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The Love Goddess' Cooking School

by Melissa Senate (Goodreads Author)

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 2,244 ratings · 412 reviews

Camilla's Cucinotta:
Italian Cooking Classes
Fresh take-home pastas and sauces daily
Benvenuti (Welcome!)

Holly Maguire's grandmother was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine–a Milanese fortune teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. Holly has been waiting years for her unlikely fortune: her true love will...more

Kindle Edition

Published (first published October 26th 2010)

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Jul 04, 2011 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, food-lit

I always have a hard time reading romances because they tend to be plot driven instead of character driven. This is not one of those occasions. The Love Goddess' Cooking School is a wonderful, romantic Food-Lit and I can't wait to share it. I think Melissa Senate's writing is much like Sarah Addison Allen without the magical realism... and you all know how much I love Sarah Addison Allen.

Melissa Senate has created characters that are incredibly easy to identify with - flawed but redeemable. It's...more I always have a hard time reading romances because they tend to be plot driven instead of character driven. This is not one of those occasions. The Love Goddess' Cooking School is a wonderful, romantic Food-Lit and I can't wait to share it. I think Melissa Senate's writing is much like Sarah Addison Allen without the magical realism... and you all know how much I love Sarah Addison Allen.

Melissa Senate has created characters that are incredibly easy to identify with - flawed but redeemable. It's been a long time since I read a novel where I felt connected with almost every character. Ms. Senate does an incredible job of making them empathetic. I loved them all. From Liam, the single dad trying to keep his daughter's world from crumbling without her mother, to the recently divorced Simon who is finding his way as a 'weekend dad', to Mia who is trying so hard to figure out where she fits, to Tamara the frustrated serial dater, and Juliet the heartbroken -whose story definitely struck a chord. It's Holly, however with whom I identify the most. Holly can't seem to find a place for herself, falls for the wrong guys, and sometimes sets too much stock in fate and destiny. I love her determination and her desire to see things through. I love that she chose to continue her Nonna's legacy, even though it meant facing her fears and striking out on her own.

As I mentioned, this book is not plot driven, but the unfolding of the character's lives pulls the reader through it at a wonderful pace so that I wasn't racing to see what was going to happen next, but enjoying what was happening now. Did I know where the book was headed? Yes. But it was one of those rare times when I wasn't in a hurry to get there. I was just enjoying the world of Blue Crab Island and it's inhabitants.

The only thing that seemed a tad out of place were the recipes at the end of the book. Not that they weren't related to the story, they were certainly recipes for the meals made at the cooking school. Perhaps it was because the story was so fabulous, but, in the end, the recipes seemed a little superfluous. I can see not wanting to break the continuity of the story by placing them at the ends of chapters, but I think to be included, they needed to be incorporated into the book somehow because it came off feeling like an afterthought. Though not a bad afterthought and that is only my opinion...

I've used the word loved a lot in this post but that's because I thought this book was marvelous - I'm actually running out of synonyms for excellent. This review has been difficult to write because I don't want to gush about it, I'd rather just curl up inside it. It's the perfect balance of love, friendship, and of course, good food.

http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/...(less)

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Sep 06, 2012 Wanda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, ebooks, womens-fiction

I needed a girl book and this one reminds me of The School of Essential Ingredients, which I enjoyed tremendously.

The School of Essential Ingredients

Italian wedding soup for the soul - comforting, easy to like, and makes you feel good inside.

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 28, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Good Chick Lit

1 lost character named Holly
Dash of magical realism
At least one hot guy
Several interesting characters
Secrets, angst and a fun plot to keep readers interested
Delicious recipes to make your mouth water
1 wish

6 likes · like · see review

Nov 07, 2010 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have to admit that "The Love Goddess' Cooking School" was the first book by Melissa Senate I've read since "See Jane Date" (back in 2002), which I loved. I have her other books but haven't had a chance to read them yet. I don't think anything was keeping me from reading them, but now that I've finished this book, I definitely will be reading more from Ms. Senate.

"The Love Goddess' Cooking School" is about Holly, a woman who loses a serious relationship, gets fired from her job and is kicked ou...more I have to admit that "The Love Goddess' Cooking School" was the first book by Melissa Senate I've read since "See Jane Date" (back in 2002), which I loved. I have her other books but haven't had a chance to read them yet. I don't think anything was keeping me from reading them, but now that I've finished this book, I definitely will be reading more from Ms. Senate.

"The Love Goddess' Cooking School" is about Holly, a woman who loses a serious relationship, gets fired from her job and is kicked out of her apartment within a short period of time. She flies across the country, back to her grandmother's home and cooking school in Maine. Her grandmother passes away shortly afterward, leaving her home and cooking school in Holly's care. However, Holly doesn't know how to cook the way her grandmother did. It doesn't help that her grandmother was a fortune teller, a skill that Holly does not possess, which also set a reputation for her with the townsfolk and Holly's own mother. With the help of some new friends, Holly learns how to navigate the world of cooking, teaching and even love in this heartfelt and romantic story.

This novel flowed beautifully with a strong female voice, sympathetic characters, delicious sounding food (except for sa cordula, of course) and breathtaking descriptions of an island in Maine. I loved everything about it and had a difficult time putting it down. I stayed up last night just so I could finish the rest of it in one sitting. There was a sensitive topic that was tackled during the story, which was hard to read about as a mother. However, Ms. Senate handled it gracefully and made it more comfortable for the reader to handle. (Seeing that she's a mother too, I couldn't even imagine her doing it any other way.) The dialogue was natural and realistic throughout the story and each character was portrayed vividly, making them even more dynamic and interesting.

The only criticism I have is that Ms. Senate's editors weren't careful before letting this go to print. I found some spelling and grammatical errors scattered throughout the story. (If she needs an extra set of eyes in the future, I'd be glad to help.) This did not detract from my enjoyment of a truly wonderful story that I hope everyone gets the chance to read.

originally posted here: http://chicklitcentraltheblog.blogspo...(less)

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Nov 23, 2012 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Jane by: Lisa

Shelves: 2010-publications, romance, cooking-food, contemporary, chick-lit

This is actually more of a 3 1/2 stars book but I went with 4 because I like the genre and the story sucked me in so that I did nothing else but read all day. It reminds me of The School of Essential Ingredients in a lot of ways. I loved the recipes and really want to try some as the author added them at the end of the book. Great cast of characters and message.
Holly is looking for love but finding that it is harder to find because of the fortune her Italian grandmother told her when she was 16...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Christi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Do not read on an empty stomach! This is such an enchanting story. I love Camilla’s memories (via her diary) and the tales of her many thriving businesses. The granddaughter that inherits her home, store and cooking school is Holly. She is such a great character to follow as she makes her own discoveries and conquers the kitchen. I love the different, quirky students that attend her class and the way they find their own paths while they discuss their wishes, regrets and memories. It was a super...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Pamelarbroadley Broadley rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: formerly-owned

A friend sent me this book in exchange for the Cookbook Collector which I lent to her. Warning: this is extreme chick lit. Not the least bit literary. Very formulaic and presses all the comfort, female fantasy buttons-- romantic guy, very nice, self-deprecating woman without a penny to her name who inherits house and business on the coast of Maine, lots of hot baths, good food and wine, nurturing, loneliness blossoming into friendship. Good read for rainy November Sunday afternoon. Watch the num...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, romance, adult, favorites-2011

Holly spent every summer at her grandmother’s home and Cucinotta on Blue Crab Island. Her grandmother could tell fortunes and her cooking was so good it was rumored to have powers of it’s own. So when Holly’s latest romance ends badly she heads back to her grandmother’s. But a few weeks later her grandmother passes away and leaves the Cucinotta to Holly. Holly decides to stay and keep the restaurant and its cooking class alive, despite not being as good a cook as her grandmother. All of the stud...more

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Jun 01, 2013 Amberalba Dawn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bello, bello, bello. Non posso dire altro di questo libro. Mi ha veramente conquistata. Lo so che potrei essere condizionata dalla mia grande passione per la cucina, ma credetemi, poche volte ho trovato un libro così coinvolgente da fare una grandissima fatica a staccare gli occhi dalle pagine.

Melissa Senate ha un grande dono, quello di saper raccontare in modo semplice sentimenti enormemente complessi. In più lo fa con una saggezza che fa spiccare il libro e non puoi leggerlo pensando che sia s...more Bello, bello, bello. Non posso dire altro di questo libro. Mi ha veramente conquistata. Lo so che potrei essere condizionata dalla mia grande passione per la cucina, ma credetemi, poche volte ho trovato un libro così coinvolgente da fare una grandissima fatica a staccare gli occhi dalle pagine.

Melissa Senate ha un grande dono, quello di saper raccontare in modo semplice sentimenti enormemente complessi. In più lo fa con una saggezza che fa spiccare il libro e non puoi leggerlo pensando che sia solo una storia d'amore.

E' vero, ce n'è tanto di amore in questo romanzo, ma non è una storia stucchevole inzuppata di felicità. E' una storia come quelle che possono vivere tanti di noi tutti i giorni. L'amore non se ne sta da solo, avvolto nella sua bella velina rosa, ma si accompagna con tutti quei sentimenti complicati che spesso ci mettono in difficoltà o ci fanno sentire al settimo cielo: tristezza, frustrazione, rimpianto, ma anche coraggio, speranza e felicità.

Nel libro non troverete una storia sola, ve ne sono tante. A cominciare da quella di Holly, ragazza che ormai è giunta alla fatidica domanda "Cosa- voglio- dalla- vita?", ma non riesce a trovare la risposta perché si sente inadatta a tutto. Liam, che cerca un equilibrio tra il difficile compito di tirare su una figlia da solo e cercare di rifarsi una vita rimettendo insieme i pezzi dei loro cuori spezzati. Mia, ragazzina che sogna ed idealizza una mamma ormai lontana. Juliet, che deve cercare di andare avanti nonostante nuoti in un mare di ricordi causati dal dolore più grande che mai si possa avere. Tamara e Simon, due persone molto sole che si interrogano sulla possibilità di trovare prima o poi qualcuno da amare. Tutti loro si incontreranno per caso, o per destino, in una cucina speciale, dove, proprio grazie alle speciali ricette di Camilla, impareranno una grande lezione di vita.

Del resto mia nonna lo diceva sempre, che l'importante è desiderare e ricordare... non che si avveri quello che vorresti, non che il ricordo faccia soffrire. Perché quando desideri qualcosa, chiedi. E quando chiedi, stai già provando. E tutti quanti non possiamo far altro che provare

Le ricette della cucina segreta dell'amore è uno di quei libri da tenere con sé e tirare fuori quando ci si vuole fare una coccola, un piccolo regalo per ricordarci che nella vita non bisogna tirarsi mai indietro. Se la si cerca, la felicità è sempre possibile trovarla.(less)

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Mar 14, 2013 Scrittevolmente rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Iniziando a leggere, la prima cosa che ho pensato è stata “Probabilmente è un primo romanzo, quindi qualche vizio di stile lo possiamo anche perdonare”. Salvo poi scoprire che il libro è stato scritto nel 2010, e prima di questo l’autrice ne ha sfornati almeno una decina. Allora mi è parso giusto iniziare a diventare un pochino più capziosa.
Le ricette segrete della cucina dell’amore è un chick-lit (per chi dal titolo non l’avesse capito), e in quanto chick-lit, la storia è – per così dire – già...more Iniziando a leggere, la prima cosa che ho pensato è stata “Probabilmente è un primo romanzo, quindi qualche vizio di stile lo possiamo anche perdonare”. Salvo poi scoprire che il libro è stato scritto nel 2010, e prima di questo l’autrice ne ha sfornati almeno una decina. Allora mi è parso giusto iniziare a diventare un pochino più capziosa.
Le ricette segrete della cucina dell’amore è un chick-lit (per chi dal titolo non l’avesse capito), e in quanto chick-lit, la storia è – per così dire – già centrata in uno schema tipico: protagonista femminile sulla trentina d’anni che in seguito a un crollo del climax si immerge in una storia che dà una svolta alla sua vita, seguirà il raggiungimento dei suoi obiettivi e il coronamento dei suoi sogni, e come ciliegina sulla torta troverà l’amore. Nulla di più e nulla di meno, un classico chick-lit, rassicurante e adatto a lettrici (anche lettori) che amano rilassarsi e a cui piacciono i lieti fini assicurati. Fin qui tutto bene.
Il problema è sorto quando mi sono accorta che la trama traballava da un estremo all’altro senza che riuscissi a raccapezzarmi troppo bene. Abbiamo già detto che il lieto fine è di default, no? Quindi è lecito aspettarsi dei problemi, degli ostacoli sul percorso della protagonista per dare più sale alle sue avventure, questo sì, ma… ostacoli credibili. Ostacoli verosimili, duraturi, che danno filo da torcere e fanno preoccupare sul come si riuscirà a raggiungere il finale.
Qui invece è tutta una marea di coincidenze. Oppure espedienti che scadono nella banalità, se vogliamo dirla così. La protagonista all’inizio del libro perde in un solo colpo lavoro, uomo e casa grazie a un incredibile (è il caso di dirlo) agglomerato di circostanze sfortunate. Sfortunate solo per la nostra Holly, visto che qualsiasi lettore può ben immaginare che la sua vita diverrà rose e fiori dopo essersi trasferita.
Ora, io posso credere che i colpi di fortuna esistano, che nella vita tutti ne vorremmo qualcuno, e che nei romanzi è bello leggere di qualcosa che metta un pizzico di pepe negli eventi. Ma senza esagerare.
Holly prende possesso della cucina della nonna defunta e nell’arco di qualche mese scopre di avere un talento naturale per preparare piatti italiani, decidendo di perseguire la via dei corsi di cucina. Chi incontra? Un bellissimo uomo divorziato e con una figlia, con cui fa subito amicizia.
D’improvviso l’ex moglie del suddetto bellissimo uomo torna, avviando un tira e molla che io personalmente ho trovato superfluo e imbarazzante per la superficialità con cui è stato raccontato.

Per leggere la recensione per intero: QUI (less)

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Aug 19, 2011 Kerry rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: everything

There is a genre of books where a group of people (usually women with one lone guy thrown into the mix) gather together in some sort of club or class (knitting, quilting, Jane Austen books or in this case, cooking) and by the end of the book, they have formed close friendships and had a major problem in their lives resolved through the magic of whatever interest had drawn them together in the first place. Sometimes, this genre can produce a good book or even a good series of books (for example -...more

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Jan 19, 2011 Denise rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When Holly Maguire's grandmother Camilla passes away Holly inherits her famed cooking school, pasta take-out shop, and fortune-telling legacy. The biggest problem is that Holly can't cook. Ever since she almost killed her grandmother with food poisoning she has been unable to create the magical dishes. Her next problem is her seriously failing love life. Camilla foretold that Holly's true love would eat sa cordula, but every man Holly falls for hates the Italian delicacy. If she can't cook and c...more

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Jun 11, 2012 JoLene rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit, read-2012, library

With a title like The Love Goddess' Cooking School, I had to pick this up when I saw it on the new fiction shelves of the library. As I am doing a road trip challenge (visit different states), the fact that the book was set on a small island in Maine prompted me to check it out. The heroine, Holly, inherits her grandmother's home and her Italian cooking business (school and shop). Of course, Holly is not much of a cook herself and she is nursing a broken heart. Her grandmother was also a bit of...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Connie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-content

The characters were nice and somewhat interesting, but the story wasn't exciting enough for me. It discussed the lives of several people who were depressed for one reason or another. The cooking school brought them together and as the weeks went by their lives turned around. My favorite character was 12 year old, Mia. She was the glue that bound the others together in their conversations while cooking. She kept me interested enough to finish the book.

I love to cook, but talking about cooking pag...more

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Mar 25, 2012 April rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads

Known as the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Camilla Constantina's cooking and fortune telling was the talk of the town. Her recipes were not only delicious, but it was believed that they could also save marriages. Born with the ability to see things, her visions caused a great deal of pain and hardships for her and her family. Yet, somehow, she is gifted a close bond with her granddaughter, Holly. A bond, that eventually brings Holly the strength she needs to move forward with her life. And l...more

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Nov 20, 2011 Kelly Hager rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Holly moves in with her grandmother (or "Nonna") after a guy breaks her heart. (She has parents, but she and her grandmother were always very, very close.) When Nonna dies not long after, she's totally lost...until she learns that Nonna left her the house and her business, a small carry-out type restaurant that also offers cooking classes. Holly decides to stay and try and make a go of it, but she didn't exactly inherit her grandma's skill in the kitchen. (Nonna was practically a legend in her s...more

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Jan 07, 2011 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Love Goddess Cooking School
By
Melissa Senate

This is the name of the island in Maine where this story takes place…Blue Crab Island. It is connected to Portland by a lovely bridge. This puts Holly…the main character… close to amazing stores and small artisanal shops and farmer’s markets. The island itself is only a mile or two long and perhaps three miles wide. The houses are quaint and cottagey…Maine colors abound…bright blues and yellows and lovely greens. You can walk to the beach. You can...more The Love Goddess Cooking School
By
Melissa Senate

This is the name of the island in Maine where this story takes place…Blue Crab Island. It is connected to Portland by a lovely bridge. This puts Holly…the main character… close to amazing stores and small artisanal shops and farmer’s markets. The island itself is only a mile or two long and perhaps three miles wide. The houses are quaint and cottagey…Maine colors abound…bright blues and yellows and lovely greens. You can walk to the beach. You can escape to Portland. You can find peace.

Enter Holly Macguire. She is broken hearted and believes she will never find the love of her life. She has lived everywhere…sort of following her heart. Her grandmother lives on Blue Crab Island. Her grandmother is Italian, makes amazing foods and teaches cooking classes. Holly has spent lots of time with her grandmother throughout her life so this is where she goes to heal her once again broken heart. Holly is there a few weeks when her grandmother just does not wake up one morning. Holly is left with her grandmother’s recipes; her grandmother’s house and her grandmother’s cat…none of these are taking well to Holly. Her grandmother also has a reputation for telling fortunes. So…Holly also inherits the three smooth stones that her grandmother used to do this.

Holly has some truly awful days on Blue Crab Island. She is not the cook her grandmother was. She spends all of her days trying to learn to cook her grandmother’s recipes in order to keep the house, have a career and stay on the island. Holly’s grandmother’s recipes always have something special in them…such as a sad wish or a happy moment or something that you are yearning for. Holly has heard these all of her life but never really was truly mindful of them until this time in her life. As Holly grows her grandmother’s words begin to have true meaning for her.

The evening of the first cooking class finally comes and Holly finds herself teaching a tween who hates her father’s girlfriend, a single woman trying to find love, a divorced dad trying to deal with his young daughter and an old friend who is so sad that she can’t even speak to anyone.

Through out the course of the book each issue is dealt with. We see friendships form and relationships get destroyed or blossom and grow. Of course this is all dealt with in a totally entertaining way by the author. Mean girls and mean
(less)

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Oct 26, 2010 Caitlin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

Once again I am won over by a book that transcends its genre and makes me think I should be more broadminded about that genre - chick lit. I've pretty much hated every chick lit book I've ever read. So much of it is about women who care most about shopping, getting into the latest hot new club, their weight, their makeup, and snagging that enormous diamond ring and great big expensive wedding. These characters tend to be so shallow and the books tend to be so thinly written that I end up loathin...more Once again I am won over by a book that transcends its genre and makes me think I should be more broadminded about that genre - chick lit. I've pretty much hated every chick lit book I've ever read. So much of it is about women who care most about shopping, getting into the latest hot new club, their weight, their makeup, and snagging that enormous diamond ring and great big expensive wedding. These characters tend to be so shallow and the books tend to be so thinly written that I end up loathing them. One exception to this is The Devil Wears Prada, although I probably adored the wrong character - I think Miranda Priestly is a goddess and loved that the book was filled with the kind of couture that transcends fashion and becomes art. The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate just made this list.

The best thing of all about this book is how simple it is - a good story, simply told. No unnecessary embellishments, no cliches, no stereotypes, just an honestly told story about being in your thirties - a time of life when for most people everything is up for grabs. Everyone in this book is at a crossroads in their lives with their old life down the toilet for whatever reason and the course of their new life still uncertain.

It made me think of the time after my divorce when I had to try to sort out who I was going to be, how I was going to live. It was a hard time for me, for my son, and for my ex-husband. Although I never thought it would come to where it has today, it did work out for the best.

The thread that runs throughout this book is all the ways that cooking and eating and sharing both things bind people together and how having a strong connection to the past, like the one Holly has with her grandmother, is so essential to grounding you in the present. The cooking in this book isn't highlighted in any special way, but rather is a constant in the book, as it should be in real life. It's full of as many burnt bechamel sauces as it is sublime risotto. It acknowledges that the fun is in the process, not necessarily in the product (although it never hurts when the product is great, too). There's an important message here about not being afraid to risk, not being afraid to fail that really resonates with me.

The other thread is Holly's relationship with her recently deceased grandmother. They had a very special relationship and that touched my heart. It made think of my grandmothers, both gone now, and how much they each meant to me and how many things I learned from each of them even though they were very different from each other. They were both an enormous part of helping me become the person I am today and I miss them both almost every day.

This is a warm and beautiful book with an honest simple story that is filled with the good smells of garlic and onion and olive oil filling the house with love and companionship. I adored this book.(less)

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Oct 26, 2010 Patti Loves FAB Romance rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary

At the beginning of The Love Goddess' Cooking School, Holly Maguire gets dumped by her boyfriend (manfriend?) of two years. She sees it coming, so she gives it one last shot. She feeds him the special (gross) Italian meal her grandmother assures her will be enjoyed by her true love. When he tells her it's disgusting, she knows deep down it's over, even if she doesn't want it to be. Heartbroken, she goes to visit her grandmother on Blue Crab Island to mend her heart and take stock of her life.

A f...more At the beginning of The Love Goddess' Cooking School, Holly Maguire gets dumped by her boyfriend (manfriend?) of two years. She sees it coming, so she gives it one last shot. She feeds him the special (gross) Italian meal her grandmother assures her will be enjoyed by her true love. When he tells her it's disgusting, she knows deep down it's over, even if she doesn't want it to be. Heartbroken, she goes to visit her grandmother on Blue Crab Island to mend her heart and take stock of her life.

A few short weeks after her arrival, her grandmother dies, leaving her Camilla's Cucinotta, her grandmother's home/kitchen where she sells authentic Italian cooking and tells fortunes. Holly isn't much of a cook and definitely does not have the gift of fortune telling, but she decides she feels like she's home and wants to make a go of the Cucinotta, starting by taking over the cooking classes that start in a month.

This book was absolutely wonderful. I completely lost myself in reading the story - I imagined myself there on the tiny island, stopping in the store looking for delicious Italian take-out, sitting on the dock looking over the water, visiting the picturesque hotel. The characters were inviting -I hate cooking but I wanted to be a part of Holly's cooking class! There was more than one storyline, but Ms. Senate did a fabulous job of not letting the others overshadow Holly's story - it was more of a blend, and it worked. The wishes and dreams of the Holly's friends that are revealed over the backdrop of cooking were sometimes happy, sometimes sad, but somehow made me feel like part of the group.

Here are some of the things that surprised me:
~I don't normally like kids in books - but Mia was adorable. Not obnoxious and I actually liked her and wanted good things for her.

~I don't normally like "flashbacks", but I found myself wanting more of Holly's grandmother's diary entries - how she came over from Italy and the local women didn't like her, how she became the local "witch", how she knew her daughter would never be happy on Blue Crab Island but even before Holly was born she knew her granddaughter would call it home.

~I don't normally read "chick lit", but the cover blurb caught my attention and the writing kept my attention. This book made me want to do something I absolutely never do - I wanted to skip ahead and read the back page to find out if she trusted in her Grandmother's memory enough to overcome her fear and feed Liam the sa cordula.

After gorging myself on paranormal and urban fantasy over the last few weeks, this book was a breath of fresh air. Don't get me wrong, it was not all sunshine and happiness; because as we all know, you have to go through the hard times to appreciate the good times. I enjoyed taking this journey with Holly. The ending was a bit abrubt but that's my only complaint.

If you like to cook, there are 5 recipes included in the book, and they all include the "special ingredient" (don't even go there - you know who you are!) that is a theme throughout the book.(less)

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Mar 03, 2013 Giovanna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I libri che parlano d'amore e di cucina sono entrati di prepotenza nelle mie ultime letture, sarà che sono romantica fino al midollo, sarà che adoro cucinare, ma li trovo davvero molto carini e piacevoli per passare qualche ora spensierata.

"Le ricette segrete della cucina dell'amore" non è da meno, è stata una lettura leggera che ho davvero apprezzato.
Come tutti i libri di questo genere, la storia inizia con un cuore infranto che cerca conforto tra i fornelli. In questo caso Holly, la protagoni...more I libri che parlano d'amore e di cucina sono entrati di prepotenza nelle mie ultime letture, sarà che sono romantica fino al midollo, sarà che adoro cucinare, ma li trovo davvero molto carini e piacevoli per passare qualche ora spensierata.

"Le ricette segrete della cucina dell'amore" non è da meno, è stata una lettura leggera che ho davvero apprezzato.
Come tutti i libri di questo genere, la storia inizia con un cuore infranto che cerca conforto tra i fornelli. In questo caso Holly, la protagonista, dopo l'ennesima delusione amorosa, decide di tornare dalla nonna a Blue Crab Island.
Camilla Constantina, emigrata negli anni '60 da Milano, è la dea dell'amore: insegna alle donne del luogo i segreti e le ricette della cucina italiana, ma predice anche loro il futuro. Quest'ultima abilità le ha creato molti problemi da giovane e ha soprattutto compromesso il rapporto con la figlia, diventato freddo e distaccato. La sua unica consolazione sono le lezioni di cucina e la nipote, Holly.

Proprio lei, alla morte di Camilla, eredita "Il cucinino di Camilla", con tutte le responsabilità che ciò comporta: cucinare sughi, pasta, organizzare le lezioni per il nuovo corso. Non sarà facile, soprattutto perchè sembra che la ragazza non abbia ereditato il talento culinario della nonna.
Comincia la corsa contro il tempo per imparare a preparare quei piatti che hanno conquistato l'isola, per essere all'altezza del suo incarico.

Tra i mille impegni da cui è sommersa, Holly riesce a trovare anche il tempo per farsi nuovi amici, per recuperare una vecchia amicizia e forse per trovare un nuovo amore.

La cosa che più mi ha colpita è stato il ruolo della cucina, ad essa viene attribuita una funzione catartica, diviene capace di rimettere le cose al loro posto e di portare serenità nella propria vita.
Tante sono le vite che s'intrecciano in questo libro, quelle degli allievi di Holly, ma anche quelle delle persone che decenni prima hanno incrociato il cammino di Camilla.

Un libro molto piacevole che vi farà provare la sensazione di essere a Blue Crab Island, nel cucinino di Camilla alle prese con le ricette italiane, alcune delle quali disponibili alla fine del volume. Senza dubbio ne proverò qualcuna, il risotto alla milanese o il tiramisu di Holly.

E non dimenticate l'ingrediente più importante: un desiderio o un ricordo, a seconda della ricetta.

Molto belle ed intense sono state le pagine del diario di Camilla, fondamentale per noi e per Holly al fine di comprendere una donna che sarebbe potuta essere nostra nonna.(less)

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May 26, 2011 Heidi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this cozy book.
This is a story about a girl named Holly who is thirty and lost she hasn't found her purpose in life or her big love. The book opens with Holly getting dumped by her current boyfriend. Her broken heart takes her to her Grandma's safe house on Blue Crab Island in Maine. After two weeks of her Grandma's love and fabulous Italian cooking and love Holly is slowly on the mend. Then her grandma passes away leaving her house and restaurant to Holly.
Holly endeavors to maintain th...more

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Oct 15, 2010 Yan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Everything you need to know about the novel can be surmised from the synopsis. The Love Goddess’s Cooking School makes one reader very, very hungry for some decent Italian cuisine. Thank God that there are recipes readers can follow at the back of the novel or I might have taken a bite of the novel. Yum….

The Love Goddess’ Cooking School was a delicious novel that held different layers like a lasagna with various textures, aromas, and tastes. The novel does not completely focus on cooking and man...more

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Mar 28, 2011 Karalee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-general, chick-lit, food-fiction

In this latest book by Melissa Senate, Holly moves back to Blue Crab Island to visit her aging grandmother with a broken heart. Holly's grandmother is a gifted Italian cook and fortuneteller, thus earning her the title of the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island. When Holly's grandmother passes away, Holly is determined to keep the cooking class and Italian food store open, despite the fact that she is not a expert cook (in Italian cuisine or otherwise) and does not have her grandmother's gift of si...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Vera Neves rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

Esta é uma leitura deliciosa e por isso devorei o livro num abrir e fechar de olhos.
Centra-se em Holly e na herança que a avó lhe deixou: a Camilla’s Cucinotta, uma loja de Pasta, a casa e o dossier com todas as receitas da avó, usadas nas aulas de cozinha do curso de culinária que a avó sempre deu. E agora esse legado passa para Holly que aceita o desafio, mesmo sem ser um ás na cozinha.
A história é muito engraçada. Os que decidiram arriscar fazer o curso têm objectivos muito definidos para ta...more

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Nov 28, 2010 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-author, recommended

The Love Goddess' Cooking School details what happens when a few people introduce a melange of dissatisfaction, fear, sadness, despair, wants, dreams and varied experiences in hopes of changing their life course through the art of cooking Italian food. Creative author Melissa Senate utilizes her deft ability to create both likable and unlikable characters who mix and mingle throughout the novel. The main character, Holly Maguire, has left behind a love in San Francisco and decides to try her ha...more

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Oct 28, 2010 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a fun chick lit book to read. In the beginning of the book Holly is heartbroken once again but this time she really wanted it to work out. She seeks out the warmth and wisdom of her grandmother who passes away shortly after she came to "visit". After inheriting the cooking school and small pasta shop Holly, who cannot cook, decides to not let her grandmother's legacy go down in flames. She works hard and finds 4 lost souls to take her cooking class. In doing the class the same way her g...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Kat rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Holly Maguire gets her heartbroken and moves from California to Maine into her grandmother's house and kitchen. Her grandmother, Camilla, is known in town as the Italian cooking teacher and even more so, as a fortune teller. When her grandmother passes away and leaves her house and kitchen to Holly, she decides to continue with the cooking classes although she is not as gifted with cooking, or fortune telling, as her nonna.

I wanted to read something fun and got something boring instead. Everyth...more

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Nov 06, 2010 Patti rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, published-2010-read-in-2010, read-in-2010, romance, for-review-patti-s-picks

Gallery Books graciously sent me an advance reading copy of The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate for review. I enjoyed it, and if I didn't need my sunshine & warmth so much, Maine might be on the list of places to move to.

Holly Maguire spent her summers with her Italian grandmother, Camilla Constantina, who owned Camilla's Cucinottta, and told fortunes to locals and tourist alike. Camilla also taught cooking classes. After one more terrible break-up, Holly moves to her grandmot...more

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Oct 28, 2010 Mary (BookHounds) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-book-challenge, from-publisher-author

Melissa Senate knows how to craft the perfect Chick Lit book without being cliche, although I think this one would probably fall into the category of Contempory Fiction. I am pretty sure I proclaimed her last book, The Secret of Joy as her best book ever, but she keeps getting better. Can you tell how much I enjoy them?

Holly has her heart broken and in her search to repair it, she starts teaching cooking after inheriting her grandmother's shop. Camille has a lot to teach Holly and the lessons c...more

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Dec 18, 2010 Leah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-2010, favorites

Holly Maguire’s grandmother Camilla was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine–a Milanese fortune-teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. Holly has been waiting years for her unlikely fortune: her true love will like sa cordula, an unappetizing old-world delicacy. But Holly can’t make a decent marinara sauce, let alone sa cordula. Maybe that’s why the man she hopes to marry breaks her heart. So when Holly inherits Camilla’s Cu...more Holly Maguire’s grandmother Camilla was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine–a Milanese fortune-teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. Holly has been waiting years for her unlikely fortune: her true love will like sa cordula, an unappetizing old-world delicacy. But Holly can’t make a decent marinara sauce, let alone sa cordula. Maybe that’s why the man she hopes to marry breaks her heart. So when Holly inherits Camilla’s Cucinotta, she’s determined to forget about fortunes and love and become an Italian cooking teacher worthy of her grandmother’s legacy. But Holly’s four students are seeking much more than how to make Camilla’s chicken alla Milanese. Simon, a single father, hopes to cook his way back into his daughter’s heart. Juliet, Holly’s childhood friend, hides a painful secret. Tamara, a serial dater, can’t find the love she longs for. And twelve-year-old Mia thinks learning to cook will stop her dad, Liam, from marrying his phony lasagna-queen girlfriend. As the class gathers each week, adding Camilla’s essential ingredients of wishes and memories in every pot and pan, unexpected friendships and romances are formed–and tested. Especially when Holly falls hard for Liam . . . and learns a thing or two about finding her own recipe for happiness.

People have been telling me for ages to read See Jane Date by Melissa Senate but I’ve never gotten around to finding myself a copy. When I saw Melissa had a new book coming out called The Love Goddess’ Cooking School, I loved the sound of it and when a preview finally came up on Amazon, I had a quick sneak peek and I thought the book sounded like my kind of thing so I bought myself a copy. As soon as it arrived, I quickly finished my previous book and got stuck into this one. It took me about a week to read, but not a moment of it was dull.

The Love Goddess’ Cooking School has a wonderful plot, and I was drawn into the book immediately as we find out that when Holly Maguire was told her fortune by her grandmother Camilla and all that she’s told is that the great love of her life will like Sa Cordula, an Italian dish made of lamb intestines that nobody likes. It was a great way to start the novel and I was sad I couldn’t dedicate more of my time to the book. We learn Camilla has recently died and left her business Camilla Cuchinotta’s to Holly so Holly rapidly has to learn how to cook her grandmother’s famous Italian dishes so she can teach Camilla’s cooking class as well as sell her wares. I thought the cooking class plot was fantastic and I enjoyed getting to know Holly and her students, Tamara, Simon, Juliet and young Mia. Throw in Mia’s dad Liam and we have a fantastic and well-rounded cast.

I truly didn’t know what to expect from the novel. Just because the Amazon preview I had was good didn’t mean I would necessarily love the rest of the novel so I was pleased to find that I did enjoy immersing myself in the book. I thought Camilla’s recipes were wonderful, and I liked the way Senate made them unique by making sure every time Holly or one of her students cooked, they added in a memory or a wish to help it along the way. During the novel we also have some diary entries by Camilla written way back when she first started her fortune telling and Camilla’s Cucinotta and I found them incredibly interesting. In fact, I could have read an entire book dedicated to Camilla’s diary during the 60′s at Blue Crab Cove. I must also mention where the book is set, in Blue Crab Cove in Maine. It’s fictional, but it sounds like a wonderful place to live.

I was thrilled that I took the chance on the book. I loved it so much that I’ve ordered myself another Melissa Senate book and should I love that, too, I’ll definitely be getting Melissa’s other books. The setting was perfect, the plot was everything I expected and more and I absolutely loved each and every one of the characters and was rooting for them to get their happy endings. I would hugely recommend the book to all Chick Lit fans. It’s a very sweet read, and one I am so so glad I took a chance on. It’s lovely when you buy a book and it ends up being a fantastic read.(less)

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About Melissa Senate

I'm the author of ten novels, including my debut, SEE JANE DATE (also available in cute TV movie form on DVD) and my newest, THE LOVE GODDESS' COOKING SCHOOL (October 2010).

I'm the proud mother of an adorable nine-year-old boy. We live on the beautiful coast of Maine, where I'm working on my next novel.

Hope you'll visit my website: http://www.melissasenate.com

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“It seems that wishing and hoping and dreaming and remembering can be eve more helpful than knowing what's going to happen.” — 2 people liked it

“[Y]ou can't control everything. Anything, really. Like the food we've been making. We can follow the recipe exactly as your grandmother wrote it, do everything exactly--or almost exactly--as she had, and the dish can come out so-so instead of amazing. Or it can come out amazing when you were expecting very little.” — 1 person liked it

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