A Dash of Love: A Love's Sweet Recipe Romantic Comedy

From perfectly baked croissants to perfectly timed insults—running a small-town bakery was never supposed to include battling a devastatingly handsome food critic.

Emma Nicole has one goal: keep Heritage Bakery thriving while the owner sails around the world and prove she deserves the job permanently. She has the recipes, the passion, and the loyal support of Elmwood Falls behind her. What she does not need is Alex Carter—professional food critic, certified perfectionist, and owner of the most intimidating taste buds on the planet—walking into her shop and questioning everything from her technique to her cinnamon roll philosophy.

Alex Carter built his reputation on ruthless honesty and impossibly high standards. He certainly doesn’t expect to find himself in a daily showdown with a stubborn baker who refuses to be intimidated by his critiques—or the inconvenient fact that she makes him want to linger long after the taste test is over.

Between heated kitchen debates, escalating challenges, and a small town that’s entirely too invested in their ongoing feud, Emma and Alex discover their rivalry comes with a surprising side effect: undeniable attraction. Unfortunately, falling for the man who could make or break her dreams was never part of the recipe.

Welcome to Elmwood Falls, where the pastries are sweet, the arguments are sweeter, and love tends to show up when it’s least expected.

Grab your favorite treat and dive into this enemies-to-more romantic comedy filled with banter, sparks, and small-town charm.

“The building on Birch Lane’s still for sale.” My best friend, Rhonda, barges into the bakery, her expression tense, and her arms laden with more bags than I can count. Another spat with Philip, no doubt. Every time she finds a new reason to call off the five-year relationship with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Rhonda goes shopping. Last year, she bought a car. The year before that, a condo on an island. It must be nice to have a wealthy stepfather who hands her money anytime she asks.

Me? I’m stuck working at the same bakery in Elmwood Falls, Maine, where I’ve been for the past two years, dreaming of having a shop. Don’t get me wrong. I love working here. The owner left me in charge so she could go on a world cruise with her new husband. As much as I love that she trusts me enough to run the place, I want something of my own.

Like the building on Birch Lane that Rhonda mentioned.
It’s the ideal setting to plant my baking roots. Sandwiched between The Book Nook and Pinecone Pizza Parlor, it has a brick exterior with ivy draping the walls and a red and cream striped awning stretching over the entrance.

Each time I walk by, it makes me feel like I’m home. Unfortunately, the price range is much too high for me to dream of affording it.

I’ve wanted this ever since I was a little girl and my grandmother taught me how to bake. It makes me feel close to her, even though she’s no longer here with me.
“Yes, I saw,” I say, swiping flour off my cheek with the heel of my hand. “I go by there every morning on the way here. Silly, right?”

“Nope.” Rhonda pops her ‘p’. “You should totally get it.”
“If only.” As I knead the dough, I nod toward the bags Rhonda’s holding, and ask, “No more Philip?”

She rolls her eyes, setting the load on the tiled floor with a soft thump.

I smile at her. “I know what you need.” I open the glass fixture and pull out a chocolate fudge cake I finished baking this morning. It’s a recipe passed down from my grandmother, and Rhonda’s a sucker for all kinds of fudge. I cut her a slice and set it in front of her.

“Have I told you that you’re my favorite human in the world?” Rhonda says, helping herself to the plastic silverware in a cream jar on the counter.

“Not lately.” I resume my kneading. “So, want to talk about it?”

She groans. “He’s all up on my back about me wanting to go study art abroad.”

I raise a brow mid-knead. “I don’t think you’ve ever mentioned anything to me about going to study art.”
“I didn’t? I’m sure I did. But, anyway, I want to go so badly, I can taste it.”

I’m fairly certain Rhonda has never mentioned it to me, but we talk every day about everything, so it’s likely it slipped through the cracks. I’m not surprised she wants to study art. Besides shopping, it’s her favorite pastime.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while now,” Rhonda continues, “and I’d love to study in Paris.”

“Wow. That’s great, Rhonda.” It’s certainly a better use of her time than spending all of her stepfather’s money on clothes she’s going to wear only once. But, of course, I don’t say that to her. “Maybe Philip will come around and be supportive.”

“I hope so,” Rhonda says. She jabs her fork into the cake and takes a big bite. “Hmm…Emma Nicole, this is to die for.” She swallows, gesturing with her fork at the delicacy. “Wait. This isn’t Mrs. Marlow’s usual dessert.”

“Nope. While the queen’s away, it’s time for Emma to play.” I smile at her as I dump the dough in a round baking pan and begin flattening it to make the crust. “It was Mrs. Fontaine’s idea. Yesterday during our class, she suggested I start making my pastries and desserts and sell them. See how others like them.”

“But Mrs. Marlow would never allow that.”

I look around the small, empty bakery, pride filling in my heart. “I don’t see her. Do you?”

Rhonda glances around like she’s confirming that Mrs. Marlow isn’t going to materialize from thin air. She’s owned Elmwood Falls Heritage Bakery for ten years and has spent every day of those ten years, except for Sundays when the shop’s closed, working. It wasn’t until she remarried for the fifth time that she decided to take a break.

“You are a crafty one, my friend,” Rhonda acknowledges with a smirk.

I sigh. “Well, last night, when I was thinking about what Mrs. Fontaine said, I decided that if I can’t open the bakery of my dreams, then I need to find a way to sell my stuff. I’m hoping when Mrs. Marlow gets back, I’ll be able to persuade her. By then, most people will have tried my treats. It’ll help in the long run if I can get the town to back me.”

“That’s a brilliant plan. Take away delicious treats, Mrs. Marlow will have a riot on her hands. She’ll have no choice.”