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.

This was a very heartwarming story. Liam, who’s mom just passed and Austin, whose wife died – find each other in their time of need. Together they can navigate the loss and find out who they can be to each other through honesty. It was just about them and no third party or outside forces. Worth the read and good lead for book 3. *I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This was a slowly developing romance between two men who recently experienced a devastating loss. Forty year old Austin had lost his wife a year ago and has moved back to his hometown with his 8 year old daughter to provide some stability in a small town atmosphere and to be near friends. Twenty-eight year old Liam lost his mother just before Christmas and has moved home to be with his dad and help run the family bakery. Austin has had more time to process his grief, and his daughter Maisie, a very resilient young lady, is adjusting to the new location well, while Liam is trying to cope with the bakery, his dad’s withdrawal, and needing to work remotely plus run the bakery once his work leave runs out. Both men are doing the best they can in their situation. When Austin sees Liam for the first time while in the bakery with friends, he is immediately drawn to the younger man, and the feeling is mutual, although both do little more than light flirting. Liam believes Austin to be straight since he is a widower with a child, so more pines from afar. Even when he finds out that Austin is bi, he still doesn’t believe this handsome older man could be interested in him. Little does Liam know that Austin will move as slowly as he needs to in order to win his heart once he feels Liam is ready for a relationship. Liam is ready for whatever Austin wants, finding it hard to wait through the five dates that Austin says they must go on before anything moving to the bedroom, giving time…