Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall Series: Winner Bakes All #1
Published by Forever on May 18, 2021
Pages: 449
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Fiona Hardingham
Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
Genres: Romance, Women's Fiction, Romantic Comedy
Amazon Audible
Following the recipe is the key to a successful bake. Rosaline Palmer has always lived by those rules—well, except for when she dropped out of college to raise her daughter, Amelie. Now, with a paycheck as useful as greaseproof paper and a house crumbling faster than biscuits in tea, she’s teetering on the edge of financial disaster. But where there’s a whisk there’s a way . . . and Rosaline has just landed a spot on the nation’s most beloved baking show.
Winning the prize money would give her daughter the life she deserves—and Rosaline is determined to stick to the instructions. However, more than collapsing trifles stand between Rosaline and sweet, sweet victory. Suave, well-educated, and parent-approved Alain Pope knows all the right moves to sweep her off her feet, but it’s shy electrician Harry Dobson who makes Rosaline question her long-held beliefs—about herself, her family, and her desires.
Rosaline fears falling for Harry is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. Yet as the competition—and the ovens—heat up, Rosaline starts to realize the most delicious bakes come from the heart.
Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake is the first book I’ve read by Alexis Hall, and I must say that I was completely charmed. The audiobook really enhanced my enjoyment, but more on that in a moment.
Rosaline Palmer is a college drop-out and a single mom to a precocious 8-year-old. She decides to compete in a televised British baking series in a desperate attempt to provide a better life for herself and her daughter, as well as to ease the weight of her parents’ perpetual disappointment.
Nothing about Rosaline’s life is going as planned, and I liked the fact that even though she doesn’t have her crap together, she has a sense of humor about it. Perfection is boring. Give me a smart and witty heroine who is a hot mess any day of the week because it gives the character room to grow without them drowning in a sea of self-pity. Rosaline goes from being directionless, meek, and self-doubting to being a woman of conviction and confidence who is unafraid to speak up for herself.
I would say this book is more women’s fiction than romance, and despite what the blurb implies, there really isn’t a love triangle per se. Although Rosaline isn’t in a relationship with a woman in this story, she is bi-sexual, and I enjoyed the way her sexuality and discussions of LGBTQ+ issues are incorporated into the plot. I also liked exploring the challenges of single parenting.
As a fan of “The Great British Baking Show” I couldn’t help but draw fun comparisons between that show and the book’s fictional “Bake Expectations”. I got to know and like the competitors more and more with each passing week and loved seeing Rosaline form friendships with them. The cast and crew are hilarious, particularly the foul-mouthed producer who never fails to come up with colorful insults that had me laughing out loud.
Whenever Rosaline’s daughter appeared, I knew I could count on something wildly entertaining coming out of her mouth. Her best friend is also an amusing gem. Really, all the characters are either endearing or relatable except one huge condescending douche waffle that I could have had less of. I loved the British humor, slang, and bantering throughout.
As for the narration, Fiona Hardingham is spectacular. I was blown away by the variety of accents, genders, and personalities she manages to pull off. I particularly enjoyed the fact that the overall narration has the exact same inflection as the reality tv show announcer.
Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake is a huge treat all around.
Recommended for fans of:
Baking
The Great British Baking Show
Single moms
LGBTQ+ fiction
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