Love is What You Bake of it (The Meraki Series Book 1) IS LIVE!! And the author is celebrating her latest release with a Five Fun Facts about her book, a fun giveaway, and she’s sponsoring today’s newsletter!!! 😀 P.S. I absolutely love her fun facts, because they were inspired by real life!!
What’s it about? A pastry chef, and the police officer that walks into her cafe…
“…Eight years later, Kally is a successful pastry chef running the café she’d always dreamed of owning. With a home of her own, a profession she’s passionate about, and the support and love of friends and family, Kally is content with the life she has carved out for herself.
Until the day Max Vardaxis walks into her café…
With arguing parents, meddling relatives, an overly energetic grandmother, a man-crazy best friend, and the long ago, mysterious disappearance of a grandfather, this new man in town is just one more complication in Kally’s life, if not the main one…”
Five fun facts about Love is What You Bake of it.
- The meet-cute between pastry chef Kally and police officer Max was inspired by a jaw-droppingly handsome police officer who came into my office to retrieve a stray license plate we found in the parking lot.
- I modeled Jaxon after a famous Greek model. One day I was driving and a truck pulled up beside me with a man that could have been his double. It was at this moment his storyline began to brew in my mind.
- At one time, I wanted to open an international café that featured pastries and coffees from various countries. I had the plans outlined on menu and décor details. I never opened that café, but Kally did, just as I had envisioned it in my mind.
- Each book in The Gift Saga Trilogy contains recipes between some of the chapters. I continued this tradition of mine in Love is What You Bake of it.
- Kally’s story ends with a HEA, but there is a subplot that is left open and will continue to unfold throughout the series.
Excerpt
“Can’t you see that every aspect of your life is driven by what your family expects. Your job, living arrangements, even your relationship with me because you’re hiding the truth.” He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “You’re a sexy, smart and talented woman. Own it. Rule it.”
“I know it’s hard for you to understand. You were raised in a completely different world than I was.” Kally inched closer to him, running her hand down the stubble of his jawline.
Jax grasped her wrist, yanking her into his lap. “I don’t give a f*ck
about parents.” His eyes bore into hers like blue flames turning wood to ash. “You and me. That’s what matters. We’re the only thing that matters.”
“And that’s the problem right there.” She sighed. “My parents do matter and you’re a loose cannon. All I need is for you and my dad to get into it. He’ll throw your ass out of his house and that will be that.”
“How do you feel about me, Kal?” He kept his eyes trained on hers but she picked up on his well-concealed vulnerability hidden by the ever-present confidence and gruff exterior.
Kally brushed the falling strands of dirty blond hair from his face and kissed him. “I love you. More than anything. You know that. You’re the most unexpected person to enter my life.”
Jax looked down at her, eyes smoldering, lips curled into a menacing grin. “Same. It’s the same for me.”
“Why do you always say that?” Kally asked, pushing back, her brow furrowing.
“What?”
“Same,” she answered. “You never say the words.”
“I don’t need to,” he said. “I’d rather show you every damn day.” He grabbed the hem of his Henley, pulling the shirt up over his head.
Kally ran her hand over his bare biceps, tracing her fingers along the designs inked over his muscular form. Tattoos on a man had never appealed to her before but on him they were so much hotter. Every part of him made her crave him, love him. She’d wondered many times what the meaning was behind the winged, caped figure, trampling the grim reaper. The indelible marking was drawn on his left pectoral, rippling imperceptibly with the beat of his heart as though it breathed a life of its own.
Jax took her hand, guiding her fingers to run down the length of his ribcage. When she saw what he’d brought her attention to, she was astonished. Written vertically, in Greek letters, was Kally’s name—her full name—permanently branded on his body. And in his heart, she realized. No man would do that unless he truly loved her.
“I don’t know what to say.” Her eyes glistened with emotion.
“Tell me you don’t need to hear the words,” he growled, moving her hand over his heart. “It’s what’s in here that counts. I pledged my commitment to you on my body. Show me how you’ll do the same for me.”
“I will. I promise,” Kally vowed. “You’re the only man I’m ever going to want.”
Now if she could only find a way to break it to her father.
Now time for the giveaway:
Three lucky commenters will be selected to win one of three prizes – $10 Amazon gift card, an e-book copy of Love is What You Bake of it, or an audible copy of Evanthia’s Gift.
How to enter for a chance to win it? Just leave a comment below (or better yet, tell me who’s your favorite fictional hero/book boyfriend) and by 10pm EST, Sunday March 29th, 2020, I will randomly select three lucky commenters as the winners.
The winners will be contacted and will have 48hrs to respond confirming their mailing & email address, so if you are picked, do not delay or you will lose your chance. The prizes will be sent to the winners directly by the author.
Giveaway open to INTERNATIONAL!!!
overly energetic grandmother??? Count me in! They make the best characters! Lol
I love this cover – it is so cute! Favorite book boyfriend is so hard – it’s always changing but with all the passionflix buzz, I’m going to have to go with Gabriel!
Really, really good excerpt! I want to read this book for sure. Thank you for the giveaway.
Loved Rowan Whitethorn in Throne of Glass! He was devoted to Aelin and would sacrifice his life for her.