My last post of 2020 is a book review as I am today's stop on the TLC Book Tour for The Amish Baker's Rival by Marie E. Bast.
Publisher's Blurb:
This exciting new Amish romance is from Publishers Weekly bestselling author of The Amish Baker and The Amish Marriage Bargain.
She’ll do anything to protect her bakery… no matter the cost to her heart.
Small-town, Amish baker Mary Brenneman is devastated when handsome Englischer Noah Miller opens up a bakery right across from hers. Now she must win a local baking contest just to stay in business. But somewhere along the way, Noah and Mary’s kitchen wars are quickly warming into something more…
Still mourning the death of his parents, Mary helps Noah search for the Amish grandparents he has never met. And when a crisis hits Mary’s bakery, Noah volunteers his assistance.
After Mary’s now ex-fiancé broke their engagement so he could go live in the Englisch world, she vows to stay away from men…especially Englisch men. Even though she likes Noah more each day, she keeps her distance.
With her heart packed with distrust, Noah hopes to soften her resolve and convince Mary of their undeniable love. But trouble brews at the baking contest when Mary thinks Noah has stolen her recipe. After the surprising result of the contest, Noah and Mary must face their feelings and decide what road God has set them upon.
My Review: To be perfectly honest, although I have read a couple of Amish-centered books and clean romances and reviewed one on the blog, it's not a regular genre for me. I took this one for the food and baked goods and because they were looking for reviewers. Also, I didn't realize this book was the third in a series, or at least the third of three related books, which as I mention often, drives me a little crazy as I have a thing about reading books in order. For me, the book was okay. I liked the characters and I find Amish life interesting, but it was a bit too wholesome and predictable for me. It's a quick read though and the descriptions of the baked goods, and particularly the apple desserts that the rivals bakers, Mary and Noah made for the baking contest all sounded delicious. There's one recipe in the back of the book for Emily's Peanut Butter Bars that looks easy and tasty and I just may try it sometime when I am not full of holiday candy, cookies and treats.
All things considered, The Amish Baker's Rival is a sweet and clean faith-based romance and if someone is a fan of that genre and Amish fiction, they will likely enjoy it.
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Author Notes: MARIE E. BAST is the Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author of The Amish Baker and The Amish Marriage Bargain, and the first place 2015 contemporary winner of the Ignite the Flame Contest for The Perfect Client. She is also a finalist in the 2020 Book Buyers Best Contest for The Amish Baker. Her stories whisper words of hope, healing, and forgiveness through complex characters and twisting plots. Her books are sold all over the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland and Australia. She has published short stories and poetry in book compilations to include Chicken Soup for the Soul. She lives in Illinois with her husband of twenty-nine years. When she’s not writing, she’s walking, golfing, gardening, or spending time with her family. She loves to bake and enjoys her homemade rolls and bread way too much.
Learn more about Marie and her books HERE.
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The food in the book is mostly bakery items such as cookies, pies, breads, croissants, cakes and cupcakes. There are mentions of sandwiches, Amish bread, produce, eggs, milk and ice cream. Mary starts selling breakfast--sandwiches on biscuits and croissants and buys an espresso machine to keep up the competition with Noah's grocery and bakery business.
Normally this is where I make something inspired by the book, but it's way to close to the holidays and I have a house, fridge and freezer full of treats--including a big box of cookies and goodies my sisters sent from Oregon. So I just shot a few photos with some of my freezer cookie stash and saved myself the effort and the additional calories. ;-) It's nice to have sisters who bake and love you enough to ship them to you!
Note:
A review copy of "The Amish Baker's Rival" was provided to me by the
author and the publisher via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for
my review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
You can see the other stops for this TLC Book Tour and what other bloggers thought of the book here.
I love how you can always tie a great recipe with a story! I really look forward to it with each tour. Thank you for being on this tour! Sara @ TLC Book Tours
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