Loving MAN. Bailey West. 2020. 224 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.]
Sometimes you just want to read something a little messy. The world outside my window is obviously imploding, so a bit of catharsis is always appreciated. The description for Loving MAN certainly supplied that — a pregnancy from a short-lived fling, and then another woman on top of that? Add in the food aspect, and I was ready to jump in.
Loving MAN, at almost all turns, wasn’t what I expected. That’s not a bad thing, though. It’s usually easy to figure out a few of the plot points with certain tropes in romance, so I was prepared to adjust my expectations accordingly. However, West starts the book with significant bombshells, then takes the rest of the book in a direction that while unexpected, was appreciated.
Xander and Angel are two lost souls. They share a passion that’s not about romance — food; he’s a renowned chef and she’s an internationally trained chocolatier. Life circumstances have pulled them both away the kitchen and have them questioning if they’ll find themselves back ever, let alone in the near future. And yes, this is a romance, so there’s obviously tension around their attraction and whether they have the capacity to lean into it. However, the book doesn’t center the question of whether they’ll hook up. Instead, there’s a greater focus on the individual transitions they’re experiencing — Xander as he adjusts to fatherhood, and Angel as she adjusts to a new career path. The book is about their individual journeys as they grow.
The secondary characters in this book help drive the plot, but don’t overshadow Xander, his son Maximus, or Angel. The parents and grandparents are there to reinforce lessons, while friends are often comedic foils. I also enjoyed the peripheral characters that rounded out Xander and Angel’s personal and professional circles. They added depth to the story and gave the town more life.
I enjoyed this book. It’s not a short read, but it’s easy to get sucked in and read through it quickly. I was partial to the food and dessert mentions, so if you’re a foodie, this will likely hold a lot of your interest as the characters explore local restaurants and recipes. I’m looking forward to subsequent books in the town of Sable Falls — West seems to have set up a nice follow-up with a new set of characters, and I’m ready for their story.
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