The Winter Lodge
Susan Wiggs
Mira, Feb 2007, $7.99
ISBN: 0778324141

In Avalon, New York weekly food columnist Jenny Majesky mourns the loss of her grandma Helen, who died two weeks ago. Gram along with her late spouse Leo raised Jenny with love after her biological mother deserted her as a small child; she never knew who her dad was until recently. In spite of the townsfolk who pay their respect, Jenny feels alone. She suffers from insomnia and depression that leads to anxiety and panic attacks; her only haven is the Sky River Bakery that she inherited with Gram's death.

A fire breaks out in Jenny's residence while she visits the bakery. Chief of Police Rourke "Loverboy" McKnight panics thinking she is inside as all his years of pretending indifference melts away with the inferno. Once he calms down, he realizes she is at the bakery. He goes there, hugs her tightly and takes her to her fiery home. Rourke then takes her to his home to recover and get her house in order. Their failed past relationship leaves both wondering how they will survive their time together and even more so how will they survive their time apart after they separate as they are and have always been in love.

This is a terrific character driven contemporary romance that must be read on a full stomach because the recipes will have the audience baking all sorts of pastries. The relationship between the baker and the cop is fun to follow as each insists they're not in love, but everyone knows otherwise. Whereas Jenny meets her biological father and half-sister that adds apprehension to her issues; that also takes away from the prime plot of an amusing debate between two wonderful protagonists each pondering whether love is enough to forge a permanent relationship.

Harriet Klausner