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Too Many Cooks
Kelly Madigan seems to have it all: a fabulous boyfriend, a supportive - if eccentric - family, and a flourishing career as a cookbook ghostwriter. But after finding a letter from her recently-deceased mother, criticising her stable but undeniably unexciting life, Kelly knows she needs to make a change. When a mysterious new writing opportunity in London presents itself, she jumps at the chance to get away from it all.
Enter Natasha Spencer - Oscar-winning actress and health nut, not to mention a total nightmare. She's working on a new cookbook and has asked for Kelly's help. What Kelly didn't factor in was meeting Natasha's dishy MP husband, Hugh Ballantine.
Away from her family, friends, and the life she knows - will this fish out of water ever get back in the swim?
Enter Natasha Spencer - Oscar-winning actress and health nut, not to mention a total nightmare. She's working on a new cookbook and has asked for Kelly's help. What Kelly didn't factor in was meeting Natasha's dishy MP husband, Hugh Ballantine.
Away from her family, friends, and the life she knows - will this fish out of water ever get back in the swim?
448 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2015
38 people are currently reading
999 people want to read
About the author
Dana Bate
5 books126 followersDana Bate is the author of TOO MANY COOKS, A SECOND BITE AT THE APPLE (published in the UK as THE STALL OF SECOND CHANCES), and THE GIRLS' GUIDE TO LOVE AND SUPPER CLUBS (published in the UK as THE SECRET SUPPER CLUB), which earned a starred review in Publishers Weekly and has been translated into five languages. Before writing fiction full time, she was a Washington producer and reporter for PBS's Nightly Business Report, where she won the Gerald Loeb Award for a series she produced on the Indian economy. She lives outside Philadelphia with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
December 21, 2015
I'd be failing at my job (and possibly life) if I didn't rate my own book 5 stars. (Also? I had SO much fun writing this one!)
September 20, 2015
Start out with main character Kelly in a secure, long term relationship with a man who has never put a foot wrong (all though apparently it is much more important that he is very handsome, and a doctor, even though you are urged repeatedly that that is not the case).
Continue with a celebrity gossip-mad best friend mentally stuck in middle school, an endearingly eccentric father, a struggling younger brother and a career doing, well, what she REALLY enjoys doing.
Onward to a lucrative job offer, both monetarily and career-wise, for a famous American actress in London. For Kelly, that she would be working for an extremely famous person seems quite awe-inspiring.
Kelly jumps at the chance immediately, without consulting her partner. I can understand Kelly being honest with her long-term boyfriend and wanting to pursue a sparkling career opportunity. So far, not too bad. Goodbye faithful lover, recently bereaved Father, and struggling younger brother who she has basically raised. It is Kelly's time, everyone! (Spoiler alert, she forgets about her ex rather easily, so do not waste time worrying about him).
When she arrives in London, she meets her new boss, The Natasha. Kelly is, for some unknown reason, surprised that the high-paying, exciting job might actually be difficult. The Natasha wants things her way - how dare a boss paying you an incredible amount, plus your housing costs, be demanding?
Kelly dislikes The Natasha excessively, but decides to continue working for her anyway. Although, after her first meeting with The Natasha, she straight away violates her NDA by spilling everything over Skype to her celebrity gossip hound best friend back in the USA. After all, legal contracts? Not strong enough to prevent Kelly from doing as she pleases. It must be safe to divulge private information over an unsecured form of communication to her gossip-mad bestie who works in the media. That is just how Kelly rolls, ya'll!
Immediately Kelly is extremely attracted to The Natasha's husband, a physically attractive MP (politician). Strangely, Kelly does not seem to think that is so very wrong. After all, hot MP's wife is demanding, highly strung and unforgiving. Kelly rationalizes that because (1) the marriage does not seem affectionate and (2) she dislikes The Natasha, that the MP husband must be open game.
Soon, she is sleeping with her boss's husband, and falling in love with him. Of course her boss discovers what is happening in her home. Unbelievably, to Kelly, her boss seems to want to preserve her marriage. Kelly is confused as to why anyone would want to preserve a marriage in which there is no true love. Kelly really, really loves this paragon of a husband, this one who sleeps with his wife's employees. And he says that he really, really loves her. After a month of cheating with him, that is what really, really matters to Kelly.
When Kelly is confronted by Bosswife, she tries to defend what she has been doing. Yes. She is not sorry that she is cheating with her boss's husband. Bosswife tells Kelly that she is going to concentrate on her marriage, wanting to win back her husband and make it work. Kelly actually replies, "You haven't won yet, This isn't over." Smacks of virtue, doesn't it? Standing up to your boss about sleeping with her husband?
Of course, Mr. Boss really, really loves her, but not enough to end his 'loveless' marriage, and most certainly not enough to chance ruining his political career. Poor Kelly is surprised and heart-broken. No worries, though! The next day, she meets a new man on her way to Paris. Everything she needs to heal and start her (third) true journey to finding herself. Watch out Paris wives, sweet little Kelly is on her way.
I have not disliked a book this much in a long, long time. The writing was actually not bad. That the author incited such strong feelings is, well, is something. Better than indifference, I guess. The portrayal of the main character as a sweet virtuous underdog was irritating. Never does Kelly inspect her own complete selfishness, entitlement and self-pity. Kelly believes that everything happens to her, not as a result of her choices.
Sure, at the end, her heart is broken, but has she really learned anything? Kelly feels that SHE has been mistreated after having done nothing wrong. Also, food references are thrown in, perhaps to distract you from Kelly's shaky moral compass and to make her more sympathetic. She has questionable ethics, but wow, can she cook! Can not recommend.
**eARC netgalley**
Continue with a celebrity gossip-mad best friend mentally stuck in middle school, an endearingly eccentric father, a struggling younger brother and a career doing, well, what she REALLY enjoys doing.
Onward to a lucrative job offer, both monetarily and career-wise, for a famous American actress in London. For Kelly, that she would be working for an extremely famous person seems quite awe-inspiring.
Kelly jumps at the chance immediately, without consulting her partner. I can understand Kelly being honest with her long-term boyfriend and wanting to pursue a sparkling career opportunity. So far, not too bad. Goodbye faithful lover, recently bereaved Father, and struggling younger brother who she has basically raised. It is Kelly's time, everyone! (Spoiler alert, she forgets about her ex rather easily, so do not waste time worrying about him).
When she arrives in London, she meets her new boss, The Natasha. Kelly is, for some unknown reason, surprised that the high-paying, exciting job might actually be difficult. The Natasha wants things her way - how dare a boss paying you an incredible amount, plus your housing costs, be demanding?
Kelly dislikes The Natasha excessively, but decides to continue working for her anyway. Although, after her first meeting with The Natasha, she straight away violates her NDA by spilling everything over Skype to her celebrity gossip hound best friend back in the USA. After all, legal contracts? Not strong enough to prevent Kelly from doing as she pleases. It must be safe to divulge private information over an unsecured form of communication to her gossip-mad bestie who works in the media. That is just how Kelly rolls, ya'll!
Immediately Kelly is extremely attracted to The Natasha's husband, a physically attractive MP (politician). Strangely, Kelly does not seem to think that is so very wrong. After all, hot MP's wife is demanding, highly strung and unforgiving. Kelly rationalizes that because (1) the marriage does not seem affectionate and (2) she dislikes The Natasha, that the MP husband must be open game.
Soon, she is sleeping with her boss's husband, and falling in love with him. Of course her boss discovers what is happening in her home. Unbelievably, to Kelly, her boss seems to want to preserve her marriage. Kelly is confused as to why anyone would want to preserve a marriage in which there is no true love. Kelly really, really loves this paragon of a husband, this one who sleeps with his wife's employees. And he says that he really, really loves her. After a month of cheating with him, that is what really, really matters to Kelly.
When Kelly is confronted by Bosswife, she tries to defend what she has been doing. Yes. She is not sorry that she is cheating with her boss's husband. Bosswife tells Kelly that she is going to concentrate on her marriage, wanting to win back her husband and make it work. Kelly actually replies, "You haven't won yet, This isn't over." Smacks of virtue, doesn't it? Standing up to your boss about sleeping with her husband?
Of course, Mr. Boss really, really loves her, but not enough to end his 'loveless' marriage, and most certainly not enough to chance ruining his political career. Poor Kelly is surprised and heart-broken. No worries, though! The next day, she meets a new man on her way to Paris. Everything she needs to heal and start her (third) true journey to finding herself. Watch out Paris wives, sweet little Kelly is on her way.
I have not disliked a book this much in a long, long time. The writing was actually not bad. That the author incited such strong feelings is, well, is something. Better than indifference, I guess. The portrayal of the main character as a sweet virtuous underdog was irritating. Never does Kelly inspect her own complete selfishness, entitlement and self-pity. Kelly believes that everything happens to her, not as a result of her choices.
Sure, at the end, her heart is broken, but has she really learned anything? Kelly feels that SHE has been mistreated after having done nothing wrong. Also, food references are thrown in, perhaps to distract you from Kelly's shaky moral compass and to make her more sympathetic. She has questionable ethics, but wow, can she cook! Can not recommend.
**eARC netgalley**
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2015
Some people have been saying that Food Whore: A Novel of Dining and Deceit is The Devil Wears Prada, but with food. Those people haven't read Dana Bate's delicious new offering. This is because Natasha Spencer makes Miranda Priestly seem angelic, if that's even possible. I was cringing for Kelly every time Natasha said something rude to her. I couldn't even imagine someone treating me this way and I felt really bad for Kelly throughout the story. Especially when things got even more complicated.
Dana Bate once again has produced a well-written and enjoyable novel with enough tasty sounding treats to keep my stomach growling throughout. (Thankfully, there are recipes in the back!) She keeps her readers guessing the entire time as to what the outcome will entail. Kelly is another sympathetic and relatable character, even when she's doing something she knows is wrong.
My only concern is that the ending felt a bit rushed. I would have loved another chapter or two, or even just an epilogue. I think she took it in a realistic direction, but it would have been nice for Natasha to get some karma served to her. I love seeing mean characters get their just "desserts." I also think it would be fun if Dana wrote another novel from Natasha's point of view, just to shake things up a bit.
Overall, if you're looking for a great story to curl up with this winter, definitely take a chance on Too Many Cooks!
My dream movie cast:
Kelly: Britt Robertson (http://imdb.to/1Tk75FX)
Natasha: Rose Byrne (http://bit.ly/1Xzt2S9)
Poppy: Krysten Ritter (http://imdb.to/1Teug3S)
Hugh: Henry Cavill (http://bit.ly/1MX4JIM)
Sam: Aaron Tveit (http://bit.ly/1YAqRA9)
Stevie: Josh Peck (http://imdb.to/1QMJJuh)
Dana Bate once again has produced a well-written and enjoyable novel with enough tasty sounding treats to keep my stomach growling throughout. (Thankfully, there are recipes in the back!) She keeps her readers guessing the entire time as to what the outcome will entail. Kelly is another sympathetic and relatable character, even when she's doing something she knows is wrong.
My only concern is that the ending felt a bit rushed. I would have loved another chapter or two, or even just an epilogue. I think she took it in a realistic direction, but it would have been nice for Natasha to get some karma served to her. I love seeing mean characters get their just "desserts." I also think it would be fun if Dana wrote another novel from Natasha's point of view, just to shake things up a bit.
Overall, if you're looking for a great story to curl up with this winter, definitely take a chance on Too Many Cooks!
My dream movie cast:
Kelly: Britt Robertson (http://imdb.to/1Tk75FX)
Natasha: Rose Byrne (http://bit.ly/1Xzt2S9)
Poppy: Krysten Ritter (http://imdb.to/1Teug3S)
Hugh: Henry Cavill (http://bit.ly/1MX4JIM)
Sam: Aaron Tveit (http://bit.ly/1YAqRA9)
Stevie: Josh Peck (http://imdb.to/1QMJJuh)
June 19, 2015
A lovely read. Natasha travels to London to be a ghost writer on a cookery book for a famous actress, Natasha Spencer. Is it going to be the dream role that she's hoping for? Natasha is a very self centred lady and isn't going to make the experience the easiest one. Natasha wants to include recipes from her past- but she doesn't give her much help with the recipes or ingredients and is determined to demand little changes to perfect recipes. I loved the way that Natasha tests them out and tries to please her boss!
I could picture the markets and the festival that Natasha went to in Nottingham. She's searching for the perfect ingredients. One day she dreams of writing her own books.
Her best friend keeps her grounded whilst she's allowed her head to peep into the clouds. She's in a bubble, not seeing circumstances clearly.
The ending sees us hoping that Natasha's life is now leading into an exciting future- let's hope there is a follow up! Very tempting recipes are included at the back.
I could picture the markets and the festival that Natasha went to in Nottingham. She's searching for the perfect ingredients. One day she dreams of writing her own books.
Her best friend keeps her grounded whilst she's allowed her head to peep into the clouds. She's in a bubble, not seeing circumstances clearly.
The ending sees us hoping that Natasha's life is now leading into an exciting future- let's hope there is a follow up! Very tempting recipes are included at the back.
June 7, 2015
Too Many Cooks is the second novel by Dana Bate that I have had the pleasure of reading. The Stall of Second Chances (you can find my review here) was the book that originally introduced me to the author back in 2014 and, after reading Too Many Cooks, it's clear to see that Dana is just getting better and better with every story that she creates. If you've read any of Dana's previous novels and you, like me, have marvelled at how deliciously delectable they were, then I can tell you right now, it's probably best to not read Too Many Cooks on an empty stomach.
In Two Many Cooks, Dana introduces the reader to Kelly Madigan, occupation cookbook ghostwriter, and incredibly talented when it comes to even the tiniest intricacies of the taste and texture of food. As the novel begins, Dana chooses to place the reader alongside Kelly as she prepares the food for her mother's funeral, including the dish that her eccentric mother was famous for: her well-known spaghetti salad. I can only applaud Dana for beginning Kelly's story in such a way. The emphasis on food really set the tone for the rest of the novel, as well as placing the foundations for Kelly's character. The reader learns about Kelly's father and how he's coping since the death of her mother, and we meet Kelly's best-friend Meg who remains a constant, upbeat and entertaining presence in Kelly's life while she's away from home, We're also told of Sam, Kelly's predictable, 'boring' boyfriend. But, when Kelly receives an email offering her a very prestigious position, ghost-writing renowned Oscar-winning actress Natasha Spencer's newly announced cookbook, Kelly's life in Michigan gets flipped upside down. After finding a moving letter from her mother, hinting towards the fact that she wants Kelly to ditch Sam and do something exciting with her life, Kelly sees this as her perfect opportunity to do so, and sets off for London.
Dana Bate structured Kelly's story perfectly. From the moment Kelly left Michigan and stepped foot on London ground, the book was a complete and utter whirlwind of an adventure, including scrumptious food, an Oscar-winning actress's unbelievable expectations, and a crazy, passionate romance. Not only that, but Too Many Cooks was exciting, incredibly funny at times, and it had that magnetic pull that had me desperately turning the pages, eager to know more and find out where Kelly's story would go.
Kelly's time in London, spent working as Natasha's ghostwriter and giving in to her every whim and rule, had me giggling and gasping in equal measure. There were moments when I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing or seeing, and I had no choice but to applaud Kelly for having handled some of the ridiculous situations that she found herself in such an impeccable manner! It was clear, as soon as I was introduced to Natasha Spencer, that she and Kelly were both very different people who had experienced very different upbringings. Natasha was utterly flawless, lived a life of sleek luxury and had her trusty assistant to deal with anything even slightly messy or difficult, whereas Kelly, to me, felt so much more down-to-earth, wholesome and grounded. There was, however, one thing that the two women had in common but, even despite this, Natasha still had to have the upper hand. This also included having the upper hand in the husband department, too. Hugh Ballantine, MP and ridiculously handsome, not only had Kelly swooning, but I found myself swooning right along with her. I think it's fair to say that sparks definitely flew when Kelly set eyes on this impeccable man. Only problem being, she was his wife's ghostwriter... Uh-oh!
As expected, since reading and LOVING Dana's The Stall of Second Chances, Too Many Cooks was absolutely simmering over with some of the most deliciously, temptingly tasty dishes I can think of (and some not-so-tasty!). From sweet potato fries to a strangely-received loaf of banana bread, the pages within Too Many Cooks were packed with food descriptions teasing enough to get your taste-buds tingling. Dana's focus on food added such a gorgeous homely feel to the story despite Kelly spending time with an Oscar-winning actress. It was as if, even though surrounded by the expense and grandeur of Natasha's lifestyle, Kelly's roots had followed her all the way to London.
The sheer entertainment and grip that Too Many Cooks provided me with was enough to have me dying to see how Kelly's story would end. I couldn't wait to see how the story would wind up, and in which direction Kelly and the rest of Dana's fantastic characters would go. There was so much depth and feeling to Dana's plot, it was impossible for me detach myself when I wasn't reading. It was exciting, satisfying and everything that I had hoped for and more.
I seriously, seriously, seriously cannot recommend this book to you enough. It had everything that I needed and more. From Dana's brilliantly crafted characters to how fabulously the plot thickened, it was a real, down-to-earth story about one woman finally deciding to take her chances and go for it, just like her Mum had said.
Becca's Books is awarding Too Many Cooks by Dana Bate with FIVE GLORIOUSLY PERFECTED CUPCAKES! I'm already eager to read Dana's next release, because there is no doubt in my mind that it will hold the same deliciously riveting storyline that I can never get enough of.
In Two Many Cooks, Dana introduces the reader to Kelly Madigan, occupation cookbook ghostwriter, and incredibly talented when it comes to even the tiniest intricacies of the taste and texture of food. As the novel begins, Dana chooses to place the reader alongside Kelly as she prepares the food for her mother's funeral, including the dish that her eccentric mother was famous for: her well-known spaghetti salad. I can only applaud Dana for beginning Kelly's story in such a way. The emphasis on food really set the tone for the rest of the novel, as well as placing the foundations for Kelly's character. The reader learns about Kelly's father and how he's coping since the death of her mother, and we meet Kelly's best-friend Meg who remains a constant, upbeat and entertaining presence in Kelly's life while she's away from home, We're also told of Sam, Kelly's predictable, 'boring' boyfriend. But, when Kelly receives an email offering her a very prestigious position, ghost-writing renowned Oscar-winning actress Natasha Spencer's newly announced cookbook, Kelly's life in Michigan gets flipped upside down. After finding a moving letter from her mother, hinting towards the fact that she wants Kelly to ditch Sam and do something exciting with her life, Kelly sees this as her perfect opportunity to do so, and sets off for London.
Dana Bate structured Kelly's story perfectly. From the moment Kelly left Michigan and stepped foot on London ground, the book was a complete and utter whirlwind of an adventure, including scrumptious food, an Oscar-winning actress's unbelievable expectations, and a crazy, passionate romance. Not only that, but Too Many Cooks was exciting, incredibly funny at times, and it had that magnetic pull that had me desperately turning the pages, eager to know more and find out where Kelly's story would go.
Kelly's time in London, spent working as Natasha's ghostwriter and giving in to her every whim and rule, had me giggling and gasping in equal measure. There were moments when I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing or seeing, and I had no choice but to applaud Kelly for having handled some of the ridiculous situations that she found herself in such an impeccable manner! It was clear, as soon as I was introduced to Natasha Spencer, that she and Kelly were both very different people who had experienced very different upbringings. Natasha was utterly flawless, lived a life of sleek luxury and had her trusty assistant to deal with anything even slightly messy or difficult, whereas Kelly, to me, felt so much more down-to-earth, wholesome and grounded. There was, however, one thing that the two women had in common but, even despite this, Natasha still had to have the upper hand. This also included having the upper hand in the husband department, too. Hugh Ballantine, MP and ridiculously handsome, not only had Kelly swooning, but I found myself swooning right along with her. I think it's fair to say that sparks definitely flew when Kelly set eyes on this impeccable man. Only problem being, she was his wife's ghostwriter... Uh-oh!
As expected, since reading and LOVING Dana's The Stall of Second Chances, Too Many Cooks was absolutely simmering over with some of the most deliciously, temptingly tasty dishes I can think of (and some not-so-tasty!). From sweet potato fries to a strangely-received loaf of banana bread, the pages within Too Many Cooks were packed with food descriptions teasing enough to get your taste-buds tingling. Dana's focus on food added such a gorgeous homely feel to the story despite Kelly spending time with an Oscar-winning actress. It was as if, even though surrounded by the expense and grandeur of Natasha's lifestyle, Kelly's roots had followed her all the way to London.
The sheer entertainment and grip that Too Many Cooks provided me with was enough to have me dying to see how Kelly's story would end. I couldn't wait to see how the story would wind up, and in which direction Kelly and the rest of Dana's fantastic characters would go. There was so much depth and feeling to Dana's plot, it was impossible for me detach myself when I wasn't reading. It was exciting, satisfying and everything that I had hoped for and more.
I seriously, seriously, seriously cannot recommend this book to you enough. It had everything that I needed and more. From Dana's brilliantly crafted characters to how fabulously the plot thickened, it was a real, down-to-earth story about one woman finally deciding to take her chances and go for it, just like her Mum had said.
Becca's Books is awarding Too Many Cooks by Dana Bate with FIVE GLORIOUSLY PERFECTED CUPCAKES! I'm already eager to read Dana's next release, because there is no doubt in my mind that it will hold the same deliciously riveting storyline that I can never get enough of.
March 7, 2017
Pretty fun. All the right ingredients (get my cooking reference there?) for a relaxing and enjoyable read.
June 23, 2016
I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest feedback.
Kelly has always thought her life was pretty perfect. She has a gorgeous and dedicated doctor boyfriend and a great career as a cookbook ghostwriter but things come crashing down when Kelly's mom suddenly passes away and leave her a letter telling her to shake things up and live life with no regrets. The next day, Kelly finds herself taking a job offer for Natasha Spencer, a very famous actress, and moving across the water to London for a whole year.
I enjoyed this book to an extent. The writing was good and detailed and I really liked Kelly's experimentation with all of the recipes. I'm not someone who enjoys cooking but I still enjoyed reading about the different ingredients used and how they changed the taste of the food. It would have been nice for Kelly to see a bit more of London while she was there and ingratiate herself into a group of friends a bit more. Normally with these kinds of novels, the protagonist finds herself a small group of friends she bonds with and can chat to and have some adventures with. Kelly was very isolated, and in a toxic environment, and I think this made my mood a darken a little bit while reading it. It would have been nice for Olga and Kelly to bond more, I felt like a nice relationship kept being hinted at and it just never happened.
And Natasha, oh my goodness. It's been a while since I hated a character so much and since a character has irritated me that much. I wanted to reach through the pages and throttle her. She, and Poppy, reminded me a tiny bit of Miranda Priestly, especially because Poppy acted like Miranda's assistant Emily, both in her attitude towards her job and towards Kelly.
I knocked off a few points on the ratings (this was originally going to be 3.5-4 stars) because of the relationship between Kelly and Hugh. It left a bitter taste in my mouth. I always suspected it wasn't going to end up great and I hate that, even though he wasn't necessarily a bad guy, he managed to get away with everything, I would have liked some kind of epilogue showing that Kelly did get her book deal for definite but maybe there will be a sequel. Overall, I was impressed with the writing style and strength and despite some of my problems, I enjoyed the story.
Kelly has always thought her life was pretty perfect. She has a gorgeous and dedicated doctor boyfriend and a great career as a cookbook ghostwriter but things come crashing down when Kelly's mom suddenly passes away and leave her a letter telling her to shake things up and live life with no regrets. The next day, Kelly finds herself taking a job offer for Natasha Spencer, a very famous actress, and moving across the water to London for a whole year.
I enjoyed this book to an extent. The writing was good and detailed and I really liked Kelly's experimentation with all of the recipes. I'm not someone who enjoys cooking but I still enjoyed reading about the different ingredients used and how they changed the taste of the food. It would have been nice for Kelly to see a bit more of London while she was there and ingratiate herself into a group of friends a bit more. Normally with these kinds of novels, the protagonist finds herself a small group of friends she bonds with and can chat to and have some adventures with. Kelly was very isolated, and in a toxic environment, and I think this made my mood a darken a little bit while reading it. It would have been nice for Olga and Kelly to bond more, I felt like a nice relationship kept being hinted at and it just never happened.
And Natasha, oh my goodness. It's been a while since I hated a character so much and since a character has irritated me that much. I wanted to reach through the pages and throttle her. She, and Poppy, reminded me a tiny bit of Miranda Priestly, especially because Poppy acted like Miranda's assistant Emily, both in her attitude towards her job and towards Kelly.
I knocked off a few points on the ratings (this was originally going to be 3.5-4 stars) because of the relationship between Kelly and Hugh. It left a bitter taste in my mouth. I always suspected it wasn't going to end up great and I hate that, even though he wasn't necessarily a bad guy, he managed to get away with everything, I would have liked some kind of epilogue showing that Kelly did get her book deal for definite but maybe there will be a sequel. Overall, I was impressed with the writing style and strength and despite some of my problems, I enjoyed the story.
June 5, 2015
I really love Dana's last book, The Stall of Second Chances, it was a great story and a fab cover, so far Dana's next book Too Many Cooks has one of those things - a fab cover! Does it have a great story?
Now I have been reading a lot of post-apoc lately so this charming tale makes a welcome change. It has a large helping of humour, a dash of cray-cray crazy characters, gallons of descriptions of food, which are plain amazing (oooo and recipes too) and it also had a generous pinch of chemistry.
Kelly is a cookbook ghostwriter, she has it all, excellent job, great but mad family and a loving, amazing boyfriend. Her life is perfect but following the death of her mother, a letter written to her by her Mom changes her life, but will it be for the better?
Well her life changes considerably, she is offered a job she cannot refuse with megastar (and crazy person) actress Natasha Spencer but it is in London, she decides to leave her boyfriend and take up this once in a lifetime job.
When she arrives in London she discovers that not only is Natasha bat-shit crazy but her husband, an MP is incredibly handsome (he sounds like Tom Hiddleston) and sparks chemistry.
She loves to cook and test out the recipes for the cookbooks that she helps writes but Natasha is about as much help as a chocolate fire-guard, demanding she recreate recipes from her childhood without even the slightest hint as to how they were made. The woman is just plain mad.
But Kelly tries and keeps her head down and gets on it with whilst trying to avoid her growing closeness to Natasha's husband, Hugh. The pair have many moments where they are alone together, will they act upon their chemistry?
So how does this book pan out, will Kelly sleep with her bosses husband? Will this cookbook get written? Has Kelly made a horrible mistake? Will there be lots more yummy descriptions of food?
Well yes to the food, as for the rest well find out for yourself by picking up a copy of this book!
It truly is a deliciously, entertaining read with fun characters and lots of great food!
Thank you to Little Brown for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review
Now I have been reading a lot of post-apoc lately so this charming tale makes a welcome change. It has a large helping of humour, a dash of cray-cray crazy characters, gallons of descriptions of food, which are plain amazing (oooo and recipes too) and it also had a generous pinch of chemistry.
Kelly is a cookbook ghostwriter, she has it all, excellent job, great but mad family and a loving, amazing boyfriend. Her life is perfect but following the death of her mother, a letter written to her by her Mom changes her life, but will it be for the better?
Well her life changes considerably, she is offered a job she cannot refuse with megastar (and crazy person) actress Natasha Spencer but it is in London, she decides to leave her boyfriend and take up this once in a lifetime job.
When she arrives in London she discovers that not only is Natasha bat-shit crazy but her husband, an MP is incredibly handsome (he sounds like Tom Hiddleston) and sparks chemistry.
She loves to cook and test out the recipes for the cookbooks that she helps writes but Natasha is about as much help as a chocolate fire-guard, demanding she recreate recipes from her childhood without even the slightest hint as to how they were made. The woman is just plain mad.
But Kelly tries and keeps her head down and gets on it with whilst trying to avoid her growing closeness to Natasha's husband, Hugh. The pair have many moments where they are alone together, will they act upon their chemistry?
So how does this book pan out, will Kelly sleep with her bosses husband? Will this cookbook get written? Has Kelly made a horrible mistake? Will there be lots more yummy descriptions of food?
Well yes to the food, as for the rest well find out for yourself by picking up a copy of this book!
It truly is a deliciously, entertaining read with fun characters and lots of great food!
Thank you to Little Brown for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review
June 11, 2015
Kelly Madigan is an easy character to like from the get go. With her eccentric family, her steady and likeable boyfriend seems to make her life perfect. However, when her Mum passes away she leaves Kelly a letter which tells her to get out there and cause some waves in her life and not to settle for the easy option. This sets Kelly off on a chain of events which see her take some drastic decisions including upping and moving to London to work as a ghost-writer for a celebrity writing her own cookbook.
Enter Natasha Spencer, the sort of celebrity fictional character I love to hate. She appears to have it all, looks, fame and money but seriously lacks in personality. Kelly is instantly dwarfed and overwhelmed by her new employee. In addition to Natasha she also has to put up with her ridiculous assistant Poppy who just adds to the hilarity of Natasha’s over inflated sense of self. Natasha, although everything people probably imagine some celebrities to be like, make the book so much more readable and there is nothing like a bit of backstabbing and bitchiness to liven up a book. I also loved some of the one liners that Kelly’s friend Meg came out with, it injected a real laugh out loud element to certain parts of the story.
When Kelly meets Natasha’s husband MP Hugh Ballantine things get even more crazy and before you know it Kelly feels a million miles away from home and incredibly lonely. The characters, the cooking and the general air of drama and humour around this book seems the perfect combination to me. I enjoyed Dana’s first book, but not as much as this one. Once I was into the story I didn’t want to put it down. A fantastic read which I thoroughly enjoyed and cannot wait to see what’s next for Dana Bate.
Enter Natasha Spencer, the sort of celebrity fictional character I love to hate. She appears to have it all, looks, fame and money but seriously lacks in personality. Kelly is instantly dwarfed and overwhelmed by her new employee. In addition to Natasha she also has to put up with her ridiculous assistant Poppy who just adds to the hilarity of Natasha’s over inflated sense of self. Natasha, although everything people probably imagine some celebrities to be like, make the book so much more readable and there is nothing like a bit of backstabbing and bitchiness to liven up a book. I also loved some of the one liners that Kelly’s friend Meg came out with, it injected a real laugh out loud element to certain parts of the story.
When Kelly meets Natasha’s husband MP Hugh Ballantine things get even more crazy and before you know it Kelly feels a million miles away from home and incredibly lonely. The characters, the cooking and the general air of drama and humour around this book seems the perfect combination to me. I enjoyed Dana’s first book, but not as much as this one. Once I was into the story I didn’t want to put it down. A fantastic read which I thoroughly enjoyed and cannot wait to see what’s next for Dana Bate.
November 6, 2015
Great book! I really enjoyed the characters and story. The story goes along at a good pace with some predictable twists & turns, yet keeps you interested.
Kelly Madigan is a cookbook ghostwriter who leads a pretty normal (boring life). She reads a letter her mother left for her before she died which encourages Kelly to add some adventure to her life. Soon after, Kelly received an offer to collaborate with super star Natasha Spencer, who lives in London. Kelly decides to take up the offer and moved from Michigan to London. In doing so her long time boyfriend dumps her. Once she begins working with Natasha she realizes Natasha can't make up her mind about any of the recipes and requires endless taste tests before she approves it. Kelly tries to accommodate her, but her personal beliefs about not wasting food, leads her to leave meals for Natasha's husband, Hugh. This begins the demise of her ghostwriting job and whirlwind romance.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in-exchange for my honest opinion/review.
Kelly Madigan is a cookbook ghostwriter who leads a pretty normal (boring life). She reads a letter her mother left for her before she died which encourages Kelly to add some adventure to her life. Soon after, Kelly received an offer to collaborate with super star Natasha Spencer, who lives in London. Kelly decides to take up the offer and moved from Michigan to London. In doing so her long time boyfriend dumps her. Once she begins working with Natasha she realizes Natasha can't make up her mind about any of the recipes and requires endless taste tests before she approves it. Kelly tries to accommodate her, but her personal beliefs about not wasting food, leads her to leave meals for Natasha's husband, Hugh. This begins the demise of her ghostwriting job and whirlwind romance.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in-exchange for my honest opinion/review.
March 20, 2016
This didn't feel like your standard women's fiction novel. I enjoyed reading about someone with an unusual career--a cookbook ghostwriter--and I enjoyed the fact that she couldn't help falling for a charming, but married, man (whose British accent made me imagine that it was played by Hugh Grant).
October 15, 2018
Took me longer than normal to read through this book but I finished it. And hoping the ending would be worth it, no it wasn’t. I was not happy with the ending or finding out there’s not a continuation to this book lol
September 4, 2015
i love dana bate, she makes waking on your life and starting all over seems very simple to do <3
February 5, 2019
I've been working on a number of projects, so I was in the mood for an escapist book to read, something fun and fast-paced. I am also a sucker for books about chefs, since I am married to one. So it was with the combination of these two interests that I read Dana Bate's novel Too Many Cooks.
This is Ms. Bate's second novel, and after reading it, I am going to pick up her first book, too. In style, the writing reminds me of one of my favorite romance/woman's lit writers, Kristan Higgans. Like Higgans, Ms. Bate's style is light and irreverent, with a wise-cracking main character who tends to fall into unfortunate situations.
However, that's not to say Bate is a carbon copy of Higgans, as there are a number of differences between this book and Higgans' novels. Bate's main character, Kelly, is a loner who travels from the Midwest to the UK in search of adventure, whereas most of Higgans' characters are surrounded by family and friends, and living in the towns they grew up in on the East Coast. While many of Higgans' characters tend to be a bit insecure, the main character of this novel has a sense of who she is and what she wants.
Some similarities between the authors include stellar pacing and suspense, a hopeful romance, top-rate humor, and the idea that things don't always turn out how one expects.
The book begins with a funeral--the perfect start to a lighthearted romance, right? But it works out to be a reoccurring motif. Kelly Madigan's mother has just died, but she left behind a letter urging her daughter to be more adventurous. With that in mind, Kelly jumps onto a plane with the next job offer she receives, which is to ghostwrite a cookbook with superstar Natasha Spencer in England. But the job offer isn't quite what she expected--in fact, nothing is what she expects, from putting together an eclectic cookbook for her control freak of a boss, to late nights spent chatting with her boss's attractive husband. Kelly's search for adventure might have taken her too far out of her comfort zone and into strange waters indeed. If her mother were still alive, what would she think of Kelly's escapades?
Although there are heavier themes touched upon in the book, such as death, adultery and the downside to fame, none of them stray too far from the genre or leave a reader feeling dissatisfied. Everything is resolved in the end, one way or the other. It's a fast read, and I'd recommend it for someone looking for something light and fun.
This review was originally published in the magazine Bewildering Stories, Issue # 678.
This is Ms. Bate's second novel, and after reading it, I am going to pick up her first book, too. In style, the writing reminds me of one of my favorite romance/woman's lit writers, Kristan Higgans. Like Higgans, Ms. Bate's style is light and irreverent, with a wise-cracking main character who tends to fall into unfortunate situations.
However, that's not to say Bate is a carbon copy of Higgans, as there are a number of differences between this book and Higgans' novels. Bate's main character, Kelly, is a loner who travels from the Midwest to the UK in search of adventure, whereas most of Higgans' characters are surrounded by family and friends, and living in the towns they grew up in on the East Coast. While many of Higgans' characters tend to be a bit insecure, the main character of this novel has a sense of who she is and what she wants.
Some similarities between the authors include stellar pacing and suspense, a hopeful romance, top-rate humor, and the idea that things don't always turn out how one expects.
The book begins with a funeral--the perfect start to a lighthearted romance, right? But it works out to be a reoccurring motif. Kelly Madigan's mother has just died, but she left behind a letter urging her daughter to be more adventurous. With that in mind, Kelly jumps onto a plane with the next job offer she receives, which is to ghostwrite a cookbook with superstar Natasha Spencer in England. But the job offer isn't quite what she expected--in fact, nothing is what she expects, from putting together an eclectic cookbook for her control freak of a boss, to late nights spent chatting with her boss's attractive husband. Kelly's search for adventure might have taken her too far out of her comfort zone and into strange waters indeed. If her mother were still alive, what would she think of Kelly's escapades?
Although there are heavier themes touched upon in the book, such as death, adultery and the downside to fame, none of them stray too far from the genre or leave a reader feeling dissatisfied. Everything is resolved in the end, one way or the other. It's a fast read, and I'd recommend it for someone looking for something light and fun.
This review was originally published in the magazine Bewildering Stories, Issue # 678.
June 5, 2015
Well, Dana Bates has already taught me a lesson - never read her books when you're hungry or on a diet! She's taking the whole food - thing to another level, with her incredibly delicious, vivid descriptions, and the way she writes about food - with feeling, with respect to food, and she can describe all the smells and aromas in such a way that I can almost smell them through the pages of the book. Even if it is kale burger.
Kelly Madigan is a ghost - writer of cook books, and a very talented one. So talented that she's recently being scouted by an assistant to a very famous Hollywood star, Natasha, married to Hugh Ballantine, who is an MP. There is only one problem - Natasha lives in London, and Kelly's whole life is in the USA - her boyfriend, her brother, and her recently widowed father, as yes, Kelly has recently lost her mum. But - her mum has left her a letter, and reading it makes Kelly to think twice about her life - her mum very rightly pointed out that she's living very dull and safe life, with her boring boyfriend (mum's words!) and no excitement.
Probably there are those words that see Kelly flying over the pound to work with Natasha. She's decided to leave her boyfriend and finally take a risk. But will working for Natasha be worth of leaving everything behind? Is this job going to make or break her career, or break Kelly herself?
I - except of some hiccups that I'm going to mention later - adored Kelly, loved the story of her coming out of her comfort zone, out of her shell and living life differently. I loved seeing how quickly she always wins the people over and that she really didn't have a problem with people, she was open and so easy to make contact. And hell, yes, she asked a lot of questions! I liked her, even when she did things she shouldn't have done. But as much as I was smitten with Kelly, there was one thing that made me so very angry with her - namely, she too often let other people to walk all over her, to treat her like a doormat, and too often she agreed to everything, without thinking... what was the most used answer by Kelly? "Okay..." - even though she hasn't thought the stuff through, without thinking about herself. She should grow a backbone or two, our Kelly. She was so eager to please that sometimes it was too sweet and too unnatural, but altogether she is more than normal, very believable girl, girl with dreams and hopes and I really wanted her to succeed.
The book introduces us to really great developed characters. I wanted to say "lovely" and "likeable" but then I thought it over and well, the truth is, not all of them are likeable or lovely. But they are absolutely brilliantly portrayed and they don't leave you indifferent - I personally either loved them or loved to hate them. Of course, among those unlikeable were Natasha herself - it was more then often that scenes with her, the things she said or did, left me with my mouth open, reading the passages again to make myself sure that she really said or did this what I've just read. She was the perfect diva and what I only missed was the entourage of twenty people around her, not only her assistant, to hanging on her every word, fulfilling her every wish and desires. I thought that if she's going to ask Kelly once more if Kelly has just called her liar (this is what I call queen of jumping to conclusions, really) I'm going to reach into the book and kick her backside. She is the best example of how easy it is to manipulate people, and how easy people fell under the spell of someone beautiful and famous. To be honest, this is how imagine a true Hollywood A - lister.
Out of the other characters, there were the people that Kelly left behind, her father, brother and best friend Meg, who added humour to the story, with some plans including dead mouse or snake, or just with being there for Kelly.
Dana has really brilliantly described the details and knick - knacks of being a ghost - writer, and what in fact this job involves - from having to listen to some very vague descriptions of some dishes into creating the perfect recipe, which sometimes took longer and sometimes shorter, but always is a challenge. I mean, you must really know what you do, you must really know your food, all the details, all the ingredients to try to match them and create this perfect dish. Especially when you have such a demanding client as Natasha was - guys, believe me, there were moments that I wanted not only slap her hard, but I just wanted to break her neck, and I am truly a peaceful person. She has really tried my patience, Natasha, and I must have applauded Kelly more than once or twice - I'd just throw everything for Natasha to clean herself and go away. Career here or there.
I incredibly enjoyed the insight into the ghost - writer's life, and into the concept itself - call me dumb but I had no idea that it works like this, and thanks a lot Dana for explaining this whole process to me. I, your usual buyer of cook books, was sure that well, yes, the author has tried all the recipes, and by trying I mean cooking, preparing, polishing, not in Natasha - trying - style (or not!). Probably I am too much into Nigella or Jamie, believing that they are presenting this what they themselves have cooked, but now I know how it's working.
While some bits of the book may be predictable, the book on the whole is a very surprising one - it can be quite unexpected, and there is no guarantee for a happy end, but whatever Dana writes, and however the book ends, it's fully satisfying. And you know, I think that Dana Bates has ended the book in the best possible way, because - let's be honest - Kelly got into hot water, a very uncomfortable situation, and no matter how we look at is, she was always the one to be called "the bad one". It's a shame, because she was so nice and lovely, and so honest in her feelings, and she wanted only good things happen to everyone, and it pained me so much to see her so hurt, and so used.
I think that it is Dana's best book yet, each new novel is better than the previous one and I really can't wait to see what's more she has in store for us. It's a novel with a good story line and quickly paced, with really strong characters, and of course let's not forget the exquisite cuisine, with few recipes at the end as a bonus - I can't wait to try them, especially this spaghetti salad! If you are into brilliant food descriptions, into stories with twists and turns, great dose of humour and told in a wonderful, engaging, warm way, then you should try Too Many Cooks.
Kelly Madigan is a ghost - writer of cook books, and a very talented one. So talented that she's recently being scouted by an assistant to a very famous Hollywood star, Natasha, married to Hugh Ballantine, who is an MP. There is only one problem - Natasha lives in London, and Kelly's whole life is in the USA - her boyfriend, her brother, and her recently widowed father, as yes, Kelly has recently lost her mum. But - her mum has left her a letter, and reading it makes Kelly to think twice about her life - her mum very rightly pointed out that she's living very dull and safe life, with her boring boyfriend (mum's words!) and no excitement.
Probably there are those words that see Kelly flying over the pound to work with Natasha. She's decided to leave her boyfriend and finally take a risk. But will working for Natasha be worth of leaving everything behind? Is this job going to make or break her career, or break Kelly herself?
I - except of some hiccups that I'm going to mention later - adored Kelly, loved the story of her coming out of her comfort zone, out of her shell and living life differently. I loved seeing how quickly she always wins the people over and that she really didn't have a problem with people, she was open and so easy to make contact. And hell, yes, she asked a lot of questions! I liked her, even when she did things she shouldn't have done. But as much as I was smitten with Kelly, there was one thing that made me so very angry with her - namely, she too often let other people to walk all over her, to treat her like a doormat, and too often she agreed to everything, without thinking... what was the most used answer by Kelly? "Okay..." - even though she hasn't thought the stuff through, without thinking about herself. She should grow a backbone or two, our Kelly. She was so eager to please that sometimes it was too sweet and too unnatural, but altogether she is more than normal, very believable girl, girl with dreams and hopes and I really wanted her to succeed.
The book introduces us to really great developed characters. I wanted to say "lovely" and "likeable" but then I thought it over and well, the truth is, not all of them are likeable or lovely. But they are absolutely brilliantly portrayed and they don't leave you indifferent - I personally either loved them or loved to hate them. Of course, among those unlikeable were Natasha herself - it was more then often that scenes with her, the things she said or did, left me with my mouth open, reading the passages again to make myself sure that she really said or did this what I've just read. She was the perfect diva and what I only missed was the entourage of twenty people around her, not only her assistant, to hanging on her every word, fulfilling her every wish and desires. I thought that if she's going to ask Kelly once more if Kelly has just called her liar (this is what I call queen of jumping to conclusions, really) I'm going to reach into the book and kick her backside. She is the best example of how easy it is to manipulate people, and how easy people fell under the spell of someone beautiful and famous. To be honest, this is how imagine a true Hollywood A - lister.
Out of the other characters, there were the people that Kelly left behind, her father, brother and best friend Meg, who added humour to the story, with some plans including dead mouse or snake, or just with being there for Kelly.
Dana has really brilliantly described the details and knick - knacks of being a ghost - writer, and what in fact this job involves - from having to listen to some very vague descriptions of some dishes into creating the perfect recipe, which sometimes took longer and sometimes shorter, but always is a challenge. I mean, you must really know what you do, you must really know your food, all the details, all the ingredients to try to match them and create this perfect dish. Especially when you have such a demanding client as Natasha was - guys, believe me, there were moments that I wanted not only slap her hard, but I just wanted to break her neck, and I am truly a peaceful person. She has really tried my patience, Natasha, and I must have applauded Kelly more than once or twice - I'd just throw everything for Natasha to clean herself and go away. Career here or there.
I incredibly enjoyed the insight into the ghost - writer's life, and into the concept itself - call me dumb but I had no idea that it works like this, and thanks a lot Dana for explaining this whole process to me. I, your usual buyer of cook books, was sure that well, yes, the author has tried all the recipes, and by trying I mean cooking, preparing, polishing, not in Natasha - trying - style (or not!). Probably I am too much into Nigella or Jamie, believing that they are presenting this what they themselves have cooked, but now I know how it's working.
While some bits of the book may be predictable, the book on the whole is a very surprising one - it can be quite unexpected, and there is no guarantee for a happy end, but whatever Dana writes, and however the book ends, it's fully satisfying. And you know, I think that Dana Bates has ended the book in the best possible way, because - let's be honest - Kelly got into hot water, a very uncomfortable situation, and no matter how we look at is, she was always the one to be called "the bad one". It's a shame, because she was so nice and lovely, and so honest in her feelings, and she wanted only good things happen to everyone, and it pained me so much to see her so hurt, and so used.
I think that it is Dana's best book yet, each new novel is better than the previous one and I really can't wait to see what's more she has in store for us. It's a novel with a good story line and quickly paced, with really strong characters, and of course let's not forget the exquisite cuisine, with few recipes at the end as a bonus - I can't wait to try them, especially this spaghetti salad! If you are into brilliant food descriptions, into stories with twists and turns, great dose of humour and told in a wonderful, engaging, warm way, then you should try Too Many Cooks.
June 6, 2015
TOO MANY COOKS BY DANA BATE
Two's company, but three is a recipe for disaster . . .
WHAT I SAY
I LOVE THIS WONDERFUL ENTERTAINING BOOK
It a beautiful written book all about love, food,secrets , family ,life and self discovery a real page turner i was hook by the storyline i got to see what was going to happen next
Kelly what a brilliant character she seemed so happy she had a very good looking doctor as her boyfriend her career as a cookbook ghost writer was going well she enjoyed doing it her life was so settled her mum letter said and now Kelly could see that too she need a change but what ?
Her world or life was turn upside down at the start of this wonderful tale it started at her mum wake kelly was given a letter from her mum she had wrote for after she gone it tell her a few home truths .Some she did not like but some had her think The description of all the food here were brilliant i could see and taste them all
She needs a change one email and one phone can do just that her life will be so different now she off to London
Natasha a actress and a bit of a health nut she watches what she eat and drinks she asked Kelly to move to London to be her ghostwriter for her new cookbook she was such nightmare to work with you got to read to see what i mean but a fab character will Kelly enjoy this once in a life time job? How will she cope in London she never been any were what the food? she no friends here
When kelly arrives in London she was a bit shock by Natasha ways she seem very crazy to me she got no idea how to cook she not sure how to make things she so demanding and very manipulative i did not warm to her but she did make me smile she will make you want to read more to see she going to do next sometimes she was so nice and kind but then within a second she be back to her selfish manner she was nothing like her husband Huge he was a MP and he was very handsome him and Kelly seem to hit it off all the time they seemed to be getting very close
You got to read to see what happens it will keep you guessing it was a bit predictable in places but it was not at the end as that was not what I thought would happen a very good finish to the story i did not predict that at all did you ?
I enjoy all the characters in the book each had very different personalities each brought a different tale to the story i really like Kelly brother and her best friend part in the story both made me laugh
The story just flows so well very easy to read the characters as i said were so believable and warm so you will love them one or two you may not like as much but i leave that for you to decide on i love them all i like the humour and fun side to them all
Dana Description about the food and recipes were brilliant i could see them ,smell and taste them all in my mind some i want to eat
This book great a fun easy read book I couldn't put it down i just want to know what was going to happen next a real page turner a brilliant written book i read in two night
5 dolls (5 stars)
Thank you netgalley and cla
Two's company, but three is a recipe for disaster . . .
WHAT I SAY
I LOVE THIS WONDERFUL ENTERTAINING BOOK
It a beautiful written book all about love, food,secrets , family ,life and self discovery a real page turner i was hook by the storyline i got to see what was going to happen next
Kelly what a brilliant character she seemed so happy she had a very good looking doctor as her boyfriend her career as a cookbook ghost writer was going well she enjoyed doing it her life was so settled her mum letter said and now Kelly could see that too she need a change but what ?
Her world or life was turn upside down at the start of this wonderful tale it started at her mum wake kelly was given a letter from her mum she had wrote for after she gone it tell her a few home truths .Some she did not like but some had her think The description of all the food here were brilliant i could see and taste them all
She needs a change one email and one phone can do just that her life will be so different now she off to London
Natasha a actress and a bit of a health nut she watches what she eat and drinks she asked Kelly to move to London to be her ghostwriter for her new cookbook she was such nightmare to work with you got to read to see what i mean but a fab character will Kelly enjoy this once in a life time job? How will she cope in London she never been any were what the food? she no friends here
When kelly arrives in London she was a bit shock by Natasha ways she seem very crazy to me she got no idea how to cook she not sure how to make things she so demanding and very manipulative i did not warm to her but she did make me smile she will make you want to read more to see she going to do next sometimes she was so nice and kind but then within a second she be back to her selfish manner she was nothing like her husband Huge he was a MP and he was very handsome him and Kelly seem to hit it off all the time they seemed to be getting very close
You got to read to see what happens it will keep you guessing it was a bit predictable in places but it was not at the end as that was not what I thought would happen a very good finish to the story i did not predict that at all did you ?
I enjoy all the characters in the book each had very different personalities each brought a different tale to the story i really like Kelly brother and her best friend part in the story both made me laugh
The story just flows so well very easy to read the characters as i said were so believable and warm so you will love them one or two you may not like as much but i leave that for you to decide on i love them all i like the humour and fun side to them all
Dana Description about the food and recipes were brilliant i could see them ,smell and taste them all in my mind some i want to eat
This book great a fun easy read book I couldn't put it down i just want to know what was going to happen next a real page turner a brilliant written book i read in two night
5 dolls (5 stars)
Thank you netgalley and cla
May 20, 2015
I had one slight problem with Too Many Cooks, and that was that it continually made me hungry while I was reading it, this is because of the fantastic descriptions of food that Dana Bate is able to come up with. With the exception of that slight drawback, this a a fantastic book. I am finding that Dana's books are getting better and better with each one. If you haven't read anything by this talented author, and you like food with a side order of humour and a sprinkle of romance, than please do check out Too Many Cooks.
Kelly Madigan is a very talented ghostwriter of cook books. She hones recipes to perfection, on behalf of the client she is writing a cook book for. Kelly has also recently lost her mum, and then she finds a letter from her mum that was left for her, accusing her of having a boring boyfriend and needing more excitement in her life.
Shortly after the reading the letter she gets an intriguing job offer. It's a chance to move to London for a year to ghostwrite Natasha Spencer's cookbook. Natasha is an A-List actress and is married to Hugh Ballantine, MP and member of the shadow cabinet.
Kelly who has never left America before, takes the plunge and moves to London, as this is the sort of job that could make or break her career.
I loved seeing the process of how a cook book ghost writer conjures up the recipes. Of course Natasha wasn't the easiest client that Kelly could have landed, and she was given the vaguest of descriptions of the food, for her to make the recipe for. I can barely cook myself, so what was being described was pure magic to me, especially how you know what flavours will work with which ingredients. Incredibly masterful, and since all of Dana's books have e keen food theme, I have to believe that she must be the most wonderful chef herself.
The main romantic story in the book, was arguably a bit of a cliche, but was carried out very well, and I found my self hoping that the couple would survive against all odds, as I loved the interactions between the male and female.
Kelly's brother who we only really see in Skype conversations comes up with some amusing plans on how to get rid of the woman who has moved in with his dad, not long after his mother died. The woman is also Kelly and Stevie's arch rival, and there were instructions in the letter telling her children to not let her rival get their claws into her husband.
Meg is Kelly's best friend back in Michigan, and thankfully offers Kelly a safe way to vent her frustrations with this new job, and also to confide in about her love interest. Meg is the voice of reason at all times.
I loved every minute of Too Many Cooks, it is such an enjoyable story, well paced, I didn't want to put it down at all. Too Many Cooks is tantalisingly tasty and a joy to devour.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for my review copy of this book. This was my honest review.
Kelly Madigan is a very talented ghostwriter of cook books. She hones recipes to perfection, on behalf of the client she is writing a cook book for. Kelly has also recently lost her mum, and then she finds a letter from her mum that was left for her, accusing her of having a boring boyfriend and needing more excitement in her life.
Shortly after the reading the letter she gets an intriguing job offer. It's a chance to move to London for a year to ghostwrite Natasha Spencer's cookbook. Natasha is an A-List actress and is married to Hugh Ballantine, MP and member of the shadow cabinet.
Kelly who has never left America before, takes the plunge and moves to London, as this is the sort of job that could make or break her career.
I loved seeing the process of how a cook book ghost writer conjures up the recipes. Of course Natasha wasn't the easiest client that Kelly could have landed, and she was given the vaguest of descriptions of the food, for her to make the recipe for. I can barely cook myself, so what was being described was pure magic to me, especially how you know what flavours will work with which ingredients. Incredibly masterful, and since all of Dana's books have e keen food theme, I have to believe that she must be the most wonderful chef herself.
The main romantic story in the book, was arguably a bit of a cliche, but was carried out very well, and I found my self hoping that the couple would survive against all odds, as I loved the interactions between the male and female.
Kelly's brother who we only really see in Skype conversations comes up with some amusing plans on how to get rid of the woman who has moved in with his dad, not long after his mother died. The woman is also Kelly and Stevie's arch rival, and there were instructions in the letter telling her children to not let her rival get their claws into her husband.
Meg is Kelly's best friend back in Michigan, and thankfully offers Kelly a safe way to vent her frustrations with this new job, and also to confide in about her love interest. Meg is the voice of reason at all times.
I loved every minute of Too Many Cooks, it is such an enjoyable story, well paced, I didn't want to put it down at all. Too Many Cooks is tantalisingly tasty and a joy to devour.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for my review copy of this book. This was my honest review.
November 7, 2015
This is the first time in awhile that I have not read a mystery! I was taken with the characters right away. We met Kelly at her Mom's funeral along with her long time boyfriend, Sam. And her Dad, a postal worker, her brother Stevie, still a student at age 27 and her best friend Meg. The funeral is in Michigan. When Kelly and Sam go back home to Chicago after the funeral we find out Kelly is a Ghostwriter for cookbooks. She has helped several well known people write and make receipts for their cookbooks. Sam is a doctor doing his residency in a Chicago hospital.
So while Sam goes off to work, Kelly gets a call from London from a person named Poppy. Poppy lives in London and is the personal assistant to a very well known movie star who is married to a very important person in the government in London he is an MP in the Education department in the district of Nottingham where he grew up, his name is Hugh Ballentine. His wife is Natasha and she is not a very nice person, especially to her hired help.
Poppy is asking Kelly if she would be interested in being a ghostwriter for Natasha on the cookbook she is going to write. It means that Kelly would have to go to London and leave everything and everyone behind in Chicago and Michigan.
At the funeral, Kelly and Stevie receive letters that their Mom wrote to them before she died and left them for their Dad to deliver to them. Kelly's letter told her to get rid of Sam and travel the world. So when she gets the call from Poppy she answers right away and without talking to anyone she makes up her mind to go!
Because Natasha is a high profile person she is into many things and needs to travel to many places and many meetings, she leaves Kelly to make and test all the receipts for the cookbook, some that Kelly does not even know about. This arrangement leaves Kelly in Natasha's house alone. Until Hugh comes home looking for supper. Kelly is more than happy to make him some of the things she has been working on and have his ideas on the food. One night, she realizes she forgot the keys to her flat and the doorman has already left for the day. The only people she knows in London are Hugh, Poppy and Natasha. Poppy and Natasha are in Paris on a clothes buying trip. Hugh is working late at the office. What will she do?
You need to read the book find out what happens next. It is well worth the read. There is a surprise ending.
I enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it to all my family and friends!
So while Sam goes off to work, Kelly gets a call from London from a person named Poppy. Poppy lives in London and is the personal assistant to a very well known movie star who is married to a very important person in the government in London he is an MP in the Education department in the district of Nottingham where he grew up, his name is Hugh Ballentine. His wife is Natasha and she is not a very nice person, especially to her hired help.
Poppy is asking Kelly if she would be interested in being a ghostwriter for Natasha on the cookbook she is going to write. It means that Kelly would have to go to London and leave everything and everyone behind in Chicago and Michigan.
At the funeral, Kelly and Stevie receive letters that their Mom wrote to them before she died and left them for their Dad to deliver to them. Kelly's letter told her to get rid of Sam and travel the world. So when she gets the call from Poppy she answers right away and without talking to anyone she makes up her mind to go!
Because Natasha is a high profile person she is into many things and needs to travel to many places and many meetings, she leaves Kelly to make and test all the receipts for the cookbook, some that Kelly does not even know about. This arrangement leaves Kelly in Natasha's house alone. Until Hugh comes home looking for supper. Kelly is more than happy to make him some of the things she has been working on and have his ideas on the food. One night, she realizes she forgot the keys to her flat and the doorman has already left for the day. The only people she knows in London are Hugh, Poppy and Natasha. Poppy and Natasha are in Paris on a clothes buying trip. Hugh is working late at the office. What will she do?
You need to read the book find out what happens next. It is well worth the read. There is a surprise ending.
I enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it to all my family and friends!
June 5, 2015
I really enjoyed this book and found I warmed to the character of Kelly right from the first chapter. Beginning your story at a funeral doesn't seem to promise a cheery read but Dana Bate managed to make this lighthearted and humorous, particularly through the letter from Kelly's late mother. This letter spurs Kelly to re-examine her life: a comfortable but perhaps boring relationship, a safe but predictable job. When the opportunity comes up to move to London for a year working as a ghost writer for Natasha Spencer, a successful actress' cookbook, Kelly decides to take the chance. I enjoyed reading about Kelly finding out about British culture - always take an umbrella one of the most important lessons - and getting to know about our political system through Hugh, her employer's very handsome MP husband. Natasha is a really unpleasant character - she's self obsessed, condescending, unreasonable and manipulative. She does, very briefly show a more human side in one scene later in the novel but it is short lived and she is back to her usual selfish self.
It soon becomes apparent that Natasha and Hugh's relationship is not what it seems and is more like a business arrangement. Kelly is attracted to Hugh, and he seems to return her feelings, but she tries to resist her growing attraction. After all he is a high profile politician married to a famous, beautiful actress! The potential relationship between them is one of the main features of the book and told very convincingly. Fate seems to keep giving them opportunities to be alone together. Whether they act on this, you will need to read to find out!
What I loved about this book though was the writing about the food and the recipe testing. Dana Bate's descriptions were mouth-watering and I felt as though I could almost smell and taste all the lovely food she was writing about. It made me wonder how many of the cookbooks I have might be ghostwritten? I am sure that Nigella tests and writes her own recipes but what about the others? I was pleased to see that Nigella did get a mention at one point as she is my favourite cook.
As you read Too Many Cooks you might think you have worked out how it will all end but this book isn't predictable. It didn't end as I expected, but the ending is satisfying and just right.
If you'll pardon the foodie puns, Too Many Cooks is a delicious treat and one to be savoured.
It soon becomes apparent that Natasha and Hugh's relationship is not what it seems and is more like a business arrangement. Kelly is attracted to Hugh, and he seems to return her feelings, but she tries to resist her growing attraction. After all he is a high profile politician married to a famous, beautiful actress! The potential relationship between them is one of the main features of the book and told very convincingly. Fate seems to keep giving them opportunities to be alone together. Whether they act on this, you will need to read to find out!
What I loved about this book though was the writing about the food and the recipe testing. Dana Bate's descriptions were mouth-watering and I felt as though I could almost smell and taste all the lovely food she was writing about. It made me wonder how many of the cookbooks I have might be ghostwritten? I am sure that Nigella tests and writes her own recipes but what about the others? I was pleased to see that Nigella did get a mention at one point as she is my favourite cook.
As you read Too Many Cooks you might think you have worked out how it will all end but this book isn't predictable. It didn't end as I expected, but the ending is satisfying and just right.
If you'll pardon the foodie puns, Too Many Cooks is a delicious treat and one to be savoured.
October 10, 2015
http://www.anurseandabook.com/2015/10...
Every time I read a Dana Bate book, I wonder why she hasn't become a bigger deal. I got an ARC copy of A Second Bite at the Apple last winter, and I really enjoyed it (review here). So I was open to reading and reviewing Too Many Cooks, and I'm so glad that I did. Bate writes smart women which makes me happy.
It's no secret that I like chick lit, mostly because my job is stressful. I work hard, and I have to make decisions all day , so when I read, I want to relax. However, I like SMART chick lit. Not completely formulaic, or completely unrealistic - although that can be fun at times too - that's mostly what I like about the Christmas chick lit.
But I digress. Back to Too Many Cooks. Kelly moves to England to escape her boring life. Her whacky mother has just died, her dad is crochety and crazy and her cardiologist boyfriend is boring her out of her mind.
A sudden phone call to ghost write a cookbook for a celebrity seems like the perfect answer. It's not completely crazy, Kelly has been ghost writing cookbooks for some fairly big names. So now seems like the perfect time to take a sudden left out of her boring life.
When Kelly arrives in England, she finds the Natasha to be beautiful, graceful and completely out of touch with writing a cookbook. One weird thing was that Natasha did seem to have some background in cooking, and at times gave knowledgeable input on spices and such, but then would give instructions that she wanted her grandmother's scrambled egg recipe recreated, saying only that they should be creamy and fluffy - ummm, isn't that what we all want from scrambled eggs? Then I try to cook them and mine look like this:
I digress again.
Kelly begins a small flirtation with Natasha's husband, which soon develops into a full fledged affair. Hugh is a handsome politician that is in a marriage of convenience with Natasha, and he's ready to grab onto real love and the promise of a family. Kelly believes she has found her happily ever after.
I'm not going to say any more because I hate spoilers. And I'm hoping this cliffhanger will encourage you to read the book!
Current Goodreads Rating 4.27
Every time I read a Dana Bate book, I wonder why she hasn't become a bigger deal. I got an ARC copy of A Second Bite at the Apple last winter, and I really enjoyed it (review here). So I was open to reading and reviewing Too Many Cooks, and I'm so glad that I did. Bate writes smart women which makes me happy.
It's no secret that I like chick lit, mostly because my job is stressful. I work hard, and I have to make decisions all day , so when I read, I want to relax. However, I like SMART chick lit. Not completely formulaic, or completely unrealistic - although that can be fun at times too - that's mostly what I like about the Christmas chick lit.
But I digress. Back to Too Many Cooks. Kelly moves to England to escape her boring life. Her whacky mother has just died, her dad is crochety and crazy and her cardiologist boyfriend is boring her out of her mind.
A sudden phone call to ghost write a cookbook for a celebrity seems like the perfect answer. It's not completely crazy, Kelly has been ghost writing cookbooks for some fairly big names. So now seems like the perfect time to take a sudden left out of her boring life.
When Kelly arrives in England, she finds the Natasha to be beautiful, graceful and completely out of touch with writing a cookbook. One weird thing was that Natasha did seem to have some background in cooking, and at times gave knowledgeable input on spices and such, but then would give instructions that she wanted her grandmother's scrambled egg recipe recreated, saying only that they should be creamy and fluffy - ummm, isn't that what we all want from scrambled eggs? Then I try to cook them and mine look like this:
I digress again.
Kelly begins a small flirtation with Natasha's husband, which soon develops into a full fledged affair. Hugh is a handsome politician that is in a marriage of convenience with Natasha, and he's ready to grab onto real love and the promise of a family. Kelly believes she has found her happily ever after.
I'm not going to say any more because I hate spoilers. And I'm hoping this cliffhanger will encourage you to read the book!
Current Goodreads Rating 4.27
June 6, 2015
Full review coming shortly with the blog tour for the publication of this novel.
This is the second book I've read by Dana and she is becoming one of my favourites. Foodie fiction books are one of my favourite genres. Food and books marry up so well together as we all love to eat food, but a fiction book that is funny, heartwarming, romantic and is centred around the topic food, well it spells success to me. This is another fabulous, foodie fantastic fiction from Dana.
Updated review:
I’d like to thank the publishers and the author for an arc of Too Many Cooks in return for an honest review.
This is the second book by Dana Bate that I’ve read and I must say she is becoming a favourite of mine. Firstly, due to the fact that I adore foodie fiction books. Food and books marry up so well together as we all love to eat food, but a fiction book that is funny, heartwarming, romantic and is centred around the topic food, well it spells a success to me, without added calories! Secondly, Dana creates such great characters with depth and likeability, also personas to despise. Her style of writing flows very smoothly and you are soon lost in the words and are zipping through the chapters to find out what happens next.
I did feel excited for Kelly, the main character of this novel, when she had been given this opportunity to ghostwrite a cookbook for the megastar Natasha Spencer but as the story develops all is not what it seems with the Hollywood star and her life. Natasha’s personal life soon starts spilling over and causing chaos and life soon becomes very complicated for Kelly. I did feel quite emotional to how the love story wove it’s way for Kelly but at the end I felt quite hopeful for a new brighter, lovelier future for Kelly.
Amongst all the emotional turmoil for Kelly we are given glimpses of the recipes Kelly creates and tests for the cookbook. The recipes sound delicious and at one point I felt I could smell the baking coming from the pages of the book.
Too Many Cooks was another fabulous, foodie, fantastic fiction book from Dana, 5/5* read,
This is the second book I've read by Dana and she is becoming one of my favourites. Foodie fiction books are one of my favourite genres. Food and books marry up so well together as we all love to eat food, but a fiction book that is funny, heartwarming, romantic and is centred around the topic food, well it spells success to me. This is another fabulous, foodie fantastic fiction from Dana.
Updated review:
I’d like to thank the publishers and the author for an arc of Too Many Cooks in return for an honest review.
This is the second book by Dana Bate that I’ve read and I must say she is becoming a favourite of mine. Firstly, due to the fact that I adore foodie fiction books. Food and books marry up so well together as we all love to eat food, but a fiction book that is funny, heartwarming, romantic and is centred around the topic food, well it spells a success to me, without added calories! Secondly, Dana creates such great characters with depth and likeability, also personas to despise. Her style of writing flows very smoothly and you are soon lost in the words and are zipping through the chapters to find out what happens next.
I did feel excited for Kelly, the main character of this novel, when she had been given this opportunity to ghostwrite a cookbook for the megastar Natasha Spencer but as the story develops all is not what it seems with the Hollywood star and her life. Natasha’s personal life soon starts spilling over and causing chaos and life soon becomes very complicated for Kelly. I did feel quite emotional to how the love story wove it’s way for Kelly but at the end I felt quite hopeful for a new brighter, lovelier future for Kelly.
Amongst all the emotional turmoil for Kelly we are given glimpses of the recipes Kelly creates and tests for the cookbook. The recipes sound delicious and at one point I felt I could smell the baking coming from the pages of the book.
Too Many Cooks was another fabulous, foodie, fantastic fiction book from Dana, 5/5* read,
June 10, 2015
Originally posted on: http://www.albainbookland.com/2015/06...
I really enjoyed Dana Bate's previous book, The Stall of Second Chances. So when I was offered a review copy of her latest, Too Many Cooks, I was over the moon. Even more now that I've read it, as I loved Too Many Cooks. I think it's Dana's best so far. I'd say it is a fantastic foody book with a pinch of romance, a spoonful of craziness and a cup of laughs.
Our heroine, Kelly, is a cookbook ghostwriter. A job I would have never thought existed but that I found really interesting to read about. Kelly basically helps (as in does almost everything) famous chefs and celebrities perfect their recipes and put them on paper so the rest of mortals can execute them with a decent result. As you can expect, she doesn't have the most normal bosses. But her latest one definitely takes the cake. Hollywood star Natasha Spencer is the ultimate diva. Asking for the impossible and changing her mind a thousand times a day. Imagine the situations Kelly finds herself in!
Kelly is such a joy to read. I instantly liked her and as the story progressed, I only liked her more. She really had an endless patience with Natasha. She is an intelligent and talented woman who is not afraid of taking chances and fighting for what she wants. Even if during the story she is confronted with the impossible and more. I loved how she always put a brave face on and if necessary started again.
Funnily enough, she just was missing the final push to shine and she gets it from the most unexpected person, Natasha's husband, Hugh. A MP in the British Parliament and contrary to his wife, always nice and lovely to Kelly. I loved their interactions and how I never knew what was going to happen between these two. And I think the ending that Dana chose for their story was the perfect one.
Too Many Cooks is a lovely story with a lot of feeling and food, of course. The descriptions of Kelly creations had me salivating through the book and I love that Dana has included some of the recipes at the end of the book for us to try.
I really enjoyed Dana Bate's previous book, The Stall of Second Chances. So when I was offered a review copy of her latest, Too Many Cooks, I was over the moon. Even more now that I've read it, as I loved Too Many Cooks. I think it's Dana's best so far. I'd say it is a fantastic foody book with a pinch of romance, a spoonful of craziness and a cup of laughs.
Our heroine, Kelly, is a cookbook ghostwriter. A job I would have never thought existed but that I found really interesting to read about. Kelly basically helps (as in does almost everything) famous chefs and celebrities perfect their recipes and put them on paper so the rest of mortals can execute them with a decent result. As you can expect, she doesn't have the most normal bosses. But her latest one definitely takes the cake. Hollywood star Natasha Spencer is the ultimate diva. Asking for the impossible and changing her mind a thousand times a day. Imagine the situations Kelly finds herself in!
Kelly is such a joy to read. I instantly liked her and as the story progressed, I only liked her more. She really had an endless patience with Natasha. She is an intelligent and talented woman who is not afraid of taking chances and fighting for what she wants. Even if during the story she is confronted with the impossible and more. I loved how she always put a brave face on and if necessary started again.
Funnily enough, she just was missing the final push to shine and she gets it from the most unexpected person, Natasha's husband, Hugh. A MP in the British Parliament and contrary to his wife, always nice and lovely to Kelly. I loved their interactions and how I never knew what was going to happen between these two. And I think the ending that Dana chose for their story was the perfect one.
Too Many Cooks is a lovely story with a lot of feeling and food, of course. The descriptions of Kelly creations had me salivating through the book and I love that Dana has included some of the recipes at the end of the book for us to try.
September 30, 2015
Kelly is a ghostwriter for chef's who want to write a cookbook. They do the recipes and she helps with the narration. When a famous movie star decides to employ her services, my first thought is not a good one for Kelly. This is a world renown movie star who is well known and has a husband in Parliament. Kelly is so excited and can't pass up the chance to fly across the pond and do the job. So she packs up to a land where she knows absolutely no one and lives in a space that "Natasha Spencer" has provided for her and sets to work to do a cookbook.
She soon finds out that this world renown movie star treats everyone as if they are bubble gum on the bottom of her shoe. Not only that, but her assistant does the same thing. This woman is horribly ghastly and that's on her good days. I'm not going into details, because you'll have to read the book. No one would believe how horrid this woman is and just exactly what she will do.
I found this book to be very entertaining and yes, there were numerous times when I found myself wanting to strike our beautiful little movie star and not just once for each wanton overstepping of good behavior. You will definitely find yourself charged up when reading this. Might even burn off a few calories as you feel your anger boiling! Hey, wouldn't that be a good thing?
A huge thanks to Kensington Books and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. I definitely recommend this entertaining and interesting book. Does the movie star or the little midwest girl from Michigan win this contest?
She soon finds out that this world renown movie star treats everyone as if they are bubble gum on the bottom of her shoe. Not only that, but her assistant does the same thing. This woman is horribly ghastly and that's on her good days. I'm not going into details, because you'll have to read the book. No one would believe how horrid this woman is and just exactly what she will do.
I found this book to be very entertaining and yes, there were numerous times when I found myself wanting to strike our beautiful little movie star and not just once for each wanton overstepping of good behavior. You will definitely find yourself charged up when reading this. Might even burn off a few calories as you feel your anger boiling! Hey, wouldn't that be a good thing?
A huge thanks to Kensington Books and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review. I definitely recommend this entertaining and interesting book. Does the movie star or the little midwest girl from Michigan win this contest?
October 7, 2015
I received this book from Kensington Books/NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
First off, I love the cover! I love foodie type books so when I came across this one I was excited to start reading it!
Blurb
When Kelly Madigan is offered a job abroad right after reading a letter from her late mother urging her to take more risks, she sees it as a sign. Kelly’s new ghostwriting assignment means moving to London to work for Natasha Spencer--movie star, lifestyle guru, and wife of a promising English politician. As it turns out, Natasha is also selfish, mercurial, and unwilling to let any actual food past her perfect lips.
Still, in between testing dozens of kale burgers and developing the perfect chocolate mousse, Kelly is having adventures. Some are glamorous; others, like her attraction to her boss’s neglected husband, are veering out of control. Kelly knows there’s no foolproof recipe for a happy life. But how will she know if she’s gone too far in reaching for what she wants?
I love how relatable Kelly is. From the first few pages I was hooked, especially after Kelly is reading a letter from her Mom of her last wishes. I knew there was going to be some adventure.
I hated Natasha from day one.. I don't see how Kelly put up with her. I'm pretty sure I would've quit after I saw how she was like.
This is the first book from Dana Bate that I've read and I'm already looking at her other one! Too many cooks is a great book and I'd definitely recommend it! I love the recipes in the back as well! I can't wait to try them out!
The ending totally caught me off guard and I'm still not sure how I feel about it!
First off, I love the cover! I love foodie type books so when I came across this one I was excited to start reading it!
Blurb
When Kelly Madigan is offered a job abroad right after reading a letter from her late mother urging her to take more risks, she sees it as a sign. Kelly’s new ghostwriting assignment means moving to London to work for Natasha Spencer--movie star, lifestyle guru, and wife of a promising English politician. As it turns out, Natasha is also selfish, mercurial, and unwilling to let any actual food past her perfect lips.
Still, in between testing dozens of kale burgers and developing the perfect chocolate mousse, Kelly is having adventures. Some are glamorous; others, like her attraction to her boss’s neglected husband, are veering out of control. Kelly knows there’s no foolproof recipe for a happy life. But how will she know if she’s gone too far in reaching for what she wants?
I love how relatable Kelly is. From the first few pages I was hooked, especially after Kelly is reading a letter from her Mom of her last wishes. I knew there was going to be some adventure.
I hated Natasha from day one.. I don't see how Kelly put up with her. I'm pretty sure I would've quit after I saw how she was like.
This is the first book from Dana Bate that I've read and I'm already looking at her other one! Too many cooks is a great book and I'd definitely recommend it! I love the recipes in the back as well! I can't wait to try them out!
The ending totally caught me off guard and I'm still not sure how I feel about it!
October 29, 2015
I received a review copy
If you are an OG around here, you know I love a good foodie book, and books that will take me out of the good ole US of A. So when I was asked to review this book about a cookbook ghostwriter that gets to go to London to shadow a famous movie star, I was like, yes please!
Kelly is quite the interesting character. She seems to have got a lot going for her – the perfect man, a decent career, good friends. But after her mother passes away and she reads her mom’s final letter to her, urging Kelly to leave her boyfriend and finally take a risk in life, Kelly begins to question herself. After receiving said job offer and the opportunity to take some time away from “real life” Kelly decides to make a change.
London isn’t quite as nice to Kelly. Her new boss Natasha is a nightmare, what a lot of us normal folk might think of when we think about the rich and famous. Seriously, I can’t tell you how many times I made a disgusted face while reading her words. Vile woman. Kelly also struggles to make friends and find a social life...until she starts to dabble precisely where she shouldn’t. And then...it all falls apart.
While a little slow for me at times, the ending really picked up for me and I couldn’t put it down. A controlled, even-tempered read, I had a blast learning little tidbits about recipes and cooking in general, and there were several nice sub plots in here to keep the book moving methodically forward. Complex and engaging, and I suggest reading with a snack nearby!
If you are an OG around here, you know I love a good foodie book, and books that will take me out of the good ole US of A. So when I was asked to review this book about a cookbook ghostwriter that gets to go to London to shadow a famous movie star, I was like, yes please!
Kelly is quite the interesting character. She seems to have got a lot going for her – the perfect man, a decent career, good friends. But after her mother passes away and she reads her mom’s final letter to her, urging Kelly to leave her boyfriend and finally take a risk in life, Kelly begins to question herself. After receiving said job offer and the opportunity to take some time away from “real life” Kelly decides to make a change.
London isn’t quite as nice to Kelly. Her new boss Natasha is a nightmare, what a lot of us normal folk might think of when we think about the rich and famous. Seriously, I can’t tell you how many times I made a disgusted face while reading her words. Vile woman. Kelly also struggles to make friends and find a social life...until she starts to dabble precisely where she shouldn’t. And then...it all falls apart.
While a little slow for me at times, the ending really picked up for me and I couldn’t put it down. A controlled, even-tempered read, I had a blast learning little tidbits about recipes and cooking in general, and there were several nice sub plots in here to keep the book moving methodically forward. Complex and engaging, and I suggest reading with a snack nearby!
June 6, 2015
The lovely people at Netgalley and The Little Brown Book Group UK have let me read a proof ebook copy of Too Many Cooks by Dana Bate. It combines two of my favourite things, reading and cooking. Prepare to never look at a cookbook in the same way again!
I absolutely loved reading this book, it tingled my taste buds and made me drool with all the lovely recipes especially the banana bread one. Some of which the author has included at the back of the book as an extra little snippet which is fab!
Before I read this book, I never realised what hard work goes into being a cookbook ghostwriter. The main character Kelly has to redo the same recipe over and over again for Natasha Spencer her boss day after day to get the recipe correct. As a reader this gave me sympathy for Kelly and made me dislike the character of Natasha from the start, who gave Kelly very little information to go on, yet expected food miracles from her. Although I don't condone the actions of Kelly with Natasha's husband Hugh. There was a little bit of me that was rooting for them in this twisted affair.
The only thing I would change about this great read is that I would loved to have seen Kelly's dad included more into the story line. He is such a funny character and we don't hear too much about him and his eccentric ways.
A perfect light-hearted, funny romantic read for the summer, very enjoyable.
I have given Too Many Cooks by Dana Bate 4 out of 5 stars.
I absolutely loved reading this book, it tingled my taste buds and made me drool with all the lovely recipes especially the banana bread one. Some of which the author has included at the back of the book as an extra little snippet which is fab!
Before I read this book, I never realised what hard work goes into being a cookbook ghostwriter. The main character Kelly has to redo the same recipe over and over again for Natasha Spencer her boss day after day to get the recipe correct. As a reader this gave me sympathy for Kelly and made me dislike the character of Natasha from the start, who gave Kelly very little information to go on, yet expected food miracles from her. Although I don't condone the actions of Kelly with Natasha's husband Hugh. There was a little bit of me that was rooting for them in this twisted affair.
The only thing I would change about this great read is that I would loved to have seen Kelly's dad included more into the story line. He is such a funny character and we don't hear too much about him and his eccentric ways.
A perfect light-hearted, funny romantic read for the summer, very enjoyable.
I have given Too Many Cooks by Dana Bate 4 out of 5 stars.
December 31, 2015
**I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
A debut novel, how fun! I just liked the look of the story, and couldn't wait to give it a go.
I loved it. The main character is quirky and not quite sure what to do with herself. Kelly kind of fell into ghostwriting cookbooks, and has the perfect boyfriend...too perfect. When her mother dies and leaves her a letter about shaking up her life, and she gets a call from a movie star who wants her to ghostwrite a cookbook for her in London, she decides to go for it. How bad can it be, right?
The movie star is insane. And crazy she can handle. Her parents are pretty much out there, but this level of crazy would make anyone wonder what they had been thinking!
The lady has been a star too long and has no sense of reality anymore. She's in a loveless marriage, and Kelly develops a crush on the husband. That was not the romance I was expecting. I couldn't help cringing and hoping she wouldn't go there. But there is another possible match. So I am rooting for Henry, the young man she met through a mutual friend.
It's not surprise that Kelly really wonders what she is doing there. She absolutely loves cooking and she is great at it. Why is she writing cookbooks for other people?
What on earth will she do if she walks away from this.
Poor Kelly feels trapped.
Well written chick lit. Some romance, but this is about Kelly's journey.
A debut novel, how fun! I just liked the look of the story, and couldn't wait to give it a go.
I loved it. The main character is quirky and not quite sure what to do with herself. Kelly kind of fell into ghostwriting cookbooks, and has the perfect boyfriend...too perfect. When her mother dies and leaves her a letter about shaking up her life, and she gets a call from a movie star who wants her to ghostwrite a cookbook for her in London, she decides to go for it. How bad can it be, right?
The movie star is insane. And crazy she can handle. Her parents are pretty much out there, but this level of crazy would make anyone wonder what they had been thinking!
The lady has been a star too long and has no sense of reality anymore. She's in a loveless marriage, and Kelly develops a crush on the husband. That was not the romance I was expecting. I couldn't help cringing and hoping she wouldn't go there. But there is another possible match. So I am rooting for Henry, the young man she met through a mutual friend.
It's not surprise that Kelly really wonders what she is doing there. She absolutely loves cooking and she is great at it. Why is she writing cookbooks for other people?
What on earth will she do if she walks away from this.
Poor Kelly feels trapped.
Well written chick lit. Some romance, but this is about Kelly's journey.
September 22, 2015
Too Many Cooks was an entertaining, fun, and relatable novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. I, too, am an avid fan of The Girls' Guide to Love and Supper Clubs.
What I enjoyed most about this novel - aside from the colorfully delectable descriptions of the food - is how relatable it was, despite being set in the home of a Hollywood actress. The main character, Kelly, has relatable emotions, understood insecurities, and begins a new chapter in her life as many of us have also done in our lives. She was portrayed with a level of depth that made her identifiable, as if she could be your close friend from college.
I also enjoyed the "starting again" inspiration of the story. Many of us have made decisions in our lives that put us on an entirely new path - career change, romantic partner change, location change - and to see Kelly evolve and work through these changes with a cool confidence at the end was inspiring and also something that we, as readers, can find ourselves in.
The novel is fun - a page turner. I was up well into the night reading at one point, unable to put it down!
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I received this book from NetGalley for this review. The opinions on this book and its contents are my own. I only work with companies and endorse products that I have positive personal experience with and enjoy.
What I enjoyed most about this novel - aside from the colorfully delectable descriptions of the food - is how relatable it was, despite being set in the home of a Hollywood actress. The main character, Kelly, has relatable emotions, understood insecurities, and begins a new chapter in her life as many of us have also done in our lives. She was portrayed with a level of depth that made her identifiable, as if she could be your close friend from college.
I also enjoyed the "starting again" inspiration of the story. Many of us have made decisions in our lives that put us on an entirely new path - career change, romantic partner change, location change - and to see Kelly evolve and work through these changes with a cool confidence at the end was inspiring and also something that we, as readers, can find ourselves in.
The novel is fun - a page turner. I was up well into the night reading at one point, unable to put it down!
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I received this book from NetGalley for this review. The opinions on this book and its contents are my own. I only work with companies and endorse products that I have positive personal experience with and enjoy.
May 28, 2015
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Too Many Cooks via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Following the death of her mother, the main character Kelly Madigan a well known cookbook ghostwriter, is left a letter from her mother encouraging her to follow her dreams. She is then given the opportunity to move to London to help a well-known actress, Natasha Spencer, write a cookbook.
Kelly appears to be the typical all American girl, eager to please and wanting to succeed. Natasha on the other hand is the epitome of the spoiled A-lister who is used to getting her own way. The story follows Kelly as she works with Natasha however life is not plain sailing as Natasha proves to be very difficult.
There are plenty of romantic elements to this book and it is quite cliche in places although you do find yourself routing for the main love interests. However this book is very light-hearted and an enjoyable read.
Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group for the review copy.
Following the death of her mother, the main character Kelly Madigan a well known cookbook ghostwriter, is left a letter from her mother encouraging her to follow her dreams. She is then given the opportunity to move to London to help a well-known actress, Natasha Spencer, write a cookbook.
Kelly appears to be the typical all American girl, eager to please and wanting to succeed. Natasha on the other hand is the epitome of the spoiled A-lister who is used to getting her own way. The story follows Kelly as she works with Natasha however life is not plain sailing as Natasha proves to be very difficult.
There are plenty of romantic elements to this book and it is quite cliche in places although you do find yourself routing for the main love interests. However this book is very light-hearted and an enjoyable read.
Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group for the review copy.
May 24, 2015
I love books, and I love food. So for me a book that combines the two is always going to be a winner. This was an easy read that I whizzed through in a day - a good story line, with relatable characters, alongside some delicious recipes meant I really enjoyed it. I really liked Kelly, even when she was getting up to things she shouldn't have been, and I loved seeing how her relationships with various people developed throughout the novel. Natasha is a perfect portrayal of how I would imagine some Hollywood A-listers behave, but for me the best character was Kelly's best friend, Meg - she had me in stitches in places, ("..I just ran into him", "With your vagina?").
I actually really enjoyed the ending of the novel too - it was not the average happily-ever-after that I was expecting, but it was still Kelly's happily-ever-after and that was something that I did really like. The recipes at the end are an unexpected bonus too - and if I ever (as a Brit) figure out what Miracle Whip really is, I'll be all over that Spaghetti Salad.
I actually really enjoyed the ending of the novel too - it was not the average happily-ever-after that I was expecting, but it was still Kelly's happily-ever-after and that was something that I did really like. The recipes at the end are an unexpected bonus too - and if I ever (as a Brit) figure out what Miracle Whip really is, I'll be all over that Spaghetti Salad.
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