This was my second excursion to Dove Pond, the first was via “A Cup of Silver Linings.” Put together a storyline based on baking and magical realism, and I was hooked. The common themes between these two books are the paranormal abilities of the Dove sisters, stubborn personalities and conflict based on miscommunication.

The current Dove family consists of seven sisters who can trace their roots to the town founders. It seems that whenever a generation has seven daughters, they exhibit a variety of special (paranormal) gifts. This novel focuses on Ella, a baker who creates delicious baked goods that evoke cherished, feel-good memories. Based on her talent and savvy marketing, she has become a successful, internationally known social media star, but as a free spirit who never stays too long in one place, she has never had a committed relationship.

Reluctantly, Ella returns to Dove Pond based on a troubling dream that seems to relate to a conflict she has with the Stewarts, another well-established family in town. Falsely accused of stealing an heirloom cookbook, she is determined to convince the matriarch of the family that she is innocent. What ensues is a protracted story that ends well with the conclusion of the book.

I enjoyed the character development of Ella, her assistant, Tiff, and Aunt Jo. The relationships between Angela Stewart Harrington, Jules Stewart, and her sons, Gray and Mark, were fraught with deception and meddling; it made for interesting and sometimes frustrating reading. My biggest concerns were the pacing, which was agonizingly slow at times, and a story that was too drawn out.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

This was a good book that I quickly read through. It was good and it kept me wanting more, which was good to get lost into. It was a good book.
I just reviewed The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove by Karen Hawkins. #NetGalley
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Ella Dove, an amazing baker and media influencer queen, has returned home to Dove Pond. I love the small-town feel of this book. Friends, family drama, and a touch of magic pulled me in from the first page and I didn't want to put the book down. I'm loving the Dove Pond series. I'm truly hoping for another book in this series to come soon. Thanks to author Karen Hawkins, Galley Books, and NetGalley for this enjoyable read. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I enjoy the magic realism of this series, life in Dove Pond, the sisters and their magical abilities. But this book drove me crazy because the characters of Angela and Jules and even Mark are extremely unlikable and annoying. They really ruined my enjoyment of this book.