The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden – a Review

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Description:
Lolly Blanchard’s life only seems to give her lemons. Ten years ago, after her mother’s tragic death, she broke up with her first love and abandoned her dream of opening a restaurant in order to keep her family’s struggling Seattle diner afloat and care for her younger sister and grieving father. Now, a decade later, she dutifully whips up the diner’s famous lemon meringue pies each morning while still pining for all she’s lost.

As Lolly’s thirty-third birthday approaches, her quirky great-aunt gives her a mysterious gift–three lemon drops, each of which allows her to live a single day in a life that might have been hers. What if her mom hadn’t passed away? What if she had opened her own restaurant in England? What if she hadn’t broken up with the only man she’s ever loved? Surprising and empowering, each experience helps Lolly let go of her regrets and realize the key to transforming her life lies not in redoing her past but in having the courage to embrace her present.

Review:

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden is a stand-alone novel. This is a wonderful story that took me by surprise, as the concept was different and very good.  We meet Lolly Blanchard, our heroine, who helps run the family diner, which is coming on hard times; she makes her own lemon meringue pies very early each morning.   10 years ago, after her mother’s death, Lolly abandoned her dream of opening up her own restaurant in Europe, determined to care for her young sister and grieving father.  As her 33^rd birthday approaches, her sister (Daphne) reminds her of a list she made years ago, which she never had the time to explore; she thinks about what she lost over the years, including her restaurant dream and the loss of the love of her life, Rory Shaw.

Lolly’s great Aunt Gert offers her a chance to revisit some of her regrets; to go back in time and see if she would take a different path. Her aunt gives her three magical lemon drops, allowing her to live a single day in her life to see what would have been.  Lolly will choose three different situations, such as opening her restaurant in England; visiting her mom, if she didn’t pass away; and seeing her life with Rory, if she never broke up with him.  This was amazing to see how Lolly was able to look at what her life could have been.  To say too much more would be spoilers, and you need to read this from start to finish.

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie was a delightful, lighthearted, fun and charming story of family, love, second chances, with a wonderful heroine in Lolly. This was so very well written by Rachel Linden, which was also emotional.  I wholly suggest you read The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, as it was a great read that pulled on many emotions. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher