Book Review: French Romance Cooking Class by Beth Mathison

Short Story Review:

French Romance Cooking Class:

A Young at Heart Story

By Beth Mathison

Untreed Reads

This short story is a quick read that is well written.  You feel like you are a part of the cooking class as an observer.

There are three couples in the story, a newlywed couple,  a couple in their twilight years and our main characters, Frannie and David, who are in the middle.  The story takes place at a French Cooking Class, where the Chef teaches how to cook a three course meal while teaching about love.  I love who the author threads insight from the newlyweds and from the older couple, teaching Frannie and David about love throughout the class. 

Throughout the class, our main couple struggles through the class: no wanting to touch or eat oysters, getting behind in the soup and duck courses and floundering through the potatoes; however, they do it together and with each other’s help.  This is a couple that does everything together and loves it all.

This is a cute and quick read, at 14 pages.  It can be read quickly in a commuter ride and leave you feeling good.  I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys chick lit, as it is a romance without all the details of a sex life.  It would be safe for preteens to read as well.

Well written, well enjoyed!  I can only wish that this was longer as I enjoyed it so much!

5 stars!

Book Review: Gettin' Back to Happy

Gettin’ Back to Happy

By Valerie Albarda

Review Copy

Getting’ Back to Happy by Valerie Albarda is a 365 day signet of “Happiness is…”  These daily reminders on how to be happy and reasons to be happy, remind us that family, pets, food, friends, work, travel and life in general all have a part of our happiness.  Happiness happens to those who look for something to be happy about.

In the year we learn about the writer as well as her reasoning to be happy that day.  For example, in the dark and dreary winter months, she found happiness when her coat and her dog’s coat matched.  We learn about her husband, the Flying Dutchmen, and can celebrate with her when he comes home from business trips and share the mixed emotions of seeing him go off.  We see the struggles that the author deals with and how thinking positive at least once a day, can help you get through.

I really liked this book.  I was able to get lost in the story that seems to develop from the diary excerpts and the daily “Happiness is” statements.  I found myself laughing with the author when she describes something funny that has happened (like “Happiness is being told that you look like a million bucks when you feel like a buck fifty”), and I was sad when the author shared her story of a friendship that ended.  The author shares her faith in God along the way, sharing that spiritual side of her, in a very proper manner.

This book would make a great present for someone who is lost in a depression, is ill, in hospital or just needs to find something to make them smile.  It would be a great book to read while traveling, waiting in a waiting room, sipping a fine cup of coffee… as you can pick it up and put it down without losing the meaning of the author’s story.  There is something for everyone in this book.

4 stars  out of 5!