Jake McKallister may have been a rockstar but he was no ordinary one. Surviving an unspeakable crime as a young teen had shaped him into the guarded workaholic he was today. He lived his life trying to forget. If it hadn’t been for music, and the redemption he found through it, he might not have survived. Career success came easily for him. Personal connections did not.
When outspoken, … outspoken, vivacious college student, Casey Caldwell, was paired with the famously reserved rockstar for a friend’s wedding, she was prepared for the worst. What would they possibly have in common? She was a bubbly talker. He was a reclusive loner. His life was filled with music. She couldn’t carry a tune. She lived a happy childhood. His was a well-publicized nightmare.
Yet, despite their obvious differences, Jake and Casey found each other and it was as if her light balanced out his darkness. Would their love be strong enough to survive the weight of his tragic past?
In response to reader feedback, this novel was professionally re-edited as of June 28th, 2016
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Omg I absolutely loved this book. This is a new to me author and I will definitely be checking out more of her books. I loved both Casey and Jake. Casey was quirky and hilarious. Some of the stuff that came out of her mouth were ridiculous but funny. She was awesome and I wish we were friends. She finds out that she is going to be paired with Jake at her friends wedding.
Jake is a real down to earth guy even though he is a famous rock star. He puts on a facade for his fans and others he doesn’t want to open up to to protect himself. At the beginning we know a little of what happened to him in his early teens. Which is why he is perceived as stand offish. Casey totally punks him and he really takes a look at her and they hit it off from there.
They have great chemistry and I just loved them as a couple. They have some issues throughout the book but ultimately work them out. Near the end of the book had me crying and thinking the worse. This book had a lot of emotion. I loved all the secondary characters which was mostly their family and look forward to reading more about them. All in all a great book and would definitely recommend this series.
I LOVED this book so much. J. Bengstsson is a new author to me, but I’m an instant fan and can’t wait to find some time to read the next book in the series!
I love books that are both heart wrenching and make me laugh out loud. This is the kind of book that sticks with you for days after you read it.
I decided that I was in the mood for a rock star read, and I came across Cake which I had purchased earlier this year but never got around to reading. I was not prepared to be completely blown away and fall in love with Jake and Casey’s story, and I am kicking myself for not diving in immediately!
Casey considers herself to be pretty average as a college student and self proclaimed nerd going into her senior year as an accounting major and part time waitress on the side. When her good friend Kate tells Casey that she is being paired up with the groom’s brother in Kate’s wedding, Casey is floored: what the heck is she supposed to do with a mega famous rock star, and a gorgeous one to boot? Add in that Casey suffers from verbal vomit when she gets nervous, you can imagine the hilarity that ensues when she finally meets Jake for the first time!
Jake is no average rock star either. He is famous twice over thanks to a tragic event in his teenage years, and he still bears the physical and mental scars from it. He has thrown himself into touring and travel while minimizing personal relationships for the last seven years and has developed a pretty thick skin to ignore the noise from the media and other generally nosy people. He intends to keep everyone at a polite distance at the wedding until Casey shocks him by pranking him within the first 5 minutes of meeting him. Stunned to find a beautiful, smart and funny woman standing before him who isn’t afraid to treat him like a normal human being, Jake finds himself uncharacteristically drawn to her and wanting to spend more time talking to her even if that is all that is on the table.
What follows is one of the best love stories that I have read in quite a while. Their chemistry and banter had me smiling and laughing, and their relationship never felt like instalove to me. Jake’s demons still lurk in the dark though, and their road is far from all fun and games. There were moments that hurt my heart and had me on the verge of tears as I read it, but overall this one is definitely going on my favorites list and will be read again in the future. In the meantime, I now need to dive into Kyle’s book because I need more of the McKallisters!
So much more!
Jake is more than a rockstar. He’s a survivor, a son, a brother, a boss, but he never saw himself as a loving partner to anyone, let alone a quirky accounting major. Casey thought she’d meet some nice nerdy guy and settle down near her family, instead she finds herself on a world tour with a famous rockstar. If you think you’ve read this story before, you couldn’t be more wrong. It’s so much more than the handsome rockstar and the nerdy girl, because Jake and Casey are extraordinary in every sense of the word. Andi Arndt and Joe Arden are as amazing as always, bringing an extra layer of emotion to an already wonderful book!
HOLY ROCKSTAR
I’ve read a lot of rockstar romance but never anything like this. This book is beyond good it was amazing . I was literally getting goosebumps. Casey and Jake’s journey to love was something most dream about. This is a must read!
*** Audiobook Review! ***
This is a book I read years ago and never forgot. It lingered in my mind, and so I decided it would be a perfect audiobook to purchase and listen to while I was working on a monotonous project that required some sort of background entertainment to keep me sane. Something I’d read before, so didn’t need to hang on every word to follow the plot, yet something I loved so it actually provided the entertainment I sought.
I can honestly say it did the job splendidly. However, rather than providing background entertainment, it sucked me in and I kept finding myself distracted and off into bookland rather than doing the work at hand. Which, as a reader, was a marvelous thing.
The narrators were wonderful. Seeing as how I’d read the book before, I feared the audiobook wouldn’t get the voices “right” to how I envisioned them and it might detract from the story. Not the case here. Not by a long shot. The narrators fit as I saw them and acted out the scenes beautifully.
This story has such heart. Jake is one of the most amazing characters. He inspires me to be a better human and to find ways to get through my own past traumas for those I love. He’s lived such a difficult life and yet manages to be so good to those around him. Even when he’s not. Sure, he has some bad moments, but he recognizes them and apologizes for them. He still has a long way to go, but I can believe he will get there.
Casey, on the other hand, is so strong and sweet. She’s just what Jake needs, and her raunchy humor and enviable self-esteem bolster and support Jake in ways I hadn’t even realized during my first read-through.
I recommend this to every single lover of romance. And if you enjoy audiobooks, this is definitely a good one!!
Cake is my first book from this author and I absolutely loved it. I have no idea how I’ve had this book on my kindle so long without read it because I devoured it within two days. It’s a pretty long story but it’s so worth the read. Jake and Casey were perfect together. I loved their back and forth witty banter between those two. They were just so sweet and the chemistry between the two was off the charts. There were definitely some steamy scenes. My heart was hurting for Jake and what he went through. It wasn’t easy to read but the strength he showed, even though he had to fight his demons was more than enough. I’m glad he was able to find someone to love him as much as Casey did and I look forward to the rest of their story along with the story of his siblings. This was a fantastic Rockstar romance read that I will be recommending to family and friends.
I heard about this book from other readers. I don’t usually like to read romances about rock stars, but I’m glad to I took a chance on this one. It’s wonderful! Yes, the name is stupid, but the book is great. Jake is the rock star with a tragic past. He meets Casey at a wedding and their “cute meet” is one of the best I’ve read. The wit and humor in this book kept me giggling, but there are also wonderful, touching, heart-warming scenes. I fell madly in love with Jake and I thought Casey was one of the most refreshing heroines I’ve read in a long time. There is a “series” and this is the first book, but the books stand on their own from what I can tell, so you don’t have to read them all to enjoy the series. I loved Cake and will read the next one in line soon.
Enjoyable story. My first by this author. I love these two narrators.
A tragic past collides with the hope of a beautiful future. The obstacles to love are many but the girl and the chance at love are a gifts he never expected. Acceptance, support and encouragement from someone so real, so giving, are all he needs to move from past to future.
Cake is one big rock star romance swoonfest. I’m a sucker for the broken man trope, and sweet baby Jesus, that poor Jake is broken in every way. His tragic backstory ripped my heart out and had me completely consumed. Maybe that’s why I devoured Cake so quickly (pun intended). A friend told me it was over 600 pages and I thought, there’s no way. It certainly doesn’t feel that long.
Despite the heavy subject matter, Cake has a light-ish feel. A few of the more traumatic scenes happen off-page, lessening the intensity and making for a more comfortable read. The banter between the MCs is fantastic and adds necessary comic relief right when you need it. Casey’s a trip. Smart, funny, determined—she’s not about to let Jake run over her, nor will she let him give up. Even in her most insecure moments, she’s a pillar of strength. The perfect mix of vulnerable and fierce.
I think what I loved most about Cake were the moments when Jake interacted with his fans. Admittedly, I’ve only read a handful of rock star romances, but fan interaction isn’t something I’ve noticed before and it’s what took Jake over the top for me. I hardcore swooned during those scenes!
I stumbled across Cake when Audible did a freebie giveaway for Valentine’s. I downloaded the e-book as well, and while I listened to some of it, I preferred reading it. Listen, read, or jump seamlessly between the two—just don’t miss out on this incredible debut. Yes, debut. *mind blown*
Cake is a standalone in a series of interconnected standalones. Please tread carefully if you have triggers.
Cake is worth way more then 5 stars. This story will move you through every emotion you can possible think of. You are going to fall in love with Jake and Casey. Jake with his bigger then life persona. He is quite, reserved, loving, funny, playful and just has a underlining strength that will draw you in. Casey is just a breath of fresh air, she is so playful and she loves with her full heart, there is just nothing she won’t do for Jake, her love for him is just pure.
The story has such a dark backstory that will make you want to pull those you love just a little closer. You will cry knowing what horrors reside in his past and the painful way he drags himself out. But despite everything Jake has gone through he is able to push through and became what people only dream of.
Despite everything this is a love story for the ages. I will never forget the impact that this book had on me.
Such a sweet story. Nice for a medium sized novel. When Jake & Casey meet, it’s an instant attraction. Their paths in life are so different, yet Casey takes a chance to travel with Jake in his world. I won’t lie to you, Jake’s backstory is horrible & hard to read about. The book is light on drama-no other woman or hidden babies here. The romantic lead is troubled, but it doesn’t turn into, “I can be an abusive asshole because I had a tragic past.”
Wow this story was amazing. This was my first J. Bengtsson story but it won’t be my last. Cake was addicitve, engrossing and gripping and I could not put it down. It evoked so many different emotions in me. The story was hilarious at times and then heart-wrenching at other times. Casey Caldwell and Jake McKallister were totally different yet perfect for each other and we are taken on a journey with them as they met and fell in love. There were a host of extended characters who all provided support and balance and greatly added to the story, which was well written
I listened to the audible version of this novel. It was narrated by Andi Arndt and Joe Arden. These two did an incredible job with the characters and they really brought the story to life.
It was a phenomenal read. I loved it and would highly recommend it.
I LOVED this book!! I highly recommend it!
The story was very entertaining. The characters overcame many obstacles to find happiness.
Four stars because I didnt realize it was going to be so haunting. Trigger warnings for assault or sexual assault flashbacks.
I did really enjoy the love story and found it pretty darn believable. The characters acted how young mature twenty somethings act, the heroine was not petulant which I appreciated and the hero made honest efforts to right his errors. It was a sweet romance other than the previously mentioned.
Best book ever!!!
Just loved the characters….flawed but genuine…and HEA
Awesome