What do you think?
Rate this book
Baker Girl #1
One Summer: ...at Charlie's Diner
Star Bloom is devastated—fired on a phony sexual harassment charge from her pastry chef job at a five-star restaurant. Seeing a help wanted sign in a window, she applies for the job as a waitress at the little diner near the Daytona Beach boardwalk.
Tyler Jackman, a wannabe cartoonist, works at the diner as a waiter. He falls for the pretty blonde, coming to her rescue time and time again. But Star doesn’t see him as anything more than a new friend.
Star is drawn to Ash, a handsome mystery man who frequents the diner. He begins to meet her after work, walks her home, and they share coffee on the beach. A summer romance?
The three lives intertwine as they strive to make their dreams come true. Will love, jealousy, friendship help or hinder their struggles?
Tyler Jackman, a wannabe cartoonist, works at the diner as a waiter. He falls for the pretty blonde, coming to her rescue time and time again. But Star doesn’t see him as anything more than a new friend.
Star is drawn to Ash, a handsome mystery man who frequents the diner. He begins to meet her after work, walks her home, and they share coffee on the beach. A summer romance?
The three lives intertwine as they strive to make their dreams come true. Will love, jealousy, friendship help or hinder their struggles?
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2014
1604 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
August 27, 2024
Good characters
I really liked alot of the characters in this book. I felt like it could have been 3 different stories in that one. Some jumping around and I still have questions....
I really liked alot of the characters in this book. I felt like it could have been 3 different stories in that one. Some jumping around and I still have questions....
October 10, 2018
I liked Ty and enjoyed the relationship between Ty and Star. The baking competition was a little strange—I wouldn't consider taffy to be a contender for baking. However, the reason for 3 stars instead of 4 is that the part of the story about Ash seemed to be more of a politically correct cause than an addition to the storyline.
July 28, 2017
What a lovely read by a new to me author.
Star loves to bake and after she got fired she gets another job as a waitress but would love to have her own pastry shop. She meets TY who is also a waiter at the same dinner but she likes Ash a customer who comes into the dinner all the time.
With some twists and a mystery to boot this book was very entertaining.
The characters are well developed and I like the fact that Star’s grandma really takes an interest in what she is doing and the secondary characters made some moments really funny.
I will be looking for the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Star loves to bake and after she got fired she gets another job as a waitress but would love to have her own pastry shop. She meets TY who is also a waiter at the same dinner but she likes Ash a customer who comes into the dinner all the time.
With some twists and a mystery to boot this book was very entertaining.
The characters are well developed and I like the fact that Star’s grandma really takes an interest in what she is doing and the secondary characters made some moments really funny.
I will be looking for the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
May 30, 2018
"Not a dark cloud in the sky"
Unbelievably optimistic, yet I know this book will have thousands of readers just itching to read it. The characters are as fluffy as the pastry served at the diner (or flaky... take your pick). World affairs can be solved with the flip of a burger. Need I say more? If you want to escape the real world for a few hours, dive in.
Unbelievably optimistic, yet I know this book will have thousands of readers just itching to read it. The characters are as fluffy as the pastry served at the diner (or flaky... take your pick). World affairs can be solved with the flip of a burger. Need I say more? If you want to escape the real world for a few hours, dive in.
February 18, 2019
Interesting plot with charming characters (some twist but it’s a good thing). Home town kinda tale. Oddest thing is main character’s name. Clean and Highly recommended.
May 21, 2020
Baker Girl
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was entertaining and engaging. I love a good mystery.The characters are sweet and interesting. This my first time reading Mary Jane and I can't wait to read the next book in this series. I really like that there wasn't curse words and explicit sex. I get tired of reading books that have those issues. This was a clean and very enjoyable reading experience. 😍
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was entertaining and engaging. I love a good mystery.The characters are sweet and interesting. This my first time reading Mary Jane and I can't wait to read the next book in this series. I really like that there wasn't curse words and explicit sex. I get tired of reading books that have those issues. This was a clean and very enjoyable reading experience. 😍
February 1, 2015
A very good book. I look forward to reading the next edition of this series. I made a connection with Star from the very beginning of the book. She had such a desire to use her baking expertise to open a Pastry Shop. I also worked in a neighborhood restaurant and used my gift of baking to add Cinnamon rolls to the menu. I was able to identify with her joy of creating new recipes and sharing her cooking gift to bring joy to others.
The other characters were pivotal pieces to the story. Ty her co worker and supportive friend added light moments to the story and smoothed the road for much of the story. Charlie and Wanda, Ash, Gran and the patrons of the restaurant were so small town characters that I found my thoughts drifting to patrons of the small restaurant that I worked in.
There are mysteries, lots of good food ideas and a lot of laughs and smiles to go around. A great read for Cozy Mystery lovers.
The other characters were pivotal pieces to the story. Ty her co worker and supportive friend added light moments to the story and smoothed the road for much of the story. Charlie and Wanda, Ash, Gran and the patrons of the restaurant were so small town characters that I found my thoughts drifting to patrons of the small restaurant that I worked in.
There are mysteries, lots of good food ideas and a lot of laughs and smiles to go around. A great read for Cozy Mystery lovers.
March 29, 2018
Unaware that this was more a YA book than a book for grown-ups, who generally need a more substance to their stories, I started "One Summer..." with an open mind. Unfortunately, the level of naivete and guilelessness wasn't doing it for me. Don't get me wrong, this is a perfectly lovely story if you are between 16 and 21, but I expect so much more when I want to escape in storytelling.
Furthermore, I've never been to Florida, but I looked up images for Daytona Beach and that place looks so crowded and big, it's not a feel that inspired me.
Overall, a miss for me, but surely a wonderful read, with pretty decent characters too boot, for a younger audience.
Furthermore, I've never been to Florida, but I looked up images for Daytona Beach and that place looks so crowded and big, it's not a feel that inspired me.
Overall, a miss for me, but surely a wonderful read, with pretty decent characters too boot, for a younger audience.
August 7, 2018
Whimsical, heartwarming tearjerker
Star has to figure out her next step in life after being fired due to a somewhat questionable sexual harassment charge. Enter Wanda and Charlie who hire her first as a waitress, later letting her take over the grill. As she spends her summer cooking in the back of their retro diner, becoming friends with the quirky patrons who frequent the diner often, she also catches the eye of two very different men...Ash and Tyler. Secrets unfold. Dreams are revealed, pursued, lost, and even realized to some extent although not as exactly planned. Relatives, special friends, a secret benefactor, and a Florida beach town combine to draw the reader into a magical world of life, happiness, unrequited love, and promises of very bright futures. This book will not disappoint, and is perfect for a great summer read!
Star has to figure out her next step in life after being fired due to a somewhat questionable sexual harassment charge. Enter Wanda and Charlie who hire her first as a waitress, later letting her take over the grill. As she spends her summer cooking in the back of their retro diner, becoming friends with the quirky patrons who frequent the diner often, she also catches the eye of two very different men...Ash and Tyler. Secrets unfold. Dreams are revealed, pursued, lost, and even realized to some extent although not as exactly planned. Relatives, special friends, a secret benefactor, and a Florida beach town combine to draw the reader into a magical world of life, happiness, unrequited love, and promises of very bright futures. This book will not disappoint, and is perfect for a great summer read!
December 31, 2018
A Summer of Dreams Come True
Wow, WOW and again WOW Ms. Forbes is a marvelous writer of cozey mystery reads and once again baked up a mystery with flavors of heart breaking life challenges for three young adults struggling to find thier place in life maby even a little romance. Star following her dream to shine as a pastry chef, Tyler to gleam in animation, Ash to introduce the kinder side of moslem society. Will each succeed in the goals read for your self feel the passion, strife and glimpse thier friendships blossoming to perhaps more than friendship. 🙄🤐☺😊 Kat
Wow, WOW and again WOW Ms. Forbes is a marvelous writer of cozey mystery reads and once again baked up a mystery with flavors of heart breaking life challenges for three young adults struggling to find thier place in life maby even a little romance. Star following her dream to shine as a pastry chef, Tyler to gleam in animation, Ash to introduce the kinder side of moslem society. Will each succeed in the goals read for your self feel the passion, strife and glimpse thier friendships blossoming to perhaps more than friendship. 🙄🤐☺😊 Kat
January 27, 2019
NOT a Cozy Mystery/NOT Historical Fiction
I slogged through this book just hoping it would improve. The writing seemed that of an amateur, and I wanted to give a fair chance. As with most e-books, it was rife with errors, however, I kept on. At the point this author decided to take the story outside the realm of Cozy Mystery, and go to political partisanship/immigration issues, it became untenable as a Cozy Mystery. I would advise the author to choose a genre, and stick with it. A few writing classes, and a good editor wouldn’t hurt either!
I slogged through this book just hoping it would improve. The writing seemed that of an amateur, and I wanted to give a fair chance. As with most e-books, it was rife with errors, however, I kept on. At the point this author decided to take the story outside the realm of Cozy Mystery, and go to political partisanship/immigration issues, it became untenable as a Cozy Mystery. I would advise the author to choose a genre, and stick with it. A few writing classes, and a good editor wouldn’t hurt either!
October 6, 2020
YA. Feel good... (Amature author) but, that's about it... IT's nice if you only want that much out of the book... I normally like reading YA( I'm 22), but somehow, this book helped me realize that I need a little more ... going on.. you know, to want to read further on in the series.
But, if you are looking for a feel-good book, it's great. It reminds you that there are people around you who are good... but, looking at it from another point of view, things in life are not that simple. uhh.. Mixed opinion...
But, if you are looking for a feel-good book, it's great. It reminds you that there are people around you who are good... but, looking at it from another point of view, things in life are not that simple. uhh.. Mixed opinion...
February 25, 2018
Don't waste your time
What a bad, stupid book! The characters are immature and one dimensional. Lots of spelling errors. Stupid statements, such as He's her employer, he should know her name. (Ya think?) She baked a cake for the pastry competition (cake is NOT a pastry) and won a BAKING contest with taffy! I urge the author to do the SLIGHTEST bit of research. Eggs don't have yokes, they have yolks. And stop blaspheming!
What a bad, stupid book! The characters are immature and one dimensional. Lots of spelling errors. Stupid statements, such as He's her employer, he should know her name. (Ya think?) She baked a cake for the pastry competition (cake is NOT a pastry) and won a BAKING contest with taffy! I urge the author to do the SLIGHTEST bit of research. Eggs don't have yokes, they have yolks. And stop blaspheming!
May 12, 2020
Not much of a mystery at all, and the whole part about Ash and making a political statement seemed very out of place. The whole story was also very predictable, and it was obvious to me from the beginning that Star would win the bake-off and (somehow) get her bakery started. Live her snd Ty, but they act like they're 16, not almost 30. I want to like this book because a lot of the plot is cute, but there's so much about it that I didn't enjoy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2018
Sweet, wholesome story with likeable characters.
The story was sweet and well written and edited. All the main characters were interesting, wholesome and likeable. Easy to read and follow the storyline. Nice flow to the story. Probably more suitable for teens and young adults who enjoy fairytale romance stories.
The story was sweet and well written and edited. All the main characters were interesting, wholesome and likeable. Easy to read and follow the storyline. Nice flow to the story. Probably more suitable for teens and young adults who enjoy fairytale romance stories.
February 16, 2018
Very good book. The book had it's ups and downs, happy and sad parts. The story is of a younger generations taking part in a baking contest mainly using her grandmothers recipes . The author writes so well that you feel that you are there taking part in their daily lives. The ending was good with a mystery added.
March 24, 2018
Heartwarming!
This book was amazing from start to finish! Mary Jane is quite the storyteller! I literally fell in love with the characters! She has the ability to draw you in and hold your attention which is rare these days! I will definitely be reading the rest of the series!!!
This book was amazing from start to finish! Mary Jane is quite the storyteller! I literally fell in love with the characters! She has the ability to draw you in and hold your attention which is rare these days! I will definitely be reading the rest of the series!!!
April 19, 2018
Adding this book to my never finishing folder. Feels like I am reading about children. Their actions are like Jr. high. The characters where just too immature for me. I have read many YA books but these characters were not engaging or even very likable. Although what I have read of this book was not bad it was just to juvenile.
May 21, 2018
I liked this book and its characters. The main character Star was having a rough time of it but going through many disappointments from the people she met until the ending. Which was not the ending I expected. The story also showed how crossing the path with people in your life means and and fortunate this happened to be.
June 12, 2018
Excellent read
A very well written book. A cute storyline. Because I live in Florida and frequent Daytona Beach often I could relate to the local references. I knew of the roads and various landmarks which made the story so much more believable. My husband and I had a favorite diner we went to every time we visited the area. Looking forward to reading book 2.
A very well written book. A cute storyline. Because I live in Florida and frequent Daytona Beach often I could relate to the local references. I knew of the roads and various landmarks which made the story so much more believable. My husband and I had a favorite diner we went to every time we visited the area. Looking forward to reading book 2.
September 11, 2018
Relaxing read!
Star, Ash and Tyler all meet at Charlie's Diner. Star starts out as a waiter and quickly becomes a short order cook. Ash has a job as a journalist. Tyler is the creative waiter. One thing happens after another,and that is when excitement intertwined throughout the book.
Star, Ash and Tyler all meet at Charlie's Diner. Star starts out as a waiter and quickly becomes a short order cook. Ash has a job as a journalist. Tyler is the creative waiter. One thing happens after another,and that is when excitement intertwined throughout the book.
February 7, 2019
Keeps you reading with delight
Heartbreak, changes life throws, uplifting moments, great friends, and mysterious godsend. All the wonder of life in a book. I thoroughly enjoyed these moments of intrigue, happenstance, comedy, love, and hope. Never give up on hope. Life is good even in trials and tribulations the best people pop up.
Heartbreak, changes life throws, uplifting moments, great friends, and mysterious godsend. All the wonder of life in a book. I thoroughly enjoyed these moments of intrigue, happenstance, comedy, love, and hope. Never give up on hope. Life is good even in trials and tribulations the best people pop up.
March 12, 2018
3 star
Pretty good but... Something wasoff. I'm too out of it to put my finger on it right now. The POV was unstable several places. The ending wasn't fully satisfying but wasn't exactly wrong either. But what else bugged me I can't tell you at the moment.
Pretty good but... Something wasoff. I'm too out of it to put my finger on it right now. The POV was unstable several places. The ending wasn't fully satisfying but wasn't exactly wrong either. But what else bugged me I can't tell you at the moment.
March 23, 2018
Well written sweetbook. Reader develops an empathy with main character.
Well written story. Reader develops an empathy with the characters as they live and work through some highs and low points.
Well written story. Reader develops an empathy with the characters as they live and work through some highs and low points.
May 11, 2018
Just a Hint
Just like Star’s pancake having a hint of Nutmeg, there is a hint of romance, new and old friendships, and criminal activities. It’s a book that has really good characters that you want to cheer on and want to know what they’re doing now.
Just like Star’s pancake having a hint of Nutmeg, there is a hint of romance, new and old friendships, and criminal activities. It’s a book that has really good characters that you want to cheer on and want to know what they’re doing now.
May 23, 2018
One summer, Star Bloom was devastated for losing a job.
One summer, Star Bloom get a job as a waitress at the little dinner.
Over the summer, Star Bloom enters a baking competition.
Over the summer, Star Bloom found friendships and love
lovely love story, but not my cuppa
One summer, Star Bloom get a job as a waitress at the little dinner.
Over the summer, Star Bloom enters a baking competition.
Over the summer, Star Bloom found friendships and love
lovely love story, but not my cuppa
September 16, 2018
Enjoying read.
Could use a little more information on characters back ground development. Going from scene to scene is a little rough. Jumping into the next scene could be a a bit more smoothly done. Still a good interesting read. Thanks!
Could use a little more information on characters back ground development. Going from scene to scene is a little rough. Jumping into the next scene could be a a bit more smoothly done. Still a good interesting read. Thanks!
April 13, 2019
The beginning
This story tells the tale of the beginning of a special relationship between Tyler and the Baker Girl. They go through a lot in this book. I can't wait to see what happens to them.
This story tells the tale of the beginning of a special relationship between Tyler and the Baker Girl. They go through a lot in this book. I can't wait to see what happens to them.
June 11, 2019
Great start!
This book was a surprise filled read. It had twists and turns and a wonderful promise of love. I hope there is another installment to follow. And an answer to the question of WHO SENT STAR THAT CHECK?
This book was a surprise filled read. It had twists and turns and a wonderful promise of love. I hope there is another installment to follow. And an answer to the question of WHO SENT STAR THAT CHECK?
June 22, 2019
So enjoyable!
Such a great and vivid book! Hurray for all the descriptions, so vivid! Enjoyed the mixed mystery/ romance. Didn’t want to get to the end, wanted to stay with the characters. Great job!
Such a great and vivid book! Hurray for all the descriptions, so vivid! Enjoyed the mixed mystery/ romance. Didn’t want to get to the end, wanted to stay with the characters. Great job!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews