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Monday, January 4, 2021

The Amish Baker’s Rival (TLC Book Tour) by Marie E. Bast

 

The Amish Baker’s Rival is a delightfully sweet novel that I devoured quickly over this weekend. 

Mary Brenneman is a young Amish woman running her stepmother’s bakery, Amish Sweet Delights.  Finances are tight after medical bills for her twin sisters’ birth.  Her heart is also still broken from being left at the alter a year before by a man who decided he no longer wanted to be Amish.  Handsome Englischer Noah Miller arrives in the small town and opens a grocery, deli, and bakery directly across the street.  How can one small town support two bakeries?

 The annual fall festival is hosting a bakery contest with a $20,000 prize that is attracting bakers from across the country.  Noah and Mary both compete with the thought that if either one wins, they will be the baker that survives.  As they practice their recipes and get to know each other better, they realize there may be more there than just being rivals.  Who will win the contest and can an Amish woman and Englischer man have a future together?

I greatly enjoyed this sweet romance.  I love to bake and enjoyed the discussion of baking and the inner workings of a bakery.  I also really liked the story of Noah and his siblings returning to town to connect with their Amish grandparents.  It was interesting learning about Amish customs and beliefs.  The characters were well written.  I learned at the end this was part of a series, but it is very much a standalone novel. 

I also enjoyed the baking contest.  My Grandma Arlt was an apple pie baking champion in our small town and my Mom has won as well.  My Dad bakes excellent desserts, but the title has eluded him.  I don’t know if my home town has had any baking contests for a while.  I’d like to be in one myself!

Overall, The Amish Baker’s Rival is an excellent inspiration romance that was a true delight to read. 

Book Source:  A signed copy from author Marie E. Bast as part of the TLC Book Tour.  Thank-you!  For more information and to see the rest of the tour schedule, click on this link.


From the Publisher:


This exciting new Amish romance is from Publishers Weekly bestselling author of The Amish Baker and The Amish Marriage Bargain.


She’ll do anything to protect her bakery… no matter the cost to her heart.

Small-town, Amish baker Mary Brenneman is devastated when handsome Englischer Noah Miller opens up a bakery right across from hers. Now she must win a local baking contest just to stay in business. But somewhere along the way, Noah and Mary’s kitchen wars are quickly warming into something more…

Still mourning the death of his parents, Mary helps Noah search for the Amish grandparents he has never met. And when a crisis hits Mary’s bakery, Noah volunteers his assistance.

After Mary’s now ex-fiancé broke their engagement so he could go live in the Englisch world, she vows to stay away from men…especially Englisch men. Even though she likes Noah more each day, she keeps her distance.

With her heart packed with distrust, Noah hopes to soften her resolve and convince Mary of their undeniable love. But trouble brews at the baking contest when Mary thinks Noah has stolen her recipe. After the surprising result of the contest, Noah and Mary must face their feelings and decide what road God has set them upon.

Purchase Links:

6 comments:

  1. I particularly like reading about minority communities still surviving in urban states. I've read about the Mennonites and the Amish and are amazed that they are still holding out despite dwindling numbers. Apart from the community, this sounds like a relaxing read.

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    1. It was a relaxing read. I also enjoy reading about this unique minority community.

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  2. Did the author include any actual recipes in this one? Just wondering. Oh, and I would definitely read this book. :)

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    1. One recipe was included at the end. I love recipes in books!

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  3. This sounds like a cozy winter read! Thank you for being on this tour! Sara @ TLC Book Tours

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    1. I enjoyed it. Thank-you for having me on the tour!

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