Hate at first sight couldn’t possibly exist, right?That’s what Grace Buchanan thought, before her useless car stranded her on the side of a deserted road just inside the Green Valley city limits.When Tucker Haywood—tall and handsome and full of southern charm— shows up to help, her reaction to him is the strongest thing she’s ever felt in her life, and it makes no freaking sense.It doesn’t make … sense.
It doesn’t make much sense to Tucker either. Not why she hates him, or why he finds her so intriguing. He knows well enough that Grace is moving to Green Valley for a fresh start, not to distract him when he’s got no room for something like her in his life.
The complications between them are endless, but that doesn’t stop her definitely not love-at-first-sight feelings from changing into something else entirely.
Grace and Tucker are about to learn the hard way that in Green Valley, hating someone has never tasted so sweet.
‘Batter of Wits’ is a full-length contemporary romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #5 in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
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It’s official!! I’m obsessed with Karla Sorensen and her writing!! A full-length standalone contemporary romance apart of the Penny Reid’s Green Valley Book Universe, Batter of Wits is the second book I’ve read by Karla and it’s my absolute favorite!
The Buchanan Curse is at it again and this time, Grace is the next victim. Grace also happens to be Levi Buchanan’s cousin. Levi is the hero from Karla’s first novel written in the Donner Bakery Series/Green Valley Book Universe, Baking Me Crazy. After being stranded in the middle of nowhere on the back roads of Tennessee, one comment from Tucker Haywood makes Grace Buchanan turn feral mad. Now, Grace is usually nice to strangers but for some reason she cannot stop herself from feeling a strong sense of disdain towards Tucker, nor can she resist blurting out rude comment after comment.
Poor Tucker. Being a southern gentlemen, Tucker stops to aide the woman stranded on the side of the road… not thinking of how she’ll turn his world upside down. He doesn’t even realize what hit him. You guys, Tucker is so dreamy and sweet with a sexy accent–literally a perfect hero.
I could NOT get enough of this book! It’s such a fun read with some hilarious hate-to-love banter. I especially loved this couple pairing and the fact that Tucker calls Grace, Angry Girl #SWOON. Through Grace, Tucker learns that it’s okay to take risks and Grace is able to find her niche’ in the small-town of Green Valley.
Batter of Wits is such a heartfelt, angsty, and swoon worthy novel. I laughed, I even shed a tear (or two), and I finished this novel feeling extremely giddy! I cannot wait to see what Karla has in store in the future books!!
Loved this book! The Buchanan Curse strikes again!
The Donner Bakery books are some of my favorite Smartypants Romance books. The setting is so much fun, and the writing is so sharp and smart. Karla Sorensen has once again provided a great addition to the series.
The Buchanan curse is Love At First Sight. Bone deep love that cannot be avoided. And it was great to experience Grace’s experience with this since she HATES Tucker, and Tucker has a girlfriend to boot.
Grace and Tucker sure do take us on a bit of an emotional ride in this one. They are good people, stuck and trying to find their way. Their wild emotions take us on a great journey full of amazing witty banter that flows and works well in the narrative of the story.
Plus we got to catch up with Levi and Joss, and the Winston clan, so it’s like coming back home!
This book was really good! As usual, almost every single book I’ve read in the SmartyPants Romance series has blown me away. I also was so excited to get to see another member of the Buchanan family deal with the family curse of having a soulmate. Only the way Grace got it was weird, it was hate at first sight! Soon realizing she was truly only one of two females ever born to the family after the curse, it was interesting to see how it affected her and her life.
At first, I was a little worried about how Tucker could be the love of her life, especially when we found out just why he couldn’t have her as a distraction because of what was going on in his life.
The author handled all the issues perfectly. I even am looking forward to getting Grace’s twin brother’s story in the future hopefully. The romance was sweet and perfect, and so easy to pick up and read and read and read, and then so hard to put down if I had to! Which with all the crazy quarantine stuff, I didn’t have to do that much. Another win for this series. Although, while I get the connection to the first book in the series by this author, Baking Me Crazy, this honestly didn’t really have enough of a connection to the Bakery for me. I’ll mention something similar about the library book I’ll be reviewing soon as well!
Grace Buchanan is the only female in the Green Valley Buchanans family tree after five generations. Which means she definitely will be spared from the great Buchanan curse, that of falling in love at first sight, right? Well, unfortunately for Grace being female just means the curse seems to take a slightly different form. When she meets Tucker Heywood, instant hate is the go to response, the poor guy doesn’t even know why! Tucker has always followed the path of least resistance. A Green Valley guy from the day he was born, it seems that he’ll stay there forever, get married to the one that appears right to him and follow into his father’s footsteps. But everything seems to change when he meets one very angry Grace Buchanan. Now what are they going to do when what she wants seems so unattainable and what he needs might lead to something so unfamiliar?
Batter of Wits follows once more the Buchanans and their infamous curse and Ms. Sorensen once again delivers a charming, humorous and sexy romance that’s also has so much depth and poignancy and emotion. I love how falling in love is portrayed as an upheaval of the life as one knows and the uncertainty and almost breath stealing experience it is. Grace and Tucker will charm and make readers adore them and definitely root for their Happy Ever After.
Batter of Wits is the 5th book in the Donner Bakery Series, a spin off from Penny Reid’s Winston Brothers Series and the second book penned by Karla Sorensen.
This book was steamy, frustrating, and amazing. The characters had depth, wonder, and a sense of hope as well as adventure. I loved these characters and the lesson(s) that this book unpacked. Definitely recommend anyone who enjoys feel-good romance in a small town.
4.5 STARS
NO SPOILERS!
Batter of Wits was a sweet, funny, sexy, and entertaining standalone romantic comedy in the Donner Bakery series from Smartypants Romance and Karla Sorensen.
I thoroughly enjoyed Tucker and Grace’s story from start to finish, and I loved the small town of Green Valley, Tennessee, and all of its residents. I laughed, smiled, and swooned my heart out while reading Batter of Wits, and I loved experiencing Tucker and Grace’s journey alongside them. It was intriguing, quirky, and difficult at times, but totally worth it in the end.
Batter of Wits was another MUST READ romance from Karla Sorensen, especially in the Donner Bakery series, and I can’t wait to read her next installment, Steal my Magnolia, in 2021!
In this installment of the Donner Bakery series we learn more about the “Buchanan Curse”. Grace Buchanan is moving back to Green Valley, where she was born, after growing up in California with her mom. Just inside Green Valley city limits though, her car decides to die. On top of that, there’s no cell reception. When a truck stops to help, Grace can’t help the wave of hatred she feels towards the driver, Tucker Haywood. Grace has never experienced such an intense hatred for a man she’s never met before and it leaves her confused.
Not only is Grace confused, but so is Tucker. He’s just stopped to help a stranded woman, and she bites his head off. He’s never had someone react that way before. That’s why he gives Grace the nickname, “Angry Girl”.
After being thrown together to plan a new booth at the upcoming Headless Chicken Festival. Yup, the Headless Chicken Festival! Grace unknowingly shows Tucker what he’s missing in his relationship with Magnolia. Magnolia and Tucker have been together since they were in high school, and the relationship has plodded along. They weren’t even at the point of engagement, or moving in together, even though they’re both set in their respective careers, having gone to college, and law school for Tucker.
Grace learns a surprising twist in her family’s curse. One that only pertains to the women, something the rest of the family knew nothing about since Grace is the first female born into the family in generations.
Now, you don’t have to read the Donner Bakery series in order, I haven’t, but you should read the series because of the great writing, the wonderful characters, and the sweet setting. I can’t wait to see what happens with Grady and Lia!
**I read this story with my Kindle Unlimited Subscription
The Buchanan curse strikes again but not quite like you expect. Tucker is in a long-standing relationship when he meets Grace and the repercussions of breaking it off are far reaching. Some sweet, funny, sad and steamy moments.
Batter of Wits is about pursuing what truly makes you happy! Such a wonderful addition to the Donner Bakery series, this will have you laughing and anxiously awaiting more from the author. Don’t miss out on this trip back to Green Valley and a fresh start that brings more than you could ever imagine. I loved this book and read it all in one sitting!
Favorite Quotes:
He could talk a snake into crutches, if he put his mind to it.
Don’t you get all high and mighty, Francine. If I had legs like hers, I’d work the pole too.
My brother smiled wide, and if his thick skull had a window in it, I would’ve seen the wheels spinning.
It was as if her brain was built with subtitles, because her facial expressions were so clear, so obvious, everything she was thinking played across that face as if someone was typing them in all-capped, bold letters.
This man would need a lobotomy to get over his anger with me.
She snatched the book from Maxine’s hand. “Ladies,” she said with a smile. “This one is mine.” The cover caught the light, a half-naked man clutching a scantily clad woman to his brawny chest. Maxine rolled her eyes. “Who do you think is fighting you over it, Ruby?” “You’d want it too if you read the last one. There was a scene in a ship that had me in hot flashes for a solid week.”… Ruby looked down at her book, and I snapped another picture, the rapturous expression on her gently wrinkled face had me grinning.
Shame didn’t go down easily when you tried to swallow it…
My Review:
Oh, happy, day! Another cleverly penned and sassy Smartypants Romance book to savor, smirk, and giggle snort over. I am a new disciple of Ms. Sorensen having only read her previous contribution to this witty series with Baking Me Crazy, and I am totally enamored with her after reading this snarky yet sweet and deliciously entertaining tale. I adore her highly amusing and seamless style of snappy banter, indomitable biddies, quirky characters, and shrewdly irreverent insights. My burgeoning TBR now includes her entire backlist and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
4 Stars!
After having read Baking Me Crazy last year I couldn’t wait for another Donner Bakery book from Ms.Sorensen! I had to pick this one up as soon as I could and I really enjoyed it!
From how they were brought into each other’s lives to getting to delve deeper with them, and everything in between, Grace and Tucker’s journey was quite the entertaining one!
I related to both Grace and Tucker and the realness that they showed made me feel even more connected to them. These two had me feeling all kinds of different things throughout!
With Batter of Wits, Ms.Sorensen has created such a great read! I am so looking forward to reading what she comes up with next!
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Smartypants Romance / the author*
The Green Valley Chronicles has become a place I come home to for a while now. All the books I’ve read have taken me to a happy place. I have been introduced to so many great authors I can’t even with all my happy!
Okay, so I hadn’t had the chance to read the first book in this series before I got this ARC but as soon as I found out about the Buchanan curse plot point, I started at the beginning. OH THE JOY! I can’t even tell you which one I loved the best but I digress lol Let’s chat about this book!
Grace and Tucker …. You guys … what is happening?! They were pure joy even during the hate phase!! Everything from character development and growth to story layering was on point for me. I didn’t just think this story was enjoyable, I felt the joy people!
This was such a cute book! I really enjoyed it! I didnt want to put it down. I loved that there was no long drawn out unnecessary drama. As much as I loved this book I cant wait for the next one! If you want a sweet to the point romance this is for you!
Received an arc for an honest review
Grace Buchanan is a force to be reckoned with and when the Los Angeles transplant finds herself stuck on the side of the road with a man who could only be described as “handsome but why too nice” shows up the help her. Well, what comes next was even hard for Grace to understand. What is it you ask? Well, hate. With a big ole capital HATE.
Grace has never had such a visceral reaction to a person but when Tucker Haywood show ups to help her, she can stand to hear him talk, and really can’t wait for him to leave her alone. Plus Grace should be feeling the opposite, at least with her family curse of love at first sight. What a way to start your first day in a new town. But what happens next is even more confusing. Things start to change. Not only for Grace but for Tucker too.
Have I got you confused yet? LOL. Just know that this book is fun, witty, sexy and the type of book that makes me swoon in all the right places.
What I love about the Smarty Pants Romance Novels, is you really don’t have to have read any of the original books in Penny Reid’s Series set in Green Valley. These books are super fun and can be read in any order without feeling lost. I especially love the Donner Bakery novels the most. Give them a try and you’ll love them!
4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book.I was sucked right into the book right from the beginning. I loved Grace and Tucker. They have great chemistry and throw in a family curse you have a recipe for one intriguing book. I love this series and the town so I’m excited to dive into Green Valley World. I loved the humor in this one. It was one of my favorite parts of the book. Another thing I like about this book is both Grace and Tucker are in a crossroads of where they want to go in life. They do some soul searching that I find myself doing. I would highly recommend this book because you’re going to get lost in this book and come up for air to see time as flown. It’s one to start when you have time to read because you’re going to get frustrated when interrupted.
**Arc provided by Smartypants Romance and their team in exchange for an honest review**
This is my favourite of Round 2 of Green Valley Chronicle releases so far. It was beautiful. Stunning. Cute. Made me cry. Made me long. Made me laugh.
And. That. Epilogue.
Give me more of the Buchanan curse or give me death. (Don’t kill me. I jest. But really. Give me)
Outstanding writing. Amazing characters. The world is so cozy. Side characters you fall in love with and want to protect at all costs. Light on the angst but there to the point you really root for everyone.
Karla Sorensen. You, madam. Are a magician. And I want to be your friend.
Batter of Wits is a really cute and funny read. I’m pretty sure I laughed about 95% of the time while reading it. Grace is amazing! I connected with her right away and her craziness towards Tucker. Now Tucker is 100% a southern gentleman and the insta attraction is strong between these two. I thought both characters and their personalities really helped bring this story to life. I love all the Donner Bakery stories but I think this might be my new favorite or until I reread the others or a new one comes out! Great addition to the Green Valley world!
Review by Raychel
Wow, this was good! I didn’t really fall for the characters in this author’s first Smartypants release, and I approached this a bit worried about missing that connection again, but clearly Sorenson is gaining confidence and writing rich, fully developed characters. Tucker is the perfect book boyfriend… handsome, charming with a whole bucket of issues. Grace was strong and did what she needed to do and I love that in a female lead. The whole Buchanan curse may be a romantic trope, but this book made it believable for me. I really enjoyed my time with this book and look forward to Grady’s story!
This is a great romance read! I really enjoyed the characters and their families. This book is a great addition to the Green Valley Chronicles.
4.5 Stars
I’m thoroughly enjoying this second release of Smartypants romances. Like the others this one is written in the same world as Karla Sorensen’s Baking Me Crazy. This is Grace’s story we heard of the Buchanan love at first sight curse. She moved to Green Valley to start over she doesn’t think that curse will happen to her though. But it does but more like hate at first sight.
Grace and Tucker’s first meeting doesn’t go well at all, the littlest things about him get on her nerves. It goes on and on until they’re paired to work together for a town festival. Tucker has a long time girlfriend and a job he’s not quite in love with. It’s like he just follows the tide and cause it what he knows. They make each other think even if it took a while for feelings to develop. I like that Grace saw Tucker and how unhappy he was.
They had there fair share of hurdles especially since Tucker broke up with his girlfriend who is well liked. I have to note he broke up with her once an inkling of feeling started and he realized it which is great. Also Grace had to navigate her own feelings curse wise and other things. Tucker manned up and got things together. Tucker and Grace had a sweet twist on the hate at first sight trope. I can’t wait for Grady’s story!