Wednesday, August 18, 2010

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!

40 comments:

  1. I would love to go to all of those countries to experience the life, culture and food. Though Italy is high on my list, since the hubby is from there.

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

    ReplyDelete
  2. Already a GFC follower.

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

    ReplyDelete
  3. tweet; http://twitter.com/fredalicious/status/21494059931

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

    ReplyDelete
  4. Italy would of course be at the top of my list, but I also have a love of german food. A stop in Deutschland for some authentic Schnitzel would be on the itinerary for sure.
    starkravingshannon(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm a follower!
    starkravingshannon(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've had authentic Italian food in Italy (I like American pizza better, please don't stone me!) and British food in England (fish and chips and mushy peas, yum!), so I'd have to say my next stop would be authentic Spanish food from Spain!

    writing.meg [at] gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. And I'm a follower!

    writing.meg [at] gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. A favorite experience would be to eat my way through Italy. North to South and savour all the delectable dishes. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Travel with Italy in mind would be the culmination of my desire. thanks. rojosho(at)hotail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Alot of countries sound enticing, but I'd go for Italy first! Yum!
    Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am already a GFC follower! Thanks.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Italy would have to be first (anything pasta). Sounds like a great book. (follower)

    bibliophilebythesea AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I would love to go to France for the pastry, cheese & wine. I could exist on just those few things.

    ruthiekb72@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I would have to travel to Vienna, Austria for an authentic danish.

    lostlibrarygirl@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  15. I just became a follower.

    lostlibrarygirl@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  16. Shared a link on facebook.

    lostlibrarygirl@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have been fortunate to travel a lot but still have not been to Italy - its definitely top of my list! Next up would be Thailand - I love Thai food and try authentic dishes while traveling there would be the best!

    booksncity (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am a follower and subscribe via google reader

    booksncity (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  19. No need to enter me in the giveaway, this one does sound interesting!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I would love to travel to Italy... as an Italian, growing up surrounded by my grandparents who cooked authenic food was awesome. Unfortunately, my grandmothers both passed away before I was cooking in the kitchen... Id love to go to get a taste of real Italian cooking and learn like my grandmothers did.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I am also a GFC follower

    papajm25{AT}gmail{DOT}com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I am a GFC follower

    foxchick0323@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I would love to try true Italian food....yummy. So I guess I would visit Italy.

    foxchick0323@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I facebooked it:)


    foxchick0323@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. This sounds like such a great book! I love to read about food and cooking, even though I don't like to cook all that much. No need to enter me.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Sounds like a good one except I do hate a book that ties everything up too neatly in the end. Life sure isn't like that!
    I'd love to eat authentic Indian food one day.
    fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. It would of course have to be Italy. True Italian food, Italian wine AND gelato!!

    chasityblackwell[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Visiting Japan is on my Bucket List and one of the main reasons I want to go is to try their authentic food. Seems like such a vibrant culture, too.

    safoga at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm a GFC follower.

    safoga at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Tweeted here: http://twitter.com/safoga/status/21619011924

    safoga at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have always wanted to go to Italy and i know the food would be amazing!!!

    billiondollarprincesss@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I would love to go to Greece! I could live off of their food!
    vivaglampink@yahoo.ca

    ReplyDelete
  33. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I am a huge fan of Indian food -there's a great place just a short walk from where I'll be living this year, and it's wonderful. I would love to go to India and try some cuisine prepared there!

    baileythebookworm[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I would love to visit Italy and eat authentic Italian food.
    mittens0831 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I'm already a follower.
    mittens0831 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I've always wanted to visit Italy solely for the food!

    dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  38. A hard question definitely either China or Italy.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  39. I follow by google reader.


    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Thanks Jonita! I am so happy to be the winner:)

    ReplyDelete