The Key to Love #ourgoodlifebookreview

 I received an advanced copy at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

I was so pleased to be chosen for the Blogger Team for The Key to Love by Betsy St. Amant.  I have read other books by this author and have enjoyed the fresh, simple themes of her romance novels.  This one did not disappoint, although for me, it had a different "flavor" than her usual novels. 

Book Synopsis:  

The only thing Bri Duval loves more than baking petit fours is romance. So much so, she's created her own version of the famous Parisian lovelock wall at her bakery in Story, Kansas. She never expects it to go viral--or for Trek Magazine to send travel writer Gerard Fortier to feature the bakery. He's definitely handsome, but Bri has been holding out for a love story like the one her parents had, and that certainly will not include the love-scorned-and-therefore-love-scorning Gerard.

Just when it seems Bri's bakery is poised for unprecedented success, a series of events threaten not just her business but the pedestal she's kept her parents on all these years. Maybe Gerard is right about romance. Or maybe Bri's recipe just needs to be tweaked.

My Review:

I loved the setting of a bakery in a small town.  Betsy does a wonderful job of detailing the work behind the scenes, the grueling schedule, and the not-so-pleasant side of serving the public. The shop's characters were well developed, if a bit underplayed, and added depth to the overall story.

What was different was the tone.  At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to like Gerard, a writer who is sent by his boss/friend to cover a story about a romantic bakery that had a video go viral.  Gerard is a world traveler, and nothing about the small town of Story fit into what he has come to expect from his travels.  This level of discontentment and sarcasm weighed on me a bit, enough that I found that I had to put down the book for a time before continuing to read.  That being said, the transition of Gerard from a growly writer to a possible lover did change my views about the story.

I enjoyed the plot and the small twists that were written into the storyline.  The world is indeed a small place, and Betsy shows us that at many opportunities throughout the book.  She also shows us that love isn't a Rom-Com movie, that it is messy and is different for each and every one of us.

About the author:  Betsy St. Amant is the author of more than 15 inspirational romances and a frequent contributor to iBelieve.com. She lives in north Louisiana with her husband, two daughters, a collection of Austen novels, and an impressive stash of pickle-flavored Pringles. When she's not composing her next book or trying to prove unicorns are real, Betsy can usually be found somewhere in the vicinity of a white chocolate mocha--no whip. Learn more at www.betsystamant.com.

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