DESCRIPTION:
Frankie Nightingale bakes by moonlight, kneading loaves and preparing pastries in a tiny bakery on a quiet backstreet, safe from those who have broken her heart in the past. Her new job is a chance to start again.
But one night she hears a tap at the window and handsome but shy William steps unexpectedly into her life. The welcoming scent of freshly baked bread and warm sugar tempts in more nighttime regulars, and Frankie soon finds herself surrounded by kind faces and laughter.
Frankie looks forward to her evenings, and especially William’s visits. Slowly she begins to open up to him about secrets she’s held onto for so long. Over hot chocolate and homemade shortbread, William makes her smile again, and she starts to believe her heart can be healed.
Yet just as glimmers of hope and friendship flicker in the moonlight, Frankie finds a letter neatly folded on the countertop. As she unfolds the perfect creases, her heart plummets as she sees an R scrawled at the end: will everything she’s been building towards be undone in an instant?
Can Frankie find it in herself to fight for the new beginning she deserves? Or will she have to leave the midnight bakery for good?
But one night she hears a tap at the window and handsome but shy William steps unexpectedly into her life. The welcoming scent of freshly baked bread and warm sugar tempts in more nighttime regulars, and Frankie soon finds herself surrounded by kind faces and laughter.
Frankie looks forward to her evenings, and especially William’s visits. Slowly she begins to open up to him about secrets she’s held onto for so long. Over hot chocolate and homemade shortbread, William makes her smile again, and she starts to believe her heart can be healed.
Yet just as glimmers of hope and friendship flicker in the moonlight, Frankie finds a letter neatly folded on the countertop. As she unfolds the perfect creases, her heart plummets as she sees an R scrawled at the end: will everything she’s been building towards be undone in an instant?
Can Frankie find it in herself to fight for the new beginning she deserves? Or will she have to leave the midnight bakery for good?
Fans of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont, Sally Page and Amanda Prowse will adore this totally uplifting and page-turning novel of finding friendship and belonging in the most unexpected of places.
BUY LINK:
MY THOUGHTS:
Title: The Midnight Bakery
Author: Emma Davies
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 369
Date of Publication: April 15, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
Frankie Nightingale finds solace in the bakery where she works. Although she might have grown up as a happy child, her adult life proved otherwise. Her five decades of being known as Francis has now changed and she has become Frankie, a woman who yearns for a better life, like a butterfly transforming into something more beautiful. Despite her solitary existence, Frankie’s life is about to change.
While this book centers around Frankie’s rebirth, there are other protagonists whose lives also undergo significant transformations. There’s William, Beth, and Tam. Their stories are equally captivating, rivaling Frankie’s. Frankie first meets Beth, a hardworking nurse who becomes her close friend. Beth is a devoted wife who faces challenging circumstances. Then there’s William, who appears like a knight in shining armor, and it’s easy to imagine him as a friend. Lastly, we have Tam, who is living rough and comes with a compelling story of his own.
The bakery serves as the enchanting backdrop for this wonderful story, transporting the reader to its cozy atmosphere. The enticing aroma of Frankie’s delectable creations fills the air, making it almost as if the reader is savoring them alongside her. I found myself deeply connected to Beth, empathizing with her hard work and dedication at both her job and home, as well as her unwavering love for her husband. Tam’s story truly broke my heart, while William’s story revealed the deceptive nature of first appearances.
Emma Davies weaves a compelling tale of love, trust, friendship, and more. The intertwining stories come together seamlessly, creating a captivating narrative that lingers in the reader’s mind long after the last page is turned.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
After a varied career, Emma Davies once worked for a design studio where she was asked to provide a fun and humorous (and not necessarily true) anecdote for their website. She wrote the following: 'I am a bestselling novelist currently masquerading as a thirty something mother of three.' Well the job in the design studio didn't work out but she's now a forty something mother of three and is happy to report the rest of her dream came true.
After many years as a finance manager she now writes full time, and is far happier playing with words than numbers. She lives with her husband, three children, and two guinea pigs in rural Shropshire where she writes in all the gaps in between real life. It's a county she adores, her love of its beautiful people and landscapes providing endless inspiration for her books, and in fact the only thing that would make Shropshire more idyllic is if it were by the sea.
Pop over to her website www.emmadaviesauthor.
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