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Jaycee's Bakery
Jaycee is trying to provide for her family.
Jeremy is determined to stop an arsonist.
Neither of them is looking for love.
When a heartbroken Jaycee Laughton returns home to reunite with her family, she finds them in dire financial straits. Using her talents to open a bakery in idyllic Larkin Bay seems the perfect way to forget her cheating boyfriend and help pay the bills.
She just never imagined an arsonist would target her hometown and threaten her dream.
Two years ago, charming Jeremy Matthews was widowed by a pyromaniac’s fire. Now he's in Larkin Bay and is determined to catch another arsonist. But he can't ignore his fiery attraction to Jaycee.
Things are heating up between them until all the clues to the arsonist's identity point to one of Jaycee’s beloved family members.
Now, Jaycee and Jeremy must set aside their past hurts to protect Jaycee's Bakery, save her family, and safeguard Larkin Bay.
The stakes are high when you're playing with fire.
Jaycee’s Bakery is the first book in the Larkin Bay Romance series. It is a sweet, full-length, standalone novel.
Jeremy is determined to stop an arsonist.
Neither of them is looking for love.
When a heartbroken Jaycee Laughton returns home to reunite with her family, she finds them in dire financial straits. Using her talents to open a bakery in idyllic Larkin Bay seems the perfect way to forget her cheating boyfriend and help pay the bills.
She just never imagined an arsonist would target her hometown and threaten her dream.
Two years ago, charming Jeremy Matthews was widowed by a pyromaniac’s fire. Now he's in Larkin Bay and is determined to catch another arsonist. But he can't ignore his fiery attraction to Jaycee.
Things are heating up between them until all the clues to the arsonist's identity point to one of Jaycee’s beloved family members.
Now, Jaycee and Jeremy must set aside their past hurts to protect Jaycee's Bakery, save her family, and safeguard Larkin Bay.
The stakes are high when you're playing with fire.
Jaycee’s Bakery is the first book in the Larkin Bay Romance series. It is a sweet, full-length, standalone novel.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 18, 2024
It’s actually more of a 3.5-3.75 star rating than straight 3 star rating but it leans more into the 3 than 4 for me to round up. This is a clean romance or closed door romance (whichever is the preferred terminology) so spice live is more like 0.5 🌶️. It’s a very sweet love story between two people who meet 700 miles away and end up moving back to their respective hometowns for work / personal reasons. Jaycee and Jeremy are very cute and neither of them are annoying MC’s. I liked that this has a “who dunnit” vibe to it, without being a thriller. I enjoyed almost all the side characters who were introduced and the small town living. What I disliked was that the situation with Betty never felt resolved (that could have been the plot instead of the arson), Jeremy’s family were introduced but didn’t have as much involvement as I had expected (they were all great side characters), the death of Jaycee’s parents plus her scar were never explained further, and lastly the last chapter and epilogue needed more detail. I thought the writing style was easy to read and overall the story is enjoyable. I would recommend to anyone who likes a less spicy romance about a small town Baker and Police Officer.
March 17, 2024
A feel good rom com that was immersive and fast paced with uniquely varied characters, an interesting plot and a unique setting as a whole.
April 8, 2024
I’m always on the lookout for stories that capture the essence of human spirit and the warmth of community. “Jaycee’s Bakery” by Leanne Stanfield is a delightful read that does just that. Set in the charming town of Larkin Bay, this novel is a heartwarming tale of resilience, love, and the sweet taste of success against all odds.
What I loved most about this book is its ability to blend romance, mystery, and a sense of community into a seamless narrative. The characters are well-developed and diverse, each bringing their own flavor to the story. The romance between Jaycee and Jeremy is a slow burn that leaves you rooting for them amidst the chaos of their circumstances.
Leanne Stanfield knack for creating vivid settings throughout the book made me want to visit Larkin Bay and indulge in Jaycee’s delicious creations. The writing is engaging, with just the right amount of detail to paint a picture without overwhelming the reader.
The one thing that I dislike was some of the words that the author use were very repetitive and it did get annoying.
But overall is a decent story and I love how it’s all about finding strength in vulnerability and the courage to keep going when life throws you curveballs. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the sweetest things in life come from the most unexpected places.
I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the Larkin Bay Romance series, and I highly recommend “Jaycee’s Bakery” to anyone looking for a feel-good read that’s as comforting as a freshly baked cookie. 🍪💕
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3.8/5)
Verdict: A must-read for fans of sweet romances and cozy mysteries!
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and this review is my honest opinion
What I loved most about this book is its ability to blend romance, mystery, and a sense of community into a seamless narrative. The characters are well-developed and diverse, each bringing their own flavor to the story. The romance between Jaycee and Jeremy is a slow burn that leaves you rooting for them amidst the chaos of their circumstances.
Leanne Stanfield knack for creating vivid settings throughout the book made me want to visit Larkin Bay and indulge in Jaycee’s delicious creations. The writing is engaging, with just the right amount of detail to paint a picture without overwhelming the reader.
The one thing that I dislike was some of the words that the author use were very repetitive and it did get annoying.
But overall is a decent story and I love how it’s all about finding strength in vulnerability and the courage to keep going when life throws you curveballs. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the sweetest things in life come from the most unexpected places.
I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the Larkin Bay Romance series, and I highly recommend “Jaycee’s Bakery” to anyone looking for a feel-good read that’s as comforting as a freshly baked cookie. 🍪💕
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3.8/5)
Verdict: A must-read for fans of sweet romances and cozy mysteries!
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and this review is my honest opinion
October 24, 2024
Jaycee is a simple baker who owns a quaint little bakery in her hometown of Pepperlock. After quite personal setbacks, such as a disintegrating relationship that utterly wrecked her both emotionally and psychically, she felt claustrophobic from the vicious cycle of routine. Jaycee found herself having to take matters into her own hands. She declares a new order in her bakery by using it as a ground to start a journey of self-discovery. With much resurgence and learning of new relationships, Jaycee goes on to run a now-strained ship that was once her business.
Just when she thought her life would be the same old routine, the stranger walked into her shop carrying his emotional burden. Jaycee finds herself growing closer to this newcomer. She learns how healing the wounds of the past may, at times, be linked to embracing new experiences and connections. The story is full of heart-wrenching moments, conflict, and a never-ending sense of hope.
The storyline basically follows a pattern classic to modern romance and small-town narratives. Well, it actually is kind of cozy and delightful, but readers may find the story a little too foreseeable, not really having a lot of twists up its sleeve.
Another great option for those of you who enjoy tales of second chances, community ties, and love and redemption in odd places is Leanne Smith's story: one you'll want to snuggle up with, like a soft blanket. That being said, its plot is far from new, but it has an unpretentious beauty to it, as you watch Jaycee discover who she is.
Just when she thought her life would be the same old routine, the stranger walked into her shop carrying his emotional burden. Jaycee finds herself growing closer to this newcomer. She learns how healing the wounds of the past may, at times, be linked to embracing new experiences and connections. The story is full of heart-wrenching moments, conflict, and a never-ending sense of hope.
The storyline basically follows a pattern classic to modern romance and small-town narratives. Well, it actually is kind of cozy and delightful, but readers may find the story a little too foreseeable, not really having a lot of twists up its sleeve.
Another great option for those of you who enjoy tales of second chances, community ties, and love and redemption in odd places is Leanne Smith's story: one you'll want to snuggle up with, like a soft blanket. That being said, its plot is far from new, but it has an unpretentious beauty to it, as you watch Jaycee discover who she is.
April 29, 2024
This is the first time I’ve read anything written by this author and I enjoyed this book. The storyline has been done quite a few times, but I’m a sucker for “going home to the small town where you grew up” type of books. I thought both the FC and MC were quite likable, and I liked the relationship they had with each other. The secondary characters were also enjoyable, especially Jeremy’s nosy sisters. The one thing the book doesn’t explain is the death of Jaycee’s parents. You know they die in a car accident, and she gets a scar on her face, but there’s not much explanation about it. It wouldn’t seem that significant had she not wrote throughout the book that Jaycee touched her scar on her face. We don’t even know if her sister was involved in the accident as well.
The one thing that did drive me a little crazy reading this is the many times she use the word, “sprites”. She described it when she was kissed by Jeremy, or if she felt fearful. she must’ve mentioned it over 50 times. It just got a little too annoying after a while and I thought that maybe she could’ve used a different word. We already got the idea that she really liked this guy. But that’s just a minor thing and it’s probably just me. I still recommend this book if you like smalltown romances that are wholesome and clean.
I was given an advanced copy of this book for free, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
The one thing that did drive me a little crazy reading this is the many times she use the word, “sprites”. She described it when she was kissed by Jeremy, or if she felt fearful. she must’ve mentioned it over 50 times. It just got a little too annoying after a while and I thought that maybe she could’ve used a different word. We already got the idea that she really liked this guy. But that’s just a minor thing and it’s probably just me. I still recommend this book if you like smalltown romances that are wholesome and clean.
I was given an advanced copy of this book for free, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
August 9, 2024
Returning to her small hometown, Jaycee found out the hard way that big city slickers aren’t the nicest guys in the world. So she quit her job and drove to her childhood home. There was a lot of things I liked about this book, but there was also things that drove me crazy. What I liked was the smalltown charm, the coincidence of the guy that saved her life also ended up in the same small town, there was a bit of mystery and intrigue and of course I appreciate the close door romance. I like the characters of Jeremy and Jaycee And a few of the side characters. The things that drove me crazy, 1- “ Sprites and my stomach” is what described every emotion Jaycee had. 2- When Jeremy saved her from running into the street in LA, he was in a hurry to catch his plane, but all of a sudden he ends up in the small town with a puppy. 3- Jaycee asks Chandra if she could walk with her to work and yet a chapter later, Chandra is applying for a job. Then there’s the time when Lisa quit her job at the bakery because Rhonda was gone, and Tony was making a mess of things. Yet it was Rhonda‘s family that held controlling interest in the bakery, so why was Tony still there? Some of these things may be a little nitpicky but that’s what editors are for to fix all the little holes, make sure everything makes sense and it flows seamlessly. So if you can look past some of the inconsistencies, you would probably enjoy this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 5, 2024
Returning home to a town, friends and a sister she left behind to attend college isn't really what Jaycee had in mind. Finding out her ex wasn't only cheating on but he also got her boss pregnant and is now engaged to her as well. Packing her trunk with as much as she can she heads back to Larkin Bay. Arriving and surprising not only her sister but her sisters guardian who had brought both girls up after the death of their parents, she's shocked to find all her parent's money has gone, lost is a non existent enterprise. Deciding she's going to have to make it all right so her sister will still be able to go to college. Now all of a sudden the small town has an arsonist setting business fire with no motive why. Jeremy is brought in to find the arsonist, he has his own reasons why this is important to him and he'll do everything he can to catch the right person. These two are drawn to each other, but Jeremy's sister's have to interfering. Then unforseen circumstances seperate them. Will they be able to overcome all the obstacles or will it all prove to much and Jaycee go back to the city. I really enjoyed this compelling story with the twist and turns. It also shows how important community and friends are. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I have
September 7, 2024
bro idk i'm probably not the target audience on this one, but no. Don't bother.
it's porny without porn - just be smut already, cuz the cringey sexualization of Jeremy was killing me. Practically every character is either portly or pretty, and all the characters are weirdly described. The only prominent character that isn't cookie cutter perfection is the boy-ish sister that doesn't dream of being like all the other women in the book. This book reads like a white millennial wet dream with all the classics of a male author, but written by a woman. Moms are just moms, teens are just teens, women love women things and wine, and men love men things. yay. There's a million plot holes, so much repetitive writing, puns and jokes that aren't even funny, and the worst pacing. Waiting for the arsonist's reveal was painful since you pretty much know who they are as soon are they're named.
If you're just in for an easy read, live your life i guess. But i'm just glad it's over
it's porny without porn - just be smut already, cuz the cringey sexualization of Jeremy was killing me. Practically every character is either portly or pretty, and all the characters are weirdly described. The only prominent character that isn't cookie cutter perfection is the boy-ish sister that doesn't dream of being like all the other women in the book. This book reads like a white millennial wet dream with all the classics of a male author, but written by a woman. Moms are just moms, teens are just teens, women love women things and wine, and men love men things. yay. There's a million plot holes, so much repetitive writing, puns and jokes that aren't even funny, and the worst pacing. Waiting for the arsonist's reveal was painful since you pretty much know who they are as soon are they're named.
If you're just in for an easy read, live your life i guess. But i'm just glad it's over
March 23, 2024
This rating is a 3.5 rounded up.
This book has a good premise and solid starting characters, but it suffers from what I usually call "first book syndrome". Its clearly working on setting up a world for a future series and while I do enjoy the setting of Larkin Bay, some of the knowledge we got just felt unnecessary. I also struggled with the characters feeling slightly flat, the only person who seemed to grow and change at all was Chandra and there wasn't much conflict behind that, she gave in rather easy. All of the stakes felt rather low, even when there was a devastating fire everything got picked up and fixed without any issue. Its a clean romance and shows promise, I'd like to see how the next books do now that we have more of an established setting.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book has a good premise and solid starting characters, but it suffers from what I usually call "first book syndrome". Its clearly working on setting up a world for a future series and while I do enjoy the setting of Larkin Bay, some of the knowledge we got just felt unnecessary. I also struggled with the characters feeling slightly flat, the only person who seemed to grow and change at all was Chandra and there wasn't much conflict behind that, she gave in rather easy. All of the stakes felt rather low, even when there was a devastating fire everything got picked up and fixed without any issue. Its a clean romance and shows promise, I'd like to see how the next books do now that we have more of an established setting.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 5, 2024
I really enjoyed this book as an easy read. It's a clean romance, which is very sweet (pun intended) between the two main characters as they grow into each other. I would have loved if meeting each other earlier outside of Larkin Bay was elaborated on or talked more about between the characters. I loved the support of the community in this book and it definitely is a small town romance book. Reaching the end, I enjoyed the tension of finding the arsonist in the town and I think this was the quickest part I read of the book. At some points the vocabulary or the author felt limited and repetitive. There were some loose ends in the story, but considering this was Leanne Stanfield's debut, I would say it's off to a great start for clean romance/small town romance!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 16, 2024
I received a free ARC of this book from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed this introduction to Larkin Bay! Jaycee and her chosen family are so sweet, and I loved seeing them supporting each other through all of the ups and downs thrown at them throughout this book.
I actually read book 2 in the series before reading book 1 (oops!), so I really enjoyed learning the backstories of the characters mentioned in Kara’s book.
The only reason I didn’t give this 5 stars was because some of the repetitive phrases drove me a little crazy, like the mention of the sprites in her stomach every time Jaycee has a reaction to something. It just took me out of the story a little bit every time, but otherwise I really enjoyed the book! I look forward to #3! :)
I really enjoyed this introduction to Larkin Bay! Jaycee and her chosen family are so sweet, and I loved seeing them supporting each other through all of the ups and downs thrown at them throughout this book.
I actually read book 2 in the series before reading book 1 (oops!), so I really enjoyed learning the backstories of the characters mentioned in Kara’s book.
The only reason I didn’t give this 5 stars was because some of the repetitive phrases drove me a little crazy, like the mention of the sprites in her stomach every time Jaycee has a reaction to something. It just took me out of the story a little bit every time, but otherwise I really enjoyed the book! I look forward to #3! :)
March 2, 2024
Jaycee and Jeremy meet under less-than-ideal circumstances, but they get their happily ever after against all the odds :) This is the first book in the Larkin Bay series and there is quite a lot of background information that's clearly setting up for the next book or three. You'll fall in love with the characters - and Jaycee's mouth-watering baking - and want to move to Larkin Bay. I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 22, 2024
A mystery to solve and a chance at love is the story of this book. Wonderful, relatable and realistic characters. After getting her heart broken and quitting her job. Jaycee moves back home and finds out some more bad news but after thinking and planning she opens her own bakery. There is an arsonist to be stopped and this is Jeremy's job, will he find them before the arsonist hurts someone and will he get over his guilt to let Jaycee in? Read to find out. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 24, 2024
A delightful small town romance that kept me smiling! I really enjoyed Jaycee and Jeremy's story, such a sweet couple who are there for each other. I also enjoyed the who done it aspect of the ongoing mystery throughout the book. The friends and family in this book enhanced the characters and I really wanted to get to know them, especially Chandra and Jaycee's friends. This book left me feeling, warm, cozy and happy and that is just wonderful!
August 20, 2024
A quite fast-paced romance with a hint of mystery, nothing new but I enjoyed the writing, I had a good time and that's what a feel-good story is supposed to do. Coming from one of the worst books ever (Interview with the Vampire from Anne Rice) I'll forever be grateful for this cute book with cute characters despite its few flaws (such as the cliché of Jaycee obsessing over Jeremy's "rippling abdomen" and biceps at the most inappropriate times but that's to be expected from such a book).
March 11, 2024
Its always nice to pickup a novel and know that it's going to be a good hearted wholesome story and that is exactly what this was. I really liked the characters and how much went into trying to really show that Jaycee and Jeremy were actually getting to know each other and spent time together versus just suddenly they are in love. It really helped to develop the story so much more.
March 15, 2024
She has gone back home to find her family in dire need. She will open a bakery to help but an arsonist will target the town. He was hit by an arsonist and lost his wife, they will be brought together. They do not expect to fall in love. What will happen next? Will they stop the arsonist? Will they fall in love? See how they get on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review
March 29, 2024
What could be better than a cozy mystery rom com?! I was hooked from the very beginning with the well written and well planned plot. From great characters to the suspense and mystery of an arsonist to romance, this book had everything to keep you completely entertained. I really enjoyed it. I received an advance review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 25, 2024
This is a great story concept, but it was a really long read. There are all the cozy romance and mystery vibes, but not the brevity, and that's where I really struggled with this book. The plethora of characters with their side plots made the story more complicated than it needed to be, and was very distracting.
March 16, 2024
This is a pretty darn good read! The storyline was solid; the characters well developed; the plot was really good; and the HEA was truly awesome. This one definitely deserves to be on your TBR list! (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and thoroughly enjoyed it!) ❤️❤️
March 23, 2024
Oh gosh I don’t even know how to begin to describe how good this was. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time hoping I was wrong about who the arsonist was. Loved every bit of it.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher.
March 19, 2024
A blend of cute small town romance, and arson investigation.. Sweet and emotional..
August 8, 2024
Such a great small-town romance - basically no spice. Loved the mystery element as well as the development of the other characters. Looking forward to reading the rest of the Larkin Bay series!!
October 24, 2024
Easy read rom com
November 2, 2024
This was a fun read!
The tone is light and fun with an edge of danger sprinkled into the story along with a good Who Done It?
Looking forward to more by this author!
The tone is light and fun with an edge of danger sprinkled into the story along with a good Who Done It?
Looking forward to more by this author!
May 1, 2024
I do have a few critique items, but before I get into that, I want to state that I really enjoyed this book. It was a nice story and a quick read. The writing style was light and kept me entertained.
There were some sloppy editing parts but I can get over that pretty quickly once I realize what the mistake is, nothing that confused me or ruined the flow.
The main character, Jaycee, is very likable and has her fair share of troubles in her life. I liked most of the side characters, except the ones we are meant to not like of course. Chandra took me a while to warm up to. I had doubts about her for a bit. The story with Betty would have been interesting to dig deeper into and could have fit in just as well with everything else. A little more explanation would have helped; who, what, when, and where. Also, the kitten, Mew, should have had a bigger role. Adding a kitten to your life requires much more than what we got here. Mew didn't add much to the story, which is a shame.
The puns and corny jokes were great! They flushed out some of Jaycee's character for me, it showed a very silly side which I didn't realize otherwise. Her use of the word "sprites" was cute too. I found myself smiling on more than one occasion.
I felt some of the relationships were a little stiff and needed more conflict among some of them. Jaycee and her sister seemed too sweet to each other, not like typical sisters. There should have been a little bit of anger occasionally. I love happy endings but feel they are sweeter after a little turmoil. But I also love a good Hallmark Christmas movie and Rom Coms and this was a little of both - minus Christmas. If I look at it that way I can forgive the lack of serious conflict. Of course, the arson storyline created some drama and was played out very well.
About the characters - I wish we had more descriptions of their appearance. We get basic very vague details. I like to "see" them in my mind while reading, which helps to have more detail. I couldn't picture the side characters at all.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it.
I received this as an advanced reader copy - thank you!
Jaycee's BakeryLeanne Stanfield
There were some sloppy editing parts but I can get over that pretty quickly once I realize what the mistake is, nothing that confused me or ruined the flow.
The main character, Jaycee, is very likable and has her fair share of troubles in her life. I liked most of the side characters, except the ones we are meant to not like of course. Chandra took me a while to warm up to. I had doubts about her for a bit. The story with Betty would have been interesting to dig deeper into and could have fit in just as well with everything else. A little more explanation would have helped; who, what, when, and where. Also, the kitten, Mew, should have had a bigger role. Adding a kitten to your life requires much more than what we got here. Mew didn't add much to the story, which is a shame.
The puns and corny jokes were great! They flushed out some of Jaycee's character for me, it showed a very silly side which I didn't realize otherwise. Her use of the word "sprites" was cute too. I found myself smiling on more than one occasion.
I felt some of the relationships were a little stiff and needed more conflict among some of them. Jaycee and her sister seemed too sweet to each other, not like typical sisters. There should have been a little bit of anger occasionally. I love happy endings but feel they are sweeter after a little turmoil. But I also love a good Hallmark Christmas movie and Rom Coms and this was a little of both - minus Christmas. If I look at it that way I can forgive the lack of serious conflict. Of course, the arson storyline created some drama and was played out very well.
About the characters - I wish we had more descriptions of their appearance. We get basic very vague details. I like to "see" them in my mind while reading, which helps to have more detail. I couldn't picture the side characters at all.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it.
I received this as an advanced reader copy - thank you!
Jaycee's BakeryLeanne Stanfield
May 9, 2024
Jaycee’s Bakery is a heartwarming and cozy story!
Jaycee and Jeremy are both lovable and they are both strong characters. I loved Jaycee’s determination and her conviction to support her family. And speaking of family, i really enjoyed the sense of Jaycee having a found family in all her friends. I also really appreciated Jeremy having loved before and having to accept that he can move on from his loss and be happy again.
Can’t wait for more in this small town series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Jaycee and Jeremy are both lovable and they are both strong characters. I loved Jaycee’s determination and her conviction to support her family. And speaking of family, i really enjoyed the sense of Jaycee having a found family in all her friends. I also really appreciated Jeremy having loved before and having to accept that he can move on from his loss and be happy again.
Can’t wait for more in this small town series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews