Recipes & Wooden Spoons (Tales from Grace Chapel Inn, Book 2) [Paperback]

Judy Baer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2006

Once you visit the charming village of Acorn Hill, you'll never want to leave. Here, the three Howard sisters rekindle old memories, rediscover the bonds of sisterhood, revel in the blessings of friendship, and meet many fascinating guests along the way. While cleaning out the cluttered basement of Grace Chapel Inn, Jane Howard finds an old cookbook brimming with her mother's recipes and hand written notes. Through these precious, fragile pages of the recipe book, Jane comes to discover the spirit of her mother, Madeleine, who died while giving birth to Jane. But when the inn gets busy and money troubles threaten, Jane wonders if moving back to Acorn Hill was a big mistake. Can her crisis of faith lead to a new solution for the inn - and for Jane herself?

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

While cleaning out the cluttered basement of Grace Chapel Inn, Jane Howard finds an old cookbook brimming with her mother's recipes and handwritten notes. Through these precious, fragile pages, Jane comes to discover the spirit of her mother, Madeleine, who died while giving birth to Jane. But when the inn gets busy and money troubles threaten, Jane wonders if moving back to Acorn Hill was a big mistake. Can her crisis of faith lead to a new solution for the inn-and for Jane herself?

About the Author

The author of more than sixty-five books, Judy Baer has written for Tyndale, Zondervan, Bethany House, and more. She was the launch author for Harlequin's Steeple Hill Cafe series. Her book The Whitney Chronicles received a 4 1/2-star rating and a top pick designation fromRomantic Times magazine.

Baer has won the Romance Writers of America bronze Medallion, and has twice been a RITA finalist. She lives in Elk River, Minnesota, with her husband.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Ideals Publications; Retail edition (October 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824947010
• ISBN-13: 978-0824947019
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Judy was born and grew up on a farm on the prairies of North Dakota. An only child, she spent most of her days with imaginary people--either those she read about or those she made up in her head. Her most ambitious conjuring did not succeed, however. She kept a clean stall with fresh hay and oats for the horse she imagined would arrive. Unfortunately it didn't come, at least not until she was an adult. After she was unexpectedly given three horses, she bought even more and began raising foundation quarter horses.

She graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota with majors in English and education and a minor in religion. At the time, she was simply studying what interested her, but now realizes that she was educating herself for her future career as a Christian writer. Her first book was written with a toddler on her lap. Judy would type a few words and say "Now, Jennifer." He two year old daughter would hit the space bar so Judy could continue writing. It was't the fastest way to work but it was a very cozy time.

In 2001 Judy became a certified professional life coach. In 2008 Judy completed her Master's program. She studied in the areas of writing and coaching. Now certified in three coaching disciplines, Judy coaches primarily professional and aspiring writers. She is also a faculty advisor in the Department of Human Development at St. Mary's University in Minneapolis, MN. She is married, lives in Minnesota, has two daughters and three step children.

She is the author of more than 75 books. She grew up in rural North Dakota and has done many of the things her Hilltop characters experience.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful book/Delicious recipes, January 9, 2007

By 

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

This review is from: Recipes & Wooden Spoons (Tales from Grace Chapel Inn, Book 2) (Paperback)

Judy Baer tells a wonderful story. She addresses the strained relationships between three estranged sisters as well as the youngest sibling's struggle with her own inner demons and her dealings with others in this quaint little town. I would LOVE to visit this place!

The recipes included are delicious and they are beautifully woven into the tale. I'm not sure if I want to keep this book in my fiction library or my kitchen.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Readers who like a cozy, relaxing read and delicious recipes should enjoy this latest installment in the series, June 5, 2007

By 

FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Recipes & Wooden Spoons (Tales from Grace Chapel Inn, Book 2) (Paperback)

In RECIPES & WOODEN SPOONS, Judy Baer continues the Tales from Grace Chapel Inn series begun by Melody Carlson in BACK HOME AGAIN. In this book, Jane, an artsy 50-year-old divorcée with a flair for cooking, takes center stage. She and her two aged sisters --- Alice, a practical nurse who has always been single, and Louise, a widowed musician --- have gotten their bed and breakfast off and running in their old Victorian family home. If you haven't read BACK HOME AGAIN, stop now and begin with book one --- it lays the groundwork for everything in RECIPES & WOODEN SPOONS.

When Jane, the designated innkeeper and chef, finds an old recipe book belonging to Madeleine, her mother who died at her birth, she discovers more than just recipes. She finds a window of understanding into her own personality and glimpses of the mother she never knew. Her crotchety Aunt Ethel tells her that her mother is where she gets her "foolishness," doing such things as in-line skating around the small town of Acorn Hill, Pennsylvania. And, "You've always been different from the rest of us," her sister Louise tells her. Jane hungers to know more about her mother. The ladies in her church had often assured her that she was like her mother in personality and style. But, "Who was she really? Who was Madeleine in the privacy of her own thoughts and the emotions of her heart?" Jane wonders.

Things are not all wine and roses at the upstart B&B. Louise is on the warpath about the cost of the ingredients Jane is using in her mouthwatering meals. Jane, a professional chef, is determined to serve only the best. More squabbles ensue. Were her sisters afraid of failing with the new B&B? Is Jane being overly sensitive? And can Jane let go of the guilt she feels over her mother's death when she was born? The tension doesn't rise much more than this throughout the book, making it a quiet, relaxing read with some light drama.

Meanwhile, is it romance or friendship that is blooming between Jane and Pastor Ken Thompson? Aunt Ethel tells Jane she's robbing the cradle. At 45 years old or so, Pastor Ken is a good five years younger than Jane is. And what about the handsome traveling pharmacist who comes to stay? Is he interested in Jane also? Faith helps Jane keep her sense of humor and is the axis upon which the B&B revolves. Muses Jane, "God was tapping on her shoulder every day. From now on she would pay attention and rely on His guiding hand."

There are plenty of people in Acorn Hill who need God's help --- and that of the sisters. Sylvia, the proprietor of Sylvia's Buttons, is chockfull of artistic talent, just waiting for someone to help her realize her potential. Young Josie is a cute but somewhat neglected little girl, and Joe Morales is a homeless Hispanic man looking for work. But, as Jane tells a guest whose unexpected stroke lengthens her stay, "You aren't the only one who came to Acorn Hill to heal. I came with plenty of wounds myself."

Baer spins her tale with only a few problems. Sometimes, the words Madeleine pens in the cookbook seem overly prescient. "Maybe someday one of my daughters will open this book, try a recipe or two and think of me. It's odd, but I never think of myself as an old woman baking for my grandchildren. Is it because I will never have grandchildren, or because I will never be old?" Would a woman really write this in her cookbook? But the actual recipes sprinkled throughout the novel are a treat: mouthwatering items such as Swedish pancakes, porcupine meatballs and chocolate waffles. Most involve just a few ingredients, although some, like "Madeleine's Truffles," are a little more involved preparation-wise.

It's a winning combination. Readers who like a cozy, relaxing read and delicious recipes should enjoy this latest installment in the series.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching Tale, October 24, 2007

By 

Gayla M. Collins (Sheridan, WY) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Recipes & Wooden Spoons (Tales from Grace Chapel Inn, Book 2) (Paperback)

In this second installment of the "Grace Chapel Series" we find, Jane, youngest sister at 50, battling with old demons while plotting her future. She and two older sisters own a lovely little Bed and Breakfast and Jane is the artistic one in charge of the kitchen. While cleaning one day she finds her deceased mother's cookbook stashed away. Having never known her mother(she died having Jane) the cookbook aids her in finding the matriarch she desperately needed. A connection; a commonality. She finds comfort from the recipes and words of wisdom pressed between the pages of her mother's legacy.

This novel touched me deeply and had me in tears often. However, in the end, I was enfused with hope and joy as Jane was. Lovely writing, lovely story and lovely message.