Sometimes losing everything is the first step toward finding yourself.

Claire Charles thought she had the perfect recipe for happiness: a thriving bakery, bestselling cookbooks, and a husband to share it all with.

Then her marriage falls apart.

Now, the celebrated pastry chef is rebuilding her life one day at a time—while battling writer's block, wondering if motherhood has slipped out of reach, and learning that starting over is far messier than creating the perfect dessert.

Encouraged by her best friend, Claire reluctantly dives into modern dating, surviving awkward first dates, unexpected disappointments, and the lingering pull of the life she thought she'd never lose.

Just when she's ready to swear off romance for good, she meets Zack, a kindhearted single father, and his bright, lovable daughter, Hannah. As the three of them discover that healing rarely follows a recipe, Claire begins to imagine a future sweeter than the one she'd planned.

But opening her heart again means risking everything she's only just begun to rebuild.

Perfect for readers who love heartfelt women's fiction, second-chance-at-life stories, found family, single dads, charming bakeries, and slow-burn romance.