Bringing Home the Bacon

“Bringing Home The Bacon”, the fourth book of an excellent multi-authored collaboration, the “Farm 2 Forking” series all set in the same world, the Bedd Fellows Farm in the New York Catskills, with each book featuring a Bedd family sibling. Erin Mallon gives us Colleen’s story and how she brings home the bacon, ok not that kind of bacon but a hunk of a Hotman named Bacon, a chef competing in a reality television show and one she met on a class trip to New York City. Colleen, Sam’s twin and the only Bedd daughter, a schoolteacher, who while on a class trip to a cooking competition did something a little naughty, and propositioned a contestant, Bacon, and did so in the cutest of ways. She not only caught his attention, but she calmed his nerves and stage fright, too. A school trip turned steamy encounter was a night to remember for both of them, but she knew nothing could come of it, except he thought otherwise, until he found out she broke his number rule. This wonderfully plotted story will charm you and warm your heart, a story that has the perfect amount of drama, humor, heartfelt emotions, and steamy romance. It was great to watch their relationship grow, and how Bacon handled the news Colleen delivered and his reaction. It was also great to see things coming together for the Bedd family and their farm, and you can’t help but love Ethel and Baabara. Erin Mallon, thank you for this fabulous story, the laughs and the emotional rollercoaster ride. Bacon lover forever, bits included!

🎧📚🎧 Who better to narrate this fabulous story but the author herself, Erin Mallon along with Alistair Haynebridge, her narrator partner for the entire series and they have been brilliant together, with voices and talent that complement and brilliant performances that elevate these already amazing stories to another level. Mallon nails it as Colleen, as she created her, knows her best and was a natural in her role, witty dialogue and all. Haynesbridge brings home the Bacon, ok, I couldn’t help myself and had to say it, but he was just as amazing as Mr. Hotman and showcased his personality wonderfully. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feel them all. These two are versatile voice artists and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another fantastic listen.

5-stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

How funny and enjoyable was this! I absolutely LOVED it!
Bacon! I want more Bacon in my life. Yes, the male lead is named Bacon. Nicknamed because he’s sizzling. So, Colleen Murphy Bedd and Bacon have a one-night stand. One they both can’t seem to forget months later. Colleen is a twin and always struggled with her identity in the family, coming to the rescue for her siblings at the expense of finding her own way in life. Bacon is a chef who found success on a TV reality show but he also feels a bit lost. Being alone in this world he’s hungering for a family. I soaked up this book and how these two people not only found each other but found their own place in their own world as a couple. Bacon found a new family in the Bedd siblings who embraced him and Colleen discovers her own life beyond her siblings.

Oh man, Bacon is so swoony with how honest and open he is with his emotions
And he doesn’t care if Colleen sees how raw he is in his expressions. Ugh. It’s heartbreaking and heart-warming and I loved every emotional minute of it.

There are so many funny moments in the book and things I can relate to. I love the sibling idiosyncrasies, like the way they say a fancy word in a British accent. It’s just like real siblings that have their own unique jokes. Bacon calling his future children bacon bits. There’s great sexy banter between the characters.

All of the authors so far in the past 4 books have really developed the characters of these siblings so well I feel like I know them. And as each book came out more became revealed as each of the siblings’ stories took center stage.

Erin Mallon did a 5-star job with Bacon and Colleen, making me laugh and cry. Bacon will forever be one of my top book boyfriends.

I have no idea what Lainey Davis, Liz Alden, Karen Grey, Erin Mallon and Ember Leigh have planned for the rest of their writing careers, but I sincerely hope they collaborate again on another series because after Bringing Home the Bacon there is only one book left, and that is not enough time with these authors. Farm to Forking is superb. Each book is funny, sexy, serious, surprising. Each author individually is a must-read, but together – amazing and can’t put down.

Life on Bedd Fellows Farm, Fork Lick, NY keeps moving merrily along. The Bedd Family is slowly crawling out of the financial hole they found themselves in when Grandad Bedd died. Weight-of-the-world-on-his-shoulders eldest brother Ethan, grumpy dairy farmer Alex, and grumpy, nerdy soil scientist Sam have all found women who keep them on their toes, sometimes stupefy them, and always keep them moony-eyed in love. Next up is sweet little sister Colleen. Isn’t she lucky to have four brothers always ready to step right in and look after her? Three close by and one just a phone call or internet session away. Especially lucky that her twin Sam gets “feelings” when he senses Colleen is in danger – or about to have a sexy encounter – which causes him to call and text and text and call, over and over and over until she responds. Yep, pretty lucky.

The Bedd siblings lost their parents to an accident and were raised by their grandparents Eugene and Ethel. They had happy lives growing up, but of course they were all affected by the loss of their parents. For Colleen, that was having her love of writing and desire to be a published writer when she grew up go dormant. It suddenly didn’t feel right, didn’t feel like she should do it anymore. Somehow felt like a betrayal. So she became a kindergarten teacher instead. Yes, she loves teaching, but she’s living in the town where she grew up, where everybody knows her and where around every corner is a parent who doesn’t want to see a wild woman teaching their 5-year-old. So when Colleen goes on a field trip to New York City with other teachers and sees that sizzlin’ smokin’ hot chef her brain goes a little haywire and she decides on the spot to make her move: pretend to be someone and something else and live – live – live! Bacon – yep, the chef is named bacon, go figure – is no dummy and doesn’t look this gift horse in the mouth.

Harold “Bacon” Hotman (yeah, Bacon perfectly fits with his career, and Hotman perfectly fits with his looks) didn’t have it easy growing up, either. His father deserted him and his mother when he was about eight years old. His mother fell apart after that and he became the caregiver, and that’s when his skill at and love of cooking began. Luckily neighbors looked out for him and are still in his life. And cooking and Trent’s family are about all that’s in his life. Romance didn’t work out so well in the past and he avoids it at all costs, but this gorgeous blonde making the moves doesn’t seem to be looking for long-term so he’s all in.

Except there’s something there right away. Oh yeah, lots of the fun stuff, and also some very funny stuff: remember twin Sam and his “feelings?” But he can’t get enough of just being with this woman, he’s never felt like this, he wants more. So does Colleen, except she’s already presented him with this fake persona and when he says he hates liars more than anything she doesn’t think there’s any recovering from that. Plus she’s got that “real life” back in Fork Lick. That exciting kindergarten teacher life. So she makes her escape in the wee hours of the morning.

Everything from this point on is hilarious and heartfelt and frustrating and confounding. Colleen realizes there’s going to be an addition to the Bedd Family, and the brothers circle the wagon, virtually and in person. Completely unaware of this, Bacon can’t get over her even if she did sneak off the morning after and tracks her down. Their encounters are confrontational, sweet and a bit sad and at times seem hopeless. Even though they feel this strong, strong attachment they are still getting to know each other. Colleen has never relied on anyone or asked for help and she’s having trouble doing it now. Many times are oh-no-this-won’t-work-after-all moments.

Bringing Home the Bacon is not as farm-centered as the previous books in the series, but don’t worry, you’ll still get your Baa-bara fix and spend time with all your favorite farm animals, the Bedd boys and their significant others and of course Gran and get to visit Climax and Tiddy’s Bar again. This book is so funny and so touching and so endearing – and so so hot. I loved it and you will too. Thanks to author Erin Mallon for providing an advance copy of Bringing Home the Bacon as part of the Farm 2 Forking series. It was so satisfying. Erin Mallon is an amazing author, narrator, podcaster. I cannot wait for the next book in the series and to finally learn more about Bedd brother Jackson. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.