Praise
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 This book is an absolute pleasure to read. The characters are three-dimensional and flawed in ways that are both realistic and sometimes frustrating. All the better to advance the plot, and what a wonderful plot it is.The reader follows divorced British caterer Camilla Fetherwell as she grows her business in Boston, navigates family issues in great Britain, and finds what? Love perhaps? On both sides of the Atlantic. Throw in a mysterious young woman who may hold the answers to a decades old mystery, and you've got the recipe (pun intended) for a page turner. The relationships in this novel are handled with finesse and the settings are described so beautifully the reader can imagine sitting down for a cup of tea or strolling through an English garden. This book is beautifully written and deeply satisfying. As a bonus it contains some of Camilla's favorite recipes.  Posted By: Heidi Weinmann |
| I love this book. I found Margaret Ann Spence’s story about the life of foodie and successful caterer, Camilla Fetherwell, enchanting and evocative. Spence captures the eloquence and nuance of language and artfully presents a snapshot of family, loves and loyalties. As a therapist, I’ve always been fascinated by the notion of family secrets and the impact their revelation has on us. Most of us share only part of ourselves with the world. Spence raises the topic of secret lives and folds it, like Camilla’s egg whites, seamlessly into her story. At the same time, Spence, sometimes whimsically, seems to be asking us questions about the interplay between illusion and reality. Would the strawberry look as luscious and taste as delectable without the lipstick? Not since I pondered over Liane Moriarty’s Husband’s Secret or heard of a writer friend discovering mysterious letters in the attic from her grandmother to a lover, have I given so much thought to the importance of hidden events in our past. Posted By: Dr. Kixx Goldman |
| Camilla Fetherwell lives in Boston but has close family ties in the UK. While entertaining and a romping good yarn this book also examines the challenges of those who settle far from home.The 'pull' of home for Camilla complicates her every move and it provides food for thought in this time of global translocation, of the destabilizing effects of migration. Camilla is coping with family loss, marriage loss, loss of youth with all that implies when it comes to motherhood, and a growing sense, as the book progresses, of lonliness. As an ex-pat Brit, living in the US, all these challenges are magnified and the author portrays Camilla as a gutsy young woman who despite her troubles would have it no other way. I love the sibling relationships she develops. Her older bossy sister whose life has been so circumscribed and the younger brother who has only recently come out as gay, reveal a scenario probably working its way through many other families as traditional norms and mores are challenged and changed. The plot is well developed and the author has little (and big!) surprises a long the way that keeps this book sizzling. I loved it! Posted By: Christine Lindsay |
| Things are not what they seem in this tale of romance and family secrets. When professional caterer Camilla travels from Boston to attend her father's memorial in Cambridge, England, she rekindles an erotic relationship with a former lover. Like the lipstick that a photographer uses to pretty up strawberries for Camilla's webpage, the glossy surface of her father's life appears to hide ugly secrets. Camilla seeks the truth -- and, as in a good mystery, she follows clues that lead her (and the reader) down erroneous paths. A cast of believable, flawed characters moves the plot with its twists, turns, and surprises. As the action shifts between Boston, Massachusetts, and Cambridge, England, we find vivid descriptions of the locale and the changing seasons ("The snow had thrust a thick woolen scarf over the day."). Camilla's sumptuous meals tickle our taste buds -- we relish sensual descriptions of food she prepares for her clients and family. Some of her recipes, such as Coffee Walnut Cake and Chicken Citrus Soup, are included at the end of the novel as a bonus. In addition to good entertainment, this book conveys a wise message about life's unpredictability and our human desire for security. As one character puts it: "People are like limpets, cling to a bit of rock for a while, then get knocked off by waves...." This novel will satisfy readers who enjoy thoughtful romance, intriguing mystery, and good writing. Posted By: Audra |
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