Foodie February Giveaway 2014!!!

So, this Foodie February was not as chock-full of reviews as I hoped (must plan better for next year!) but I am not skimping out on everyone’s favorite part of the event…the giveaway!!  This year I’m giving away the following foodie faves:

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

 

The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted by Bridget Asher

The Love Goddess’ Cooking School by Melissa Senate

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

May the most fanatic foodie-fic lover win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mini Reviews - Foodie Duds: Dolci di Love & Cinnamon and Gunpowder

Summary Blurb:
New from the author of House of Daughters- an irresistible confection of love, loss, and Italian sweets in the delectable tradition of Chocolat

Corporate star Lily Turner abandons the boardrooms of Manhattan for the steep streets of Montevedova when she discovers her "perfect" husband, Daniel, has another family tucked away in the hills of Tuscany. Once there, her plight attracts the attention of the Secret League of Widowed Darners, an all-but-invisible army pulling strings behind the scenes to create happy endings. Soon founding members, Violetta and Luciana, are scheming to mend Lily's broken heart-and to enlist her help for their struggling pasticceria.

With the lush landscape of a sumptuous Tuscan summer in the background, and the tantalizing scent of fresh-baked cantucci in the air, Dolci di Love is the joyful celebration of a modern recipe for life.

My Blabberings:
This was a typical light lit book that I thought was going to have much more foodie elements than it actually did.  Sure, the protagonist ends up staying in an apartment above a bakery and there is a small element of baking…but that’s it.  I liked the book just fine, but I didn’t love it. 

2.5/5 stars
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Summary Blurb:
A gripping adventure, a seaborne romance, and a twist on the tale of Scheherazade—with the best food ever served aboard a pirate’s ship

The year is 1819, and the renowned chef Owen Wedgwood has been kidnapped by the ruthless pirate Mad Hannah Mabbot. He will be spared, she tells him, as long as he puts exquisite food in front of her every Sunday without fail.

To appease the red-haired captain, Wedgwood gets cracking with the meager supplies on board. His first triumph at sea is actual bread, made from a sourdough starter that he leavens in a tin under his shirt throughout a roaring battle, as men are cutlassed all around him. Soon he’s making tea-smoked eel and brewing pineapple-banana cider.

But Mabbot—who exerts a curious draw on the chef—is under siege. Hunted by a deadly privateer and plagued by a saboteur hidden on her ship, she pushes her crew past exhaustion in her search for the notorious Brass Fox. As Wedgwood begins to sense a method to Mabbot’s madness, he must rely on the bizarre crewmembers he once feared: Mr. Apples, the fearsome giant who loves to knit; Feng and Bai, martial arts masters sworn to defend their captain; and Joshua, the deaf cabin boy who becomes the son Wedgwood never had.
 
Cinnamon and Gunpowder is a swashbuckling epicure’s adventure simmered over a surprisingly touching love story—with a dash of the strangest, most delightful cookbook never written. Eli Brown has crafted a uniquely entertaining novel full of adventure: the Scheherazade story turned on its head, at sea, with food

My Blabberings:
***first ever foodie fiction DNF!!***

I really thought I was going to love this book - the premise sounds so unique and fun.  But alas, it just didn't grab me despite its foodie bits and swashbuckling bits.  I kind of want to blame the narrator (Wedgewood, the chef pictured on the cover) because he was so naive and whiny.  So yeah...I wasn't a big fan of Wedgewood but maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to read this tale.  I know a lot of folks on Goodreads seemed to like this book so maybe I'll give it another chance next year!
 

Foodie February 2014!

It's that time of year again!  Tomorrow begins the month where at NPLB we tantalize our taste buds while reading!  In the Februaries of the past two years, I've read both cookbooks and foodie fiction and plan on continuing the tradition.  Here's some reviews for you to look forward to this month:

Cookbooks:
How to Cook Without a Book by Pam Anderson

Keepers by Kathy Brennan and Caroline Campion

Foodie Fiction:
Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen (partially foodie)

The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted by Bridget Asher

And other, yet to be determined foodie novels!  At the end of the month I will host a foodie book giveaway to win one of the books that I reviewed this month or in past Foodie Februaries.  Yum, I can't wait to start!

Towering TBR: Foodie Edition

I know many of us suffer from the problem of out-of-control TBRs...but when I saw that my Goodreads TBR list now tops 900 I had a slight freak-out moment. 

This time, since it's Foodie February, I want to go over the latest additions to my crazy-long foodie TBR list.

Here are the latest additions to my foodie-wanna-reads:

Cinnamon and Gunpowder: A Novel by Eli Brown...foodie/adventure/pirate story - I'm sold!

Yes, Chef: A Memoir by Marcus Samuelsson - lots of hype surrounding this title.

Apron Anxiety: My Messy Affairs In and Out of the Kitchen by Alyssa Shelasky...a memoir of a clueless gal learning to cook (includes recipes)!

How Lucky You Are by Kristyn Kusek Lewis...recommended cozy/foodie chick-lit.

Consider the Fork by Bee Wilson...who doesn't like a good foodie history?

Top Ten Tuesday: Fave Characters in Foodie Fiction

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, this week's topic: Top Ten Characters in Foodie Fiction (to go along with my Foodie February month)!

1.  Josh from Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler...*super swoon*!

2.  Josey Cirrini in The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen...such a loveable character!

3.  I liked all of the characters from The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister but especially restauranteur Lillian.

4.  Fiery Gertrudis from Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel was a great secondary charadcter.

5.  Young Mia in The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate

6.  Jessamine from The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman

7. Andy from Dinner, A Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach...I'm cheating since Andy is a real person and not a character - but what can I say?  I love it when a man cooks!

8. Rose in The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender...this book wasn't without some issues, but it still stays with me due to the unique premise of tasting people's emotions in food.

9.  Bay from Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

10.  Finn from The Lost Art of Mixing by Erica Bauermeister...who could resist an orphaned gentle giant who collects stories??

Latest Review: The Lost Art of Mixing

Goodreads Summary:
National bestselling author Erica Bauermeister returns to the enchanting world of The School of Essential Ingredients in this luminous sequel.

Lillian and her restaurant have a way of drawing people together. There’s Al, the accountant who finds meaning in numbers and ritual; Chloe, a budding chef who hasn’t learned to trust after heartbreak; Finnegan, quiet and steady as a tree, who can disappear into the background despite his massive height; Louise, Al’s wife, whose anger simmers just below the boiling point; and Isabelle, whose memories are slowly slipping from her grasp. And there’s Lillian herself, whose life has taken a turn she didn’t expect. . . .

Their lives collide and mix with those around them, sometimes joining in effortless connections, at other times sifting together and separating again, creating a family that is chosen, not given. A beautifully imagined novel about the ties that bind—and links that break—The Lost Art of Mixing is a captivating meditation on the power of love, food, and companionship.

My Thoughts:
Never before have I felt like I could taste an author's descriptions of food.  Yummm...my mouth watered throughout this book!

The Lost Art of Mixing is a sequel to Bauermeister's delicious The School of Essential Ingredients and picks up right where last left the characters.  For those who haven't read the first novel, you will still find this book to be appealing; however, you will be more invested in the characters and their stories if you read The School of Essential Ingredients.  I love that we got to catch up with Chloe, Lillian and Isabelle and look at the next chapter of their lives.  This book also introduced some new and incredibly endearing characters who have engrossing lives. 

The Lost Art of Mixing focuses on the intertwining of food and memories.  The overarching theme in each of the character's stories is overcoming past memories that are obstacles to a more fulfilling future.  If you like cozy, character-driven foodie fiction, then this book is for you!

4/5 stars

Other Reviews:
Book Chatter
Life in the Thumb

Foodie February Giveaway!

Hey folks!  Since "Foodie February" is now over it's time to have the foodie fiction giveaway!  This giveaway ends on March 8th so hurry up and add your entry to the Rafflecopter widget at the end of this post!  The winner will receive their choice of one title from the foodie books I've reviewed this month:

• Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquival
• The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate
• Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
• The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
• The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

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Foodie Fiction Review: Like Water for Chocolate

Goodreads Summary:
Earthy, magical, and utterly charming, this tale of family life in turn-of-the-century Mexico became a best-selling phenomenon with its winning blend of poignant romance and bittersweet wit.

The number one bestseller in Mexico and America for almost two years, and subsequently a bestseller around the world, "Like Water For Chocolate" is a romantic, poignant tale, touched with moments of magic, graphic earthiness, bittersweet wit - and recipes.

A sumptuous feast of a novel, it relates the bizarre history of the all-female De La Garza family. Tita, the youngest daughter of the house, has been forbidden to marry, condemned by Mexican tradition to look after her mother until she dies. But Tita falls in love with Pedro, and he is seduced by the magical food she cooks. In desperation, Pedro marries her sister Rosaura so that he can stay close to her. For the next twenty-two years, Tita and Pedro are forced to circle each other in unconsummated passion. Only a freakish chain of tragedies, bad luck and fate finally reunite them against all the odds.

My thoughts:
Overall, I think my expectations were a bit too high for this book and it didn't quite measure up.  That being said, I still really enjoyed it and some parts I downright adored!  I loved the fact that Tita's emotions came through in her cooking and manifested in those who ate her food (reminds me a bit of Garden Spells). However, some of the mystical elements were a bit too out there for me. The term "magical realism" is too tame for this novel - it is better described as more of a family myth.

Tita was an emotional and endearing protagonist so you can't help but cheer for her throughout the book.  She, Nacha and John are very loveable characters (although I happen to quite like the fiery Gertrudis as well); whereas, Rosaura and Mami are quite horrific villains.  I'm sure that the reader is supposed to like Pedro as well, but I just didn't care for him at all.  He seemed short-sighted, egocentric, and at times a bit bratty (I have no idea what Tita saw in him).

While I loved some of these characters...none of them were quite three-dimensional for me.  So, if you are strictly a character-driven reader, this book is probably not for you.  Recommended to fans of foodie fiction and to those who like magical elements in their reading.

3.5/5 stars....I think I have to come up with a new rating system.  The 5 star system doesn't accurately reflect my feelings towards Like Water for Chocolate.  Hmmm...I'll think on it.  Suggestions? 

Foodie Fiction Review: The Love Goddess' Cooking School

Goodreads Summary:

Holly Maguire's grandmother Camilla was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine--a Milanese fortune-teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. Holly has been waiting years for her unlikely fortune: her true love will like "sa cordula," an unappetizing old-world delicacy. But Holly can't make a decent marinara sauce, let alone "sa cordula." Maybe that's why the man she hopes to marry breaks her heart. So when Holly inherits Camilla's Cucinotta, she's determined to forget about fortunes and love and become an Italian cooking teacher worthy of her grandmother's legacy. 

But Holly's four students are seeking much more than how to make Camilla's chicken alla Milanese. Simon, a single father, hopes to cook his way back into his daughter's heart. Juliet, Holly's childhood friend, hides a painful secret. Tamara, a serial dater, can't find the love she longs for. And twelve-year-old Mia thinks learning to cook will stop her dad, Liam, from marrying his phony lasagna-queen girlfriend. As the class gathers each week, adding Camilla's essential ingredients of wishes and memories in every pot and pan, unexpected friendships and romances are formed--"and "tested. Especially when Holly falls hard for Liam . . . and learns a thing or two about finding her own recipe for happiness. 

My thoughts:
Fantastic foodie fluff!  I loved the remote island setting and all of the yummy descriptions of Italian food.  The premise of this book is similar to The School of Essential Ingredients - even though it's not as good, this bit of foodie fiction is still a really enjoyable read.  My favorite character is the spunky tween Mia - she's such a riot!  This is a lovely story about love, food, and friendship.  I heartily recommend for those in the mood for a light read and a penchant for Italian cuisine!

3.5/5 stars

Foodie Fiction Review: Bittersweet

Goodreads Summary:
Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances... a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life... and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last...

My thoughts:
The beginning...well, it makes you think that this is just a fluff piece of contemporary YA literature.  But it's not - don't be fooled.  Hudson's world is extremely complex - divorce, guilt, familial duties, and money worries.  But most importantly, she's doing a bit of soul-searching...figuring out the all consuming question of "where is my place in the world?"

The middle...well, for awhile there I was really mad at Hudson and my view of her slipped lower and lower.  Why was she being such an ignoramus about her life?  Why was she being such a bad friend...and while I wanted to dislike her - her faults are what make her a real and well-rounded character.

The ending...well, the ending is wonderful.  It's a reflection of teen life with no ridiculous promises of something beyond reality.  Nobody's becoming a superstar or dying a heroic death...it's just authentic.

Throughout the story...well, I loved the arc of Hudson's growth that the reader witnesses.  Another thing that is magnificent?  Each chapter title is named after one of Hudson's cupcake creations followed by a truly delectable description.  Want some examples?  Good, I'll gladly oblige.  How about:

Chapter 3: No One Wants to Kiss a Girl Who Smells Like Bacon, So I Might as Well Get Fat Cupcakes..."Double-chocolate cupcakes served warm in a sugar-butter reduction; piped with icing braids of peanut butter, cream cheese, and fudge; and sprinkled with chocolate chips"

Chapter 7: How to Appear Outwardly Cool While Totally Freaking Out on the Inside Cupcakes..."Chilled vanilla cupcakes cored and filled with whipped vanilla buttercream and dark chocolate shavings, topped with vanilla icing and a sugared cucumber slice"

Chapter 23: Liar, Liar, Cakes on Fire..."Chocolate cayenne cupcakes topped with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and heart-shaped cinnamon Red Hots"

Also, I just wanted to say...why isn't this a YA favorite?  While my blog is not YA-centric...I do follow several YA blogs and I just wanna say - where were you guys on this one??  I'm just joking...a lot of gems can escape our eyes.  But y'all, you should seriously check this one out if you're in the mood for a wintery, foodie, contemporary YA novel - you won't be disappointed! 

4/5 stars

Foodie Fiction Review: The Girl Who Chased the Moon

Goodreads Summary:
In her latest enchanting novel, New York Times bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen invites you to a quirky little Southern town with more magic than a full Carolina moon. Here two very different women discover how to find their place in the world—no matter how out of place they feel.

Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother’s life. Such as, why did Dulcie Shelby leave her hometown so suddenly? And why did she vow never to return? But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew—a reclusive, real-life gentle giant—she realizes that mysteries aren’t solved in Mullaby, they’re a way of life: Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor bakes hope in the form of cakes.

Everyone in Mullaby adores Julia Winterson’s cakes—which is a good thing, because Julia can’t seem to stop baking them. She offers them to satisfy the town’s sweet tooth but also in the hope of rekindling the love she fears might be lost forever. Flour, eggs, milk, and sugar . . . Baking is the only language the proud but vulnerable Julia has to communicate what is truly in her heart. But is it enough to call back to her those she’s hurt in the past?

Can a hummingbird cake really bring back a lost love? Is there really a ghost dancing in Emily’s backyard? The answers are never what you expect. But in this town of lovable misfits, the unexpected fits right in.

My thoughts:
Well, first off, it should be noted that I love all Sarah Addison Allen books...and since this was my first Allen novel, it holds a special place in my heart.  The Girl Who Chased the Moon has the highest element of magic in all of Allen's books (Garden Spells being a close second) so if you are a reader who cannot suspend disbelief...this might not be a novel for you.  However, I love the mystical bits - especially when mixed with the comfy elements of baking and BBQ!  One character has the ability to sense out sugar (thank goodness that is not a real ability because if I had it, my sweet tooth would be out of control)!  

Each character is endearing yet complex (they all have issues to overcome) which makes the reader want to discover what is behind the mysteries of Mullaby and it's residents all the more.  If you're looking for a fun, fluffy, romantic romp with some Southern foodie elements - look no further!  Highly recommended.


4/5 stars

Feb. Foodie Fiction Review: The School of Essential Ingredients

Goodreads Summary:
Reminiscent of Chocolat and Like Water for Chocolate, a gorgeously written novel about life, love, and the magic of food.

The School of Essential Ingredients follows the lives of eight students who gather in Lillian's Restaurant every Monday night for cooking class. It soon becomes clear, however, that each one seeks a recipe for something beyond the kitchen. Students include Claire, a young mother struggling with the demands of her family; Antonia, an Italian kitchen designer learning to adapt to life in America; and Tom, a widower mourning the loss of his wife to breast cancer. Chef Lillian, a woman whose connection with food is both soulful and exacting, helps them to create dishes whose flavor and techniques expand beyond the restaurant and into the secret corners of her students' lives. One by one the students are transformed by the aromas, flavors, and textures of Lillian's food, including a white-on-white cake that prompts wistful reflections on the sweet fragility of love and a peppery heirloom tomato sauce that seems to spark one romance but end another. Brought together by the power of food and companionship, the lives of the characters mingle and intertwine, united by the revealing nature of what can be created in the kitchen.

My thoughts:
One of the coziest, most wonderfully warm books I've ever read.  Of all the foodie fiction novels I've read thus far, this is my favorite.  I remember reading it in one sitting and being so surprised that this novel drew me in as much as it did.  You easily care for all of the characters in the book and getting to see how the cooking class is a catalyst for change in their lives is delightful!

Don't be surprised if this book has you rushing to your stove to whip up some food yourself!  In fact, I would highly recommend having something savory and delicious simmering while you read this novel, it will only enhance your reading experience.  This is the ultimate feel-good foodie book, highly recommended!

4/5 stars

Spring Cleaning My House & My Reading

So, it's spring-time which means that 'tis the season for organizing and cleaning your life!  In adherence to this age-old practice I not only dusted the overhead fan-blades (which is a thoroughly disgusting job) but also finally created some order in the chaos that is my TBR list!  I know this is going to take me into uber-nerd territory...but, I categorized my TBR list.

Yes, go ahead and laugh - I know I deserve it :)
My reasoning for doing so is that sometimes I'm in the mood for a certain kind of book and now, rather than wading through the hundreds of titles trying to find said type of novel, I can quickly go to the desired category and easily choose a book from there.  I know...I'm totally lame.  Anyways, I thought I would share the novels in one of my teensy categories.  I bring you, the foodie fiction section!

Foodie

• Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
• Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris
• The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted by Bridget Asher
• Georgia's Kitchen by Jenny Nelson

Fall Reads...so far

As you all know...I'm a busy busy fiction reader!  Here's my hit list of good and unique books I've read of late:

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

A novel about a girl growing up cursed with the ability to taste people's feelings in their cooking...if you need stories to be completely realistic, this isn't for you, otherwise I highly recommend!  4/5 stars.

The Forgotten Garden

Loooooved this book!  It has mystery, romance, murder, betrayal, and a bit of whimsy.  Seriously, just read it.  5/5 stars.

One Day

Interesting take on a love story...following the lives of the 2 main characters on the same day of each year.  4/5 stars.

Never Let Me Go

The story that evolves in these pages is truly original and heartbreaking; however, the author's writing style was not for me.  It was a bit choppy and MUCH too descriptive.  Despite this, I would recommend the book - and, (gasp!) I think the movie might actually do a better job of telling the story than the book!  4/5 stars.

Summer Reads: Hits and Misses

Besides crafting, I've also been catching up on my reading.  A voracious reader since the 1st grade...I needed to whet my long neglected appetite for books!!  Booklist rundown (for those looking for some suggestions):

• First, I had to see what all the ruckus was about concerning the Dragon Tattoo series...and boy was it fun to read!  Great page turners (the 1st and 3rd were my fav) - oh, and the Swedish film is not too terrible (as far as films based on books go)...

• Next, The School of Essential Ingredients.  If you like books about food...you'll like this book.  It was simple and sweet.  It didn't blow my mind, but I quite liked it.  I followed up with Katherine which was sad, but good historical fiction.

• Then, I read The Book of Lost Things.  It's an interesting twisted fairytale...I can easily see this becoming a well-liked film as it is not too lengthy and very fantastical.  I also read the similarly titled The Book Thief.  It's a young adult book that I loved so much...it made me cry like a baby, so that says something :)

• I followed up with The Secrets of Jin-Shei.  For some reason, this was in the library's "Science Fiction" section...and I have no idea why.  It's a good book about friendship between women...along the lines of Snowflower and the Secret Fan (which I highly recommend).
• I subsequently went on a spell of books that were okay/bad...so I won't even mention them!  Then, during a recent trip to Atlanta I read The Pleasing Hour and the Year of Wonders.  Both were pretty good...the first about a troubled au pair and the second about the plague.

• Finally, I hit paydirt with Good Omens...the cover says "The apocalypse has never been funnier!" and that really proved true!!

• My good fortune stuck and I subsequently read two other great books!!  The first called, The Magicians...a Harry Potter for grownups heavily influenced by the Narnia series.  The second was titled The Rosetti Letter which combined historical fiction with mystery...a great read!  I'm already ordering the sequel (entitled The Devlin Diary)!