Three Books I Highly Recommend
’tis the season of cupid, valentines and hope springing eternal. What would we do without chocolates and romance books? Enjoy!
The Secret Ingredient by Nancy Naigle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Sweet and comforting- this book tops the cake! Blend delightful characters, a charming town, a few surprises and voila!- a tasty treat for readers.
Author Nancy Naigle has created a lovely character in Kelly McIntyre. Kelly is a hometown girl from Bailey’s Fork, North Carolina who likes to bake little treats and dream big. Her boyfriend Alex York seemed to share her vision of life in Bailey’s Fork. As young lovers, they were the kind who carved their initials in the town tree. Their future would be a piece of cake! Until…Alex went in a different direction…to Paris to study under a master chef.
Kelly waited for Alex to come home, but when the story begins, seven years have gone by, and Kelly is in Bailey’s Fork and Alex is still in Paris. Kelly is living her dreams and opened The Cake Factory. Her creative use of flavors has made her famous. She has her own house and loves her pet pig, GRAY (which stands for Good Riddance Alex York.) GRAY is one of the stars of the book!
Life changes when Alex gets an opportunity in New York City, so he flies in from Paris a few days early and decides to visit his hometown. He needs to mend some fences with his family, and even though he wanted to avoid her, he begins to rekindle his feelings for Kelly. She insists things are over. Is there anything that can bring them together? Well, sometimes, you need a sweet reminder.
As much as I loved Kelly- a pretty, friendly young woman with talent and business sense, the first part of the book was a bit slow. But, then the most exciting thing happens, and the second part of the book is a delight. No spoilers- but there is a Valentine’s Day Bake-Off.
Will Kelly and Alex finally learn the recipe for a good relationship and marriage? Is there a secret ingredient? (Did you know that James Thurber said, “The most dangerous food is wedding cake.”)
This book is scrumptious. You will be served characters that become your friends, a town that would be fun to visit, and even inspiration to bake creatively. There are added layers of sweet treats in this book as well, as we also get to know Kelly and Alex’s family and friends.
The icing on this “cake”? There’s a Recipe for Triple Layer Honey Almond Cake with Berries and Mascarpone Crème Fraiche, a Hallmark Original Recipe. Showstopper! Highly recommend.
I received an ARC from Hallmark Publishing and this is my honest review.
Fenella’s Fabulous Fountain Fondue by Amanda Paull
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Many of us love romantic comedy and we especially love British comedy. (For me, that includes Hugh Grant as the romantic lead. Fanella’s Fabulous Fountain Fondue is the third in a series of three short stories- perfect for a nibble of fun. Yes, I’d advise you to read the first two short stories in the series because they are adorable laugh out loud, emphasis on “loud”, but if you haven’t read the first two yet, , you’ll still have plenty to laugh about.
This third short story with the wonderful alliterative title continues to have an air of The Pickwick Papers about it- a hapless family that somehow muddles through without knowing it. The book starts with Laura, a pleasant gal with a teenage daughter and a rambunctious extended family preparing for her boyfriend’s mother’s eighty-fifth birthday party. The whole family is trying their best to be ready for the big event, as things are going so well for Ben and Laura. Who would have thought that marshmallows could cause so much trouble? This time, Laura’s dreams may be washed away by a fountain of hilarious happenings.
Amanda Paull hails from the North East of England and is a writer of humorous romantic fiction. According to her bio, “The inspiration for her stories comes from real life, which she tries to show the funnier side of by embellishing to the hilt.”
Fancy a quick read that is fun- find out the latest about Laura and her zany life! And a note to the author- a fourth story would be fine with me!
Many thanks to Rachels Random Resources for a review copy. This is my honest review.
True Colours by Anthea Syrokou
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Do you know of a quirky cozy street? One that may be a little out of the way, so that when you turn the corner and enter the street it feels like it was created just for you? A street that has intriguing and charming shops, where the shopkeepers are friends and know all the locals? If you do, you feel magic because it’s your special place.
Tess Harrington lives near such a street in Sydney and her hair salon is one of the lovely places there. She loves her world. Every day, she works, chats with her friends, and then she buys a sandwich and some pretty cupcakes and walks alone to her perfect little apartment. She spends the evening reading and savoring the peace of her little world.
She remembers a time when she wanted her life to surge like a wild horse, yet she is living like a mouse. She knows she needs colour in her life but is content with the precious objects in her apartment. Reading gives her a predictable view of love and life, where anything is possible but it’s still all controlled. Books are her window of hope- to adventure, passion and romance. Objects and books are all she can trust.
She drifts along until unsettling changes come to her world. She is forced to face memories from her younger years when Desiree moves in to the same apartment building. Desiree was one of the “mean girls” from Tess’s youth. Tess is terrified that Desiree has infiltrated her life once again. Tess must also confront some relationships with men from her past and her present.
Readers who are fans of Author Anthea Syrokou will once again appreciate her ability to explore the psychological realms. She is quite talented at creating relatable characters who are dealing with life’s challenges. To me, this book has a fairy tale or fantasy quality about it because Tess lives so much in the romantic world of her mind. This aura results in beautiful prose, but also makes the story somewhat distant and inaccessible.
Many thanks to the author for an ARC. This is my honest review.
About the Author
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