Title: No Whisk No Reward
Author: Ellie Kay, SmartyPants Romance
Series: Donner Bakery #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019
I thought that Joel and Sophie were a really lovely couple, although there is definitely the instant attraction moment for them, there is also a nice, slow build of their relationship. It’s the way that they slowly get to know one another that I truly enjoyed and found kind of adorable. I mean, the attraction and yumminess in their relationship is brilliant, but I love how they get to know one another slowly.
Although the relationship is built on Joel and Sophie slowly getting to know one another, there Meet Cute is incredibly, well, cute. Not only is it because Sophie has an accident (and is also the reason that she ends up stuck in Green Valley for a little while), but it’s also Sophie’s reactions to their first meeting. I mean, who wouldn’t worry that the tall, handsome stranger walking towards you on an abandoned road isn’t a serial killer? It would definitely be one of the first thoughts that crossed my mind.
In fact, all of Sophie’s inner dialogue throughout this had me smiling and laughing out loud. It sounded a little bit too close to my own at times, the rambling, the disjointed-ness and the sheer humour of her inner cynic. Plus, interwoven throughout all of this was the many different bits of yummy food. Food that made me constantly want to go and bake while reading this – I didn’t, because I also didn’t want to put my book down.
I used to watch some of those competition cooking shows – not many, but a few. And I never really thought about what happened to those who flamed out. I mean, they’ve done it on national tv, so surely there’s going to be ramifications. But I never really thought all that much about it. No Whisk No Reward actually made me consider what, not only the social and job-related ramifications can be, but also just how that impacts the psychological health and wellbeing of the individual too. It was a really nice moment towards the end when Sophie finds a way to move beyond this.
Although Sophie and Joel’s romance is a Green Valley story, I love that it wasn’t about a couple that was ever going to stay. Rather, it was a moment in time for them that they’ll always remember, but they decide to move on to the next steps in life. A lot of familiar, wonderful faces to while away the time, but also a nice reminder that sometimes small town romances aren’t about stagnating in a small town.
Earth and Skye 