Hey Loves!
What a glorious weekend we are having! I hope you’ve all managed to have a peaceful one, whatever you’ve decided to do. I’ve been sitting in the garden, soaking up the sun. It’s been absolutely beautiful. I totally missed the sightings of the Northern Lights as well! What I did manage to do is read a beautiful book that soothed the soul and I can’t wait to share that with you today. I absolutely love Mrs Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford and I think you will as well!
What’s it all about?
Jenny Quinn has become one of my favourite characters! She’s 77, living in Kittlesham with her beloved husband, Bernard. To her, recipes are the heart of every family, connecting the past and family memories together. Each chapter is a different bake ranging from Christmas Cake, bread and butter pudding, Eton mess and tea loaf, just to name a few. As a reader, we find out the importance of that bake and the people involved. We learn about her past and her present life, interweaved together via the bakes she makes.
“The world was your oyster. Baking is as simple as eggs, sugar, butter and flour (most of the time), so why not you?”
Jenny decides to apply for Britain Bakes but does so in secret. Why she does this, she isn’t too sure but it’s partly because she feels like it won’t happen anyway. At the same time as this, we learn that Jenny also had a secret from Bernard from 60 years ago. The pages ooze the love that these two characters have for each other, giving me all kinds of fuzzy feelings.
When Jenny is accepted to the show, her whole world changes. She’s in front of cameras, giving interviews and is enjoying life and the challenges on Britain Bakes. The longer she is on the show, the more she wants it. However, being in the public eye means that her secret is at risk of being exposed. This could mean that she gets everything she ever wanted. But is the risk worth the reward?
“It’s sometimes easy to feel left behind at my age, as if the world has a future and you have no place in it…but I hope to discover that there is meaning and adventure still to be found.”
Without spoiling anything, I found the ending, like the rest of the book, to be utterly delightful.
Final Thoughts
This book soothed my soul and I really loved it. I felt myself being quite teary by the end of it. It reminded me of my own baking memories and the cakes that mean the most to me. It was a joyous book that came at the perfect time.
Big Love all xxx