Casting her bread upon the water of destiny, the courageous, curious and inspiring Mina Pigot sets sail for America. Once again donning the disguise of a boy and under the protection of the estimable Benjamin Serle, they book themselves as cook and apprentice on the Victoria. It's more than just a passage to America for Mina; she also has a rite of passage, as well. Mina's hope to find her brother and begin anew mounts with each passing wave. Continuing to hone her cooking skills and learn more about the world around her, time passes a bit more bearably. The conversations she has with Mr. Serle open up her heart and mind even more.

New York beckons and in the land of opportunities, things indeed look up. Her time in disguise as a boy is over. A fresh, almost grown-up Mina emerges in time to reunite her with her brother, Daniel. However, she finds it somewhat perplexing when he dons his cloak of big brother respectability and lectures her on the proper mannerisms of being a lady. Soon she finds new friends in "Aunt Jane" and her niece, even as Mr. Serle goes his separate, if not distant, way as master chef for a hotel.

Longing to cook, Mina finds employment in the house of the well-to-do but troubled Westervelts. Her exceptional skills and excellent management of the kitchen are a source of pride, until the family's mysterious secrets make it impossible for her to continue to work there. It's not in Mina's nature to give up, and with her head held high, she overcomes obstacles of heart, mind and soul. Suddenly life is an adventure full of spice and flavor as she searches for her true destiny and the destiny of her heart.

Jonatha Ceely's wonderful saga continues where MINA last left us sighing sweetly and begging for more. Mina is a beautiful, courageous and inventive heroine, surrounded by characters of such poignant depths that the reader is instantaneously swept up in this world of before. Lyric, lush and full of life, the world of 1848 opens its salon doors and beckons like a cherished friend. From the shores of England to New York and the roads of San Francisco to the Erie Canal, every scene is alive, as if one was traveling with Mina as her companion. We get to see her grow from an innocent girl to a vivacious and intelligent young woman, and as she grows, so too does her love for Benjamin. It's a story you never want to see end, being both magical and classic. Like a fine wine, it complements the every day bread of life. Definitely a story to be savored for a long, long time.