Peace of Pie - Lee Barber

Savor every taste of love.

At her age, Bryony Green should be considering the easiest route to her post-retirement life. Instead, she finds herself at a crossroads. She lacks the things most people take for granted-spouses, kids, professional accomplishments, and a bucket list to conquer in their retirement years-and the absence of those things has weighed upon her more with each passing year.

In a not-too-distant city lives Cal Forster, a dedicated teacher whose contentment lies in shaping young minds. Teaching is more than satisfying, it's his happy place. So, quitting to embark on a journey of "discovery" for his father leaves him unsettled. When he's asked to be a year-long substitute to bail out a sick friend, he jumps at the chance to fall back into what feels familiar, fulfilling.

Each grappling with personal and professional voids, Bryony and Cal meet in a serendipitous encounter that alters their perspectives on life. Bryony, guarded from past disappointments, and Cal, initially unsettled by his detour, discover a connection that transcends their one-year time frame. As they navigate obstacles together, be it in the pursuit of personal fulfillment or overcoming professional challenges, they find solace in unexpected places... perhaps, most notably, over shared moments of peace and pie.

A heartwarming tale of identity, growth, and connection, Peace of Pie explores the transformative power of chance encounters, demonstrating that sometimes life's detours can lead to the most unexpected and fulfilling destinations.