No Whisk, No Reward, an all new romantic comedy with twists and turns from Ellie Kay, is available now!
How do you know if a risk is worth taking? If you knew, there wouldn’t be any risk.
Following a disastrous appearance on a televised baking show, Sophie Copeland is certain things can’t get any worse. Several calamities later, Sophie finds herself in Green Valley, Tennessee with no plan, no place to stay, and no prospects. But at least she has a temporary seasonal arrangement with the famed Donner Bakery. And that’s something, right?
It’s not permanent, and it’s not a home, but it’s still something.
Enter Joel Barnes, a Green Valley mystery, wrapped in rumors, and a whispered connection to the local notorious biker gang. Joel’s got a name for being bad news, but he also has an apartment for rent.
Intrigued by the dichotomy of Joel’s reputation and sexy southern pull, Sophie can’t help but be tempted, even though she knows—given her (bad) luck—she should stay far, far away. . .
Yet as everyone knows, without risk, there’s no reward.
‘No Whisk, No Reward’ is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#3 in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.
Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
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My Review
No Whisk, No Reward by Ellie Kay is another new-to-me author thanks to the Penny Reid Book Universe. I am loving the new additions to the Green Valley World, and the Donner Bakery series is such an entertaining collection of stories. What I love the most about them are how its heroes and heroines seem opposites in every way, but the more they get to know one another and the further insight readers are provided about who these characters truly are illustrates just how similar they actually are.
Sophie Copeland is quite the hot mess, and while that shouldn’t be a big deal, since everyone can have those moments, it’s when she’s on national television and falls apart for the world to see that makes her tuck her tail and run. Sophie is definitely a heroine who readers will identify with on a number of levels. She is a bit of a contradiction when it comes to her personality traits, but it’s that complexity of character that intrigued me, especially when she was able to build her confidence back up after the fallout from her stint of television.
Joel Barnes is an interesting hero who is nothing like the Green Valley rumors describe. He’s a man of few words, but what he does say matters, and the fact that he finds someone who wants to help him…who accepts him for who he is, not what she’s heard about him. She wants the man who Joel is, not the mystery that wraps around him from gossip and lies.
This book is the epitome of a slow burn romance, and while, at times, it felt a bit too slow, I appreciate the time spent building the characters and their environment. I guess I haven’t read many books told through a single perspective, lately, because I missed the story being told through the point of view of both the hero and the heroine; it adds a more complete picture to the story line, and without it in No Whisk, No Reward, I found myself questioning words and actions more so than I would have if I had both main characters’ perspective.
4 Poison Apples
Excerpt
That’s when I saw Joel sitting alone in a booth by a large window, eating a sandwich, and reading a newspaper.
Oh. Hello, conflicted feelings. You’re looking extra conflicting today. Did you do something with your hair?
His gorgeous brown hair was a mess and the sleeves of his gray shirt were pushed up revealing his forearms which looked even thicker than I remembered them being, as he worked to fold the gigantic pages of the newspaper into neat manageable folds.
This man was seriously hotter than a melting ice-cream analogy.
And also, possibly involved with a crime organization! I reminded myself as I continued to stand uselessly trying to find somewhere to sit.
I tried not to stare, but it was impossible not to smile at the indelicate way he shoved the corner of his sandwich into his mouth and then proceeded to chew as though it might try to escape.
He picked up his coffee and was mid-sip when his eyes rose up from the rim of his cup and saw me standing by the entrance staring at him.
Busted.
“Take a seat wherever you can find one, hon, I’ll be along shortly to take your order,” a lady with a nameplate that read Janice, instructed me as she hurried by with a tray of coffee and doughnuts.
I looked back over at Joel who was watching me and gestured to the empty seat across from his.
My mind immediately went to Joy and Tempest’s reaction when they found out he was my landlord, but I quickly reminded myself that he’d done nothing to warrant any rudeness on my part.
Despite their apprehension, I figured this was a good opportunity to try and get more insight into whether I thought their response carried any weight.
Plus, I really needed coffee.
I made my way over, feeling his eyes on me as I crisscrossed around tables while trying to be ever vigilant of any sudden movements from other patrons.
My good sense will not be thwarted by your blue-green eyes and frowny brows, you magnificent biker beast.
“Good afternoon,” he greeted in a smooth as hot honey drawl. I was glad that I was already halfway into the seat because I felt my knees completely give out.
Traitor knees.
My armor of detachedness was not as hefty as I’d hoped.
“Taking a break from work?” I inquired, proud of my cool, even tone.
“Yep, just grabbing something to eat. You?”
“I’m done for today,” I replied reaching for a menu and unfolding it as though it were just as informative as his newspaper.
“Nice. Got any plans?”
“Not really, I was going to check out the bookstore downstairs, but that’s about—”
I was interrupted by the feeling of fingers gently stroking my cheek and looked up to find him reaching across the table, his eyes focused on a spot as he gently swiped at something on my face.
“Sorry, you got flour or something on your cheek it was driving me crazy,” he said before pulling away and leaning back coolly against his seat.
I’m gonna get thwarted, aren’t I?
About Ellie Kay
Ellie Kay is an Australian born living in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada who honed her creative writing skills in the colorful, and imaginative world of Corporate Insurance.
Socially awkward, she loves to respond to theatre ticket vendors who say, “enjoy the movie” with, “Thanks, you too,”, but she also likes to cook, travel and spend time with her partner and cat Taako.
Ellie is on a mission to help change the stigma surrounding the Romance genre and hopes to see a day when they are no longer considered “guilty pleasures,” but rather, just a pleasure.
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