Dirty Talking Rival (formerly Master Baker) by Pippa Grant

Some Pippa Grant books I love and some are fine. I can't tell you where the line is because they are all a little crazy and over the top but some are just more fun. I'm currently doing a timeline re-read and figured I'd include some of the ones I'd skipped before. This was one of them and it's fun. It's fast. It's fluffy. It's just a little annoying and I think it's because the reason Grady and Annika can't be together is more of a "reason." 

Annika is on leave from the Army to help her mom and her thirteen-year-old sister get set after her mom had some rapid onset blindness. Some of the getting set is opening a bakery, her mother's dream. Not Annika's; she can burn water. Luckily, her sister is good at baking and is holding them up. Unluckily, they live in a small town and it may not have enough people to support their business. There is a next town over though.

Too bad, in the next town over, her former best friend Grady already has a bakery. And he's actually good at baking. And really enjoys it. But he's barely breaking even himself. So they get talking long enough for them to decide to ride the storylines of rival bakeries (it works because their two towns have been rivals for generations anyway.)

So, in public they are trash talking each other while falling in love behind the scenes.

Three stars

This book came out June 27, 2019

Part of the Bro Code universe

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own 

Flirting with the Frenemy by Pippa Grant

Ellie and Wyatt have been at each others throats since they were kids. They had one frantic night together but, when he expressed regrets, she ran out. Then she was in a car crash.
Eighteen months later, he's staying at his friend's house in a small town called Shipwreck. When he walks in with his son, they find Ellie in the tub. Well, Wyatt does. And he's intrigued.
Ellie, on the other hand, is not so intrigued. Not only is Wyatt now walking in to her week at her brother's house, he's messing up her plan for the week. Her best friend is getting married to the brother of Ellie's ex. To make things less awkward, Ellie has lied about having a boyfriend. Through... circumstances... her best friend comes to believe that Wyatt is the new boyfriend. So now they have to spend time together.
Grant's writing is good in this one, I just don't love the storyline. I would say there's too much drama but that is sort of usual for a Grant book, this one is just TOO over the top for me.

Three stars

This book came out March 1, 2019

Bro Code #1

Followed by America's Geekheart

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle

Opinions are my own

The Hot Mess and the Heartthrob by Pippa Grant

Levi Wilson is famous. First because he was in the boy band Bro Code but then because of his solo career. Eight years ago, his life changed because of a woman in the crowd of one of his performances. Since then, he's been working toward being a better human being. It doesn't always work (hello, he's a pampered rock star). Today, he's in his home town but still slightly lost. When it seems like some fans might get too rabid, his guard helps him duck into a nearby bookstore. And the owner of that store? The woman from the crowd. 

Ingrid Scott is astonished to see a famous person in her store. Especially since it seems like he's hiding. And then hitting on her. She's the single mom of three children who split with her husband because he was gone so much. How can she be falling for a man who's job description has him never at home?

A solid addition to the Grant canon. The end dragged a bit but I overall liked the kids, the adults as characters, and the kookiness involved with squirrels. 

Three and a half stars

Follows Liar, Liar Hearts on Fire

Bro Code #4

This book came out January 7th, 2021

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Reread as Kindle ebook October 2024

Liar, Liar, Hearts on Fire by Pippa Grant

Tripp Wilson used to be in a boy band. He gave up a baseball career to help keep an eye on his brother. He fell in love, got married, and had two kids but his wife died. And now he's trying to figure out how to balance his fears about his kids getting sick with working but not finding the right nanny. When his local baseball team is having a crappy season, he sees his chance. He can finally own his own team. But the owner dies and the woman who inherits turns out to be someone that Tripp knows...
Lila Valentine is shocked to see that the man she had a hot interlude with in a club bathroom is in her boardroom. Unfortunately, he's not using the same name. Why would he lie to her? And why does he think that she'll be willing to give up her baseball team?
We've definitely seen Lila in previous books. She is smart, dedicated, but slightly standoffish. Her last job is ending and she figures rebuilding the baseball team that meant so much mother will be worth it.
I do love that Pippa Grant's books are a little crazypants but this one's back story was just a bit too much for me. Still can't wait for the next book in the series.

Three and a half stars

Bro Code #3

Follows America's Geekheart

Followed by Master Baker or Hot Mess and the Heartthrob
This book came out March 24th, 2020
Borrowed this as a Kindle Unlimited book
Opinions are my own

Reread as Kindle Unlimited book April 2021, October 2024

America's Geekheart by Pippa Grant

Beck Ryder is a lot of things, including famous. He was in a boy band then became an underwear model. It's that fame that makes the tweet that was supposed to be a private message to his sister go viral. And not in a good way. No he's America's #1 hated man and his charities are floundering. He needs some help to get out of it.
Sara Dempsey has a very good reason for wanting to stay anonymous. But she's willing to step into the limelight if it means that her beloved giraffe and bee charities will get some play in the press.
I'm not sure why I liked this book so much. Pippa Grant is hit or miss for me and it might be something about the humor (I can't put my finger on it) but this book hit my funny bone in the right place as did Sara and Beck's story. And the lack of a last Big Misunderstanding. I kept waiting for it, feeling so bad for the characters but it never happened. Yay!

Four stars

This book came out April 5, 2019

Bro Code #2
Follows Flirting with the Frenemy
Followed by Liar, Liar, Hearts on Fire
Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own

Reread as ebook from Kindle Unlimited September 2024