Book Review: “Recipes for Disaster” by Sheryl Browne

She’s a single. He’s a widower. She wants him. He wants her. She wants to impress. So does he. There’s just one catch – she can’t cook. To get him, she needs to get past the big fish – his mother. Lucky her, she’s got an Ace up her sleeve and all she’s got to do is impress this one time. Bad luck, though, her new guy can’t cook either, her dog Rambo is on the loose and now they’ve got to pull off the big lunch at the club. Will it be a match made in heaven? Will they be able to pull off a culinary miracle? Will their combined efforts result in love at first bite? Or is it simply a Recipe for Disaster?(from Goodreads)

 

“The best thing I can make for dinner is reservations”. 

“Sure, I know the five basic food groups:  frozen, canned, delivery, pick-up and eating out”. 

Words I have lived by!!   

Needless to say, my husband is the cook in our family!  As I cross the threshold to the kitchen, my brain opens its eyes, and says: “I just remembered, I have to be somewhere else……”.  And it leaves…. 

So, when I read the synopsis of “Recipes for Disaster” by Sheryl Browne, I knew I would need to add it to my book shelf.  I really connected with Lisa, the main character, and non-cook.  I was fortunate when Sheryl Browne, the author, and Kim Maya Sutton, a Director at Safkhet Publishing, sent me a copy of Sheryl’s book, in exchange for an impartial review.  All the way from the U.K.!!  And I thank both of these ladies. Thank you! 

The book uses multiple narrators, who tell the story from their unique positions.  The main character, Lisa, is not a cook, but commits herself to cater a major event, hosted by her prospective mother-in-law!  Chaos and calamity follows.  “Recipes for Disaster” uses humour – from the first page to the last page.  It is humour that pulls you in, and keeps your attention.   

Not only are the characters creating all kinds of delicious foods, making the finished product sound so real, the author is very generous, and gives the reader all the recipes.  Even I became (slightly) inspired to try to attempt these recipes.  I will admit that I have not yet done so, but I can feel myself breaking out of my mold

Sheryl Browne

and surprising family members with Frisian Anchor or Olivia’s Pride!! 

If you love cooking, baking, and trying new recipes, this book is for you.  If you like reading a novel with a strong plot, this book is for you.  This book is such a good blend of fiction and food! 

Just one comment about the cover of the book – it is distracting!  But, distracting in a good way! (hmmm, hmmm) 

One element of the book that I was quite uncomfortable with, is the very ‘colourful’ language that is used – quite a bit of which, I just glazed over.  Regular readers of my blog will know that I have very low tolerance for swearing.  So, I will admit that I missed some paragraphs which were peppered with these words.  

I enjoyed Sheryl Brown’s writing style – very light and fast moving – exactly right for the storyline and the personalities of the characters.  I look forward to future books, which I know Sheryl will write.

White Asparagus Creme Soup

If you are a regular visitor to my blog, you will know that at the end of my posts, I always try to connect the title of my blog with the post itself.  Where do I find “The Joy of the Written Word” as related to this post and the book, “Recipes for Disaster”?  For me, the Joy is felt as I smiled my way through the book, and in feeling Joy in the possibility of me as a cook!!  Just maybe I will keep you posted on that event!

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Choose Joy! 

Patricia

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