This is no light read, though the cover seems a bit playful (or zany). Still, the
author does mix in some humor. Again, as with her first book, you’ll find
literary references that will delight Austen fans.
Let’s begin with the summary:
Sometimes the courage to face your greatest fears
comes only when you've run out of ways to escape.
At
the end of a long night, Elizabeth leans against the industrial oven and takes
in her kingdom. Once vibrant and flawless, evenings in the kitchen now feel
chaotic and exhausting. She's lost her culinary magic, and business is slowing
down.
When
worried investors enlist the talents of a tech-savvy celebrity chef to salvage
the restaurant, Elizabeth feels the ground shift beneath her feet. Not only has
she lost her touch; she's losing her dream.
And
her means of escape.
When
her mother died, Elizabeth fled home and the overwhelming sense of pain and
loss. But fifteen years later, with no other escapes available, she now
returns. Brimming with desperation and dread, Elizabeth finds herself in the
unlikeliest of places, by her sister’s side in Seattle as Jane undergoes
chemotherapy.
As
her new life takes the form of care, cookery, and classic literature, Elizabeth
is forced to reimagine her future and reevaluate her past. But can a New York
City chef with a painful history settle down with the family she once abandoned
. . . and make peace with the sister who once abandoned her?
And now, my review:
This is a story of sisters and
life-and-death struggles. A novel that will make readers think about their
lives. For those who’ve undergone cancer treatment, perhaps they’ll relate with
and see themselves in these characters.
I’m seeing a lot of foodie books
lately, and this was one. You’ll get hungry while you read. And I love the
premise that this expert may be able to use her gifts to help her sister. Still, there’s so much going on beneath the surface of
this story.
The secondary characters stood
out to me—especially the nurse. Well written. I liked that this story was
written in first person, though I did feel a little bit blind to the other
characters’ perspectives as I read.
Dear Mr. Knightley, this author’s first book, was one of my
favorites. Here again, Katherine uses
great descriptions and writes strong characters. I wasn’t sure what to expect
with this title and I prefer romance, but I did read to the end to see how things would
turn out. I liked that our heroine needed to find her true calling, to find a
fulfilling dream. And I enjoyed the banter between her and Nick (one of the
secondary characters).
Abandonment is a theme, as is
facing the past and reconciling with family. These are not light topics. I
believe readers who are looking for a family story will find plenty to love
about this novel.
