An uplifting and heartwarming story about the moments that change your life forever, human kindness and being true to yourself, from the bestselling author of The Tea Chest.
Life in the village isn’t always sweet and simple . . .
When single mum Olivia uproots her young son Darcy from their life in Tasmania for a new start in the English Cotswolds, she isn’t exactly expecting a bed of roses – but nor is she prepared for the challenges that life in the picturesque village throws her way.
She’s arrived in the picturesque village of Stoneden, courtesy of The Renaissance Project, a local program that hopes to bring the dwindling community back to life – to welcome migrants from around the world and to boost the failing economy. The newcomers must have ancestors or relatives who lived in the area before, and Olivia’s grandmother grew up there. Ma, as she was called, raised Olivia and her recent death has left a mighty hole in her. Olivia sees this as a fresh start.
It’s also a chance for Darcy to finally meet his Norwegian father, Helge, with whom he’s in contact with online. Living in the UK means Norway is only a short flight away. With no other family keeping her in Australia, Olivia plans to move on from the traumatic event that tore her loved ones apart, and to trace the last blurry lines on what remains of her family tree.
Olivia arrives in the village and opens her own cake shop (yes, plenty of cakes here!), only to discover not everyone is so pleased about the initiative. Despite some resistance from some locals, her new life begins to unfold with new friendships, and perhaps even more than friendship. After seven years on her own, she has all but given up on romance, until life dishes up some delicious new options she didn’t even know she was craving.
Josephine Moon just gets better and better… and she was already great. The Cake Maker’s Wish is my favourite of her novels so far, and one of my favourite reads of the year. This is pure escapist delight, with a lot of heart and humour. It’s brimming with wonderful, unique characters, including some surprising ones. And the setting – well I want to move there (fortunately, or unfortunately for my family the village is fictional, so I can’t).
There’s enough tension superbly plotted throughout that you’ll keep powering through the pages, as well as plenty of twists, but generally you feel like you’ll in the hands of an expert cakemaker herself – you know how this is going to taste, but that doesn’t for a second diminish the experience. It’s scrumptious. The Cake Maker’s Wish is a recipe for a wonderful weekend. Delicious reading…
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