I Hate, I Bake, and I Don’t Date!

The Manhattan Svenssons, Book 1

By: Alina Jacobs

Narrated by: Devon Grace, Tim Paige

Yeah, my billionaire boss did it to me in his office twice in one day.

I even screamed when it happened. The whole office heard me.

No, not that.

He fired me.

Yep.

Beck Svensson fired me right before rent was due and in the middle of a rainstorm. That’s why he’s at the top of my hate list, along with pickles, people who steal other people’s lunches out of the office fridge, and trying to fold a fitted sheet.

But you know what? It’s fine - totally fine. It’s freedom! I could do anything! I could start a bakery or farm the mushrooms growing in my soggy apartment carpet. Or I could just show up at the temp office at hate o’clock in the morning for a new assistant job.

I hope my new boss will be less of a buzzkill than the last.

Except guess who is waiting for me when I show up in the lobby of a swanky office building.

That’s right, Mr. Grumpy Boss himself.

Beck is appalled that I’m back in his life. Again.

I can tell he wants to fire me. Again.

Except now he has two little surprise sisters bouncing around him and no one to watch them except yours truly.

While I strongly dislike kids and actively hate my boss, I’m willing to abandon my principles for a big paycheck and a hefty expense account.

But when Beck needs me to pretend to be the love of his life to keep from losing his sisters, I’m not sure a big windfall is going to cut it.

After all, I bake, and I don’t date. Ever.

Besides, I hate Beck. No way am I pretending to be his girlfriend...but I love the little girls.

I also love the huge kitchen in Beck’s swanky penthouse that I claim as mine when I move in.

And I really love running my hands over his washboard abs and that thing he does with his tongue.

Wait! No! I hate it, totally absolutely hate it, right? Right?

This is a full-length enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy, complete with hot, snarly guys with hearts of gold, a heroine who you’ll want to be besties with, and a happily ever after better than a giant slice of chocolate cake! Though this is intended to be a stand-alone book, it does take place after the recently completed Svensson Brothers series.

©2021 Adair Lakes LLC (P)2021 Adair Lakes LLC

hot billionaires with hot spice thrown in

I love this type of book. No angst, comedy, hot billionaires with hot spice thrown in. Nice and light. Is it for everyone? No. But it is my cup of hot chocolate. I don't want to be sad or anxious with the books I read.

I listened to the audiobook of this, and loved it! I think that hearing the voices gives you so much more as a reader. You really can feel the emotions. You connect much quicker to the characters as well. These narrators were top notch.

This book is the first in the series and can be read as a complete stand alone. You will get some fun little Easter eggs though if you have read some of the other series. If you haven't read the books you won't miss anything. But if you have the Easter eggs will give you quite a giggle.

She has some serious issues

I wanted to like this book. There was a fun storyline and almost likable characters. The cult aspect was unique and added depth. I just can’t get best how often the heroine was eating. Seriously it felt like every other paragraph was about the huge quantities of food she was sloppily eating. It was written off as “stress eating” but it came off as her having very serious emotional issues and just gross. Perhaps the surfer was trying to make her seem more “real” but it was distracting and way overdone. She eats a dozen cupcakes and 3 plates of pasta in one sitting. That’s binging. It also talks about how dirty and unkept she is. Constantly complaining then eating to make herself feel better. I really wanted to lie this book, but the main character just made me feel gross.

hard to finish

had a great story line. but so much binge eating. h was very weak and not strong.

Beck Svensson one of a crazy family.

Hard to love a book when the hero is not a hero but the rest of the characters make up for him. The sisters and the elders are a scream. can't wait for the next book about this crazy family and the world they live in. The narrators is a great job.

Enjoyable but rushed

I love Alina Jacob’s books however this one felt very rushed at the end. There was too much time spent developing what a mess Tess’s life was and not enough in the actual development and climax of the relationship. A bit lackluster for me.