Book Description

A Sugarloaf Valentine: A Sweet Romantic Comedy (Sugarloaf Bakery Book 1)

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.

Author Profile

Rosemary Whittaker wanted to be an author as soon as she was old enough to hold a book the right way up. From that moment on, she was the despair of her teachers, who attempted to impart the basics of an education while she stared out of the window, making up characters and situations.

Having accidentally absorbed enough to graduate and become a teacher, she spent the next few decades moving around the world with her husband, children, and menagerie of unexpected pets.

She accidentally found herself in Australia some years back and intends to stay there for a very long time. She currently spends her time writing, sourcing English marmite and salad cream and wrangling her two determinedly destructive house bunnies – Pumpkin and Midway.

Rosemary has written several light-hearted romance novels set in the different countries in which she has lived. She also writes children’s books as R J Whittaker – in particular a series of books about a recalcitrant monkey named Pom Pom, who is not in any way, shape or form based on her experience of raising her own four boys.

“A Sugarloaf Valentine” by Rosemary Whittaker – A Sweet and Soothing Romance Escape

Non-review Rant

I am on a roll these days. This is the fourth book I’ve read in September; talk about killing it. My one-book-review-per-month resolution has turned into one-book-every-three-days. 

Recap

Our story unfolds in the picturesque town during winter, where Valentine’s Day brings with it not only the promise of love but also a charming sense of nostalgia. The narrative introduces us to the not-so-likable characters of Lily, her endearing best friend Jake, her sweet family, her ex-boyfriend Stephen and Stephen’s new girlfriend Isabella.

Quite a cast, isn’t it?

Now, this valentine will bring two individuals together; their paths will intersect on this special day.

Lily has just lost a job in London as Office Manager, finds herself working in Sugarloaf bakery who’s owner Mr Mason is still, shall we say, old-fashioned. While she rolls eyes at everything Mr Mason has to say, the magical ambiance of Sugarloaf bakery during winter season was quite a feeling. Her encounters with the town’s warm and welcoming community, as well as a series of serendipitous events. First, her ex asks her to box some cookies for his new girlfriend. Panicked, hurt, and jealous, Lily boasts of having a boyfriend of her own, and drags Jake into it. Jake– a man with a quiet charm and a heart full of kindness.

As the days pass, the charade of fake relationship continues, involving Lily’s family and Stephen’s new girlfriend Isabella (she’s an endearing character, btw). Lily doesn’t realize that Jake is the guy for her. However, over time, their connection deepens, with each moment shared resembling a gentle dance of emotions. Their budding romance is a testament to the beauty of simple gestures, heartfelt conversations, and the warmth of genuine companionship. And Lily sees that, even if it’s a bit too late for my liking.

Review

Things That Worked For Me

Some Lines I Liked

Chapter Two – Page 13

Perhaps he’ll set me homework– a short essay on the difference between an Eccles cake and a Banbury cake.

Chapter Five – Page 37

Adulthood is all very well and good, but it’s considerably more painful than childhood.

Chapter Seven – Page 48

‘I thought perhaps Happy Valentine’s Day Isabella.’ He needed a piece of paper to remember that? It seems the kind of message which, with a little effort, he could have retained in his head until he’d put in the order. I wonder how long it took him to write it. Did he sit up for hours last night, chewing the stub of a pencil and trying out all the possible variations?

Chapter Eleven – Page 83

He obviously showed excellent judgement when he chose me.

Chapter Fifteen – Page 120

We’re talking about Jack. It’s impossible to describe him to someone who’s never met him. How can I put into words his zest for life, his infectious laugh, the way he looks at the world in a slightly different way to me but still closely enough for us to connect, so that I end up seeing things from a new and exciting perspective? How can I explain the way he takes me seriously but makes me believe there’s never anything that can’t be fixed? I think of the way his grey-green eyes light up when he’s interested or amused, his ready smile, his ability to make everyone around him feel comfortable in their own skin.

Chapter Nineteen – Page 140

I’d like to believe he’s distracted by my beauty and rendered tongue-tied by bitter regrets about what he’s carelessly thrown away, but he just looks annoyed.

I know,that’s an awful lot of lines I like. It goes to show how much I adore the humour of this book. Simply awesome!

Stay tuned for more book reviews in my “one book review per month” series. This month, I have published two. Isn’t that nice?

Until next time, happy reading!