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The Accidental Baker #1
The Accidental Baker
Donnie Watson's baking disasters are legendary, but this Easter, his mismatched chocolate eggs bring accidental but astonishing results to four downhearted gay men. The chocolate sweets spill onto the pavement of a small parade of local shops—and go on a matchmaking tour like no other! From a bankrupt and betrayed baker, to a homeless but hopeful man, to a conceited bar owner in need of a reality check, and finally to the hapless but caring Donnie himself.
After all, Love means you can have chocolate too!
After all, Love means you can have chocolate too!
64 pages, ebook
First published April 20, 2019
17 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Clare London
148 books434 followersClare took the pen name London from the city where she lives, loves, and writes. A lone, brave female in a frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home, she juggles her writing with her other day job as an accountant. She’s written in many genres and across many settings, with award-winning novels and short stories published both online and in print. She says she likes variety in her writing while friends say she’s just fickle, but as long as both theories spawn good fiction, she’s happy. Most of her work features male/male romance and drama with a healthy serving of physical passion, as she enjoys both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic and sexy characters.
Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter 3 stage and plenty of other projects in mind . . . she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.
All the details and free fiction are available at her website. Visit her today and say hello!
Clare also writes as Stella Shaw and launched a new series of rent boy romances in 2021.
Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter 3 stage and plenty of other projects in mind . . . she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.
All the details and free fiction are available at her website. Visit her today and say hello!
Clare also writes as Stella Shaw and launched a new series of rent boy romances in 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 26, 2019
3.5
Honestly,this was just adorable.
64 pages,
5 chapters,
4 stories,
Yes,I know....unbelievable but it worked....so well.I've got no idea how the Author managed it.I've read full length books where the characters didn't connect so well.
Chapter one opens with Donnie getting more than a bit flustered making Easter treats which aren't the best and when disaster strikes the treats find their way into the paths of men who might never have met....
It's utterly charming and so funny but also packs a message about each couple....
Would definitely recommend.
Available on KU.
Honestly,this was just adorable.
64 pages,
5 chapters,
4 stories,
Yes,I know....unbelievable but it worked....so well.I've got no idea how the Author managed it.I've read full length books where the characters didn't connect so well.
Chapter one opens with Donnie getting more than a bit flustered making Easter treats which aren't the best and when disaster strikes the treats find their way into the paths of men who might never have met....
It's utterly charming and so funny but also packs a message about each couple....
Would definitely recommend.
Available on KU.
April 29, 2019
Four couples, no sex, no HEAs, just a series of stories loosely connected by misshapen chocolate concoctions. I would have preferred just one story, fully developed. Each story is a beginning, a chance, a potential for more.
I liked each chapter but left hungry for more. Sweet but ultimately unsatisfying.
I liked each chapter but left hungry for more. Sweet but ultimately unsatisfying.
April 24, 2019
First off I just need to say that the Accidental Baker is one short little piece of Easter perfection. Ms. London has somehow found a way to squeeze more feels into 64 pages than should be humanly possible. Each little portion of this is not only filled with feels, but sweetness, love and plenty of connection. On one short day Donnie's (the accidental baker) chocolates manage to have an accidental and uplifting impact on so very many people that he would never believe it! This book is so much more than I could have imagined it could be. Bravo and well done to the author! If you have Kindle Unlimited read this for Free! If not it is more than worth the $1.99 price tag!
April 29, 2019
3.5*
This is adorable but also a little bit frustrating because it's four superb meet/cutes that I now want the rest of the love stories for!
Each little snippet perfectly encapsulates the odd way eight men are brought together in circumstances which were unlikely to have ever happened without the initial impetus between best friends Donnie and Harry.
I'd love a book with each of these couples but especially Jez and Eric and Donnie and his older man Will.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
This is adorable but also a little bit frustrating because it's four superb meet/cutes that I now want the rest of the love stories for!
Each little snippet perfectly encapsulates the odd way eight men are brought together in circumstances which were unlikely to have ever happened without the initial impetus between best friends Donnie and Harry.
I'd love a book with each of these couples but especially Jez and Eric and Donnie and his older man Will.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
May 8, 2019
Well this was full of yummy sweetness...full review to follow soonish!
Who says 'There are no happy accidents...'
'The Accidental Baker' is the tale of how one little accident plays a role in the lives of 4...well actually 8 different men.
Starting with Donnie a sweet young man with a heart of gold who never gives a second thought to what he can do to help someone else...he just does it but when Donnie drops some of the egg shaped or mostly egg shaped eggs that he's made for the local community center children't party what he doesn't realize his chocolate creations are about to play a role in changing the future of more people than him and a few children.
I was totally enchanted with how this story played out and how each one of Donnie's chocolate creations that rolled away from him played a role in the meeting of two other men ...from something as simple as sharing a chocolate treat to causing to men to be locked in the men's room.
'The Accidental Baker' isn't a collection of romance stories but a collection of romantic beginnings. It's a collection of stories all connected by chocolate and really who doesn't like chocolate? These stories are high on sweetness and love on sex...I'm a just sayin' if you're looking of steamy graphic sex than this may not be the one for you but if you just want some sweet, promising beginnings than you've come to the right place.
And having said all that...I'd be lying if I said I didn't want the rest of the story to go with these sweet beginnings because of course I do and I've got no shame in saying that I'm hoping the author has plans to give us more story for each of these couples...one where everyone gets an HEA or even a solid HFN...one can always hope, right?
*************************
A copy of 'The Accidental Baker' was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Who says 'There are no happy accidents...'
'The Accidental Baker' is the tale of how one little accident plays a role in the lives of 4...well actually 8 different men.
Starting with Donnie a sweet young man with a heart of gold who never gives a second thought to what he can do to help someone else...he just does it but when Donnie drops some of the egg shaped or mostly egg shaped eggs that he's made for the local community center children't party what he doesn't realize his chocolate creations are about to play a role in changing the future of more people than him and a few children.
I was totally enchanted with how this story played out and how each one of Donnie's chocolate creations that rolled away from him played a role in the meeting of two other men ...from something as simple as sharing a chocolate treat to causing to men to be locked in the men's room.
'The Accidental Baker' isn't a collection of romance stories but a collection of romantic beginnings. It's a collection of stories all connected by chocolate and really who doesn't like chocolate? These stories are high on sweetness and love on sex...I'm a just sayin' if you're looking of steamy graphic sex than this may not be the one for you but if you just want some sweet, promising beginnings than you've come to the right place.
And having said all that...I'd be lying if I said I didn't want the rest of the story to go with these sweet beginnings because of course I do and I've got no shame in saying that I'm hoping the author has plans to give us more story for each of these couples...one where everyone gets an HEA or even a solid HFN...one can always hope, right?
*************************
A copy of 'The Accidental Baker' was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2019
Dissenting review!
Welp, looks like I’m among the minority here. I’ve enjoyed this author’s work in the past before but this was...not my cuppa tea, unfortunately. I didn’t like Henry for one. And the Donnie - bless his heart - had an awkward story, at least to me. I don’t know how I feel about Jez. At least the first one was normal-ish. Except I didn’t like that bloke either. *gulp* 🤷🏻♀️
Welp, looks like I’m among the minority here. I’ve enjoyed this author’s work in the past before but this was...not my cuppa tea, unfortunately. I didn’t like Henry for one. And the Donnie - bless his heart - had an awkward story, at least to me. I don’t know how I feel about Jez. At least the first one was normal-ish. Except I didn’t like that bloke either. *gulp* 🤷🏻♀️
April 29, 2019
This is such a wonderful collection of romantic Easter themed inter connected stories.
Rarely, do you get each story this good with such a range of characters from a New Adult Autistic hero and to a bitter baker to a Vet.
So good!
Rarely, do you get each story this good with such a range of characters from a New Adult Autistic hero and to a bitter baker to a Vet.
So good!
May 15, 2019
Clare London's novella features four (4) short interconnecting stories, all centering around some Easter chocolates which "spill onto the pavement of a small parade of local shops - and go on a matchmaking like no other!"
Donnie is a sweet guy who spends his spare time helping others and is preparing some Easter chocolates for the kids of the housing estate. He meets a kind man with salt & pepper hair, the local vet, who comes to his aid when the chocolates escape from his basket. Simon is recovering from a horrible ex who ruined his bakery business by disappearing with their money. In dropping by his former business to pick up equipment, he runs into Trevor, a fellow sugarcraft creative specializing in cupcakes, and looking for a partner in his new business, and maybe in life as well.
Socially awkward Eric meets homeless Jez when Jez saves Eric from bullying. They spent some time together chatting and telling jokes, and discovering one of Donnie's chocolate Easter eggs that rolled into Jez' spot in the doorway of the deserted hardware store. And jaded cynical Henry finally meets a man, sweet kind Abi, who sees beyond his brittle bitchiness and helps him realize "there's nothing wrong with being kind, generous, encouraging. In being pleasant. In listening to others, not always looking for ways to score points."
There's no sex here, but plenty of sweetness and second chances. 4 stars for "The Accidental Baker."
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
Donnie is a sweet guy who spends his spare time helping others and is preparing some Easter chocolates for the kids of the housing estate. He meets a kind man with salt & pepper hair, the local vet, who comes to his aid when the chocolates escape from his basket. Simon is recovering from a horrible ex who ruined his bakery business by disappearing with their money. In dropping by his former business to pick up equipment, he runs into Trevor, a fellow sugarcraft creative specializing in cupcakes, and looking for a partner in his new business, and maybe in life as well.
Socially awkward Eric meets homeless Jez when Jez saves Eric from bullying. They spent some time together chatting and telling jokes, and discovering one of Donnie's chocolate Easter eggs that rolled into Jez' spot in the doorway of the deserted hardware store. And jaded cynical Henry finally meets a man, sweet kind Abi, who sees beyond his brittle bitchiness and helps him realize "there's nothing wrong with being kind, generous, encouraging. In being pleasant. In listening to others, not always looking for ways to score points."
There's no sex here, but plenty of sweetness and second chances. 4 stars for "The Accidental Baker."
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
April 25, 2019
3.5 stars
This is sort of like, Love Actually, I mean in a way that all the chapters are actually interconnected. It starts with Donnie baking chocolate for Easter, then accident happens, and all the chocolates are scattered ... and we end up with chapters of how it brought promise of happiness to FOUR different hopeful couples.
My favorite story is Donnie's though :). The others are lovely -- though Jez's one needs MORE SCENES! -- but I can't help thinking about longer story of an occasional baker and a vet :). It sounds so cute!
This is sort of like, Love Actually, I mean in a way that all the chapters are actually interconnected. It starts with Donnie baking chocolate for Easter, then accident happens, and all the chocolates are scattered ... and we end up with chapters of how it brought promise of happiness to FOUR different hopeful couples.
My favorite story is Donnie's though :). The others are lovely -- though Jez's one needs MORE SCENES! -- but I can't help thinking about longer story of an occasional baker and a vet :). It sounds so cute!
April 24, 2019
This is an absolutely delightful story, utterly feel-good and then some.
The Accidental Baker comes with a wonderful hint of magical realism, all in the form of misshapen but heavenly-tasting chocolate creations.
The chocolate ‘whatever-you-want-to-call-thems’ (because they don’t come close to resembling the bunny and other shapes they were supposed to be) manage to get away from poor hapless Donnie only to end up in locations where they can be found by those who need a little helping hand (or should that be helping chocolate) in the love department.
And that’s all I’m willing to say about the story itself. Read it, enjoy it, and I challenge you to not end the book with a huge grin on your face.
Clare London is in a league of her own when it comes to writing fabulous and fascinating stories which, despite being a short read, manage to give a full story and create the impression that we know the characters a lot better than should be possible given the length of the story.
The Accidental Baker is a highly recommended short read for anyone who needs something to brighten their day and lighten their mood. Because, in my humble opinion, Clare London creates the same sort of magic with her words that Donnie creates with his misshapen chocolates.
The Accidental Baker comes with a wonderful hint of magical realism, all in the form of misshapen but heavenly-tasting chocolate creations.
The chocolate ‘whatever-you-want-to-call-thems’ (because they don’t come close to resembling the bunny and other shapes they were supposed to be) manage to get away from poor hapless Donnie only to end up in locations where they can be found by those who need a little helping hand (or should that be helping chocolate) in the love department.
And that’s all I’m willing to say about the story itself. Read it, enjoy it, and I challenge you to not end the book with a huge grin on your face.
Clare London is in a league of her own when it comes to writing fabulous and fascinating stories which, despite being a short read, manage to give a full story and create the impression that we know the characters a lot better than should be possible given the length of the story.
The Accidental Baker is a highly recommended short read for anyone who needs something to brighten their day and lighten their mood. Because, in my humble opinion, Clare London creates the same sort of magic with her words that Donnie creates with his misshapen chocolates.
April 23, 2019
Sweet encounters 🍫
A cute little Easter read. Each chapter features a different couple and how Donnie's delicious chocolate brings them together. I liked all the characters except Henry, but I guess his actions led to everyone's happy meetings. All in all a very enjoyable fun read.
A cute little Easter read. Each chapter features a different couple and how Donnie's delicious chocolate brings them together. I liked all the characters except Henry, but I guess his actions led to everyone's happy meetings. All in all a very enjoyable fun read.
April 23, 2019
It's incredible what Clare London managed to do within just a few pages. She packed so much emotion in this short holiday read. Four love stories, eight people who meet because of Donnie's chocolate disaster.
The Accidental Baker is an adorable, funny ,must read if you need to lift your spirit.
The Accidental Baker is an adorable, funny ,must read if you need to lift your spirit.
April 24, 2019
Sweet little Easter treat.
April 22, 2019
A wonderful, fun read, with Clare's usual excellent writing, lots of chocolate and flirting!
April 23, 2019
What a sweet, engaging Easter story revolving around the magic of chocolate! This is a no drama zone and I adored Donnie. This story is a quick, warm, funny, heart-warming read. Well done Ms. London <3
May 13, 2019
Such a sweet collection of short stories all connected by the same parade of shops and some homemade wayward Easter chocolates. These were four couples all meeting and/or connecting for the first time on the same day. The stories are all short; Donnie, who started it all by making the eggs, seems to get the short straw in the story department but he ends the collection as well as starting it which rounds the whole thing off nice. Each situation and pairing is distinctive and different.
Well written, with Clare London’s trademark wit, and a nice British flair.
I’d love to read more about these characters.
An enjoyable and engaging read. If you're looking for something relatively short, angst-free, and sweet to read this weekend, I'd recommend this.
Well written, with Clare London’s trademark wit, and a nice British flair.
I’d love to read more about these characters.
An enjoyable and engaging read. If you're looking for something relatively short, angst-free, and sweet to read this weekend, I'd recommend this.
June 24, 2019
3.5 Stars
The Accidental Baker is a sweet set of vignettes that gives the meet-cutes for four men as they navigate the unexpected beginnings of potential HEAs. The common thread in this anthology is Donnie and his baking disasters. Donnie is a sweetheart of a man who is perpetually single so he spends a lot of time volunteering and donating baked goods for different fundraisers. His heart is in the right place but his skills in the baking department are seriously lacking.
It’s best to know what you are going into with the Accidental Baker so that you can appreciate what’s here and not get fussy about what’s “missing”. Each tale begins with a meeting and optimism for more and while there is plenty of romance there’s no steam and if you know all that going in, you can enjoy the thrill of the potential romance without looking for more.
The book begins and ends with Donnie and while the stories are short, the author doesn’t skimp on showing you who the characters are. As I said, Donnie is a complete sweetheart and his setup says a lot about him. His giving nature made me want love for him and I wanted him to succeed at everything. The time he spends with Will is honest and their banter is endearing. These two were perfect for each other.
Story two is about Simon who is at a crossroads after losing his partner and his bakery after said partner took off with all the money and left Simon on his own with no place to live, no business and no money. He stops by his old bakery to pick up the last of his things and meets the new owner/baker. The ensuing conversation leads to opportunities for both men on the professional and personal fronts. Simon has been through a lot so the hopefulness in this one was sweet to read.
Jez’s story was my favorite and the one that left me wanting more, more so than any of the others. There was a lot to unpack in this one and the balance the author struck was just right considering the length of the story. This one would take a lot to fully flesh out in novel length, but it’s a story I would love to read.
The final lovelorn soul is Henry, Donnie’s best friend and honestly, when I met him in the beginning, I thought he was a total dick. I mean, that’s his thing, his big issue and he has a good set of baggage to overcome. His story was pretty intense and while I don’t think it was a believable beginning for him, I still wanted him to have it after reading about his hangups.
Overall, none of these stories moved at a super realistic pace. They couldn’t just leave one another after swapping phone numbers and a hope for a future date or anything. There had to be more to give the book the meat it needed. Everything was a bit accelerated, but if you just want to dig into some sweet, sweet romance with potential, then it’s easy to let that go and enjoy the ride.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
The Accidental Baker is a sweet set of vignettes that gives the meet-cutes for four men as they navigate the unexpected beginnings of potential HEAs. The common thread in this anthology is Donnie and his baking disasters. Donnie is a sweetheart of a man who is perpetually single so he spends a lot of time volunteering and donating baked goods for different fundraisers. His heart is in the right place but his skills in the baking department are seriously lacking.
It’s best to know what you are going into with the Accidental Baker so that you can appreciate what’s here and not get fussy about what’s “missing”. Each tale begins with a meeting and optimism for more and while there is plenty of romance there’s no steam and if you know all that going in, you can enjoy the thrill of the potential romance without looking for more.
The book begins and ends with Donnie and while the stories are short, the author doesn’t skimp on showing you who the characters are. As I said, Donnie is a complete sweetheart and his setup says a lot about him. His giving nature made me want love for him and I wanted him to succeed at everything. The time he spends with Will is honest and their banter is endearing. These two were perfect for each other.
Story two is about Simon who is at a crossroads after losing his partner and his bakery after said partner took off with all the money and left Simon on his own with no place to live, no business and no money. He stops by his old bakery to pick up the last of his things and meets the new owner/baker. The ensuing conversation leads to opportunities for both men on the professional and personal fronts. Simon has been through a lot so the hopefulness in this one was sweet to read.
Jez’s story was my favorite and the one that left me wanting more, more so than any of the others. There was a lot to unpack in this one and the balance the author struck was just right considering the length of the story. This one would take a lot to fully flesh out in novel length, but it’s a story I would love to read.
The final lovelorn soul is Henry, Donnie’s best friend and honestly, when I met him in the beginning, I thought he was a total dick. I mean, that’s his thing, his big issue and he has a good set of baggage to overcome. His story was pretty intense and while I don’t think it was a believable beginning for him, I still wanted him to have it after reading about his hangups.
Overall, none of these stories moved at a super realistic pace. They couldn’t just leave one another after swapping phone numbers and a hope for a future date or anything. There had to be more to give the book the meat it needed. Everything was a bit accelerated, but if you just want to dig into some sweet, sweet romance with potential, then it’s easy to let that go and enjoy the ride.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
April 29, 2019
3.5/5
Sort of a Love Actually for Easter instead of Christmas, but too short to be as satisfying. Sweet little vignettes with no sex and HFN endings all around.
Sort of a Love Actually for Easter instead of Christmas, but too short to be as satisfying. Sweet little vignettes with no sex and HFN endings all around.
May 13, 2019
This cute set of stories that spring from one of the character’s mishaps is a super-quick read. If you’re looking for A to Z relationships, that’s not what this little collection is about. This is all about new beginnings and fresh starts.
The story starts off with Donnie and his best friend Henry in a scene that sparks off the rest of the stories:
Simon—whose brain-to-mouth filter doesn’t necessarily work as it should—and Trev, these two were my favorite of the bunch and the ones I thought showed the most promise to start on a relationship path. I’m really hoping the author decides to give them their own full story at some point.
Jez and Eric; they have the most unconventional meeting and were the ones who intrigued me the most given their unique circumstances. And that means that their scene was the most unsatisfying simply because that intrigue level means that the very short time they had on the pages wasn’t enough to sate my curiosity. Again—I’m hoping for them to get something more.
Henry and Abi…okay, so I really was not a fan of Henry after that first scene with him and Donnie. He just totally rubbed me the wrong way, and that translated into me not being invested at all in his character.
And finally back to Donnie, and his introduction to Will. After what transpired in the first chapter, I was glad to see things started going his way.
The very short glimpse into these four couples’ meetings did leave me wanting more (well, except for Henry), but this was still a fun way to pass some extra time. Overall, I’m giving this one 3.5 stars.
The story starts off with Donnie and his best friend Henry in a scene that sparks off the rest of the stories:
Simon—whose brain-to-mouth filter doesn’t necessarily work as it should—and Trev, these two were my favorite of the bunch and the ones I thought showed the most promise to start on a relationship path. I’m really hoping the author decides to give them their own full story at some point.
Jez and Eric; they have the most unconventional meeting and were the ones who intrigued me the most given their unique circumstances. And that means that their scene was the most unsatisfying simply because that intrigue level means that the very short time they had on the pages wasn’t enough to sate my curiosity. Again—I’m hoping for them to get something more.
Henry and Abi…okay, so I really was not a fan of Henry after that first scene with him and Donnie. He just totally rubbed me the wrong way, and that translated into me not being invested at all in his character.
And finally back to Donnie, and his introduction to Will. After what transpired in the first chapter, I was glad to see things started going his way.
The very short glimpse into these four couples’ meetings did leave me wanting more (well, except for Henry), but this was still a fun way to pass some extra time. Overall, I’m giving this one 3.5 stars.
April 7, 2021
The Accidental Baker was a wonderfully low-angst and sweet read about a clumsy baker Donnie whose cooking accidents are legendary amongst his friends. When his tray of Easter chocolate eggs get knocked over and roll into the streets, each egg rolls a different way and impacts the lives of 4 gay men. Each snippet is a wonderful glimpse into how a random object can change a person's life in unexpected ways including Donnie's life :) Wonderful and very enjoyable novella :)
April 23, 2019
These are five short stories, and all of them are simply delightful. Sweet, full of hope, with bits of humour running along all of them and loads of cuteness.
The characters are quirky and so easy to love! Add to this the usual wonderful writing of Clare London and you'll have the perfect holiday read, and to end with a big, happy smile on your face... and a big craving for chocolate =D
The characters are quirky and so easy to love! Add to this the usual wonderful writing of Clare London and you'll have the perfect holiday read, and to end with a big, happy smile on your face... and a big craving for chocolate =D
Read
June 17, 2019Adorable quartet of easter shorts that made me smile.
August 25, 2019
Cute but, at the end of the day, completely unmemorable.
August 19, 2019
Just because it's so small..now let's get the next book "Zest"
September 27, 2023
The Accidental Baker is more like a collection of short stories that all have a common theme - Easter, and Donnie's chocolate. Each chapter involves a different couple, and how they meet. ALL of the stories are sweet, some characters are lovely, and some (sorry Henry) I really didn't take to.
This was well-written and excellently paced - each story giving just what it needed to work. Personally, I would love to see this progress into their own stories, just so I get more information about each couple. Maybe if I knew more about Henry, he wouldn't grate on me so much. I understood his back story, what we got, but it just didn't do it for me.
A thoroughly enjoyable, quick, seasonal read - absolutely perfect for your coffee break, or when you just have time for a few pages! Just one chapter and you get a complete story. Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 30, 2019
This was well-written and excellently paced - each story giving just what it needed to work. Personally, I would love to see this progress into their own stories, just so I get more information about each couple. Maybe if I knew more about Henry, he wouldn't grate on me so much. I understood his back story, what we got, but it just didn't do it for me.
A thoroughly enjoyable, quick, seasonal read - absolutely perfect for your coffee break, or when you just have time for a few pages! Just one chapter and you get a complete story. Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 30, 2019
April 17, 2022
You may be asking yourself how can a short book have four romances that the reader can connect to and bond with? Well, however she managed it Clare London's The Accidental Baker does exactly that. This Easter short is fun, sweet, adorable, romantic, with plenty of heart, brought together by misshapen holiday chocolates.
I won't delve into each pairing but I will say that there is something special about each one that makes them not only stand apart but makes them memorable and easily connectable to the reader. They are just so "everyday", you may not meet people like these guys every day but they certainly could be around every corner, in the house next door, outside the grocery store as you're going in and for me they are people you want to know.
Who knows, if we're real nice maybe Miss London will let us know how the men of The Accidental Baker are and what they are doing for Halloween and Christmas😉😉.
I won't delve into each pairing but I will say that there is something special about each one that makes them not only stand apart but makes them memorable and easily connectable to the reader. They are just so "everyday", you may not meet people like these guys every day but they certainly could be around every corner, in the house next door, outside the grocery store as you're going in and for me they are people you want to know.
Who knows, if we're real nice maybe Miss London will let us know how the men of The Accidental Baker are and what they are doing for Halloween and Christmas😉😉.
April 5, 2024
This was a really sweet set of new beginnings tied together by misshapen but tasty Easter chocolate.
May 16, 2019
“There is nothing better than a boyfriend, unless it is a boyfriend with chocolate.” ~ unknown
Donnie Watson, of ‘The Accidental Baker’ by Clare London, is a good-hearted person who loves to make others happy. He loves to bake but, although his heart is in the right place, his “creations” don’t always turn out the way they are intended to. On this particular Easter, although his chocolate treats are not perfectly shaped, they have a more widespread benefit that anyone no one could have imagined, spreading not only good chocolate, but love.
While rushing to an Easter celebration, with goodies for all, he trips and most of the fortunately well-wrapped chocolates fall out of the basket to begin their journeys into the hands of those who need them most.
This story consists of four odd but romantic stories in one, showing how love can be spurred from the most innocuous of sources. In this case, it is Easter candy. It’s a delightful, witty, and inspiring story filled with Clare’s never-ending humor and charm. Thanks, Clare, for bringing love to men who needed a nudge toward happiness and for putting a smile on my face.
“There is nothing better than a boyfriend, unless it is a boyfriend with chocolate.” ~ unknown
Donnie Watson, of ‘The Accidental Baker’ by Clare London, is a good-hearted person who loves to make others happy. He loves to bake but, although his heart is in the right place, his “creations” don’t always turn out the way they are intended to. On this particular Easter, although his chocolate treats are not perfectly shaped, they have a more widespread benefit that anyone no one could have imagined, spreading not only good chocolate, but love.
While rushing to an Easter celebration, with goodies for all, he trips and most of the fortunately well-wrapped chocolates fall out of the basket to begin their journeys into the hands of those who need them most.
This story consists of four odd but romantic stories in one, showing how love can be spurred from the most innocuous of sources. In this case, it is Easter candy. It’s a delightful, witty, and inspiring story filled with Clare’s never-ending humor and charm. Thanks, Clare, for bringing love to men who needed a nudge toward happiness and for putting a smile on my face.
“There is nothing better than a boyfriend, unless it is a boyfriend with chocolate.” ~ unknown
Donnie Watson, of ‘The Accidental Baker’ by Clare London, is a good-hearted person who loves to make others happy. He loves to bake but, although his heart is in the right place, his “creations” don’t always turn out the way they are intended to. On this particular Easter, although his chocolate treats are not perfectly shaped, they have a more widespread benefit that anyone no one could have imagined, spreading not only good chocolate, but love.
While rushing to an Easter celebration, with goodies for all, he trips and most of the fortunately well-wrapped chocolates fall out of the basket to begin their journeys into the hands of those who need them most.
This story consists of four odd but romantic stories in one, showing how love can be spurred from the most innocuous of sources. In this case, it is Easter candy. It’s a delightful, witty, and inspiring story filled with Clare’s never-ending humor and charm. Thanks, Clare, for bringing love to men who needed a nudge toward happiness and for putting a smile on my face.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Donnie Watson, of ‘The Accidental Baker’ by Clare London, is a good-hearted person who loves to make others happy. He loves to bake but, although his heart is in the right place, his “creations” don’t always turn out the way they are intended to. On this particular Easter, although his chocolate treats are not perfectly shaped, they have a more widespread benefit that anyone no one could have imagined, spreading not only good chocolate, but love.
While rushing to an Easter celebration, with goodies for all, he trips and most of the fortunately well-wrapped chocolates fall out of the basket to begin their journeys into the hands of those who need them most.
This story consists of four odd but romantic stories in one, showing how love can be spurred from the most innocuous of sources. In this case, it is Easter candy. It’s a delightful, witty, and inspiring story filled with Clare’s never-ending humor and charm. Thanks, Clare, for bringing love to men who needed a nudge toward happiness and for putting a smile on my face.
“There is nothing better than a boyfriend, unless it is a boyfriend with chocolate.” ~ unknown
Donnie Watson, of ‘The Accidental Baker’ by Clare London, is a good-hearted person who loves to make others happy. He loves to bake but, although his heart is in the right place, his “creations” don’t always turn out the way they are intended to. On this particular Easter, although his chocolate treats are not perfectly shaped, they have a more widespread benefit that anyone no one could have imagined, spreading not only good chocolate, but love.
While rushing to an Easter celebration, with goodies for all, he trips and most of the fortunately well-wrapped chocolates fall out of the basket to begin their journeys into the hands of those who need them most.
This story consists of four odd but romantic stories in one, showing how love can be spurred from the most innocuous of sources. In this case, it is Easter candy. It’s a delightful, witty, and inspiring story filled with Clare’s never-ending humor and charm. Thanks, Clare, for bringing love to men who needed a nudge toward happiness and for putting a smile on my face.
“There is nothing better than a boyfriend, unless it is a boyfriend with chocolate.” ~ unknown
Donnie Watson, of ‘The Accidental Baker’ by Clare London, is a good-hearted person who loves to make others happy. He loves to bake but, although his heart is in the right place, his “creations” don’t always turn out the way they are intended to. On this particular Easter, although his chocolate treats are not perfectly shaped, they have a more widespread benefit that anyone no one could have imagined, spreading not only good chocolate, but love.
While rushing to an Easter celebration, with goodies for all, he trips and most of the fortunately well-wrapped chocolates fall out of the basket to begin their journeys into the hands of those who need them most.
This story consists of four odd but romantic stories in one, showing how love can be spurred from the most innocuous of sources. In this case, it is Easter candy. It’s a delightful, witty, and inspiring story filled with Clare’s never-ending humor and charm. Thanks, Clare, for bringing love to men who needed a nudge toward happiness and for putting a smile on my face.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
January 4, 2020
I love this story for several reasons, but the main one is this. We never know in our lives how we are going to affect someone else. How our lives are going to affect someone else. What we may think is an accident or something bad or disastrous, turns out to affect someone else as something good and life changing. It could be something as small as a smile that changes someone’s life. So never doubt that you could do some good for someone, even in the smallest way, or how your actions affect others and the world around you. It takes one small thing.
In this it was Donnie. Donnie is known for his baking disasters and food mishaps, but Donnie has a huge heart of gold. All he wants to do is make someone else’s life happier or brighter. And for some reason, things this year turned out a little better. Or would have, had his best friend not been a jerk and not helped him after he left him hanging with a mess that he helped cause. But things have a way of coming back to us. And the mishap of Donnie’s affected several lives that day. Including his own best friend, that started this mess. It helped find hope, possible new loves, new friends, new jobs, new lives. It changed the course of several different people who had basically given up hope and were hurting. Even Donnie himself. He hadn’t given up hope, of course, but he had been hurt and upset at all his work destroyed. But it ended up being something wonderful, for several lives.
That’s why this story is so amazing. One person, impacted several lives and all for the better. It works the other way too. You can have a negative effect just as much as a positive one. It’s up to us to make things the way we want them. In spite of how things had turned out for Donnie that day, for him, it was a disaster. For everyone else, it was the start of things amazing. And ended up being the same for Donnie. Never doubt how you effect change.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
In this it was Donnie. Donnie is known for his baking disasters and food mishaps, but Donnie has a huge heart of gold. All he wants to do is make someone else’s life happier or brighter. And for some reason, things this year turned out a little better. Or would have, had his best friend not been a jerk and not helped him after he left him hanging with a mess that he helped cause. But things have a way of coming back to us. And the mishap of Donnie’s affected several lives that day. Including his own best friend, that started this mess. It helped find hope, possible new loves, new friends, new jobs, new lives. It changed the course of several different people who had basically given up hope and were hurting. Even Donnie himself. He hadn’t given up hope, of course, but he had been hurt and upset at all his work destroyed. But it ended up being something wonderful, for several lives.
That’s why this story is so amazing. One person, impacted several lives and all for the better. It works the other way too. You can have a negative effect just as much as a positive one. It’s up to us to make things the way we want them. In spite of how things had turned out for Donnie that day, for him, it was a disaster. For everyone else, it was the start of things amazing. And ended up being the same for Donnie. Never doubt how you effect change.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
May 21, 2019
Easter is the season of sugar and renewal. Clare London spins her hope for new beginnings through The Accidental Baker’s 64 short pages, where a bunch of escaped chocolate eggs help eight awkward men meet potential mates. Romance abounds, while intimacy is limited, making it an appropriate young adult read.
The premise – that all love occurs accidentally – moves the plot quickly and seamlessly. First, we find Donnie and his friend, Henry, as Donnie bakes scones, repeatedly burning them, while molding his chocolates into non-Easter shapes. In transporting the delicacies, he drops them. While some gets on Henry’s pants, a stranger comes to Donnie’s rescue. Meanwhile, spare eggs roll to a homeless guy, who comes to the rescue of a disabled man, and into a bakery where two pastry chefs meet. Even cranky Henry encounters a prince. The result is charming.
London accomplishes a lot in few words. For example, both the disabled and homeless men have sunny dispositions, especially considering their somewhat dire situations. While Eric says, “‘I have issues I need help with. But so does everyone, right?’” Jez is grateful for the man who brings his dog weekly, to visit for petting.
Meanwhile, Henry, warns his admirer, “‘My word is my sword.’” But Abi isn’t put off. “‘All that pompous talk is just nonsense, a cover up.’” These little details profile men we’ve met, and demonstrate why they would be attracted to each other.
So much, packed into so little, just like the best Easter Basket! Need a quick pick-me-up? Need some sugar without the calories? The Accidental Baker will fit the bill.
The premise – that all love occurs accidentally – moves the plot quickly and seamlessly. First, we find Donnie and his friend, Henry, as Donnie bakes scones, repeatedly burning them, while molding his chocolates into non-Easter shapes. In transporting the delicacies, he drops them. While some gets on Henry’s pants, a stranger comes to Donnie’s rescue. Meanwhile, spare eggs roll to a homeless guy, who comes to the rescue of a disabled man, and into a bakery where two pastry chefs meet. Even cranky Henry encounters a prince. The result is charming.
London accomplishes a lot in few words. For example, both the disabled and homeless men have sunny dispositions, especially considering their somewhat dire situations. While Eric says, “‘I have issues I need help with. But so does everyone, right?’” Jez is grateful for the man who brings his dog weekly, to visit for petting.
Meanwhile, Henry, warns his admirer, “‘My word is my sword.’” But Abi isn’t put off. “‘All that pompous talk is just nonsense, a cover up.’” These little details profile men we’ve met, and demonstrate why they would be attracted to each other.
So much, packed into so little, just like the best Easter Basket! Need a quick pick-me-up? Need some sugar without the calories? The Accidental Baker will fit the bill.
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