Reviewed by Jess
TITLE: Forgotten Desserts
AUTHOR: Nicole Dennis
PUBLISHER: MLR Press
LENGTH: 88 Pages
RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2018
BLURB:
Could returning home help reset his life for the better?
When his personal and professional lives go to hell, pastry chef Dylan MacGowan retreats to his childhood home. His grandfather, Paddy MacGowan, doesn’t let him pout, but puts him right to work in the family’s bakery.
While putting out delicious pastries, Dylan rediscovers his passion for baking, honed by his grandparents, who raised him. He reconnects with his high school love, Nicoló Cremaschi. Back then, Nicoló remained deep in the closet, fearing his Catholic family. The secrets tore them apart. This time feels different when they meet and sparks flare between them. Their connection remains vibrant.
Only more secrets threaten to undo Dylan’s sense of security and home.
REVIEW:
I was drawn in right away by the super-sweet cover of this super-sweet novella. Since my family is in the baking business, I love books with baker characters, especially in small-town, family-owned bakeries. Though a fast read, this story definitely establishes that small-town atmosphere and makes us feel right at home.
This book ended up including more family drama than I expected. It was very well-written and made us feel for Dylan and how his homecoming may have come a little too late. The patriarch characters, Paddy (Dylan’s grandfather) and Giovanni (Nicoló’s father), provide that warmth and unconditional tough love we all wish from our families. There were a few missteps—Paddy called Dylan “boyo” in practically every sentence, making him seem cartoonish, and some cheesy stereotypes about Irish and Italian families are painted with too broad a brush. Despite these little things, this was a very comfortable, familiar, and warm setting—very easy to cozy up with!
One of my least favorite romance tropes, insta-love, is unfortunately pretty present in this story. I was excited to read about Dylan and Nicoló and their one-that-got-away romance getting a second chance, but their reunion happened so fast! Dylan just got out of a long but unhappy relationship, and within two days of seeing Nicoló again, they are practically engaged. They might be very good together, and the sparks may fly, but as a reader, I wanted a little more tension and second-chance wooing. Even taking the story length into account, their relationship developed way too quickly to get a good feel for them as a couple. Some people might disagree with my take, since the guys already knew each other and are getting back together, but I still wanted some more build-up.
This is a short read that pretty much delivers what it promises. And if you like your romance with good family drama, this one will surprise you. I just ended up wishing it let us get to know Dylan and Nicoló a little better before establishing them as long-lost soul-mates.
RATING: 
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