I’m Levi Buchanan, and until five years ago, I thought the legend of my family’s curse was a load of crazy, Southern nonsense.No curse can make you fall in love at first sight. No curse can force a true, deep, passionate, all-consuming love that will haunt you all the days of your life.Then I met Jocelyn Abernathy and I realized how completely wrong I was.The problem is, Jocelyn guards her … is, Jocelyn guards her feelings like well-armed soldier. She’s the most beautiful, stubborn, infuriating woman I’ve ever met. Every time she talks, I want to kiss the living daylights out of her. But I can’t.
Because when we met, she didn’t need true love. She needed a best friend. And that’s what I’ve been to her… for five years.
But when Jocelyn meets a handsome stranger her first day working at Donner Bakery and she lets him buy her a dill pickle cupcake, I realize with ominous regret that I may have missed my window with my best friend.
If I can’t get her to see past our friendship, my new curse may be to watch the love of my life move on with someone else.
‘Baking Me Crazy’ is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book #1 in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
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Oh, MAN, I liked this one. First off, we’re back in Green Valley and I LOVE Green Valley. Secondly, Levi and Jocelyn were EVERYTHING. And third…we got to see some familiar faces and that makes me GIDDY with delight. (A certain bearded genius walking into an embarrassing conversation was awesome. HA! Poor Cletus.)
But let’s talk about Levi and Jocelyn. Levi has been in love with Jocelyn since Day Zero. But she wasn’t looking for a relationship, so he dialed it back, packed down his feelings, and became the best darn friend a girl could hope for. And when she was ready to start looking for romance, he had to figure out how to show her HE was the one for her. Body, heart, and soul.
As for Jocelyn, she definitely wasn’t in a place to see Levi as a romantic interest when they first met. They just sort of fell into a pattern of friendship (awesome friendship!) and she had to make a big mental adjustment when his true feelings were revealed.
Again, I loved being back in Green Valley and I love getting to see more of the town and its inhabitants. Levi and Jocelyn were an outstanding start to this series and they have me ready to see what’s next at the Donner Bakery.
Before this I’d only read a story from this author in the anthology Cocktales, but I really enjoyed it, and so was very excited to get to read this one she wrote in one of my favorite fictional worlds, the Green Valley world from Penny Reid. I really fell in love with the characters in this one. And of course it was so much fun to get our little cameos of Cletus and Jennifer, and even a tiny mention of other characters we know and love, like Ashley for one! I loved the idea of Levi’s family curse for the men to find the one and just know, and it was so heartbreaking for him to have to stand by the sidelines while Joss friend-zoned him and then even decided she was ready to date, but not him. So much I wanted to smack her for being difficult with Levi when he decided he was ready to tell her and give another shot at winning her over. That, her reluctance, and her fight on those things are what kept me from giving this 5 stars, because that is one thing that bugs me in a story. Otherwise, I loved this story and am so excited to be back in the Green Valley world!
I loved Baking Me Crazy so much- it was perfection! Penny Reid is an absolute literary genius and I am over the moon for her Smartypants Romance spin-off books. I adored going back to Green Valley and the cameos from favorite Winston Brothers characters were fantastic. But Joss and Levi stole the show with their friends-to-lovers story. Levi’s courting of Joss had me swooning. Together they were magic- his thoughtfulness and her ultra strong determined personality went together so well. This story was so unique and different and had me smiling he whole way through. I am so excited to read more Smartypants books!
BAKING ME CRAZY is like quality chocolate… sweet, soooooo SWEET, simple but succulent, comforting and addictive… a soft drug which makes you happy. Pure bliss! Don’t try to resist.
LEVI Buchanan is victim of a family curse : LOVE at first sight, true and endless love, a lifetime love, the one and only. But when he meets JOSS she’s not interested in love, she needs a FRIEND. Her world just took a new turn, she has to deal with her new life. Levi becomes the best friend ever, his love never fading but silenced.
He’s waiting for the right moment, for her to be ready.
In this novel you won’t find unnecessary dramas nor cruel villains.
You will find a young man who knows how to treat women, to take care and protect and cherish and respect. He’s selfless, patient, romantic… PERFECT !
You will find a young woman who bravely copes with life’s challenges. (I love the way the author describes her daily routine, her issues, her goals, people’s behavior with her…). She’s funny, strong, AWE-INSPIRING.
This is the story of 2 friends who know each other by heart, who own each other’s heart.
This is a FRIENDS TO LOVERS, new adult SLOW BURN ROMANCE between two beautiful characters.
The writing is flawless, each secondary character brings something to the story (Levi’s family is amazing!).
We have cameos of Green Valley’s inhabitants (my lovely Cletus for example).
Karla Sorensen is new to me but what a beautiful surprise!
—-> this book is sooooo CUTE ! TBR !
“This was the person who made me feel the safest, the strongest, who made me feel the best just exactly as i was”.
Baking & Love… What more could you ask for!
Best friends. They are not always meant to be more than that, but for Levi & Jocelyn, it was a path that was right. They fit.
Any book that mixes love and baking will always win my heart, but these characters opened you up to the type of friendship and love that brings out your emotions and makes you wish for a piece of their happiness.
This story will show you the power of love, the strength of a good heart, and the acceptance of differences. The family and friends also add to the happy.
This is definitely worth the read and you will fall in love with Jocelyn & Levi. Prepare to Swoon and have ALL THE FEELS!
Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen is the book that kicks off the first in the Smartypants Romance series – a set of interconnected standalones set in the Penny Reid multiverse of awesome romance – and is the first book in the Donner Bakery series.
A wonderful tale of a family’s love-curse, one-sided instant love, friends to lovers romance. The back and forth between Joss and Levi is immersive and the emotions are all kinds of swoony and the openness of their friendship, determination and strength of characters – just WOW! The realities of the situation surrounding Jocelyn, her limitations that don’t stop her, Levi’s acceptance of Joss’ offer of friendship is humbling and the length of time he stays true to what Joss needs denying what he needs is awesome. Enjoy!
Lordy lord lord does my face hurt from smiling so big. You know that feeling you get when you eat a warm chocolate chip cookie straight out of the oven—that ooey gooey goodness hits your mouth and you get all those warm and happy feelings? Well, that is exactly how I felt while reading this book. And by the time I reached the end all I wanted was a batch of those cookies this book made me crave.
Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and Karla did an exceptional job and hit it out of the park with this story. It gave me everything I look for in this genre in spades. I was left constantly smiling, even at the emotional moments. I just loved everything about this story.
Joss was such a brilliant character. I loved how badass she was. She’s sassy, funny and awesome. I freaking loved her.
Levi most definitely captured my heart. He’s sweet, funny, loving, charming and so much more. His compassion and love for Joss is what I liked the most about him. The way he was considerate with her feelings and waited for exactly the right time when she was ready to be more than best friends just made me a swoony mess. Levi is seriously one of the best heroes I’ve read. Gahhh, I love him to pieces.
Joss and Levi’s story was such a breath of fresh air. Everything about them and and their friendship felt so genuine. And their love story was sweet, amazing, romantic and beautiful.
Baking Me Crazy gave me so many feels upon feels upon feels. This story is everything heartfelt, beautiful and sweet. A fantastic start to the Donner Bakery series. I can’t wait to read the rest.
4.5 stars!
I was completely surprised, in all the best ways possible, with Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen. I loved the characters, the story and the fun I had reading this story. Do you believe in curses? Levi Buchanan did not, until he met Jocelyn Abernathy, Joss. She was a game-changer.
Talk about a slow burning friends-to-lovers romance! Joss and Levi became fast friends when they met, even as Levi wanted more. But he would take what he could, for now. He just did not expect now to last as long as it did. In that time, they became the best of friends. But when Joss meets a man that brings out new feelings, Levi knows its times to change the game. I loved Levi. He was strong, caring and protective. When he gave his heart, he gave it whole-heartedly. Joss had insecurities she struggled with but was so strong and very determined.
Can they realize what they have before it’s too late? I absolutely loved reading Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen. Though this is part of Penny Reid’s universe, it can be read as a standalone. Baking Me Crazy by Karla Sorensen was such a fun and light read with all the best feels.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
One of my top reads of 2019!!
Baking Me Crazy took me on an emotional roller coaster. It had me in tears by 2% and not because it’s a sad story. No, it just hit too close to home for me. Everything that Joss feels and has dealt with, I feel and have dealt with. This book wasn’t just a cute, friends to lovers story, it was so much more than that for me. I saw myself in Jocelyn. I want to talk about all the good things this book had but then I’ll be spoiling it and I don’t want to do that to you. This is a book that needs to be experienced. Thank you to Karla Sorensen for writing such a great story!
I loved this book! Such a beautiful, slow-build, swoony romance from the Smartypants Romance group!!!
Baking Me Crazy is everything you could want in a friends to lovers book. Levi is drawn to Joss immediately when he first meets her and she promptly puts him in the friend zone where he has accepted to stay forever is that means not losing his best friend. Joss has some life challenges that make her believe she is unworthy of dating and finding love and has no idea her best friend has all the love in the world for her. This one is swoony and heartfelt and you will fall in love with Levi. He is the book boyfriend everyone needs in their life!
This book is the first in the Donner Bakery series welcoming the reader into the sweet town of Green Valley. You can’t help but want to pull up a front porch
chair,savor a pickle cupcake and let yourself fall in love with the citizens,their special quirks,and the quaint small town feel. This friends to lovers trope will take through the struggles that Levi & Joss face risking a friendship for what may be their biggest mistake or greatest lifelong adventure
‘”And if I love but once in this cruel, weary world, well, I’m glad I loved once with you.”‘
If you’re looking for a high-angst story featuring a couple of jerks, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU. Baking Me Crazy is a sweet friends to lovers romance set in the same universe as Penny Reid’s Winston Brother Series. The book is a delightful return to Green Valley, Tennessee and an introduction to some wonderful new characters. The friendship and love between Levi and Jocelyn is peak heart eyes emoji.
Favorite Quotes:
Joy’s face morphed. Gone was the sweet, ebullient young woman who’d been my co-worker for the past couple of hours. Gone was the happiest person in the world. In her place was determined, scheming Joy. She narrowed her eyes, and I actually sat back in my chair from the force of it.
“There’s a wild dog sitting outside.” Her voice was shaky, but her eyes were unflinching. The skin around them was wrinkled and translucent, spotted with age. “Oh, that’s my dog.”… “He looks scary.” I smiled at her. “He’s very sweet, I promise.” “What’s his name?” “Nero,” I answered. She glanced over her glasses at me. “After the Roman emperor who burned people alive?”
Joy can’t figure out how I learned so many swear words during my young life, and I had to try to explain how spending my impressionable teen years with the Buchanans gave me the vocabulary of a drunken pirate.
For as different as I felt on the inside, it was strange that it didn’t reflect anywhere else. Shouldn’t there be a sign above my head? Beware of the twenty-one-year-old virgin with repressed sexual feelings. Explosion imminent. Touch with extreme caution. May spontaneously combust with prolonged eye contact and cupcake purchasing and/or casual swimming sessions.
My Review:
I will confess to a complete lack of awareness of Karla Sorensen’s genius before picking up this delightful book, but as she was Penny Reid’s pick to blaze the trail and be the first rattle out of the box to kick off her new Smartypants Romance, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe, well, that was all I needed to know. And I wholeheartedly concur with the mastermind’s brilliant choice. Ms. Sorensen has produced an excellent lead-in for a new series and her contribution fit seamlessly into the oddly alluring and ever-appealing microcosm of Green Valley.
Written in my favorite dual POV, the storylines were relevant, engaging, and absorbing. The main character of Joss spent much of her time in a wheelchair and I was quite taken with the care, thoughtful observation, and sensitivity used in enlightening the reader of the impact her medical and mobility issues had on her social-emotional development and the energy and concentration required to complete even the most simple of tasks of day-to-day life that ambulatory bipeds take for granted.
Ms. Sorensen’s humor was well-honed and witty, her characters were endearing and assessable, and to my gleeful amusement, their captivating tale effortlessly rolled through my gray matter with an even balance of emotional tone, with heart-squeezes and giggle-snorts aplenty. I was besotted with sweet Levi and adored how he perceived and cataloged Joss in vivid Technicolor in his inner musings. Levi current reigns as King, occupying the top spot on my list of BBFs. Does it even need saying that Karla Sorensen has a new fangirl?
All the stars in the world for this one!!! Smart, witty and oh so special
I absolutely adored this story. Joss and Levi’s love story was such a breath of fresh air. I smiled the whole way through, even in the moments I got all kinds of emotional. I was so happy to read an inclusive love story. Beautifully researched and honestly told. Everything about this one feels genuine.
This one is a true best friends to lovers book and I really wish I could read it for the first time over and over again. As someone whose husband loved her for years before she finally “saw” him this one resonated with me in the best possible way. Definitely recommend.
This is my favorite story of love at first sight. Time time might have been wrong for Levi and Joss to get together but after being best friends for 5 years Levi finally sees his opening.
Levi will make you swoon because really he’s the best guy you could ever hope for and Joss is sweet and finally figuring out how to be content with life in a wheelchair. I don’t think I could have loved this book more. It will have you laughing and pulling at your heartstrings.
Baking Me Crazy is the first release from Smartypantsromance and features new characters in the world Penny Reid created. I was so excited to see that Karla Sorenson would be writing this book because I have read a number of her other books recently. I knew from the blurb that I would love the story, too.
The writing is witty and fun, the story is unique and romantic, and the characters are interesting and relatable. Levi and Jocelyn have been best friends for years, but she doesn’t know he’s been in love with her the whole time. Their journey as they navigate changes in their lives both individually and together was so interesting. I am so glad this book is told in dual POV.
The book is full length and has a few fun Easter Eggs for readers of both Karla’s and Penny’s. It was fun seeing a different author’s take on Green Valley and Donner Bakery.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
Baking Me Crazy: Donner Bakery Book One was a great read by Karla Sorensen. Levi’s family all suffer from what is known as the Buchanan curse. They fall in love at first sight and fall hard. It is a deep and all consuming love. He always believed it wasn’t true and just something crazy that his family believes. His belief completely changed the day that he met Jocelyn. Unfortunately for him Jocelyn has built a wall around her heart and keeps it very guarded. They have been best friends for five years and have never crossed to anything more. Levi wants so much more with her but she isn’t sure she wants a relationship of any kind until a handsome stranger comes into her job and flirts with her. I really enjoyed reading this story although many times I wanted to yell at Jocelyn. This is a definite must read, I can’t wait t read more by Karla Sorensen.
My first time reading Karla Sorensen and I am a life long fan from here on out. Levi feels that he has inherited the Buchanan curse. Jocelyn enters the gym when Levi was eighteen years old. He saw the light and knew he was the next victim of the family curse. Sadly Jocelyn was not ready for a love match. Life has been cruel and what she needs is support, someone to lean on, a friend. Levi decides that if that’s what she needs, he will give that to her, be that for her. Fast forward five years to the present and a good looking guy has peaked Jocelyn’s interest and Levi has to make his move. He has been her best friend all this time but now he must show her that there is more to their relationship. I felt so drawn to these characters. I love when a relationship springs from a friendship.
My first time reading Karla Sorensen and I am a life long fan from here on out. Levi feels that he has inherited the Buchanan curse. Jocelyn enters the gym when Levi was eighteen years old. He saw the light and knew he was the next victim of the family curse. Sadly Jocelyn was not ready for a love match. Life has been cruel and what she needs is support, someone to lean on, a friend. Levi decides that if that’s what she needs, he will give that to her, be that for her. Fast forward five years to the present and a good looking guy has peaked Jocelyn’s interest and Levi has to make his move. He has been her best friend all this time but now he must show her that there is more to their relationship. I felt so drawn to these characters. I love when a relationship springs from a friendship.