Skip to main content

The Confectioner's Tale - Laura Madeleine



What secrets are hiding in the heart of Paris?
At the famous Patisserie Clermont in Paris, 1909, a chance encounter with the owner’s daughter has given one young man a glimpse into a life he never knew existed: of sweet cream and melted chocolate, golden caramel and powdered sugar, of pastry light as air.
But it is not just the art of confectionery that holds him captive, and soon a forbidden love affair begins.
Almost eighty years later, an academic discovers a hidden photograph of her grandfather as a young man with two people she has never seen before. Scrawled on the back of the picture are the words ‘Forgive me’. Unable to resist the mystery behind it, she begins to unravel the story of two star-crossed lovers and one irrevocable betrayal.

The story in this book alternates between 1988 in England and 1910 in Paris. 
In 1910 we have Gui and his story, whilst in 1988 we have Petra an academic who find amongst her deceased Grandfathers papers a photograph from Paris in 1910. 
To begin with I found it a little slow in 1988 and was glad when the book went back to 1910, but slowly the pace picks up in 1988 as the mystery deepens and Petra becomes a sleuth. I did find there was equal suspense in each of the decades and a cliffhanger ending left you want more.
I presume the author chose the 1980s as with modern day technology and social media this mystery would have been solved much quicker! So the 1980s suits the pace of the tale and has a little mystery of its own too.
I loved the social history aspect of the book regarding Paris in 1910 - so much that we take for granted today was simply a scandal back then. I was also glad I had watched the Great British Bake Off as otherwise I would simply not have been able to visualise some of the patisserie that were created other than choux buns.
All in all a good tale with an ending that I will not spoil for you. Suffice to say it had a sweet little twist!

My thanks to Netgalley for a free e copy of the book to review.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Invisible Women's Club - Helen Paris

  Description Readers have fallen in love with this beautiful, heart-warming and uplifting story about one woman's journey from invisibility to being seen once more... 'A  heart-lifting  and  thoughtful  read, that gives a huge shout out to the  power and strength of women ' 'This book is  all heart and soul  ... and just the right amount of  humour ' 'A story of  courage  and  strength  that's  witty ,  warm  and filled with  wisdom ' 'Helen writes so sympathetically about characters who may not fit into the 'normal' bracket but are so  likeable and instantly relatable ' ------------------------------------------------- Ignored. Seventy-something Janet Pimm is invisible. Spending most of her days alone, she tends her beloved allotment with the care and love she doesn't receive from people. Plants, Janet thinks, are more important than friends. Overlooked. Janet's neighbour, Bev, has reached the age when a cloak of invisibility th

Clues to You - Claire Huston

  Description One murder mystery weekend. Two rival sleuths. They’re looking for answers. But will they find love? Kate Brannon is delighted to be attending her first murder mystery weekend in a movie-worthy Victorian manor house. Still getting over being dumped, cracking the case would be a welcome boost to her flagging confidence. And the prize money wouldn’t hurt either. But Kate’s dreams of victory become a nightmare with the arrival of Max Ravenscroft. Smart, enigmatic and annoyingly handsome, Max is Kate’s sleuthing nemesis. When she and Max are forced to work together, Kate despairs. But, as the investigation brings them closer, she finds being his partner in solving crime isn’t all bad. With growing suspicions that the game is rigged against them, can Kate and Max beat the odds to find the killer? And, as their partnership deepens, can they find romance too? A sweet romantic comedy with a cosy mystery at its heart. Perfect for fans of Kathryn Freeman, Laura Jane Williams and Ka

The Cassandra Complex - Holly Smale

  Description 'This book is a treasure ... Everyone should read it and everyone will love it'  Lindsey Kelk 'Witty, touching and totally absorbing'  Graeme Simsion 'Sharp, funny, quirky, insightful and so very, very relatable'  Joanne Harris 'Deeply human, wildly original, and gut-warmingly funny'  Emma Jane Unsworth 'A brilliantly clever, twisty story that dazzles with its wit whilst touching our hearts'  Sarah Haywood ___________________ Cassandra Penelope Dankworth is a creature of habit. She likes what she likes (museums, jumpsuits, her boyfriend Will) and strongly dislikes what she doesn't (mess, change, her boss drinking out of her mug). Her life runs in a pleasing, predictable order. Until now. She's just been dumped. She's just been fired. Her local cafĂ© has run out of banana muffins. Then, something  truly  unexpected happens: Cassie discovers she can go back and change the past. Now, Cassie should be able to find a way to fi