Sunday Salon: Romances

After several days in New York City, I came home and fell into a rom com daze of Netgalley ebooks. Here are two that I've just read.

The Spice Master at Bistro Exotique

by 

Samantha Verant 

Publication: December 6, 2022; Berkley Books

My goodreads review:

Spices mixed and grown by spice master Garrance are used by chef Kate Jenkins when she opens her new bistro in Paris. There is a hint of magic in the way that Kate is transported to other romantic places when she tastes Garrance's spices. 

I loved the use of flavors from around the world to create exotic dishes in this Paris bistro. The magic of taste and scents permeates the novel, a love story to cuisines and spices from around the world. 

The slow romance that develops between Kate and master chef Charles also adds its own magic to the setting and story. 

Thank You for Listening

by 

Julia Whelan

Published August 2, 2022; Avon Books 

My goodreads review: 

Sewanee Chester is an audiobook narrator who doesn't do romances, thinking they are too unrealistic with their happy ever after endings. What she rails against however, happens to her, with coincidences and surprises that make her life one romance trope after another.

Meeting and falling in love with a stranger in Las Vegas during a book convention, falling for another audiobook narrator whom she texts but doesn't meet face to face, possibly finding a happy ever after ending in spite of her reservations,

The plot is clever and full of not so surprising surprises, the characters engaging. I enjoyed the book's twists and turns quite a bit.

Other news:

I have to work on my basement during this cold spell, clearing it out to use as a workable den! Good thing I gave away so many of the books already to make spece for other things!

What are you reading this week? 

Memes: The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. Also,  It's Monday: What Are You Reading, and Sunday Salon, Stacking the Shelves, Mailbox Monday

Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto, Book Review

      

Well, That Was Unexpected

by 

Jesse Q. Sutanto 

September 27, 2022, Delacorte Press

Genre: YA romance, rom com, multicultural

My goodreads/NetGalley review:

The author describes the book as a "love letter to Indonesia," the country of her birth and current residence. This is a YA romance novel, with an Indonesian-American teen meeting family in Indonesia for the first time, and falling for a handsome young Chinese-Indonesian from a wealthy family.

I like that the two teens discover feelings and attitudes in common which are too modern for their traditional Chinese=Indo families. I also learned a lot about Indonesian culture, cities, geography, and food from following young Sharlot as she discovers her mother's homeland and is shown around by her new friend, George Clooney Tanuwijaya.

This indeed a love letter to Indonesia, and I came away with a new appreciation for its food, its cities, and a new understanding of its traditions. The budding romance between Sharlot and George is a plus to this YA novel, with its ups and downs along the way to their full understanding of each other.