J.R.R. Tolkien said, “I will not say, do not weep, for not all tears are an evil.” For two long years, since the death of her husband, the heroine of our novel has wept, dreamt and lived her grief. Now she is slowly shedding that intense sorrow and is surprised by the painful, funny, somewhat embarrassing experience life can be.

Holly Jefferson has had some weird requests as the owner of the bakery called Cake but the middle-aged woman who comes in requesting a confection in the shape of male genitalia with a designer shoe piercing them is one of the oddest to date. Since the lady is willing to pay the hefty deposit up front Holly and her assistant diligently produce the delectable debacle and deliver it to the party. The event is in full swing when Holly gets there and the recipient of the delicacy clearly inebriated. He gets a great laugh out of the cake and repays Holly by lifting his kilt to have her compare her artistic endeavor to the real thing. She beats a hasty retreat but not before noticing the somber, handsome young man at the back of the melee.

Since Holly had left without getting a signature on the delivery she had been resigned to doing without the rest of her payment. But the handsome young man at the party shows up the next business day with money in hand. He also orders another cake. Soon Holly finds herself inundated with orders. She also finds herself tripping over Ciaran Argyll with surprising regularity. This is odd given that Ciaran is a wealthy man, much in demand by a bevy of beauties and used to hanging out at the trendiest of spots, and Holly is a girl who works brutal hours – and spends Saturday nights with her pregnant sister and sweetheart of a brother in law and all other hours hanging at home with her dog. She’s not sure what all these changes mean but she is sure of one thing – living the life of a sexy, young widow is no cake walk.

In many ways the title of this book defines the story. Holly’s life is all about that pivotal day when her husband died. There is a clear before and after in how she thinks. She must make some tough adjustments to cease actively grieving and to actually start living once more. Watching her come awake to the world around her makes for some interesting reading. It also makes for an intriguing contrast in the text. On the one hand, the book is so light it is almost frothy. On the other hand, many of the characters have experienced such intense issues in their lives that there is a touch of dark that adds some real depth to the tale. This combination can be confusing at times but it also makes what could be a very difficult read an easy pleasant one.

Our two leads make for a surprisingly good couple. While wealthy now, Ciaran is more aware than most how fleeting success can be and is looking for a girl like his mum. One who doesn’t care too much for the glitzy stuff that can make up a rich man’s life. Holly hasn’t been looking, but Ciaran is exactly what she wants and needs. He is patient with her waffling as she comes to terms with the fact another man will be replacing her dead husband. He is also good at calling her out and not treating her like spun glass, as her friends and family do. He makes her laugh and play, a skill she has essentially lost. And he is surprisingly willing to listen to her talk about Charlie and her grief, an important factor for Holly as she closes that chapter of her life.

It is unusual to have the former husband be such a part of the present romance but it worked here. One reason for that is because Ciaran himself has watched his father go through the grieving process and realizes that such deep angst denotes a truly loving person. Someone able to give a hundred percent of themselves to the beloved. As he gently but firmly insinuates himself into Holly’s life we can see why his kindness and patience are what draw her from her cocoon.

On the other hand, his perfection struck the one incongruous note in our story. Ciaran is such a dream man – kind, handsome, rich, patient – that he felt unreal. It worked here, if just barely, because the story lends itself strongly to a Cinderella tale. It also helped that Holly is very independent. She owns her own company, solves her own problems and is a help to family and friends. While Ciaran plays the part of Prince Charming he doesn’t play the part of rescuer, just hero.

Lest I give the wrong impression I should tell you the story is full of charming moments. From the opening sequence with the private parts cake to a love making scene in a bakery the book is full of reasons to smile or laugh. A delightful cast of secondary characters not only adds humor but help us get a full picture of who our hero and heroine are.

The story has a bit of a rough start but once you get past the first chapter it is a sweet, delicious tale of loss, love, and all the things life has to offer when we are willing to take a chance. If you enjoy stories revolving around fresh starts and second love I would definitely give it a try.