Oh my goodness me! What a cracking start to a series! I have no idea whether my review of Amy Miller's, 'Heartaches and Christmas Cakes', will do the book justice but I will certainly try my best.

As a lover of saga's/historical fiction, I just knew that 'Heartaches and Christmas Cakes' would be right up my street. With other books I have read in this genre, the storylines are written from a different angle where the reader gets to hear about the war, is probably involved in one way or another via a family member, and that the tale of the war is told secondhand and distant. Amy Miller's story wasn't like that. Set in the family bakery in the heart of Bournemouth, the storyline showcases a different side to the wartime devastation as the 'main character', Audrey, got stuck into situations when they arose by helping others. Where Audrey went, the reader went.

Despite being set in a bakery the story wasn't all loaves of bread and buns. Not at all. In fact the story was more about having no choice when a love one gets called up to fight in the war. Finding themselves part of a family under a name, yet also a part of a large, communal family when the town needed help. Putting own feelings aside to help the injured in their time of need. Seeing hundreds of evacuated children with frightened eyes, unaware of what would happen to them beyond that point whilst also hoping that a stranger would be kind enough to take them into their home...

Like I said above, everywhere Audrey went, us readers followed. Because of that, the storyline seemed a heck of a lot more raw than if we weren't shadowing the main character, so to speak. Of course I have read about the devastation which both wars left on the world, thanks to history books and so forth. But to then be able to conjure up an image in your mind of the emotional devastation from the fighters point of view, thanks to the authors beautiful story telling, was a lot more emotional than I expected. With factual history books it is harder to find emotion as you're given the facts in black and white. No heartfelt anecdotes or emotional undertones. Just, the facts. Yet with historical fiction books, if based on a certain point in history then the bones of the facts will be there waiting, but it's then up to us readers to turn the authors words into an image we relate to. Amy Miller told the story perfectly, therefore conjuring up images of the wartime was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Incredibly emotional though.

Even though a lot of the book is written from Audrey's viewpoint, the author does switch the chapters to a couple of the other characters viewpoints and, because all of the characters were various ages, I was able to feel a bit of release when I read one of the younger girls chapters due to the theme within that chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Heartaches and Christmas Cakes' from different angles as it meant I got to see different sides to the war and how people were affected. Take Audrey for example; she's the mother hen of the book and of the town, having to pay attention to rationing when it came to baking cakes, whilst also looking after younger members of her family, running the bakery and assisting other people in her community. Then on the other hand, Elsie's heart was close to shattering and her own family were subjected to disgusting behaviour from other people.

Two different people, two different views, two different lives, yet joined by the love of one person and the devastation of daily life. Certainly makes you sit and think, doesn't it?

I have to be honest; this book absolutely broke me! The tears just seemed to fall out of my eyes off their own accord. I became incredibly emotional due to a lot of the storyline and it broke my heart to think that that actually happened to people during those times. Our family members no doubt fought in that war. I know my great grandad did! It's easy for me to say now seeing as I didn't have to live through that, but Amy Miller's outstanding portrayal of a heart-breaking time, certainly opened my eyes.

'Heartaches and Christmas Cakes' is an absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful novel about life, love, loss, and learning to find inner strength which you never knew existed. Amy Miller has taken my breath away with her enchanting and spellbinding literary skills.

A truly fantastic, emotional and heart-warming story. I cannot wait to read book two of the series, although based on this story alone, the author has certainly set the bar exceptionally high for herself! If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would. It deserves the entire constellation that's for sure!

'Heartaches and Christmas Cakes' is by far my most favourite saga novel of 2017.

Thanks Bookouture.

I am a HUGE fan of historical fiction and I couldn't wait to read this one as soon as the cover was revealed by the publishers I knew it would be a book for me! 

The plot is so well thought out and detailed that you really do feel as though you are living with the characters through the story.  It is a fantastic family saga and was genuinely heart-warming, the whole story was believable and the writing style was superb - so looking forward to the next book!! 

I loved everything about this book from the front cover to the ending - I have given the book 5 stars and for any other fans of this genre I cannot recommend this book to you enough - I thought it was superb!!  Get a cup of coffee and a slice of cake and settle in for an excellent story.

Books about the lives of women in World War 2 seems to be my ‘go to’ genre when I need a break from murder & psychological thrills (strictly through reading about them I hasten to add!)

Charlie & Audrey Barton run a family bakery. They work hard and the bakery is at the heart of the community. After World War 2 is declared many changes are ahead. Charlie resents the fact he is in a ‘reserved’ occupation and feels bad about not being able to do his bit especially when Audrey’s brother goes away to fight. When Audrey’s step-sister arrives from London obviously upset and the family takes in a traumatised evacuee the lives of the Barton’s change dramatically.

This is an engaging story with interesting characters. It is a good start to a series and I look forward to reading more about the Bartons in the future. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for introducing me to them.

Heartaches and Christmas Cakes is the first in a new wartime bakery series from Amy Miller and by the time I finished this story I found it to be one of the better war time sagas I have recently read. Admittedly it did take me some time to really get into the story but once I did there was no stopping me as I raced to the end of the book. There were a lot of characters to familiarise myself with, but I suppose that is what comes with the introduction of any new series. But after a time, I felt like all the characters were firm friends and I was right there with them as they faced the war and all the upheavals that brought with it. This book made me realise more than ever before just how difficult the war years were but through friendship, support and community spirit the people at the time worked together to make the best of a very bad situation. A situation with the outbreak of war they believed would be resolved by Christmas. I wonder would they have upheld the same spirit if they had known six long years of devastation, rationing, blackouts, bombing and hardships lay ahead of them?

The focal point of Heartaches and Christmas Cakes was a bakery in a suburb of Bournemouth. I thought this was a fantastic idea as it became a place for the characters and residents to congregate to discuss problems or even just to share their worries regarding ongoing events of the war. I had never read any story featuring a bakery during war time and I felt it definitely brought something fresh to the saga genre in which so many books are still written every year. This book needed something different to make it stand out and with the inclusion of the bakery but also such strong and varied characters these were the factors that made this book an interesting and increasingly gripping read as the story progressed. The book opens with a familiar scene for many and partly set the tone for the remainder of the story. It is the autumn of 1939 and Audrey Barton is at Bournemouth train station waving goodbye to her brother William, recently enlisted he is off to face the unknown. It is a sad and worrying time for his family but also especially for his soon to be fiancée Elsie. Unfortunately Elsie misses his departure and that is something that racks her with guilt.

Audrey right from the beginning was the real mother hen, who kept so many balls juggling in the air and never wanted to let anyone down. She was the shoulder for people to cry on, the person who slipped in an extra loaf or bun from the bakery if possible and the person who saw people in need and offered safety, comfort and protection. Even a wise word from Audrey, the reader could see meant so much to those who needed it. Beneath her strong, determined, loving exterior I could see she too suffered in her own way. Yes she had the worry of her brother away fighting, combined with the threat of night raids and the attempts to keep the bakery running and profitable, but there was more to it than that. Deep down she was fighting her own battle and it was one she kept to herself when really she should have shared it with others to relieve her burden. Her desire to become a mother was only ever increasing and as she feels time is slipping away, it will become too late and her wish will never be fulfilled.

Audrey's husband, Charlie, in my mind was a strange character, I felt we never got really inside his mind and got to know exactly what he was thinking. He was abrupt with his wife for no reason and it seemed like she was the glue that held the pieces together. Yes he was always busy in the bakery slogging away for long hours but at times he treated Audrey with disdain and didn't value her for all the good work she did and the fact she never gave up on anyone or anything. There is clearly more going on with Charlie and I hope it will be dealt with in future books.

Apart from Audrey, there were lots of other people to get to know but it always came back to the bakery as the centre of the story. This made me understand how important and crucial bakeries were during the war and if this was to go many people would feel its absence. There weren't too many technical terms surrounding baking and bread but what was there felt apt and brought more information and understanding to the reader. The bakery was the focal point of the community and with Audrey there people knew they could rely on her and that despite women feeling useless that they themselves couldn't go and fight in the war that in some ways were doing their own little bit.

Elsie as I have mentioned previously was soon to become Audrey's sister-in-law. In my mind she had the rawest deal of all, the events that befell her family certainly made the heartaches of the title ever more real and very unjust. The incidents that her family have to go through were horrific and I felt anyone weaker would have just given up but Elsie demonstrated she had courage and tenacity and she wasn't going to let her family sit down and shrivel up. She stepped up to the mark and became the woman of the household and did so with aplomb. Just when you thought things might have been settling on an even path for her a situation with William developed. I couldn't make head nor tail of this at all given how much he loved her. It seemed out of the blue and out of character but the author did well to let this aspect of the storyline develop of its own accord and it made my heartbreak ever more when things began to be slowly revealed.

Lily, Audrey's step sister arrives with her own burden and given the past history Audrey has with her family she wouldn't be blamed for turning her away. But again this only served to demonstrate the loving and kind person that Audrey was. A person in need would never find themselves out in the cold. Lily was in an unfortunate situation but at the same time she needed to do a lot of growing up and the bakery may offer that comfort and seclusion she needed to come to terms with her situation. Lily seemed very immature when we first met her but being away from her family and the reasons why she was made her grow up and make decisions for herself as in the end that is who she has to look after. Mary, the little evacuee Audrey takes in was perhaps the sweetest character. For reasons unknown she does not speak but the reader can sense something unspeakable has happened and that she needs time and love to let the real Mary to come through. Mary's storyline only highlighted for me the harsh realities of war and how men, women and children had to have a brave, stiff upper lip throughout to keep going.

I really did enjoy Heartaches and Christmas Cakes, I thought it was a great introduction to a series. A lot of setting up and getting to know characters was covered but at the same time the story did move along. Some storylines were resolved and others began to see the light towards the end and I felt by the conclusion we were nicely set up for book two. A book which I will certainly be returning for as I desperately want to know what happens next for the residents of Fishermen's Road. The only slight problem I had with the book was that at times I felt it became quite jumpy or moved forward a few weeks/months or even between characters and scenes quite abruptly without the reader really realising it. I was reading of one person and then next thing I know it was radically different from the previous page I had read. Knowing this I would be more prepared for this in the second book if the same thing was to happen.

Christmas does feature towards the end as I hoped it would considering it's in the title and the cover itself alludes to Christmas but it's not the main focus of the book. Instead I was glad the characters were allowed to speak for themselves without the sole intent of ramming Christmas down our throats. Heartaches and Christmas Cakes was a really enjoyable read and the more the series progresses the more I know I am going to love it.

I have been known to be partial to a WW2 saga but I don't read a huge amount of them these days. When I do read one I need it to be a good one and I'm happy to report that Heartaches and Christmas Cakes is up there with the best of them.

We meet Audrey Barton and her family in Bournemouth right at the start of the war. She and her husband, Charlie, run a bakery and it was the shop being so central to the story that really attracted me to the book in the first place. It's a real hub, as shops often were then and I always think about how it must have been to go from individual shop to shop buying all that you need. Hard work but something quite lovely about it too.

Audrey is a bit of a magnet for waifs and strays. Her brother has just joined up and left behind his fiancée, Elsie, who gravitates towards Audrey in his absence. Then there's Lily, her stepsister, who arrives on her doorstep one day looking for help, and she also takes in an evacuee. I liked Audrey a lot. She's such a kind, loving person and is the heart of the story.

With any good saga there are numerous ups and downs but strong spirits and love for family and friends win out in the end. Heartaches and Christmas Cakes is a truly heart-warming story and I was engrossed in it from start to finish. I particularly enjoyed reading about the ingenuity needed to survive food rationing and the community spirit which led to everyone helping each other.

As the story ends early on in the war I was pleased to note that this is the first in a series and it's definitely one I will continue to read. I absolutely loved this first instalment!

Thank you netgalley and bookouture. I loved loved loved this book. Set in wartime a struggle to keep a family together. If I could have given it ten stars I would have. The first in a trilogy and I can't wear for the next one.

Thank you Amy Miller for such an incredible story. If I didn't know this was fiction I would swear I was reading a family's war time account! At Christmas time in December 1940 all Audrey wants is for her family to be together enjoying the good times. We sure don't always get want we want though,not by a long shot. The Barton family finds WWII on their doorstep and it has changed everything. The Barton family bakery in Bournemouth has served their community for many years. It's a friendly neighborhood meeting and gossip place. The news that turns up today is not good though. Audrey's brother William has signed up to fight and his fiancee is afraid after not hearing from him for over a year that he is not coming back. There are lines at the bakery and butcher shop for rations and only expectant mothers receive vegetables and fruits. Life is a pure struggle but this is their reality. Audrey's step sister moves in with her and her husband but she is clearly hiding a dark,depressing secret. Full of grief that she has been able to conceive Audrey and her husband adopt an evacuee child, little Mary. She carries her own heartache though as she doesn't speak because what she experienced has traumatized her. Can they help her overcome her struggles and get this little six year old speaking again? Will William come home? I feel as if I was there experiencing this with them as the story unfolded and absolutely can not wait to read the second book in this series. Bravo, Amy excellent research work. You made this story come alive!
Pub Date 20 Oct 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Life on the home front at the beginning of WW2. This is a beautifully written story of how the war affected those left at home. Based around a bakery in Bournemouth, this is the story of Audrey and her family and the life changing events that the war brings. I loved the author's descriptions of wartime Bournemouth, really bringing to life the period and the challenges faced by the populace. Evacuees, wartime pregnancy, rationing, bombs, air raids, Dunkirk, all are brought to life through the story of Audrey and her friends and family. It is clear that the author has carried out thorough research into the period, and this really brings the story to life. I look forward to the next book, in what must be a series, to find out what happens next for Audrey and her family.
Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy. I loved it!

Once again, you find me reviewing a book I wouldn't normally pick up but I was swayed by the words "bakery" and "wartime" because weird as it sounds, stories set in World War II always seem to intrigue me. If like me, the word "romance" gives you the heebie-jeebies, let me tell you that while there is some of that going on here, it's not the be all and end all of this tale. So please don't let that put you off!

Charlie and Audrey Barton run a bakery in Bournemouth when war breaks out in Europe. Charlie wants to sign up to fight but is rejected as his bakery plays an important part in the war effort and for some people bread is the only food they'll get. I love that the story centres around this bakery and its status in the community as I admit, I never really realised its value.

Audrey wants nothing more than a child of her own and her family around her. But then her brother William goes off to fight and everything changes. When Audrey's stepsister Lily arrives unexpectedly and Audrey takes in Mary, a young evacuee, life will change forever. Because Lily has a secret and Mary doesn't seem to talk. 

This is such a wonderful story that shows the other side of war. It offers everything you could possibly want. Love, loss, secrets, family and friendships. We get to know these characters who are desperately trying to survive with what little they have. I feel the author truly showed the community spirit that was so important in those days by, for instance, coming together and somehow managing to create a lovely wedding day, seemingly out of nothing.

Charlie and Audrey have to be incredibly inventive to keep coming up with cakes in the middle of rationing when products they'd normally use are suddenly unavailable. It also shows how the world changed when women stepped up and took over jobs that used to be for men only.

I felt all these characters were extremely likeable and I warmed to them all quite quickly.  With a war raging and family members away fighting for months, unable to send news, it's hard to imagine that life must go on somehow. And in doing so, these people showed amazing strength and resilience. War doesn't just change lives, it also changes people and some will realise they're stronger than they thought.

This is the first book in the Wartime Bakery series and I absolutely loved every minute of it! Heartaches and Christmas Cakes is a sometimes heartbreaking, yet also truly heartwarming and uplifting story and I honestly can't wait to read more about the Barton family and their friends.

I don’t read many books in this genre and when I read a book as wonderful as this one it makes me wonder how many fantastic reads I’m probably missing out on.

Heartaches and Christmas Cakes was a book I literally could not put down. I started it on a Sunday afternoon and didn’t put it down until I finished it. At 260 pages it was a relatively quick read. This is actually one of those books though that no matter how long it is, it isn’t quite enough as I loved every minute of it and I didn’t want it to end. The great thing is though that this isn’t the end as it’s the first in a new saga and I can not wait for the next one.

Being set in the war time I knew this was probably going to be quite emotional at times. Set in Bournemouth, the area doesn’t come under the constant attack like places like London do but it still suffers from some.

The story mainly focuses on the people at the Barton family bakery. What a fabulous place to set a story. It was so interesting to find out the part that bakers played in the war. Even though ingredients were limited, I couldn’t stop my mouth watering at the thought of freshly baked bread as well as the other goodies that was baked there.

Audrey has to my favourite of the characters. She’s a bit like a mother hen as she appears to be the go to person when in need. I thought she was so brave. Even when at times she wanted to break down she keeps going and makes sure she is a pillar for everyone else to lean on. Reading of Audrey’s life it really gives you an insight into what life was back then and the uncertainty of people going off to fight and to whether they would come back or not. It covers so much of what I would expect to see in a book set in that era with the added bonus of some stand out characters. Little Mary especially.

Heartaches and Christmas Cakes is a heartfelt and truly wonderful read. A story that you will easily lose yourself into. I know that icing on cakes will especially make me remember this book fondly. A book where the story and characters will stay with you for a long time to come. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion. I normally enjoy Christmas books but I really could not get into this one.

I’ve been really looking forward to reading Heartaches and Christmas Cakes, and I’m pleased to say I absolutely loved it.

This is a heart-breaking yet also heart-warming wartime family saga with some great characters and a wonderful close-knit community. I’d say this is quite a quick read, especially as the story flows so well and is hard to put down.

Sometimes I feel like I have it hard being a Navy wife, but I don’t know how family and loved ones of those serving away during the war actually coped. The part of the story that focused on the war and casualties caused by it made my heart ache. All that death and loss. Such a waste of life!

Despite the wartime focus, Heartaches and Christmas Cakes is also a wonderful story of love, romance, family, friendship, secrets, charity and a tasty bakery. I’ve been craving Christmas cake ever since starting this book. I actually cried at the end, but was also left with a strong feeling of hope. Hope is what drives us as humans and keeps us going through the tough times. I really did feel for some of the characters in this story.

A wonderful touching story. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.

Family saga type books are my go to books when I want a break from psychological and crime thrillers . Therefore I was very excited to read the blurb for this book as I knew it was right up my street . If like myself you like this genre then you will love this .

Set in Bournemouth in the 1940's Audrey and Charlie Barton have a family bakery business which is at the heart of the local community . They may not have lots of money but the kindness and love they have for their family and friends is greater than anything money can buy . They are at he heart of the family and when Audrey's half sister comes to say nursing a dark secret they are there for her . When war breaks out Audrey's brother William goes to fight and leaves behind his beloved family and fiancée Elsie. Wanting to help more with the war cause Audrey and Charlie take in an evacuee who clearly is troubled by something and Audrey is determined to get to the bottom of it . Christmas is coming and the Barton's want all their loved ones to be together for Christmas . Will things work out for everyone ?

This is an absolutely brilliant family saga and one which I can highly recommend. A perfect read for these colder nights curled up with a nice cup of tea ! Already I am so looking forward to book 2 !

My thanks to Bookouture via Netgalley for the ARC. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.

Will post reviews on Amazon.UK and Amazon.Com on publication day.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers, Bookouture, for this review copy, provided in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks to Kim from Bookouture for organising the Blog Blitz and allowing me to be part of it.

Set at the beginning of the 40’s, right in the middle of World War II, Audrey Barton along with her husband Charlie run the Barton Family Bakery in Bournemouth. Things aren’t easy at the minute with wartime rationing, but they get by with their cakes and bread being well known in the town. Audrey’s brother William has signed up to fight, and her best friend Elsie (and William’s fiancé) dreads losing William before they’ve even managed to get married. Audrey’s stepsister, Lily, comes to visit from London after an obvious falling out with her parents. Audrey works out what the falling out was about and wants to help Lily in any way she can. Audrey also has her hands full with an evacuee, Mary. Despite Audrey doing everything she can, Mary doesn’t talk – what could be so terrible to stop a little girl from talking?

My first book by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Audrey certainly has her work cut out with running the bakery, putting up with her husband’s yearnings to join up, worrying about her brother who has signed up, wanting children of her own, taking on a traumatised evacuee and then looking after her stepsister who turns up out of the blue. On top of that, Bournemouth is suffering badly with air raids and Audrey fights to keep what she holds dear safe. As it’s coming up for Christmas, all Audrey wants is to have her family all around her at this special time, but things keep ruining this.

It was a heart-warming story showing how difficult it was for people during the war. What we take for granted was sometimes so difficult to get, if at all. It was not just a family story but was well researched as what went on in history. I never realised the Government gave specific instructions as to what size or shape loaves bakeries had to make – a rectangle one ensure more even slices and no waste as opposed to a round cottage loaf!! Like I said, we take our bread for granted now and can have it any which way, shape or form (I’ve watched The Great British Bake Off – I know this is true!!!) It was also difficult for the brides of that era to have the cakes they wanted when they married. Audrey was lucky when making the cake for her brother’s wedding as so many people donated their sugar ration to make the icing!

I did feel for Audrey in this story though. Contending with the difficulties of war, trying to keep the bakery in the money and dealing with all the family sagas. I loved the relationship she had with her husband Charlie. Baking has obviously been in his family for generations and he was again obviously a hardworking man but being a baker he wasn’t required to enlist, and whilst this was good for his family, it left Charlie feeling as he wasn’t doing his bit for the war. Male pride was probably dented worse in those days than what it is today. It must have been very difficult for the men who were left behind to deal with those feelings.

I really loved this book, it was such a lovely festive story full of family, tears and love! It is the first part of a series, and was left nicely so that the next book could take over and I, for one, can’t wait for the next one to continue Audrey’s story! Five Stars!

Woe to the reader who thinks this will be a singular book.....you will get sucked into the characters' lives, their heartaches and celebrations, and their Joy, and will find out on the last page that it is the first of a new series. And then, you'll head over to the author's page and sign up to be notified when the second one comes out...because it is a very good story and you'll want to know what happens next!!

I loved this World War II story about the Barton family, with Audrey and her husband Charlie running the family bakery with Audrey's sister Lily and her brother' fiancée Elsie. They manage to eke out a living and find happiness during the dark days of the war