If opposites do actually attract, then Gunnar Erickson and Frankie Reeves take the cake. Frankie Reeves is complicated, even though she won’t admit it. She fills her days working as an ER nurse, taking care of her mom, and searching for the father she never knew. Anything else has no place in her perfectly compartmentalized, purposefully simple life. Attachments? No thank you. She has no time for … for that. Gunnar Erickson recently moved to Green Valley to train at Viking MMA with his brother Cage. Being the youngest of the Erickson clan, he’s always felt like he has something to prove, and now that he’s finished with college, it’s his time to shine. But before he can step into the ring, a freak accident sends him to the ER and into the care of one Frankie Reeves. While he’s immediately smitten, she pretends to be unfazed by this six-foot-three, two hundred and thirty-pound beef cake. Gunnar sets out to prove to Frankie that, not only does she like him more than she wants to admit, but he’s not the uneducated, brute she assumes he is. To Frankie, he’s the worst kind of complication, but that doesn’t make it easy to stay away. ‘Beef Cake’ is a full-length contemporary romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #4 in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
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Yasss…I had the absolute pleasure of reading Beef Cake by Jiffy Kate and y’all…Gunnar Erickson is one hawt Beef Cake..i mean guy. Lol
Buttt wait.. He is MMA..Eeepp talk about being in Heaven!! I LOVE me an MMA fighter. They are always so big and so bad, they make you feel safe and secure and can protect you with just one look..lol But he is still sooo saweet and lovable to his girl…*sighs* He is perfection!! Back off ladies. HE.IS.MINE!! LOL
Besides Gunnar being AMAZING…and Amazing to read about, Beef Cake is one Hell of a rollercoaster ride of emotions, twists and turns and secrets that you are dying to figure out..make sure you go one click on release day and find out what I’m preaching to you about!!
5 I love me sum “Jiffy Kate” Stars!! These ladies keep me stalking them after every book waiting for my next fix…I mean book to read!! lol
‘Beef Cake’ is a full-length contemporary romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #4 in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
I am so embracing my inner Viking with this story!
Set in the fantastic world of Penny Reid’s Green Valley is the newest installment from Jiffy Kate.
This is Gunnar and Frankie’s story and I fell hard for both of them!
Frankie is a product of her upbringing. She is guarded and structured in her world, everything has it’s place and she feels like she is OK with it. Her past is a blur and she wants and needs to know more, but at what cost?
Gunnar Erickson is an upcoming MMA fighter. But he is a gentle soul, he is kind and oh so patient and goodness knows he loves a challenge. And when he meets Frankie, he knows she is his greatest challenge of all. The battle to win her heart and soul and he is amazing at it!
This story has heart and heat and some really poignant moments. I was so enamored of this story and these characters, it was hard to say goodbye at the end.
It was fun to see past characters from Jiffy Kate’s previous Donner Bakery series. It was like a mini family reunion!
What a fabulous story and series!! Get your hands on it!
I just loved the way Gunnar gently, lovingly, and beautifully helped Frankie come out of her self-imposed prison and begin to live. Gunnar and Frankie’s love story has a little bit of everything – sweet moments, swoons, semi-dangerous moments, painful pasts, family moments, and even some chuckles. Expect to feel all the things – fear, love, anger, redemption, tears, joy, and so much all encompassing, nurturing, protective love. The dance between Gunnar and Frankie was so beautifully choreographed that the emotions it evokes in the reader were a natural extension of the words on the page. On their way to their HEA, Frankie has to come to terms with the darkness in her past in order to embrace a beautiful life. This was at its core a heart warming story about love, loss, family, and damaged but not broken people. And while most of us will never be in the situations the main characters are a part of, the author nevertheless makes who they are as people so relatable and real that it is easy to fall in love with them. I cannot wait to hear what happens for the next Erickson brother.
*** 4.5 Stars ***
Beef Cake (Donner Bakery #4) by Jiffy Kate is a romantic comedy told in first person, dual POV. Although it’s book four in Smartypants Romance’s Donner Bakery series, it can be read as a complete standalone. The story follows the relationship between Frankie, an ER nurse and physician’s assistant, and Gunner, an up-and-coming MMA fighter.
Frankie wants to know where she comes from. Raised by a single mother, she has no memory of her father. All she knows is that he belonged to the Iron Wraiths MC, a local biker gang of criminals. In her search for answers, Frankie has gotten mixed up with the Wraiths and they’ve been using her as their personal doctor by dangling the promise of providing information about her father. Frankie has scars all over her body, but no memory of what happened to her as a child. She knows her father was likely involved, because her earliest memory is of living at a women’s shelter with her mother. When a hot MMA fighter shows up in her ER to get his face stitched up, Frankie is irritated by her attraction to him. She can’t stand fighting, and thinks his chosen profession is revolting.
Gunnar Erickson is a rising star on the MMA scene who comes from a family of famous fighters. When an accident lands him in the hospital ER, he’s drawn to the gorgeous nurse who takes care of him. Frankie says she’s not interested, and she doesn’t hide her disdain for Gunnar’s job, but he is still determined to get to know her better.
Can Gunnar break through Frankie’s walls? What will happen as she gets closer to the truth about her father? Is Frankie in danger? Read the book to find out.
I loved Frankie and Gunnar’s story. My heart broke for Frankie as I learned what she had experienced as a child. The story dealt with issues of abuse and trauma in a respectful and sensitive manner. I loved the way Gunnar supported Frankie – his willingness to take things slow and be there for her in whatever capacity she needed. I’m familiar with the Iron Wraiths from Penny Reed’s Green Valley World, so I had my suspicions about who may have been Frankie’s father. I was sad to have my suspicions confirmed because he is evil incarnate. The author did a great job of showing how trauma can be suppressed and how therapy plays an important role on the road to healing. The story was sweet, sexy, and emotional. A recommended read.
I really enjoyed this read! It grabbed my attention from the very beginning. Loved the characters in the book. Frankie learns how to let down her walls and find trust within herself and Gunnar. She faces trauma and comes out a stronger person. I loved that there was no unnecessary drama.
Was given an arc for an honest opinion
Gunnar Erickson never thought his move to Green Valley would include Frankie Petterson. He came to train with his brother, to be a better fighter. But this fascinating woman has him in knots. She works, she volunteers and she never does anything for herself. He wants to change that. He wants her. Frankie does not know what to make of Gunnar, the beef cake that walked in to her ER. He fights for a living and that terrifies her. But she can’t seem to stay away. Until her past rears it’s ugly head and things she never imagined come to the surface. Can she take a leap of faith and hope he will catch her when she falls? It’s sweet and fun with a little darkness that leads to a happily-ever-after and I adore Green Valley and all its residents.
What a great trip back to Green Valley and the Donner Bakery!
Round 2 of the SmartyPants Romance launch is off to a smashing start with Beef Cake by Jiffy Kate. Beef Cake follows Frankie and Gunnar on their road to happily ever after. Gunnar is a MMA fighter, and Frankie is a woman with a complicated past that involved some violence. They are not a match on paper, but they are match in their hearts and souls, and the evolution of their relationship is thoughtful, careful and measured. Frankie definitely has walls up, but she is so warm and compassionate and she’s yearning for someone to take this journey with her. Gunnar seems like he’d be gruff and tough, but he is a sweet, compassionate Viking of a man.
Loved this book, and this couple. I’m so glad they found their happily ever after! Looking forward to more in the series.
Beef Cake is an absolute knockout! This book has a little bit of everything – comedy, drama, romance and action. Jiffy Kate knocked this new addition to the Donner Bakery series out of the park. This story was a lot deeper than I expected it to be, but what a wonderful journey Jiffy Kate takes you on. I wasn’t able to put this one down and was still thinking about it days later. Definitely add this one to your must-read collection!
Frankie Reeves and Gunnar Erickson are pretty much on opposite ends of the feelings spectrum. Gunnar is from a boisterous and tight-knit family, and he knows that someone will always have his back. He tells things like he sees them, and doesn’t hesitate to go after what he wants. And, yep, he wants Frankie.
Frankie’s past has made her guarded, and somewhat of a loner, but even she is not immune to the new Erickson in town. Gunnar sees how hard it is for Frankie to trust, and lets her take her time to warm up to him. He’s a true gem, loving and patient, and the perfect foil for Frankie. Gunnar is the sun to Frankie’s moon. Where Gunnar is bright and open, Frankie is serious and solitary. But he’s used to working hard to achieve his goals, and when he sets his sights on Frankie, Gunnar is going all out.
Being my first read from Jiffy Kate, I had high hopes for BEEF CAKE, and it did not disappoint. The ladies have written a book both romantic and gritty, no mean feat when I think about it. This is the perfect addition to the Smartypants catalog, and I look forward to reading more books by these talented authors.
This was a fun opposites attract romance from Jiffy Kate!! I really enjoyed it! Frankie Reeves & Gunnar Erickson are from two different professions, She’s an ER Nurse & He’s an MMA guy. Gunnar is smitten with Frankie as soon as he meets her, but she pretends to be unfazed by him. What will happen between these two? Will sparks fly? Will she reveal & give into her true feelings? One-Click to find out what goes down between these two!!
I absolutely loved reading Beef Cake. Gunner is so amazing, sweet, patient and just a wonderful guy. Frankie at times had me almost screaming in frustration but as her story and past came out everything started clicking. I enjoyed the growth of the characters. The story, characters and writing kept me interested and hooked from beginning to end.
Favorite Quotes:
“He was sexy as hell,” she muses, in one of those airy, breathy voices that says I’d happily sacrifice myself at his altar.
When I was a freshman in high school, we had to wrestle in PE class. One day, I had to wrestle a girl, which was fine by me, until she accidentally slipped her hand up my shorts and grabbed my balls. I guess you could call it my first hand job, only it wasn’t as enjoyable as I would’ve hoped… A couple of years later, I took that same girl to the Homecoming dance. I was very pleased to learn her technique had improved immensely.
My Review:
Cleverly written in my favorite dual POV, this maddeningly paced story swung from angst to sharp wit, to tragedy, to heart-squeezes, to potential peril, to amusing humor, and on to a sweet wooing romance and then back through all the cycles, multiple times. And I was rooting for these lovely characters throughout the entirety, although I wanted to stamp my little foot at Frankie’s mixed messages, and inconsiderate and snappish behaviors toward sweet Gunnar. She was an ER nurse with hard edges and a tough outer shell yet filled with fear and anxiety as well as confusion and nightmares about her past. In vast contrast, Gunnar was a hulking Viking cage fighter who was a rather anomalous character as he fought like a demon in the cage yet was well educated, profoundly insightful with people, and had a tender heart and the patience of a saint. Luckily, Gunnar didn’t back down from a challenge, and Frankie was certainly that, she was several in fact, and a total mess.
The engaging storylines were certainly original and oddly absorbing yet evolved slowly with an ever-annoying one step forward and two steps back dance while I grew increasingly fretful as I had an inkling as what was coming in the big reveal of Frankie’s repressed childhood, which was even worse than I had imagined yet handled in a stellar manner by these clever scribes. I adore the entire line of Smartypants Romances, which appear to be amassing an uncannily well-cultivated grouping of talented wordsmiths. I am well and truly hooked and plan to read each and every one of them.
I really enjoyed this cute little slow burn, opposites attract romance.
I liked Frankie; her dedication to her work and her mother. She was so focussed and had such a big and generous heart. I also liked that she wasn’t a virgin. She hadn’t had the best experiences, but enough that she wasn’t painfully innocent. And, oh, her childhood. Having survived so much shows an inner strength that is awe inspiring.
Gunnar was divine. I liked that he was a well rounded character; he wasn’t just a fighter. Watching his character interact with his brothers was humorous as well as sweet. They’re all big lugs, but they truly care for each other. And I really liked how patient he was with Frankie, and how he took care of her without being overly macho about it. A true renaissance man.
Two small things detracted from the story. I didn’t understand why Lisa and Allie left the safety of the shelter. I wish that had been explained more clearly. And although this book is listed as Donner Bakery #4, there is only the smallest connection to that great establishment. That was unfortunate. If there’s going to be a story about each of the Erickson brothers, perhaps it would have been better to give the series a different name.
Aside from that, the authors have once again written a remarkably powerful story about love, family, and trust. I look forward to their next collaboration!
How they do it??? That’s my biggest question for this duo!
I loved Beef Cake sooo much! Although it’s a stand-alone book you should read first Stud Muffin because you get the secondary characters story in there and trust me, you will want that story as well
I love Frankie and Gunnar, two different people who try to make their way in the life of Green Valley. Their characteristics may surprise you and you’ll think this won’t ever work but, like in real life, it really does.
Love will always make its way into their souls and overcome everything in its path.
It’s such a beautiful story that made me curious, made me laugh out loud so many times and made my heart beat faster as well.
Jiffy Kate has one gain delivered a couple that I fell in love with!
Gunner and Frankie are quite the unlikely duo but that will not stop Gunner from showing her just how interested he is . Frankie is a tough nut to crack. She has learned not to expose her feelings or get to attached . Frankie is a ER nurse and she gives everything she has to work, volunteering and keeping herself in a routine . Gunner is about to join her routine and give her so many new things to want out of life!!Does she feel the electricity when she is near Gunner…yes but fear is a powerful hinderance for her to pursue any kind of relationship.
Gunner is what the ladies would call a beef cake. He is a MMA fighter but also smart, sweet and sensitive and he may be what Frankie needs to break down those emotional walls ! I loved them !
~~Michele McMullen ~~
Helping others is ingrained into Frankie Reeves’ life. As an ER nurse, Frankie can’t help letting her compassion bubble over into her ‘free’ time. Between her devotion to the medical field, the desire to take care of her mother, and a constant search for the father she has never known, Frankie has very little time for anything – or anyone – else.
Gunnar Erikson has recently moved to Green Valley to help his brother – Cage – open up an extension of their family gym. Training for the MMA, Gunner finds himself in the ER for a little bit of stitching up. Nothing could have prepared Gunnar for crossing paths with Frankie. Instantly – the fighter couldn’t fight the sparks that were flying from that initial meeting.
Gunnar quickly learns that Frankie has an aversion to anything that involves violence, including the MMA sport. What Frankie doesn’t realize is Gunnar is determined to show her that he is more than just a ‘pretty face’. Hold on to your gloves, this Erikson brother is definitely full of surprises!!
After Tempest’s story in the Smartypants Romance’s Green Valley spin-offs, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on another Jiffy Kate novel. Beef Cake was the complete opposite of the fire that exuded from Tempest’s tale. The novel was a tamer version of finding love for an Erikson sibling!! Frankie had devoted her life to helping others but doesn’t leave time for finding that perfect soulmate that can soothe her ups and downs at the end of the day. Gunnar is determined that he can fill that hole in Frankie’s heart that she doesn’t even know is there.
Beef Cake was more of a slow build romance that involved trust and an open mind. Diving headfirst into Beef Cake – I was expecting more ‘spark’ when it came to finding love for another Erikson brother. While I really enjoyed Frankie and Gunnar’s tale, I did find it a tad ‘slow’ for my tastes. The delicacy of the romance just didn’t ‘fit’ with the expectations I had after such a hilarious and explosive tale from Tempest. In spite of this lag, I did enjoy Gunnar and Frankie’s book. Are there more books in store for other Erikson siblings? I am not sure…..readers will have to stay tuned. Green Valley is full of surprises that are just waiting to be ‘heard’.
4 Us Stars!!
Since I read Stud Muffin I couldn’t wait to pick up another Donner Bakery book by the Jiffy Kate duo! I got into this story from the start and from that point on I didn’t want to turn away from it. I really enjoyed this installment!
From the sweetness to the emotion, Frankie and Gunnar’s journey was one that got me right in the heart! There was more to these two than meets the eye and I loved getting to dig deeper with them throughout reading.
I fell for these characters more and more with every page turn and I wanted to hug them so much. Their story was just what I needed in my life!
With Beef Cake, the Jiffy Kate duo have created another awesome read that will touch your heart! I can’t wait to read what they release next!
*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from Smartypants Romance / the authors*
Last year, when the Green Valley World was first introduced, I only signed up, as a blogger, to read a handful of the books because I wasn’t very familiar with most of the authors and I also hadn’t read the entire Winston Brothers series. The minute I finished the first book, I downloaded all the Winston Brothers books because I had to know this world inside out. It was a necessity! Which leads us to today (lol) I’m not totally caught up with the world just yet, but I’m close LOL
Beef Cake is my first read by this author duo and I am already in love with their style and voice! I don’t know who writes what or how they make the magic happen because I haven’t stalked them yet, but I do know they are seamless and they entertained me from page one! They managed to write a deep emotional journey with some serious plot points without drowning it in darkness. I know the title and maybe the cover would have you believe this is a light read, but I didn’t find anything light about it. It was powerful and truthful, realistic and respectful and very well written. I can’t wait to devour more words from these ladies!
Beef Cake is the next in the Donner Bakery series and SmartyPants Romance releases! This one features Frankie, an ER nurse who takes care of patients, her mom, abused women in a shelter, and in between all of that, fixes up members of the Iron Wraiths in exchange for information about her father.
Gunnar is the next MMA star – and is currently training with his brother Cage (from Stud Muffin). Gunnar meets Frankie when he’s brought into the ER by his brother, but she’s not impressed by his good looks, sexy charm, or his muscles. Not at all. Nope.
The two dance around each other and you soon discover why she’s afraid to get involved with him, and the ties she has to the shelter, and is freaking out about his MMA fighting.
This was another fun read, and while I’m new to the writing of Jiffy Kate and haven’t read their books before entering the PennyVerse / Smarty Pants Romance group, I’m absolutely a fan!
Opposites Attract | Standalone Romance
Jiffy Kate has written another fabulous installment in the Donner Bakery series! Beef Cake was exactly what I wanted in a romance at this time and I smiled the whole way through. I love an opposites attract romance and this book is one of my favorites in the sub-genre.
What makes this book so special for me? The fact that a woman who has come from hard times finds it in her to open her heart even though doing so could potentially wreck her. Jiffy breathed life into Frankie’s character and made her as realistic as they come. I love how she wasn’t perfection personified and that her character was facing internal struggles when it comes to love.
Beef Cake GUNNAR, her total opposite, is infatuated with Frankie the moment he meets her. But getting this lovely woman to open up isn’t an easy feat. Throughout the story readers will see the transformation in both of them and watch love blossom in the most unlikeliest ways.
Honestly, it was a pleasure reading this book. I loved the underlying emotion and how Jiffy Kate brought these two together. I highly recommend it.