Baked Fresh
Portland Heat # 2
Portland Heat # 2
By: Annabeth Albert
Releasing April 13th, 2015
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…
Baked
Fresh is the second book in the Portland Heat series, which is a
standalone M/M novel.
Vic has
set himself life changing goals in the past few years and as the end
of the current year is on the horizon, he's thinking about a new
resolution for the coming year. He decides to stop hook-ups and
begin dating in the hope of finding a special someone to share his
life with. Sounds easy, except Vic knows exactly who he wants to
date... someone who he's had his eye on for a while. Someone not
interested in dating, not that he thinks he has a chance with the guy
anyway!
Robin
volunteers at Victory Mission, a place that helped to save him when
life got really tough a couple of years ago. He's recently come out
of a relationship so helping out at the Mission is something he
enjoys to do. He loves spending times with the other volunteers
including Vic, the guy who delivers baked goods from his work place.
He likes Vic, but has swore off dating. Forever!
Both
Vic and Robin have had a fair share of challenges throughout their
lives and their tentative relationship brings more issues to the
surface. The author has a knack of wringing out all the emotional
insecurities of her protagonists in a caring way, as sensitive topics
are broached throughout the story line.
What I
love about the guys' relationship is that it isn't rushed. Yes, it
is hot and sexy, but not in an insta-love kind of way. They take
their time to compromise and work through their problems, supporting
and comforting each other when needed.
I've
previously read Served Hot, so was a nice touch to see Robby and
David at the place on Alberta eating from the vegan buffet. I loved
Vic's thoughts about Robby too, although Robin didn't ;-)
Overall
another fun and sexy book in this very enjoyable series.
4 stars
***arc
generously received courtesy of publisher via NetGalley***
From
Chapter One of Baked Fresh
“So,
what’s your plan this year?” Cliff asked as we unloaded pallets
of food for Victory Mission. The stinging December wind whipped
through the loading dock, howling against the concrete walls. I had
to strain to hear Cliff’s booming voice. “Sky diving? Marathon?
How you gonna top last year, Vic?”
“Dunno.”
I hefted a box of tomato sauce cans. That’s what everyone wanted to
know—how I was going to top last year’s resolution to lose a
hundred pounds. Truth was, I was pretty good at resolutions. Four
years ago, I’d resolved to go to culinary school. Three years ago,
I gave up smoking. And last year I lost 111 pounds. But this year I
had a smaller, simpler goal in mind.
“Thought
I might try dating.”
“Dating?
As in a boyfriend?” Cliff snorted, a dry sound that echoed off the
metal loading bay doors. “I’d go with a marathon.”
My
stomach churned as I grabbed another box of rolls. I had my own
doubts. I was hardly a prize catch. I hadn’t dated anyone in the
four years I’d been working for Cliff. Never had a boyfriend beyond
the rare three-peat hookup. ’Course, Cliff didn’t know about my
hookups, but I hadn’t even had one of those in eight long months.
Up until a few months ago, I hadn’t realized what I was missing.
Ever since then, this weird, restless longing had plagued me. New
Year’s was the perfect excuse to do something about it. Get out
there.
“You
guys done out here? Whole stack of boxes waiting inside. We don’t
have all day.” Robin bustled out onto the dock, bringing a shit-ton
of bad mood with him. A far cry from the sunny, talkative guy who
made me think crazy thoughts, like that maybe dating wasn’t a
terrible idea. He was gone before either Cliff or I could reply.
“What’s
up with him?” I asked Cliff once I heard the pantry door shut
inside.
“Melissa
said Paul broke up with him.” Cliff always found the gossip. The
food bank volunteers were like bored high schoolers, passing rumors
around their shifts like joints at a party.
“Finally.”
I didn’t realize I’d said the word aloud until Cliff laughed.
“Aha!
On second thought, I highly approve of your resolution. I’m gonna
have to get a bet going with Trish about whether or not you can land
your man. Talk about aiming high though, kid.”
“Didn’t
say anything about dating Robin,” I mumbled into a sack of rice.
The last time Robin was single, I had spent months thinking about
him. Wondering if he was out of my league. Knowing he was out of my
league but trying to work up the courage to ask him out anyway.
Coming to volunteer more often just to be around him. Then Paul
swooped in like a star pitcher and sent me back to the minor leagues,
where I belonged.
I
readjusted my grip on the sack so I wouldn’t accidentally tear the
darn thing in two. No, I wasn’t stupid enough to make a resolution
to date Robin. I just wanted to get out there. Give myself a chance
to maybe meet a nice guy who wouldn’t care about my food issues and
my loose skin and my bald-by-choice look.
But
now that Cliff had planted the dating-Robin idea in my brain, I
couldn’t stop thinking about it. Which irked the hell out of me.
I’d worked hard to deep-six my crush on him. Finding out he was
single was a stupid reason to unearth it. Robin was
the nice guy of my
fantasies. And fucking gorgeous. He was sex walking around in KEENs
and hipster T-shirts. He was everything I wanted and everything I
wasn’t ever going to have.
*****
Once
Vic resolves to be Robin’s rebound guy, can he convince Robin that
they’re meant to be? Find out in BAKED FRESH!
Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.
Represented by Saritza Hernandez of the Corvisiero Literary Agency
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