Happy Release Day!
Congrats Karen
on the release today of
The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove!
The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove by Karen Hawkins
Magical Realism, Contemporary, 352 pages
Published August 15, 2023 by Gallery Books
Three lives converge as a wildly talented baker returns to Dove Pond to face her past in this entry in the charming series that proves that sometimes miracles really do happen...
Ella Dove is an acclaimed baker whose desserts spark vivid, cherished memories in those who taste them. A restless soul, Ella goes wherever the wind takes her—but driven by a haunting dream, she’s coming home to Dove Pond. Years ago, her mentor, Angela Stewart Harrington, falsely accused Ella of stealing her beloved family recipe book, known as the Book of Cakes. Now, Ella believes it’s time for them to reconcile.
Angela has her own share of amends to make. Her daughter Jules has never forgiven her for divorcing her father, and they’ve been estranged ever since. But just as Angela begins to hope that she and Jules might mend their tattered relationship, a miscommunication turns into a lie that could destroy everything.
Meanwhile, Jules’s son Gray is shocked that Ella, his first love and his first heartbreak, has returned to Dove Pond. But even though he knows Ella is a wanderer and will soon leave, he’s unable to stop himself from falling for her once again. Can Gray find a way to convince Ella to give him, and their town, a serious chance? Or is he once again on the road to a broken heart?
With so much at stake, Ella, Angela, and Gray must learn to accept each other—flaws and all—forgive the many mistakes of their pasts, and trust that love can, and will, always find a way.
My thoughts about The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove ~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)
First lines—"It's a sad fact of life in very large, very noisy families filled with big personalities, it's possible for a quieter, more solitary child to get lost."
The Dove Pond series is amazing! Each book focuses on one of the seven sisters of the Dove family. And each sister seems to have their own special talent, with a little magic thrown in. That's what I enjoy the most about all of these books—the touch of magical realism that the author adds to the story. I'd like to believe that we all have a bit of that in our lives.
In The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove, Ella finds herself back to Dove Pond, a place she really doesn't want to be, but knows that there is something she has to set right. She's only going to stay a few days, maybe a few weeks at the most, until the issue is resolved. But in true Dove Pond fashion, things don't always work out that easily in this small, friendly town.
I love the complexity of the relationships of all of the characters and I especially love the lengths that Angela goes to, to get what she is looking for in her relationship with her daughter. So not only is there the wonderful, magical storyline of the Dove sister, there are so many other great characters that you can't help but love. I love my trips back to Dove Pond and can't wait for more.
I highly recommend The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove, as well as this whole series, for some major escape reading. You're going to love it!
I received a copy of The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
About the author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Hawkins writes novels that have been praised as touching, witty, charming, and heartwarming. A native Southerner who grew up in the mountains of East Tennessee where storytelling is a way of life, Karen recently moved to frosty New England with her beloved husband and multiple foster dogs. The Dove Pond books are a nod to the thousands of books that opened doors to more adventures, places, and discoveries than she ever imagined possible.
If you'd like to keep up with Karen's crazed and hectic schedule, win free books, find out about her coming releases, or just want to engage in some easy on-line snooping, sign up for Karen's amazing newsletter! ~ Goodreads
If you'd like to keep up with Karen's crazed and hectic schedule, win free books, find out about her coming releases, or just want to engage in some easy on-line snooping, sign up for Karen's amazing newsletter! ~ Goodreads
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