I thoroughly enjoyed One Fine Day, book one in the Hearts Bend series, by Carrie Padgett and Rachel Hauck. I expected a cute but simple small-town romance, but this novel delivers wonderful characters, nuanced writing, and elements of faith that are organic to the story and not at all preachy.

Grieving pastry chef Chloe and rehabbing pro football player Sam are great main characters whose attraction sizzles on the page ... I love novels with chaste steam! And I adored Ruby, the long-serving bakery employee, whose well-intended meddling brings positive outcomes for Chloe, Sam, and the bakery.

I appreciated the many (but not too many) secondary plot points including NLF contract negotiations, restoring parental relationships, maintaining connections when the person who linked you has died, and the importance of supporting local businesses.

This novel surprised me several times, which I loved, especially near the end. Just when I thought the plot would veer into a predictable romance trope, the authors took the story in an unexpected direction. I highly recommend this contemporary romance that will make you crave a donut and/or gourmet cookie and milk.

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