Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge,from Berkeley Publishing, via Netgalley, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it
The author of The Cake Therapist returns with another sweet and emotional tale featuring Neely, the baker with a knack for finding exactly the right flavor for any occasion...
Synopsis:
A crisp tang of citrus that is at once poignant and familiar, sharpening the senses and opening the mind to possibilities once known and long forgotten...
Claire “Neely” Davis is no ordinary pastry chef. Her flavor combinations aren't just a product of a well-honed palate: she can “taste” people's emotions, sensing the ingredients that will touch her customers' souls. Her gift has never failed her—until she meets a free-spirited bride-to-be and her overbearing society mother. The two are unable to agree on a single wedding detail, and their bickering leaves Neely's intuition frustratingly silent—right when she needs it most.
Between trying to navigate a divorce, explore a new relationship, and handle the reappearance of her long-absent father, Neely is struggling to make sense of her own conflicting emotions, much less those of her hard-to-please bride. But as she embarks on a flavorful quest to craft the perfect wedding celebration, she'll uncover a family history that sheds light on both the missing ingredients and her own problems—and illustrates how the sweet and sour in life often combine to make the most delicious memories...
Review:
This is a lovely book, that is just right for light Summer reading by the pool or beach! It comes out next month, but you need to put it on your to buy list now! And that also gives you time to read the first book in this lovely series!
The author does a great job weaving multiple stories from the past and present together, so that the reader sees connections before Neely does. Yet this offers an interesting reader perspective, as you anticipate how Neely will see them, yet there are still some surprises in store! It's not every debut author who can handle going back and forth in time, but I think because Fertig was a cookbook author first, she understands memory and associations very well, and that allows her to make the timelines blend very well! The author indeed knows her cooking, so be prepared to get VERY hungry while reading this book, as the descriptions of the food and recipes will have you salivating! She also handles the subject of PTSD and issues with servicemen from Vietnam, and homelessness, in a honest and refreshing way, and I commend her for tackling a difficult subject in a book that screams Chick Lit, yet offers some very solid advice and understanding!
This is a great book and when it ends, you'll be wanting to go back to Millcreek Valley and see what happens next! Fertig leaves plenty of questions open for Book 3, and I for one can't wait to read it! Don;t miss this great book!
Recipe
Since the book focuses on Lemon, how about checking out a great Lemon Verbena Pound cake on Fertig's blog? She has some VERY yummy recipes over there, perfect for after you've read the book and want to cook all things lemon!
About the Author
Judith Fertig is an award-winning cookbook author whose food and lifestyle writing has appeared in more than a dozen publications, including Bon Appétit, Saveur, and the New York Times. Judith attended Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne in Paris and the Graduate Summer Workshop at the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She teaches cooking classes across the country and lives in Kansas City. Check out her website for more info
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