Sharon’s review ~ Here for the Cake by Jennifer Millikin

I received this book for free from Kindle Unlimited in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Here For The Cake by Jennifer Millikin
on May 2, 2024
Genres: Contemporary, Fake relationship, Forced Proximity, Romance, Second Chance Romance
Pages: 472
Format: eBook, Paperback
Source: Kindle Unlimited
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A week on an island sounds like the stuff of beach dreams, but for Paisley Royce, it's a nightmare. Her little sister is marrying her ex-college sweetheart, and Paisley is serving as maid of honor. To add insult to injury, nobody will let Paisley forget she’s single.

Bachelorette weekend changes everything when she runs into her old college frenemy, Klein Madigan.

Klein is still intelligent and funny, and somehow time has only made him more attractive.

Paisley is Klein’s ‘one that got away’, not that he’d ever admit it to her. A colossal misstep (and one terrible kiss) in college sealed their fate.

Or so they thought.

Klein’s an aspiring author allergic to social media. Paisley owns a digital marketing agency.

A brilliant plan is hatched: A trip across the country for a week of faking out her family in exchange for her firm marketing his work.

One hastily scrawled and signed contract on a bar napkin later, Paisley and Klein embark on a journey of tension, only one bed, and fake dating shenanigans.

Paisley’s goal is to survive the week.

Klein’s plan is to enjoy the sun, sand, and wedding cake.

But then there’s a scorching kiss to make up for that bad one in college.

And another kiss in a lighthouse during a thunderstorm. A gentle palm on Paisley’s lower back, and a reassuring hand squeeze under the table.

Everyone is convinced Klein and Paisley are the real deal, but as the week wears on, they begin to wonder if the only people they’re kidding are themselves.

It a genre filled with fast food book options, Here For The Cake was a five course meal with each course more delicious than the last. I loved this book and it is hands down one of my favorite books of 2024. ~ Sharon – Simply Love Books

 

 

The synopsis of this book caught my eye and I decided to try a book by new to me author Jennifer Millikin. Little did I know that I would find a favorite new author and am now planning how to tackle her extensive backlist.  Here for the Cake was a breath of fresh air; this book had characters with so many, many layers and I loved the way the author peeled them back and let us see them overtime, the plot was rich and full of twists and turns to keep it moving and interesting, the romance was one for the ages between two people who’d had a connection before, but were torn apart before anything could develop. I loved the way the relationship grew between these two and how they bared themselves emotionally to make it happen. It a genre filled with fast food book options, Here For The Cake was a five course meal with each course more delicious than the last. I loved this book and it is hands down one of my favorite books of 2024.

Paisley is a woman boss with a thriving marketing company she runs with her best friend and while she has no problem being strong and direct in her business life with her family she’s a people pleaser and tries to keep everyone happy. There’s a reason for that, but the fact remains she’d do anything to help her family even if it hurts her on a personal level like agreeing to be her younger sister’s maid of honor when she marries Paisley’s ex. She knows it’s a bad idea, not because she’s harboring feelings, but because it’s weird and uncomfortable. On top of that she’s railroaded into hosting her sister’s bachelorette party where after hearing the bridesmaids tearing her down she runs into a guy she shared a perfect night (non-sexual) with who then ghosted her and tore her creative writing project apart. Yet there is something about him that she’s drawn to anyway.

Klein can’t believe it when he sees Paisley in the restaurant and bar where he works as a bartender. He’ll be the first to admit she’s still as stunning as she was back in college and when he hears about her sister’s marriage to her ex he can’t help but wonder why she would do it. Klein has big dreams of being an author and is trying to get his book seen by publishers but his lack of social media presence has his agent telling him he has to step up his game. When his friend suggests that he accompany Paisley to the weeklong wedding trip and she provide him with public relations help, they concoct a fake relationship scheme that benefits them both.

I adored this book there was so much goodness to it and Klein was one of those good guy heroes I can’t get enough of and while I’ll admit it took me longer to warm up to Paisley I realized that was what the author had in mind for the reader to understand why she’d built a wall and why she bent over backwards for her family and let us see her grow and change with support (notice I didn’t say help) from Klein. It would be easy to classify Klein as a beta hero yet there were many moments where his alpha came out and I loved the juxtaposition of his character.

I loved the smart and funny banter between these two characters as they navigate the wedding week not to mention the underlying and palpable sexual chemistry between them. Klein and Paisley came alive the more time they spent with each other and I was there for every sweet, hilarious, swoony, and heart-warming moment. I have to say I fell so in love with Klein; his wise words, his laidback attitude (unless someone was talking sh*t about Paisley), and his complete adoration of Paisley was absolute romance hero perfection. Paisley grew on me especially once she was on the island; it was obvious how much her grandmother, the beauty of the one place she always felt safe and loved filled her soul and healed her wounds.

I was hooked by the first chapter and did not put the book down until the last word. I love when I get so caught up in a book that time simply ceases and nothing else it important. Here For The Cake is my first book by author Jennifer Millikin but it will not be my last. If you love romance books don’t miss this one!