined so brightly that everyone else felt a bit underdeveloped in comparison.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, feel-good romance with a lovable main character and plenty of bakery charm. If you enjoy closed-door romances with an ambitious FMC and cozy small-town vibes, it's worth picking up.
The real standout for me was the FMC. She absolutely carried the story. I loved that she believed in her work, chased her dreams, and genuinely cared about the people around her. Her passion for baking and determination made her easy to root for, and I found myself more invested in her journey than anything else.
The baking elements added a warm, comforting atmosphere, and the billionaire romance was cute without overshadowing her personal growth. That said, I wanted a little more depth in the romance and character development on the MMC's side. The heroine shined so brightly that everyone else felt a bit underdeveloped in comparison.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, feel-good romance with a lovable main character and plenty of bakery charm. If you enjoy closed-door romances with an ambitious FMC and cozy small-town vibes, it's worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Leo, a hopelessly endearing billionaire has been walking through life asleep, numb, bored and without stimulus. He has everything and yet he has a pit that he can't describe. Everything in his life is manicured for the camera, polished and clean - controlled and calculated.
Tess, a hardworking, curvy and feisty baker that has a dream that only she wants to feed and proof. Sunrise and Salt, the very core of her being, her heart out of her chest - a bakery that holds more than baked goods and heavy with memories and love shared.
Leo and Tess are strangers in every sense of the word except the fact he's an investor in her tiny shop and the world is about to get much bigger than Tess is ready for. Leo, is ready for something meaningful, challenging. For once, he wants his hands to reflect those of a hardworking man, his body to ache from a hard day's work and Tess is not only his answer but a beacon in the dark he didn't know he was wadding through. Tess, protective and controlled knows that this can't be simple and it won't be the moment Leo walks in - a walking billboard for trouble and attention that she absolutely did not ask for.
As they began their month long challenge, Tess is wound tightly and untrusting, skeptical; she tests and pushes Leo to his max and without fail, he still remains strong breaking through her predetermined mindset. But Leo begins to realize the heart and soul that goes into Tess's tedious process and that there is more to her than that hardened exterior and he exposes more of her to the world than she ever wanted and usurps her life into a mess of flashes, popularity and the worst part - open to the world to tear apart. Leo makes a series of mistakes that he thought were in the best interest of Tess and is now trying to clean up the mess he made and in any capacity to show Tess that he hears her now, sees her now and will give up his world to fix hers.
Can Tess be open to being uncomfortable without compromising the dream, the goal and not lose the passion that's baked into every goodie? Can Leo outgrow the endearing clueless rich boy and start building something from scratch? Will Tess and Leo be able to overcome the differences and start something new?
This book has all the ingredients to a good romance - devotion, tension, pining, slow burn, earned love, soft strength, found family, work place romance and a yummy grumpy x sunshine for some flavor and of course fresh BREAD!
Tess, a hardworking, curvy and feisty baker that has a dream that only she wants to feed and proof. Sunrise and Salt, the very core of her being, her heart out of her chest - a bakery that holds more than baked goods and heavy with memories and love shared.
Leo and Tess are strangers in every sense of the word except the fact he's an investor in her tiny shop and the world is about to get much bigger than Tess is ready for. Leo, is ready for something meaningful, challenging. For once, he wants his hands to reflect those of a hardworking man, his body to ache from a hard day's work and Tess is not only his answer but a beacon in the dark he didn't know he was wadding through. Tess, protective and controlled knows that this can't be simple and it won't be the moment Leo walks in - a walking billboard for trouble and attention that she absolutely did not ask for.
As they began their month long challenge, Tess is wound tightly and untrusting, skeptical; she tests and pushes Leo to his max and without fail, he still remains strong breaking through her predetermined mindset. But Leo begins to realize the heart and soul that goes into Tess's tedious process and that there is more to her than that hardened exterior and he exposes more of her to the world than she ever wanted and usurps her life into a mess of flashes, popularity and the worst part - open to the world to tear apart. Leo makes a series of mistakes that he thought were in the best interest of Tess and is now trying to clean up the mess he made and in any capacity to show Tess that he hears her now, sees her now and will give up his world to fix hers.
Can Tess be open to being uncomfortable without compromising the dream, the goal and not lose the passion that's baked into every goodie? Can Leo outgrow the endearing clueless rich boy and start building something from scratch? Will Tess and Leo be able to overcome the differences and start something new?
This book has all the ingredients to a good romance - devotion, tension, pining, slow burn, earned love, soft strength, found family, work place romance and a yummy grumpy x sunshine for some flavor and of course fresh BREAD!
August 25, 2026
I loved this series. However, I read books 2 and 3 first and decided to go and find out how it all started. And boy does it explain so much about Leo. It explains where his mischievous side comes from and where his sentimental need to keep the people he considers friends close and happy comes from. But even more important than those, the ones he chooses as family he does everything in his power to watch over them, guide them, and protect them with all he has.
When Julian and Rex’s sister, Zara, did the Midnight Maverick’s wanted to do the livestream with him in his living room. He thought, why not? However, that was his first mistake. Thinking about what I know now from the next two books, were Julian and Rex setting Leo up all along? Later on, Leo and Zane start questioning what’s going on with Julian and what exactly he does for a living. Those questions are never answered. Rex, they just know is a bad seed out to make money, no matter who he ruins, hurts, cheats, and lies to.
This time his target just so happened to be set on Tess and Gwen’s Bakery, Sunrise and Salt. The billionaire bet is thrown out there on this live stream that Julian is filming. Either Leo takes the bet of working as a lowly employee, at one of the least likely holdings, or (the readers, are never privy to that.) And he gets the pleasure of doing that for no pay, and for a month. Well, when he arrived he was met with a hostile reception. You see Tess remembers meeting in front of the board for his investment group.
Oh, they lent her the money, but the interest rate was a killer, so making the payments during the rough times made it hard. Tess allowed him to stay, out of spite. So when he messed up, she could only be pissed at herself. Even though he would have made a good verbal punching bag. However, she wasn't teaching him anything, she was only waiting for him to fail, and she knew her family would have been very disappointed. When she asked him after the first day and saw his raw hands, Tess wondered why he would even want to come back.
He said, first the dare, and he had never worked before. As he started mastering each new task, he got a new one. Until, the video came out and they both found out it was planned, staged for likes and shares. But it's the fumble out of fear that Leo makes, that nearly cost him and Tess everything. All because he was dealing with the Devil himself, Rex.
When Julian and Rex’s sister, Zara, did the Midnight Maverick’s wanted to do the livestream with him in his living room. He thought, why not? However, that was his first mistake. Thinking about what I know now from the next two books, were Julian and Rex setting Leo up all along? Later on, Leo and Zane start questioning what’s going on with Julian and what exactly he does for a living. Those questions are never answered. Rex, they just know is a bad seed out to make money, no matter who he ruins, hurts, cheats, and lies to.
This time his target just so happened to be set on Tess and Gwen’s Bakery, Sunrise and Salt. The billionaire bet is thrown out there on this live stream that Julian is filming. Either Leo takes the bet of working as a lowly employee, at one of the least likely holdings, or (the readers, are never privy to that.) And he gets the pleasure of doing that for no pay, and for a month. Well, when he arrived he was met with a hostile reception. You see Tess remembers meeting in front of the board for his investment group.
Oh, they lent her the money, but the interest rate was a killer, so making the payments during the rough times made it hard. Tess allowed him to stay, out of spite. So when he messed up, she could only be pissed at herself. Even though he would have made a good verbal punching bag. However, she wasn't teaching him anything, she was only waiting for him to fail, and she knew her family would have been very disappointed. When she asked him after the first day and saw his raw hands, Tess wondered why he would even want to come back.
He said, first the dare, and he had never worked before. As he started mastering each new task, he got a new one. Until, the video came out and they both found out it was planned, staged for likes and shares. But it's the fumble out of fear that Leo makes, that nearly cost him and Tess everything. All because he was dealing with the Devil himself, Rex.
April 10, 2026
Sweet story with Tess and Leo as their two worlds collide through random circumstances. Leo, who has never met a challenge he can’t buy, receives a dare to work a real job for one month and lands in the middle of Tess’s busy, fast-paced bakery. Tess, who built the bakery from the ground up, agrees to let Leo work for her but after a series of mishaps, puts him on dish duty scrubbing pots and pans. As time progresses, Leo gradually works his way up into more important roles and through seeing how hard Tess works and the sheer devotion she has to the bakery, he learns to appreciate the value of aspects that can’t be bought with any amount of money thrown at it. As the two discover they share more in common than they think possible, they finally become honest with themselves looking deeper into their souls for their foundational principles. Leo finds himself happy for once and Tess finds herself starting to trust another person with the daily operations of the bakery. When Leo’s world comes crashing down on Tess, threatening to destroy the bakery, he must make difficult decisions that will likely lose any fondness and trust Tess once had for him. The only question is whether the bakery Tess has worked so hard for will be able to survive this debacle.
Full of swoon-worthy moments and cute personal revelations, this is a wonderful story of finding oneself and choosing to stand up for your beliefs repeatedly, even at personal costs.
Favorite Quotes:
“Tess had looked at me like a liability with potential.”
“My prison is loneliness. An abundance of artifice. A lack of soul. Her prison is fear. Terror that her soul will be stolen and repackaged into something hollow.”
“I thought you understood… It’s not about the destination. It’s about the work. The soul.”
“Understanding always comes too late for people like me, after the damage is done, after the choice is locked in, after the thing we wanted most has already walked out the door.”
“He’s here. He’s working. He’s letting the work change him instead of trying to change the work.”
Full of swoon-worthy moments and cute personal revelations, this is a wonderful story of finding oneself and choosing to stand up for your beliefs repeatedly, even at personal costs.
Favorite Quotes:
“Tess had looked at me like a liability with potential.”
“My prison is loneliness. An abundance of artifice. A lack of soul. Her prison is fear. Terror that her soul will be stolen and repackaged into something hollow.”
“I thought you understood… It’s not about the destination. It’s about the work. The soul.”
“Understanding always comes too late for people like me, after the damage is done, after the choice is locked in, after the thing we wanted most has already walked out the door.”
“He’s here. He’s working. He’s letting the work change him instead of trying to change the work.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dough & Devotion is the first book in the Hearts in Bloom series. It follows Leo and Tess. There is a small bakery, lots of feelings, and a slow burn full of tension!
Tess and Leo are from opposite worlds. Leo is our billionaire MMC who is just going through the motions of life not really living. Work, money, and work is what he knows there isn’t excitement in his life anymore. It’s packed calendars, meetings, and Ashford Ventures. He also is a little nerdy which I loved when he started naming the dough Pokémon characters! Tess is our baker FMC with a dream and a bakery called Sunrise and Salt. She put all her passion and energy into running this bakery for her and her Meemaw. She’s also very stubborn, no nonsense, but under all the seriousness she is very sweet and kind. The tension between them is so strong you literally feel it through the pages!
Tess: “It was a good kiss, Ashford. But we can’t do this here.”
Leo: “I, Leo Ashford, who has faced hostile boards, calmly navigated the implosion of a four-hundred-million-dollar crypto fund, smiled politely while men in suits tried to eat me alive, am absolutely, unequivocally terrified of the five-foot-four woman pulling bread from the oven.”
Gwen was a hoot and a half! She is an employee at Sunrise and Salt and a great friend to Tess. Gwen had me laughing throughout the entire book! Everyone deserves a Gwen in their life! My favorite Gwen quote: “I am supportive in the way a seatbelt is supportive,” she says. “Restraining. Necessary.”
Overall, 5 stars! If you love billionaire romances, workplace romances, and the most tension-filled slow burn you’ll ever read, then Dough & Devotion is for you!
I can’t wait for the other books in the series especially Gwen’s!
Tropes:
Plus size FMC
Bakery romance
Workplace romance
He falls first
Soft but stubborn FMC
Billionaire romance
Slow burn tension
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dough & Devotion was such a pleasant surprise! It's the kind of sweet, low drama romance that you pick up for just a few chapters and somehow end up finishing in one sitting.
One thing I really appreciated was Tess, who actually knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to stand her ground. After reading so many dark romances where the guy dominates every decision, it was honestly refreshing to see the dynamic flipped a bit here. Leo in particular stood out for me because he was patient, attentive and willing to listen rather than bulldoze his way through the relationship. Their interactions felt warm and natural and the story leans into that softer, supportive kind of romance that’s just genuinely pleasant to read.
That said, the story doesn’t always push beyond being simply nice. The pacing is fairly gentle and the stakes stay low so if you’re expecting high drama or intense conflict, this might feel a little too easygoing. At times it felt like the story could’ve dug a bit deeper into the emotional moments to give the relationship more weight.
Still, the overall tone of the book is charming and comforting. It’s the kind of romance that feels cosy rather than chaotic and it was refreshing to read something where the male lead actually shows patience and respect instead of trying to dominate the narrative. I also appreciated how easy it was to binge, finishing it in one sitting definitely says something.
Overall: a sweet, refreshing romance with a confident heroine and a patient hero. Not explosive but a genuinely pleasant read that makes me curious for book two, Hearts in Bloom.
(Thank you to the author for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)
One thing I really appreciated was Tess, who actually knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to stand her ground. After reading so many dark romances where the guy dominates every decision, it was honestly refreshing to see the dynamic flipped a bit here. Leo in particular stood out for me because he was patient, attentive and willing to listen rather than bulldoze his way through the relationship. Their interactions felt warm and natural and the story leans into that softer, supportive kind of romance that’s just genuinely pleasant to read.
That said, the story doesn’t always push beyond being simply nice. The pacing is fairly gentle and the stakes stay low so if you’re expecting high drama or intense conflict, this might feel a little too easygoing. At times it felt like the story could’ve dug a bit deeper into the emotional moments to give the relationship more weight.
Still, the overall tone of the book is charming and comforting. It’s the kind of romance that feels cosy rather than chaotic and it was refreshing to read something where the male lead actually shows patience and respect instead of trying to dominate the narrative. I also appreciated how easy it was to binge, finishing it in one sitting definitely says something.
Overall: a sweet, refreshing romance with a confident heroine and a patient hero. Not explosive but a genuinely pleasant read that makes me curious for book two, Hearts in Bloom.
(Thank you to the author for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Her cheeks flush. She doesn’t take compliments well, but they make her look beautiful.”
Perfectly sweet and cozy 🥰
I’ve never read a billionaire romance that was cozy but this one is! I wanna say it’s the essence of the bakery environment, and the realness Tess brings to the table.
The stakes are low so this made a PERFECT palette cleanser👌🏼
Tess is a local baker who has BIG dreams. And those dreams are not only for her, but her community. And she’s ready to do whatever it takes for however long it takes to make it happen.
Leo is your typical bachelor who has far too much money and nothing to do with it.
When Leo takes a dare and finds himself working “a real job” for 30 days things begin to change in him. All for the better of course.
Tess teaches Leo, with an amazing amount of patience may I add, and eventually he gets it. He really gets it. And as all this is happening they slowly but surely begin to fall for each other. It’s odd finding someone who actually listens, and sees you.
I love that the problems our MCs deal with are very real and super relatable, well maybe not billionaire issues but hey everyone’s got em right? 😆
The growth Leo gos through is amazing. The banter and the small flirting between them was so cute!
If you’re looking for an easy plot with low stakes that still is full of laughs and love I highly recommend Dough & Devotion 🥐
The BIGGEST thank you to Brittany for my ARC 🫶🏼
I’ll treasure it forever. This cover is the freaking cutest!!
Perfectly sweet and cozy 🥰
I’ve never read a billionaire romance that was cozy but this one is! I wanna say it’s the essence of the bakery environment, and the realness Tess brings to the table.
The stakes are low so this made a PERFECT palette cleanser👌🏼
Tess is a local baker who has BIG dreams. And those dreams are not only for her, but her community. And she’s ready to do whatever it takes for however long it takes to make it happen.
Leo is your typical bachelor who has far too much money and nothing to do with it.
When Leo takes a dare and finds himself working “a real job” for 30 days things begin to change in him. All for the better of course.
Tess teaches Leo, with an amazing amount of patience may I add, and eventually he gets it. He really gets it. And as all this is happening they slowly but surely begin to fall for each other. It’s odd finding someone who actually listens, and sees you.
I love that the problems our MCs deal with are very real and super relatable, well maybe not billionaire issues but hey everyone’s got em right? 😆
The growth Leo gos through is amazing. The banter and the small flirting between them was so cute!
If you’re looking for an easy plot with low stakes that still is full of laughs and love I highly recommend Dough & Devotion 🥐
The BIGGEST thank you to Brittany for my ARC 🫶🏼
I’ll treasure it forever. This cover is the freaking cutest!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a sweet and cosy workplace romance, with tons of emotion, tension, earned love and groveling.
Leo is a billionaire, used to fixing problems with money, and numb to real world problems. On a dare he is forced to work for a month at a bakery shop his company invested in, assuming it will be simple until he meets Tess - the feisty no nonsense baker who is unimpressed by her troublesome new employee.
Tess is protective of her business, skeptical of Leo's help, and determined to continue her dreams without interference.
Their interactions are tense, Leo makes plenty of mistakes, and Tess uses her passion to teach and challenge Leo, helping them both to discover something real along the way.
I loved that Tess stands her ground, and won't get bullied into compromising her business, taking shortcuts, or sacrificing the soul of her bakery.
I liked that Leo listens and grows as a person, he makes plenty of mistakes both humorous and consequential, but he figures out how to make things right which was incredibly charming. He had a delightful golden retriever vibe, like an eager puppy willing to sit and learn, and Tess was the patient yet bossy teacher.
I also adored Gwen's character, her supportiveness to Tess, her humour and sarcasm, and how she roots for Tess and Leo, whilst being ready to attack anyone who tries to hurt her bosses business.
It has that cosy hallmark feel, that will have you rooting for a happy ending and redemption.
Leo is a billionaire, used to fixing problems with money, and numb to real world problems. On a dare he is forced to work for a month at a bakery shop his company invested in, assuming it will be simple until he meets Tess - the feisty no nonsense baker who is unimpressed by her troublesome new employee.
Tess is protective of her business, skeptical of Leo's help, and determined to continue her dreams without interference.
Their interactions are tense, Leo makes plenty of mistakes, and Tess uses her passion to teach and challenge Leo, helping them both to discover something real along the way.
I loved that Tess stands her ground, and won't get bullied into compromising her business, taking shortcuts, or sacrificing the soul of her bakery.
I liked that Leo listens and grows as a person, he makes plenty of mistakes both humorous and consequential, but he figures out how to make things right which was incredibly charming. He had a delightful golden retriever vibe, like an eager puppy willing to sit and learn, and Tess was the patient yet bossy teacher.
I also adored Gwen's character, her supportiveness to Tess, her humour and sarcasm, and how she roots for Tess and Leo, whilst being ready to attack anyone who tries to hurt her bosses business.
It has that cosy hallmark feel, that will have you rooting for a happy ending and redemption.
April 9, 2026
Flip the trope!
A billionaire is dared to work in a bakery for a month - what could possibly go wrong? Find out in Dough & Devotion!
Leo’s ultra-privileged, executive life has no spark - until a live streamed dare sees him agree to work a real job for a month.
Tess’s bakery is well loved and supported by the community, but achieving her biggest dreams is out of her reach. Now she has to “train” a billionaire who has never been told no for some influencer stuff?
This romcom was just gorgeous. I highlighted so many passages because I adore Brittany’s style of writing and . Far from being a typical billionaire romance, it actually flipped the script on the trope completely. Leo cannot solve Tess’s problems or swoop in to save the day by throwing money at her problems. She respects work - so that’s what he does.
Always funny, often deeply introspective, this was a really easy safe and affirming read. Leo makes mistakes and learns from them. There’s no instant forgiveness or brushing things under the carpet. Consent and respect are key themes of the book.
The romance is a delicious slow burn, with the spicy stuff only happening at the end of the story. It is open door but not super explicit. The story doesn’t have much in the way of triggers other than fatphobia.
If you want a romance that will make you laugh and cheer on the couple, do yourself a favour and put Dough & Devotion at the top of your TBR.
A billionaire is dared to work in a bakery for a month - what could possibly go wrong? Find out in Dough & Devotion!
Leo’s ultra-privileged, executive life has no spark - until a live streamed dare sees him agree to work a real job for a month.
Tess’s bakery is well loved and supported by the community, but achieving her biggest dreams is out of her reach. Now she has to “train” a billionaire who has never been told no for some influencer stuff?
This romcom was just gorgeous. I highlighted so many passages because I adore Brittany’s style of writing and . Far from being a typical billionaire romance, it actually flipped the script on the trope completely. Leo cannot solve Tess’s problems or swoop in to save the day by throwing money at her problems. She respects work - so that’s what he does.
Always funny, often deeply introspective, this was a really easy safe and affirming read. Leo makes mistakes and learns from them. There’s no instant forgiveness or brushing things under the carpet. Consent and respect are key themes of the book.
The romance is a delicious slow burn, with the spicy stuff only happening at the end of the story. It is open door but not super explicit. The story doesn’t have much in the way of triggers other than fatphobia.
If you want a romance that will make you laugh and cheer on the couple, do yourself a favour and put Dough & Devotion at the top of your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Dare, a stupid dare has Leo working in a bakery for a month. Actual work. Not meetings, shifting money from one account to another, acquisitions, or everything else that has been his life. Now this billionaire now has to work for a month in a bakery all thanks to a dare and a spin of the wheel. Asking his assistant for a baker’s uniform he shows up in a costume that makes him stand out like a sore thumb.
Tess- Great, I have this guy standing here taking up space in my bakery and I have to have him here for a month all because he and his friends were bored and spun some stupid wheel. Day 1 after using too much soap just washing dishes he drops half a sheet of my biggest money maker, while simultaneously burning the other half. Day 2- I decide put him where he can cause the least amount of damage. Until one day when a mom and daughter come in frantic of the need for a custom cake featuring some Anime that he knows all too well. While in the midst of this chaos, we were being secretly recorded. Now he’s trending and my little bakery is flooded with people, news vans and so much more.
With trust being broken, deals being made and all of Tess’s fears coming true how does Leo fix all the problems he has caused?
Tess- Great, I have this guy standing here taking up space in my bakery and I have to have him here for a month all because he and his friends were bored and spun some stupid wheel. Day 1 after using too much soap just washing dishes he drops half a sheet of my biggest money maker, while simultaneously burning the other half. Day 2- I decide put him where he can cause the least amount of damage. Until one day when a mom and daughter come in frantic of the need for a custom cake featuring some Anime that he knows all too well. While in the midst of this chaos, we were being secretly recorded. Now he’s trending and my little bakery is flooded with people, news vans and so much more.
With trust being broken, deals being made and all of Tess’s fears coming true how does Leo fix all the problems he has caused?
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
This was a sweet and heartfelt read. Tess owns a bakery and it is her absolute life. She has poured every sweat and tears into it. In comes Leo, who invested in her business looking to do something different and on a dare is made to work in it for a month. Tess doesn’t trust him. It’s all for sure. She doesn’t think he’ll take it seriously and wants him far from her place of work. Although, Leo only means well, he creates chaos and breaks Tess’s trust in him.
This was a sweet read but also super emotional. Tess is strong, independent, and will do what it takes to keep her bakery alive. Her back story about her family was emotional and heartwarming. I see why she works so hard and for what she can in the future. I love her passion and doing what’s right!
Leo is such a doofus and I mean that in the nicest way possible. He clearly did not understand Tess at the beginning but to see him turn around and realize he’s been doing things all wrong was redemption. It took a while for him to understand the situation but he got there.
I enjoyed it!
This was a sweet and heartfelt read. Tess owns a bakery and it is her absolute life. She has poured every sweat and tears into it. In comes Leo, who invested in her business looking to do something different and on a dare is made to work in it for a month. Tess doesn’t trust him. It’s all for sure. She doesn’t think he’ll take it seriously and wants him far from her place of work. Although, Leo only means well, he creates chaos and breaks Tess’s trust in him.
This was a sweet read but also super emotional. Tess is strong, independent, and will do what it takes to keep her bakery alive. Her back story about her family was emotional and heartwarming. I see why she works so hard and for what she can in the future. I love her passion and doing what’s right!
Leo is such a doofus and I mean that in the nicest way possible. He clearly did not understand Tess at the beginning but to see him turn around and realize he’s been doing things all wrong was redemption. It took a while for him to understand the situation but he got there.
I enjoyed it!
June 7, 2026
A cute romance. But not very satisfying.
I read the 2nd book in this series before the 1st and I felt like I was missing something. Now that I've read the 1st, I still feel like I'm missing information. The character descriptions are few and the relationships between the characters are poorly explained. Tess & Gwen are employer/employee and also best friends, I guess...but how did they meet? How old are they? Gwen seems like she's nearly 30, but Gwen seems like she's younger, sometimes older than Tess. Who are the members of the Mavericks? What is their connection to each other. It's all very confusing. And I have so many more questions and no real answers.
*Spoiler* Gwen and Leo repeatedly state that they are like sister & brother, but we never see that relationship develop in either book. Even the romance between Tess & Leo seems to happen mostly off page.
This is a bad case of (not enough) Show & (too much) Tell.
I read the 2nd book in this series before the 1st and I felt like I was missing something. Now that I've read the 1st, I still feel like I'm missing information. The character descriptions are few and the relationships between the characters are poorly explained. Tess & Gwen are employer/employee and also best friends, I guess...but how did they meet? How old are they? Gwen seems like she's nearly 30, but Gwen seems like she's younger, sometimes older than Tess. Who are the members of the Mavericks? What is their connection to each other. It's all very confusing. And I have so many more questions and no real answers.
*Spoiler* Gwen and Leo repeatedly state that they are like sister & brother, but we never see that relationship develop in either book. Even the romance between Tess & Leo seems to happen mostly off page.
This is a bad case of (not enough) Show & (too much) Tell.
August 23, 2026
potential was there
The MMC was rich. Tried to help her dreams, and was heavy handed despite she said no- so she gets pissed. Instead of asking him for a way he can help without selling her business to the devil- she just stubs up. After the mistake on his part he just acts like a submissive lap dog and looses all of my interest as he lets her keep brow beating him even though he’s apologized and fixed the mistake. When he does offer her the solution of a gifted foundation that he’s going to fully find, She makes a condition that of him never getting to be in the rooms her decisions are made in… witchy much? Idk she was just cold towards him the whole book pretty much so the romance part was hard to believe and honestly I was rooting for him to just walk away and make her realize she should be groveling. 🥴
The MMC was rich. Tried to help her dreams, and was heavy handed despite she said no- so she gets pissed. Instead of asking him for a way he can help without selling her business to the devil- she just stubs up. After the mistake on his part he just acts like a submissive lap dog and looses all of my interest as he lets her keep brow beating him even though he’s apologized and fixed the mistake. When he does offer her the solution of a gifted foundation that he’s going to fully find, She makes a condition that of him never getting to be in the rooms her decisions are made in… witchy much? Idk she was just cold towards him the whole book pretty much so the romance part was hard to believe and honestly I was rooting for him to just walk away and make her realize she should be groveling. 🥴
March 31, 2026
“You were protecting your version of me.”
Thank you to the author for the ARC of Dough & Devotion. This is a bakery/billionaire romance story. Tess is the owner of the bakery, Sunrise & Salt, who finds herself stuck with Leo Ashford. Leo arrives at the bakery looking for a job as part of this dare he has with friends. What he didn’t expect was to fall in love with Tess. He soon finds out how much work it really takes to run her business. With the best of intentions, he tries to help “save” it but ends up fumbling a lot more than he intended. I really loved Tess and how she didn’t budge for anyone. I also loved that Leo had a lot of personal growth throughout their time together. I wish the story had been a little longer!
Thank you to the author for the ARC of Dough & Devotion. This is a bakery/billionaire romance story. Tess is the owner of the bakery, Sunrise & Salt, who finds herself stuck with Leo Ashford. Leo arrives at the bakery looking for a job as part of this dare he has with friends. What he didn’t expect was to fall in love with Tess. He soon finds out how much work it really takes to run her business. With the best of intentions, he tries to help “save” it but ends up fumbling a lot more than he intended. I really loved Tess and how she didn’t budge for anyone. I also loved that Leo had a lot of personal growth throughout their time together. I wish the story had been a little longer!
April 4, 2026
ARC review of Dough and Devotion by Brittany Evermore
Release date: 07 April 2026
4⭐️
1 🌶️
This was such a wholesome read. It was sweet, it was honest, it was vulnerable. I adore Leo (MMC) and his determination to stick it out and ride through his character development. Tess (FMC) was passionate and kind, and I love how she was able to express her feelings and move through it. I was rooting for her and her bakery! 🥯
Such an easy and fun read. Something light, sweet and full of passion 💓
Thank you so much to the author, Brittany Evermore, for my physical copy. Truly a pleasure being part of the ARC team for this book and I’m pumped to read all about Gwen and Zane next! 😋 All opinions in this review are my own.
Release date: 07 April 2026
4⭐️
1 🌶️
This was such a wholesome read. It was sweet, it was honest, it was vulnerable. I adore Leo (MMC) and his determination to stick it out and ride through his character development. Tess (FMC) was passionate and kind, and I love how she was able to express her feelings and move through it. I was rooting for her and her bakery! 🥯
Such an easy and fun read. Something light, sweet and full of passion 💓
Thank you so much to the author, Brittany Evermore, for my physical copy. Truly a pleasure being part of the ARC team for this book and I’m pumped to read all about Gwen and Zane next! 😋 All opinions in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dough and Devotion was such a cozy read! I loved the way that Tess and Leo came together, and I loved the setting of the story.
This is the first book in an inter-connected series, but could be read as a standalone. I look forward to seeing what happens with the next books planned in the series.
The only thing I wish was different about this book was a little bit more world and character building. Throughout the story I wanted to know more about Tess and Leo's pasts. Why was Tess always putting up walls, and who hurt her? My question was partially answered, but I wished for a little bit more detail.
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC! I look forward to reading more from this author. This has been my voluntary review.
This is the first book in an inter-connected series, but could be read as a standalone. I look forward to seeing what happens with the next books planned in the series.
The only thing I wish was different about this book was a little bit more world and character building. Throughout the story I wanted to know more about Tess and Leo's pasts. Why was Tess always putting up walls, and who hurt her? My question was partially answered, but I wished for a little bit more detail.
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC! I look forward to reading more from this author. This has been my voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Leo and Tess
A bored billionaire takes a dare to work at a ‘real’ job.
A baker, scraping by, just doing what she loves…
When they come together, it’s chaos. She’s grumpy, he’s a mess. He’s awakward, and he’s in for a major awakening about what happens in the real world.
The storyline is a little out there with the ‘undercover boss’ vibes, and the associated scandals. And, there’s tension (not all of it good), it becomes quite dramatic with a nasty, opportunistic villain. It does feel a little repetitive on occasion, but it was a sweet(ish) story. The MMC was a bit TSTL and the grumpy MFC felt a little weird, but I still enjoyed reading it.
A bored billionaire takes a dare to work at a ‘real’ job.
A baker, scraping by, just doing what she loves…
When they come together, it’s chaos. She’s grumpy, he’s a mess. He’s awakward, and he’s in for a major awakening about what happens in the real world.
The storyline is a little out there with the ‘undercover boss’ vibes, and the associated scandals. And, there’s tension (not all of it good), it becomes quite dramatic with a nasty, opportunistic villain. It does feel a little repetitive on occasion, but it was a sweet(ish) story. The MMC was a bit TSTL and the grumpy MFC felt a little weird, but I still enjoyed reading it.
April 7, 2026
I devoured this book, I love the writing style, I loved how instantly I fell in love with the characters and their worlds. This was such a sweet romance mainly because it has no spice which was really refreshing for me but it's so much more!! I love how it focuses on being original and not polishing it up to nothing. And sometimes taking things slow is better than jumping at it! Leo & Tess were intense but they're so good together! Since she's the boss of him (literally) it was intriguing to see their relationship build! And for once things are other way around and it was everythingggg! Honestly, it was calming! I can't wait to read other books in the series!
April 8, 2026
Leo is a billionaire who is bored, so his friend brings him onto his show to dare him to work at one of the companies he invested in for 30 days. They show Tess's bakery and he shows up early the next morning ready to work. Tess is reluctant to have him working there, as she has poured her heart and soul into her bakery. Leo works hard to prove himself, and they start forming a connection. Leo then messes up and he breaks her trust. This was a sweet romance where the billionaire wasn't ruthless. Instead he gave major golden retriever puppy energy. I loved how passionate Tess is for her business, she wants to do it on her own, no matter what.
April 11, 2026
This was such a great and sweet story. I absolutely loved Tess. She was a woman that wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, loved her bakery, and her community. Leo on the other hand thought his money did all the talking for him. That is, until Tess. She showed him money can’t buy everything. I loved the challenge. Loved sewing Leo redeem himself after he stuck his foot in his mouth. These two together made a wonderful pair. They balanced each other beautifully. I had the best time with their sweet moments, and seeing them so happy. This was a great story, and I’m glad I got the opportunity to read it as an ARC. Thank you for having me on your team Brittany
September 20, 2026
This was such a lovely and wholesome story!
I liked the fact that Tess is a strong independent woman who doesn't take any bullshit.
After reading so many dark romances where the man just takes what he wants it was so nice to read about Leo. A man who's willing to learn and to listen. A man who, even if it takes a moment, is open to self reflection. I really enjoyed the growth he went through as a character. And that one scene with them both on the kitchen floor was HOT.
There wasn't really a character in this story that I didn't like. I loved Gwen's commentary and look forward to reading her book and exploring the lives of Leo's best friends.
I liked the fact that Tess is a strong independent woman who doesn't take any bullshit.
After reading so many dark romances where the man just takes what he wants it was so nice to read about Leo. A man who's willing to learn and to listen. A man who, even if it takes a moment, is open to self reflection. I really enjoyed the growth he went through as a character. And that one scene with them both on the kitchen floor was HOT.
There wasn't really a character in this story that I didn't like. I loved Gwen's commentary and look forward to reading her book and exploring the lives of Leo's best friends.
Read
March 23, 2026I really enjoyed this book! I found it hilariously funny in many places, including in some similes that the author makes throughout the book when explaining what characters are thinking. With mercifully short chapters and engaging storyline, at under 300 pages, it's a lighthearted story that I thought was very entertaining. I found the story very similar to a Hallmark movie, with very brief bursts of profanity and sex sprinkled in. I look forward to reading the next work by this delightful author.
I am grateful to have received a free evaluation copy of this book. Peace be with you. :-)
I am grateful to have received a free evaluation copy of this book. Peace be with you. :-)
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was really cute. I love a strong female character who isn’t a doormat. I was definitely into this version of a billionaire romance where he wasn’t showering her with extravagant gifts and trips. I liked that he had to earn her respect, trust, and forgiveness.
I also appreciated that while Tess was curvy or plus sized, it wasn’t her entire personality and it wasn’t mentioned one million times.
Highly recommended for readers who want a story about a billionaire man learning how to earn his way and a FMC with a strong personality.
Cannot wait for book 2 for Gwen and Zane
I also appreciated that while Tess was curvy or plus sized, it wasn’t her entire personality and it wasn’t mentioned one million times.
Highly recommended for readers who want a story about a billionaire man learning how to earn his way and a FMC with a strong personality.
Cannot wait for book 2 for Gwen and Zane
Review of advance copy received from Author
It was such a good story! It was cute, funny, but with a serious side. As a former baker myself, I enjoyed the bakery aspects like the terms related to bread making, cake decorating, the process of making croissants, etc. Tess is an independent woman, a hard worker dedicated to her bakery. Leo is a billionaire who relies on money. A dare will make their paths cross. I won’t tell you more, you’ll need to read it! ✨
[ Dough & Devotion is a slow-burn bakery romance about earning trust, choosing growth, and learning that love isn't something you fix - it's something you show
up for. ]
[ Dough & Devotion is a slow-burn bakery romance about earning trust, choosing growth, and learning that love isn't something you fix - it's something you show
up for. ]
April 25, 2026
so i want to preface this by saying i’m usually an epic, fantasy romance, the world is at stake and so our their feelings person.
but This book sounded so cute, and my god did it make me want to take up baking again! The romance was so sweet and nerdy references made me so happy!! snorelax is best loaf!
The reason i didn’t rate high was the flood of similies, it just felt too much for me personally. and at the start it felt like he proved himself like 3 times and she just kinda...forgot? but otherwise adorable lighthearted read.
but This book sounded so cute, and my god did it make me want to take up baking again! The romance was so sweet and nerdy references made me so happy!! snorelax is best loaf!
The reason i didn’t rate high was the flood of similies, it just felt too much for me personally. and at the start it felt like he proved himself like 3 times and she just kinda...forgot? but otherwise adorable lighthearted read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a sweet, low stakes story. I loved how hardworking Tess was and how much she felt for her community. She worked so hard to keep her bakery afloat, and I loved how you could see how much passion she put in her work. Leo was such a sweetheart who got himself in over his head. Although it was a dare that put him in her bakery, he had to prove himself worthy of helping and becoming the man Tess needed. I liked this story and I’m very excited for Gwen’s story.
May 30, 2026
Dough and Devotion by Brittany Evermore is a sweet, slow-burn romance between billionaire Leo and bakery owner Tess. I loved Tess’s independence and dedication to her bakery, while Leo’s devotion to her made their romance especially charming. With great chemistry, lovable characters, and a wonderful supporting cast, this was a delightful start to the Hearts in Bloom series. Thank you to the author for the advance reader copy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Such a cute read! Full of heart, emotion, hard work and determination. It pulls at the heart with being real about failure, overstepping and working hard on a dream. Tess was such a great character and I loved her personality. Leo, I wasn’t sure how to feel about him starting out but turned into a lovable character. I read this in one sitting and can’t wait for the next one!
March 21, 2026
This was such a fun and cute book! The perfect little rom com. That had emotion, sweet cute moments and a lesson that many people need to learn. Leo learned to listen and truly listen to what others say and need and want, he learned to stop over stepping all while working hard and proving himself and he grew so much. I also love Tess, she’s a bad ass business owner who deserves the world
Review of advance copy received from Author
LOVED this book!!! Who doesn’t love a good billionaire story and add a bakery I was sold alone from the blurb! The story is absolutely phenomenal and the perfect story! This is my second book I’ve read by Brittany and I may like this one a smidge more but she is talented and I can’t wait to see what’s next in the series. Stop your current read and give this book a chance!
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