[ARC Review] Pies & Promises by Duckie Mack

Publisher's synopsis: Jason loves his life as a stay-at-home dad but being a divorced single father wasn’t part of the plan. Besides his kids, pies are his passion. He makes and sells his creations at the Heartcraft Market, but it’s not enough to live off of.

After his father's recent health scare, Nico is determined to help revive their family diner. Then he meets Jason, whose pies are as sweet as he is, and an idea begins to form.

Jason’s kids are everything to him, but his bed feels empty at night. Nico has always wanted a family, but he has yet to find a man that he could build a life with. Can a few pies lead to the promise of a future together?  

My thoughts: Pies & Promises was an absolutely enjoyable MM single dad romance full of sweet treats and even sweeter heat. 

The first book in the Heartcraft Market series, Pies & Promises served as a great introduction to the titular weekend market that will tie all the books together, as well as some of the characters that will all get their turn in the spotlight. 

I truly enjoyed both Jason and Nico. In terms of their relationship, this was a relatively drama-free romance. Both Jason and Nico's problems stemmed primarily from their professional lives, not their personal, so it was easy to enjoy them as a couple without having to first spend hundreds of pages wondering if they will or they won't. 

Both characters were well-rounded and dynamic. Jason was a perfect balance of wanting what's best for his kids and wanting to find love again. He was adept at being able to devote time to one part of his life while simultaneously giving the other part of his life the care and attention it needed to thrive. 

I appreciated that Duckie Mack gave both main characters their own set of complications to work through, but for me, this story is truly about the love that Jason and Nico have for each other. It wasn't insta-love, but it was close. These two just fit into each other's lives so well, both personally and professionally, that it was clear they were meant for each other from the start. 

Pies & Promises was well written, giving both Nico and Jason the time and space to thrive both as individuals and as a couple. This is definitely one of the steamier Duckie Mack books I've read, made even better by Jason's nerdy persona. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this first trip to Heartcraft Market, and I can't wait to see what's in store in the next book. 

*A huge thank you to Duckie Mack for sharing an early copy of Pies & Promises with her ARC team!*

--------------------

Release date: 4/1/23

Format: eARC

eARC provided via: the author