Recipe for Persuasion (The Rajes #2) by Sonali Dev

* * * *

From the author of Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors comes another, clever, deeply layered, and heartwarming romantic comedy that follows in the Jane Austen tradition—this time, with a twist on Persuasion.

Chef Ashna Raje desperately needs a new strategy. How else can she save her beloved restaurant and prove to her estranged, overachieving mother that she isn’t a complete screw up? When she’s asked to join the cast of Cooking with the Stars, the latest hit reality show teaming chefs with celebrities, it seems like just the leap of faith she needs to put her restaurant back on the map. She’s a chef, what’s the worst that could happen? 

Rico Silva, that’s what.  

Being paired with a celebrity who was her first love, the man who ghosted her at the worst possible time in her life, only proves what Ashna has always believed: leaps of faith are a recipe for disaster. 

FIFA winning soccer star Rico Silva isn't too happy to be paired up with Ashna either. Losing Ashna years ago almost destroyed him. The only silver lining to this bizarre situation is that he can finally prove to Ashna that he's definitely over her. 

But when their catastrophic first meeting goes viral, social media becomes obsessed with their chemistry. The competition on the show is fierce…and so is the simmering desire between Ashna and Rico.  Every minute they spend together rekindles feelings that pull them toward their disastrous past. Will letting go again be another recipe for heartbreak—or a recipe for persuasion…? 

In Recipe for Persuasion, Sonali Dev once again takes readers on an unforgettable adventure in this fresh, fun, and enchanting romantic comedy.

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review


In this retelling of Persuasion, former couple Ashna, a chef and Rico, a retired elite footballer are reunited on a reality cooking show where she's forced to confront all the insecurities plaguing her.

I've never read Persuasion so I don't know how closely Dev's version follows it but on its own it's a turbulent family drama filled with heightened emotions and sad backstories. Ashna's father died years ago saddling her with the responsibility of running his restaurant, Curried Dreams. She never aspired to owning or running a restaurant but does it for the sake of her father's legacy, much to the detriment of her own health and happiness. Rico for all his success on the pitch is now searching for his next career move off of it so when he discovers that Ashna is doing the reality cooking show he gets the idea that he should go on it as well. He could then revisit their relationship and get the answers he needs about their breakup. Once he arrives, he realizes that he's not even sure what he wants out of this awkward reunion.

Dev's writing is, as ever, phenomenal. There's so much life in her descriptions that it's as if she's inserted you into those scenes. You can sense everything and it's a talent that's so magical, so hers. Perhaps it's because of that I had a difficult time with parts of the story, especially concerning Ashna's complicated relationship with her father and estranged mother. Ashna's pain touched me on such a personal level that I'd have to stop and take a few breaths before continuing. As if her story wasn't convoluted enough, her mother, Shobi's sudden appearance makes Ashna feel as if she's been ambushed. For reasons that are completely my own, I didn't like Shobi at first but as she got to tell her story in fragments, I gradually felt more empathy towards her, and it was all I could do not to holler at her and Ashna to just speak and listen to each other.

Rico's story isn't all sunshine and roses either but he seems to have found some measure of peace in the years gone by. To be honest, I was super grateful that Rico was more put together than Ashna and Shobi. He was a good counterbalance to their combined grief. Any more and it would've been too overwhelming for me. The moments when Rico and Ashna shine are during the cooking competition when they manage to set aside their awkwardness to create amazing, mouthwatering recipes. Those moments become a sweet respite from the heaviness permeating the rest of the story. I was curious about some of the recipes they concocted and even looked up a few that I might try on my own.

Recipe for Persuasion evoked many feelings in me and that is certainly what I expect from an incredible story - something that makes me react, feel and question. As I said at the beginning, I've never read Persuasion so I don't know how it compares. To me it's about healing as all the characters in Dev's retelling are confronting their feelings, as distressing as they are, opening up to their vulnerabilities as they've never done before. It's frightening and risky but they all come through. To that effect, I also think that what romance there is between Rico and Ashna is overshadowed by Ashna's longstanding pain, and Shobi's story arc. I didn't take it as a romantic comedy in the way of whimsy but rather as an intense and earnest story, written from the heart, that will affect each reader differently.

~ Bel 

⚠️ Recipe for Persuasion contains sensitive themes; content warnings are listed below. In the interest of avoiding spoilers, highlight to see them. ⚠️

alcoholism (memory - Ashna of her father, Shobi of her husband) , suicide (memory -Ashna's father), finding a parent dead (memory - Ashna finding her father after his suicide), parental estrangement (Ashna's mother who was away for most of her childhood), rape (memory - Shobi's), parents' accidental death (memory - Rico's parents),  forced marriage (Shobi and Ashna's father), panic attacks (Ashna), a visit to an abortion clinic (memory - Shobi's), mention of family's death in a plane crash (relative of Ashna, a side character's backstory)

Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson

* * * 3/4

When their foster-turned-adoptive mother suddenly dies, four brothers struggle to keep open the doors of her beloved Harlem knitting shop, while dealing with life and love in Harlem.

Jesse Strong is known for two things: his devotion to his adoptive mom, Mama Joy, and his reputation for breaking hearts in Harlem. When Mama Joy unexpectedly passes away, he and his brothers have different plans on what to do with Strong Knits, their neighborhood knitting store: Jesse wants to keep the store open; his brothers want to shut it down.

Jesse makes an impassioned plea to Kerry Fuller, his childhood friend who has had a crush on him her entire life, to help him figure out how to run the business. Kerry agrees to help him reinvent the store and show him the knitty-gritty of the business, but the more time they spend together, the more the chemistry builds. Kerry, knowing Jesse’s history, doesn’t believe this relationship will exist longer than one can knit one, purl one. But Jesse is determined to prove to her that he can be the man for her—after all, real men knit.

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review

Mama Joy's death is a sudden and unexpected loss to her four sons and the tight-knit Harlem community they live in. Her store, Strong Knits, has been an institution providing not only beautiful ware for knitters to buy but also a haven for like-minded folk and anyone looking for a place to belong. Nobody knows that more than Jesse and Kerry. 

Jesse was one of Mama Joy's four adopted sons and this has been his only family. Even though he's recently been adrift with regards to his personal life, Mama Joy never made him feel unloved. While his brothers may view the future of the shop differently, Jesse firmly believes that he can carry on Mama Joy's legacy and make the store successful. All he needs is a little help and for someone who believes in him. Enter Kerry, who's known the Mama Joy and the boys for years. She feels the loss as much as they do and wants very much to keep Strong Knits going. She offers to help Jesse whip the store into shape and show him what she learned from working with his mother.

I liked the setting of a knitting store and come on, four men who inherit it as part of their family's legacy? That's an intriguing concept. It obviously challenges the concept of gender roles with these four guys who grew up learning how to knit. They're self-assured young men with different careers, except for Jesse. But it's okay that he hasn't quite figured himself out yet because that's what he's doing now. He's filled his time with distractions, like the endless women that he's hooked up with. Now he has to prove that he can handle responsibility and make good choices. This is about keeping the store in business as it is about his own direction. Kerry has seen the parade of women and can only eyeroll at him though it never stopped her from falling for his charm. She offers to stay on to help while putting a pause on her own career ambitions. 

I have to say that I was excited about how Jesse and Kerry would save the store but there didn't seem to be much time spent on that aside from vague references and ideas scattered throughout the story. I really wanted to see more of their business ideas to get a tangible picture in my mind. That was the book's major pull for me, initially. Instead, a lot of time was spent on Jesse's missteps with the women in his past and facing down his brothers when they became skeptical of his plans. Between those two subplots I was more interested in him strengthening his bond with his brothers. There was plenty of longing going on between Kerry and Jesse that took its time to come to fruition. 

While I would've preferred a more streamlined plot that focused more on the store and the artistry of knitting as Jesse and Kerry gradually fell in love, Real Men Knit is still an interesting read and I'm glad I've finally read my first Kwana Jackson book!

~ Bel

Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim

* * * 1/2

At the news of her mother's death, Natalie Tan returns home. The two women hadn't spoken since Natalie left in anger seven years ago, when her mother refused to support her chosen career as a chef. Natalie is shocked to discover the vibrant neighborhood of San Francisco's Chinatown that she remembers from her childhood is fading, with businesses failing and families moving out. She's even more surprised to learn she has inherited her grandmother's restaurant.

The neighborhood seer reads the restaurant's fortune in the leaves: Natalie must cook three recipes from her grandmother's cookbook to aid her struggling neighbors before the restaurant will succeed. Unfortunately, Natalie has no desire to help them try to turn things around--she resents the local shopkeepers for leaving her alone to take care of her agoraphobic mother when she was growing up. But with the support of a surprising new friend and a budding romance, Natalie starts to realize that maybe her neighbors really have been there for her all along.

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review


A story set in Chinatown featuring a passionate cook who creates and recreates delicious family recipes? Sign me up!

I thought this was an sweet story overall and enjoyed when Natalie described what cooking did to her senses. Honestly, I wish I could feel that passionately about cooking and inventing dishes for people, and it's clear how this is an intrinsic part of her soul. Through cooking she could connect with her grandmother, a renowned chef in Chinatown, who died before she was born. When she returns home after her mother's death, she learns that there's more to her mother's story that she was unaware of. Looking to make things right with Natalie, her mother's last wish was for her to inherit her grandmother's restaurant and bring it back to life. Her grandmother was a pillar of the community and her restaurant was the star. Being asked to reopen it feels like too much is being asked of her. Her first instinct is to run away which has been her tactic awhile now.But then she's persuaded to stay and as she assimilates to life in the neighbourhood she left, she learns about how much has changed, and not for the better as people are looking to gentrify her once vibrant community. With renewed purpose she hasn't had in a long time, Natalie dreams of helping to unify the community and re-energize the local businesses. 

Family and cultural heritage are central to this story as was the food that made my mouth water. Natalie's love for cooking and the joy she gets from it come through the pages. Throw in the fact that her grandmother's recipes seem to have some sort of magical properties, and the dishes take on a life of their own. (Think the movie, Chocolat where Vienne's creations have such a profound impact on the villagers. It's the same idea here where Natalie's dishes seem to stir emotions and instigate action by the folks who eat them.) Interestingly, while Natalie's love of food and her grandmother's treasured recipes came through, I thought her budding romance with Daniel fell flat. As her potential love interest I didn't pick up on any chemistry between them. One drawback for me was that at times it felt as if the author was grasping too hard with the metaphors. She describes Natalie's process in relation to food so beautifully, creating such impressive pictures that I think sections outside of those could have flowed better with simpler descriptions. 

Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune is a sweet coming-of-age story about laying down roots and rebuilding community. If you're a foodie, you'll enjoy the addition of the recipes and like me, wish you could reach through and taste some of the deliciousness inside. I look forward to reading more from Roselle Lim in the future!

~ Bel

The Austen Playbook (London Celebrities #4) by Lucy Parker

* * * *

Freddy Carlton knows she should be focusing on her lines for The Austen Playbook, a live-action TV event where viewers choose the outcome of each scene, but her concentration’s been blown. The palatial estate housing the endeavor is now run by the rude (brilliant) critic who’s consistently slammed her performances of late. James “Griff” Ford-Griffin has a penchant for sarcasm, a majestic nose and all the sensitivity of a sledgehammer.

She can’t take her eyes off him.

Griff can hardly focus with a contagious joy fairy flitting about near him, especially when Freddy looks at him like that. His only concern right now should be on shutting down his younger brother’s well-intentioned (disastrous) schemes—or at the very least on the production (not this one) that might save his family home from the banks.

Instead all he can think of is soft skin and vibrant curls.

As he’s reluctantly dragged into her quest to rediscover her passion for the stage and Freddy is drawn into his research on a legendary theater star, the adage about appearances being deceiving proves abundantly true. It’s the unlikely start of something enormous…but a single revelation about the past could derail it all.

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review

If you've read any of my previous reviews on Lucy Parker's books, you'll know how much I love them. The Austen Playbook continues with Parker's trademark funnies and quick quips that have endeared me to her writing.

Freddie was first mentioned in one of the earlier books where she was a younger cast member in the play. Now here she is, still young but older and a veritable veteran in the business. But the shine of the stage that she's always loved has kind of lost its sheen lately. While she's been successful and done well for herself, she hasn't felt passionate about some of her more recent work. Her inner thoughts are confirmed by none other that her adversary, famous London stage critic, James Ford-Griff, or just Griff, who has been maligning her performances. No matter. She's dealt with critics all her life and she knows how to handle herself. But once she and Griff have to share a workspace, all bets are off. 

I think I've mentioned this before but the thing I love about these books is how Parker always pitches her heroines against the heroes. Be the guys prickly or condescending, the women always step up. Freddie employs humour and sarcasm in every conversation with Griff. She playfully uses his critiques of her against him, teasing him constantly about how incorrectly he had her sized up. As for Griff, there's no begrudgingly falling for the girl. He just does and acknowledges how his bluntness about some of her performances, though true and she even agrees with him on some of them, doesn't come near to the kind of phenomenon that Freddie is in reality. She injects energy and vitality into his strictly ordered world, and her truthful perspective brings invaluable insight to him. When Freddie joins Griff in his research about a theatre legend they have in common, what they find could mean rewriting history for both their families and possibly change the budding romance between them.

I admire the women that Lucy Parker writes about so much so that I wish I could automatically absorb some of their self-assuredness and quick thinking. I swear that I'm always in an uplifted mood when I'm done reading these books. I can't recommend the London Celebrities series enough to people who simply want good humour and good feels. The Austen Playbook should be your next read!

~ Bel

The Takeover Effect (The Singh Family #1) by Nisha Sharma

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Hemdeep Singh knows exactly what he wants. With his intelligence and determination, he has what it takes to build his own legacy away from Bharat, Inc. and the empire his father created. But when his brother calls him home, Hem puts his dreams on hold once again to help save the company he walked away from. That’s when he encounters the devastating Mina Kohli in the Bharat boardroom, and he realizes he’s in for more than he had bargained.

Mina will do whatever it takes to regain control of her mother’s law firm, even if it means agreeing to an arranged marriage. Her newest case assignment is to assist Bharat in the midst of a potential takeover. It could be the key to finally achieving her goal while preventing her marriage to a man she doesn’t love—as long as her explosive attraction to Hem doesn’t get in the way.

As Mina and Hem work to save Bharat, they not only uncover secrets that could threaten the existence of the company, but they also learn that in a winner-takes-all game, love always comes out on top.

Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Super hot cover. Sexy title. The Takeover Effect pits two accomplished and driven individuals, Hemdeep and Mina, against each other in a sensitive situation that could have reverberating consequences for both of them, and ultimately, their family legacies. Both have a lot riding on the outcome of a planned takeover but neither of them could have predicted how quickly they'd both slide into each other's subconscious and consume their every waking thought. 

Sharma gives Hem and Mina backstories rich in family history and immense pride in the Indian culture instilled in them. They're both people of principle who occasionally find themselves at odds with the needs of family hierarchy. Mina has strived to be the dutiful and hard-driven daughter she thought her deceased mother would be proud of. Her end goal has always been to gain back control of the firm that her mother built,which her unscrupulous uncles took over later. Hem opted for some distance from his parents so he could have a personal life free of their interference before coming back to the family fold to help lead them through this takeover. Family is the backbone of this story and Mina and Hem have to find a way to honour theirs and also define their own path.

I liked The Takeover Effect as it moved along briskly and if you're a fan of insta-love, Hem and Mina falling for each other upon sight will make you happy. I was hesitant about Hem though because I'm not keen on pushy guys who insist on pursuing the women who have repeatedly voiced their need for boundaries, and yet the guys continually ignore those requests. I felt uncomfortable whenever he did that. I guess Mina is just as culpable when it comes to making questionable decisions but I get where her head is at. She's pretty much been used as a pawn by her manipulative uncles and her growing suspicions about them and what they did to her mother adds more stress upon her shoulders. The romance is just one aspect of their relationship. My uneasiness aside, Hem is a good guy, whose faith and devotion to family keeps him centered. He and Mina make an exciting power team when they combine forces to uncover the conspiracy threatening Hem's company. That's when I most enjoyed their special dynamic. 

If you're wanting a quick read, interesting characters (Hem's brothers and cousin are fantastic personalities), many mentions of mouthwatering foods (a foodie's dream), and a HEA that'll make you want to high five everyone in the room, The Takeover Effect will satisfy your craving. And now, I'll sit and "patiently" wait for the next book. 

~ Bel

Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper

* * *

A sweeping historical romance about a witch who foresees her own murder--and the one boy who can help change her future.

Sixteen-year-old Avery Roe wants only to take her rightful place as the witch of Prince Island, making the charms that keep the island's whalers safe at sea, but her mother has forced her into a magic-free world of proper manners and respectability. When Avery dreams she's to be murdered, she knows time is running out to unlock her magic and save herself.

Avery finds an unexpected ally in a tattooed harpoon boy named Tane--a sailor with magic of his own, who moves Avery in ways she never expected. Becoming a witch might stop her murder and save her island from ruin, but Avery discovers her magic requires a sacrifice she never prepared for.

If you’re looking to be transported to a different time, Salt & Storm should be your top pick. It was amazing to be taken to a place that is so far removed from the world as I know it. A world that is on the cusp of modernization but still clings to the superstitions of its ancestors.

Avery is a very interesting girl who has spent her young life preparing to take over her family’s legacy. They’re witches whose magic is highly sought after. It's their magic that keeps Prince Island prosperous. The people of the island know who to turn to create fortune in their lives or to ensure safe passage through the waters surrounding the island. She has watched her beloved grandmother weave all kinds of spells to help them. Then her mother shows up one day to remove her from this environment and threatens the grandmother that should she come for Avery, they will leave the island for good.

The next few years for Avery are like a prison that she’s determined to escape. She wants to return to her grandmother and become the next witch. Her mother is adamantly against it. Matters get worse when Avery has a series of dreams that foreshadow her own death.  She desperately needs guidance and to find a way to change her fate, if that’s even possible.

The world of Prince Island, a whaling town, is quite fascinating.  It’s a mix of old world mystery and a burgeoning hunger for new world money. Gossip and fear of the unknown run rampant. Despite the inevitable change that is slowly making its way toward them, the island people cling tightly to their traditions. 

Salt & Storm is very gripping, getting more so as Avery’s plight becomes more treacherous. Her friendship with Tane brings her the companionship that she’s never had before and he introduces her to a world outside of Prince Island.  Even so, Prince Island is her home. Her fate and the island’s future are so heavily entwined that nothing can tear her away from what she has known and wanted all her life, not even the threat of imminent danger. 

~ Bel

London Falling (ISL #2) by Chanel Cleeton

* * * 1/2

We weren't a relationship, we were a ticking time bomb...

Maggie Carpenter walked away from the hottest encounter of her life when she left the seductive glitz of England for summer break in her South Carolina hometown. Now that she’s returned to the International School in London—and sexy, privileged Samir Khouri is once again close enough to touch—she can’t help but remember the attraction, the drama … the heartbreak.

She can’t help but want him even more.

Samir can’t afford to fall for someone so far removed from his world, not when his time in London is running out. It's his senior year—his last chance at freedom before he returns home to Lebanon. There, he’ll be expected to follow in his father’s footsteps—not follow his heart to Maggie. But when a scorching secret hookup becomes a temptation neither can resist, they’ll both have to fight to survive the consequences … and find a future together.

Don’t miss this explosive sequel to I See London, and the riveting conclusion to Maggie and Samir’s story. 

This is a New Adult romance recommended for readers 17 and up.

How freaking adorable is this cover? Seriously, that's what drew me to this series in the first place. And I'm thrilled to say London Falling is even better than its predecessor with the addition of Samir’s point of view making it a more rounded and engaging story. Where I See London was brimming throughout with sexual tension, London Falling has that combined with trepidation about what the future holds for each of them. I'll try to avoid any spoilery so here goes ...

After a heated ending, Maggie and Samir spend the summer apart and it's complete radio silence between them. When they return back to school neither knows what to expect. So they’re both jittery and awkward around each other. How their friends haven’t picked up on this, I have no idea. But when it comes out that Samir’s future is spoken for by his parents and that there’s no place in it for Maggie, her heart is broken and he’s a wreck.

My favourite aspect of London Falling is coming to know Samir as more than the international playboy we’re used to. He’s a guy with the burden of his family’s legacy looming over him. His unaffectionate father has high expectations of him to return to his side in Lebanon.  He has no tolerance for any of Samir's shenanigans or his indulgences. Knowing this makes you realize that Samir has been taking a very slow march toward kissing his freedom goodbye.

London Falling also highlights further the disparities between them such as their cultural differences and familial obligations which are laid out plainly before them. Maggie doesn't want to destroy his brilliant future and Samir doesn't want to lead her down this path that she can't accompany him on. These two are simply too afraid to be honest with each other about their feelings or about what they truly want for themselves. They play a very uneasy game by deciding to live in a fantasy for the next few months at school until Samir graduates and has to return to his family. Someone is undoubtedly going to get hurt once their bubble has to burst. It’s unavoidable but they’re both big kids and they know what they’re entering into. 

There are quite a few sweet surprises in London Falling that are well, bittersweet. Moments where you’ll smile and go “aww” and others where you’ll just feel sad because it'll make their goodbyes that much harder. Nevertheless, it’s a wonderful sequel with plenty of sizzling scenes as well as emotional ones. The only thing that could make this better? If Ms. Cleeton would be so kind as to give us a follow up with life moving forward from Samir’s point of view. I truly believe there’s a genuinely compelling story right there. Read London Falling and you'll understand what I'm on about!

~ Bel