Bite-Sized Magic: A Bliss Novel by Kathyrn Littlewood

Soon after winning the Gala des Gâteaux Grands baking competition, Rose is kidnapped by the Mostess Corporation owner, Mr. Butter. He forces her into remaking his snack cakes using the evil recipes found in Albatross’s Apocrypha. Mr. Butter hopes to ensnare consumers into becoming addicted, violent zombies to further the diabolical plans of the International Society of the Rolling-Pin.

The third book in the Bliss series keeps up the humor, magic, and fast-paced action found in the other novels. In this book, we see Rose wishing she didn’t have the life she led. But as Gus warns, Rose’s wishes come true in the wrong ways. From her trials, Rose realizes how baking defines her, positively affects her, and connects her to her present and past family. Rose would not have discovered those realizations until she was pushed to her limits within the make-shift prison of the Mostess' test-kitchen.

A Dash of Magic: A Bliss Novel by Kathryn Littlewood

To the horror of the Bliss family, Aunt Lily has used the mystical recipes from the stolen Bliss Cookery Booke to launch herself towards international stardom. To expose Lily's evil plans, Rose challenges her to an acclaimed baking competition in Paris: the Gala des Gâteaux Grands. If Rose wins, Lily must return the Cookery Booke to the Bliss family. As the competition unfolds, Rose sees that Lily is cheating by using Bliss recipes to win in each baking category. So Rose and her family work together to find the purest magical ingredients to combat Lily's maniacal baked goods.

In Littlewood’s sequel of Bliss, readers are whisked away from comforts of Calamity Falls to visit the exotic locations of Mexico and Paris. While in Paris, Littlewood creates a magical “tour” of the French capital by going to such places as the top of the Eiffel Tower to collect “unspoiled raindrops”, the Catacombs to gather a “ghostly gust”, or to Notre Dame Cathedral to capture the “midnight chime” of a the Emmanuel bell. But besides the adventurous story, the heart of the book is about the strength and power that comes from a loving family. A family’s love and legacy are the key ingredients that help Rose conquer her fears. The next book in the Bliss series is called Bite-sized Magic.

Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood

Rosemary Bliss’s family owns a magical bakery and all the baked goods come from recipes in the secret Bliss Cookery Booke--a cookbook that has been in the family for many generations. When her parents go on a trip, Rose is given the responsibility to protect the sacred cookbook. Because she is in charge, Rose believes she’s mature enough to try out some of the recipes without parental supervision. Then an unplanned guest comes to visit: the motorcycle riding, fabulous baker “Aunt” Lily. Soon after meeting Aunt Lily, Rose feels like Lily may have ulterior motives for coming to the Bliss Bakery.

Littlewood has concocted an addictive and delicious new series mixing food, fantasy, and fun. But aside from the magic and humor, Rose’s growth as a character showcases what many successful coming-of-age stories include: doubting her abilities, yearning for parental love and respect, defying parental guidance, gaining confidence in her talents, failing at responsibilities, and paying the price for negative actions. Readers will see that because of experiencing all those positive and negative situations, Rose learns that the love her family is more important the fabulous life Aunt Lily seems to have. All this background to Rose’s character sets up a solid storyline for the rest of Littlewood’s debut series.