The Romano Family Collection: A Trio of Romances Flavored with Grace

by Brandy Bruce

Three couples overcome obstacles and find out that love often begins in the kitchen. A trio of novels flavored with grace, with delicious elements of food and restaurant life, mixed with lovable characters. Table for Two, Second Chance Café, and Recipe for Love were previously published by Heartsong Presents. This new compilation includes a bonus short story and recipe!

500 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2017

About the author

Brandy Bruce was scribbling stories in purple spiral notebooks at the age of 12. She traded in notebooks for a laptop and now writes romance novels. Having worked as a book editor for a traditional publishing house for more than a decade, Brandy is thrilled to work in an industry she loves. She's currently a freelance editor, a writer, a wife, a mother to three fabulous children, and she's someone who really loves dessert. Brandy makes her home in Virginia with her family. She's the author of After the Rain, Looks Like Love, The Romano Family Collection, and the award-winning novel The Last Summer.

Reviews

[Monica H (TeaandBooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I opened up The Romano Family Collection and was immediately drawn in to this book, which is a collection of three novellas: Table for Two, Second Chance Cafe, and Recipe for Love along with a bonus shorter story.


I am a foodie so I was excited to get The Romano Family Collection. I did enjoy all of the meal and food references and there is even a recipe at the end of the book. I also enjoyed this family of characters. As I was reading, I felt like I was living among a real family. There were problems and choices to be made just like real life. At times, I did get a little frustrated with a couple of the characters with how they acted, but I still really liked them. I think that reflected real life too as we don't always like how the people we care about let past hurts hold them back when they need to trust God. Speaking of God, this book was definitely a Christian romance book. The characters seemed to reflect a real faith in God. While I expected to enjoy the foodie aspect of this book, I was surprised at the romance aspect since I don't read a lot of books with romance as the main feature and this was my first time with this author. However, I hope to read more books by Brandy Bruce as I liked her writing style and how easily the faith of the characters was reflected within the writing. She also touched my heart and emotions in several places, which takes writing skill, I think.


I received a copy of the book from the author/publisher via JustRead Publicity Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own

[Hallie (Hallie Reads)]

Brandy Bruce’s The Romano Family Collection delivers three individual stories (focused on members of the Romano family, of course): Table for Two, Second Chance Café, and Recipe for Love. Having loved everything I have read from Bruce so far, I knew I was in for a treat with these stories.

In Table for Two, romance blooms between food critic Mandy Seymour and chef Leo Romano. Naturally, it could not start without complications. She meets him while reviewing his restaurant’s food, and he is wary of a new relationship, thanks to his ex-fiancée and his father’s illness. Still, they sort through the possibilities in a delicious manner (I mean, with two food-oriented characters, how could it not be delicious?), and their story proves to be oh so sweet.

I so enjoyed Table for Two and now, am eagerly anticipating time to finish the collection. If you love sweet romances like me, you’ll want to pick up The Romano Family Collection, too.

This review is also posted on Hallie Reads.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

[MJSH · Rating 5 out of 5]

“An abundant life isn’t necessarily an easy life. But it’s beautiful.”

I have read Brandy Bruce’s more current books and loved them so I’ve been eyeing this collection of her previously released Love Inspired books. I’m so happy to have read it! The author has a way of creating an enticing atmosphere of family and friends that is overflowing with love, fun, and laughter but also peppered with real life heartaches, doubts, and struggles. First taste of the collection will have you salivating for more of this “trio of romances flavored with grace” as the Romano family and their friends take you on a delicious journey into the heart of gourmet cooking, grace, trust and second chances.

Table for Two introduces us to Leo Romano who is taking over the Romano restaurant legacy and Mandy who is an acclaimed food critic. Second Chance Cafe expands the Romano family story with Isa, Leo’s younger sister who is a nurse, and Ethan, an injured firefighter who has always dreamed of family and owning a restaurant. Recipe for Love brings together Jeremy, Leo’s executive chef, and Alison, a grieving widow struggling to maintain a bed and breakfast. Interspersed into these three stories are the love and medical struggles of Gabriel, the patriarch of the Romano family, and his wife Rosalinda. Each character and romance is unique and absolutely delightful. The faith struggles of the characters are real and understandable. And the flavors wafting throughout the entire collection is mouth-watering! If you enjoy contemporary romance, you will definitely want to read this collection.

I received a copy of the book from the author/publisher via JustRead Publicity Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first one was my favorite. But they’re all fun stories. Review to come

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really not a romance reader, but I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed all the stories in this collection. I think part of why I enjoyed them was being able to read them altogether. All of the characters in each story are interconnected, so even though you leave one couple behind when you move on, those characters are still involved in the next couple's story. There was a solid thread of the importance of faith and the value of prayer that I also really appreciated. I recommended the collection to family members of mine who enjoy the genre, and I'd recommend it to other romance fans too!

I was provided a copy of this book by JustRead Tours. My review is my own.

[Yvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a cover that looks like a tasty cookbook, my only complaint about this compilation is that it doesn't come with more recipes! This is the perfect clean romance collection for foodies as every story revolves around the kitchen and food. The first two stories seem to fit together a little bit better than the third one, but I enjoyed all three for different reasons. They are related, but each set of main characters is so very different that each story brings its unique flavor... ;)

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a new fan of Brandy Bruce's writing. I really enjoyed reading this collection of books. I loved the Romano family and I was sad when the stories were finished. I would love to read more of their stories.