Cooking for Mr. Right [Mass Market Paperback]

Susan Volland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2, 2005

At twenty-six, Seattle-based chef Kate Linden still has the urge to dye her hair blue and learn to play electric bass. But when she's abruptly fired from the city's hottest restaurant, and her ex-boyfriend, Gaston, announces he's getting married to a woman he's only recently met, Kate feels life's opportunities slipping away. Suddenly she's convinced that Gaston may be her last chance at a happy walk down the aisle. So she cooks up a scheme so grand her ex will be eating out of her hands in no time...

It's the perfect recipe for happiness. Until some unexpected ingredients fall into the pot-including a man she'd rather be cooking for.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Kate Linden is a sous-chef in a hot Seattle restaurant. One night, as she soaks her tired feet, she gets a phone call from her ex--boyfriend announcing that he is getting married. Kate is flabbergasted. Gaston had asked her to marry him several times; each time she refused him. But now that he is getting married to someone he just met, Kate decides she wants him back. With the devious help of his mother, they plan to sabotage his relationship. In the meantime, Kate has a major blowout with her boss and quits, which means she can now devote more time to Gaston. Kate's artist mother has misgivings about Kate's abrupt lifestyle change and tries to push her new assistant, Sam, in her path. As Kate struggles to achieve what she thinks she wants, she learns that what she wants from life, and who she wants to share it with, is beyond anything she has imagined. Volland has crafted a comical, moving, and terrifically satisfying tale. Maria Hatton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Susan Volland, the author of Love and Meatballs, is a classically trained chef. She has worked in every segment of the food industry and has written hundreds of articles and recipes for cookbooks and magazines.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade; First Printing, Ex-Library edition (August 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451215249
• ISBN-13: 978-0451215246
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #439,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Laugh Out Loud!, September 7, 2005

By 

Barlene "Arlene" (Buckley, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cooking for Mr. Right (Mass Market Paperback)

I bought this book to read sitting at the pool while on vacation in Calistoga California. To my delight (and embarrassment because of all the funny looks I got) I found my self laughing out load at the many humorous situations and self realization the main character Kate experienced. I couldn't put the book down. A couple of reviewers commented on the fact the character Sam is the only nice guy. It's all in perspective isn't it? We live in a diverse world. Susan Volland has captured reality. It wouldn't be very entertaining if all the characters were the same. What I found even more exciting was all the wonderfully described food preparations. From top notch four star cuisines to yummy home cooked "simple" foods. I could practically see, taste and smell all the fabulous foods described in this book. How perfect to read about fabulous food, while vacationing in Calistoga with all its fabulous wine and foods. "Cooking for Mr. Right" is a great book, which can be enjoyed by everyone!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recipe for Success!, September 5, 2005

By 

Washington Reader (Walla Walla, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cooking for Mr. Right (Mass Market Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book! It blended all the proper ingredients for a well written, very entertaining and humorous story with amazing insight into the confusing traps we all lay for ourselves in the process of finding out who we want to be when we truly "grow up." I found Kate to be a very believable and complex woman going thru some uncomfortably familiar mis-steps. Been there, done some of that!

The points made about the value of friends, family and food (together) have stayed with me. Right On, Susan Volland!

I made and Love Pixie Shtixs!!! Thanks -- Keep writing!!

A Grandma

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars what great characters!, August 12, 2005

By 

Becky LaGrandeur (New Orleans LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cooking for Mr. Right (Mass Market Paperback)

There's nothing I love more than a book with a female character who is REAL! Who makes mistakes, has moments with her hand slapping her forehead, and who learns
learns the hard way AND IN THE END has grown by leaps and bounds into a deeper soul! This book takes us through moments of obsession, albeit bumbling at times (which is hysterical) with characters that stay with you long after you've stayed up all night to finish the book! Susan Volland has a sharp wit and a deep understanding of how life's path can be almost invisible at times and other times clearer than you wish it were. I cooked for two days after reading this and my family was thrilled! This is a great second book from a budding author who should keep us laughing at ourselves for a long time to come!