Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Book of the day: "The Love Goddess' Cooking School"

In honor of International Chick Lit Month and our one year blogoversary, we're bringing you a book a day (and then some). If you've read the book and want to comment on this post with your thoughts, please do. If you haven't read it yet, we hope you'll take interest in it after hearing our thoughts. To make this fun, anyone who comments on any of these posts has a chance to be entered in a drawing for a special prize. The more posts you comment on, the more chances to win! (See here for contest details.)

"The Love Goddess' Cooking School" by Melissa Senate:
Holly Maguire's grandmother was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine–a Milanese fortune teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. Holly has been waiting years for her unlikely fortune: her true love will like sa cordula, an unappetizing old-world delicacy. But Holly can't make a decent marinara sauce, let alone sa cordula. Maybe that's why the man she hopes to marry breaks her heart. So when Holly inherits Camilla's Cucinotta, she's determined to forget about fortunes and love and become an Italian cooking teacher worthy of her grandmother's legacy.

But Holly's four students are seeking much more than how to make Camilla's chicken alla Milanese. Simon, a single father, hopes to cook his way back into his daughter's heart. Juliet, Holly's childhood friend, hides a painful secret. Tamara, a serial dater, can't find the love she longs for. And twelve-year-old Mia thinks learning to cook will stop her dad from marrying his phony lasagna-queen girlfriend.

As the class gathers each week, adding Camilla's essential ingredients of wishes and memories into every pot and pan, unexpected friendships and romances are formed–and tested. Especially when Holly falls hard for Liam...and learns a thing or two about finding her own recipe for happiness. (Summary courtesy of Melissa Senate's website.)

Melissa A:
One of the few books that was able to make me cry. I have nothing but praise for this beautiful story! See my review for more details.

Melissa P:
What a great marriage of writing fiction and recipes. I loved how Melissa described the little cottage in Maine so that it felt like I was there with Holly in her grandmother’s kitchen.

More by Melissa Senate:




15 comments:

BRN2SHOP9 said...

Sounds like a good book

S.Sabia said...

I have been wanting to read this one but haven't picked it up yet.
sfsabiaATverizonDOTnet

Shaz Goodwin said...

I love this one too - haven't brought it but added it to my Amazon wishlist! The Beach House was dispatched today - yippeee!

shaz (dot) goodwin (at) sky (dot) com

Unknown said...

ooh I have this one. Great pick!
schlarmette[at]gmail[dot]com

Jeryl M. said...

Sounds like a good story. I'll have to read it sometime.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Margie said...

Sounds like a good combination of recipes and family drama. I'll add it to my list!
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Linda Kish said...

Sounds interesting.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Juliet Madison said...

Oooh, I love stories with a food theme! Like a chick lit version of Masterchef :)

jjmnp76(at)yahoo(dot)com(dot)au

Anonymous said...

I remember really wanting this book before it was released for sale, now that it's out, I have too many bills to pay! ha

miss_kris_11 AT yahoo DOT com

Literary Chanteuse said...

I have been wanting to read this one! I love books that are about food and cooking!

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Bec said...

I love the idea of this book as someone who likes cooking. Will definitley be looking for this one

be204ever AT hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I have been wanting to read this one.

jenceyg@msn.com

Kat said...

The story reminds me of Maeve Bincy's "Evening Class" but it's learning Italian vs. cooking. Sounds like a good book!

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Sarah said...

This is one of my favorite books!
It was such a great read:)

foxchick0323@live.com

Lucas deep said...

My favorite book though