#BookReview :: A Teaspoon of Trouble (Bachelor Bake-Off #1) by Shirley Jump

Type-A chef Carolyn Hanson has walked away from her job at a trendy NYC restaurant after an abrupt family tragedy. Now, as a guardian to her four-year-old niece, Emma, and a very disobedient mutt – kids and dogs are so not her skill set – moving back to Marietta, Montana seems the best temporary option. But when confronted by her parents’ declining health, Carolyn has to face reality. And she’s going to need some serious help. So who better to ask than Matthew West, a blast from her high school past… and as hunky and helpful as ever.

Vet – and very eligible, if reluctant, Bachelor – Matthew West can’t believe his luck when his high school crush stumbles through his door. Dogs, kids, and gorgeous damsels in distress. Carolyn needs help with the pup, and he needs help whipping up delicious concoctions for the Bachelor Bake-Off. So she wants to make a deal: dog obedience lessons for cooking tips… but Matthew wants to broker quite a bit more…

Goodreads I Amazon


Carolyn Hanson has worked hard to get where she is. After a decade of hard work, she finds herself to be the sous chef of a highly rated restaurant. But with the death of her sister and brother in law dies in a car accident, she finds herself to be the guardian of her four year old niece Emma and a puppy. Struggling to cope with the grief and her new responsibilities, Carolyn moves to her hometown temporarily hoping for some help from her parents. Her hometown vet is her high school boyfriend, Matthew West. As their paths cross again, they make a deal to help each other out.

I have to say this right off the bat… I did not enjoy this book as much as I expected to. The reason for that is mainly the character of Carolyn. I get that she has been working really hard to get where she is in her professional life, and was in no way equipped to handle a toddler. I also get that losing her sister and brother in law was a shock. But her attitude simply turned me off. She seems ready to give up on family even without trying her best. I completely failed to sympathize with her. Matthew on the other hand was a much better character even though the lack of balance in his character is clearly visible too.

Keeping aside my problem with the characters, this book is an entertaining one. It has romance and drama to keep you engaged. The author’s style of storytelling is easy going and the language is a bit laidback but easy to get into the flow with. The pleasant backdrop and adorable Emma are the hooks for this book. I just wished the characters had more balance in them to make them easier to connect with.

Review Copy received from NetGalley