The second book in my Homegrown Love Stories series, A Recipe for Romance, released yesterday! This is part of the Arcadia Valley Romance Series, a multi-author series. It centers around down-on-her-luck cookbook author Olivia Jennings and cattle rancher Wyatt Mason.
Here’s a peek at the beginning of the story:
Grandma Jennings’ homemade chocolate cake might not heal a broken heart, but it will at least take the sting away for a little while. —The Reality of Cooking: One Woman’s Search for Love and the Perfect Recipe by Olivia Jayne Jennings
“These are the worst times of my life.” Olivia Jennings gripped the plush leopard print blanket and pulled it over her head. “Turn off the TV, please. I’m tired of seeing my face.” She curled up in a ball and wished she had a time machine. And better decision-making abilities. Olivia jumped when the blanket was suddenly snatched away.
She looked up with a scowl at the cover stealer. “It’s not fair.”
Brooke Lockwood tossed the cover at her sister. “Dramatic, much?” She clicked the TV off and sat down on the bed next to Olivia. She reached over and patted her on the arm. “It’s not as bad as you think.”
“No, it’s not.” Olivia reached for the cover again. “It’s worse.”
Brooke grabbed the blanket and held it out of Olivia’s reach. “Nothing you can’t get through. Jennings women are stronger than that.”
Olivia felt a pang of shame. Her troubles were nothing compared to the things her older sister had dealt with over the past few years, losing her husband just before she was set to give birth to their first child. Now Brooke was a widow with a toddler. “I guess.”
“Want to talk about it yet?”
Olivia shook her head. She’d kept most of the details of her recent stint on a reality TV show a secret. Her sisters only knew that it hadn’t gone well. “What was I thinking?”
Riley Jennings walked into the bedroom in time to hear Olivia’s question. “I believe your justification to us when we tried to talk you out of it was that competing on national TV for the love of a hunky weatherman would somehow boost your media career and help you sell more cookbooks.”
Olivia frowned. “I’m pretty sure the opposite may be the case.”
Riley sank into the recliner next to the bed. “Blake just left. We watched the first episode and thought it seemed to go well. In fact, I even mentioned to him that I thought there was a spark between you and Austin Granger. Or maybe that was just some kind of TV magic.”
“There was a spark.” Olivia really didn’t want to relive the last three months, but seeing how her relationship failure would be playing out in living rooms across America for the next several weeks, maybe she should at least come clean to her sisters. “I knew him before I auditioned for the show. We worked at the same network for a short time.” Olivia was a morning show host for a syndicated television show based out of New York. She’d recently started to fill in from time to time on one of the bigger morning shows, and had thought it might be her big break.
“That’s right,” Brooke said. “Didn’t you two even do a few appearances together?”
Olivia nodded. “Yeah. We weren’t really friends or anything, but at least he knew who I was.”
Riley rolled her eyes. “Well why wouldn’t he? Your cookbooks have done well and those cooking segments you do are great. Don’t sell yourself short—you brought as much to the table as he did. More, if you ask me.”
Olivia couldn’t help but smile at her younger sister. “When did you get all wise and stuff?”
“She grew up while you were off chasing your dreams,” Brooke said, matter-of-factly.
“I guess so.” Olivia picked at the chipped polish on her nails. It had been eons since she’d had a proper manicure. “Anyway, I kind of think—at least I hope—that these first few episodes won’t be too mortifying.”
“So, it’s not a stretch to guess that he didn’t pick you in the end, right?” Riley asked.
Olivia made a face at her sister. “I’m under contract not to talk about that stuff. I’m not supposed to tell how long I lasted on the show or what happened in the end.”
“Well we pretty much know that you stayed on till at least near the end,” Brooke said. “We know how long filming took place and we know when you were back in New York.”
But they didn’t know what had happened when she’d returned to the city. “I can trust that you guys won’t tell anyone this,” she began. “And I’ve been warned that as the show continues to air, media may come here and start asking questions. So, you have to stay quiet.” She looked from one sister to the other.
Brooke and Riley nodded silently.
“I was one of the final two women.”
“I knew it!” Riley exclaimed. “I knew you’d make it till the end.” Her grin faded quickly as Olivia shot her a look.
“That makes it harder, though, doesn’t it?” Brooke asked quietly. “Because if you were in the final two, that means you had feelings for him.”
“You came home because your heart is broken.” Riley reached over and put her hand on top of Olivia’s. “Is that why you’re back in Arcadia Valley?”
If only it were that simple.
***
I’m super excited for you to get to know Olivia a little better and to catch a glimpse of what’s going on with Kate, Riley, and Brooke.
You can find out more and purchase a copy here.
And in honor of the new release, I want to do a giveaway! In A Recipe for Romance, Olivia shares some of her favorite recipes and we learn that she loves to cook appetizers and desserts. How about you? What’s your go-to recipe for? Let me know in the comments for your chance to win a e-book of A Recipe for Romance. You have till January 31 to enter!
HI Annalisa, congratulations, I imagine that the thrill of releasing a new book never gets old:)
Hmm, I have a recipe for mini quiches that are always a winner- quick and easy to make, and they freeze really well so they are great in the kids lunch boxes. For a quick and easy desert- ginger caramel tarts are my go to: ginger nut biscuits, caramel and strawberries. Yummy and easy!
Blessings:)
Good morning Annalisa,
I hope your somewhere where the weather is nice. Right now here in central Texas, it is 17. Unusual for this area. I have a recipe for mini pecan muffins. They are real easy to make and they taste like miniature pecan pies ?. Yum ?
Good morning Annalisa and congratulations on your new release A Recipe for Romance, which I devoured yesterday. My Amazon and Goodreads review which I posted this morning: A well crafted story about bullying, humiliation, reality shows, and not to judge a person by how she dresses; but to be compassionate. I especially enjoyed the format of this inspiring romance between cookbook author Olivia and cattle rancher Wyatt. Each chapter begins with a quote from Olivia’s cookbooks. At the end of the twist and turn story with some very unexpected complications the author included The Reality of Cooking: One Woman’s Search for Love and the Perfect Recipe by Olivia Jennings. As a retired literature teacher, the unique approach was refreshing.
Most of my to go to recipes are main course. My family is not fond of desserts. One recipe that I make at the holidays is an Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate bar. My three sons are adults and all know how to cook. For Christmas 2015, I produced a family cookbook: Mom’s Family Recipes: Cooking a Family Tradition (A Blend of German American Cuisine), which not only includes the recipe but the story behind each one. Similar to Olivia Jennings cookbook. That is why I enjoyed your story so much. Also being a German immigrant in 1955, I was bullied – called “Nazi and Commi,” so I related with Olivia. My school years where not pleasant, during the Red Scare and McCarythism. Thanks for touching on so many current topics. Best wishes.
I don’t really have a go to recipe for an appetizer, but I do have a go to recipe for chocolate cake for my kids’ birthdays. It’s super easy and delicious!
I have several favorites, one of them being Praline Crescent Desserts. Congratulations on this new book! It sounds interesting! I wonder if it will make me hungry when I read it?
The book sounds like a winner. Will I be ostracized if I say I’m not a cook and my go to dessert recipe is Krusteaz chocolate chip cookie mix??
My ‘go-to’ recipe is a Pot Roast and Roasted Veggies that cooks in the crockpot so it’s super-easy. I start the pot roast in the morning in the crockpot so that it cooks all day, and then in the afternoon I add veggies that I had roasted (potatoes, carrots, onions) and put them in the crockpot right on top of the roast. That gives the veggies a chance to soak up some of that beefy flavor. It’s a favorite in our house! And the best part is the leftovers can be used to make either Beef Stew or Vegetable Beef Soup. So we get lots of mileage from one recipe! :)
I already have your book, so don’t need to be entered in the drawing. I’m looking forward to reading it! I have lots of favorite recipes. One with a fun back story is called “Beats Me!” Some Campus Crusade staff gals had unexpected company, and threw together some ground beef, macaroni, tomato and chili beef soups, and cheese. Everyone loved it and wanted to know what it was called. They said, “Beats me!” It’s fun to have on a camping trip, or just last minute.
If you are in a pinch for time, no bake chocoate oatmeal cookies work well and most people like them.
I loved your excerpt! One of my favorite recipes is a basic waffle recipe that I add cornmeal to. It turns out well every time. I also have a recipe for chicken and dumplings that I like to make every several months.
Thanks, Wemble! Both of those sound yummy, especially the mini quiches. We raise chickens so at certain times of the year I have an abundance of eggs. :) Quiche is one of my favorite things to make with them.
Kathy, I’m in Arkansas…we’ve been snowed/iced in for a couple of days with schools and businesses closed! I think last night was our coldest night in years. Now that I’ve seen snow, I’m ready for spring! :) Pecan muffins sound yummy!
Thanks, Renate! I’m so glad you enjoyed the book–thank you for the reviews. A family cookbook sounds so wonderful! I wish we had something similar in my family. My grandmother’s house (and all her recipes) burned down three years ago. We’re still working with her to get some of them written down–she just turned 98.
You can’t go wrong with chocolate cake! One of my favorites!
Praline Crescents sound yummy! There are recipes in the book, so maybe so! :)
:) Not at all, Sherri! Chocolate chip cookies are a win every time!
I’d be lost without my crockpot! And nothing beats roast and veggies, especially in the wintertime!
Thanks, Margaret! Hope you enjoy it! And that is a great back story! Beats Me sounds good!
Nancy, those are one of my favorite desserts–and I love how easy they are!
Thank you, Jessica! Those both sound good!
I love bring pea salad to potlucks, etc. I just use peas, bacon, mayo, celery or water chestnuts and shredded cheese. It’s simple to make and always disappears quickly.
Any recipe that has fewer than 6 ingredients is fine with me. “No muss, no fuss” is my motto.
Thanks for entering me in your giveaway.
My two favorite go-to recipes are spinach lasagna and quinoa with grapes, almonds, and raisins. My family loves both recipes :)
Hi Annalisa,
I tried to comment on 2 different days last week but for some reason nothing was going through, ugh!
Anyway, I wanted to say this story looks so good. I love stories that have food/cooking in them. My go-to favorite recipe is carrot cake. Everyone in the family requests it for their birthday cake.
My go-to recipe lately has been creamy crockpot Italian chicken . . . A definite pinterest win! Although if I am having a bad day, my go-to pick-me-up is mini chocolate lava cakes. Mmm.
I always love reading your stories. Thanks for the chance to win!
Go to recipes? Oh, so many! Some of my favorites:. Swiss Steak (a family favorite for special occasions) Potato Soup, Chicken and Dumplings, Apple Dumplings, Breakfast casserole, and the list could go on and on. (Did I mention that I like to cook?). Looking forward to your new book! Love to read “hometown” writing!
My go to recipe is a beef roast cooked with potatoes and carrots and served with coleslaw and green beans. I would love to read your book. Thanks for the chance.
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com