When Bree, Mikki and Ashley lease the storefront shop on the LA coast, The Boardwalk Bookshop is born. Part bookshop, part giftshop and part bakery. Susan Mallery tells the story of how the women, once strangers, develop a bond that will last forever. This book focuses on female empowerment, friendship and found family – and this is a Mills & Boon novel after all, so of course, romance is a key! And don’t let the innocent cover fool you, there is some heat!

But back to muffins… It’s Ashley who runs the bakery section of the shop and Susan herself created the red, white and blueberry muffin recipe featured in the storyline. She’s shared her recipe with us for you to try at home. Please do take photos of your muffins and tag us on socials so we can share and try not to get food envy!

Ingredients

• 256g all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 8 tbsp. butter, softened
• 200g caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 240g sour cream
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Handful each fresh blueberries, raspberries* and white chocolate chips

*You can use frozen blueberries and raspberries. Thaw them under running water, then dry on paper towels before adding to the dough.

Method

• Preheat oven to 190. Line 18 standard-sized muffin tins with paper cups.
• Sift together flour and baking powder. Set aside. With a mixer, cream together butter and sugar on medium speed until butter is a very pale yellow. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Mix in sour cream and vanilla. Dump flour mixture into the wet ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined. By hand, fold in the berries and chips.
• Fill each paper muffin cup about 2/3 full. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 18-25 minutes.

*

The Boardwalk Bookshop by Susan Mallery

When Bree, Mikki and Ashley open The Boardwalk Bookshop on the Californian coast it is a dream come true. But while their business is thriving, their personal lives are not.

Bree has sworn to protect her heart at all costs, until an unexpected meeting with a bestselling author changes everything. Mikki has never moved on from her divorce, but knows something must change. And Ashley’s wedding fantasy is shattered when she discovers her boyfriend never wants to get married.

Every Friday the three friends meet on the beach in front of the bookshop to toast the sunset. Here, as their bond grows closer, they will challenge each other to not only face their fears but fight for what they have always wanted in life, and love.

By Lauren Gardiner