Book Review: Reservations for Two

Reservations for Two

Author: Hillary Manton Lodge

Paperback: 320 Pages

Series: Two Blue Doors

Publisher: WaterBrook Press (April 21, 2015)

Blurb:

A culinary concoction of taking chances and finding love in the most delectable places    

Food writer-turned-restaurateur Juliette D’Alisa has more than enough on her plate. While her trip to Provence might have unlocked new answers to her grandmother’s past, it’s also provided new complications in the form of Neil McLaren, the man she can’t give up.   Juliette and Neil find romance simple as they travel through Provence and Tuscany together, but life back home presents a different set of challenges. Juliette has a restaurant to open, a mother combating serious illness, and a family legacy of secrets to untangle – how does Neil, living so far away in Memphis, fit into to her life?   As she confronts an uncertain future, Juliette can’t help but wish that life could be as straightforward as her chocolate chip cookie recipe. Can her French grandmother’s letters from the 1940’s provide wisdom to guide her present? Or will every new insight create a fresh batch of mysteries?

What Others are Saying:

“Lodge has created yet another sumptuous story—full of intrigue, humanity, tantalizing tastes, and true love, in its myriad forms. She gracefully leads us into kitchens, restaurants, and hearts, not to mention sensorial visits to France, Italy, and the tensions of WWII Paris. Poised on a knife’s edge, Lodge left me yearning for her next story and for time in the kitchen to test some of her tempting recipes.” —Katherine Reay, author of the critically acclaimed Dear Mr. Knightley and Lizzy & Jane

“Reservations for Two is a foodie’s delight, peppered with great dishes and references to European culinary landmarks. Lodge’s sparkling dialogue adds levity to the book’s more serious moments and kept me flipping pages well into the night. But fair warning…readers will be hard pressed to choose between turning to the next chapter and running to the kitchen to try one of the many delectable recipes.” —Carla Laureano, RITA Award–winning author of Five Days in Skye and London Tides

“Endearing, witty, delectable. Hillary Manton Lodge’s second installment in the Two Blue Doors series is as delicious as her first, even for a non-foodie like me! I especially appreciated the seamless transition from Juliette’s current life and travels to her grand-mère’s WWII past, a captivating angle that added the perfect hint of mystery.” —Melissa Tagg, author of From the Start

“Hillary Lodge has done it again! Picking up where A Table by the Window left off, Reservations for Two is another delectable story filled with romance, intrigue, witty dialogue, exquisite prose, and delicious recipes. This one is sure to charm readers every bit as much as the first!” —Katie Ganshert, award-winning author of A Broken Kind of Beautiful

Meet the Author:

Hillary Manton Lodge is the author of A Table by the Window, Plain Jayne, a Carol Award Finalist, and Simply Sara, an ECPA Bestselling book. A graduate of the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism, Hillary discovered the world of cuisine during an internship at Northwest Palate Magazine. A storyteller at heart, in her free time she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, watching foreign films, and exploring her most recent hometown of Portland, Oregon. She shares her home with her husband, Danny, and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Shiloh.

Connect with her here!

My Review:

I have this obsession with reading books in the order. If someone buys me a book and It’s the second or third book in the series I won’t read it until I’ve read the others. So, I may have been slightly disappointed when I realized that this was the second book in this series. However, I was able to figure out just what was going on in this novel. I didn’t have to go search for the first book. I very much enjoyed this novel. There are trials and triumphs, sorrow and smiles, and through it all, the heroine proves to be a woman we grow to admire. Food plays a major role in this book and this novel includes recipes every few pages. It’s charming and though it is set in our contemporary world, there are hints of vintage influences here and there. This novel is sure to tempt you!

Disclosure:

I received this book free from the publisher through the Blogging for Books bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Happy Reading!