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Petit Four
Cake is often a major part of life’s celebrations, both big and small. From birthdays to wedding days, cake, in all its delectable concoctions, marks joyous occasions with a sweetness that can’t be beat. But even better is the love that is shared when two people connect over a sweet confection. Maybe it’s a cute new guy wreaking havoc on a broken heart, or a beautiful woman testing the limits of love, or an old beau stirring up long lost desires. Whatever the circumstances, cake can always be relied upon to save the day when it comes to affairs of the heart. In this collection of short stories, cake is the delicious center around which each tale unfolds and romance blooms.
When single mom and journalist, Olivia, sets out to find romance in Cindy Arora’s “Cake Therapy,” she gets a little help from her friends and more than a few slices of cake to coax her off the couch and into the arms of a truly great love. Lucie Simone’s “Aprez Vous” finds success-driven Tara in Paris reminiscing of her long lost love, Jean Marc, and her niece bound and determined to reunite them. In “The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam” by Sue Watson, cake enthusiast, Milly, meets her match in the kitchen, and other places, when new owners take over the tea rooms where she works and her talents and her heart are put to the test. And Scott, mayor of a small seaside community, flirts with political suicide in Joel Zlotnik’s “Her Charms” when he falls for new-in-town Nicole, an entrepreneur with a passion for cupcakes, and whose latest venture proves a little too sexy for the sleepy beach town.
From San Francisco to Paris, from small towns to tea rooms, this anthology tempts readers with humor, style, romance, and the powerful aphrodisiac that is cake. Petit Four is four stories, frosted with love.
When single mom and journalist, Olivia, sets out to find romance in Cindy Arora’s “Cake Therapy,” she gets a little help from her friends and more than a few slices of cake to coax her off the couch and into the arms of a truly great love. Lucie Simone’s “Aprez Vous” finds success-driven Tara in Paris reminiscing of her long lost love, Jean Marc, and her niece bound and determined to reunite them. In “The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam” by Sue Watson, cake enthusiast, Milly, meets her match in the kitchen, and other places, when new owners take over the tea rooms where she works and her talents and her heart are put to the test. And Scott, mayor of a small seaside community, flirts with political suicide in Joel Zlotnik’s “Her Charms” when he falls for new-in-town Nicole, an entrepreneur with a passion for cupcakes, and whose latest venture proves a little too sexy for the sleepy beach town.
From San Francisco to Paris, from small towns to tea rooms, this anthology tempts readers with humor, style, romance, and the powerful aphrodisiac that is cake. Petit Four is four stories, frosted with love.
- GenresChick Lit
277 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2014
1 person is currently reading
663 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 3, 2014
Review originally posted on my blog www.LifeWithJoyBlog.Wordpress.com
My Thoughts in a Nutshell
The moment I realized that the common factor in these four stories was cake, I was hooked! On their own they are each quite short, but when put together, they are wrapped up in a neat little holiday package of wonder and joy! These stories made me laugh, tear up a bit and above all, they made me hungry for two things; pastries and love!
Overall, I loved all of the stories and especially loved the way that cake was threaded throughout each one! I recommend you give yourself the time to read only one story a day, or at least give yourself a break in between to fully absorb each one before moving on to the next.
My Review
Sitting here staring at my computer screen, I wonder where to start. I find that it’s more difficult to do justice to so many great stories rather than when I’m writing about just one, but I’ll do my best! I’ll give you a short blurb about each story and then give you an overview of what I took away from reading them.
Sue Watson is the only author out of the four that I’ve read prior to reading ‘Petit Four’ and she was the reason that I was dying to read this collection of short stories. Her writing style is lively, entertaining and always has a dash of cake for good measure! Because I’ve read a few of her novels, I had high expectations not only for her story, but for all four stories. I am happy to report that I was more than satisfied with the entire set of stories and highly recommend Petit Four, along with all of the authors’ other writings to you.
Prior to reading Petit Four, I hadn’t read many short stories written about topics that interested me but the moment I realized that the common factor in these stories was cake, I was hooked! On their own they are each quite short, but when put together, they are wrapped up in a neat little holiday package of wonder and joy!
When I have a novel that’s under 300 pages, I generally read through it in a day or two depending on how busy my personal life is at the moment. I decided to change things up. Instead of devouring these four stories in the course of an afternoon-with a high likelihood of the stories meshing into one jumble in my mind-I decided to practice restraint and only read one story a day. Throughout the four days, I realized that this is certainly the way to go! I was able to fully devote my attention to the story at hand and really let the message sink in after finishing it, rather than jumping right into the next one. Now, on to the story descriptions!
Aprez Vous by Lucie Simone
From a tiny apartment in New York City to the decadent pastries and twinkling lights of Paris comes a story about Tara; a strong, independent woman that takes her niece on vacation as a graduation gift and as a result, is faced with the possibility of a rekindled love. I loved the characters and relationships that were written about in this story, especially Tara’s relationship with her niece. I would love to see a spin-off novel about Tara’s sister Meg with a bit of a focus on her niece Marissa.
Reading this story made my mouth water for so many different treats, but especially creme brûlée! ‘You know how it is. Certain foods are nostalgic.’ That’s so true! I love how certain foods can bring back such strong memories for people. One of the first delicacies that is mentioned is something called a ‘petit four’, small little cakes, ‘like tiny presents you can eat!’ I’ve never had anything quite so small and adorable and I wonder if you can find one that would come close to the decadence of the ones in the story in Paris.
One of the main things I took from this story is that often times we make assumptions about the way others’ live their lives without truly understanding how things are for them and it’s important to dig deeper with compassion. Another strong message made was that it’s never too late to start over and let the possibility of true love into your life. I look forward to reading more of Simone’s work. At times this story made me laugh, made me tear up and it definitely made me hungry for two things; pastries and love!
Cake Therapy by Cindy Arora
Although they initially start off on the wrong foot, Pulitzer Prize winning reporter ‘Tammy the Terror’ and staff reporter Olivia Cisneros are now the best of friends. Tammy’s major sweet tooth and love of cake from Dixie Bakery turned out to be exactly what both women needed to create a strong bond of friendship both at work and in their personal lives.
When Tammy is no longer in the picture, Olivia must deal with the reporter’s replacement. But the ‘new Tammy’ is a he?! How will Olivia learn to cope without her best friend by her side, especially with caring for a six-year-old at home? Olivia is forced to make new work friends and begins to take the necessary steps to open herself to the possibility of love.
This was a heart warming story about learning to move on and living life to the fullest. One of the main messages I took from reading this is that it’s important to introduce yourself to new things that make you happy in order to allow yourself to live a life filled with Joy. In order to move on you must open yourself to the possibility of love and it’s ok to lean on a friend to help you get to that point in your life and where you want to be.
The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam by Sue Watson
This one in particular made me desperately crave cake, as there is a generous selection of cake throughout the story. For goodness sake the main character Milly not only dreams about cake, but she’s also a waitress in a bakery called ‘Victoriana Tea Rooms’. My mind was reeling from cake overload-but in the very best way! She works for a despicable woman that seems to think that Milly is a talentless, worthless employee but thankfully the new management is able to distinguish the employees’ individual talents and passions.
I connected with many aspects of Milly’s character. One of my favorite things about Milly was that she has a passion for baking and has a blog to showcase her talents. Through Sue’s writing, I feel a true connection not only to her characters and the story, but to her as an individual. There are certain viewpoints of the characters’ during certain situations that make me feel like she gets me. Hypocrites are one of my biggest pet peeves and there is a point in the story that you realize that she must also despise people that can’t manage to follow the rules that they set out and expect others to follow.
In keeping with Watson’s writing style, this was an adorable story about how things aren’t always as they seem and that it’s important to not make assumptions about things you don’t understand. One of my favorite things in the story-besides the cake!-was the new manager’s capacity to recognize the good in others and channel their talents into something greater. I thought it was a lovely message about appreciating the people around you and seeing the good in others. Another win from Watson!
Her Charms by Joel Zlotnik
This is a story about love, politics and…. yup, you guessed it, cupcakes! At the ripe age of forty-six, Scott Lyons once had the pleasure of falling in love and getting married when he was young, but tragedy struck and sadly he lost the love of his life. Although we find him years later Scott-who is now the Mayor of small town Ola Vista-is forced to rethink his political aspirations when a fiery, beautiful woman comes into his life with plans to bring a little something new to the small town. Nicole intends to open a lingerie shop called ‘Her Charms’, right in full visibility on Main Street. As you can imagine, many of the older folks are less than supportive of her new store popping up in town. Will Scott defend Nicole and her blossoming business or will he choose his political career over his own personal happiness?
One of the messages I took from this story is that thinking about the past is only good if it helps you move on or improve your life for the better. It’s not good to always live in the past, thinking about all of the things that used to be. It’s important to allow yourself to open your heart and live life to the fullest. This was a cute story about the choices people make in order to allow themselves to move forward with the life that they’ve created for themselves. I adored the way cupcakes played a role in this story and especially loved the cute notes and charms that went along with them.
Having previously worked in the Lingerie department at Nordstrom for three years, bras and panties are kind of my thing. Add a strong, independent ‘cupcake lady’ and you’ve got yourself a great mix. I didn’t realize until I finished this particular story that almost every single novel I read is written by a woman and as a result, is written with a viewpoint of a woman. It was a fun change to read a story written by a male author and I enjoyed getting a little male perspective while still enjoying a little romance.
~~~
Overall, I loved all of the stories and especially loved the way that cake was threaded throughout each one! Again, I recommend you give yourself the time to read only one story a day, or at least give yourself a break in between to fully absorb each one before moving on to the next. Each one reads through in about an hour and I suggest that you sit and read them in their entirety for maximum enjoyment.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
Thank you to Kim Nash and Simon & Fig for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review!
My Thoughts in a Nutshell
The moment I realized that the common factor in these four stories was cake, I was hooked! On their own they are each quite short, but when put together, they are wrapped up in a neat little holiday package of wonder and joy! These stories made me laugh, tear up a bit and above all, they made me hungry for two things; pastries and love!
Overall, I loved all of the stories and especially loved the way that cake was threaded throughout each one! I recommend you give yourself the time to read only one story a day, or at least give yourself a break in between to fully absorb each one before moving on to the next.
My Review
Sitting here staring at my computer screen, I wonder where to start. I find that it’s more difficult to do justice to so many great stories rather than when I’m writing about just one, but I’ll do my best! I’ll give you a short blurb about each story and then give you an overview of what I took away from reading them.
Sue Watson is the only author out of the four that I’ve read prior to reading ‘Petit Four’ and she was the reason that I was dying to read this collection of short stories. Her writing style is lively, entertaining and always has a dash of cake for good measure! Because I’ve read a few of her novels, I had high expectations not only for her story, but for all four stories. I am happy to report that I was more than satisfied with the entire set of stories and highly recommend Petit Four, along with all of the authors’ other writings to you.
Prior to reading Petit Four, I hadn’t read many short stories written about topics that interested me but the moment I realized that the common factor in these stories was cake, I was hooked! On their own they are each quite short, but when put together, they are wrapped up in a neat little holiday package of wonder and joy!
When I have a novel that’s under 300 pages, I generally read through it in a day or two depending on how busy my personal life is at the moment. I decided to change things up. Instead of devouring these four stories in the course of an afternoon-with a high likelihood of the stories meshing into one jumble in my mind-I decided to practice restraint and only read one story a day. Throughout the four days, I realized that this is certainly the way to go! I was able to fully devote my attention to the story at hand and really let the message sink in after finishing it, rather than jumping right into the next one. Now, on to the story descriptions!
Aprez Vous by Lucie Simone
From a tiny apartment in New York City to the decadent pastries and twinkling lights of Paris comes a story about Tara; a strong, independent woman that takes her niece on vacation as a graduation gift and as a result, is faced with the possibility of a rekindled love. I loved the characters and relationships that were written about in this story, especially Tara’s relationship with her niece. I would love to see a spin-off novel about Tara’s sister Meg with a bit of a focus on her niece Marissa.
Reading this story made my mouth water for so many different treats, but especially creme brûlée! ‘You know how it is. Certain foods are nostalgic.’ That’s so true! I love how certain foods can bring back such strong memories for people. One of the first delicacies that is mentioned is something called a ‘petit four’, small little cakes, ‘like tiny presents you can eat!’ I’ve never had anything quite so small and adorable and I wonder if you can find one that would come close to the decadence of the ones in the story in Paris.
One of the main things I took from this story is that often times we make assumptions about the way others’ live their lives without truly understanding how things are for them and it’s important to dig deeper with compassion. Another strong message made was that it’s never too late to start over and let the possibility of true love into your life. I look forward to reading more of Simone’s work. At times this story made me laugh, made me tear up and it definitely made me hungry for two things; pastries and love!
Cake Therapy by Cindy Arora
Although they initially start off on the wrong foot, Pulitzer Prize winning reporter ‘Tammy the Terror’ and staff reporter Olivia Cisneros are now the best of friends. Tammy’s major sweet tooth and love of cake from Dixie Bakery turned out to be exactly what both women needed to create a strong bond of friendship both at work and in their personal lives.
When Tammy is no longer in the picture, Olivia must deal with the reporter’s replacement. But the ‘new Tammy’ is a he?! How will Olivia learn to cope without her best friend by her side, especially with caring for a six-year-old at home? Olivia is forced to make new work friends and begins to take the necessary steps to open herself to the possibility of love.
This was a heart warming story about learning to move on and living life to the fullest. One of the main messages I took from reading this is that it’s important to introduce yourself to new things that make you happy in order to allow yourself to live a life filled with Joy. In order to move on you must open yourself to the possibility of love and it’s ok to lean on a friend to help you get to that point in your life and where you want to be.
The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam by Sue Watson
This one in particular made me desperately crave cake, as there is a generous selection of cake throughout the story. For goodness sake the main character Milly not only dreams about cake, but she’s also a waitress in a bakery called ‘Victoriana Tea Rooms’. My mind was reeling from cake overload-but in the very best way! She works for a despicable woman that seems to think that Milly is a talentless, worthless employee but thankfully the new management is able to distinguish the employees’ individual talents and passions.
I connected with many aspects of Milly’s character. One of my favorite things about Milly was that she has a passion for baking and has a blog to showcase her talents. Through Sue’s writing, I feel a true connection not only to her characters and the story, but to her as an individual. There are certain viewpoints of the characters’ during certain situations that make me feel like she gets me. Hypocrites are one of my biggest pet peeves and there is a point in the story that you realize that she must also despise people that can’t manage to follow the rules that they set out and expect others to follow.
In keeping with Watson’s writing style, this was an adorable story about how things aren’t always as they seem and that it’s important to not make assumptions about things you don’t understand. One of my favorite things in the story-besides the cake!-was the new manager’s capacity to recognize the good in others and channel their talents into something greater. I thought it was a lovely message about appreciating the people around you and seeing the good in others. Another win from Watson!
Her Charms by Joel Zlotnik
This is a story about love, politics and…. yup, you guessed it, cupcakes! At the ripe age of forty-six, Scott Lyons once had the pleasure of falling in love and getting married when he was young, but tragedy struck and sadly he lost the love of his life. Although we find him years later Scott-who is now the Mayor of small town Ola Vista-is forced to rethink his political aspirations when a fiery, beautiful woman comes into his life with plans to bring a little something new to the small town. Nicole intends to open a lingerie shop called ‘Her Charms’, right in full visibility on Main Street. As you can imagine, many of the older folks are less than supportive of her new store popping up in town. Will Scott defend Nicole and her blossoming business or will he choose his political career over his own personal happiness?
One of the messages I took from this story is that thinking about the past is only good if it helps you move on or improve your life for the better. It’s not good to always live in the past, thinking about all of the things that used to be. It’s important to allow yourself to open your heart and live life to the fullest. This was a cute story about the choices people make in order to allow themselves to move forward with the life that they’ve created for themselves. I adored the way cupcakes played a role in this story and especially loved the cute notes and charms that went along with them.
Having previously worked in the Lingerie department at Nordstrom for three years, bras and panties are kind of my thing. Add a strong, independent ‘cupcake lady’ and you’ve got yourself a great mix. I didn’t realize until I finished this particular story that almost every single novel I read is written by a woman and as a result, is written with a viewpoint of a woman. It was a fun change to read a story written by a male author and I enjoyed getting a little male perspective while still enjoying a little romance.
~~~
Overall, I loved all of the stories and especially loved the way that cake was threaded throughout each one! Again, I recommend you give yourself the time to read only one story a day, or at least give yourself a break in between to fully absorb each one before moving on to the next. Each one reads through in about an hour and I suggest that you sit and read them in their entirety for maximum enjoyment.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
Thank you to Kim Nash and Simon & Fig for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review!
December 23, 2014
If you have a sweet tooth, then you are in for a confectionery delight when you read Petit Four! This chick lit anthology contains four enjoyable short stories that have two intertwining themes: cake and romance!
Authors Lucie Simone, Cindy Arora, Sue Watson, and Joel Zlotnik provide the reader with a fun anthology collection that is set in a variety of locales from San Francisco to Paris, and dipped in enough humor and romance that is sure to put a satisfied smile on your face. What could be better than to be able to read about delectable cakes mixed with sweet romance? Each of these lighthearted short stories are about friendship, love, life decisions, and cake!
I loved reading each of the short stories in the anthology, and I enjoyed the authors different writing styles of weaving a sweet tale of romance that makes their readers crave the yummy goodness described in the stories, it's enough to give you a sugar high and leave you drooling and wanting more.
Petit Four is an enjoyable Chick Lit anthology collection that you can indulge and devour in an afternoon.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the authors / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book review tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Authors Lucie Simone, Cindy Arora, Sue Watson, and Joel Zlotnik provide the reader with a fun anthology collection that is set in a variety of locales from San Francisco to Paris, and dipped in enough humor and romance that is sure to put a satisfied smile on your face. What could be better than to be able to read about delectable cakes mixed with sweet romance? Each of these lighthearted short stories are about friendship, love, life decisions, and cake!
I loved reading each of the short stories in the anthology, and I enjoyed the authors different writing styles of weaving a sweet tale of romance that makes their readers crave the yummy goodness described in the stories, it's enough to give you a sugar high and leave you drooling and wanting more.
Petit Four is an enjoyable Chick Lit anthology collection that you can indulge and devour in an afternoon.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the authors / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book review tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
January 6, 2015
Originally reviewed for Bookaholic Confessions
Petit Four is a delightful collection of four stories all with an underlying theme of CAKE, GLORIOUS CAKE!
First up we meet Tara and her niece, Marissa in Aprez Vous by Lucie Simone. The pair are taking a break in Paris as a graduation treat for Marissa and are looking forward to some sightseeing and sampling some French delicacies. However, for Tara, Paris holds a special place in her heart as it’s where she first fell in love back when she was a teenager.
Then there soon turns out to be a lot more on the cards for Tara than just visiting the local patisseries when she tracks down her first love…
I really enjoyed Aprez Vous; it made Paris come to life for me and I was enchanted by Tara’s story. I loved the inquisitive Marissa as she tries to re-unite Tara with the estranged Jean Marc and I was desperately hoping they got their happy ending.
As much as the relationship between Tara and Jean Marc is still in my mind the main thing I’m still thinking about from Aprez Vous is, of course, the confectionary. I’d love to sample those Petit Fours that Jean Marc so expertly made.
Next up is Cake Therapy by Cindy Arora. I’ve never read anything by Cindy Arora before but Cake Therapy was probably my favourite story of the four. I loved it.
Set in San Francisco, Cake Therapy tells the story of the friendship of Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, Tammy and newbie reporter, Olivia Cisneros. Tammy and Olivia bond over some serious ‘Cake Therapy’ at Dixie’s bakery (which sounds out-of-this-world…Can I visit, please!?)
However, when Tammy moves away Olivia is less than impressed with her replacement. For starters the new Tammy is… a man called Henry.
It appears Olivia has got herself stuck in a bit of a rut and without Tammy to help her navigate the ups and downs of her life as a single mum with a demanding job and an ex who has what seems like a new girlfriend every week, Olivia starts to realise that it’s about time she stepped out of her comfort zone and the very person to help her turns out to be no other than…you guessed it…Henry.
Despite this only being a short story I really bonded with Olivia and also fell a little in love with Henry (an adventurer-type guy who loves cake…come on, what’s not to like!?) I loved their story and how Olivia warmed to him despite her reservations. This was a charming story about stepping out of your comfort zone and taking risks. It was funny, inspiring and all round lovely.
Thirdly we’ve got The Heart Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam by Sue Watson in which we meet Milly, a waitress at a Victorian Tea Room whose passion for baking and all things cake is truly infectious. The Tea Room is run by the awful ‘Scary Mary’ who is determined to keep Milly firmly outside the kitchens and as a waitress and despises Milly’s extravagant cake ideas in place of the more traditional. However, when the Tea Rooms are put up for sale it seems that things are set to change for Scary Mary, Milly, her fellow waitress, Kate, and the tea-rooms very own cat, Cupcake.
I LOVE Sue Watson so was extremely excited about this story and it didn’t disappoint. Written in her usual warm and witty style it’s full of romance, there’s plenty of funny and sweet misunderstandings, and ultimately a message that people aren’t always what they seem… Then there’s the cake. Wozers, Sue made my mouth water with her descriptions of Milly’s cake creations and really made her passion for confectionary shine through. I loved Milly’s blog; if it was real I would be SURE to subscribe and have those delicious recipes landing in my inbox. The Heart Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam is a hunger-inducing yet extremely satisfying contribution from Sue Watson, reminding me why I love her so much.
Then last but not least there’s Her Charms by Joel Zlotnik which tells the story of widowed Mayor of Ola Vista, Scott Lyons. Scott ends up falling for one of his new neighbours, lingerie entrepreneur, Nicole. Then follows a whirlwind romance between the two whilst Nicole regularly sends Scott sets of cupcakes (complete with gorgeous charms.) However, when Nicole comes up with the idea to open up a lingerie shop named ‘Her Charms’ in the small community of Ola Vista, will Scott listen to the concerns of the local residents or stand by the girl who has made him fall in love again?
I’m yet to read anything by Joel Zlotnik, but once again this story is a cupcake infused delight. It was quite a thought provoking addition to the collection and I liked how it was written from the male perspective as we got to see Scott’s take on romance, moving on from the past…and of course, CAKE!
Before you attempt to read this sugary sweet selection of stories I have to warn you – it WILL make you hungry.
I really enjoyed Petit Four and the clever way in which cakes were intertwined into each story and the significance that confectionary played. There’s friendship, romance, family, relationships, tragedy, dreams, plus a whole lot more and I loved how cake is always present throughout.
Unlike other collections of short stories I think that to appreciate this book at its fullest you’d need to read each story separately rather than racing through the collection as a whole. Whilst they are ‘short’ stories, they’re not exceptionally short and will probably take you half an hour to an hour to read each one. You will easily become as immersed into each story as you would with a full length novel, so to appreciate each one and its set of characters I would recommend reading them one at time, but hey – if you like to scoff your cakes all in one go then there’s nothing to stop you gobbling up Petit Four in one sitting either; the choice is entirely yours!
Petit Four is a delightful collection of four stories all with an underlying theme of CAKE, GLORIOUS CAKE!
First up we meet Tara and her niece, Marissa in Aprez Vous by Lucie Simone. The pair are taking a break in Paris as a graduation treat for Marissa and are looking forward to some sightseeing and sampling some French delicacies. However, for Tara, Paris holds a special place in her heart as it’s where she first fell in love back when she was a teenager.
Then there soon turns out to be a lot more on the cards for Tara than just visiting the local patisseries when she tracks down her first love…
I really enjoyed Aprez Vous; it made Paris come to life for me and I was enchanted by Tara’s story. I loved the inquisitive Marissa as she tries to re-unite Tara with the estranged Jean Marc and I was desperately hoping they got their happy ending.
As much as the relationship between Tara and Jean Marc is still in my mind the main thing I’m still thinking about from Aprez Vous is, of course, the confectionary. I’d love to sample those Petit Fours that Jean Marc so expertly made.
Next up is Cake Therapy by Cindy Arora. I’ve never read anything by Cindy Arora before but Cake Therapy was probably my favourite story of the four. I loved it.
Set in San Francisco, Cake Therapy tells the story of the friendship of Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, Tammy and newbie reporter, Olivia Cisneros. Tammy and Olivia bond over some serious ‘Cake Therapy’ at Dixie’s bakery (which sounds out-of-this-world…Can I visit, please!?)
However, when Tammy moves away Olivia is less than impressed with her replacement. For starters the new Tammy is… a man called Henry.
It appears Olivia has got herself stuck in a bit of a rut and without Tammy to help her navigate the ups and downs of her life as a single mum with a demanding job and an ex who has what seems like a new girlfriend every week, Olivia starts to realise that it’s about time she stepped out of her comfort zone and the very person to help her turns out to be no other than…you guessed it…Henry.
Despite this only being a short story I really bonded with Olivia and also fell a little in love with Henry (an adventurer-type guy who loves cake…come on, what’s not to like!?) I loved their story and how Olivia warmed to him despite her reservations. This was a charming story about stepping out of your comfort zone and taking risks. It was funny, inspiring and all round lovely.
Thirdly we’ve got The Heart Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam by Sue Watson in which we meet Milly, a waitress at a Victorian Tea Room whose passion for baking and all things cake is truly infectious. The Tea Room is run by the awful ‘Scary Mary’ who is determined to keep Milly firmly outside the kitchens and as a waitress and despises Milly’s extravagant cake ideas in place of the more traditional. However, when the Tea Rooms are put up for sale it seems that things are set to change for Scary Mary, Milly, her fellow waitress, Kate, and the tea-rooms very own cat, Cupcake.
I LOVE Sue Watson so was extremely excited about this story and it didn’t disappoint. Written in her usual warm and witty style it’s full of romance, there’s plenty of funny and sweet misunderstandings, and ultimately a message that people aren’t always what they seem… Then there’s the cake. Wozers, Sue made my mouth water with her descriptions of Milly’s cake creations and really made her passion for confectionary shine through. I loved Milly’s blog; if it was real I would be SURE to subscribe and have those delicious recipes landing in my inbox. The Heart Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam is a hunger-inducing yet extremely satisfying contribution from Sue Watson, reminding me why I love her so much.
Then last but not least there’s Her Charms by Joel Zlotnik which tells the story of widowed Mayor of Ola Vista, Scott Lyons. Scott ends up falling for one of his new neighbours, lingerie entrepreneur, Nicole. Then follows a whirlwind romance between the two whilst Nicole regularly sends Scott sets of cupcakes (complete with gorgeous charms.) However, when Nicole comes up with the idea to open up a lingerie shop named ‘Her Charms’ in the small community of Ola Vista, will Scott listen to the concerns of the local residents or stand by the girl who has made him fall in love again?
I’m yet to read anything by Joel Zlotnik, but once again this story is a cupcake infused delight. It was quite a thought provoking addition to the collection and I liked how it was written from the male perspective as we got to see Scott’s take on romance, moving on from the past…and of course, CAKE!
Before you attempt to read this sugary sweet selection of stories I have to warn you – it WILL make you hungry.
I really enjoyed Petit Four and the clever way in which cakes were intertwined into each story and the significance that confectionary played. There’s friendship, romance, family, relationships, tragedy, dreams, plus a whole lot more and I loved how cake is always present throughout.
Unlike other collections of short stories I think that to appreciate this book at its fullest you’d need to read each story separately rather than racing through the collection as a whole. Whilst they are ‘short’ stories, they’re not exceptionally short and will probably take you half an hour to an hour to read each one. You will easily become as immersed into each story as you would with a full length novel, so to appreciate each one and its set of characters I would recommend reading them one at time, but hey – if you like to scoff your cakes all in one go then there’s nothing to stop you gobbling up Petit Four in one sitting either; the choice is entirely yours!
October 31, 2015
This review was original posted on www.talesofyesterday.co.uk
Nom Nom Nom.....I'm writing this review of this delicious book in-between eating mouthfuls of scrummy cake! Why you ask? It's simply because this book is oozing with such delicious temptation of cake that I just could not ignore my grumbly belly and my salivating mouth any longer! Whilst reading this book I've enjoyed many a cupcake, French fancy, flake cake, Krispy Kreme and of course, as its Christmas, a yummy mince pie. I can officially say that the diet went out of the window this week, but it was worth it for this book and the cake of course!
Cake is there for us through the happy and hopefully not to often sad times. For the birthdays, the weddings, Christmas time and celebrations. This wonderful delight of a book is filled with four short love stories that not only make you want to eat cake but also warm your heart like a huge piece of warm hot fudge cake! All of the stories are centred around how cake brings the characters in the short stories together. Whilst reading this book I have been taken on a trip of chocolate sprinkled delight to Paris, San Francisco , a Victorian tea room and a wonderful cocktail bar on St Patricks Day and being four short stories I was able to enjoy them and feel thoroughly on a sugar high!
Aprez Vous by Lucie Simone
I found this story so beautiful and touching. A lovely heart-warming story set on a trip to Paris where Tara has taken her niece Marissa as a special treat following her graduation. What unfolds is a beautiful story told by Tara to her inquisitive niece when she met a man called Jean Marc, a musician and baker, whilst travelling in Paris many years before. Could there by a chance he still lives there? Could this trip lead to love after all of these years? The descriptions of Paris were beautiful in this book and made me want to revisit there very soon and of course the descriptions of the cakes and the special Petit Four cakes will linger in your mind long after you have finished the story.
Cake Therapy by Cindy Arora
This was my favourite short story in the book. I found the writing and humour exactly my slice of cake! The story is set in San Francisco where at the start of the story Olivia, an eager new newspaper reporter starts a new job with the experienced reporter Tammy who believes cake is the great uniter (I have to agree). What develops is a beautiful lasting friendship between Olivia and Tammy especially over their weekly cake therapy sessions at the cake shop. Many years pass and Tammy is leaving her job and brings in new male reporter Henry into to take over and Olivia is juggling work, being a single mom and trying to move on with her life. Could Henry with all of his dating tips be the man to help her along the way and get off the settee and back out there? A wonderful story of friendship, love and of course cake all served up with often hilarious consequences, a rock climbing wall experience and a great reference to The Princess Bride!
The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam by Sue Watson
I loved this short story about Milly, a waitress at the Victorian Tea Rooms in her town who's love for cake knows no bounds! Milly even has a food blog called Cake Candy which sounds to die for and likes to experiment with different flavours with cake often reflecting Milly's moods! The Victorian Tea Rooms is run by, who Milly calls, Scary Mary her awful boss who has two voices - one for customers and one for bossing her staff around horribly and likes traditional cakes only in her tea rooms! With the Victorian Tea Rooms being sold what will happen to Milly and her friend Kate? And what about Cupcake the cat?! This short story had the most cake references in with every cake imaginable being mentioned and hats off to the cake loving stranger who orders every cake off the menu to try! This is surely a man after my own heart...well only if he shared of course! A mouth-watering delight of cake, misunderstanding, comeuppance and love and a great reference to Mrs Bridges from Upstairs, Downstairs!
Her Charms by Joel Zlotnik
Finally we are offered a piece of St Patricks Day cupcake charm about widowed Scott who is the mayor of his town where everyone seems to know everything about everyone! Scott has busied himself since the death of his wife without really realising that is until new neighbour Nicole catches his eye. Scott must make some big decisions in life and love especially when Nicole announces that, being a business entrepreneur, she is opening up a lingerie shop called Her Charms on the front high street which does not go down too well with the locals. What develops is a lovely story of love, cupcakes, charms, a cocktail bar that sounds fab and a wonderful story about moving on from the past!
I have to admit I have not read anything by these authors prior to this book but I defiantly will be looking them up for more reads very soon. I love a good love story and as you can probably tell a good scrumptious cake so for me this book was a perfect mix! All in all I thoroughly enjoyed it...now back to the diet!
If you would like to read more book reviews please visit www.talesofyesterday.co.uk
Nom Nom Nom.....I'm writing this review of this delicious book in-between eating mouthfuls of scrummy cake! Why you ask? It's simply because this book is oozing with such delicious temptation of cake that I just could not ignore my grumbly belly and my salivating mouth any longer! Whilst reading this book I've enjoyed many a cupcake, French fancy, flake cake, Krispy Kreme and of course, as its Christmas, a yummy mince pie. I can officially say that the diet went out of the window this week, but it was worth it for this book and the cake of course!
Cake is there for us through the happy and hopefully not to often sad times. For the birthdays, the weddings, Christmas time and celebrations. This wonderful delight of a book is filled with four short love stories that not only make you want to eat cake but also warm your heart like a huge piece of warm hot fudge cake! All of the stories are centred around how cake brings the characters in the short stories together. Whilst reading this book I have been taken on a trip of chocolate sprinkled delight to Paris, San Francisco , a Victorian tea room and a wonderful cocktail bar on St Patricks Day and being four short stories I was able to enjoy them and feel thoroughly on a sugar high!
Aprez Vous by Lucie Simone
I found this story so beautiful and touching. A lovely heart-warming story set on a trip to Paris where Tara has taken her niece Marissa as a special treat following her graduation. What unfolds is a beautiful story told by Tara to her inquisitive niece when she met a man called Jean Marc, a musician and baker, whilst travelling in Paris many years before. Could there by a chance he still lives there? Could this trip lead to love after all of these years? The descriptions of Paris were beautiful in this book and made me want to revisit there very soon and of course the descriptions of the cakes and the special Petit Four cakes will linger in your mind long after you have finished the story.
Cake Therapy by Cindy Arora
This was my favourite short story in the book. I found the writing and humour exactly my slice of cake! The story is set in San Francisco where at the start of the story Olivia, an eager new newspaper reporter starts a new job with the experienced reporter Tammy who believes cake is the great uniter (I have to agree). What develops is a beautiful lasting friendship between Olivia and Tammy especially over their weekly cake therapy sessions at the cake shop. Many years pass and Tammy is leaving her job and brings in new male reporter Henry into to take over and Olivia is juggling work, being a single mom and trying to move on with her life. Could Henry with all of his dating tips be the man to help her along the way and get off the settee and back out there? A wonderful story of friendship, love and of course cake all served up with often hilarious consequences, a rock climbing wall experience and a great reference to The Princess Bride!
The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam by Sue Watson
I loved this short story about Milly, a waitress at the Victorian Tea Rooms in her town who's love for cake knows no bounds! Milly even has a food blog called Cake Candy which sounds to die for and likes to experiment with different flavours with cake often reflecting Milly's moods! The Victorian Tea Rooms is run by, who Milly calls, Scary Mary her awful boss who has two voices - one for customers and one for bossing her staff around horribly and likes traditional cakes only in her tea rooms! With the Victorian Tea Rooms being sold what will happen to Milly and her friend Kate? And what about Cupcake the cat?! This short story had the most cake references in with every cake imaginable being mentioned and hats off to the cake loving stranger who orders every cake off the menu to try! This is surely a man after my own heart...well only if he shared of course! A mouth-watering delight of cake, misunderstanding, comeuppance and love and a great reference to Mrs Bridges from Upstairs, Downstairs!
Her Charms by Joel Zlotnik
Finally we are offered a piece of St Patricks Day cupcake charm about widowed Scott who is the mayor of his town where everyone seems to know everything about everyone! Scott has busied himself since the death of his wife without really realising that is until new neighbour Nicole catches his eye. Scott must make some big decisions in life and love especially when Nicole announces that, being a business entrepreneur, she is opening up a lingerie shop called Her Charms on the front high street which does not go down too well with the locals. What develops is a lovely story of love, cupcakes, charms, a cocktail bar that sounds fab and a wonderful story about moving on from the past!
I have to admit I have not read anything by these authors prior to this book but I defiantly will be looking them up for more reads very soon. I love a good love story and as you can probably tell a good scrumptious cake so for me this book was a perfect mix! All in all I thoroughly enjoyed it...now back to the diet!
If you would like to read more book reviews please visit www.talesofyesterday.co.uk
January 12, 2015
Aprez Vous by Lucie Simone
Tara gives her niece Marissa a graduation gift of a lifetime before she heads to college, a two-week vacation in Paris, France. Tara had visited Paris years earlier leaving abruptly because she fell in love with Jean Mark Dufour who continued his pursuit of Tara for a full year afterward with no response. Returning to Paris, Tara ponders contacting Jean Mark but resists until her niece and Jean Mark’s son interfere not realizing that a broken might not be repairable after thirty years of separation with no communication.
Lucie Simone brings a sweet coming of age tale set in Paris, France bringing memories of true love and the decadent pastries of Paris right off the page. Enjoy this short story cozily on the couch with a cup of coffee or glass of wine while reading of past love and delicious sweet patries.
Cake Therapy by Cindy Arora
Olivia Cisneros has a new job at SF Bridge News under the guidance of Tammy Kovac, a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter. Tammy is a hard-core believer in ‘cake therapy’ for every event in a person’s life which includes all ups and downs while teaching Olivia how to utilize cake therapy into her situations. When Tammy leaves SF Bridge News and is replaced by a man, Olivia immediately seeks ways to dislike him but cannot find enough sufficient reasons.
Cindy Arora’s novel has a solution to any situation you may encounter through ‘Cake Therapy.’ All you have to do is find an excellent bakery and eat their sumptuous offerings to solve your problems (I like it!). This lovable story follows Olivia from a new position to the art of ‘cake therapy’ to very much needed new friendships. I believe I will follow suit and find that special bakery for myself.
The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam by Sue Watson
Milly is a waitress at Victoriana Tea Rooms who also helps in the kitchen and writes reviews on her blog Cake Candy. Victoriana Tea Rooms will have new owners very soon placing Milly, her co-worker Kate, the manager Mrs. Jackson and their jobs in jeopardy. The new owners want to change the vibe of the tearoom bringing a modern yet old-fashioned feel to the Victoriana that is not received well by all.
Sue Watson does a great job bringing to the forefront the long forgotten Tea Room which she updates that left me wanting to search for this type of establishment to enjoy delicious desserts and coffee.
Her Charms by Joel Zlotnik
Scott Lyons is the forty-six year old widower and Mayor of Ola Vista who is taken in by the charms of Nicole who makes him feel like a teenaged boy again. As Scott begins his re-election campaign, a scandal arises dubbed “Pantygate” with the newspaper headline “SUPPORT FOR MAYOR DROPS WITH PANTY WOES.”
Join Scott, Nicole, and the city of Ola Vista as they handle the situation at hand with a few cupcakes thrown in for good measure.
Joel Zlotnik gives it you in a straight, no chaser novella with perfectly placed humor that is hard to find wishing the story did not end so quickly. The romantic gestures of a new relationship leaves the reader wanting more of this sweet romance.
Petit Four is the type of book you will want to read by the fireplace, in front of the portable heater, or wrapped up in a blanket on the couch with a hot cup of tea, coffee, expresso, or glass of wine. The four novellas in this collection are charming and well worth the read if not just for the delicate to down-home desserts baked and served by the main characters. This is also a great gifting opportunity for avid readers of romantic and heart-warming tales of relationships between men and women. I recommend to women and men book lovers to add to their collection of collections.
My favorite novella was Aprez Vous, no- Cake Therapy, no- The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam, no- Her Charms. Well, I must confess, my favorite was ALL of them because each one made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside ( :D ). Okay, if I HAD to pick just one…….Her Charms.
Tara gives her niece Marissa a graduation gift of a lifetime before she heads to college, a two-week vacation in Paris, France. Tara had visited Paris years earlier leaving abruptly because she fell in love with Jean Mark Dufour who continued his pursuit of Tara for a full year afterward with no response. Returning to Paris, Tara ponders contacting Jean Mark but resists until her niece and Jean Mark’s son interfere not realizing that a broken might not be repairable after thirty years of separation with no communication.
Lucie Simone brings a sweet coming of age tale set in Paris, France bringing memories of true love and the decadent pastries of Paris right off the page. Enjoy this short story cozily on the couch with a cup of coffee or glass of wine while reading of past love and delicious sweet patries.
Cake Therapy by Cindy Arora
Olivia Cisneros has a new job at SF Bridge News under the guidance of Tammy Kovac, a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter. Tammy is a hard-core believer in ‘cake therapy’ for every event in a person’s life which includes all ups and downs while teaching Olivia how to utilize cake therapy into her situations. When Tammy leaves SF Bridge News and is replaced by a man, Olivia immediately seeks ways to dislike him but cannot find enough sufficient reasons.
Cindy Arora’s novel has a solution to any situation you may encounter through ‘Cake Therapy.’ All you have to do is find an excellent bakery and eat their sumptuous offerings to solve your problems (I like it!). This lovable story follows Olivia from a new position to the art of ‘cake therapy’ to very much needed new friendships. I believe I will follow suit and find that special bakery for myself.
The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam by Sue Watson
Milly is a waitress at Victoriana Tea Rooms who also helps in the kitchen and writes reviews on her blog Cake Candy. Victoriana Tea Rooms will have new owners very soon placing Milly, her co-worker Kate, the manager Mrs. Jackson and their jobs in jeopardy. The new owners want to change the vibe of the tearoom bringing a modern yet old-fashioned feel to the Victoriana that is not received well by all.
Sue Watson does a great job bringing to the forefront the long forgotten Tea Room which she updates that left me wanting to search for this type of establishment to enjoy delicious desserts and coffee.
Her Charms by Joel Zlotnik
Scott Lyons is the forty-six year old widower and Mayor of Ola Vista who is taken in by the charms of Nicole who makes him feel like a teenaged boy again. As Scott begins his re-election campaign, a scandal arises dubbed “Pantygate” with the newspaper headline “SUPPORT FOR MAYOR DROPS WITH PANTY WOES.”
Join Scott, Nicole, and the city of Ola Vista as they handle the situation at hand with a few cupcakes thrown in for good measure.
Joel Zlotnik gives it you in a straight, no chaser novella with perfectly placed humor that is hard to find wishing the story did not end so quickly. The romantic gestures of a new relationship leaves the reader wanting more of this sweet romance.
Petit Four is the type of book you will want to read by the fireplace, in front of the portable heater, or wrapped up in a blanket on the couch with a hot cup of tea, coffee, expresso, or glass of wine. The four novellas in this collection are charming and well worth the read if not just for the delicate to down-home desserts baked and served by the main characters. This is also a great gifting opportunity for avid readers of romantic and heart-warming tales of relationships between men and women. I recommend to women and men book lovers to add to their collection of collections.
My favorite novella was Aprez Vous, no- Cake Therapy, no- The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam, no- Her Charms. Well, I must confess, my favorite was ALL of them because each one made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside ( :D ). Okay, if I HAD to pick just one…….Her Charms.
February 14, 2015
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews
Firstly thank you to Kim for letting me take part in this blog tour.
I had heard about this book a bit on twitter and FB and I really wanted to read it so when Kim asked me if I would be part of the tour I knew I had to find time to fit it into my schedule.
This book consists of four short stories by four different authors. The first is Lucie's Aprez -Vous. Lucie had me hooked from the very first few paragraphs and I honestly couldn't read it fast enough I just need to know more and more about Tara and her summer in Paris when she was 18 years old.
The next story was Cindy's Cake Therapy. I have to say I am a big lover of Cake therapy, both this story and the eating of cake.This was a wonderfully romantic tale which I really enjoyed. I loved Prince Henry and Olivia's little girls tea party sounds amazing.
The fourth story was Joel's Her Charms, it took me a while to get in to this one. Whether it be becuase it was last night and I had just returned fro the cinema and my head was elsewhere or that it was the story I don't know but I came to find this a rather sweet story. I loved the charms.
The third story which I have saved til last as it was my absolute favourite was Sue's The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam. I thought this was a wonderful story which incorporated all of my favourite cakes, how could I not love it. Milly and David were excellent characters and I was guessing the whole time about what was going to happen. It also had me longing for a nice piece of black forest Gateau.
These stories are a great little indulgence, if you love cake and romance then I urge you to pick up this book now.
Cake is often a major part of life’s celebrations, both big and small. From birthdays to wedding days, cake, in all its delectable concoctions, marks joyous occasions with a sweetness that can’t be beat. But even better is the love that is shared when two people connect over a sweet confection. Maybe it’s a cute new guy wreaking havoc on a broken heart, or a beautiful woman testing the limits of love, or an old beau stirring up long lost desires. Whatever the circumstances, cake can always be relied upon to save the day when it comes to affairs of the heart. In this collection of short stories, cake is the delicious center around which each tale unfolds and romance blooms.
When single mom and journalist, Olivia, sets out to find romance in Cindy Arora’s “Cake Therapy,” she gets a little help from her friends and more than a few slices of cake to coax her off the couch and into the arms of a truly great love.
Lucie Simone’s “Aprez Vous” finds success-driven Tara in Paris reminiscing of her long lost love, Jean Marc, and her niece bound and determined to reunite them.
In “The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam” by Sue Watson, cake enthusiast, Milly, meets her match in the kitchen, and other places, when new owners take over the tea rooms where she works and her talents and her heart are put to the test.
And Scott, mayor of a small seaside community, flirts with political suicide in Joel Zlotnik’s “Her Charms” when he falls for new-in-town Nicole, an entrepreneur with a passion for cupcakes, and whose latest venture proves a little too sexy for the sleepy beach town.
From San Francisco to Paris, from small towns to tea rooms, this anthology tempts readers with humor, style, romance, and the powerful aphrodisiac that is cake. Petit Four is four stories, frosted with love.
Firstly thank you to Kim for letting me take part in this blog tour.
I had heard about this book a bit on twitter and FB and I really wanted to read it so when Kim asked me if I would be part of the tour I knew I had to find time to fit it into my schedule.
This book consists of four short stories by four different authors. The first is Lucie's Aprez -Vous. Lucie had me hooked from the very first few paragraphs and I honestly couldn't read it fast enough I just need to know more and more about Tara and her summer in Paris when she was 18 years old.
The next story was Cindy's Cake Therapy. I have to say I am a big lover of Cake therapy, both this story and the eating of cake.This was a wonderfully romantic tale which I really enjoyed. I loved Prince Henry and Olivia's little girls tea party sounds amazing.
The fourth story was Joel's Her Charms, it took me a while to get in to this one. Whether it be becuase it was last night and I had just returned fro the cinema and my head was elsewhere or that it was the story I don't know but I came to find this a rather sweet story. I loved the charms.
The third story which I have saved til last as it was my absolute favourite was Sue's The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam. I thought this was a wonderful story which incorporated all of my favourite cakes, how could I not love it. Milly and David were excellent characters and I was guessing the whole time about what was going to happen. It also had me longing for a nice piece of black forest Gateau.
These stories are a great little indulgence, if you love cake and romance then I urge you to pick up this book now.
October 21, 2015
Review for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)
I’ll be honest. Before reading Petit Four, I hadn’t a clue what a petit four is. After researching online, I found that it’s a small confectionery or savory appetizer. In French, it means “small oven” because the little goodies are baked in a smaller oven usually attached or located next to a standard-sized oven. I’ve never had the pleasure of eating a petit four, not to my knowledge. However, reading the cleverly-written short stories contained in this book truly is the next best thing. A brief synopsis for each story:
In “Aprèz Vous”, written by Lucie Simone, Tara finds herself in Paris, on vacation. This isn’t her first time in the City of Light. Many years ago, she had planned to go backpacking through Europe, but fell in love in Paris instead, derailing her plans. In those days, she had no clue on what she was giving up by letting go of Jean Marc and had left the relationship a horrible mess. When Tara’s niece (who is along for this Paris vacation) discovers her aunt’s past, she is determined to reunite the misguided lovers.
Cindy Arora’s “Cake Therapy” details the life of single mom Olivia. She’s been hiding under a rock for quite a few years since her divorce, not wanting to get close to anyone or take a risk where love is concerned. With the help of a few close friends and a lot of cake, she embarks on a journey into her past and finds herself (and more than she bargains for) all over again.
In Sue Watson’s “The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam”, we meet eccentric Milly, who works in a behind-the-times tea room. She has incredible ideas for all things cake, but no one seems to listen, not until a chance encounter with a handsome customer completely changes her world from top to bottom.
Scott is the mayor of a small-town, and the small-town has a very small-town mentality. Scott’s love interest Nicole has set her sights on opening a store in town which raises quite a few eyebrows. Can he hold onto Nicole and his job? Joel Zlotnik’s “Her Charms” showcases that there are times you have to make a compromise or two for those you love.
Fact is, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It’s hard not to with four entirely different concepts to pique my interest, yet love and cake remains the central theme. In my world, those two go hand-in-hand, anyway! I love the locations chosen for the stories, as well. They set the tone for romance, whether in Parisian fashion, a sweet little tea room, on the sunny west coast or in a rustic small town. And as with any story that’s well-written with a primary focus on delicious goodies, it’s best to read this while eating a slice of your own cake with a tall glass of milk, enjoying this literary gem of a petit four.
I’ll be honest. Before reading Petit Four, I hadn’t a clue what a petit four is. After researching online, I found that it’s a small confectionery or savory appetizer. In French, it means “small oven” because the little goodies are baked in a smaller oven usually attached or located next to a standard-sized oven. I’ve never had the pleasure of eating a petit four, not to my knowledge. However, reading the cleverly-written short stories contained in this book truly is the next best thing. A brief synopsis for each story:
In “Aprèz Vous”, written by Lucie Simone, Tara finds herself in Paris, on vacation. This isn’t her first time in the City of Light. Many years ago, she had planned to go backpacking through Europe, but fell in love in Paris instead, derailing her plans. In those days, she had no clue on what she was giving up by letting go of Jean Marc and had left the relationship a horrible mess. When Tara’s niece (who is along for this Paris vacation) discovers her aunt’s past, she is determined to reunite the misguided lovers.
Cindy Arora’s “Cake Therapy” details the life of single mom Olivia. She’s been hiding under a rock for quite a few years since her divorce, not wanting to get close to anyone or take a risk where love is concerned. With the help of a few close friends and a lot of cake, she embarks on a journey into her past and finds herself (and more than she bargains for) all over again.
In Sue Watson’s “The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam”, we meet eccentric Milly, who works in a behind-the-times tea room. She has incredible ideas for all things cake, but no one seems to listen, not until a chance encounter with a handsome customer completely changes her world from top to bottom.
Scott is the mayor of a small-town, and the small-town has a very small-town mentality. Scott’s love interest Nicole has set her sights on opening a store in town which raises quite a few eyebrows. Can he hold onto Nicole and his job? Joel Zlotnik’s “Her Charms” showcases that there are times you have to make a compromise or two for those you love.
Fact is, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It’s hard not to with four entirely different concepts to pique my interest, yet love and cake remains the central theme. In my world, those two go hand-in-hand, anyway! I love the locations chosen for the stories, as well. They set the tone for romance, whether in Parisian fashion, a sweet little tea room, on the sunny west coast or in a rustic small town. And as with any story that’s well-written with a primary focus on delicious goodies, it’s best to read this while eating a slice of your own cake with a tall glass of milk, enjoying this literary gem of a petit four.
December 12, 2014
I was given an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review as part of the blogtour organised by Kim Nash at Bookouture. I can always rely on Kim to recommend a good book, she knows what I like and hasn't steered me wrong so far. Kim knows how much I love Sue Watson's books and that along with the 'cake' theme had me hooked.
I was very tempted to skip straight to Sue's book first but managed to contain myself and I'm glad I did, not only was the anticipation worth it but I've found three new author's to read.in the future
I have to be honest and say I used to steer away from short stories but after an author questioned my reasons and gave me her balanced opinion I've read quite a few this year and have to say that sometimes a short story is just what you need when life is running at speed.
The books in Petit Four, just like the title suggests all involve cake in some format or another - what's not to love about that I ask? I read the four stories in this book over a couple of weeks on four different evenings - each was different yet had many similarities - and not just cake!!
Each one involves people, both strong and weak, who form opinions and judgements based upon first impressions and life expectations. Decisions are made from the heart and without the heart. On the one hand maturity, knowledge and having lived life allows for reflection, giving a clearer vision of life both in the past and now. Then, in the next instance maturity brings stubbornness, characters set in their ways and not open to new ideas or change - feeling threatened by things new and change.
I loved each of the stories and am glad I didn't read them all at once, allowing them to sink in and stay as individual stories rather than them all merging into one. I loved how they all highlight how communication, good friends and family and an open mind are what is needed to allow us to move forward in life and that change isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes it's good to look back but generally speaking life should be for living now and we should all be looking forward and living each and every day, not putting off till tomorrow.
I urge everyone to pick up this book, if the cover doesn't tempt you, hopefully you are intrigued enough to give it a go. There's a good mix of laughter, love and a little bit of seriousness too. There's characters you'll instantly love and one or two who may take a little while to grow on you. But.... I'm now convinced more than ever - friendship, love and cake are the way forward and the answer to any of life's problems , oh and wine or a cocktail or two thrown in for good measure
I was very tempted to skip straight to Sue's book first but managed to contain myself and I'm glad I did, not only was the anticipation worth it but I've found three new author's to read.in the future
I have to be honest and say I used to steer away from short stories but after an author questioned my reasons and gave me her balanced opinion I've read quite a few this year and have to say that sometimes a short story is just what you need when life is running at speed.
The books in Petit Four, just like the title suggests all involve cake in some format or another - what's not to love about that I ask? I read the four stories in this book over a couple of weeks on four different evenings - each was different yet had many similarities - and not just cake!!
Each one involves people, both strong and weak, who form opinions and judgements based upon first impressions and life expectations. Decisions are made from the heart and without the heart. On the one hand maturity, knowledge and having lived life allows for reflection, giving a clearer vision of life both in the past and now. Then, in the next instance maturity brings stubbornness, characters set in their ways and not open to new ideas or change - feeling threatened by things new and change.
I loved each of the stories and am glad I didn't read them all at once, allowing them to sink in and stay as individual stories rather than them all merging into one. I loved how they all highlight how communication, good friends and family and an open mind are what is needed to allow us to move forward in life and that change isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes it's good to look back but generally speaking life should be for living now and we should all be looking forward and living each and every day, not putting off till tomorrow.
I urge everyone to pick up this book, if the cover doesn't tempt you, hopefully you are intrigued enough to give it a go. There's a good mix of laughter, love and a little bit of seriousness too. There's characters you'll instantly love and one or two who may take a little while to grow on you. But.... I'm now convinced more than ever - friendship, love and cake are the way forward and the answer to any of life's problems , oh and wine or a cocktail or two thrown in for good measure
December 20, 2014
Review originally posted on Comet Babe's Books.
I would like to say thank you to Kim Nash for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Aprèz Vous by Lucie Simone
The first story in this book is set around Tara Burke and her neice Melissa's holiday to Paris. Tara has a secret she met and fell in love with a Jean Luc over thirty years before. Tara begins to tell Melissa her story and Melissa thinks she should contact Jean Luc.
The story takes you around Paris with a heavy helping of cakes and pastries to go with it.
Would Tara see Jean Luc again? Do they still love each other? All these questions and more are answered in this sweet tale of lost love and mistakes.
A perfect start to this book.
Cake Therapy by Cindy Arora
At the beginning of this story Olivia goes to work for Tammy a famous reporter, who takes her to a well known bakery for Cake Therapy, here starts a weekly tradition.
Seven years later Tammy is leaving to go work in LA, Oliva is divorced with a six year old daughter. The dashing Henry Maine is to take over from Tammy.
It is a delicious story about Olivia trying to find herself again after her divorce with a heavy helping a cake.
The Heart-Shaped Secret of Rasberry Jam by Sue Watson
Milly loves working at the Victoriana Tea Rooms but it's not her dream job, her dream job is to be able to share her love of cakes but her boss Mrs Jackson or Scary Mary as the call her is a stick in the mud to put it politely.
Milly meets David and her love of cakes shows now bounds, but a series of misunderstanding lead Milly to nearly loosing the man that shares her dreams.
This is another fantastic story from author Sue Watson, she had me giggling away at some of Milly's antics and guessing all the way through what would happen to them.
Easily my favourite story in the book I would recommend buying it just for this alone, although I have enjoyed the other stories.
Her Charms by Joel Zlotnik
Scott is the mayor of a small town in America, his heart has been short of love since his wife's death, the Nicole moved to town and catches his eye.
The story is told from Scott's POV which is a refreshing change also his love of cupcakes that Nicole bakes for him.
Scot must make a choice support his girlfriend or bow to the old timers of his small town.
Another fab story in the set of four stories.
I really enjoyed all four of the stories and if you like quick reads with cakes then this is for you, all I will say is don't read when you are hungry or will be craving cakes, me I had stomach bug which helped stop me craving cakes.
I would like to say thank you to Kim Nash for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Aprèz Vous by Lucie Simone
The first story in this book is set around Tara Burke and her neice Melissa's holiday to Paris. Tara has a secret she met and fell in love with a Jean Luc over thirty years before. Tara begins to tell Melissa her story and Melissa thinks she should contact Jean Luc.
The story takes you around Paris with a heavy helping of cakes and pastries to go with it.
Would Tara see Jean Luc again? Do they still love each other? All these questions and more are answered in this sweet tale of lost love and mistakes.
A perfect start to this book.
Cake Therapy by Cindy Arora
At the beginning of this story Olivia goes to work for Tammy a famous reporter, who takes her to a well known bakery for Cake Therapy, here starts a weekly tradition.
Seven years later Tammy is leaving to go work in LA, Oliva is divorced with a six year old daughter. The dashing Henry Maine is to take over from Tammy.
It is a delicious story about Olivia trying to find herself again after her divorce with a heavy helping a cake.
The Heart-Shaped Secret of Rasberry Jam by Sue Watson
Milly loves working at the Victoriana Tea Rooms but it's not her dream job, her dream job is to be able to share her love of cakes but her boss Mrs Jackson or Scary Mary as the call her is a stick in the mud to put it politely.
Milly meets David and her love of cakes shows now bounds, but a series of misunderstanding lead Milly to nearly loosing the man that shares her dreams.
This is another fantastic story from author Sue Watson, she had me giggling away at some of Milly's antics and guessing all the way through what would happen to them.
Easily my favourite story in the book I would recommend buying it just for this alone, although I have enjoyed the other stories.
Her Charms by Joel Zlotnik
Scott is the mayor of a small town in America, his heart has been short of love since his wife's death, the Nicole moved to town and catches his eye.
The story is told from Scott's POV which is a refreshing change also his love of cupcakes that Nicole bakes for him.
Scot must make a choice support his girlfriend or bow to the old timers of his small town.
Another fab story in the set of four stories.
I really enjoyed all four of the stories and if you like quick reads with cakes then this is for you, all I will say is don't read when you are hungry or will be craving cakes, me I had stomach bug which helped stop me craving cakes.
December 2, 2014
Originally posted on This Chick Reads
*Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review*
From the minute I saw the gorgeous cover, I knew I had to read this book. I admit, I'm not the biggest fan of short stories or anthologies, but I had a feeling I would enjoy it. There are 4 stories in this anthology, two of those authors (Sue Watson and Cindy Arora) I have previously read, so maybe that's another reason for me wanting to read this book. I've read all of Sue Watson's novels and think she's the best thing that happened to the British chick lit scene. I've read Cindy Arora's Debut earlier this year and must say she's very talented and I was over the moon when I heard her story will also appear in this anthology. As for the other two authors, Ms Simona and Mr Zlotnik, I haven't had a chance to check their work earlier, so I was excited to read their stories.
While I find rating short stories difficult, rating an anthology is even more difficult. We have four very different authors and writing styles, however all these stories are about cake, glorious cake!
I enjoyed these stories though I must say some were more of my kind of read. I particularly loved Cindy Arora's story which was hilarious! O-livia and her boss made me laugh out loud, and her attempts to get back to dating were so so cute. Sue Watson once again hits a jackpot with her story, I really liked Milly and her new boss. The romance warmed my heart and I was rooting for them constantly. The stories by Lucie Simone and Joel Zlotnik had more serious tone, and I couldn't connect to their characters as much as I wanted to. While I enjoyed Lucie's story and it was the most romantic of all (in my opinion), the characters didn't seem that believable. Tara, the MC character is supposed to be 50ish, but I had a hard time imagining her, and she sure didn't seem that mature to me. And finally Joel's story is about Scott, mayor of a small seaside community and I found the story less gripping.
But overall, it's a fun read you can devour in a day or two and there's CAKE! No matter if we're celebrating or experiencing a heartbreak, cake is always there for us. For all of you with a sweet tooth, this is the book for you.
December 22, 2014
I received a review copy
What a sweet treat! I have been reading more collections and anthologies lately, and for someone who has been on the fence in the past about novellas, I’ve really come to enjoy these! I think having a collection and having 3-4+ short stories to read is such a blast. Each offering in Petit Four was highly enjoyable, fun to read, and left me with a craving for a cupcake! Chick lit lovers will want to read this one!
What a sweet treat! I have been reading more collections and anthologies lately, and for someone who has been on the fence in the past about novellas, I’ve really come to enjoy these! I think having a collection and having 3-4+ short stories to read is such a blast. Each offering in Petit Four was highly enjoyable, fun to read, and left me with a craving for a cupcake! Chick lit lovers will want to read this one!
Want to read
March 18, 2016I wasn't a big fan of this book. The four stories were love story but they made the protagonist too perfect...eg beautiful, sophisticated, smart, had a great life prior to now. And the male character was also too perfect. It made it quite annoying to read. I know that books are entertaining not not always realistic but everyone was just sweet, nice and perfect. Sorry to sound crude but was too pukey perfect.
November 29, 2015
Loved all four stories my favorite two were The heart shaped secret of raspberry jam and her charms.I would definately read books from any of these four authors.I received this book free as part of goodreads giveaways
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