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How to Bake a Perfect Life

A Novel

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How to Bake a Perfect Life

By: Barbara O'Neal
Narrated by: Tanya Eby
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About this listen

In a novel as warm and embracing as a family kitchen, Barbara O’Neal explores the poignant, sometimes complex relationships between mothers and daughters - and the healing magic of homemade bread. Professional baker Ramona Gallagher is a master of an art that has sustained her through the most turbulent times, including a baby at 15 and an endless family feud. But now Ramona’s bakery threatens to crumble around her. Literally. She’s one water-heater disaster away from losing her grandmother’s rambling Victorian and everything she’s worked so hard to build.

When Ramona’s soldier son-in-law is wounded in Afghanistan, her daughter, Sophia, races overseas to be at his side, leaving Ramona as the only suitable guardian for Sophia’s 13-year-old stepdaughter, Katie. Heartbroken, Katie feels that she’s being dumped again - this time on the doorstep of a woman out of practice with mothering.

Ramona calls upon a special set of tools - patience, persistence, and the reliability of a good recipe - when rebellious Katie arrives. And as she relives her own history of difficult choices, Ramona shares her love of baking with the troubled girl. Slowly, Katie begins to find self-acceptance and a place to call home. And when a man from her past returns to offer a second chance at love, Ramona discovers that even the best recipe tastes better when you add time, care, and a few secret ingredients of your own.

©2011 Barbara Samuel (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.
Contemporary Contemporary Romance Fiction Genre Fiction Women's Fiction Romance Heartfelt Tear-jerking

Critic Reviews

"This book will have you smiling and crying and pining for an old love, or just a hunk of really good fresh-baked bread. I loved every single delicious bite." (Jennie Shortridge, author of When She Flew)
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O'Neil waves another great story of the composted nature of relationships and the strong bonds of women thrifty generations. Her love of food is captured through the baking of bread - you may find yourself craving fresh baked bread. And of course, there are three stories of love. Heart warming and enjoyable story telling. Perfect performance by the storyteller.

Great story of complicated relationships

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