I recently read a charming, light-hearted book that’s perfect for summer reading, Eat Cake, by Jeanne Ray. The central character, Ruth, is a happily married, middle-aged mother of teenagers, with aging parents who have been divorced since Ruth was an infant - and they're still quarreling! Ruth is well-adjusted, easy-going, and likeable. She has a delicious mechanism for coping with life’s stress. When the going gets tough, she goes to the kitchen and bakes a cake. Her cake repertoire is large, inventive, and the results are spectacular. In this story, unexpected events cause Ruth to do a whole lot of baking. This is a humorous, enjoyable, and well-written tale of contemporary family life. Recipes are included.