Finn Leighton loves owning his bakery and tries not to dwell on the boyfriend that was the love of his life in culinary school. When his co-worker sends in an application for him to compete on the reality baking show, Cake Clash, he’s nervous but also excited for the opportunity. Even if he secretly wishes he was competing alongside Josiah.Chef Jos, one of the youngest, renowned celebrity chefs, … chefs, and a notorious recluse, is surprised when he’s asked to be a judge on the reality television baking show, but takes the opportunity as a fresh start. He’s blown away when he recognizes Finn as one of the contestants.
The years separated from Finn have transformed him from Josiah Stevens to Chef Jos, and seem to disappear in the presence of his first love. Can they make up for lost time, and reconnect for love on the rollercoaster ride that is Cake Clash?
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A reality baking show with LOVE.
Finn, owns his own bakery and loves it, his co-worker enters Finn into a reality baking show. Will it be everything he hopes.
Josh, a celebrity chef, but is a recluse, he’s surprised when asked to be a judge on the reality baking show, but he agrees to do it.
Whilst on set, fellow judges ask about Josh’s significant other, he tells them he hasn’t got one, he let his love go when they finished cookery school. But he thinks of him all the time.
When Finn spots Josh at the baking show, can he keep his cool and pretend that he isn’t mad but still loved Josh. Can he bake well and keep within the competition.
This is a good book, well written and narrated well. I did speed up to 1.25 on audible but thats normal for me.
Cake Clash
By: BL Maxwell, Claire Castle
Narrated by: Jack Watson
Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins
Overall
Narration
Story
Read at 1.25 speed on Authors Direct
Cupcakes & Dreams
This book will give you the ultimate sugar rush and will make you crave baked goods. “I was always waiting for you.” Finn and Josiah are a combination of spicy and sweet with sizzling chemistry; also, very creative when it comes to their presentation of strawberries and cream. They are meant to be together and I’m so happy they found each other again.
I adore Guy and Daniel. They made me laugh and I fell in love with them too. I really enjoyed the competitions. They were intense with plenty of humor, surprises and strong friendships, but they also brought out the worst sides of some people. I admired Finn and how he handled everything. He‘s amazing. A delicious love story that will have you asking for a second helping.
Loved this one!
Cake Clash is the collaboration between authors B.L. Maxwell and Claire Castle. If you’re a fan of the Food Network, then you’ll really love the concept behind this story.
Finn Leighton is a contestant on the popular TV show, Cake Clash, where he competes with others through many different challenges to win a prize of $250,000. He’s highly skilled and quite successful with his own bakery.
Chef Josiah Stevens is a successful chef as well but goes by the name Jos—which is just enough for Finn not to recognize who he really is: Finn’s long lost lover from his culinary school days. Needless to say, when the two reconnect at the show, Jos has some ‘splainin’ to do!
And he does. I have to say I love that this story didn’t dwell too much on the negative part of their time away from each other. As the contestants move further along in the competition, not only do *their* ovens heat up—but Josiah and Finn are sizzlin’ it up in the bedroom too. Boy, these two are certainly making up for lost time! They’re absolutely adorable together and each other’s biggest fan.
The best part about this book is the detail and descriptions that went into each competition round. The desserts are mouth-watering, and I found myself rummaging through my pantry looking to bake whatever I could! (No lie.) The authors also did a nice job of explaining the crazed frenzy between all the bakers as they try to create the best version of what’s required. It really kept me glued to the story and in a panic myself!
In the end, it really didn’t matter if Finn won the contest or not. Having Josiah back in his life and the two finding their HEA was the best prize of all. I definitely recommend this light and fun read, but just a warning—eat before you read!
I’ve read both these authors before but not a book written together. This is a mm contemporary romance story set in the USA. Main characters are Chef Jos a judge in a cake baking reality show and Finn one of the contestants on the show. Second chance love. Told from duel POV. I had no real connection with the main characters.
This was a blast to read. Jos and Finn reconnecting after years apart was so sweet but they had a lot of decisions to make. I thoroughly enjoyed the secondary characters as well. Daniel and Guy were a trip. Annie was a pure delight. Even spunky Chloe had me smiling. But the authors didn’t stop there. Some of the chapter titles made me think. I was trying to figure out how they fit in before I read them yet they were perfect. I liked how they had Finn handle the competition situation. That showed true character. Both the ending of the competition and the book were done perfectly. By doing it the way they did it was an all around win. This will definitely go in my re-read list for when I need a feel good book.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LCHDHCQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1544838874&sr=8-4&keywords=bl+maxwell
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Successful bakers, Finn and Josiah, were once lovers. Not just lovers, but in love, the forever kind…or so they thought. There’s no denying their hearts still belong to one another, but neither of them have reached out after they were separated a decade prior. A television competition, however, just might give them a chance to have the future they always dreamed of. But first they’ll have to navigate competitors, work through the pain of their separation, and learn who they are as men.
The premise of this story was so cute, I could hardly wait to dive in. The final product, though, left a bit to be desired. There was an immense amount of telling instead of showing, so much minutiae that I skipped pages of text and missed virtually nothing. The relationship progressed very quickly after they were “reunited” and while I wouldn’t have a problem with pretty much zero angst, it seemed too simplistic, as did the writing which was basic and lacked depth and punch. Once they decided that there was nothing that would keep them apart, not even their roles in the competition, they wasted no time being together in every way possible. The many, many mentions of their dwindling time together on the show and how they felt about that came off as the authors trying way too hard to make the future seem shaky and their present bittersweet. Their deep moments felt a little juvenile, a little forced, and a lot too cheesy. Overall, though, it was a sweet story with lots of passion and no real angst except the contrived descriptions of an unsure future following the show.
I was looking forward to reading this book as the concept was great and i love both the authors other works, but it just didnt quite work 100% for me. The continuation between the parts written by each author seemed a little disjointed and there was some repetition in the book.
Also Jos and Finn – after 10 years a miraculous no hard feelings 2nd chance? I wanted a little more drama.
But I did love Guy and Daniel, and Annie.
There’s something about second-chance romances that have me wondering about what broke the couple apart in the first place and what will it take for them to overcome both the past and the present in order to have a future together? I liked both Finn and Jos and appreciated the authors’ efforts in trying to give readers an idea of who these two were when they were younger and what’s led them to become the people they are ten years after everything between them ended. I’m not entirely sure how Claire Castle and BL Maxwell divvied up writing duties, and while not seamless, they seemed to work well together, considering this was an entertaining enough love story with two main characters who were, for the most part, likable. However, it’s the secondary characters that were most of note, and there were times where they definitely stole the spotlight from Finn and Jos. This does have a happy ending, and it really was a sweet–pun not intended!–story to read. I would definitely want to read more from Claire Castle and BL Maxwell, whether individually or a writing duo again. I’m giving four stars to Cake Clash.
I really enjoyed Cake Clash. I love baking and baking shows and competitions. I love that a judge and contestant re—meet and how it’s dealt with. It was cute, fast read, hot and sexy. I thought Finn and Jos were interesting MCs and very likable. I loved the competitions and even the title of each chapter was about food. I thought the description of the foods and baking were easy to read and follow. It was a cute story and would recommend this book.
4.5 Stars!
I love cooking and baking shows, they are my favorite when I actually have time to turn the TV on. I’ve read a few books with this theme (there are not enough, btw), but Cake Clash was fairly original. I really enjoyed the contest portion of the book, it was entertaining and detailed, without being overbearing or boring.
This book is a collab between BL Maxwell and Claire Castle and they did a great job. Their writing styles meshed well and their characters, both main and secondary, were amazing and tridimensional.
I loved Finn from the start, it took me a bit longer to warm up to Jos, but they were both very likable and relatable. They fit well together and it was a delight seeing them recapture the magic of the relationship they had before. They were both hot and sweet together.
I absolutely adored Annie, one of the contestants, and the other two judges in the show, Guy and Daniel. They were so much fun!
Overall, this was a solid, engaging second chances book, one that I’m sure I’ll re-read again sometime soon, that’s how much I enjoyed it. There was a good balance between the baking contest and the romance and I really hope these two authors will collaborate again in the future!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. ***