Gemma Van Buren is a successful Los Angeles divorce lawyer who refuses to represent creeps, cheaters, or abusers … until her boss requires that she be less selective in who she represents. Then she receives a call from her best friend, Liv, asking if Gemma could watch her teenage stepdaughter as Liv has been called to New York for a last-minute business meeting.
Gemma agrees and returns to her childhood hometown of Haven Ridge. She’s been home less than an hour when she runs into her teenage boyfriend. Given this is a small-town romance, they are thrown together in more ways than one, and sparks fly as they fight against rekindling their teenage romance. After all, Gemma will be leaving town again … won’t she?
The Broken Hearts Bakery is clean romance rather than Christian romance, and there are a handful of references that remind readers of the difference. There’s also a slightly magical element to the town, which is introduced in the free prequel novella, The Brick House Cafe, available from Carla Laureano’s website. I do recommend reading this first, as it introduces the town and some key characters as well as being a fun romance in its own right.
However, that gives the book a realism that’s often missing from Christian fiction. In the real world, people have problems, and teens often have to deal with what should be adult problems. Gemma, as the outsider with a talent for providing sweet baked goods, becomes a confidant. And that realism is the strength of the story.
Recommended for fans of sweet or Christian contemporary small-town romance.
Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.
About Carla Laureano
Carla Laureano is the RITA® Award-winning author of contemporary inspirational romance and Celtic fantasy (as C.E. Laureano). A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked as a sales and marketing executive for nearly a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write fiction full-time. She currently lives in Denver with her husband and two sons, where she writes during the day and cooks things at night.
You can find Carla Laureano online at:
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About The Broken Heart Bakery
Fifteen years ago, the town of Haven Ridge failed its most important mandate—to be a sanctuary for heartbroken citizens in need. Now it’s getting a second chance to set things right …
But Haven Ridge seems to have a mind of its own, dragging Gemma unwillingly back into the community she’s tried so hard to leave behind and she soon finds herself caught up with new friends and old rivalries. When Taylor is the object of an ugly bit of teen bullying, Gemma does the only thing she knows how to do: ply her honorary niece with baked goods and words of affirmation. Soon, her temporary digs are ground zero for teenage girls seeking sugar and consolation for shockingly adult problems—which the girls soon dub The Broken Hearts Bakery.
Complicating matters is an unexpected reunion with Gemma’s high school sweetheart, Stephen, who is determined to change her mind about him, the town, and the nature of love itself. Because as it turns out, her niece isn’t the only one nursing a broken heart…
South Australian Author, Meredith Resce, has been writing since 1991, and has had books in the Australian market since 1997. Apart from writing, Meredith also takes the opportunity to speak to groups on issues relevant to relationships and emotional and spiritual growth.
Janet W. Ferguson grew up in Mississippi and received a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. She has served her church as a children’s minister and a youth volunteer. An avid reader, she worked as a librarian at a large public high school. Janet and her husband have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a few cats that allow them to share the space.
