Bachelor at Her Bidding

Montana Born Bachelor Auction #2

by Kate Hardy

How to win a girl in ten cakes…

When Dr Rachel Cassidy comes back to Marietta with a divorce under her belt, she doesn’t want to date, even if top pastry chef Ryan Henderson is a key part of the package. Ryan doesn’t have time for dating, either – he’s back in Marietta to look after his sick grandmother. But when the attraction between them flares, they both discover that they just might dare to love again.

Then tragedy strikes, pushing them apart.

Can Ryan possibly win Rachel back… with cake?


Bachelor Auction Series
Book 1: Bound to the Bachelor
Book 2: Bachelor at her Bidding
Book 3: The Bachelor's Baby
Book 4: What a Bachelor Needs
Book 5: In Bed with the Bachelor
Book 6: One Night with her Bachelor

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Amazon

158 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 27, 2015

About the author

Kate Hardy is the award-winning author of more than 100 books for Harlequin Mills & Boon and the Georgina Drake cozy crime series for Storm. Her novel 'Breakfast at Giovanni's' won the RNA Romance Prize in 2008, 'Bound by a Baby' won the RNA RoNA Rose in 2014 and ‘A Will, A Wish, A Wedding’ won the RNA Liberta Books Shorter Fiction award in 2021. She's been shortlisted six more times for the award, as well as for two Romantic Times awards.

She lives in Norwich in the east of England with her husband, two grown-up children, springer spaniels Archie and Dexter, and too many books to count. She's a bit of a nerd who loves cinema, live music, the theatre, ballet, history and cooking, and adores anything Italian. She loves doing research, particularly if it's hands-on and means experimenting with cooking. Reviewers say that her books are full of warmth, heart and charm - and also that you'll learn something new and interesting from them!

Kate also writes bestselling local history books under the name of Pamela Brooks.

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - "He's skilled with his hands... You can't ask for more than that." Stars!

Kate Hardy isn't an author that is new to me, so its no surprise to see a novella released from her, through Tule Publishing due the quality books and novellas that they release. Being the second in the Montana Born Bachelor Auction Series, I have absolutely no reservations in picking up this little gem from Netgalley.

"One night. One dinner."

Although a series, after reading the first two books, I don't think it would offer any problems too read these books as standalones, this story is wholly separate from the first book, although as you would expect there is a little character crossover.

"You're lovely as you are."

Another great thing about the second book in the series, is that it offers a totally different type of romance from its predecessor, this one is strictly romance by numbers, with tried and tested tropes, written beautifully and with great like-able characters, an easy going pace, and plenty of action in the cooking and bedroom department, I was a happy reader.



Ryan and Rachel were both down-to-earth, easy to get along with characters, I wanted this couple to get their 'Happily Ever After' their story, and the outcome was an absolute delight to read.

The Bachelor's Baby is up next, I am looking forward to reading Dani Collins' addition to this wonderful series.



ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars-

Using the Auction as the thread with all of these books, we have a handsome and talented Paris Trained chef up for a bid on a special dinner and dessert. Dr. Rachel is tricked by her friends pooling together and gifting her the winning bid for the special dinner with Ryan. We experience a couple who have been gun shy about romance; too much in their lives and past hurts.... so when the two do get together- sparks and delicious cakes end up being the way to the heart. Cute story and the cakes.... fantastic!

A gifted copy was provided by Tule Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[SamJ ★Needs a HEA★ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Copy received in exchange for an honest review

Series Book order (different author for each book)

1 - 2- 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 -

★Book Basics★

Genre : - Cont Romance
Series : - 2nd in the series - Can be read as a standalone
Love triangle? - No
Cheating? - No
HEA? - Yes
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - No
Rating - 1 stars


★Review★

I did not enjoy this as much as the first book in this series, which is written by a different author.

The "romance" here felt forced, and I struggled to connect to either main character.

Ryan seemed almost too nice at times - it felt like it was almost forced down our throats how good he was, how much he had sacrificed, how he trained in PARIS, you know, he had sacrificed his dream, he loved his Gran, he was a Paris trained pastry chef...and on and on

Oh, and BTW, I hate when a book refers to "Europe" as in "oh this is how they do it in Europe you know" (which must have been used at least 5-6 times) Europe is a massive place, made up of many different countries, all different.

Rachel is not better, constantly pushed down our throat, how she was divorced, why she was divorced, how it made her feel, how she had such a low opinion of herself - and again how nice she was!

Yet, when Ryan makes 1 mistake, out of fear for his last living relative, and something hitting too close to home about how his ex had been - all she can think of is "oh he should have listened to me, I was right, why did he not listen to me, since I was right"

He comes to apologise after a day, and a decent apology, but she cannot forgive him for having let what his ex do colour how he reacted, and spends days making him pay, for what her ex did, and refusing to forgive him. Even her friends and family were telling her to forgive him as he looked devastated and all she could say was "hmmm"

I started intensely disliking her at that point.

In the end, I did not really like either character, although I felt a bit sorry for Ryan, but Rachel and her self righteousness was too much.

A disappointing 1 star.

[Lyndy Ann ♫ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bachelor at her Bidding is the second in a six part novella series from Tule Publishing Montana Born Bachelor Auction.

This is Rachel Cassidy and Ryan Henderson's story.

Rachel and Ryan are cute together both have been hurt in the past and they are both scared to take a second chance on love. Something happens that tears them apart. Can the Parisian Chef win the heart of the Doctor? The description of all the desserts has made me hungry :)

This is totally different to the first book in this series, I found the story to be sweet and I liked Kate Hardy's writing style

Looking forward to reading the rest of the Montana Born Bachelor Auction series.

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

There isn't really much to say about this book. It was a pleasant read and a cute story but the thing that set it apart from other romance novels was the desserts.

I mean the description of the deserts in this story was insane. I could just close my eyes and picture what he was making.



And in the end when he screwed up (because lets face it...men always screwed up) he apologised (beside using words) with cakes and deserts.



I wish my hubby would do that when he's apologising (because men always have a reason to apologise :P)



But really...if you have a soft spot for desserts and an avid imagination then this is the book for you if you want to *imaginary* eat some fabulous desserts :D



*ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

** 3.5 Stars **
After finishing Bound to the Bachelor I was really exciting to read each Bachelor’s story. However, Bachelor at Her Bidding just didn’t really do it for me. It wasn’t horrible, but I didn’t love it as much as the first book. I did like the plot of this one but I felt like the romance between Rachel and Ryan just wasn’t real, I felt like it was mainly forced and insta-attraction.

[Claire - The Coffeeholic Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe I’m now on book 2. Let’s all meet Chef Ryan, a successful pastry chef, whose sweet confections was “almost better than sex”.

Ryan didn’t want to fall in love; he didn’t believe in dating, and heck, he even didn’t have time to even find the one for him. All he cared about was his grandmother Phyllis, who had stood by him since childhood when he lost his mom and dad in an accident. When his last relationship failed, he vowed to focus all his energy and attention to his ailing grandmother.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rachel Cassidy was back to her hometown after an unsuccessful married life. People at Marietta looked down at her after her divorce; they thought she would never find a man again who’d take her seriously nor love her because her attention is all on her books. Sometimes, she thought, all those hurtful rumors might just be true.

Until the night of Bachelor Auction bidding, when somebody else bid for Ryan but Dr. Rachel Cassidy ended up with him.

These two lonely and brokenhearted souls found each other. Then came the dates, the cakes, the flowers, the sweets, the affection, the emotions. When Grandma Phyllis’s delicate condition worsened, things started to get sour between the lovers. Would there ever be a sweet ending for them at all?

I thought I liked Beau & Lily’s story in the first Bachelor Auction series. Turns out, I was wrong. I think I like Rachel & Ryan’s story better, because theirs was lighter, sweet and mushy and fun. There was an instant attraction between them, but both were afraid to take the plunge, so they decided to test the waters and waddle slowly. I liked that kind of relationship, not pushing too much, not expecting too much. Not too sweet, not too sour, not too bland; just perfect!

[Kanoko · Rating 1 out of 5]

My opinion of this book won't make the world a nicer place, but do I care? Not really, so I guess the protags will just have to deal.

This book is just painfully repetitive, with a Parisian-trained good guy chef shoved down my throat every page turn. Or it feels like it, anyway, because this hero is like humblebrag personified. "Ooh, I learned this from France." "This is how it's done in Europe." "The French eats this dessert this way." "Paris is blah blah blah." "France Europe French Paris blah blah blah."

Good lord. The darn hero talks too much. I don't necessarily like taciturn guys, but the hero of this book just pisses me the hell off.

The heroine, meanwhile, has a personality of a plain white bread. Wait. Do breads have personality? …Exactly. So, nope, not any better.

If you want a book with clichés left and right—and not very well done, at that—you have got to read this one. It is also worth noting that out of all the books in the multi-author series, this is the one with the most inconsistent details. I can't even.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Bachelor at her Bidding," is the second novella in Tule Publishing's Montana Born Bachelor Auction series and very well done.

The opening of the story starts with Lily Taylor, still recruiting for her fund raising bachelor auction and working her magic at securing Ryan Henderson, Marietta's very own Parisian trained chef into being a bachelor on the auction block.
Ryan valiently tries to escape such a fate , after all he does not have time for dating and relationships, between work and being the sole caretaker of his grandmother. But, he is no match for Lily's tenacity.
Obvioisly Ryan's offering for the auction will be dinner and dessert made esclusivley for the lucky auction winner.

Dr Rachel Cassidy, divorced, broken hearted and recently returned to her hometown of Marietta. Rachel wants nothing to do with men or dating right now,she does not really want to attend the Auction;
but figures showing support for a local fund raiser while enjoying a night out with her girlfreinds will not hurt, it is not like she will be bidding.

Of course, no one ever said her girlfreinds would not be doing the bidding for her,whats worse is Ryan and Rachel seem to have a mutual atraction to each other that neither one wishes to move on.

These two lonely people however ,can not seem to keep it at a platonic relationship and quickly opt for a no strings attached fling. A stolen hour here, a stolen hour there and a small town full of people egging them on to more.

Since, these two both have battle scars from previosu relationships; Ryan's Grandma taking a turn for the worse serves as a catalyst to an argument and an almost insermountable rift between them.

Once Ryan realizes the error of his ways, his dessert Du Jour apology is sweet and beyond adorable.

Lovely quick read with wondefull flow.

Arc graciously provided by Tule Publishing via Netgalley for an honest review.

[Didi · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first book by Ms. Hardy and it's been a while since my last Harlequin-ish reading but the blurb was catchy so I decided, what the heck, I'd give this a try!

A chef and GP, both fresh from broken relationship/marriage, united through bachelor auction; small town with close community where everybody knew everybody. I expected a nice sweet romance; what I found was rather corny and boring. Too many cliches, repetition to self such as "he didn't need others help", "it's his responsibility" "I'm not ready for a relationship" etc etc

I wasn't that impressed with the characters too, glamorous profession, or past profession, notwithstanding. Simply put, this story put me to sleep. Not even the "crisis" and the ensued events at the tail of this book could rouse me.

This book might work for others, but it certainly wasn't for me.

The ARC was kindly provided by publisher via NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an e-ARC free from Netgalley. Below is my review.

Bachelor at Her Bidding is a sweet surprise. Ryan Henderson's brand of sweet is... better than sex. He's a Parisian-trained pastry chef and can he ever make pastry - and a whole lot of other things!

Ryan is guilted into doing the Bachelor Auction and offers up a gourmet dinner. Rachel Cassidy "wins" his dinner, thanks to her sister and their friends. Neither is looking for a relationship; both have been burned badly. But the chemistry, and not the food chemistry, is off the charts and they can't keep their distance. A dinner turns into a no-strings affair, slowly turning into more.

This was more Ryan's story than Rachel's. Though both have character arcs, his is the more powerful and emotional. His motivations and feelings are more deeply and carefully explored. Rachel isn't handled cursorily, but she lacks the depth that Ryan is afforded.

I really enjoyed the foodie parts of this book *a lot*. Ryan as chef and as pastry chef was explored a great deal, with a lot of food descriptions and a lot of talk about how food is his passion. And I do want to hightlight one foodie bit that really caught my attention and made me very happy. At one point, eclairs are mentioned and described with cream filling and chocolate glaze. I can't begin to say how happy I was with that. Where I live, eclairs get totally messed up (think "chocolate eclair" with chocolate filling and chocolate glaze) and it drives me up a wall because a chocolate eclair is what is described in the book - an eclair always has cream filling. So reading about all that foodie stuff and having it be correct? Oh yeah!

I really enjoyed Ryan and Rachel and loved how sweet and tender and loving it all was.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Firstly thank you to the author for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.**

I will admit that I read this one first thus reading the series in the wrong order which will forever piss me off but didn’t make a lot of difference when it came to this book. The book was a really easy read which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The main characters are Ryan and Rachel; Ryan is a fully trained chef who moved home to look after his grandmother and Rachel is a newly divorced doctor who moved home to become a family doctor. The two meet at a bachelor auction where Rachel’s best friend bid for a meal cooked by Ryan for Rachel. The two grow close but with Ryan’s grandmother’s deteriorating health and Rachel’s plea for her to go into a home the two split up. Then it is very much how to get a girl with cakes.

The secondary characters include Rachel’s best friends who support Rachel throughout the book and even end up supporting Ryan in his attempt to get Rachel back. Ryan’s grandmother is also a huge secondary character in this book as she pretty much determines what Ryan is going to be doing.

The storyline was not unlike other books I’ve read but it was very easy to read and quick. The pacing was great and I especially liked the epilogue at the end of the book letting us know how the couple faired in the end.

4 stars a good read.

[JG · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the way the story unfolded in this book. That Rachel and Ryan's (and their names match!) relationship started slowly and developed quite gradually was refreshing. Part of the Montana Born Bachelor Auction series, Bachelor at her Bidding has Rachel being gifted a bachelor for one date from her friends as a birthday gift. Ryan, a local boy who's a Paris trained pastry chef never imagined he'd be roped into being auctioned for a good cause when he came back home to take care of his grandmother. Both Rachel and Ryan have been burned at love's altar and both are shying away from any committed relationship. But when the dinner date was upon them and the dessert about to be served they couldn't resist taking a taste of what they might have instead. This was truly one unique twist in the blind date set up by friends trope. Rachel and Ryan are truly delightful, well developed characters with some obvious hang ups that are quite believable. The obstacle that derailed their romance was quite on point seeing how both their last relationship ended. And the desserts in this book was simply mouthwatering, so if you like your romances paired with great desserts then this is definitely for you.

*ARC provided thru NetGalley*

[Georgina Parkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars for a great read! I kinda love these. This series is something I put on the back burner because when I read book one, I did my usual thing and searched for the authors name, not the title when I continue a series and couldn't find it... Obviously because they're not from the same author!

This was greatly written, I loved the hero and heroine, and this book really couldn't get any sweeter. If my man cooked me desserts everyday with little chocolate card notes to say sorry I'd forgive him in a heartbeat!

I love these because they're not too short. Shit happens, they're emotional and you can actually get invested. I don't think they'd be any good if they were longer, they really are the right size and don't take too long to read at all. There's also not unrealistic drama, I love that.

[Reading Rediscovered · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet story about two people who are just destined to be together. I found it to be just enough romance and chemistry between the two without being over the top or too heavily focused on the physical relationship.
I found it to be a funny twist that Rachel's friends bought Ryan for her at the bachelor auction, but it was clearly the best way to get her to get together with him. I really liked the dynamic of him cooking for her and then her cooking for him and hers being of far less quality. I also enjoyed the dynamic of Phyllis (Ryan's grandmother) and her dementia and the conflict it brought to their relationship over her care. Both Rachel and Ryan have past hurts that come back to bite them time and time again, but through sheer will and determination, they worked through them and it all ends the best way possible - a wedding!
Overall, 4 stars

[Bette Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan Henderson, another Marietta bachelor, is up on the auction block and he is bought by a group of women as a birthday gift for their friend, Rachel Cassidy. Their date is a huge success and things seem to be going along well until they're not. Realizing he has messed up a great thing Ryan goes on a baking campaign to win her back!

I thought this was a wonderful fun story! What I wouldn't do for one of Ryan's desserts! I definitely recommend this one.

[Delene Yochum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this Book! This book can be read as a stand alone but don't deprive yourself of reading the other 3 books by various authors published by Tule! This is Ryan and Rachel's story! Rachel comes home to Marietta to recover from her divorce. Her friends buy her a date at the charity bachelor auction. They hit it off but as in real life stuff happens! Ryan realizes what he needs to do to get Rachel back. It's not easy but cakes a plenty might do the trick! Great read!

[Wendy Darling · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off cute, but quickly became predictable and cliche, with vague allusions to "Europe" and "Paris" to convince you Ryan's food is legit.

There's a lot of dinner and dessert in this, btw, but I refuse to add it to my"food porn" shelf because I find it ridiculous that these people don't seem to have heard of the most basic of desserts. And is "trio of desserts" really something that needs explaining or a concept so novel it's worth marvelling over?

[Alexis Holpin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my least favorite in the series. I enjoyed it but I felt that the characters were pretty much instantly in love. I would still recommend it though.

ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you set a book in Montana, get an American editor

The story here was sweet and cute but it is obvious that the author is not an American English speaker. So much of the vernacular is just plain wrong and it takes your head right out of the story...and for me that's an unforgivable offense. Truly, what would it take to have Beta readers or an editor or someone who actually lives in the place you are setting your story to correct your jargon?! This is so irritating to me because it's sloppy and lazy.

[Susanne Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fabulous book by Kate Hardy. I love her books set in this gorgeous community, I would love to live in the friendly town of Marietta, it just seems such an idyllic place!
Great characters, who both have had difficulties in their pasts, however they seem to be just what each other needs to move on and to fully embrace their return to the town where they grew up.
The cakes 🍰 and desserts 🍨 described in the story were so utterly mouth watering! And I adored Ryan’s culinary efforts at the end of the story.
A gentle love story that was a joy to read.

[Patricia Piercy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family comes first.

They say the way to a man.'s heart is thru his stomach, well that
just may work for a woman as well. Rachel
And Ryan were made for each other, they just needed to realize it. With friends and family members help , well just read the book and see what happens.

[Tracy Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tasty from start to finish

This is an incredible story of hardship, love, family and moving on. Rachel is a small town family doctor who is unlucky in her past relationship. She comes to meet Ryan, the handsome chef that works at Greys. When she wins a birthday dinner with Ryan at the bachelor auction their lives begin to change. You won't be able to put this book down!

[Sherri Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. All thoughts are mine.
Such a sweet romance about second chances and family. Ryan and Rachel have been hurt by former lovers, and both of them were unsure about falling for someone new.
I know the author did her homework on people with dementia, because she described things I went through with my Mother.

[Kim Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed it.

Its been a while since I read the first book but luckily they are all by different authors so are standalones.
I really enjoyed this, I need something different to read.
Highly recommend this book.

[Mojca · Rating 1 out of 5]

***copy provided by publisher through NetGalley***

The hero was a saint, the heroine was a self-righteous bitch filled with self-pity, the plot was rife with clichés and seemed written by a high-school student.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great book to read

[Anne Turnley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adult romance

The way to a woman's heart can be through her stomach. She is a physician and heir a pastry chef. An unlikely duo but, they share basic values.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

He is a chef. She's a doctor. Sparks fly and they both have to try to not let the past interfere with their present. I enjoyed this book.

[Catherine Geist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book

This was a fantastic story from start to finish. I did not want to put the book down. The storyline was great & well written.Highly recommended