Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes: Wartime Bakery

· Bookouture
4.5
4 reviews
Ebook
230
Pages

About this ebook

January 1941: As Charlie Barton tiptoes silently out of the house one cold winter morning to go off and fight for his country, his wife Audrey is left to run the family bakery on her own.

Times are tougher than ever, but at the Barton Bakery in Bournemouth, Audrey is determined as always to serve the town with love, loaves and cakes, even as the town is reeling from the struggles of the Blitz. 

Audrey’s brother William has returned from battle with serious wounds. His fiancé Elsie is waiting for wedding bells, but William is a changed man, and will her hopes be in vain? 

Bakery helper Maggie has her heart set on dashing officer George. But will George still want to marry her when he discovers the truth about her family? 

And Lily, Audrey’s stepsister, is struggling to raise her illegitimate baby and facing judgement from many in the town. The man who broke her heart returns with an offer, and Lily faces a hard decision about where her future lies. 

When disaster strikes the bakery, Audrey fears that everything she has worked for may be ruined. With her shop threatened and her family in turmoil, can she fight to save everything she holds dear? 

Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes is a romantic and heart-warming tale of cakes and confetti, perfect for fans of Sheila Newberry, Nadine Dorries and Ellie Dean. 

What readers are saying about Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes:

‘Heart-warming and emotional and a book that I didn't put down until I turned the last page. I couldn't help myself but devour this gorgeous story in one go.By the Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars

Full of emotion, sadness and plenty of laughter. I couldn’t put this book down and it kept me hooked until the very last page.’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars

 

‘I whizzed through this book in two days. I was utterly engrossed… heart-warming saga at its best.Short Book and Scribes, 5 stars

 

‘Immensely entertaining and uplifting… I look forward immensely to catching up with these characters again in future!’ Novel Deelights, 5 stars

 

‘This is the first book I’ve ready by Amy Miller, and it will not be my last… I loved this book… a beautifully written book about continuing to live, even though there is a war going on around you. It is optimistic and a wonderful read.’ Kristin’s Novel Café, 5 stars


‘Heartbreaking yet heart-warming series… a touching story of family, friendship and love.’ Little Miss No Sleep, 5 stars


A lovely heart-warming book, full of emotion, sadness and laughter… uplifting… such a bitter sweet read... The story kept me hooked until the very last page.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

 

‘Heart-warming and heart-wrenching… I can't wait to read more in this series. It was a real page-turner. I couldn't put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

 

‘Heartbreaking, heart-warming and utterly divine… a book which is destined to make you see life in a different light.’ The Writing Garnet, 5 stars

 

I was enchantedwonderful… I am so looking forward to reading the next book in the series… 5 well deserved stars from me.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

 

There's so much to love about this story.’ The Well-Read Pirate Queen, 5 stars

 

‘The perfect blend of romance, family and intrigue, anyone who wants to relax with a cosy book will enjoy this one.’ The Help Meet Wife, 5 stars

Ratings and reviews

4.5
4 reviews
Gaele Hi
March 14, 2018
You don’t need to read the first in this series to enjoy this book, but you certainly will want to. A story that is rich in hope, struggle, stiff-upper lip and plenty of love, the people at the Barton Bakery are making bread and making do. Starting with Audrey’s husband Charlie heading off to war before sunup one morning, leaving only a note and no tearful goodbye scenes, Audrey’s life is like many others: pulling up her bootstraps and getting on with it. It almost feels as if there is a constant mantra running in her head – others have it worse, smile and move on. With the onset of war, Audrey has managed to create a space that is inviting, welcoming and needed: for her step-sister Lily and her infant girl, her brother Will returned from the war missing a foot, having gained some burns and lost any shred of motivation or happiness he once had. Maggie the young girl that helps at the counter with plenty of secrets hiding behind her smile, and Elsie, William’s fiancé, working and helping her mother and sister to cope with her father’s internment as he is thought to be a threat as an Italian. Then we have John, the man who taught and worked with Audrey’s husband Charlie: back to help with the baking so Audrey can continue to manage the counter, paperwork, regulations and struggle with supplies for the home and the shop. Lastly is Mary, a child evacuated from London after losing her mother and brother in a bombing, her father in the fight. Audrey has long wanted a child, and through her gentle treatment, concern and love, has come to consider Mary as family, and would open her home to more children if she could. What’s most intriguing about this story is the determination and heart that are so prevalent here. Firstly the focus is about the deprivations and challenges in wartime Britain: food, clothing, housing and even safety as the constant barrage from the air and the never-ending threat of bombing serve to make each day one of challenges. Yet Audrey meets all of these in the best way she can: smiles for the customers, a constant presence each day: kind, friendly and known. With her tendency to seek out the best in everyone, despite her own constant worries and fears: this little shop has become the center of the neighborhood, with Audrey at the core. Lovely moments with each character, including a conscientious objector who provides several moments of friendship, comfort and kindness to Aubrey bring that sense of community to the story and allows people, however briefly, to understand the challenges and how the war and threats from bombs amplified emotions, struggles and choices. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
2 people found this review helpful
Kristina Anderson
March 7, 2018
Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes by Amy Miller is the second book in Wartime Bakery series. Audrey Barton wakes up one morning in January 1941 to find that her husband, Charlie left for his deployment without letting her give him a proper send off. Charlie and Audrey Barton own the Barton Bakery in Bournemouth, England and have been married for seven years. Audrey must now keep the bakery running while taking care of her family. The bakery is the central hub in their area and many of the families rely on the bread they produce. Thankfully, Uncle John has given up his retirement to take Charlie’s place in the bakery, but Audrey is worried about his persistent cough. Mary is the eight-year-old evacuee that the Barton’s have taken in. Her mother has passed away and Mary’s father is overseas fighting. Mary is coming out of her shell, and Audrey loves the little girl more each day. What will happen to Mary, though, when the inevitable happens to her father? Lily and her illegitimate daughter, Joy live with Audrey. The man she trusted betrayed her and her parents are ashamed. One day Joy’s biological father shows up at the bakery with an offer for Lily. She must now make a difficult decision. William Barton has returned home with severe injuries. Elsie, his fiancé, is grateful William is alive, and she is looking forward to marrying the man she loves. But the man she fell in love with is not the same man who returned home to her. Will there be wedding bells in their future? Maggie, Audrey’s sales clerk, has fallen in love with George Meadows. But she has not told George the truth about her home life. Will he change his mind about her when he discovers the truth and what Maggie did to keep her secret? One night an explosion rocks the area and tragedy strikes the Barton Bakery. Will they recover from this disaster? Come along to Bournemouth to spend with Audrey along with her family and friends in Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes. Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes is a captivating story. It is realistic in its portrayal of life during World War II. How people at home work to survive the war with the men off fighting, rationing in effect and new items added frequently, bombs hitting the area, spending nights in air raid or Anderson shelters, quick weddings, the worry, the sacrifices, their perseverance and people in the community banding together to help each out. Amy Miller definitely captured the locale and time period. I thought Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes was well-written with a nice pace. The transitions were fluid between sections. I love the characters in this story. They are genuine, and you can feel their emotions. Audrey is a strong woman who is the mother figure for many as well as a confidant and pillar of strength. She has backbone, grit, strong moral character and a loving heart. Each character is different with a story of their own. I hope we see more of Arthur, the conscientious objector, in future books. He adds another perspective. While Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes is the second book in Wartime Bakery series, it can be read alone. However, I highly recommend Heartaches and Christmas Cakes. You can see where the story started and get additional background on the characters. Plus, it is just plain good. Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes is an emotional novel. Readers can feel the characters emotions (love, worry, sadness, grief, heartache) and it is amazing how they help each other through these trying times (the community spirit). They look for a bright spot (happiness) despite the adversity. Wartime Brides and Wedding Cakes is a heartwarming, emotional story with a delightful ending.
1 person found this review helpful

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