Meringue: A novel
On a wildly stormy night, in the small town of Lake Humphrey, June’s life was about to change forever. A series of events unravels with the disappearance of her husband, as a seventeenth century, enchanted cookbook comes to life in the attic of their old home. Drawn to the frayed pages of the leatherbound book, June finds herself whipping up a batch of divine meringues in the worst of times. Luckily, the airy, splendid puffs influence her to open a French-inspired café. As she bakes away her sorrows, the humble restaurant flourishes. But after years of baking meringues, June revamps the menu and retires the charmed concoction. Soon, the magic in the little café dwindles, conflict arises in the family, and another misfortune awakes with the arrival of an acclaimed chef. Infused with historical fragments and loads of French flavor, Meringue evokes hope and renewal in this irresistible tale about a cookbook inhabited by a spirit, and the alluring effect it has on a quaint, country village.
Lily E. Bloomfield’s Perfectly Imperfect Year: A middle grade novel
Times are tough for spunky, ten-year-old, Lily Eleanor Bloomfield. Trying to gain popularity isn’t easy, and losing her only friend to the new girl while being humiliated on the first day of school is devastating.
Longing for friendship, Lily eventually turns to Henry Busby, a quiet and unadventurous kid, who prefers books to people.
Lily tries to pull Henry out of his shell and back into the world, but his distrust runs deep. When a sudden string of pranks harshly tests their friendship, Henry returns to the safety of his books and the library that has been his hideout for years. However, Lily isn’t willing to surrender to their school’s bullies, as she realizes that she too must come to terms with her own fears. No matter how uncomfortable things can become, Lily learns that standing up for what’s right is always the best thing to do.