Next In Line: A Cake Series Novel
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A very big shout-out to the original Sketch Monsters: Mike Wheeler, Matt Faulkner, and Brandon Gambles (my sincerest apologies, Brandon).
A special mention goes out to family friend Joel Krueger, the guitarist for Defecation.
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The Cake Series
Cake A Love Story is the first book in the Cake series. Every McKallister sibling was affected by the tragedy that rocked their family and all still struggle with the aftermath as adults. If you only read Cake, you will miss essential parts of the story as new information about, not only the kidnapping, but also the family is fleshed out in each subsequent book. Of course, every Cake story has its own unique love story to enjoy as well.
In book two, The Theory of Second Best, you will learn what happened the day Jake disappeared and why Kyle harbors such feelings of guilt. You will also get a fun, lively friends-to-lovers story set on an island with a cast of lovable characters.
In book three, Fiercely Emma, you will go back in time to learn what happened to the family during the month Jake went missing. Follow along with the McKallisters as they struggle to help teenage Jake heal from the crime that nearly ended his life. You will also get a present day opposites-attract love story set at a music festival. Emma just might be the most misunderstood McKallister. This book is her redemption.
In book four, Cake: The Newlyweds, Jake and Casey are back with new adventures and fresh struggles. As always, their story will be told with love, laughter, and a touch of heartache.
And, in book five, Rogue Wave, travel all the way back to a time never before explored in the McKallister saga and see what life was like before tragedy took the members of this family out at the knees. You will also get an entertaining opposites attract, second chance love story that spans over a decade.
Hunker Down, a Cake Series novella. For fans of the Cake series by J. Bengtsson comes a funny, heartwarming companion novella featuring the Cake characters in lockdown. Just like the rest of the world, the McKallisters find themselves struggling to conform to a new way of life after the virus confines them to their homes. These connected short stories give fans a chance to catch up on all of their favorite Cake characters as well as enjoy a bonus epilogue and interviews with the characters.
NEW! (June 1st, 2021) Next in Line The youngest McKallister boy, Quinn, is all grown up and coming for Jake’s musical throne. Go on a journey with Quinn as he discovers that the past might be the key to his future.
Up Next in the Cake Series? Grace Note (Coming 2022)
Add Grace Note to your Goodreads TBR!
And don’t forget this exciting story inspired by the Thomas Fire that raged through my county in December of 2017.
What happens when a troubled Harry Styles-like pop star gets caught in a California wildfire with a quirky hairdresser and all her pets? Find out in my new standalone novel, Like The Wind - a fresh, fun, and flirty take on the rock star genre.
2019 Audible Original Selection
One Click Like The Wind now!
Turn the page to meet Bodhi and Breeze>
Excerpt: Like The Wind
“Okay, so, here are the towels,” Mom said, handing me a stack. “I added some extra sheets just in case, you know…” Her eyes twinkled as she sent off the most awkward nod in Bodhi’s direction.
“Oh no,” he stumbled over his words. “That’s not… um…”
She patted his shoulder. “Right. Right.”
“No, really…”
But mom was out the door before he could reassure her that he had zero plans of banging her daughter in her childhood bed.
He sank down on the mattress. “Wow, your parents are…”
“Oh, trust me, I know.”
“It’s just, is it weird that I feel like I’m letting Betsy and Terrance down by not having sex with you tonight?”
I laughed, wedging between his knees so I could get close enough to steal a kiss. “If I had a nickel for how many times I’ve heard that in my life…”
He wrapped his arms around my waist, playfully asking, “Oh yeah? How much money would you have?”
My shoulders slumped. I had nothing to show for my bravado. “Honestly? I’d be a very poor woman.”
“Really? Like how poor?”
“Let’s just say a quarter would be too rich for my blood.”
“Huh? How many guys have you been with?”
“I started dating my ex back in high school. We were together for six years. After the split, I dated a few guys.”
“How many is a few?”
“Two.”
“So, based on the number of guys you’ve slept with you’d have fifteen cents?”
“A dime, actually.”
“A dime?” He laughed. “Wow, Breeze, you can’t even buy a gumball with that.”
I giggled, smacking his chest. “And how much would you have, Popstar? A hundred dollar bill?”
“Please. Do you have any idea how many nickels it would take to earn me a hundred smackers? I’d be physically exhausted.”
“Oh, I’m sure you earn a nickel a night on tour.”
“No, actually I don’t.” he said. “That’s RJ’s thing. Not mine.”
“So you’re saying RJ Contreras is more prolific than you?”
“Uh, yeah. He even has one of those coin counters and little brown paper wraps to bring his nickels into the bank.”
I was starting to get a bit antsy. I needed to know the dollar amount I was working with here. My smile melted as I swept hair off his forehead and demanded full disclosure from moneybags. “How much, Bodhi? Give me a ballpark figure.”
And so began the longest, most drawn out calculation I’d ever encountered in my lifetime. Bodhi tallied under his breath, even employing the assistance of his fingers to come up with an acceptable dollar amount. Finally he met my eyes, appearing confident in his answer.
“Before I give you the total,” he said. “I want to voice my objection to this line of questioning.”
“Duly noted.”
“And I feel like whatever I say will be used against me in a court of law.”
“Bodhi,” I blurted out. “The bottom line?”
“Fine $1.65.”
“Wait, is that per person or per time?”
“Same thing.”
He was right. I was using his admission against him. Even though I didn’t know him well enough to judge, my response was still borderline ‘jealous bitch’. “You’ve slept with thirty-three nickels?!”
He shrugged. “Give or take five cents here or there.”
“Bodhi, Jesus. Did you even have time to reload between nickels?”
“I thought this was a judgment free zone. I’m supposed to be safe in the love shack. That’s what your mom said.”
“Yeah, well, she’s full of shit.”
“See. I told you this wasn’t a good idea, but did you listen to me? Nooo… you kept pushing for my bank account numbers.”
“Because I didn’t realize what a slut you were before we started counting money!”
“You’re looking at this in the wrong way. The point I was making is that none of those nickels were spent on the same woman.”
“And that’s supposed to please me?”
“It should.”
“How do you figure?”
“Because, Breeze, you’re my first dime.”
One Click Like The Wind now!
About the Author
J. (Jill) Bengtsson is the bestselling author of the Cake Series. She writes contemporary novels focused on love, humor, passion, and family. Her heroines are strong, nurturing, and quirky while her heroes are what dreams are made of - gorgeous, committed, and in need of a little saving. A native Californian, Jill’s novels are set under the glittering lights of the West Coast entertainment industry. They are for the dreamer in all of us.
Jill resides in Ventura County, California. She’s married to the Swedish boy she met as an exchange student
her junior year in college and they have three children, a golden retriever, and two ragdoll cats.
J. Bengtsson is represented by Michelle Wolfson of the Wolfson Literary Agency. All foreign rights inquiries can be directed toward Taryn Fagerness.
Never miss a release! Sign up for Jill’s mailing list and stay up to date on what is happening in the Cake world and beyond.
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Also by J. Bengtsson
Cake: A Love Story
The Theory Of Second Best
Fiercely Emma
Cake: The Newlyweds
Rogue Wave
Hunker Down
Like The Wind
Next In Line
Award Nominated Audiobooks By J. Bengtsson
Cake A Love Story
The Theory Of Second Best
Fiercely Emma
Cake: The Newlyweds
Rogue Wave
Hunker Down - Novella
Like The Wind
Next In Line
*For extended samples visit
https://soundcloud.com/user-130747903