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Chickadee Cove #1
The Bakery on the Cove
Can two wounded souls find love on the gorgeous shores of Maine?
Eager to rebuild her life after a messy divorce and yearning for the quiet life of her childhood hometown, Jeannie Miller sets her heart on opening a bakery against the beautiful backdrop of Chickadee Cove. But with hardly any money to get her business off the ground, she’s forced to seek help from the local sawmill employee.
Jeannie is convinced that after her chaotic past, she has no time for a second shot at love. But she can’t avoid feeling drawn to her charming new friend – and she begins to wonder whether the town gossip about their budding relationship has some truth to it, after all.
Will a spark simmer between these two middle-aged wounded lovebirds? Or will the trauma of their past – and surprise visitor – prove too much for their fledgeling attraction to beat?
With a heartwarming story and a small town setting on the beautiful beaches and hills of Maine, The Bakery on the Cove is a feel-good read that’s perfect for fans of later in life love and sweet contemporary romance.
*This wholesome inspirational romance novel contains a cliffhanger
Eager to rebuild her life after a messy divorce and yearning for the quiet life of her childhood hometown, Jeannie Miller sets her heart on opening a bakery against the beautiful backdrop of Chickadee Cove. But with hardly any money to get her business off the ground, she’s forced to seek help from the local sawmill employee.
Jeannie is convinced that after her chaotic past, she has no time for a second shot at love. But she can’t avoid feeling drawn to her charming new friend – and she begins to wonder whether the town gossip about their budding relationship has some truth to it, after all.
Will a spark simmer between these two middle-aged wounded lovebirds? Or will the trauma of their past – and surprise visitor – prove too much for their fledgeling attraction to beat?
With a heartwarming story and a small town setting on the beautiful beaches and hills of Maine, The Bakery on the Cove is a feel-good read that’s perfect for fans of later in life love and sweet contemporary romance.
*This wholesome inspirational romance novel contains a cliffhanger
206 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 13, 2022
2158 people are currently reading
1285 people want to read
About the author
Eliza Ester
13 books17 followersEliza’s a BIG believer in love. She writes sweet romances that make you swoon, laugh and believe in love again.
A mother of two children, Eliza and her husband of twenty-five years live in NH. She enjoys spending time with them and taking care of her many pets. When she isn’t working on her next book, you can find her at the local nursery looking for the next hybrid tea rose to add to her garden.
Join Eliza’s newsletter for updates on new releases and more at ElizaEster.com
A mother of two children, Eliza and her husband of twenty-five years live in NH. She enjoys spending time with them and taking care of her many pets. When she isn’t working on her next book, you can find her at the local nursery looking for the next hybrid tea rose to add to her garden.
Join Eliza’s newsletter for updates on new releases and more at ElizaEster.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
February 8, 2023
Cute sweet romance
This is a cute and sweet romance that is well written. The characters feel very fleshed out and real. Unlike many romance books I have read in the past, the characters' reactions and dialogue seem very realistic! I loved the relationship the main characters formed and the mother's relationship with her children (except for Lily.) It seems like everyone is too harsh with Lily and while I understand the family's frustrations and concerns, they're borderline cruel to her. While I originally enjoyed Cathy (the main character's best friend) as a character at first, she made some awful comments about not only her own son, but Lily as well, that completely infuriated me and broke my heart. The romance was so sweet and genuine though! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next one! The cliffhanger has me so on edge. I can't wait to see how things play out.
This is a cute and sweet romance that is well written. The characters feel very fleshed out and real. Unlike many romance books I have read in the past, the characters' reactions and dialogue seem very realistic! I loved the relationship the main characters formed and the mother's relationship with her children (except for Lily.) It seems like everyone is too harsh with Lily and while I understand the family's frustrations and concerns, they're borderline cruel to her. While I originally enjoyed Cathy (the main character's best friend) as a character at first, she made some awful comments about not only her own son, but Lily as well, that completely infuriated me and broke my heart. The romance was so sweet and genuine though! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next one! The cliffhanger has me so on edge. I can't wait to see how things play out.
June 28, 2023
Overall, I was not impressed with this book. I put it down multiple times because it couldn’t hold my attention. I DNF’ed it by Chapter 8 of 20. The book isn’t a long read; less than 200 pages. I just wanted something short/quick to carry me to my next read. The dialogue between characters seemed very abrupt and didn’t pull you in to any of the characters. My harsh thoughts… it seemed the writing of this book was very much like “this is the first book I’ve ever written” — and that’s how it felt from my personal perspective only 8 chapters in.
January 7, 2024
I was raised with the belief that if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. 0.5 stars (Kindle).
August 1, 2024
I picked this book up for the cozy summer bakery vibes, literally titled "The Bakery on the Cove", and got none.
Jeannie's "dream" is to own a bakery but she spends next to no time in her shop actually trying to make that a reality. She never talks about baking or desserts. We never hear about the types of treats she likes to bake. There is no scenery building in this book. No atmosphere. I have no idea what the town looks like. What her shop looks like, her home, etc. Instead we have a woman in her 40's who feels like she was written by a woman in her 60's trying to remember what it was like to be 40. I was perhaps a little too annoyed with the fact that Jeannie insisted on having all the furniture for her bakery custom built even though she was struggling financially. It would have been so much more charming for her to scour thrift stores or yard sales for cute mismatched eclectic furniture.
As far as her love interest, she is apprehensive about him until she finds out he is actually rich. Only then, suddenly for reasons she can't explain, she feel differently towards him. And don't even get her started on the damn yacht. All of the characters are written flat and unbelievable. The love story is full of red flags that are forgiven/passed over way too easily.
I wanted to love this book and get lost in it. Instead it was a slog to get through and I ended up skimming the last third of the book just to get through it.
Jeannie's "dream" is to own a bakery but she spends next to no time in her shop actually trying to make that a reality. She never talks about baking or desserts. We never hear about the types of treats she likes to bake. There is no scenery building in this book. No atmosphere. I have no idea what the town looks like. What her shop looks like, her home, etc. Instead we have a woman in her 40's who feels like she was written by a woman in her 60's trying to remember what it was like to be 40. I was perhaps a little too annoyed with the fact that Jeannie insisted on having all the furniture for her bakery custom built even though she was struggling financially. It would have been so much more charming for her to scour thrift stores or yard sales for cute mismatched eclectic furniture.
As far as her love interest, she is apprehensive about him until she finds out he is actually rich. Only then, suddenly for reasons she can't explain, she feel differently towards him. And don't even get her started on the damn yacht. All of the characters are written flat and unbelievable. The love story is full of red flags that are forgiven/passed over way too easily.
I wanted to love this book and get lost in it. Instead it was a slog to get through and I ended up skimming the last third of the book just to get through it.
February 6, 2024
I only finished this book because I started it, not because I was invested or felt drawn in by the characters. Actually the characters were very disappointing and felt a little trite and unnatural. The story was written in 3rd person and the dialogue seemed awkward and forced. Lots of careless mistakes. Then the book ends on a cliffhanger which just feels like an unfinished book. The potential for a sweet hallmark story was there, but didn’t come close to the mark. And one really disgusting thing was how much Cathy hated her son, even to the point saying she regretted the night he was conceived and should have went to sleep instead. This wasn’t even what the story was about, rather just an unnecessary detail that was a poor choice. I’m sorry I spent 4 days reading this book, but I’m glad it’s over.
September 11, 2023
3.5 stars
It needs a bit of editing/revision. They set a date for 5:00 pm and then it says 7:00 pm. And some stuff like that.
Ease read. Quite the cliffhanger to get you reading more books by the author.
It needs a bit of editing/revision. They set a date for 5:00 pm and then it says 7:00 pm. And some stuff like that.
Ease read. Quite the cliffhanger to get you reading more books by the author.
October 24, 2024
Jeannie is the worst.
July 12, 2023
How many times can one person stand "with arms akimbo" in a 3 hour long read?
Three. It turns out, the answer to that question is three times. Maybe it was the author's "word of the day" on a calendar or something?
I didn't expect much with this book - I got it free during a "stuff your Kindle" event. Still, from such a short read, I was a little shocked with the errors and poor dialogue. The story had promise - I could see it being made into a Hallmark movie with that story line. A decent editor probably would have made a huge difference. The dialogue was unrealistic. The characters were overly stereotyped. The descriptions of "later in life" people seemed forced, like she decided to sprinkle in a comment about diabetes, hot flashes, or random aches and pains just to remind readers that the characters were "old" - though only a couple of years older than me, which I didn't expect.
There were consistency errors that were distracting - he told her he'd pick her up at 5. Three pages later, it was almost 7, and they were scrambling to get her ready because all she knew about the date was that he was "supposed to be there at 7." Her "perfect" baked chicken took 3 hours in the oven. Not even a whole chicken takes 3 hours in the oven, so that was going to be one crappy dinner.
The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger - I assume the point in giving it to people free was to get you to buy the next two. But I don't exactly have any desire to find out what happens next. Certainly not enough to pay for it.
Three. It turns out, the answer to that question is three times. Maybe it was the author's "word of the day" on a calendar or something?
I didn't expect much with this book - I got it free during a "stuff your Kindle" event. Still, from such a short read, I was a little shocked with the errors and poor dialogue. The story had promise - I could see it being made into a Hallmark movie with that story line. A decent editor probably would have made a huge difference. The dialogue was unrealistic. The characters were overly stereotyped. The descriptions of "later in life" people seemed forced, like she decided to sprinkle in a comment about diabetes, hot flashes, or random aches and pains just to remind readers that the characters were "old" - though only a couple of years older than me, which I didn't expect.
There were consistency errors that were distracting - he told her he'd pick her up at 5. Three pages later, it was almost 7, and they were scrambling to get her ready because all she knew about the date was that he was "supposed to be there at 7." Her "perfect" baked chicken took 3 hours in the oven. Not even a whole chicken takes 3 hours in the oven, so that was going to be one crappy dinner.
The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger - I assume the point in giving it to people free was to get you to buy the next two. But I don't exactly have any desire to find out what happens next. Certainly not enough to pay for it.
September 21, 2022
I totally loved this book and so much so that I had missed reviewing the second book and had to buy it before I finish reviewing the third book.
Jeannie has raised her children and is now doing exactly as she wants in opening up a bakery in her childhood home town. Her friend Cathy is still there and the two of them revert right back to their BFF status.
Cathy wants to introduce Jeannie to Aaron because she thinks they would be great together but Jeannie says she just isn't ready to meet anyone at the present time.
In order to cut costs Jeannie goes to the Sawmill to buy her own lumber for the rehab of the shop and meets a man named Frank. He is so sweet and easy to talk to and so a friendship starts to develop. Frank helps Jeannie in so many ways and works with her on redoing her shop. But then like so many other times she finds out that what she thought was the truth is the farthest thing from it.
Will she and Frank be able to work out their differences?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jeannie has raised her children and is now doing exactly as she wants in opening up a bakery in her childhood home town. Her friend Cathy is still there and the two of them revert right back to their BFF status.
Cathy wants to introduce Jeannie to Aaron because she thinks they would be great together but Jeannie says she just isn't ready to meet anyone at the present time.
In order to cut costs Jeannie goes to the Sawmill to buy her own lumber for the rehab of the shop and meets a man named Frank. He is so sweet and easy to talk to and so a friendship starts to develop. Frank helps Jeannie in so many ways and works with her on redoing her shop. But then like so many other times she finds out that what she thought was the truth is the farthest thing from it.
Will she and Frank be able to work out their differences?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 17, 2023
Okay wow. I'll start with a positive. This is fairly well written, it's a nice quick read and it's more on the wholesome side.
My gripes: Aaron is a walking red flag. He's pushy, crosses boundaries with no regard, and he just generally jumps the gun.
The story also has a lot of dead end avenues that are seemingly brought up for no reason and resolved in the snap of a finger. Also it ended on a cliff hanger.
Not bad to pass some time, but I'm glad I got it free on Stuff Your Kindle day.
My gripes: Aaron is a walking red flag. He's pushy, crosses boundaries with no regard, and he just generally jumps the gun.
The story also has a lot of dead end avenues that are seemingly brought up for no reason and resolved in the snap of a finger. Also it ended on a cliff hanger.
Not bad to pass some time, but I'm glad I got it free on Stuff Your Kindle day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2023
DNF at 30%. Life’s too short to read a poorly written book. I couldn’t figure out what exactly was dragging me down about this book until a few chapters in. It’s literally all clipped dialogue with very few descriptors. The dialogue is clipped and awkward .. he said this then she said that then he responded with this. I couldn’t do it anymore. I didn’t feel any connection with any of the characters, it all felt forced and unatural.
December 30, 2023
DNF’d at 31% because I just can’t go on. This book is so poorly written and if I read the word “chuckled” one more time I might break my kindle. The dialogue between the characters is so forced and unrealistic and the book reads like it wasn’t even edited prior to publishing. My expectations were low since I got this one for free through stuff your kindle, but unfortunately I won’t be picking it back up. I thought it would give the same vibes as a cute cozy hallmark movie but it doesn’t.
November 27, 2023
This book needs an editor. So many mistakes! Does Jeannie live in a house or apartment because both are mentioned. Why doesn’t Jeannie drive?
The location barely resembles Maine. And just where does Cathy work?
The location barely resembles Maine. And just where does Cathy work?
July 18, 2024
This book is suggested as a mature romance, and it was indeed two middle aged-people getting to know each other. They each had past problems and there were a few everyday wrinkles introduced. But there was very little story because the characters encountered random obstacles and then found a way around them. There was no narrative drive. While questions were raised which could be considered suspense, there was no tension. Engaging narrative drive is created when characters are faced with hard choices. We keep reading to see what they will do or how they will overcome the immediate consequences (ripples) the decisions will cause in the world the author has built in the pages thus far. The dialogue exchanges and physical actions within them illustrated oft-read writing advice to layer meaning into the movements and characterization into the subtext. I know every step Frank and Jeannie took to paint the store, but I don't know if they were using it as flirtation, taking out their anger, gritting their teeth with determination, or mindlessly completing a task they'd done a hundred times. The painting only matters because the reader wants to see the characters' emotional journey. No emotional subtext, no engagement. I think the abrupt "ending" could have been handled in a more satisfactory manner or clearly intimated in the description. It was pretty tame although someone does get drunk, there are a few trigger issues in some characters' pasts, and although the main character insists her love interest accompany her to a church service, she uses the Savior's name as a swear word out of the blue. I considered giving this book two stars, but I learned a lot about how to improve my own writing and the novel was generously offered for free. It's easy to see the faults in other people's work and we certainly would all prefer a gracious pass than a critical dressing-down.
February 6, 2024
3.5 stars
The Bakery on the Cove is a predictable yet pleasant read about two middle-aged individuals finding an unexpected connection. Jeannie is recovering from a nasty divorce and opening a bakery in her hometown, while her love interest is the stereotypical strong, silent type who works at the local sawmill.
As expected, there are many hints of attraction and a budding relationship between the two wounded lead characters. The imagery of the small beach town in Maine adds to the coziness, but the setting must be deeply explored. There also seems to be some drama with a surprise visitor from one of their pasts.
While the book hits all the expected notes of a romance about later-in-life love, the characters sound relatively two-dimensional. Their backstories, though traumatic, are very vague and lack emotional resonance. The central relationship unfolds in the standard will-they-won't-they fashion without many compelling twists.
Ultimately, while The Bakery on the Cove offers precisely what the readers would anticipate - heartwarming comfort food without much substance - those seeking rich characterization or an absorbing storyline may want to look elsewhere. It's a mildly pleasant escape for an undemanding fan of the genre.
The Bakery on the Cove is a predictable yet pleasant read about two middle-aged individuals finding an unexpected connection. Jeannie is recovering from a nasty divorce and opening a bakery in her hometown, while her love interest is the stereotypical strong, silent type who works at the local sawmill.
As expected, there are many hints of attraction and a budding relationship between the two wounded lead characters. The imagery of the small beach town in Maine adds to the coziness, but the setting must be deeply explored. There also seems to be some drama with a surprise visitor from one of their pasts.
While the book hits all the expected notes of a romance about later-in-life love, the characters sound relatively two-dimensional. Their backstories, though traumatic, are very vague and lack emotional resonance. The central relationship unfolds in the standard will-they-won't-they fashion without many compelling twists.
Ultimately, while The Bakery on the Cove offers precisely what the readers would anticipate - heartwarming comfort food without much substance - those seeking rich characterization or an absorbing storyline may want to look elsewhere. It's a mildly pleasant escape for an undemanding fan of the genre.
March 9, 2024
I don’t really write reviews much but this book annoyed me. Supposed to be cute small town romance but the writing of the the love interest is odd..He seems stalkerish and there’s zero believable chemistry. I did not find myself cheering them on to get together. There’s also no good “soft writing” …any contextual or descriptive writing about the characters, setting, etc. It’s just odd. Everything and everyone is just kinda plopped there. And I really hated the whole California scene with the daughter and ex husband ..all of the interactions stressed me out and everyone felt manipulative and yet nothing really happened and the moms actions didn’t line up with “how concerned” she supposedly was about her daughter. This whole book was choppy and abrupt. Ended with cliff hanger that really just feels like the author got tired of writing the book and just quite literally ended scene to pick up in exactly the same moment in the next book. Personally, I prefer a more complete book and crafted cliff hanger that spurs on a new season in the next book. I will not be reading anymore of this series
February 3, 2023
Chickadee Cove, Maine is the setting for the first book in this series. The lead character, Jeannie, has returned home to fulfill her like long dream open a bakery. Nearing fifty and having raised four children, it's time for Jeannie to shine on her own. Cathy, a childhood friend, and Jeannie continued their friendship into adulthood while Cathy never left Chickadee Cove and Jeannie did leave.
I enjoyed this midlife story of a divorced woman who struggles to be independent. Her adult children are close to her though none of them are in Maine. This family for the most part are a tight unit inspite of struggles and money. Each member has a backstory that the reader slowly learns about.
How do new relationships affect Jeannie? Is she brave enough to put herself first? Will Frank be her friend? Aaron? Will Luka, her exhusband, be there to hurt her ?
The cliff hanger won't stop me from reading the next book in the Cove series.
I enjoyed this midlife story of a divorced woman who struggles to be independent. Her adult children are close to her though none of them are in Maine. This family for the most part are a tight unit inspite of struggles and money. Each member has a backstory that the reader slowly learns about.
How do new relationships affect Jeannie? Is she brave enough to put herself first? Will Frank be her friend? Aaron? Will Luka, her exhusband, be there to hurt her ?
The cliff hanger won't stop me from reading the next book in the Cove series.
January 25, 2025
except for the ending...
well, whatta you know, a cozy mystery without a corpse no one saw get murdered. set in the middle of a decent story with two unexpected twists timed perfectly for maximum impact. luka is not a nice guy and Aaron very certainly is. cathy? Cathy just needs a vacation away from her psycho kid. what is odd in the midst of all this gushing normalcy is that it's a story about a bakery being reached for opening business and the baker-ess does enough cooking that she had ample opportunity to throw in some confection "just cause..." but did not. so can she bake? I suppose book two has that reveal...
what to do with luka... the wander-lusting ex husband who just walked in, suitcase in hand, and a VIP on one knee with a ring in his hand wondering who the sudden competition is ... maybe there will be a witness-less murder after all. that's fine. as long as she finally bakes something!
well, whatta you know, a cozy mystery without a corpse no one saw get murdered. set in the middle of a decent story with two unexpected twists timed perfectly for maximum impact. luka is not a nice guy and Aaron very certainly is. cathy? Cathy just needs a vacation away from her psycho kid. what is odd in the midst of all this gushing normalcy is that it's a story about a bakery being reached for opening business and the baker-ess does enough cooking that she had ample opportunity to throw in some confection "just cause..." but did not. so can she bake? I suppose book two has that reveal...
what to do with luka... the wander-lusting ex husband who just walked in, suitcase in hand, and a VIP on one knee with a ring in his hand wondering who the sudden competition is ... maybe there will be a witness-less murder after all. that's fine. as long as she finally bakes something!
November 9, 2023
I’m amazed I actually read this book to the end. Some of the “highlights” of the book (not exactly verbatim):
“I’m proud to have raised a mama’s boy.” (I’m sure his future partner will thank you for that, too.)
“I’m in love with you” (but they’ve yet to kiss).
“Will you be my girlfriend?” (he asks while on one knee before a 50-year-old woman).
“I talk to my children every day” (even though they’re adults located all over the world and have lives of their own).
“I haven’t heard from my youngest daughter lately, so I’ll hop on a cross-country flight for a couple of days to track her down and find out what’s wrong.” (Shouldn’t you busy working to get your bakery open?)
“Stay away from my wife” (warns her ex-husband while barging unannounced and uninvited into her home—with luggage, no less).
Sorry, I have no interest in continuing to read this cringey saga…
“I’m proud to have raised a mama’s boy.” (I’m sure his future partner will thank you for that, too.)
“I’m in love with you” (but they’ve yet to kiss).
“Will you be my girlfriend?” (he asks while on one knee before a 50-year-old woman).
“I talk to my children every day” (even though they’re adults located all over the world and have lives of their own).
“I haven’t heard from my youngest daughter lately, so I’ll hop on a cross-country flight for a couple of days to track her down and find out what’s wrong.” (Shouldn’t you busy working to get your bakery open?)
“Stay away from my wife” (warns her ex-husband while barging unannounced and uninvited into her home—with luggage, no less).
Sorry, I have no interest in continuing to read this cringey saga…
July 25, 2024
This book revolves around Jeannie, who is finally realizing her dream of opening up a bakery in Chickadee cove. I wanted to love it, I really wanted to love it. However, it was just okay. There are some inconsistencies in the book with regard to Jeannie's finances and the dialogue seemed a bit too scripted and didn't flow fluidly. You can only read how much Jeannie is afraid of getting involved with a man after a messy and heartbreaking divorce many years before until you say "Jeez it's been a very long time. Build a bridge and get over it. We're all tired of hearing about it now."
Also, it ends on a huge cliffhanger that left me angry rather than wanting to read more or listen to her whine any longer.
I made it to the end of the book and now I'm asking why I soldiered through.
Also, it ends on a huge cliffhanger that left me angry rather than wanting to read more or listen to her whine any longer.
I made it to the end of the book and now I'm asking why I soldiered through.
October 17, 2024
This book wasn't well written. It did a lot of telling and not showing. And then the h goes to buy lumber and gets all plywood to make... furniture for her bakery?
It also contained dialogue that I doubted you would ever actually hear in real life.
The conversation between the two MCs when it's revealed he's been lying to her about his name and job since they met? Cringey, unbelievable, and she forgave him way too quickly. Also, he never seems to work and he owns a mill?
Then I got bored and skipped to the end, where it ends on a cliffhanger and I would have to read two more books. Nope. Not that invested to find out what happens.
Lastly, her 18 year-old daughter has an ED and suffers from depression and the family lets her go to Hollywood and try to become a model? Yep, that will end well.
It also contained dialogue that I doubted you would ever actually hear in real life.
The conversation between the two MCs when it's revealed he's been lying to her about his name and job since they met? Cringey, unbelievable, and she forgave him way too quickly. Also, he never seems to work and he owns a mill?
Then I got bored and skipped to the end, where it ends on a cliffhanger and I would have to read two more books. Nope. Not that invested to find out what happens.
Lastly, her 18 year-old daughter has an ED and suffers from depression and the family lets her go to Hollywood and try to become a model? Yep, that will end well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2022
Jeannie spent far too many years just working to get by and raising her children after his repeated abandonments and severe emotional abuse of all but the youngest.
Fifteen years of absence, with his cheating and flaunting it, and his providing almost no support for the kids, were enough for her to finally file for divorce and follow her dreams of owning a bakery.
She meets a man who offers friendship and a helping hand with her business.
As she is finally beginning to build a new life, can she survive the negative effects of the influence of her ex on herself and her kids? can a possible new romance?
love and life not easily won.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Fifteen years of absence, with his cheating and flaunting it, and his providing almost no support for the kids, were enough for her to finally file for divorce and follow her dreams of owning a bakery.
She meets a man who offers friendship and a helping hand with her business.
As she is finally beginning to build a new life, can she survive the negative effects of the influence of her ex on herself and her kids? can a possible new romance?
love and life not easily won.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 30, 2024
Spoilers ahead!!!
Honestly, this was an okay 2.5, but some of the characters made me so mad and frustrated that I don’t mind giving it 3 stars (at least I was invested and interested enough to feel something for/about them). Really this could have been a cute later in life romance but the ending deserved better. I know they were setting up for the next book, but I could have done without the ex husband coming back and book 2 being about him dying ( I read the synopsis for the next book just to confirm where the author was going). I would have wanted more cute and heartwarming times with Jeannie and her new love interest. You know, a nice cute weekend read.
Won’t be reading the next book.
Honestly, this was an okay 2.5, but some of the characters made me so mad and frustrated that I don’t mind giving it 3 stars (at least I was invested and interested enough to feel something for/about them). Really this could have been a cute later in life romance but the ending deserved better. I know they were setting up for the next book, but I could have done without the ex husband coming back and book 2 being about him dying ( I read the synopsis for the next book just to confirm where the author was going). I would have wanted more cute and heartwarming times with Jeannie and her new love interest. You know, a nice cute weekend read.
Won’t be reading the next book.
July 18, 2024
Cliffhanger
The Bakery On The Cove by Eliza Ester ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My first book by Eliza apparently its book 1 in the series and leaves on a cliffhanger. And what a cliffhanger it was. I never saw it coming. Now I have to see if book 2 is available or it I have to wait for release day.
Jennie is a mom of 4 children all scattered far from each other but have a good relationship with Jennie and each other. Finally after divorcing her husband who left her and her children 15 years earlier. She quits her job as a kindergarten teacher to move to Maine to open a bakery, following her childhood dream.
With her walls up she meets Aaron, who is determined to break down the walls. Pick up your copy today is follow this later in life romance. I can't wait to read book 2.
The Bakery On The Cove by Eliza Ester ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My first book by Eliza apparently its book 1 in the series and leaves on a cliffhanger. And what a cliffhanger it was. I never saw it coming. Now I have to see if book 2 is available or it I have to wait for release day.
Jennie is a mom of 4 children all scattered far from each other but have a good relationship with Jennie and each other. Finally after divorcing her husband who left her and her children 15 years earlier. She quits her job as a kindergarten teacher to move to Maine to open a bakery, following her childhood dream.
With her walls up she meets Aaron, who is determined to break down the walls. Pick up your copy today is follow this later in life romance. I can't wait to read book 2.
July 14, 2022
First time I have read anything by this author and I really enjoyed it.
Jeannie is newly divorced and approaching her 50's and decides to finally chase her own dreams by returning home and opening up a bakery. The last thing she is looking for is romance but she can't help being drawn to the local carpenter who helps her with her bakery but he also has a past.
This is a well written, feel good, later in life romance that has a good storyline, contains humour and unexpected surprises along the way. The last thing I was expecting was a cliff hanger...cant wait for Book 2 to be released.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jeannie is newly divorced and approaching her 50's and decides to finally chase her own dreams by returning home and opening up a bakery. The last thing she is looking for is romance but she can't help being drawn to the local carpenter who helps her with her bakery but he also has a past.
This is a well written, feel good, later in life romance that has a good storyline, contains humour and unexpected surprises along the way. The last thing I was expecting was a cliff hanger...cant wait for Book 2 to be released.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 12, 2024
Jeannie knows her dream is to open a bakery so she finds a quaint town with the perfect building. Since it needs some renovations, she goes about finding a carpenter and starting the process. After learning that the wood is very expensive through the carpenter's quote, she decides to buy the wood needed on her own and meets a handsome man at the mill. As time goes by, a friendship develops between the man at the mill and Jeannie. Will she decide to further this relationship or stay in her comfort zone by remaining alone because of hurt feelings from a divorce that she can't seem to shake off? Enjoyable reading with ups and downs in Jeannie's life after meeting an interesting man.
February 17, 2025
Lame and unrealistic
Little to no depth in the storyline or characters. Very disappointing. For a person starting a bakery it seems like she really has no idea how to do that. Not enough money, no business plan, no trying and perfecting recipes. At one point she has 2 pints of paint for her shop. What? Maybe someone should do a little research on opening a bakery or any retail business.
The plot has tons of holes in it. I couldn’t finish it fast enough for all the wrong reasons. I would have just stopped reading it on gone on to another book but I felt obligated since I purchased this book. I won’t be reading the next book in the series.
Little to no depth in the storyline or characters. Very disappointing. For a person starting a bakery it seems like she really has no idea how to do that. Not enough money, no business plan, no trying and perfecting recipes. At one point she has 2 pints of paint for her shop. What? Maybe someone should do a little research on opening a bakery or any retail business.
The plot has tons of holes in it. I couldn’t finish it fast enough for all the wrong reasons. I would have just stopped reading it on gone on to another book but I felt obligated since I purchased this book. I won’t be reading the next book in the series.
June 24, 2025
I did not finish this book. I quit before the end of the first chapter. The write is amateur at best, but what really angered me was that in one sentence Jeannie mentions her youngest daughter who has gone to LA to pursue modeling instead of going to college. Fine. But then she says that her anorexia and depression are behind her. Trust me when I say that neither are behind you. You deal with them every day. To so glibly dismiss very serious mental health issues is callous, uninformed, and disrespects everyone who deals with those issues. If you’re going to tackle those issues, fine, but do so with correct information, compassion, and authenticity. So disrespectful and inaccurate.
July 2, 2025
Disappointing content
The story started off well, but as the book progressed, I was disappointed to find an increasing number of swear words. The incident where the hero (Aaron) gets stone drunk was a turn off too. By the time the last page came around, the book felt like a soap opera with more dramatic angst than solid content.
My guess is that the author has had some bad experiences with church. She paints a pretty bleak picture of that environment. Additionally, the main character (Jeannie) mentions needing to pray a couple of times, but then uses “Christ” in an irreverent way.
Cliffhanger or not, I will not be finishing this series.
The story started off well, but as the book progressed, I was disappointed to find an increasing number of swear words. The incident where the hero (Aaron) gets stone drunk was a turn off too. By the time the last page came around, the book felt like a soap opera with more dramatic angst than solid content.
My guess is that the author has had some bad experiences with church. She paints a pretty bleak picture of that environment. Additionally, the main character (Jeannie) mentions needing to pray a couple of times, but then uses “Christ” in an irreverent way.
Cliffhanger or not, I will not be finishing this series.
July 8, 2022
Jeannie has finally rid herself of her deadbeat husband, who barely was involved in raising their 4 children. The children are all grown, with the youngest being 18 and all are now out of the house and on their own.
Jeannie reconnects with her best friend from childhood, meets an interesting man, and starts renovations on a shop so that she can open her life-long goal of opening a bakery.
The story has some surprises,some bumps, and it's fun to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jeannie reconnects with her best friend from childhood, meets an interesting man, and starts renovations on a shop so that she can open her life-long goal of opening a bakery.
The story has some surprises,some bumps, and it's fun to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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