The Great Fruitcake Bake-off

To defend her five wins, Samantha Greene, has to find a new entry for The Great Fruitcake Bake-off and teams up with neighbor, Dixon Roberts, only what they discover is baking a award-winning entry can be complicated, bad guys are plotting to take the crown, and ultimately, first prize isn't just about a ribbon.

The Great Fruitcake Bake-off is no longer available.

          "I am not entering this year." I pinned an unbreakable stare on Bethany, my long-time friend. We were piddling over coffee in her cubical like we always did before getting to the nuts and bolts of company business. "Period."

          "Why not, Samantha? You should be proud to be the five-time winner of the Great Fruitcake Bake-off. You're a legend."

          "Is being a legend in the fruitcake world a good thing? It's exhausting finding the perfect recipe, then bake and exhibit it. Besides, shouldn't somebody else win?"

        Bethany's fists went to her hips. "Sam, we're talking fruitcake. It's not groundbreaking like, like the Declaration of Independence or...the Pyramids."

          "I'm shocked to hear you say that. Fruitcake is the cake of all time. It dates to--"

          She bobbed her head. "To the sixteenth century."

          I raised my finger. "It gets a bad--"

          "Rap." She sighed a soul searching blow of breath. "You always say that. You also always say you love participating; yet, you're not defending your title this year."

          "I've used up all of Grammie's recipes."

          "You could start over with the first confection you entered five years ago, couldn't you?"

          "It seems like cheating...in a weird way. And I don't cheat."

          "You are a shining example of excellent values." Bethany drummed her fingers from the littlest to the index and considered. "I've got it! Why not check online and find a recipe?"

          "They don't call you brainchild for nothing." I rubbed a finger along the divot below my lower lip. A tiny speck of excitement blossomed within me. "I'll need a brand new fruitcake. I wouldn't want to be like Crazy Wanda who enters the same freakin' lump of dough every freakin' year."

          "It never hurts to expand your repertoire, even if it's by collecting fruitcake recipes."

Reviews:
5 stars. Fun, flirty story. I loved this short, sweet, and flirty read. Samantha and Dixon were great partners in the bake off and it was very fun to see them together. Great concept with the bake-off being what brings them together.

4 stars. Just Right Quick Sweet Read. Vicki comes through again with another awesome short yummy romantic read. Packed in, this short story is just right, starting with great girlfriends, a break-up and a handsome new neighbor in the complex. Sam Greene is the five-time champ of the annual fruitcake bake-off. She's got all the ingredients, a great new recipe, and the new guy, Dixon Roberts, on her team for this year's competition. But Sam's nasty neighbors have it in for her, and accident upon accident upon vandalism create a dilemma for this tough cookie. What's the right thing to do? We can easily justify all the action in this sweet story. It's all there--fun beginning, great middle and sigh-worthy ending. Dixon's left somewhat mysterious and over-the-top 2-good-2-B-true--it's fiction, right? You won't be sorry spending some time with this short romance.

5 stars. Fun Read. I enjoyed this story from the first sentence. We all have friends that get us into trouble and make us do things we've decided against. Even though we give in like Samantha, it turns out for a richer life. The Great Fruitcake Bake-Off had a few twists I wasn't expecting, a great spirit about the entire situation, and natural dialogue between characters. It was a smooth read, I really enjoyed the adventure. I look forward to reading more by this author. Who knew fruitcake was another key to the heart?

4 stars Fruitcake???? Who knew!! Is there any more controversial subject surrounding the holidays than fruitcake? It's the great debate - love it or hate it? This Fruitcake has fruit, nuts, cake and romance! A fun, warm hearted read to get your holiday spirit going and remind yourself what it's really all about. Leaves a smile on your face :)

4 stars. Tis the season--for romance! Who knew a fruitcake crown could be so coveted?
Samantha may hold the crown in the local fruitcake bake-off, but her future is in doubt when local cook Wanda wants it. Dirty dealings ensue, but there's a hero to the rescue--and he's as delicious as the cake!

Start your holiday enjoyment early with The Great Fruitcake Bake-off. Then be inspired and bake your own! That would be a double yum!

5 stars. Seinfeld would be proud. Whether you love fruitcake or hate it, this book is sure to bring a smile. Just as the Seinfeld "show about nothing" could make a funny story about the most mundane items, this book starts off with fruitcake and turns that into humor, fun and romance. Great read.

5 stars. No bad fruitcake here just loads of fun.  Love fruitcake and love these characters! A witty holiday read that will have you laughing and wanting more! Guys who bake know the way to a girl's heart.

5 stars. Sweet Get-Away. I curled up one evening and enjoyed the natural dialogue and fun read of the "Great Fruitcake Bake-off"! The winning recipe sounds both fun and tasty! Enjoyed the sweet get-away it provided me that evening. Thank you!

5 stars. A great and fun read. Vicki's story is a fun and entertaining read, as are all her stories. Her characters, Sam and Bethany, are friends you can relate to, many girlfriends have relationships like theirs, you want to be friends with them, too. You are drawn into the story right away and can't wait to see what is going to happen, and wanting a happy ending with Dixon. And the fruitcake sounds delicious!

5 stars. Vicki Batman has charmed us again with her witty story! Since I have never eaten fruitcake in my life, I was skeptical about whether a story about a fruitcake bakeoff could interest me. By the time Samantha and Dixon finished their entry, I was wishing I could sample their delicious concoction and sit down and have lunch with Samantha and her friend, Bethany. This endearing romantic comedy will make you smile. The characters are believable and seem like people who could live right next door. Make yourself a cup of cocoa and snuggle up in your favorite reading spot to enjoy Vicki Batman's "The Great Fruitcake Bake-Off.

4 stars. Fruitcake like I've never considered The only fruitcake I have ever liked is my Mother's fruitcake cookies. Vicki Batman's fun holiday read has made me reconsider my fruitcake position as I was really wanting a piece of Sam and Dixon's cake as I finished the story. The characters are so clearly described I feel like I know them. I especially was warmed by Bethany and Sam's friendship. So what's ahead with Dixon?

5 stars. Once again Vicki Batman delivers fun and energetic read Once again Vicki Batman delivers a fun and energetic read. If you are ready to put your feet up for a few minutes and get into the holiday mood, then this is the story for you. The characters are likable and relatable and the villain is someone we all know. Whether you like or loathe fruitcake you will love this spunky little holiday story.

5 stars. Romantic treat. If you like a little food for thought with your romance, this treat from Vicki Batman may be for you. After a bitter breakup with The Creep, Samantha is in no hurry to mix it up again with the opposite sex. Enter Dixon, the yummy new guy in the apartment complex, and Samantha finds herself regaining her appetite for love. But it’s not till the two, egged on by Samantha's BF Bethany, pair up for the complex’s annual fruitcake bake-off that things really start to heat up. What none of them know is that lurking is a saboteur who’d stop at nothing to see the reigning fruitcake queen and co. flop.

Will Team Samantha rise above the mischief to win the competition? I won’t spoil the fun and tell, but I will say that the story went down easy in one sitting. I enjoyed the interplay between the characters and admired the chivalry of the hero, who is much more than a pretty basket of buns. The interesting historical tidbits and recipe twists have tempted me to take another chance on the title’s much-maligned dessert.

5 stars. What a Yummy, Sweet Holiday Read..and it's about Fruitcake of all things! Ms. Batman makes Fruitcake into something other than a door stop! I loved her book! Her writing is so full of humor and warmth. A great holiday story that just makes you feel good! This author will always be on my auto buy list because she can write wayyyy better than any fruitcake I've ever eaten and because she cracks me up! Well done! I highly recommend!

5 stars. Romance definitely makes fruitcake so much yummier! Vicki Batman's characters always seem like they could be living right next door. Believable, warm and funny. Love is the sweetest ingredient in this fun read, where Dixon definitely puts the yum in fruit cake!

5 stars. Perfect for the Holiday Season! Author Vicki Batman writes a fun -- and funny! -- sweet romance perfect for the holiday season. Samantha needs a partner for the great fruitcake bake-off. After a recent break-up with a wrong-for-her man, she's not looking to get romantically involved with anyone. But then hunky Dixon walks into her life...and the rest is happily-ever-after. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a fun, quirky, and sweet romance story. Vicki Batman has a gift for mixing humor and romance, and her lovable characters are memorable. This holiday season, if you only have time to curl up with one book, make sure The Great Fruitcake Bake-Off is at the top of your list.

4 stars. Holiday happiness. Sometimes, a girl needs to curl up with a fun and flirty book that just makes you forget about life for a while. This is it, and with a holiday twist to boot! Good old fashioned fun.

5 stars. A lovely story about love and fruitcake! An adorable and sweet read about a man and a woman who come together over fruitcake, of all things.

Samantha is the five-time champion Fruitcake Baker for her apartment complex. Bound and determined to win a sixth time, she researches recipes on the internet for something that will clinch the title for her. Still gun-shy from her break-up, and stuck doing laundry on Friday night – date night - she runs into the luscious Dixon in the basement. He asks her to go for coffee, and they enjoy the evening watching classic cartoons. She gathers her courage and asks if he wants to be her partner in the Fruitcake Bake-off. He agrees, and they set a date to bake.

Samantha has a hard time concentrating and keeping her hands off this hunk of man. Is he as good as he seems to be? Disaster seems to strike at every turn when it comes to the bake-off, and he surprises her with his creativity and aplomb at coping…something her creep of an ex-boyfriend never showed.

This is definitely a fun read, and the author’s humor shines throughout this short story.

5 stars. HOLIDAY FUN WITH FRUITCAKE. Ms. Batman writes a funny, whimsical short story that pulls you in and keeps you turning the pages, chuckling the whole time. If you're looking for a quick fun holiday read, you can't go wrong with this little gem.

5 stars. Sweet Romance! This sweet taste of a story features amusing, believable characters and an intriguing plot all wrapped up in a heart-warming romance. It's a delightful read and I can't wait to recommend it my friends!

5 stars. Fruitcake Romance? How nutty is that! Fruitcake? Really? I never thought that you could write a fun romance about fruitcake but Vicki has once again shown she is the queen of comedy. A very enjoyable holiday read that is sure to make you smile. I don't know how good the recipe is because I would never bake this cake. But I would recommend the story.

5 stars. Gotta love it! Fruitcake? Gotta love it! What a fun and entertaining read, full of hilarity, romance, "meanness" and honesty in the end. Vicki Batman once again has a great book.

5 stars. The Great Fruitcake Bake-Off--a Christmas treat! The Great Fruitcake Bake-Off is another sweet treat for your holiday season. Sam and Dixon start out as a team and end up as a couple (with the help of bff Bethany). The story has everything: mystery, romance, friendship, and recipes! Reading The Great Fruitcake Bake-Off is a perfect way to spend time during your holiday.

5 stars. Cute story!  I've read a lot of Vicki Batman's stories and they never disappoint! Fun, cute, and romantic. I recommend this to anyone looking for a fun read.

The Fruitcake Recyclers: it’s a romantic comedy, featuring one recently single female, a hunky neighbor, and a couple of ne’re-do-wells who attempt to win the bake-off, not on their merits, but by destroying the competition. The Great Fruitcake Bake-off is a cute story as sweet as glaced cherries, and a very quick, enjoyable read. Never thought we’d put the word “enjoyable” in the same sentence as “fruitcake”, but there’s a first time for everything.

5 stars. Fun Read I enjoyed this story from the first sentence. We all have friends that get us into trouble and make us do things we've decided against. Even though we give in like Samantha, it turns out for a richer life.The Great Fruitcake Bake-Off had a few twists I wasn't expecting, a great spirit about the entire situation, and natural dialogue between characters. It was a smooth read, I really enjoyed the adventure. I look forward to reading more by this author. Who knew fruitcake was another key to the heart?

5 stars. A fun Story. The Great Fruitcake Bake-Off is a fun story with charming characters. I fell in love with Samantha and Dixon. Dixon is a true hero, gentlemanly and caring. And he even helped her bake. I don't like fruitcake, but after reading this story, I wanted a piece of that orange fruitcake Sam and Dixon made. This story is guaranteed to make you sigh with pleasure.

And it might even make you like fruitcake.

5 stars. Baking a Christmas Staple...who knew it could be so dangerous. Writing short stories that don't leave you asking, "Okay, where's the rest?" are the hardest type of stories to write. The author must make the manuscript engaging, entertaining, and complete.

THE GREAT FRUITCAKE BAKE-OFF by multi-published author Vicki Batman does it so well, this is actually the SECOND of her books, almost in as many hours, I have read. To add to the magic of this one, it just took one of the 2013 TOP TEN Preditors and Editors Reader Poll awards in its genre. That's HUGE!

Who knew how hazardous making fruitcakes could be, but when your apartment complex conducts a contest for the best fruitcake every year there might be some so covetous of the winning ribbon they're willing to resort to things that hit way below the belt.

This is a short, fast, delightful story and definitely a Christmas Tale worthy of hanging onto you yearly Christmas Reading Tree. Five Stars and a big old mug of eggnog.

Fact or Fiction? The honest to God truth is I love a good fruitcake. I prefer those from Collins Street Bakery. And then I discovered when chunks were dipped in chocolate, holy mama! Fruitcake becomes candy. So I had to share my love of fruitcake with naysayers. Perhaps, you will become lovers like me.