Allison | Batter Up | Robyn Neeley | Book Review

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

She mixes more than flour and sugar into her cake batter, and he’s about to find out if a little bit of magic is to his taste...

Bakeshop owner Emma Stevens has a secret — a delicious, slightly unorthodox secret. Each Monday, she mixes up a premonition to share with the bachelors of Buttermilk Falls, and sets one lucky man on the path to true love. When reporter Jason Levine finds himself mixed up in a Las Vegas bachelorette party, he hears the strangest rumour: the marriage is happening thanks to magic cake batter. Seriously sceptical, and sick of frauds, Jason journeys to the backwater town of Buttermilk Falls to expose the baker and release the townspeople from her evil clutches. But when Jason meets Emma, tempers flare and sparks fly.

Will Jason cling to his logic at the expense of a future, or will he let himself fall under Emma’s spell?

Sometimes you just need a book that isn’t too heavy with multiple dimensions, argumentative characters, and a super steamy romance. You need a book that is cute and fluffy. You need endearing characters and although the romance may be a tad predictable, you still find yourself cheering for it, and wanting it to work. You need something that is going to put a smile on your face. This is exactly what I found when I opened up Batter Up by Robyn Neeley.

Emma is a good hearted character. She works full time as a baker in her family bakery. The family bakery has gathered a bit of a reputation for its Monday night ritual where one lucky bachelor gets pointed in the direction of his true love with the help of a special batter and a spell that Emma says in her head. When reporter Jason gets wind of this Monday night ritual, he is skeptical of it to say the least. He doesn’t believe that the cake batter and Emma can match up anyone. It’s all pure coincidence, and as an investigative reporter, he’s out to prove that.

Jason is also a good guy. He has a tough exterior but he really looks out for the well-being of others. He is also a fact checker which is what draws him to proving that the special batter is a fake. He hates the idea of people being manipulated for someone else’s (in this case Emma and her bakery) gain. He finds himself reluctantly drawn to Emma but, she makes it clear that even though he is drawn to him as well, she is not interested. She does not want any notoriety for the bakery or the spell. She is afraid of what people would think if they knew the truth, especially when she can’t even explain the truth herself. Yet no matter how hard they try, the two of them can’t seem to avoid getting tangled up with each other both in and out of the kitchen.

I really liked both the characters of Emma and Jason. Emma has her moments of snark which was fun to read about but, she is also a good friend and a neighbor. She looks out for the people who come into her bakery. She is proud of her small town roots. Speaking of small town roots, I loved the small town setting. Batter Up is set in Buttermilk Falls, NY which made me excited because I know where that is. The descriptions of the town were nicely done, and made things much more relatable to me. I love being able to do that.

Over all, Batter Up is a quick read which I was able to read in one sitting. Although I did enjoy it, I felt that it was a bit too short at times. I wish there had been more of a backstory on the bakery and the spell. The romance between Jason and Emma was sweet but I would have liked to see more of them though. I was left with a bit of wanting which can be good but at the same time it does feel a little bit unsatisfying. However, I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a break from their usual reading routine, and in need of being sprinkled with a bit of fluff.