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Rose City Roasters #6
Serving Bunt
Heated Rivalry meets The Great British Baking Show with a dash of Hallmark Christmas magic and a whole lot more spice in this baseball romance novella set in the Pacific Northwest.
Baseball fans know Matty Miller as a two-time Gold Glove nominee, the American League West's Sexiest Player, and proud "dachshund daddy" to Instagram's favorite wiener dog. Off the field, though, he's just a bisexual farm boy from Alabama who's spent the past few years renovating his fixer-upper farmhouse... and pretending the butterflies he gets around his handsome left fielder are nothing more than pregame jitters. But when the anonymous author of some wildly popular Roasters fanfiction turns out to be the very man he's been quietly falling for, his carefully ordered world is turned completely upside down.
Peter Diaz has never been accused of being subtle. The charming, larger-than-life Puerto Rican left fielder wears his heart on his sleeve, quotes Chris Evans movies at every opportunity, and secretly writes filthy fanfiction under a pseudonym. He never imagined his anonymous stories would lead to real-life flirting with the teammate he's wanted for years. When the truth comes out, the disappointment in Matty's eyes hurts far more than any strikeout ever could. Determined to earn Matty's trust back, Diaz agrees to join him on a nationally televised holiday baking competition during the All-Star break. After all, if making a complete fool of himself in an apron is what it takes to repair the damage he's done, so be it.
As it turns out, what happens in the baking tent doesn't stay in the baking tent... or the locker room.
Serving Bunt is the final book in the Rose City Roasters baseball series. This friends-to-lovers romance between a bisexual, softdom Southern boy and his gay, "life of the party" teammate features an almost entirely LGBTQIA+ supporting cast of characters, two cups of mutual pining, a dash of only one bed, a pint of horny baking, and a generous spoonful of naked swim time.
Baseball fans know Matty Miller as a two-time Gold Glove nominee, the American League West's Sexiest Player, and proud "dachshund daddy" to Instagram's favorite wiener dog. Off the field, though, he's just a bisexual farm boy from Alabama who's spent the past few years renovating his fixer-upper farmhouse... and pretending the butterflies he gets around his handsome left fielder are nothing more than pregame jitters. But when the anonymous author of some wildly popular Roasters fanfiction turns out to be the very man he's been quietly falling for, his carefully ordered world is turned completely upside down.
Peter Diaz has never been accused of being subtle. The charming, larger-than-life Puerto Rican left fielder wears his heart on his sleeve, quotes Chris Evans movies at every opportunity, and secretly writes filthy fanfiction under a pseudonym. He never imagined his anonymous stories would lead to real-life flirting with the teammate he's wanted for years. When the truth comes out, the disappointment in Matty's eyes hurts far more than any strikeout ever could. Determined to earn Matty's trust back, Diaz agrees to join him on a nationally televised holiday baking competition during the All-Star break. After all, if making a complete fool of himself in an apron is what it takes to repair the damage he's done, so be it.
As it turns out, what happens in the baking tent doesn't stay in the baking tent... or the locker room.
Serving Bunt is the final book in the Rose City Roasters baseball series. This friends-to-lovers romance between a bisexual, softdom Southern boy and his gay, "life of the party" teammate features an almost entirely LGBTQIA+ supporting cast of characters, two cups of mutual pining, a dash of only one bed, a pint of horny baking, and a generous spoonful of naked swim time.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 28, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Author
I went into this book starving, and not for food, exactly, but for that specific ache only a balls-out queer romance with a stint in a bakery-esque setting can satisfy. And Kelly, if you're reading this: I hope you know what you did to me.
Matty and Diaz aren't just a pairing; they're a recipe of ingredients that shouldn't work in this weirdly taboo and sexily forbidden way, with reasons that are layered AF, and then all of a sudden you're dripping in cream cheese frosting from carrol cake cinnamon rolls or tearing apart apricot jam and brie savory sweet rolls or something equally finger-licking delicious and life-changing.
A few things I need to shout from the countertop:
Abuelita is the secret leavening agent of this entire book. She's not comic relief, and she's not a lesson-dispenser - she's sharp, she's soft, she smells like the kind of kitchen you want to be adopted into. Every scene she's in, the whole book gets a little warmer and
The heat is not shy. I came into MM romance a relative beginner, and this book did not hold my hand - it handed me the whisk and told me to keep up. It's messy in the way good desire is messy and babe I was sat for every heaping plateful of spice. Especially once the fan-fic chapters started sprinkling themselves throughout, when I tell you I could slather these parts in butter and devour them whole- it is not an exaggeration.
Sleigh the Bake might be my favorite fictional TV show of the year. A Bake-Off pastiche that’s affectionately unhinged, with a contestant roster that is intentionally and playfully specific and zesty in the best way, deserves its own spinoff. I would watch eight more seasons and buy the kitchen line they all undeniably drop together. One of my favorite scenes was ironically them not on set and at a bar- and babes, buckle up for the sassy disco ball of a time they have.
The coming-out conversations are the real showstopper, though. Not one conversation, but many across kitchens, desks, in the dark of micro-cabins, and each one lands with its own weight instead of repeating the same beat. That's one of the most soulful parts that stuck with me after I closed the book. Queer love here doesn't get just one register; it’s treated like it deserves the space. Which is how Kelly writes the entire Rose City Roaster series, so it was no surprise here, but what a hell of a chapter to close on our time here at the ballfield.
Micro things to love:
-the recipes included in the series
-the candle-IYKYK and if not, the scent will be haunting you and phantom-filling your nostrils soon
To round the final base, you’ll enjoy devouring this book “No if’s, and’s, or Bundt’s about it”
A special thank you to Kelly for gifting me an ARC of Serving Bunt! What a true honor!
Matty and Diaz aren't just a pairing; they're a recipe of ingredients that shouldn't work in this weirdly taboo and sexily forbidden way, with reasons that are layered AF, and then all of a sudden you're dripping in cream cheese frosting from carrol cake cinnamon rolls or tearing apart apricot jam and brie savory sweet rolls or something equally finger-licking delicious and life-changing.
A few things I need to shout from the countertop:
Abuelita is the secret leavening agent of this entire book. She's not comic relief, and she's not a lesson-dispenser - she's sharp, she's soft, she smells like the kind of kitchen you want to be adopted into. Every scene she's in, the whole book gets a little warmer and
The heat is not shy. I came into MM romance a relative beginner, and this book did not hold my hand - it handed me the whisk and told me to keep up. It's messy in the way good desire is messy and babe I was sat for every heaping plateful of spice. Especially once the fan-fic chapters started sprinkling themselves throughout, when I tell you I could slather these parts in butter and devour them whole- it is not an exaggeration.
Sleigh the Bake might be my favorite fictional TV show of the year. A Bake-Off pastiche that’s affectionately unhinged, with a contestant roster that is intentionally and playfully specific and zesty in the best way, deserves its own spinoff. I would watch eight more seasons and buy the kitchen line they all undeniably drop together. One of my favorite scenes was ironically them not on set and at a bar- and babes, buckle up for the sassy disco ball of a time they have.
The coming-out conversations are the real showstopper, though. Not one conversation, but many across kitchens, desks, in the dark of micro-cabins, and each one lands with its own weight instead of repeating the same beat. That's one of the most soulful parts that stuck with me after I closed the book. Queer love here doesn't get just one register; it’s treated like it deserves the space. Which is how Kelly writes the entire Rose City Roaster series, so it was no surprise here, but what a hell of a chapter to close on our time here at the ballfield.
Micro things to love:
-the recipes included in the series
-the candle-IYKYK and if not, the scent will be haunting you and phantom-filling your nostrils soon
To round the final base, you’ll enjoy devouring this book “No if’s, and’s, or Bundt’s about it”
A special thank you to Kelly for gifting me an ARC of Serving Bunt! What a true honor!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Reading about Diaz and Matty was absolutely adorable! This was my first book by this author, so I was really excited to get the opportunity to read the ARC, and this was such a fun introduction to the series. Even though I missed a couple of books already (I need to catch up!)
I absolutely loved Diaz, especially his interactions with his family and his teammates. Matty was SO serious in the beginning that I really didn’t know where we were going with him, but I loved watching him slowly open up as the story progressed.
The close proximity mixed with the Christmas baking competition was such a cute spin, and you could really feel the tension building between them. Once they finally got comfortable with each other, worked through the miscommunication, and the spice started SPICING....it was a lovely time.
I also really enjoyed the team dynamics. I loved seeing how supportive the other players were and how much of a family the team felt like. We don’t always get that in sports romances, so it made the whole story even more feel-good for me.
And I have to mention the cultural aspects woven throughout the story. The second pastelón was mentioned, I was like OH OKAY!! That is literally one of my favorite foods ever, so obviously that made me ridiculously happy. Then it made me a little hungry and thinking I needed to make some for dinner.
I also enjoyed reading the unexpected way Matty and Diaz initially met and watching all that tension between them finally get resolved especially with how much it was starting to affect the team. I imagine from the other books I would have more of a background to that dynamic, but it was heavily implied with this one.
Overall, this was cute, spicy, funny, and just a really enjoyable sports romance. Considering this was my first introduction to the author and the series, I’m definitely looking forward to going back and reading the other books.
Merged review:
Reading about Diaz and Matty was absolutely adorable! This was my first book by this author, so I was really excited to get the opportunity to read the ARC, and this was such a fun introduction to the series. Even though I missed a couple of books already (I need to catch up!)
I absolutely loved Diaz, especially his interactions with his family and his teammates. Matty was SO serious in the beginning that I really didn’t know where we were going with him, but I loved watching him slowly open up as the story progressed.
The close proximity mixed with the Christmas baking competition was such a cute spin, and you could really feel the tension building between them. Once they finally got comfortable with each other, worked through the miscommunication, and the spice started SPICING....it was a lovely time.
I also really enjoyed the team dynamics. I loved seeing how supportive the other players were and how much of a family the team felt like. We don’t always get that in sports romances, so it made the whole story even more feel-good for me.
And I have to mention the cultural aspects woven throughout the story. The second pastelón was mentioned, I was like OH OKAY!! That is literally one of my favorite foods ever, so obviously that made me ridiculously happy. Then it made me a little hungry and thinking I needed to make some for dinner.
I also enjoyed reading the unexpected way Matty and Diaz initially met and watching all that tension between them finally get resolved especially with how much it was starting to affect the team. I imagine from the other books I would have more of a background to that dynamic, but it was heavily implied with this one.
Overall, this was cute, spicy, funny, and just a really enjoyable sports romance. Considering this was my first introduction to the author and the series, I’m definitely looking forward to going back and reading the other books.
I absolutely loved Diaz, especially his interactions with his family and his teammates. Matty was SO serious in the beginning that I really didn’t know where we were going with him, but I loved watching him slowly open up as the story progressed.
The close proximity mixed with the Christmas baking competition was such a cute spin, and you could really feel the tension building between them. Once they finally got comfortable with each other, worked through the miscommunication, and the spice started SPICING....it was a lovely time.
I also really enjoyed the team dynamics. I loved seeing how supportive the other players were and how much of a family the team felt like. We don’t always get that in sports romances, so it made the whole story even more feel-good for me.
And I have to mention the cultural aspects woven throughout the story. The second pastelón was mentioned, I was like OH OKAY!! That is literally one of my favorite foods ever, so obviously that made me ridiculously happy. Then it made me a little hungry and thinking I needed to make some for dinner.
I also enjoyed reading the unexpected way Matty and Diaz initially met and watching all that tension between them finally get resolved especially with how much it was starting to affect the team. I imagine from the other books I would have more of a background to that dynamic, but it was heavily implied with this one.
Overall, this was cute, spicy, funny, and just a really enjoyable sports romance. Considering this was my first introduction to the author and the series, I’m definitely looking forward to going back and reading the other books.
Merged review:
Reading about Diaz and Matty was absolutely adorable! This was my first book by this author, so I was really excited to get the opportunity to read the ARC, and this was such a fun introduction to the series. Even though I missed a couple of books already (I need to catch up!)
I absolutely loved Diaz, especially his interactions with his family and his teammates. Matty was SO serious in the beginning that I really didn’t know where we were going with him, but I loved watching him slowly open up as the story progressed.
The close proximity mixed with the Christmas baking competition was such a cute spin, and you could really feel the tension building between them. Once they finally got comfortable with each other, worked through the miscommunication, and the spice started SPICING....it was a lovely time.
I also really enjoyed the team dynamics. I loved seeing how supportive the other players were and how much of a family the team felt like. We don’t always get that in sports romances, so it made the whole story even more feel-good for me.
And I have to mention the cultural aspects woven throughout the story. The second pastelón was mentioned, I was like OH OKAY!! That is literally one of my favorite foods ever, so obviously that made me ridiculously happy. Then it made me a little hungry and thinking I needed to make some for dinner.
I also enjoyed reading the unexpected way Matty and Diaz initially met and watching all that tension between them finally get resolved especially with how much it was starting to affect the team. I imagine from the other books I would have more of a background to that dynamic, but it was heavily implied with this one.
Overall, this was cute, spicy, funny, and just a really enjoyable sports romance. Considering this was my first introduction to the author and the series, I’m definitely looking forward to going back and reading the other books.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Serving Bunt picks up Peter Diaz and Matty Miller’s storyline from Catch Got Your Tongue. After learning Diaz was the man behind the Rose City Roaster RP fanfic he had been falling for over text, Matty is devastated, and their kiss at Bella & Bennett’s wedding leaves him even more hurt.
When Sleigh the Bake, a nationally televised baking show, wants two baseball players for its celebrity special, Matty can’t help but wonder if 5 days away from the team might let them talk and find a way back to being cordial. Only the heat is high in this kitchen, and an “only one bed” situation might be the missing ingredient to rekindle their connection.
Matty is still hurt at the beginning of the novel (rightfully so), and Diaz knows he screwed up. But every time Diaz tries to reach out, Matty smacks his hand away. I appreciated that Matty recognized what he was doing and decided to make an effort to talk and repair their friendship. I thought having Matty push their participation in Sleigh the Bake made their reconnection feel more natural, since he went into the situation ready to forgive.
I loved that the baking show and time away from the team allowed them to really get to know each other. Yes, they were teammates, and yes, they had been exchanging messages, but by working together on the show and spending quiet time together, we saw true intimacy develop between them.
Additionally, I really appreciated the timing of story elements and that they talked before anything romantic happened. There was so much mutual pining, and the two were intensely attracted to each other, but having the conversation before anything happened helped them finally lower their walls.
Serving Bunt is the last of the Rose City Roasters series. It can be read as a standalone, but I think it helps to have read the prior books.
---
I received an advance copy of this book from the author at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.
When Sleigh the Bake, a nationally televised baking show, wants two baseball players for its celebrity special, Matty can’t help but wonder if 5 days away from the team might let them talk and find a way back to being cordial. Only the heat is high in this kitchen, and an “only one bed” situation might be the missing ingredient to rekindle their connection.
Matty is still hurt at the beginning of the novel (rightfully so), and Diaz knows he screwed up. But every time Diaz tries to reach out, Matty smacks his hand away. I appreciated that Matty recognized what he was doing and decided to make an effort to talk and repair their friendship. I thought having Matty push their participation in Sleigh the Bake made their reconnection feel more natural, since he went into the situation ready to forgive.
I loved that the baking show and time away from the team allowed them to really get to know each other. Yes, they were teammates, and yes, they had been exchanging messages, but by working together on the show and spending quiet time together, we saw true intimacy develop between them.
Additionally, I really appreciated the timing of story elements and that they talked before anything romantic happened. There was so much mutual pining, and the two were intensely attracted to each other, but having the conversation before anything happened helped them finally lower their walls.
Serving Bunt is the last of the Rose City Roasters series. It can be read as a standalone, but I think it helps to have read the prior books.
---
I received an advance copy of this book from the author at no charge. This is my honest, voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 - Thank you Kelly Reynolds for the advance copy of this!
"Sounds dangerous."
"The best things usually are."
I have absolutely love this series from Kelly and I am sad that this is the 6th and final book in the series! I really felt like Kelly got into her groove with this series. Kelly saved the last book to be between 2 teammates - Matty Miller and Peter Diaz. There was a preview of this storyline in the last book when there was fan fiction discovered by the team starring Matty. And not only that but the last book leaves off with Matty and Peter kissing outside of Clarke & Soren's wedding and repercussions of the fan fiction was coming back around.
I love that Kelly did not have Matty immediately forgive Peter for his role in the fan fiction. The way she had him grapple with the fact that he was very much still into him and had him be the one to make the move. I'm a sucker for force proximity so I love that they were stuck together working on this cooking tv show for charity during the All Star break. It gave them much needed time to talk and to clear the air. I thought their conversation was very raw and needed. I felt so bad for Matty and he was just read to let it all out there for Peter - "You kissed me like you meant it, like maybe you wanted the same things I was starting to want."
Peter was so gone for Matty that he had to work to prove that he really did like him and care about him. I just love the relationship between the two of them. They bonded so much during the time on the show and their problems really hindered their performance on the show but once they worked on that, then the baking became so much easier. They were having fun. Also didn't help that not only were they forced to work together on this show but Peter's air conditioner conveniently stopped working in the middle of summer having him to room with Matty.
I loved how patient Peter was with Matty. Matty is still figuring out his sexuality and what that also means as a public figure. They are co-workers/teammates and how does that look like to the team and how the dynamic would be. I'm glad that they communicated their thoughts and fears and was open with their coach about it.
As mentioned, I am sad that this series is over as you get attached to these characters after 6 books plus the bonus novellas but I'm looking forward to the future! We are traveling to Awful, Oregon for the next series that will follow Roman as he goes back home.
"Sounds dangerous."
"The best things usually are."
I have absolutely love this series from Kelly and I am sad that this is the 6th and final book in the series! I really felt like Kelly got into her groove with this series. Kelly saved the last book to be between 2 teammates - Matty Miller and Peter Diaz. There was a preview of this storyline in the last book when there was fan fiction discovered by the team starring Matty. And not only that but the last book leaves off with Matty and Peter kissing outside of Clarke & Soren's wedding and repercussions of the fan fiction was coming back around.
I love that Kelly did not have Matty immediately forgive Peter for his role in the fan fiction. The way she had him grapple with the fact that he was very much still into him and had him be the one to make the move. I'm a sucker for force proximity so I love that they were stuck together working on this cooking tv show for charity during the All Star break. It gave them much needed time to talk and to clear the air. I thought their conversation was very raw and needed. I felt so bad for Matty and he was just read to let it all out there for Peter - "You kissed me like you meant it, like maybe you wanted the same things I was starting to want."
Peter was so gone for Matty that he had to work to prove that he really did like him and care about him. I just love the relationship between the two of them. They bonded so much during the time on the show and their problems really hindered their performance on the show but once they worked on that, then the baking became so much easier. They were having fun. Also didn't help that not only were they forced to work together on this show but Peter's air conditioner conveniently stopped working in the middle of summer having him to room with Matty.
I loved how patient Peter was with Matty. Matty is still figuring out his sexuality and what that also means as a public figure. They are co-workers/teammates and how does that look like to the team and how the dynamic would be. I'm glad that they communicated their thoughts and fears and was open with their coach about it.
As mentioned, I am sad that this series is over as you get attached to these characters after 6 books plus the bonus novellas but I'm looking forward to the future! We are traveling to Awful, Oregon for the next series that will follow Roman as he goes back home.
October 2, 2026
I really liked the idea of this book. Baseball players competing in a baking competition for charity while trying to repair their friendship sounds really cute. What I think this book needed though was a prologue and for more to happen on page rather than off page and just telling us it happened. I know this is the 6th book in the series, but in order for the books to be interconnected standalones they need to be able to stand on their own and if you didn't have the background knowledge of the other books you are kind of just thrown in the deep end on this one with an outline of what happened before but very few details. I feel like a prologue featuring the wedding scene and/or the lead up to and aftermath of that scene, that is referenced many times but we never actually see, would have gone a long way. I also just wish we got more of their relationship on page. After taking a brief amount of time to think about things, they decide to pursue the relationship. We don't get a conversation about this beyond "we will tell people when we want to. For now this is for us", and then the next chapter is like "it's been two months together". I wish we got to see more of them together. This happens again when it comes to telling Matty's parents. We are literally just told it went surprisingly well and that's it. We aren't told why Matty may have worried it wouldn't have gone well. We aren't show the conversation(s). The book is short enough that these things definitely could have been fleshed out more.
September 28, 2026
Oh my gosh! This was my first Kelly Reynolds book and let me tell you, I was happily surprised!
Matty Miller and Peter Diaz are on the same professional baseball team and until a few months ago, were really good friends. Miller finds out that Diaz was hiding some pretty big things and there has been tension ever since and their friendship just isn’t there anymore.
Both players get asked to participate in a celebrity holiday baking show together and they both end up accepting because they feel that it might help air out their problems once and for all. Soon after they arrive on site for filming, Diaz’s air condition stops working and they end up sharing one cabin…aka only one bed.
This book was a lot of fun and the found family that they created was pretty awesome. I couldn’t get enough! I am excited to go back now and read the other books in this interconnected series.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for something cozy and happy without a third act break up. This book was a great pallet cleanser for me and can be read in one sitting.
I want to thank the author Kelly Reynolds for the opportunity to ARC read this book. I really appreciate it!
Matty Miller and Peter Diaz are on the same professional baseball team and until a few months ago, were really good friends. Miller finds out that Diaz was hiding some pretty big things and there has been tension ever since and their friendship just isn’t there anymore.
Both players get asked to participate in a celebrity holiday baking show together and they both end up accepting because they feel that it might help air out their problems once and for all. Soon after they arrive on site for filming, Diaz’s air condition stops working and they end up sharing one cabin…aka only one bed.
This book was a lot of fun and the found family that they created was pretty awesome. I couldn’t get enough! I am excited to go back now and read the other books in this interconnected series.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for something cozy and happy without a third act break up. This book was a great pallet cleanser for me and can be read in one sitting.
I want to thank the author Kelly Reynolds for the opportunity to ARC read this book. I really appreciate it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my gosh, I’m so glad that I got to read this. I absolutely love these characters. They are absolutely adorable and so much fun to read. I couldn’t put the book down and I devoured it. I will absolutely be going back and reading all the ones before this because I’m definitely intrigued by all the side characters that were in this book. So much fun and you should definitely give it a shot.
Merged review:
Oh my gosh, I’m so glad that I got to read this. I absolutely love these characters. They are absolutely adorable and so much fun to read. I couldn’t put the book down and I devoured it. I will absolutely be going back and reading all the ones before this because I’m definitely intrigued by all the side characters that were in this book. So much fun and you should definitely give it a shot.
Merged review:
Oh my gosh, I’m so glad that I got to read this. I absolutely love these characters. They are absolutely adorable and so much fun to read. I couldn’t put the book down and I devoured it. I will absolutely be going back and reading all the ones before this because I’m definitely intrigued by all the side characters that were in this book. So much fun and you should definitely give it a shot.
September 29, 2026
This book brings the Rose City Roasters series to a close, and a delightful one at that. Matty and Diaz are teammates, have been mutually pining after one another for a while, and end up on a baking show together in an effort to raise awareness for one of the team charities. Forced into spending more time together, they have to confront their feelings, survive a few baking disasters and find their happily ever after.
I adored this book - there’s so much heart (and heat) while also being a decidedly fun - and funny - read. Lots of familiar characters from the team return, too, so alongside the romance you get the found family vibes that have been there throughout the whole series. Matty and Diaz’s story has been a long time coming and it was well worth the wait. If you enjoy queer joy, baseball, baking, and dog dads, this one’s for you.
I adored this book - there’s so much heart (and heat) while also being a decidedly fun - and funny - read. Lots of familiar characters from the team return, too, so alongside the romance you get the found family vibes that have been there throughout the whole series. Matty and Diaz’s story has been a long time coming and it was well worth the wait. If you enjoy queer joy, baseball, baking, and dog dads, this one’s for you.
September 29, 2026
I loved so much about this MM baseball romance where teammates become lovers and lots of baking is had . I loved Peter, Matty and his wiener dog Mo. I love baking shows so of course I loved the competition. I loved the steam , the interactions, the heart felt moments , the emotion. I appreciated the steamy fanfics sprinkled through out along with text message threads and actual recipes .
Ok so it's book 6 and while you can read it as a standalone I felt like I missed out on something. I wish we had experienced them texting each other without Matty knowing and then the moment he found out the truth, that stolen kiss . We started at the aftermath so I felt left out. I mean I don't know if we even get those things in any of the other books since they were about other couples but 🤷🏻♀️ oh well that the only factor keeping me from 5 stars .
Ok so it's book 6 and while you can read it as a standalone I felt like I missed out on something. I wish we had experienced them texting each other without Matty knowing and then the moment he found out the truth, that stolen kiss . We started at the aftermath so I felt left out. I mean I don't know if we even get those things in any of the other books since they were about other couples but 🤷🏻♀️ oh well that the only factor keeping me from 5 stars .
September 30, 2026
Sadly this one just did not deliver. I loved the premise so much but was left underwhelmed by the execution. I wish there was a dual timeline that jumped back to their first kiss and everything surrounding that and I kept thinking a look back was coming but it never did.
September 10, 2026
Oh I loved this so much! It was the perfect balance between spicy and sweet! This story is about Matty and Peter who are baseball teammates and they have tension in the beginning of the book because Peter is a fanfic writer and wrote about his team but he was also anonymously texting Matty and Matty didn’t know and when he found out he felt betrayed and they also kissed at a wedding so we have tension!! Both are attracted to each other Peter is out but Matty is figuring things out! So when an opportunity to spend 5 days together filming a baking show for charity comes up they agree to go together! They have unresolved issues they have to take care of and the tension sorta breaks when Peter’s AC breaks down and he goes to Mattys! They finally talk about what happened between them and it’s good because they clear the air!
This has a lot of spicy moments! But so many damn sweet ones too! I didn’t expect Matty to boss Peter around which god damn! The fanfic we get in this book my goodness was so damn good they needed to be longer!
I like that they let go and just was themselves Matty explained about wanting to be perfect all the time and the pressure it caused him and Peter talked about how he’s always the loud one the fun one to cover up grief and make everyone else happy!
I loved how Matty went and spent so much money on a Peter candle LOL and how obessedddd Peter was with Matty saying his name and all his freckles!
These boys were so damn cute and I had so much fun reading and so so many favourite parts!
Fav Quotes
That was all it took to turn me on these days—a fucking candle. One I had never even lit. I did, however, crack open the lid every now and then to breathe him in. Mm, Peter. And every single time, the scent alone was enough to make me remember his lips on mine the night of Clarke and Soren’s wedding.
There he was. Peter Diaz. Smiling, shirtless, and covered in puppies—a queer boy’s wet dream.
“Clarke told me that Matty requested you as his partner.” I let his words sink in. After weeks of awkward silences, polite nods, and stunted conversations, Matty had specifically asked for me to be his teammate. Was he trying to repair our friendship? I certainly hoped so.
“Say it again.” I blinked. “What?” “My name.” My brain stalled out completely. “Peter,” I breathed.
“That’s it, tesoro . . . . That’s my good boy. All mine.”
“Breathe, Alabama,” I whispered, keeping my voice low.
“Breathe, tesoro,” Diaz murmured, low enough for only me to hear. “It’s going to be okay.” Tesoro.
“Just cookies,” I repeated. “Just cookies?” Diaz’s brows pinched. “Okay, maybe that came out wrong.” “That’s all anything is to you, isn’t it?” He opened his mouth, but I kept going, the words pouring out faster now. “Just cookies. Just flirting. Just kissing. Does any of it actually matter to you?”
“You wrote stories about me. About us. And then, you spent months texting me as if you were someone else. Flirting with me, making me feel things I had never felt for a guy before, all while knowing exactly who I was.” “And then you kissed me. You kissed me like you meant it, like maybe you wanted the same things I was starting to want, and I—” “I ran because I was scared,” I told him, evening out my tone. “And hurt. And confused as all hell. And instead of giving me space or time to figure it out, you just kept being . . . you. Acting like nothing had happened. Like we could just go back to being teammates and pretend the rest doesn’t exist.”
“And now, I’m stuck wondering if any of it was real or if maybe, I’m just another idiot who fell for the Peter Diaz charm special.”
“Don’t you dare stand there and call yourself an idiot for feeling what you felt. For wanting what we had. That’s not fair to you, and it sure as hell isn’t fair to me.” “You think I call everyone tesoro? You think I lose sleep over everyone the way I have over you these past months? Fuck, Matty. I know I fucked up, and I’m sorry about that, but you don’t get to rewrite what we had just because you’re hurting.”
“I kinda have a thing for perfectionism. It’s something I’ve worked on in therapy for a long time.” The honesty in his voice caught me off guard.
“Talking about yourself like your feelings don’t matter. That’s twice in one night, and I don’t like it.”
Mo farted in her sleep. Not a cute little pfft, either. No, this thing went on, echoing through the room. Like somebody had stepped on a haunted accordion. And then, the smell hit. “Diablo!” My entire body recoiled. Matty made a strangled noise beside me. “Lord have mercy.” “Is she dying?” “Bite your tongue,” he whisper-shouted. “She had eggs earlier—” “WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU FEED HER EGGS?”
Should’ve known he’d be the big spoon. Peter Diaz gave major big-spoon energy.
“Point is, I think you should take the lead with this one.” “You sure?” He shrugged like it was nothing. Like it didn’t cost him a single thought. “I’ve got your back.” Four simple words. I’ve got your back.
He wasn’t performing for anybody else. He was just being himself. With me.
“Sí, chef.” He leaned in close and added. “I never realized you were so bossy, ‘Bama. Kinda makes me wonder where else you like to take charge.”
“Traditions are better when you have the right people to share them with.”
“Last time I kissed you like this, you ran. And I—” His voice cracked. “I don’t know if I can handle that again. I can’t hurt you.” “Look at me.” His long lashes fluttered open. “I know exactly what I’m doing and who I’m doing it with. I’m not going anywhere this time.”
The overhead lights were hot as hell, but somehow not nearly as warm as the thought of my man. My man? Fuck.
In fact, on the pyramid of Peter Diaz’s favorite things—Abuelita’s pastelón, videos of animals reacting to music, and Chris Evans in cable-knit sweaters—cuddling with Matty Miller was quickly climbing the ranks.
“We were just gonna stream it on my tablet back in our cabin,” Matty told him and then, immediately froze. There was no denying the stupid burst of warmth those two little words sent through me. Our cabin. Not his. Not mine. Ours.
“Yeah, your freckles,” he murmured, setting his phone down on the blanket between us. “There’s this little cluster on your left shoulder that drives me crazy. And another right above your groin—”
“You know, I’ve been around long enough to see a lot of people waste time worrying about what they should do instead of what actually makes them happy.” “Don’t overthink it, Miller. Life’s too short for that.”
One day you blink and you’re forty-something, wondering why you didn’t take the shot when you had the chance.
Cabin. Seventh-inning stretch. And then, for good measure, I added: Me I want you on your knees when I get there. Three little dots appeared, then disappeared, then appeared again. Diaz Yes, sir.
Diaz was already on his knees in the middle of the small room, looking up at me with hooded, hungry eyes. Just like I asked. I closed the door behind me, heart racing, and smiled down at him. “Good boy
“You want to put a taste of coquito in your granny’s cake?” “No, I want to put us in our cake.” Holy cuteness, Batman.
“We don’t have to decide everything tonight, tesoro. Fuck the media.” His thumb brushed across my cheek. “Fuck the fans.” Another stroke. “Fuck the team.” Another.
“You are pining, mijo.” I nearly spit out my sip of beer. “Excuse me?” “Pining. Like one of those sad women in my telenovelas who stare out the windows while the dramatic music plays.”
“Maybe you should spend a little less time counting reasons not to and ask yourself if you already have one good reason to try.” The answer came so fast it almost knocked the breath out of me. Matty. Just . . . Matty. He was my reason, and I was his. At least, I hoped I was.
“You bought my dog a present,” he repeated, his voice full of quiet reverence. I rubbed the back of my neck, suddenly feeling a little exposed under the way he was looking at me. “It’s not a big deal,” I said quickly. “I figured she deserved something after putting up with us the last few days.”
“Nothing,” he said, stepping closer. “You’re really good with her.” I shrugged again, trying to play it cool even as warmth spread through my chest. “She’s important to you. That makes her important to me.”
“Thank you,” he whispered. The simple sincerity of it hit me harder than any filthy thing he’d ever whispered in my ear. “For buying your dog a toy?” A smile tugged at his mouth. “For showing up.”
Oh, fuck. Diaz pulled something out from the very back of the closet. I knew what it was before it even cleared the wall of shirts. The candle. The three-wick Peter Diaz-scented candle. Fuck my life. He turned the sleek, black jar over in his hands, eyebrows shooting up in genuine surprise. “Is this—”
“You bought my candle,” he said, voice full of disbelief. “Okay, it’s exactly what you think.”
Whatever feels good, tesoro. I’m yours tonight.”
“Go on, princess. Bedtime. Daddy’s busy.” “Sorry,” Matty muttered. “It’s okay. Daddy.”
He smiled back at me, and something in my chest cracked open. “I’m, uh . . . really glad it was you,” he whispered.
He was worth it. Matty Miller was finally mine, and I’d be damned if I was going to let anybody take him away from me.
Even better, he was my whimpering, desperate mess. My good boy.
Coach Ward’s expression softened just a fraction. “But if you've found somebody who makes all the craziness a little bit easier . . .” He shrugged one broad shoulder. “Well, I’m not about to root against that.”
I was in heaven, aka on the rug between my man’s legs, head tipped back against his thigh while his hands played with the back of my neck. The snoring dog curled up in my lap was the icing on my cake. It didn’t get better than this.
“Oh, there’s one more thing,” he said, every ounce of playfulness slipping out of his tone. “I am so out of my mind, ass over heels in love with you, Matty Miller. Not the version I wrote about in all those stories, but the real Matty Miller. The man who alphabetizes his spice rack and can quote The Princess Bride on command. The man who makes this house feel like home.”
I murmured against his skin. “I love you.”“I love you, too, tesoro.”“Most of all,” he rasped, hips twitching, “I love that you’re mine.”
“I love you,” I whispered against his lips. The words felt easy now. “Not just tonight. Not just when things are good. I love you on hard days, too. When we’re losing and I’m overthinking everything and you still look at me like I hung the moon.” Diaz’s eyes softened. He brushed a strand of hair off my forehead, thumb lingering on my temple. “I love you too,” he said quietly. “Every version of you—the anxious one, the bossy one, the one who calls me out on my shit. All of them.” I smiled, pressing my forehead to his. “But mostly, the bossy one.”
This has a lot of spicy moments! But so many damn sweet ones too! I didn’t expect Matty to boss Peter around which god damn! The fanfic we get in this book my goodness was so damn good they needed to be longer!
I like that they let go and just was themselves Matty explained about wanting to be perfect all the time and the pressure it caused him and Peter talked about how he’s always the loud one the fun one to cover up grief and make everyone else happy!
I loved how Matty went and spent so much money on a Peter candle LOL and how obessedddd Peter was with Matty saying his name and all his freckles!
These boys were so damn cute and I had so much fun reading and so so many favourite parts!
Fav Quotes
That was all it took to turn me on these days—a fucking candle. One I had never even lit. I did, however, crack open the lid every now and then to breathe him in. Mm, Peter. And every single time, the scent alone was enough to make me remember his lips on mine the night of Clarke and Soren’s wedding.
There he was. Peter Diaz. Smiling, shirtless, and covered in puppies—a queer boy’s wet dream.
“Clarke told me that Matty requested you as his partner.” I let his words sink in. After weeks of awkward silences, polite nods, and stunted conversations, Matty had specifically asked for me to be his teammate. Was he trying to repair our friendship? I certainly hoped so.
“Say it again.” I blinked. “What?” “My name.” My brain stalled out completely. “Peter,” I breathed.
“That’s it, tesoro . . . . That’s my good boy. All mine.”
“Breathe, Alabama,” I whispered, keeping my voice low.
“Breathe, tesoro,” Diaz murmured, low enough for only me to hear. “It’s going to be okay.” Tesoro.
“Just cookies,” I repeated. “Just cookies?” Diaz’s brows pinched. “Okay, maybe that came out wrong.” “That’s all anything is to you, isn’t it?” He opened his mouth, but I kept going, the words pouring out faster now. “Just cookies. Just flirting. Just kissing. Does any of it actually matter to you?”
“You wrote stories about me. About us. And then, you spent months texting me as if you were someone else. Flirting with me, making me feel things I had never felt for a guy before, all while knowing exactly who I was.” “And then you kissed me. You kissed me like you meant it, like maybe you wanted the same things I was starting to want, and I—” “I ran because I was scared,” I told him, evening out my tone. “And hurt. And confused as all hell. And instead of giving me space or time to figure it out, you just kept being . . . you. Acting like nothing had happened. Like we could just go back to being teammates and pretend the rest doesn’t exist.”
“And now, I’m stuck wondering if any of it was real or if maybe, I’m just another idiot who fell for the Peter Diaz charm special.”
“Don’t you dare stand there and call yourself an idiot for feeling what you felt. For wanting what we had. That’s not fair to you, and it sure as hell isn’t fair to me.” “You think I call everyone tesoro? You think I lose sleep over everyone the way I have over you these past months? Fuck, Matty. I know I fucked up, and I’m sorry about that, but you don’t get to rewrite what we had just because you’re hurting.”
“I kinda have a thing for perfectionism. It’s something I’ve worked on in therapy for a long time.” The honesty in his voice caught me off guard.
“Talking about yourself like your feelings don’t matter. That’s twice in one night, and I don’t like it.”
Mo farted in her sleep. Not a cute little pfft, either. No, this thing went on, echoing through the room. Like somebody had stepped on a haunted accordion. And then, the smell hit. “Diablo!” My entire body recoiled. Matty made a strangled noise beside me. “Lord have mercy.” “Is she dying?” “Bite your tongue,” he whisper-shouted. “She had eggs earlier—” “WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU FEED HER EGGS?”
Should’ve known he’d be the big spoon. Peter Diaz gave major big-spoon energy.
“Point is, I think you should take the lead with this one.” “You sure?” He shrugged like it was nothing. Like it didn’t cost him a single thought. “I’ve got your back.” Four simple words. I’ve got your back.
He wasn’t performing for anybody else. He was just being himself. With me.
“Sí, chef.” He leaned in close and added. “I never realized you were so bossy, ‘Bama. Kinda makes me wonder where else you like to take charge.”
“Traditions are better when you have the right people to share them with.”
“Last time I kissed you like this, you ran. And I—” His voice cracked. “I don’t know if I can handle that again. I can’t hurt you.” “Look at me.” His long lashes fluttered open. “I know exactly what I’m doing and who I’m doing it with. I’m not going anywhere this time.”
The overhead lights were hot as hell, but somehow not nearly as warm as the thought of my man. My man? Fuck.
In fact, on the pyramid of Peter Diaz’s favorite things—Abuelita’s pastelón, videos of animals reacting to music, and Chris Evans in cable-knit sweaters—cuddling with Matty Miller was quickly climbing the ranks.
“We were just gonna stream it on my tablet back in our cabin,” Matty told him and then, immediately froze. There was no denying the stupid burst of warmth those two little words sent through me. Our cabin. Not his. Not mine. Ours.
“Yeah, your freckles,” he murmured, setting his phone down on the blanket between us. “There’s this little cluster on your left shoulder that drives me crazy. And another right above your groin—”
“You know, I’ve been around long enough to see a lot of people waste time worrying about what they should do instead of what actually makes them happy.” “Don’t overthink it, Miller. Life’s too short for that.”
One day you blink and you’re forty-something, wondering why you didn’t take the shot when you had the chance.
Cabin. Seventh-inning stretch. And then, for good measure, I added: Me I want you on your knees when I get there. Three little dots appeared, then disappeared, then appeared again. Diaz Yes, sir.
Diaz was already on his knees in the middle of the small room, looking up at me with hooded, hungry eyes. Just like I asked. I closed the door behind me, heart racing, and smiled down at him. “Good boy
“You want to put a taste of coquito in your granny’s cake?” “No, I want to put us in our cake.” Holy cuteness, Batman.
“We don’t have to decide everything tonight, tesoro. Fuck the media.” His thumb brushed across my cheek. “Fuck the fans.” Another stroke. “Fuck the team.” Another.
“You are pining, mijo.” I nearly spit out my sip of beer. “Excuse me?” “Pining. Like one of those sad women in my telenovelas who stare out the windows while the dramatic music plays.”
“Maybe you should spend a little less time counting reasons not to and ask yourself if you already have one good reason to try.” The answer came so fast it almost knocked the breath out of me. Matty. Just . . . Matty. He was my reason, and I was his. At least, I hoped I was.
“You bought my dog a present,” he repeated, his voice full of quiet reverence. I rubbed the back of my neck, suddenly feeling a little exposed under the way he was looking at me. “It’s not a big deal,” I said quickly. “I figured she deserved something after putting up with us the last few days.”
“Nothing,” he said, stepping closer. “You’re really good with her.” I shrugged again, trying to play it cool even as warmth spread through my chest. “She’s important to you. That makes her important to me.”
“Thank you,” he whispered. The simple sincerity of it hit me harder than any filthy thing he’d ever whispered in my ear. “For buying your dog a toy?” A smile tugged at his mouth. “For showing up.”
Oh, fuck. Diaz pulled something out from the very back of the closet. I knew what it was before it even cleared the wall of shirts. The candle. The three-wick Peter Diaz-scented candle. Fuck my life. He turned the sleek, black jar over in his hands, eyebrows shooting up in genuine surprise. “Is this—”
“You bought my candle,” he said, voice full of disbelief. “Okay, it’s exactly what you think.”
Whatever feels good, tesoro. I’m yours tonight.”
“Go on, princess. Bedtime. Daddy’s busy.” “Sorry,” Matty muttered. “It’s okay. Daddy.”
He smiled back at me, and something in my chest cracked open. “I’m, uh . . . really glad it was you,” he whispered.
He was worth it. Matty Miller was finally mine, and I’d be damned if I was going to let anybody take him away from me.
Even better, he was my whimpering, desperate mess. My good boy.
Coach Ward’s expression softened just a fraction. “But if you've found somebody who makes all the craziness a little bit easier . . .” He shrugged one broad shoulder. “Well, I’m not about to root against that.”
I was in heaven, aka on the rug between my man’s legs, head tipped back against his thigh while his hands played with the back of my neck. The snoring dog curled up in my lap was the icing on my cake. It didn’t get better than this.
“Oh, there’s one more thing,” he said, every ounce of playfulness slipping out of his tone. “I am so out of my mind, ass over heels in love with you, Matty Miller. Not the version I wrote about in all those stories, but the real Matty Miller. The man who alphabetizes his spice rack and can quote The Princess Bride on command. The man who makes this house feel like home.”
I murmured against his skin. “I love you.”“I love you, too, tesoro.”“Most of all,” he rasped, hips twitching, “I love that you’re mine.”
“I love you,” I whispered against his lips. The words felt easy now. “Not just tonight. Not just when things are good. I love you on hard days, too. When we’re losing and I’m overthinking everything and you still look at me like I hung the moon.” Diaz’s eyes softened. He brushed a strand of hair off my forehead, thumb lingering on my temple. “I love you too,” he said quietly. “Every version of you—the anxious one, the bossy one, the one who calls me out on my shit. All of them.” I smiled, pressing my forehead to his. “But mostly, the bossy one.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I first saw the teaser for Serving Bunt by Kelly Reynolds I thought to myself, “Okay, this is going to be cute: a Christmas in July story where the teammates turned tense teammates have to work through their differences baking together on a celebrity holiday bake-off show after one teammate finds out that the other one has been writing spicy fanfic about him.”
I thought that it would be like a Hallmark Christmas movie-type book: that I would find it sweet but would move on to the next book and not really think much about it. And those kinds of books are good! Sometimes I just want something cute and fluffy and no angst.
But let me tell you that this book surprised me in the best way and got me in the feels SO HARD. The first time Peter called Matty “tesoro” I think my heart exploded and honestly I can’t stop thinking about that word and how perfect it was. It just keeps randomly popping into my head. I also really appreciated that it touched on the implications of being a queer couple on the same team in professional baseball, not just the swoony, exciting stuff about being a couple.
My enthusiasm comes across best in my real time reactions, so here are my texts to my book bestie while I was reading this:
“Whoa. Wait. The description of the kiss.🥵”
“Well damn. I’m hooked.”
“Say it again.” “What?” “My name?” Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. 🥵
“You think I call everyone ‘tesoro’?” RIP MY HEART OUT
“You’re doing it again.” “What?” “Talking about yourself like your feelings don’t matter. That’s twice in one night, and I don’t like it.” Ughhhhhhh that scene was so cute. 🥹
“Wait. Is there going to be a club scene? IS THERE GOING TO BE A CLUB SCENE? (A club scene is defined as anything club or club adjacent where there is dancing.) YASSSSSSSSSSS!!”
“Omg they’re kissing. I don’t even know how to react. 🥹😭🥵”
“Why is this making me freaking tear up?”
The texts continued for a while but needless to say, yeah, this book had me hooooooked. After I finished reading it I immediately bought the other Kelly Reynolds MM novella from this series.
With the premise of this book being that Peter is Matty’s teammate and has written steamy fanfic about him and then Matty finds out and is not thrilled, I thought that we would be seeing that all unfold in real time in the book. But this all happens before the book even begins, which actually makes perfect sense given that this is a novella. Flashbacks give us just enough of the backstory for things to make sense, allowing us to follow in real time the aftermath of how this affects Matty’s and Peter’s relationship and if they can ever be friends again … or maybe even more. The pacing is this book was perfect, with time hops to allow you to follow along for important moments.
✨✨✨✨✨
You’ll like this if you like:
✨ teammates to lovers
✨ baseball romance
✨ furry sidekick
✨ dog dad
✨ feisty abuelita
✨ mutual pining
✨ only one bed
✨ baby dom
✨ “tesoro” and “baby”
✨ forced proximity
✨ no third act breakup
✨ happily ever after
✨ holiday romcom energy
Serving Bunt is book 6 in the Rose City Roaster series by Kelly Reynolds. It’s written as a standalone (and I have not read any prior and it was still thoroughly enjoyable) but there are lots of cameos from other characters that you’ll love even more if you’ve read the whole series.
Worth rereading? ✅ Definitely yes - I will read this again in my December “month of holiday romances” reading.
Merged review:
When I first saw the teaser for Serving Bunt by Kelly Reynolds I thought to myself, "Okay, this is going to be cute: a Christmas in July story where the teammates turned enemies have to work through their differences baking together on a celebrity holiday bake-off show after one teammate finds out that the other one has been writing spicy fanfic about him."
I thought that it would be like a Hallmark Christmas movie-type book: that I would find it sweet and hopefully funny but would move on with the next book and not really think much about it. And those kinds of books are good! Sometimes I just want something cute and fluffy and no angst.
But let me tell you that this book got me in the feels SO HARD and I am still thinking about it days later. The first time Peter called Matty "tesoro" I think my heart exploded and honestly I can’t stop thinking about that word and how perfect it was. I’m still swooning. This book surprised me in the best way, including dealing with the implications of being a queer couple on the same team in the MLB.
My enthusiasm comes across best in my real time reactions so here are my texts to my book bestie:
"Whoa. Wait. The description of the kiss.🥵”
"Well damn. I'm hooked."
"Say it again." "What?" "My name?" Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. 🥵
"You think I call everyone 'tesoro'?" RIP MY HEART OUT
"You're doing it again." "What?" "Talking about yourself like your feelings don't matter. That's twice in one night, and I don't like it." Ughhhhhhh that scene was so cute. 🥹
“Wait. Is there going to be a club scene? IS THERE GOING TO BE A CLUB SCENE? (A club scene is defined as anything club or club adjacent where there is dancing. YASSSSSSSSSSSS!!”
"Omg they're kissing. I don't even know how to react. 🥹😭🥵”
“Why is this making me freaking tear up?”
The texts continued for a while but needless to say, yeah, this book had me hooooooked. After I finished reading it I immediately bought the other Kelly Reynolds MM novella from this series.
Five stars. Will absolutely reread. And am buying the paperback version as soon as it’s available.
With the premise of this book being that Peter is Matty’s teammate and has written steamy fanfic about him and then Matty finds out and is not thrilled, I thought that we would be seeing that unfold in real time in the book. But this all happens before the book even begins, which actually makes perfect sense given that this is a novella. Flashbacks give us just enough of the backstory for things to make sense, allowing us to follow in real time the aftermath of how this affects Matty’s and Peter’s relationship and what will happen now. The pacing is this book was perfect, with time hops to allow you to follow along for important moments.
✨✨✨✨✨
You’ll like this if you like:
✨ teammates to lovers
✨ baseball romance
✨ furry sidekick
✨ dog dad
✨ feisty abuelita
✨ mutual pining
✨ only one bed
✨ baby dom
✨ “tesoro” and “baby”
✨ forced proximity
✨ no third act breakup
✨ happily ever after
✨ holiday romcom energy
Serving Bunt is book 6 in the Rose City Roaster series. It’s written as a standalone (and I have not read any prior and it was still thoroughly enjoyable) but there are lots of cameos from other characters that you’ll love even more if you’ve read the whole series.
Worth rereading? ✅ Definitely yes - I will read this again in my December “month of holiday romances” reading.
I thought that it would be like a Hallmark Christmas movie-type book: that I would find it sweet but would move on to the next book and not really think much about it. And those kinds of books are good! Sometimes I just want something cute and fluffy and no angst.
But let me tell you that this book surprised me in the best way and got me in the feels SO HARD. The first time Peter called Matty “tesoro” I think my heart exploded and honestly I can’t stop thinking about that word and how perfect it was. It just keeps randomly popping into my head. I also really appreciated that it touched on the implications of being a queer couple on the same team in professional baseball, not just the swoony, exciting stuff about being a couple.
My enthusiasm comes across best in my real time reactions, so here are my texts to my book bestie while I was reading this:
“Whoa. Wait. The description of the kiss.🥵”
“Well damn. I’m hooked.”
“Say it again.” “What?” “My name?” Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. 🥵
“You think I call everyone ‘tesoro’?” RIP MY HEART OUT
“You’re doing it again.” “What?” “Talking about yourself like your feelings don’t matter. That’s twice in one night, and I don’t like it.” Ughhhhhhh that scene was so cute. 🥹
“Wait. Is there going to be a club scene? IS THERE GOING TO BE A CLUB SCENE? (A club scene is defined as anything club or club adjacent where there is dancing.) YASSSSSSSSSSS!!”
“Omg they’re kissing. I don’t even know how to react. 🥹😭🥵”
“Why is this making me freaking tear up?”
The texts continued for a while but needless to say, yeah, this book had me hooooooked. After I finished reading it I immediately bought the other Kelly Reynolds MM novella from this series.
With the premise of this book being that Peter is Matty’s teammate and has written steamy fanfic about him and then Matty finds out and is not thrilled, I thought that we would be seeing that all unfold in real time in the book. But this all happens before the book even begins, which actually makes perfect sense given that this is a novella. Flashbacks give us just enough of the backstory for things to make sense, allowing us to follow in real time the aftermath of how this affects Matty’s and Peter’s relationship and if they can ever be friends again … or maybe even more. The pacing is this book was perfect, with time hops to allow you to follow along for important moments.
✨✨✨✨✨
You’ll like this if you like:
✨ teammates to lovers
✨ baseball romance
✨ furry sidekick
✨ dog dad
✨ feisty abuelita
✨ mutual pining
✨ only one bed
✨ baby dom
✨ “tesoro” and “baby”
✨ forced proximity
✨ no third act breakup
✨ happily ever after
✨ holiday romcom energy
Serving Bunt is book 6 in the Rose City Roaster series by Kelly Reynolds. It’s written as a standalone (and I have not read any prior and it was still thoroughly enjoyable) but there are lots of cameos from other characters that you’ll love even more if you’ve read the whole series.
Worth rereading? ✅ Definitely yes - I will read this again in my December “month of holiday romances” reading.
Merged review:
When I first saw the teaser for Serving Bunt by Kelly Reynolds I thought to myself, "Okay, this is going to be cute: a Christmas in July story where the teammates turned enemies have to work through their differences baking together on a celebrity holiday bake-off show after one teammate finds out that the other one has been writing spicy fanfic about him."
I thought that it would be like a Hallmark Christmas movie-type book: that I would find it sweet and hopefully funny but would move on with the next book and not really think much about it. And those kinds of books are good! Sometimes I just want something cute and fluffy and no angst.
But let me tell you that this book got me in the feels SO HARD and I am still thinking about it days later. The first time Peter called Matty "tesoro" I think my heart exploded and honestly I can’t stop thinking about that word and how perfect it was. I’m still swooning. This book surprised me in the best way, including dealing with the implications of being a queer couple on the same team in the MLB.
My enthusiasm comes across best in my real time reactions so here are my texts to my book bestie:
"Whoa. Wait. The description of the kiss.🥵”
"Well damn. I'm hooked."
"Say it again." "What?" "My name?" Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. 🥵
"You think I call everyone 'tesoro'?" RIP MY HEART OUT
"You're doing it again." "What?" "Talking about yourself like your feelings don't matter. That's twice in one night, and I don't like it." Ughhhhhhh that scene was so cute. 🥹
“Wait. Is there going to be a club scene? IS THERE GOING TO BE A CLUB SCENE? (A club scene is defined as anything club or club adjacent where there is dancing. YASSSSSSSSSSSS!!”
"Omg they're kissing. I don't even know how to react. 🥹😭🥵”
“Why is this making me freaking tear up?”
The texts continued for a while but needless to say, yeah, this book had me hooooooked. After I finished reading it I immediately bought the other Kelly Reynolds MM novella from this series.
Five stars. Will absolutely reread. And am buying the paperback version as soon as it’s available.
With the premise of this book being that Peter is Matty’s teammate and has written steamy fanfic about him and then Matty finds out and is not thrilled, I thought that we would be seeing that unfold in real time in the book. But this all happens before the book even begins, which actually makes perfect sense given that this is a novella. Flashbacks give us just enough of the backstory for things to make sense, allowing us to follow in real time the aftermath of how this affects Matty’s and Peter’s relationship and what will happen now. The pacing is this book was perfect, with time hops to allow you to follow along for important moments.
✨✨✨✨✨
You’ll like this if you like:
✨ teammates to lovers
✨ baseball romance
✨ furry sidekick
✨ dog dad
✨ feisty abuelita
✨ mutual pining
✨ only one bed
✨ baby dom
✨ “tesoro” and “baby”
✨ forced proximity
✨ no third act breakup
✨ happily ever after
✨ holiday romcom energy
Serving Bunt is book 6 in the Rose City Roaster series. It’s written as a standalone (and I have not read any prior and it was still thoroughly enjoyable) but there are lots of cameos from other characters that you’ll love even more if you’ve read the whole series.
Worth rereading? ✅ Definitely yes - I will read this again in my December “month of holiday romances” reading.
Review of advance copy received from Author
💛I stared at the screen for a long moment, throat tight. It wasn’t a long story, and yet it felt like . . . everything. A love letter wrapped in the style of the stories that had once confused the hell out of me, and then helped me understand myself.💛
Serving Bunt
(Rose City Roasters 6)
by Kelly Reynolds
eARC Review
⚾️
Yea- I totally cried. I’ll freely admit it.
💛
There’s so damn much I want to say but I’m going to tuck that away for now.
Diaz & Matty… just fvCk …. this was special. Very special. And extremely bittersweet. This series is so damn great. I did get an answer to a lingering question I had too btw in reading this one- I look forward to what is to come! I def have to read this series again start to finish now. Omfg.
Thank you @kellyreynoldswrites
You killed it!!!!
____✨💛
✨Tropes & other goodies:
; Baseball romance book
• Only 1 bed
• Good Boy(s)
• Mo!
• Holiday-ish romance books (more like Xmas in July feels)
• MM/queer love
• Small town stories-in two different small towns
• Toys are friends
• Abuelita is a national treasure
• Found family
• Baking Show Competition + so much baking content!
• Hot AF
• The whole cast of characters
⚾️🍰💛✨
⚾️ GENERAL BREAKDOWN:
PLOT 5
MAIN CHARACTERS 5
WRITING STYLE 5
ENJOYMENT 5
SETTING 5
MISCELLANEOUS 5
SECONDARY CHARACTERS 5
OTHER 5
ENGAGEMENT 5
EASE OF READING 5
BONUS FOR REP 4
VIBES 5
• OVERALL TOTAL: 𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦 ★★★★★
🍰
💛“You don’t need the story anymore, tesoro,” he growled. “You’ve got the real thing.”💛
⚾️
𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀.
❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗙𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
✨🌈✨
Merged review:
💛I stared at the screen for a long moment, throat tight. It wasn’t a long story, and yet it felt like . . . everything. A love letter wrapped in the style of the stories that had once confused the hell out of me, and then helped me understand myself.💛
Serving Bunt
(Rose City Roasters 6)
by Kelly Reynolds
eARC Review
⚾️
Yea- I totally cried. I’ll freely admit it.
💛
There’s so damn much I want to say but I’m going to tuck that away for now.
Diaz & Matty… just fvCk …. this was special. Very special. And extremely bittersweet. This series is so damn great. I did get an answer to a lingering question I had too btw in reading this one- I look forward to what is to come! I def have to read this series again start to finish now. Omfg.
Thank you @kellyreynoldswrites
You killed it!!!!
____✨💛
✨Tropes & other goodies:
; Baseball romance book
• Only 1 bed
• Good Boy(s)
• Mo!
• Holiday-ish romance books (more like Xmas in July feels)
• MM/queer love
• Small town stories-in two different small towns
• Toys are friends
• Abuelita is a national treasure
• Found family
• Baking Show Competition + so much baking content!
• Hot AF
• The whole cast of characters
⚾️🍰💛✨
⚾️ GENERAL BREAKDOWN:
PLOT 5
MAIN CHARACTERS 5
WRITING STYLE 5
ENJOYMENT 5
SETTING 5
MISCELLANEOUS 5
SECONDARY CHARACTERS 5
OTHER 5
ENGAGEMENT 5
EASE OF READING 5
BONUS FOR REP 4
VIBES 5
• OVERALL TOTAL: 𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦 ★★★★★
🍰
💛“You don’t need the story anymore, tesoro,” he growled. “You’ve got the real thing.”💛
⚾️
𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀.
❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗙𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
✨🌈✨
Serving Bunt
(Rose City Roasters 6)
by Kelly Reynolds
eARC Review
⚾️
Yea- I totally cried. I’ll freely admit it.
💛
There’s so damn much I want to say but I’m going to tuck that away for now.
Diaz & Matty… just fvCk …. this was special. Very special. And extremely bittersweet. This series is so damn great. I did get an answer to a lingering question I had too btw in reading this one- I look forward to what is to come! I def have to read this series again start to finish now. Omfg.
Thank you @kellyreynoldswrites
You killed it!!!!
____✨💛
✨Tropes & other goodies:
; Baseball romance book
• Only 1 bed
• Good Boy(s)
• Mo!
• Holiday-ish romance books (more like Xmas in July feels)
• MM/queer love
• Small town stories-in two different small towns
• Toys are friends
• Abuelita is a national treasure
• Found family
• Baking Show Competition + so much baking content!
• Hot AF
• The whole cast of characters
⚾️🍰💛✨
⚾️ GENERAL BREAKDOWN:
PLOT 5
MAIN CHARACTERS 5
WRITING STYLE 5
ENJOYMENT 5
SETTING 5
MISCELLANEOUS 5
SECONDARY CHARACTERS 5
OTHER 5
ENGAGEMENT 5
EASE OF READING 5
BONUS FOR REP 4
VIBES 5
• OVERALL TOTAL: 𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦 ★★★★★
🍰
💛“You don’t need the story anymore, tesoro,” he growled. “You’ve got the real thing.”💛
⚾️
𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀.
❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗙𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
✨🌈✨
Merged review:
💛I stared at the screen for a long moment, throat tight. It wasn’t a long story, and yet it felt like . . . everything. A love letter wrapped in the style of the stories that had once confused the hell out of me, and then helped me understand myself.💛
Serving Bunt
(Rose City Roasters 6)
by Kelly Reynolds
eARC Review
⚾️
Yea- I totally cried. I’ll freely admit it.
💛
There’s so damn much I want to say but I’m going to tuck that away for now.
Diaz & Matty… just fvCk …. this was special. Very special. And extremely bittersweet. This series is so damn great. I did get an answer to a lingering question I had too btw in reading this one- I look forward to what is to come! I def have to read this series again start to finish now. Omfg.
Thank you @kellyreynoldswrites
You killed it!!!!
____✨💛
✨Tropes & other goodies:
; Baseball romance book
• Only 1 bed
• Good Boy(s)
• Mo!
• Holiday-ish romance books (more like Xmas in July feels)
• MM/queer love
• Small town stories-in two different small towns
• Toys are friends
• Abuelita is a national treasure
• Found family
• Baking Show Competition + so much baking content!
• Hot AF
• The whole cast of characters
⚾️🍰💛✨
⚾️ GENERAL BREAKDOWN:
PLOT 5
MAIN CHARACTERS 5
WRITING STYLE 5
ENJOYMENT 5
SETTING 5
MISCELLANEOUS 5
SECONDARY CHARACTERS 5
OTHER 5
ENGAGEMENT 5
EASE OF READING 5
BONUS FOR REP 4
VIBES 5
• OVERALL TOTAL: 𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗦 ★★★★★
🍰
💛“You don’t need the story anymore, tesoro,” he growled. “You’ve got the real thing.”💛
⚾️
𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀.
❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗙𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥
✨🌈✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is an ARC read received from the author. All thoughts are my own.
4.5 stars⭐️When I saw a book that claimed to be a cross between Heated Rivalry and the great British bake off I had to sign up. One of my fave books with one of my fave shows, yes please!! And this did not disappoint.
It is a rom-com which is my guilty pleasures, I was giggling all the way through.
When I read the phrase “the government is turning the frogs gay” oh how I laughed, that is a phrase we use at home so much so I knew it was going to be a bit of me.
Right review time- team mates to lovers, written well. No angst, well maybe a tiny bit at the start. Diaz writes fanfic about the team and Matty found out, this caused problems at the start but the desire they had for each other won out.
It is steamy, omg the spice was spicing.
The story flowed really well, the connection grew and wow they are fire together.
Anyone who wants a light hearted, easy friends to lovers read with plenty of laughter this is for you. I think it will be added to my feel good rereads for now. I haven’t read the other books, they are not for me. But as far as MM goes this did not disappoint.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this and thank you for making me smile and kick my feet throughout.
Merged review:
This is an ARC read received from the author. All thoughts are my own.
4.5 stars⭐️When I saw a book that claimed to be a cross between Heated Rivalry and the great British bake off I had to sign up. One of my fave books with one of my fave shows, yes please!! And this did not disappoint.
It is a rom-com which is my guilty pleasures, I was giggling all the way through.
When I read the phrase “the government is turning the frogs gay” oh how I laughed, that is a phrase we use at home so much so I knew it was going to be a bit of me.
Right review time- team mates to lovers, written well. No angst, well maybe a tiny bit at the start. Diaz writes fanfic about the team and Matty found out, this caused problems at the start but the desire they had for each other won out.
It is steamy, omg the spice was spicing.
The story flowed really well, the connection grew and wow they are fire together.
Anyone who wants a light hearted, easy friends to lovers read with plenty of laughter this is for you. I think it will be added to my feel good rereads for now. I haven’t read the other books, they are not for me. But as far as MM goes this did not disappoint.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this and thank you for making me smile and kick my feet throughout.
4.5 stars⭐️When I saw a book that claimed to be a cross between Heated Rivalry and the great British bake off I had to sign up. One of my fave books with one of my fave shows, yes please!! And this did not disappoint.
It is a rom-com which is my guilty pleasures, I was giggling all the way through.
When I read the phrase “the government is turning the frogs gay” oh how I laughed, that is a phrase we use at home so much so I knew it was going to be a bit of me.
Right review time- team mates to lovers, written well. No angst, well maybe a tiny bit at the start. Diaz writes fanfic about the team and Matty found out, this caused problems at the start but the desire they had for each other won out.
It is steamy, omg the spice was spicing.
The story flowed really well, the connection grew and wow they are fire together.
Anyone who wants a light hearted, easy friends to lovers read with plenty of laughter this is for you. I think it will be added to my feel good rereads for now. I haven’t read the other books, they are not for me. But as far as MM goes this did not disappoint.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this and thank you for making me smile and kick my feet throughout.
Merged review:
This is an ARC read received from the author. All thoughts are my own.
4.5 stars⭐️When I saw a book that claimed to be a cross between Heated Rivalry and the great British bake off I had to sign up. One of my fave books with one of my fave shows, yes please!! And this did not disappoint.
It is a rom-com which is my guilty pleasures, I was giggling all the way through.
When I read the phrase “the government is turning the frogs gay” oh how I laughed, that is a phrase we use at home so much so I knew it was going to be a bit of me.
Right review time- team mates to lovers, written well. No angst, well maybe a tiny bit at the start. Diaz writes fanfic about the team and Matty found out, this caused problems at the start but the desire they had for each other won out.
It is steamy, omg the spice was spicing.
The story flowed really well, the connection grew and wow they are fire together.
Anyone who wants a light hearted, easy friends to lovers read with plenty of laughter this is for you. I think it will be added to my feel good rereads for now. I haven’t read the other books, they are not for me. But as far as MM goes this did not disappoint.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this and thank you for making me smile and kick my feet throughout.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC of Serving Bunt by Kelly Reynolds in exchange for an honest review.
Serving Bunt by Kelly Reynolds is a sweet-and-spicy baseball romance novella releasing as the final book in the Rose City Roasters series. Blending the vibes of Heated Rivalry and The Great British Baking Show with a dash of Hallmark Christmas magic, the story follows Matty Miller—a bisexual farm boy from Alabama, two-time Gold Glove nominee, and proud "dachshund daddy"—and Peter Diaz, his larger-than-life, Chris Evans-quoting Puerto Rican left fielder who happens to be the anonymous author of the team's most popular fanfiction. When the truth comes out and shatters Matty's trust, Peter takes full responsibility, steps back to give Matty space, and agrees to join him on a nationally televised holiday baking competition to earn his way back into Matty's heart.
What makes this romance shine is the genuine emotional depth between Matty and Peter. They don't just dive straight into physical attraction; they spend real time hanging out, talking through their feelings, and building a foundation—with Peter proving just as wonderful to Matty as he is to Matty’s dog, Mo. Reynolds handles the breach of trust with maturity, showing Peter taking true accountability without rushing Matty's healing process.
The cozy Pacific Northwest setting—complete with a rural Oregon cabin, a nationally televised baking tent, only one bed, and naked swim time—creates a deliciously comforting atmosphere. The inclusion of Peter's fanfiction snippets and actual recipes adds a fun, interactive touch to the reading experience. Backed by a tight-knit, predominantly LGBTQIA+ supporting cast of teammates and partners, the narrative hits all the right emotional and comedic notes, capped off by a satisfying spice level.
Serving Bunt is a delightful, heartwarming, and deeply satisfying series finale. If you love baseball romances, secret fanfic writers, baking show antics, and softdom/life-of-the-party dynamics, this is an unmissable read.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC of Serving Bunt by Kelly Reynolds in exchange for an honest review.
Serving Bunt by Kelly Reynolds is a sweet-and-spicy baseball romance novella releasing as the final book in the Rose City Roasters series. Blending the vibes of Heated Rivalry and The Great British Baking Show with a dash of Hallmark Christmas magic, the story follows Matty Miller—a bisexual farm boy from Alabama, two-time Gold Glove nominee, and proud "dachshund daddy"—and Peter Diaz, his larger-than-life, Chris Evans-quoting Puerto Rican left fielder who happens to be the anonymous author of the team's most popular fanfiction. When the truth comes out and shatters Matty's trust, Peter takes full responsibility, steps back to give Matty space, and agrees to join him on a nationally televised holiday baking competition to earn his way back into Matty's heart.
What makes this romance shine is the genuine emotional depth between Matty and Peter. They don't just dive straight into physical attraction; they spend real time hanging out, talking through their feelings, and building a foundation—with Peter proving just as wonderful to Matty as he is to Matty’s dog, Mo. Reynolds handles the breach of trust with maturity, showing Peter taking true accountability without rushing Matty's healing process.
The cozy Pacific Northwest setting—complete with a rural Oregon cabin, a nationally televised baking tent, only one bed, and naked swim time—creates a deliciously comforting atmosphere. The inclusion of Peter's fanfiction snippets and actual recipes adds a fun, interactive touch to the reading experience. Backed by a tight-knit, predominantly LGBTQIA+ supporting cast of teammates and partners, the narrative hits all the right emotional and comedic notes, capped off by a satisfying spice level.
Serving Bunt is a delightful, heartwarming, and deeply satisfying series finale. If you love baseball romances, secret fanfic writers, baking show antics, and softdom/life-of-the-party dynamics, this is an unmissable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is the first book I've read by this author and I have to say that I will definitely be looking into more of their stories! Even though this is the last book in this series, I was able to read this as a standalone and really enjoyed it as such! I'm sure if you have read the other books in this series it would probably provide you with more backstory, but I feel as though this book stands on its own as is, which I appreciated seeing as how I haven't read the previous books.
The characters in this book were fabulous and so funny to read about. I loved how their was humor that carried through the whole book while also balancing more serious/heavy topics. It was a really nice juxtaposition that I enjoyed reading about and I always think its great when an author can balance that, which this one did.
I am a baker, and I love when books include baking, so for this book to have baking be involved, especially in such a fun way, I am just obsessed with that! These characters baking definitely has made me want to bake as well, and I LOVE how the author included some of the recipes that the characters made! Thats such a fun and engaging way to tie the story to real life, and honestly that attention to detail made me enjoy this story even more.
All in all, a really great book!
The characters in this book were fabulous and so funny to read about. I loved how their was humor that carried through the whole book while also balancing more serious/heavy topics. It was a really nice juxtaposition that I enjoyed reading about and I always think its great when an author can balance that, which this one did.
I am a baker, and I love when books include baking, so for this book to have baking be involved, especially in such a fun way, I am just obsessed with that! These characters baking definitely has made me want to bake as well, and I LOVE how the author included some of the recipes that the characters made! Thats such a fun and engaging way to tie the story to real life, and honestly that attention to detail made me enjoy this story even more.
All in all, a really great book!
September 29, 2026
🛁 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 🛁
Serving Bunt by Kelly Reynolds
“Sounds dangerous.”
I nodded. “The best things usually are.”
I’m grateful for sports romance con for many things, and one of them was introducing me to Kelly Reynolds. To know her is to love her and to love her is to love the Rose City Roasters and dammit if I’m not sad to see them go.
I adore this series from top to bottom. Every new couple we meet and fell in love with, every pun (so many GREAT PUNS), every installment will have you feeling like the Roasters are your family.
I absolutely loved this story! Matty and Peter are my entire heart. I really resonated with Peter, especially when he talks about how he uses positivity and optimism to break tense situations and make others happy. Being “the fixer” is not easy, and I saw a lot of myself in him.
I also loved how some of the chapters were broken up with recipes and excerpts from Peter’s fanfic! Some fun additions that made for a very entertaining read.
If you haven’t read this series, now is the time to read your way through it! If you are looking for low-angst, high-spice rom-coms with a fictional team you’ll root for and heart spilling out the sides, this series is for you.⚾️📚🛁🧡
Serving Bunt by Kelly Reynolds
“Sounds dangerous.”
I nodded. “The best things usually are.”
I’m grateful for sports romance con for many things, and one of them was introducing me to Kelly Reynolds. To know her is to love her and to love her is to love the Rose City Roasters and dammit if I’m not sad to see them go.
I adore this series from top to bottom. Every new couple we meet and fell in love with, every pun (so many GREAT PUNS), every installment will have you feeling like the Roasters are your family.
I absolutely loved this story! Matty and Peter are my entire heart. I really resonated with Peter, especially when he talks about how he uses positivity and optimism to break tense situations and make others happy. Being “the fixer” is not easy, and I saw a lot of myself in him.
I also loved how some of the chapters were broken up with recipes and excerpts from Peter’s fanfic! Some fun additions that made for a very entertaining read.
If you haven’t read this series, now is the time to read your way through it! If you are looking for low-angst, high-spice rom-coms with a fictional team you’ll root for and heart spilling out the sides, this series is for you.⚾️📚🛁🧡
October 3, 2026
One evening of heartwarming MM discovery. The fanfic, courting, building their relationship, the team found family, Abuelita.
I will say I’m a bad MM reader because as much as Diaz and Matty had their own personalities and voices I still caught myself having to check who the he was. Not on Kelly at all, but something I’ve noticed when I’m reading MM, MMM multi POV stories. I probably just need to slow down a smidge, but I can’t help it! I need to know what shenanigans come next!!
I really really enjoyed this series finale, while you know Roman still needs his HEA, it was super cute to see the couples all come together at Thanksgiving and support Matt and Peter. The fanfic was scorching, the reenactments just as delicious, but it was also well paced that Matty didn’t just automatically know/would be comfortable with everything on the first night. As their relationship developed the intimacy developed.
I also appreciated the recipes that were included - not that I can bake at all.
I’ve never watched the GBBO, but now that I’ve read 2 great books inspired by it, maybe I need to catch an episode or two.
Thank you so much Kelly for sharing this couple with me in advance - I actually read it through KU since my schedule got away from me.
I will say I’m a bad MM reader because as much as Diaz and Matty had their own personalities and voices I still caught myself having to check who the he was. Not on Kelly at all, but something I’ve noticed when I’m reading MM, MMM multi POV stories. I probably just need to slow down a smidge, but I can’t help it! I need to know what shenanigans come next!!
I really really enjoyed this series finale, while you know Roman still needs his HEA, it was super cute to see the couples all come together at Thanksgiving and support Matt and Peter. The fanfic was scorching, the reenactments just as delicious, but it was also well paced that Matty didn’t just automatically know/would be comfortable with everything on the first night. As their relationship developed the intimacy developed.
I also appreciated the recipes that were included - not that I can bake at all.
I’ve never watched the GBBO, but now that I’ve read 2 great books inspired by it, maybe I need to catch an episode or two.
Thank you so much Kelly for sharing this couple with me in advance - I actually read it through KU since my schedule got away from me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Serving Bunt by Kelly Reynolds was on fire. I absolutely loved this book. Miller & Diaz?! I loved these two. 💗⚾️ This was such a fast and fun read for me.
The main players are a gay MMC + a bi MMC who play for the same baseball team, with a complicated history, plenty of chemistry, and then she throws in a televised baking competition?! Yes, please! These two had me fully invested from the start. I absolutely loved the Sleigh the Bake storyline and watching these two navigate working together while dealing with everything between them. It was funny, sweet, a little messy, and definitely spicy. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I also loved the Roasters team dynamic and all the little moments that made this feel like more than just a sports romance. There’s humor, vulnerability, found family, and plenty of reasons to keep turning those pages.
Serving Bunt releases September 29, so go ahead and add this one to your TBR! 📚💕
5/5 ⭐️ — Miller & Diaz definitely had me invested.
The main players are a gay MMC + a bi MMC who play for the same baseball team, with a complicated history, plenty of chemistry, and then she throws in a televised baking competition?! Yes, please! These two had me fully invested from the start. I absolutely loved the Sleigh the Bake storyline and watching these two navigate working together while dealing with everything between them. It was funny, sweet, a little messy, and definitely spicy. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I also loved the Roasters team dynamic and all the little moments that made this feel like more than just a sports romance. There’s humor, vulnerability, found family, and plenty of reasons to keep turning those pages.
Serving Bunt releases September 29, so go ahead and add this one to your TBR! 📚💕
5/5 ⭐️ — Miller & Diaz definitely had me invested.
October 4, 2026
Rose City comes to an end with this cute little story. After being teased with Miller and Diaz in the last book, we finally get their HEA. This is the only story in the lineup to feature two baseball players, which added a layer of complexity to their romance. This story also featured a lot of pining, some gay awakening, and a sprinkle of family and culture. And the cutest little wiener dog! Overall, this story was so fun to read - from the baseball to the baking to the spice. The last couple chapters were a great way to pull together everyone’s happy endings and maybe hint towards what is coming next... Also major props to Reynolds - this isn’t just a book, it’s a whole experience! In addition to the story, we get recipes (this is a baking competition after all) and fanfiction snippets (which is part of these two’s backstory).
September 28, 2026
This was such a cute, easy read and I really liked Peter and Matty together. The baking competition was a fun change from the usual sports romance setup, and I loved their banter, the pining and all the ridiculousness that came with Peter secretly writing fanfic. They were really sweet once they finally stopped dancing around each other, and I enjoyed seeing that softer side of both of them.
I would've liked a little more spice. Especially when Matty experienced bottoming for the first time, I was expecting that moment to get a bit more page time and felt slightly robbed when it didn't. Still, this was funny, sweet and such a good read with a great found family vibe. Definitely a solid 4 stars for me.
I would've liked a little more spice. Especially when Matty experienced bottoming for the first time, I was expecting that moment to get a bit more page time and felt slightly robbed when it didn't. Still, this was funny, sweet and such a good read with a great found family vibe. Definitely a solid 4 stars for me.
September 29, 2026
Serving Bunt is the last book in the series, and I’m so sad because I love all these characters so much, but I am excited for what’s next! This book is not only spicy, it’s filled with heart and laughter. While you get more from this book if you read the previous books, this could be a standalone (but why would you?!?).
One of my favorite parts was the baking show aspect. I loved seeing Matty and Diaz not only grow closer, but more confident what they wanted. I loved watching their relationship grow and evolve. And bonus: there’s recipes!
I highly recommended this book if you are looking for a spicy MM romance with lots of humor, great chemistry, and an abuelita you wish you could call your own!
One of my favorite parts was the baking show aspect. I loved seeing Matty and Diaz not only grow closer, but more confident what they wanted. I loved watching their relationship grow and evolve. And bonus: there’s recipes!
I highly recommended this book if you are looking for a spicy MM romance with lots of humor, great chemistry, and an abuelita you wish you could call your own!
Read
September 13, 2026"He wasn’t performing for anybody else. He was just being himself. With me."
Peter has been secretly writing fanfiction of himself and his teammate, Matty for a while. And when Matty discovered the fanfics and they started talking online anonymously, secrets tend to surface and when it does, everything's awkward IRL. Now, Matty's been offered to star in a baking competition with a partner and he chose Peter to erase the awkwardness once and for all.
A lengthy summary ngl. And I did love the premise. It sounded so fun. I mean, as a person who grew up reading fanfics, I can relate to the world of fanfiction.
Okay, before I get carried away, like I said, the premise sounded intriguing that even though this is the last book in the series and a short book (novella?), I want to read it. But here's the thing, what the premise promised wasn't really delivered in a way that I expected.
This book felt like the second half of the book and not really in a good way, but that's just me since I read this as a standalone.
We are in the present timeline basically the aftermath of what happened when they knew about the fanfiction and them anonymously talking online. And as someone who hated the past-and-present timeline format in books, I wished we got those. Even some kind of a flashbacks or something, because I didn't know these characters. They were very superficial for me. And though it can be read as standalone, I don't advise on it just because I didn't know the characters, I didn't connect with them and the whole time it felt like they were literally characters on paper.
Anyway, I wished we saw their history or at least we started with them talking anonymously or something idk what I want but not this, and it's very funny because I love the present timeline. The characters are in the baking show, they were not communicating at first but once they got past that, everything was smooth sailing and it was great. They started to explore their feelings and relationship and they communicate like adults.
I might go back and read the book 2.5 because it's a queer romance book!
Peter has been secretly writing fanfiction of himself and his teammate, Matty for a while. And when Matty discovered the fanfics and they started talking online anonymously, secrets tend to surface and when it does, everything's awkward IRL. Now, Matty's been offered to star in a baking competition with a partner and he chose Peter to erase the awkwardness once and for all.
A lengthy summary ngl. And I did love the premise. It sounded so fun. I mean, as a person who grew up reading fanfics, I can relate to the world of fanfiction.
Okay, before I get carried away, like I said, the premise sounded intriguing that even though this is the last book in the series and a short book (novella?), I want to read it. But here's the thing, what the premise promised wasn't really delivered in a way that I expected.
This book felt like the second half of the book and not really in a good way, but that's just me since I read this as a standalone.
We are in the present timeline basically the aftermath of what happened when they knew about the fanfiction and them anonymously talking online. And as someone who hated the past-and-present timeline format in books, I wished we got those. Even some kind of a flashbacks or something, because I didn't know these characters. They were very superficial for me. And though it can be read as standalone, I don't advise on it just because I didn't know the characters, I didn't connect with them and the whole time it felt like they were literally characters on paper.
Anyway, I wished we saw their history or at least we started with them talking anonymously or something idk what I want but not this, and it's very funny because I love the present timeline. The characters are in the baking show, they were not communicating at first but once they got past that, everything was smooth sailing and it was great. They started to explore their feelings and relationship and they communicate like adults.
I might go back and read the book 2.5 because it's a queer romance book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Honored to have had the chance to ARC read my second Kelly Reynolds book 💖🙂↔️
I love Diaz and Matty so so much and was anticipating this one for a long time. Thank you for the chance to read about these two cutie patooties and entrusting me with an early read!
If you love GBBO and love and happiness and fanfic (!!!!) this one's for you.
Merged review:
*****Posting here as well because Amazon canceled the physical, making all of the previous reviews moot.******
Honored to have had the chance to ARC read my second Kelly Reynolds book 💖🙂↔️
I love Diaz and Matty so so much. Thank you the chance to read about these two cutie patooties.
Easy 4.5 beautiful stars.
I love Diaz and Matty so so much and was anticipating this one for a long time. Thank you for the chance to read about these two cutie patooties and entrusting me with an early read!
If you love GBBO and love and happiness and fanfic (!!!!) this one's for you.
Merged review:
*****Posting here as well because Amazon canceled the physical, making all of the previous reviews moot.******
Honored to have had the chance to ARC read my second Kelly Reynolds book 💖🙂↔️
I love Diaz and Matty so so much. Thank you the chance to read about these two cutie patooties.
Easy 4.5 beautiful stars.
Review of advance copy received from Author
In Serving Bunt, two professional baseball teammates are paired up to compete on a reality baking show. While on site filming, they let their walls down and explore what it would be like to be more than teammates.
All the characters in this book were fantastic. Their charm, personality, and banter kept me smiling and turning the pages. I appreciated the author bringing diversity in representation; not only with a queer relationship but also with ethnicity and culture. I really enjoyed this book!
All the characters in this book were fantastic. Their charm, personality, and banter kept me smiling and turning the pages. I appreciated the author bringing diversity in representation; not only with a queer relationship but also with ethnicity and culture. I really enjoyed this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Diaz and Matty had ended things abruptly at the conclusion of the last book. The kiss at the wedding. The lie that was too big to ignore. This book starts the team is in a slump and Matty and Diaz are barely cordial. They become partners in a charity baking competition and the more time together, the more they have to deal with their feelings. Of course all our favorite characters are still a big part of the book. The team that is truly a family. This was such a fun, sweet and steamy book and what a great addition to this phenomenal series.
September 29, 2026
This was a lovely sweet short story. No angst, likeable characters and a cosy autumnal/winter vibes.
I hadn't read the rest of the series and although it was okay as standalone, I did feel like I'd missed some key part of their story at the start? Or a key part of who Peter was (with his fanfic writing? He and Matty had obviously had a part of their relationship happen previously/in another book).
Definitely a book to pick up if you want some fun GBBO vibes and a quick cosy read with a good amount of smut
I hadn't read the rest of the series and although it was okay as standalone, I did feel like I'd missed some key part of their story at the start? Or a key part of who Peter was (with his fanfic writing? He and Matty had obviously had a part of their relationship happen previously/in another book).
Definitely a book to pick up if you want some fun GBBO vibes and a quick cosy read with a good amount of smut
October 6, 2026
This is book 6 in the series, and can be read as a standalone, but I think reading book 5 adds to this one.
I loved Peter and Matty. I liked that Matty had some trouble reconciling Peter his friend with the author of a fan fiction about him. This book was definitely not smooth sailing for them, but I enjoyed watching them work through everything. Peter's grandma was a fun side character. You also got to see everyone from the previous five books which is always nice, I enjoy a found family like they have in this.
I loved Peter and Matty. I liked that Matty had some trouble reconciling Peter his friend with the author of a fan fiction about him. This book was definitely not smooth sailing for them, but I enjoyed watching them work through everything. Peter's grandma was a fun side character. You also got to see everyone from the previous five books which is always nice, I enjoy a found family like they have in this.
Read
September 23, 2026*hugs kindle to chest* Matty & Diaz, oh my heart! From the moment I read Soren & Clarke's book, every chapter and every character pulled me in deeper and I have slowly fallen in love with Rose City and the people we are lucky to get to know. Found family, acceptance for who you are exactly as you are, and that feeling of rightness? This is the series for that but this book especially hits you right in the chest. Matty & Diaz struggling with themselves and then finding their way back to each other in a way that felt natural, nothing profound just a pull toward someone who seems to always see the real you even when you're trying to hide it made this book my favorite of the series. And of course it's got the perfect blend of spice and deep moments. The spice as always is beautifully done, not spice for the sake of spice but genuine connection. Overall, this entire series is worth binging and rereading. I cant wait for Roman's book.
September 30, 2026
Serving bunt was just so good it's all the vibes i like in one like the baking show and holday vibe and two precious idiots in love i loved the writing but was confused after the chapters that came between because it was my first time reading from Kelly Reynolds but you get a hang of it after two chapters,what can i say it was so cute and fun to read and absolutely would be going back to this authors works
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