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Karma Bakery #2
Opening Struggles
It was a rough beginning for Karma Bakery with the out-of-control sample days and interviews that went way past fluff pieces. But Arabella Baker and her two daughters, Kary and Mary, have the needed security in place and have hired the right people to fit into the new family they’re building.
They even made some outside friends of the paranormal variety, and that’s not something they’re used to.
Now that the store is ready and people are interested, the Karma Bakery is ready for opening day… Mostly. There’s more chaos than they could ever have predicted, and since they’re on the outs with Colton, he’s not always swooping in to help or save the day. She let him in too easily, and now Arabella is determined not to make the same mistake.
But after thousands of years of being alone, suffering from her traumas and brothers who were supposed to love her failing her, is it really wrong to hope that maybe there could ever be a man in her life that’s important to her again?
They even made some outside friends of the paranormal variety, and that’s not something they’re used to.
Now that the store is ready and people are interested, the Karma Bakery is ready for opening day… Mostly. There’s more chaos than they could ever have predicted, and since they’re on the outs with Colton, he’s not always swooping in to help or save the day. She let him in too easily, and now Arabella is determined not to make the same mistake.
But after thousands of years of being alone, suffering from her traumas and brothers who were supposed to love her failing her, is it really wrong to hope that maybe there could ever be a man in her life that’s important to her again?
181 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2017
220 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Erin R. Flynn
102 books795 followers also writes under Joyee Flynn and Flynn Eire.
Erin is a born Chicagoan who decided to state hop a bit, given she works from home. She currently resides in Georgia with her pup, Lord Vader Flynn. With an eclectic and addictive personality, there isn’t much that doesn’t interest her or she won’t pour herself into if it catches her fancy. She has always been interested in the darker aspects of life and mythologies—especially vampires, shifters, the occult, and anything paranormal.
To date, she has published more paranormal books than she can keep up with the characters for, in different genres with dedicated readers who await each release to her numerous series under any of the three Flynn names she writes.
Erin is a born Chicagoan who decided to state hop a bit, given she works from home. She currently resides in Georgia with her pup, Lord Vader Flynn. With an eclectic and addictive personality, there isn’t much that doesn’t interest her or she won’t pour herself into if it catches her fancy. She has always been interested in the darker aspects of life and mythologies—especially vampires, shifters, the occult, and anything paranormal.
To date, she has published more paranormal books than she can keep up with the characters for, in different genres with dedicated readers who await each release to her numerous series under any of the three Flynn names she writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 31, 2022
While I'm glad that Karma Bakery has been so successful upon opening, this book spent a little too much time showing how often Arabella needed to use her powers to dupe supplies and equipment to keep up with orders. It was a little ridiculous how none of the workers thought it was odd that all this heavy duty machinery would just appear overnight on the 2nd floor when needed - generally machinery takes quite a few weeks to deliver and moving it is quite a procedure from the weight.
Additionally, while yes, this is a fictional world with gods, I was a little frustrated with the business practices of the bakery with undercutting prices and open-ended ordering. Time is money and while keeping your products affordable is a good cause, there is only so much time in the day and the products available for a realistic human-owned small business is not infinite even when workers are working 24/7. Arabella's decision to continuously add new products day after day with already *thousands* of cake and other pastry orders was also ill-thought out, no matter how excited she was to expand. If all her employees knew of her magical powers to keep up with the demand, that's one thing, but when she's trying to keep everything like a human, that's just a recipe for disaster.
The last issue that bothered me was that Hera's curse wasn't well explained before it was suddenly removed in the first few chapters. Arabella had a huge change in personality, and the no-male rule in her bakery that was an important plot point in the first book was easily discarded and forgotten once we got well into this book.
I did like the ball scene in the beginning with the drama with , but the addition of many of the new miscellaneous employees to help with the descriptive neverending bakery work was a bit boring and didn't add much to character or plot development. The book also ended quite suddenly after they managed to get a huge group of people to decorate Halloween cookies. What happened to the annoying Boston werewolf alpha and his pack? Are we ever going to see any backstory about her brother Hades considering how often she brings him up? What about this mysterious warlock that helped the witches remove Hera's curse? It was a very awkward point to decide to break off into the next book.
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Ratings - abandoned series:
#1 Rough Beginnings: ★★★★☆
#2 Opening Struggles (this book): ★★★☆☆
#3 Turbulent Expansion: ★★★☆☆
#4 Weary Christmas: ★★★☆☆
Additionally, while yes, this is a fictional world with gods, I was a little frustrated with the business practices of the bakery with undercutting prices and open-ended ordering. Time is money and while keeping your products affordable is a good cause, there is only so much time in the day and the products available for a realistic human-owned small business is not infinite even when workers are working 24/7. Arabella's decision to continuously add new products day after day with already *thousands* of cake and other pastry orders was also ill-thought out, no matter how excited she was to expand. If all her employees knew of her magical powers to keep up with the demand, that's one thing, but when she's trying to keep everything like a human, that's just a recipe for disaster.
The last issue that bothered me was that Hera's curse wasn't well explained before it was suddenly removed in the first few chapters. Arabella had a huge change in personality, and the no-male rule in her bakery that was an important plot point in the first book was easily discarded and forgotten once we got well into this book.
I did like the ball scene in the beginning with the drama with , but the addition of many of the new miscellaneous employees to help with the descriptive neverending bakery work was a bit boring and didn't add much to character or plot development. The book also ended quite suddenly after they managed to get a huge group of people to decorate Halloween cookies. What happened to the annoying Boston werewolf alpha and his pack? Are we ever going to see any backstory about her brother Hades considering how often she brings him up? What about this mysterious warlock that helped the witches remove Hera's curse? It was a very awkward point to decide to break off into the next book.
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Ratings - abandoned series:
#1 Rough Beginnings: ★★★★☆
#2 Opening Struggles (this book): ★★★☆☆
#3 Turbulent Expansion: ★★★☆☆
#4 Weary Christmas: ★★★☆☆
January 25, 2020
Horrible series that i wont be finishing. Books are endless pages with minimal plot and plot related dialogue, most of the book is filled with bakery appliance names, bakery and business jargon, technical terms and paragraphs upon paragraphs of details in icing, cakes, sales, decorating, cookies, cupcake flavours, machines, appliances, giving people jobs, introducing a towns worth of characters with no way to separately identify each one as theres too many too fast and everything becomes such a mess, so much bakery business sales info, and seriously so much unnecessary detail with no translation of technical words and everything except actual plot or anything past the most brief mention of the actual storyline.
Terrible writing, i dont know why i even attempted this book!!
Terrible writing, i dont know why i even attempted this book!!
March 9, 2023
This series needs to be read in order as this book begins where the last one ended.
Gina and her coven are ready to remove the curse from Arabella, they also have a plan to channel the power Hera is using to maintain the curse. They need to do this otherwise the power would return to her, and she'd know the curse had been lifted.
It was a long and arduous process that had Arabella reliving the past in visions that all could see, including when she found the twins. It was difficult for her the pain as real as when it happened. Then it was done, but they had help, apparently the very powerful Boston Warlock aided them. He's not part of the coven Gina knows, and she always thought he was a legend or a myth. There's nothing to be done, he's gone, left no trace and did no harm.
Now Arabella can prepare for tomorrow's opening. The decorations are perfect the take and bake freezer set up, and the fridge had packaged cakes. Needless to say the opening was more than a success and Arabella had to use her powers to create more goodies to keep up.
The twins however had a special lunchtime planned for her, giving out goodies at a local hospital cancer center. This leads to an invite to provide deserts for their fundraiser the following week. That would count as their donation, and they requested Arabella attend as a guest with her daughters handling the dessert setup.
The first person she sees at the ball insults her, and she retaliates in kind, the second is Colton. He meets up with her at the bar. Of course, there are issues with the tables they needed to hold all the desserts. When they fix the issue they go overboard, and Arabella has to make some more sweets appear in the delivery van.
Colton's admirers are many and persistent too. Confronting Arabella as to how she knows him. She avoids the answer cleverly and when she reaches the twins, they give her some grief over Colton. They challenge her to accept a date with someone who isn't him. The best part is he's the brother of one Colton's groupies.
Arabella gets a bunch of new machines, bigger ovens and starts making meat pies starting with Gyro meat ones.
There is so much more packed into this book as Arabella expands what she's making.
Interesting relationships with Colton and Jamie, I really like them both a lot and they seem to be good for her.
I am already starting the next book!
Gina and her coven are ready to remove the curse from Arabella, they also have a plan to channel the power Hera is using to maintain the curse. They need to do this otherwise the power would return to her, and she'd know the curse had been lifted.
It was a long and arduous process that had Arabella reliving the past in visions that all could see, including when she found the twins. It was difficult for her the pain as real as when it happened. Then it was done, but they had help, apparently the very powerful Boston Warlock aided them. He's not part of the coven Gina knows, and she always thought he was a legend or a myth. There's nothing to be done, he's gone, left no trace and did no harm.
Now Arabella can prepare for tomorrow's opening. The decorations are perfect the take and bake freezer set up, and the fridge had packaged cakes. Needless to say the opening was more than a success and Arabella had to use her powers to create more goodies to keep up.
The twins however had a special lunchtime planned for her, giving out goodies at a local hospital cancer center. This leads to an invite to provide deserts for their fundraiser the following week. That would count as their donation, and they requested Arabella attend as a guest with her daughters handling the dessert setup.
The first person she sees at the ball insults her, and she retaliates in kind, the second is Colton. He meets up with her at the bar. Of course, there are issues with the tables they needed to hold all the desserts. When they fix the issue they go overboard, and Arabella has to make some more sweets appear in the delivery van.
Colton's admirers are many and persistent too. Confronting Arabella as to how she knows him. She avoids the answer cleverly and when she reaches the twins, they give her some grief over Colton. They challenge her to accept a date with someone who isn't him. The best part is he's the brother of one Colton's groupies.
Arabella gets a bunch of new machines, bigger ovens and starts making meat pies starting with Gyro meat ones.
There is so much more packed into this book as Arabella expands what she's making.
Interesting relationships with Colton and Jamie, I really like them both a lot and they seem to be good for her.
I am already starting the next book!
November 18, 2025
★★☆☆☆ – Buried Potential Under Endless Bakery Detours
The Karma Bakery series (Books 1–7) has a genuinely interesting story somewhere in there - but it’s buried under an exhausting amount of bakery details. Page after page focuses on how the bakery is run, what products are made, and all the business logistics. It’s so excessive that it overshadows the actual plot. I picked this up for a reverse harem story, not a step-by-step manual on running a bakery. If you don’t skim those sections, you’ll never get through the series.
Which is a shame, because the core concept could be great.
The FMC: Arabella/Kismet
Arabella/Kismet is a unique FMC with a tragic past, interesting powers, and a compelling connection to the Gods. Her slow-build harem has potential, and her two brothers are genuinely wonderful characters. But the actual story is buried so deep it becomes frustrating instead of fun.
She’s strong, realistic, and inspiring despite everything she’s been through. I genuinely like her; it’s the men around her that drag the story down.
The MMCs:
Colton – Absolutely cannot stand him. Pushy, toxic, and somehow constantly forgiven despite doing far worse than anyone else. His presence becomes more irritating every book.
Isiah – Trying hard, good energy, but the FMC doesn’t need two warlocks—especially not when one is Colton.
Jamie – Sweet, but their dynamic feels oddly parent–child, and the age gap just makes it uncomfortable at times.
Demarcus – The sudden blow-up between him and the FMC made zero sense. It felt forced and out of character, as if drama was added just for the sake of it. Honestly hope he gets another chance, especially considering how much worse others have been.
There were even interesting side threads - like the mysterious ancient vampire who briefly appears; yet they’re dropped in favor of more bakery content.
And honestly, for a Goddess like Arabella/Kismet… four men hardly feel like enough.
Final Thoughts:
This series has strong ideas, intriguing lore, and a memorable FMC, but the pacing, unnecessary detail, and character inconsistency make it a tiring read. Also, with a series this long, a character glossary is desperately needed.
There’s potential here; but you have to dig through a lot to find it.
The Karma Bakery series (Books 1–7) has a genuinely interesting story somewhere in there - but it’s buried under an exhausting amount of bakery details. Page after page focuses on how the bakery is run, what products are made, and all the business logistics. It’s so excessive that it overshadows the actual plot. I picked this up for a reverse harem story, not a step-by-step manual on running a bakery. If you don’t skim those sections, you’ll never get through the series.
Which is a shame, because the core concept could be great.
The FMC: Arabella/Kismet
Arabella/Kismet is a unique FMC with a tragic past, interesting powers, and a compelling connection to the Gods. Her slow-build harem has potential, and her two brothers are genuinely wonderful characters. But the actual story is buried so deep it becomes frustrating instead of fun.
She’s strong, realistic, and inspiring despite everything she’s been through. I genuinely like her; it’s the men around her that drag the story down.
The MMCs:
Colton – Absolutely cannot stand him. Pushy, toxic, and somehow constantly forgiven despite doing far worse than anyone else. His presence becomes more irritating every book.
Isiah – Trying hard, good energy, but the FMC doesn’t need two warlocks—especially not when one is Colton.
Jamie – Sweet, but their dynamic feels oddly parent–child, and the age gap just makes it uncomfortable at times.
Demarcus – The sudden blow-up between him and the FMC made zero sense. It felt forced and out of character, as if drama was added just for the sake of it. Honestly hope he gets another chance, especially considering how much worse others have been.
There were even interesting side threads - like the mysterious ancient vampire who briefly appears; yet they’re dropped in favor of more bakery content.
And honestly, for a Goddess like Arabella/Kismet… four men hardly feel like enough.
Final Thoughts:
This series has strong ideas, intriguing lore, and a memorable FMC, but the pacing, unnecessary detail, and character inconsistency make it a tiring read. Also, with a series this long, a character glossary is desperately needed.
There’s potential here; but you have to dig through a lot to find it.
May 23, 2021
This book talked about machines so. freaking. much. It was driving me crazy. I don't care about the machines!! I care about the people and sure some of what they are making but it was so extensive and so detailed my mind would go numb and it made this book so much longer than it actually is. I care about the story itself and those moments when it actually did come up, I did enjoy it. Is it worth reading the next book? Honestly, I don't know but I will probably try it out since it is another short one.
March 12, 2023
Wish I could give 5...
I love Erin R Flynn and have read almost all of her books. I've gotta say, though, that this series has been disappointing. It needs a lot of editing and has WAY too many descriptions of food. I like the plot and enjoy the characters, but I feel like the story want given enough attention because all of it was didn't on telling us about the food. It got to the point where I was just skimming through paragraphs until I got to something that wasn't practically a recipe. I get that Arabella opens a bakery, doesn't mean that should be the absolute focal point to the exclusion of almost anything else. Arabellas story is so moving, but it's lost under fluff.
I love Erin R Flynn and have read almost all of her books. I've gotta say, though, that this series has been disappointing. It needs a lot of editing and has WAY too many descriptions of food. I like the plot and enjoy the characters, but I feel like the story want given enough attention because all of it was didn't on telling us about the food. It got to the point where I was just skimming through paragraphs until I got to something that wasn't practically a recipe. I get that Arabella opens a bakery, doesn't mean that should be the absolute focal point to the exclusion of almost anything else. Arabellas story is so moving, but it's lost under fluff.
June 28, 2021
This author can't write a bad story !
I have found myself addicted to this authors work ! I started with Dr. Kelly Murphy , then Seraphine Thomas , Arabella Baker and last Tamsin Vale . I love all four series . And I have all of the AVAILABLE books in those stories . I can't get enough of the storylines and I stalk Amazon for the next books . So yes I give 5 stars for the joy of reading some fantastic stories , repeatedly !!!! More would be great , please .
I have found myself addicted to this authors work ! I started with Dr. Kelly Murphy , then Seraphine Thomas , Arabella Baker and last Tamsin Vale . I love all four series . And I have all of the AVAILABLE books in those stories . I can't get enough of the storylines and I stalk Amazon for the next books . So yes I give 5 stars for the joy of reading some fantastic stories , repeatedly !!!! More would be great , please .
April 30, 2024
I'm Enjoying This Series
I'm thoroughly enjoying this series. Arabella is a delight. I feel for her past and her struggles. I'm interested in seeing how her coping skills grow. The twins are amazing. I love the way they love and protect their mom. Colton is delicious. The tension, Arabella missing his cues, the small moments are fun to read.
I'm enjoying the build of the story and am excited to see what happens next.
I'm thoroughly enjoying this series. Arabella is a delight. I feel for her past and her struggles. I'm interested in seeing how her coping skills grow. The twins are amazing. I love the way they love and protect their mom. Colton is delicious. The tension, Arabella missing his cues, the small moments are fun to read.
I'm enjoying the build of the story and am excited to see what happens next.
October 16, 2024
Arabella is finally free of the curse Hera put on her. Just because she doesn’t bring out the evil in peoples hearts anymore doesn’t mean she won’t still apparently. There’s so much magic used to switch machines and prep goodies I don’t know how everyone hasn’t caught on. Though Colton is suspicious.
I like that she’s making friends with both the witch and warlock covens. Maybe the vampires will be next 🤷🏻♀️
I like that she’s making friends with both the witch and warlock covens. Maybe the vampires will be next 🤷🏻♀️
November 26, 2021
book two
I started reading the series when the fourth book came out. I love all of Erin's books but this one is hard for me to get into. I don't really know what the plot is aside from learning way too much about bakeries and fondant. I mean... going into book three and it's just so much bakery stuff and nothing much about the supernatural.
I started reading the series when the fourth book came out. I love all of Erin's books but this one is hard for me to get into. I don't really know what the plot is aside from learning way too much about bakeries and fondant. I mean... going into book three and it's just so much bakery stuff and nothing much about the supernatural.
December 1, 2021
struggles?
After finishing the first book today I dove right in and devoured the 2nd installment of Ms Flynn’s Karma Bakery adventure. The chemistry between Cole and Arabella is beautiful and I really hope those two can find love. The trust the goddess finds from her newfound Priest & Priestesses while scary, is quite heartwarming.
After finishing the first book today I dove right in and devoured the 2nd installment of Ms Flynn’s Karma Bakery adventure. The chemistry between Cole and Arabella is beautiful and I really hope those two can find love. The trust the goddess finds from her newfound Priest & Priestesses while scary, is quite heartwarming.
June 3, 2024
Great second book
Another great book in a series I'm loving. The characters are awesome, the storyline well done and brilliant mix of action and romance. The details and food described are so well done I end up hungry! The story ebbs and flows which I like. Some parts are slower but so much happens in the book it just adds to it.
Another great book in a series I'm loving. The characters are awesome, the storyline well done and brilliant mix of action and romance. The details and food described are so well done I end up hungry! The story ebbs and flows which I like. Some parts are slower but so much happens in the book it just adds to it.
September 10, 2018
Interesting blend
Loved the first 2 books and can't wait for more. Loved the innovative blend of current day and god/goddesses. A little too technical on the bakery equipment, but appreciated the outcome. Totally good read.
Loved the first 2 books and can't wait for more. Loved the innovative blend of current day and god/goddesses. A little too technical on the bakery equipment, but appreciated the outcome. Totally good read.
September 18, 2020
Love the series
Love love love this series ... well i love almost all of erin r flynn s books...but i have a slight addiction the mythology so those elements reaaallly capture my attention i wish there were more book ps in this series but anyting she writes i will read:))
Love love love this series ... well i love almost all of erin r flynn s books...but i have a slight addiction the mythology so those elements reaaallly capture my attention i wish there were more book ps in this series but anyting she writes i will read:))
May 24, 2021
Awesome series!!
I love this series, I so hope that a new books comes out soon.I can’t wait to find out what happens at karma bakery. When does she pick Colton, Isiah ? What is up with Coltons father? I need some answers to these and many more questions.
I love this series, I so hope that a new books comes out soon.I can’t wait to find out what happens at karma bakery. When does she pick Colton, Isiah ? What is up with Coltons father? I need some answers to these and many more questions.
July 2, 2021
A Homely Story
Before anyone starts, yes there's magic and the supernatural in this, but you know what? It's a real down to earth read, ironically. It's engaging and relatable as we've all been overwhelmed and busy. I just want more of it!
Before anyone starts, yes there's magic and the supernatural in this, but you know what? It's a real down to earth read, ironically. It's engaging and relatable as we've all been overwhelmed and busy. I just want more of it!
September 9, 2021
Boring. Nothing happened. Read like a manual to running a bakery. Why so much detail about baking machines? And only like 3 conversations with the love interest? Love the author but the overly detailed minutiae of businesses are her biggest writing weakness.
November 28, 2021
Long but Good
The series is ok, its very drawn out. The author needs to keep political feelings out of the story. It makes the author seem small and petty. If your bored read the series .
The series is ok, its very drawn out. The author needs to keep political feelings out of the story. It makes the author seem small and petty. If your bored read the series .
February 27, 2022
This book just got dragged down with too many details of running a commercial bakery. I was bored, waiting for action. Won't be pursuing further into the series. Her later writings are definitely much better.
March 12, 2022
I shouldn't have waited so long to read this series. Just like all of Erin's series the FMC is kick-ass and you fall in love with the world. You'll also be dying until the next comes out because its just too good and need more.
March 17, 2022
High energy fun!
This book is a whirlwind of busy-ness, business, and Fun! The cast of characters continues to expand, the bakery continues to develop, relationships continue to evolve, and new allies are found.
This book is a whirlwind of busy-ness, business, and Fun! The cast of characters continues to expand, the bakery continues to develop, relationships continue to evolve, and new allies are found.
May 15, 2025
Amazing
I highly recommend Opening Struggles, book 2 in the Karma Bakery series. I love Erin R Flynn’s original voice. She’s a fantastic writer. Also give a try on her Dr Kelly Murphy series if you haven’t. I love that one too.
I highly recommend Opening Struggles, book 2 in the Karma Bakery series. I love Erin R Flynn’s original voice. She’s a fantastic writer. Also give a try on her Dr Kelly Murphy series if you haven’t. I love that one too.
March 10, 2020
Great series
I love all of her books, this is a wonderful book easy to read. Great characters . Great strong female characters. Just read one book and you will be addicted
I love all of her books, this is a wonderful book easy to read. Great characters . Great strong female characters. Just read one book and you will be addicted
September 4, 2020
Good read
This is a good quick read and a good story, but there's no action or love scene's and you'll find out a lot about baking and bakeries.
This is a good quick read and a good story, but there's no action or love scene's and you'll find out a lot about baking and bakeries.
December 6, 2020
Another great story
A great story filled with so many great characters, new friends and intrigue. I really enjoyed it and look forward to more.
A great story filled with so many great characters, new friends and intrigue. I really enjoyed it and look forward to more.
January 3, 2021
Can't get enough!
I cant get enough of this series! Its such a heartwarming and loveable group. I cant wait to learn what happens next!
I cant get enough of this series! Its such a heartwarming and loveable group. I cant wait to learn what happens next!
February 13, 2022
fun
This book in the series has some fun times and the pace is better than the first. Looking forward to next book in the series.
This book in the series has some fun times and the pace is better than the first. Looking forward to next book in the series.
August 12, 2022
Great read
Thoroughly recommend this author. All her series have strong characters & detailed plots. Genuinely cant put them down until I finish all the available books
Thoroughly recommend this author. All her series have strong characters & detailed plots. Genuinely cant put them down until I finish all the available books
March 13, 2023
opening struggles
Really, really love this series. It has put a new slant in Greek mythology and delivered a flawed but strong heroine.
Really, really love this series. It has put a new slant in Greek mythology and delivered a flawed but strong heroine.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews