Clemmie Rose’s great-great-grandmother’s beloved clementine torte is her ticket to the prestigious Royal Baking Competition. A win could put Puffin Island’s charming Café on the Coast on the map, land Clemmie her very own cookbook deal, and secure her a coveted invitation to a royal garden party.
But when she discovers the competition is being hosted aboard the Royal Yacht by none other than her ex, Oliver Lockwood, the stakes – and the soufflés –suddenly rise, and Clemmie’s bid for the Golden Whisk trophy is at risk of collapsing like an underbaked sponge.
When a decades-old secret is thrown into the mix, she’ll need more than the perfect recipe to keep her dreams from crumbling.
Review: This is the 4th book in the Puffin Island series of books by this author. The island is connected to the mainland of northeast England by a tidal causeway. It boasts some lovely beaches as well as a large colony of puffins that give it its name. I find myself more attracted to the place with each successive book in the series. The stories in these books give an insight into the lives of the island’s inhabitants and of the newcomers who, having visited by chance, invariably decide to settle there. Each story is complete in itself.
This story features Clemmie Rose, who runs the cafe of the book’s title on Puffin Island with her grandmother Betty. Clemmie has been put forward anonymously to take part in the Royal Baking Competition, the winner of which will be invited to the royal garden party and have their own cookbook published. Winning would also be a wonderful advert for the cafe itself. Clemmie decides to enter the cafe’s popular clementine torte, the recipe for which was developed by her great-great-grandmother. Unfortunately, the competition, which is to be televised, will be hosted by Clemmie’s ex, but she is determined to do her best and try to work alongside him amicably. When a long-held family secret suddenly surfaces, it looks as though there may be trouble in store for Clemmie and her successful cafe.
Another enjoyable instalment of this engaging series with its adorable setting and friendly locals. The royal baking competition, with its few select contestants, sounded very grand indeed, especially being held on board the royal yacht. Clemmie is a lovely character, always kind and happy, producing mouthwatering sweet treats in her cafe in each book in the series so far. I loved the way that her head wasn’t turned by her glimpse into the world of the royal family and that she wasn’t fazed by one rather spiteful competitor. There is an air of mystery in this story from the start, with clues popping up until finally the secret is revealed, keeping the reader guessing and adding to the book’s attraction.
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