New Beginnings at the Old Bakehouse – Christie Barlow

Love Heart Lane
9

‘A letter, a death, and a baby girl whose name will begin with “L”…’ When Heartcross’ resident clairvoyant tells Molly McKendrick to expect a whole lot of scandal and upset to blow in with the approaching winter storm, Molly doesn’t know what to think. With a baby on the way any week now, and Christmas not far off, the last thing Molly needs is drama, but when she crosses paths with Bree, a sixteen-year-old homeless girl, and takes her in from the cold, secrets from the past flood the present and Molly, her partner Cam, and their son George, are soon experiencing a holiday season filled with unexpected festive surprises…

This book contains:

Adoption
Health concerns
Generational homelessness
References to domestic violence.

Molly and Cam are characters that we’ve met in previous books. Specifically, when their romance began in Primrose Park.

Molly is starting maternity leave for her second baby and using that time to try and help Cam out in the bakery. At the same time, she’s continuing the offer support to the local homeless shelter despite the bad weather and Cam’s concerns. Knowing how fortunate she is, Molly is determined to help others in need, especially as the weather continues to worsen as the season changes into winter.

Meanwhile, Cam is struggling with his own worries and wants to keep his family close by so he can hold himself together. While he understands Molly’s desire to help those less fortunate, his own fears are holding him back from communicating clearly and openly which in turn makes their relationship more strained.

Molly comes across Bree when she’s dropping off pastries to the local shelter and is immediately drawn to her in a way she can’t explain. While she’s desperate to help Bree, Cam is desperate to keep his family and their home private and together. Between Cam not wanting Molly to help Bree so personally, and not wanting to compete in the Scottish Baker of the Year Award, their relationship is coming under strain that’s unprecedented.

As I was reading this, I felt struck by the realisation that there appeared to be several storylines I’d read in previous Love Heart Lane books being repeated, including:

Pregnant woman and her male spouse hiding things causing relationship problems (Foxglove Farm)
An adopted main character where the knowledge of their true parents isn’t known (The New Doctor at Peony Practice)
A winter storm causing the town to be cut off and struggling (Love Heart Lane).

But, as the story progressed, I could see that while Christie was using these same elements, she was mixing it up a little in how they wove into the full story. Although, the spelling, grammar and typo errors continued in this book which kept putting me off.

In the end, the mystery, the little clues and the drama kept me engrossed and needing to know what was going to happen. Not to mention, knowing there were more books I’ve missed in the series, I’m wondering whether Bree will get her own one down the line. And how that might play out.