The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal
Bantam, 2009
Bantam, 2009
447 pages
Summary: Elana gets the chance to run her own kitchen in celebrity director Julien Liswood's newest restaurant. The offer couldn't come at a better time as she breaks up with her boyfriend and is fired from her job. But as she starts over in Aspen, she is overwhelmed by the demands of a new job, the difficulty of a rival chef, the attraction she feels towards her new boss, and the memories of her terrible past.
Review: I thought this would be a quick chick-lit read and was very surprised by the depth of the characters and the immense sadness which is woven throughout the plot. The story is filled with great characters, all of whom have difficult pasts which they must overcome. The plot is fast paced, but the complexity of it is overwhelming. There are secrets, lies, romances, fate, soul mates, murder, car accidents, ghosts, recipes, and teenage angst all rolled into one story. Barbara O'Neal's writing is wonderful, but is sometimes overshadowed by the tremendous plot. Rating: *** out of 5.
