I received this arc of Christmas Cakes and Kisses in exchange for my honest review. This is the second book in Lara VanHulzen’s series, The Endicotts of Silver Bay. The author has added another wonderful book to the stories set in Silver Bay. In her other series we have met many interesting people and were fortunate that some of them made an appearance in this latest book. Book 2 features Eva Endicott. We met her in the last book. She and her brother Chet have relocated recently to Silver Bay from out east. She is working in the bakery, helping Baylee with all her creations. She has a secret dream of opening her own shop creating cakes. As this is not what Baylee works on, she feels she won’t create a problem. She is still keeping it a secret as she doesn’t know how Baylee or the others will react.
The book also features Tyler Vance, who is the personal trainer for the professional baseball player married to Baylee, Drew MacIntyre. We met Tyler in the first Endicott book. When Eva ran into Tyler, she had a funny reaction, indicating her interest in him. Eva is laser focused on an upcoming cake contest that she hopes to win for the money she can use for starting her business.Tyler and Eva are attracted to each other. She know his plans are up in the air as Drew plans to retire from baseball in a year. She isn’t sure he will stay in town or move to work with another athlete. She isn’t interested in s relationship if the guy will be leaving. She also wants to focus on the cake contest as she wants to use the money for her business.
Both Eva and Tyler finally give into their feelings and start seeing each other. They are included in the holiday events Baylee and Drew set up along with her brother Chet and his girlfriend Meg. When they individually set up plans for the future and don’t share with each other, they run into a conflict. The future for the two is uncertain and there’s angst and hurt feelings. Eva and Tyler are both genuine people that are very likable. The readers are pulling for them to have a happy ending. I like how Lara has incorporated so many of the prior characters and businesses in this new series. It is well written and very entertaining. I highly recommend it and give it 5/5 stars.
