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The Cake Maker's Wish
Life in the village isn't always sweet and simple . . .
When single mum Olivia uproots her young son Darcy from their life in Tasmania for a new start in the English Cotswolds, she isn't exactly expecting a bed of roses - but nor is she prepared for the challenges that life in the picturesque village throws her way.
The Renaissance Project hopes to bring the dwindling community back to life - to welcome migrants from around the world and to boost the failing economy - but not everyone is so pleased about the initiative.
For cake maker Olivia, it's a chance for Darcy to finally meet his Norwegian father, and for her to trace the last blurry lines on what remains of her family tree. It's also an opportunity to move on from the traumatic event that tore her loved ones apart.
After seven years on her own, she has all but given up on romance, until life dishes up some delicious new options she didn't even know she was craving.
An uplifting and heartwarming story about the moments that change your life forever, human kindness and being true to yourself.
When single mum Olivia uproots her young son Darcy from their life in Tasmania for a new start in the English Cotswolds, she isn't exactly expecting a bed of roses - but nor is she prepared for the challenges that life in the picturesque village throws her way.
The Renaissance Project hopes to bring the dwindling community back to life - to welcome migrants from around the world and to boost the failing economy - but not everyone is so pleased about the initiative.
For cake maker Olivia, it's a chance for Darcy to finally meet his Norwegian father, and for her to trace the last blurry lines on what remains of her family tree. It's also an opportunity to move on from the traumatic event that tore her loved ones apart.
After seven years on her own, she has all but given up on romance, until life dishes up some delicious new options she didn't even know she was craving.
An uplifting and heartwarming story about the moments that change your life forever, human kindness and being true to yourself.
384 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2020
53 people are currently reading
554 people want to read
About the author
Josephine Moon
13 books372 followersHello! I live in the Noosa hinterland in Australia and now have the great pleasure of writing warm-hearted, feel good, contemporary fiction books for adults and now kids too! I am published in Australia, NZ, UK, Ireland, Norway, Greece and Germany. I'm so grateful to everyone who buys and reads my books. Thank you!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
July 14, 2022
This is a beautiful book full of beautiful imagery of baking, and of the English country side. Olivia and her young and very sensitive son leave Tasmania for the Cotswolds.
This struggling town is needing some new life, new blood injected into a town that is struggling in all ways, the community is getting older and it needs new life! The Renaissance Project is a well thought out program devised by a town that is much divided by this project, many older more established folk are resisting this and don't mind saying so!
Grants are given to those wanting to start business with favour given to those with young children and families, in hopes to inject much needed life and enthusiasm into the town (where of course everyone knows everyone's business!). This is perfect for Olivia who is an amazing cake maker; visions of her creations and the artistry gone into these line the entire book.
Amazing narration shows us a cast of many lovable characters, winemakers, farmers, bakers and the like. The new families form friendships and supportive relationships.
This sweet story takes on the mystery route when one of the locals begin to set traps to ensure the business fail; after all, the community doesn't need these interlopers, they are not wanted! With this pushback we come across the usual cranky councilmen, set in their way neighbors and the like.
I love the scene where Olivia's first baking session at home is a lovely apple crumble made lovingly with discarded fruit fallen over her fence line. Her neighbour was not impressed. This was just many of the pushbacks Olivia received, but she always took this in her stride; she was a strong character.
Romance and family relationships were a heavy part of this, too. Olivia was quite taken to being swept away with whatever was happening at the time, but her love for her young son Darcy was most evident.
I loved the imagery of this story, I love to bake and it was mouthwateringly tempting! I gather there was a recipe in the physical copy which I must get my hands on. This author always delivers and I love her themes of family and home and connectedness. She does not shy away from more serious themes, also. Highly recommended for lots of feel good, a little humour and a touch of spice and mystery to mix things up!
Do you know what? I think everyone needs to have access to this link: https://josephinemoon.com/recipes/
Enjoy, fellow readers and cake lovers <3
This struggling town is needing some new life, new blood injected into a town that is struggling in all ways, the community is getting older and it needs new life! The Renaissance Project is a well thought out program devised by a town that is much divided by this project, many older more established folk are resisting this and don't mind saying so!
Grants are given to those wanting to start business with favour given to those with young children and families, in hopes to inject much needed life and enthusiasm into the town (where of course everyone knows everyone's business!). This is perfect for Olivia who is an amazing cake maker; visions of her creations and the artistry gone into these line the entire book.
Amazing narration shows us a cast of many lovable characters, winemakers, farmers, bakers and the like. The new families form friendships and supportive relationships.
This sweet story takes on the mystery route when one of the locals begin to set traps to ensure the business fail; after all, the community doesn't need these interlopers, they are not wanted! With this pushback we come across the usual cranky councilmen, set in their way neighbors and the like.
I love the scene where Olivia's first baking session at home is a lovely apple crumble made lovingly with discarded fruit fallen over her fence line. Her neighbour was not impressed. This was just many of the pushbacks Olivia received, but she always took this in her stride; she was a strong character.
Romance and family relationships were a heavy part of this, too. Olivia was quite taken to being swept away with whatever was happening at the time, but her love for her young son Darcy was most evident.
I loved the imagery of this story, I love to bake and it was mouthwateringly tempting! I gather there was a recipe in the physical copy which I must get my hands on. This author always delivers and I love her themes of family and home and connectedness. She does not shy away from more serious themes, also. Highly recommended for lots of feel good, a little humour and a touch of spice and mystery to mix things up!
Do you know what? I think everyone needs to have access to this link: https://josephinemoon.com/recipes/
Enjoy, fellow readers and cake lovers <3
June 10, 2020
Olivia and her six-year-old son Darcy left their home in Richmond, Tasmania for the little town of Stoneden in the English Cotswolds, where the townsfolk were working on the Renaissance Project; plans to revitalize the community once again. Olivia’s profession as a cake maker qualified her for the move, along with the town’s preference for children to help with the growth they were hoping for. But there were some in the community who were not pleased…
Olivia knew with this move they would also be closer to Norway where Darcy’s father lived. She had high hopes of Darcy getting to know his father; also, she wanted to find out about her heritage as her grandmother had lived in Stoneden until she’d left for Tasmania in the 1960s. It was a challenge as well as exciting and nerve-wracking. Plus, the fresh start would put the past behind her and Darcy, helping him to forget the trauma.
What would be the outcome for the new people in Stoneden? Would the fresh start work for everyone? And could they change the resisters’ minds, make them more accepting of the venture?
The Cake Maker’s Wish is another excellent read by Aussie author Josephine Moon. I thoroughly enjoyed the friendships formed, the characters and their interactions, and Olivia’s strength in doing what was right for herself and Darcy. Her love for that little boy shone through. And the cakes! Wow! I could visualize them; the descriptions were mouth-watering! There’s a recipe at the end of the book 😊 The cover is perfection! Highly recommended.
With thanks to Penguin Random House for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Olivia knew with this move they would also be closer to Norway where Darcy’s father lived. She had high hopes of Darcy getting to know his father; also, she wanted to find out about her heritage as her grandmother had lived in Stoneden until she’d left for Tasmania in the 1960s. It was a challenge as well as exciting and nerve-wracking. Plus, the fresh start would put the past behind her and Darcy, helping him to forget the trauma.
What would be the outcome for the new people in Stoneden? Would the fresh start work for everyone? And could they change the resisters’ minds, make them more accepting of the venture?
The Cake Maker’s Wish is another excellent read by Aussie author Josephine Moon. I thoroughly enjoyed the friendships formed, the characters and their interactions, and Olivia’s strength in doing what was right for herself and Darcy. Her love for that little boy shone through. And the cakes! Wow! I could visualize them; the descriptions were mouth-watering! There’s a recipe at the end of the book 😊 The cover is perfection! Highly recommended.
With thanks to Penguin Random House for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2020
The Cake Maker’s Wish by Aussie author Josephine Moon is a beautifully written book about Olivia and her six year old son, Darcy who pack up their home in Tasmania to make a fresh start in the English Cotswolds. Olivia knew it would be tough to move, but she was unprepared for the challenges ahead.
This was a wonderful, heartwarming story with a beautiful cover one in which I found hard to put down. Highly recommended.
This was a wonderful, heartwarming story with a beautiful cover one in which I found hard to put down. Highly recommended.
July 28, 2020
Single mum Olivia takes her young son Darcy away from their home in Tasmania, to the Cotswolds in England. She is enthusiastic about being part of the renaissance project which hs been organised by some in the community as a way to bring people and new life and business to the village. So the call has gone out and applications have come in from people in various places in the world to come and live in the area and revitalise the place with new ideas and skills. At the same time Oliva feels moving closer to Darcy’s father who lives in Norway could be beneficial to them both as they will be able to spend some time together occasionally. Another reason for the move is so Olivia can trace her family tree, and move forward from the trauma of the past. As always happens there are those who do not like change and who want the project to fail. Olivia finds this out only to clearly when she encounters an intruder at the opening of her cake baking shop. Can Olivia make a go of life in this new place? Will she find support and friends? And what about love, has that passed her by or could she find romance again?
Olivia is an engaging character although at times despite her best intentions she does make some bewildering decisions. The incident with Darcy’s cake and the birthday party is just one of them. While the sentiments behind her decision may have been good, it did lead to complications and hurt that could so easily have been avoided. The village is peppered with some interesting characters like Katrina and Grayson who become friends. There are some other interesting characters in the community and some not so likeable. And sometime those who seem to be friends are not, while those who seem to be firmly opposed to the renaissance project can prove otherwise over time.
I loved this book. It is an easy engaging read, although I wasn’t convinced about some aspects of the ending where one character’s actions in particular seemed decidedly out of character. To me it didn’t really fit, no matter how much the author tried to explain it. But others may have no issue. Those q couple of quibbles aside, this was another enjoyable reader from this author. I have read and enjoyed all her books to date and this was no exception. An charming read with good characters, some interesting things to think about and a great setting. Recommended as a lovely book to relax into. Another gorgeous cover as well.
Olivia is an engaging character although at times despite her best intentions she does make some bewildering decisions. The incident with Darcy’s cake and the birthday party is just one of them. While the sentiments behind her decision may have been good, it did lead to complications and hurt that could so easily have been avoided. The village is peppered with some interesting characters like Katrina and Grayson who become friends. There are some other interesting characters in the community and some not so likeable. And sometime those who seem to be friends are not, while those who seem to be firmly opposed to the renaissance project can prove otherwise over time.
I loved this book. It is an easy engaging read, although I wasn’t convinced about some aspects of the ending where one character’s actions in particular seemed decidedly out of character. To me it didn’t really fit, no matter how much the author tried to explain it. But others may have no issue. Those q couple of quibbles aside, this was another enjoyable reader from this author. I have read and enjoyed all her books to date and this was no exception. An charming read with good characters, some interesting things to think about and a great setting. Recommended as a lovely book to relax into. Another gorgeous cover as well.
January 10, 2021
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**4.5 stars**
The Cake Maker's Wish by Josephine Moon. (2020).
Single mum Olivia has moved herself and young son Darcy from Tasmania to Stoneden in the English Cotswolds. They have moved as part of 'The Renaissance Project', welcoming migrants from around the would to bring the dwindling community back to life and boost the failing economy. But not everyone is pleased about the initiative. For cake maker Olivia, it's a chance for Darcy to meet his Norwegian father and for her to trace the last blurry lines of her family tree. It's also an opportunity to move on from the traumatic event that tore her loved ones apart. After 7 years on her own, she has all but given up on romance, until life dishes up some delicious new options she didn't even know she was craving...
I seriously enjoyed this one. I already knew that I liked this author's style after reading one of her previous novels, and I think I liked this newest one even more. Olivia was a great lead character to follow, and her son Darcy sounded adorable. The descriptions of Olivia's baking was literally mouthwatering. The village sounded really appealing, other than the small acts of sabotage against the new migrants; in saying that, I could easily picture the resentment some villagers would have had about the project although the sabotage was quite mean. Likewise, the traumatic event experienced by Olivia and Darcy was very believable and also involved some completely unwarranted nastiness; it was sad to imagine. I just wanted everything to work out for Olivia and Darcy and for everyone to be nice and get what they wanted...
I highly recommend this excellent book full of likeable and interesting characters.
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**4.5 stars**
The Cake Maker's Wish by Josephine Moon. (2020).
Single mum Olivia has moved herself and young son Darcy from Tasmania to Stoneden in the English Cotswolds. They have moved as part of 'The Renaissance Project', welcoming migrants from around the would to bring the dwindling community back to life and boost the failing economy. But not everyone is pleased about the initiative. For cake maker Olivia, it's a chance for Darcy to meet his Norwegian father and for her to trace the last blurry lines of her family tree. It's also an opportunity to move on from the traumatic event that tore her loved ones apart. After 7 years on her own, she has all but given up on romance, until life dishes up some delicious new options she didn't even know she was craving...
I seriously enjoyed this one. I already knew that I liked this author's style after reading one of her previous novels, and I think I liked this newest one even more. Olivia was a great lead character to follow, and her son Darcy sounded adorable. The descriptions of Olivia's baking was literally mouthwatering. The village sounded really appealing, other than the small acts of sabotage against the new migrants; in saying that, I could easily picture the resentment some villagers would have had about the project although the sabotage was quite mean. Likewise, the traumatic event experienced by Olivia and Darcy was very believable and also involved some completely unwarranted nastiness; it was sad to imagine. I just wanted everything to work out for Olivia and Darcy and for everyone to be nice and get what they wanted...
I highly recommend this excellent book full of likeable and interesting characters.
May 13, 2020
The Cake Maker’s Wish is the sixth novel by award-winning Australian author, Josephine Moon. Just over a year after pastry chef, Olivia Kent loses her grandmother (and last-known blood relative), she and her young son, Darcy arrive in the Cotswold village of Stoneden. And less than twenty-four hours later, the old lady next door accuses Olivia of theft: apparently not all the villagers are happy about the reverse-emigration scheme that the Stoneden Renaissance Committee has implemented.
Stoneden is where Olivia’s grandmother, Eleanor Kent grew up before emigrating to Tasmania with her parents. Many of the villagers are determined to reverse the slow death that has been facing the village as cottages are snapped up for holiday homes by Londoners at ridiculous prices. Invited to settle, especially if they have any connection with Stoneden, are young families with skills or trades, and this has attracted “imports” from the various corners of the globe.
For Olivia, it’s a chance to learn about her family history, and for Darcy, to connect with his (never-met-in-person) Norwegian father, as well as make some genuine friends. Furthest from Olivia’s mind is any sort of relationship with a man, even if farmer Grayson is stunningly gorgeous, and Helge, up close, still stirs her hormones.
Soon enough, Olivia and Darcy have made some firm friends and Rambling Rose Fine Cakes opens for business. Before long, a celebrity wedding has the village, not to mention the whole country, agog. But will the resistors, with their racist graffiti and their little acts of sabotage, ruin it for all?
What a delightful cast of characters Moon gives the reader, both amongst the old villagers and the imports: effusive providores, ageing charmers, cranky old women and more. None is wholly good or evil: all have very human flaws, and there are plenty of people holding secrets, guilt and resentments, and feeling the ongoing effects of past tragedies.
The village’s Renaissance Project is an intriguing concept, and Moon clearly demonstrates how and why there might be valid objections despite all the enthusiastic support. While the ending may be fairly predictable (and entirely welcome), there are a few red herrings and surprises on the way. Mouth-watering and a little mysterious Josephine Moon’s latest novel will have you smiling, welling up with tears, preheating the oven and digging out the cake tins, or at least the cake forks. This is Moon at her best!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview and Penguin Michael Joseph.
Stoneden is where Olivia’s grandmother, Eleanor Kent grew up before emigrating to Tasmania with her parents. Many of the villagers are determined to reverse the slow death that has been facing the village as cottages are snapped up for holiday homes by Londoners at ridiculous prices. Invited to settle, especially if they have any connection with Stoneden, are young families with skills or trades, and this has attracted “imports” from the various corners of the globe.
For Olivia, it’s a chance to learn about her family history, and for Darcy, to connect with his (never-met-in-person) Norwegian father, as well as make some genuine friends. Furthest from Olivia’s mind is any sort of relationship with a man, even if farmer Grayson is stunningly gorgeous, and Helge, up close, still stirs her hormones.
Soon enough, Olivia and Darcy have made some firm friends and Rambling Rose Fine Cakes opens for business. Before long, a celebrity wedding has the village, not to mention the whole country, agog. But will the resistors, with their racist graffiti and their little acts of sabotage, ruin it for all?
What a delightful cast of characters Moon gives the reader, both amongst the old villagers and the imports: effusive providores, ageing charmers, cranky old women and more. None is wholly good or evil: all have very human flaws, and there are plenty of people holding secrets, guilt and resentments, and feeling the ongoing effects of past tragedies.
The village’s Renaissance Project is an intriguing concept, and Moon clearly demonstrates how and why there might be valid objections despite all the enthusiastic support. While the ending may be fairly predictable (and entirely welcome), there are a few red herrings and surprises on the way. Mouth-watering and a little mysterious Josephine Moon’s latest novel will have you smiling, welling up with tears, preheating the oven and digging out the cake tins, or at least the cake forks. This is Moon at her best!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Better Reading Preview and Penguin Michael Joseph.
September 21, 2020
As sweet as butter-cream icing!
Definitely not my regular genre but single mum Oliva and son Darcy make for a completely harmless duo with endless optimism and enthusiasm. Having moved from Tasmania to the Cotswolds for a fresh start, there life throws them a couple of slow-moving curveballs, just as you’d expect in a contemporary romance read.
The Renaissance Project, for cake maker Olivia, allows her to live in a community that becomes her 'village' to help her raise her son. Throw in a hot Norweigan out-of-the picture dad, an equally dashing local farmer, a bit of gossip and village politics; sit back with a cuppa and a cake and enjoy.
A little too syrupy sweet for me but still a light-hearted enjoyable novel.
Definitely not my regular genre but single mum Oliva and son Darcy make for a completely harmless duo with endless optimism and enthusiasm. Having moved from Tasmania to the Cotswolds for a fresh start, there life throws them a couple of slow-moving curveballs, just as you’d expect in a contemporary romance read.
The Renaissance Project, for cake maker Olivia, allows her to live in a community that becomes her 'village' to help her raise her son. Throw in a hot Norweigan out-of-the picture dad, an equally dashing local farmer, a bit of gossip and village politics; sit back with a cuppa and a cake and enjoy.
A little too syrupy sweet for me but still a light-hearted enjoyable novel.
Read
May 11, 2020Read The Cake Maker's Wish if: you loved The Tea Chest; you love small village stories and/or love the idea of travelling to the Cotswolds; you want to feel better about the world; you love food, friendship, romance and multi-generational characters; and you want to be left feeling joyful and with a smile on your face. Jo x
May 21, 2021
Single mum Olivia Kent leaves Richmond Tasmania and moves to Stoneden in the Cotswolds in England with her young son Darcy and its part of a village migration scheme.
The Renaissance Project plan is to bring families from all over the world to boost the villages declining population, live in empty cottages, send their children to the local school and open new businesses. Of course not everyone in Stoneden is happy about the project, Clarence James the president of the committee he's confident it will work and be very successful.
Olivia is a qualified pastry chef and she opens a cake shop called Rambling Rose, she loves all things 50’s and it’s the theme for her shop, including what she wears while serving her sweet treats and the music she plays for her customers.
Her sons father Helge lives in Norway, by moving to England it means father and son will finally meet. Olivia has been single for seven years, she’s not sure if she’s ready for romance and she has a new business to run. Grayson Levins is a dairy farmer, he’s a really nice man, gets on well with Darcy and is he a possible love interest for her?
I really enjoyed reading The Cake Maker’s Wish, it’s a story about Olivia taking a chance and moving to another country, her coming to terms with her past, embracing her new life, making friends and they help her navigate the setbacks and challenges of creating a new life and business for herself and her son in England.
Five stars and I look forward to reading other books by Josephine Moon. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
The Renaissance Project plan is to bring families from all over the world to boost the villages declining population, live in empty cottages, send their children to the local school and open new businesses. Of course not everyone in Stoneden is happy about the project, Clarence James the president of the committee he's confident it will work and be very successful.
Olivia is a qualified pastry chef and she opens a cake shop called Rambling Rose, she loves all things 50’s and it’s the theme for her shop, including what she wears while serving her sweet treats and the music she plays for her customers.
Her sons father Helge lives in Norway, by moving to England it means father and son will finally meet. Olivia has been single for seven years, she’s not sure if she’s ready for romance and she has a new business to run. Grayson Levins is a dairy farmer, he’s a really nice man, gets on well with Darcy and is he a possible love interest for her?
I really enjoyed reading The Cake Maker’s Wish, it’s a story about Olivia taking a chance and moving to another country, her coming to terms with her past, embracing her new life, making friends and they help her navigate the setbacks and challenges of creating a new life and business for herself and her son in England.
Five stars and I look forward to reading other books by Josephine Moon. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
October 15, 2020
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‘It was possible, she observed, that she was channelling her grief into baking. This wasn’t entirely a bad thing, given that she was a pastry chef. How much more complicated her life would be right now if her loss has manifested into an inability to bake.’
Foodie fiction lovers will be seduced by Josephine Moon’s delightful new novel, The Cake Maker’s Wish. With a delectable recipe in the back of the book for a mouthwatering Persian Love Cake, I was immediately won over by this heartwarming addition to the Josephine Moon food literature collection. I really do love the little sub-genre Josephine Moon has carved out for herself and her fans!
The Cake Maker’s Wish is the story of hardworking single mother and cake making extraordinaire Olivia. When we meet Olivia she is in the midst of a big life changing decision. Olivia has decided to move with her son Darcy from Tasmania to a quaint English village in the Cotswolds. With fresh challenges and unexpected surprises thrown at her from the get-go, Olivia’s new life is proving to be quite a test! With the work of the Renaissance Project, an incentive designed to kick start the fledgling local economy in the Cotswolds, Olivia’s new community of both locals and international friends brings some new connections. But the more Olivia gets involved in the local community and the project, she realises that not everyone in the village is happy about the Renaissance initiative. With Olivia knee deep in her cake making, the arrival of Darcy’s father and her ex from Norway dredges up past hurts and new emotions. Love also comes in the form of an unexpected acquaintance and Olivia must make a heartbreaking choice. An opportunity to investigate a tragic family event and her grandmother’s legacy also comes Olivia’s way. The Cake Maker’s Wish is a tale filled with moments of change, realisation, semblance, choice and self-acceptance.
It was a blessing to see Josephine Moon return with a brand new food infused tale, thanks to The Cake Maker’s Wish. I always look forward to seeing what new mouthwatering treat Josephine Moon will incorporate within her thoughtful contemporary fiction novels. As a big fan of desserts, I will often leave aside my main meal in preference for cake, or any other sweet delight on offer, so my interest was immediately piqued as soon as I encountered Josephine Moon’s new title. The Cake Maker’s Wish is a dream for those who enjoy contemporary life literature titles, with a generous side serving of food related delights!
Olivia is our guide for the duration of The Cake Maker’s Wish. This is Olivia’s story, but Moon’s new novel also draws in other aspects. Some of these story elements are light and springy, while other issues incorporated in this tale are much more serious. Olivia is interesting lead, she has quite a strained life, marked by separation and loss. Olivia is a woman of strength and I admired her hardworking spirt. I also thought Olivia was very brave to take on a transition from a life in Tasmania, to a completely new existence in the Cotswolds. I’m not sure I could do it personally, but Olivia’s positivity and can-do attitude was definitely infectious. I really wanted Olivia to succeed and make some connections to the village folk of the Cotswolds. I enjoyed the way in which Moon introduced some conflict and underlying reservations about the big initiative that brings Olivia to the Cotswolds. The Renaissance Project was an ingenious concept and I liked how Moon exposed the opposition to this enterprise. It certainly managed to ignite some tension and push pull relations for the cast.
As Josephine Moon’s new book is titled The Cake Maker’s Wish, there are some wonderful descriptions of her cake making exploits. I have a close family member who is cake maker and I felt that the sequences involving the work of an everyday cake maker was realistic and authentic. I have to say I looked forward to these areas of the book very much, it was very indulgent and moreish! Clearly Moon has spent a great deal of time personally researching the business of cake making and this is reflected clearly in her novel. I think readers will embrace Olivia and the complications that arise from her cake making efforts.
Another area that worked well for me was the sea change aspect of the story. Although I really would have loved to have stayed in Richmond Tasmania (I love this part of our country), an opportunity to travel via the pages of The Cake Maker’s Wish to the quaint village world of the Cotswolds was very much welcomed. Moon did a good job with this area of her novel and I was completely immersed in her locations for the duration of the story. It was the perfect escape, especially in these most trying times.
There are other concerns aside from cake making in this new novel from Josephine Moon. We have a rather perplexing romance dynamic that unfolds with Olivia, a local villager and her son’s father. I’m normally a fan of romances, but I’m not sure this was the book’s strength. However, I do feel that the romance provided a distraction to the other issues at hand. We also have an intriguing family history focus which links rather well to Oliva’s grandmother. I enjoyed this sojourn into the lead’s family legacy. Finally, there is a revealing look at relationships, parenting and gender issues, which may incite some worthy discussion with book groups.
Take a gastronomic journey from Tasmania to the Cotswolds in this appealing contemporary fiction title from Josephine Moon. The Cake Maker’s Wish offered a most welcome break away from everyday life, a foodie escape is what we all need right now!
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Cake Maker’s Wish is book #109 the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
‘It was possible, she observed, that she was channelling her grief into baking. This wasn’t entirely a bad thing, given that she was a pastry chef. How much more complicated her life would be right now if her loss has manifested into an inability to bake.’
Foodie fiction lovers will be seduced by Josephine Moon’s delightful new novel, The Cake Maker’s Wish. With a delectable recipe in the back of the book for a mouthwatering Persian Love Cake, I was immediately won over by this heartwarming addition to the Josephine Moon food literature collection. I really do love the little sub-genre Josephine Moon has carved out for herself and her fans!
The Cake Maker’s Wish is the story of hardworking single mother and cake making extraordinaire Olivia. When we meet Olivia she is in the midst of a big life changing decision. Olivia has decided to move with her son Darcy from Tasmania to a quaint English village in the Cotswolds. With fresh challenges and unexpected surprises thrown at her from the get-go, Olivia’s new life is proving to be quite a test! With the work of the Renaissance Project, an incentive designed to kick start the fledgling local economy in the Cotswolds, Olivia’s new community of both locals and international friends brings some new connections. But the more Olivia gets involved in the local community and the project, she realises that not everyone in the village is happy about the Renaissance initiative. With Olivia knee deep in her cake making, the arrival of Darcy’s father and her ex from Norway dredges up past hurts and new emotions. Love also comes in the form of an unexpected acquaintance and Olivia must make a heartbreaking choice. An opportunity to investigate a tragic family event and her grandmother’s legacy also comes Olivia’s way. The Cake Maker’s Wish is a tale filled with moments of change, realisation, semblance, choice and self-acceptance.
It was a blessing to see Josephine Moon return with a brand new food infused tale, thanks to The Cake Maker’s Wish. I always look forward to seeing what new mouthwatering treat Josephine Moon will incorporate within her thoughtful contemporary fiction novels. As a big fan of desserts, I will often leave aside my main meal in preference for cake, or any other sweet delight on offer, so my interest was immediately piqued as soon as I encountered Josephine Moon’s new title. The Cake Maker’s Wish is a dream for those who enjoy contemporary life literature titles, with a generous side serving of food related delights!
Olivia is our guide for the duration of The Cake Maker’s Wish. This is Olivia’s story, but Moon’s new novel also draws in other aspects. Some of these story elements are light and springy, while other issues incorporated in this tale are much more serious. Olivia is interesting lead, she has quite a strained life, marked by separation and loss. Olivia is a woman of strength and I admired her hardworking spirt. I also thought Olivia was very brave to take on a transition from a life in Tasmania, to a completely new existence in the Cotswolds. I’m not sure I could do it personally, but Olivia’s positivity and can-do attitude was definitely infectious. I really wanted Olivia to succeed and make some connections to the village folk of the Cotswolds. I enjoyed the way in which Moon introduced some conflict and underlying reservations about the big initiative that brings Olivia to the Cotswolds. The Renaissance Project was an ingenious concept and I liked how Moon exposed the opposition to this enterprise. It certainly managed to ignite some tension and push pull relations for the cast.
As Josephine Moon’s new book is titled The Cake Maker’s Wish, there are some wonderful descriptions of her cake making exploits. I have a close family member who is cake maker and I felt that the sequences involving the work of an everyday cake maker was realistic and authentic. I have to say I looked forward to these areas of the book very much, it was very indulgent and moreish! Clearly Moon has spent a great deal of time personally researching the business of cake making and this is reflected clearly in her novel. I think readers will embrace Olivia and the complications that arise from her cake making efforts.
Another area that worked well for me was the sea change aspect of the story. Although I really would have loved to have stayed in Richmond Tasmania (I love this part of our country), an opportunity to travel via the pages of The Cake Maker’s Wish to the quaint village world of the Cotswolds was very much welcomed. Moon did a good job with this area of her novel and I was completely immersed in her locations for the duration of the story. It was the perfect escape, especially in these most trying times.
There are other concerns aside from cake making in this new novel from Josephine Moon. We have a rather perplexing romance dynamic that unfolds with Olivia, a local villager and her son’s father. I’m normally a fan of romances, but I’m not sure this was the book’s strength. However, I do feel that the romance provided a distraction to the other issues at hand. We also have an intriguing family history focus which links rather well to Oliva’s grandmother. I enjoyed this sojourn into the lead’s family legacy. Finally, there is a revealing look at relationships, parenting and gender issues, which may incite some worthy discussion with book groups.
Take a gastronomic journey from Tasmania to the Cotswolds in this appealing contemporary fiction title from Josephine Moon. The Cake Maker’s Wish offered a most welcome break away from everyday life, a foodie escape is what we all need right now!
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Cake Maker’s Wish is book #109 the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
June 30, 2020
I always look forward to a new release from Josephine Moon. As a pioneer of the sub-genre Food Lit, it goes without saying that her stories are delicious – and they generally make you hungry! This latest release is about a cake maker and it was all just so beautiful and delectable. I do love cake though, so this aspect of the story was always going to be a winner for me. I really enjoy how Josephine spent time throughout the story on the process of cake making, allowing for a total immersion of the senses. Detailing the flavours along with the ingredients and styling – sublime!
As is the way with a Josephine Moon book, there is always more and in terms of this one, there was a lot more than just the food on offer. Olivia has moved with her young son to the English Cotswolds to take part in a project created by one of the villages as an experiment in revival. Coined The Renaissance Project, its aim is to attract migrants into dying villages and rebuild the community in a way that offers residents and tourists a quaint self-sufficient working village, just sans the lord of the manor. I really loved this idea as something that could be transferred to real life villages and small towns. And while it was not without its challenges, all in all, it’s an idea that has merit. Given though how much our society is driven by capitalism and cheap commodities, it’s an idea that I wouldn’t expect to ever get off the ground in anything other than a niche and very strongly community driven locale, which is a shame, because I’d actually really love to live in a place like this.
Olivia has left Tasmania in a haze of tragedy. Her beloved grandmother, who raised her and has also helped raise her son Darcy, passed away on the back of Darcy having a major accident. The entire situation was terribly traumatic and I could see exactly why Olivia wanted to move so far away. Plus, there was the allure of tracing her family tree now that it was just her and Darcy left – the village they moved to was where her grandmother grew up. Another drawcard was the decreased distance to Norway, where Darcy’s father lives. This was a bit odd for me, that whole relationship, to be honest. I still can’t quite wrap my head around why neither of them tried a bit harder to be together from the outset, but anyway, that’s just me. This novel had more romance in it than Josephine’s others I felt and I’ve never been a fan of love triangles, so there were definitely parts throughout that I could have done with less of. Helge seemed a bit too convenient with his interest in Olivia after so long and I felt the addition of this kind of muddled what could have been a straightforward, not centre stage love aspect, if Olivia had just had the one love interest and Helge had remained a character whose only purpose was to be Darcy’s father. I’m probably in the minority with this opinion, but you all know me and my impressions of romance plots. I’m very finicky!
On a more serious note, there were some thought provoking issues with regards to parenting boys and the whole notion of gender vs. a child’s interest. There’s probably more correct terminology I could be using here but we’ll just muddle through. I have one daughter and two sons, the boys coming after the girl, all two years apart, so quite often playing at similar stages to each other. As small children, they could play with whatever they liked since our house had a combination of traditional boy and girl toys along with plenty of non-specific toys, blocks, games, and books. One son loved wearing his sister’s dress ups and bangles while the other was a dedicated Spiderman impressionist – thank goodness for my grandmother securing a durable costume because he wore that suit for two years straight! My daughter liked to push around Tonka trucks whilst dressed as a fairy. However, when it came down to it, when they were given the option to pick their own clothes or birthday cakes, they always gravitated without prompting towards their prescribed genders. Some might say that society itself was the prompt. Perhaps, but that’s a completely different paper to write and this is just a book review. But my own experiences meant that I never really had to deal with what Olivia did within this story. And I do believe that clouded my view. I’ll be honest here, in eighteen years of parenting, running playgroups in the early years and working in schools in the latter, children will be attracted to all sorts of things, from princesses to super heroes and everything in between, it’s just the way it is. I am totally opposed to shaming a child for being interested in something that has been defined as boy or girl. But I’m also opposed to putting your child’s welfare at risk for a political statement. I fear that new parents in the current changing society we live in might be too quick to read too much into a preference instead of just letting it all play out as a child grows.
In the case of what happened within this book with Darcy’s themed birthday party and THAT cake, the situation was avoidable and it made me really angry at Olivia that she put her son into that position, particularly since he expressed last minute reservations. From that point on, in my opinion, it all became about her, and that, I feel, is wrong. Also, as a highly skilled cake maker, she could have easily given Darcy what he wanted but with other characters from that movie decorating the cake. It’s called thinking out of the box and when you’re throwing a mixed birthday party with boys and girls in attendance, that should be your aim anyway. Also, there were boys at that party who were known bullies; I wouldn’t have even invited them, but she did, and she should have really anticipated issues. I know that as a parent, we need to advocate for our children, but we also need to protect them. It’s a very tricky tightrope to balance on and this book has certainly given me much to ponder on regarding this issue. I am eagerly awaiting a friend of mine to finish this so we can have a more in-depth off-page discussion about these themes. I do love it when a book brings this about, so take note, this one would be an ideal book club pick!
By far, for me, the community aspect of this story was the shining star and combined with all of the delicious cake making, this was a lovely novel to spend a weekend with. Highly recommended if you’re seeking a cosy read with some thought provoking content.
Thanks is extended to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a copy of The Cake Maker’s Wish for review.
As is the way with a Josephine Moon book, there is always more and in terms of this one, there was a lot more than just the food on offer. Olivia has moved with her young son to the English Cotswolds to take part in a project created by one of the villages as an experiment in revival. Coined The Renaissance Project, its aim is to attract migrants into dying villages and rebuild the community in a way that offers residents and tourists a quaint self-sufficient working village, just sans the lord of the manor. I really loved this idea as something that could be transferred to real life villages and small towns. And while it was not without its challenges, all in all, it’s an idea that has merit. Given though how much our society is driven by capitalism and cheap commodities, it’s an idea that I wouldn’t expect to ever get off the ground in anything other than a niche and very strongly community driven locale, which is a shame, because I’d actually really love to live in a place like this.
Olivia has left Tasmania in a haze of tragedy. Her beloved grandmother, who raised her and has also helped raise her son Darcy, passed away on the back of Darcy having a major accident. The entire situation was terribly traumatic and I could see exactly why Olivia wanted to move so far away. Plus, there was the allure of tracing her family tree now that it was just her and Darcy left – the village they moved to was where her grandmother grew up. Another drawcard was the decreased distance to Norway, where Darcy’s father lives. This was a bit odd for me, that whole relationship, to be honest. I still can’t quite wrap my head around why neither of them tried a bit harder to be together from the outset, but anyway, that’s just me. This novel had more romance in it than Josephine’s others I felt and I’ve never been a fan of love triangles, so there were definitely parts throughout that I could have done with less of. Helge seemed a bit too convenient with his interest in Olivia after so long and I felt the addition of this kind of muddled what could have been a straightforward, not centre stage love aspect, if Olivia had just had the one love interest and Helge had remained a character whose only purpose was to be Darcy’s father. I’m probably in the minority with this opinion, but you all know me and my impressions of romance plots. I’m very finicky!
On a more serious note, there were some thought provoking issues with regards to parenting boys and the whole notion of gender vs. a child’s interest. There’s probably more correct terminology I could be using here but we’ll just muddle through. I have one daughter and two sons, the boys coming after the girl, all two years apart, so quite often playing at similar stages to each other. As small children, they could play with whatever they liked since our house had a combination of traditional boy and girl toys along with plenty of non-specific toys, blocks, games, and books. One son loved wearing his sister’s dress ups and bangles while the other was a dedicated Spiderman impressionist – thank goodness for my grandmother securing a durable costume because he wore that suit for two years straight! My daughter liked to push around Tonka trucks whilst dressed as a fairy. However, when it came down to it, when they were given the option to pick their own clothes or birthday cakes, they always gravitated without prompting towards their prescribed genders. Some might say that society itself was the prompt. Perhaps, but that’s a completely different paper to write and this is just a book review. But my own experiences meant that I never really had to deal with what Olivia did within this story. And I do believe that clouded my view. I’ll be honest here, in eighteen years of parenting, running playgroups in the early years and working in schools in the latter, children will be attracted to all sorts of things, from princesses to super heroes and everything in between, it’s just the way it is. I am totally opposed to shaming a child for being interested in something that has been defined as boy or girl. But I’m also opposed to putting your child’s welfare at risk for a political statement. I fear that new parents in the current changing society we live in might be too quick to read too much into a preference instead of just letting it all play out as a child grows.
In the case of what happened within this book with Darcy’s themed birthday party and THAT cake, the situation was avoidable and it made me really angry at Olivia that she put her son into that position, particularly since he expressed last minute reservations. From that point on, in my opinion, it all became about her, and that, I feel, is wrong. Also, as a highly skilled cake maker, she could have easily given Darcy what he wanted but with other characters from that movie decorating the cake. It’s called thinking out of the box and when you’re throwing a mixed birthday party with boys and girls in attendance, that should be your aim anyway. Also, there were boys at that party who were known bullies; I wouldn’t have even invited them, but she did, and she should have really anticipated issues. I know that as a parent, we need to advocate for our children, but we also need to protect them. It’s a very tricky tightrope to balance on and this book has certainly given me much to ponder on regarding this issue. I am eagerly awaiting a friend of mine to finish this so we can have a more in-depth off-page discussion about these themes. I do love it when a book brings this about, so take note, this one would be an ideal book club pick!
By far, for me, the community aspect of this story was the shining star and combined with all of the delicious cake making, this was a lovely novel to spend a weekend with. Highly recommended if you’re seeking a cosy read with some thought provoking content.
Thanks is extended to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a copy of The Cake Maker’s Wish for review.
June 4, 2020
My View:
If you are anything like me at the moment you appreciate a piece of heart-warming escapism in your reading choice and this book based on cake making is the perfect, temporary antidote to the ills of the time.
I love the ideas of the “Renaissance Project” and the narrative successfully transports us to modern day English village lifestyle and times, the trials and tribulations of being an “outsider” and demonstrates how to mend bridges by simply showing an interest and caring about those around us.
This book is packed with “themes” for you to unlock and consider, and a love story or two and a bit of history/mystery for you to ponder.
If you are anything like me at the moment you appreciate a piece of heart-warming escapism in your reading choice and this book based on cake making is the perfect, temporary antidote to the ills of the time.
I love the ideas of the “Renaissance Project” and the narrative successfully transports us to modern day English village lifestyle and times, the trials and tribulations of being an “outsider” and demonstrates how to mend bridges by simply showing an interest and caring about those around us.
This book is packed with “themes” for you to unlock and consider, and a love story or two and a bit of history/mystery for you to ponder.
May 18, 2020
Moon’s newest novel is her best so far. A sumptuous setting, a bevy of eclectic believable characters, and an enticing plot make The Cake Maker’s Wish a feast for the senses.
July 3, 2020
The Cake Maker’s Wish is a delicious treat from bestselling author Josephine Moon.
After the loss of her beloved Ma, Olivia Kent’s curiousity about her grandmother’s early life leads her to successfully apply for a project offering the descendants of Stoneden villagers in England’s Cotswold region a subsidised opportunity to relocate. Leaving Tasmania behind, Olivia is excited to launch her business, Rambling Rose Fine Cakes on the village High Street, and give her young son, Darcy, a fresh start, as well as the chance to finally meet his Norwegian father in person.
The Renaissance Project is a fantastic concept and a wonderful element of the story, which also provides a backdrop for some minor intrigue. The initiative is designed to revitalise the community of Stoneden but unfortunately not everyone is happy about it with at least one resident actively trying to sabotage the scheme (and I was surprised to finally learn who, and why).
Nevertheless Olivia and Darcy quickly begin to feel at home in the village, befriending both other ‘imports’ and locals alike. As the story unfolds, Olivia is able to learn more about her grandmother’s past, which leads to a surprise revelation. There is also romance for Olivia with local dairyman Grayson, and Darcy’s visiting father, who is newly separated from his wife, and eager to build a relationship with both his son and Olivia, both vying for her affection. Olivia’s business thrives, particularly after a celebrity couple voice their support. Foodies will appreciate Moon’s delicious descriptions of Olivia’s creations, and delight in the included recipe for her Persian Love Cake.
With a serve of appealing characters, a sprinkle of mystery and a generous dollop of heart, The Cake Maker’s Wish is a delectable story about community, friendship, family and food.
After the loss of her beloved Ma, Olivia Kent’s curiousity about her grandmother’s early life leads her to successfully apply for a project offering the descendants of Stoneden villagers in England’s Cotswold region a subsidised opportunity to relocate. Leaving Tasmania behind, Olivia is excited to launch her business, Rambling Rose Fine Cakes on the village High Street, and give her young son, Darcy, a fresh start, as well as the chance to finally meet his Norwegian father in person.
The Renaissance Project is a fantastic concept and a wonderful element of the story, which also provides a backdrop for some minor intrigue. The initiative is designed to revitalise the community of Stoneden but unfortunately not everyone is happy about it with at least one resident actively trying to sabotage the scheme (and I was surprised to finally learn who, and why).
Nevertheless Olivia and Darcy quickly begin to feel at home in the village, befriending both other ‘imports’ and locals alike. As the story unfolds, Olivia is able to learn more about her grandmother’s past, which leads to a surprise revelation. There is also romance for Olivia with local dairyman Grayson, and Darcy’s visiting father, who is newly separated from his wife, and eager to build a relationship with both his son and Olivia, both vying for her affection. Olivia’s business thrives, particularly after a celebrity couple voice their support. Foodies will appreciate Moon’s delicious descriptions of Olivia’s creations, and delight in the included recipe for her Persian Love Cake.
With a serve of appealing characters, a sprinkle of mystery and a generous dollop of heart, The Cake Maker’s Wish is a delectable story about community, friendship, family and food.
September 9, 2020
WOW I loved this story and it is the first book from Josephine Moon that I have read but it won’t be the last, she writes beautifully with characters that are easy to be friends with and in this one we meet Olivia a cake maker from Tasmania she is a single mum with a six year old son Darcy, I hope that you pick this book up and find out what happens to Olivia and Darcy and their very interesting journey.
Times have changed for Olivia now that she has lost her Ma, she is wondering why Ma didn’t talk a lot about her life in a village in The Cotswolds before coming to Australia in the 1960’s, so Olivia does a bit of searching on the internet and comes across an item about a renaissance project to increase the population of the small town of Stoneden and they are looking for people from all over the world and hopefully people with relatives that had come from there, Olivia thinks this is a great idea and it will bring them closer to Darcy’s father who lives in Norway, decision made Olivia and Darcy are accepted and they move to the Cotswolds to start a new cake shop The Rambling Rose.
Olivia and Darcy are welcomed with open arms by most people in the village, although not everyone is happy about the newcomers, they are loving their new home and Olivia is busy getting her shop ready for opening and meeting and making friends with the people of Stoneden. Olivia is starting to find out about her Ma and there is a lot to uncover. They have also had a visit from Darcy’s father and Grayson the dairy farmer in the village is being very helpful and getting closer to Olivia.
This is a magical story of friendship and the strength that Olivia showed by moving half-way around the world to start a new life, oh and the cakes my goodness Olivia is the best cake maker I wanted to try everything she made mouth-watering they are. I loved all of the characters in this story, the friendships that were made with people from around the world the closeness they shared and the help for each other when needed, and the love that is growing nicely along the way.
This is a book that I highly recommend, it was a fabulous story that had me turning the pages, thank you MS Moon and Penguin Random House for such a great story.
Times have changed for Olivia now that she has lost her Ma, she is wondering why Ma didn’t talk a lot about her life in a village in The Cotswolds before coming to Australia in the 1960’s, so Olivia does a bit of searching on the internet and comes across an item about a renaissance project to increase the population of the small town of Stoneden and they are looking for people from all over the world and hopefully people with relatives that had come from there, Olivia thinks this is a great idea and it will bring them closer to Darcy’s father who lives in Norway, decision made Olivia and Darcy are accepted and they move to the Cotswolds to start a new cake shop The Rambling Rose.
Olivia and Darcy are welcomed with open arms by most people in the village, although not everyone is happy about the newcomers, they are loving their new home and Olivia is busy getting her shop ready for opening and meeting and making friends with the people of Stoneden. Olivia is starting to find out about her Ma and there is a lot to uncover. They have also had a visit from Darcy’s father and Grayson the dairy farmer in the village is being very helpful and getting closer to Olivia.
This is a magical story of friendship and the strength that Olivia showed by moving half-way around the world to start a new life, oh and the cakes my goodness Olivia is the best cake maker I wanted to try everything she made mouth-watering they are. I loved all of the characters in this story, the friendships that were made with people from around the world the closeness they shared and the help for each other when needed, and the love that is growing nicely along the way.
This is a book that I highly recommend, it was a fabulous story that had me turning the pages, thank you MS Moon and Penguin Random House for such a great story.
Read
July 4, 2020The Cake Maker's Wish was released by Penguin Random House on June 2 and what a gorgeous cover! I had a fantastic time between the pages, and felt right in my element with all the lovely baking, the charming Cottswalds setting and the cast of cosy characters. If you love food inspired storylines, you're in for a real treat with this novel. Highly recommend. Full author interview here: https://www.mayalinnell.com/post/jose...
June 1, 2020
A big warm hug of a book. The Cake Maker's Wish is full of everything we need right now: community, friendship, love, and lots of good things to eat.
I didn't want this book to end and have my fingers crossed for a sequel.
If you're in need of comfort, reassurance and a hug right now, The Cake Maker's wish will leave you feeling beautifully nurtured and extremely well fed.
I didn't want this book to end and have my fingers crossed for a sequel.
If you're in need of comfort, reassurance and a hug right now, The Cake Maker's wish will leave you feeling beautifully nurtured and extremely well fed.
May 13, 2020
I’ve read and loved all of Australian author Josephine moons books and this one is my new favourite! Such a beautiful well told story starting in Tasmania and ending up in an idyllic village in the cotswolds where a dying town is attempting a renaissance and new life with descendants of original villagers. Like most of josephines books it’s a story based around families and also food (the main character Olivia is a cake maker and the scenes with cakes are mouth watering!) Throw in a love triangle a mystery around Olivias sons injury and a village divided and you have an amazing book anyway. Josephines beautiful writing style literally adds the icing to the cake. Read it with your favourite piece of cake and savour every bite and word!
June 18, 2020
The Cake Maker's Wish by Josephine Moon is set in a small village in the Cotswalds, England.
Olivia decides to take a big step of relocating from her hometown, Richmond in Tasmania to participate in a revival scheme to bring a small town community back to life in England.
It's a book about 'community spirit', food, baking and friendship.
Olivia is a Cake Maker and it's her chance for her son, Darcy to finally meet his Norwegian father and for Olivia to retrace her family history.
I really enjoyed Josephine Moon's book, The Cake Maker's Wish and it's made me want to cook with a range of edible flowers and make The Persian Love Cake! (which is featured at the back of this book).
Other delightful recipes can be found on Jo's website www.josephinemoon.com
Note: The Cake Maker's Wish is sure to delight all readers interested in flowers and baking (and, anyone who's read, The Tea Chest also by Josephine Moon).
Olivia decides to take a big step of relocating from her hometown, Richmond in Tasmania to participate in a revival scheme to bring a small town community back to life in England.
It's a book about 'community spirit', food, baking and friendship.
Olivia is a Cake Maker and it's her chance for her son, Darcy to finally meet his Norwegian father and for Olivia to retrace her family history.
I really enjoyed Josephine Moon's book, The Cake Maker's Wish and it's made me want to cook with a range of edible flowers and make The Persian Love Cake! (which is featured at the back of this book).
Other delightful recipes can be found on Jo's website www.josephinemoon.com
Note: The Cake Maker's Wish is sure to delight all readers interested in flowers and baking (and, anyone who's read, The Tea Chest also by Josephine Moon).
August 20, 2020
This heartwarming story and its cast of wonderful characters that bring to life a small village I wish I could jetset off to, will stay with me for a long time. I loved it! Full of heart, warmth and soul, this is Moon’s best book yet!
October 4, 2020
The Cakemakers Wish is the latest foodie fiction from Australian author, Josephine Moon. With its beautiful cover, I knew I was in for a treat. Set predominantly in the gorgeous Cotswolds, England, The Cakemakers Wish introduces Olivia. Olivia’s story begins in Tasmania, Australia. As the title indicates, Olivia is a talented cakemaker. Olivia is much more than a cakemaker though as she is also a single mother to Darcy. It is clear that Olivia truly loves her son and wants to protect him from the world. Darcy is different to other boys and as a result has been bullied. It was a heartbreaking reminder of the cruelty of children and in some cases that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Darcy needs a mother like Olivia who will fight his battles until he can do so on his own.
Olivia met Darcy’s father Helge when she was barely out of her teen years. While Olivia and Helge’s love for each other was real the timing was wrong as Helge had to return back home. Eight years after the birth of their child Darcy, Olivia has the opportunity to move to Stoneden, England. The village of Stoneden is participating in the Renaissance Project. The project aims to bring the village back to its earlier glory by inviting descendants of former residents to emigrate. Using their skills and talents, it is hoped that the descendants will contribute economically and socially to village life. With Olivia’s grandmother once a past resident and her fantastic baking skills, Olivia is accepted to participate in the project. I admired Olivia for making such a brave move to another country as she had only herself to rely on. It’s certainly not something everyone can do and, one would need an enthusiastic attitude.
Olivia’s positiveness is revealed when she opens her own shop, Rambling Rose Fine Cakes, and when she learns that not all the villagers are welcoming for different reasons. Villagers against the project are known as the ‘Resistance’ (cue a giggle from me). It was almost like Olivia believed she could kill them with kindness and, kill them she did. It makes me question if I would have been as persistent as Olivia. While Olivia may be winning over individuals over one by one the Resistance become stronger until there is doubt that the project can continue.
As an added bonus to moving to England, Olivia and Darcy are closer to Scandinavia, giving Darcy and Helge the chance to meet face to face for the first time. The scene where father and son meet is a tear jerker. Helge’s personal situation is complicated yet, it is clear that both adults still hold a candle for each other. Even before the truth of Helge’s situation comes to light, I thought that Helge’s and Olivia’s time had passed. To make matters of the heart more complex for Olivia, there is a spark of attraction between her and the local farmer, Grayson. Grayson was genuine and I hoped that Olivia would pick this man to be a part of her life.
Who will Olivia choose? Will a celebrity wedding save the Renaissance Project?
With themes of food, family, love, village life, secrets, toxic masculinity and domestic violence, The Cakemakers Wish is food lit at its very finest.
Olivia met Darcy’s father Helge when she was barely out of her teen years. While Olivia and Helge’s love for each other was real the timing was wrong as Helge had to return back home. Eight years after the birth of their child Darcy, Olivia has the opportunity to move to Stoneden, England. The village of Stoneden is participating in the Renaissance Project. The project aims to bring the village back to its earlier glory by inviting descendants of former residents to emigrate. Using their skills and talents, it is hoped that the descendants will contribute economically and socially to village life. With Olivia’s grandmother once a past resident and her fantastic baking skills, Olivia is accepted to participate in the project. I admired Olivia for making such a brave move to another country as she had only herself to rely on. It’s certainly not something everyone can do and, one would need an enthusiastic attitude.
Olivia’s positiveness is revealed when she opens her own shop, Rambling Rose Fine Cakes, and when she learns that not all the villagers are welcoming for different reasons. Villagers against the project are known as the ‘Resistance’ (cue a giggle from me). It was almost like Olivia believed she could kill them with kindness and, kill them she did. It makes me question if I would have been as persistent as Olivia. While Olivia may be winning over individuals over one by one the Resistance become stronger until there is doubt that the project can continue.
As an added bonus to moving to England, Olivia and Darcy are closer to Scandinavia, giving Darcy and Helge the chance to meet face to face for the first time. The scene where father and son meet is a tear jerker. Helge’s personal situation is complicated yet, it is clear that both adults still hold a candle for each other. Even before the truth of Helge’s situation comes to light, I thought that Helge’s and Olivia’s time had passed. To make matters of the heart more complex for Olivia, there is a spark of attraction between her and the local farmer, Grayson. Grayson was genuine and I hoped that Olivia would pick this man to be a part of her life.
Who will Olivia choose? Will a celebrity wedding save the Renaissance Project?
With themes of food, family, love, village life, secrets, toxic masculinity and domestic violence, The Cakemakers Wish is food lit at its very finest.
May 12, 2020
If you were given the chance to move across the world to make a new family and find your family ancestry, would you?
Olivia took her son Darcy from Tasmania to England and started a new life in an area they called The Renaissance Project, to help rebuild an old town.
Slowly she was finding out things about her family history. Was this what she really expected??
I loved this book and read it in 3 days, great read from start to finish. The Cake Maker’s Wish by Josephine Moon.
#betterreading
Olivia took her son Darcy from Tasmania to England and started a new life in an area they called The Renaissance Project, to help rebuild an old town.
Slowly she was finding out things about her family history. Was this what she really expected??
I loved this book and read it in 3 days, great read from start to finish. The Cake Maker’s Wish by Josephine Moon.
#betterreading
June 30, 2020
Another delightful story by Josephine Moon. Outwardly, a bright and beautiful story of life in the village of Stoneden in the Cotswolds, but this story also contains some very thought provoking moments. A very warm and wonderful read I thoroughly recommend.
April 28, 2021
The book cover caught my eye when I went into the library. Not a very strong story line although the initial idea of how to regenerate life in a village was interesting. It was like reading a longer old fashioned woman’s magazine serial- the author tried to be ���modern’ with the heroine being a single parent who had the odd flash of independence but really it was classic ‘knight in shining armour wins the hand of the fair maiden’. Having said that there is nothing wrong with harmless escapism and romance.
July 16, 2020
Delicious!
December 20, 2024
Lovely storyline around reviving a quaint English village with ancestral connections from today. Enjoyed the characters of all talents that made this project work and felt like life in a community minded village like this would be lovely. The main character Olivia was a delight and loved getting a glimpse into the life and challenges of her as a single Mum running a pastry shop.
June 2, 2020
With everything that has been going on in the world lately, I have been gravitating towards a certain type of read. Books that make me feel warm and fuzzy, better about the world at large. To be honest, if I want a dose of reality or “hard-hitting”, I can turn on the news for five seconds. Reading lately, has become about escape. And this book was absolutely perfect for that.
Olivia has always been a single mother to her son Darcy. His father is from Norway and went back there before Darcy’s birth, meaning the two have never met but have established a relationship via video calls and the like. For help, Olivia had her grandmother, but with her death, Olivia finds herself alone. Her grandmother was from a small village in England and googling it one day leads her to the Renaissance Project – they want descendants of people formerly from the town to come back to it, open a business and help the town thrive again. It’s been slowly dying and there are a few passionate people who want to see it flourish. On a whim Olivia, a patissier, applies. This will give her a chance to get to know more about where her grandmother came from and also, for Darcy to be much closer to his father in Norway.
This is a lovely story! I really enjoyed the idea of the Renaissance Project and trying to regenerate a once thriving town that had slowly fallen in popularity. People had moved away, to bigger towns for more work or like Olivia’s grandmother, emigrated to other countries. The Renaissance Project welcomes people from all over the globe – as well as Olivia from Tasmania, there are people from New Zealand, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, other parts of England as well. A lot of them open businesses related to food, such as bakeries, pizza shops and cheese specialities. There are also nurses and farmers as well. Any kids get enrolled at the small, local school as the families integrate into the community. But not everyone in the village is happy about the project – there are people that would do anything to shut it down, as some of the newcomers find out, in the most distressing of ways.
Olivia has other reasons for wanting to leave Tasmania, which are revealed over the course of the novel. I really felt connected to her actually, as she relayed stories of Darcy and how he’d been treated for being a bit ‘different’ to how boys are expected to be. I also have a more sensitive boy, who always preferred playing with girls in kinder, who wasn’t into rough and tumble games and who feels things deeply. He likes soft toys, went through a huge Frozen phase and I’ve had several comments that I need to ‘toughen him up’ for life…..which I don’t agree with. Why does he need to be “tough”? Why can’t he just be who he is? It’s that kind of thinking that creates situations that Olivia and Darcy found themselves in, in Tasmania. I applauded Olivia for her parenting style and my heart broke for both of them with what happened to them. This part of the story really resonated with me and I felt so happy for them that they found themselves a place they could relax and just…..enjoy living, when they moved to England. Darcy made a friend, enjoyed school….Olivia made friends too. The people who came formed a close community and there were people that really accepted them as well.
There’s other things going on in the plot as well…..a famous couple decide to have their wedding close to the local village, using only local products and it’s a great way for those in favour of the Renaissance Project to showcase its value. Olivia is closer to her former flame and then there’s a local man who provides another option, one that she hadn’t been looking for. Also being in the village gives Olivia a chance to ask about her grandmother and find out things about herself, give herself and Darcy some real family roots. It’s a place where they’ve found a home, but if the Renaissance Project fails, like some want it to, they’ll be forced to leave. Everything all ties together very well though, the multiple plots weaving in and out of each other and all centring on the project to build the village back up again to a thriving place where people want to live.
This had serious undertones but was also fun and feel good. I really liked it.
Olivia has always been a single mother to her son Darcy. His father is from Norway and went back there before Darcy’s birth, meaning the two have never met but have established a relationship via video calls and the like. For help, Olivia had her grandmother, but with her death, Olivia finds herself alone. Her grandmother was from a small village in England and googling it one day leads her to the Renaissance Project – they want descendants of people formerly from the town to come back to it, open a business and help the town thrive again. It’s been slowly dying and there are a few passionate people who want to see it flourish. On a whim Olivia, a patissier, applies. This will give her a chance to get to know more about where her grandmother came from and also, for Darcy to be much closer to his father in Norway.
This is a lovely story! I really enjoyed the idea of the Renaissance Project and trying to regenerate a once thriving town that had slowly fallen in popularity. People had moved away, to bigger towns for more work or like Olivia’s grandmother, emigrated to other countries. The Renaissance Project welcomes people from all over the globe – as well as Olivia from Tasmania, there are people from New Zealand, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, other parts of England as well. A lot of them open businesses related to food, such as bakeries, pizza shops and cheese specialities. There are also nurses and farmers as well. Any kids get enrolled at the small, local school as the families integrate into the community. But not everyone in the village is happy about the project – there are people that would do anything to shut it down, as some of the newcomers find out, in the most distressing of ways.
Olivia has other reasons for wanting to leave Tasmania, which are revealed over the course of the novel. I really felt connected to her actually, as she relayed stories of Darcy and how he’d been treated for being a bit ‘different’ to how boys are expected to be. I also have a more sensitive boy, who always preferred playing with girls in kinder, who wasn’t into rough and tumble games and who feels things deeply. He likes soft toys, went through a huge Frozen phase and I’ve had several comments that I need to ‘toughen him up’ for life…..which I don’t agree with. Why does he need to be “tough”? Why can’t he just be who he is? It’s that kind of thinking that creates situations that Olivia and Darcy found themselves in, in Tasmania. I applauded Olivia for her parenting style and my heart broke for both of them with what happened to them. This part of the story really resonated with me and I felt so happy for them that they found themselves a place they could relax and just…..enjoy living, when they moved to England. Darcy made a friend, enjoyed school….Olivia made friends too. The people who came formed a close community and there were people that really accepted them as well.
There’s other things going on in the plot as well…..a famous couple decide to have their wedding close to the local village, using only local products and it’s a great way for those in favour of the Renaissance Project to showcase its value. Olivia is closer to her former flame and then there’s a local man who provides another option, one that she hadn’t been looking for. Also being in the village gives Olivia a chance to ask about her grandmother and find out things about herself, give herself and Darcy some real family roots. It’s a place where they’ve found a home, but if the Renaissance Project fails, like some want it to, they’ll be forced to leave. Everything all ties together very well though, the multiple plots weaving in and out of each other and all centring on the project to build the village back up again to a thriving place where people want to live.
This had serious undertones but was also fun and feel good. I really liked it.
May 9, 2020
The Cake Maker’s Wish by Josephine Moon
I have copies of all Josephine Moons novels and this one did not disappoint.
The research is impeccable, this story starts in Richmond Tasmania and having lived there for 7 years the sections of the book that were set in Richmond were so accurate I could see the stories playing out before my eyes. The characters were honest to goodness people you could imagine being best friends with in real life.
The themes within the story are so much a part of everyday life that it was amazing and kept me wanting to turn the page. Often we wish we could have a fresh start in life and Olivia found hers.
Themes including rejuvenating a village, a bit of romance, a celebrity wedding, parenting themes pertinent to this day and age, and of course the odd disgruntled person who could throw a spanner in the works (don’t we all know at least one of those).
I loved the flow of the narrative keeping the reader spellbound (true in my case) I especially loved the Epilogue, it was great to read what was happening next for the main character Olivia and her son Darcy.
I have copies of all Josephine Moons novels and this one did not disappoint.
The research is impeccable, this story starts in Richmond Tasmania and having lived there for 7 years the sections of the book that were set in Richmond were so accurate I could see the stories playing out before my eyes. The characters were honest to goodness people you could imagine being best friends with in real life.
The themes within the story are so much a part of everyday life that it was amazing and kept me wanting to turn the page. Often we wish we could have a fresh start in life and Olivia found hers.
Themes including rejuvenating a village, a bit of romance, a celebrity wedding, parenting themes pertinent to this day and age, and of course the odd disgruntled person who could throw a spanner in the works (don’t we all know at least one of those).
I loved the flow of the narrative keeping the reader spellbound (true in my case) I especially loved the Epilogue, it was great to read what was happening next for the main character Olivia and her son Darcy.
September 3, 2024
4.5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I've been in a bit of a reading slump recently, flitting from one book to another without really being pulled into any of them. The Cake Maker's Wish however ended that slump, hopefully for good. I had two extremely late nights reading this novel, I did not want to put it down, but sleep was calling at 2am.
Though I have a few Josephine Moon books on my bookshelves, I haven't gotten around to reading them yet, but after this one, I'll be making time to catch up on them.
I was pulled into Olivia and her son Darcy's life as they arrive in the small village of Stoneden in the Cotswolds after leaving Tasmania for a new start as part of a Renaissance Project to bring life back to the dying village. What a massive step for her to have taken, to move to the other side of the world with her young son, knowing no one and not knowing if the project will work out, I thought Olivia was very brave to do this. But after her grandmother's death, she needs a fresh start and an extra incentive is her son's father, who lives in Norway. These two have never met and their whole relationship is based around skype videos, this is the chance for them to hopefully forge some kind of real relationship.
There are quite a few wonderful characters who have also moved to Stoneden for this project, all for different reasons and most having a past link to the village. For Olivia it is her grandmother who grew up there and then moved to Australia. Olivia would love to find out more about her life, but there are plenty of secrets in Stoneden and they won't be shared easily.
Not everyone is happy about the newcomers to the village, for various reasons, and some make this felt more than others. There are some very underhanded events that occur to the newcomers' businesses, making them feel unwelcome and even scared. I really felt for these people who are only trying to make a new start and help the village become alive again.
Olivia and Darcy make some wonderful friends, as well as there being a potential love interest in a dairy farmer. There's also complications that arise with Darcy's dad.
There's so much to love about this novel, from misunderstandings about cake ownership, to stolen apples, friendship and secrets, hope for the future, and holding on to the past, this novel has it all.
I've been in a bit of a reading slump recently, flitting from one book to another without really being pulled into any of them. The Cake Maker's Wish however ended that slump, hopefully for good. I had two extremely late nights reading this novel, I did not want to put it down, but sleep was calling at 2am.
Though I have a few Josephine Moon books on my bookshelves, I haven't gotten around to reading them yet, but after this one, I'll be making time to catch up on them.
I was pulled into Olivia and her son Darcy's life as they arrive in the small village of Stoneden in the Cotswolds after leaving Tasmania for a new start as part of a Renaissance Project to bring life back to the dying village. What a massive step for her to have taken, to move to the other side of the world with her young son, knowing no one and not knowing if the project will work out, I thought Olivia was very brave to do this. But after her grandmother's death, she needs a fresh start and an extra incentive is her son's father, who lives in Norway. These two have never met and their whole relationship is based around skype videos, this is the chance for them to hopefully forge some kind of real relationship.
There are quite a few wonderful characters who have also moved to Stoneden for this project, all for different reasons and most having a past link to the village. For Olivia it is her grandmother who grew up there and then moved to Australia. Olivia would love to find out more about her life, but there are plenty of secrets in Stoneden and they won't be shared easily.
Not everyone is happy about the newcomers to the village, for various reasons, and some make this felt more than others. There are some very underhanded events that occur to the newcomers' businesses, making them feel unwelcome and even scared. I really felt for these people who are only trying to make a new start and help the village become alive again.
Olivia and Darcy make some wonderful friends, as well as there being a potential love interest in a dairy farmer. There's also complications that arise with Darcy's dad.
There's so much to love about this novel, from misunderstandings about cake ownership, to stolen apples, friendship and secrets, hope for the future, and holding on to the past, this novel has it all.
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