“Paris is a master at characterization, making it easy to adore Abbey and Jax. I cheered for Abbey's growth and ached for her all too real struggle with caring for an aging parent in this delicious story!”

 -Kimberly Hunt

 Editor, Revision Division

“Michelle’s second novel is a delightful, charming, sensitive and wonderful read.”

 -Elaine Lundberg

 Humor Therapist and author of No More Bummers

“Readers will feel like best friends with the sweet and sassy main character, Abbey Reilly after devouring this novel (I read it in one weekend!) Abbey’s life is a whirlwind of taking care of her ailing mom, coming to terms with her curvy shape, working at a super star bakery, and maybe even finding Mr. Right.

Nudged along in the romance department by her boss/friend Caroline, an outrageous, witty woman of a certain age, Abbey opens herself up to finding love. Her efforts are thwarted when she discovers one suitor is hiding his marital status. The next handsome guy in her path unfortunately lives in another city. Can they overcome the distance? 

Told with humor and hope, Paris’ novel will keep you believing in love, and maybe even boost your own self-confidence. It will also make you ravenous with descriptions of all the sweets Abbey bakes, so have a snack on hand while you read!”

-Cari Scribner, author of A Girl Like You and A Place Like This

“Lovelorn, full-figured Abbey Riley is Bridget Jones in a purple apron, a young woman searching for love and eventually learning to love herself. Eat Dessert First is the laugh-out-loud-funny story of a young woman who leaves a promising career as an architect in Philadelphia and returns to her hometown of Ellicott City, Maryland, to care for her ailing mother. To make ends meet, Abbey works at Sweet Caroline’s Bakeshop, where her customers fall in love with her red velvet cupcakes, brownies, and chocolate chip cookies. Some of them fall in love with Abbey, too, but are any of them the right guy for her? From the zany cast of characters to the snippets of classic rock songs, from the charming small-town bakeshop to the hoity-toity Philadelphia social scene, Eat Dessert First is a sweet treat read.”

  -Dian Seidel

 Author of Kindergarten at 60: A Memoir