Showing posts with label Carla Laureano. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carla Laureano. Show all posts

Monday, February 19, 2018

Review: The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano


Heidi Reads... the Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Denver chef Rachel Bishop has accomplished everything she’s dreamed and some things she never dared hope, like winning a James Beard award and heading up her own fine-dining restaurant. But when a targeted smear campaign causes her to be pushed out of the business by her partners, she vows to do whatever it takes to get her life back … even if that means joining forces with the man who inadvertently set the disaster in motion.

Essayist Alex Kanin never imagined his pointed editorial would go viral. Ironically, his attempt to highlight the pitfalls of online criticism has the opposite effect: it revives his own flagging career by destroying that of a perfect stranger. Plagued by guilt-fueled writer’s block, Alex vows to do whatever he can to repair the damage. He just doesn’t expect his interest in the beautiful chef to turn personal.

Alex agrees to help rebuild Rachel’s tarnished image by offering his connections and his home to host an exclusive pop-up dinner party targeted to Denver’s most influential citizens: the Saturday Night Supper Club. As they work together to make the project a success, Rachel begins to realize Alex is not the unfeeling opportunist she once thought he was, and that perhaps there’s life--and love--outside the pressure-cooker of her chosen career. But can she give up her lifelong goals without losing her identity as well?


My Review

I was entranced by this book! There was such a vibrant sense of the setting, the food, and the emotions of the characters. I loved that the author set the location in her hometown and based the restaurants in the book on some of her favorites there. The story starts with such a great conflict, and I was invested from the get-go with how the journey of Rachel and Alex would progress. There is a great balance of backstory and how it affects the present day, and anticipation for what the future holds. I loved the details of what it takes to be successful as a chef and the family-like dynamics of the food industry. The food trucks were my favorite, they seem like such a fun and accessible way of trying new and adventurous food. Rachel's two friends Ana and Melody provide a strong support for her as she navigates new circumstances in her career and personal life, and I hope the author uses them as main characters in future stories. The themes are deep and the author explores them thoughtfully through her characters, which made it such a rich reading experience and had me thinking about the issues in between reading sessions and how they apply to myself and the world. Highly recommend!!!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)


Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano


http://wishfulendings.com

I'm so excited to read The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano! It's been a while since she's published a book because of switching publishers, and I really enjoyed the other two I've read by her, especially Five Days in Skye which also featured a chef. Isn't the cover amazing?!?!

http://amzn.to/2CLoHIR

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.bookdepository.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Denver chef Rachel Bishop has accomplished everything she’s dreamed and some things she never dared hope, like winning a James Beard award and heading up her own fine-dining restaurant. But when a targeted smear campaign causes her to be pushed out of the business by her partners, she vows to do whatever it takes to get her life back … even if that means joining forces with the man who inadvertently set the disaster in motion.

Essayist Alex Kanin never imagined his pointed editorial would go viral. Ironically, his attempt to highlight the pitfalls of online criticism has the opposite effect: it revives his own flagging career by destroying that of a perfect stranger. Plagued by guilt-fueled writer’s block, Alex vows to do whatever he can to repair the damage. He just doesn’t expect his interest in the beautiful chef to turn personal.

Alex agrees to help rebuild Rachel’s tarnished image by offering his connections and his home to host an exclusive pop-up dinner party targeted to Denver’s most influential citizens: the Saturday Night Supper Club. As they work together to make the project a success, Rachel begins to realize Alex is not the unfeeling opportunist she once thought he was, and that perhaps there’s life--and love--outside the pressure-cooker of her chosen career. But can she give up her lifelong goals without losing her identity as well?





Thursday, May 26, 2016

E-book sale: Free - $1.99 for titles by Carla Laureano, Miralee Ferrell


 
 

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Review: London Tides by Carla Laureano


Heidi Reads... London Tides by Carla Laureano

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

http://www.amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.comhttp://www.barnesandnoble.comhttp://www.goodreads.com

Synopsis

Irish photojournalist Grace Brennan travels the world’s war zones documenting the helpless and forgotten. After the death of her friend and mentor in the field, Grace is shaken.

She returns to London hoping to rekindle the spark with the only man she ever loved—Scottish businessman Ian MacDonald. But he gave up his championship rowing career and dreams of Olympic gold years ago for Grace ... only for her to choose career over him. Will life’s tides bring them back together ... or tear them apart for good this time?


My Review

Grace returns to London unsure and hesitant about her life's new direction... or lack thereof. Ian is also feeling unsettled in his career, and those feelings reflected on the vibe I felt while reading the story. Even as the story progressed, it seemed a bit aimless, and I was not sure what was driving it. I felt for both Grace and Ian as they tentatively rekindle their relationship and simultaneously seek for meaning and passion in daily life. The descriptions of London and Grace's photography excursions were especially interesting, it made me want to take my camera downtown and shoot away :) PTSD rises to the surface as a theme as Ian begins to recognize the symptoms in Grace and as she struggles against it. A trip to Scotland they shared for the wedding of Ian's brother Jaime is sure to be enjoyed by those who have read the author's previous novel, Five Days in Skye. Even though this book didn't quite strike a chord with me I'm looking forward to reading more of the author's work.

(Thank you to David C. Cook Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

Monday, February 17, 2014

Free e-book *2 days only* Five Days in Skye

February 17th and 18th Five Days in Skye will be free for download! I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. You can read my review here.

Get it at Amazon or go to David C Cook eBooks for links to other retailers

Monday, January 27, 2014

Review: Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano

My Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

Hospitality consultant Andrea Sullivan has one last chance to snag a high-profile client or she'll have to kiss her dreams of promotion good-bye. When she's sent to meet Scottish celebrity chef James MacDonald on the Isle of Skye, she just wants to finish her work as efficiently as possible. Yet her client is not the opportunistic womanizer he portrays himself to be, and her attraction to him soon dredges up memories she'd rather leave buried. For James, renovating the family hotel is a fulfillment of his late father's dreams. When his hired consultant turns out to be beautiful, intelligent, and completely unimpressed by his public persona, he makes it his mission to win her over. He just never expects to fall under her spell.

Soon, both Andrea and James must face the reality that God may have a far different purpose for their lives—and that five days in Skye will forever change their outlook on life and love.


My Review

I felt like I was on vacation in Scotland while reading this book! The setting was very much a main character. I didn't have a great first impression of Andrea or James, but as their true natures and emotions were revealed and they opened up to each other they became easy to connect with. I don't know if I could trust such a whirlwind start to a relationship, but it was sure fun to read about :) The romantic chemistry was wonderful, especially with the tension of holding themselves back. Sweet ending.

(ARC provided via Netgalley for unbiased review)