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Sugarloaf Bakery #1
A Sugarloaf Valentine
When the ingredients for love turn into a recipe for disaster ...
Lily’s world is turned upside down when her ex-boyfriend Stephen walks into her bakery, hoping to buy Valentine’s cookies for his new girlfriend. To make matters worse, he wants Lily to decorate them with a message of love.
Determined not to let him see her heartbroken, Lily tells him she has met someone else too and has never been happier. It’s a risky deception, but luckily, she knows just the man to help her out.
She doesn’t count on ending up on a double date with Stephen and his new girlfriend. Nor does she expect her fake boyfriend to have a secret of his own.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, and Lily struggles to create the perfect cookies, she wonders whether the recipe for happiness has been in front of her all along.
With a cast of charming characters, and a dash of sweet romance, A Sugarloaf Valentine is a delightful read that will have you falling in love with love all over again.
Lily’s world is turned upside down when her ex-boyfriend Stephen walks into her bakery, hoping to buy Valentine’s cookies for his new girlfriend. To make matters worse, he wants Lily to decorate them with a message of love.
Determined not to let him see her heartbroken, Lily tells him she has met someone else too and has never been happier. It’s a risky deception, but luckily, she knows just the man to help her out.
She doesn’t count on ending up on a double date with Stephen and his new girlfriend. Nor does she expect her fake boyfriend to have a secret of his own.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, and Lily struggles to create the perfect cookies, she wonders whether the recipe for happiness has been in front of her all along.
With a cast of charming characters, and a dash of sweet romance, A Sugarloaf Valentine is a delightful read that will have you falling in love with love all over again.
207 pages, Paperback
Published January 30, 2023
442 people are currently reading
838 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
February 3, 2024
A cute little romantic story with some funny moments. Though I feel it had the potential to be funnier and then it would be perfect.
February 12, 2024
3/5🌟
I thought for sure from reading the synopsis I was going to absolutely adore this book. One thing that I couldn’t get past was how obsessive and desperate the author wrote the FMC for her ex- boyfriend. I just didn’t feel it suited her personality and the story felt very bland. The amount of times her ex is mentioned just takes up to much of the storyline! It needed more Jack and Lily! I also feel like the author didn’t do Lily justice and I really wanted to like her but couldn’t get past the desperation and immaturity!🤦🏼♀️
However I did love the chemistry and banter between Jack and Lily! The end of the book was truthfully the only reason for my 3rd star. I wish I could have loved this one more but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me as much as I would have liked!😕
I thought for sure from reading the synopsis I was going to absolutely adore this book. One thing that I couldn’t get past was how obsessive and desperate the author wrote the FMC for her ex- boyfriend. I just didn’t feel it suited her personality and the story felt very bland. The amount of times her ex is mentioned just takes up to much of the storyline! It needed more Jack and Lily! I also feel like the author didn’t do Lily justice and I really wanted to like her but couldn’t get past the desperation and immaturity!🤦🏼♀️
However I did love the chemistry and banter between Jack and Lily! The end of the book was truthfully the only reason for my 3rd star. I wish I could have loved this one more but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me as much as I would have liked!😕
February 20, 2024
2 ½ stars 🌟
I liked Lily and Jack together and parts were amusing, but other times I think it was supposed to be funny but wasn't. I thought the way the new gf wanted to be besties with the ex gf, and other stuff like that was weird. And I also thought the way Lily's feelings flipped at the end was too fast. All in all, not for me.
Content notes: Lily gets drunk and has a hangover on multiple occasions. She questions if her parents will be suspicious of her and Jack if they aren't sleeping over at each other's houses since her bfs have slept over in the past, but Jack tells her not to worry about it.
I liked Lily and Jack together and parts were amusing, but other times I think it was supposed to be funny but wasn't. I thought the way the new gf wanted to be besties with the ex gf, and other stuff like that was weird. And I also thought the way Lily's feelings flipped at the end was too fast. All in all, not for me.
Content notes: Lily gets drunk and has a hangover on multiple occasions. She questions if her parents will be suspicious of her and Jack if they aren't sleeping over at each other's houses since her bfs have slept over in the past, but Jack tells her not to worry about it.
February 13, 2024
Lily is supposed to be thirty, but she is written like she is 18. Hence 3 stars. A bakery assistant has to decide between an ex boy friend and Jack, her friend to love interest.
February 11, 2025
Lily is the worst FMC ever
Lily got on my last nerve….I STRUGGLED TO FINISH THIS BOOK! 200p took me entirely way too long to read .
Lily got on my last nerve….I STRUGGLED TO FINISH THIS BOOK! 200p took me entirely way too long to read .
February 11, 2025
2.5 - cute-ish for what it is. The main character was annoying 96% of the book.
Read
February 18, 2025its was cute
April 9, 2025
It was time for me to give up here - let's be so real - I hated the main girl so much.
February 16, 2023
Lily loses her job and has to move back to her hometown. While she's there she has to get a job. She gets a job at the Sugarloaf bakery. One day around Valentine's day her ex boyfriend walks in and asks her to make some cookies for his new gf. They haven't even been broken up for a year yet and he's already moved. A few days later he wants to make sure she's okay with making Isabella's cookies. She tells him she's dating Jack( her best friend). She has to fake date jack and her family finds out. Lily didn't plan on anyone knowing because she still has feelings for her ex.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2023
Portada encantadora, trama prometedora, terrible protagonista.
•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.
A Sugarloaf Valentine de Rosemary Whittaker
Argumento:
Cuando los ingredientes del amor se convierten en una receta para el desastre...
El mundo de Lily se pone patas arriba cuando su exnovio Stephen entra en su panadería con la esperanza de comprar galletas de San Valentín para su nueva novia. Para colmo, quiere que Lily los decore con un mensaje de amor.
Decidida a no dejar que él la vea con el corazón roto, Lily le dice que también ha conocido a alguien más y que nunca ha sido más feliz. Es un engaño arriesgado, pero afortunadamente, ella conoce al hombre perfecto para ayudarla.
Ella no cuenta con terminar en una cita doble con Stephen y su nueva novia. Tampoco espera que su falso novio tenga un secreto propio.
A medida que se acerca el Día de San Valentín y Lily se esfuerza por crear las galletas perfectas, se pregunta si la receta de la felicidad ha estado frente a ella todo el tiempo.
Mi humilde opinión:
Sugarloaf Valentine es un romance con el tema del novio falso/amigos a amantes/San Valentín.
La portada me pareció encantadora. La trama prometía una divertida y dulce historia que... no lo fue tanto para mí porque tuve que aguantar a una protagonista obsesionada con su ex y la novia!
Comenzó bien y la protagonista se ganó mí simpatía. Lily no parecía estar pasando un buen momento. No solo había perdido su trabajo sino que todavía estaba superando al novio que terminó con ella. Ya con su jefe gruñón me compadecía de la pobre chica y la estaba apoyando. Hasta me gustaba su familia y el amigo Jack, la calidez y el cariño en que la apoyaban.
Entonces apareció Stephen en la panadería donde ella trabaja y se me cayó la heroína de un solo golpe y siguió desbarrancando...
No podía creer que ella siguiera no solo enganchada con el tipo después de la forma en que terminó con ella sino que además tuviera la esperanza de que regresaran juntos cuando él estaba de novio ya con otra mujer!? Iba más allá de mí que Lily pensara volver con él como si no hubiera sufrido una fea ruptura. Cómo quieres de vuelta a alguien que no solo rompe contigo una semana después de San Valentín cuando disfrutaste unas mini vacaciones con él ese día especial!? Alguien tan insensible e imbécil capaz de encargarte que decores unas galletas para su nueva novia con un mensaje de amor!? Lily dónde estaba tu orgullo? Es que me sorprendió que actuara como una tonta adolescente. Tenía una obsesión con él y la novia que no dejaba de sorprenderme! Pasó un año por el amor de Dios, era hora que lo superara y se diera cuenta que no valía la pena! Ya lo de fingir que Jack y ella eran novios fue demasiado para mí. Me hubiera gustado que ella se quisiera más y tuviera más columna vertebral.
Esta fue mí última lectura con tema del día de los enamorados, lo leí en lo que quedó del mes de febrero, una pena que esté libro no me enamoró. Ya cuando comienzo con el pie izquierdo con uno de los protagonistas sé que no voy a disfrutar la historia y este fue el caso.
February 23, 2025
Ugh! I could not stand the main character, Lily! She’s so self-centered it’s disgusting. The only characters I liked in the book were Jack and Isabella. I almost DNFd the book, but kept reading to see what happened with Jack. Needless to say, I wasn’t happy with the ending as he’s much too good for Lily. A great ending would have been for Jack and Isabella to end up together and Lily to be back to being alone since she has zero respect for others when it comes to romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2024
A Sugarloaf Valentine
What a fun little holiday read. Lily got lost in her head a bit much for me, but her thoughts were entertaining. I really liked Jack. He was funny, and happy, and so patient. I hate that it took Lily so long to see what was right in front of her.
What a fun little holiday read. Lily got lost in her head a bit much for me, but her thoughts were entertaining. I really liked Jack. He was funny, and happy, and so patient. I hate that it took Lily so long to see what was right in front of her.
February 21, 2025
Picked this book to read with my book club for Valentine’s Day because it had so many good reviews. The FMC is very annoying and everyone in this book needs a reality check and maybe some time at a grippy sock vacation. There is no growth here just delusion.
February 21, 2025
What was the mystery birthday cake? What happened with Lily’s brother and his girlfriend? What is Isabella’s version of the breakup? If all the characters were teenagers at least their behavior would have made more sense. Yuck.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2024
I loved this book and its dry, offbeat humor. Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and I love the Valentines theme!
February 13, 2024
I would have loved to see more of a backstory and gradual build up for the ending. It felt very rushed. The main character was also slightly whiny for me, but it was still cute!
February 19, 2025
it was cute
February 26, 2025
Sweet and simple love story. My baby sister bought it for me for our sister’s book group.
February 15, 2024
3.5 stars
💓 friends to lovers
💓 small town village
💓 valentines theme
💓 fake dating
Overall a cute romantic read short and sweet. Some funny scenes also
💓 friends to lovers
💓 small town village
💓 valentines theme
💓 fake dating
Overall a cute romantic read short and sweet. Some funny scenes also
January 19, 2025
Cute, fluffy, seasonal romance book.
Slightly predictable, but still a good read.
Slightly predictable, but still a good read.
February 13, 2025
It was alright. Light hearted, G-rated. But seemed to lack a deep story; I didn't find myself really "into" the characters.
February 20, 2025
I enjoyed it. Cute story, easy & fast to read. It just felt very anticlimactic
November 15, 2025
Boring. Almost nothing happened in this book and it was not funny. Such a bummer.
November 15, 2023
3.5⭐️ Cute story!
May 7, 2025
3.5 cute nothin special
July 22, 2024
this isn’t a love story one giant monologue of a self absorbed fmc.
This book sounded so sweet. I wanted a cute rom com. It dragged on so long yet it was only 200 pages? Lily is self absorbed thinking the world revolves around her and is extremely judgmental. Shephen is an @$$. Jack is sweet but i felt no romance. I felt lovers to friends but there was only a handful of scenes. But nothing clicking for lily. Only her fantasies of Stephen loving her. All the way Up until the very last moment jack was never a candidate. Then some cookies appear and hey i chose you jack ….. no. That’s not love. That’s not even like. God writing this makes me h2t3 her more
This book sounded so sweet. I wanted a cute rom com. It dragged on so long yet it was only 200 pages? Lily is self absorbed thinking the world revolves around her and is extremely judgmental. Shephen is an @$$. Jack is sweet but i felt no romance. I felt lovers to friends but there was only a handful of scenes. But nothing clicking for lily. Only her fantasies of Stephen loving her. All the way Up until the very last moment jack was never a candidate. Then some cookies appear and hey i chose you jack ….. no. That’s not love. That’s not even like. God writing this makes me h2t3 her more
July 21, 2025
In reading reviews, this book seemed to get a lot of flak for the way Lily Carson handled herself and the whole fake relationship situation. Was she telling lies to everyone including herself? Absolutely. The majority of that stems from the way Stephen Parker handled their breakup. She hardly knew the guy but put all this love, and trust into the man, and thought he was her forever guy. Yet, the way she spoke about him, it was clear it wouldn’t have lasted. But then again it might have together they were both snobs.
Stephen had broken up with her, a week after Valentine's Day, barely a year ago. Soon after she accepted a job in London, the business was downsizing, so first in, was first out. So, back home to live with her family where mom lined up a job at a bakery helping out as a front counter worker. When her BFF from college caught wind that she was home he went to visit her. Jack Fisher was a friend who was always there. To laugh with, cry with, watch movies with, and so much more. When Stephen shows up at her new job to order monogrammed cookies for his girlfriend for Valentine’s Day it throws Lily off her game.
It's Mr. Mason who saves her by saying he would have to check availability and amount telling him to check in tomorrow. He does it right before lunch. She tells him he will have to come back or call in because she only gets a half hour he offers to take her to lunch to discuss it. Even Mr. Mason gives her forty-five minutes instead of thirty. In her head she makes up who Isabella is, she is always rich and pretentious. So, she wanted to figure out a way to Stephen’s heart. (But, did he ever have one?)
He wanted to apologize for the way she found out about his new girlfriend. She played it off as no big deal. Especially since she has her own man. Which threw him off his game. He was not expecting it. But then he became condescending in the way he was fishing for info in the name of her boyfriend and where and when she met him. She had to think fast for a name and since she had just seen Jack guess whose name she used. She was scared to tell Jack what she did, but Jack just took it as a major role to perform.
Read and listen for clues to figure out when the tide is turning. I just don't understand why Jack invited Isabela and Stephen to eat with them on Lily’s birthday. Jack had years to lay out his heart to Lily, but he never did. No one can read someone else's mind If they could do you think Lily would have allowed Stephen to take her away, use her emotionally and her body for Valentine's Day then discard her the week after? Allowing him to tell her they weren’t compatible on a long-term basis. But from the minute he saw Lily lies were coming out of his mouth. Such is his reason for being in town. Not to see his girlfriend, but to see his ill father who had been in the hospital. However, Jack’s got a secret too. Read to find out.
Stephen had broken up with her, a week after Valentine's Day, barely a year ago. Soon after she accepted a job in London, the business was downsizing, so first in, was first out. So, back home to live with her family where mom lined up a job at a bakery helping out as a front counter worker. When her BFF from college caught wind that she was home he went to visit her. Jack Fisher was a friend who was always there. To laugh with, cry with, watch movies with, and so much more. When Stephen shows up at her new job to order monogrammed cookies for his girlfriend for Valentine’s Day it throws Lily off her game.
It's Mr. Mason who saves her by saying he would have to check availability and amount telling him to check in tomorrow. He does it right before lunch. She tells him he will have to come back or call in because she only gets a half hour he offers to take her to lunch to discuss it. Even Mr. Mason gives her forty-five minutes instead of thirty. In her head she makes up who Isabella is, she is always rich and pretentious. So, she wanted to figure out a way to Stephen’s heart. (But, did he ever have one?)
He wanted to apologize for the way she found out about his new girlfriend. She played it off as no big deal. Especially since she has her own man. Which threw him off his game. He was not expecting it. But then he became condescending in the way he was fishing for info in the name of her boyfriend and where and when she met him. She had to think fast for a name and since she had just seen Jack guess whose name she used. She was scared to tell Jack what she did, but Jack just took it as a major role to perform.
Read and listen for clues to figure out when the tide is turning. I just don't understand why Jack invited Isabela and Stephen to eat with them on Lily’s birthday. Jack had years to lay out his heart to Lily, but he never did. No one can read someone else's mind If they could do you think Lily would have allowed Stephen to take her away, use her emotionally and her body for Valentine's Day then discard her the week after? Allowing him to tell her they weren’t compatible on a long-term basis. But from the minute he saw Lily lies were coming out of his mouth. Such is his reason for being in town. Not to see his girlfriend, but to see his ill father who had been in the hospital. However, Jack’s got a secret too. Read to find out.
February 12, 2024
Book 18 of 2024: A Sugarloaf Valentine - Rosemary Whittaker
Lily has moved back home following her redundancy, and has taken some temporary work at the local bakery. On her first day her ex-boyfriend Stephen waltzes in and requests romantically iced cookies for his new girlfriend for Valentine’s Day. Determined to save face and hide her heartbreak, Lily convinces Stephen that she has a new boyfriend, and the first name that comes to mind is her best friend Jack.
Review:
⭐️ 2/5
I had high hopes for this book, I was expecting a hallmark, easy read, centred around Valentine’s Day. Whilst the premise was promising and there were a few amusing lines in the book, I found I just didn’t click with this story. The main character Lily was infuriating with her choices and obsession with her ex who didn’t even seem like a nice person! Lily spent so long using Jack, for the ending to be rushed and too easy. The dialogue throughout felt awkward and stilted. I doubt I'll read the rest of the series.
Challenges:
📚Books in 2024: 18/60
📚52 Book Club February Mini Challenge, Prompt #2: Be Mine, Valentine
Book Information:
📖 Pages: 212
📖 Format: Kindle
📖 Type: Fiction
📖 Genre: Romance
📖 Series: Sugarloaf Bakery
Favourite Quotes:
“I’m not sure Southampton qualifies as a better place, but who am I to argue?”
“I must have been absent the day they handed out height genes.”
“Any imperfections she has are a part of her. Wanting her to get rid of them would be wanting her to be an entirely different person. I’ll stick with the one I have.’”
Lily has moved back home following her redundancy, and has taken some temporary work at the local bakery. On her first day her ex-boyfriend Stephen waltzes in and requests romantically iced cookies for his new girlfriend for Valentine’s Day. Determined to save face and hide her heartbreak, Lily convinces Stephen that she has a new boyfriend, and the first name that comes to mind is her best friend Jack.
Review:
⭐️ 2/5
I had high hopes for this book, I was expecting a hallmark, easy read, centred around Valentine’s Day. Whilst the premise was promising and there were a few amusing lines in the book, I found I just didn’t click with this story. The main character Lily was infuriating with her choices and obsession with her ex who didn’t even seem like a nice person! Lily spent so long using Jack, for the ending to be rushed and too easy. The dialogue throughout felt awkward and stilted. I doubt I'll read the rest of the series.
Challenges:
📚Books in 2024: 18/60
📚52 Book Club February Mini Challenge, Prompt #2: Be Mine, Valentine
Book Information:
📖 Pages: 212
📖 Format: Kindle
📖 Type: Fiction
📖 Genre: Romance
📖 Series: Sugarloaf Bakery
Favourite Quotes:
“I’m not sure Southampton qualifies as a better place, but who am I to argue?”
“I must have been absent the day they handed out height genes.”
“Any imperfections she has are a part of her. Wanting her to get rid of them would be wanting her to be an entirely different person. I’ll stick with the one I have.’”
February 12, 2025
Im not to sure how I feel about this one. Lilly is a day dreamer so everything it's talking about something in her head or a situation the writer treats as she was off day dreaming and so everyone is always asking her if she's still with them. Also, the story was a little annoying. It's was constant selfloathing and thinking she was getting back with her ex. It just seemed very repetitive. It was cute, but nothing too exciting. I was some of the story telling didnt immediately come off as her day dreaming and having to be brought back to reality. It's OK to tell the story and not have it being her spacing out.
I don't really like the main character. I've thought about DNF it, but I forced myself to finish. I just got so tired of hearing her wine about how the bakery is just a job and how she's so delusional thinking her ex is going to take her back over this other girl he's seeing. Poor Jack for getting sucked into being her back boyfriend and being such a sport and putting up with her.
I don't really like the main character. I've thought about DNF it, but I forced myself to finish. I just got so tired of hearing her wine about how the bakery is just a job and how she's so delusional thinking her ex is going to take her back over this other girl he's seeing. Poor Jack for getting sucked into being her back boyfriend and being such a sport and putting up with her.
February 13, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The 4 stars is mostly because this was a fun, quick, short valentine’s day romantic read. I enjoyed it! BUT I think thought it was strange that the entire book Lily was still grieving the romantic loss of her relationship with Stephen, just until we get to the final chapter and she realizes that Jack is who she should be with all along? There was no indication that she romantically felt anything for him the entire story, even when they “kissed”. I think then is when she should have said “I did it to make Stephen jealous but didn’t realize that I actually enjoyed it” or something along those lines. It almost had me thinking that maybe she would end up with Stephen. I wish the author would have made Lily slowly realize throughout the story that Lily actually did have feelings for Jack .He also didn’t mention WHY he also made up this fake girlfriend? That was a little random. Either way it was fun and I enjoyed the read.
The 4 stars is mostly because this was a fun, quick, short valentine’s day romantic read. I enjoyed it! BUT I think thought it was strange that the entire book Lily was still grieving the romantic loss of her relationship with Stephen, just until we get to the final chapter and she realizes that Jack is who she should be with all along? There was no indication that she romantically felt anything for him the entire story, even when they “kissed”. I think then is when she should have said “I did it to make Stephen jealous but didn’t realize that I actually enjoyed it” or something along those lines. It almost had me thinking that maybe she would end up with Stephen. I wish the author would have made Lily slowly realize throughout the story that Lily actually did have feelings for Jack .He also didn’t mention WHY he also made up this fake girlfriend? That was a little random. Either way it was fun and I enjoyed the read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews