Bread Alone - by Judith R Hendricks (Paperback)

About the Book

In this debut novel, 31-year-old Wynter Morrison leaves behind her life as a trophy wife and ventures into a Seattle bakery, where memories of her apprenticeship at a French boulangerie arouses her ambition to bake bread again. Soon, Wyn finds a healing power in making bread that helps her realize pain fades and the future beckons. Includes recipes.

Book Synopsis

For fans of Like Water for Chocolate and Woman on Top comes a deliciously magical and mouth watering story, filled with wonder, discovery, and new beginnings.

Thirty-one-year-old Wynter Morrison long ago gave up on finding a suitable career and drifted into the role of trophy wife to an ambitious advertising executive. After her husband decides that their marriage was a mistake Wyn leaves behind her posh, pampered life and ventures north to Seattle, spending aimless hours sipping coffee at a local bakery. As the sweet aromas of freshly-baked bread awaken memories of her apprenticeship at a French boulangerie, she feels the desire and ambition to bake bread once again.

Soon, Wyn finds--in the kneading of the dough and the scent of yeast hanging in the air--an unexpected and wondrous healing power that helps her to rediscover that nothing stays the same. Inspiring and beautifully rendered, Bread Alone is an uplifting debut novel guaranteed to warm the heart.

From the Back Cover

The life of 31-year-old trophy wife Wynter Morrison suddenly changes course when her husband announces one evening that their marriage is over. Emotionally devastated and desperate for a change of scenery, Wyn moves to Seattle where she spends aimless hours at a local bakery, sipping coffee and inhaling the sweet aromas of freshly-made bread. These visits bring back memories of her long-ago apprenticeship at a French boulangerie, and when offered a position at the bakery, Wyn quickly accepts -- hoping that the rituals of baking will help her move on.

Working long hours among the bakery's cluster of eclectic women -- Linda, the irascible bread baker; earth mother Ellen and her partner Diane; and Tyler, the blue-haired barista -- Wyn awakens to the truths that she missed while living the good life in Hancock Park.

Soon Wyn discovers that making bread possesses an unexpected and wondrous healing power, helping her to rediscover that nothing stays the same... bread rises, pain fades, the heart heals, and the future beckons.

Review Quotes

"A charmingly romantic first novel...fun to read and meaningful to remember-no small feat." - Booklist
"Engaging...Hendricks creates a compelling character whose wry, bemused and ultimately wise voice hooks the reader...a well written, imaginative debut." - Publishers Weekly
"With recipes for breads and sweets stashed between descriptions of rising sourdough, Bread Alone will have you salivating and cheering." - Glamour