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Better Late Romance #2
Half-Baked
It’s double- chocolate donuts meets kefir. Can two fifty-somethings from separate grocery store aisles overcome their differences?
Maggie Milne has everything she needs—a loving family, a delightful bakery, good books, and cat food. But when Stephen Fox, a health food nut, opens a sporting goods store and café across the street and some of Maggie’s loyal customers begin to replace their morning donuts with gluten-free grub, Maggie’s ire, as well as her yeasty rolls, begins to rise.
Fresh off a heart attack and divorce, Stephen Fox needs to change his ways. Now it's clean-eating and small-town-living for him. Since his relocation to Rancho Allegro, there’s only been one woman who has caught Stephen’s eye: a charming masked woman in a butterfly costume he met at a Mardi Gras party. Imagine his horror when he learns Maggie, the obnoxious baker who has been trying to ruin his business from day one, is the masked woman he’s been searching for!
Maggie Milne has everything she needs—a loving family, a delightful bakery, good books, and cat food. But when Stephen Fox, a health food nut, opens a sporting goods store and café across the street and some of Maggie’s loyal customers begin to replace their morning donuts with gluten-free grub, Maggie’s ire, as well as her yeasty rolls, begins to rise.
Fresh off a heart attack and divorce, Stephen Fox needs to change his ways. Now it's clean-eating and small-town-living for him. Since his relocation to Rancho Allegro, there’s only been one woman who has caught Stephen’s eye: a charming masked woman in a butterfly costume he met at a Mardi Gras party. Imagine his horror when he learns Maggie, the obnoxious baker who has been trying to ruin his business from day one, is the masked woman he’s been searching for!
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2020
44 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Kristy Tate
104 books153 followersDr. Seuss was my first love. When my mom left me in the children’s section of the library I’d find Horton and the Cat. My mom hated the good doctor and refused to checkout his books. He was my secret, guilty pleasure. Eventually, I read about Narnia, Oz and Green Gables.
When my mom grew too sick to visit the library, a friend brought her a stash of romances which she kept in a big box beside her bed. Weekly, this good friend replenished the box. My mom didn’t know I read her books; it was like the Seuss affair, only sexier. Reading became my escape from a horrific and scary situation. Immersed in a story, I didn’t have to think about the life and death drama taking place on the other side of my bedroom wall. Books were my hallucinogenic drug of choice. In college, I studied literature and fell in love with Elliot, Willa and too many others to mention. (This had no similarity to my dating life.)
I’m no longer a child living with a grieving father and a dying mother, nor am I the co-ed in search of something or someone real, nonfictional. I’m an adult blessed with an abundance of love. I love my Heavenly Father and His son, my husband and family, my dog, my friends, my neighbors, my writing group, the birds outside my window.
Because I’m a writer, I also love my characters. I adore their pluck, courage and mettle. I admire the way they face and overcome hardships. But, as in any romance, I sometimes I get angry with them and think that they are too stupid to live. At those times, I have to remind myself that they live only in my imagination, unless I share. Writing for me is all about sharing--giving back to the world that has so generously shared with me-- because I learned a long time ago that the world is full of life and death dramas. Sometimes we need a story to help us escape.
And we need as much love as we can find. That’s why I write romance.
When my mom grew too sick to visit the library, a friend brought her a stash of romances which she kept in a big box beside her bed. Weekly, this good friend replenished the box. My mom didn’t know I read her books; it was like the Seuss affair, only sexier. Reading became my escape from a horrific and scary situation. Immersed in a story, I didn’t have to think about the life and death drama taking place on the other side of my bedroom wall. Books were my hallucinogenic drug of choice. In college, I studied literature and fell in love with Elliot, Willa and too many others to mention. (This had no similarity to my dating life.)
I’m no longer a child living with a grieving father and a dying mother, nor am I the co-ed in search of something or someone real, nonfictional. I’m an adult blessed with an abundance of love. I love my Heavenly Father and His son, my husband and family, my dog, my friends, my neighbors, my writing group, the birds outside my window.
Because I’m a writer, I also love my characters. I adore their pluck, courage and mettle. I admire the way they face and overcome hardships. But, as in any romance, I sometimes I get angry with them and think that they are too stupid to live. At those times, I have to remind myself that they live only in my imagination, unless I share. Writing for me is all about sharing--giving back to the world that has so generously shared with me-- because I learned a long time ago that the world is full of life and death dramas. Sometimes we need a story to help us escape.
And we need as much love as we can find. That’s why I write romance.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 5, 2020
Light and sweet as a soufflé!
In this delightful battle of the sexes, the author keeps the pages turning with her trademark funny dialogue and breezy writing. Welcome to Rancho Allegro! You’ll enjoy your visit and come back for more!
In this delightful battle of the sexes, the author keeps the pages turning with her trademark funny dialogue and breezy writing. Welcome to Rancho Allegro! You’ll enjoy your visit and come back for more!
July 18, 2022
Maggie was invited to a gala by her brother Robbie. Robbie a single doctor required to go brought along his baker and foodie sister. This particular gala was a Mardi Gras party and Maggie was dressed as a butterfly. While at the party a chance encounter introduced her to Zorro, the masked man also known as Stephen Fox, the semi newly divorced health food sporting Goods store owner. Although neither of the two knew it at the time.
After the two strangers were separated the two never realized that the annoying business owner down the street was the masked man and woman they were thinking about. With the help of Tessa, Stephens close family friend and Maggie's good friend the two would once meet again. But nothing between these two ever went smoothly. Could the pair overcome their differences and do opposites really attract?
A truly enjoyable read. I read this in one day because I could not put the book down. I found that I was rooting for all of the characters to find happiness and I was enjoying the twists and turns they all faced. A laugh out loud book at times with a bit of romance thrown in here and there. I found these characters very likeable and while I believe this book is a stand alone I would love to hear more about the characters and a spin off of the book would be fun. A recommended book.
A copy of this book was provided by the author.
After the two strangers were separated the two never realized that the annoying business owner down the street was the masked man and woman they were thinking about. With the help of Tessa, Stephens close family friend and Maggie's good friend the two would once meet again. But nothing between these two ever went smoothly. Could the pair overcome their differences and do opposites really attract?
A truly enjoyable read. I read this in one day because I could not put the book down. I found that I was rooting for all of the characters to find happiness and I was enjoying the twists and turns they all faced. A laugh out loud book at times with a bit of romance thrown in here and there. I found these characters very likeable and while I believe this book is a stand alone I would love to hear more about the characters and a spin off of the book would be fun. A recommended book.
A copy of this book was provided by the author.
July 9, 2021
Aged to perfection
As in the movies Little Shop Around the Corner or You've Got Mail (oldies but goodies), rival shop owners reluctantly fall in love, though they start with a passionate kiss at a masked costume party. After a heart attack, Stephen changed his diet and quit his high-stress job, prompting his shallow trophy wife to divorce him. He moved from New York City to San Diego and opened a sporting goods shop with a little café serving healthful alternatives to the sugary treats available in Maggie's bakery, just a stone's throw away. Her business suffered enough for her to resent it, though she still hadn't touched the million dollars from her husband's life insurance policy. Her best friend, Tessa schemes to get them together while hiding her own secrets. Several other characters and events made things more interesting and sometimes a little confusing, sort of like real life. In this book, there is a happy ending for all.
As in the movies Little Shop Around the Corner or You've Got Mail (oldies but goodies), rival shop owners reluctantly fall in love, though they start with a passionate kiss at a masked costume party. After a heart attack, Stephen changed his diet and quit his high-stress job, prompting his shallow trophy wife to divorce him. He moved from New York City to San Diego and opened a sporting goods shop with a little café serving healthful alternatives to the sugary treats available in Maggie's bakery, just a stone's throw away. Her business suffered enough for her to resent it, though she still hadn't touched the million dollars from her husband's life insurance policy. Her best friend, Tessa schemes to get them together while hiding her own secrets. Several other characters and events made things more interesting and sometimes a little confusing, sort of like real life. In this book, there is a happy ending for all.
July 3, 2020
A touching story about two slightly more mature adults who know perfectly well that they no longer want to commit. Fortunately, sometimes the heart simply decides for the head. I like the storyline, Maggie and Stephen are adorable and the story is great.
So, go ahead, grab this book and let Maggie and Stephen give you a really great reading time.
I received an ARC of this book. I have voluntarily chosen to leave my review in support of this book.
So, go ahead, grab this book and let Maggie and Stephen give you a really great reading time.
I received an ARC of this book. I have voluntarily chosen to leave my review in support of this book.
August 23, 2020
We miss the whole romance
This is a no romance book. The main characters dance around one another, hot and cold, for the entire book. Then the epilogue is a wedding for two peripheral characters that we miss their entire story, only to learn that the main characters had married in private three months earlier. I feel like I got the set up and the epilogue but no meaty middle of their story.
This is a no romance book. The main characters dance around one another, hot and cold, for the entire book. Then the epilogue is a wedding for two peripheral characters that we miss their entire story, only to learn that the main characters had married in private three months earlier. I feel like I got the set up and the epilogue but no meaty middle of their story.
June 12, 2021
Great book
I loved Maggie and Stephen's story. Two people determined to not have any relationships meet and fight their attraction. A health food enthusiast and a baker, opposites attract.
I loved Maggie and Stephen's story. Two people determined to not have any relationships meet and fight their attraction. A health food enthusiast and a baker, opposites attract.
August 12, 2021
It starts with a kiss between a woman dressed as a butterfly and a man dressed as zorro at a party. A cute romance of and older couple she a widow and he divorced. Buy others get involved to make it a mix-up instead. Highly recommended.
June 18, 2020
Opposites attract
Lots of life lessons for lots of characters to learn. My favorite was that you don't have to hate something for it to be work.
Lots of life lessons for lots of characters to learn. My favorite was that you don't have to hate something for it to be work.
July 16, 2020
Cute and very enjoyable from my normal reads.
I would definitely check out more from this author.
April 15, 2021
Somewhat Healthy Love
She runs a bakery and he’s into healthy eating. There’s no way these two can work together. Love small-town life!
She runs a bakery and he’s into healthy eating. There’s no way these two can work together. Love small-town life!
September 8, 2021
Okay story. Ending was way too rushed.
April 21, 2022
This was such a pleasure to read. Such good story. Recommend wholeheartedly!
September 23, 2021
This was such a cute story. I love the characters and the love hate relationship between Maggie and Stephen and I love the storyline of healthy food versus non healthy delicious food, I mean after all who doesn’t like donuts. Great job by this author.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews