Jane of Austin

GIVEAWAY

LODGE, HILLARY MANTON
JANE OF AUSTIN

"Know your own happiness. You want nothing but patience -- or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope." Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility

Just a few years after their father's business scandal shatters their lives, Jane Woodward and Celia Woodward find themselves forced out of their San Francisco tea shop. The last thing Jane wants is to leave their beloved shop on Valencia Street, but when Celia insists on a move to Austin, Texas, the sisters pack up their kid sister, Margot, and Jane's tea plants, determined to start over yet again.

But life in Austin isn't all sweet tea and breakfast tacos. Their unusual living situation is challenging, and unspoken words begin to fester between Jane and Celia. When Jane meets and falls for up-and-coming musician Sean Willis, the chasm grows deeper.

While Sean seems to charm everyone in his path, one person is immune -- retired Marie Captain Callum Beckett. Callum never meant to leave the military, but the twin losses of his father and his left leg have returned him to the place he least expected -- Texas.

In this modern spin on the Austen classic, Sense and Sensibility, the Woodward sisters must contend with new ingredients to unfamiliar kitchens, a dash of heartbreak, and the fragile hope that maybe home isn't so far away.

My Review:

Jane Austen make way for Hillary Manton Lodge! Absolutely love this modern take on the classic Sense and Sensibility -- in fact I actually prefer it to the original! And now that I've offended die-hard Jane Austen fans I'll continue with my review. :-)

Love the dynamics between these three sisters. They've dealt with some pretty intense stuff and yet they've stuck together and created a soft place to land...until their life is disrupted in a major way all over again. The Woodwards are nothing if not resilient! Even when that includes an unexpected move to Texas.

Which brings me to another thing I love about this version -- the setting! It takes on a life of its own -- at least to this non-Texan-never-been-to-Texas reader anyway. And the author has some interesting quotes that head up every chapter -- some on Texas and some on tea which made the read all the more fun. Plus every chapter ends with a delectable recipe, which, I think, has become a trademark for Hillary Manton Lodge.

The story follows along the lines of Austen's book though the author does include her own unique flair -- and some surprising twists. I was gobsmacked by one in particular, though in hindsight I shouldn't have been, but I'm glad it took me by surprise just the same.

And speaking of surprising twists. Dash! Be still my heart!  Is that not the perfect hero name or what? I won't say another word about him -- you'll just have to read the book to discover why I'm still hyperventilating. (insert sneaky laughter here.)

The story is told in first person point of view, alternating between Jane and Callum. It's rife with sardonic wit and piercing heartbreak. And a great cast of secondary characters that help...or hinder...the potential happily ever after.

Of note to readers who enjoy an inspirational thread in their Christian fiction -- you won't find it here. It's a a clean read though.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Jane of Austin, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your comment. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday October 3 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Together at the Table

GIVEAWAY

LODGE, HILLARY MANTON
TOGETHER AT THE TABLE

Three months ago, Juliette D'Alisa's world changed.

In a bittersweet series of events, her mother's health took a turn for the worse. Juliette and her brother opened their restaurant together to rave reviews, but her romance with Memphis immunologist Neil McLaren ended in anger and tears.

Now as autumn sweeps into the Pacific Northwest, Juliette feels that she's finally on the cusp of equilibrium. The restaurant continues to thrive, and her family is closer than ever. She and sous-chef Adrian are seeing each other, both in and out of the kitchen. Just when she thinks her world might stop spinning, a trip to the waterfront brings a familiar face across her path.

Rather than dwell on her personal life, Juliette throws herself into work and research. After reading her grandmother's letters from war-torn Paris, she still wants to know the full story -- and she'll travel across countries and oceans to find it.

But even Juliette can't outrun the man who stole her heart. As she finally uncovers the truth about her family history, what will it mean for her own chances at lasting love?

My Review:

What a genuinely lovely wrap-up to an amazing series. Be forewarned though that it's probably best to have read A Table at the Window and Reservations for Two before reading this last installment of Two Blue Doors. These three books have connected plots and characters and it just makes sense to get involved right from the very beginning.

First off -- while I'm not a true foodie I've discovered I have a certain weakness for foodie fiction. There's something so delicious (pun intended) about the exotic food references. I might not understand a word I read when it comes to recipe descriptions but I love the flavour they bring to the story.(Okay, last pun, I promise.) And since Juliette's family is foodie obsessed (they all work in the food industry) and they are a crazy mix of French and Italian there is a lot of passionate chef talk going on. So much fun. The author even includes recipes that sound divine but look beginner friendly enough for me to try.

As in the first two books, this one is told entirely from Juliette's witty point of view. There's even sardonic humour in the midst of tough times. And those are plentiful. I love a flawed heroine and Juliette is definitely that. She internalizes things too much, buries herself in her work and generally hides away from the harsh reality of her personal life. Luckily she has an opinionated family who aren't afraid to speak up. Exciting dynamics that left me alternately laughing hysterically or tearing my hair out.

I don't want to say too much about the romance because...well...there's two guys and only one Juliette so no spoilers. I'll just say the best man really did win and I'm a happy camper who has to work at straightening her toes after they've been curled through all those swoony scenes. Blissful sigh.

The intrigue in Juliette's family history is solved at last...a mystery that plagued me through the first two books. Immensely satisfying and well worth the wait. I might have cried a tear or two. An interesting World War II connection in this otherwise contemporary novel.

And a side note: As with the first two books, there is a definite lack of inspirational thread in Together at the Table. Just a fleeting mention of church attendance. I really missed the personal growth that comes with a faith themed story.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Together at the Table please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday July 24 2016. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Reservations for Two

GIVEAWAY

LODGE, HILLARY MANTON
RESERVATIONS FOR TWO

A culinary concoction of taking chances and finding love in the most delectable places

Food writer-turned-restaurateur Juliette D’Alisa has more than enough on her plate. While her trip to Provence might have unlocked new answers to her grandmother’s past, it’s also provided new complications in the form of Neil McLaren, the man she can’t give up.

Juliette and Neil find romance simple as they travel through Provence and Tuscany together, but life back home presents a different set of challenges. Juliette has a restaurant to open, a mother combating serious illness, and a family legacy of secrets to untangle – how does Neil, living so far away in Memphis, fit into to her life?

As she confronts an uncertain future, Juliette can’t help but wish that life could be as straightforward as her chocolate chip cookie recipe. Can her French grandmother’s letters from the 1940’s provide wisdom to guide her present? Or will every new insight create a fresh batch of mysteries?

My Review:

This is definitely a case of needing to read the first book in The Two Blue Doors series before reading this one because Reservations for Two picks up where A Table at the Window left off and that includes some overlapping plot threads and a whole lot of characters. It just makes more sense to read them in order.

I enjoyed getting reacquainted with Juliette's crazy family. I love the way she describes the boisterous crew:

Back in Portland, I'd brought Neil to a dinner with my entire family. Personal questions had been asked. Had there been a podium, it could have looked like a press conference, just with better food and fewer camera flashes. (p. 16)

The 'better food' part is at the heart of this story. Foodies will rejoice over the many descriptive food references and the gourmet recipes included in nearly every chapter. It's a cookbook as much as a novel and that gives it a rich, decadent feel -- even to this non-foodie who harbors simple tastes. I didn't understand half of the chef talk but it sounded impressive!

Lodge's quick wit lightens an otherwise serious plotline. There's a lot going on in Juliette's life -- her mother's illness, the stress of opening a new restaurant, falling in love with a man who lives on the other side of the country. That's a lot of spinning plates in the air and it's inevitable that some of them come crashing down.

At times it was hard to bear Juliette's high strung emotions and rash decisions even though I completely understood where she was coming from. But Juliette's Italian/French DNA can't be denied and it shows up as such a contrast to calm, steady Neil. His family is the exact opposite -- a cardboard copy many times removed. Those opposite family roots create even more turmoil in their romance. These two are so far apart a successful relationship seems impossible but I still felt like they were absolutely meant for each other. They have the whole opposites attract thing in spades.

Alas, I found myself dangling on the edge of a cliffhanger when I reached the last page. In fact I was quite distraught by the romantic upheaval at the end of this book. Be forewarned -- this series is riddled with dangling threads which apparently won't be tied up until the final book is released. And that includes the mystery surrounding Juliette's grandmother's past. Loved that storyline (which includes letters written between sisters during World War II) but I hated the fact that the crux of that story remains unresolved. Gah!

And, while I don't normally as a rule, enjoy this kind of continuous series style, I have to admit to being well and truly hooked and eager to find all the answers (hopefully) I'm looking for when that final installment is released.

And a side note: As with the first book, this one lacks an inspirational thread though there are a bit more references to prayer and church attendance than the first book. I really missed the character growth that comes from a faith themed story -- something I've come to expect from a Christian publisher like Waterbrook Press.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Reservations for Two please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw ill be held and winner announced on Sunday September 13 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

A Table by the Window : a novel of family secrets and heirloom recipes

GIVEAWAY

LODGE, HILLARY MANTON
A TABLE BY THE WINDOW : A NOVEL OF FAMILY SECRETS AND HEIRLOOM RECIPES

Heirloom recipes, family secrets…and a chance for love
 
The youngest heir to a French-Italian restaurant dynasty, food writer Juliette D’Alisa has spent her life negotiating her skill with words and her restaurant aspirations. When her brother Nico offers her a chance to open a restaurant together, she feels torn—does she really have what it takes? Should she risk leaving her journalism career?

After the death of her grandmother, Juliette discovers an antique photograph of a man who looks strikingly like her brother. As the truth behind the picture reveals romance and dark secrets, Juliette struggles to keep the mystery away from her nosy family until she can uncover the whole story.

Inspired by her grandmother’s evolving story, Juliette resolves to explore the world of online dating. To her surprise, she finds a kindred spirit in Neil McLaren, a handsome immunologist based in Memphis, Tennessee. With a long-distance relationship simmering, Juliette faces life-shifting decisions. How can she possibly choose between a promising culinary life and Neil, a man a world away in more ways than one? And is it possible her Grandmother’s story can help show the way?

My Review:

True confession: I'm not a foodie but I've enjoyed a number of foodfest kind of reads lately, including this one. In fact, at times I read over all the food references with a kind of glazed fascination -- they sound so divine but mean absolutely nothing to me. It's like reading bits of an exotic language and trying to find the meaning in context. I'm not often successful, but those words and phrases still add to the ambiance of the read.

This story is liberally laced with food references. I mean I've never 'watched' a heroine eat so many times in one book -- and with such gusto. But it all works because not only is food Juliette's life, but her entire family's as well. Loved the dining scenes the best, no matter who was in them. I think I gained weight just reading this book. And the author has included a recipe in every single chapter so that's fun too.

Told in first person point of view, this is definitely Juliette's story. Loved the subtle wit that tempers even the most serious situations. Like when she decides to continue writing to a man she's met online because: "He expressed himself well, even using a semi-colon accurately." (p.92) And referring to her family, "Have you ever seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Dinner with my family is like that, but not Greek and with smaller hair." (pg.210) Such a fun read!

And the mystery is delightfully intriguing but -- gasp -- just as we're getting to the good part, the story ends, obviously to be continued in the second book, Reservations For Two which released April 2015. I should be perturbed about that that, but Lodge's storytelling is so engaging I find myself forgiving her and am definitely eager to read book 2 in the Two Blue Doors series.

And a side note: I was surprised to find a lack of inspirational thread in this Waterbrook Press novel. There are a few references to prayer and church attendance but all that happens 'off page.' I missed the character growth that comes from a faith themed story.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Table by the Window please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 16 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!