Introduction
Hello, Bookworm Buddies! I recently read Apple Pie Promises by Susanne Ash. It was a great novella. I really liked the short story. It had the perfect amount of pace, considering it was a short story. You can follow her on Instagram here.
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About Apple Pie Promises by Susanne Ash
She’s all heart. He’s all grump. Together, they’re about to bake up something sweeter than pie.
When Tessa Arden moves to the cozy mountain town of Juniper Falls, she’s determined to honor her late aunt’s memory by entering the annual Harvest Festival Pie Contest. But there’s one little problem. Tessa can’t bake to save her life. Cue the grumpy-yet-irresistible Hale Fletcher, owner of the town’s general store and reluctant baking expert.
Hale prefers solitude to socializing, but something about Tessa’s sunshiney determination pulls him in. Against his better judgment, he agrees to help her tackle her aunt’s award-winning apple pie recipe. As they mix ingredients and swap stories, sparks start to fly in the kitchen—and not just from the oven.
When a meddling rival stirs up trouble, their fragile partnership is tested. Will Tessa’s determination—and Hale’s guarded heart—be enough to turn their unlikely pairing into a recipe for love?
So, without further ado, let’s start with the Apple Pie Promises book review.
My Review
I will be reviewing this book in the CAWPILE rating system. To know more about the CAWPLIE rating system, check out this page.
Characters: (8/10)
Although it was a short story, I felt a connection to the characters, and the chemistry between the main characters was fantastic. Tessa, our FMC (Female Main Character), had moved to cozy mountain town of Juniper Falls after her aunt died to be closer to the community and town where her aunt used to live. Tessa is grieving and wants to honor her aunt’s memory by joining a pie-making contest and carrying on her aunt’s legacy.
At the same time, Hale, our MMC (Male Main Character), is struggling with grief after losing his mother. So, when Tessa fails terribly at creating pie, Hale decides to teach her how to bake pie, and while these baking sessions are taking place, they come together to heal each other, let go of sadness, and live again, all while keeping memories of their loved ones safe. I also loved Hazel because she knocked some sense into them
Atmosphere: (8/10)
I liked the cozy Fall village setting of the book. Though it was not described in much detail, hence the rating.
Writing: (10/10)
I liked the writing; it was good. Some moments were very good and laughable. I really liked the teasing between Tessa and Hale during baking lessons.
“These are Northern Spy. Better structure, won’t turn to mush in the oven.” “Northern Spy?” I can’t help but smile. “That sounds like a Cold War code name.”
“Knowing your ingredients is fundamental.” He turns onto a gravel drive lined with gnarled apple trees. “You can’t make a good pie with mediocre apples.”
“I don’t know. Add enough cinnamon…”
“No.”
“You’re no fun.”
“So I’ve been told”
Also, during the epilogue, the introduction to the next story in the series was quite nicely written.
Plot: (10/10)
Despite being a short story, the book’s plot was extremely impressive. The story’s message about remembering your lost loved ones’ memories but also living your life and not confining yourself in grief was also quite nice.
I step closer, close enough to see the flecks of gold in her hazel eyes. “You made me remember that life keeps flowing. That holding onto grief doesn’t honor the people we’ve lost. Living does. Creating does. Loving does.”
Intrigue: (10/10)
I was quite intrigued by the book. And I would love to read the next story in the series.
Logic: (10/10)
It was written very nicely, and I would not change anything about this book.
Enjoyment: (10/10)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to my bookish friends who would love a quick story but with a good plot to read.
Final Rating: 66/70 (9.4)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Conclusion
In conclusion, I loved this book and would recommend it to those who love quick reads with a good plot.
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Have you heard about this book? Do you like short stories? If yes, do recommend some, I would love to read them. Do let me know in the comments!
