A Year of Recipes

by Kris M. Davey

This is a short story following Recipes for Life.
This is a brief glance at Odette and Murphy's marriage over the years.

*This short story cannot be read without reading Recipes for Life*

It's book two in my Recipes for Love series.
Recipes for Life
A Year of Recipes-short story
Recipes for Disaster- Wynn's story
A Perfect Recipe- Lux's story

Genres: Contemporary, Second Chance

45 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 3, 2025

About the author

Hi all!

New indie author here,
I write betrayal and grovel tropes with HEA
My work isn’t for everyone, I’m good with that, are you?
If not, that’s cool too!
It’s a welcome mat for most, and those are my people!

-most of my stories have triggers, mind them, or don’t, either way, I’ll still be here-

Happy reading, or happy rage.
😉

Reviews

[Amee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read updating us through the years with Odette and Murphy. Mild spoiler in novella on next book about best friend Wynn and who she ends up with. I had a feeling while reading book one that this was where author was going to lead us, and I like it. Can’t wait to read.

[Jordan Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

an extended epilogue.

I really wanted to know how Lux KNEW… and then they told me.

This was a really great novella to let us know where Wynn ends up and how the family fairs far into the future. The epic extended epilogue

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written short story that is loaded with all of the feels and has an HEA that beautifully demonstrates the growth of the H and the love between the main characters. Loved Wynn!

[Angel W · Rating 5 out of 5]

After years of hard work late night and no sleep Odette is beyond excited that she has finally finished school and passed her boards. She is excited to share the news with her husband but she when she goes to surprise him she gets the surprise instead. Realizing everything he just lost her husband tries to fight for her but in the end knows that he needs to walk away so she can heal. 3 years after the divorce has been finalized they both know that no one has ever measured up to the other. Odette realizes that she needs answers to the questions she wouldn't let him give her then because it hurt too much. When there is a major accident pile up on the freeway and she is not answering her phone he runs to her and stays by her side until the nurse in her gives in and knows she has done everything she can and needs to go to the hospital. Realizing that he came for her and stayed by her side they finally find their happy ever after together.

[Toni Mihos · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I didn’t realize I NEEDED!

I read R4L multiple times and loved it. However, I didn’t realize I needed for Lux to come to the realization that Murph did something so damaging to his family. I also NEEDED to see Ode anger and how she verbalized her anger and ultimate feelings .. I absolutely love this book and definitely read Recipes 4 Life before reading this book. This author is an automatic for me. I love her writing and how she guides us through the gut punch.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catching up with old friends

I loved this glimpse with Odette and Murphy through the years. I lived seeing what happened to them and then when their much loved daughter finds out about their tragic past.. All the heartbreak comes to light again and its all on Murphy's shoulders again. Its handled well and he takes his just desserts.

Great little catch novella

[Amanda LaGoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Odette and Murphy portrayed in Recipes for Life is one of the most highly emotional tales I’ve ever read. It lingers with you, in the best ways possible. To have an opportunity to revisit their lives, to learn how betrayal never truly dies, even years later, was so poignant. A story told with care, and so much love. I highly recommend both books!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Year of Recipes by Kris M. Davey is a heartfelt and tender exploration of love, marriage, and the quiet beauty of everyday life. Though a short story, it delivers rich emotional depth, chronicling Odette and Murphy’s marriage across the years with warmth, realism, and intimacy. Davey captures both the joys and challenges of long-term relationships the shared laughter, the small victories, and the moments that test love’s endurance.

This story is particularly effective for readers who already know the characters from Recipes for Life, as it deepens their understanding of Odette and Murphy’s journey and highlights how love evolves over time. With carefully crafted prose and a keen eye for emotional nuance, Davey makes every page resonate. A Year of Recipes is not just a continuation of a beloved series it’s a reminder of the power of connection, shared memories, and the simple rituals that sustain relationships.

Fans of contemporary romance and series storytelling will find this addition to the Recipes for Love collection both satisfying and heartwarming. Highly recommended for anyone who cherishes realistic, emotionally rich romance.

For inquiries or further discussion on promoting this book, you can reach me at nicole.b.publicist@gmail.com
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[Audrey Vosniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murph and Odette

I just love Murph and Odette’s story and I love seeing how their family changed and grew as the got older. My favorite part was when Lux found out and how that part of the story was navigated. Kris doesn’t just brush Murph’s cheating under the rug and show their life as perfect now and I appreciate that about her writing. She did a great job showing the continued fall out of his infidelity and then them continuing to working through it. And even though he slipped I still love Murph.

[HappyReaderDance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epilogues of all Epilogues 😍

I loved this novella so much! Obviously for Odette and Murphy, but also every time you finish a book and you wonder, “well what’s next?”. So getting the opportunity to see 12 years in the future and glimpses of their life and what’s going on was icing on the cake from the recipe book 😘😍 Definitely read the first book, but then run to read these little clips of the future!

[Meggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but sweet

This was a fun and quick read. It was great getting little snippets of Odette and Murph’s future. I loved seeing more of Lux and a bit of Lennon too. I loved their family dynamic and I love the way they addressed the past with Lux. I can see where she was upset, but their love brought all of them through.

[Christelle Ruiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great ending to a great story! I really enjoyed reading about after the epilogue. It was a good follow up story and I like how Lux had a point of view in her parents story! It includes the consequences of cheating on the kids, their point of view and how they live through it.
It was a well rounded story.

[Brooke Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of short chapters dealing with Murphy and Odette in the future after their reconciliation. They have a new baby, they continue to grow as a couple, Wren and Benji end up married, Lux finds out about the cheating in one of these chapters and goes 6 months without talking to Murphy. It's just a nice little revisit after all that happened in Recipes for Life.

[Laura Gelineau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg so good

I loved this little novella almost as much as I loved Recipes for Life. It was great to get little glimpses of Odette, Murph, Lux and Lennon thru the years
Kris M Davey is an AMAZING author!
Can't wait for Wynn's story.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the first book. This follow up novella was fun but also had a small spoiler for her upcoming story. That will be a big pass for me. Knowing Benji has been with Odette, and now is with Wynn, just gives off strong ick vibes for me. No thank you.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t wait for Lux’s story. It almost never happens to me anymore that a book have this much effect on me. But this one did. I can’t believe I didn’t want to read this one. The author is fabulous and I would love to keep reading her stories.

[Amy Sayles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved getting a peak at Odette and Murphy’s future with their family! Cannot wait did Wynn’s book! This little extension was so heart warming ❤️

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good catch up

Loved this story. Great to see them all together, growing in the best way.
Well written, and edited, great author.

[Jill Stewart]

I enjoyed seeing how the story played out with Lux learning what her dad did. Because yes, eventually, it was going to impact the kids. They will learn from parents' actions.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really just an extended epilogue for Recipes for Life and it was greatly appreciated to see further into the lives of these characters. So not a standalone, FYI.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

love ❤️❤️❤️

Great to read the little timeline insights after the first book! Cannot wait to see what happens next with this family I’ve come to love

[Michelle Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Couple: Murphy & Odette
❋❋❋❋❋❋❋
Such a great ending for Murphy and Odette. A look into the good and bad times over many years and how their family worked through it.

[Dessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you.

Great short story to finish up the main book. I enjoy reading all of the authors books. Can't wait to read the next one.

[Ruth Vitale · Rating 5 out of 5]

just like the first one

I loved this one !! It was so good reading about their life thru the years !!! I’m glad Wynn was in it too hopefully we get her book!!!

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet

Seeing snippets of Murphy and Odette thru the years was so sweet and seeing some of the side characters. I love their love story.

[Taylora Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful look into their future

It was a sweet and wonderful way of a sneak peak into their future years together. Knowing beforehand from this book that Benji and Wynn ends up together is making me so giddy—I can’t wait to read their journey. Lux eventually finding out about her father’s past infidelity broke me but I knew at some point it was going to happen.