Aimie K. Runyan

Dual narratives, one set in 1870 and one in 1946, involving two women who use their baking skills to help keep the people of Monmartre, Paris alive during turbulent times. Lisette leaves her well-to-do family in 1870 after meeting National Guardsman Theodore, and joining forces with him to help fight for a Paris of the People. She uses her baking skills to help feed the people, despite the fact that supplies are hard to come by.

Micheline lives in the same area post-WWII. Her father has died and her mother has disappeared, and it is up to Micheline to care for her younger sisters. Once again, food supplies are limited, and Micheline has to provide a living for the family, so she also uses her baking talents to help her family and her community.

I loved the dual narratives. The book was a quick read, in part because it was so interesting. The book is considered historical fiction because some of the events within the stories are real. It held my attention throughout.… (mer)

"It's the danger of dreams, isn't it? They can be beautiful, they can do more damage than good if they obscure reality too much." Aimie K. Runyan

I really loved this contemporary novel that still has history wound throughout its pages. Tempèsta has never really felt like she fit in with her family. Her grandmother has always been hard on her and she has felt lost since losing her mother passed years ago. Now the loss of her father has put things into perspective about life and dreams. She really isn't happy in her career and after the will of her father is read, she realizes the she now has the ability to seek out her dream of heading back to her mother's homeland and finding out more about her family on that side. Once she is in Sainte-Colombe she realizes that she may have just made a huge mistake. Buying a house sight unseen, not knowing the language well and not having a very warm welcome she wonders what her mother's life was like here. This is the first time she has really ventured out on her own, has made her own decisions and now she knows she needs to handle what she put into motion. Maybe Tempèsta can find what she has been searching for, as well as the answers about who her mother was and where she belongs. I really enjoyed this storyline, the characters and the food. Don't read this novel hungry! I loved that some of the recipes were included as well. The author wrote with such detail, I felt as if I could smell these meals. Loved this one! Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.… (mer)

Tempèsta Luddington was trained in finance to be able to help run her fathers philanthropic foundation and when she changes careers to become a food critic her family is very disappointed in her, especially her cantankerous grandmother. When her father suddenly dies she is left only a small inheritance from her mother who was from a small village Sainte-Colombe, in Provence. Longing to connect with her mothers roots she travels to Sainte-Colombe and on a whim buys a run down cottage. The welcome is cold from the townsfolk, especially from the towns mayor. Her mother was known in the village as a 'witch' and people are stand offish. But as Tempèsta begins to restore her little cottage and work with herbs and plants a little bit of magic begins to happen. Her herbs proliferate and her new home becomes her forever home. As she offers her help to the village that is steadily losing its inhabitants to larger cities she finds love and acceptance and a new foundation for family. This is a feel good novel that I really enjoyed listening to. There are elements of magical realism running throughout which enhance the story. I love stuff like that. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.… (mer)