A hilarious new romantic comedy from USA Today Best-selling author Carmen Jenner.Poppy Porter’s ex is getting married … to her ex best friend. To land her dream job of partner in the most prestigious firm on the Upper East Side, Poppy must now pull double shifts as their wedding planner and maid of honor. And the icing on a truly craptastic cake? Leo Nass. Handsome, infuriating, womanizer, and … womanizer, and … the best man. Despite their longstanding loathing, Poppy doesn’t see Leo coming. Literally.
One ruined cake.
One archnemesis.
One hour to save the wedding.
Can they put their hatred aside long enough to save Poppy’s job and Bridezilla’s head from exploding?
Piece of cake, right?
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Thoroughly entertaining story. Leo and Poppy have been hating on each other for years. He’s always around to torture her somehow. Their banter is witty and I found myself laughing continuously. Well written story.
Cake was definitely a step away from the heart wrenching angst that Carmen Jenner is so well known for but I think she’s about to become well known for something completely different!
Cake was deliciously (pun intended) fun. It was flirty, a whole bit cray cray and full of so much snark and sexy banter. It had me up all night sniggering and waking up my house with laugh out loud hilarity. I could not put this book down! I picked it up late at night to read a couple of chapters and a couple of hours later I was reading the two dreaded words no one wants to see at the end of a great book. THE END.
Cake was a little shorter than I thought it was going to be and more often than not I avoid short books and novella’s because I’m always worried that the relationship building between the characters will be rushed and unrealistic. That was not the case with Cake. The plot developed at a really good pace and the character development was perfectly suited to the plot and the characters themselves.
And how can you not fall in love with just the cover alone! It’s perfect for the story! It’s unique and different and something I’d love to see released a lot more!
Poppy is a great character, a little neurotic with some serious OCD tendencies and no tolerance for Leo Nass’ issues but I think we all have a little bit of Poppy inside is. (Leo would’ve loved that one! )
Leo is your typical women loving man whore! He knows he has the goods and he loves to share it all around! And he knows how to push Poppy’s buttons better than anybody. They have the most intense Love/Hate relationship full of the best banter and one liners!
I really enjoyed reading Cake! I needed it. It was exactly the type of book I needed to spend a lazy Sunday night reading. It was definitely an adventure! I highly recommend reading Cake if you’re looking for something a little outside the box or something that will keep you up at night through tears of laughter!
“The man who puts the whore in man whore…”
I’ve been a fan of Carmen Jenner’s dark romance novels for years, so I couldn’t resist giving her lighter side a try. As I suspected she nailed it, her word wizardry is not limited to genre, so I get to have my cake and eat it too. It doesn’t matter what she decides to tackle next, whether it be a dark or light, chocolate or vanilla, badass bikers or wedding planners, I’m in.
I was #TeamPoppy from the beginning. She had my support and admiration for all she’d been through. I took my hat off to her for having the courage and self-control to face her ex who is marrying her ex-best friend who had the nerve to ask her to be her maid of honor at the ceremony. I get mad every time I think about it, even as I’m typing this review. Yes, this is one of those times I’m glad my Kindle is in a shockproof protective case.
Now, before you start thinking I’m wrong, and she’s a wimp for allowing the exes to mistreat her, let me set you straight. She’s not enduring the wedding fiasco for them, she’s doing it for her job. Her dream is to make partner at the highly successful wedding planning business where she works. So, she’s forced to suck it up and plaster a fake smile on her face and make it happen in spite of her humiliation and hurt feelings.
And to make matters worse, her ex’s best friend is the best man. The man that loves to torture her by pushing her buttons and calling her Pop Tart. He never fails to be present at her most embarrassing moments, witnessing her regrets and reminding her of them with glee. He’s the last person she wants to see her at her worst, but that seems to be what happens with alarming frequency.
Leo doesn’t deny being a man whore, he claims it. He finds it amusing to taunt Poppy with sexual innuendos just to get a rise out of her. Being privy to his thoughts, I found it amusing when he admitted to me that, “I really love fighting with her.” It wasn’t a surprise to me, just confirmation of what I already knew and acknowledgment that he was aware of it too. Their fights were like foreplay and their banter was sexy and entertaining. I couldn’t wait for them to finally seal the deal. I was mentally encouraging #Thor and #GrumpyCat to get together and make my day.
I was also thrumming with anticipation for the wedding fiasco to commence. The Prologue set the stage for me and I spent most of the book waiting for it to come full circle and finish up with an epic finale. Let’s just say I was not disappointed. I loved every minute of this delicious #Enemies2Lovers romance. It was exactly what I needed to put a smile on my face and make me forget everything else as I enjoyed my #Cake without calories. I can’t wait to see what the author decides to treat her readers to next. The line forms here…
… something tells me I’d love sharing my life with this woman as much as I love fighting with her. And I really love fighting with her.
Cake was a silly, sexy, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy. Add to this recipe a whole lot of sass and witty banter, and it just takes this novella to another level. I absolutely LOVED this book! I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t this and you won’t find me complaining for a second.
4 Stars!
This is a really quick fun book that had me giggling from the start. It’s an enemy to lovers tale told in dual POV, which is one of my faves. When we first met Leo, I was thinking what a dish! Then his man whore ways shined through and I was getting disappointed. But have no fear, he redeems himself by the end. Poppy, or Pop Tart, or Crazy Cat Lady, had so many personalities. She is definitely a handful, but I loved her just the same. If I was in her shoes, I don’t think I could have be as loyal, and my heart hurt for her a few times. Was this story a little dramatic, yes a tad over the top, but it’s a work of fiction that is meant to humor us and entertain which it did for me.
Cake Recipe:
Recipe:
Ingredients-
1 vile, man whore best friend of your ex-fiance
1 ex- best friend and current fiancee of your ex-fiance
1 wedding planning job promotion
2 wedding planners
1 maid of honor slightly derranged from being the former fiancee for 2 months before she receives the new wedding invitation
Gather all the ingredients. Put them in the powder keg that is NYC. Give them little nuggets of truth and watch it all go up in flames. Once they are about to explode send them on her dream wedding, that she planned and watch the explosions.
Its both hilarious and heartbreaking. I alternated like a crazy cat lady between wanting to cry and laughing my butt off!
For once, you can have your Cake and eat it too!
THIS BOOK DOESN’T GET THE PRAISE IT DESERVES AND THAT F*CKING OFFENDS ME. MISS CARMEN JENNER HAS WRITTEN A MASTERPIECE. IT’S PERFECT IN EVERY WAY!!!!!! I NEED TO ORDER IT IN PAPERBACK.
AND YES THE CAPS ARE NECESSARY.
I AM TOO IN LOVE WITH THIS STORY TO USE ANYTHING LESS THAN CAPS!!!
IF THIS ISN’T MADE INTO A NETFLIX MOVIE SOON I WILL RIOT.
This was a well written and funny enemies to lovers page turner, and there was cake!
Do you know that book which is a welcome surprise? That’s how I call Cake by Carmen Jenner.
Poppy Porter, or Pop Tart, as Leo calls her, is a woman like us. Thirty years old, single, building life and career. She has cats, watches many movies and series. When she is in depression, she drowns in candy, she has a stern chief, a jealous co-worker, and has just been abandoned by her fianceé. After seven years together.
I confess that Leo is the first literary bastard who has conquered me. I am just like that, I am not easy. But Leonardo Nass, or Nass the ass, as Poppy calls in addition to having his charm, gradually reveals his so hidden good heart.
I had never read anything from the author, and after I readed two very dense readings and with certain controversies and was looking for something more silly. I saw the fluffy cloak and thought: this one will do.
And how surprised I was. In all the best possible ways. The book is comical and hot at the same time. There is no monotony in reading. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, the narrative is fluid and the dialogues are sensational.
As the facts of the narrative unfold, the turnaround is an expected fact. Surprise is who triggers it. The scene of the fireworks is hilarious. The constant destruction of cakes in New York is to smile and warm up your heart.
The closing of the plot takes place in a light, fun and delicious way. Like that cake you taste and devour. Sighing every little bit.
I am a big fan of chick lit books, some of my favourite authors include Paige Toon, Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk and now Carmen Jenner had just come straight through with her novel Cake and blown me out the water.
I absolutely loved this book, it was funny and the banter between the main two characters was off the charts as soon as they started going for it i knew i would laughing my guts out.
The storyline for this book was so good and the connection and chemistry between Leo and Poppy was flying out of the pages i just loved everything about these two.
Leo in one word was a male tart, he never hid it but did Poppy remind him that he could have slept with half of New York, but he was so playful and flirty and when compared to looking like Thor then yeah for me it’s the perfect guy.
Poppy was hurt and very lost, she didn’t have many people to trust and i felt so sorry for her and i would have taken all the same trips to the bakery aswell if that all happened to me. She was focused and in need of saving her job but with Leo around that was going to be hard.
This book was more than i could have expected and if you love a light hearted Rom Com with all the right amounts of laughter and an amazing love story then you need to read this, you have to meet Nass the Ass and the grumpy cat lady.
Loved loved loved this book and deserves all the success, if i could give more than 5 stars i would but i can’t so a massive 5 huge stars from me.
Cake is a fun, lighthearted romp filled with snark and witty banter and lots of thick tension between these two enemies to lovers.
Poppy aka Pop Tart is a wedding planner who’s just found out her former best friend is marrying her former fiancé and her former best friend has asked Poppy to be not only her maid of honor but that her nemesis at her office is going to be planning the wedding, not Poppy. Talk about having a bad day…and what makes it worse is that Poppy finds out her enemy her whole life, Leo Nass, her former fiancé’s best friend and the man who convinced Chase (said former fiancé) to break up with her, is going to be the best man and Poppy will have to spend the next month with him while they deal with the wedding plans. Poor, poor Poppy!
I mostly liked Cake. I liked the witty banter. I LOVED Poppy, her crazy, klutziness aside, and as a fellow Supernatural fangirl, I get her obsession with Sam, Dean and Castiel. I haven’t named my cat after them, but only because hubby named him after Star Wars before I could have my say, but I absolutely get and love her Supernatural obsession. I do not, however, get her attraction to Leo, because, quite frankly, he did not do it for me in any way. I found his manwhore ways to be obnoxious and unattractive. And because of those manwhore ways, even up to and while they were on the Maldives for the wedding, I most certainly did not believe in his supposed love for Poppy. I felt their chemistry, but it was physical only. I don’t think their connection was emotional in any way. Physical? Yes. Emotional, definitely not. That’s why the 4 stars, not 5. But, because I loved Poppy and enemies to lovers is so my thing, 4 stars is definitely deserved. I’d love to see a story for Jasper next (Leo’s brother), because he was intriguing in a way Leo was not.
One of the most funny books I’ve read in ages. I’ve loved it from beginning until end and I don’t think I’ve laughed this much in so long when reading a book. It had everything and didn’t want the story to end. A romantic comedy that will get into your heart 🙂
After being dumped by her ex-fiancé and on the verge of a promotion at work, Poppy doesn’t know how to feel anymore. It isn’t making it easier that her best friend is going to marry her ex and she’ll be the made of honor. In process of trying to deal with everything, her ex’s best man Leo is doing whatever he can to get under her skin. But what if it seems you hate each other so much, ends up being maybe the one thing you need in your life. And you find a love that will overcome it all …
“I did almost kill a man tonight over a cake.” – Poppy
38%
“You sleep in Grumpy Cat pajamas?”
“So?”
“Oh, baby. You really are a crazy cat lady.”
“Don’t call me baby; I’m not your baby. And so I like cats. So what?…”
52%
“Are you still going to this wedding, or can I eat your cake?” I mean for that to come out nothing like it sounds, but of course because apparently I’m now a teenage horn bag, it comes out low and sounds just like cake is a metaphor for her grumpy cat.”
I opened my review with some of the delightful saucy banter between our hero, Leo Nass and our heroine Poppy Porter. I do not read Rom-Com regularly, but I am open to any well-done book in the romance genre. “Cake” is a well written delight of a hot summertime fun read. It’s entertainment value is equal to any romantic comedy movie and that speaks volumes for this writer who is actually new to me.
I now have another writer that I can add to my list when I need to search for lighter fare between the dark, complex and heavy themed writing I am wont to read. The darker, suspenseful, more challenging and erudite romances are more my jam. Sometimes though…I need a break from living in my head. A state of being brought on by some of these reads I need a happy romance…the stuff of women’s modern-day fairy tales.
I think some of us have this romance “bone” or “gene” that we are born with and we need to give it its dose of HEAs for the sake of our mental health and pure relaxation. It seems when everything in life goes wrong…a romance like this always ends right-side up!!!Ahhhh!!!
Carmen Jenner writes fluidly and effortlessly with engaging description and likeable characters. There were surprise plot points and twists. I loved the overall shape of the story with the prolonged climax and super messy denouement. Sounds like I’m describing sex…Ha-Ha!!! And… Ms. Jenner is funny. Her humor was spot on…it was sexy, flirty and splendidly sarcastic.
The read is not one dimensional while it was romantic and fun, Poppy did have some pain to process through as her best friend/ former best friend allegedly began a relationship with her ex fiancé. Poppy and her ex were together for years. Her best friend and ex were together only for a few months and now they were getting married. Poppy not only had to assist in planning the destination wedding, but also was asked to be the maid of honor.
Leo Nass is her “frenemy” and also the best man in the wedding. The sparks fly whenever these two get together and it is delightful to read. The reader can feel the “tug and pull” dynamic of their relationship. Leo is described as a beautiful, genetically gifted, consummate ladies’ man who lives the life in the fast lane. His reputation as a master manwhore proceeds him as a rule.
Poppy is both attracted and repelled at the same time. I love that she is stubborn. I love that she is skeptical. She is also generous with her time and her forgiveness. Oh… and she loves all kinds of cake. For that matter, Leo does as well.
There is quite a lot of story, laughs, ooh and…hot, hot, hotness. Don’t forget the hotness!!! It happens and it is as delicious as the cake!!!
So grab “Cake”; grab a cold glass of your favorite beverage…iced tea, wine, a Frappuccino etc… and be prepared to laugh…cry for laughing; and have your heart and spirits lifted…gotta feed that “romance bone” with which you were born. You might even crave a cupcake or a piece of cake after you finish. Maybe even share it with that special someone?
Who’s doesn’t like cake and if you know someone that doesn’t get rid of them, you don’t need that kind of negativity in your life. I love rom-com, they are so fun to read.
Poppy’s Ex is marrying her ex-best friend I mean pretty shitty thing for her supposedly bestie to do, you do wonder why Poppy has to help with their wedding.Unfortunately, the company she works for are doing the wedding it’s her job and could mean a promotion.
So many funny things happen along the way. She’s stuck with her Ex’s best friend Leo. Enemies to lover, the enemy part is hilarious and so many things went wrong. I couldn’t wait for the Lovers part.
This is a good read and I’m going to be honest being ass deep in cake and frosting would be a good day.
I must say, I feel bad for Poppy. She certainly put up with a lot more than I think I would. The calamity of errors that followed her around, I think, would have done me in. I would have curled up in a ball and not faced the world again, but Poppy just bounced back and kept on going.
And Leo, well, I don’t know what to say about him. Poppy’s name for him is so appropriate, but I have to give it to him, he treated Poppy a lot better than her ex obviously did, and Leo and Poppy couldn’t stand each other.
Another great read from this author that had me laughing at times.
I loved this story!!!
Cake is a great rom-com,it was enterteining,funny and sweet…I hope it becomes a movie soon.
Poppy,our heroine,is an amazing wedding planner but she isn’t ready to arrange and to take part to her ex fiancè and best friend’s wedding.
Fortunately our heroine during this very stressful time,with her job on the line and tons of little hitches,finds the support of her very nemesis,Leo Nass.
I liked Leo even if he’s a playboy and our heroine is not too fond of him I can see something good in him and reading his scenes made me laugh a lot.
I really recommend to read this book asap if you want to have some good time.
Oh. My. Gosh. This book was perfect. I love it so so much!!
Leo Nass. I wanted to hate him so much, but found myself quickly loving him.
Poppy Porter. She’s so freaking adorable. I love her obsession with cake and Supernatural!
The banter between them is so funny! I can’t stress how much I love this book.
Hmm, where to start, I’m just not sure. All I know is that I ADORED this book! I finished this book in less than 24 hours. I stayed up late to finish it. I could barely put it down to go to work, and unfortunately the snow days did not continue while I was reading it, so I had to go to work. I was first amused that when I downloaded it to start reading during the commercials while I was watching some of my DVR episodes of Supernatural, and realized that the main character’s cats were named Sam, Dean, and Castiel. As the story went on and we learned just how much Poppy loved the same show I was watching and love, I knew she was a girl after my own heart. The heartache in this story is just so intense, I mean it is her best friend marrying her ex-boyfriend, and what’s worse, it is where Poppy works as a wedding planner that is taking care of the wedding. AND, her best friend still expects her to be a part of the wedding.
But, even as you are feeling the heartsick and unfairness that comes with this situation, there is the hilariousness of Poppy and her lust-hate relationship with Leo. Part of the story is from Leo’s point of view as well, which makes for even funnier moments to see the whole thing from his side as well. So many hilarious bits. The box of vibrators that Leo sends Poppy. All the things he does are funny. And the way Poppy reacts to him, so much like I would probably react as well. Then, that moment when it seems maybe things will turn around for Poppy, but of course something must happen to ruin it, to confuse it all. I was bereft at that, even though I knew, in the end, we would get our HEA. This is my first book by this author, and I can’t wait to read more! Also, I will definitely have to buy a physical copy of this one, I mean, I can see reading it again and again, and that cover is so awesome!
What a fun, light read! Carmen Jenner had me laughing out loud with some crazy antics sexy times that had me fanning myself. I was in the mood for a good romcom and I really enjoyed this one. Sweet, sexy, and a little splash of angst… oh and it made me REALLY want some cake!!!
Poppy Porter loves Magnolia Cupcakes
This is Pop Tart. She’s ANL-retentive, OCD, wedding obsessed, and a believer in true love, love at first sight , and . . . fate.
And Leo “Nass the A$$”, who’s done half of Manhattan and rigorously working his way through the other half. He loves needling her for her obsession with these sugary delights.
They meet in NYC , he manages to distract her enough that she falls on the street and her cupcakes are smooshed. He meets her at the wedding and they fall on the Cake. And he stalks her again till her German Chocolate Pecan cake is destroyed.
Oh in between they steal a 1000$ cake too.
So I say the story about Poppy and Leo and their love for Cake. So much so that they use it as sex food too.
And then there’s her ex , marrying her ex BFF, his ex marries Leo.
Battle of the sexes, with Cake thrown in And it’s hilarious and funny and dirty, nasty, filthy sexy !!
Win-Win !!
4 Poppykins Stars