Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood is a Delight

I have neglected my blog, but I'm full of excuses that justify my absence. Besides finishing up with the first round of edits, I've been reading a lot. And my to-read list is growing at a rapid rate. If people would quit writing such awesome books, I could actually make more progress on my current project, but I'm not really complaining.


I'm currently in the middle of a great little novel titled Winterlings. I'll get back to it on another post. But right now I want to praise author Kathryn Littlewood for her middle grade novel, Bliss. I believe this is only the first book in a series, but please don't quote me on that.


Bliss was a delightful change of venue for me. I had been reading a lot of boy-centric books as of late, and they were of a more serious nature than I usually take on. So when I saw the cover of Bliss, I had to pick it up. The cover art was sufficient to lure me into taking it home.


The premise of Bliss is a rambunctious family of bakers who own a magical cookbook. Mom and Dad are called away on an emergency, and leave instructions for the book to be left under lock and key in its secret room. The daughter of the house, Rose, is given a copy of the key to the hidden room, but admonished to not mess with the book.


Of course, it doesn't work that way. Rose is of an age where self-doubt fills her days, so when a mysterious, glamorous stranger shows up proclaiming to be Rose's Aunt Lilly, Rose falls into a trap that leads to mayhem. Not only does she tamper with the book, she also creates an array of culinary delights that has calamitous results for the townspeople.


The book is a recipe for fun and beyond the believable silliness, but the author has baked in a sweet story of a young girl finding her strength and worth within her zany world. I gobbled it up and can't wait for the next serving.