Baked with Love: A Small Town Christian Romance

by Ariana Kemp

When I asked the Lord for help, a six-foot-two former pararescueman was not what I had in mind.

Winnifred Haye's life revolves around search and rescue calls, long hours, and her bakery. It leaves little room for anything else, and with no end in sight, she's beginning to wonder if this is all her life will ever be. She cries out to God for help, for a reprieve of some kind...of any kind, really.

Then Cohen Taylor arrives in Burch Creek.

A former Air Force pararescueman, Cohen has come to help build a refuge for veterans and first responders. He's not looking for love, and Winnie certainly isn't looking for someone who will challenge every wall she's carefully built around her heart.

As their friendship grows into something neither of them expected, Winnie must confront the fears that have kept her stuck for years. She's tired of saying goodbye to the people she loves, and opening her heart to Cohen feels like risking another heartbreaking loss.Will she keep protecting her heart, or will she trust that God's plans are far greater than the fears she's been clinging to?

Baked with Love is a heartwarming Christian romance filled with tension, faith, found family, delicious baked treats, and a hero you'll fall in love with. This novel explores themes of grief, trauma, and mental health. Please refer to the content warnings at the beginning of the book if these topics may be difficult for you.

Genres: Romance, Christian

332 pages, Paperback

Published October 9, 2026

Reviews

[Ella Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

☆5

This is probably the best Christian romance I’ve ever read.
Ariana is now definitely one of my top favorite authors, because this book was everything!
I loved the faith themes so much. They were beautiful and so deeply rooted in Scripture, it was incredible! This book made me cry multiple times🥹
Ugh don’t even get me started on the romance!!
Cohen was the absolute best! He was the most gentle, caring, and thoughtful man. He was perfect for Winnie. I love that he prayed for her and encouraged her. He also showed her that it’s okay to accept help, that she doesn’t have to deal with hard things on her own. Cohen is just the swooniest, sweetest guy!
Cohen and Winnie’s faith was so raw and beautiful. It was messy and hard at times, but God carried them through difficult times. I love how well this book encompasses Gods love and will for us.
Winnie is such a sweet woman. I love the way she took care of others and made them feel seen and appreciated. The gut-wrenching fear she was dealing with was heartbreaking, but it was amazing to see how God worked in her life. And how Cohen helped and supported her through that.
The brotherhood and found family in this book were incredible as well. I loved Cohen’s friends so much. The way they cared about each other was so special. It’s truly a blessing to have brothers and sister in Christ. I love how they accepted and loved Winnie as their sister. They’re the best!🥹
This book was truly a masterpiece, it was bittersweet finishing this book, because I just didn’t want to leave this fictional town. I cannot wait for book 2! (And oh my gosh, I am so excited for Adler and Lettie’s book hopefully coming soon, because that banter was 10/10🤭👏🏼)

tropes:
🦋Christian romance
🦋friends to lovers
🦋caretaking
🦋found family
🦋former pararescueman x baker
🦋anxiety rep
🦋they pray for each other
🦋small town
🦋dual pov

CONTENT:
- kisses only (no-spice)
- no language

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

[Amanda Shinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Wow. Wow.
I loved this story.
Winnie and Cohen are the main characters, and I think it's best that I just share their traits:

Winnie - she's a giver and a helper, and will rarely ask for help herself. She runs a bakery (while wearing the cutest dresses) and helps rescue injured/lost people in the mountains. She doesn't enjoy rescuing people (lots of stress and past trauma), but cares about people too much to say no. In her quiet time she prays to God for help because she can't continue the rescues.

Cohen - new in town, and is immediately smitten with Winnie. He sees her - like really sees her. He can look past her smile and read her body language which is actually indicating that she's not okay.
He wants to help her, and carry her burdens (and he does).

What I loved about them as a couple is that they were like magnets. It's like they'd known each other their whole lives, and they never wanted to be apart again.

This was not only a cute small-town romance, but a story that addressed anxiety and mental health issues (particularly amongst veterans).

I truly can't wait for the next book in the series!

*not a paid review

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful, gentle love story.

An MMC who is a great communicator, is emotionally intelligent, speaks his intentions up front and means what he says?? Yes please! I loved how Cohen loved caring for Winnie, who does a lot of caretaking herself but has not had anyone care for her in a long time.

Ariana wove faith and the characters’ genuine relationships with Jesus through the story so naturally. I loved how this was not a book spent seeing how and when the MCs would get together, but rather how and when they would learn to surrender certain things to God and run back to Him, fully trusting Him. There was on page scripture, beautiful prayers, and so many solid Biblical truths that the characters discover or share with each other in conversation in such a natural, realistic way. The MCs were not perfect but they were mature and had people in their lives who loved them and helped point them truth

I also loved the way Cohen’s “brothers” looked out for him; they had each other’s backs and I can’t wait to get the other guys’ stories!

[Emma · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

This has been a highly anticipated read for me, and it did not disappoint! There’s so much to love in this small mountain town Christian romance. I loved the faith themes and the memorable characters. I really loved the depiction of mental health, particularly from a Christian perspective. It’s so hard to trust in Him at times! The work Cohen was doing for military vets and their families is something to admire. Winnie was a relatable FMC- I loved her compassion for others and her tendency to care for her tribe with fervor. Cohen was the perfect guy to show her that’s it’s okay to accept help for herself as well. He was a great, steady presence for Winnie. Mental health matters, and I think BWL balances that and its Christian themes beautifully. I can’t wait to revisit this town and these characters again when the next book comes out.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily’s Content Guide

💋 Romance level: Kisses Only
🗣️ Language: None
⚠️ Content Warning: Past deaths of loved ones, past suicidal ideation, past suicide, anxiety, fear, grief, significant medical emergency
📚 Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
🎀 Lily’s verdict: ♥️ A new favorite

WOW🤩 This book was absolutely AMAZING! I fell in love with it immediately and knew just a few chapters in that it was going to be a favorite. It was completely impossible to put down!

I related SO much to Winnie and her struggles with fear and anxiety, and watching her work through those feelings was absolutely beautiful🥹

And Cohen?! THE GREENEST GREEN FLAG EVER🥹 More than one scene with him had me giggling and kicking my feet! He was so, so sweet and caring. The way he prayed for Winnie, encouraged her in her faith, and supported her through her anxiety was just beautiful. And let me tell you, a man who genuinely cares about your relationship with God?! TOP TIER material🥰

I feel like this story healed something inside of me🥹 The strong faith woven throughout the story was so refreshing and genuinely encouraging! I finished this book feeling deeply reminded of God’s faithfulness and unconditional love… and with quite a few tears shed along the way lol.

Ariana did such a phenomenal job handling some incredibly difficult subjects with tenderness and care. I think I’ve officially found one of my new favorite Christian authors❤️

And can we give a quick shoutout to the side characters?! I absolutely LOVED them, and I desperately need every single one of them to get their own book🤩

AND THAT ENDING?!? I NEED BOOK TWO IMMEDIATELY!!

Seriously, add this one to the VERY top of your TBR❤️

🦋 Age Gap
❤️ Christian Fiction
🦋 Anxiety Representation
❤️ Lots of Caretaking
🦋 They Pray for Each Other
❤️ Grief & Healing

[Danielle | TheReadingDanielleMcBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

🧁🏔️Baked with Love🏔️🧁

“He’s kind, loves God, and he knows butterflies”

A debut novel that’s full of faith, found family & butterflies?! Sign me all the way up. Seriously, this story knocked my socks off & gave me all the butterflies.

Listen guys - Jesus is my absolute Homeboy - but I struggle so badly with anxiety & depression at times. It was refreshing to read about characters that I related to so much. I’m positive that one of Kemp’s missions was to do just that - reach those who needed to feel seen & show them the love that only Jesus can give. Mission accomplished, my friend!

Winnie & Cohen - devastatingly beautiful. I don’t really have any other words. Just trust me & read it.

This story had me smiling like a fool, ugly crying like Kim Kardashian & praising the One who all these characters know & love so well.

I am oh so thankful that we will get to see a story for all these men because I already miss this group.

[Sarah Shelton]

This tender love story is full of Jesus. Cohen loved Winnie through doubts, anxieties, and shaken faith. Winnie chose to face hard things and open her heart to a whole group of people, filling in gaps she didn’t know were missing. I cried multiple times (not shocking), and have definitely faced similar moments of questioning God, His existence, His goodness, and His provision. The found family was TOP TIER, and I’m pumped to read the rest of these stories coming from Ariana’s head. Thanks friend, for the book mail, chance to provide feedback, and future reads all around!! Enjoy this one, y’all! These two butterfly and bird nerds are the best. 💗

[Randi Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, I was absolutely blown away by this debut! Cohen and Winnie... simply put, I adored them. Both have experienced great grief, and I couldn't help but love how they showed up for each other in that grief... even before really getting to know one another well. There was such a beautiful tenderness between them. I loved that they didn't hide their initial interest early on, but it still feels like a slower burn before getting that sweet first kiss. And it was certainly worth the wait to get there. But it's definitely one you'll want to have your tissues handy for. I found myself in tears so many times throughout this beautiful story which dealt with hard topics like grief and PTSD from military service (a topic that is very near to my heart)... but it ultimately left me feeling a sense of hope because the thing that really set this story apart was the strong messages of faith. These characters were not perfect, but I loved how their faith was such a huge part of their lives and their healing. Truly, this story was so very beautiful and heartfelt, a perfect blend of romance, emotion and faith... and I loved every moment. In the end, we were given a little glimpse into what is to come, and I absolutely cannot wait to head back to Rocky Mountain Refuge and spend more time with all of these characters. With a debut like this, I'm more than excited to see what the author will do next! A top read for me!

Baked with Love is a Christian romance with kisses only and no language.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way Cohen and Winnie take care of each other, help each other, and pray for each other is one of my favorite parts. The faith element in this book is amazing. I love the way Cohen and his friends are and how close they are. Ariana is such a talented author and one of my new favorites. The way she handled some of the harder topics in this book is amazing!

[Wendy · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This is a sweet Christian Romance that focuses on healing and staying close to your faith.

This book is a little heavier with it's themes of loss, death, and trauma. Please be kind to yourself and read the content warnings. I do appreciate that while this is a heavier book, Ariana Kemp treated it with such care.

I loved how sweet the relationship between Cohen and Winifred was. There was an instant connection, and
Cohen is basically a walking green flag. I loved how patient, protective, and genuine he was; not only with Winnie, but with everyone around him. Winnie is a giver and makes sure that everyone around her is taken care of - a trait that Cohen also shares. It was sweet that as their relationship grew, they looked out for each other and made sure they each were taken care of.

As much as I loved Winnie's character, there were times that I wished she wouldn't have let fear take over. But then thought about the many times I've let fear rule and take over. This story is a good reminder to us that we aren't walking this life alone. That while we can't control everything, and there are going to be hurts, we aren't alone - even if it feels like it.

We also get some amazing side characters. I am so excited that this is going to be a series because I want to know the stories behind each one of them. The epilogue sets up the next book perfectly for Jolene and Mateo's story. I also can't wait for Adler and Lettie's story - because after this book, they have to end up together, right!?

This book packs a lot of feels. It snagged by attention from the beginning and kept it through the end. You can tell the amount of effort and love that Ariana poured into this book. The story did not disappoint and exceeded expectations.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Quotes:
"When did I matter?"

"There was something about fresh nail polish that made my day."

"I'm yours, if you'll have me, sugar."

"I want to be brave today."

"You can be scared. But you can't wait for the fear to disappear before you take that first step or you'll be waiting forever. It won't go away until you face it."

"He felt like home."

"Love is worth the inevitable pain."

"Everything is a lot less scary when you have someone beside you..."

[Magen Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW OF AN ADVANCED READERS COPY FROM THW AUTHOR


🤎📚 5-STAR BOOK REVIEW: BAKED WITH LOVE
By Ariana Kemp

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Absolutely, positively loved this book! 😭🤎

Winifred and Cohen were such a perfect match! Their relationship was everything I love in a good Christian romance, but what made this story so special to me was the deeper message woven throughout it.

Winnie has experienced heartbreaking loss, and you can see how those experiences have shaped the way she views love, life, and even her relationship with God. Sometimes, when we’ve been hurt deeply, we start living in fear of what we might lose next. We build walls around our hearts, thinking we’re protecting ourselves, when we may actually be missing out on the beautiful things right in front of us.

I really loved watching Winnie navigate those fears. Her journey was such a beautiful reminder that we can’t let the fear of what might happen tomorrow rob us of the blessings God has given us today.

And Cohen? 🥹 He was such a wonderful match for Winnie! Their relationship had me rooting for them, and I absolutely loved seeing their story unfold.

Baked with Love is so much more than a sweet Christian romance. It weaves together faith, healing, grief, found family, and the courage it takes to open your heart again.

Sometimes, faith isn’t knowing we won’t experience heartbreak. It’s learning to trust God even when we’re afraid of what the future holds. 🤎

If you love Christian romance with a swoon-worthy hero, meaningful faith themes, and a story that leaves you thinking long after you’ve finished reading, add this one to your TBR!

📅 RELEASING OCTOBER 30, 2026!

Mark your calendars, y’all! You don’t want to miss this one. 🤎📚

A beautiful, heartwarming five-star read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Alexis Shutts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beyond a shadow of a doubt my FAVORITE romance ever!! You can see right away that Ariana spent some major time with the Lord writing this book and His Spirit flows in every page.❤️ The wording was simple but yet so powerful that it brought tears to my eyes many times because I needed this story at the perfect time. (I have not experienced the loss that the FMC has specifically but I have experienced the anxiety and fear)

You know it’s the Lord bringing something at the right time as I read a very powerful scene when I was just about to share my testimony for the first time on a missions trip and the line “Do it scared” truly set with me in that moment and it’s what I told myself when I walked up on that stage.

The FMC, Winnie, is such a cutie with her love of all things nature and baking. She is such a bright spirit and I love her character development throughout the story. The MMC, Cohen, is the man of God I’ve literally been praying for so reading this just made me even more excited for the man that the Lord has in store for me. This is the type of man that every woman needs in her life to keep her grounded in faith and loved like no other.

I give this story a 100/5 stars because it is just so beautiful and powerful! I love the small town and every single one of the side characters! I NEED the next book literally right now but I guess I have to wait till spring.❤️ (oh and Ariana I need a story for literally all the guys- just saying☺️)

[R. J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review
I will admit I had stayed away from Chrstian books for a long time, in particular, romantic Christian books. Too often I found myself wanting more. Yes there was scripture, there was Biblical truth, and good redemptive arcs in many of the books available, but I didn’t want romance to be the sole focus of the story. This is my first Christian romance I have read since I was a teenager.
Baked with Love by Ariana Kemp had all of the ingredients needed to make for a truly engaging Christian Romance novel. I knew when I read the Blurb and saw the cover that I wanted to have a chance at reading an ARC, and thankfully I got the opportunity to. With a Christ focused romance, there are less pieces making up the story, which means the character development and plot need to be solid. I felt that Kemp did a beautiful job giving us the chance to see Cohen and Winnie’s story unfold while also showing us how each character prioritized Jesus in their day-to-day interactions.
My only small complaint was that I felt Cohen and Winnie were both too perfect at times. For Winnie, this was resolved somewhat when more was revealed about the hurt she still experienced due to deep wounds from her past. Both Cohen and Winnie experienced heavy grief and tests in trusting God for resolution. The book was written in dual-pov, both Cohen and Winnie’s views were believable and well-done. Please check it out! I hope I get the chance to read more by Kemp.

[Carol Learning to Live Faithfully · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of an advanced reader’s copy.

I HAVE A NEW BOOK BOYFRIEND!
With every clean, no-spice and Christian romance novel I read, I seem to end up with a new book boyfriend!
But I think Cohen is going to take some beating at the top of my list… Not that I was aware I was even making a list!
Vibe check:
Cute café
Baker girl FMC
Ex-military MMC
Cinnamon rolls
Hiking
A sweet romance that makes your heart happy
I absolutely loved Cohen and Winnie's story and watching how they helped each other grow. There's something so lovely about seeing two people support one another and build something healthy together.
Something a little more personal…
I've never experienced a healthy relationship myself, and since becoming a Christian, I've found that every clean, no-spice and Christian romance novel I read teaches me a little more about what a faith-filled relationship can look like — and the qualities of a man who puts his faith into practice.
I love that these stories can be entertaining, romantic and also give me something to reflect on.
My advice?
ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR IMMEDIATELY!!!
P.S. I CANNOT wait for the next book in the series!

[Ashlie Kepner · Rating 5 out of 5]

📣Received from Author as an ARC read

📣Release date: 10/30/2026

This book really exceeded all of my expectations. I enjoyed the character growth as both main character faced grief and learning how to heal through it with faith, each other and the community that God blessed them with.

As someone who feels like my prayers have to be this long and drawn out thing- it was life giving to just see small prayers woven through their day and how it kept them tethered to God in in the middle of a mess and busyness of life.

It’s something I keep thing about when I think of this book and how it’s made a solid foundation for the little prayers I’m starting to say throughout the day connecting me to Jesus even in the busyness and chaos of life.

I can’t wait to read the next books to come exploring Winnie and Cohen’s closest friends and their lives.

-He takes care of her
-She takes care of Him
-Faith themes
-walking and healing through grief
-found family
-small town
-closed door
-grab your tissues

[Maple Leafwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so I saw this book being advertised on Instagram and I was intrigued. Y’all I didn’t expect the book to hit as deep as it did. I was tearing up in the last half of it. The characters and their growth (both together and as individuals) was incredible. The romance was clean and wholesome, but honestly it almost felt like a subplot -but in the best way possible!- to the main characters and the things they learn.

I love a Christian romance (or just Christian fiction in general) and this was most definitely that, but it was also so much more. Winnie and Cohen were so real and I wanted to reach through the pages and give them a hug (especially in chapters 13 and 24 IYKYK). Something I especially loved was the brotherhood the MMC has with his friends and his they help him and point him back to Christ. I feel like it’s not something you see a lot of in books nowadays.

It does go into some harder topics but it shines the light of Christ on them and points you back to The One who heals. I absolutely loved this book. I 100% recommend it and I can’t wait to see what this author does next.

[Emily Stebner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know Winnie and Cohen. Ariana’s development of the characters is amazing and it was easy to connect with both of them. I loved her use of scripture throughout the story and how much the characters encouraged and prayed with one another. Winnie and Cohens relationship was so sweet. I loved how he came along side her and helped her through the trials she faced. There was so much faith in the book. I loved how Ariana didn’t shy away from hard topics. She put in real struggles with faith. It was easy to see God throughout this book. This book deals with hard topics like PTSD and grief from military life in a beautiful way. I wasn’t prepared for the emotions this book would pull out of me. It was a wonderful and encouraging read.

**I received an advance copy for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

[Bri Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! The writing style was so descriptive but not to the point of boredom. It was the absolute perfect balance. Winnie reminds me much of myself. She has such a whimsical persona but struggles with anxiety and thoughts. Cohen is of course an absolute gem of a man, green flag energy. The way they take care of each other and specifically pray for each other is so sweet. I don't know if I have seen it done as well as it was in this book. It had me feeling all the feels. I hope to hear more about Adler and Shepherd, and Lettie too! Bruno and Maggie are just the absolute sweetest couple and I cried way too many tears as their marriage was described. Everything about this book was five stars. It also broke me and made me sob in ways that I didn't think possible. This is my first book by Ariana Kemp and I can say with confidence it won't be the last I read.

Also: the "he calls her sugar" trope is everything. 👌

[Kate Fenley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 10, stars, I totally would this book exceeded all expectations. Ariana, thank you so much for the ARC copy it truly blessed me so much. I related with Winnie so much more than I thought, and I found myself looking at my own heart as I read.This book was more than just two people falling in love….It was full of reminder’s that we can struggle to trust in God and struggle with uncertainties of life , but God never leaves us and His presence has always with us in the middle of everything we’re going through. This book was not just entertaining, but it left me with meaningful things to think about and maybe even some things that I’m gonna talk to God about for myself. This is a MUST READ!

[Jasmine Scruggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooked from the dedication! Beyond how well written the book is, the heart behind it is felt in the pages. This book has pieces of everything, it has the light and sweet romance that had me smiling and kicking my feet. But it also has the genuine, raw, human experience that so many can relate to. I love the honest and intentional faith demonstrated throughout this book!

Winnie and Cohen are both such layered characters and I truly enjoyed getting to watch them grow! I am definitely excited for the books about the rest of their friends to follow!

**ARC received for honest review. All opinions are my own.

[L.R. Skelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. A spectacular Christian romance without being preachy that includes all of the sweet, tender moments before AND after getting together (the best part of a romance tbh)

Couple elements I particularly loved:

The friend group - a friend who prays for you is a blessing all itself

Realistic depiction of Win’s anxieties and the quiet way Cohen cares for her - this is the ‘he takes care of her’ trope standard

I’m so excited to read the next book…books plural hopefully.

[Allison Stricker · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was exactly what i expected from the marketing of this book and i LOVED it!! it was so very healing to read about men like cohen and his friends existing, and i could relate to winnie in many ways so i felt very touched by this book! in addition the plot was nice and consistent as were the characters, which was a breath of fresh air <3
i can’t wait for book 2!!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

must read

I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait for the rest of the series. Ariana Kemp is an incredible author I loved how it was based on real life struggles but wrapped up in faith and the importance of community. Her story telling is phenomenal one of my favorite authors for sure. 🤍

[⚔︎ hotsauce ⚔︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’ve been waiting for this book to release for weeks and i read it as soon as it came to kindle unlimited
i love how she has her ups and downs in her faith and that this book shows not only him supporting her, but her having his back too
this is by far my favorite christian book and I can’t wait for adler and letties story

[hensleykathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Christian romances I’ve EVER read!!!!

[Taylor Blackwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be loved like this is an absolute dream. Best romance I’ve ever read hands down!