Review: Don't Call Me Cupcake by Tara Sheets

Don't Call Me Cupcake (The Holloway Girls #1) by Tara Sheets
Publication date: May 1st 2018
Publisher: Zebra Shout
My rating:  4 Stars
Pages: 304
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There’s a very special kind of sweetness to life on Pine Cove Island . . .
 
Most families have a favorite recipe or two, handed down through generations. The Holloway women are a little different. Emma Holloway, like her grandmother before her, bakes wishes into her delicious cupcakes, granting the recipient comfort, sweet dreams, or any number of good things. It’s a strange gift, but it brings only happiness. Until gorgeous, smooth-talking newcomer Hunter Kane strolls into her shop, Fairy Cakes—and Emma makes the mistake of selling him not one, but three Sweet Success cupcakes.

Hunter, it turns out, is opening a fancy new restaurant and bakery right on the waterfront—Emma’s competition. To make matters worse, the town committee has decided to split the upcoming summer festival contract between the two, forcing Emma to work with her nemesis. But she can’t afford to split her profits. The solution: create a recipe that will make Hunter leave town permanently.

The Holloway charms are powerful. But there are other kinds of magic in the world—like red-hot first kisses, secret glances, and the feeling that comes with falling truly, madly, inconveniently in love . . .

My Thoughts:

Emma’s family has baked magic infused cupcakes for the small, picturesque town of Pine Cove for generations.  Cupcakes to fix what ails, bring contentment, success, or just lift someone’s spirits.   Emma is hopping mad when she finds out Hunter Kane, a big city entrepreneur has come to Pine Cove Island to build a competitive business just down the street from her cupcake/sweet shop, and she unknowingly gave him three of her “success” cupcakes.  Emma can’t afford to lose any money with her old house in need of urgent repairs, and her ex taking off with her savings.  Emma wants Hunter gone! He’s a big city guy who doesn’t appreciate the small-town charms of Pine Cove. But their mutual intense and irresistible attraction has Emma reevaluating her plan of baking a magical “be-gone” cupcake to get rid of him.

Hunter plans on getting his business going, revamping the Pine Cove shops and restaurants and then moving onto his next investment.  The feisty, pretty town cupcake baker, Emma, makes him stop and take a closer look, and re-think his plans. The more time he spends with Emma, the more she bewitches him with her beauty and big heart. 

Don’t Call Me Cupcake was a sweet, magical romance that made me giggle and swoon.  Hunter and Emma knock heads a bit when they first meet, but sparks flew every time they were together! So playful, and fun!  I loved the whole magical aspect to the story, from Emma’s special cupcake recipes, to her sentient house that nudged and protected when the need arose.  Pine Cove sounded like a quaint, beautiful seaside town, making the story even more charming, and a place I wish I could visit!  

I’m eagerly anticipating the next in the series,  Don’t Touch My Petunia (love that name, lol!) centering on Emma’s cousin, Juliette, with her own magical gifts.  There was a sneak peek at the end that had me wanting to read more!