Book Review: A Teaspoon of Trouble by Shirley Jump

Set in the fictional town of Marietta, Montana, “A Teaspoon of Trouble ” follows Marietta natives Carolyn Henderson and Matthew West who were high school sweethearts.

Breaking up after graduation, Carolyn went to New York City to become a chef. Committed to be the best, Carolyn poured all her time and effort to her career. But, a twist of fate made her a guardian to her four-year-old niece and an errant puppy.

Matthew West loves being in Marietta, so after finishing Veterinary Medicine, he started a practice in his hometown. And as fate willed it, Carolyn walks in with her misbehaving puppy. Matthew cannot believe that his high school love is back in town and surprisingly, he still feels the same way as they were in high school. Carolyn is not immune either, but she has a career in New York that she truly wants to go back to. And therein lies the dilemma.

A very sweet second chance story, “A Teaspoon of Trouble ” is as much about family as romance. In fact, there is a third element, love of self. For Carolyn to be happy, she must be true to herself. And same as Matthew. Though obviously, compromise is the answer, it is also a balancing act. There is a thin line between self-sacrifice and true happiness in this scenario. The characters confidently navigated that line, thanks to author Shirley Jump’s thoughtful storytelling.

“A Teaspoon of Trouble (The Bachelor Bake-Off Book 1)” is Rated T for Teens due to discussion of death and some adult situations.