Tough Cookie

Donner Bakery, Book 3

By: Smartypants Romance, Talia Hunter

Narrated by: Stefanie Kay, Ryan Lee Dunlap

Noah Malone is back in his hometown for a short break from his stunt work, but his mother’s set on convincing him to settle down in Green Valley so he can give her grandbabies like the good Lord intended. Not only is she pushing him to help out at the Donner Bakery decorating cookies, but her matchmaking is relentless.

To end his mother’s awkward set-ups, Noah needs a no-strings-attached pretend girlfriend. And who better than Carla, a mysterious recluse who seems to have taken an instant dislike to him? When she reveals she’s been isolated by illness, he proposes a fake relationship that’ll stop his momma’s shenanigans and help Carla ease back into the world.

Tech-geek Carla creates a spreadsheet of fake-date challenges. She’s serious and focused on her goal of slowly becoming more social...until daredevil Noah starts messing with her spreadsheet. He’s ridiculously charming, and his sexy additions may be even more appealing than the cookies he brings her, but Carla won’t let her resistance crumble.

Opposites may attract, but can such different people find a recipe for love?

Tough Cookie is a full-length contemporary romance, can be listened to as a stand-alone, and is book three in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley Chronicles, Penny Reid Book Universe.

©2023 Smartypants Romance (P)2023 Smartypants Romance

Science Meets Stunt Baker

This is part of the Smartypants Universe and I liked the way the story weaved characters from the world into it.
The story went at a good pace and naturally had a happily ever after which is always a good thing.
It was educational in that it shone light on a disability that is sometimes over looked purely because there is no obvious physical marks.
I also liked that there was plenty of back story as to what made Noah a stunt actor and Carla a scientist tick. It didn’t brush over their individual histories.
The narration was ok, just a shame that Carla was from New York and supposedly had a NY accent but the female narrator didn’t pull one off.
All in all it was a pleasant listen/read.

Not good.

Easily my least favorite of the Smarty Pants books. Nothing clever in the dialogue and the plot is slow. I didn’t give up on it, but it was a let down compared to all the other paths the series have taken.