Peeking Between the Pages

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Book Review: How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donohue & Giveaway (Open Int’l)

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A heartwarming tale is what you will find within the pages of How to Eat a Cupcake by debut novelist Meg Donohue! I love a book about friendship and when you throw in the most delectably sounding cupcakes into the mix; well I’m sold! This novel was a pure delight to read with it’s beautiful writing and mouth watering descriptions of cupcakes you swear you can taste just by reading about them! Ultimately it’s a story that shows us the power of truth and forgiveness; for realizing that true friendship can stand the test of time and troubles.

Annie Quintana and Julia St. Clair grew up side by side essentially – going to the same schools and living a life made better by money. The big difference though was that Annie’s mother was the St. Clair’s cook and housekeeper and they lived out in the carriage house on the St. Clair grounds. Yet the Quintana’s were much more to the St. Clair family than that; they were friends. Growing up though Julia was often jealous of of Annie because of the fact that she had such a wonderful mother. Unfortunately she made Annie’s years at a private school more of a nightmare than anything else and when Annie’s mother dies, that is the final straw in their friendship and they drift apart.

Ten years later finds Annie as a baker, having inherited her mother’s talents in the kitchen and Julia is still the beautiful socialite. Julia has moved back home to plan for her wedding and try to mend her soul after a devastating incident leaves her unable to function as the perfect person she used to be. Worse yet she is hiding this secret from everyone, even her fiance. When Annie is hired by Julia’s mother to bake the cupcakes for a benefit she’s giving and Julia tastes one, it leaves her feeling just a tiny bit more hopeful about life than she had been.

Julia, being the businesswoman she is, lays out a proposal to Annie for them to open a cupcakery together. While Annie can barely stand to be in the same room as Julia she realizes this is an opportunity not to be given up lightly. So they venture into owning a business together and surprisingly, over time and working together, both Annie’s and Julia’s walls begin to tumble and old truths are brought forward and healing begins.

I loved Annie; she is smart and sassy and she had me giggling more than a few times. Julia is a more complex person. You would think to hate her because of her privileged life and the fact that she still likes to have everything perfect. Yet you can’t. Her life altering incident leaves her looking at life differently and the vulnerability she shows ensures that she worms her way into your heart. The story is told alternately from Annie’s and then Julia’s point of view and I really liked this. It gave you a chance to understand where each character was coming from and how they were feeling. It also allowed me the time to become fully invested in both of their lives and by the end of this novel I was crying both happy and sad tears at times. It truly is a beautiful novel and I look forward to more from this terrific author!

I read How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donohue for her book tour with TLC Book Tours. Check out the other tour stops to see what everyone else is saying about the book. Meg can be found on her website, Facebook, and Twitter. As well Meg will be joining Book Club Girl on Air on Tuesday, April 24/12 at 7pm ET for a book chat (click here for the link to the chat) and I’m sure going to try my hardest to be there. I’d love to hear her discuss her book! Your own copy of How to Eat a Cupcake can be purchased here in the US and here in Canada.

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I just happen to have one brand spankin new copy of How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donohue to share with my readers and best of all it is open internationally as it’s my copy. To enter…

  • For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
  • For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do please let me know so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
  • For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word.
  • For 4 entries, follow me on Networked Blogs.  Click here to be taken directly there.  Log into your Facebook account and hit follow.  Thanks!

This giveaway is open to everyone internationally!  I will draw for the winner on Saturday, April 7/12.  Good luck!

Source: Review copy provided by TLC Book Tours and William Morrow via Edelweiss. No compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

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Comments

  2. Thanks for the chance! This book sounds yummy ;-)!

    +1 GFC follower (Birgit)
    +1 Networked Blogs (Birgit Lehner)

    danaan at gmx dot at

  3. Ooh Dar, I love the look of this one. Can I please enter your competition.

    I am a follower and I already follow you on Networked Blogs.

    So I think that makes 3 entries.

  5. I would love to read this book and share it with my college-age granddaughter, who is getting a degree in math, and yet dreams of having a bakery.

    Google follower.

  6. I am a gfc follower.

    This book hooked me with the cover – it sounds v.g. Love food related books and have really been into baking lately.

  7. +1 I love books about friendship and add cupcakes to the mix and it makes it even sweeter! I added this book to my wishlist as soon as I heard about it. I’d love a chance to win a copy.

    +2 I follow your blog

    +4 I follow on Networked Blogs

  13. The title cracks me up — as if I needed instructions, lol.

    Seriously, though, I love food-related fiction and this sounds like a winner. Onto the list it goes 🙂

  15. +1 I would love to read this; I think my mom would like it also.

    +1 I follow with GFC as Sandra K321.

    +1 Follow on Networked bloggers.

  16. This sounds like a fun one. I like the idea of opening a cupcakery! Thanks for the giveaway…and you know I follow you and will post this in my sidebar.

  17. I have heard a lot of good things about this book, and really would love the chance to read it, and how could I not live a book about my favorite food in the world? This was a great review, Dar, and I am so glad that you loved it! Count me in on the giveaway!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

  18. +1 Cupcakes – yum sounds like a good read. Thanks
    +1 GFC follower – amhengst
    +1 email subscriber
    amhengst at verizon dot net

  19. Even though it’s pi(e) day, I’m going for a cupcake. I’m quite flexible that way.
    I follow this blog by email carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx
    I Tweeted about the giveaway https://twitter.com/#!/carlrscott/status/179968730288226304
    I followed with Networked Blogs ((Carl Scott)
    That should be 10 total entries, the max available, but you can check my arithmetic if you want.
    Thanks!

  21. +1 YUM – now I have a cupcake craving!!
    +1 Email subscriber
    +1 Networked Blogs

    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

  27. I love to read, I love cupcakes I would love to win this book!
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

  35. +1 Totally my kind of book. I love the title!

    +2 blog follower

    +3 tweeted on twitter

    +4 Network blog follower

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

  37. Sounds like interesting friendship dynamics in this book. And who doesn’t love cupcakes! Thanks for the giveaway.
    -follower by GFC and email
    -follow by Networked Blogs

  38. I love the title, the cover speaks 1000 words!
    I follow your blog
    tweeted the giveaway and follow you on networked blogs. Thanks

  44. I would love to read HOW TO EAT A CUPCAKE thank you.

    GFC: Mary Preston

    Networked Blogs: Mary Preston

    Email Subscriber

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  49. Thank you for the chance to win this book. It looks like a good one.

    I am a current follower on here, on twitter, networked blogs and facebook as well as I shared the contest on my blog, twitter and facebook.

    griperang at embarqmail dot com

  52. Hello– I’m a follower. I’m looking forward to reading this, thanks for the giveaway. 🙂

  55. great title! and perfect cover 🙂
    thanks for sharing the review and participating in the tour… your links are appreciated!
    i’m already anticipating this read {just not w/o a cupcake at hand!!}

  67. This one not only sounds delightful but also delicious!! I have a copy of this one on my Kindle. I need to get to it!

  80. I love that the two characters can repair their friendship. It sounds like a wonderful story. Thanks for having this giveaway.
    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net