Love, Life and Linguine [Paperback]

Melissa Jacobs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 28, 2006

A unique voice, Melissa Jacobs delivers a second fun-filled, food-filled novel.

Mimi's life is an open book, or rather, an open menu.

A restaurant consultant, she's helped launch some of the best restaurants in Philly and around the world. And she even managed to turn her boyfriend Nick into the nation's hottest celebrity chef. But when she comes home and discovers that Nick's got a secret tongue-pierced girl on the side, Mimi realizes she doesn't have the secret to success after all.

Needing a change of pace, Mimi heads home to New Jersey. The family restaurant is failing and her brother, unknown to anyone, has made plans to sell. The ultimate Restaurant Diva, Mimi sets out to save the family business--a decision thatt leads her to two potentially perfect new men.

All her life Mimi has believed that everyone has one true Soul Mate, but now she's thinking that idea should be tossed out with last night's leftovers. Maybe it's time to select her men the way she selects pastries and produce and sample all there is to offer.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Melissa Jacobs does a fine job of entertaining. (Philadelphia Magazine )

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (March 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060744057
• ISBN-13: 978-0060744052
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,952,489 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Love, life and linguine could be the title to my autobiography. I spent half my life working in restaurants, bars and bakeries. From high school as a waitress through my adult career as a public relations consultant, I worked with some of the top chefs, restaurants and purveyors in Philadelphia. I got a delicious education in food and spirits. And, I got a behind-the-scenes view of Philadelphia's restaurant world.

In 2002, I left public relations and the restaurant world to pursue my dream of becoming a novelist. My first novel, LEXI JAMES AND THE COUNCIL OF GIRLFRIENDS was published by Avon Trade Paperbacks in April, 2005.

My second novel, LOVE, LIFE AND LINGUINE is the combination of two of my passions: writing and food. I used my restaurant background as the backdrop for my novel. Passion, personalities, pressure. It's all there.

Where is there? Jersey, baby, Jersey! I'm a native Philadelphian but I spent my adolescence in southern New Jersey, which is the setting for L3.

But I didn't appreciate New Jersey until I moved back as an adult. Now, I am now proud to say that I am a Jersey Girl. These days, I divide my time between Philadelphia and New Jersey. With the Delaware River separating Jersey from Philadelphia, I consider myself bi-coastal.

I hope to continue my career as a novelist. Although some nights, I still dream of fly orders, turning deuces into four-tops, and getting twenty percent tips.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Tasty Dish from Melissa Jacobs, May 7, 2006

By 

lovetoread (nyc) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love, Life and Linguine (Paperback)

This is another easy read from Melissa Jacobs that is a step above traditional chick-lit. Although I liked her first book, Lexi James, better, this is still a great read and the perfect book to bring with you to the park or the beach this summer.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great chick lit., March 22, 2006

By 

Little D (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love, Life and Linguine (Paperback)

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book since I hadn't heard of this author before. The book description just sounded interesting so I thought why not give it a read. I never felt like I got to really know the characters in the book. They were jsut people who I was reading about. It didn't pull me in like other books I;ve read have done. It was entertaining though. If I could give it a 3.5 stars I would.

3.0 out of 5 stars Combines two of my favorites - Chick lit and food!, December 29, 2008

By 

J.L. Cocca "Bookworm for Life" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Love, Life and Linguine (Paperback)

This second novel of Melissa Jacobs settled into a bit of formula at times, but on the whole was a well-rounded and touching story of, well, love, life and "linguine".

Mimi Louis returns to her hometown in South Jersey to take over the management of her family's diner and in doing so learns a lot about her family, who she is and what she wants out of life. It's a simple story, but it's made interesting by the locational references and the great characters that abound. I especially loved the South Jersey setting since that's where I've lived my whole life and Ms. Jacobs hit the site descriptions spot-on throughout the story.

The only thing keeping me from giving this a fourh star is the fact that early on in the novel I could SWEAR that a particular description of marriage and child-bearing was something I'd read in another novel - verbatim. It could very well have been in Ms. Jacobs' first novel, Lexi James and the Council of Girlfriends", and I'm certainly not intending to accuse her of any type of plagiarism with this comment. But, either way, the wording was too unoriginal for my liking.

Other than that, it was a great quick read.