The Sweetest Thing - Cathy Woodman

I have to confess that for the first few pages I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy this book but, I'm not one to just give up on a book without giving it a chance and I'm glad that I kept going because, within another couple of pages, I was hooked.

Jennie Copeland is newly divorced and living in the suburbs of London with her three children. After the divorce she decides she needs a fresh start and so she buys a ramshackle old house on the outskirts of the village of Talyton St George. There, she sets up a wonderful cake-making business but sadly country life is not quite as idyllic as she hoped it would be. She has to contend with cows, a pony, some chickens, a dog, nosey neighbours, a stroppy teenage son and the farmer next door, Guy Barnes, who doesn't think she'll last a year in the countryside. Will it all be too much for her to cope with? Will things ever settle down enough for her to finally find happiness and could Guy be the man to help her find that happiness?

I found this book hugely enjoyable and I felt I could easily identify with all the characters. At first I found Jennie a bit annoying - a typical townie in the country - but that is exactly what she's meant to be. Guy is a typical farmer and I warmed to both of them very quickly. The two little girls are adorable and even Adam, underneath his stroppy teeange exterior, is a very likeable boy.

This book is a lovely, easy read but be warned, once you get into it, it's very hard to put down. It's funny, sad, moving and uplifting in equal measures. Because Jennie is setting up a cake-making business each chapter is named after one of her cakes and the cakes are described throughout the relevant chapter. They sound absolutely delicious and I would have loved to have tried each one out myself (not great for the waistline). I give this book five stars and recommend it highly.

D x

Comments

The Sad Songs Blogfest

This is the first time I've ever taken part in a Blogfest and it has been great fun! Thank you to Diane for organising it. You can find Diane's blog by clicking here Check out her list of inspirational, sad songs. I have had a ball going through old cds, trying to pick out my top 10 sad songs that inspire me. I have to admit that I could have come up with way more than 10 but I decided to give myself a limit. These songs hold no particular memories for me but they are songs that tug at my heart strings every time I hear them and if I'm ever feeling down and wanting to wallow in self-pity, then these are the songs I would put into my playlist and play whilst drinking a bottle glass or two of wine. Are you sitting comfortably? (click on any of the titles to hear the songs on youTube) Hello by Evanescence . The haunting piano accompaniment and the striking voice of Amy lee make this (in my opinion) one of the most moving songs this band have ever released. All O

A-Z Blogging Challenge: B is for 'Baa Baa Black Sheep'

Baa baa black sheep 'Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full, One for the master, one for the dame, And one for the little boy who lives down the lane.' Although this rhyme was first published in 1744 it is believed to have been around for much longer. In fact, it is thought that it was written in the Middle Ages during the reign of King Edward II (1307 - 1327). This seemingly innocent children's nursery rhyme about a black sheep yielding three bags of wool actually has political undertones like many of the nursery rhymes from that era. During the Middle Ages the wool industry in England was huge and wool was a very valuable commodity. England produced the best wool in Europe and peasants were required to pay their taxes in the form of sacks of wool. They gave a third to the King (the master), a third to the nobility (the dame) and they were allowed to keep the final third for themselves (the little boy who lived down the lane)

Stop! It's Going Too Fast and I Want to Get Off!

Carousel Okay - I don't actually mean that I want things to stop so that I can get off because I'm having too much fun but, over the last few months, my life has become a daily whirlwind of new businesses, taking on new projects, building websites and building a brand and it's not showing any sign of slowing down. I have loved every minute of it so far but it has meant that so many other things in my life have had to be put on the back burner whilst all this has been going on, including Cupcakes and Cadenzas. It will all have been worth it in the long run but I just want to say thanks to everyone who has stuck around and not abandoned this blog and to say that I haven't forgotten about it or you. Why I love Cupcakes and Cadenzas so much and refuse to give up on it it is that it was the very first blog that I set up and is therefore my 'baby' as far as blogs go. I have several other blogs set up for various business ventures but Cupcakes and Cadenzas is

Cupcakes and Cadenzas

Search This Blog