When life keeps on turning, can it turn for the better too?

Synopsis

Every night, Jasmine Ingilby dreams of delicate sugar flowers and perfectly swirled buttercream. By day, she steals moments between her cleaning shifts to craft stunning cakes from her tiny kitchen, hoping to transform her passion into something more. But as a fiercely independent single mother of two, finding time to grow her fledgling business feels like reaching for the impossible.

Just when her hard work seems about to pay off, Jasmine’s carefully balanced world begins to crumble. Her landlord puts a ‘For Sale’ sign outside her rented home. Then a figure from her past returns to town, reopening old wounds Jasmine thought had long healed and causing trouble at school for her young children.

Then Max Grainger – her childhood best friend – unexpectedly returns to Micklewick Bay after twenty-five years away, and Jasmine is blindsided by the emotions his presence stirs. Now a successful businessman with a son of his own, Max seems determined to solve all her problems. But years of self-reliance have built walls around Jasmine’s heart that even the sweetest gestures struggle to break through.

Will Jasmine’s fear of getting burned again stop her from accepting help when she needs it most? Or will the loyal support of her friends help her discover the perfect recipe for love?

A heartwarming, emotional read about second chances, friendship, and finding the courage to believe in yourself, perfect for fans of Jessica Redland, Jenny Colgan, and Phillipa Ashley.

My review

Jasmine Ingilby has many ball to keep up in the air. Being a single mother of two, even if they are delightful, children, isn’t easy. Especially as there just aren’t enough hours in a day, as Jasmine needs to combine her cleaning job with her real passion, creating amazing cakes for her customers. With the help of her lovely parents and wonderful friends, not only does Jasmine manage to be in control. However, just when things start to look up, suddenly her landlord puts her home for sale, and a nasty memory from her past resurfaces, and old wounds are not only reopened, but also affect her children. But not all is bad, because there is another return, in the form of her childhood best friend, Max Grainger. And Max for sure built a successful career, and wants to repay Jasmine and her family for everything they have done for him. But Jasmine has been through a lot and finds it difficult to let her guard down around Max, and see that his help comes from the right place. So will Jasmine be able to let go of her fears and dare to live her life at her fullest?

First of all, I cannot express how delighted I was to return to Micklewick Bay! It has been a while since my last visit, but it was so easy and fast to settle down in this lovely place again!

I have to say, that I was in awe of Jasmine. She has been through a lot, hasn’t has an easy time, and yet she manages to keep everything afloat. She is an amazing and committed mother, and the fact that both of her children are such sweethearts, is all up to her. And that despite the despicable behaviour of their grandparents of their father’s side.

Being a single mother isn’t an easy task, yet her children are always and will always be her first priority. No cleaning job, or baking job is more important than her son and daughter. And seeing that love, that parental love, was just so heart – warming… Jasmine is truly a Momma Bear, protecting her cubs against anything and anyone that may be a threat.

Jasmine is also the kind of mother that doesn’t show the worries to her children. She doesn’t want to burden them, or make it clear that things aren’t that easy for their close unit of a family. Because there are several worries, and the more the story evolves, the more the struggles increase, unfortunately…

I was happy to read that Jasmine, no matter what curveball is being thrown at her, she has the support of not only wonderful parents, but also amazing friends. No matter what situation she finds herself in, not of her own doing obviously, she has a real group that will have her back, help her out and even be her biggest fans and gently nudge her to take that terrifying step into the unknown.

While I was in awe of Jasmine, and I am not even talking about her baking skills that I just want to taste myself (and I am a bit envious of too…), I could also understand her pride. Because it’s one thing to accept the help of her parents, and listening to the words of wisdom of her friends. But it is a complete different thing when someone offers you what you want on a platter. Even if that person is an old friend.

Talking about old friends… Present – Max is an amazing man, who has been building his own success. Yet he is still a down – to – earth person, never forgetting where he came from, and who has been there in his darkest moments, as a young boy struggling.

My oh my… my poor heart just couldn’t take it, reading what he has been through as a young boy… Not only was it truly difficult to read about his situation at home, but seeing how at school he had to endure bullying, and that the adults at that time in the school, didn’t do the necessary… I just couldn’t handle it, weren’t it for Jasmine and her family.

The Ingilby’s for sure show what it means to be kind, warm, loving and altruistic. Because when young Max is struggling, they not only open their home, but also their hearts for this little kid, who in fact is in desperate need to feel loved and cherished. And that is what the Ingilby’s do…

I loved reading how easy things are when Jasmine and Max reunite, their friendship easily restored, even after being separated for years? And yes, I have to admit, I had my fingers crossed as I wanted things to evolve in a certain direction, especially after reading young Max’s declaration when he leaves Micklewick Bay!

In this book, we see Jasmine struggling. Struggling of letting her high – built walls down, but also struggling of just daring to dream bigger and bolder. It can be scary, to dream away, to chase the dreams, especially when you are already struggling. But aren’t dreams always worth to be chased? Aren’t those high walls made to fall apart?

I absolutely loved reding this story, as it shows the difficulties and the nastiness of the world and of life. But it also shows the warmest hearts, the generosity of people, the support of your loved ones. And there is also so much hope in this book, and the fact that you should always believe in yourself, and in your own strength and power.

Eliza J. Scott wrote a wonderful, empowering tale, showing us that we all should dare to dream and to never give up on those dreams. And perhaps even more important, that kindness, love and heart neve come at any cost, yet it is something truly invaluable!