January, 1941: As Charlie Barton tiptoes silently out of the house one cold winter morning to go off and fight for his country, his wife Audrey is left to run the family bakery on her own. Times are tougher than ever, but at the Barton Bakery in Bournemouth, Audrey is determined as always to serve the town with love, loaves and cakes, even as the town is reeling from the struggles of the Blitz. … struggles of the Blitz.
Audrey’s brother William has returned from battle with serious wounds. His fiancé Elsie is waiting for wedding bells, but William is a changed man, and will her hopes be in vain?
Bakery helper Maggie has her heart set on dashing officer George. But will George still want to marry her when he discovers the truth about her family?
And Lily, Audrey’s stepsister, is struggling to raise her illegitimate baby and facing judgement from many in the town. The man who broke her heart returns with an offer, and Lily faces a hard decision about where her future lies.
When disaster strikes the bakery, Audrey fears that everything she has worked for may be ruined. With her shop threatened and her family in turmoil, can she fight to save everything she holds dear?
Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes is a romantic and heart-warming tale of cakes and confetti, perfect for fans of Sheila Newberry, Nadine Dorries and Ellie Dean.
What readers are saying about Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes:
‘Heart-warming and emotional and a book that I didn’t put down until I turned the last page. I couldn’t help myself but devour this gorgeous story in one go.’ By the Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars
‘Full of emotion, sadness and plenty of laughter. I couldn’t put this book down and it kept me hooked until the very last page.’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars
‘I whizzed through this book in two days. I was utterly engrossed… heart-warming saga at its best.’ Short Book and Scribes, 5 stars
‘Immensely entertaining and uplifting… I look forward immensely to catching up with these characters again in future!’ Novel Deelights, 5 stars
‘This is the first book I’ve ready by Amy Miller, and it will not be my last… I loved this book… a beautifully written book about continuing to live, even though there is a war going on around you. It is optimistic and a wonderful read.’ Kristin’s Novel Café, 5 stars
‘Heartbreaking yet heart-warming series… a touching story of family, friendship and love.’ Little Miss No Sleep, 5 stars
‘A lovely heart-warming book, full of emotion, sadness and laughter… uplifting… such a bitter sweet read… The story kept me hooked until the very last page.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Heart-warming and heart-wrenching… I can’t wait to read more in this series. It was a real page-turner. I couldn’t put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Heartbreaking, heart-warming and utterly divine… a book which is destined to make you see life in a different light.’ The Writing Garnet, 5 stars
‘I was enchanted… wonderful… I am so looking forward to reading the next book in the series… 5 well deserved stars from me.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘There’s so much to love about this story.’ The Well-Read Pirate Queen, 5 stars
‘The perfect blend of romance, family and intrigue, anyone who wants to relax with a cosy book will enjoy this one.’ The Help Meet Wife, 5 starsmore
Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes by Amy Miller is the second book in Wartime Bakery series. Audrey Barton wakes up one morning in January 1941 to find that her husband, Charlie left for his deployment without letting her give him a proper send off. Charlie and Audrey Barton own the Barton Bakery in Bournemouth, England and have been married for seven years. Audrey must now keep the bakery running while taking care of her family. The bakery is the central hub in their area and many of the families rely on the bread they produce. Thankfully, Uncle John has given up his retirement to take Charlie’s place in the bakery, but Audrey is worried about his persistent cough. Mary is the eight-year-old evacuee that the Barton’s have taken in. Her mother has passed away and Mary’s father is overseas fighting. Mary is coming out of her shell, and Audrey loves the little girl more each day. What will happen to Mary, though, when the inevitable happens to her father? Lily and her illegitimate daughter, Joy live with Audrey. The man she trusted betrayed her and her parents are ashamed. One day Joy’s biological father shows up at the bakery with an offer for Lily. She must now make a difficult decision. William Barton has returned home with severe injuries. Elsie, his fiancé, is grateful William is alive, and she is looking forward to marrying the man she loves. But the man she fell in love with is not the same man who returned home to her. Will there be wedding bells in their future? Maggie, Audrey’s sales clerk, has fallen in love with George Meadows. But she has not told George the truth about her home life. Will he change his mind about her when he discovers the truth and what Maggie did to keep her secret? One night an explosion rocks the area and tragedy strikes the Barton Bakery. Will they recover from this disaster? Come along to Bournemouth to spend with Audrey along with her family and friends in Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes.
Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes is a captivating story. It is realistic in its portrayal of life during World War II. How people at home work to survive the war with the men off fighting, rationing in effect and new items added frequently, bombs hitting the area, spending nights in air raid or Anderson shelters, quick weddings, the worry, the sacrifices, their perseverance and people in the community banding together to help each out. Amy Miller definitely captured the locale and time period. I thought Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes was well-written with a nice pace. The transitions were fluid between sections. I love the characters in this story. They are genuine, and you can feel their emotions. Audrey is a strong woman who is the mother figure for many as well as a confidant and pillar of strength. She has backbone, grit, strong moral character and a loving heart. Each character is different with a story of their own. I hope we see more of Arthur, the conscientious objector, in future books. He adds another perspective. While Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes is the second book in Wartime Bakery series, it can be read alone. However, I highly recommend Heartaches and Christmas Cakes. You can see where the story started and get additional background on the characters. Plus, it is just plain good. Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes is an emotional novel. Readers can feel the characters emotions (love, worry, sadness, grief, heartache) and it is amazing how they help each other through these trying times (the community spirit). They look for a bright spot (happiness) despite the adversity. Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes is a heartwarming, emotional story with a delightful ending.