Book Review: The Recipe Box by Sandra Lee

  A PERFECT addition for your cookbook collection!!

Ok, so maybe for your bookshelf, but this book does double duty as both a sweet novel AND with the added bonus of Ms. Lee's amazing recipes! 

Not only do I own most of Sandra Lee's cookbooks, and absolutely love her show, but now she can add accomplished author to her repertoire because this book is a keeper!! 

Grace Holm-DeAngelo is a workaholic, recently divorced, and most important, the mother to fourteen year old Emma.  She's just moved to Los Angeles to work on her newest adventure, a television vampire series "The Lost Ones."  She loves her work and often spends more of her time with her work family rather than her own distressed daughter who desperately needs her during this tremendous time of adjustment. 
As if there isn't enough turmoil in her life, she's just lost her best friend to cancer and is dealing with secrets from her past that have come back to haunt her. 
Reeling with almost every emotion, Grace returns to her hometown of New London, Wisconsin to figure out what to do with herself and what is best for her daughter.  Emma wants to be in Chicago, Grace wants to be back at work in Los Angeles, but Wisconsin seems to be the best for both of them.  Grace has found new love, and maybe a new relationship with her estranged mother; Emma is finally doing well in school; and Grace has renewed a love she once had for cooking.  But as a forty-something woman, should she stay where she is happy, or return to L.A. to begin the newest chapter in her life? 

Sandra Lee has written the sweetest, most delicious book I've read in quite some time.  I love books about starting over, and when you include recipes, well then, I'm sold.  I mean how can you go wrong?  Lovely story about friendship and family bonds, all mixed with Cinnamon Rolls and Blood Orange Sheet Cake!! 

For anyone who enjoys Foodie Fiction, this is a book for you.  In many ways it reminded me of The Ladybug series by Donna Ball, so if you've read those and enjoyed, this is a sure hit!

Thank you Hyperion and Net Galley for the ARC of this most fabulous fun read!!! 

Now, I'm off to go bake something!!  Happy Reading!!!

Book Review: Saving Grace by Fiona McCallum

Walk, no RUN out and buy this book.  What a simply delightful read!!  Fiona McCallum's newest novel, Saving Grace, should be relished with a lovely cup of tea and an afternoon full of good reading!!!  This book will be available in April 2013.

Emily's life is in a bad way.  Her beloved Grandmother has just passed away and she is stuck in a loveless marriage out on the farm.  Fed up with all that's going wrong in her life, she meets an amazing friend in Barbara, the seller of her new puppy, Grace.  With the encouragement from this new found friend, she finally gathers the courage to leave her husband and her old life of comfort behind.  

 With Grace in tow, Emily begins a new chapter in her life, and ends up renting an old farm house of her own.  This house has more than one memory for her father, who is her only other cheerleader in the quest for a new beginning.  Her mother, mortified that she's not only left her husband, but more so that it will make her look bad, is not impressed with the dilapidated house.  Yet, Emily sees great potential and starts to work on what soon will become her home.  On the property she finds a beautiful orchard of fruit trees, and her and Barbara get to work baking and cooking away.  It is those fruit trees that get her wheels turning of things she can do with this big and beautiful house.

Emily is slowly learning that life in a small town is about more than the stares she's getting and begins to embrace her new life.  Together with Grace, Emily and Barbara embark on a journey that could potentially change Emily's luck and life.  Maybe even a male suitor or two?

Again, I absolutely loved this book.  It's an easy read that will simply put a smile on your face.  I'm very much looking forward to her next novel to continue to story of Emily and Grace!! 

Thank you Net Galley and Harlequin Enterprises Australia for an ARC of this book!! 

Book Review: Tin God by Stacy Green

How lucky am I to be able to review a book that will be released next month!  AND, not only is it a fabulous read, but it is by a relatively new author, Stacy Green www.stacygreen.net
WOW!!!  Stacy Green's newest novel (releasing April 2013) Tin God is one amazing read!!!

Jaymee is a twentysomething with a horrific father (and that's being mild, I'd prefer to use other terms, but will be nice) who lives in a run down trailer yet is about to be evicted and is reeling from the loss of her daughter she gave up for adoption as well as the death of her best friend Lana, who was murdered 4 years ago.  She trusts no one, but has made a friend in one of her employers.  She is burning the candle at both ends working several jobs to make ends meet and failing miserably.  Then, just when things can't possibly get any worse, she arrives to friends home to work and instead of a cheerful greeting, she is met instead by her dead body.

Then, Lana's husband, Nick, receives a letter "I killed your wife......again."  Nick and Jaymee are reunited in sorrow and begin the hunt for the killer.  What they find is that it is Jaymee's adoption, 7 years earlier, that is the root of all evil.  Together they encounter more twists and turns in the search for the killer; all the while, unknowingly falling in love.

This was quite a ride and a fantastic read from an emerging new author.  Thank you Stacy Green for a wonderful, suspense filled book.

I highly recommend you check this out.

Stay tuned for my Tin God, I meant Chocolate God Cupcake recipe.  These are so good, they truly are to die for!!