One shot. One kitchen. All heart.

Fiona McConnell grew up helping her dad run his catering company on the streets of Los Angeles while dreaming of pastry chef stardom. Now she finally gets her shot: when her culinary idol and boss, Julia Stone, fires both the head and pastry chefs at Lucien—one of L.A.’s most acclaimed restaurants—Fiona steps up to prove she belongs in the kitchen.

But the heat turns up fast when Julia brings in the legendary and fiercely ambitious Liam Auclair as head chef. His mission? To earn L.A.’s first three Michelin stars—no matter the pressure it puts on the team.

As Fiona fights to rise in the cutthroat world of fine dining, she meets Rory Martin, a charming vintner with a love of food, wine, and surfing—basically, the boyfriend she never thought existed. But when ambition, identity, and desire collide, Fiona has to decide: will she chase perfection or choose what's real?

About the Author

Michelle Christensen is a Pastry Chef at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, California. She has an Associate's degree in Patisserie and Baking from Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena, California, and has worked at some of the best restaurants and bakeries in Los Angeles. La Pâte á Bombe is her first novel. She lives in Santa Monica with her husband and three children.

Praise for La Pâte á Bombe

“Christensen delivers a delightful and multifaceted story that follows a feel-good thread about hard work, forgiveness, and redemption, while also pursuing an entertaining romantic plotline.” —Kirkus Reviews

“As a one-time denizen of the world Christensen so ably portrays—i.e. the restaurant culture of Venice and West Los Angeles—this engaging novel rings very true. I found myself commiserating with our spunky protagonist, Fiona, rooting for her, celebrating her humility, and cheering her on in the face of uncertainty and lack of confidence. The author gives us highly relatable, and powerful, female friendships, the promise (and fear) of love, youthful mistakes, professional high-stakes and the just rewards for a strong work ethic plus the willingness to take risks. Highly recommend spending a weekend+ immersed in this compelling tale.” —Brigit Binns, prolific cookbook author, and most recently author of the memoir A Succulent Story of Survival