Author Name: Annabeth Albert
Book Name: Baked Fresh
Publisher: Kensington
Cover
Artist: Fiona Jayde
Release
Date: April 13, 2015
Blurb:
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…
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…
Pages or Words: 45,000 words
Categories: Erotica, Fiction, Gay
Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance
Excerpt:
“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!
Sales Links:
About the
author:
Annabeth
Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours
all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s
not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest
romance writer.
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
Where to find the author:
Tour
Dates & Stops: April 14, 2015
Parker Williams, MM Good Book Reviews, Divine Magazine, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, BFD
Book Blog, Tara Lain, Hearts on Fire, Bayou Book Junkie, My
Fiction Nook, Inked Rainbow Reads, LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Love Bytes, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Bike Book Reviews, Molly Lolly, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews,Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, Cathy Brockman Romances, Cate Ashwood, Three Chicks After Dark, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Because Two Men Are Better, Than One, Charley Descoteaux, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Elin Gregory, Andrew Q. Gordon
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Prize: $10 gift card + a book from Annabeth’s backlist
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