All That Matters

Moretti #2

by Stef Ann Holm

When a megastore grocery chain threatens to shut down the new boutique bakery Chloe Lawson's worked so hard to establish, she's furious.

Her life may not be picture-perfect, but her custom cakes and pastries are becoming the talk of Boise, and she'd like to keep it that way. Chloe needs a champion, and handsome, widowed John Moretti turns out to be it.

A high-powered lawyer whose two rebellious teenagers are the only people he doesn't seem able to impress, John is shocked to find himself fighting for Chloe's little cause, much less falling for her. But once he samples her home-baked charms, he's hooked--and determined to make her a permanent part of his family.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction

398 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2008

About the author

Stef Ann Holm was born in Southern California near Hollywood. With the fantasy worlds of Disneyland and Universal Studios at her doorstep, her imagination was stimulated at an early age. She attended Chatsworth High where Kevin Spacey, Mare Winningham and Val Kilmer entertained on the school's stage. As a semester elective, Stef Ann enrolled in drama and played a Fandango hostess in the chorus of Sweet Charity. It was the beginning and the end of her acting and singing career. She got a "C" in Drama and an "A" in Creative Writing.

She sold her first romance in 1987. While waiting for a load of laundry to complete at the laundromat, Stef Ann made up the name for her heroine, Camry, when she saw a Toyota Camry parked outside in the lot. Who knew that model would end up being so popular, making her in-depth research seem so shallow. Stef Ann has had twenty-three novels and one novella published. Her editor calls her contemporary romances, "Slices of life stories about real people."

Stef Ann lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband, extended family and beloved Beagle.

Reviews

[Tressa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a pleasant story. Unfortunately, I didn't quite connect with the main characters. I liked Chloe and John, but I felt "removed" from them. I did like the descriptions of the pastries. The pastries sounded delicious. While Grove Market reminded me of my college downtown, it also sounded much more upscale. The author did convey a wonderfully homey feel throughout the book.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

g read

[Gabrielle]

So happy with this story, much more than I thought I would be. Like Single Dad Cowboy but elevated (there’s actually a sex scene in this one).
The breasts talk was a lot though. I can understand it coming from John, but sometimes it would be the author, not a specific character! She’d write things like “Chloe crossed her arms over/under her breasts” which feels like an unnecessary detail, right? “She crossed her arms” didn’t suffice?
Also, the last chapter went on too long. It was all ‘everything is great now! No one is struggling anymore and also Chloe and John get engaged on Valentines day”. It’s doing too much. It could have ended with Chloe and Ethel, when Chloe says “you’ll always be my mother” and the story would have still been satisfying.

[Maggie Shanley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parts of this bakery romance were cute, but others were super predictable. Chloe Lawson is a self made woman, at 40 she owns and operates a successful bakery. John Moretti is a successful lawyer who has used work to push away his family. When is his brother asks him to check into a lease matter for Chloe, John is struck.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

#2 in Holm's Moretti family series. Set in Boise, Idaho, this is an easy to read cozy romance story.
A megastore grocery chain threatens to shut down the new bakery Chloe Lawson's worked so hard to establish, she's furious. Chloe seeks legal help and finds it and romance in lawyer John Moretti.

[Kaitlyn]

This was a nice and light read for the fall season. I liked the description of pastries and the themes of romantic and familial love intertwined in the story set in Boise, Idaho. Something about the book felt very cozy and I enjoyed it!

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute romance! Chloe Lawson owns a bakery so this book made me hungry for sweets. This is a good read for the fall season. I'll admit, I was drawn in by the cover.

[Tammy Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

very enjoyable sweet story

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contemporary romance isn't usually my genre but I took a chance and am glad I did. A word of warning, this is the middle book of a trilogy (see below).

Boise is home to Chloe Lawson, owner of a gourmet bakery, smack dab in the middle of the best section in town. Then she is informed that her lease has been terminated; the biggest grocery chain in town will take over a large swath of the growing complex.
Chloe started her career at that grocery 'fakery' and knows their products cannot compare to hers. She decides to take legal action and meets John Moretti, a lawyer who tells Chloe she doesn't have a chance.

John Moretti, a widower with kid problems, grapples with the loss of his wife and his growing sense of despair and loneliness.

The secondary romance in this novel seemed superfluous and seemed to detract from Chloe and John.

Moretti Trilogy
All the Right Angles (2007)
**All That Matters (2008)
All That You Are (2009)

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet romance between a small business owner and the lawyer who is both providing her with advice as well as representing the big-chain that wants to force her out of her lease. The characters are likable, the story flows easily, the romance is heart-warming and the resolution to the business conflict is a good, albeit unrealistic, one. The more interesting characters were the grandmother and her new suitor. Chloe is a baker and when a big grocery chain decides to take over her space she's determined to go down fighting. James Moretti, a widower with 2 teenagers, is struggling with his attraction to Chloe while trying to manage the very account that wants to evict her. It's a fine line and I'm not sure he really balanced it. Ultimately it worked for a satisfying resolution.

[Beth Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me a little of the movie "You got Mail" with the cute little shopkeeper fighting against the big bad corporatation. Chloe is a likable, real to life character as is her counterpoint, John. Both have made mistakes, continue to make mistakes, etc. The minor characters were just as fun and I liked the subplots of the story. A nice summer read.

The review on the cover called this book a "sweet, family-oriented romance" so I was surprised to have a little sex scene toward the end of the book. It wasn't super detailed, but more then you'd find in a "family friendly" book. I guess they meant family-oriented in that the characters had strong family ties, subplots dealing with family members, etc.

[Cherry-Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

OMG! If only life could be this simple. I loved John and Chloe. Two persons from different sides of the track (so to speak) who are hard workers and that is what ultimately seems to be the focus (of course they were both handsome people). Actually loved the kids in this book, normally kids in books and movies are soooo annoying but author represented the teen spirit quite well. No graphic sex and I hope this is not because the couples were more mature (in their late 30s early 40s). All round nice read. Recommend.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice change of pace from all of the paranormal romances I've been reading. Normal people with problems, imagine that.:D The main characters have some flaws, but they are doing the best they can to work out their problems. I liked that Chloe tried to fight the megastore instead of just taking the money and running. I know you rarely win, but that doesn't mean some things aren't worth fighting for.

[Ernie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baker Chloe Lawson has to fight against a large grocery chain that threatens her little bakery.JOhn Moretti is the attorney who finds himself trying to protect her. This is a pleasant enough love story. Quick easy reading.

[Virginia Markhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comfortable read. 40 yr old lady divorced once, meets 44 yr old man who's wife died three years prior. She operates a bakery that is being shoved out by a mega greocery store chain. He is the lawyer trying to get her to accept the buyout being offered. Very nice book.

[Phoenix Titus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this. Some parts struck me as silly but for the most part this was a believable and touching story. I loved seeing the little shop go up against a big corporation and how it worked out. I also really enjoyed a look at how someone might deal with absent parents.

[Mandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is such a mom book. Maybe not even a mom book. It may even be a grandma book. It’s so bland. The characters are bland. The romance is bland. The story is bland. The writing is bland. This book is too tame to even be chick-lit.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet book about Chloe and John as they discover each other and develop a relationship. Very PG.

Sub-plot with Chloe's grandmother and an astronaut who opens a shop nearby.

Just ok. I like them a little juicier. This is very tame.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Registered on Bookcrossing: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1...

This is a sweet romance, lots of humor, fun characters and great main characters. Chloe and John don't seem like they are right for each other at first. The question is can they make it together at all.

[LauraB · Rating 5 out of 5]

A positive feel-good read. I'm adding her other books to my TBR pile.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable book for the most part, however it got unnecessarily graphic (in a sensual way) at the end.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Stef Ann Holm..and definitely NOT my last!!!

[Ann (Noumena12) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series of books about the Moretti family!! Can't wait for the next one!

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of Chloe, a baker, and her lawyer. Her grandmother, Ethel and astronaut are interesting characters. A quick, okay read.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story, quick read and entertaining

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this book. It was very good in my opinion.

[Beth Ann]

This was the first book I read hers. I couldn't put it down!

[Caroan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Mary Stetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. Fun characters.