Every night, Jasmine Ingilby dreams of delicate sugar flowers and perfectly swirled buttercream. By day, she steals moments between her cleaning shifts to craft stunning cakes from her tiny kitchen, hoping to transform her passion into something more. But as a fiercely independent single mother of two, finding time to grow her fledgling business feels like reaching for the impossible.
Just when her hard work seems about to pay off, Jasmine’s carefully balanced world begins to crumble. Her landlord puts a ‘For Sale’ sign outside her rented home. Then a figure from her past returns to town, reopening old wounds Jasmine thought had long healed and causing trouble at school for her young children.
Then Max Grainger – her childhood best friend – unexpectedly returns to Micklewick Bay after twenty-five years away, and Jasmine is blindsided by the emotions his presence stirs. Now a successful businessman with a son of his own, Max seems determined to solve all her problems. But years of self-reliance have built walls around Jasmine’s heart that even the sweetest gestures struggle to break through.
Will Jasmine’s fear of getting burned again stop her from accepting help when she needs it most? Or will the loyal support of her friends help her discover the perfect recipe for love?
About The Author
My Review
At the heart of the story is Jasmine Ingilby, a determined single mother working multiple cleaning jobs by day while nurturing her dream of running a cake-baking business by night. Life has tested her strength time and again, and just as she begins to see glimmers of progress, she faces a trio of setbacks—the threat of losing her home, her children’s growing struggles, and the sudden return of someone she thought she’d left in the past.
That someone is Max Grainger, her childhood best friend who’s now a successful businessman and single father. His unexpected return to Micklewick Bay after twenty-five years sparks a slow, tender reconnection built on shared memories and quiet understanding. Scott writes their journey with sensitivity and realism, allowing their bond to unfold naturally without unnecessary melodrama.
What makes the story shine is its emotional honesty. Jasmine isn’t portrayed as someone waiting to be saved but as a proud, resilient woman learning to trust again. Max’s steady kindness softens her defenses, resulting in a touching exploration of hope, healing, and second chances.
My Rating
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