Book: Serving Bunt by Kelly Reynolds
Reviewed by ErikaWasReading
Rating: 5/5
Serving Bunt picks up Peter Diaz and Matty Miller’s storyline from Catch Got Your Tongue . After learning Diaz was the man behind the Rose City Roaster RP fanfic he had been falling for over text, Matty is devastated, and their kiss at Bella & Bennett’s wedding leaves him even more hurt.
When Sleigh the Bake, a nationally televised baking show, wants two baseball players for its celebrity special, Matty can’t help but wonder if 5 days away from the team might let them talk and find a way back to being cordial. Only the heat is high in this kitchen, and an “only one bed” situation might be the missing ingredient to rekindle their connection.
Matty is still hurt at the beginning of the novel (rightfully so), and Diaz knows he screwed up. But every time Diaz tries to reach out, Matty smacks his hand away. I appreciated that Matty recognized what he was doing and decided to make an effort to talk and repair their friendship. I thought having Matty push their participation in Sleigh the Bake made their reconnection feel more natural, since he went into the situation ready to forgive.
I loved that the baking show and time away from the team allowed them to really get to know each other. Yes, they were teammates, and yes, they had been exchanging messages, but by working together on the show and spending quiet time together, we saw true intimacy develop between them.
Additionally, I really appreciated the timing of story elements and that they talked before anything romantic happened. There was so much mutual pining, and the two were intensely attracted to each other, but having the conversation before anything happened helped them finally lower their walls.
Serving Bunt is the last of the Rose City Roasters series. It can be read as a standalone, but I think it helps to have read the prior books.