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The City Baker's Guide to Country Living
The City Baker's Guide to Country Living | Louise Miller
A warm, full-hearted novel about a big-city baker who discovers the true meaning of home, and that sometimes the best things are found when you didn't even know you were looking When Olivia Rawlings--baker extraordinaire for an exclusive Boston dinner club--sets not just her flambed dessert but the entire building alight, she takes a much-needed weekend break in the idyllic leafy town of Guthrie, Vermont. A weekend soon turns into something more permanent when Margaret Hurley, the cantankerous, sweater-set-wearing owner of the Sugar Maple Inn, needs to recruit a new baker who can help her reclaim the inn's blue ribbon status at the annual county fair apple pie contest. On paper, at least, Livvy seems to be just who she was looking for. Livvy's love life's a mess and so she does what she does best: relocate. Along with Salty, her gigantic, uberenthusuastic dog with almost too much personality, Livvy, as the Sugar Maple's new baker, brings her mouthwatering desserts to the residents of Guthrie, home of Bag Balm, the country's longest-running contra dance, and her best friend, Hannah. And when Olivia meets Martin McCracken, the Guthrie native who has returned from New York to nurse his ailing father, Livvy comes to understand that she may not be as alone in this world as she once thought. With the joys of a warm, fragrant kitchen, the sound of banjos and fiddles being tuned in a barn, and the crisp scent of the orchard just outside the front door, Olivia Rawlings may finally find that the life you want may not be the one you expected--it could be even better.
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DebinHawaii
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Pickpick

#Rushathon

Finished this one a couple of weeks ago but it took me time to make a dish to go with it for my virtual foodie book club. I enjoyed this starting over story of a baker who leaves the city for a small town/community in Vermont. I paired it with this simple potato & spinach soup, not because it was in the book but because it‘s what I‘d want if I were staying in a repurposed sugaring shack in the fall & winter in rural Vermont.🤷🏻‍♀️⬇️

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 11mo
Ruthiella That soup looks soooo good! 😋 11mo
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego That soup looks delish 11mo
45 likes4 comments
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DebinHawaii
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#HumbleHarvest

Three #Baking related books are on my November TBR. The tagged book I‘ve finished & my review is pending & the other two are foodie cozy mystery ARCs, one new & one I have had for a while. Hoping to finish both of them before the end of the month. 🥐🥣🧈

Kshakal I cannot wait to read a smoking bun! 12mo
Eggs I used Smoking Bun also 🙌🏻🙌🏻 12mo
46 likes2 comments
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DebinHawaii
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The early morning mood lighting of the airline lounge. 😉 First of two day trips to Hilo this week. Today to watch a group presentation & to prep for leadership graduation on Friday. Festive sugar cookie oatmilk latte & impossible breakfast sandwich to fuel me. I‘m hoping to get a chunk of this book done—it‘s for my bi-monthly virtual foodie book club.

Bklover Have fun! 12mo
tpixie Enjoy your trip!! 12mo
55 likes2 comments
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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

This started out a bit slowly for me but that gave me time to really fall for the complicated characters. I loved all the food talk and it brought back memories to when I worked in professional kitchens. Great setting in Vermont, lovely book to read this time of year. #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks My bongo board is almost complete!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
Suet624 I really like Miller‘s books. 3y
43 likes2 comments
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BarkingMadRead
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Reading and watching Holiday Baking Championship. #wintergames2021 this will give me a third #bookspinbingo #mistletoemaniacs @Clwojick

42 likes1 stack add
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jb72
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#audiobook #audiostitching #crossstitch

Working on a Christmas present while listening to an audiobook for library book club tomorrow.

25 likes2 stack adds
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jb72
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#Two4Tuesday

1. Having hot cocoa puts me in a Christmas mood.

2. I‘m looking forward to reading the library book club selection: The City Baker‘s Guide To Country Living.

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! Enjoy your holiday season! ❤🎄💚 3y
25 likes1 comment
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peanutnine
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Panpan

This was my November #bookspin pick. I was surprised by how much I did not like this book. Maybe I was in the wrong mood for it. But I was looking forward to a cozy, fluffy romance and this was not that. I hated almost all the characters' personalities and was frustrated by their stupid decisions. I like small town settings where everyone helps each other and there's a strong sense of community. ⬇️

peanutnine But in this small town, everyone just seemed to talk about each other behind their backs and cause problems. I kept reading hoping it would get better. But by the end everything was magically wrapped up too sweetly and I was not impressed. @TheAromaofBooks 3y
TheAromaofBooks I got this one from BookOutlet on the cheap because I thought it was a Christmasy book (from the cover)... but when I was gathering books for #WinterGames, the synopsis seems like this isn't Christmasy at all?? I also really dislike it when covers/blurbs look like fun fluff, but the actual story isn't. Such a disservice to the book, because I'm always going to be mad when it's not what it looks like! 3y
peanutnine @TheAromaofBooks yes exactly! It's nothing like Gilmore Girls as it is blurbed on the cover. I also thought it would be more Christmas-y but it really takes place over the course of a year and Christmas kinda gets skipped over 😑 3y
TheAromaofBooks I'm in the middle of writing a review for a Christmas book I read this week and it made me realize that the cover for it is almost exactly the same as this one! 3y
peanutnine @TheAromaofBooks wow it is very similar! 3y
44 likes1 stack add5 comments
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peanutnine
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The night I lit the Emerson Club on fire had been perfect for making meringue.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

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angelamarie1029
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Pickpick

Perfect book for the season! All the feels!

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AmberWB
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Pickpick

For the most part, I liked this one. I seem to find myself drawn to stories about chefs/bakers who begrudgingly end up in the country but gradually realize that rural life is what they had needed all along. 😁😁 That said- Livvy‘s self sabotaging ways got a bit tiresome. But overall I did enjoy the story.

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webhau1
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Read this before and enjoyed it😊. Listening to it as an audiobook this time while working around the house. From the Front Porch podcast recommended this as a pairing with The Great British Bake-off Holiday Addition. Good match😊

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LeslieO
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A cozy, seasonal read to go with my Starbucks Thanksgiving blend (yum!). Loving all the dessert descriptions.

29 likes2 stack adds
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LadyCait84
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Pickpick

Warm, light, easy...a great read for pre-holiday evenings.

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Schnoebs
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Pickpick

4⭐️

A story about how a baked Alaska went bad and turned into an opportunity to escape the big city for a last minute pastry chef position at a small little inn. Olivia works through her emotions as she bakes and allows it to take over her life. The importance of family and tradition is emphasized throughout and I can definitely see myself reading this again because of it.

#holiday #food #winter #romance #dog

29 likes2 stack adds
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Schnoebs
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Starting all my cozy Christmas book 😍

💚❤️🎅🤶💚❤️

#asmrrooms #harrypotterasmr #foodbook #food #christmas #festive #holidays #saturdaynight

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Sassiekat
Pickpick

I loved this story... It was written with warmth and heart, not to mention all the amazing desserts and a tender love story.
What a beautiful setting in Vermont for love to blossom, making new friendships, family life and lots of music reminiscent of my younger years.
It made me feel cosy imagining Thanksgiving and Christmas in Vermont and all its beauty.

I love the authors writing style and fell in love with all of the characters... except one.

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Expandingbookshelf
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This book is not great, but it is getting me VERY excited about what I should bake next! I‘m open to suggestions...

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LouBeth
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Pickpick

Such a warm and cozy read. Great start to the fall/ holiday season reading.

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LauraBeth
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Pickpick

This book is like a warm blueberry muffin with a fresh cup of coffee. It‘s comforting in every sense of the word. If you like books about chefs, food, fresh starts, a city mouse trying to be a country mouse and you want to fall in love with Vermont - this is for you. Good palette cleanser. Sweet and satisfying - it‘s more Gilmore Girls than Hallmark Movie.

TrishB Lovely review 👍🏻 6y
Soubhiville I like the sound of that! Also I read everything I find set in VT! Nostalgia. Your kitty is getting so big! 6y
Lcsmcat Such a sweet kitty! 😻 6y
See All 21 Comments
LauraBeth Thanks 😘 @TrishB 6y
LauraBeth @Soubhiville this book has seriously made me want to pack up and move to Vermont! Somehow the husband became smitten with the kitten so he‘s been sneaking her salmon and tuna on the sly. 😹 6y
LauraBeth @Lcsmcat don‘t be fooled - she‘s the devil for sure! 😈 6y
Lreads This book sounds like the comforting read you‘ve needed! I‘m glad to see you back on Litsy. You‘ve been missed. 💕 6y
KarenUK Stacked! Sounds lovely 👍💕 6y
DGRachel Aww, but she looks so sweet sleeping there! (Nice to have you back, BTW 😘) 6y
hgrimes Now I really want a blueberry muffin... 6y
LeahBergen The husband loves Teeny Ginger?? Awww! ❤️❤️ 6y
LauraBeth @KarenUK it‘s a delicious book! 6y
LauraBeth Thanks @DGRachel 😘 I missed it! 6y
LauraBeth @hgrimes this entire book will make you want all the desserts! 6y
LauraBeth @LeahBergen he does! And he‘s even admitted to it! 😹 6y
hgrimes @LauraBeth ok I‘m sold! 6y
Suet624 I didn‘t expect to love this book as much as I did. Your comment on it being more Gilmore Girls is spot on. And...I keep trying to get you to visit. The leaves are going to turn soon. I have room. 😀 6y
rubyslippersreads 😻😻😻 6y
LauraBeth @Suet624 if I COME to VT, I will surely MOVE to VT...😂 6y
Suet624 HAhaha. You never know. There sure are some knuckleheads around. But it‘s beautiful everywhere you look. 😀 6y
129 likes11 stack adds21 comments
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LauraBeth
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Brings a live mouse inside the house, releases it from her mouth and then falls asleep...

tammysue Oh no she didn‘t.. ewwww 🤭😂 6y
MicheleinPhilly 😖😖😖 6y
DivineDiana And it ran away?!? 🐭 6y
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minkyb Her work was done! 6y
batsy 😱 6y
Bookzombie Oh no! She is so cute though. 6y
merelybookish She is a goddess tho. 😻 6y
mrp27 😱😳 6y
cathysaid Hey...five minutes of exercise is exhausting. I speak from experience. 💤 6y
saresmoore Typical. I‘m glad to see a post from you, friend! 😘 6y
Lindy My cat has done that too. She gets frisked at the door before entry now. Except she has a workaround: the other day she had no mouse when she asked to come in, then darted over to nearby shrubbery to nab a mouse before running in with it when the door was opened for her. Excitement all around. 🐭 6y
Simona I have a cat-hunter and she brings home lizards, snakes, birds, small and not so small rodents ... and my favorite reason why cats are so generous gifters is: “Others believe that cats look upon humans as poor hunters, unable to provide sustenance for themselves. So, the gift of a toy mouse (or a real mouse) is to provide for the human caretaker.” Enjoy in your gifts 😘 6y
LeahBergen She did??? 😂😂😂 6y
LauraBeth @whatshesreadingnow she better be thankful that she‘s cute and charming 😹 6y
LauraBeth @DivineDiana it did but we were able to get it 🙀🤢 6y
LauraBeth @minkyb 😹 exactly! 6y
LauraBeth @batsy she‘s the worst 😼 6y
LauraBeth @Bookzombie her cuteness is what keeps her around 😹 6y
LauraBeth @mrp27 it was absolutely horrifying and disgusting 🙀 6y
LauraBeth @cathysaid 😹😹 6y
LauraBeth @saresmoore thanks, love 😊 I need to catch up and get up to speed with what everyone is reading and doing. My daughter was diagnosed with being a HSP along with depression back in May so we‘ve been in the deep trenches. Things are a bit more calm now that we know how we can help her 😀 I hope NC has been treating you well! 6y
LauraBeth @Lindy Lindy‘s cat=1 Lindy=0 😹 6y
LauraBeth @Simona 😹😹 your cat sounds like a mighty hunter! My cat probably thinks I‘m a dolt! 6y
LauraBeth @LeahBergen she did! And the husband was on a work conference call and I was screaming at the top of my lungs 😹 6y
AlaMich Our cat maimed a mouse in the basement once and left it to suffer. We had to call friends to...deal with the situation. 😣 6y
Simona I think that all cats thinks about their humans in that manner ... 6y
Redwritinghood But is too cute to be mad at 6y
saresmoore Those two plus panic disorder have been my lifelong best frenemies. They can be lived with, even overcome—I have so much hope for her (and you!)—but it doesn‘t lead to a life that other people think is “normal.” I personally think normal is overrated! 😊 You know you have my love and many continued prayers and if you are in need of nonfiction reading recs, I‘ve got plenty. 6y
LauraBeth @AlaMich 🙀😹 6y
LauraBeth @Simona true! 😹 6y
LauraBeth @Redwritinghood there‘s the conundrum! 😹 6y
LauraBeth Thanks @saresmoore 😘😘 You‘re right - normal is completely overrated! I‘ll take all the book recommendations! 6y
Mimi28 I‘m a highly sensitive person, in fact I‘m an empath with severe depression. I know there are books about empaths on kindle unlimited, probably HSP people too. It‘s good you caught it relatively early. I‘m just now realizing it in my 40‘s! My therapist still doesn‘t understand 🙄 - but I‘m changing therapists- shhh!! Lol, I wish her the best!! 6y
Mimi28 Stormy is quite the hunter. When she is after a mouse it‘s the only time I hear her growl. One time by the time we caught up with her we just saw the mouse‘s tail hanging out of her mouth! That was a small one the bigger ones she just plays with until they stop moving and then my mom does the dirty work, lol. 6y
Suet624 Awww...how great that you‘ve discovered this about your daughter. So many of us grew up not knowing why we felt the way we did and not getting the support we needed. You‘re a good mom. 💕💕 6y
LauraBeth Thanks @Suet624 ❤️ ❤️ 6y
121 likes1 stack add38 comments
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Ajessgirl
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Pickpick

I was in the mood for a cozy escapist book, and this fit the bill perfectly. Full of endearing characters and delicious dessert descriptions. An unusual choice for summer, but the winter descriptions helped me pretend I wasn‘t oppressively hot.

30 likes4 stack adds
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Jeanne_S
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Pickpick

Sweet.

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webhau1
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Pickpick

In the acknowledgments, the author mentions her father “who loved good stories about regular people”. I think that sums this book up well! I enjoyed meeting the people in the story. Nice and relaxing read, glad a librarian had marked it on the shelf as one of her picks as it made me look at it and pick it up.

5 likes1 stack add
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catebutler
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With Christmas right around the corner, the morning was filled with festive errands and then a much needed stop for hot chocolate to warm up. I especially love this spot, for the view outside the cafe‘s window. Positioned at the mouth of a canyon, it‘s been a visual treat, watching the fog creeping down the mountainside. There was even a magical moment when I looked up from my book and snow was gently falling in fat flakes.

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Mrscastro
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Enjoying this cozy read and excited to see this author has another book in the works! ❤️🎄 @PenguinPublishing

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Mrscastro
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Evening plans! ❤️🎄🖥💿☕️🍫 @PenguinPublishing

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ElenaBaer
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this. It was a fast read and a nice HEA. Great first novel. Looking forward to her next. (I picked it up off a Christmas book display but it is not especially Christmasy.)

1 like1 stack add
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tpixie
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Fell into an author event @ the Boston Public Library! #Boston #BostonPublicLibrary

LeahBergen Cool!!!! 7y
rwmg Feast of Sorrow is on my wishlist and may be one of my online bookclub's picks for 2018 7y
tpixie @rwmg it sounds great!! 7y
See All 6 Comments
tpixie @LeahBergen we just fell into it!! 7y
Blaire All your Boston posts are making me so nostalgic for it - need to plan a trip soon. 7y
tpixie @Blaire it‘s such a great place!! Lol my feet are so exhausted!! The weather has been great! 45-67! 7y
123 likes6 comments
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MPL
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Our Eat. Drink. Read. book group discussed this charming book last night about a big city baker making a small town her home.

LibrarianChels I had fun! (Minus the diner apple pie that was certainly canned.) 7y
12 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Posemn
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This was a sweet (literally and figuratively) story about people who care about each other. It is certainly a story you have heard before - girl leaves previous life, finds new life, new job, new love...... but it was just what I needed in this year of (political) turmoil. Read this if you need a "comfort break."

Suet624 I liked this book a lot too!! 7y
11 likes1 stack add1 comment
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sammisho
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Pickpick

Sweet and cheesy, full of descriptions of yummy food that made my mouth water. The main character made some pretty bad life choices that made me cringe, and it was a tad too long, but overall this was a charming story. And now I want to plan a cozy trip to Vermont.

23 likes1 stack add
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frau.nat
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hallo ihr Lieben 😊💕
Dieses Leseexemplar habe ich heute begonnen - leider gefällt mir der Schreibstil gar nicht 😥 - wer von euch kennt das Buch?
Wir wollten eigentlich morgen in aller Früh für ein paar Tage an die Ostsee fahren, aber unser Katerchen Feivel dachte, es wäre doch cool eine Biene zu fangen 🙈😢 Jetzt heißt es Tierarzt und beobachten, wenn wir Glück haben, können wir doch noch ans Meer 💕
Ich wünsche euch einen super schönen Tag!

the_bookishprincess oh je😬🙄 gute Besserung🐱💓 7y
buchsammlerin Oh nein! Hoffentlich geht es ihm schnell wieder gut!😱 7y
40 likes2 comments
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lildeb_8
Mehso-so

A nice, light read for a lazy summer day - it was was okay.

Purrfectpages Agreed! 7y
1 like1 stack add1 comment
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little.miss.books
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You can find me on instagram at little.miss.books 😄😄😄

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Suet624
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Pickpick

I woke up to this. And it's still snowing. Vermont's version of April Fools, I guess. I picked this book up after seeing the story was based in Vermont. A baker leaves a job in Boston to work at a country inn. It was light and fluffy like the pie crust she kept writing about. It was just what I needed. And the love interest was my kind of guy so that helped too. #Vermont

LauraBeth That's a lot of snow! 8y
Suet624 @LauraBeth I know. They guesstimate we'll get between 6 and 16 inches. Gotta love those weather people. You'd think they could narrow their guess down a bit more. 8y
Melissa_J Snow in April sucks (well okay, I actually on like snow on Christmas Day). We woke up to snow, too, although we didn't end up getting as much as initially forecast. Your pics are lovely! It looks so beautiful and peaceful there. 8y
See All 18 Comments
Cortg Ugh! It's pretty and I hope it melts quickly so you can enjoy some spring weather! 8y
saresmoore This is UNBELIEVABLE! I know you're over the cold, but I wish I was there. I'm clicking my heels! Also I was so close to grabbing this book at the library. I could use a good light & fluffy book right about now. 8y
My_novel_obsession It is beautiful! (Hope you get some spring weather soon though!) 8y
CrowCAH 😂 no to the snow! 8y
Reviewsbylola Holy 😳😳😳 8y
AmyG Good for the ski resorts! 8y
Lmstraubie Oh, my! Well, guess you just have to hunker down and read! 📚 8y
Hobbinol Oooh how I long to be snowed in with my books. When I retire, we're going to relocate to New England. Such beautiful photos!💙💙💙 8y
CouronneDhiver Haha! That seems about right... the year we got married, my aunt almost didn't make it on account of snow... it was JUNE 1st. 😂 #GreatWhiteNorth 8y
Suet624 @Melissa_J You're right. I'm currently living in a sleepy, peaceful town which is a delightful oasis from distractions. Lends itself to lots of reading. 8y
Suet624 @Cortg Thanks! I hear it might be sunny tomorrow which always makes me happy. 8y
Suet624 @saresmoore it really is beautiful and I'm strangely okay with it. 😂 8y
Suet624 @Anovelobsession @Lmstraubie @AmyG @Reviewsbylola @CrowCAH For some reason I'm fine with the snow today. It's really quiet and peaceful right now and the ski areas are celebrating. 8y
Suet624 @CouronneDhiver the latest snow fall I remember was Mother's Day and I was PISSED! 8y
Suet624 @Hobbinol New England is a large area and includes many states. Settle down in Vermont. 😀You'll be near Montreal too which is a beautiful city to explore. 8y
87 likes3 stack adds18 comments
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Audrey
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Pickpick

This was an enjoyable read albeit not very original. Excellent food descriptions & I would love to go to that Harvest dinner. Miller writes well although she does have a tendency to drop a lot of names of characters which does lead to some confusion. And there were undeveloped points. But, I went with the flow and it really didn't matter. I wish there were more recipes at the end of the book. I especially wished she posted the macaroon recipe.

Audrey @LouiseMiller thanks! I met you at the Cambridge Public Library at the pie contest. I had the cheddar cheese one. 8y
LouiseMiller Hello! That was a delicious pie! 8y
Audrey @LouiseMiller thanks. I found it a bit aggressively spiced. If I read your book ahead of time, I would have changed the pie. 🙂but I don't read book group book until the weekend before the meeting. 8y
16 likes5 comments
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itsabbe
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#riotgrams Day 15: #booksandtreats
Books about love and apple pie are only elevated by pie of your own!

8 likes2 stack adds
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Sassy_Steph

Wow I loved this book, should've been doing productive stuff on my day off, but this book came first! Made me feel so hopeful and warm inside! Read it!! Enjoy!! Happy reading!!

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itsabbe
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#riotgrams Day 2: #whereiread
Like most littens, I read everywhere, but two of my favorite places are this little corner of the couch and my bed (and that is currently unmade and very unphotogenic at this moment).

9 likes1 stack add
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sprainedbrain
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Day 29 of #ReadJanuary

Looking through my shelves, I don't think I've ever read a book that could be considered #foodiefiction

I do have this one on my tbr. I've heard some good things about it!

LadyElaine I loved this book! Hope you enjoy it! 8y
Hoopiefoot I read this book last weekend for 24 in 48 and loved it 😊 8y
mcipher I love foodie books - totally reading this! 8y
kitty_reads Loved this book!! Definitely recommend! 8y
Sassy_Steph You should read the school of essential ingredients by Erica bauermeister, excellent foodie book! Actually all around excellent book!! My most favourite book 8y
147 likes7 stack adds5 comments
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MarticaMustRead
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🍵🍯🍞📖😋 #FavoriteSnack #ReadJanuary #CurrentRead

My favorite snack while reading is usually a warm beverage and a baked good- cookies, doughnut, pastries, bread, etc.

Tonight's snack: Caramel vanilla Chai tea (with milk) and a biscuit with melted butter and honey.😍

29 likes1 stack add
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MarticaMustRead
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?⏳????⏰⌛ #24in48 #Readathon #ReadAllTheBooks

I had a crazy busy weekend and wasn't able to partake in the #24in48 #Readathon, but wanted to give a big congrats and "way to go!" to all those who did! ?

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Hoopiefoot
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Next up! #24in48

62 likes3 stack adds
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LadyElaine
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Pickpick

After a weeklong business trip away from home, I was craving something fun and fast to read. This fit the bill perfectly, and I read it straight through on a 4 hour flight. Big city pastry chef has a bit of a meltdown and ends up in eccentric small town Vermont, where the apple pie contest at the county fair is big business. Fair warning: this book will make you want to bake and eat all of the pies. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🍰

8 likes1 stack add
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Fianblath
Pickpick

livve is my soul animal. after she accidentally Set's her old job on fire she's at a crossroads... so she grabs her dog Salty and goes to Vermont Where there's pie and she learns about life, relationships and the perfect Apple pie
I read this book in one sitting on a plane. it was so hard to not laugh or cry out loud.. so good

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anakolarec
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"The waltz held the feeling you get when you finish a well-loved book. It left me longing for something I couldn't name."

#country #applepie #tart #bakery #louisemiller