Cake: A Love Story

I really loved the story to begin with and their love for each other is swoonworthy with little to no angst. What makes it especially nice is that Casey, the heroine, is quite the nerdy accountant and a great foil for Jake, the rockstar; and puts him in his place when they first meet.What didn't make sense was the mother from hell, on first meeting, who then turns out to be the angel of mercy.Furthermore, when you start exploring the horror of Jakes background, you never do find out why he was kidnapped and what happened to Kyle, his brother. This might come out in the rest of the series, but it felt incomplete to me.I would have preferred to hear a more rounded account of the kidnapping, rather than the simple gruesome escape, and how he manages to survive, e.g. his after care and how he and the family were affected up until the present.Also, once he had explained his escape to Casey it was if all was over, whereas with all trauma, although talking about it helps, it is never over, whereas in this story all was right with the world.Then there was the surgery when we had to have just a little more unnecessary drama. Oh yawwwwn!So I was left feeling disappointed. Such a shame!

This is my first book by this author after a recommendation from Jaine Diamond one of my favourite authors.I am so glad I took the recommendation I loved this book it made me laugh and cry.I read it in a day, just downloaded the next in the series. J. Bengtsson has a new fan!

I've been hearing about this story for a long time and I bought the ebook right at the start of the year but put it off because I was scared I wouldn't like it. But I was unexpectedly surprised at how; despite how horrific Jake's backstory is, low angst this is. This is really well written and pretty fast paced despite how long it is. I'd be interested in reading the rest of the McKallister family stories.

This is the first book I've read by J. Bengtsson and I'm heading straight into The Theory of Second Best (Cake #2).Jake & Casey is dual POV.Jake's past is mind-blowing, but he's struggled through, barely. Music is his coping mechanism, it's what saved him, that is until he meets a sassy bride's maid he's been paired with, and she's everything he never knew he needed. Their story isn't an easy ride, there's more emotional up & downs that a rollercoaster. They both have amazing families and the banter has you laughing to yourself...not good at 2 a.m. when your other half is trying to sleep, I would apologise, but I won't I couldn't put this book down!But, with living in the lime light, being hundreds of miles apart, all the past trauma...can their love destroy the nightmares of past & present?Triggers: Sexual abuse, Child abuse, Kidnapping, PTSD

Great first book about Jake & Casey.It was a warm & emotional storyline that kept my interest throughout. There were laugh out loud moments & tearful sad ones as they had to break down barriers & reveal their inner secrets. I enjoyed reading about the other members of Jake’s family who are set to appear in the next books.

This book is a beautifully written love story. A rock star who who was kidnapped and abused by a serial killer as a child and though he somehow survived, live with the horror every day, then he meets the love of his life who won't give up on him.definitely for adults only

First book by this author and I really enjoyed it. Good story line . Loved the meeting of Casey and Jake when Casey realised he was looking for an out over their awkward conversation and she ended up pranking him. Loved their storyline, though what happened to Jake early in his life was horrendous . Good book

I read a lot. I listen to audio books even more. Most are enjoyable but forgettable. Great at the time but a week later, you struggle to remember the plot. This was a real rollercoaster of a book. The story is well thought out with a gentleness that flows throughout . Jakes' story under pins the book and is truly horrific but it is told with a detachment that makes it bearable. It is savage but handled with compassion. I don't think it was written to shock the reader ,more over to emotionally involve the reader. The end chapters made me cry. You end up thinking 'when is Jake ever going to get a break'. However, it is true to life. As Jack Regan from the Sweeney said 'Life is hard but nobody wants to know it'. Life is hard and it is harder for some than others. A beautiful book that is well wriiten.