Book Review: All's Fair In Love and Cupcakes

Author: Betsy St. Amant
Publication Date: September 2, 2014
Publisher: Zondervan

Kat inspected rows of the same old cupcakes. They seemed to blink back at her, as if they knew she was capable of so much more.

Kat Varland has had enough of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.

At twenty-six years old, Kat is still living in the shadows of her family in Bayou Bend, Louisiana. Still working shifts at her Aunt Maggie s bakery. Still wondering what to do with her passion for baking and her business degree. And still single.

But when Lucas Brannen, Kat s best friend, signs her up for a reality TV bake-off on Cupcake Combat, everything Kat ever wanted is suddenly dangled in front of her: creative license as a baker, recognition as a visionary . . . and a job at a famous bakery in New York.

As the competition heats up, Lucas realizes he might have made a huge mistake. As much as he wants the best for Kat, the only thing he wants for himself her is suddenly in danger of slipping away.

The bright lights of reality cooking wars and the chance at a successful career dazzle Kat s senses and Lucas is faced with a difficult choice: help his friend achieve her dreams . . . or sabotage her chances to keep her in Louisiana.

There was more to life than vanilla buttercream. Or at least, Kat Varland used to believe so.

Once upon a time, she created magic with flour and sugar and eggs. With cinnamon and nutmeg and vanilla. Every measured cup was instinct, every whisked ingredient inspiration.

Baking held promise, potential. Power.

A story full of love, sacrifices, chances taken, and changes made lies in wait for you with this charming new book by Betsy St. Amant. This story belongs to Kat Varland, a woman stuck baking plain vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry cupcakes when her heart yearns to experiment with new, exciting things. Her long time best friend Lucas sees fit to enter Kat in an up and coming competition in which the winner will be rewarded with an internship in one of New York’s finest bakeries. This sweet contemporary romance was just what I needed to start off this fast approaching fall season. From the characters to the cupcakes, I was so pleased with the outcome of this book and left wondering how I have never stumbled upon a book by Betsy St. Amant before!

Between Kat and Lucas, I could not tell you which was my favorite. I did appreciate how caring Lucas was towards Kat and how he knew her so well. He made some huge sacrifices for her and gladly stood beside her as she found out just how brave she really was. I love to read stories where one partner is very supportive of the other’s dreams. Lucas won me over immediately because of adoration of Kat and because he was able to quickly get her to realize all the potential she had. Betsy St. Amant builds their relationship perfectly. Nothing is rushed but instead the pacing is perfect and completely believable.

The end of this book packed a twist that I honestly did not see coming. I did a little research and found that the author is writing the story of Kat’s sister, Stella. I am hoping that Kat and Lucas reappear in this story as well. Her writing was enough to keep for hooked for a lifetime and I have researched her other books and bookmarked them already. When someone can write and describe cupcakes like this woman, I make an immediate commitment to read any and all books that she publishes. Brace yourself for a book that will suck you in and make you want to bake a few dozen cupcakes!

***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Zondervan in exchange for my honest review***