One Old, One New - The Amy E. Reichert Edition

One Old, One New features two books – one old, one new, which are connected in some way. Today I am featuring two books by Amy E. Reichert. I am so in love with her stories! I am happy to have three more of her backlist books to read because they always make me so darn happy.

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Once Upon a December by Amy E. Reichert

Published by Berkley Books on October 4, 2022

Age/Genre: Adult, Enchanted Realism, romance

Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads

A one-of-a-kind Christmas market offers holiday magic in the new romance from the author of The Kindred Spirits Supper Club.

With a name like Astra Noel Snow, holiday spirit isn’t just a seasonal specialty–it’s a way of life. But after a stinging divorce, Astra’s yearly trip to the Milwaukee Christmas market takes on a whole new meaning. She’s ready to eat, drink, and be merry, especially with the handsome stranger who saves the best kringle for her at his family bakery.

For Jack Clausen, the Julemarked with its snowy lights and charming shops stays the same, while the world outside the joyful street changes, magically leaping from one December to the next every four weeks. He’s never minded living this charmed existence until Astra shows him the life he’s been missing outside of the festive red brick alley.

After a swoon-worthy series of dates, some Yuletide magic, and the unexpected glow of new love, Astra and Jack must decide whether this relationship can weather all seasons, or if what they’re feeling is as ephemeral as marshmallows in a mug of hot cocoa.

I thought my love for Reichert’s books could not be surpassed after reading The Kindred Spirits Supper Club, but it seems I was wrong. Sweet and funny with a magical touch, Once Upon a December filled me with so much happiness and joy and now has a special place in my heart.

Reichert has a knack for crafting wonderful and endearing characters who I cannot resist. I could honestly see myself befriending both Jack and Astra, and I really wished I was part of their circle of friends.

Astra had three best friends. This was a friendship that had lasted almost twenty years. Though, there had been some distance during her marriage, the quartet’s affection for one another never faded. It was beautiful how fiercely they loved each other and never hesitated to lend their support. I had such a great time with these women and was glad Astra had them in her life.

Jack was one of four baking sons, and it was fun to watch these men in action. Again, I was jealous of how close they were and how they could rely on each other. Jack’s family was definitely something special, but so was his home.

I did say this book had a magical touch, and it came in the form of the Julemarked. The Julemarked was a village where Jack worked and lived. But it wasn’t just any old village, it was a magical alley that could appear adjacent to any Christmas market in the world. In this dreamy place, it was always Christmas. Reichert deftly transported me to the the Julemarked and made me fall in love with it. There were quite a few interesting details about this place, and I really enjoyed learning the rules and history.

A delightful romance, a magical land, incredible friendships had already won me over, but there was more. I cannot talk about this book without mentioning the nods to Scandinavian holiday traditions, Wisconsin, and delicious food. Kringle was the star here, as it was what Jack baked, and the universe brought me some Kringle to enjoy while I was reading this book too. (Pumpkin, sent by a family friend from WI. It was delicious).

I could gush all day about this heartwarming story. It was such a treat getting to bask in all the Christmas joy, and I was surprised and impressed with some of the turns the story took. In a nutshell, this was a tale of love – romantic love, familial love, friendship, and love for oneself. A fun and touching feel-good story that left me with sunshine in my heart.

*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

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The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E. Reichert

Published by Gallery Books on July 21, 2015

Age/Genre: Adult, Contemporary

Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads

You’ve Got Mail meets How to Eat a Cupcake in this delightful novel about a talented chef and the food critic who brings down her restaurant—whose chance meeting turns into a delectable romance of mistaken identities.

In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lou works tirelessly to build her beloved yet struggling French restaurant, Luella’s, into a success. She cheerfully balances her demanding business and even more demanding fiancé…until the morning she discovers him in the buff—with an intern.

Witty yet gruff British transplant Al is keeping himself employed and entertained by writing scathing reviews of local restaurants in the Milwaukee newspaper under a pseudonym. When an anonymous tip sends him to Luella’s, little does he know he’s arrived on the worst day of the chef’s life. The review practically writes itself: underdone fish, scorched sauce, distracted service—he unleashes his worst.

The day that Al’s mean-spirited review of Luella’s runs, the two cross paths in a pub: Lou drowning her sorrows, and Al celebrating his latest publication. As they chat, Al playfully challenges Lou to show him the best of Milwaukee and she’s game—but only if they never discuss work, which Al readily agrees to. As they explore the city’s local delicacies and their mutual attraction, Lou’s restaurant faces closure, while Al’s column gains popularity. It’s only a matter of time before the two fall in love…but when the truth comes out, can Lou overlook the past to chase her future?

Set in the lovely, quirky heart of Wisconsin, The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is a charming love story of misunderstandings, mistaken identity, and the power of food to bring two people together.

This is my third book by Reichert, and I must say, her books are absolutely my cup of tea. This story was fun and sweet, and put a smile on my face.

One thing Reichert does well is incorporate food into her books. Food was an obvious choice here since the main characters were a chef and a food reviewer, but it’s the way she made each meal and morsel an event that I adored. The way food was tied to memories made it all special.

While I was salivating from all the vivid food descriptions, I was also falling in love with Milwaukee. When Lou met Al, she vowed to show him the city she loved. They went on these fantastic outings to festivals, games, museums, and of course, they made sure to enjoy local culinary fare. The best part was that while Al was falling in love with the city, he and Lou were also falling in love with each other. I live for this stuff!

Lou was lovable from the start, but Al grew on me as he grew and changed. He fit the part of grumpy in this grumpy-sunshine pair, but his point of view changed quite a bit as he began to see Milwaukee as his home, made connections with co-workers, and fell for Lou.

With great characters, a wonderful romance, and lots of heart, The Coincidence of Coconut Cake was a delight from beginning to end.

What is your favorite kind of cake?
Let us know in the comments!