Book Title: Beefcakes
Author: Katana Collins
Rating: 5⭐️
Release Date: March 24th, 2020
Goodreads | Amazon (Available in KU)
Blurb: Things are about to get sticky…
I might as well permanently add the label “Ex” to my name. I’m an Ex-Mr. Universe. Ex-Mr. Olympus. An Ex-Hollywood Stuntman. But no one from my small hometown cares anything about that. They only care that I’m the ex-boyfriend to the beloved Mayor’s daughter, Elaina Dyker.
And now, ten years later, I’m back, helping my siblings run my mother’s bakery while she takes on chemo. What should have been a routine cupcake delivery turns into utter chaos when the bachelorette party thinks I’m a stripper. And what’s worse? Elaina is the maid of honor.
But the meme about us sure went viral fast. My small hometown has become positively infested with tipsy bridesmaids looking for my erotic cupcakes.
Now Hollywood’s knocking again—and this time they want me and my ex, Mr. Beefcake and Ms. Prude, to star in a reality show.
It could solve all my problems—except her.
Review: As my first Katana Collins book, I’d like to take a minute to talk about how fantastic it is! Her writing style, her humour, her character building and her mind, honestly, I was blown away by this book. It was funny and witty and smart and it was also incredibly sexy and drool-worthy – not just because of the beefcake, but because of all those damn cupcakes!
This book is all kinds of amazing. It’s got family dynamics, it’s got second chance at first love, it’s got heartbreak, it’s got sex appeal and like I said before, it’s got a whole lot of cupcakes.
Elaina aka Lainey is truly my hero. She’s a businesswoman with a take no shit personality and she’s driven and ambitious and she’s not going to let anyone stop her. Not even the return of her one true love. Even though seeing her ex again makes her want to do all kinds of things, she stands her ground. She tells him off every time he uses a nickname she’s trying to outgrow and she doesn’t fall for his charming act, at least not at first. Her focus is on the betterment of the town and she wants their charming little hometown to not fall apart under the weight of all these builders coming in and tearing down what makes their town so special.
And then we have Neil. Former Mr. Universe. All-around stud. And maker of healthy, yet delicious cupcakes. And accidentally the face of the new business he and his brother have embarked on – Beefcakes. What started as an accident at Lainey’s sister’s bachelorette party turned into a lucrative business that now Neil can’t quit. Why? Because the money helps pay off their family debts and keep their mother’s medical bills paid for. Like Lainey, he’s a tough one to break apart and he knows what he wants and he knows that he has to work twice as hard to get what he wants. Like Lainey, he also wants to save Maple Grove from being taken over by those who don’t care about the town and he will do whatever it takes.
From the witty banter, to the scowling and the judgement and the sanitation department citation and everything in between, Lainey and Neil just drive each other nuts. But the love they’ve had for each other hasn’t vanished. That much is clear in the little things they do to poke and prod at each other. Neil wants a second chance, Lainey is still recovering from Neil leaving her and then coming back and her boyfriend of 9 years leaving her and she’s not ready.
Their history and their relationship is so damn beautiful. You’re sucked into their world of drama and memories and all that makes them such a good couple. And then there’s all the supporting characters and their relationships with the leads. And then the reality show that makes and breaks them and then remakes them. But through it all, these two leads are just so damn good. They’re supportive of each other and their love for each other is still so evident and beautiful.
I didn’t even realise it was a part of a series till I was halfway through the book, but you can totally read it as a standalone and not be missing out on anything. But if you’re like me, you’re definitely going to get your hands on the rest of the series, because I am now officially a Katana Collins fan and that’s never going to change.
Thanks to Katana Collins and Social Butterfly PR for the ARC copy!
anna reads here 