| Title | : | The Baker's Man |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1400240476 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781400240470 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 336 |
| Publication | : | First published December 5, 2012 |
New York City–trained pastry chef Anna O’Brien inherited her grandma Bea’s small-town Southern bakery—situated between the seventy-five-year-old hardware store and the newly opened clothing boutique on Main Street—along with its unusual, life-changing recipes two years ago. And while Anna has adjusted to small-town life with the support of her two best friends, Lily and Tessa, she’s also smothered her own dreams in order to keep the family legacy intact.
When she tries out a recipe left behind by her grandmother—“how to create the perfect man”—a gorgeous stranger suddenly appears. Soon Anna is living in a world where she must deal with the repercussions of Elijah’s unexpected existence. Amid the inevitable chaos, she realizes that listening to her own voice is the most important ingredient of all.
The Baker's Man Reviews
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Cute story filled with romance and magical realism.
This isn't a deep book, but it was a fun story overall.
Anna is a pastry chef who inherits her grandmother's bakery in the small town of Mystic Waters. She really wants to open a bakery in a seaside town, but she feels obligated to keep the family business going. One night, while drinking with her two best friends, Anna opens a box from her grandmother and discovers a recipe to bake herself a perfect man. What happens next is both unbelievable and heartwarming.
I felt like Anna was such a doormat and indecisive through most of the book, fortunately she eventually finds her voice although it almost seems too little too late. It just frustrated me that she went along with what everyone else wanted for her life and not advocating for herself. I loved the magical realism of the book, many things that happened reminded me of
Just Like Magic, a man is conjured out of nowhere and is kind of innocent and silly at first. Yet as he grows/matures/changes (and Anna can't figure out how, that continual puzzlement got a bit tedious too) I started to like him more and in the end it made more sense to me.
I also wished there were recipes included. Each chapter has a delectable food title and all of the descriptions of baked goods they were making and selling in the bakery made me really want to bake and I was so sad there weren't any recipes at the end.
Overall, cute fun read. Nothing spectacular but it was a nice diversion from other heavier books.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book all opinions are my own. -
![Carol [Goodreads Addict]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1626057011i/10717098._UX200_CR0,33,200,200_.jpg)
The Baker’s Man by Jennifer Moorman was everything I hoped it would be and more. For a reader that loves books to make her smile, sigh, laugh, have a little bit of magic and yes, even have to grip the book a little bit tighter in fear, this book was perfect in every way.
Anna O’Brien hadn’t planned to return to Mystic Water, but after her Grandmother died, Anna was the only one that could carry on her legacy and run Bea’s Bakery. And bake is something that Anna knows she is good at. This book is full of descriptions of mouth watering ingredients that made me hungry. I think I gained weight just by reading this book. But Jennifer Moorman has a beautiful way of describing these delectable confections. I could actually smell the chocolate.
Anna’s long term boyfriend of two years has been offered a new job. The problem is that the job is across the United States on the other coast. And he never even thought about taking Anna with him. So one night in a slightly inebriated state, Anna and her best friend Lily open a locked box of her Grandmother’s. A box that contains some magic gypsy sugar crystals and a magical recipe for making a perfect man that will love her forever. So Anna adds all her favorite ingredients and puts the dough in the oven and falls asleep. When she wakes up the next morning, she finds Elijah, the most beautiful man she has ever seen in her bakery, already baking up a storm. Could this be real?! And when they touch, there is an electrical current between them. He feels like home.
But complications soon arise in Mystic Water. Anna and Lily’s other friend, Tessa, has a crush on Eli. How do they explain Eli’s sudden appearance? And are things definitely over between Anna and her boyfriend?
This book for me was about friendship, love, the closeness of family and community. And sugar, lots and lots of sugar. Anna has to decide if she is going to fulfill the wishes of her family and community by continuing to run her Grandmother’s bakery or possibly explore her own dreams. And can Anna really create the perfect man to love her forever? I could not put this book down. It ran me through the gamut of every emotion. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and get on the treadmill.
Thank you so much to Jennifer Moorman for giving me the opportunity to read this book for an honest review. -
It’s February so who’s not in the mood for love? Well, I love to cook, especially bake, so this book cover had me from the get-go!! This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I really enjoyed her writing style.
• Perfect Valentine’s Day read….reading it with your partner is, even more, fun and romantic! (heart)
• Get ready to fall in love with the small town of Mystic Waters and the story of Anna! Anna will remind you that you have to create the life you want and that sometimes, dreams do come true….with a little magic!
• The late Grandma Bea left behind a box for Anna that contained magical sugar along with the recipe to bake the perfect man. So, she does just that after her fiancé dumps her and the next day, a mysterious perfect man appears! I thought this was such a creative storyline. Who wouldn’t want to make themselves the perfect partner? Am I right?
• Read this book if you like:
o To bake or enjoy being transported to a small-town bakery with filled with mouth-watering baked goods.
o Wish you had the recipe for the perfect man/woman in your own life or if you are lucky enough to already have it!
o Enjoy the magical boyfriend trope/magical realism.
o Small town southern charm. Hallmark-like story with a HEA.
o Strong female character.
o A romance story about love, friendship and believing in yourself. -
1.5 stars
I didn't like this book that much. I just finished it and I sit here thinking: Was that it? What was this?
This was a book about a woman who inherited a bakery (and maybe some magic) from her grandmother. She ends up baking her dream man and that causes some not that dramatic problems . In the end, all is well that ends well.
I guess this book reminded me of the
Spellbound in Hawthorne series but not very well done.
The problem is that the main character and her group of friends were just too irritating, too superficial. I ended up loosing interest on what would happen to these people. Also, it felt like nothing really happen when a lot of things that were trying to be dramatic did - maybe it was the pacing that didn't work. Another point is that it is marketed as magical realism but when you end up explaining too much how the magic works and magic is a weird, unexpected and unknown thing in this world, it makes it something but not really magical realism. That irritated me. Besides all this, I feel like all the mentions of the wind were supposed to make this really magical, but they ended up just being annoying.
The one great thing about this book is the cover. That's what called to me. I'm sorry that it didn't deliver.
All in all, what sums up my reading of this book is being bored and irritated at the same time. Weird experience, do not recommend.
I received an ARC of this book. My opinions are my own. -
The writing was, to put it simply, charming. Jennifer Moorman has a way with using smells as a way to describe what is happening (to the people) around the main character Anna that was not only unusual but fun.
The story was a little lacking in the romance department, where Eli was concerned, but I felt it was well written where Baron was concerned. A little more interaction in both cases would have been good as Anna came across as somewhat passive towards them at times.
Lily however was great and the friendship between the two women was clear - not so much though with their third friend, Tessa, who was an oddball and very needy, if not to say desperate, which made her not a very enjoyable character in this kind of setting.
I always have my issues with magical realism as some parts I really enjoy and others just make me wonder what on earth I'm reading. It took me a while to wrap my head around this one (or more particularly the workings of the magic) but all in all, I enjoyed it!
3.5 stars -
⭐️: 1.25/5
🌶: 0/5
Narration: 4/5 single
This book is bad. The writing style is okay. I read a lot, so I give a lot of leeway here. The plot was a mess. The third act - what the hell was that? None of this made any sense whatsoever. Then, let’s get into how quickly people fall in and out of love. Who is in a two year relationship and never talks about the future? No one. That’s who. And everyone just acknowledges their issues by the end? And - in earnest - the following line was used. “She’s just from a different generation.” ☠️
This book is made for retired people who think they “want something that feels a little younger.” How was this published? Who approved it? The toxic parenting and crappy friend were just too much. -
DNF @70ish%.
.
Flat characters, lifeless writing, ridiculous plotline. I just couldn't force myself to finish. -
This was a very good mystical and charming tale. Three extremely close friends cook up a little magic with fascinating results; Elijah is the outcome. The story, for me, encompasses love, friendship, the closeness of family and community spirit. A good read that made me smile, the characters were well developed, the author's descriptions were delightful and the story was romantic and engrossing. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Harper Muse via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion. -
Jennifer Moorman gifted me with this wonderful book! IT IS A WOW!! I swear, I laughed through most of the book & I actually wanted to get up @ 11 pm @ night to make macaroni & cheese! LOL! All the food references made me sooooo hungry! WARNING! This is a bad book for people who are on a diet! JK!!
I hate eating cookie dough but Anna (the heroine) made me so want to while reading this book! I'd rather have the cooked-up version of cookies & I want the cooked-up version of Eli too! He sounded so yummy, so beautiful, I want to see his blue eyes too! Just want to eat him up! And I loved Lily & even Tessa (her BFF's) who were just as crazy (if not more) than Anna was. PLEASE READ THIS! TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS! IT IS A GREAT BOOK! I'm including spoilers for those who want a big taste!
I so loved this book. It did make me cry at the end but not to worry, it has a HEA. Jennifer also put in a "What have you done with my daughter?" which I normally feel is overused but not in this book. The references to the weather really made this book also (I was thinking "Chocolat" the movie). I can't say enough good things about it. If I could give it 10 stars, I would!!! Thank you Ms. Moorman for a great read! -
I really enjoyed this story. A delightful romance full of delicious flavors.
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Story 3.5 Stars rounded up. Narration 4 Stars
This was a fantasy romance to the nth degree. Can’t get more magical than baking a magic sugar dough into a man. For real. The fact that he doesn’t know this and starts to develop his own likes and dislikes when anything else in his life are just memories from the main character just made it more complicated. That the heroine’s best friend falls for him when he wasn’t made for her just ramped it all up. At times it was so sickly sweet I almost stopped listening. Oh, and by the way,don’t listen/read if you are hungry. The “sweet treats”this woman makes at her bakery will make your mouth water. Of course it was pretty predictable at times. And the main character had the backbone of a fly mostly, which was off putting at other times. It was a sweet romance with of course other people trying to stop it. And she was just too obliging to everyone to her own detriment. In the end she does show a lot of growth. And even develops a backbone! I’m going to leave it there. It wasn’t a bad read/listen but it wasn’t like the 5 star reads that I’ve read/listened to recently.(Sorry I don’t mean to be mean towards the author if she’s reading this)If you enjoy romances with magical things happening you might enjoy this. -
I was intrigued when I read the premise of this book and I usually like a little magical realism mixed in. I liked the characters and the storyline, but it just fell a little flat for me. I didn’t feel enough connection between the characters and it seemed to lack depth of detail development. There was a kind of bizarre twist thrown in towards the end that just seemed so out of left field. It was okay, and an enjoyable read.
Thanks to @harpermusebooks and @tlcbooktours for the ARC
Instagram: @on_a_sandbar -
A quick and delightful read. Made me crave pastries all the time. I was reading In Cold Blood before this and I really needed something fun and sweet for the desert, this book was perfect for it.
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First, thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
What a sweet book!! Girl has boy. Boy is a jerk. Girl gets rid of boy. Girl inherits a bakery. Girl decided to make her own boy! Add in friendships, misunderstandings, a little drama, and you've got a fun book.
Great characters, fun plot line, vivid descriptions (I could see her bakery and I was there). This is a great debut novel and I look forward to reading more of Moorman's work! -
"The Baker's Man" by Jennifer Moorman which I won from Goodreads Giveaways is a delightfully magical romance that begins in Mystic Water when Anna O'Brien's self-centered, long-term boyfriend agrees to a job offer in California. Her heart shattered by his insensitivity and an uncertain future without him, Anna is consoled by her friend Lily, a pizza and a half bottle of rum which leaves her intoxicated. In the course of the evening she tells Lily about a locked box with a mysterious recipe and golden grains of sand that hold a promise for happiness. What she doesn't expect after whipping up a "dough boy" then falling asleep is to discover a handsome stranger baking donuts in her kitchen the next morning. As they begin running Bea's Bakery together love blossoms. But paranoid and plagued by guilt Anna tries to submerge her feelings for Elijah, only to have her friend Tessa try to steal him away. This story is filled with unexpected surprises, choices, friendship, love and forgiveness.
The plot is enchantingly amusing as the magnetic attraction grows between Anna and Elijah and uncontrollable forces try to rip them apart. In the story Jennifer Moorman blends the past - Grandma Beatrice's letters recounting the magic that created Joseph O'Brien- with the present and Anna and Elijah's enchanting romance. With skilful dexterity she links the aromas and flavour of tasty confections in the bake shop with the emotions that Anna senses in her work-a-day world and especially those that radiate from Elijah. The narrative is well-developed and uplifting even when a disastrous accident, and a disclosed secret threaten to turn Anna and Elijah's world upside down.
The characters are fascinating and well-developed, each one a mix of strengths and weaknesses that make them memorable. Anna O'Brien is kind-hearted and considerate, but easily manipulated by her mother. Rather than making her own decisions about her future she avoids the subject until the loss of love and misfortune goad her into making a choice. Elijah (Eli) Long is the strikingly good looking "dough boy" who's affable, charming, confident and calm. As time passes he begins to become his own man, prompting new ideas and plans for his future. Baron Barker Anna's boyfriend of two years is selfish, egotistical and tactless only to find jealousy will undermine is callousness. Anna's two friends like her parents are studies in contrast. Lily Matthews is self-confident, playful and a loyal friend while Tessa Andrews is coy, competitive and excitable. Evelyn O'Brien is tailored, classy, uptight and impatient while her husband Charles is relaxed, casual, friendly and supportive. All these characters and more add drama and energy to a humorous, imaginative plot that sparkles with love and magic.
I thoroughly enjoyed " The Baker's Man". Jennifer Moorman is an up and coming author and I'll look forward to reading more of her enchanting stories. -
“Moorman weaves the tale of a young woman whose grandmother’s secret—and the ancestry of her grandfather—are about to change her life forever.”
Anna O’Brien has inherited more than her grandmother’s talent for baking and her bakery. When her boyfriend of two years accepts an architectural job with a firm in Napa Valley, with no plans to include her, she is forced to face an uncertain future. One late night in the bakery with her best friend, Lily, they have a little too much to drink and follow a mysterious recipe of her grandmothers with a secret ingredient. The next morning she wakes up to find Elijah, a handsome stranger, baking donuts in her kitchen and things rocket out of control.
I found this book to be a magically enchanting tale that weaves in just enough reality to suspend my disbelief. Anna has always lived her life to please others, but when Baron decides to take a job across the country, she decides she needs to take charge of her own life and follow her heart. Anna has internal and external forces pulling her in different directions; she knows she wants to continue making pastries, but perhaps not in her hometown of Mystic Water. There is a perfect place by the sea and an offer has been made, but to move there will disappoint the hometown folks, her mother, and her friends. The relationship with Baron is also unsettled, they were both comfortable with each other and neither is ready to give it up, although they know it is over. Anna’s biggest problem is she is not ready to believe this mysterious force that draws her to Elisha is real, she doesn't trust the magic. When her friend, Tessa, falls head over heels for Elisha, Anna tries to take a step back. This story explores friendship, forgiveness, and the possibilities of following your own heart. When Elisha, her dough-boy, starts growing into his own person things get very complicated and there are a couple of unexpected twists. The dialogue reads true and humor is expertly woven into this heartwarming journey.
I couldn't help but love Jennifer Moorman’s prose, each of her characters and places had distinctive smells that Anna identified with them. Her mother smelled of ripe cherries or rotten cherries depending on her mood, her father like green pine or freshly cut grass. Elisha smelled of rosemary, cinnamon, spicy chocolate and melted sugar. How could you not love that?
This is one of those stories I had trouble assigning a genre to, so I went back to Donna Fasano’s guest post defining romance and chick-lit. I decided it was chick-lit with a strong romantic element, although I do not claim to be an expert on this subject. But I will tell you, if you like foodie fiction or chick-lit you will love this story.
I found no significant errors or issues.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. ** February 24, 2013 -
Such a cute story. Just made me feel happy. Loved this magical story of Elijah and Anna. Didn’t stop smiling from page one!
“Books have a way of making us homesick for a place we have never been”. This is how I felt when I read about Mystic Water - an enchanted small time filled with family and friends and a touch of magic.
Anna O’Brien returns back to her hometown from New York to take over her late Grandmother’s bakery. There she finds out that a box her Grandmother left her contains more than just a heart felt letter but the true magic of family legends. Reeling from a break up with her boyfriend Barron (when she thought she was getting the opposite) Anna enlists the help of her best friend Lily to see if magic is real. The outcome? The creation of the perfect man! Elijah, her dough boy. Feelings of love but also expectation of always supporting those around her Anna learns to follow her heart wherever and to whomever it may lead.
Sprinkled with enough magic to make you smile but rooted in reality to make you think it could really happen. As sweet as a hallmark movie and as real as a book that will you think and talk, Moorman writes a novel that will touch and tingle all your senses. This is one that will leave you smiling.
Can’t wait to read the new and expanded version from
Harper Muse coming in February 2023!
Fans of Alison Hoffman and Sarah Allen Addison should not miss this “delicious” novel! -
“The Baker’s Man” by Jennifer Moorman is a delightful and charming story about what you could call a magic bakery. The author’s love for cooking and baking is apparent and contagious from the beginning which is beautifully set up with an intriguing prologue and an effortless initial set up of the scene.
This book is probably aimed primarily at female fans of romantic comedies and so it includes the usual suspects of: a group of girlfriends, various boyfriend troubles, a love triangle and some minor mother issues. But rest assured that this is all handled in a competent and careful manner and - although formulaic at times - it is never dull. The book offers great entertainment, a good storyline and a magical use of language that flows easily from page to page.
Jennifer Moorman is a gifted writer and should have no troubles to find a fan audience. -
Anna is a bakery owner in the quaint town of Mystic Waters. Her boyfriend of two years has a surprise for her and it’s not at all what she’s expecting. Later that night after drinking a lot of rum with her best friends in the apartment above her bakery, Anna reveals a family secret that leads to giggles and inebriated baking.
I fell in love with this book full of magical romance. I love the author’s description of smells to describe each person’s arrival or mood. You can almost smell the tantalizing aroma of baked goods throughout the entire book. The ending made me so happy. Perfect for readers who like a little magic with their romance!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for this ARC. -
I read this because I was craving another Sarah Addison Allen book and thought it may have a similar feel from what I had read. It had the same small town feel and a bit of magic that I love in Sarah's books. This books magick was a bit more in your face, but I really liked it. Cute, very quick read. I didn't want to (and didn't) put it down. I only wish it was longer, being that it is a series, I guess I can read more, between the short stories and the other books (even smaller than this one) in the series, I will have more to read but wish each of the books could take me on a bit of a longer journey. All and all liking a book so much you want more is not that bad of a thing. I can't wait to read more from this author. Hopefully, some larger books will come.
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This is what they mean when they say COZY. I adored this book so much and I’ll definitely be reading more by Jennifer Moorman. This book was magical and the food descriptions made me hungry every chapter. Adorable with heart!
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I think I expected more from this book. This could be a cute book for the right reader.
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This never felt as enchanting as I wanted it to. I had a hard time really enjoying any of the characters and some of the plot was just plain frustrating.
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This book was a sweet treat of sorts to read. The story centers around main character Anna O'Brien who has never quite lived her life doing what she wants. Instead always living up to what is expected of her by her family. So when her grandmother passes, she is the only one who is able to carry on her legacy and run her bakery. Thankfully, baking is something she has taken after like her grandmother. However, there are some life changes in the relationship department and then the next thing she knows a stranger is in her bakery and home. One she baked up with one of her best friends after a night of to much to drink and the use of some magic gypsy sugar crystals her grandmother had locked up. Is this real or just to real to be true? Will Anna fulfill her families dreams and legacy or finally follow her heart and her own?
The descriptions in this story are very well done and honestly left my mouth watering at times just thinking of the food. Likewise, I loved how the story centers around love: both friendships, family and food.
As far as the writing itself, it kept me hooked and I found myself speeding through to find out what was going to happen next. While reading this book I was busy baking up a storm myself leading up to Christmas, so it was the perfect book for such a time as that.
All in all, I definitely enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance or romance comedy story lines. It has just the right amount of sugar to keep you coming back for more!
Thank you so much to the author for providing me an e-copy to read and review. It was a pleasure! -
REVIEW: 3.5
The Baker’s Man is a sweet story of Tradition, Family and a magic ingredient for creating the perfect love. I mean that literally!
It was such a deliciously sweet story! I think I gained about 5 pounds because it gave me a craving for sweets somethin’ awful!
Anna puts her lifelong dreams aside in order to keep her deceased grandmother’s bakery up and running in her small hometown. These baked treats were well known to have magical powers when eaten.
Anna is very sweet, but, indecisive about any and all things involving her life. Baron, Anna’s boyfriend of two years, just left for a new job and life that didn’t include her. She decides to use her grandmother’s recipe with a special ingredient for making the “perfect man”…
Baron was quite a selfish S.O.B.! In the end, I think Anna and Baron truly cared for one another, but, their relationship lacked passion and everything else that comes with true love. But, Eli…well… there’s no question he was the “perfect man”! Very real, very sexy and very much in love with his maker…as he should be...
I enjoyed The Baker’s Man, as it had a few unexpected twists and thrills that had me hooked ‘til the end. The only issue that I had was of the initial connection Anna felt for Eli. I really didn’t feel Anna’s true love for Eli pan out until much later in the story. Or… just maybe… that was the whole point??!! DUH!...okay, you got me! Good 1… Thanks for the Read! -
Mystic Water is no ordinary place, it has a magical quality; nothing is really what it seems. The author has a wonderful, original style of writing, where she describes everything by sounds and smells that really bring the story alive. The main character in this fantasy story is Anna, a baker, who has inherited her talent for baking, and the family bakery, from her grandmother. All her life, she has heard the stories and rumours about her grandmother and grandfather. Mystic Water is a small town where everyone knows everyone. When Anna's boyfriend leaves town to take a job far away and doesn't ask her to go with him, Anna is left alone and feels rejected. With the help of her best friend and a bit of magic she is soon back on her feet, but who is the mysterious Eli, and will he come between her and one of her oldest friends?
This story is really well written and engaging. It's like a fairy tale for grown ups. The descriptive quality of the writing and the way the characters all seem so real, makes this book one that you can get lost in. "The Baker's Man" is a magical escape from reality that I would recommend to anyone who likes romantic fiction and fantasy. -
This book was… odd. I love magical realism and I knew to expect some quirkiness with this book. But it just didn’t work for me. I liked Anna and Eli was charming, and I loved all the descriptions of the desserts they made (warning, this book will make you HUNGRY!) and they had great chemistry. The setting was lovely and there was a great supporting cast of characters. But the magical realism elements were just off to me. The glittery sugar was strange, and the way they kept talking about Anna creating Eli was just creepy to me. And then the scene with the second “dough boy” that turned Frankenstein-esque was very weird.
I really wanted to like this book, and at times I did. But overall, it just wasn’t the book for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Muse through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own. -
A silly little, what I call "vacation book". It was a cute story and fit the qualifications for a book about food for my reading challenge.
