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Home for the Holidays #1
How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie
A warm pie. A tasty guy. Happy Thanksgiving indeed.
Lauren Hauser is home for the holidays, and she’s been given a challenge: preparing her grandmother’s pecan pie. The problem? Lauren’s not famed for her baking skills. In fact, while her sister would win Star Baker every week, and her mom at least knows a sieve from a spatula, Lauren’s bakes have always been more dangerous than delicious!
Still, no Thanksgiving would be complete without dessert…which is why Lauren finds herself searching for pecans on Thanksgiving Eve. Stumbling into a gorgeous stranger laden down with bags of pecans seems like a holiday miracle…but despite Jack’s kissable lips he’s frostier than a snow cone…and out of sight before she can say ‘Macy’s Parade’!
As the clock counts down to Thanksgiving dinner, Lauren is running out of time. And without her grandmother’s perfect pecan pie it won’t be a very Happy Thanksgiving! What Lauren needs is a knight in shining armour. And it might just be that the magic of Thanksgiving will find her one after all…
Lauren Hauser is home for the holidays, and she’s been given a challenge: preparing her grandmother’s pecan pie. The problem? Lauren’s not famed for her baking skills. In fact, while her sister would win Star Baker every week, and her mom at least knows a sieve from a spatula, Lauren’s bakes have always been more dangerous than delicious!
Still, no Thanksgiving would be complete without dessert…which is why Lauren finds herself searching for pecans on Thanksgiving Eve. Stumbling into a gorgeous stranger laden down with bags of pecans seems like a holiday miracle…but despite Jack’s kissable lips he’s frostier than a snow cone…and out of sight before she can say ‘Macy’s Parade’!
As the clock counts down to Thanksgiving dinner, Lauren is running out of time. And without her grandmother’s perfect pecan pie it won’t be a very Happy Thanksgiving! What Lauren needs is a knight in shining armour. And it might just be that the magic of Thanksgiving will find her one after all…
304 pages, ebook
First published August 10, 2014
28 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
About the author
Gina Henning
4 books45 followersGina Henning currently resides where bluebonnets line the highways in the spring, but she prefers the rock flower anemone from under the sea. Above the ocean’s surface Gina likes to dance with her three boys and travel to exotic places like the grocery store with her husband. Her pooch Schatzi is a mix between German Shepherd and possibly pig. One of Gina’s favorite pastimes is running. She recently completed her one-and-done marathon. At the end of the day her glass of wine is always half-full.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
November 25, 2020
I was looking for a good Thanksgiving story this year to try to get in the holiday spirit. I thought this would be a light, enjoyable read. Unfortunately, I really did not enjoy this story and found myself skim-reading by the end.
To start with, I did not care for the MC. She is childish most of the time. I mean who gets upset with someone in front of them in line because she decided that he bought more pecans than he needed and didn't leave enough for her? How does she know how many pecans he needed? Ridiculous.
More importantly, I did not care for the writing. It was very repetitious and did not feel genuine at all. I mean she fluttered her lashes so many times, I thought she'd get a permanent twitch. And what's with the rolling lips? Plus, there were just so many things that were wrong or didn't make sense. For example, while on her cell phone her friend hung up on her and there was a sudden dial tone in her ear?? What kind of cell phone do you have? I could go on and on with examples.
I think this story was a cute, if predictable, idea. It could have been a fun read. Unfortunately, it was not executed well. There was a little bit of cute banter, but not nearly enough to save the story.
To start with, I did not care for the MC. She is childish most of the time. I mean who gets upset with someone in front of them in line because she decided that he bought more pecans than he needed and didn't leave enough for her? How does she know how many pecans he needed? Ridiculous.
More importantly, I did not care for the writing. It was very repetitious and did not feel genuine at all. I mean she fluttered her lashes so many times, I thought she'd get a permanent twitch. And what's with the rolling lips? Plus, there were just so many things that were wrong or didn't make sense. For example, while on her cell phone her friend hung up on her and there was a sudden dial tone in her ear?? What kind of cell phone do you have? I could go on and on with examples.
I think this story was a cute, if predictable, idea. It could have been a fun read. Unfortunately, it was not executed well. There was a little bit of cute banter, but not nearly enough to save the story.
November 8, 2014
This Thanksgiving story snuck into my reading list in amongst all the Christmassy reads that are around at the moment. Not having read a Thanksgiving story before, and being British, I didn’t know quite what to expect. Would it be a food fest? The answer is a definite yes, this book is stuffed with turkey and all the trimmings, in particular the pecan pie. Lauren has been entrusted by her grandmother to make the family pecan pie, to her special secret recipe and with instructions not to deviate from them at all. These instructions involve a two hour drive to a certain pecan farm to buy the pecans and that is where our story starts. Now, being British, the thought of driving for two hours just to buy nuts is, well, inconceivable but, as my Californian neighbour who drives that distance every year to buy apples to make cider says “if I can save 10c then I will drive the distance”.
The story itself is not a bad one, it is predictable cosy comfort reading that you don’t need to think about for an hour or two. It is a story based around a family with a huge dash of romance thrown into the mix. At one point it becomes not so much food porn but baking porn, with the sexual tension in the kitchen rising along with that of the oven.
However, the book is in dire need of a thorough edit and proof read. Some sentences are very short, staccato ones whilst others are long and ramble on and on, so that at the end of them you need to pause for breath. A little instruction on the correct use of commas, sentence and paragraph construction would be extremely beneficial here. Some of the dialogue between Lauren and Jack in the kitchen was extremely corny and almost verging on vomit-inducing and just doesn’t seem to flow naturally.
To sum up, it could be a good read, but in its present form it is kinda resembling the turkey that Lauren and her family gather to eat on Thanksgiving Day. Thanks to the publishers for the review copy.
The story itself is not a bad one, it is predictable cosy comfort reading that you don’t need to think about for an hour or two. It is a story based around a family with a huge dash of romance thrown into the mix. At one point it becomes not so much food porn but baking porn, with the sexual tension in the kitchen rising along with that of the oven.
However, the book is in dire need of a thorough edit and proof read. Some sentences are very short, staccato ones whilst others are long and ramble on and on, so that at the end of them you need to pause for breath. A little instruction on the correct use of commas, sentence and paragraph construction would be extremely beneficial here. Some of the dialogue between Lauren and Jack in the kitchen was extremely corny and almost verging on vomit-inducing and just doesn’t seem to flow naturally.
To sum up, it could be a good read, but in its present form it is kinda resembling the turkey that Lauren and her family gather to eat on Thanksgiving Day. Thanks to the publishers for the review copy.
January 21, 2015
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Such a fun and exciting story! I feel like I am Lauren, I have lived that life, now all I need is my man...one day that will happen!
Lauren has been given a MAJOR challenge and even she doesn't know if she will be able to make it happen. She has to create her grandmother's pecan pie for Thanksgiving! She is not the baker in the family, her sister is a phenomenal cook! To make Lauren feel even better, she hears her sister talking about her lack of skills behind her back, like she need more reasons to be nervous.
One thing Lauren sees is that her pie MUST have specific pecan's from a specific pecan farm located about an hour away from home. When Lauren arrives, she sees that there is ONE BAG LEFT! She needs two...and this my fellow readers is where the craziness begins...
She goes on a wild goose chase for the pecans, meets hot guy, gets caught in an ice storm and so much more! She is running out of time, will she make it by Thanksgiving or will she be a disappointment to her grandmother and the rest of the family?
Lauren has been given a MAJOR challenge and even she doesn't know if she will be able to make it happen. She has to create her grandmother's pecan pie for Thanksgiving! She is not the baker in the family, her sister is a phenomenal cook! To make Lauren feel even better, she hears her sister talking about her lack of skills behind her back, like she need more reasons to be nervous.
One thing Lauren sees is that her pie MUST have specific pecan's from a specific pecan farm located about an hour away from home. When Lauren arrives, she sees that there is ONE BAG LEFT! She needs two...and this my fellow readers is where the craziness begins...
She goes on a wild goose chase for the pecans, meets hot guy, gets caught in an ice storm and so much more! She is running out of time, will she make it by Thanksgiving or will she be a disappointment to her grandmother and the rest of the family?
November 27, 2019
NOTE: my ebook on Nook shows author as Gina Calanni but here it pops up as Gina Henning, just to add to the irritations caused by this mere 144 page read.
Ugh. This should have been a warm, fun romance set at Thanksgiving, with plenty of amusingly dysfunctional family dynamics thrown in. Instead it is an irritatingly confused adolescent writing attempt.
Lauren is home to Texas for Thanksgiving and finds that her grandmother, recently settled into a retirement home, has bequeathed her the super secret family pecan pie recipe. This prize-winning pecan pie is the centerpiece of the family Thanksgiving. There is only one tiny problem...Lauren is the world's worst cook and baker. Off she heads on Thanksgiving Eve, after an obligatory round of Dysfunctional Family, to buy the ingredients, most especially the best pecans in Texas which are the only ones to be used. And oh, they can only be purchased at a farm over 2 hours away.
The rest unfolds with Lauren meeting Jack at the pecan farm under less than auspicious circumstances, being rescued by Jack from a flat tire in an ice storm on her way home, and ultimately starting a romance over that infamous pecan pie.
Or so it seems. Frankly, aside from the deliciously dysfunctional family descriptions and a defense of green bean casserole that I may use, both of which earned the book it's sole star, I found the author's attempts to create heat between Jack and Lauren adolescent and even off-putting. Lauren is forever 'flittering' her eyelashes (this is a thing?), tossing her hair (which is simultaneously described as a stiff frizzy helmet), and rolling her lips (????). Jack's kiss causes her to "leave the dock of sensibility."
Unfortunately, this romance stayed in dry dock.
Ugh. This should have been a warm, fun romance set at Thanksgiving, with plenty of amusingly dysfunctional family dynamics thrown in. Instead it is an irritatingly confused adolescent writing attempt.
Lauren is home to Texas for Thanksgiving and finds that her grandmother, recently settled into a retirement home, has bequeathed her the super secret family pecan pie recipe. This prize-winning pecan pie is the centerpiece of the family Thanksgiving. There is only one tiny problem...Lauren is the world's worst cook and baker. Off she heads on Thanksgiving Eve, after an obligatory round of Dysfunctional Family, to buy the ingredients, most especially the best pecans in Texas which are the only ones to be used. And oh, they can only be purchased at a farm over 2 hours away.
The rest unfolds with Lauren meeting Jack at the pecan farm under less than auspicious circumstances, being rescued by Jack from a flat tire in an ice storm on her way home, and ultimately starting a romance over that infamous pecan pie.
Or so it seems. Frankly, aside from the deliciously dysfunctional family descriptions and a defense of green bean casserole that I may use, both of which earned the book it's sole star, I found the author's attempts to create heat between Jack and Lauren adolescent and even off-putting. Lauren is forever 'flittering' her eyelashes (this is a thing?), tossing her hair (which is simultaneously described as a stiff frizzy helmet), and rolling her lips (????). Jack's kiss causes her to "leave the dock of sensibility."
Unfortunately, this romance stayed in dry dock.
December 4, 2014
I loved this one. Lauren has returned home for Thanksgiving and discovers that her grandma has chosen her to take over the secret recipe for the Perfect Pecan Pie. She's not renowned for being the perfect cook and doesn't want to disappoint the family. When she reads that the most important ingredient can only be bought in one shop a fair drive away. It's already getting quite late and she has a race against time to get everything before the stores close. When she gets to the Pecan Nut store she is horrified to find the shelves bare because one man appears to have bought the entire stock. The one bag left will not be enough to produce perfection. What is she going to do???????
Disaster strikes on the way home when her car breaks down, her mobile goes flat and the helpful car that stops to help is the pecan hoarder from the shop! Can things get any worse for her?
They come to some sort of resolution and romance seems to be bubbling just above them. But she's from out of time and has bad experiences with long distance relationships. The book ends leaving us wondering and I was delighted to find the follow up book is available. I can't wait to find out what happens next.
Many thanks to Carina Uk and Net Galley for a copy of this book.
Disaster strikes on the way home when her car breaks down, her mobile goes flat and the helpful car that stops to help is the pecan hoarder from the shop! Can things get any worse for her?
They come to some sort of resolution and romance seems to be bubbling just above them. But she's from out of time and has bad experiences with long distance relationships. The book ends leaving us wondering and I was delighted to find the follow up book is available. I can't wait to find out what happens next.
Many thanks to Carina Uk and Net Galley for a copy of this book.
November 27, 2017
Fluffy little Thanksgiving listen while in the kitchen. There is no Audible edition in Goodreads database. Audible has this version that was just under 4 hours as well as one entitled How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie that is 5 1/2 hours long. Same story both say unabridged. Wondering if author rewrote longer version as it is part of series.
August 17, 2014
This fun, flirty, holiday-themed romantic comedy was the perfect read for a lazy Saturday afternoon. I enjoyed spending time with heroine Lauren Hauser, who's tasked in the first chapter with preparing her grandmother's super special pecan pie recipe for her family's Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, making a pie isn't so easy when you're not much of a baker and you have to drive out to a pecan farm in Timbuktu to get the main ingredient for the recipe. To say that a comedy of errors ensues would be an understatement. Poor Lauren is thwarted at every turn. I felt badly for her, but I also laughed a lot at her various predicaments. Part of her problem is business-minded hottie Jack, who bogarts all the pecans at the farm and refuses to be swayed by Lauren's pleas for just one bag.
Of course, that's only the beginning of Lauren and Jack's relationship, and I thought the author did a great job of building a believable chemistry and rapport between the two characters. In a short time, I felt really invested in seeing things work out for these two. Going Pecans ended in a satisfying way for Lauren and Jack (and this reader), but it also left several things up in the air, which makes me really want to read the next book in the series! Meanwhile, I can go back and reread some of my favorite scenes again (these would include any time Lauren's holiday decor-obsessed mother or kooky sister-in-law Aurora appear.)
If you're in the mood for a fast, entertaining, romance-filled read, pick up a copy of Going Pecans (It even comes with a recipe for pecan pie, so you can indulge in a sweet treat while enjoying the book!)
Of course, that's only the beginning of Lauren and Jack's relationship, and I thought the author did a great job of building a believable chemistry and rapport between the two characters. In a short time, I felt really invested in seeing things work out for these two. Going Pecans ended in a satisfying way for Lauren and Jack (and this reader), but it also left several things up in the air, which makes me really want to read the next book in the series! Meanwhile, I can go back and reread some of my favorite scenes again (these would include any time Lauren's holiday decor-obsessed mother or kooky sister-in-law Aurora appear.)
If you're in the mood for a fast, entertaining, romance-filled read, pick up a copy of Going Pecans (It even comes with a recipe for pecan pie, so you can indulge in a sweet treat while enjoying the book!)
November 12, 2014
Title: How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie
Author: Gina Henning
Publisher: Carina
Series: Home For The Holidays #1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:
"How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie" by Gina Henning
Book Description....
"A warm pie. A tasty guy. Happy Thanksgiving indeed.
Lauren Hauser is home for the holidays, and she’s been given a challenge: preparing her grandmother’s pecan pie. The problem? Lauren’s not famed for her baking skills. In fact, while her sister would win Star Baker every week, and her mom at least knows a sieve from a spatula, Lauren’s bakes have always been more dangerous than delicious!
Still, no Thanksgiving would be complete without dessert…which is why Lauren finds herself searching for pecans on Thanksgiving Eve. Stumbling into a gorgeous stranger laden down with bags of pecans seems like a holiday miracle…but despite Jack’s kissable lips he’s frostier than a snow cone…and out of sight before she can say ‘Macy’s Parade!'
As the clock counts down to Thanksgiving dinner, Lauren is running out of time. And without her grandmother’s perfect pecan pie it won’t be a very Happy Thanksgiving!
What Lauren needs is a knight in shining armour. And it might just be that the magic of Thanksgiving will find her one after all…"
What I liked from this novel....
“How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie” was a quick wonderful delightful seasonal read about Thanksgiving and a letter from a sweet grandmother to Lauren. When Lauren inherits this pecan pie recipe from her grandmother that had a stipulation...would Lauren be able to master the art of baking that precious and important pie for the holiday? What was up with those special pecans which will become an adventure for Lauren to get? Who was this mysterious guy who seemed to be a business guy with ties from Texas that Lauren would have to deal with? Well, these questions will definitely be answered as you read "How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie."
What I especially liked about this novel......
“How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie” will definitely leave you smiling as these two characters (Lauren and Jack) come together in this sweet romance, with humor, mystery and oh my goodness that pecan pie. This would be a good Thanksgiving holiday read I would recommend to you.
Author: Gina Henning
Publisher: Carina
Series: Home For The Holidays #1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:
"How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie" by Gina Henning
Book Description....
"A warm pie. A tasty guy. Happy Thanksgiving indeed.
Lauren Hauser is home for the holidays, and she’s been given a challenge: preparing her grandmother’s pecan pie. The problem? Lauren’s not famed for her baking skills. In fact, while her sister would win Star Baker every week, and her mom at least knows a sieve from a spatula, Lauren’s bakes have always been more dangerous than delicious!
Still, no Thanksgiving would be complete without dessert…which is why Lauren finds herself searching for pecans on Thanksgiving Eve. Stumbling into a gorgeous stranger laden down with bags of pecans seems like a holiday miracle…but despite Jack’s kissable lips he’s frostier than a snow cone…and out of sight before she can say ‘Macy’s Parade!'
As the clock counts down to Thanksgiving dinner, Lauren is running out of time. And without her grandmother’s perfect pecan pie it won’t be a very Happy Thanksgiving!
What Lauren needs is a knight in shining armour. And it might just be that the magic of Thanksgiving will find her one after all…"
What I liked from this novel....
“How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie” was a quick wonderful delightful seasonal read about Thanksgiving and a letter from a sweet grandmother to Lauren. When Lauren inherits this pecan pie recipe from her grandmother that had a stipulation...would Lauren be able to master the art of baking that precious and important pie for the holiday? What was up with those special pecans which will become an adventure for Lauren to get? Who was this mysterious guy who seemed to be a business guy with ties from Texas that Lauren would have to deal with? Well, these questions will definitely be answered as you read "How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie."
What I especially liked about this novel......
“How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie” will definitely leave you smiling as these two characters (Lauren and Jack) come together in this sweet romance, with humor, mystery and oh my goodness that pecan pie. This would be a good Thanksgiving holiday read I would recommend to you.
August 31, 2014
Title: Going Pecans
Author: Gina Henning
Publisher: Metanovel
Series: Holiday Sugar # 1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:
"Going Pecans" by Gina Henning
What is the novel about?
"A warm pie. A tasty guy. Happy Thanksgiving indeed.
Homecomings for Lauren Hauser are always filled with delicious food and hopes for a distraction from her quirky family. The only exception with this visit: she’s been given the challenge of preparing her grandmother’s pie.
Set out on a journey for pecans, Lauren stumbles into Jack a guy who despite his charm (and kissable lips) appears to be in a committed relationship…with his career. His main concern is taking care of a last minute errand for a client, not Lauren or her quest for the key ingredient.
Frazzled in more ways than one, Lauren’s journey improves when Jack rescues her from an icy walk. Attraction and tension rise and soon pecans aren't the only things getting toasty in the kitchen."
What I liked from this novel....
"Going Pecans" was a quick wonderful delightful seasonal read about Thanksgiving and a letter from a sweet grandmother to Lauren. When Lauren inherits this pecan pie recipe from her grandmother that had a stipulation...would Lauren be able to master the art of baking that precious and important pie for the holiday? What was up with those special pecans which will become an adventure for Lauren to get? Who was this mysterious guy who seemed to be a business guy with ties from Texas that Lauren would have to deal with? Well, these questions will definitely be answered as you read "Going Pecans."
What I especially liked about this read...
"Going Pecans" will definitely leave you smiling as these two characters (Lauren and Jack) come together in this sweet romance, with humor, mystery and oh my goodness that pecan pie. This would be a good Thanksgiving holiday read I would recommend to you.
Author: Gina Henning
Publisher: Metanovel
Series: Holiday Sugar # 1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:
"Going Pecans" by Gina Henning
What is the novel about?
"A warm pie. A tasty guy. Happy Thanksgiving indeed.
Homecomings for Lauren Hauser are always filled with delicious food and hopes for a distraction from her quirky family. The only exception with this visit: she’s been given the challenge of preparing her grandmother’s pie.
Set out on a journey for pecans, Lauren stumbles into Jack a guy who despite his charm (and kissable lips) appears to be in a committed relationship…with his career. His main concern is taking care of a last minute errand for a client, not Lauren or her quest for the key ingredient.
Frazzled in more ways than one, Lauren’s journey improves when Jack rescues her from an icy walk. Attraction and tension rise and soon pecans aren't the only things getting toasty in the kitchen."
What I liked from this novel....
"Going Pecans" was a quick wonderful delightful seasonal read about Thanksgiving and a letter from a sweet grandmother to Lauren. When Lauren inherits this pecan pie recipe from her grandmother that had a stipulation...would Lauren be able to master the art of baking that precious and important pie for the holiday? What was up with those special pecans which will become an adventure for Lauren to get? Who was this mysterious guy who seemed to be a business guy with ties from Texas that Lauren would have to deal with? Well, these questions will definitely be answered as you read "Going Pecans."
What I especially liked about this read...
"Going Pecans" will definitely leave you smiling as these two characters (Lauren and Jack) come together in this sweet romance, with humor, mystery and oh my goodness that pecan pie. This would be a good Thanksgiving holiday read I would recommend to you.
January 16, 2016
How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie by Gina Henning
This story is told from Lauren Hauser’s point of view. I found it humorous and a quick read.
Lauren comes home for Thanksgiving to find that her grandmother has chosen her to make the pecan pie. The most important part of their Thanksgiving. And it’s already Thanksgiving Eve. And...well, her sister Megan would have been the better choice.
Between a pecan hoarder, her brother-in-law who “fixes” everything in her parents home, a sister-in-law...well you’ll have to read the book to find the best words to describe her. She loves her crazy family...and it may be easier to do since she lives plenty far away from them. It ends not quite at a cliffhanger, but your toes aren’t far from the edge. Looking forward to more.
**Received through NetGalley for honest review
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
This story is told from Lauren Hauser’s point of view. I found it humorous and a quick read.
Lauren comes home for Thanksgiving to find that her grandmother has chosen her to make the pecan pie. The most important part of their Thanksgiving. And it’s already Thanksgiving Eve. And...well, her sister Megan would have been the better choice.
Between a pecan hoarder, her brother-in-law who “fixes” everything in her parents home, a sister-in-law...well you’ll have to read the book to find the best words to describe her. She loves her crazy family...and it may be easier to do since she lives plenty far away from them. It ends not quite at a cliffhanger, but your toes aren’t far from the edge. Looking forward to more.
**Received through NetGalley for honest review
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
August 25, 2015
This is the first book in the Home for the Holidays series. I read this series out of order, starting at book two, then book three. Now I have come back to the beginning to see how it all started. I have noticed the author's writing improve over the series and I'm really looking forward to book four coming out soon.
It was strange meet Jack and not like him after being totally in love with him in the following books. It took me quite a while to warm up to him in this book.
This is a fun, light chick lit read. Perfect to enjoy with a cuppa and a slice of pie. Mmmm pecan pie. Now I'm hungry again.
I listened to the audiobook edition, which I received free in exchange for an honest review. The narrator spoke clearly and at a good pace.
It was strange meet Jack and not like him after being totally in love with him in the following books. It took me quite a while to warm up to him in this book.
This is a fun, light chick lit read. Perfect to enjoy with a cuppa and a slice of pie. Mmmm pecan pie. Now I'm hungry again.
I listened to the audiobook edition, which I received free in exchange for an honest review. The narrator spoke clearly and at a good pace.
December 2, 2017
So when I realized that I only had one Thanksgiving novel on my Kindle, I googled Thanksgiving romance books and came up with several lists. This book was at the top or near the top of most of the lists I looked at. Oh brother. I read around eight books that I found in this subgenre and I have to say that this one at least tied to pretty much the worst on the list. Maybe my expectations were set too high by seeing it in the #1 spot on the GR Thanksgiving Romances Listopia. Guess I should have looked at the number of votes on this list.
Based on the summary of the novel, I was expecting a family drama filled Thanksgiving celebration with a dose of hate to love romance. Not so much. What I ended up with was a rather juvenile heroine who complained about everything from creepy hugs from her brother-in-law to her sister-in-law’s taste in eighties music (hint you’ve just alienated any of your readers my age who loved the music they rocked through puberty) and don’t even get me started on her complaints about her sister texting her while driving. Are you twelve? No you’re an adult. When you arrive at your destination, check your phone. The incessant running commentary in the heroine’s head by this point was beyond annoying to me and I still had a long ways to go with this one. Did I mention the lips? Lips rolling, lips pressing together, lips rolling again. It was never-ending.
The book definitely needed a proofread and a couple of passages should have been rewritten.
I enjoyed knowing the small towns and area where the story took place. It’s very close to where I grew up, which also led to some problems too. Yes, she lives in the city but she grew up here. She should know that rural areas change more slowly. The rant on checks was a little odd as was the complaint about fireplaces. My parents burn their fireplace in the evening quite often from October to February since it gets cool at night during the winter. There doesn’t have to be snow on the ground to run your fireplace, it just needs to be in the forties at night and our fireplace is burning. I do not take issue with the seventies weather that suddenly degraded to a sudden sleet storm. Yes, this definitely happens in the winter in Texas.
So on to the pecans. There was only 1 bag left in the store at the specific pecan farm needed, and it wasn’t the right size. She needed another one. The guy in line in front of her had 13 bags. So she flirts and asks him for one, then she gets rude about it, then she contemplates stealing it. Really? This is a Thanksgiving story and this woman is a responsible adult.
I did actually finish the book but I won’t be reading it again next Thanksgiving and a word of warning if you do read it, keep in mind that its just a HFN ending and continues to the next book in the series apparently about baking a Christmas cake which I will not be reading.
Based on the summary of the novel, I was expecting a family drama filled Thanksgiving celebration with a dose of hate to love romance. Not so much. What I ended up with was a rather juvenile heroine who complained about everything from creepy hugs from her brother-in-law to her sister-in-law’s taste in eighties music (hint you’ve just alienated any of your readers my age who loved the music they rocked through puberty) and don’t even get me started on her complaints about her sister texting her while driving. Are you twelve? No you’re an adult. When you arrive at your destination, check your phone. The incessant running commentary in the heroine’s head by this point was beyond annoying to me and I still had a long ways to go with this one. Did I mention the lips? Lips rolling, lips pressing together, lips rolling again. It was never-ending.
The book definitely needed a proofread and a couple of passages should have been rewritten.
I enjoyed knowing the small towns and area where the story took place. It’s very close to where I grew up, which also led to some problems too. Yes, she lives in the city but she grew up here. She should know that rural areas change more slowly. The rant on checks was a little odd as was the complaint about fireplaces. My parents burn their fireplace in the evening quite often from October to February since it gets cool at night during the winter. There doesn’t have to be snow on the ground to run your fireplace, it just needs to be in the forties at night and our fireplace is burning. I do not take issue with the seventies weather that suddenly degraded to a sudden sleet storm. Yes, this definitely happens in the winter in Texas.
So on to the pecans. There was only 1 bag left in the store at the specific pecan farm needed, and it wasn’t the right size. She needed another one. The guy in line in front of her had 13 bags. So she flirts and asks him for one, then she gets rude about it, then she contemplates stealing it. Really? This is a Thanksgiving story and this woman is a responsible adult.
I did actually finish the book but I won’t be reading it again next Thanksgiving and a word of warning if you do read it, keep in mind that its just a HFN ending and continues to the next book in the series apparently about baking a Christmas cake which I will not be reading.
November 19, 2017
The whole first 20% is just the main character describing herself and her incredibly grating family. Nothing interesting happens. At all. I tried skipping ahead to the meets cute (which should NOT be that far into a romance book!) and there was no chemistry because the writing was still bland AF and nothing but irrelevant description.
November 26, 2023
Was looking for a cosy holiday read and came across this title.
I persevered hoping it would get better and then ultimately skim read just to finish since I’d invested time in it.
So badly written with so much repetition and the weirdest descriptions of things.
Characters are CRINGE and desperate and highly unrealistic.
I persevered hoping it would get better and then ultimately skim read just to finish since I’d invested time in it.
So badly written with so much repetition and the weirdest descriptions of things.
Characters are CRINGE and desperate and highly unrealistic.
January 6, 2019
Enjoyable read.
Light story. Easy and fun read. Characters and plot straight forward. Can read in an afternoon! Fun for a holiday read!
Light story. Easy and fun read. Characters and plot straight forward. Can read in an afternoon! Fun for a holiday read!
November 17, 2021
Fun quick Thanksgiving read!
November 7, 2023
This is a cute, wholesome story. Perfectly light to the Thanksgiving season. My only complaint would be how abrupt the story ended.
Read
January 3, 2024This story is a typical holiday romance. The book did seem a bit unpolished to me. Still a nice lighthearted read around the holidays.
February 19, 2021
Rate: 2 ⭐️⭐️
Without getting into the content of the book, I would like to say that where I live, we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, so I was looking forward to read more about this holiday, especially cause it is always pictured as a celebration filled with all kinds of family drama and complicated relationships. I manly started to read this book in honor of a group challenge where the theme had to be “a book set during thanksgiving”. I would give myself a check on that matter!
On the first impressing, I don’t know if I would read this book if it wasn’t for the theme itself (and especially cause I’m not really familiar with the holiday), because I wouldn’t look for this kind of content. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the cover (I thought it was really light and festive!) and the title, especially the fact that is a part of a series all about the major holidays.
I also enjoyed the fact that all the story is center around the pecan pie. Lauren has to make one (after her grandmother gave her the secret family recipe) for all her family with the extra pression of making a good job because her family is a little bit judgmental (aren’t all the families a little critical sometimes? I sure as hell can say mine is). However, I felt a little blue when I realize that the main storyline is about this rude guy she meets in the pecan store. I’m not saying that their meeting wasn’t cute – because it was – but I wanted to see a little more family time that we actually got. A lot of the time I was thinking to myself “shouldn’t she be with her family right now?”. On this note, I was really disappointed about the lack of time dedicated to her grandmother. With the abstract I felt like her grandmother was going to have a more present role, but it turns out she was only trying to “trick” Lauren into finding a boyfriend. I am going to be honest: I really hate this pression and influence over the main female character getting a boyfriend. And annoyed the heck out of me seeing all the family dinner being around Jack and his weird-not-even-a-day relationship with Lauren. I like to read romance books and I love romantic
Stories just as much as the next guy, but I really hate how the family or the society pression through the FEMEALE character to get a boyfriend. If Lauren was a man, I’m pretty sure that the story wouldn’t had all this focus on her love life. I feel like this is so common on our societies, this pression and persistent about finding a male companion that this is not even an issue. Is “normal”, is common to think “she is 27, why shouldn’t she have a boyfriend? When will she get marry? Oh my god, she is getting so old, what about babies??” and I just think that all of this is WRONG. An adult woman can or cannot marry, have babies or have a boyfriend. It’s a choice and shouldn’t be anybody’s business.
Hereupon, I’m not judging only the author, I’m manly taking a hit on the conception and the organization of the society, especially when it comes to the role of a woman and the expectations that is set on HER private life, HER private choices and HER will of choosing and keeping a date.
With this being said, I was so disappointed about the end. I enjoyed how slow they got together and how they didn’t kiss on the first second, but I also don’t understand how they was so into each other after only getting together two time. And one of these times, he was rude (to keep the stereotype of: I am a white, powerful man and I get all the ladies on my foot). Of course, that he was a knight in a white horse (more like an expensive Mercedes, but is the same point) and she was the lady in distress.
If we ignore the marked features of the patriarchal society (and we often have to in so much literature) and the lack of family time in a thanksgiving dinner, it’s a good, soft and not-so-complicated book. It’s perfect for the late nights before bed where your brain is too tired to think and you just want something to keep occupied. The theme is perfect for this weather, each is a nice plus. I already have the second book of the series and I am willing to give the story a second chance. Let’s see what the Christmas part has reserved for us ✨
Without getting into the content of the book, I would like to say that where I live, we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, so I was looking forward to read more about this holiday, especially cause it is always pictured as a celebration filled with all kinds of family drama and complicated relationships. I manly started to read this book in honor of a group challenge where the theme had to be “a book set during thanksgiving”. I would give myself a check on that matter!
On the first impressing, I don’t know if I would read this book if it wasn’t for the theme itself (and especially cause I’m not really familiar with the holiday), because I wouldn’t look for this kind of content. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the cover (I thought it was really light and festive!) and the title, especially the fact that is a part of a series all about the major holidays.
I also enjoyed the fact that all the story is center around the pecan pie. Lauren has to make one (after her grandmother gave her the secret family recipe) for all her family with the extra pression of making a good job because her family is a little bit judgmental (aren’t all the families a little critical sometimes? I sure as hell can say mine is). However, I felt a little blue when I realize that the main storyline is about this rude guy she meets in the pecan store. I’m not saying that their meeting wasn’t cute – because it was – but I wanted to see a little more family time that we actually got. A lot of the time I was thinking to myself “shouldn’t she be with her family right now?”. On this note, I was really disappointed about the lack of time dedicated to her grandmother. With the abstract I felt like her grandmother was going to have a more present role, but it turns out she was only trying to “trick” Lauren into finding a boyfriend. I am going to be honest: I really hate this pression and influence over the main female character getting a boyfriend. And annoyed the heck out of me seeing all the family dinner being around Jack and his weird-not-even-a-day relationship with Lauren. I like to read romance books and I love romantic
Stories just as much as the next guy, but I really hate how the family or the society pression through the FEMEALE character to get a boyfriend. If Lauren was a man, I’m pretty sure that the story wouldn’t had all this focus on her love life. I feel like this is so common on our societies, this pression and persistent about finding a male companion that this is not even an issue. Is “normal”, is common to think “she is 27, why shouldn’t she have a boyfriend? When will she get marry? Oh my god, she is getting so old, what about babies??” and I just think that all of this is WRONG. An adult woman can or cannot marry, have babies or have a boyfriend. It’s a choice and shouldn’t be anybody’s business.
Hereupon, I’m not judging only the author, I’m manly taking a hit on the conception and the organization of the society, especially when it comes to the role of a woman and the expectations that is set on HER private life, HER private choices and HER will of choosing and keeping a date.
With this being said, I was so disappointed about the end. I enjoyed how slow they got together and how they didn’t kiss on the first second, but I also don’t understand how they was so into each other after only getting together two time. And one of these times, he was rude (to keep the stereotype of: I am a white, powerful man and I get all the ladies on my foot). Of course, that he was a knight in a white horse (more like an expensive Mercedes, but is the same point) and she was the lady in distress.
If we ignore the marked features of the patriarchal society (and we often have to in so much literature) and the lack of family time in a thanksgiving dinner, it’s a good, soft and not-so-complicated book. It’s perfect for the late nights before bed where your brain is too tired to think and you just want something to keep occupied. The theme is perfect for this weather, each is a nice plus. I already have the second book of the series and I am willing to give the story a second chance. Let’s see what the Christmas part has reserved for us ✨
January 28, 2015
3.5 out of 5.
Posted originally http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2014...
Before I review the book itself, I have to say that Carina have outdone themselves yet again with another gorgeous cover. The cover for How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie is cute and fun and perfectly represents the actual book Gina Henning has written. How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie is a Thanksgiving romance and it’s an entertaining, sweet novella to read during the holiday season. Nothing is taken too seriously, it’s a light-hearted outlook on Lauren Hauser, who disastrous in the kitchen, has been given her grandmother’s special pecan pie recipe to make for Thanksgiving. Setting off to buy the right pecans for the pie, under her grandmother’s warning that the wrong ones will ruin Thanksgiving, Lauren is not expecting to stumble into a little holiday romance along the way and the pressure is on to bake the perfect pecan pie and get to know this handsome stranger, with or without her family’s interfering presence.
I found How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie a little slow to get going and it took me a bit of time to warm to Lauren. At the beginning she seemed very over-dramatic and a bit disastrous, which at first I found a little irritating. I also felt it seemed a bit unrealistic how someone who apparently doesn’t do hook-ups didn’t seem to have any issues getting into Jack’s car and then going to spend the rest of the day baking with him when all she knew about him was that he was the seemingly moody and off-hand stranger she met a little rudely in the store. Having said that, I did grow to like both characters and really enjoyed the build-up of the chemistry between them and the little moments they shared. It was a sweet romance and I was interested to see how it would work out given that the story was only set over a couple of days. What I loved the most about the novella was Lauren’s family who were very amusing and so eager for Lauren to meet someone. They just felt like the typical family – with the bickering and the teasing and the little bit of interfering – and the family outlook gave a really warm and endearing feel to this novella.
Though the story was a little predictable, it was a still a worthwhile fun-filled read. I loved the humour and all the mad antics Lauren and her family got up to and it felt like the kind of hectic build up to Thanksgiving I would expect. How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie is simply a cute little holiday romance read and there were definitely enough mentions of food to have this Brit craving Thanksgiving dinner. The characters could be quite comical and I thought the relationships between the family members were quite easy to relate to. I always enjoy a book which can represent what I consider the realistic kind of family and How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie did that. I loved the ending and this is the kind of ideal, cosy read to escape into and put a little smile on your face for an hour or two. I’m looking forward to seeing what Gina brings us with the next book in the series, How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake.
*Book received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Posted originally http://www.reviewedthebook.co.uk/2014...
Before I review the book itself, I have to say that Carina have outdone themselves yet again with another gorgeous cover. The cover for How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie is cute and fun and perfectly represents the actual book Gina Henning has written. How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie is a Thanksgiving romance and it’s an entertaining, sweet novella to read during the holiday season. Nothing is taken too seriously, it’s a light-hearted outlook on Lauren Hauser, who disastrous in the kitchen, has been given her grandmother’s special pecan pie recipe to make for Thanksgiving. Setting off to buy the right pecans for the pie, under her grandmother’s warning that the wrong ones will ruin Thanksgiving, Lauren is not expecting to stumble into a little holiday romance along the way and the pressure is on to bake the perfect pecan pie and get to know this handsome stranger, with or without her family’s interfering presence.
I found How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie a little slow to get going and it took me a bit of time to warm to Lauren. At the beginning she seemed very over-dramatic and a bit disastrous, which at first I found a little irritating. I also felt it seemed a bit unrealistic how someone who apparently doesn’t do hook-ups didn’t seem to have any issues getting into Jack’s car and then going to spend the rest of the day baking with him when all she knew about him was that he was the seemingly moody and off-hand stranger she met a little rudely in the store. Having said that, I did grow to like both characters and really enjoyed the build-up of the chemistry between them and the little moments they shared. It was a sweet romance and I was interested to see how it would work out given that the story was only set over a couple of days. What I loved the most about the novella was Lauren’s family who were very amusing and so eager for Lauren to meet someone. They just felt like the typical family – with the bickering and the teasing and the little bit of interfering – and the family outlook gave a really warm and endearing feel to this novella.
Though the story was a little predictable, it was a still a worthwhile fun-filled read. I loved the humour and all the mad antics Lauren and her family got up to and it felt like the kind of hectic build up to Thanksgiving I would expect. How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie is simply a cute little holiday romance read and there were definitely enough mentions of food to have this Brit craving Thanksgiving dinner. The characters could be quite comical and I thought the relationships between the family members were quite easy to relate to. I always enjoy a book which can represent what I consider the realistic kind of family and How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie did that. I loved the ending and this is the kind of ideal, cosy read to escape into and put a little smile on your face for an hour or two. I’m looking forward to seeing what Gina brings us with the next book in the series, How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake.
*Book received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2015
How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie is the first in the 'How to Bake' series of books by Gina Henning. This first one is set at thanksgiving, and follows Lauren in her quest to bake the perfect pecan pie for the family thanksgiving meal. Lauren is a bit of the outsider when it comes to family baking, with her Grandmother and Sister stealing star baker crowns. However, this year her Grandmother has entrusted Lauren with the special, secret recipe for the perfect pecan pie.
Determined not to let her down, and to follow the recipe to the letter and produce a lie to be proud of, Lauren sets off for her pecans, which must be bought from one special supplier. Cue the start of a comedy of errors. It starts badly when the van she has borrowed from her Mum is playing up, and gets worse when she reaches the suppliers in time to see that they have sold out of the exact amount of pecans she needs.
Enter Jack....laden down with so many pecans that Lauren is sure he will spare her some. Or maybe not! From the outset there appears to be a clear attraction between them, but there is also no chance that Jack will part with any of his stock.
Dejectedly Lauren drives away and just when she thinks she is done for, things all change again. The van breaks down and she is forced to start walking in atrocious conditions until Jack drives up along side and picks her up. Within the confines of his car they are forced to get to know eachother. Will be relent and help Lauren in her ambition to create her perfect pecan pie? Or will he continue to put scanners in the works?
First off, don't be out off reading this book because it centres around thanksgiving. I didn't read it at the time and it didnt make me enjoy the book any less. Thanksgiving provides the backdrop, but this can be easily enjoyed at any time of year.
I really enjoyed the story. It is easy to follow and has some funny moments that made me laugh and cheered me up. I don't want to give the plot away, but there is a twist that I didn't see coming invoking the Grandmother who is living in a nursing home that made me smile and bought the storyline together in a warm sweet way.
I had read mixed reviews about the book, so wasnt quite sure what to expect, but I really enjoyed it. I found Lauren a likeable character, if not a little naive. She wanted to make her family proud, and not be belittled by her sister who it seemed to me is a bit of the star. The plot is quite predictable. Lauren sees Jack, Jack is a nightmare, before becoming the knight in shining armour. The spark is there but will romance have a chance to blossom? To me these ingredients often make for a fun, romantic read, and this is no exception. I also really liked the family, who would be great to spend an evening having dinner with.
All in all a well written, fun, romantic story with talk of food included which is always a winner for me!! I will definitely be reading the next instalment 'How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake'.
Thank you to Carina for providing a copy in return for an honest review.
Determined not to let her down, and to follow the recipe to the letter and produce a lie to be proud of, Lauren sets off for her pecans, which must be bought from one special supplier. Cue the start of a comedy of errors. It starts badly when the van she has borrowed from her Mum is playing up, and gets worse when she reaches the suppliers in time to see that they have sold out of the exact amount of pecans she needs.
Enter Jack....laden down with so many pecans that Lauren is sure he will spare her some. Or maybe not! From the outset there appears to be a clear attraction between them, but there is also no chance that Jack will part with any of his stock.
Dejectedly Lauren drives away and just when she thinks she is done for, things all change again. The van breaks down and she is forced to start walking in atrocious conditions until Jack drives up along side and picks her up. Within the confines of his car they are forced to get to know eachother. Will be relent and help Lauren in her ambition to create her perfect pecan pie? Or will he continue to put scanners in the works?
First off, don't be out off reading this book because it centres around thanksgiving. I didn't read it at the time and it didnt make me enjoy the book any less. Thanksgiving provides the backdrop, but this can be easily enjoyed at any time of year.
I really enjoyed the story. It is easy to follow and has some funny moments that made me laugh and cheered me up. I don't want to give the plot away, but there is a twist that I didn't see coming invoking the Grandmother who is living in a nursing home that made me smile and bought the storyline together in a warm sweet way.
I had read mixed reviews about the book, so wasnt quite sure what to expect, but I really enjoyed it. I found Lauren a likeable character, if not a little naive. She wanted to make her family proud, and not be belittled by her sister who it seemed to me is a bit of the star. The plot is quite predictable. Lauren sees Jack, Jack is a nightmare, before becoming the knight in shining armour. The spark is there but will romance have a chance to blossom? To me these ingredients often make for a fun, romantic read, and this is no exception. I also really liked the family, who would be great to spend an evening having dinner with.
All in all a well written, fun, romantic story with talk of food included which is always a winner for me!! I will definitely be reading the next instalment 'How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake'.
Thank you to Carina for providing a copy in return for an honest review.
September 8, 2014
Lauren has been entrusted with her grandmother’s highly secret pecan pie recipe and has been tasked to bake this pie for the upcoming family Thanksgiving meal. Looking at the ingredient list, everything looks pretty standard – except the pecans. They MUST come from a certain pecan farm – no exceptions, or the pie will not be the same. These pecans absolutely make the pie taste so good and grandma will know if inferior pecans are used. You know the saying – if grandma ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy!
Of course, once Lauren gets to the pecan farm, only one small eight ounce bag is left and she needs ten ounces to make the pie. As she is in line to check out, the sexy business man in front of her has thirteen bags of the desired pecans. What the heck does he need all those for? Surly he can spare one small bag. But nope, the pecan hoarder is not parting with the pecans, no matter the price Lauren offers him.
Anyway, the situation goes from bad to worse as she starts her two hour trip home and she gets a flat tire. Of course, there is no spare tire in the trunk thanks to her not so handy brother-in -law. Then she discovers her cell phone has died. So with that, she starts walking home. Being in Texas, the weather changes by the minute (truth….I live there!) and her sunny and warm forecasted day turns to a freezing sleet storm.
Lucky for her, a passing vehicle stops to help and it is none other than the pecan hoarder. His name is Jack by the way. They really do click and since they both have pies to make, Jack invites Lauren to his place of business because he has an awesome commercial kitchen and they can whip those pies up in no time. Once she gets there though and looks over his recipe, she discovers that her grandmother’s secret family recipe is not so special at all because Jack has the same exact one. Lauren is devastated because she thought her grandma’s recipe was extra special, but spending the time with Jack make her forget all about that.
Oh, my gosh! This story was an absolute delight to read! Humor and funny antics are abundant in this fast paced, loveable story and I could not help but laugh out loud as I was reading. Even figuring out that Grandma might be playing match maker did not take away from the story at all – matter of fact, it made it all that much funnier. Going Pecans is truly fantastic and well worth the time. Ms. Henning’s writing style flows so effortlessly, the reader can’t help but be swept away in this sweet story. I highly recommend Going Pecans if you love a light-hearted romance that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
- See more at: The Avid Book Collector
Of course, once Lauren gets to the pecan farm, only one small eight ounce bag is left and she needs ten ounces to make the pie. As she is in line to check out, the sexy business man in front of her has thirteen bags of the desired pecans. What the heck does he need all those for? Surly he can spare one small bag. But nope, the pecan hoarder is not parting with the pecans, no matter the price Lauren offers him.
Anyway, the situation goes from bad to worse as she starts her two hour trip home and she gets a flat tire. Of course, there is no spare tire in the trunk thanks to her not so handy brother-in -law. Then she discovers her cell phone has died. So with that, she starts walking home. Being in Texas, the weather changes by the minute (truth….I live there!) and her sunny and warm forecasted day turns to a freezing sleet storm.
Lucky for her, a passing vehicle stops to help and it is none other than the pecan hoarder. His name is Jack by the way. They really do click and since they both have pies to make, Jack invites Lauren to his place of business because he has an awesome commercial kitchen and they can whip those pies up in no time. Once she gets there though and looks over his recipe, she discovers that her grandmother’s secret family recipe is not so special at all because Jack has the same exact one. Lauren is devastated because she thought her grandma’s recipe was extra special, but spending the time with Jack make her forget all about that.
Oh, my gosh! This story was an absolute delight to read! Humor and funny antics are abundant in this fast paced, loveable story and I could not help but laugh out loud as I was reading. Even figuring out that Grandma might be playing match maker did not take away from the story at all – matter of fact, it made it all that much funnier. Going Pecans is truly fantastic and well worth the time. Ms. Henning’s writing style flows so effortlessly, the reader can’t help but be swept away in this sweet story. I highly recommend Going Pecans if you love a light-hearted romance that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
- See more at: The Avid Book Collector
November 11, 2014
Lauren has been entrusted with her grandmother’s highly secret pecan pie recipe and has been tasked to bake this pie for the upcoming family Thanksgiving meal. Looking at the ingredient list, everything looks pretty standard – except the pecans. They MUST come from a certain pecan farm – no exceptions, or the pie will not be the same. These pecans absolutely make the pie taste so good and grandma will know if inferior pecans are used. You know the saying – if grandma ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy!
Of course, once Lauren gets to the pecan farm, only one small eight ounce bag is left and she needs ten ounces to make the pie. As she is in line to check out, the sexy business man in front of her has thirteen bags of the desired pecans. What the heck does he need all those for? Surly he can spare one small bag. But nope, the pecan hoarder is not parting with the pecans, no matter the price Lauren offers him.
Anyway, the situation goes from bad to worse as she starts her two hour trip home and she gets a flat tire. Of course, there is no spare tire in the trunk thanks to her not so handy brother-in -law. Then she discovers her cell phone has died. So with that, she starts walking home. Being in Texas, the weather changes by the minute (truth….I live there!) and her sunny and warm forecasted day turns to a freezing sleet storm.
Lucky for her, a passing vehicle stops to help and it is none other than the pecan hoarder. His name is Jack by the way. They really do click and since they both have pies to make, Jack invites Lauren to his place of business because he has an awesome commercial kitchen and they can whip those pies up in no time. Once she gets there though and looks over his recipe, she discovers that her grandmother’s secret family recipe is not so special at all because Jack has the same exact one. Lauren is devastated because she thought her grandma’s recipe was extra special, but spending the time with Jack make her forget all about that.
Oh, my gosh! This story was an absolute delight to read! Humor and funny antics are abundant in this fast paced, lovable story and I could not help but laugh out loud as I was reading. Even figuring out that Grandma might be playing match maker did not take away from the story at all – matter of fact, it made it all that much funnier. How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie is truly fantastic and well worth the time. Ms. Henning’s writing style flows so effortlessly, the reader can’t help but be swept away in this sweet story. I highly recommend How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie (Home for the Holidays - Book 1) if you love a light-hearted romance that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
Of course, once Lauren gets to the pecan farm, only one small eight ounce bag is left and she needs ten ounces to make the pie. As she is in line to check out, the sexy business man in front of her has thirteen bags of the desired pecans. What the heck does he need all those for? Surly he can spare one small bag. But nope, the pecan hoarder is not parting with the pecans, no matter the price Lauren offers him.
Anyway, the situation goes from bad to worse as she starts her two hour trip home and she gets a flat tire. Of course, there is no spare tire in the trunk thanks to her not so handy brother-in -law. Then she discovers her cell phone has died. So with that, she starts walking home. Being in Texas, the weather changes by the minute (truth….I live there!) and her sunny and warm forecasted day turns to a freezing sleet storm.
Lucky for her, a passing vehicle stops to help and it is none other than the pecan hoarder. His name is Jack by the way. They really do click and since they both have pies to make, Jack invites Lauren to his place of business because he has an awesome commercial kitchen and they can whip those pies up in no time. Once she gets there though and looks over his recipe, she discovers that her grandmother’s secret family recipe is not so special at all because Jack has the same exact one. Lauren is devastated because she thought her grandma’s recipe was extra special, but spending the time with Jack make her forget all about that.
Oh, my gosh! This story was an absolute delight to read! Humor and funny antics are abundant in this fast paced, lovable story and I could not help but laugh out loud as I was reading. Even figuring out that Grandma might be playing match maker did not take away from the story at all – matter of fact, it made it all that much funnier. How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie is truly fantastic and well worth the time. Ms. Henning’s writing style flows so effortlessly, the reader can’t help but be swept away in this sweet story. I highly recommend How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie (Home for the Holidays - Book 1) if you love a light-hearted romance that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
December 21, 2021
I rarely give 1🌟 but that’s being gracious. This was a festive Thanksgiving book club book for November but I had a hard time reading it. Even though it is a very short, quick read it didn’t hold my attention, and not much happened. I also found the characters to be kind of annoying.
November 8, 2014
4 Stars
This book was given to me for my honest review.
The monarch of a family is the one person that we can always rely on no matter the good, bad or ugly. They are never judgmental and always listen to us even when we have nothing to say. They guide us with their wisdom and knowledge from what they have lived through in their past. We may not take away what they have to say right away but in the back of our minds we know that the love they have given us along with the advice comes from within their heart. They deserve a medal from us all but more than that they own our hearts no matter what we may say.
Lauren-pretty, shy at times
Jack-hunky
Lauren is the woman that comes home to spend the Thanksgiving Holiday with her family. Though she loves her family with all she is there is a part of her that would like to scream at them for thinking that she is still the little girl that left home many years ago. Lauren was given one task by her grandmother this year to complete the perfect delectable treat she was determined to make her grandmother proud by following the exact steps but as turmoil arises will she be able to make the perfect delectable? Along her path will she find more than what she needs?
Jack is on a mission to get what he needs to make the perfect delectable pies for the retirement center. But along the way he encompasses of a spicy young woman with determination. He assures himself this is one crazy woman but also looks like a delectable herself. With his bright eyes can he see it within himself to help with her needs or just walk away and go on about his journey?
Jack and Lauren’s journey is one that is not spontaneous it is more like a sand drift it blows with the wind to make this awesome pile of sand that when mixed with water and care it could become the most powerful of all sandcastles. The relationship between these two is heated then tamed but in the end will the storm wash it away to be only built up again?
To the author: This was an amazing journey of self control on Jack and Lauren’s part. The centering around the monarch of the family was really awesome but at the same time the interaction between the two was like a sand drift. I really enjoyed this simple bit of heaven.
Happy Reading
This book was given to me for my honest review.
The monarch of a family is the one person that we can always rely on no matter the good, bad or ugly. They are never judgmental and always listen to us even when we have nothing to say. They guide us with their wisdom and knowledge from what they have lived through in their past. We may not take away what they have to say right away but in the back of our minds we know that the love they have given us along with the advice comes from within their heart. They deserve a medal from us all but more than that they own our hearts no matter what we may say.
Lauren-pretty, shy at times
Jack-hunky
Lauren is the woman that comes home to spend the Thanksgiving Holiday with her family. Though she loves her family with all she is there is a part of her that would like to scream at them for thinking that she is still the little girl that left home many years ago. Lauren was given one task by her grandmother this year to complete the perfect delectable treat she was determined to make her grandmother proud by following the exact steps but as turmoil arises will she be able to make the perfect delectable? Along her path will she find more than what she needs?
Jack is on a mission to get what he needs to make the perfect delectable pies for the retirement center. But along the way he encompasses of a spicy young woman with determination. He assures himself this is one crazy woman but also looks like a delectable herself. With his bright eyes can he see it within himself to help with her needs or just walk away and go on about his journey?
Jack and Lauren’s journey is one that is not spontaneous it is more like a sand drift it blows with the wind to make this awesome pile of sand that when mixed with water and care it could become the most powerful of all sandcastles. The relationship between these two is heated then tamed but in the end will the storm wash it away to be only built up again?
To the author: This was an amazing journey of self control on Jack and Lauren’s part. The centering around the monarch of the family was really awesome but at the same time the interaction between the two was like a sand drift. I really enjoyed this simple bit of heaven.
Happy Reading
November 7, 2014
First posted on Dreaming With Open Eyes
I kindly received How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie in exchange of an honest review by the author.
It's Thanksgiving time in Texas. Laura Hauser came all the way from Baltimore for visiting her family in Austin. Lauras grandmother has inducted her into the secret receipe and has given her the duty to of preparing the family pecan pie. Pecan pie is a big deal for Thanksgiving in most american housholds but for Laurens family it's the créme de le créme of Thanksgiving. The problem here is that Lauren is not a baker. Although she's accepting the challange because letting down her grandmother down is not an option. The most important preperation for the pie is getting the pecan nuts of a certain farm. She needs to leave immediately to be able to get them in time because it's a day before Thanksgiving and the shops close early. It's a long drive to the farm and when she arrives there's someone else who's taken almost all the pecan nuts. Not enough packs are left to make grandmothers special pie. Her bad day continues when she has a flat tire in the middle of nowhere in an icy storm. Here enters the pecan hoarder Jacke the scene again, he comes and rescues Laura. They spend an evening together making pie. Lauren is feeling some kind of attraction. Is this a beginning of a new romance?
I adored this plot and thought How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie was a really cute, amusing, heart warming read. Although I would have liked to see an added twist or two – not necessarily to change the outcome of the story but maybe to make me at least question whether the plot was going to turn out pretty much exactly how I thought it would from the start. It was entertaining but just a little too predictable for me to be fully satisfied with it. It’s well written and it has likeable characters and interesting dynamics, so if chick-lit is your bag then give it a whirl. An easy and fun summer read if you’re looking for something light and romantic.
I'm loking forward to read more of Gina Henning in the future.
I kindly received How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie in exchange of an honest review by the author.
It's Thanksgiving time in Texas. Laura Hauser came all the way from Baltimore for visiting her family in Austin. Lauras grandmother has inducted her into the secret receipe and has given her the duty to of preparing the family pecan pie. Pecan pie is a big deal for Thanksgiving in most american housholds but for Laurens family it's the créme de le créme of Thanksgiving. The problem here is that Lauren is not a baker. Although she's accepting the challange because letting down her grandmother down is not an option. The most important preperation for the pie is getting the pecan nuts of a certain farm. She needs to leave immediately to be able to get them in time because it's a day before Thanksgiving and the shops close early. It's a long drive to the farm and when she arrives there's someone else who's taken almost all the pecan nuts. Not enough packs are left to make grandmothers special pie. Her bad day continues when she has a flat tire in the middle of nowhere in an icy storm. Here enters the pecan hoarder Jacke the scene again, he comes and rescues Laura. They spend an evening together making pie. Lauren is feeling some kind of attraction. Is this a beginning of a new romance?
I adored this plot and thought How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie was a really cute, amusing, heart warming read. Although I would have liked to see an added twist or two – not necessarily to change the outcome of the story but maybe to make me at least question whether the plot was going to turn out pretty much exactly how I thought it would from the start. It was entertaining but just a little too predictable for me to be fully satisfied with it. It’s well written and it has likeable characters and interesting dynamics, so if chick-lit is your bag then give it a whirl. An easy and fun summer read if you’re looking for something light and romantic.
I'm loking forward to read more of Gina Henning in the future.
August 23, 2014
Lauren is home for Thanksgiving. She's celebrating this holiday with her family. She's back in her old room with her parents which always makes her a bit nostalgic. Her brother-in-law loves to do jobs in and around the house, but unfortunately he isn't very handy, which makes Lauren's stay a little more complicated. Lauren's grandmother has trusted Lauren with the recipe of her special pecan pie. Nobody else in the family is allowed to see it. She has a serious and meaningful task, because according to her grandmother there will be no real Thanksgiving without the pie. One of the most important instructions of the recipe is that Lauren needs to use a special kind of pecan nuts. She needs to leave immediately to be able to get them in time. It's a long drive and when she arrives there's someone else who's taken almost all the pecan nuts. His irritating behavior doesn't make things better. When Lauren has car trouble in the middle of nowhere the man from the pecans is there to rescue her from the icy rain. His name is Jack and he takes her to a special kitchen where he makes sure she's warm, dry and well fed. Is that enough for Lauren to forgive him and maybe even start liking him?
Going Pecans is such a wonderful novella. I loved this sweet love story. There's a lot of tension between Jack and Lauren and I enjoyed reading their conversations very much. I loved the idea of delicious pecan pie as the most precious part of the holiday. The family life was wonderfully described. I could totally imagine Lauren's reactions to the sometimes weird behavior of her mother, sister, brother-in-law and sister-in-law. What I also liked was the special bond between Lauren and her grandmother, they obviously loved each other very much. Being with people who matter is important and going Pecans is broadcasting that message very clearly. It is such a great novella, it's a delightful autumn read!
Going Pecans is such a wonderful novella. I loved this sweet love story. There's a lot of tension between Jack and Lauren and I enjoyed reading their conversations very much. I loved the idea of delicious pecan pie as the most precious part of the holiday. The family life was wonderfully described. I could totally imagine Lauren's reactions to the sometimes weird behavior of her mother, sister, brother-in-law and sister-in-law. What I also liked was the special bond between Lauren and her grandmother, they obviously loved each other very much. Being with people who matter is important and going Pecans is broadcasting that message very clearly. It is such a great novella, it's a delightful autumn read!
November 19, 2014
I was so psyched when I saw this read. There are few reads on Thanksgiving while there are tons on Christmas so this was a sight for sore eyes I was so happy when I was approved for it. This is the cutest read I’ve read in a long time, it focuses on Lauren who comes home for Thanksgiving and is set on a mission by her grandmother to bake the famous family pecan pie for Thanksgiving. While she heads out of town to get the pecans that can only be from a certain place it’s one disaster after another. Not enough pecans, her car breaks down and she is stuck in a storm. That’s when Jack appears, the perfect guy but the wrong time. However sometimes fate doesn’t understand time when its right its right. Will Lauren allow herself to just go with the flow and let nature take its course? Hopefully in the end Lauren will have something else to be thankful for.
I truly enjoyed this story on so many levels and for so many reasons. For starters I think everyone can relate to the holidays with the family. Crazy relatives all stuck together for days which you know it will end in disaster at some point. Everyone’s always asking questions about your love life and not minding their own business, nothing screams DRAMA like the holidays. But in the end no matter what craziness happens family is family and they will always have your back. Besides the family aspect I love the whole interaction with Jack. I like how the romance was slowly built up and not force, with in my eyes made him so much more attractive. Although this is a short read about 100 pages or so you will never feel short changed at all, it’s definitely one that needs to be added to your holiday reads. Oh and by the way the next book in the series How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake will be out in early December…I can’t wait!
I truly enjoyed this story on so many levels and for so many reasons. For starters I think everyone can relate to the holidays with the family. Crazy relatives all stuck together for days which you know it will end in disaster at some point. Everyone’s always asking questions about your love life and not minding their own business, nothing screams DRAMA like the holidays. But in the end no matter what craziness happens family is family and they will always have your back. Besides the family aspect I love the whole interaction with Jack. I like how the romance was slowly built up and not force, with in my eyes made him so much more attractive. Although this is a short read about 100 pages or so you will never feel short changed at all, it’s definitely one that needs to be added to your holiday reads. Oh and by the way the next book in the series How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake will be out in early December…I can’t wait!
November 19, 2015
Originally posted on: http://www.albainbookland.com/2015/11...
I had the pleasure of winning the audio book version for How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie a couple of months ago and I was very curious to start it. First because it was my first audio book and secondly because I had never read a story based around Thanksgiving.
Regarding my first experience with an audio book, I have to say that I enjoyed it. The narrator had a really nice voice. I think she read at a good pace and it was easy to follow her. Now for the story, as I said I was curious about all the Thanksgiving elements. Being from Europe, I have only seen Thanksgiving on TV, where they present it as a chance to meet with your family and eat a lot of delicious food. How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie certainly delivered this. The food descriptions were detailed and rich and only made me salivate and wish I had an American family I could join next week (I googled it and Thanksgiving is on the 26th Nov this year).
Also, Lauren's (the main character) family was very enjoyable to read. With lots of drama with know-it-all-sisters, not-really-good-at-DIY-brothers-in-law and meddling-grandmothers, I found myself smiling more than once with the family dynamics. And then there was the romantic story line. Lauren is in charge of the pecan pie this year but her grandmother's secret recipe demands she gets the pecans in a certain place. It's there where she meets moody Jack. This plot was my least favourite part of the story. I found it a bit too predictable and rushed. And the chemistry between these two was a bit off.
I did like the ending though and it left me curious enough to want to pick the next book in the series, How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake, which I'm sure I'll enjoy during the holidays.
I had the pleasure of winning the audio book version for How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie a couple of months ago and I was very curious to start it. First because it was my first audio book and secondly because I had never read a story based around Thanksgiving.
Regarding my first experience with an audio book, I have to say that I enjoyed it. The narrator had a really nice voice. I think she read at a good pace and it was easy to follow her. Now for the story, as I said I was curious about all the Thanksgiving elements. Being from Europe, I have only seen Thanksgiving on TV, where they present it as a chance to meet with your family and eat a lot of delicious food. How to Bake the Perfect Pecan Pie certainly delivered this. The food descriptions were detailed and rich and only made me salivate and wish I had an American family I could join next week (I googled it and Thanksgiving is on the 26th Nov this year).
Also, Lauren's (the main character) family was very enjoyable to read. With lots of drama with know-it-all-sisters, not-really-good-at-DIY-brothers-in-law and meddling-grandmothers, I found myself smiling more than once with the family dynamics. And then there was the romantic story line. Lauren is in charge of the pecan pie this year but her grandmother's secret recipe demands she gets the pecans in a certain place. It's there where she meets moody Jack. This plot was my least favourite part of the story. I found it a bit too predictable and rushed. And the chemistry between these two was a bit off.
I did like the ending though and it left me curious enough to want to pick the next book in the series, How to Bake the Perfect Christmas Cake, which I'm sure I'll enjoy during the holidays.
November 21, 2014
Lauren Hauser goes home for Thanksgiving, knowing that her crazy family will all be there, too, staying with her parents. Now that includes her brother, sister and their partners as well as her nephew and niece. With too many public demonstrations of affection between her brother and his wife, too many DIY gone wrong tasks completed by her brother-in-law and a sister who is hyper organised and determined to cook an unbelievable thanksgiving meal, Lauren is amazed to find that her Grandmother has sent her a personal message, along with her very secret recipe to bake the perfect Pecan Pie and instructions for her to follow them exactly and not let her sister, Megan, or her Mum take over. Just what happens next you’ll need to read the book to find out but, suffice to say that Lauren is usually a totally hopeless cook but loves her Gran so intends following her directions.
This relatively short book is the second in trilogy and is a delightful, light hearted story to escape in with unexpected snow storms, a puncture, pecan hoarder (Jack) and lots of other things along the way. It is told throughout from Lauren’s point of view - and she has a great sense of humour!
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley too
for letting me read this book in exchange for this, an honest review.
This relatively short book is the second in trilogy and is a delightful, light hearted story to escape in with unexpected snow storms, a puncture, pecan hoarder (Jack) and lots of other things along the way. It is told throughout from Lauren’s point of view - and she has a great sense of humour!
Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley too
for letting me read this book in exchange for this, an honest review.
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