Julie's previous book, 125 Best Cupcake Recipes, has over 50,000 copies in print.

Who doesn't love cake? There's perhaps no dessert that makes you feel more special. It's how we celebrate birthdays and graduations. It's the rarified treat at engagement parties and weddings-and the way we welcome old friends and new babies. Whether it's a cupcake with coffee at the neighbor's house or a three-layer slice at the end of an extravagant meal, cake is a sweet, simple indulgence that makes you feel loved and a little better about the world. And who knows more about cakes than Southern Living, the magazine that outdoes itself every year with new pedestal-topping cakes? Its trusted kitchens and pages have launched or popularized some of the South's-and America's-most iconic and decadent cakes, from Hummingbird Cake to Red Velvet Cupcakes.

Let's face it, today we are inundated with articles about cooking, food, and wine in almost every part of our lives. From The Wall Street Journal to Playboy Magazine, you'd be hard pressed not to find a commentary related to the subject of food. At a time when I'm trying to figure out my best financial opportunities or determine which girl of the SEC is the best looking, why am I being told how to cook something? The simple answer is women. Don't get me wrong, a quick glance at any men's magazine will always yield the same redundant taglines; "Lose your Gut," "1001 Financial Solutions," or "Score your Dream Job" on the cover. However, by now the majority of writers have exhausted the subjects of health, wealth, and power as a means to attract women, and they realize that cooking is just another avenue that they can use to appeal to the wants and needs of their readers. Don't trust me? Take a stroll through the magazine aisle at your local grocery store, and you might find that even Field and Stream has gone haute-cuisine on your latest hunt. Confused by the last sentence? Good, this book is for you.

The founder of Gigi’s Cupcakes shares her personal success story, her hard-won business acumen, and the life-changing inspiration that has helped her follow her dreams in this warm-hearted and encouraging memoir that “will inspire savvy entrepreneurs to invest in their own dreams” (Daymond John, star of ABC’s Shark Tank). Featuring delicious dessert recipes for cupcakes and more in each chapter. As a young child, Gigi knew that if she wanted to succeed, she had to work hard and offer a service that people wanted to buy. At age seven, she sold eggs out of her little red wagon to neighbors. At age fifteen, she bought cleaning supplies and started a cleaning service out of her rural California home. When she moved to Nashville at nineteen, she had her heart set on becoming a country music star. Cleaning houses by day to support herself for over a decade, she realized that God had other plans for her. If she wouldn’t be a successful singer, she decided she would grow a business that she could be proud of. An extraordinary baker throughout her life, she decided to open a cupcake shop with all the money she could pull together. With the help and support of her family, she was able to open her first store in a prime Nashville location. The news of her cupcakes spread quickly, and the franchise became a huge success. Now, in The Secret Ingredient, Gigi reveals how her failure led her to explore her passion for baking and how she became a successful businesswoman. With spunk, humor, and insight, she weaves her hard-won wisdom and business acumen into the fun, fascinating, and instructive stories of her life. Each inspirational chapter concludes with a treasured family recipe for cupcakes and other scrumptious desserts. For anyone with big dreams, Gigi’s message is simple: believe in yourself, walk with integrity, work hard, and trust in God. Your life may not turn out exactly how you expected or hoped, but it will be so much better than you could have ever imagined. “If you ever need to feel inspired by a dreamer, this is a must read” (Tony Brown, music producer).

"Mix in one part Diane Mott ­Davidson’s delightful culinary adventures with several tablespoons of Jan Karon’s country living and quirky characters, bake at 350 degrees for one rich and warm romance." --Library Journal A full-hearted novel about a big-city baker who discovers the true meaning of home—and that sometimes the best things are found when you didn’t even know you were looking When Olivia Rawlings—pastry chef extraordinaire for an exclusive Boston dinner club—sets not just her flambéed dessert but the entire building alight, she escapes to the most comforting place she can think of—the idyllic town of Guthrie, Vermont, home of Bag Balm, the country’s longest-running contra dance, and her best friend Hannah. But the getaway turns into something more lasting when Margaret Hurley, the cantankerous, sweater-set-wearing owner of the Sugar Maple Inn, offers Livvy a job. Broke and knowing that her days at the club are numbered, Livvy accepts. Livvy moves with her larger-than-life, uberenthusiastic dog, Salty, into a sugarhouse on the inn’s property and begins creating her mouthwatering desserts for the residents of Guthrie. She soon uncovers the real reason she has been hired—to help Margaret reclaim the inn’s blue ribbon status at the annual county fair apple pie contest. With the joys of a fragrant kitchen, the sound of banjos and fiddles being tuned in a barn, and the crisp scent of the orchard just outside the front door, Livvy soon finds herself immersed in small town life. And when she meets Martin McCracken, the Guthrie native who has returned from Seattle to tend his ailing father, Livvy comes to understand that she may not be as alone in this world as she once thought. But then another new arrival takes the community by surprise, and Livvy must decide whether to do what she does best and flee—or stay and finally discover what it means to belong. Olivia Rawlings may finally find out that the life you want may not be the one you expected—it could be even better.

All-new, seasonal pie recipes from Jan Moon's kitchen fill this cookbook with comfort and beauty. Readers won't be able to wait to start baking pies with flavor combinations that will surprise and tarts that will impress. With easy-to-follow instructions, handy tips, exchangeable components, and gorgeous full-page images, readers are only a rolling pin and a whisk away from a warm and delicious slice of pie. Jan shares her collection of pies, tarts, cobblers, and more that have been perfected in her own Dreamcakes Bakery. Over 150 recipes are included with gorgeous full-color images all in clearly defined categories so readers can easily navigate this book to find the recipes that inspire them. A chapter devoted to baking equipment and basic techniques gives beginning bakers a head start, while Baker's Secrets and Simple Switches are sprinkled throughout to give even the more experienced pie-baker a new tip or twist. With a varied selection of recipes from elegant tarts and rustic gallettes to familiar meringue pies and comforting fried pies, readers will pour over the dozens of possibilities to wow family and friends.

Celebrate the holidays with Gooseberry Patch's biggest collection of holiday recipes throughout the entire year. Loyal fans of Gooseberry Patch and new readers alike will delight in this must-have cookbook with delicious home-cooked holiday meals to celebrate with family and friends. With over 400 recipes, Gooseberry Patch Big Book of Holiday Cooking is a must-have for every cook looking for home-cooked inspiration for their favorite holidays -- from Thanksgiving to Christmas to July 4th celebrations. span