The saying is you can’t go home again, but that is exactly what Claire O’Neil is doing. While one chamber of her heart is shutting down, another is opening to new hope and possibility. Back home in Millcreek Valley, Neely (Claire’s nickname) is opening Rainbow Cake – her dream bakery. It’s a perfect fit at the perfect time. The bakery is a welcome addition to the area’s burgeoning bridal district and gives Neely the escape route she needs from the bustle of New York – and the crumbs of her marriage.

But Neely is more than a brilliant baker – she’s an intuitive, able to see into the hearts and lives of those around her – to a point, at least. There is a wonderful flavor of magic that permeates the pages of The Cake Therapist, and that element of magic, along with wonderful writing, makes the story irresistible. I really liked how the story floats from present to past and back again, weaving together a healing tapestry to show the residents of small town Millcreek Valley the way to start over and begin again.

About the Author
Novelist and cookbook author Judith Fertig grew up in the Midwest, went to cooking school in London and Paris, and now lives in the Kansas City area. Described by Saveur Magazine as a “heartland cookbook icon,” Fertig debuts a new novel that engage the mind, the heart, and all five senses—and celebrates cookbooks that reflect her love of bread, baking, barbecue, and the fabulous foods of the Heartland.

Novels you can read like cookbooks. Cookbooks you can read like novels. That’s what you get when an English major studies at École de Cuisine La Varenne (formerly in Paris) and The Cordon Bleu in London plus The Iowa Writers Workshop. Fertig often weaves storytelling into her books.

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