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The Recipe Box
From New York Times bestselling author Sandra Lee comes her debut novel, a heartwarming story about food, family, and forgiveness.
Grace Holm-D'Angelo is at her wit's end, trying to create a new life from broken pieces. Newly divorced, she is navigating suddenly becoming a single mother to her fourteen-year-old daughter. Emma, resentful about being uprooted from Chicago to LA and still reeling from the divorce, is generally giving her mother a hard time.
Then Grace's best friend, Leeza, succumbs to breast cancer after a long battle, and Grace realizes that you don't get a second chance at life. She returns to her hometown of New London, Wisconsin, to try to reconcile with her own mother, Lorraine, with whom she's been estranged for longer than she cares to remember.
Over the course of the summer, Grace rediscovers the healing powers of cooking, coming to terms with your past, and friendship, and learns you can go home again, and sometimes that's exactly where you belong.
The Recipe Box celebrates mothers, daughters, and friendships, and also features Sandra's delicious original recipes.
Grace Holm-D'Angelo is at her wit's end, trying to create a new life from broken pieces. Newly divorced, she is navigating suddenly becoming a single mother to her fourteen-year-old daughter. Emma, resentful about being uprooted from Chicago to LA and still reeling from the divorce, is generally giving her mother a hard time.
Then Grace's best friend, Leeza, succumbs to breast cancer after a long battle, and Grace realizes that you don't get a second chance at life. She returns to her hometown of New London, Wisconsin, to try to reconcile with her own mother, Lorraine, with whom she's been estranged for longer than she cares to remember.
Over the course of the summer, Grace rediscovers the healing powers of cooking, coming to terms with your past, and friendship, and learns you can go home again, and sometimes that's exactly where you belong.
The Recipe Box celebrates mothers, daughters, and friendships, and also features Sandra's delicious original recipes.
256 pages, ebook
First published December 26, 2012
31 people are currently reading
1180 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Lee
145 books31 followersSandra Lee Christiansen, known professionally as Sandra Lee, is an American television chef and author. She is known for her "Semi-Homemade" cooking concept, which Lee describes as using 70 percent packaged and 30 percent fresh products. She received the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lifestyle/Culinary Show Host in 2012 for her work and her show. As the partner of former New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, she served as the de facto First Lady Of New York from 2011 to 2019, when the couple ended their relationship.
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
August 23, 2013
Oh, Sandra Lee, I had such high hopes for this book. How could I have been so wrong and disappointed.
Filled with one dimension characters with one dimensional problems, a magical solution, a none mystery, and recipes that you could pull off the internet using any cooking site. I found myself looking like a fool for actually paying for this and waiting until 150 pages in to get a grip that this is not going to get better.
With so much potential in the storyline, a friend dies, friends reunite, coming home means reconciling with the past - even if there are a few skeletons hanging in the closet that have to be put out in the open, old loves and new -- but nothing was there to enjoy. The main character was a paper doll with no real depth, the secrets were blown way out of proportion, and the wonderful way it all came together felt as fake as cubic zirconia.
I just stick to Sandra Lee's cooking tips and recipes - writing is not her forte
Filled with one dimension characters with one dimensional problems, a magical solution, a none mystery, and recipes that you could pull off the internet using any cooking site. I found myself looking like a fool for actually paying for this and waiting until 150 pages in to get a grip that this is not going to get better.
With so much potential in the storyline, a friend dies, friends reunite, coming home means reconciling with the past - even if there are a few skeletons hanging in the closet that have to be put out in the open, old loves and new -- but nothing was there to enjoy. The main character was a paper doll with no real depth, the secrets were blown way out of proportion, and the wonderful way it all came together felt as fake as cubic zirconia.
I just stick to Sandra Lee's cooking tips and recipes - writing is not her forte
November 16, 2013
Three and a half stars. Grace, still recovering from her divorce finds herself struggling with being a single mother of a young teenager. Her daughter, Emma, resents being taken away from her friends in Chicago and taken to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles Grace works with her long time friend Ken on the set of The Lost Ones, a TV series about vampires.
Another friend Leeza, one of the three musketeers as Grace, Ken and Leeza, always referred to themselves has been fighting breast cancer. Grace feels she is torn between trying to support her friend and be a mother as well as keep her job.
She carries a lot of bitterness with her over a secret she discovered when younger and guilt over her own secret. As a result she left her home town of New London and is estranged from her mother Lorraine.
In some respects I found it hard to comprehend Grace’s choices at times and the way she could cut herself off from her mother over the secret she discovered. It seemed to me a huge overreaction. As for the daughter Emma’s behaviour, I’m thankful l never had a teenager that behaved like this. However these facets work in the scheme of the story. The recipes included from the famous recipe box which is at the heart of Grace’s alienation from her mother sound interesting, though I wasn’t inspired to rush to the kitchen to try any, but that’s nothing against the recipes. I just don’t bake much.
It’s a story about mother and daughter relationships, friendship, secrets, letting go, starting over and of course a little romance. It is an easy read and I found the characters engaging enough to keep reading. It’s a feel good story about forgiveness and second chances, though I did think the end was a little too neat all round.
Another friend Leeza, one of the three musketeers as Grace, Ken and Leeza, always referred to themselves has been fighting breast cancer. Grace feels she is torn between trying to support her friend and be a mother as well as keep her job.
She carries a lot of bitterness with her over a secret she discovered when younger and guilt over her own secret. As a result she left her home town of New London and is estranged from her mother Lorraine.
In some respects I found it hard to comprehend Grace’s choices at times and the way she could cut herself off from her mother over the secret she discovered. It seemed to me a huge overreaction. As for the daughter Emma’s behaviour, I’m thankful l never had a teenager that behaved like this. However these facets work in the scheme of the story. The recipes included from the famous recipe box which is at the heart of Grace’s alienation from her mother sound interesting, though I wasn’t inspired to rush to the kitchen to try any, but that’s nothing against the recipes. I just don’t bake much.
It’s a story about mother and daughter relationships, friendship, secrets, letting go, starting over and of course a little romance. It is an easy read and I found the characters engaging enough to keep reading. It’s a feel good story about forgiveness and second chances, though I did think the end was a little too neat all round.
February 28, 2014
Sandra Lee is an American TV chef and this is her debut novel – so it is not surprising that cooking plays an integral part of the story. To be perfectly honest I had never heard of this TV chef – and I have seen a few shows on the cooking channel. The main character is Grace. Grace is newly divorced and living life at a very hectic pace when THE RECIPE BOX opens. She has relocated to Los Angeles, got custody of her teenage daughter who is acting up, a high pressure job behind the scenes of a hit TV show, and is flying back and forth between LA and her home town to support her best friend through cancer treatment.
In the first couple of chapters the friend dies and this is the catalyst for Grace to start taking control of her life. The first thing she has to do is rebuild the relationships with both her daughter and her estranged mother. Grace moves back to her hometown and moves in with her mother. The cause of her estrangement was the discovery that her mother had kept a secret from her. What annoyed me a bit plot wise is that Grace was withholding a secret from her daughter and didn’t see at first that she was not being fair blaming her mother for the very same thing that she was doing. But it does all get sorted out in the end. Grace also has to deal with her ex-husband, an ex-lover and a new flame to add other threads into the plot.
THE RECIPE BOX is a sweet, if fairly predictable, read. Nice for a lazy afternoon along with a cup of tea and a cupcake.
Rating: C – Above average. Was very readable and I really liked it but was easily able to put it down and walk away for a while.
With thanks to The Reading Room for my copy
In the first couple of chapters the friend dies and this is the catalyst for Grace to start taking control of her life. The first thing she has to do is rebuild the relationships with both her daughter and her estranged mother. Grace moves back to her hometown and moves in with her mother. The cause of her estrangement was the discovery that her mother had kept a secret from her. What annoyed me a bit plot wise is that Grace was withholding a secret from her daughter and didn’t see at first that she was not being fair blaming her mother for the very same thing that she was doing. But it does all get sorted out in the end. Grace also has to deal with her ex-husband, an ex-lover and a new flame to add other threads into the plot.
THE RECIPE BOX is a sweet, if fairly predictable, read. Nice for a lazy afternoon along with a cup of tea and a cupcake.
Rating: C – Above average. Was very readable and I really liked it but was easily able to put it down and walk away for a while.
With thanks to The Reading Room for my copy
July 10, 2013
This is my favorite type of book. Family interactions, mothers, daughters, and daughters. Grace decides she needs to heal her own life when her best friend dies of cancer. I liked the setting in Wisconsin. I loved the interaction with the residents of the small town. A great story with yummy recipes.
August 23, 2015
So I was interested for about the first half of the book, and then....she goes to her hometown, she reads a letter from an old friend that tells her to "stop running" so she decides to handle all her relationships differently. She starts baking with her mom and her daughter (both of which she has huge relationship trouble with, until now) and they have a frosting fight and then she goes on a date in a firetruck and the kiss is amazing, and the cupcakes they made for the 4th of July parade are selling so fast that "it looks like Brad Pitt was visiting the shop" and oh.my.gosh. Too predictable, too saccharin, too goofy. All done.
February 16, 2017
This was a library audiobook fill-in grab until I could get my monthly Audible audiobook. It was an enjoyable light read and kept my interest. But I can't give it more than 3 stars because the writing wasn't that great and the story was just so neat and perfectly tied up and predictable. Its like watching a romantic comedy. You still enjoy watching it, even as you understand its not gonna win any Oscars.
June 13, 2018
This is a book written by Sandra Lee. The story is about three generations and how their lives change. Grace found out when she was young that the man she knew as her father was not who was listed on her birth certificate. As a result she and her mother were not close at all. Emma who is Grace's daughter is rebelling and Grace needs help. Grace ends up reuniting with her mother and Emma begins to become the type of daughter that Grace knew she could be. There are Swedish recipes in the recipe box and many of the recipes are included in the book. She opens a cafe in the Book Nook Barn and calls it the recipe box cafe.
May 27, 2022
This was a quick fun read that would be great to take to the beach. Kind of a Hallmark movie story but perfect if you are looking for something light to read.
August 14, 2021
Good light reading for pool/beach! Great recipes throughout the book!
August 7, 2013
Story Description:
Hyperion|July , 2013|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-1-4013-1083-7
From New York Times bestselling author Sandra Lee comes her debut novel, a heartwarming story about food, family, and forgiveness.
Grace Holm-D’Angelo is at her wit’s end, trying to create a new life from broken pieces. Newly divorced, she is navigating suddenly becoming a single mother to her fourteen-year-old daughter. Emma, resentful about being uprooted from Chicago to LA and still reeling from the divorce, is generally giving her mother a hard time.
Then Grace’s best friend, Leeza succumbs to breast cancer after a long battle, and Grace realizes that you don’t get a second chance at life. She returns to her hometown of New London, Wisconsin, to try to reconcile with her own mother, Lorraine, with whom she’s been estranged for longer than she cares to remember.
Over the course of the summer, Grace rediscovers the healing powers of cooking, coming to terms with your past, and friendship, and learns you can go home again, and sometimes that’s exactly where you belong.
The Recipe Box celebrates mothers, daughters, and friendships, and also features Sandra’s delicious original recipes.
My Review:
Grace Holm-D’Angelo is divorced and getting used to being a single Mom to her fourteen-year-old daughter, Emma. Grace and Emma live in Los Angeles although Grace originally hails from New London, Wisconsin. Grace worked on a television show called “The Lost Ones.”
Poor Grace was absolutely exhausted. Since last fall she had been running through airports flying from Los Angeles to Wisconsin and back. Her very best friend since high school, Leeza, was fighting aggressive, stage three breast cancer. Together the two women were scrabbling their way through tests, radiation, surgery, chemo, and more surgery including a grueling bone marrow transplant.
It was hard for Grace to watch her friend go through this but, Leeza had a supportive husband in Jonathan and a beautiful two-year-old little girl named, Sara.
Grace and her mother, Lorraine have been estranged for about sixteen years now. When Grace went back to Wisconsin she didn’t stay with her mother but with Leeza and Jonathan for she considered them her family now.
Grace was finding it increasingly difficult to maintain some sense of sanity. She had part of her in Los Angeles where she is trying to make a new life, and the other part back in Wisconsin for, Leeza. She didn’t know if she was coming or going and most days didn’t think she was doing anything very well. If she was with Emma, she felt she should be with, Leeza. If she was with, Leeza she felt she should be with Emma. If she was with either of them, she felt she was letting the people at work down.
After Leeza passes away, things begin to change for Grace. Old friends from her past begin to materialize and set about a whole new change of thought patterns for Grace. Then she discovers a secret inside the “recipe box” that shocks her to her core but in the end, it comes to have more meaning than she ever dreamed.
Leeza’s death reminded everyone how short and fragile life was. Now her friend, Ken was gone, Leeza was gone, Brian her ex was gone, and she’d pushed her new beau, Mike away. Aside from Emma, Grace was more alone than she’d ever been in her life. But did it really matter? Were work and Emma enough? What will Grace do now? What about her estranged relationship with Lorraine?
The Recipe Box celebrates the joys and boundaries of storytelling. This was a deeply satisfying read – elegant, funny, forgiving, and insightful. A pure joy to read.
Hyperion|July , 2013|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-1-4013-1083-7
From New York Times bestselling author Sandra Lee comes her debut novel, a heartwarming story about food, family, and forgiveness.
Grace Holm-D’Angelo is at her wit’s end, trying to create a new life from broken pieces. Newly divorced, she is navigating suddenly becoming a single mother to her fourteen-year-old daughter. Emma, resentful about being uprooted from Chicago to LA and still reeling from the divorce, is generally giving her mother a hard time.
Then Grace’s best friend, Leeza succumbs to breast cancer after a long battle, and Grace realizes that you don’t get a second chance at life. She returns to her hometown of New London, Wisconsin, to try to reconcile with her own mother, Lorraine, with whom she’s been estranged for longer than she cares to remember.
Over the course of the summer, Grace rediscovers the healing powers of cooking, coming to terms with your past, and friendship, and learns you can go home again, and sometimes that’s exactly where you belong.
The Recipe Box celebrates mothers, daughters, and friendships, and also features Sandra’s delicious original recipes.
My Review:
Grace Holm-D’Angelo is divorced and getting used to being a single Mom to her fourteen-year-old daughter, Emma. Grace and Emma live in Los Angeles although Grace originally hails from New London, Wisconsin. Grace worked on a television show called “The Lost Ones.”
Poor Grace was absolutely exhausted. Since last fall she had been running through airports flying from Los Angeles to Wisconsin and back. Her very best friend since high school, Leeza, was fighting aggressive, stage three breast cancer. Together the two women were scrabbling their way through tests, radiation, surgery, chemo, and more surgery including a grueling bone marrow transplant.
It was hard for Grace to watch her friend go through this but, Leeza had a supportive husband in Jonathan and a beautiful two-year-old little girl named, Sara.
Grace and her mother, Lorraine have been estranged for about sixteen years now. When Grace went back to Wisconsin she didn’t stay with her mother but with Leeza and Jonathan for she considered them her family now.
Grace was finding it increasingly difficult to maintain some sense of sanity. She had part of her in Los Angeles where she is trying to make a new life, and the other part back in Wisconsin for, Leeza. She didn’t know if she was coming or going and most days didn’t think she was doing anything very well. If she was with Emma, she felt she should be with, Leeza. If she was with, Leeza she felt she should be with Emma. If she was with either of them, she felt she was letting the people at work down.
After Leeza passes away, things begin to change for Grace. Old friends from her past begin to materialize and set about a whole new change of thought patterns for Grace. Then she discovers a secret inside the “recipe box” that shocks her to her core but in the end, it comes to have more meaning than she ever dreamed.
Leeza’s death reminded everyone how short and fragile life was. Now her friend, Ken was gone, Leeza was gone, Brian her ex was gone, and she’d pushed her new beau, Mike away. Aside from Emma, Grace was more alone than she’d ever been in her life. But did it really matter? Were work and Emma enough? What will Grace do now? What about her estranged relationship with Lorraine?
The Recipe Box celebrates the joys and boundaries of storytelling. This was a deeply satisfying read – elegant, funny, forgiving, and insightful. A pure joy to read.
December 5, 2013
Sandra Lee is an American chef, the host of several television shows, and the author of over two dozen bestselling cookbooks. The Recipe Box is her debut fiction novel celebrating mothers, daughters, and friendship, featuring several of Sandra Lee's recipes.
Grace D'Angelo is trying to create a new life for her self and her daughter in L.A. after her divorce, but between fourteen year old Emma's rebellious behaviour, long working days and regular trips back to her hometown to support her best friend, Leeza, who is battling breast cancer, she is struggling to keep it together. When Leeza unexpectedly succumbs to her illness, Grace reconsiders her priorities and decides to spend the summer in New London where she is forced to confront her past and rethink her future.
The plot unfolds in a rather predictable manner as Grace works on rebuilding her relationship with her daughter and her mother, from whom she has been estranged for a number of years. Grace's main obstacle to happiness involves her discovery of a family secret as a teenager, and her inability to move beyond it. Her return to New London challenges her long held grudge against her mother, and forces her to consider the secret she is keeping from her own daughter.
Of course there is romance for Grace too, with hunky firefighter/handyman/teacher, Mike, though the spectre of an old flame, Von and her ex husband muddy the waters. Grace is wary of beginning a new relationship and of letting down her guard but Mike is a good guy, and persistent, so you can expect a happy ending.
I enjoyed the less traditional romance between Ken and bookstore owner, Tim. In several ways Ken's journey mirrors Grace's as he is also estranged from his family and fled New London as soon as he was able. Going back for Leeza's funeral, and meeting Tim, prompts him to rethink his priorities and his decision makes it easier for Grace to concur.
The Recipe Box is a pleasant read for a lazy afternoon, a story about forgiveness, making amends and moving on. The recipes are a nice touch, there are none that are particularly original, but the Swedish Cinnamon Buns look delicious.
November 30, 2013
This was just an ok read for me. The plot was one that has been overdone and was fairly predictable as well.
Let's see...there was the thirty-something Grace, divorced from her husband and raising a rebellious teen daughter. Grace is hard-working in LA and has little time to spend with her daughter.
Then there is the sudden death of best friend Leeza who challenges Grace to make amends with her past in order to move on. Leeza does this before AND after her death.
That brings about another over-done part of the plot. Grace's father died when she was young and as a teen, Grace discovers a secret about her past that her mother has kept from her. Grace becomes estranged from her mother but not before having a quick fling with an exchange student to get back at her high school sweetheart, from whom she is now divorced.
At any rate, Grace ends up racing from LA to Chicago to New London, WI to keep her daughter on track and to do as Leeza has urged...to make amends with her past. I couldn't keep up with where Grace was and how she to where she was so quickly.
For me, the book left out the important details that would set me up for the next scene. One minute she was here, one minute she was there. I just felt that there were "too many ingredients" in this story to be believable and to really engage me in the plot. The title suggested something more intimate and relevant, a box of treasures if you will and I think that was the intent, but it never fully developed with the all the "drama" that took place. I was disappointed that the book didn't reach, for me, the potential that I thought it had.
Let's see...there was the thirty-something Grace, divorced from her husband and raising a rebellious teen daughter. Grace is hard-working in LA and has little time to spend with her daughter.
Then there is the sudden death of best friend Leeza who challenges Grace to make amends with her past in order to move on. Leeza does this before AND after her death.
That brings about another over-done part of the plot. Grace's father died when she was young and as a teen, Grace discovers a secret about her past that her mother has kept from her. Grace becomes estranged from her mother but not before having a quick fling with an exchange student to get back at her high school sweetheart, from whom she is now divorced.
At any rate, Grace ends up racing from LA to Chicago to New London, WI to keep her daughter on track and to do as Leeza has urged...to make amends with her past. I couldn't keep up with where Grace was and how she to where she was so quickly.
For me, the book left out the important details that would set me up for the next scene. One minute she was here, one minute she was there. I just felt that there were "too many ingredients" in this story to be believable and to really engage me in the plot. The title suggested something more intimate and relevant, a box of treasures if you will and I think that was the intent, but it never fully developed with the all the "drama" that took place. I was disappointed that the book didn't reach, for me, the potential that I thought it had.
December 14, 2013
This is chick lit at its worst. The plot is chock-full of life crises, the author justifies her character's actions by telling us all about their motivations, rather than showing, and the writing is schlock. The main character, Grace is divorced, and she has followed her childhood friend Ken to California to take a job as a prop manager for a popular TV show. Her daughter is misbehaving and gets suspended from school. When her best friend in Wisconsin dies, Grace moves her daughter back to her home town, New London, and tries to rebuild her relationship with her own mother. Family secrets abound. The author is a Food Network celebrity, and the only positive of this book is the wonderful original recipes throughout. I will definitely try making some of them! My recommendation: get the book from the library, copy the recipes, don't read the book.
November 4, 2014
Being a baker at Zomick's I am constantly looking for new interesting recipes. Even tough this cookbook is not about kosher food it still brings some interesting food recipes. There are several of them I have modified and managed to create my own challah recipe.
Good cookbook and well worth having it. - Zomick's Challah Recipe
Good cookbook and well worth having it. - Zomick's Challah Recipe
Want to read
July 9, 2013Takes place in New London, WI. Fun!
July 9, 2013
I love heartwarming books that are written around food. Loved the book and the recipes look good too.
May 9, 2014
Not..... good. Not terrible, just very standard. Divorced mom, rebellious teen who turns around, salt-of-the-earth new love interest and incredibly, immediately successful small business.
August 29, 2016
Great first book by Sandra Lee. She has a knack for writing too!
May 19, 2019
When I saw Sandra Lee's "The Recipe Box" on the shelf at my library's book sale, I was ecstatic. I grew up watching Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee where I looked up to her as a food and decor goddess so I was surprised and excited to see that she had written a novel. The book was an easy read but tackled tough subjects like illness, death, familial strife, teen rebellion, divorce, and more. While it was nice to be exposed to these subjects in this style of novel, it did not offer much deep insight as would be seen from more experienced writers. I also enjoyed the pace of the story until I reached the end where I thought everything was a bit rushed and too good to be true. Additionally, I did like the characters but I had trouble feeling connected to any one of them deeper than the surface level. With all that being said, I did enjoy this novel! It was just just the kind of lighter read that I needed and I loved how Lee included the recipes for all the dishes she mentioned right along with the story. I'm so glad I picked this up and I can't wait to try the cupcake recipe!
October 13, 2024
Cannot review this book dispassionately, unfortunately. Early on it became clear to me that it was filled with emotional blackmail. After that thought, anything that came up was double-edged. Although I teared up multiple times reading, I was annoyed at the same time. The central issue that stopped me from investing and annoyed the heck out of me was the inability of the main character to get over the recipe box crisis - something that actually made no difference in her life. It just didn't ring true to me that this 'secret' was a guiding force in her life for decades, and that she (at least for a time) destroyed her relationship with the one parent she actually had over it. Her inability to make life decisions was somehow based on it too, but did she learn anything from the start to the finish of this book? Apparently not.
In fact I find myself getting even more annoyed while writing this review. Label this one unbelievable, annoying and incredibly superficial and avoid this author.
In fact I find myself getting even more annoyed while writing this review. Label this one unbelievable, annoying and incredibly superficial and avoid this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2018
I liked it, fairly predictable, but an easy read, something I was looking for as a stress relief. I didn't bond with any of the characters, due to the author's writing style. Instead of showing us who the characters are through their actions, the author point blank tells us: Emma is misbehaving. Grace is running from her past. Ken is really coming into his element. Mike is a hot firefighter. Claire is a reformed mean girl. I have to say I'm not a fan of that style writing. I also never have liked books that always have everything so neatly falling into place, but I wanted something I didn't have to really concentrate on, and this worked.
August 13, 2020
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this debut novel. I would’ve given it 4 stars if the recipes had been a little simpler. Was really hoping to save some of them (author is a cook). Anyway, I enjoyed the story.
This kind of reminded me of when my mom and dad gave my sister and I, as well as my daughter homemade cookbooks for Christmas one year (minus the drama that was in this book). They are filled with recipes from my grandmothers, great grandmother, my mom, my aunt, grandfather & close family friends. My dad gets the credit for typing up all the recipes and printing them out. Definitely will always treasure them.
I enjoyed this debut novel. I would’ve given it 4 stars if the recipes had been a little simpler. Was really hoping to save some of them (author is a cook). Anyway, I enjoyed the story.
This kind of reminded me of when my mom and dad gave my sister and I, as well as my daughter homemade cookbooks for Christmas one year (minus the drama that was in this book). They are filled with recipes from my grandmothers, great grandmother, my mom, my aunt, grandfather & close family friends. My dad gets the credit for typing up all the recipes and printing them out. Definitely will always treasure them.
August 22, 2017
Grace and her daughter Emma move from Chicago to L.A. after Grace's husband cheats on her. Emma hates it there and gets in with the wrong crowd. When Grace's best friend from high school dies from breast cancer, Grace returns home to Wisconsin. Home keeps calling to Grace and she and Emma return to Wisconsin where they both uncover secrets regarding their fathers. The story is a well-written, easy to read story that leave the reader feeling good. The author includes recipes that are mentioned in the book. I enjoyed reading this story.
July 27, 2024
I really like Sandra Lee’s cookbooks so I was excited to read this. However I had to quit reading this book around page 100.
SPOILER ALERT:
The reason the main character (whose side we are supposed to be on) has carried a grudge against her mom is the same lies and suitable actions she engaged in. 2 generations of girls getting knocked up and lying to everyone about who the father is. I just can’t. The premise of this whole book is ridiculous and the main character is so selfish and such a horrible mom I just couldn’t stand her. Can’t believe that this was written by Sandra Lee.
SPOILER ALERT:
The reason the main character (whose side we are supposed to be on) has carried a grudge against her mom is the same lies and suitable actions she engaged in. 2 generations of girls getting knocked up and lying to everyone about who the father is. I just can’t. The premise of this whole book is ridiculous and the main character is so selfish and such a horrible mom I just couldn’t stand her. Can’t believe that this was written by Sandra Lee.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2017
This was a great story that included interesting characters and generational relationships. As a bonus, like the Cherry Cola Book Club series, this one included some recipes that look delicious. Books and food are two of my biggest interest areas so this was an easy read for me. It also included a cockatoo so I totally enjoyed it. Thanks to Pamela Lynn for lending this from your wonderful library.
September 8, 2019
A nice little read about a woman (Grace) and her daughter (Emma), both reeling from Grace's divorce leaving both women searching for happiness and purpose. It is the story of true friendship and the healing power of love and food. No profanity. No sex although sexual relationships outside of marriage were implied. There were some very likeable characters and a lesson about what is most important in life.
November 22, 2019
This is a cute story about a woman, Grace, who just got divorced and is starting a new life for herself and her teenage daughter. She has a hard time figuring out who she is and who she wants to be because she can't let go of things that have happened in the past. Baking helps Grace bring together her family and her community and figure it all out. Bonus: the novel includes recipes for all the food talked about in the story! I can't wait to try some of these out.
January 31, 2020
I wanted to like this book because I love books about food, recipes, and this one even has a bookstore owner! But...the characters are cardboard cut-outs, more like character ideas than real people. I didn't get the emotion the author was attempting to convey. The premise is awesome and there are so many things that could have worked, but it just didn't.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
October 14, 2017
I enjoyed this book. It was a light read but did have some unexpected twists. The characters were likable and authentic. I was also entertained that the author provided the recipe for things that were baked in the novel. The was really smart cross marketing by the author and provided some really good recipes for the reader.
September 1, 2018
I loved this book! It was such a sweet story of family, forgiveness, and finding yourself.
Grace was always searching for happiness and perfection but things seemed to be falling apart around her. She had her hands full with a rebellious daughter and was constantly busy. When her friend Leeza died and left her a letter she made big changes in her life.
Grace was always searching for happiness and perfection but things seemed to be falling apart around her. She had her hands full with a rebellious daughter and was constantly busy. When her friend Leeza died and left her a letter she made big changes in her life.
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