Total Book Geek: Tour Review & Giveaway: Love and Cupcakes by Susan Bishop Crispell

*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*

For Jaclyn “Jack” Pace, sensing what sweets people crave is as easy as breathing. But it’s not enough to keep her cupcake bakery in the black.

So, when her estranged sister Harper comes back to town with an affinity for making art out of icing—and a past full of secrets—she reluctantly gives Harper a job and a place to crash.

As their sisterly relationship begins to thaw, the one with her business partner Graham starts to heat up. Given the legend that says Hollingsworth men will recognize their soul mates at first touch, Jack’s always been resigned to the fact that she’s not his.

But when she starts sensing desires that are decidedly not dessert-related, it’ll take all of her magic to set things right with customers and make her own desires come true.

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Review:
Jack and Graham have known each other pretty much their entire life. Graham is her brother's best friend and she has had a crush on him since she was six when he kissed her. No childhood sweethearts here though because according to legend, Hollingsworth men will recognise their true love at first touch. Which obviously wasn't Jack.

Because of that legend these two have been pining after each other for ages, knowing they are not meant to be. Which is very hard when you have such strong feelings the other person. Seriously the tension between these two has been building up for years.

Besides the whole love or no love drama, there is the bakery. Jack and Graham founded it a couple of years ago. With his talents for cupcakes and Jack's talent for sensing what people want, they hoped for success. So far business has not been as it should and the suicidal oven is not helping either. Needing to take it to the next level, Jack's prayers get answered in the form of her sister Harper returning home. Being an artist she can decorate the cupcakes like no one else's business. If only these two sisters got better along.

So we have Harper hiding stuff from her siblings, Graham getting tired of fighting his feelings for Jack and Jack wanting to succeed in her business. Lots and lots of drama going on. Let's not forget there is also Hutton, he's Jack and Harper's older brother. That man is way too involved in the lives of his sisters. Apparently he has a knack of scaring away men, including Graham. That poor guy has been in love with Jack for nearly twenty years, but that stupid legend and an ass kicking from Hutton has stopped him from going after the woman he wants.

That excuse of the legend got tired pretty fast by the way. Graham never wanted to even try, because if it wouldn't work out, he would lose Jack. So he rather has her as a friend than not have her in his life. There was also this part where Graham doesn't remember his first touch with Jack. A couple of times he almost remembers, in the end nothing is done with the memory. I would think when finally something happened between them he would remember and she would be the one.

I liked the fantasy element, but it wasn't worked out well enough to hold any value in the story. In the end the legend seems to be void and Jack's sensing ability just seems like she can smell what people want. Which comes in handy in a cupcake shop, but outside of that concept it wasn't made very clear how far the ability went.

The ending didn't really feel like an ending, because the build up towards it was lacking. There is this whole race in town, which Graham is participating in and they are providing the cupcakes for the event. I was thinking he would win the race and everyone loved their cupcakes, the end or something. But it gets cut off before that, almost in the middle of a scene, so that felt a bit weird for me.

Love and cupcakes is a sweet and clean novel, with very interesting characters and that small town feel. Jack and Graham, everyone, including themselves were just waiting for them to take a chance. Fun drama and delicious cupcakes all around. I am very interested in Harper's story as it seems she has a more intense personality and well Susan left that storyline wide open.