Behind the Scenes of Working for Her Sweet Treats

August 10, 2026

Working for Her Sweet Treats began with muddy work boots crossing a freshly cleaned bakery floor.

Once I pictured Ava Bennett standing behind the counter of her new bakery while a large, hot construction contractor unknowingly left a trail of dirt behind him, their personalities began taking shape almost immediately.

Ava has come to Forge Creek determined to begin again. After a disappointing divorce, she has invested her money, her energy, and a tremendous amount of hope in Sweet Treats Bakery. The bakery is housed in a historic building that was once home to the town’s original bakery, making it the perfect symbol for what Ava is trying to do with her own life: preserve the worthwhile parts, repair what has been damaged, and create something new.

She is independent, creative, hardworking, and more than a little particular. Everything inside Sweet Treats has a place. Every pastry must meet her standards. Every coffee flavor is chosen carefully. And every pair of muddy boots should be wiped before entering. Unfortunately, Jake Dalton does not always receive that message.

Jake owns Dalton Restoration & Construction, one of the companies helping bring Forge Creek’s aging buildings back to life. He is observant, practical, dependable, and unable to enter any building without noticing at least three things that need fixing. That trait serves him extremely well in his professional life. It becomes slightly more complicated when he begins visiting Sweet Treats every morning.

Jake is not a man who gives grand speeches or makes sweeping promises. He shows people he cares by doing things. He repairs what is broken, carries what is too heavy, and takes care of problems before anyone else notices them.

He also has a serious sweet tooth.

Ava quickly discovers that Jake’s claim that one of his cinnamon rolls is “for someone else” should never be trusted. His imaginary recipient rarely receives a single crumb.

Jake initially believes he keeps returning because Ava makes excellent coffee, caramel apple muffins, and cinnamon rolls. Readers may reach a different conclusion before he does.

Food became much more than background decoration in this story. Ava features a rotating Muffin of the Week at Sweet Treats, beginning with Caramel Apple Muffins. Other bakery flavors appearing throughout the book include Lemon-Blueberry, Strawberry Cream Cheese, and Apple Crisp Cheesecake. Each one helped me create the warm, cinnamon-scented atmosphere I wanted for Sweet Treats.

The coffee menu also developed a personality of its own, with flavors such as Chocolate-Hazelnut, Maple Cinnamon, Orange Cinnamon, and Pumpkin Spice.

Then Jake inspired a cinnamon roll created especially for him.I will not reveal exactly how that happens, but I can tell you its name:

The Dalton

It is a Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Roll. Yes, it is every bit as indulgent as it sounds.

The food became such an enjoyable part of Ava and Jake’s world that I decided a normal bonus epilogue was not enough. Readers will be able to claim a free digital Sweet Treats cookbook containing the featured muffin, cinnamon roll, and flavored-coffee recipes.

The recipes come with practical bakery notes from Ava and a little extra cosmic kitchen guidance from Loralee. Because Loralee would never allow a cookbook to rely on measurements and oven temperatures alone.

A Little Cosmic Interference

Loralee Tilsby works part-time at Sweet Treats, although “works” may occasionally be a generous description.

She is still figuring out how to use her unusual talents to navigate the world. She reads tarot cards, studies astrology, interprets energy, and offers unsolicited spiritual observations while Ava is attempting to operate a perfectly respectable bakery.

Loralee is not the center of this story, but she became one of those side characters who adds just enough unpredictability to every scene she enters. At one point, she explains Ava’s personality to Jake with complete confidence:

“She’s a Virgo. She just can’t help it.”

Jake’s response tells us almost everything we need to know about his growing feelings:

“Whatever she is, I like it.”

Loralee also contributed several special features to the Sweet Treats cookbook, including Cosmic Kitchen Notes, a pastry horoscope, and Emergency Baking Tarot.

Ava would like readers to understand that tarot cards are not an approved method for selecting oven temperatures.

The Heart Beneath the Humor

Although this story is definitely a romantic comedy, I wanted Ava and Jake’s conflict to grow from something emotionally recognizable.

Ava’s former marriage left her wary of men who make decisions for her and call it helping. She needs to know that she can build a successful life without someone else taking control of it.

Jake, however, expresses affection through action. If he sees something broken, unsafe, or difficult, his instinct is to handle it. He does not believe Ava is incapable.

Ava does not initially know how to tell the difference. That creates the emotional question beneath the muddy boots, muffins, and bakery banter: Can someone help us without diminishing us? And can accepting that help be an act of strength rather than surrender?

Jake must learn that love is not always identifying the problem and arriving with the correct tools. Sometimes it means listening, asking what someone needs, and trusting her to make her own decision.

Ava must learn that not every man who notices her struggles wants to control her life. The right one may simply want a place beside her while she builds it.

Welcome to Forge Creek

Working for Her Sweet Treats is set in Forge Creek, Colorado, a hardworking small town in the middle of a long-overdue revival.

Old factories are becoming workshops and storefronts. Historic buildings stand beside new construction. The air carries traces of fresh-cut lumber, coffee, and the occasional grease-stained work jacket.

It is a town filled with people who understand that worthwhile things are rarely flawless.

Sometimes the uneven boards, old scars, repaired bricks, and imperfect edges are what give something its character.

That idea became especially important to Ava and Jake’s story. Jake may always notice the things that need fixing. But Ava needs a man who can look at her and see someone worth choosing exactly as she is.

I hope readers enjoy stepping into Sweet Treats, meeting the people of Forge Creek, and spending time with a stubborn bakery owner and the quiet contractor who keeps returning every morning.

Perhaps for the muffins. But probably not.

Enjoy the scents, flavor, funny banter and shenanigans,

Opal Nicks

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Working for Her Sweet Treats began with muddy work boots crossing a freshly cleaned bakery floor.

Once I pictured Ava Bennett standing behind the counter of her new bakery while a large, hot construction contractor unknowingly left a trail of dirt behind him, their personalities began taking shape almost immediately.

Jake is not a man who gives grand speeches or makes sweeping promises. He shows people he cares by doing things. He repairs what is broken, carries what is too heavy, and takes care of problems before anyone else notices them.

He also has a serious sweet tooth.

Ava quickly discovers that Jake’s claim that one of his cinnamon rolls is “for someone else” should never be trusted. His imaginary recipient rarely receives a single crumb.

Jake initially believes he keeps returning because Ava makes excellent coffee, caramel apple muffins, and cinnamon rolls. Readers may reach a different conclusion before he does.

The coffee menu also developed a personality of its own, with flavors such as Chocolate-Hazelnut, Maple Cinnamon, Orange Cinnamon, and Pumpkin Spice.

Then Jake inspired a cinnamon roll created especially for him.I will not reveal exactly how that happens, but I can tell you its name:

The Dalton

It is a Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Roll. Yes, it is every bit as indulgent as it sounds.

The food became such an enjoyable part of Ava and Jake’s world that I decided a normal bonus epilogue was not enough. Readers will be able to claim a free digital Sweet Treats cookbook containing the featured muffin, cinnamon roll, and flavored-coffee recipes.

The recipes come with practical bakery notes from Ava and a little extra cosmic kitchen guidance from Loralee. Because Loralee would never allow a cookbook to rely on measurements and oven temperatures alone.

A Little Cosmic Interference

Loralee Tilsby works part-time at Sweet Treats, although “works” may occasionally be a generous description.

She is still figuring out how to use her unusual talents to navigate the world. She reads tarot cards, studies astrology, interprets energy, and offers unsolicited spiritual observations while Ava is attempting to operate a perfectly respectable bakery.

Loralee is not the center of this story, but she became one of those side characters who adds just enough unpredictability to every scene she enters. At one point, she explains Ava’s personality to Jake with complete confidence:

“She’s a Virgo. She just can’t help it.”

Jake’s response tells us almost everything we need to know about his growing feelings:

“Whatever she is, I like it.”

Loralee also contributed several special features to the Sweet Treats cookbook, including Cosmic Kitchen Notes, a pastry horoscope, and Emergency Baking Tarot.

Ava would like readers to understand that tarot cards are not an approved method for selecting oven temperatures.

The Heart Beneath the Humor

Although this story is definitely a romantic comedy, I wanted Ava and Jake’s conflict to grow from something emotionally recognizable.

Ava’s former marriage left her wary of men who make decisions for her and call it helping. She needs to know that she can build a successful life without someone else taking control of it.

Jake, however, expresses affection through action. If he sees something broken, unsafe, or difficult, his instinct is to handle it. He does not believe Ava is incapable.

Ava does not initially know how to tell the difference. That creates the emotional question beneath the muddy boots, muffins, and bakery banter: Can someone help us without diminishing us? And can accepting that help be an act of strength rather than surrender?

Jake must learn that love is not always identifying the problem and arriving with the correct tools. Sometimes it means listening, asking what someone needs, and trusting her to make her own decision.

Ava must learn that not every man who notices her struggles wants to control her life. The right one may simply want a place beside her while she builds it.

Welcome to Forge Creek

Working for Her Sweet Treats is set in Forge Creek, Colorado, a hardworking small town in the middle of a long-overdue revival.

Old factories are becoming workshops and storefronts. Historic buildings stand beside new construction. The air carries traces of fresh-cut lumber, coffee, and the occasional grease-stained work jacket.

It is a town filled with people who understand that worthwhile things are rarely flawless.

Sometimes the uneven boards, old scars, repaired bricks, and imperfect edges are what give something its character.

That idea became especially important to Ava and Jake’s story. Jake may always notice the things that need fixing. But Ava needs a man who can look at her and see someone worth choosing exactly as she is.

I hope readers enjoy stepping into Sweet Treats, meeting the people of Forge Creek, and spending time with a stubborn bakery owner and the quiet contractor who keeps returning every morning.

Perhaps for the muffins. But probably not.

Enjoy the scents, flavor, funny banter and shenanigans,

Opal Nicks