Baked Fresh

Author: Annabeth Albert
Length: 131 pages
Publish: Lyrical Press (April 2015)
Type: Print
Rate: 4

Synopsis: From its famous coffee to the mouthwatering fare at its cafés, restaurants, and bakeries, Portland, Oregon, has a lot to whet the appetite, including the hard-working men who serve it all up—hot, fresh, and ready to go—with no reservations…Vic Degrassi is a baker on the rise, and it’s all thanks to his rare ability to make—and keep—his New Year’s resolutions. Whether it’s losing weight, giving up smoking, or graduating from culinary school, Vic goes after what he wants—and gets it. This year? He wants Robin Dawson, the sweet-hearted hottie who volunteers with him at the local homeless shelter. When he learns that Robin is suddenly single after being unceremoniously dumped, Vic is more than happy to offer a shoulder to cry on—or at least a fresh-baked pastry to bite into. But it’s been a long time since Vic’s gone on a date, and he’s nervous about risking his friendship with Robin. So when their flirtation turns into a steamy night together, Vic and Robin have to figure out if they’re friends with benefits or lovers in the making, and if Robin is ready for something more than just a rebound. There’s only one way to find out: turn up the heat…

My Review: Baked Fresh is a light and delightful read about what happens when two characteristically different people try their hands at more than relationship. For a year or so Vic Degrassi has had a crush on his friend Robin Dawson. He’s watched Robin from the sidelines, wishing nothing but happiness in his relationships with other men, but when an opportunity revealed itself, Vic finds himself despite his insecurities stepping from the shadows. Robin has a past that he’s not proud of and his inability to accept previous actions keeps him walking a tight rope daily, but as his friendship with Vic flourishes into more than comfort meals and kind words, Robin finds that happiness can be a reality that even he is meant to have.

What I liked most about this book was that it has realistic issues. Both Vic and Robin battle with different types of self-esteem and interpersonal communication issues. Vic has always been a big guy but when the circle of life seems to collect the people that mean a lot to him he decides that a change is needed to slow down the process. He has surgery to assist with his weight problem but it leaves him feeling that that certain areas of his body are less than atheistically pleasing and no one will want to view them. Robin is beautiful, but in this case where he is the beholder, beauty is not something he associates with himself. Robin wants to understand something that no one will ever have the answer to and is stuck in somewhat of a survivor’s remorse that makes his confidence in himself almost non-existent.

I also liked that Vic is a nurturer and rock for Robin, and Robin gives Vic hope and companionship. They each give each other the confidence that the other lacks. Robin assures Vic that his physical appearance is much more pleasing than he gives himself credit for and Vic aids Robin’s new found confidence in himself. Vic’s ability to put Robin’s needs above his own when temptation to travel down less than admirable roads were options makes Vic special in my book. Robin’s willingness to understand that beauty is more than skin deep when he makes love to Vic is the best declaration of love for someone who feels they’re an ugly duckling. I read how Vic became comfortable with himself but I would have liked to have read more about Robin becoming more sexual comfortable with anal sex as the relationship deepened and definitely before the HEA.

Overall, I highly recommend the book without reservation.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23450161-baked-fresh

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