The Love Goddess' Cooking School Paperback – October 26, 2010

Read beyond the first couple of chapters. I have to admit that in the beginning I truly wasn't sure if I wanted to root for the main character. Holly was whiny and seemed to feel safe in her unhappiness, even though it seemed largely self-imposed. I'm so glad I stuck it out, because such growth transpired! If you start out lacking pity for Holly, I believe you are right where the author wants you to be. She has a lot of life lessons to learn, and a wonderful group of secondary characters, who deserve stories of their own, help her find her way. I hate rehashing the plot line. The authors and publishers do a nice job of that on their own. Con first, so I can leave you with the high notes, encouraged to read this book (and you should!). The editing on the book isn't great. Typos were sometimes disruptive, but I always knew what was being said. I had just hoped that the publisher would put a little more detail and care into something that obviously a lot of heart and soul went into. I would mention the slow warming up to Holly, but having finished the book, that was absolutely necessary to the story. Pros: There is a moral to the story that never comes across as preachy. The author has managed in an Andy Griffith charm to encourage her audience without pointing a finger. It was so beautifully done that I didn't realize I had received a relatively free session of life coaching until I finished the last page. Not all of the lessons come from the main character. As she grows through helping others, the audience is also inspired by Holly's customer's/friends. Almost more than Holly and Liam, I fell in love with the secondary characters. While each of their own stories were tied up nicely, I would love to learn even more about them. If the author really wanted to, she could easily have a series of Blue Crab Island books based on the characters, including the antagonist. They were all believable, and even the characters we are supposed to dislike had a humanity to them that left me thirsty for more. Descriptions were lyrical, and encompassed all the senses. I could feel the happiness and desperation, taste the Bolognese, see the fall leaves, and smell onion and garlic sautéing. The author truly had me living in Holly's kitchen, caring for all who lived there and visited, even the grumpy old cat, Antonio. All that said, this is a satisfying read, and I am looking forward to delving into this author's other works. I also remain hopeful we hear more from this Maine island, particularly from Juliet and Mia's mom. Who knows, Avery might even have a story leading to path of righteousness!

The past year, i've loved books that feature around food/cooking.This popped up on my recommendation list and although i was really skeptical over the name (blah! it's cringeworthy!), i decided to read the 'free chapter' option.From the first chapter and a half, i was hooked! The way she described the heart wrenching feeling of a man not returning your sentiments back, and the fact he had a child she had gotten so attached too and then she was told she couldn't be in their lives anymore, was agony! I had to find out what happened.Throughout, i think most of it was becoming pretty clear what was going to happen, or so i thought. There were a few little surprises here and there, and because i was unfamiliar with this author, i started panicking that i might not get my happy ending. I tried to find out what was going to happen in the end of the book-to no avail! I found no spoilers! Boo! So i suppose i will go along with that thought also and leave none! :PI loved how the characters developed. As another reviewer had written that all the characters were already developed, id have to say;yes and no. Usually adults are already developed and yet we have room to grow, and so i feel i saw that in the characters. I felt like the author and really taken her time over the book and i felt fully satisfied with the outcome of the book.Now, i really want to move to that little island where they all live and i want to be Holly's friend and have chats with her in the little kitchen where she makes her delicious dishes! I feel a little bit sad that the book has ended, but it will remain -as the book says-a warm memory. :)Only thing, there were so many typos and grammatical errors, AND, im not even that quick on the uptake when it comes to those! There were quite a lot. But it still doesn't detract from the great book. In fact, i'd love to see it as a movie!

1 cup of Julie & Julia (the movie)1 tbsp. of The Violets of Marcha pinch of The Peach KeeperThis relaxing feel-good read brings you a delicious story of friendship, healing, and love, while making you want to buy cooking lessons straight away. Holly finds disappointment and loss after she is faced with a failed relationship and a devastating loss. Wanting to preserve her grandmother's legacy, Holly is determined to keep her grandmother's business running. The first step? Giving cooking lessons to the remaining students enrolled her grandmother's school. Ahhh...but Holly must learn how to cook first.I really enjoyed this yummy read. Holly was so endearing and I loved seeing her gain confidence and really find her place. Not only did I love Holly, but I loved all her students and their stories and felt myself invested in them. I've seen this characterized as a contemporary romance, but I really felt the romance took a backseat to the personal struggles of all of the characters, which I found refreshing. The story-line involving the diary of Holly's grandmother was completely unnecessary to me. While it didn't add anything to the story, it didn't take anything away either. This well-developed story left me satisfied and inspired to try my hand at some Italian cooking.If wishes were horses... I wish Ms. Senate would have added a teeny-tiny glossary to go along with the recipes that she added in the back of the book. Some of the meals and sauces that were mentioned--okay all of them--were lost on me because I had no frame of reference. I definitely had to Google Chicken Milanese.

The Love Goddess' Cooking School has a wonderful plot, and I was drawn into the book immediately as we find out that when Holly Maguire was told her fortune by her grandmother Camilla and all that she's told is that the great love of her life will like Sa Cordula, an Italian dish made of lamb intestines that nobody likes. It was a great way to start the novel and I was sad I couldn't dedicate more of my time to the book. We learn Camilla has recently died and left her business Camilla Cuchinotta's to Holly so Holly rapidly has to learn how to cook her grandmother's famous Italian dishes so she can teach Camilla's cooking class as well as sell her wares. I thought the cooking class plot was fantastic and I enjoyed getting to know Holly and her students, Tamara, Simon, Juliet and young Mia. Throw in Mia's dad Liam and we have a fantastic and well-rounded cast.I truly didn't know what to expect from the novel. Just because the Amazon preview I had was good didn't mean I would necessarily love the rest of the novel so I was pleased to find that I did enjoy immersing myself in the book. I thought Camilla's recipes were wonderful, and I liked the way Senate made them unique by making sure every time Holly or one of her students cooked, they added in a memory or a wish to help it along the way. During the novel we also have some diary entries by Camilla written way back when she first started her fortune telling and Camilla's Cucinotta and I found them incredibly interesting. In fact, I could have read an entire book dedicated to Camilla's diary during the 60's at Blue Crab Cove. I must also mention where the book is set, in Blue Crab Cove in Maine. It's fictional, but it sounds like a wonderful place to live.I was thrilled that I took the chance on the book. I loved it so much that I've ordered myself another Melissa Senate book and should I love that, too, I'll definitely be getting Melissa's other books. The setting was perfect, the plot was everything I expected and more and I absolutely loved each and every one of the characters and was rooting for them to get their happy endings. I would hugely recommend the book to all Chick Lit fans. It's a very sweet read, and one I am so so glad I took a chance on. It's lovely when you buy a book and it ends up being a fantastic read.

I like very much the delicious Italian cooking recipes included in the book!

You love a heart touching story, cooking & spirituality? Then this book is a must-read. But I can't guarantee that you won't get hungry by reading it (at the end of the book are some recipes). ;) It is a pleasure to read how a cooking course with heart and some magic changes the lives of all participants...I can highly recommend using some of this magic when you are cooking like I'm doing it! The eaters will notice it!!

The book started off on a promising note, but soon turned disappointing. The storyline is too predictable. The heroine seems utterly confused, and dumb at times. Not my cup of tea, really, but I have heard of other people enjoying this book greatly.

I really enjoyed this book. I like stories that are a little whimsical. I ordered the other books she wrote.