Shortbread Cookie Princess

by Zelda Benjamin

Sophia MacLennan Porter grew up in an environment of wicked duplicity with a stepmother who was nice to dad and mean to his daughter. A series of events brings her to the upstate New York town of Highland Falls and her late aunt's bakeshop. Highland Falls is a town of Scottish descendants, well-kept secrets, and the best shortbread cookies for miles. No one in this town is immune from the secrets of their ancestors or greedy developers.

When Ian Campbell, a handsome Scottish research professor appears in her life, she struggles with the chance to put romance on the menu. Sophia is more concerned with the future of her bakeshop than the lives of her dead ancestors. Reluctantly, she finds herself drawn into his investigation of the history of her family's clan.

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2022

About the author

Zelda Benjamin is the author of the Love by Chocolate series. She writes sweet sassy romances. When not writing she spends her time traveling with family, baking, and of course eating cookies and chocolate.

Reviews

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming and delightful Scottish romance. Interesting genealogy. Nice small-town friendliness. A bit of a mystery. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously charming!

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a sweet romance. I mean, who doesn’t like a hot Scot in kilts? Ian was a wonderful character and his relationship with his sister was nice. He’s a forensic specialist who is working on research into Highland Falls Scottish descendants. He is charming, intelligent, handsome… everything you want in a romantic hero. Sophia, on the other hand, did not appeal to me. She fought Ian on everything about her past. Yes, she had a nasty stepmother (I really don’t like that stereotype), but I would think she’d want to know more about her past. And what was with the granny? Yes, there are family secrets, but after a while, all of them became a little silly. Plus, it felt like there were a few strings left hanging so I’m wondering if this is going to be part of a series.

I liked the story overall, I just didn’t care for the female main character. But there was a satisfying HEA that left me with a smile.

Recommended with reservations.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by anyone or anything.

[Renee Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book of family, heritage and ancestry. Sophia was finally able to escape the home of her mean stepmother when she inherited a bake shop from her aunt and moves to Highland Falls, New York. She finally is accepted and loves her new town. And in comes Ian, a research professor and starts digging into her family history and the history of her new found town. With no interest in her ancestry, Ian slowly convinces her, that she should know more. When a landowner suddenly shows up , her business is now in danger and everything she has worked for is at stake. She now needs to know her family history. What she and Ian uncovers are secrets that perhaps should remain secrets. She desperately wants to hold on to her dreams and realize her new dream that includes a hot Scot , but secrets can change everything

[Claudia Harauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophia is new in town and knows next to nothing about the history of her ancestors, except that they are from Scotland.
Ian is interesting and very keen to get behind the family history.

Small towns have always been a bit strange, basically everyone knows everything about the others, but then there are big secrets that no one wants to know about.

I found the story cute and surprising how little physical attraction the story gets by with.

I was quite entertained by the book.

Have fun reading!

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a double pleasure for fans of romance and history. The sparks between Sophia the baker and Ian the genealogist happen early and will pique readers’ interest quickly.

Read full review in the 2023 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Tara Ames · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously Intriguing!!!

A wonderful story with engaging characters and intriguing plot!! Highly recommend this book.