Lori C. (dollycas) reviewed on 7/12/2012 + 639 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

When Ella Mae LeFaye catches her husband in the act of cheating on her, she dumps a few baking ingredients on the guilty parties, picks up her Jack Russell terrier, leaves New York, and heads home to Havenwood, Georgia. There she reunites with her aunts and tries to work out things with her mom. Her mom was not happy when she got married and moved to New York and their relationship has been strained ever since.

Ella has a gift for baking the most delicious pies. Her aunts convince her that her dream of having her own pie shoppe can still come true and help her open The Charmed Bake Shoppe right in Havenwood. Ella soon realizes that baking delectable pies is not her only gift, her pies are actually charmed. They have magical effects on the people who eat them.

All is not magical though in Ella's life. The thorn in her side from the old days still lives in Havenwood and she is making trouble for Ella. Loralyn had plans for the storefront that now houses The Charmed Bake Shoppe and she vows to ruin Ella's business. Then Loralyn's fiancee is found dead. Apparently from a blow to the head. A blow delivered by a marble rolling pin. A rolling pin owned by Ella. It may take more than magical pies to get her out this mess.



WHAT AN AWESOME DEBUT!!

A well written plot set in the Georgia that includes horse racing, greed and corruption is the flaky crust of this enchanting story. Surprising what some people will do for money.

This story has a group of very strong "gifted" women readers will immediately fall in love with. Ella learns about her gift gradually as she tries to find herself, the new and improved Ella, without the cheating husband. A husband that is not quite ready to just let Ella go. Her aunts are there to support her as is her mother. There is also the beloved Reba and her licorice twists. The woman who raised Ella with her aunts while her own mother was busy at Derby parties and Junior League events. Ellery is a master at character creation, even the supporting characters are complex. Some extremely likable, some we love to hate.

This first installment is a nice slice of what I know will be a delicious series. Romance is set to bloom, the aunts have more secrets to reveal, Ella will start to really understand her charm, and murder and mayhem will be stirred into this fine mix. Peach Pies and Alibis will be served in March and I can't wait for the first bite.

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