FROM THE PUBLISHER
Judith Ryan Hendricks, who Booklist has said "calls to mind Barbara Kingsolver in her affinity for wise women and the power of close female friendships," continues the saga of the Queen Street Bakery in The Baker's Apprentice.

Wynter Morrison -- first introduced in the bestselling Bread Alone -- has found contentment in a life very different from anything she ever imagined: making bread on the night shift, learning the fine points of running a bakery, and exploring the possibilities of a relationship with Mac, her on-again, off-again love interest.

But Mac's failure to deal with issues in his past creates friction, Wyn's soon-to-be-ex husband is turning their divorce into guerrilla warfare, and she is reminded of how quickly life can reverse direction without warning.

Mac's abrupt departure is a shock, but conflicts at the bakery and her friend Tyler's tragic loss afford Wyn little time for brooding. Then letters from Mac begin to arrive, casual and distant at first, but gradually becoming more personal and revealing.

In his absence, Wyn finds she not only learns more about Mac but also about herself, as she becomes Tyler's mentor, passing on the wisdom and healing power of bread making. Her new self-awareness and resiliency will be tested when the Queen Street Bakery's existence is threatened, as well as when Mac returns and she must decide whether there is still a place for him in her life.

From critically acclaimed author Judith Ryan Hendricks comes the next chapter of the Queen Street Bakery, where questions are answered and old friends are revisited.

Just about to start this... and once I am done, it will go out on a ring with "Bread Alone".

List of participants for the bookring spiral's second volume:

- garibaldisghost
- PurpleRosebud
- calalilly
- Versavisa<---- reading
- LeeDempsey
- candy-is-dandy

and back to me :)

Interesting! This time, as the destinies of the protagonists split (a bit), so does the story as well, and we have the typical jumping in between locations, different people to get to know, and the transformation that Mac goes through, while he reveals his past to his diary and us readers.

Not so much baking going on here, which is a shame, but we see the evolution of the Queen Street Bakery and the employees until the very grand finale...no worries, I won't reveal anything, and this follow-up is also quite entertaining. In my opinion, however, not as good as "Bread Alone". What do you think?

I look forward to reading all your thoughts here.

This second part of the spiral ring will be passed on to garibaldisghost as soon as possible.

Update on 19/06/2006: mailed today First Class. Happy reading!

Received in the post today.

I'm off on holiday on Thursday and bumped this to the top of my TBR pile to make sure I had time to send it on its way.

I'm glad I did because I found this, the follow up to Bread Alone, to be equally if not more enjoyable. Wyn, the main character is a whole lot more likeable and I like the way Hendricks has developed her writing style.

RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to Purplerosebud - enjoy!

Arrived in the post today, lovely surprise! I will be sharing it with tiggerboing and calalilly who ever is ready first.

Although I did like this book I didn't find it as enjoyable as Bread Alone. I was surprised that the main characters lives became split into separate chapters for a while and I also found that some of the chapters, didn't hold my interest. I would have like more bread making as in the first book. Nevertheless still a good book and thanks for sharing.

Tiggerboing has asked to pass on this one so will be passing onto calalilly very soon.

Received from Purplerosebud today,I've got a couple of other rings to read ahead of this but it shouldn't be too long before I start it.

I enjoyed this book and in a way quite sorry when I got to the end of it. So many tasty sounding breads although not as much baking as previous book. I liked the way the charactors developed.
Sending this off to Valer1e in the next few days.

I shall probably have to read this after meals, and not before, as Bread Alone awakened my longing for bread and cakes. Not good for someone who's wanting to shed a few punds. Still, it's good to have something to act as a scapegoat!

More books about my favourite subject - food. Bread in particular. I couldn't live without it, so to read about someone whose life is bounded by it and who also loves it is tantalising.

I enjoyed the story more than the first in the series.

Sending on to LeeDempsey asap.

Thanks for sharing the series with me.