THE PERFECT RECIPE FOR LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP by Shirley Jump

Publisher:   Forever

Published:  July 11, 2017

ISBN:        978-1455572007
Genre:       Women’s Fiction
Format:     Print
Obtained via:  Publisher  
Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina  Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

 

FIVE HEARTS

 

Three years ago should have been the happiest day Bridget O’Bannon’s of her life. There were moments of happiness, but something happened that day that has marred the last three years of her life.  Now she is facing what truly is the worst day of her life—her husband has died all too soon.  In the days that follow her family rallies around her, each in their own way but Bridget simply cannot focus. She cannot move beyond the painful loss of the man she built her life with. When the pieces of her life begin to unravel she tries to return to a time and place where she felt secure, if not happy—the bakery owned by several generations of her family. There she finds moments of peace, moments of happy memories.  Sadly they are lost when her husband’s death, the life she thought she would have and the secrets held within her family surround her.

On the day of her husband’s funeral, overwhelmed by the people, the events, the loss, she fled her home to her garden and there she found a little humming bird, trapped in a spider’s web. Slowly she releases the bird and rather than fly off, the little bird sits in her hand for a moment.  A few days later the bird returns and peers in at her through her kitchen window. Is it a coincidence, or is the bird there to, as Bridget freed it, to free Bridget to the possibilities of her life? 

 

 

 
I’m not usually one for women’s fiction, but when I read the blurb for Shirley Jump’s THE PERFECT RECIPE FOR LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP I knew I had to read it. I’m glad I listened to that little voice because it was one of the best reads I’ve had this year.  What a fantastic story.  Jump tells a highly emotional story of six women—four sisters, their mother and their aunt.  She takes you into their lives and loves and losses and how each woman’s story is woven into the others. Their stories are sad—some heart wrenching but rather than leaving you feeling pity or overwhelmed by their lives, Jump’s story telling takes you into their private, personal worlds and rooting for them with each step they take to realizing their own strengths. 

 
Once I started reading THE PERFECT RECIPE FOR LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP I couldn’t put it down.  I hurt for Bridget when each thread of her life unravelled and applauded for her with each personal victory claiming the life and love she deserved. 

I felt that there were a few loose ends to the story and disappointment settled in until I learned that this will be a series.  I look forward to spending more time with the O’Bannon family as they find their way back to each other and to the lives they are meant to live.  Just a fabulous read.

 
This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.