Title: The Wedding Cake Tree
Series:
Author: Melanie Hudson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 7, 2015 (Original December 1, 2012)
Publisher: Choc Lit
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:
Can a mother’s secret past provide the answers for a daughter’s future?
Celebrity photographer Grace Buchanan has always known that, one day, she’d swap her manic day job for the peace and quiet of her beloved childhood cottage, St Christopher’s – she just didn’t expect it to be so soon.
At the reading of her mother’s will, she’s shocked to learn that she hardly knew Rosamund at all, and that inheriting St Christopher’s hangs on one big – and very inconvenient – condition: Grace must drop everything for two weeks and travel the country with a mysterious stranger – war-weary Royal Marine, Alasdair Finn.
Caught in a brief but perfect moment in time, Grace and Alasdair walk in Rosamund’s footsteps and read her letters at each breathtaking new place. As Grace slowly uncovers the truth about her mother’s incredible life story, Alasdair and Grace can’t help but question their own futures. Will Rosamund’s madcap scheme go to plan or will events take an unexpected turn?
An emotional, fun-filled and adventurous journey of a lifetime.
Read on for my thoughts on The Wedding Cake Tree. No true spoilers, promise.
Do any of us truly know our parents? Think about that for a moment. As children, we often think (mistakenly) that our mother’s or father’s lives started when we entered it. I mean, come on, before we were brilliant adults we were kids who thought the universe started and ended with us. It’s what kids do.
I know, personally, that my own mother lead quite an interesting and rewarding life before I made my appearance. But I didn’t know about that “former” life until I had become an adult and we had those heartwarming and at times, heartbreaking conversations. What if you never got the chance to know about your parents lives before you. What if you only learn about who they were “way back then” after they could no longer answer your questions or tell you their story firsthand?
Grace had to take a journey. One set out for her after her mother’s death. The first letter was delivered to her at the lawyer’s office. Words from beyond the grave leading straight to the heart and to an adventure. In order to inherit the cottage she loved dearly, she had to take time away from her own life and follow Rosamund’s instructions. And that someone she’d never met, a Royal Marine by the name of Alasdair Finn was to go along with her. Supposedly to keep her safe on this trip through her mother’s history, or perhaps even more.
Alasdair and Grace set out to follow a meandering trip through Grace’s mother’s life, the life that her daughter never had a clue about. Reading letters from Rosamund and scattering her ashes along the way at each stop.
The Wedding Cake Tree is a wonderful story of a woman’s life, and a celebration of it as well. Her love for Grace shines throughout, and if it seems she might be doing a bit of matchmaking from the afterlife… so be it.
Yes, there is a bit of a romance, so romance fans will not be disappointed at all. Yet it is a larger story. One that will grip your heart as you make this incredible journey with this couple. I cried, I laughed and I marveled at the beauty of the places Grace visited – and at the love of a parent for her child. It is certainly not your “average” romance novel. But, please, don’t let that put you off. There are many types of love. Enjoy experiencing them through the words of this novel.
I would recommend The Wedding Cake Tree for just about anyone. It is a rich, engaging, heartwarming story that you should not miss. It gets a 4 outta 5 from me. Go pick it up, you’ll understand what I mean very quickly.
Oh, there actually does exist a Wedding Cake Tree. Many in fact. Remember, Google is your friend, use it to find out more.
*I received an e-ARC of The Wedding Cake Tree from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*