Seduced by the Sticky Toffee Pudding

by Fenella J. Rookery, Mr. Chumbo (Illustrator)

After being dumped by her boyfriend and watching the restaurant where she works burn down, Sylvie is desperate to escape London. The perfect opportunity comes her way when she lands the head chef position at Twyford House.

However, the English countryside isn’t the peaceful retreat Sylvie expected. Magical mayhem abounds in this enchanted stately home, where ancient secrets lie beneath the surface and even the food has a mind of its own!

When Sylvie makes a recipe from an antique cookbook, she ends up with more than just a delicious dessert on her hands, as a mysterious figure is called to life who only has eyes for her. Between dealing with a series of strange occurrences, preparing for the Earl’s Halloween ball, and experiencing an attraction that is rapidly reaching boiling point, Sylvie is about to find out if she can handle the heat of the kitchen.

Can a pudding man who is as sweet and hot as sticky toffee help Sylvie find her spark for life again? Or will the magic run out?

Grab a warm cup of tea, take a seat by the fire, and dive into a world of cosy autumnal vibes. Seduced by the Sticky Toffee Pudding is a paranormal romantic comedy novella that is as sweet as it is spicy. For readers who enjoyed Pounded by Produce, Unhinged, or Wicker.

From the author of The Horny Wizard and the Management Consultant comes a new tale of magic, love, lust, and unhinged fun.

Book One in The British Cuisine Sentient Object Romance Series.

110 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2026

About the author

Fenella J. Rookery writes whimsical, spicy (and often a little unhinged) paranormal and fantasy romantic comedy novellas. Her work aims to make you laugh and will leave you questioning, “What did I just read?” When she’s not writing, she enjoys roller skating and travelling. She lives with her two guinea pigs, Gary and Bert.

For more Horny Wizard content check out my socials!
https://linktr.ee/thehornywizard

Get in touch
thehornywizard@gmail.com

Reviews

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah! How could I resist a title and front cover like this one!?

This was the perfect quick rainy day read - this was so easy to devour and I had the sweetest time here.

I felt so sorry for Sylvie - out of a job, newly dumped and pushed out of their joint home, she finds herself heading to take up a head chef position at a far off stately home.
Feeling down in herself, little did she know what fun awaited her here.

I've read a few sentient object reads now and so I knew exactly what I was letting myself in for and I loved how this one draws us in from the start and actually also gives us a pretty great storyline - on top of the smut I mean.

I loved the idea of how Tom Pudding was created and how the storyline played out in terms of their backstory and although there was a fair bit less spice than I'm used to in this genre, I actually found this really refreshing.

The spice was certainly there though and this added to the development of the relationship and added a few laughs too.

I loved the way that Sylvie thought in places and I think some of her one-liner thoughts were my funniest moments.

This was such an easy read and the characters were all ridiculous and believable all at the same time so it was easy to relate to them - despite one of them being a pudding!

A brilliant first read from this author and definitely knew I'll be checking out again soon.

[Tysha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a slightly unhinged sentient object romance, and this one was so much fun!

Sylvie, our FMC, had been through a lot when we meet her. She's been dumped by her boyfriend, and the restaurant where she was working burned down (not her fault!) She needs a change of pace, so when a head chef job at the stately home, Twyford House, is advertised she jumps at this opportunity.

Wanting to get to know the kitchen she'll be working in, and needing a sweet treat, she bakes a pair of sticky toffee puddings from an antique family cookbook. As well as being delicious, this pudding holds a sweet, sticky secret.

This was a fast-paced, spicy novella, perfect for autumn. Sylvie is very laid back (in more ways than one) with the mysterious pudding encounters, and I'm kinda jealous of her affinity to magic.

I cannot wait to see where this series goes next, and which culinary delights are going to feature!

I received an ARC of this ebook from the author, via Voracious Readers Only, and I'm voluntarily leaving this review.

[Shelby · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Seduced by the Sticky Toffee Pudding
By: Fenella J. Rookery
Format: eARC, on KU
Genre: Satirical Erotica, Sentient Object Romance
Approx 80 pages
4/5🌶️

After losing her job to a fire and then her apartment to a cheating ex, Sylvie jumps at the chance for a live-in head chef position at the Twyford House estate. Magical and strange occurrences occur, especially after Sylvie makes a recipe from an antique recipe book and she finds herself face to face with a pudding-turned-man.

As a mere American, with a heavy Southern and Latine-influenced palate, I didn’t even know what the British cuisine of “bangers, mash, toad in the hole, knickerbocker glory, or spotted dick” was…but I still had a hecking good time. I absolutely adore the whimsical and silliness of Fenella J Rookery’s books because I know I’ll get some laughs, some puns, and some unique spice. Like wdym our FMC had spicy time with a floating toffee ween while in a bath?! I’m dying.

[Ink Diver · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

When this sticky goodness landed in my inbox I wasted no time digging in.

This story may be a small serving size but it packs a stickier fisting than a ravenous toddler on a diabetes mission.

It's full of fun and goopy cake come. Tasty wet dreams and kitchen made creams. Food so delectable it's cliterally orgasmic! Forgotten your bathtime joy rider? Never fear the sticky toffee penis ghost is here, the Casper of custom made Beaver buzzers will be foaming them soap suds up in no time.

This wee treat of a read will have you hungering for more moist moistness with extra sauce. May you all have sweet sticky dreams full of phallacies 😋🥣 🍆

[Bianca C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fenella J. Rookery writes the funniest little novellas, and I eat them up EVERY TIME! 😂🖤 This one was no different!

Sylvie escapes to the English countryside to start fresh as a head chef, only to find herself surrounded by magical chaos, enchanted food, and a very unexpected man who just so happens to be a pudding turned human. I mean, WHAT?! 🍮😂

I was giggling the whole time! The whimsical magic, ridiculous situations, and hilarious romance made this such a fun read. If you want something short, sweet, magical, and perfect for spooky season, this is your sign! ✨🖤

A huge thank you to Fenella J. Rookery for sending me an ARC and letting me read this delightfully chaotic little novella! 💕📚

[T-money · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was giggling the whole way, absolutely ridiculous as ever, as is now kind of expected from Fenella's books. What was less expected was the tugging of the heart strings with both Sylvie and Tom's back stories. I don't want to reveal much of the story, but it's super cute. I think these are my favourite spicy scenes in all her books too, hotttt!
I loved it just as much as The Horny Wizard series and am super curious to see where it goes next. Fenella has absolutely smashed it again, keep them coming!!

[Kell 5wordsorlessbooks · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Well, well, well, who would have thought I would read a book about a sentient dessert? But alas, here we are, and you know what? Is this a sweet treat? Why yes, yes it is! I love me some sticky date pud, and this was just as sweet.

This book was funny, had a surprising twist and I just had a good time with it. We have a phantom dick, a sentient pudding, a British manor, and a chef who likes to dabble with food play, plus plenty of chef and food puns to give it more oomppffff.

Bon Appétit indeed!

[Lu L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've said it once, and I'll say it again.
If this doesn't make you look at British puddings differently... you haven't read it right.
To live in Fenella's brain for a day would be a dream. The writing, the imagination, the effortless British humour. The story is the perfect length (ha ha), and yet I wanted it to last forever.
Who doesn't want sticky toffee sauce all over them anyways?
A fabulous riot of a read.

[Masha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first sentient object romance, and I absolutely loved it! This is a short, addictive read that had me laughing out loud one moment and feeling hot and bothered the next. 🥵 The writing flowed effortlessly, and I was hooked from start to finish. Funny, spicy, and really entertaining. Loved every minute of it! ❤️

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chefs, ghosts, a Halloween feast, a seance, and a sentient sticky toffee pudding…plus a heaping dose of magic. This one is short and (extra) sweet. I look forward to more of this cute series!

I received an advanced reader copy for free and am leaving a review voluntarily.

[Robyn G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this so quick!
It was so fast paced and easy to read.
I really enjoyed Sylvie as a character and her love for sticky toffee pudding lol
I really liked the whole concept of there being a whole cook book so hopefully that means more Sentient desserts? 🤞

[Camille Fitzgerald AKA Cora Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a story I can finish in one sitting. I ATE. THIS. UP. (Pun intended) So sweet and satisfying and a great Halloween read. If I’m not mistaken, it might be my first sentient object romance I’ve ever read, and it was so much fun. A great, little novella to read between larger books, too. 😍

[Tamaryn · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Well, I didn't expect to fall for a pudding this week, but here we are.

Poor Sylvie starts the book at rock bottom: she's been dumped and has watched her restaurant burn down. So she takes a head chef job at Twyford House, a gorgeous stately home where strange things keep happening and even the food has a mind of its own. Then she tries a recipe from an antique cookbook, and her dessert turns out to be a lot more than dessert. Honestly, we've all had worse dates.

I had such a good time with this. It's daft in the best way, full of groan-worthy puns, cosy autumn vibes and plenty of spice. What surprised me was how much heart it has under all the silliness. I didn't expect a book with this title to tug at my heartstrings, but it did.

At 110 pages it's the perfect one-sitting read. Make a cuppa, curl up somewhere warm, and let it whisk you away (sorry, I had to).

I'm already desperate for book two. If there's a whole cookbook of these, I'll be first in the queue for seconds. 🍮