The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden

 The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie

Book Summary

An uplifting novel about a heartbroken young pie maker who is granted a magical second chance to live the life she didn’t choose. . . . from the bestselling author of The Enlightenment of Bees.
 
Lolly Blanchard's life only seems to give her lemons. Ten years ago, after her mother’s tragic death, she broke up with her first love and abandoned her dream of opening a restaurant in order to keep her family’s struggling Seattle diner afloat and care for her younger sister and grieving father. Now, a decade later, she dutifully whips up the diner’s famous lemon meringue pies each morning while still pining for all she's lost.  
 
As Lolly’s thirty-third birthday approaches, her quirky great-aunt gives her a mysterious gift—three lemon drops, each of which allows her to live a single day in a life that might have been hers. What if her mom hadn’t passed away? What if she had opened her own restaurant in England? What if she hadn’t broken up with the only man she's ever loved? Surprising and empowering, each experience helps Lolly let go of her regrets and realize the key to transforming her life lies not in redoing her past but in having the courage to embrace her present.

My Thoughts

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden has Lolly Blanchard about to turn thirty-three.  Her sister has found an old childhood diary of Lolly’s where she wrote goals she wanted to accomplish.  Lolly notices that she has yet to achieve any of them.  There are three items that really stand out.  Lolly wonders what would have happened if she had made a different choice.  Aunt Gert offers Lolly an opportunity to explore the roads not taken.  Will this help Lolly let go of her regrets?  

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is women’s fiction novel with a touch of magic.  I found it to be a slow starter.  It was not until the last third of the book that I became interested.  Lolly seemed immature for her age (32).  She has regrets which is understandable.  Her mother died and Lolly gave up her dreams to help her family. I found it odd, though, that someone who wishes to own a restaurant only makes six lemon meringue pies for the family diner.  I was baffled how she planned to run a restaurant if she does not cook (I know you can hire someone, but it just seems odd).  She has ideas to help the diner which is struggling, but her father is against them.  An enterprising person would have found a way to implement a change or two to see how they went.  If they were successful, Lolly would have ammunition to convince her father.  Another odd item is a diner that opens for breakfast at 8 a.m., but they only serve coffee and pastries from the local bakery.   I just felt there were inconsistencies.  Aunt Gert was an interesting character.  She is a woman who knew what she wanted and worked hard to achieve her goals.  Aunt Gert is an eccentric dresser (keeps things interesting).  The story is told in a unique way.  We have present day, the lemon drop (what if) days, and the past which shows what happened between Lolly and Rory.  It is a confusing format (the past you go back fifteen years, ten years, seven years).  I enjoyed the ending, but it was predictable.  It is easy to surmise how the story will conclude.  The book is heavy on the romance.  Lolly wonders about Rory frequently.  She waxes poetic about his scent and eyes. My favorite line from The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is, “Trying to change the past is pointless.  We can only change our future by the choices we make today.”  Those readers who like second chance romances will enjoy The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.  The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is a story about ill-chosen choices, flavorsome lemon meringue pie, lemon drop days, a missed mum, a rare restaurant, a second chance romance, and an unfamiliar future.

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie is available from Amazon*.  You can find Rachel Linden's other novels here.  Thank you for stopping by today and reading my thoughts.    I will return on Monday with Room and Board by Miriam Parker.  I hope that you have a relaxing weekend.  Take care, stay cool, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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