Grounding the Baker: An MM smalltown age gap romance (Heartwood Knights Book 1)

Grounding the Baker is refreshing because it has an established bisexual character, Austin, who is confident in his bisexuality. I found Austin’s confidence in his sexuality appealing because this isn't often written this way. Austin’s confidence works perfectly as he sets out to woo Liam. Both men have experienced a death recently; Austin’s wife died about a year or two before he moved back to the village where he grew up with his eight-year-old daughter, and at the start of the book, Liam’s mother has died. This book also models open communication between the characters—an aspect of Austin and Liam’s romance that is also welcome. Austin and Liam’s story is filled with blushes, wooing, kisses that make the men melt, dirty talk, spicy times, and interfering neighbors and friends. There are many scenes where both the characters and I, as a reader, swoon with joy, chuckle with the characters, or smile. It all comes together with both men getting more than they ever expected. Grounding the Baker is a feel-good romance about support and unconditional love after loss. I highly recommend it if you want to feel good and enjoy the courtship as it unfolds.

This was a sweet read - despite some (off-page) deaths of close family members. I felt those were handled realistically. Not that everyone has the same experience, but certainly within the realm of not-uncommon experiences. Liked that Liam and Austin had a pact to be honest with each other and that there was no artificial angst, third act breakup, or Big Miscommunication. The main thing that placed this at 4 vs 5 stars is that I didn’t get much sense of Liam until much further into the book than I would have expected. Not the end of the world, except it meant that I also didn’t have a sense of what about Liam appealed to Austin other than looks. A couple of minor things I didn’t love - like why Austin didn’t tell Maisie earlier. And Michael yelling at Liam during the second festival seemed out of character. I mean, we don’t get to know Michael all that well in this book, but it was kind of a dick move, and nothing before that made him seem like that much of a dick. I was impressed that the author managed to make it clear that there were other stories for other characters in other books, without spoilers and also without being super coy about it. There were a couple of loose plot threads but I’m assuming they have been (or will be) handled in other books. All in all, an enjoyable read.

Austin and Liam find each other at a time when they both really needed someone. They fit perfectly together. This is such a sweet and heartwarming book. It introduces you to Heartwood and all the wonderful and crazy people in the small town. I can’t wait for book 3.