Menu for Romance (Brides of Bonneterre, Book 2) [Paperback]

Kaye Dacus (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2009

Cater to your craving for fabulous fictional fare with Menu for Romance, where a party planner finds herself torn between the contractor and the cook. After eight years of unrequited love, Meredith Guidry makes a New Year's resolution to find someone new and end her single status before the year's over. And when she meets a handsome contractor on New Year's Day, it seems like her prayers have been answered. Executive Chef Major O'Hara has forsworn relationships, knowing he could never saddle the woman he loves with a family situation like his. But when it seems he's about to lose Meredith Guidry to another man, he realizes he must concoct a menu for romance to win her back.

(20090814)

Editorial Reviews

Review

What an enjoyable contemporary romance read! This is a sequel, but easily could be read and loved alone, but if you skip to this one it will make you eager to go back and read the first novel as well. The characters are real and fast to fill into your heart and bring you along on their journey. The story is told from the point of view of two separate characters that each have a bit of personal and spiritual growth that they must go through before they are ready to know what is capable of coming next in life. I strongly recommend this read for the romantic at heart, whether single or not it is an enjoyable and strengthening read.

(Margaret Chind Novel Reviews )

Imaginative descriptions and witty dialogue fill this novel. The characters are believable and likable. The experiences seem authentic, from meetings with Meredith’s family and best friends to her attempts at romantic relationships. This book is well-written and, though predictable at times, is enjoyable within its genre. Young women in a similar stage of life would likely empathize with the situations in which Meredith finds herself.

(Alyssa Guebert Christian Book Previews )

Book Description

There was one thing Meredith Guidry didn’t count on—being torn between two professional men. Whom will she choose—the contractor or the caterer? A misunderstanding between chef Major O’Hara and Meredith may be the deciding factor. Will God resolve these issues in short order?

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc; 1 edition (July 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 160260455X
• ISBN-13: 978-1602604551
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #159,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kaye Dacus is an author and editor who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. Pursuing her passion for writing, she earned a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She is a former Vice President and long-time member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and is also a founding member of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers. Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and writes contemporary and historical romances. To find out more about Kaye and her books, please visit her online at kayedacus.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Menu for Romance, July 9, 2009

By 

J. L. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Menu for Romance (Brides of Bonneterre, Book 2) (Paperback)

I started reading this book over lunch and when I looked up it was three in the afternoon. I don't mean that it was particularly suspenseful, but it has characters weird enough to be interesting but sturdy enough that I felt like I knew them. The characters that will be in the next book seem so (outwardly) perfect that I'll probably be getting that one too.

Meredith, the heroine, struggles with detaching--and distinguishing--herself from her large family. Usually in books families are either perfect or emotionally abusive. But a family that's just nosy and demanding of your time? That I can relate to.

But where Dacus really shines is in her world-building. Bonneterre seems like a real place. C.S. Lewis wrote about how he read as much for the fun of "living in another world" as anything else, and Menu For Romance achieves this. I love that Bonneterre is a mid-sized city. I don't know about you, but I'm getting a little sick of incestuously small towns in fiction.

This was a sweet, surprisingly compelling romance.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious!, July 12, 2009

By 

Stacey (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Menu for Romance (Brides of Bonneterre, Book 2) (Paperback)

Kaye Dacus has completely captured my imagination once again with her novel "Menu for Romance". Although I found the name "Major" to be an awkward name at first, I came to adore it as I grew to understand his character. The chef, Major, and the event planner, Meredith, are destined for each other. But neither will come forward and reveal their feelings for reasons that may seem valid, but are actually ridiculous as you get to know the characters and can see how well-suited they are for each other. But when Meredith's eye is drawn to another man, Major must jump into action or risk losing the lady he loves to someone else - someone who definitely doesn't deserve her!

This is an amazing novel filled with beautiful details ("The tile in the kitchen sent shockwaves of cold up his legs"). It is laugh-out-loud funny - in fact some moments caught me completely by surprise while I was reading at work during my lunch hour! Major's relationship with his mother is warm and touching. And the dishes that Major created made me drool! This book has absolutely every ingredient for a smash hit novel! I will recommend it to everyone I know!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful culinary romance, July 2, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Menu for Romance (Brides of Bonneterre, Book 2) (Paperback)

At the Vul de Ciel in Bonneterre, Louisiana, Meredith Guidry sadly muses that her thirty-fourth New Year's has arrived and she still has never been kissed. Instead she has been in love with her co-worker Major O'Hara since they met eight years ago, but he shows no signs of reciprocating. Instead her unrequited love has left her with nary a kiss or for that matter a date. This year she vows it will be different as she resolves on New Year's Day to move past Major and seek male companionship.

Major has loved Meredith since he first met her eight years ago. He wants to ask her out and taste her lips, but fears she will laugh at him; besides he has a family secret that embarrasses him to his bone narrow. Instead he expects to die a lonely old chef. However, when he sees Meredith on her first date, he's jealous and vows to take a chance by telling his beloved how he feels as ridicule would be easier than staying idly on the side.

The latest Brides of Bonneterre (see STAND-IN GROOM) is a fun tale of two shy individuals in love with one another, but neither can take that first courageous step. The story line is much more than described above as each has family issues also to cope with. Kaye Dacus provides her fans with a wonderful culinary romance starring a super strong extended cast but especially two people who once believed love was only a fairy tale.

Harriet Klausner