Baked with Love by Ariana Kemp: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

When I asked the Lord for help, a six-foot-two former pararescueman was not what I had in mind.

Winnifred Haye's life revolves around search and rescue calls, long hours, and her bakery. It leaves little room for anything else, and with no end in sight, she's beginning to wonder if this is all her life will ever be. She cries out to God for help, for a reprieve of some kind...of any kind, really.

Then Cohen Taylor arrives in Burch Creek.

A former Air Force pararescueman, Cohen has come to help build a refuge for veterans and first responders. He's not looking for love, and Winnie certainly isn't looking for someone who will challenge every wall she's carefully built around her heart.

As their friendship grows into something neither of them expected, Winnie must confront the fears that have kept her stuck for years. She's tired of saying goodbye to the people she loves, and opening her heart to Cohen feels like risking another heartbreaking loss.

Will she keep protecting her heart, or will she trust that God's plans are far greater than the fears she's been clinging to?

Baked with Love is a heartwarming Christian romance filled with tension, faith, found family, delicious baked treats, and a hero you'll fall in love with. This novel explores themes of grief, trauma, and mental health. Please refer to the content warnings at the beginning of the book if these topics may be difficult for you.

Book Review

Oh my goodness, I was absolutely blown away by this debut! Cohen and Winnie... simply put, I adored them. Both have experienced great grief, and I couldn't help but love how they showed up for each other in that grief... even before really getting to know one another well.  There was such a beautiful tenderness between them. I loved that they didn't hide their initial interest early on, but it still feels like a slower burn before getting that sweet first kiss. And it was certainly worth the wait to get there. But it's definitely one you'll want to have your tissues handy for. I found myself in tears so many times throughout this beautiful story which dealt with hard topics like grief and PTSD from military service (a topic that is very near to my heart)... but it ultimately left me feeling a sense of hope because the thing that really set this story apart was the strong messages of faith. These characters were not perfect, but I loved how their faith was such a huge part of their lives and their healing. Truly, this story was so very beautiful and heartfelt, a perfect blend of romance, emotion and faith... and I loved every moment. In the end, we were given a little glimpse into what is to come, and I absolutely cannot wait to head back to Rocky Mountain Refuge and spend more time with all of these characters. With a debut like this, I'm more than excited to see what the author will do next! A top read for me! 

Baked with Love is a Christian romance with kisses only and no language. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://link.amazon/B09xwucni