“Beautifully written and unflinching in its portrayal of the complexities of marriage, sisterhood and long-held secrets.”Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author, on The Secret Ingredient for a Happy Marriage Bridget O’Bannon is ready for a do-over. After years of pretending she had a happy marriage and denying that she missed the friends and family she’d left behind, she’s headed home … left behind, she’s headed home to restart her life.
But working alongside her family every day at their bakery isn’t as easy as whipping up her favorite chocolate peanut butter cake. Her mother won’t give her a moment’s peace, and her sister Abby is keeping secrets of her own. And there doesn’t seem to be enough frosting in the world to smooth over the cracks forming between them.
Bridget can see the recipe for a happy life- including the possibility of a new romance- written out before her, but first she and her family will need to lay bare their secrets and rediscover the most elusive ingredients of all: forgiveness, laughter, and love.more
I loved this book! The dynamics of the O’Bannon women are so complex and there’s a scene near the end that made me ugly cry, it was so great. I truly think this is Jump at her best.
I absolutely adored this book! It was extremely well written, showing the complexities of family and the effects secrets can have on those relationships that should be treasured the most.
It seems like every member of the O’Bannon family has secrets. Hiding information is tearing this group of women apart. As each secret is brought to light, will it bring them back together or push them farther apart?
A brilliant book. I’m heading out now to get the second in the series.
Bridget O’Bannon is ready to take back her life, and leave the haunting memories of her unhappy married life behind. She tried to be happy, she really did, but it just wasn’t working, and then her husband died in an tragic accident, and she suddenly found herself free to explore a new life. For so long she gave everyone the appearance that her life was pretty near perfect, but underneath all that fake happiness was a woman who was completely unhappy with how things in her life really turned out. Now she is ready to grasp this new opportunity with both hands, move back home and truly live again, on her own terms of course, and reconnect with the family she left behind. But once she is there, working alongside her family in their bakery she begins to wonder if she just got herself in over her head. Everyone is keeping secrets, putting on appearances and it’s starting to wear on her… and she knows all to well how this type of behavior will lead you. Now she must find a way to convince her family to let their secrets out and find a way to overcome whatever they bring about…all while also trying to find the courage to open her heart to love again.
This touching read is about rekindling friendships, strengthening family bonds, and discovering love again. This diverse group of women had quite the task in front of them, but with a lot of hard work, a little fighting here and there, they finally found a way to sort out their differences and build quite the support group for one another. Their story had moments that made me laugh, moments that had me near tears, and moments that had my heart rejoicing… it was truly an enjoyable literary adventure I won’t soon forget! The characters had a very realistic quality to them, and at times reminded me of my own family, which made them very easy to relate and connect with. I highly recommend you get your hands on this beautifully written story, it is sure to keep you transfixed from start to finish!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.
Four ingredients in Shirley Jump’s new book THE PERFECT RECIPE FOR LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP.
When you can laugh, cry, cringe, and cheer at a book’s story line and its characters, you know you’ve read something that will stay with you for a long, long while. The O’Bannon family reminded me so much of my own crazy Irish/Catholic family that at times I felt like I was reading a diary from my teen years.
30 year old Bridgit O’Bannon has just become a widow – much like her mother did 20 years before. That’s the only similarity, though between the 2 events. Colleen ( mom) had 4 small children to care for; Bridget had wanted a baby with her husband Jim, but he didn’t want children. Colleen’s husband was loved by her family; Jim was not. In fact, he was the cause of a major rift between Bridget, her 3 sisters and her
other. And after his death, Bridget learns some horrible truths about the husband she gave up all for.
But, like most families, when tragedy walks in the door, family does too, bringing food (more casseroles than anyone should have to eat!) and carting more emotional baggage than should be allowed.
How these five strong-willed, fractured, and emotionally charged women cope with the events and one another is the basis for Jump’s story and believe me, it rings so true to life that you will, as I did, hear fragments of your own family story bark through it.
Add in some mouthwatering baking scenes( because the family runs a 3-generations-old bakery) a new romantic interest for Bridget, two family secrets that threaten to crack any chance of healing this family ( one from sister Abby, the other from Colleen) and a Priest who makes house calls and epitomizes God’s love, and you’ve got a simply wonderful, tear-jerking, belly-laughing story.
I can’t recommend this book enough. Brava, Ms. Jump. Keep’em coming!
A recommended read from Kristan Higgins, this book is about 4 sisters, their widowed mother and the bakery they all work in. Each of the characters has an interesting story, and I understand this is the first book in a series. Looking forward to more!