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sparklingreader's review
5.0
Blurb: Ellen Cahill's financial future rides on the success of her new pastry shop. A bruising divorce has drained her bank account, along with her spirit. A man enters her life promising love, but Ellen, haunted by the past, questions whether she can pull off this new beginning. College student Rosa Escamilla has her own culinary dreams—and a difficult mother who's dead set against them. Rosa won't be deterred. She scrapes up the money to enroll at a prestigious culinary school, setting out to prove everyone wrong. When hidden betrayals by the people they love most surface for both Ellen and Rosa, can they overcome the blows they never saw coming on the road to where they want to go?
Thoughts: Wow. I don’t read a lot of “women’s fiction” types of books, but if they are like this, I may have to look more. Or definitely for this author. I have become a definite fan. The story focuses on two women – Ellen, who’s older (late 40’s) and Rosa, who’s younger (late teens/early 20s) and their lives.
Ellen Cahill has gone through a rough divorce and is trying to figure out what’s next. How to start over after twenty years of marriage. Her two kids are off in college and she’s left alone to ramble around her big house. But she’s not ready to give up the place she’s spent her entire adult life. But with a mortgage hanging over her head, she need to figure out how to get the money to keep it. Her best friend, Alice, aims her toward a local junior college where she gets a job teaching a class on baking and pastry. She also meets William there and falls for him. Meanwhile, Rosa is working multiple jobs to earn money to go to culinary college even though her mother doesn’t approve. But she is determined to find her way and Ellen encourages her.
I loved that Ellen had a special place—Arborview—which was her kids treehouse. She spends a lot of time there figuring out what to do with her life. And it becomes the focus of her anger when things go horribly wrong.
This is a story about perseverance and believing in yourself. The author pulls all the emotions out—joy, sadness, fear, anger, and satisfaction. It’s a great story to curl up with. To read how Ellen and Rosa face what’s going on in their lives, and how they pull through. The only question I had – and it’s a very small one – but Ellen could barely figure out where to get the money to pay her mortgage, so where did she get the money for the bakery? But again, a very minor “huh?”
Recommendation: Pick this book up! I don’t care if you’ve never read “women’s fiction” before, get it. It’s an amazing story and you will not be sorry.
Disclaimer:
Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Thoughts: Wow. I don’t read a lot of “women’s fiction” types of books, but if they are like this, I may have to look more. Or definitely for this author. I have become a definite fan. The story focuses on two women – Ellen, who’s older (late 40’s) and Rosa, who’s younger (late teens/early 20s) and their lives.
Ellen Cahill has gone through a rough divorce and is trying to figure out what’s next. How to start over after twenty years of marriage. Her two kids are off in college and she’s left alone to ramble around her big house. But she’s not ready to give up the place she’s spent her entire adult life. But with a mortgage hanging over her head, she need to figure out how to get the money to keep it. Her best friend, Alice, aims her toward a local junior college where she gets a job teaching a class on baking and pastry. She also meets William there and falls for him. Meanwhile, Rosa is working multiple jobs to earn money to go to culinary college even though her mother doesn’t approve. But she is determined to find her way and Ellen encourages her.
I loved that Ellen had a special place—Arborview—which was her kids treehouse. She spends a lot of time there figuring out what to do with her life. And it becomes the focus of her anger when things go horribly wrong.
This is a story about perseverance and believing in yourself. The author pulls all the emotions out—joy, sadness, fear, anger, and satisfaction. It’s a great story to curl up with. To read how Ellen and Rosa face what’s going on in their lives, and how they pull through. The only question I had – and it’s a very small one – but Ellen could barely figure out where to get the money to pay her mortgage, so where did she get the money for the bakery? But again, a very minor “huh?”
Recommendation: Pick this book up! I don’t care if you’ve never read “women’s fiction” before, get it. It’s an amazing story and you will not be sorry.
Disclaimer:
Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
reading_ladies_blog's review
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
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