Month: November 2024

The Paris Cooking School by Sophie Beaumont

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The Paris Cooking School is a wonderful unexpected romantic story with wounded characters who meet at an exclusive cooking school in hopes of taking their minds off of their problems by learning to cook. Never expecting anything other than trying to make sense of their problems, what happens is a bit of romance, fun and also a mystery to try and solve. The theme of the story…love…which happens in so many different ways.

Sylvie is the owner of The Paris Cooking School. She has a partner and a son who assist. The school itself has been a favorite for years with people traveling from all over the world to be taught by Sylvie. But suddenly, Sylvie discovers she has a problem. Someone is trying to shut her down. They have left bad reviews and put in a complaint with the food police. How and why can this be? This school is her life!

Kate is just coming out of a terrible marriage, although she had no idea how terrible until she found out her husband/business partner had been cheating on her. Heartbroken, she comes to the school to take her mind off of her problems, try something different and hope perhaps some of that Paris magic would come her way, never imagining what would become a life changing experience.

Gabi is an artist who created what everybody (but herself) calls a masterpiece! But Gabi has a terrible secret. She has been unable to paint or create for quite a while, always giving one excuse or another. As she tries to digest the inevitable loss of her career, she comes to The Paris Cooking School in the hopes of finding some sort of creativeness in order to move through this artistic block. But what Gabi discovers about herself will change her perspective on everything.

These three women will have extraordinary experiences during this session of The Paris Cooking School. They will learn valuable lessons which will change them as they move on in their lives but most importantly will discover in themselves the strengths and friendships which they will take with them forever.

The Paris Cooking School is a lovely story with characters who are strong and resilient but will discover who they really are and what they really want out of life through a remarkable change of events.

Thank you #NetGalley #AlcovePress #SophieBeaumont #TheParisCookingSchool for the advanced copy.

Emily Dickinson Is Dead by Jane Langton

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Emily Dickinson Is Dead is a murder mystery in the Homer Kelly Series. Published in 1984 (I found the book in an antique store, signed by the author with a few doodles she did on the signed page as well). She also had illustrated the book. Langton was known for her immense knowledge of Emily Dickinson and this book is a tribute to the grand dame of poetry. The story exudes wit, mystery and more importantly incorporates lines of Dickinson’s poetry into each chapter. Being published in the 1980’s it also has a throwback sense of what was happening at the time, and what could be said (and written).

But there is one true life mystery incorporated into the story. There is a mystery involving a photo which was discovered of Emily Dickinson. It has been debated for years as to if this is really her or not. To this day, no one knows for sure.

As the 100th anniversary of Emily Dickinson’s death approaches, an English professor at Amherst College in Amherst, MA has a brilliant idea to celebrate her life with a combination conference with discussions and a festival. Dickinson enthusiasts are invited from all over.

But from the start, the event seems to be cursed. Two students are killed in a dormitory fire, the women of Amherst rebel against the creators of the event because no women were included to lead any of the discussion groups, and then of course there are a few townspeople who have their own issues, some psychological and some devious.

That’s when scholar Homer Kelly accidently gets involved. As more bodies begin to pile up, and some go missing, it’s up to him to figure out what exactly is going on in this town. He cannot fathom what the real Emily Dickinson would think…especially when one of the bodies shows up in her own bedroom!

The twist to the story is that although nobody in the town knows who is doing the killings, the reader not only has a seat at the table to it all, but also knows the killer’s reasoning for why it’s being done.

Emily Dickinson Is Dead is an entertaining, enjoyable look back in time with a good murder/mystery and enough poetry incorporated that you wonder if the words she actually wrote were meant to be used as fodder for a who done it.

Published by St. Martin’s Press

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

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The Pairing is another uniquely creative story by Casey McQuiston, author of Red, White and Royal Blue and my favorite, One Last Stop. It’s the love story between two friends who are bisexual who have known each other since childhood and become romantically involved, until one day while heading on the vacation of a lifetime together have an argument which ends up tearing them apart. It’s very funny and extremely adorable as well as charming. In my opinion also one of the main characters you may say, is the beautiful, imaginative scenery McQuiston creates for the reader to envision as the two characters trapse around Europe.

Theo and Kit had been best friends since childhood, then turned boyfriend and girlfriend. But after a horrible fight at the airport when they were going on a dream vacation to Europe to visit beautiful countries and eat their way through cities and towns, they break up. Never to see each other again.

But, a few years later, Theo has decided it’s time to take this trip no matter what. The ticket is expiring, and she could use a break from her chaotic life in California where she is the daughter of an all-famous acting family, (except her) who has decided to do life on her own and has not really been able to find exactly what her talent should be. But as soon as she boards the bus in Paris to begin the eating and drinking tour of Europe, she is taken aback when she sees sitting in one of the seats, her ex-boyfriend Kit. Now, the two must attempt to get along, play nice and try and stay away from each other so they can enjoy the trip.

But, of course, that begins to become extremely difficult as they start to remember what their relationship used to be and just how much they enjoyed each other’s company. So, as a joke, they decide to participate in a bet. But of course, things begin to go downhill because of jealousy and misinterpretations.

And then something starts to happen as they travel to beautiful areas with gorgeous scenery and delightful food and very wonderful friends they begin to make at each stop. But what about the bet? They both know this will never work. Kit, a chef in Paris and Theo a sommelier and catering company owner in California are not going to change their lives…are they? With so much to lose, how could whatever this is be a win?

The Pairing is an apt name for this enchanting, humorous wonderfully sensitive story with delicious food and beautiful scenery to admire in your imagination. The book will have you so delighted by the end that you will be booking your very own trip to experience what you have created in your mind’s eye!

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sGriffin #ThePairing #CaseyMcQuiston for the advanced copy.

The Days I Loved You Most by Amy Neff

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Get your box of tissues out and leave them next to you! The Days I Loved You Most is an unforgettably heartbreaking, heartwarming love story which spans over fifty years. It’s the story of an elderly couple who fell in love as young children and fight hard to keep themselves together even when devastating obstacles stand in their way. They finally marry and think they will get their happily ever after, but of course, no marriage is perfect and the terrible awakening to children, money, regrets and deaths would put a strain on any relationship. But as a testament to their bond, just when they finally think they have figured it all out something horribly despairing and unfair will occur and rather than break them, will make them even stronger. Let me ask you a question…would you end your life if your soulmate and love of your life was diagnosed with a death sentence?

Evelyn and Joseph were childhood friends, turned crushes, turned lovers, turned married. They have always been in each other’s lives. They have raised three children into adults, worked hard at keeping Joseph’s family inn in the family and now are ready to sit back and relax and reap their rewards.

But today, as they gather their children and grandchildren around them, they make an announcement that will shock and stun all those who love then dearly. It has been discovered that Evelyn is very sick and dying. She does not have long to live. So, Evelyn and Joseph have decided to take one more year and enjoy their children and grandchildren and do some bucket list items and after the year they will die together by their own choice.

Of course, the children are angry, devastated and heartbroken, and some will try and make them change their minds, others will have their mind changed for them. During the progression of the last year, the reader is taken on a journey back in time to discover how this endless love came into existence and all the trials and tribulations they have all endured during the years. It will follow the passage of time of all their lives, and we will witness questionable attractions, many regrets, fights and even years long separations which are not understood.

But through all they have remained a family who love each other desperately and will help each other in any way possible. Although the years have sometimes been hard, their foundation may have cracked but it never broke and now as they all try and grab every single second, they can with each other, and grapple with the loss which is sure to come, is it possible to be at peace with this decision which Evelyn and Joseph have made?

The Days I Loved You Most is a powerful tribute to love and life everlasting, as well as the heartbreak of knowing you must let go of all you love in this world but knowing you will be together for eternity.

Thank you #NetGalley #ParkRow #AmyNeff #TheDaysILovedYouMost for the advanced copy.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

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The Wedding People is a serious, funny, seriously funny story with enough drama and comedy to keep you hanging on every word. The plot deals with love, death, life, connecting with strangers, happiness and depression and change. It truly is an uplifting tale which will have the reader rooting for all the wedding people as they traverse through their problems and try to discover the importance in their lives.

Phoebe Stone is a teacher, and she has decided to go to the famous Cornwall Inn wearing a beautiful dress to finish off her unbearably sad life. You see, she is divorced from the love of her life, also a teacher who cheated on her and ended up falling in love with someone else. As much as they tried, because of Phoebe, they had been unable to get pregnant something they both wanted desperately. She has not been able to finish writing her dissertation to get her PhD…for years, with everyone continually asking how it’s going. And finally, she comes home to her beloved cat Harry dead. And that is the final straw.

Now, as she stands in the lobby to check into the Inn, she realizes the others are checking in for a wedding that coming weekend. She overhears the conversations of some of the wedding people as to what the weekend will bring (with rolled eyes I might add). She discovers she is the only person at the Inn who is not one of the wedding people. Although dressed as such, no one knows.

When the bride to be Iris discovers she is at the Inn, she takes it upon herself, as Iris is quite the overbearing bridezilla, to go to Phoebe’s room to ask her to leave. When Phoebe explains she will not but will be out of her hair before the wedding, well, Iris basically blows a gasket!

As they sit and talk, something begins to happen. They begin to tell each other their deepest darkest fears and secrets. They start to bond over their similarly different ways of coping. And Phoebe begins to realize Iris and the wedding people may not be in a very good way, just as she too is feeling lost and lonely.

Iris invites Phoebe to one of the many, many wedding activities and Phoebe is introduced to the wedding people, the good, the bad, the drunk and the mother of the bride who is clearly Iris’s antagonist. You see, this wedding was supposed to happen before her father passed away. But he didn’t make it.

The more chaos the wedding people cause, the closer Phoebe and Iris become. But why? They are totally different people…or are they? And the closer Iris gets to her wedding, the closer Phoebe and Iris become to realizing certain things about themselves and each other. Are they now friends?

The Wedding People will break your heart, make you laugh, as you watch individuals learn about each other and grow, as they make life-changing choices and you will ponder the question, how on earth can two total strangers change each other’s lives as well as the wedding peoples for the better in just three days.

Thank you #NetGalley #HenryHoltandCo. #TheWeddingPeople #AlisonEspach for the advanced copy.