I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by CelebrateLit. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano Series: Supper Club #1
Published by NavPress on February 6th 2018
Genres: Christian, Clean & Wholesome, Contemporary Women, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 416
Source: CelebrateLit
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Denver chef Rachel Bishop has accomplished everything she’s dreamed and some things she never dared hope, like winning a James Beard Award and heading up her own fine-dining restaurant. But when a targeted smear campaign causes her to be pushed out of the business by her partners, she vows to do whatever it takes to get her life back . . . even if that means joining forces with the man who inadvertently set the disaster in motion.
Essayist Alex Kanin never imagined his pointed editorial would go viral. Ironically, his attempt to highlight the pitfalls of online criticism has the opposite effect: it revives his own flagging career by destroying that of a perfect stranger. Plagued by guilt-fueled writer’s block, Alex vows to do whatever he can to repair the damage. He just doesn’t expect his interest in the beautiful chef to turn personal.
Alex agrees to help rebuild Rachel’s tarnished image by offering his connections and his home to host an exclusive pop-up dinner party targeted to Denver’s most influential citizens: the Saturday Night Supper Club. As they work together to make the project a success, Rachel begins to realize Alex is not the unfeeling opportunist she once thought he was, and that perhaps there’s life—and love—outside the pressure-cooker of her chosen career. But can she give up her lifelong goals without losing her identity as well?
This! Book! Sorry, had to get that out of my system. I’d seen this book around in the previews and was drawn to the idea of it but I’d recently read a foodie fiction that didn’t quite hit the right notes for me. Way too much development to the food descriptions and not near enough development of the characters or plot. I kept the idea of this book simmering on the back burner (that was totally accidental but you see what I did there?) because it still sounded so interesting. When the opportunity came up to review it I actually had a couple of different options but I knew that I would regret not reading this book. And I am so glad I did!
With a plot so real I almost felt like I should be Google searching the reviews and articles that were central to the developing story, Rachel Bishop and Alex Kanin are the perfect characters to draw this story out. They are so real, so relateable, and just breath. I honestly can’t begin to even figure out how to review this book. I don’t gush often and rarely do I not find some little something that I took issue with. The truth is, well OK there is that thing with the ‘perfect’ drop everything and show up besties. I wish those actually existed in real life. Mine all either live across the country, or have to work, or any number of other things that make a spur of the moment shopping trip or commiserating dinner impossible. That’s it people. That’s the only thing I can think to nitpick. The truth is that I was so drawn into this story and invested with these characters from page one that it could have failed editing 101 and I wouldn’t care!
Seriously, this book is perfect for anyone that loves a slice of romance with their real life. You don’t have to even pretend to be a foodie to appreciate this book. Yes there’s food, a lot of it, but it’s tasteful and actually adds to the story instead of distracts. Yes there’s drama, lots of drama. But it’s not Drama Queen worthy, it’s just life happening in an unexpected spotlight. Yes there’s besties, these mystical magical ‘drop everything and show up’ besties. Yes there’s romance, the kind that makes you want to Gibbs’ smack then a time or two because you know … communication with storybook love is always a hiccup. There’s also discovering yourself, following dreams you didn’t know you had, and real life relationships on a real life stage (even if it’s not anything like my real life). I can’t wait to see where Laureano takes the next book in these series. I can’t wait to read it!
About Carla Laureano
Carla Laureano is the RITA® Award-winning author of contemporary inspirational romance and Celtic fantasy (as C.E. Laureano). A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked as a sales and marketing executive for nearly a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write fiction full-time. She currently lives in Denver with her husband and two sons, where she writes during the day and cooks things at night.
[…] you to) it’s been just days over 11 months ago when I first gushed over this author. ‘The Saturday Night Supper Club‘ was my first Carla Laureano book. I vowed then it wouldn’t be my last. And here we […]