Comfort Food
by: Kate Jacobs
Published by: Berkeley Publishing Group
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Reviewed by Andrea Sisco
The Friday Night Knitting Club was a word-of-mouth bestseller, and fans of Kate Jacobs waited impatiently for Comfort Food.
Like her first novel, Jacobs burrows into the lives of her friends and family. Augusta (Gus) Simpson, soon to be 50, is the widowed mother two adult daughters and a popular television cooking show host. Daughter Sabrina has commitment issues and loves and leaves men like they were a once-favorite restaurants whose time has past. Aimee is the more serious daughter and is an economist. To say there are “issues” in the sisters’ relationship and with their mother would be an understatement.
Simpson’s cooking show is on the skids and if there aren’t some major changes made, it will be cancelled. The network decides to do a live show from Gus’ home kitchen. The basketball-themed show (think “March Madness”) is sabotaged by a blizzard. Instead of basketball players “cooking” in the kitchen, Gus’ daughters, Sabrina’s ex-boyfriend, a recluse friend with a secret, and a former Miss Spain, all end up as the show’s guests. It’s a success and that means Gus has avoided the graveyard of cancellation.
But when the producers want to continue the success of the first show (including Miss Spain), Gus and company are not sure they can handle things. Hey, Gus is turning 50 and feeling old. Miss Spain (who is aggressive in her attempt to make a name for herself in the world of cuisine) isn’t what the doctor ordered to help balance Gus’ emotions. But then none of the characters expected to learn a whole lot more than how to cook. That’s life. Just when you think you know what to expect–life can give you more.
Comfort Food, while a delightful and engaging read, was occasionally slow and predictable. In this book, however, I liked the characters, enjoyed the premise and so I didn’t really mind the pace or predictability. I do want to read her first book though!
Armchair Interviews says: A nice women’s fiction read for the beach, a rainy day, or a blizzard!
Author’s Web site: http://www.KateJacobs.com
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