Winner, Review, Giveaway 21

I loved last's week's definitions of love.

Especially Sana's "Love is whatever feels like home."

Simplicity is beautiful.

Now off to random.org and ...

#3

KATE!!!

Congrats! Shoot me an email with your full name and mailing address.

Today I'm reviewing THE LOVE GODDESS' COOKING SCHOOL by Melissa Senate.


QUICK SUMMARY:

According to her fortune-telling grandmother, Camilla, Holly's great love will be one of few to like 'sa cordula'- an Italian delicacy made from lamb intestines. After a string of heartbreaks, Holly moves to her grandmother's to take over her cooking school. But Holly can barely make a marinara. And her four students are more interested in Camilla's 'love lessons' than in Holly's ravioli.

MY TAKE:

Do not read on an empty stomach!

The book is filled with beautiful aromas and tastes. And since Holly is just getting the hang of this cooking thing she spends a lot of time in the kitchen. You'll find yourself craving Italian the entire time.

There's also a wonderful element of magical realism. (Magical realism is really hard to define, but I like to think of it as the magic in real life. That old woman who lived on the corner of your childhood street and always wore black? Remember how you never actually saw her do anything, but swore she was a witch anyway?)Camilla is a fortune-teller in a tiny island community. The island's inhabitants all think she's a witch and think there is magic in her food and in taking her class. Even though Holly isn't sure about the fortune-telling bit, the novel walks a thin line between reality and the infinite possibilities of the supernatural.

TO WIN:
Since this mouth-watering novel revolves around food, simply tell me: What's your favourite ethnicity of food?
Enter by Wednesday 11.59 pm eastern.
As always, open internationally.
Only followers are eligible. (Come back next week for a contest open to all!)