Love is What You Bake of It

by Effie Kammenou

Publish Date March 24, 2020

About Love is What You Bake of It

The only love Kally Andarakis is baking is in the form of the sweet treats she whips up in her café, The Coffee Klatch.

Kally never believed herself to be a person worthy of love, but when an intoxicating man she considered out of her league pursues her, she risks everything to be with him. Later, when tragedy strikes, truths are revealed that leave Kally brokenhearted and untrusting.

Eight years later, Kally is a successful pastry chef running the café she’d always dreamed of owning. With a home of her own, a profession she’s passionate about, and the support and love of friends and family, Kally is content with the life she has carved out for herself.

Until the day Max Vardaxis walks into her café…

With arguing parents, meddling relatives, an overly energetic grandmother, a man-crazy best friend, and the long ago, mysterious disappearance of a grandfather, this new man in town is just one more complication in Kally’s life, if not the main one.

Kally must now decide whether to keep her heart safe or to once again take a ‘whisk on love.’

My thoughts

Two brokenhearted people, secrets, meddling family, romance, and baking, lots of delicious baking, all mixed into one. It’s the perfect romance book all cooked up and ready to be devoured.

Kally Andarakis allowed herself to be pursued and fall in love with someone way out of her league. When tragedy strikes, Kally is not only brokenhearted but shocked by secrets that are devastating and has left her completely untrusting.
Eight years later Kally has finally moved on with her life. Her love of baking has allowed her to live her dream of owning her own cafe. Kally is comfortable and successful, but when new arrival Max walks into her cafe, her content life is upended with the potential of new romance, but will Kally’s inability to trust allow her to start a new relationship?
Max has had a rough life himself. A single parent, he has left his NYC life behind to come home to his roots. He has his own past to protect, but falls instantly for Kally when he first walks into her cafe. Not looking for love, he decides to pursue her, but will his past and secrets catch up with him and keep him and Kally apart?

LOVE IS WHAT YOU BAKE OF IT is a drama filled, fast paced read full of fun, family and a bit of comedy wrapped around two people with tragic pasts who are trying to make love work again. Both Kally and Max coming from Greek backgrounds made this such an interesting read, reminding me what its like to live in a culture that is oriented around family and tradition. They are easy to love main characters, and you want nothing more for them to make things work, and end up together. The romance is steamy, but not over the top, and the meddling Greek family and friends are just enough to bring a spark of humor throughout the book. Then there is the baking. Oh the BAKING! Amazing Greek recipes that are included in the book (and on my blog) top this one off to make it one spectacular read. I really enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and I read it in one sitting. I can’t wait for the sequel which comes out later this month.

I just would like to thank Effie Kammenou and Kate Rock from KateRockBookTours for the gifted copy of this book for my unbiased and honest opinion for review.

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Excerpt

“I’m glad this night is over,” Kally groaned with relief after Max stepped through her front door. He had taken Athena home after dining with the Andarakis family, settled her into bed and waited for her to fall asleep before leaving her in the care of his father and brother.

Max pulled Kally in for a deep kiss. “I was hoping the night was just beginning,” he said, his voice low and seductive.

Kally gave his arm a playful slap. “You know what I mean.” She groaned. “That was painful.”

Max brushed the curls from her face. “I didn’t think it was so bad.” He trailed tiny kisses down her neck. “I was honest with your father,” Max said bringing his focus to her troubled expression. “I do want this to be the start of something greater.”

“Me, too.”

“Then stop worrying!” He chuckled. “Trust me, your father won’t chase me off.” He skimmed the length of her body with his fingertips, settling his hands firmly on her curvaceous bottom. Kally was tall and lean, but she had a shape men could admire and Max was certainly doing just that as he slowly backed her up against the wall.

“No?” she asked flirtatiously. “Not even when he finds out you’re about to have sex with his daughter?”

“Is that what’s happening here?” he teased, but the rumble coming from his chest let Kally know exactly where his mind was at.

“Oh, I guess I was mistaken.” She pushed free of him, feigning embarrassment. “Thank you for stopping by.” She kissed him on the cheek and headed to the door to let him out. Out from Max’s line of vision, Kally concealed her playfully impish grin. But before she could cross the room, he took her by surprise, whisking her up and effortlessly throwing her over his shoulder.

Kally let out a yelp. Gripping Max’s arms for support, he carried her into the bedroom as though she weighed less than a pound. He dropped her onto the bed, caging her in as he hung over her, his chestnut eyes darkening with desire.

Kally shuddered—partly from yearning for this man, partly out of nervousness. She had not been with anyone since Jax, and even before him, there had only been one other.

“You’re wrong, you know?” Max said, the texture of his voice taking on a tender quality. “I’m not about to have sex with you.”

Kally looked up at him, bewildered. “No?” The word came through a wisp of breath.

“No. I’m about to make love to you.”

About the Author

Effie Kammenou is a believer that it is never too late to chase your dreams, follow your heart, or change your career. She is proof of that. At one time, long ago, she’d hoped that by her age, she would have had an Oscar in her hand after a successful career as an actor. Instead, she worked in the optical field for 40 years while raising her two daughters.

In 2015, three years after the death of her mother from pancreatic cancer, she published her debut novel, Evanthia’s Gift, book one in a women’s fiction, multigenerational love story and family saga, inspired by her mother and her Greek heritage. Kammenou continues to pick her father’s brain for stories of his family’s life in Lesvos, Greece, and their journey to America. Her interview with him was published in the nationally circulated magazine Reminisce.

Evanthia’s Gift: Book One in The Gift Saga was a 2016 finalist in the Readers Favorite Book Awards. Waiting for Aegina: Book Two in The Gift Saga was awarded finalist status in the 2019 International Book Awards and Chasing Petalouthes, the last book in the trilogy, had also placed in the Readers Favorite Book Awards for the 2018 contest.

Her latest novel, the first book in a new contemporary romance series, is now complete. Love is What You Bake of It, follows Kally’s path to independence despite her sometimes stifling family and her tumultuous road to finding love. But it wouldn’t be a Kammenou novel without a delve into the past, or the references to mouth-watering foods.

Effie Kammenou is a first-generation Greek-American who lives on Long Island with her husband and two daughters. When she’s not writing or posting recipes on her food blog, aptly named cheffieskitchen, you can find her entertaining family and friends or traveling for ‘research.’

As an avid cook and baker, a skill she learned from watching her Athenian mother, she incorporated traditional Greek family recipes throughout the books for a little extra ‘flavor.’

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater Arts from Hofstra University.

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You can find out more about Effie on her website: www.effiekammenou.com