There have been little hints of Corbin and Mabel in their friends' stories, but it is finally their time.

Mabel Llewellyn has been dealing with bad luck for years. All she wants to do is open a bakery in the city, but it seems to be one disaster or disappointment after another.  She is spunky, smart, and funny. But she just cannot seem to get it all together. 

Corbin Knight is her brother's best friend, her secret crush, a pro hockey player who also likes to bake. He has a long-term goal of opening a bakery, but farther in the future. He is organized, likes control, focused on his career and being a single dad, and is just a genuinely good guy.

One unexpected hot moment throws them both off balance. And then her brother comes up with a business proposal. What could possibly go wrong?

I loved how these two work together to achieve their personal dreams of owning and operating a bakery. They share such common interests and have such a fun, witty rapport. But there is also seven years' worth of attraction and sexual tension. Corbin tries to be a man of restraint. But these two in such close proximity is a test of patience for anyone. And their chemistry is quite combustible and out of control. But they also know it could have consequences for their entwined lives, so the stakes are high. But they cannot seem to keep their hands off each other. 

This is a brother's best friend, opposites attract, business partners with benefits, second chance, small town, single dad romance with a hot mess baker and a baking hockey player. I adored these together. Their banter,  wit, fire, and their sweet care for each other had me smiling and swooning, but then some parts had me hurting and wanting to shake sense into them.

I enjoyed seeing their growth. Mabel especially had been conditioned to think she was either too much or not enough, and disappointed herself and others.  But I loved how Corbin's patience and belief in her began to help her start to gain confidence and believe in herself. And she is such a hard worker and is determined to change her life, but she has to work hard for it in Cozy Valley. He is such a sweet cinnamon roll hero, but also likes control. And even though Corbin seems perfect at times, he also has his own fears and insecurities. And Mabel has the ability to make him lose impulse control.

They both have to work on balance and making sure they can give enough to each other and manage a business and their lives, and it is not always easy. And they have to learn to be vulnerable, communicate, and be brave enough to risk their hearts.

There is a side story running through this one that adds depth and mirrors their lives. 

There are some cameos from old friends, but there are also new ones. They have a great friend group and support system, and I am looking forward to more with this group and Cozy Valley. 

Hockey, single-dad, baking competition, building a small business, workplace, small town and big city. This book had a lot going on but was so entertaining! (Just don’t read on an empty stomach or you’ll be searching for all the baked goodies!)

Mabel has always dreamed of having her own bakery and running it a little different than the norm, but is struggling to find the financial backing to live her dream. Corbin loves baking but his hockey career and daughter come first. When they decide to work together to open a bakery, neither imagines the heat will turn up as they work together in the kitchen.

There were so many fun, swoony moments between these two, both before the sparks started flying and after. They know the rules about dating your business partner, and also about dating your brother’s best-friend (or best-friend’s sister), and the temptation to break all the rules is too strong. They have great banter and their chemistry is through the roof. I loved watching them figure out their business venture and also test the boundaries of what they want from the partnership.

I listened to the audio and loved how Samantha Brentmoor and Teddy Hamilton voiced these characters. Their duet narration kept the story moving and brought Mabel and Corbin to life. (I’m re-listening to the blooper chapter as I write this and feel like a fly on the wall during the process.)