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Blue Plate #1
From Scratch
Perfect for fans of Kristan Higgins.
A down-home, feel-good debut Southern romance, From Scratch explores one woman’s journey back home to Dallas, Texas, where her family is cooking up a plan that doesn’t quite suit her tastes…
Thirty-year-old Lillie Turner grew up with maple syrup stuck to her skin and bacon grease splattered on her clothes, courtesy of working in the family diner. Thank goodness she escaped all that when she moved to Chicago five years ago. Now a successful strategy consultant and newly engaged to a man who complements her like biscuits and gravy, she has everything she wants.
When an urgent phone call about her father’s health pulls Lillie back to Dallas, she soon learns it was a ruse to bring her home so she can run the diner she’d rather avoid and compete in the Upper Crust, an annual baking competition, with no option to withdraw. Lillie is furious and ready to run back to Chicago, but her father’s haggard appearance makes her wonder if he’s hiding something. Things go from bad to worse when Nick, her handsome ex and the only man she ever truly loved, reappears, looking as scrumptious as ever.
Lillie’s trip home forces her to question the path she’s chosen, find her place in the family she abandoned, and wonder if the life she left behind is what she wants after all.
A down-home, feel-good debut Southern romance, From Scratch explores one woman’s journey back home to Dallas, Texas, where her family is cooking up a plan that doesn’t quite suit her tastes…
Thirty-year-old Lillie Turner grew up with maple syrup stuck to her skin and bacon grease splattered on her clothes, courtesy of working in the family diner. Thank goodness she escaped all that when she moved to Chicago five years ago. Now a successful strategy consultant and newly engaged to a man who complements her like biscuits and gravy, she has everything she wants.
When an urgent phone call about her father’s health pulls Lillie back to Dallas, she soon learns it was a ruse to bring her home so she can run the diner she’d rather avoid and compete in the Upper Crust, an annual baking competition, with no option to withdraw. Lillie is furious and ready to run back to Chicago, but her father’s haggard appearance makes her wonder if he’s hiding something. Things go from bad to worse when Nick, her handsome ex and the only man she ever truly loved, reappears, looking as scrumptious as ever.
Lillie’s trip home forces her to question the path she’s chosen, find her place in the family she abandoned, and wonder if the life she left behind is what she wants after all.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2015
18 people are currently reading
784 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Goodman
8 books93 followersRachel is a mojito lover, cheese enthusiast, wanderluster, book junkie, romance writer, and an enginerd. She is a Colorado native displaced in Texas and an engineer and university professor. When she's not creating optimization models or traveling the world, eating her way through city after city, she is usually tucked in the corner of a coffee shop, dreaming up stories and typing away on the computer. She lives in suburbia Dallas with her husband and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Oliver Pancake and Rigby Peanut. FROM SCRATCH is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
July 19, 2015
NO STARS!
For me, I always wonder what’s worse: an emotional betrayal or a physical betrayal? That’s a really tough call. – Hilarie Burton
Tragedy in life normally comes with betrayal and compromise, and trading on your integrity and not having dignity in life. That’s really where failure comes. – Tom Cochrane
It’s particularly hard to take being stabbed in the back close to home. There’s always a feeling of betrayal when people of your own group oppose you. – Catharine MacKinnon
I have begun to notice a disturbing trend in romance novels lately. For example, let us examine the case of Lillie and Nick. Totally devoted to one another since Lillie was six. Friends, playmates, companions. Then high school lovers. Then totally devoted live-in fiancées. Then, thing turn bad.
Observe.
Every night, after her own day of university classes and working long hours on her feet in her family café, she waits for his return from his residency shift at Baylor Medical, only to be met with cold indifference.
“Maye that’s the danger in loving someone too much: you’re so blinded by it that you can’t see what’s already over until one side of the bed is empty and cold.”
Constant cold, sifting into her body, leaching away her soul. Her beloved friend, confidant, companion, lover, no longer cares for her. The man she knew no longer lives in this body. No longer talks with her.
“Everything’s fine. Or, If I wanted to talk about it, I’d say so. Or his personal favorite, Leave it alone, Lillie.
And then one day, she learns something terrible. Something heartbreaking and devastating about her own family. He adores her father, Jackson, who took the place of the father he never had. Surely he will talk with her, be once again the friend and devoted companion she has known all those years. They can find a way to work through this, right? Right? But he doesn’t come home, not until the wee small hours, long after his shift is done. Where has he been? Out. The age-old response of the cheat, the drunk – or the person who doesn’t love you enough to want to come home any longer, and just doesn’t have the guts to tell you it’s over.
But still, she tries to reach out to him, to draw her back to him. But.
“I don’t have the energy to do this right now.” “Save it … You spend your days serving pie to people in a diner, so excuse me if I don’t see why this conversation can’t wait…”
He grabbed the plate off the coffee table and threw it against the wall.
Great. The introduction to physical violence, as well as emotional.
Devastated, scorned by the man she loves with her whole heart, by her own family and those she thought to be friends, she packs. Packs, and leaves for the airport. She takes the first plane out, Chicago, just because, “they are boarding now, you can make it if you hurry.” For five years, she has no one to lean on, no one to hold her when she cries, to help her through her pain or help her to find her laughter again. Finally, she is successful, on a partner track with her firm, and has found a kind, considerate, gentle lover. He isn’t Nick, but he is loving, open, kind – and he is safe. Safe from the pain, the upheaval, the not knowing what is in his heart and mind, what cruelty will pour from his mouth at any moment. No icy silences. No nights of returning long hours after his shift is done with no explanation, no words. She is content. Maybe not blissfully, passionately happy. But content. Something she hasn’t been in a very long time.
Then, her father, Jackson, sends a text message, and she finds herself back in Dallas, terrified for his health and safety. But, funny old thing that. The text was apparently a lie – a lie designed to bring her back to Dallas, to her old life, no matter her career, her coming promotion to partner in the most prestigious firm in Chicago, her life, her new relationship – no matter the agony of coming back to friends and acquaintances who blame her for leaving. Blame her for “giving up.” Well, of course. When one leaves, the other can act in any manner, say anything, and the one who left? Well.
Lillie comes back to disdain and blame. To cruelty and lies, betrayal and poisoned tongues couched in “Why Suuugar… we know what’s best for you, Bless Your Heart!, and a constant chorus of, “It’s your fault” “What did you do to fix it?” “You gave up on him, he didn’t give up on you.” You weren’t patient enough. You weren’t giving enough. You weren’t understanding enough. You weren’t you weren’t you weren’t… And of course, “It’s about you, your life, the choices you’re making. Jackson (and everyone else, supposedly) only wants what’s best for you.”
Well, what everyone ELSE thinks is “best for you.”
Back to the land where women like Sullivan Grace Hasell reside – “better known as Ms. Bless Your Heart for her uncanny ability to insult the sin out of someone but mask it as a compliment swathed in a little southern flair.” And a whole lot of bullying. For your own good, of course. . .
It’s. All. Her. Fault. She left. She didn’t try hard enough. She wasn’t forgiving enough. She wasn’t patient enough. She wasn’t she wasn’t she wasn’t – SHE is to blame, it is all on her, all her fault, and poor little Nick suffered oh, so much after she so cruelly walked out on him without a backwards glance and made herself a new life, and sin of sins, learned to be happy!
Well, Bless Your Heart!
And thus, the crux. All. Her. Fault. Her very soul is being sucked from her body by a man who shows her every day, and in every way, he cares nothing about her, considers her a burden, a lesser being, a horrible mistake made by a child that a man suddenly realizes is just that – a mistake – one he doesn’t even care about enough to tell to run back home to her father as he doesn’t want her any more. Was she supposed to reside forever upon this black and endless plain of existence, devoid of love, of kindness, of warmth? Was she supposed to stay, until and after the thrown crockery became thrown punches?
Lillie is one of the bravest people I have read. She stood up, pulled up her big girl panties, and took her broken heart and shattered life and became someone completely new – someone who would not ever let herself be hurt like that again. But she still returns to find that SHE is the one to blame for “Poor Nick – your betrayal, your running away, your cowardice, broke the man, Bless Your Heart!” And the worst part? She starts to believe it. To believe that she is everything that the people who should love and support her say she is. And that is just Wrong.
Things changed while she was gone – but instead of open, honest interaction she is faced on every side by lies, both outright and by omission. While everyone claims to care for her, no one is willing to give her respect, to accept that there was not only one side to the story. That just possibly, Lillie had to save herself when she could no longer save them.
Give me a fucking break. In the words of mighty Hamlet, “therein lies the rub.” It is the woman’s fault – no matter the situation. No matter if she can no longer see the way across the night dark plains, the light has faded, and the beasts are upon her. It. Is. Her. Fault.
REALLY?!?!?!
Parts of From Scratch are funny, touching, and positive. But the overall feel of encouraging women to return to a 1950’s mindset where emotional and physical abuse are not only commonplace but normal, where women are expected to conform to a backward society’s mores, no matter the pain to herself, is terrifying.
I received this book in return for a realistic review. I wouldn’t normally be so brutal, but this book sends terrible, horrible, very not good messages about a woman’s place in society and in personal relationships – about how it is acceptable to blame women for wrongs brought on by their partners, their families, their friends. About how said family and friends are perfectly justified in blaming, lying, withholding life and death information. About punishing the victim. This could have been a funny, wise, thoughtful book – instead, it comes across as a call to returning women to the dark ages of a lack of social justice and emotional disregard. Something I am seeing a bit too much in today’s romance novels.
For me, I always wonder what’s worse: an emotional betrayal or a physical betrayal? That’s a really tough call. – Hilarie Burton
Tragedy in life normally comes with betrayal and compromise, and trading on your integrity and not having dignity in life. That’s really where failure comes. – Tom Cochrane
It’s particularly hard to take being stabbed in the back close to home. There’s always a feeling of betrayal when people of your own group oppose you. – Catharine MacKinnon
I have begun to notice a disturbing trend in romance novels lately. For example, let us examine the case of Lillie and Nick. Totally devoted to one another since Lillie was six. Friends, playmates, companions. Then high school lovers. Then totally devoted live-in fiancées. Then, thing turn bad.
Observe.
Every night, after her own day of university classes and working long hours on her feet in her family café, she waits for his return from his residency shift at Baylor Medical, only to be met with cold indifference.
“Maye that’s the danger in loving someone too much: you’re so blinded by it that you can’t see what’s already over until one side of the bed is empty and cold.”
Constant cold, sifting into her body, leaching away her soul. Her beloved friend, confidant, companion, lover, no longer cares for her. The man she knew no longer lives in this body. No longer talks with her.
“Everything’s fine. Or, If I wanted to talk about it, I’d say so. Or his personal favorite, Leave it alone, Lillie.
And then one day, she learns something terrible. Something heartbreaking and devastating about her own family. He adores her father, Jackson, who took the place of the father he never had. Surely he will talk with her, be once again the friend and devoted companion she has known all those years. They can find a way to work through this, right? Right? But he doesn’t come home, not until the wee small hours, long after his shift is done. Where has he been? Out. The age-old response of the cheat, the drunk – or the person who doesn’t love you enough to want to come home any longer, and just doesn’t have the guts to tell you it’s over.
But still, she tries to reach out to him, to draw her back to him. But.
“I don’t have the energy to do this right now.” “Save it … You spend your days serving pie to people in a diner, so excuse me if I don’t see why this conversation can’t wait…”
He grabbed the plate off the coffee table and threw it against the wall.
Great. The introduction to physical violence, as well as emotional.
Devastated, scorned by the man she loves with her whole heart, by her own family and those she thought to be friends, she packs. Packs, and leaves for the airport. She takes the first plane out, Chicago, just because, “they are boarding now, you can make it if you hurry.” For five years, she has no one to lean on, no one to hold her when she cries, to help her through her pain or help her to find her laughter again. Finally, she is successful, on a partner track with her firm, and has found a kind, considerate, gentle lover. He isn’t Nick, but he is loving, open, kind – and he is safe. Safe from the pain, the upheaval, the not knowing what is in his heart and mind, what cruelty will pour from his mouth at any moment. No icy silences. No nights of returning long hours after his shift is done with no explanation, no words. She is content. Maybe not blissfully, passionately happy. But content. Something she hasn’t been in a very long time.
Then, her father, Jackson, sends a text message, and she finds herself back in Dallas, terrified for his health and safety. But, funny old thing that. The text was apparently a lie – a lie designed to bring her back to Dallas, to her old life, no matter her career, her coming promotion to partner in the most prestigious firm in Chicago, her life, her new relationship – no matter the agony of coming back to friends and acquaintances who blame her for leaving. Blame her for “giving up.” Well, of course. When one leaves, the other can act in any manner, say anything, and the one who left? Well.
Lillie comes back to disdain and blame. To cruelty and lies, betrayal and poisoned tongues couched in “Why Suuugar… we know what’s best for you, Bless Your Heart!, and a constant chorus of, “It’s your fault” “What did you do to fix it?” “You gave up on him, he didn’t give up on you.” You weren’t patient enough. You weren’t giving enough. You weren’t understanding enough. You weren’t you weren’t you weren’t… And of course, “It’s about you, your life, the choices you’re making. Jackson (and everyone else, supposedly) only wants what’s best for you.”
Well, what everyone ELSE thinks is “best for you.”
Back to the land where women like Sullivan Grace Hasell reside – “better known as Ms. Bless Your Heart for her uncanny ability to insult the sin out of someone but mask it as a compliment swathed in a little southern flair.” And a whole lot of bullying. For your own good, of course. . .
It’s. All. Her. Fault. She left. She didn’t try hard enough. She wasn’t forgiving enough. She wasn’t patient enough. She wasn’t she wasn’t she wasn’t – SHE is to blame, it is all on her, all her fault, and poor little Nick suffered oh, so much after she so cruelly walked out on him without a backwards glance and made herself a new life, and sin of sins, learned to be happy!
Well, Bless Your Heart!
And thus, the crux. All. Her. Fault. Her very soul is being sucked from her body by a man who shows her every day, and in every way, he cares nothing about her, considers her a burden, a lesser being, a horrible mistake made by a child that a man suddenly realizes is just that – a mistake – one he doesn’t even care about enough to tell to run back home to her father as he doesn’t want her any more. Was she supposed to reside forever upon this black and endless plain of existence, devoid of love, of kindness, of warmth? Was she supposed to stay, until and after the thrown crockery became thrown punches?
Lillie is one of the bravest people I have read. She stood up, pulled up her big girl panties, and took her broken heart and shattered life and became someone completely new – someone who would not ever let herself be hurt like that again. But she still returns to find that SHE is the one to blame for “Poor Nick – your betrayal, your running away, your cowardice, broke the man, Bless Your Heart!” And the worst part? She starts to believe it. To believe that she is everything that the people who should love and support her say she is. And that is just Wrong.
Things changed while she was gone – but instead of open, honest interaction she is faced on every side by lies, both outright and by omission. While everyone claims to care for her, no one is willing to give her respect, to accept that there was not only one side to the story. That just possibly, Lillie had to save herself when she could no longer save them.
Give me a fucking break. In the words of mighty Hamlet, “therein lies the rub.” It is the woman’s fault – no matter the situation. No matter if she can no longer see the way across the night dark plains, the light has faded, and the beasts are upon her. It. Is. Her. Fault.
REALLY?!?!?!
Parts of From Scratch are funny, touching, and positive. But the overall feel of encouraging women to return to a 1950’s mindset where emotional and physical abuse are not only commonplace but normal, where women are expected to conform to a backward society’s mores, no matter the pain to herself, is terrifying.
I received this book in return for a realistic review. I wouldn’t normally be so brutal, but this book sends terrible, horrible, very not good messages about a woman’s place in society and in personal relationships – about how it is acceptable to blame women for wrongs brought on by their partners, their families, their friends. About how said family and friends are perfectly justified in blaming, lying, withholding life and death information. About punishing the victim. This could have been a funny, wise, thoughtful book – instead, it comes across as a call to returning women to the dark ages of a lack of social justice and emotional disregard. Something I am seeing a bit too much in today’s romance novels.
July 19, 2015
ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
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From Scratch by Rachel Goodman epitomized your feel good country read. In this charming debut book, Ms. Goodman truly captured the essence of second chances in life and love. I have always been a fan of books that are able to weave raw emotions that are tangible and relatable to their readers. And in From Scratch, Ms. Goodman really has showcased that just like in life and cooking, you always start from scratch.
From Scratch instantly hooked me from the opening pages as we are taken truly down a journey of a young woman rediscovering her life as she returns back home to her hometown in Texas. For Lilie Turner, she didn't expect that her father had other ulterior motives in having Lilie return back home. Lilie is forced to really to reevaluate her life, love, and career choice. What I really liked about this book was that Ms. Goodman was able to weave a fun, beautiful and yet touching read about second chances. I love reading a book that can integrate a powerful and deep meaning of love and life in beautiful undertones. From Scratch really had a perfect blend of drama, angst, and romance. So if you are looking for a book that is smart, sexy, and refreshing and was beautifully well written, then I would recommend From Scratch by Rachel Goodman. A great debut book!!!
"When all else fails, cook."
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Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages::http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Rachel Goodman
[image error]
From Scratch by Rachel Goodman epitomized your feel good country read. In this charming debut book, Ms. Goodman truly captured the essence of second chances in life and love. I have always been a fan of books that are able to weave raw emotions that are tangible and relatable to their readers. And in From Scratch, Ms. Goodman really has showcased that just like in life and cooking, you always start from scratch.
From Scratch instantly hooked me from the opening pages as we are taken truly down a journey of a young woman rediscovering her life as she returns back home to her hometown in Texas. For Lilie Turner, she didn't expect that her father had other ulterior motives in having Lilie return back home. Lilie is forced to really to reevaluate her life, love, and career choice. What I really liked about this book was that Ms. Goodman was able to weave a fun, beautiful and yet touching read about second chances. I love reading a book that can integrate a powerful and deep meaning of love and life in beautiful undertones. From Scratch really had a perfect blend of drama, angst, and romance. So if you are looking for a book that is smart, sexy, and refreshing and was beautifully well written, then I would recommend From Scratch by Rachel Goodman. A great debut book!!!
"When all else fails, cook."
[image error]
Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages::http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Rachel Goodman
April 19, 2015
Rachel Goodman's debut novel, From Scratch, is as good as...honestly I've been trying to think of a clever food pun to go here, but I'm not as good at them as she is. It's sweet, and a little sour. It's heartfelt and real. Once I got into it, I could not put it down. Lovers reuniting is one of my favorite things to read, and Lillie and Nick's story was so good, I wanted to dive into the pages, visit Dallas and make friends with them and all the people surrounding them. Because it wasn't just the love story that grabbed me and held me here, it was everything. It was amazing characters like Lillie's father, Jack, and her friends, Wes and Anabelle. It was the sudden need I felt to call my own father and tell him I loved him. It was the reminder that no matter how far you go, and for how long, you can always come home again and there will be people there waiting for you with open arms.
That's exactly what Lillie finds when she comes home from her new life in Chicago, with her big fancy job and her perfect fiancé, Drew. She's suddenly surrounded by old friends, old enemies and her daddy. She's also faced with the diner she grew up in, and all the things that go with it. She's reminded of the passion for food, for life, she abandoned after receiving some devastating news five years ago.
While Lillie thinks she can easily get in and get out, she's sadly mistaken. Her dad has other plans. Not only is Jack insisting she take her rightful place running their diner, Greasy Spoons, but Her father and his cohort, Sullivan Grace, have backed her into a corner and insist on her competing in a local amateur baking competition. Lillie's less than thrilled, but the more time she spends around her old friends and in the place where she grew up, the more she starts to remember who she really is.
And of course, in the middle of it all is Nick. The boy next door. The one she lost everything to, including her heart. The reason she left Dallas and hasn't been back for five years. He's changed, but he still reminds Lillie of how she once felt. He reminds her that she still feels that way, and between trivia nights, a meddling father, some pranks, a country band and some good ol' peach cobbler from scratch, these two return to each other in a powerful and wonderful way. AND IT'S SO GOOD.
For real, it's been a while since I've picked up a romance that wasn't driven by sex, that I didn't find myself skimming to get to the "good parts" aka the smut. This book is all good parts and there was no skimming, and if you don't put this on your TBR, you'll be missing out on something better than...yeah, still haven't come up with that food pun yet, but trust me, you're going to love this as much as I did and thank me later. ;)
That's exactly what Lillie finds when she comes home from her new life in Chicago, with her big fancy job and her perfect fiancé, Drew. She's suddenly surrounded by old friends, old enemies and her daddy. She's also faced with the diner she grew up in, and all the things that go with it. She's reminded of the passion for food, for life, she abandoned after receiving some devastating news five years ago.
While Lillie thinks she can easily get in and get out, she's sadly mistaken. Her dad has other plans. Not only is Jack insisting she take her rightful place running their diner, Greasy Spoons, but Her father and his cohort, Sullivan Grace, have backed her into a corner and insist on her competing in a local amateur baking competition. Lillie's less than thrilled, but the more time she spends around her old friends and in the place where she grew up, the more she starts to remember who she really is.
And of course, in the middle of it all is Nick. The boy next door. The one she lost everything to, including her heart. The reason she left Dallas and hasn't been back for five years. He's changed, but he still reminds Lillie of how she once felt. He reminds her that she still feels that way, and between trivia nights, a meddling father, some pranks, a country band and some good ol' peach cobbler from scratch, these two return to each other in a powerful and wonderful way. AND IT'S SO GOOD.
For real, it's been a while since I've picked up a romance that wasn't driven by sex, that I didn't find myself skimming to get to the "good parts" aka the smut. This book is all good parts and there was no skimming, and if you don't put this on your TBR, you'll be missing out on something better than...yeah, still haven't come up with that food pun yet, but trust me, you're going to love this as much as I did and thank me later. ;)
June 1, 2015
3.5 Foodie Love, Southern Charm, Bless Your Heart Stars * * * 1/2
A book for those who love reading about down home food with special touches, family ties and figuring out who you really are....and who you actually love.
More review to come
A book for those who love reading about down home food with special touches, family ties and figuring out who you really are....and who you actually love.
More review to come
June 14, 2015
A Down Home Southern Second Chance at Love Romantic Tale with all the Fixin’s
Lillie lived in a small community in the Dallas area. She was raised in a dinner her father owned and loved cooking and developing recipes. She had loved the boy next door almost all her life, and he loved her till something tore them apart. She left her friends, her family, her roots and headed to Chicago where she suffered alone and slowly grabbed at pieces of happiness. She moved on, found a place of comfort. One day she got an emergency call, and five years later was forced to head home and face some truths and traumas.
Nick was the golden boy, from a long line of surgeons. He loves to hang out at Lillie’s house, he was almost like one of the family. Lillie was his first love, and were headed down the path to forever together. Designated to be a great doctor, pressured by his family to accomplish his degree he heads to medical school. While in school he and Lillie struggle to stay together until the war is lost and Lillie is gone. Five years later she comes back into town and finds Nick had gone on with his life as well.
I really enjoyed the story, loved the characters, and drooled over the food. You can gain weight just from reading this book. The pacing was realistic, the emotions honest and believable, the ending was wonderful. I was cheering for more than one couple here, good people belong together. If you are looking for some good down home, romantic, peach cobbler and ice tea, second chance romance adventure this is your book. A romantic foodies dream read.
Lillie lived in a small community in the Dallas area. She was raised in a dinner her father owned and loved cooking and developing recipes. She had loved the boy next door almost all her life, and he loved her till something tore them apart. She left her friends, her family, her roots and headed to Chicago where she suffered alone and slowly grabbed at pieces of happiness. She moved on, found a place of comfort. One day she got an emergency call, and five years later was forced to head home and face some truths and traumas.
Nick was the golden boy, from a long line of surgeons. He loves to hang out at Lillie’s house, he was almost like one of the family. Lillie was his first love, and were headed down the path to forever together. Designated to be a great doctor, pressured by his family to accomplish his degree he heads to medical school. While in school he and Lillie struggle to stay together until the war is lost and Lillie is gone. Five years later she comes back into town and finds Nick had gone on with his life as well.
I really enjoyed the story, loved the characters, and drooled over the food. You can gain weight just from reading this book. The pacing was realistic, the emotions honest and believable, the ending was wonderful. I was cheering for more than one couple here, good people belong together. If you are looking for some good down home, romantic, peach cobbler and ice tea, second chance romance adventure this is your book. A romantic foodies dream read.
August 31, 2015
Click on the banner to read my review on my website.
When I read the premise of this book, I couldn't wait to dive in because it sounded like a cute, fun read with a delicious second chance romance. While this book was light and cute, I struggled with it at times due the caricature-like characters and the dramatics.
Lillie left Dallas five years ago, leaving behind her father and his diner, her best friends, and her fiancé. Now, she's back after her father calls her with a medical emergency. Upon arrival she sees that he's just fine with only a bit of knee pain, but all of her and her father's friends seem to know something more about his health. And they're not telling. After all these years, he is still up at the crack of dawn cooking dinner at Spoon's, her dad's diner.
Cooking and baking used to be in Lillie's DNA before she found out the truth behind why her mother left her as a child. When she moved to Chicago to start a new life, she erased everything in her life that reminded her of her past. But she never really let go. Now she's engaged to be married to Drew, whom she left in Chicago.
At the heart of this novel is Lillie's self-discovery (or maybe I should say rediscovery) of who she really is and what she wants. By being at home with her friends, all of her memories of who she once was come flooding back to her and she has to reconcile who she was and who she's become. I liked that aspect.
One of the biggest choices she has to make is whether to stay with Drew or take a risk and go back to her old flame, Nick. I had an issue with the relationship part of the story. Almost immediately, Lillie is beguiled by Nick and practically wants to go back to him without question. She didn't really act like the engaged woman that she was. I didn't really feel any internal struggle at all because it seems like her choice was already made up.
All of the Southern characters are caricatures, like the stuck-up rich girl who is now dating Lillie's ex-fiancé or the snooty older woman who is in charge of setting up the town's baking competition. Both of these women are nasty and mean to Lillie for no reason.
As I read this book, I didn't get swept away in its pages. This novel had some really cute moments. The shop names really really stinking adorable (Prickly Pear, Turner's Greasy Spoons, Tipsy Teakettle). But I felt as though it was almost too sweet for me.
2 stars
* I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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When I read the premise of this book, I couldn't wait to dive in because it sounded like a cute, fun read with a delicious second chance romance. While this book was light and cute, I struggled with it at times due the caricature-like characters and the dramatics.
Lillie left Dallas five years ago, leaving behind her father and his diner, her best friends, and her fiancé. Now, she's back after her father calls her with a medical emergency. Upon arrival she sees that he's just fine with only a bit of knee pain, but all of her and her father's friends seem to know something more about his health. And they're not telling. After all these years, he is still up at the crack of dawn cooking dinner at Spoon's, her dad's diner.
Cooking and baking used to be in Lillie's DNA before she found out the truth behind why her mother left her as a child. When she moved to Chicago to start a new life, she erased everything in her life that reminded her of her past. But she never really let go. Now she's engaged to be married to Drew, whom she left in Chicago.
At the heart of this novel is Lillie's self-discovery (or maybe I should say rediscovery) of who she really is and what she wants. By being at home with her friends, all of her memories of who she once was come flooding back to her and she has to reconcile who she was and who she's become. I liked that aspect.
One of the biggest choices she has to make is whether to stay with Drew or take a risk and go back to her old flame, Nick. I had an issue with the relationship part of the story. Almost immediately, Lillie is beguiled by Nick and practically wants to go back to him without question. She didn't really act like the engaged woman that she was. I didn't really feel any internal struggle at all because it seems like her choice was already made up.
All of the Southern characters are caricatures, like the stuck-up rich girl who is now dating Lillie's ex-fiancé or the snooty older woman who is in charge of setting up the town's baking competition. Both of these women are nasty and mean to Lillie for no reason.
As I read this book, I didn't get swept away in its pages. This novel had some really cute moments. The shop names really really stinking adorable (Prickly Pear, Turner's Greasy Spoons, Tipsy Teakettle). But I felt as though it was almost too sweet for me.
2 stars
* I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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February 18, 2018
"Bacon has always been my kryptonite. I've never been able to resist the mesmerizing sound of it sizzling in the skillet, the way its intoxicating down-home aroma wafts through the air, how the succulent flavors of juicy fat and crispy meat explode on the tongue."
If that's not the sexiest thing you've ever read, we probably won't ever be close friends.
I laughed, I cried, I highlighted (a lot). I've never been one for romance novels, but this charming story broke right through my cold, dead heart. I love books about food, and this one was well-written, witty, heartwarming, sexy, and delicious. It's a quick read that's worth every penny. I already downloaded Sour Grapes and can't wait for Rachel Goodman's next course.
If that's not the sexiest thing you've ever read, we probably won't ever be close friends.
I laughed, I cried, I highlighted (a lot). I've never been one for romance novels, but this charming story broke right through my cold, dead heart. I love books about food, and this one was well-written, witty, heartwarming, sexy, and delicious. It's a quick read that's worth every penny. I already downloaded Sour Grapes and can't wait for Rachel Goodman's next course.
March 3, 2015
Rachel has a fabulous, fresh voice--just different enough to be instantly engaging and yet totally familiar. From Scratch has a great cast of characters and is filled with the warmth of home and the humor only friends and family can provide. I can't wait to see this book come to life with a cover.
February 15, 2015
I was lucky enough to read an advance copy and I loved it! Charming and funny and warm from the first page to the last.
March 2, 2017
One of those feel-good books you start reading and can't put down. I just want to read it over and over again.
July 30, 2015
My original review of this title can be found
here
on The Book Hookup.
**Disclaimer:** An e-ARC of this title was provided by the publisher via NetGalley invite in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 4 stars! Are you a fool for second chance romances? Do you like your setting with a dash of Southern charm and your drama layered with sugary sweet, secretly bitter Bless your heart‘s and shoulda coulda woulda’s? Does your heart flip flop over foodie goodness, angst, and/or emotional reads? Then you should pull yourself up to a table and dig in to Rachel Goodman’s debut novel. It put me in the mindset of one of my favorite movies ever, Sweet Home Alabama, and I devoured this book whole.
♥ The Lowdown: When an old childhood love starts turning cold in early adulthood, should you stay or should you go? One night after a particularly nasty fight, Lillie forces herself into that decision after months of arguing, cold shoulders, and meals eaten alone while her fiancé, Nick, works his way through medical school and rotations. Her choice: flee, as far and as fast as possible. Now five years have passed and an emergency phone call from her father pulls her back to her past, to the town, the diner, and a home she hasn't seen since she walked away from it all. She has a new career, a new home, and a new fiancé in the new life she built in Chicago, but she puts all that on hold. She knew seeing Nick would be tough, but she never imagined that her old hangs, old friends, and old loves accompanied with all that longing nostalgia would creep so easily back into her heart.
(Note: There's more to the story than just that bit, but I'm sure you've figured out as much from the Goodreads summary. That being said, just like with food, this book is better experienced rather than being told about secondhand.)
♥ Review: Are you tired of food references yet? Good, me either. And if you are... well, I'm really sorry, but not sorry enough to stop. Just like butter, I'm on a roll. (Bahdumching.) Okay, now for the serious business review. (Meaning, time for me to be as serious as I can be.) Like a good casserole or lasagna or anything layered with flavor, this book has its own depth that needs to be worked through slowly and savored along the way. It held all the best balanced notes for a perfect bite/reading experience. First, I'm a sucker for a good book set in the South, especially when it's done right. It's like a comfort food, one that I'll always go back to because it's what's familiar. Though, often times, I find myself easily irritated because most novels don't pull it off just right, rather than reading authentically, it comes off as a mocking, poor representation. I'm proud to say that wasn't the case with From Scratch. There was a charm to Lillie's hometown and a little flair with all the quirky shops, bars, cafés, and such written about in this book. I wanted to go there. To live there. I wanted to know Lillie's community, her neighbors, her diner veterans, her friends, her daddy, and even her godmother, Miss Sullivan Grace.
Which brings me to the characters... I swear I could've walked out my front door and met some of them on the street. There was a realness quality to the people that Goodman created, so much so that they never read like people drawn up from her writerly imagination, rather something closer to real people that she drew on for inspiration. I really enjoyed getting to know each character and each of their stories. Yes, Nick and Lillie were the main ones, but there were nice little side storylines happening along the way, too. I liked watching everyone navigate these everyday hurdles, ones that are commonplace in every regular Joe Schmoe out and about, and nothing overly dramatic or unnecessarily outlandish. The plot wasn't some intricate, overworked mess that you had to hassle with and try to learn to love, it's something that just was. It felt very natural to the characters' lives and things that they could possibly be going through.
Now, if I had to have a "gripe," it would be one tiny little thing. While you could sense the chemistry/history with Lillie and Nick, I never felt it in the present. It almost felt like it relied too heavily on the reader to get emotionally invested in their history and make the connection in the present. I wanted more time with them together-- alone, in a group, who cares?-- having those tough conversations, mending those bridges, and letting me see them fall in love again... even though I guess, technically, they did say they never really fell out of love, but you know what I mean. Also, while I appreciated getting to see them as a couple in the epilogue (HUZZAH FOR EPILOGUES FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN!!!), I'm admittedly greedy and just wanted that little extra time to bask in them being officially together.
♥ Rec it? Yes. It was a quick read-- made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and touched my little Southern girl heart in all its special places. If you're looking for a bit of foodie goodness, bucketloads of Southern charm and atmosphere, and dig second chance romances, this book is one you should be putting on your pile.
♥ A very special thanks to Pocket Star and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
**Disclaimer:** An e-ARC of this title was provided by the publisher via NetGalley invite in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 4 stars! Are you a fool for second chance romances? Do you like your setting with a dash of Southern charm and your drama layered with sugary sweet, secretly bitter Bless your heart‘s and shoulda coulda woulda’s? Does your heart flip flop over foodie goodness, angst, and/or emotional reads? Then you should pull yourself up to a table and dig in to Rachel Goodman’s debut novel. It put me in the mindset of one of my favorite movies ever, Sweet Home Alabama, and I devoured this book whole.
♥ The Lowdown: When an old childhood love starts turning cold in early adulthood, should you stay or should you go? One night after a particularly nasty fight, Lillie forces herself into that decision after months of arguing, cold shoulders, and meals eaten alone while her fiancé, Nick, works his way through medical school and rotations. Her choice: flee, as far and as fast as possible. Now five years have passed and an emergency phone call from her father pulls her back to her past, to the town, the diner, and a home she hasn't seen since she walked away from it all. She has a new career, a new home, and a new fiancé in the new life she built in Chicago, but she puts all that on hold. She knew seeing Nick would be tough, but she never imagined that her old hangs, old friends, and old loves accompanied with all that longing nostalgia would creep so easily back into her heart.
(Note: There's more to the story than just that bit, but I'm sure you've figured out as much from the Goodreads summary. That being said, just like with food, this book is better experienced rather than being told about secondhand.)
♥ Review: Are you tired of food references yet? Good, me either. And if you are... well, I'm really sorry, but not sorry enough to stop. Just like butter, I'm on a roll. (Bahdumching.) Okay, now for the serious business review. (Meaning, time for me to be as serious as I can be.) Like a good casserole or lasagna or anything layered with flavor, this book has its own depth that needs to be worked through slowly and savored along the way. It held all the best balanced notes for a perfect bite/reading experience. First, I'm a sucker for a good book set in the South, especially when it's done right. It's like a comfort food, one that I'll always go back to because it's what's familiar. Though, often times, I find myself easily irritated because most novels don't pull it off just right, rather than reading authentically, it comes off as a mocking, poor representation. I'm proud to say that wasn't the case with From Scratch. There was a charm to Lillie's hometown and a little flair with all the quirky shops, bars, cafés, and such written about in this book. I wanted to go there. To live there. I wanted to know Lillie's community, her neighbors, her diner veterans, her friends, her daddy, and even her godmother, Miss Sullivan Grace.
"Sullivan Grace Hasell-- better known as Ms. Bless Your Heart for her uncanny ability to insult the sin out of someone but mask it as a compliment swathed in a little southern flair--stands before me in a floral couture dress."
~quote taken from the eARC of From Scratch at 12%
Which brings me to the characters... I swear I could've walked out my front door and met some of them on the street. There was a realness quality to the people that Goodman created, so much so that they never read like people drawn up from her writerly imagination, rather something closer to real people that she drew on for inspiration. I really enjoyed getting to know each character and each of their stories. Yes, Nick and Lillie were the main ones, but there were nice little side storylines happening along the way, too. I liked watching everyone navigate these everyday hurdles, ones that are commonplace in every regular Joe Schmoe out and about, and nothing overly dramatic or unnecessarily outlandish. The plot wasn't some intricate, overworked mess that you had to hassle with and try to learn to love, it's something that just was. It felt very natural to the characters' lives and things that they could possibly be going through.
Now, if I had to have a "gripe," it would be one tiny little thing. While you could sense the chemistry/history with Lillie and Nick, I never felt it in the present. It almost felt like it relied too heavily on the reader to get emotionally invested in their history and make the connection in the present. I wanted more time with them together-- alone, in a group, who cares?-- having those tough conversations, mending those bridges, and letting me see them fall in love again... even though I guess, technically, they did say they never really fell out of love, but you know what I mean. Also, while I appreciated getting to see them as a couple in the epilogue (HUZZAH FOR EPILOGUES FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN!!!), I'm admittedly greedy and just wanted that little extra time to bask in them being officially together.
♥ Rec it? Yes. It was a quick read-- made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and touched my little Southern girl heart in all its special places. If you're looking for a bit of foodie goodness, bucketloads of Southern charm and atmosphere, and dig second chance romances, this book is one you should be putting on your pile.
♥ A very special thanks to Pocket Star and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
May 24, 2016
Jaime's Review
Sometimes a book just reaches out and grabs your heart and tugs at it until you've done nothing but feel all the feels and then you're left with this stretched out heart that aches. Normally it's easy to explain why a book stirred up so many emotions inside yourself, but sometimes you're just blindsided and left wondering, "What the f*** just happened?"
This is that book.
I hated Lillie's dad and all the people in her town for outright lying to her about what was going on in the name of helping her to find herself. Why couldn't they just look her in the eyes and tell her why she's needed back in town and why they know that it's where she belongs? Why did they insist on manipulating her every step of the way? Why did somehow everything come back to being Lillie's fault? She didn't try hard enough, she moved on too easily, she was being selfish and pretending to be someone else, if she would've stuck around....blah, blah, blah. I get it, she made a mistake and that mistake had repercussions but when does Nick step up and take blame for his part? I just didn't understand it.
Then it hit me. He did step up and accept his part in this, he obviously took some steps to change the situation he created and then he chose to deal with those repercussions. I know now that even though it seemed like all of the blame was put on Lillie, it was only because this was her story, we had to experience how she came to terms with the part she played in it all.
Then there's the idea that my stomach dropped at the thought of Nick moving on, but I didn't flinch at the idea of Lillie moving on. I hated to see how much pain Lillie and Nick went through after she left, but I also wonder how much worse things could have been if she hadn't. Sometimes things need to go very wrong in order for them to really be right.
And now that I've finished writing this review and realize that anyone who is reading this before reading the book has no clue what I'm talking about or if I liked or disliked this book, I'll end on this thought. Any book that causes me to stumble my way through a review and just spew my emotions about the story and the characters like they are my own friends, well, that my friend is a great book. You should read it. I've already read it twice.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Sometimes a book just reaches out and grabs your heart and tugs at it until you've done nothing but feel all the feels and then you're left with this stretched out heart that aches. Normally it's easy to explain why a book stirred up so many emotions inside yourself, but sometimes you're just blindsided and left wondering, "What the f*** just happened?"
This is that book.
I hated Lillie's dad and all the people in her town for outright lying to her about what was going on in the name of helping her to find herself. Why couldn't they just look her in the eyes and tell her why she's needed back in town and why they know that it's where she belongs? Why did they insist on manipulating her every step of the way? Why did somehow everything come back to being Lillie's fault? She didn't try hard enough, she moved on too easily, she was being selfish and pretending to be someone else, if she would've stuck around....blah, blah, blah. I get it, she made a mistake and that mistake had repercussions but when does Nick step up and take blame for his part? I just didn't understand it.
Then it hit me. He did step up and accept his part in this, he obviously took some steps to change the situation he created and then he chose to deal with those repercussions. I know now that even though it seemed like all of the blame was put on Lillie, it was only because this was her story, we had to experience how she came to terms with the part she played in it all.
Then there's the idea that my stomach dropped at the thought of Nick moving on, but I didn't flinch at the idea of Lillie moving on. I hated to see how much pain Lillie and Nick went through after she left, but I also wonder how much worse things could have been if she hadn't. Sometimes things need to go very wrong in order for them to really be right.
And now that I've finished writing this review and realize that anyone who is reading this before reading the book has no clue what I'm talking about or if I liked or disliked this book, I'll end on this thought. Any book that causes me to stumble my way through a review and just spew my emotions about the story and the characters like they are my own friends, well, that my friend is a great book. You should read it. I've already read it twice.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
June 20, 2015
As soon as I read the synopsis, I was dying to read this book. I love the creativity of baking and add in the promise of a southern boy and I'm sold.
I really liked Lillie. She's smart and hard working and stubborn. Above all of that, she's a genuinely good person. I really enjoyed seeing her figure things out and find where she belonged. There are some great secondary characters who were a lot of fun {hello, Wes} and I would have liked a bit more from them.
It became quite apparent that there were a few secrets everyone knew {a la Sweet Home Alabama} and I wasn't a huge fan of that information being withheld as long as it was. My main complaint was the constant push and pull between Lillie and Nick; however, as much as I loathe that sort of plot, I was still eager to know what happened.
Overall, it was a cute story and I look forward to future works from Rachel.
**Huge thanks to Pocket Star Books for the invite to read**
I really liked Lillie. She's smart and hard working and stubborn. Above all of that, she's a genuinely good person. I really enjoyed seeing her figure things out and find where she belonged. There are some great secondary characters who were a lot of fun {hello, Wes} and I would have liked a bit more from them.
It became quite apparent that there were a few secrets everyone knew {a la Sweet Home Alabama} and I wasn't a huge fan of that information being withheld as long as it was. My main complaint was the constant push and pull between Lillie and Nick; however, as much as I loathe that sort of plot, I was still eager to know what happened.
Overall, it was a cute story and I look forward to future works from Rachel.
**Huge thanks to Pocket Star Books for the invite to read**
July 22, 2015
This was s really good story! While there were parts I wanted to delve deeper into, the characters and writing style really moved this story along. This was easy to read and easy to love. This new to me Author will be added to my list for sure! A great book about second chances, regrets and finding out who you are really meant to be.
July 20, 2015
My Review:
New author. New book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but wow this book shocked me with just how much I really, really enjoyed it.
This is a story about a second chance at love (I do really enjoy those.) In this one, something happened between Nick and Lillie five years ago that made her leave everything behind in Dallas and flee to Chicago. Now she's been forced back to Dallas by her father. He's pretty much tricked her to get her there.
Throughout a lot of the book, it's obvious that Lillie is missing a lot of the details about what's going on. That in itself made me turn the pages on my kindle faster and faster, but there's also the question of what exactly happened to send her fleeing. That's a mystery for a long time throughout the reading of the book and I'm telling you that technique worked for me. I was DYING to know the details.
Lillie has a good life in Chicago. She works hard--is up for partner-- and has a great fiance. She left so much behind and worked hard to recover from that loss. And this is the detail that dropped this book down from a 5 star read to a 4 star read. Everyone is keeping secrets from her...everyone. They blame her for leaving and all hold her responsible for the aftermath. BUT after hearing what drove her to leave, I don't think that was fair. The things she gave up were used as weapons against her. Of course, she left that world. Nick devastated her and while he admits that he's to blame, too, it never felt like she was given enough credit for rebuilding her life...just because it didn't fit the parameters for those who loved her thought her life should be. That left me feeling really dissatisfied. I feel like there should have been a big blowup between Nick and her so that everyone would have known exactly what happened. Yes, he was left devastated and shattered after she left, but he holds some responsibility for that, too.
But despite my issue with that, this book was so, so good. It was deeply emotional and completely riveting. I fell in love with the story, felt Lillie's betrayal deeply (see above...she was such an empathetic character...I never would have gotten that worked up over most characters/story lines.) There were great little details throughout the story. I enjoyed the nights out with the band, could feel the pain that pertained to Lillie's high school rival and how she fits in their lives. There were scenes with Nick that left me with tears in my eyes.
I still feel like Lillie needed something a little bit more in understanding from the people who love her, but that's because I loved her character so much. It was a good book. I need it in print!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
New author. New book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but wow this book shocked me with just how much I really, really enjoyed it.
This is a story about a second chance at love (I do really enjoy those.) In this one, something happened between Nick and Lillie five years ago that made her leave everything behind in Dallas and flee to Chicago. Now she's been forced back to Dallas by her father. He's pretty much tricked her to get her there.
Throughout a lot of the book, it's obvious that Lillie is missing a lot of the details about what's going on. That in itself made me turn the pages on my kindle faster and faster, but there's also the question of what exactly happened to send her fleeing. That's a mystery for a long time throughout the reading of the book and I'm telling you that technique worked for me. I was DYING to know the details.
Lillie has a good life in Chicago. She works hard--is up for partner-- and has a great fiance. She left so much behind and worked hard to recover from that loss. And this is the detail that dropped this book down from a 5 star read to a 4 star read. Everyone is keeping secrets from her...everyone. They blame her for leaving and all hold her responsible for the aftermath. BUT after hearing what drove her to leave, I don't think that was fair. The things she gave up were used as weapons against her. Of course, she left that world. Nick devastated her and while he admits that he's to blame, too, it never felt like she was given enough credit for rebuilding her life...just because it didn't fit the parameters for those who loved her thought her life should be. That left me feeling really dissatisfied. I feel like there should have been a big blowup between Nick and her so that everyone would have known exactly what happened. Yes, he was left devastated and shattered after she left, but he holds some responsibility for that, too.
But despite my issue with that, this book was so, so good. It was deeply emotional and completely riveting. I fell in love with the story, felt Lillie's betrayal deeply (see above...she was such an empathetic character...I never would have gotten that worked up over most characters/story lines.) There were great little details throughout the story. I enjoyed the nights out with the band, could feel the pain that pertained to Lillie's high school rival and how she fits in their lives. There were scenes with Nick that left me with tears in my eyes.
I still feel like Lillie needed something a little bit more in understanding from the people who love her, but that's because I loved her character so much. It was a good book. I need it in print!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
March 31, 2016
From Scratch, by Rachel Goodman, was adorable goodness, exactly what I was in need of after reading a few heavier stories. We meet Lillie Turner, lured home from Chicago to Dallas under the guise of her father’s upcoming knee surgery. He wants her to take over his diner while he’s healing and compete in a local charitable baking competition using her mother’s peach cobbler recipe. Lillie wants no part of this. The diner holds too many memories of her first love Nick and her mother’s abandonment. She wants her easy life back in Chicago with Drew. But things aren’t what they seem with respect to a lot of things in her life. She thought she’d figured out who she was and what she wanted, but being back in Dallas has made her realize she’s as lost as ever.
I loved Lillie. I loved watching her life implode—as terrible as that sounds—and seeing her build it back up again. She was smart and stubborn but not unable to see the mistakes she’d made. I loved her friendships with Wes and Anabelle, and learning what unfolded between her and Nick. Their chemistry was lovely. And while the book does contain some sex, it’s more about the connection between them and their feelings. The pacing of the story and the writing were excellent. There was an honesty and realism to both. Nick, Wes, Annabelle and Lillie all had things to work through. Feelings were raw and there was hurt and neither was hidden, rather handled as maturely as adults can while trying to face hard things. I liked all 4 of them very much. I wasn’t as gone with Jack (Lillie’s dad) and Sullivan Grace, though by the end of the story they’d both ingratiated themselves into my heart.
What can I say? This was a good old fashioned romance, a second chance to grab onto the love that you never really truly let go of, with some southern charm, lots of good food and wonderful character growth. You can’t really ask for more than that in a contemporary romance. I’d recommend it to anyone, especially those of us who love a good foodie book.
I loved Lillie. I loved watching her life implode—as terrible as that sounds—and seeing her build it back up again. She was smart and stubborn but not unable to see the mistakes she’d made. I loved her friendships with Wes and Anabelle, and learning what unfolded between her and Nick. Their chemistry was lovely. And while the book does contain some sex, it’s more about the connection between them and their feelings. The pacing of the story and the writing were excellent. There was an honesty and realism to both. Nick, Wes, Annabelle and Lillie all had things to work through. Feelings were raw and there was hurt and neither was hidden, rather handled as maturely as adults can while trying to face hard things. I liked all 4 of them very much. I wasn’t as gone with Jack (Lillie’s dad) and Sullivan Grace, though by the end of the story they’d both ingratiated themselves into my heart.
What can I say? This was a good old fashioned romance, a second chance to grab onto the love that you never really truly let go of, with some southern charm, lots of good food and wonderful character growth. You can’t really ask for more than that in a contemporary romance. I’d recommend it to anyone, especially those of us who love a good foodie book.
November 22, 2015
I started reading this book with no expectations, only curiosity. By the end of the first chapter I was picking my jaw up off the floor.
I started looking around me as I read because the characters are so real and the setting so precise that I thought I was reading about my friends, my neighbours, my coworkers. This book exactly captures southern living in the big city. It's what we have here. Big hospitals mixed in with quaint diners. Rich people rubbing elbows with small business owners. And, above all, the southern charm and personality that makes a woman a lady and a man a gentleman.
Every character in this book is so well developed that I hesitate to call them supporting cast. They each stand on their own merits. Lillie, our heroine, is a strong, tough cookie with a southern charm that can't be erased by a few years "up north". Her H, Nick, is the strong, silent type. With secrets he keeps from weighing down her shoulders. He makes mistakes, she makes hasty decisions. Their friends and family all have interweaving stories. Then, L & N get a second chance.
They have to grow. They have to come to terms with the past and look to the future. They have to stand strong on that southern backbone that doesn't bend to fate's winds. In the process, they steal the readers' hearts.
As you can tell, I loved the story. But, I was even more impressed with the writing. Clean, crisp, precise, it allowed the story to flow seamlessly at the perfect pace from beginning to end. I honestly can't believe this is an indie author. This is a polished, well crafted book with a beautiful romance.
I started looking around me as I read because the characters are so real and the setting so precise that I thought I was reading about my friends, my neighbours, my coworkers. This book exactly captures southern living in the big city. It's what we have here. Big hospitals mixed in with quaint diners. Rich people rubbing elbows with small business owners. And, above all, the southern charm and personality that makes a woman a lady and a man a gentleman.
Every character in this book is so well developed that I hesitate to call them supporting cast. They each stand on their own merits. Lillie, our heroine, is a strong, tough cookie with a southern charm that can't be erased by a few years "up north". Her H, Nick, is the strong, silent type. With secrets he keeps from weighing down her shoulders. He makes mistakes, she makes hasty decisions. Their friends and family all have interweaving stories. Then, L & N get a second chance.
They have to grow. They have to come to terms with the past and look to the future. They have to stand strong on that southern backbone that doesn't bend to fate's winds. In the process, they steal the readers' hearts.
As you can tell, I loved the story. But, I was even more impressed with the writing. Clean, crisp, precise, it allowed the story to flow seamlessly at the perfect pace from beginning to end. I honestly can't believe this is an indie author. This is a polished, well crafted book with a beautiful romance.
June 18, 2015
I love when first loves get a second chance with one another. It goes to show that even though everyone goes through tough times sometimes people deserve second chances to make it right.
When I started reading I was completely invested in this storyline and what the characters were bringing to it. At first I thought maybe Lillie thought she was too good to be in her hometown but the more time she spent there the more she started figuring out that the things that happened weren't just about her.
This book didn't have a lot of funny parts but the pranks these characters played on one another was a nice touch to the wonderful friendships of these characters. It also broke up some of the serious parts in this book which was really a nice touch.
I adored how Nick never really got over her and when he confessed on following her to Chicago and saw her happy.. My heart broke for both of them but I am so glad everything turned out for the best. I even wanted to know more about Annabelle and Wes relationship and get more answers from them.
These two characters didn't work out at first and then trying to get over the past only helped mold them for the future. I enjoyed how Lillie grew and the story went on and found her true self. I think this was a fabulous book and the cooking part was a nice touch. I am also glad the author didn't let Lillie win and made it realistic.
I hope this author will turn the other characters into a series. Crossing my fingers for Annabelles and Wes's book next!
When I started reading I was completely invested in this storyline and what the characters were bringing to it. At first I thought maybe Lillie thought she was too good to be in her hometown but the more time she spent there the more she started figuring out that the things that happened weren't just about her.
This book didn't have a lot of funny parts but the pranks these characters played on one another was a nice touch to the wonderful friendships of these characters. It also broke up some of the serious parts in this book which was really a nice touch.
I adored how Nick never really got over her and when he confessed on following her to Chicago and saw her happy.. My heart broke for both of them but I am so glad everything turned out for the best. I even wanted to know more about Annabelle and Wes relationship and get more answers from them.
These two characters didn't work out at first and then trying to get over the past only helped mold them for the future. I enjoyed how Lillie grew and the story went on and found her true self. I think this was a fabulous book and the cooking part was a nice touch. I am also glad the author didn't let Lillie win and made it realistic.
I hope this author will turn the other characters into a series. Crossing my fingers for Annabelles and Wes's book next!
July 30, 2015
The original review of this title can be found
here
on The Book Hookup.
**Disclaimer:** An e-ARC of this title was provided by the publisher via NetGalley invite in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 4 stars! Are you a fool for second chance romances? Do you like your setting with a dash of Southern charm and your drama layered with sugary sweet, secretly bitter Bless your heart‘s and shoulda coulda woulda’s? Does your heart flip flop over foodie goodness, angst, and/or emotional reads? Then you should pull yourself up to a table and dig in to Rachel Goodman’s debut novel. It put me in the mindset of one of my favorite movies ever, Sweet Home Alabama, and I devoured this book whole.
♥ The Lowdown: When an old childhood love starts turning cold in early adulthood, should you stay or should you go? One night after a particularly nasty fight, Lillie forces herself into that decision after months of arguing, cold shoulders, and meals eaten alone while her fiancé, Nick, works his way through medical school and rotations. Her choice: flee, as far and as fast as possible. Now five years have passed and an emergency phone call from her father pulls her back to her past, to the town, the diner, and a home she hasn't seen since she walked away from it all. She has a new career, a new home, and a new fiancé in the new life she built in Chicago, but she puts all that on hold. She knew seeing Nick would be tough, but she never imagined that her old hangs, old friends, and old loves accompanied with all that longing nostalgia would creep so easily back into her heart.
(Note: There's more to the story than just that bit, but I'm sure you've figured out as much from the Goodreads summary. That being said, just like with food, this book is better experienced rather than being told about secondhand.)
♥ Review: Are you tired of food references yet? Good, me either. And if you are... well, I'm really sorry, but not sorry enough to stop. Just like butter, I'm on a roll. (Bahdumching.) Okay, now for the serious business review. (Meaning, time for me to be as serious as I can be.) Like a good casserole or lasagna or anything layered with flavor, this book has its own depth that needs to be worked through slowly and savored along the way. It held all the best balanced notes for a perfect bite/reading experience. First, I'm a sucker for a good book set in the South, especially when it's done right. It's like a comfort food, one that I'll always go back to because it's what's familiar. Though, often times, I find myself easily irritated because most novels don't pull it off just right, rather than reading authentically, it comes off as a mocking, poor representation. I'm proud to say that wasn't the case with From Scratch. There was a charm to Lillie's hometown and a little flair with all the quirky shops, bars, cafés, and such written about in this book. I wanted to go there. To live there. I wanted to know Lillie's community, her neighbors, her diner veterans, her friends, her daddy, and even her godmother, Miss Sullivan Grace.
Which brings me to the characters... I swear I could've walked out my front door and met some of them on the street. There was a realness quality to the people that Goodman created, so much so that they never read like people drawn up from her writerly imagination, rather something closer to real people that she drew on for inspiration. I really enjoyed getting to know each character and each of their stories. Yes, Nick and Lillie were the main ones, but there were nice little side storylines happening along the way, too. I liked watching everyone navigate these everyday hurdles, ones that are commonplace in every regular Joe Schmoe out and about, and nothing overly dramatic or unnecessarily outlandish. The plot wasn't some intricate, overworked mess that you had to hassle with and try to learn to love, it's something that just was. It felt very natural to the characters' lives and things that they could possibly be going through.
Now, if I had to have a "gripe," it would be one tiny little thing. While you could sense the chemistry/history with Lillie and Nick, I never felt it in the present. It almost felt like it relied too heavily on the reader to get emotionally invested in their history and make the connection in the present. I wanted more time with them together-- alone, in a group, who cares?-- having those tough conversations, mending those bridges, and letting me see them fall in love again... even though I guess, technically, they did say they never really fell out of love, but you know what I mean. Also, while I appreciated getting to see them as a couple in the epilogue (HUZZAH FOR EPILOGUES FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN!!!), I'm admittedly greedy and just wanted that little extra time to bask in them being officially together.
♥ Rec it? Yes. It was a quick read-- made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and touched my little Southern girl heart in all its special places. If you're looking for a bit of foodie goodness, bucketloads of Southern charm and atmosphere, and dig second chance romances, this book is one you should be putting on your pile.
♥ A very special thanks to Pocket Star and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
Christina's Review:
**Disclaimer:** An e-ARC of this title was provided by the publisher via NetGalley invite in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 4 stars! Are you a fool for second chance romances? Do you like your setting with a dash of Southern charm and your drama layered with sugary sweet, secretly bitter Bless your heart‘s and shoulda coulda woulda’s? Does your heart flip flop over foodie goodness, angst, and/or emotional reads? Then you should pull yourself up to a table and dig in to Rachel Goodman’s debut novel. It put me in the mindset of one of my favorite movies ever, Sweet Home Alabama, and I devoured this book whole.
♥ The Lowdown: When an old childhood love starts turning cold in early adulthood, should you stay or should you go? One night after a particularly nasty fight, Lillie forces herself into that decision after months of arguing, cold shoulders, and meals eaten alone while her fiancé, Nick, works his way through medical school and rotations. Her choice: flee, as far and as fast as possible. Now five years have passed and an emergency phone call from her father pulls her back to her past, to the town, the diner, and a home she hasn't seen since she walked away from it all. She has a new career, a new home, and a new fiancé in the new life she built in Chicago, but she puts all that on hold. She knew seeing Nick would be tough, but she never imagined that her old hangs, old friends, and old loves accompanied with all that longing nostalgia would creep so easily back into her heart.
(Note: There's more to the story than just that bit, but I'm sure you've figured out as much from the Goodreads summary. That being said, just like with food, this book is better experienced rather than being told about secondhand.)
♥ Review: Are you tired of food references yet? Good, me either. And if you are... well, I'm really sorry, but not sorry enough to stop. Just like butter, I'm on a roll. (Bahdumching.) Okay, now for the serious business review. (Meaning, time for me to be as serious as I can be.) Like a good casserole or lasagna or anything layered with flavor, this book has its own depth that needs to be worked through slowly and savored along the way. It held all the best balanced notes for a perfect bite/reading experience. First, I'm a sucker for a good book set in the South, especially when it's done right. It's like a comfort food, one that I'll always go back to because it's what's familiar. Though, often times, I find myself easily irritated because most novels don't pull it off just right, rather than reading authentically, it comes off as a mocking, poor representation. I'm proud to say that wasn't the case with From Scratch. There was a charm to Lillie's hometown and a little flair with all the quirky shops, bars, cafés, and such written about in this book. I wanted to go there. To live there. I wanted to know Lillie's community, her neighbors, her diner veterans, her friends, her daddy, and even her godmother, Miss Sullivan Grace.
"Sullivan Grace Hasell-- better known as Ms. Bless Your Heart for her uncanny ability to insult the sin out of someone but mask it as a compliment swathed in a little southern flair--stands before me in a floral couture dress."
~quote taken from the eARC of From Scratch at 12%
Which brings me to the characters... I swear I could've walked out my front door and met some of them on the street. There was a realness quality to the people that Goodman created, so much so that they never read like people drawn up from her writerly imagination, rather something closer to real people that she drew on for inspiration. I really enjoyed getting to know each character and each of their stories. Yes, Nick and Lillie were the main ones, but there were nice little side storylines happening along the way, too. I liked watching everyone navigate these everyday hurdles, ones that are commonplace in every regular Joe Schmoe out and about, and nothing overly dramatic or unnecessarily outlandish. The plot wasn't some intricate, overworked mess that you had to hassle with and try to learn to love, it's something that just was. It felt very natural to the characters' lives and things that they could possibly be going through.
Now, if I had to have a "gripe," it would be one tiny little thing. While you could sense the chemistry/history with Lillie and Nick, I never felt it in the present. It almost felt like it relied too heavily on the reader to get emotionally invested in their history and make the connection in the present. I wanted more time with them together-- alone, in a group, who cares?-- having those tough conversations, mending those bridges, and letting me see them fall in love again... even though I guess, technically, they did say they never really fell out of love, but you know what I mean. Also, while I appreciated getting to see them as a couple in the epilogue (HUZZAH FOR EPILOGUES FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN!!!), I'm admittedly greedy and just wanted that little extra time to bask in them being officially together.
♥ Rec it? Yes. It was a quick read-- made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and touched my little Southern girl heart in all its special places. If you're looking for a bit of foodie goodness, bucketloads of Southern charm and atmosphere, and dig second chance romances, this book is one you should be putting on your pile.
♥ A very special thanks to Pocket Star and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
July 22, 2015
3.5 stars--
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 20, 2015
A down-home, feel-good debut Southern romance, From Scratch explores one woman’s journey back home to Dallas, Texas, where her family is cooking up a plan that doesn’t quite suit her tastes…
Thirty-year-old Lillie Turner grew up with maple syrup stuck to her skin and bacon grease splattered on her clothes, courtesy of working in the family diner. Thank goodness she escaped all that when she moved to Chicago five years ago. Now a successful strategy consultant and newly engaged to a man who complements her like biscuits and gravy, she has everything she wants.
When an urgent phone call about her father’s health pulls Lillie back to Dallas, she soon learns it was a ruse to bring her home so she can run the diner she’d rather avoid and compete in the Upper Crust, an annual baking competition, with no option to withdraw. Lillie is furious and ready to run back to Chicago, but her father’s haggard appearance makes her wonder if he’s hiding something. Things go from bad to worse when Nick, her handsome ex and the only man she ever truly loved, reappears, looking as scrumptious as ever.
Lillie’s trip home forces her to question the path she’s chosen, find her place in the family she abandoned, and wonder if the life she left behind is what she wants after all.
•••••••••
REVIEW: 3.5 stars--FROM SCRATCH is a romantic, contemporary storyline from first time author Rachel Goodman that focuses on a second chance for two people destined for one another but torn apart by anger, stress and lies from the past. This is professional consultant Lillie Turner, and Nick Preston’s storyline.
Told from first person point of view (Lillie) FROM SCRATCH follows the rekindling of a relationship between Lillie and Nick, as well as Lillie’s return to her hometown of Dallas, Texas. Five years earlier, following several months wherein Lillie and Nick’s relationship started to implode, Lillie walked away, leaving Dallas behind, and starting fresh in Chicago, Illinois. Struggling to make ends meet, Lillie gets her MBA and focuses on a new life and new career never forgetting the people she left behind. But an urgent message from her father, demanding her return to Dallas, finds Lillie torn between helping her father or running from the man that broke her heart.
Lillie and Nick were childhood friends, high school sweethearts, and eventually lovers but everything began to fall apart as Nick’s internship at the local hospital began to eat away at his personality and his relationship with Lillie forcing a heartbroken Lillie to make a decision that would destroy any hope of a future together. Leaving Nick and her father behind, Lillie embarked on a new direction, and thought she found what she was missing in a new town.
FROM SCRATCH has a large ensemble cast of strong and charismatic characters including Lillie’s friends Annabelle and Wes-a couple whose own relationship is crumbling around them. We are introduced to Lillie’s father Jack Turner, and the local busy body Sullivan Grace who may or may not have designs on Lillie’s dad. There are also numerous friends, extended families, and the local band whose name is beginning to rise on the country music circuit. Lillie’s competition for Nick’s heart is a vindictive woman who targets Lillie with hatred and malice.
FROM SCRATCH is an emotional storyline where small town mentality finds our heroine the object of scorn and derision; gossip and innuendo by the local townsfolk that frequent her father’s diner. There are secrets and stories of which Lillie becomes aware, and in this she no longer feels welcome in the town where she grew up. Lillie is verbally attacked on more than one occasion-and my heart broke for a woman who wanted love and acceptance from the man who pushed her away. There is a happily ever after but the path was not easy for Lillie and Nick. I she a few tears throughout the story.
Rachel Goodman’s first novel touched on my emotions. Although I wasn’t always a happy camper with the treatment of Lillie Turner, there are always demons to overcome, and bumps in the road in any romantic storyline.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 20, 2015
A down-home, feel-good debut Southern romance, From Scratch explores one woman’s journey back home to Dallas, Texas, where her family is cooking up a plan that doesn’t quite suit her tastes…
Thirty-year-old Lillie Turner grew up with maple syrup stuck to her skin and bacon grease splattered on her clothes, courtesy of working in the family diner. Thank goodness she escaped all that when she moved to Chicago five years ago. Now a successful strategy consultant and newly engaged to a man who complements her like biscuits and gravy, she has everything she wants.
When an urgent phone call about her father’s health pulls Lillie back to Dallas, she soon learns it was a ruse to bring her home so she can run the diner she’d rather avoid and compete in the Upper Crust, an annual baking competition, with no option to withdraw. Lillie is furious and ready to run back to Chicago, but her father’s haggard appearance makes her wonder if he’s hiding something. Things go from bad to worse when Nick, her handsome ex and the only man she ever truly loved, reappears, looking as scrumptious as ever.
Lillie’s trip home forces her to question the path she’s chosen, find her place in the family she abandoned, and wonder if the life she left behind is what she wants after all.
•••••••••
REVIEW: 3.5 stars--FROM SCRATCH is a romantic, contemporary storyline from first time author Rachel Goodman that focuses on a second chance for two people destined for one another but torn apart by anger, stress and lies from the past. This is professional consultant Lillie Turner, and Nick Preston’s storyline.
Told from first person point of view (Lillie) FROM SCRATCH follows the rekindling of a relationship between Lillie and Nick, as well as Lillie’s return to her hometown of Dallas, Texas. Five years earlier, following several months wherein Lillie and Nick’s relationship started to implode, Lillie walked away, leaving Dallas behind, and starting fresh in Chicago, Illinois. Struggling to make ends meet, Lillie gets her MBA and focuses on a new life and new career never forgetting the people she left behind. But an urgent message from her father, demanding her return to Dallas, finds Lillie torn between helping her father or running from the man that broke her heart.
Lillie and Nick were childhood friends, high school sweethearts, and eventually lovers but everything began to fall apart as Nick’s internship at the local hospital began to eat away at his personality and his relationship with Lillie forcing a heartbroken Lillie to make a decision that would destroy any hope of a future together. Leaving Nick and her father behind, Lillie embarked on a new direction, and thought she found what she was missing in a new town.
FROM SCRATCH has a large ensemble cast of strong and charismatic characters including Lillie’s friends Annabelle and Wes-a couple whose own relationship is crumbling around them. We are introduced to Lillie’s father Jack Turner, and the local busy body Sullivan Grace who may or may not have designs on Lillie’s dad. There are also numerous friends, extended families, and the local band whose name is beginning to rise on the country music circuit. Lillie’s competition for Nick’s heart is a vindictive woman who targets Lillie with hatred and malice.
FROM SCRATCH is an emotional storyline where small town mentality finds our heroine the object of scorn and derision; gossip and innuendo by the local townsfolk that frequent her father’s diner. There are secrets and stories of which Lillie becomes aware, and in this she no longer feels welcome in the town where she grew up. Lillie is verbally attacked on more than one occasion-and my heart broke for a woman who wanted love and acceptance from the man who pushed her away. There is a happily ever after but the path was not easy for Lillie and Nick. I she a few tears throughout the story.
Rachel Goodman’s first novel touched on my emotions. Although I wasn’t always a happy camper with the treatment of Lillie Turner, there are always demons to overcome, and bumps in the road in any romantic storyline.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
July 20, 2015
4.5 stars.
Full of southern charm (and cooking), From Scratch is a saucy, funny and charming second chance at love romance. This debut novel by Rachel Goodman is a fast-paced love story with an absolutely phenomenal cast of well developed characters and an engaging storyline that is sure to delight fans of contemporary romances.
Five years earlier after her relationship imploded, Lillie Turner moved from Dallas to Chicago where she reinvented herself. With her coveted promotion at work finally within reach and happily engaged to her longtime boyfriend, a health emergency with her beloved father means she must return to Dallas and face everything (and everyone) she left behind. Although dismayed to discover that her father is cooking up a scheme to have her take over running the family owned diner, Lillie is thrilled to reunite with her childhood friends Wes and Annabelle. However, she is disconcerted when she comes face to face with her ex, Nick Preston. Much to her consternation, she discovers her attraction to Nick has not diminished, and Lillie is forced to make some difficult choices about her future.
Growing up, Lillie had a pretty happy childhood but she definitely bears a few scars from her mother's abandonment. Her dad made up for this lack as best he could and she loved working side by side with him in the diner. Her happiness was complete when she and Nick became engaged but their relationship could not withstand the rigors of Nick's demanding surgical residency. Despite her attempts to close the growing distance between them, on the night that Lillie needed him the most, Nick's unexpected outburst culminated with her leaving Dallas in a panic. Picking up the pieces of her life in a new place was the hardest thing Lillie has ever faced, but she is a much stronger person for making the decision to get out of an unhappy relationship and forge a new life for herself.
Her return to Dallas is fraught with tension as Lillie tries to make everyone happy. Worried about her dad, she agrees to stay until he is back on his feet. Her fiancé is understanding and supporting of her predicament but her boss and co-workers do not cut her any slack. Lillie is also saddened to learn that her friends have been keeping some pretty serious secrets from her and she is also blindsided by accusations that she did not do enough to save her relationship with Nick. Lillie begins to doubt herself but once she and Nick move beyond their initial animosity, can they make peace with their tumultuous past? And if they can, what impact will this have on Lillie's future?
From Scratch is a captivating second chance at love romance. The characters are likable and although flawed, they grow throughout the story as they face their individual demons. The various relationships are realistically depicted and even though they have disagreements, they are quick to forgive and move forward. Rachel Goodman is an immensely talented author who brings the characters, their emotions and the setting vibrantly to life. An outstanding debut novel that I highly recommend to fans of contemporary romances.
Full of southern charm (and cooking), From Scratch is a saucy, funny and charming second chance at love romance. This debut novel by Rachel Goodman is a fast-paced love story with an absolutely phenomenal cast of well developed characters and an engaging storyline that is sure to delight fans of contemporary romances.
Five years earlier after her relationship imploded, Lillie Turner moved from Dallas to Chicago where she reinvented herself. With her coveted promotion at work finally within reach and happily engaged to her longtime boyfriend, a health emergency with her beloved father means she must return to Dallas and face everything (and everyone) she left behind. Although dismayed to discover that her father is cooking up a scheme to have her take over running the family owned diner, Lillie is thrilled to reunite with her childhood friends Wes and Annabelle. However, she is disconcerted when she comes face to face with her ex, Nick Preston. Much to her consternation, she discovers her attraction to Nick has not diminished, and Lillie is forced to make some difficult choices about her future.
Growing up, Lillie had a pretty happy childhood but she definitely bears a few scars from her mother's abandonment. Her dad made up for this lack as best he could and she loved working side by side with him in the diner. Her happiness was complete when she and Nick became engaged but their relationship could not withstand the rigors of Nick's demanding surgical residency. Despite her attempts to close the growing distance between them, on the night that Lillie needed him the most, Nick's unexpected outburst culminated with her leaving Dallas in a panic. Picking up the pieces of her life in a new place was the hardest thing Lillie has ever faced, but she is a much stronger person for making the decision to get out of an unhappy relationship and forge a new life for herself.
Her return to Dallas is fraught with tension as Lillie tries to make everyone happy. Worried about her dad, she agrees to stay until he is back on his feet. Her fiancé is understanding and supporting of her predicament but her boss and co-workers do not cut her any slack. Lillie is also saddened to learn that her friends have been keeping some pretty serious secrets from her and she is also blindsided by accusations that she did not do enough to save her relationship with Nick. Lillie begins to doubt herself but once she and Nick move beyond their initial animosity, can they make peace with their tumultuous past? And if they can, what impact will this have on Lillie's future?
From Scratch is a captivating second chance at love romance. The characters are likable and although flawed, they grow throughout the story as they face their individual demons. The various relationships are realistically depicted and even though they have disagreements, they are quick to forgive and move forward. Rachel Goodman is an immensely talented author who brings the characters, their emotions and the setting vibrantly to life. An outstanding debut novel that I highly recommend to fans of contemporary romances.
June 1, 2015
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. To read more reviews like this one, check out Obsessive Book Nerd!
At first, From Scratch feels like your typical second chance at love story. I wasn't sure I was going to love From Scratch, but I quickly found myself hooked and didn't want to stop reading.
As the reader, you don't know the whole story as to why Lillie left home, and I enjoyed finding out in time. Her father was keeping a secret from her, and I felt so bad for Lillie at times. I wanted to hug her. But, there wasn't really any twists and turns, but that's OK, because the story was strong.
The characters were all strong, well developed. I connected with Lillie and I loved that the story was from her point of view. Nick, Wes, Annabelle, and Jack were a wonderful supporting cast. Actually, I really loved Lillie's character. I liked that her personal growth didn't come easy. And I felt content moving through her journey with her. At a point I could clearly see where she needed to go, and I was able to sit quietly and let her get there on her own. Translation, there was no, "OH MY GOD LILLIE, Please why don't you understand! Common!"
All in all, From Scratch is a sweet and tasty romance, and the perfect summer read.
At first, From Scratch feels like your typical second chance at love story. I wasn't sure I was going to love From Scratch, but I quickly found myself hooked and didn't want to stop reading.
As the reader, you don't know the whole story as to why Lillie left home, and I enjoyed finding out in time. Her father was keeping a secret from her, and I felt so bad for Lillie at times. I wanted to hug her. But, there wasn't really any twists and turns, but that's OK, because the story was strong.
The characters were all strong, well developed. I connected with Lillie and I loved that the story was from her point of view. Nick, Wes, Annabelle, and Jack were a wonderful supporting cast. Actually, I really loved Lillie's character. I liked that her personal growth didn't come easy. And I felt content moving through her journey with her. At a point I could clearly see where she needed to go, and I was able to sit quietly and let her get there on her own. Translation, there was no, "OH MY GOD LILLIE, Please why don't you understand! Common!"
All in all, From Scratch is a sweet and tasty romance, and the perfect summer read.
July 16, 2015
I love when an author can bring you through a lot of emotions with their writing. I always get agitated when I read about manipulating a person even if it is "for their own good" and that is just how this book kicks off. So needless to say I was reading fast to get through into the rest of the story.
I really enjoyed the authors writing and once I moved through the storyline, I understood parts of the manipulation but I also ended up feeling bad for the main characters too. They went through a lot but secrets abound and I felt a lot of emotions from bad to good. Lillie was beat up (figuratively) a lot and I am not sure how I feel about that. They both had issues, for sure! Then some humor was added and the ending I hated. No true closure really! Ugh! I keep feeling like I missed something in the epilogue. Did he put the ring on it or what? LOL
The good part is that the door is open for more surrounding this couple and their friends. I loved the interaction and the great friendships that they have. It almost make you wish you had friends like that...
For the most part, I enjoyed this book even though it was a bit predictable. The character development was great but I felt that the ending could have wrapped things up a bit better for me. I love my books all tied up with a bow! LOL I will definitely read more of this authors works as the read was enjoyable and fast.
I really enjoyed the authors writing and once I moved through the storyline, I understood parts of the manipulation but I also ended up feeling bad for the main characters too. They went through a lot but secrets abound and I felt a lot of emotions from bad to good. Lillie was beat up (figuratively) a lot and I am not sure how I feel about that. They both had issues, for sure! Then some humor was added and the ending I hated. No true closure really! Ugh! I keep feeling like I missed something in the epilogue. Did he put the ring on it or what? LOL
The good part is that the door is open for more surrounding this couple and their friends. I loved the interaction and the great friendships that they have. It almost make you wish you had friends like that...
For the most part, I enjoyed this book even though it was a bit predictable. The character development was great but I felt that the ending could have wrapped things up a bit better for me. I love my books all tied up with a bow! LOL I will definitely read more of this authors works as the read was enjoyable and fast.
August 1, 2016
Rachel Goodman’s FROM SCRATCH: Blue Plate Special
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
This is a cute book where a dad sort of tricks his daughter into coming back to her hometown from Chicago and taking over the funky family restaurant. She left after a long-term relationship, but I didn’t really understand why she left and never went home.
The whole town is colluding with her father to get her to stay and take over the diner.
Now, she has a job in Chicago that she has worked hard to get and a fiance who is really good to her. But the town and her dad have decided she’ll be happier back in her hometown. I hate being cornered; I have a bad reaction when characters are tricked and cornered.
Okay, I think she is actually going to be happier back in Texas: her ex-boyfriend is really hot, she loves her dad and the restaurant, and, despite their plotting, she has really good friends.
But, while I wanted the characters to have good outcomes. I just didn’t get taken up with the characters — they all felt two-dimensional.
I love books with cute, small town scenarios but this one didn’t do it for me. They do give a shout out to the Junior League (I have been a member) so that was interesting. This pays lip service to all those home town feels but nothing that would entice me to go there.
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
This is a cute book where a dad sort of tricks his daughter into coming back to her hometown from Chicago and taking over the funky family restaurant. She left after a long-term relationship, but I didn’t really understand why she left and never went home.
The whole town is colluding with her father to get her to stay and take over the diner.
Now, she has a job in Chicago that she has worked hard to get and a fiance who is really good to her. But the town and her dad have decided she’ll be happier back in her hometown. I hate being cornered; I have a bad reaction when characters are tricked and cornered.
Okay, I think she is actually going to be happier back in Texas: her ex-boyfriend is really hot, she loves her dad and the restaurant, and, despite their plotting, she has really good friends.
But, while I wanted the characters to have good outcomes. I just didn’t get taken up with the characters — they all felt two-dimensional.
I love books with cute, small town scenarios but this one didn’t do it for me. They do give a shout out to the Junior League (I have been a member) so that was interesting. This pays lip service to all those home town feels but nothing that would entice me to go there.
April 30, 2015
From Scratch by Rachel Goodman was a fantastic read. This appears to be a debut book from this author and is currently available for pre-order on Amazon. I will definitely be looking out for new books by Rachel.
What do you get when you take a meddling father, a daughter who is running from her past and mix in an ex-fiancé who isn’t what he seems….you get From Scratch. This book had a great balance of humor, angst and romance. I was hooked from page one and had a hard time putting it down.
This book is a fairly light read and I enjoyed that. It didn’t get too terribly heavy and sometimes you need books like that. Don’t get me wrong, the book had plenty of drama. However, the books I seem to be reading lately seem to go into really heavy, sensitive topics so a lighter read was refreshing.
For a first novel, Rachel Goodman did fabulous with From Scratch. The dynamics between the characters was fun. The dialog was dynamic. The writing was spot on. I can’t praise this book enough. I would recommend this book to everyone.
For more book reviews, visit my blog at http://heathersbookreviews.com/
What do you get when you take a meddling father, a daughter who is running from her past and mix in an ex-fiancé who isn’t what he seems….you get From Scratch. This book had a great balance of humor, angst and romance. I was hooked from page one and had a hard time putting it down.
This book is a fairly light read and I enjoyed that. It didn’t get too terribly heavy and sometimes you need books like that. Don’t get me wrong, the book had plenty of drama. However, the books I seem to be reading lately seem to go into really heavy, sensitive topics so a lighter read was refreshing.
For a first novel, Rachel Goodman did fabulous with From Scratch. The dynamics between the characters was fun. The dialog was dynamic. The writing was spot on. I can’t praise this book enough. I would recommend this book to everyone.
For more book reviews, visit my blog at http://heathersbookreviews.com/
July 17, 2015
As sweet as a homemade peach cobbler!
I really enjoyed this book - romantic fiction isn't normally what I would choose to read but something about the blurb hooked me in and I'm glad I followed my instinct and read it as I really enjoyed Rachel Goodman's debut novel.
The storyline felt heartfelt and ‘real’ – Lillie and the other characters were interesting and it was good to see them and their relationships develop. I liked the fact that the story was more about relationships, growth and love of family and friends not just the relationship between Lillie and the two men in her life. I particularly liked the way the friendship relationships were written – we all have our ups and downs within friendships, the in jokes, the pranks and that brought an element of humour and down to earthiness to the story that I enjoyed and could relate to.
I was really rooting for Wes and Annabelle, my heart broke for Lillie when her dad was taken into hospital, and I wanted to see if the diner would remain running – that level of interest, for me, shows how much I enjoyed a book. I would like to see what happens to the characters next – thanks Rachel!
I really enjoyed this book - romantic fiction isn't normally what I would choose to read but something about the blurb hooked me in and I'm glad I followed my instinct and read it as I really enjoyed Rachel Goodman's debut novel.
The storyline felt heartfelt and ‘real’ – Lillie and the other characters were interesting and it was good to see them and their relationships develop. I liked the fact that the story was more about relationships, growth and love of family and friends not just the relationship between Lillie and the two men in her life. I particularly liked the way the friendship relationships were written – we all have our ups and downs within friendships, the in jokes, the pranks and that brought an element of humour and down to earthiness to the story that I enjoyed and could relate to.
I was really rooting for Wes and Annabelle, my heart broke for Lillie when her dad was taken into hospital, and I wanted to see if the diner would remain running – that level of interest, for me, shows how much I enjoyed a book. I would like to see what happens to the characters next – thanks Rachel!
July 26, 2015
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Disclaimers: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not obligated to write a good review nor did I receive any compensation for writing this review.
Why did I decide to turn the pages? It was on Netgalley and it looked intriguing.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I didn't really have any expectations going into this book, but I thought I'd give it a try. I ended up really liking it.
The writing was beautifully written. It was slower paced, but that didn't bug me too much.
I loved getting to know the characters and watching how Goodman formed her story.
The novel was heartwarming and one that I'm glad I read. Definitely recommended for fans of the genre. I'll be keeping tabs on Goodman that's for sure.
So why 4 stars? A beautifully written story.
The Wrap-up: Powerfully written; writing at its best.
Love,
Danica Page
Disclaimers: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not obligated to write a good review nor did I receive any compensation for writing this review.
Why did I decide to turn the pages? It was on Netgalley and it looked intriguing.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I didn't really have any expectations going into this book, but I thought I'd give it a try. I ended up really liking it.
The writing was beautifully written. It was slower paced, but that didn't bug me too much.
I loved getting to know the characters and watching how Goodman formed her story.
The novel was heartwarming and one that I'm glad I read. Definitely recommended for fans of the genre. I'll be keeping tabs on Goodman that's for sure.
So why 4 stars? A beautifully written story.
The Wrap-up: Powerfully written; writing at its best.
Love,
Danica Page
July 12, 2015
I was sent a copy of the book for review through Net Galley, as always, all opinions are my own.
I’ve been looking for a quick summer read, having to do loosely with food and family. This book delivered exactly what I was looking for, but the every knows what is best for you theme that ran through the book hit a little too close to home for me. I liked Lille, she’s smart and strong, but once she returns home to take care of her father I feel like the story becomes predictable, full of deceit from loved ones and her ultimate decision to give up the life away from home she built herself for a second chance at love. I may not have loved the ending, but the cast of characters was great.
I’ve been looking for a quick summer read, having to do loosely with food and family. This book delivered exactly what I was looking for, but the every knows what is best for you theme that ran through the book hit a little too close to home for me. I liked Lille, she’s smart and strong, but once she returns home to take care of her father I feel like the story becomes predictable, full of deceit from loved ones and her ultimate decision to give up the life away from home she built herself for a second chance at love. I may not have loved the ending, but the cast of characters was great.
May 5, 2015
This is a fun and easy read. Lillie and Nick have not seen each other in 5 years after a really bad ending. So there is an element of betrayal and angst, but it does not overshadow the sweetness of this book. It's a wonderful tale of self discovery and finding what you really want in life. I enjoyed the character interactions and storyline so much. It's a feel good story that will keep you interested and engaged.
See more reviews at Hamsterwheel Junction Book Reviews
See more reviews at Hamsterwheel Junction Book Reviews
August 29, 2015
Charming and as sweet as the much-talked about peach cobbler throughout the book, Goodman has created a heartwarming story about family, second chances, and discovering what really matters. Filled with food descriptions sure to make you hungry as you turn the pages, FROM SCRATCH is the perfect read for those of us who love food-themed romantic stories with happy endings!
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