Review & Giveaway: "Georgia's Kitchen: A Novel" by Jenny Nelson

Georgia's the head chef at hot spot Marco, a restaurant that's booked up months in advance. She's not allowed much leeway with the menu, and her boss is slimy, but she's head chef and loving it. Georgia's engaged to entertainment lawyer Glenn, and life couldn't get much better. Until it gets worse. Marco receives a scathing review because her boss sleeps with, and promptly rejects, a food critic's only daughter. Someone has to take the blame, and Georgia's that "someone". The same day she's fired, her fiance calls off their wedding, because he realizes that their relationship hasn't been working for some time. Georgia, jobless and fiance-less, flees to Italy to work with her mentor Claudia Cavalli for a few months.

Despite a few early disappointments in Italy, Georgia makes new friends and enjoys the change of scenery. When she receives an incredible job offer she needs to make a decision- does she take it and continue living far away from everyone and everything that she loves, or does she return home and finally start following her dreams.

Georgia's Kitchen is a thoroughly enjoyable book, and I enjoyed how our plucky heroine Georgia picks herself up after hitting rock bottom in her personal life, dusts herself off, and triumphs in the end. It read a little like a combination of Eat, Pray, Love (the book) and Hell's Kitchen (the TV show). The book had it all- tempting food descriptions, beautiful Italian scenery, a handsome love interest or two, and the requisite happy ending.

The characters were particularly well-developed by Jenny Nelson. Georgia was a character that I could root for, even if she did manage to make a few mistakes in her personal life along the way. I especially liked Georgia's parents in the book- they were well-meaning, yet intrusive. Her mother, especially, was initially unable to come to terms with Georgia's career choices, but the fact that she loved Georgia and only wanted the best for her was obvious. Bernard, the general manager of Marco, was also an interesting character, and I was glad when he made an appearance again later in the book.

My only complaint would be that a few things towards the end fell into place a little too easily- at timesI had to suspend my belief. Thankfully, this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.

Georgia's Kitchen is a fun, ultimately inspiring read- a must-read for both the women's fiction lover and the armchair traveller within.

Jenny Nelson will be signing copies of her book, Georgia's Kitchen, at "A Box of Delights Bookstore" in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada on September 2nd at 7 pm. If you live close enough, or have friends who do, it would be a great opportunity to both meet and support this debut author!

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of women's fiction, armchair travellers
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Now, for the giveaway! Thanks to BookSparks PR, I have one copy of this book to give away. To enter:

1. Tell me where you would visit just to be able to try an authentic version of their food. Would it be China? Italy? India? Or somewhere else altogether? Please leave an e-mail address with your comment so that I can contact you if you win. No e-mail= no entry!

2. *Bonus Entry* Become a follower of this blog through Google Friend Connect and leave me a separate comment to let me know. Already a follower? Great! Just leave me a separate comment letting me know that you already follow.

3. *Bonus Entry* Spread the word about this contest in any way that you choose. Facebook it, blog about it, Tweet about it, or add it to your blog's sidebar. Just leave a separate comment letting me know how you did it.

It's that simple! Contest is open to Canadian and US residents, and runs until September 8, 2010 at midnight EST. The winner will be notified by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond.

Thanks to BookSparks PR for this review copy!