How do you learn to love again?In one tragic moment, Holly Jefferson s life as she knows it changes for ever. Now to the external world, at least she s finally getting back on her feet, running her business, Cake. Then she meets Ciaran Argyll.
His rich and charmed life feels a million miles from her own. However, there s more to Ciaran than the superficial world that surrounds him, and he too is wrestling with his own ghosts. Will Holly find the missing ingredient that allows her to live again and embrace an unknown and unexpected tomorrow?
~ Goodreads
Source: Purchased
Review:To be perfectly honest, I bought this book because of the cover. Look at the pretty cakes! The protagonist, Holly owns a bakery, appropriately named CAKE, and I love food so I was in!
While there is cake, Since You’ve Been Gone isn’t really about any of that.
What could have been an over the top,cliché, story about a “dowdy” (Holly’s word) widow and an arrogant, millionaire, turned into a truly beautiful story about second chances and trusting enough to let go and love again.
Holly has been a widow for two years, going through the motions but only finding comfort in dreams with her deceased husband Charlie. She meets Ciaran ( & his crazy pants father) delivering a somewhat unorthodox cake to their mansion – a testicle cake with a stiletto heal piecing through. Yeah – you read that right and it’s hilarious.
Ciaran takes an interest in Holly but isn’t sure how to woo her since she’s not at all impressed by his flash and money. Like I said – this could have taken the cliché route at any time. Ciaran is big, gorgeous and bossy but Knight really takes the time with this romance and focuses more on Holly’s journey to move forward without Charlie. The romance is sexy as hell but doesn’t overwhelm everything.
Never once was Holly and Charlie’s marriage dismissed or treated lightly. It was a HUGE part of Holly’s life and Ciaran fully respects that, even if he comes on too strong in other ways. He is used to women using him for his money and thinks that’s the way to Holly’s heart. Dumb boy but well intentioned. lol
There is also a cast of eclectic supporting characters including Holly’s overbearing, perfectionist sister and mom, her wonderfully gruff neighbor Mrs. Hedley, co-worker Jesse (who seriously needs his own book!), and Ciaran’s eccentric, inappropriate and flawed father, Fergal.
It often walked on the edge of going too far with the drama (as these books & rom coms tend to do at times) but the author reigned it in and the characters always felt sincere, heartfelt and grounded.
This was just a really sweet, wonderful book and I wish Anouska Knight had another book published so I could go on a reading binge.
Mmm cakes and I love sweet!
ReplyDeleteIt was a sweet story - and CAKE! lol
DeleteI must confess that over here in the United States, it is very difficult to get a powerful spell caster that will be able to restore broken marriages or relationships, But through the help of the internet, i was able to get in touch with this powerful spell caster called Grace Ude, after reading a lot of good reviews about her on the internet, so i contact him through these details via email: greatspellofsolutiontemple@gmail.com, And after i told her about my relationship stress then Grace Ude told me to calm down that my lover will come back to apologies to me, for leaving me, I never taught that this was going to be possible, Just within 48 hours that i contacted Berit Haldis my lover sent me and a sms text saying that i should forgive him and before i knew it he was already at my place begging me to accept him back. you can contact her on greatspellofsolutiontemple@gmail.com
DeleteI must admit I was drawn to the book by its cover. Great review, I'm glad you found it as sweet as the cover suggested.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it because there wasn't the over the top angst like in so many books these days.
Deleteoooh this sounds like a book I might enjoy! CAKE!!! and rich boyfs!! I totally get what you mean about romcoms etc. tending to go a bit far w/drama but hey, I guess that's part of their appeal too. lovely review.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind it going too far when he story and characters stay grounded like they did here. It had a nice balance of quirky and sweet.
DeleteWhew! I loooooved this book and was super nervous when I saw this review. I was so happy that Holly and Charlie's marriage was always respected. As a first wife -lol- that's very important to me. And yes, Ciaran's dad was CRAZY and I loved it. Ciaran, too. Lovely review!
ReplyDeleteOh! I had the same thought about Anouska Knight - I'm so ready for her to have more books cos I want to binge!
DeleteCiaran could be so overbearing in a lot of ways but not with the first husband and I really loved that. It was better for me to see Holly move on in her own time rather than be pushed or so enamored of a hot new guy that all was easily forgotten.
DeleteThe cakes def do get my attention as well, and good to hear there is more to the book though :)
ReplyDeleteI wish there was more cake. I'm a sucker for chef/cooking in books lol But it was a great story.
DeleteYou know, I'd never heard the name Ciaran until my HS friend met a lovely Irish lad named Ciaran. Such a great name and, yeah, the cover pulls me in, too. Mmmm...cake.
ReplyDeleteCan't go wrong with cake! I think the tone of the story fits the cover too.
DeleteI love this cover, and I'm liking your review, so I guess I'm sold! Plus, I just really want to know the story behind the testicle cake. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yeah - the testicle cake…it's a funny story. lol
DeleteOkay, I would totally love to read a book about cake. I'm not such a fan of frosting, but I do love cake!!
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, I'm always really apprehensive when a main character is already in a relationship, because that's nothing but trouble, but I will trust you that it's handled well..
Jen @ YA Romantics
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ReplyDeleteI must confess that over here in the United States, it is very difficult to get a powerful spell caster that will be able to restore broken marriages or relationships, But through the help of the internet, i was able to get in touch with this powerful spell caster called Grace Ude, after reading a lot of good reviews about her on the internet, so i contact him through these details via email: greatspellofsolutiontemple@gmail.com, And after i told her about my relationship stress then Grace Ude told me to calm down that my lover will come back to apologies to me, for leaving me, I never taught that this was going to be possible, Just within 48 hours that i contacted Berit Haldis my lover sent me and a sms text saying that i should forgive him and before i knew it he was already at my place begging me to accept him back. you can contact her on greatspellofsolutiontemple@gmail.com
ReplyDelete