The Devil Served Tortellini

Recipes with Romance #2

by Shirley Jump

Determined to lose weight for her high school reunion, Maria Pagliano finds her dietary mission thwarted by gorgeous chef Dante Del Ross, who leads her down the path of temptation with his decadent culinary creations and sinful kisses.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Fiction, Ebooks

352 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

About the author

Shirley Jump is a writing instructor and an award-winning, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and USA Today bestselling author who has published more than 80 books in 24 countries. She has spoken all over the world about the power of narrative and how to create compelling books. A former reporter and communications director for a marketing agency, she uses her diverse background to help clients create impactful books that readers can’t down.

She knows the path to publication isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, so to help writers write their best possible book, she offers monthly Manuscript Masterminds through her website, www.WritingCompellingFiction.com.

On her channel, https://YouTube.com/@WritingCompellin..., she unlocks the secrets behind compelling novels and delves into the psychological aspect of overcoming creativity-stoppers like doubt and perfectionism. Follow her channel for more writing exercises, classes, and behind-the-scenes writing lessons or join her Manuscript Mastermind to build your tribe of like-minded writers and receive crucial feedback on your pages.

Reviews

[Cyndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I do like this series and the author I had a few problems with this book. I think its wonderful that the heroine learns to control her addiction to food and learns what triggers it. But...on the other hand it walked a tight line between developing healthy eating habits and starvation dieting.
There are some awesome recipes and a wonderful romance.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did I absolutely love this

[Meghan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. I knew going in that this book wasn't going to be fine literature. But I didn't expect for it to be as bad as it was.

When I start a book called The Devil Served Tortellini, I would at least expect to be entertained. But nothing really ever happened! Maria meets Dante. Maria resists Dante. Dante continues to pursue Maria because... I am not sure why he keeps going after her. He keeps going on about how she is great because she is both smart and beautiful, but if the only qualifications are intelligence and physical attractiveness I am sure that he could have found quite a few other people to chase in Boston. But regardless, Maria pushes him away and complains about her hatred for her body until the end when it all comes together as it always does in a romance novel. The End.

It was really riveting stuff.

I was also rather offended by quite a few themes of the novel. It was all more than a little sexist. Maria can't work with men because they only pay attention to her body. She and her friends start a shop that deals with cookies and chocolate, because that was only natural, "being women." Maria again and again argues that marriage may not be right for her only to be convinced otherwise because obviously the only way to fill the void caused by an absence of love for a woman is to get married and get to work on a few babies (did I mention that this lack of love is what will make you fat? Because that was heavily implied too.)

I was especially troubled by the novel's treatment of Maria's mother. Maria is always saying that she doesn't want a marriage like her mother's, wherein she stays home and caters to her father, who literally comes home from work and drinks in his chair while watching sports on television, only getting up for dinner. This is all supposed to be negated, however, by the strange act 3 revelation that Maria's mother graduated from college when she was married to her husband and then spent decades buying art to supplement her family's income. That's cool, I suppose, but at the end of the day she still spends most of her energy being at her husband's beck and call, delivering beers to him because he certainly won't get up for them, let alone doing the dishes. Their marriage is still the same "traditional" one that Maria said that she didn't want, but for some reason this changed Maria's entire outlook on the institution. It also makes zero sense that Mama would fail to tell Maria about this accomplishment for YEARS. Why on Earth would she not have told her daughter about her accomplishments?

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at the used bookstore because it looked like it might be funny. There was a little humor but not a lot. What is fun are all the recipes before each chapter. That was an unexpected surprise.

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd story in the series. Maria Pagliano is from an Italian family that wants her married. She's majorly disillusioned after finding her fiance with another woman in their apartment. She's also trying to love weight for an upcoming class reunion. To do that she goes to a "Chubby Chums" meeting - across from Dante Del Rosso's Italian restaurant. The attraction between the two is obvious, but she fights it - especially since he makes sinfully good Italian food and is everything her parents want in her husband. Many recipes later (inbetween each short chapter) the finally figure it out and get together. Kind of fun and sassy.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny twist on what could be a Hallmark movie. Predictable, as most of these stories are, but found myself laughing throughout. It was a nice, light read. My friend and I chose this book at random at the bookstore since it’s outside of the genre we normally read. I would say it was well worth it!

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audible edition

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute romance. The recipes through the book had me wanting to try some of them.

[Peggy Eagen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first in the series. This one was okay but lacked the humor of the first. Also, the characters weren't as likable.

[Isabella Swanepoel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet....and yes savoury story.
Quite a few laugh out loud moments.
Best saying - now I know what the end piece of a loaf of bread feels like
Great narration too.

[Yvonne Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

[Christiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read, easy to finish and loving the recipes!

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun romance that centers around food - Italian. The main characters are Maria Pagliano and Chef Dante Del Rosso. Maria doesn't want to get married and Dante wants marriage but can't seem to find the time. The book includes recipes. It was a quick easy read.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maria Pagliano is a woman on a mission. She must lose weight in time for her high school reunion in less than two months. Her old lover will be there, and she wants to show off a beautiful figure. Maria joins the Chubby Chums weight loss support group. This group is outrageously funny with their supportive sayings. Maria must stick to the crazy group, because she's definitely having a hard time saying no to her favorite Italian foods. Especially when chef Dante Del Rosso offers up his to-die-for Tortellini.

Dante has finally found a woman who he can picture in his future. But, Maria is not only trying to keep her hands off food, but men are a no-no, too. Dante can't resist the passion that radiates from Maria or the love that fills up her heart. Her family is crazy and passionate, but Dante has always wanted that for himself. Now, Dante will have to convince Maria that he's right for her, because she's certainly fighting the attraction. With the little help of a matchmaking mamma, Dante just might get the woman of his dreams.

Maria is an all around beautiful heroine. She is full of passion, love and excitement. She was once betrayed by a man she was deeply in love with, and the relationship left a deep scar on her heart. Maria doesn't want to make the same mistake twice, but Dante is just the passionate Italian to get her pulse racing and her heart thumping. Dante rates at the top of list for one the sexiest heroes I've ever encountered. And, I totally fell in love with him.

Author Shirley Jump has a writing talent that is pure magic! I always love escaping into a wonderful book by this author, because she definitely knows how to create a world of love, laughter and luscious food. THE DEVIL SERVED TORTELLINI is absolutely hilarious and healthily dosed with scrumptious recipes. Mix in a crazy cast of characters, a fun plot, and pages ripe with excellent Italian dialogue, and you've got yourself a keeper.

[Sara HarlequinJunkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewd by HarlequinJunkie Romance Reviews

Starving ourself for the perfect man....we've probably all done that a time or two over the course of our lives. In this book Maria does just that and why not kill two birds with one stone and impress the size two skirts of a long time rival. But what happens when she meets the one man that accepts and desperately wants her just as she is.. she runs or she tries to!

I was hooked from the first chapter. Maria is a character that I just simply wanted to whack with the nearst object to knock sense into her. And Dante is one of those temptations that simply cannot be resisted and needs to be tasted at all costs!

I love how the author incorporates various mouth watering recipes into a tale of 'Out there is the one man that will love you for who you are,even if you don't'.

Maria's family are absolutely hilarious and had me laughing out loud at their sour n' sweet antics. I love how the author made the book almost personal as if trying to tell the reader home is where the heart is...

The Devil Served Tortellini has passion and even a sleazy character or two, which adds to the spice of romance. It is a fun and romantic comedy that left me feeling much like Maria twisted and twined around food for thought.

If you have never read the authors books before your in for a real treat -- go grab a copy of The Devil Served Tortellini before the restaurant is fully booked I mean the book stores sell out!

[Deborah Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vita Deliziosa

Maria and Dante are perfect for each other, but Maria thinks she is in love with her high school sweetheart, Antonio. She is willing to suffer through Chubbie Chums meetings and starvation dieting to reach a single digit dress size. Dante's attentions and intentions frighten her, and she fights her growing attraction to him. Maria still grieves for the betrayal of another boyfriend, and she has no intention of being under any traditional Italian husband's thumb. It takes the discovery of her mother's secret to convince Maria that she can be herself and be married too. Of course, Nonna's "marriage soup" has nothing to do with it! Each chapter features delicious Italian recipes told by the various character's points of view. Shirley Jump's excellent storytelling delivers wonderful characters and warm humor in a delightful love story set in the Italian community in Boston. You'll fall in love with this book!

[BJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute romance involving Maria, an Italian American with a "weight problem" who has an upcoming high school reunion and joins Chubby Chums in the hopes of losing weight, so she can attract an old high school crush. Problem is that there is an Italian restaurant across the street from where Chubby Chums meets and the chef there is seriously handsome and sexy and the food is seriously good. Really cute romance, part of an interconnected series called Sweet and Savory Novels. One note, the author has re-released this novel under another name. The new name is The Devil Served Desire (A Sweet and Savory Novel). Don't know why this was done.

[Kelly Gladney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so a friend of mine had sent me this book, among others, and I looked at it at thought, uh no, it's Romance. I'm not a big Romance book fan and I didn't think she was either so I gave it a glance. I noticed that there were recipes at the beginning of each chapter that I assumed had something to do with the story. I thought, well that looks fun. It turned out to be a fun read even if it was probably fluff. More of a Rom/Com than Romance. The recipes were even entertaining to read as they weren't straight up recipes. They definitely tied into the story and I'm even trying a couple. I would probably read something else by her for a quick, fun time and for her sense of humor.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It look me a while to realize it but the receipes at the start of each chapter are not random in their order. they are following along with the story. the book isn't going to win any literary awards for its writing but its a fun story
the story taken place in boston's north end but it is clear, the author doesn't spent too much time in the north end but she would know that you never find parking as easily as the characters do.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good romance series with recipes. I only gave it 3 stars because it does have too detailed sex scenes for me. I know a lot of romances do and amny people like that about the books - just not for me. Each book has a theme of recipes in them, if I recall this book has Italian recipes. Simple recipes and they sound wonderful.

I read these books out of order for the series and it made no difference to the stories, so 'JUMP' in where ever you are and enjoy!

[Jet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The recipes are pretty much decent and written with a good dose of humour. I don't generally watch RomComs but I love reading them - largely because they are pretty much fluff and brainless. There isn't much point in writing about the plot here - suffice to say, it says: no point dieting , be happy with who you are.

Right. See? Excellent brainless fluff.

[Rachel Romeo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book especially being from a traditional Italian family. The recipes thrown in are great as well and if you've ever been part of a family who thinks that if you're not married off by 25 you'll become an old maid, you'll truly appreciate this one. Funny , witty and an easy read.

[Dawn ♥ romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story with plenty of humor but after awhile the plot got repetitious and I didn't like heroines stubbornness. The final solution occurred to me early on and I ended up skipping chunks of the book. Maria wants to lose weight for her reunion and it's not a good time to meet chef Dante.

[Barbi Huhn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delicious book! I loved the recipes throughout it. They were both funny and yummy sounding. Maria and Dante sounded like a perfect match from the beginning and I looked forward to how things would play out throughout the book.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shirley Jump serves up another delicious romance. Hot and steamy, just the way I like it!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this book for our book club, and it was a great read. Every chapter starts with a recipe, so when we met, everyone brought a different dish, and we had an Italian dinner.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice light read. I loved the recipes at the beginning of each chapter! Cute story.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book, I picked it up on a whim. It has good characters but lack some plot but if you want some humorous dialog between two romantic character certainly a fine catch

[D.]

The Devil Served Tortellini by Shirley Jump (2005)

[Phoenix M · Rating 4 out of 5]

May 17,2012 2hours
Finished it and I LOVED the ending. I think everyone should read this book because its that good.... SO READ IT!!!