sjj169's review against another edition
4.0
I love Barbara O'Neal's books. They satisy several of my cravings..food, chick lit that's a step above and just a good story. This one kinda went beyond belief towards the end but still I liked it.
hollsbooks78's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
pupylov's review against another edition
4.0
Really fun!! Lots of mystery and good characters. If you live Sarah Addison Allen you will love this book. Just as great. Food, dogs, magic! Read it!!
saraplovestoread's review against another edition
4.0
Typical Barbara O'Neal... Good storyline, happy ending and food! Like the plot twists.
klorraine1980's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
danicapage's review against another edition
3.0
This book was an interesting read. I liked the characters and the story idea. However, it lacked that certain something to distinguish it has anything above three stars.
Tessa Harlow is a tourtist guide for a living, but after a terrible trip gone wrong she remembers a vague childhood memory of a time when she almost drowned. Determined to figure out the truth she returns to her childhood home, but what she finds is stranger than even she could even suspect.
Vince Grosso is search-and rescue and a widow. He's tyring to raise his three daughters but doesn't know what to do when his daughters turn to fighting each other.
Sam Harlow is Tessa's hippie father. He doesn't want Tessa to learn the truth and is scared of what will happen when she learns the truth.
Tessa and Vince are drawn to each other, but Tessa knows that it will never work out and is scared of letting him in.
I liked the book. I found the writing style interesting. However, the language in this book is questionable and there are slightly vulgar parts.
It's a decent read though.
Tessa Harlow is a tourtist guide for a living, but after a terrible trip gone wrong she remembers a vague childhood memory of a time when she almost drowned. Determined to figure out the truth she returns to her childhood home, but what she finds is stranger than even she could even suspect.
Vince Grosso is search-and rescue and a widow. He's tyring to raise his three daughters but doesn't know what to do when his daughters turn to fighting each other.
Sam Harlow is Tessa's hippie father. He doesn't want Tessa to learn the truth and is scared of what will happen when she learns the truth.
Tessa and Vince are drawn to each other, but Tessa knows that it will never work out and is scared of letting him in.
I liked the book. I found the writing style interesting. However, the language in this book is questionable and there are slightly vulgar parts.
It's a decent read though.
jules1278's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the premise of this book, and for the most part I really loved the way the author presented the story from varying points of view, which was only rarely distracting. I love the characters, especially the canine ones. There was a point in the middle of the book when I got a little tired of some of the over-the-top descriptions and emotions, which I believed were the signs of inexperienced writing, and I was beginning to doubt the plot would ever resolve itself. I had to make the decision whether to stop reading altogether or to push through it and finish.
I'm glad I read to the end, because I ended up crying in spots and laughing out loud in others, which always seems to make up for any small faults I find along the way when I read. Our protagonist, Tessa, was feeling lost in more than one way when she ended up in the mountains of New Mexico, where she had lived when she was very small. But she went there on purpose to find out more about her past. And she ended up finding a lot more about herself. Which I know sounds cliched or whatever, but so much of this was completely unique and beautiful and honest.
Religion was definitely not a focus of the book, but this line was, I think, my favorite, almost at the end of the story: But she did believe in something. Something that had brought her back to her sister, something that lent healing. Something that had made dogs.
Because, I mean... how could you not believe in something that had made dogs, right? I instantly love people who love dogs. :)
I'm glad I read to the end, because I ended up crying in spots and laughing out loud in others, which always seems to make up for any small faults I find along the way when I read. Our protagonist, Tessa, was feeling lost in more than one way when she ended up in the mountains of New Mexico, where she had lived when she was very small. But she went there on purpose to find out more about her past. And she ended up finding a lot more about herself. Which I know sounds cliched or whatever, but so much of this was completely unique and beautiful and honest.
Religion was definitely not a focus of the book, but this line was, I think, my favorite, almost at the end of the story: But she did believe in something. Something that had brought her back to her sister, something that lent healing. Something that had made dogs.
Because, I mean... how could you not believe in something that had made dogs, right? I instantly love people who love dogs. :)
gingerniemannharper's review against another edition
3.0
It was okay - the title is ambitious for the substance of the book. While there were some fun recipes and twists, it was largely a standard soul-searching romance novel.
molli526's review against another edition
3.0
The story was good but not great. I do want to try some of the recipes.