Love at 350°
A Novel
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
“Scrumptiously entertaining . . . Fans of a certain popular British baking show will be giddy with delight.”—Booklist
When two women meet as judge and contestant on the set of a TV baking competition, they must decide what they’re willing to risk for the ultimate prize in this wholesome and delectable debut.
LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD FINALIST • A POPSUGAR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
Food is their love language, but can they follow a recipe for romance?
Tori Moore, high school chemistry teacher, avid home baker, and soon-to-be empty nester, auditions for the American Bake-o-Rama TV competition at the urging of her twin teenagers. The prize money could allow her to finally open her own bakery, but plagued by self-doubt after a messy divorce, it’s not only money standing between Tori and her dreams.
Once on set in Sonoma wine country, Tori catches the eye of Kendra Campbell, the notoriously ruthless celebrity chef and Bake-o-Rama judge. This show is Kendra’s ticket to financial security, but she’s been told to soften her approach for viewers seeking feel-good entertainment—quite the task after years of fighting for space in a male-dominated industry.
Tori and Kendra find it increasingly hard to keep their distance through six slow-burn weeks of cooking challenges and kitchen disasters. For both, the best prize of all might just be love.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this sweet sapphic love story from Peers (Love and Other B-Sides), a schoolteacher and a famous chef come together on the set of American Bake-o-Rama, a competitive cooking show. Always optimistic Tori Moore dreams of opening a bakery, leading her teenage children to convince her to try out for Bake-o-Rama—but she worries about stepping out of her comfort zone as a high school science teacher. Meanwhile, notoriously ruthlessBake-o-Rama judge Kendra Campbell must fight to save her first restaurant when her landlords decide to sell the building. Though fraternization is forbidden by their contracts with the TV network, the two fall for each other in a classic case of grump meets sunshine. The high stakes of fame and money don't stop the romance itself from being cozy, with endearing romantic notes and gifts reminding readers that it's all about love. The supporting cast—including Tori's children, her ex-wife, and her main baking competition, Natalie—add dimension and help propel the story. The pace occasionally falters, especially in extended baking scenes, but the yummy results are well worth it. Like the apple pie recipe included at the back of the book, this is a simple but satisfying treat.
