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Bite Series #1
Second Bite
When a holiday baking competition goes incredibly wrong. Or right…
Michael -
I’m starting to think I’ve been doing this for too long. The screaming fans. The constant media attention. The fat paychecks. None of it brings me the happiness I yearn for.
Yet here I am. Another year. Another holiday special. Another Christmas spent alone in a hotel room.
But then the lights go up. And I see her.
Alice -
It’s an honor to be a contestant, I know that. But right now it feels a little like punishment. Because any second Chef Michael Kesso, the man I’ve been in love with for years, the man who doesn’t even know I exist, is going to walk onto the set, and it will be a miracle if I don’t pass out at the sight of him.
But the time for doubts is over. Because Second Bite is about to start - “in three… two… one…”
Michael -
I’m starting to think I’ve been doing this for too long. The screaming fans. The constant media attention. The fat paychecks. None of it brings me the happiness I yearn for.
Yet here I am. Another year. Another holiday special. Another Christmas spent alone in a hotel room.
But then the lights go up. And I see her.
Alice -
It’s an honor to be a contestant, I know that. But right now it feels a little like punishment. Because any second Chef Michael Kesso, the man I’ve been in love with for years, the man who doesn’t even know I exist, is going to walk onto the set, and it will be a miracle if I don’t pass out at the sight of him.
But the time for doubts is over. Because Second Bite is about to start - “in three… two… one…”
128 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2022
566 people are currently reading
2404 people want to read
About the author
S.J. Tilly
27 books10.6k followersS.J. Tilly lives in Minnesota with her husband and their herd of boxers. She spends an unhealthy amount of time with her face buried in books, reading and writing. If she’s not nose deep in text, or harassing her dogs, she’s probably playing with her plants, pretending she knows how to garden.
You can find her stumbling around on Instagram @sjtillyauthor
https://www.amazon.com/S.J.-Tilly/e/B...
You can find her stumbling around on Instagram @sjtillyauthor
https://www.amazon.com/S.J.-Tilly/e/B...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 682 reviews
February 22, 2023
This was a hot mess. Even from a novella stand point, the plot was all over the place and gave about as much as if a six year old was giving the details. It was way too insta-love, and not just “wow I really like her,” insta-love, no like “I knew I was going to marry her from the moment I saw her,” insta-love. It was all just too much too quick. That ending was almost too cringy for me to get through. Even the competition was extremely rushed. I rate novellas differently than I do novels because they are not meant to be these well developed, in depth stories but rather just a quick fun time. But it was so rushed I couldn’t even just sit back, turn off my brain and enjoy it.
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December 19, 2024
Second Bite is the first novella in the Bite series by S.J. Tilly. This fantastic little book is available both individually or in a wonderful box set titled Baby Cakes which is how I’m reading it. This is my first book by this author and I am so in love with this little fun story.
Alice Hatter is thirty years old and loves to bake. She is also unemployed and about to move out of her apartment and in with her cousins because of course, no job! Her cousins signed her up for a popular baking competition show. It’s an honor to be able to be on the show but the best part is that one of the judges is a famous chef she’s been madly in love with for years. He just doesn’t know it because of course, they’ve never met!
Chef Michael Kesso is forty five years old, and is exhausted. His agent promises him he will have some time off after this guest appearance as a judge on Second Bite. All he wants to do is get through it until the contestants are introduced and he sees HER! Once he sees her and hears her voice, he’s gone. She’s his and he will do whatever it takes to make it happen. But he’s going to have to find a way to keep his distance until after the competition is over.
“This woman is mine, and I’m gonna find a way to keep her.”
I fell in love with this little book probably by the end of the first page. Michael was hilarious with his alpha possessiveness. And Alice was so overwhelmed trying not to faint when she meets the object of her long time obsession. I absolutely can’t wait to start the next story, Snowed In Bite, to see what happens next with these two!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Alice Hatter is thirty years old and loves to bake. She is also unemployed and about to move out of her apartment and in with her cousins because of course, no job! Her cousins signed her up for a popular baking competition show. It’s an honor to be able to be on the show but the best part is that one of the judges is a famous chef she’s been madly in love with for years. He just doesn’t know it because of course, they’ve never met!
Chef Michael Kesso is forty five years old, and is exhausted. His agent promises him he will have some time off after this guest appearance as a judge on Second Bite. All he wants to do is get through it until the contestants are introduced and he sees HER! Once he sees her and hears her voice, he’s gone. She’s his and he will do whatever it takes to make it happen. But he’s going to have to find a way to keep his distance until after the competition is over.
“This woman is mine, and I’m gonna find a way to keep her.”
I fell in love with this little book probably by the end of the first page. Michael was hilarious with his alpha possessiveness. And Alice was so overwhelmed trying not to faint when she meets the object of her long time obsession. I absolutely can’t wait to start the next story, Snowed In Bite, to see what happens next with these two!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
November 1, 2022
Sugary, baking competition, instalove with a side of age gap and steam. Alice (h) is obsessed with baking judge, Michael (H) and her cousins pushed her into being on a Christmas-themed, live-streamed baking competition that he’ll be judging. He didn’t want to do the show and is feeling kind of lonely and wanting more right before he starts filming. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama, no sexual history given but assuming no virgins, and bc not used or discussed.
I love cooking shows so that element made me super happy. Michael’s instantly in love as soon as he sets eyes on Alice but their interactions are limited because judge/contestant roles. For such a short book, there was plenty of humor, tension, and cuteness. Michael’s possessive but also trying not to act different and his reputation for being not the warmest means he feels guilty at times in their interactions as he tries to treat her like a normal contestant. Alice is trying to hide her interest in him (and failing) and questions if anything is happening, while everyone around them sees it all. A couple of steamy scenes also do get worked in despite their limited time together.
The story focuses on the competition and immediately after and ends on a HFN with them promising forever. I’m not sure if these two will get more page time in the future, because a note at the end hinted maybe? If not, I wish the epilogue would have jumped ahead in time. If so, I guess I’ll have to wait and see. Instalove romances are really hit and miss for me but the pieces of this one were fun and I liked it…I just want the future part too, per usual.
I love cooking shows so that element made me super happy. Michael’s instantly in love as soon as he sets eyes on Alice but their interactions are limited because judge/contestant roles. For such a short book, there was plenty of humor, tension, and cuteness. Michael’s possessive but also trying not to act different and his reputation for being not the warmest means he feels guilty at times in their interactions as he tries to treat her like a normal contestant. Alice is trying to hide her interest in him (and failing) and questions if anything is happening, while everyone around them sees it all. A couple of steamy scenes also do get worked in despite their limited time together.
The story focuses on the competition and immediately after and ends on a HFN with them promising forever. I’m not sure if these two will get more page time in the future, because a note at the end hinted maybe? If not, I wish the epilogue would have jumped ahead in time. If so, I guess I’ll have to wait and see. Instalove romances are really hit and miss for me but the pieces of this one were fun and I liked it…I just want the future part too, per usual.
December 23, 2023
3.5 stars
Second Bite was such a cute holiday novella. I enjoyed the baking aspect of the story and of course there was a ton of insta love, but it worked. It was a little rushed at times, but still good.
Second Bite was such a cute holiday novella. I enjoyed the baking aspect of the story and of course there was a ton of insta love, but it worked. It was a little rushed at times, but still good.
November 10, 2023
Like if Jessa Kane toned it down a little bit but everyone is still insane and fuck people they just met but now love + Great British Baking Show.
November 10, 2022
This is quite possibly the worst book I’ve ever read it’s kinda funny. But also I needed to make progress on my reading challenge so it sufficed
December 10, 2023
Second Bite
star rating: 4 ★ ★ ★ ★
spice rating 2.5 🌶️🌶️
star rating: 4 ★ ★ ★ ★
spice rating 2.5 🌶️🌶️
December 2, 2024
This was a CUTE AF Christmas novella that had me giggling & squealing while reading it!!
Alice was secretly signed up, by her cousins, to complete on a baking show that she loves where her dream man, Chef Michael, is the judge. What she doesn’t expect is for him to immediately want her and get head-over-heels obsessed. As the competition goes on, their tension keeps rising higher and higher until one day it BREAKS!!!!
Whew some of these scenes had me screamingggggg. But oh my gosh the end 😂 I can’t. the instalove had me cracking up
Definitely one to add to your Christmas TBR!!
Tropes:
Holiday novella
Age gap
Judge/contestant
Insta-love
Alice was secretly signed up, by her cousins, to complete on a baking show that she loves where her dream man, Chef Michael, is the judge. What she doesn’t expect is for him to immediately want her and get head-over-heels obsessed. As the competition goes on, their tension keeps rising higher and higher until one day it BREAKS!!!!
Whew some of these scenes had me screamingggggg. But oh my gosh the end 😂 I can’t. the instalove had me cracking up
Definitely one to add to your Christmas TBR!!
Tropes:
Holiday novella
Age gap
Judge/contestant
Insta-love
January 9, 2023
i just know they’re getting a divorce after a year if they make it that far
December 5, 2022
Alice has been crushing on Michael a celebrity chef/baker and now she's on a show to do show off her baking skills and maybe meet her idol/crush, it's a rocky start since she's shy and nervous but once Michael sees her he's smitten but since this is a Competition he can't show favoritism since he's the cold standoffish type. Also, he can't do nothing with her it's against the rules. I did shed a tear or 2 when he did spit out her food and called it gross but he couldn't comfort her when he was harsh and I felt so bad for Alice since sometimes Dessert don't work well lol.
And once the show ends he's making sure he gets her forgiveness and shows her she's his.
Low angst, No ow/om drama, no cheating, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶
Slowinsta
Age gap
30h/45H
Masturbation
Praise kink
No condom
Hea
Epilogue
And once the show ends he's making sure he gets her forgiveness and shows her she's his.
Low angst, No ow/om drama, no cheating, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶
Slowinsta
Age gap
30h/45H
Masturbation
Praise kink
No condom
Hea
Epilogue
July 9, 2023
2.5 stars. Not quite sure how this author managed to make this even more insta love than her novels… but there was a narrow margin for it, and she still managed. The hero was talking marriage after spending a few days watching the heroine from a distance, and two sexual encounters where they barely talked. The author, while she did write two epilogues, only wrote those epilogues for the same day as the book’s ending. Even the author must not have believed her own HEA ending if she couldn’t imagine this couple together even a week later. Yeesh.
Safe
15 year age gap (iirc 30h/45H)
Safe
15 year age gap (iirc 30h/45H)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2024
Finally read my first SJ Tilly.
I get it now, she is awesome!
"They're green, like mistletoe. And I want to kiss everything below them."
Referring to her eyes lol.
I get it now, she is awesome!
"They're green, like mistletoe. And I want to kiss everything below them."
Referring to her eyes lol.
November 11, 2023
4.5 stars! If you love GBBO, then you need to read this GBBO inspired holiday romance novella (peep the dedication when you start this read)! Second Bite is a super cute novella that has age gap (she’s 30, he’s 45), a silver fox-grumpy-baking competition judge, and a sunshiny-plus size-baking contestant heroine! It’s sweet, it’s spicy, and it’s got all the insta love your holiday-loving heart could want in this bite size read!
“You deserve gentle. You deserve tender. But that’s not what you’re getting tonight…
Good girls get sweet things. Naughty girls get it rough. And you’ve been very naughty.”
Alice’s cousins convince her to sign up for the holiday episode of the popular competition baking show, Second Bite, because they want her to meet her celeb crush! Her crush is none other than Michael, the silver fox baking show judge and now she’ll be right in front of him as a contestant on the show.
This was just so much fun! There is just something about the way insta love hits in a holiday baking show romance novella and I was here for it. I’d totally read more of Alice and Michael!
“You deserve gentle. You deserve tender. But that’s not what you’re getting tonight…
Good girls get sweet things. Naughty girls get it rough. And you’ve been very naughty.”
Alice’s cousins convince her to sign up for the holiday episode of the popular competition baking show, Second Bite, because they want her to meet her celeb crush! Her crush is none other than Michael, the silver fox baking show judge and now she’ll be right in front of him as a contestant on the show.
This was just so much fun! There is just something about the way insta love hits in a holiday baking show romance novella and I was here for it. I’d totally read more of Alice and Michael!
Read
December 6, 2023I was so tempted to finish this because it is hilariously terrible, but it’s a DNF at 49%.
An example:
She’s crying about the fact that he, the Paul Hollywood surrogate, was mean about her terrible dessert and then he sneaks up behind her, puts his hand on her lower back and whispers, “Please don’t cry, Baby Cakes. I can’t have you crying.”
[They have literally never interacted off camera]
I mean 🫣😂
I’m not sure if I’ve ever laughed because a book was so bad, but there’s a first time for everything.
An example:
She’s crying about the fact that he, the Paul Hollywood surrogate, was mean about her terrible dessert and then he sneaks up behind her, puts his hand on her lower back and whispers, “Please don’t cry, Baby Cakes. I can’t have you crying.”
[They have literally never interacted off camera]
I mean 🫣😂
I’m not sure if I’ve ever laughed because a book was so bad, but there’s a first time for everything.
November 27, 2023
Letting go of her glorious tits, I drag my hands down her sides. Down her hips… the length of her legs… until I reach the bottom hem of her skirt. Alice tips her head forward to look down at me. “What are you doing?” “I didn’t get enough to eat earlier.” I feel the side of my mouth pull up in a smirk. “Why go hungry when there’s a snack right here?” “S-snack?”
First off, SJ Tilly is so underrated. She’s one of the most fun and diverse authors out there that can make any main character so loveable, flaws and all.
This is a story for all you Great British Baking Show fans. And what would happen if everything went right. A story of she’s the only one who doesn’t see how much he is obsessing about her.
Alice’s cousins entered her into this baking competition without her knowledge and now she is under the pressure. Especially when Michael notices her and while she thinks he is unamused and unimpressed, she couldn’t be further from the truth. Michael has to stay neutral for the sake of the show rules but after that it’s game on.
Expect a naughty breast man, it’s all about her, don’t you ever run from me, it’s us forever and it will be absolutely filthy and fun filled.
I really didn’t want to read about a reality competition show but this author made it work so well.
“You deserve gentle. You deserve tender. But that’s not what you’re getting tonight.” I rock my length against her. “You scared me today. When I couldn’t find you—” I cut myself off and slide my mouth over to her ear. “Good girls get sweet things. Naughty girls get it rough. And you’ve been very naughty.”
💕💕💕💕/5
🔥🔥🔥/5
🤣🤣🤣🤣/5
😳😳😳/5
First off, SJ Tilly is so underrated. She’s one of the most fun and diverse authors out there that can make any main character so loveable, flaws and all.
This is a story for all you Great British Baking Show fans. And what would happen if everything went right. A story of she’s the only one who doesn’t see how much he is obsessing about her.
Alice’s cousins entered her into this baking competition without her knowledge and now she is under the pressure. Especially when Michael notices her and while she thinks he is unamused and unimpressed, she couldn’t be further from the truth. Michael has to stay neutral for the sake of the show rules but after that it’s game on.
Expect a naughty breast man, it’s all about her, don’t you ever run from me, it’s us forever and it will be absolutely filthy and fun filled.
I really didn’t want to read about a reality competition show but this author made it work so well.
“You deserve gentle. You deserve tender. But that’s not what you’re getting tonight.” I rock my length against her. “You scared me today. When I couldn’t find you—” I cut myself off and slide my mouth over to her ear. “Good girls get sweet things. Naughty girls get it rough. And you’ve been very naughty.”
💕💕💕💕/5
🔥🔥🔥/5
🤣🤣🤣🤣/5
😳😳😳/5
March 18, 2024
Rating: 3
Very insta lovey but still a fun and fast read.
Very insta lovey but still a fun and fast read.
November 20, 2024
I get that they were on a competitive baking show but gahdamn. Those critiques hurt MY feelings.
April 16, 2023
Fun ‘n spicy Novella ☺️
October 25, 2025
“Second Bite” is the story of Alice and Michael.
This was a fun read, easiest way to describe is erotic retelling of the great British bake off and the hero is definitely Paul lmao.
Laughed, teared up, enjoyed it
Safe
3.5/5
This was a fun read, easiest way to describe is erotic retelling of the great British bake off and the hero is definitely Paul lmao.
Laughed, teared up, enjoyed it
Safe
3.5/5
December 21, 2022
This book had so much potential but the plot was all over the place. I loved the bake off competition aspect of it but the love story didn’t make sense to me. It was insta-love but somehow worse which made me sad because I was so excited for the judge and the contestant to get together.
November 18, 2022
Age-gap • insta-love • celebrity & baker • competition
Alice has been in love with celebrity Chef Michael Kesso for years. Now she’s finally going to meet him. But is he everything she imagined?
Sweet little insta love novella. Loved the baking competition part of the story. Michael starts off a bit mean but rounds out by the end. They’re definitely perfect for each other.
Alice has been in love with celebrity Chef Michael Kesso for years. Now she’s finally going to meet him. But is he everything she imagined?
Sweet little insta love novella. Loved the baking competition part of the story. Michael starts off a bit mean but rounds out by the end. They’re definitely perfect for each other.
October 13, 2022
This is the perfect Christmas themed romance novella! Have you ever watched a baking show like The Great British Baking Show and romanticized a book that has a judge falling for a contestant? Well, this is exactly that!
Our heroine is a curvy girl who’s a bit shy and a lot broke, on the baking show Second Bite because her cousins signed her up for it. Our love interest is a judge she’s been obsessed with forever, who experiences love at first sight when he sees her, and will do anything to have her.
This is a super fast read with the perfect balance between spice, tension, and plot! Highly recommend for a winter holiday read.
Our heroine is a curvy girl who’s a bit shy and a lot broke, on the baking show Second Bite because her cousins signed her up for it. Our love interest is a judge she’s been obsessed with forever, who experiences love at first sight when he sees her, and will do anything to have her.
This is a super fast read with the perfect balance between spice, tension, and plot! Highly recommend for a winter holiday read.
November 16, 2022
I DNFed this one at 86%. I can deal with some insta-love now and again but this was something else!
March 15, 2024
If instalove is not your jam, this dirty-sweet novella isn't for you. As for me? It's an age-gap, silver-fox, judge/contestant (forbidden) delight, AND he calls her Baby Cakes *swoon*
December 3, 2022
This has to be the cringiest instalove book/novella I’ve ever read. The instalove was WAY too insta. 2 stars because of how many times I laughed at how ridiculous it was.
December 10, 2023
This was absolutely bonkers Food Network fanfic…
Is it going on my super spicy holiday reads list? Yes. Would I recommend it in any other situation? No.
📔 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼: Second Bite by SJ Tilly
📚𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲: Instalove, TV show competition, holiday romance, novella.
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Alice is going on a baking show judged by Michael, a top baker she’s been obsessed with for years.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: There was no reason these two people should be in love. But it was a quick and spicy read, and that’s what the doctor ordered this close to the holidays. If you can appreciate spice over substance, this is a good one.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 2.5/5 ⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶
🆓️ on KU
Is it going on my super spicy holiday reads list? Yes. Would I recommend it in any other situation? No.
📔 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼: Second Bite by SJ Tilly
📚𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲: Instalove, TV show competition, holiday romance, novella.
📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Alice is going on a baking show judged by Michael, a top baker she’s been obsessed with for years.
🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: There was no reason these two people should be in love. But it was a quick and spicy read, and that’s what the doctor ordered this close to the holidays. If you can appreciate spice over substance, this is a good one.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 2.5/5 ⭐⭐
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶
🆓️ on KU
December 2, 2025
★ ★ ★ ★
Despite the embarrassment I felt and the insta love/lust this book was done quite well. While the story technically played in two days it felt longer, which I liked.
I would recommend if you’re in search for a fun, spicy holiday novella!!
Despite the embarrassment I felt and the insta love/lust this book was done quite well. While the story technically played in two days it felt longer, which I liked.
I would recommend if you’re in search for a fun, spicy holiday novella!!
February 9, 2023
This was cute I will say it was a little bit all over the place but I still enjoyed it. I love love the baking show aspect also tell me why tf I was crying I it’s just that second round was too much also she did so well all except for the second round which idk it was weird bc she had so much potential
December 14, 2024
I had been in like a 2 week reading slump and this cured it in the first 20 pages. Its fun, spicy, sweet and so so good. Micheal is a professional chef on a baking contest where Alice (who has a major crush on him) happens to be a contestant. He couldnt be less interested in what was going on until he saw her and then all bets are off. Immediatly he says "yep thats my wife" and the possesive alpha part of him kicked in. Watching him and Alice try to be normal on TV was tension out of this world 🥵🥵🥵 i only wish this was like 200 pages longer
Reread thoughts: i forgot how much second hand embarrasment i got from poor Alice 😂 this is fun and short. Not loving the baby cakes narrators
Reread thoughts: i forgot how much second hand embarrasment i got from poor Alice 😂 this is fun and short. Not loving the baby cakes narrators
October 30, 2022
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: instalove, curvy girl, opposites attract
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥 🔥
SJ Tilly knocks it out of the park with this extra sweet and smexy instalove. Alice is super excited to meet her smexy Pastry Chef Michael on a Christmas baking show. The attraction is instantaneous, but Michael knows he can’t risk her participation on the show by telling her how he feels. The storyline super cute, moves quickly, and the chemistry between them nearly lights their studio audience on fire, lol. The perfect scrumdiddlyumptious Christmas novella.
Trope: instalove, curvy girl, opposites attract
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥 🔥
SJ Tilly knocks it out of the park with this extra sweet and smexy instalove. Alice is super excited to meet her smexy Pastry Chef Michael on a Christmas baking show. The attraction is instantaneous, but Michael knows he can’t risk her participation on the show by telling her how he feels. The storyline super cute, moves quickly, and the chemistry between them nearly lights their studio audience on fire, lol. The perfect scrumdiddlyumptious Christmas novella.
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