Helpful Score: 2
What a great book! From the very first page, I sympathized with Elena who had just been fired from a restaurant she helped to establish by the head chef who just happened to also be her boyfriend. She was then immediately offered a position by the owner of the restaurant, Julian, to be head chef for another restaurant he owned.
I related to Elena in so many ways. She loved her big dog Alvin and she suffered from pain after receiving massive injuries in a car wreck years before where she was the only survivor. I felt her pressure in trying to get the new restaurant established in Aspen and also felt her reluctance to get too deeply involved with the owner, who was a movie director and very rich, even though it seemed so right.
I loved the other characters in the book; Ivan the old chef who was battling issues of his own; Peter, one of Elena's best friends who arrived to help her with the restaurant; Mia, another good friend of Elena's;, and even all of the restaurant help from the immigrants including Juan who was a favorite, to Tansy the pastry chef.
The relationship that developed between Julian's daughter Portia and Elena was also a great addition, but I would say one of my favorite parts was how the author made the food sound so great, the descriptions read almost like poetry and recipes are even included which is another plus.
It is hard to categorize this book; its so much more than chic lit and I certainly recommend it to all who love a great story! I look forward to reading another book by this talented author, Barbara O Neal.
I related to Elena in so many ways. She loved her big dog Alvin and she suffered from pain after receiving massive injuries in a car wreck years before where she was the only survivor. I felt her pressure in trying to get the new restaurant established in Aspen and also felt her reluctance to get too deeply involved with the owner, who was a movie director and very rich, even though it seemed so right.
I loved the other characters in the book; Ivan the old chef who was battling issues of his own; Peter, one of Elena's best friends who arrived to help her with the restaurant; Mia, another good friend of Elena's;, and even all of the restaurant help from the immigrants including Juan who was a favorite, to Tansy the pastry chef.
The relationship that developed between Julian's daughter Portia and Elena was also a great addition, but I would say one of my favorite parts was how the author made the food sound so great, the descriptions read almost like poetry and recipes are even included which is another plus.
It is hard to categorize this book; its so much more than chic lit and I certainly recommend it to all who love a great story! I look forward to reading another book by this talented author, Barbara O Neal.
Helpful Score: 1
What a great book!! I just found out it was the author's debut. And what a debut it was. I wasn't expecting the ending - left me wanting more. But I have her next 2 books on my wish list.
Great read!!
Great read!!
Helpful Score: 1
I have never read this author before so i thought I would give her a try. I really enjoyed the story. It was not a typical romance where the main characters try to resist each other because of some lame reason all through the book. The character development was thorough with plenty of interesting secondary characters. I really enjoyed the sense of flavors running through the story (and recipes). Give it a try - it won't cost you anything but one credit!!!
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this book the characters were very real and flawed. the recipes were a nice touch and lent to the story and the authenticity of the chef characters. I liked the element of the ghosts and the horrible things that happened to these people added to the authenticity of the situations. I enjoyed the story and would rec. this to anyone looking for a good story. It is a love story, but not a typical chick lit one, which made it interesting and worth reading.
I know this is a silly comment, but the picture on the cover has a yellow lab, yet there is not a yellow lab in the story, not sure why the publisher did that..
I know this is a silly comment, but the picture on the cover has a yellow lab, yet there is not a yellow lab in the story, not sure why the publisher did that..
Helpful Score: 1
I just loved this book. The characters were so real and it was just a beautiful story.
The member that sent it to me said it was a "special" book and i believe it really was. I cant stop thinking about it! The recipes are an added benefit!
The member that sent it to me said it was a "special" book and i believe it really was. I cant stop thinking about it! The recipes are an added benefit!
Helpful Score: 1
It's the opportunity Elena Alvarez has been waiting for--the challenge of running her own kitchen in a world-class restaurant. Haunted by an accident of which she was the lone survivor,. Elena knows better than anyone how to defy the odds. With her faithful dog, Alvin, and her grandmother's recipes. Elena arrives in Colorado to find a restaurant in as desperate need of a fresh start as she is-and a man whose passionate approach to food and life rivals her own. Owner Julian Liswood is a name many people know but a man few do. He's come to Aspen with a troubled teenage daughter and a dream of the kind of stability and love only a family can provide. But for Elena, old ghosts don't die quietly, yet a chance to find happiness at last is worth the risk.
great book!!!!
great book!!!!
Helpful Score: 1
I like this book. It made me hungry! I had to go to a Mexican restaurant after reading it to quench my craving!
Helpful Score: 1
A well written story, but to be honest, I'm not sure if I liked it or not.
I did finish it, so that's a plus, and I'm relatively sure this was the author's debut novel, and as such it's pretty impressive. There were parts I liked, some more then others, and parts I like didn't, again some more then others. But having finished it, literally just a few minutes ago, I'm not sure how I feel. I sorta kinda want more, but at the same time don't know if I'd read another book by the author (though I won't rule t out).
A few places call it 'chick lit' and I'm not even sure If I'd apply that label to it. The story seems weightier somehow, so much so, that calling it 'chick lit', doesn't seem to do it justice. (not that there's anything wrong with chick lit)
I can't help but think this is the type of book that would work really well as a group read . The overall story is a busy one, lots of stuff happens, and I just think It would have been easier to process had I someone to discuss it with; maybe then I'd know what I really thought of it!
I did finish it, so that's a plus, and I'm relatively sure this was the author's debut novel, and as such it's pretty impressive. There were parts I liked, some more then others, and parts I like didn't, again some more then others. But having finished it, literally just a few minutes ago, I'm not sure how I feel. I sorta kinda want more, but at the same time don't know if I'd read another book by the author (though I won't rule t out).
A few places call it 'chick lit' and I'm not even sure If I'd apply that label to it. The story seems weightier somehow, so much so, that calling it 'chick lit', doesn't seem to do it justice. (not that there's anything wrong with chick lit)
I can't help but think this is the type of book that would work really well as a group read . The overall story is a busy one, lots of stuff happens, and I just think It would have been easier to process had I someone to discuss it with; maybe then I'd know what I really thought of it!
Helpful Score: 1
Having no clue as to how I came across this author, I decided to give her a try.
And, I am so glad I did....the book drew me in and didn't let go.
Not being fond of books that have 'perfect' characters like the stereotypical long legged blond with a face & body that could stop traffic. Ugh! Come on people...have a bit of compassion for us 'real life' people. I'm drawn to characters that are flawed.
These were and you could see the struggles of them trying to be better people and even at the end of the book they still were flawed and not miraculously 'fixed'.
I enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it. And, I'm also looking forward to reading more by this author.
And, I am so glad I did....the book drew me in and didn't let go.
Not being fond of books that have 'perfect' characters like the stereotypical long legged blond with a face & body that could stop traffic. Ugh! Come on people...have a bit of compassion for us 'real life' people. I'm drawn to characters that are flawed.
These were and you could see the struggles of them trying to be better people and even at the end of the book they still were flawed and not miraculously 'fixed'.
I enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it. And, I'm also looking forward to reading more by this author.
This was a great book. The story was very interesting and the descriptions (and actual recipes) of the food were amazing. I don't keep many books but this one I will!
Fun, fast read.
I didn't particularly like this book. I felt like it could have been about 150 pages shorter. The plot was OK, but it felt like the protagonist was just complaining all the time. I probably wouldn't recommend it.
A splendid modern romance, where the rules of real life apply but love can still heal (okay, with a little assist from good pastries). The book cover features a blurb from author Susan Wiggs and that almost put me off because Wiggs can be so sappy. Don't let it mislead you! Elena is a wonderful, complex character, Flawed but redeemed in the end as she rebuilds her life. I liked the realism (Elena suffers chronic pain and can be cranky; her relationships with Ivan, Julian and his daughter can be rocky).
This is a great story with some great recipes! I love it!
Great read, complex characters. I was inspired to look for others O'Neal has written. Can't wait for her next book. Even tried 1 of the recipes!
Great book! The story and characters are very real. I highly recommend reading this one!
This was a good book; it made me hungry! The characters were believable and I rooted for them to find..well, happiness. It's not a true light-hearted read, the main character, Elena, has been through a lot, but she doesn't feel sorry for herself; she forges ahead, which is what we hope we all do when life gives us a bad hand. It's not all gloom-and-doom, so don't get me wrong, but don't pick it up thinking it's bouncy chic lit, it's a little more serious than that, and well worth reading. But not when you're hungry!
One of the best books I've read in a long time. Full of angst and pain and sweetness, I cried and cried, and yet the author still delivers a happily-ever-after ending you can believe in. The many characters in this book are flawed, but you love them anyway, just like people in real life. I read a LOT...and this book stands out as the best I've read in years.
Very enjoyable read kept my interest all the way through.
I read this while I, myself, was in a pretty emotional state, so I connected a lot to the character's struggle to let people in. Barbara O'Neal has a gift for writing that is easy to read and a formula that mixes love, dogs, food, and music that keeps me coming back! This particular book, though - could have been due to my own vulnerable state - I found the sex scenes a little too much.
I picked this book up at Goodwill knowing nothing aboaut the author. I found it very interesting with good charactarization and a surprising good story set in the restaurant business.
Just couldn't get into this book. I finally just gave it up after about page 105.
