Aisha Ford

I discovered this ChristFic author and first read four of her romance novels about twenty years ago. I recently reread 'em, and now I've finally gotten to what I think is the only other solo novel of hers, written around that early 2000s time.

I thought it'd be another contemporary romance, but I'd say this book is romantic contemporary fiction. It includes the perspectives of multiple characters and the different issues they're dealing with, rather than just being a story about Sabrina and her love interest.

Now, some aspects of the plot I didn't find the most convincing, including the fact that someone like Sabrina would agree to a workplace deal with unethical strings attached. I also didn't find it believable that entertainment outlets and numerous fans across the country would have such major interest in Sabrina's New Year's goals and the details of her love life when she wasn't already a celebrity—a music artist or movie star or someone whom wide audiences would already be primed for gossip about.

Yet, I still found the unfolding of it all quite entertaining and not too high on pettiness and "drama," even considering the villain of the story. I grew to like Sabrina and her love interest more as I got deeper into the read, despite my frustration with some naïveté on his part and my wishing they'd both just say what's on their minds at some key times. I'll admit that in the end, I felt just a little shortchanged in the romance department, as the resolution isn't a swoon-worthy one. But again, this isn't exactly a romance novel.

I'm not sure how much the book's salvation subplot was needed, but the whole aspect of it didn't merely feel pasted in. And a part of it gave me a good and genuine laugh-out-loud moment.

In all, I found this read satisfying, and it seems to have turned out that I saved my favorite novel by this author for last.… (mer)

Dana is confident in her job as a bakery manager, even while the bakery's popularity takes a hit with the arrival of new competition in town. Dana's boss hires Ethan, a gourmet chef, to give the bakery's menu an upgrade, but Ethan and Dana don't see eye to eye on how to move forward in Pride and Pumpernickel by author Aisha Ford.

My goodness! Has it really been about twenty years since the first time I read this ChristFic romance? It's fun returning to modern reads where answering machines and pagers (and no cellphones) are the normal thing.

I've always gotten a kick out of this novel's title, and I appreciate the nuance in the business problem the characters have to tackle. I like that this isn't the kind of enemies-to-lovers romance where the hero and heroine behave like jerks to each other. The friction between Dana and Ethan isn't overdone...

...until maybe a turning point of conflict based on a matter so trivial, I couldn't take it too seriously. I also can't fully buy into a guys-only scene where the guys are discussing Anne of Green Gables, Pride and Prejudice, and Mr. Darcy. It's like trying to picture a bunch of Black men at the barbershop on the corner...talking about Jane Austen. I just don't see it.

Nevertheless, a lot of sweet ChristFic romance fans would find this to be a pretty quick and easy dessert of a read.… (mer)

First, the cover--I think the guy on the cover looks annoyed or mad rather than interested in the girl on the cover. I can't imagine her being interested in him or him being interested in her based on the Heartsong Presents cover.

I admired Dana's dedication to her job with Grady's. It does seem that perhaps she put too much of her identity into that since she was so hurt by their decision to bring Ethan in. Then again, they could have discussed it with her in advance instead of springing it on her in front of him. So I could say I fault their leadership skills as much as Dana's in this regard.

I can see that Dana wants to keep some of the tradition of the bakery going--while at the same time, wanting to bring customers into the stores. She fights some of the changes, but once the surveys prove that customers like some of the new ideas, she is willing to give them a try at the bakeries. Honestly, I can't see Dana giving up her job with Grady's to manager Ethan's restaurant, but . . . it is a fictional world after all.

Ethan has some pride issues too though, because he won't give up on the bread pudding (honestly, it doesn't sound good to me no matter which of the ways they tried to describe it.) He goes back on his deal with Dana to accept the survey reviews and take things off the menu that the customers didn't like--and he makes her look bad to Mr. Grady as part of that. I kind of figured though that when his mom asked him to make a dessert, that was going to be what he made, and that he would finally realize it isn't as good as he thinks it is. (which is what happened).

In the end, it was a cute story.… (mer)