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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
A moving second chance romance featuring a down on her luck American chef trying to make it in Paris who loses her sense of taste and takes some time off to reconnect with the mother who abandoned her as a baby.
Full of family secrets, grief, forgiveness and a touch of magical realism. This was good on audio narrated by Traci Odom and perfect for fans of Julia Child and books like The spice master at Bistro Exotique by Samantha Verant.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
⚠️CW: drug addiction, anxiety, fatal illness, car accident resulting in paralysis of a loved one
Full of family secrets, grief, forgiveness and a touch of magical realism. This was good on audio narrated by Traci Odom and perfect for fans of Julia Child and books like The spice master at Bistro Exotique by Samantha Verant.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!
⚠️CW: drug addiction, anxiety, fatal illness, car accident resulting in paralysis of a loved one
Short Synopsis:
After Georgia experiences the worst day that leads to her jobless, homeless and boyfriendless, she travels to San Juan Island (outside of Seattle) to reconnect with her mom that she hasn’t spoken to since she was a small child.
My Thoughts:
After falling madly in love with Rachel Linden’s previous book, I was itching to read this one. I LOVE the setting of this one. San Juan is just a ferry ride (a long ferry ride, but ferry ride nonetheless) from me and it’s a fun setting for a book.
There’s so much to like about this book: the magic, the food, the love story, finding yourself, family. It was a sweet and complex novel. And I enjoyed every minute of it!
Read if You Like:
After Georgia experiences the worst day that leads to her jobless, homeless and boyfriendless, she travels to San Juan Island (outside of Seattle) to reconnect with her mom that she hasn’t spoken to since she was a small child.
My Thoughts:
After falling madly in love with Rachel Linden’s previous book, I was itching to read this one. I LOVE the setting of this one. San Juan is just a ferry ride (a long ferry ride, but ferry ride nonetheless) from me and it’s a fun setting for a book.
There’s so much to like about this book: the magic, the food, the love story, finding yourself, family. It was a sweet and complex novel. And I enjoyed every minute of it!
Read if You Like:
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Recipe for a Charmed Life by Rachel Linden
Firstly, I am in love with the cover. It is absolutely gorgeous.
American chef Georgia May Jackson aspires to run her own restaurant in Paris after a decade of working in Parisian kitchens. However, she loses her sous chef position, her French boyfriend, and her culinary gift.
She flees to a small island near Seattle, hoping to regain her passion. However, she faces challenges like good luck charms, an oyster farmer neighbor, and a mysterious family legacy. As time runs out, Georgia uncovers surprising secrets and wonders if the true recipe for a charmed life might be different. To know what happens, read this book.
What a beautiful, heartbreaking story! It was funny, sad, and filled with so much grief, but at the same time, it was a story of hope, faith, love, and luck.
I thought there wouldn't be any POV from Cole; however, the moment one came in, I was excited. I needed to know what he was thinking and his perspective. Bonus points for his POV.
This was a magical story with brilliant writing and plot. It was smooth, like butter. The characters were so strong, and they will definitely leave an impact on the readers. They were relatable, flawed, lovely, and inspiring.
The descriptions were vivid, and all the talk about food made me hungry. It will make you want to visit the places mentioned. This was a cozy and sweet read. Also, don't forget to check the recipes at the back.
I recommend this to all food lovers and lovers of romance with a touch of magical realism and a bit of family drama.
Rating ~ 4✨
Firstly, I am in love with the cover. It is absolutely gorgeous.
American chef Georgia May Jackson aspires to run her own restaurant in Paris after a decade of working in Parisian kitchens. However, she loses her sous chef position, her French boyfriend, and her culinary gift.
She flees to a small island near Seattle, hoping to regain her passion. However, she faces challenges like good luck charms, an oyster farmer neighbor, and a mysterious family legacy. As time runs out, Georgia uncovers surprising secrets and wonders if the true recipe for a charmed life might be different. To know what happens, read this book.
What a beautiful, heartbreaking story! It was funny, sad, and filled with so much grief, but at the same time, it was a story of hope, faith, love, and luck.
I thought there wouldn't be any POV from Cole; however, the moment one came in, I was excited. I needed to know what he was thinking and his perspective. Bonus points for his POV.
This was a magical story with brilliant writing and plot. It was smooth, like butter. The characters were so strong, and they will definitely leave an impact on the readers. They were relatable, flawed, lovely, and inspiring.
The descriptions were vivid, and all the talk about food made me hungry. It will make you want to visit the places mentioned. This was a cozy and sweet read. Also, don't forget to check the recipes at the back.
I recommend this to all food lovers and lovers of romance with a touch of magical realism and a bit of family drama.
Rating ~ 4✨
Thank you @berkleypub for a free copy of this book & happy book birthday for Recipe For a Charmed Life!
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, but I do love the way Rachel Linden incorporates a whimsical touch of magic into her stories.
After budding chef Georgia May Jackson loses her ability to taste, she flees her prosperous career in Paris and heads to a small island back in the US to reconnect with her estranged mother and hopefully regain her gift.
The delectable food descriptions, cozy setting, and romance that develops with the handsome oyster farmer were all great. With plenty of secrets looming in the background, I was initially very invested in Georgia discovering more about her mysteriously gifted family.
But woah—this was heavier than I expected. I tend to enjoy a gritty story, but this veered into a pile of traumatic pasts that unfortunately lessened its emotional impact for me. It was all a bit melodramatic, especially towards the end.
(heat level: kissing only)
After budding chef Georgia May Jackson loses her ability to taste, she flees her prosperous career in Paris and heads to a small island back in the US to reconnect with her estranged mother and hopefully regain her gift.
The delectable food descriptions, cozy setting, and romance that develops with the handsome oyster farmer were all great. With plenty of secrets looming in the background, I was initially very invested in Georgia discovering more about her mysteriously gifted family.
But woah—this was heavier than I expected. I tend to enjoy a gritty story, but this veered into a pile of traumatic pasts that unfortunately lessened its emotional impact for me. It was all a bit melodramatic, especially towards the end.
(heat level: kissing only)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Abandonment
Minor: Car accident
Not enjoying this one nearly as much as I anticipated. I think I need to put it down for the time being and try again at a later date.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes