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The Snowy Springs Holiday Romances #1
Baking Spirits Bright
I have carefully constructed my life plan: Bake my jingle bells off. Win Top Holiday Baker. Open my very own bakery here in Snowy Springs. That’s what I should be focusing on.
Not Ariadne—“call me Ari”—Greco, the gorgeous celebrity chef judge of the competition. Even though Ari’s flirtations are irresistible, she’s basically off-limits, right? She’s a judge, which I think means it's actually illegal for me to even be her friend, and besides, she's only in town for a few days.
Everything about Ari puts my dream in danger. But... it’s Christmas and Snowy Springs is magical at Christmas. And for elf’s sake, tonight, I don’t care that Ari kissing me under the falling snow does not fit into my plan.
Surely a little Christmas fling could be fun and meaningless and not ruin everything I've worked so hard for, right?
Get ready for a brand new series of holiday romances! The Snowy Springs holiday romances are fluffy, fun, and quick reads, complete with bad Christmas puns and merrily-ever-afters.
Not Ariadne—“call me Ari”—Greco, the gorgeous celebrity chef judge of the competition. Even though Ari’s flirtations are irresistible, she’s basically off-limits, right? She’s a judge, which I think means it's actually illegal for me to even be her friend, and besides, she's only in town for a few days.
Everything about Ari puts my dream in danger. But... it’s Christmas and Snowy Springs is magical at Christmas. And for elf’s sake, tonight, I don’t care that Ari kissing me under the falling snow does not fit into my plan.
Surely a little Christmas fling could be fun and meaningless and not ruin everything I've worked so hard for, right?
Get ready for a brand new series of holiday romances! The Snowy Springs holiday romances are fluffy, fun, and quick reads, complete with bad Christmas puns and merrily-ever-afters.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2021
22 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Bryce Oakley
24 books258 followersBryce grew up in the mountains of Colorado with a taste for adventure and a head full of clouds. She never grew out of either. She lives in Denver with her partner, two adorable rescue dogs, and a very opinionated cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
December 16, 2021
So stinking cute! I really enjoyed this. This was absolutely what I was looking for when it comes to a good holiday read. While I have not read a ton of books by Oakley, she is an author that I assume I will enjoy and she has not let me down yet. The premise of this book is so much fun being in a reality show baking competition, and of course what happens when you find yourself catching feels for one of the reality show judges. This novella was just all-around cute. The setting, the show, the characters, everything was just fun, made me smile, and is exactly what I want from a holiday read. I have been enjoying my romances more on the short and to the point side, so this novella was the perfect fit. I can’t wait to start the next in the series.
December 21, 2021
Lots of baking.
This is a light Christmas romance on Kindle Unlimited that I can see many people liking. It's fun, a little silly and there's lots of baking involved. There isn't a lot to say about the relationship. It's pretty sweet and it works. Beth is a contestant in a baking competition that is being broadcasted on national television and Ari is the celebrity chief judge of that competition. There would logically be some conflict of interest there, but that part doesn't really play out. They like each other, they banter, they get together and it's more or less straightforward.
Cute!
This is a light Christmas romance on Kindle Unlimited that I can see many people liking. It's fun, a little silly and there's lots of baking involved. There isn't a lot to say about the relationship. It's pretty sweet and it works. Beth is a contestant in a baking competition that is being broadcasted on national television and Ari is the celebrity chief judge of that competition. There would logically be some conflict of interest there, but that part doesn't really play out. They like each other, they banter, they get together and it's more or less straightforward.
Cute!
December 6, 2021
This is a fluffy, cute and short novella full of Christmas puns. I loved it! :)
Plus there are recipes in the back!
Plus there are recipes in the back!
December 24, 2021
I generally do not read a lot of Christmas themed books and I do not bake or like baking shows, but this book came highly recommended by my GR friends, so of course I had to try it and they were totally right! This is cute and gives the perfect Christmas vibe. And I found that I really enjoyed the writing style, it flows easy and it hit the right amount of funny for me. There are even some baking recipes for those who do like to bake!
December 3, 2022
What a great book!
I really enjoyed this Holiday treat. Perfect amount of sweetness and spice 🙂
I really enjoyed this Holiday treat. Perfect amount of sweetness and spice 🙂
December 20, 2022
I really liked this holiday book. For some crazy reason unbeknownst to me, I have never read anything by this author. The story is a real treat, warm, loving, and sexy. The main character, Beth, is competing in a tv baking show and even though the book is short, the author writes in plenty of details so I felt like I was right there in the kitchen watching Beth make her fancy, sweet creations. The love connection is perfect, the banter on point, and the heat level is excellent. Don’t miss this one.
December 17, 2021
So many Christmas puns in this novella.
It could have been cringeworthy but it’s just light and fluffy. I love the setting and the competitive baking show element.
I think Oakley has writing a novella that just encapsulates the general Christmas feeling, or what everyone at least hopes it to be.
This novella has everything you’d expect from a Christmas novella AND recipes, win-win ;)
It could have been cringeworthy but it’s just light and fluffy. I love the setting and the competitive baking show element.
I think Oakley has writing a novella that just encapsulates the general Christmas feeling, or what everyone at least hopes it to be.
This novella has everything you’d expect from a Christmas novella AND recipes, win-win ;)
December 21, 2021
A sweet treat for Christmas! Kindle Unlimited.
A lovely read with the fun of a Holiday baking competition, plus a steamy romance in a quaint wintery town!
I am a sucker for those baking competition shows, especially when they are themed for Christmas! Giant whimsical bakery treats in interesting flavours, and Holiday decorations!? Yes Please! Beth is one such contestant on one of those shows, about to embark on her journey. When she meets one of the judges, Ari, and sparks fly immediately.
At first you think Ari is just a player, and their connection is set to be limited to the time of the competition. But far more simmers between them both as they truly get to know each other in the delightful winter-wonderland of Snowy Springs.
A very sweet and hot Christmas read I would highly recommend! A surprising amount of depth for something that is about 90 minutes long. I loved all the details of the competition and Beth's feelings throughout. Give it a go!
A lovely read with the fun of a Holiday baking competition, plus a steamy romance in a quaint wintery town!
I am a sucker for those baking competition shows, especially when they are themed for Christmas! Giant whimsical bakery treats in interesting flavours, and Holiday decorations!? Yes Please! Beth is one such contestant on one of those shows, about to embark on her journey. When she meets one of the judges, Ari, and sparks fly immediately.
At first you think Ari is just a player, and their connection is set to be limited to the time of the competition. But far more simmers between them both as they truly get to know each other in the delightful winter-wonderland of Snowy Springs.
A very sweet and hot Christmas read I would highly recommend! A surprising amount of depth for something that is about 90 minutes long. I loved all the details of the competition and Beth's feelings throughout. Give it a go!
March 7, 2022
Well, after so many good reviews was expecting something more than this - a novella which needed more. End of series for me, I guess.
December 17, 2021
This a fun little Christmas novella that I really enjoyed. It had it all in less than half the time. Oakley makes some cute little baking jokes along the way. So corny she even acknowledges that throughout the book. Beth is a sweet main character that you for sure root for along the way. The romance element is just enough and even a little more than I expected. The other supporting characters also play a great role to round out a fantastic novella. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
December 2, 2024
Delightful holiday read. I wasn’t expecting the spice level to be so good, as most of the holiday novellas I’ve read are high on charm and pretty low on the spice. This one has spice and recipes.
Bryce Oakley somehow manages to throw in a little 3rd act separation. Impressive, since it’s so short. She also was able to successfully introduce a secondary character. It’s clever and funny and spicy.
Bryce Oakley somehow manages to throw in a little 3rd act separation. Impressive, since it’s so short. She also was able to successfully introduce a secondary character. It’s clever and funny and spicy.
December 9, 2021
Holiday lesbian baking romance novella. I get frustrated with novellas in general because so much has to be condensed into a tiny format but this took things to the next level of Insta love and lacking backstory and context. Not for me.
December 23, 2022
Simple short low angst Christmas romance centered around a baking competition. Unlike most competition novels there was a lack of general meanness. There was no "villian" type character stirring up shit for the sake of it.
The romance did have a power imbalance aspect but I think the choice to go first person instead of dual perspectives helped to put the characters on more equal footing.
If you like Christmas, baking, puns, and loveable hot messes then you might want to give this a try.
The romance did have a power imbalance aspect but I think the choice to go first person instead of dual perspectives helped to put the characters on more equal footing.
If you like Christmas, baking, puns, and loveable hot messes then you might want to give this a try.
January 13, 2022
Sugar and Spice
I love baking at Christmas and watching baking shows so I love this story. Beth has a plan to open a bakery and winning a baking competition will get her the money she needs. Ari is the no nonsense judge that is super hot. These two are destined for each other. It's a sweet holiday romance that is perfect anytime of the year.
I love baking at Christmas and watching baking shows so I love this story. Beth has a plan to open a bakery and winning a baking competition will get her the money she needs. Ari is the no nonsense judge that is super hot. These two are destined for each other. It's a sweet holiday romance that is perfect anytime of the year.
December 9, 2022
Woo, we’re keeping that U-Haul stereotype alive! Baking Spirits Bright was cute and Christmassy af. It’s a novella so I’m not too mad about it, but the relationship development was a bit on the ridiculously fast side.
3.5 - Definitely would posit it as a quick and adorable holiday read.
3.5 - Definitely would posit it as a quick and adorable holiday read.
January 11, 2023
I didn’t read any Christmas books during Christmas, so I’m a little late to the party. I’m obsessed with cooking/baking shows. They are on of the few things I watch on tv, so I was pretty excited to read this. It was super cute and I loved it.
January 15, 2022
3.4 stars
Cute and fluffy Christmas story. Though the holidays are over I am on a short vacation and still feeling festive. So this was a good short read for me.
Cute and fluffy Christmas story. Though the holidays are over I am on a short vacation and still feeling festive. So this was a good short read for me.
December 19, 2021
What a delightful sapphic Christmas romance novella. What happens when sparks fly between a contestant on a holiday baking show and the hot celebrity chef judge? A whole lot of fun.
I can be critical of novellas because sometimes they feel like they’re completely lacking in character development and plot. Or on the flipside they try to get too complex and shove in so much backstory and different events that it all just feels confusing. But in Baking Spirits Bright I felt like there was the perfect level of background info on the characters so you could understand who they were and their motivations for the story.
I did think that there were bits of the story that were rushed or felt too convenient, especially when it came to the baking competition. But all in all this was a lovely holiday read.
I can be critical of novellas because sometimes they feel like they’re completely lacking in character development and plot. Or on the flipside they try to get too complex and shove in so much backstory and different events that it all just feels confusing. But in Baking Spirits Bright I felt like there was the perfect level of background info on the characters so you could understand who they were and their motivations for the story.
I did think that there were bits of the story that were rushed or felt too convenient, especially when it came to the baking competition. But all in all this was a lovely holiday read.
December 20, 2021
A super cute & sweet Christmas novella. (In my best Agnes voice) It's so Fluffy!
December 23, 2021
This was so cute. I had an amazing time, it's a short novella but it didn't feel like one. The characters were great, what was happening, romantically, was so cute and realistic. I'm a big fan of the way Beth was written.
The baking competition aspect was also well done! It didn't get shoved to the background in favor of the romance which I was happy about.
Lastly, I was glad to see some recipes at the end of the book. That's such a nice touch, if I were America I'd be trying them out right now.
So bottom line: a very cute Christmas novella that put me in a good mood.
The baking competition aspect was also well done! It didn't get shoved to the background in favor of the romance which I was happy about.
Lastly, I was glad to see some recipes at the end of the book. That's such a nice touch, if I were America I'd be trying them out right now.
So bottom line: a very cute Christmas novella that put me in a good mood.
December 14, 2021
This was super cute! It's a baking holiday romance so obviously I was on board. It's set in this little idyllic Colorado town with a main character named Beth. Beth is competing on a baking show hoping to win so she can open up her own bakery. Things start to go awry when one of the judges starts flirting with her outside of the show and she starts to catch some feelings. She's worried about what could happen if she is dating a judge and trying to navigate what is more important in her life at the moment.
I really liked Beth. She was funny and charming and dedicated plus she had a lot of terrible food puns and they were wonderful but I did not like the love interest. Ari comes in and doesn't really take into account any of Beth's feelings and it just rubbed me the wrong way. I get it that she's kind of edgy but she could have done with a little bit more empathy for Beth's situation.
It is quite fluffy with minimal angst and it's quite short. It says it's 100 pages but it's actually only like 85 because there's a bunch of recipes in the back of the book. I will definitely be checking out the next book in this series.
Lesbian MCs
I really liked Beth. She was funny and charming and dedicated plus she had a lot of terrible food puns and they were wonderful but I did not like the love interest. Ari comes in and doesn't really take into account any of Beth's feelings and it just rubbed me the wrong way. I get it that she's kind of edgy but she could have done with a little bit more empathy for Beth's situation.
It is quite fluffy with minimal angst and it's quite short. It says it's 100 pages but it's actually only like 85 because there's a bunch of recipes in the back of the book. I will definitely be checking out the next book in this series.
Lesbian MCs
January 3, 2022
A quick, sweet Christmas story
A nice read, but everything seems to happen so quick that there’s no tension or time to really get to know Beth and especially Ari. A longer story with Ari’s side would have made a better read.
A nice read, but everything seems to happen so quick that there’s no tension or time to really get to know Beth and especially Ari. A longer story with Ari’s side would have made a better read.
December 24, 2021
Light and sweet.
December 25, 2024
This was a cute fast read. Ari’s character really made the story. I enjoyed getting to read about the different desserts as well. Craving a baking show now!
December 24, 2021
A sweet holiday treat!
Everything you want in a small town Christmas romance, donned in all the gay apparel and topped with bow.
It's a quick read, like the holiday, here and gone with a hint of sweetness lingering in it's wake.
Everything you want in a small town Christmas romance, donned in all the gay apparel and topped with bow.
It's a quick read, like the holiday, here and gone with a hint of sweetness lingering in it's wake.
December 7, 2022
Omg this was adorable! GBBO meets lesbian holiday romance with Christmas puns? So so cute!
December 9, 2021
This will be a short review for what is a short book.
If you’re looking for a cute, fluffy, Christmas themed F/F romance, then look no further because you’ve found it!
It was honestly just a nice short read and as someone who loves all things Christmas, I enjoyed it for what it was. I can’t sit here and complain about how quick everything was because it’s such a short book so that was ultimately the point of it.
Overall, it was short but sweet.
If you’re looking for a cute, fluffy, Christmas themed F/F romance, then look no further because you’ve found it!
It was honestly just a nice short read and as someone who loves all things Christmas, I enjoyed it for what it was. I can’t sit here and complain about how quick everything was because it’s such a short book so that was ultimately the point of it.
Overall, it was short but sweet.
December 7, 2022
Ovens aren’t the only thing turned on in Snowy Springs this Christmas!
Bryce Oakley brings us a short & sweet novella for the holiday season that packs a lot into its 100 pages. Sure, I wish it was longer, but the thing about novellas is—or should be—they bring us the setup and plot boiled down so we can get into the fun stuff. Bruce Oakley succeeds, and then some!
Temperatures are raised to match the baking (and caking) as Beth sets her sights on winning not only the Top Holiday Baker TV show but also its acerbic celebrity judge Ari Grecco. Who just happens to be gorgeous. And, it seems, very open to a fling. Or more?
Can Beth win the prize that will allow her to fulfill her dreams of opening her own bakery in Snowy Springs. Or rather, which prize does she really want? Surely she can’t hope for both…
This is my first Bryce Oakley book, but not my last. It rock-n-rolls from page 1 to 100, full of delight with visuals, baking delights, and both romantic and Christmas feels. Beth and Ari at first sparkle, then sizzle together and their physical scenes are beautifully constructed by being underplayed and between the lines.
This is a super seasonal read—feels and jingley fun all the way.
Bryce Oakley brings us a short & sweet novella for the holiday season that packs a lot into its 100 pages. Sure, I wish it was longer, but the thing about novellas is—or should be—they bring us the setup and plot boiled down so we can get into the fun stuff. Bruce Oakley succeeds, and then some!
Temperatures are raised to match the baking (and caking) as Beth sets her sights on winning not only the Top Holiday Baker TV show but also its acerbic celebrity judge Ari Grecco. Who just happens to be gorgeous. And, it seems, very open to a fling. Or more?
Can Beth win the prize that will allow her to fulfill her dreams of opening her own bakery in Snowy Springs. Or rather, which prize does she really want? Surely she can’t hope for both…
This is my first Bryce Oakley book, but not my last. It rock-n-rolls from page 1 to 100, full of delight with visuals, baking delights, and both romantic and Christmas feels. Beth and Ari at first sparkle, then sizzle together and their physical scenes are beautifully constructed by being underplayed and between the lines.
This is a super seasonal read—feels and jingley fun all the way.
December 17, 2021
This is just the book that I was suggesting when I read Rebel Without A Clause first
When I read that one I had not even read the blurb about this book yet. I was in much too big of a hurry to dive into the second book in the series. So when I reviewed it I said that I would like to see a book that focuses on Beth and Ari’s relationship, and low and behold, it had actually been written first.
So here we are with the book I wanted to read, and I have to say that I couldn’t put it down. It pulled me from page to page. This is one of those books where you just have to know what happens next. Because of this it was a really quick read for me, and I’m dyslexic so I am frequently mixing up words. That’s why I normally listen to audio books. So if I can get through a book of this length in less than three days it means that I thoroughly enjoyed it. So what does it mean that I finished it in just over three hours?
All I can say is, “Well done, Bryce Oakley! Well done!”
When I read that one I had not even read the blurb about this book yet. I was in much too big of a hurry to dive into the second book in the series. So when I reviewed it I said that I would like to see a book that focuses on Beth and Ari’s relationship, and low and behold, it had actually been written first.
So here we are with the book I wanted to read, and I have to say that I couldn’t put it down. It pulled me from page to page. This is one of those books where you just have to know what happens next. Because of this it was a really quick read for me, and I’m dyslexic so I am frequently mixing up words. That’s why I normally listen to audio books. So if I can get through a book of this length in less than three days it means that I thoroughly enjoyed it. So what does it mean that I finished it in just over three hours?
All I can say is, “Well done, Bryce Oakley! Well done!”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews