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Delicious

(The Marsdens #1)

Sherry Thomas (Goodreads Author)

3.61 · Rating details · 3,308 ratings · 392 reviews

Famous in Paris, infamous in London, Verity Durant is as well-known for her mouthwatering cuisine as for her scandalous love life. But that’s the least of the surprises awaiting her new employer when he arrives at the estate of Fairleigh Park following the unexpected death of his brother.

To rising political star Stuart Somerset, Verity Durant is just a name and food is jus ...more

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Paperback, 432 pages

Published July 29th 2008 by Bantam (first published 2008)

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Start your review of Delicious (The Marsdens, #1)

Apr 11, 2009 ♡Karlyn P♡ rated it it was ok

Shelves: steam-warm, read-2009, audiobook, genre-historical

I debated between 2 and 3 stars on this one as the story itself was utterly absurd. I can stretch my beliefs only so far, but this one pushed passed my limits on many occasions. But in the end the annoying and absurd faded away and we got a decent ending. And I liked Stuart and Verity’s characters enough to stick with the story to learn more about her past. And without a doubt Sherry Thomas can write. I just wish she told a better story and didn’t jar us with flashbacks.

SPOILER
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Here is ...more

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Aug 15, 2016 Nenia ✨️ I yeet my books back and forth ✨️ Campbell rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, victorian, kissing-books

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I am honestly surprised by how few of my friends enjoyed this book, because I thought it was exemplary. Like CHOCOLAT and WATER FOR CHOCOLATE, in DELICIOUS, Thomas captures the sensuality and headiness of food, tying it into both sex and love. Verity, the cook heroine, is such an amazing conjurer of food that her culinary creations have people remembering both their worst and fondest memories with a deepness that often shocks their Victo ...more

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Aug 21, 2020 Lacey (laceybooklovers) rated it really liked it

Shelves: listened-to-audio, adult, second-chance-romance, historical-romance, food

A second chance, secret identity, foodie romance from Sherry Thomas!!!! How could I not enjoy this!?

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Jun 09, 2010 new_user rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommended to new_user by: seton

Shelves: historical

Every character in Delicious effects a subterfuge, every one wearing a mask, Verity Durante's the most literal. Readers may grow weary of the hide-and-seek between Verity and Stuart Somerset. Stuart inherits his brother's cook and lover after that man's death, but Verity and Stuart have history and, she's decided, a doomed relationship, so she hides. He falls in love with her through her culinary delights-- and later, her afternoon delights. Hyuk, hyuk, hyuk.

I can't complain about this page afte ...more

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Aug 14, 2020 Caz rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-1850-1900s, kindle, 2020-tbr-challenge

Reviewed for the Aug TBR Challenge prompt - Backlist.

It’s no secret that I’m a massive Sherry Thomas fangirl. I’ve read almost every one of her books, and when it came to this month’s TBR prompt of Backlist, I decided to read one of the two (I think) historical romances of hers I haven’t yet read – Delicious, from 2008. Billed as a kind of Cinderella story, it features a celebrated – even notorious - cook and a highly-respected MP who reunite after they spent a night together ten years earlier, ...more

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Feb 16, 2019 K.J. Charles added it

Shelves: m-f, historical, victorian, 1890s

A Victorian Cinderella, except the heroine's kitchen identity is what saves rather than dooms her. The plot is in one sense fairly complex--the heroine is keeping her identity secret from three different people for three different reasons; there's a major secondary romance which also involves someone keeping a major part of their identity secret. It's also not complex in the sense that there's very little internal conflict and all the external conflict depends on the tangling up of the past (in ...more

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Mar 14, 2019 Sam (AMNReader) rated it liked it

Shelves: romance, read-in-2019, its-complicated, historical, second-chance

What did I think, Goodreads?

That this book was weird. But I really really respected it. I did find it a bit contrived (view spoiler) sadly too convenient. But also, we're pretty much warned it's a fairy tale so I guess whose fault is that?

There's so much I liked: the writing, the intensity, the food, the secondary relationships.

But most of all the writing. And I will always, always appreciate that Thomas does something ...more

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Jun 15, 2009 Barbara rated it did not like it

Delicious?...Ummm....Heck No!

Contains Some Spoilers

This author pushes your imagination to the limits and you still can't wrap your mind around the things she's expecting you to process. A book like "Lover Avenged" by J.R Ward reads like fiction compared to "Delicious".

Verity is a world renowned chief, but she's working in a common house. Her employer met his maker in an untimely manner and his brother takes over his estates....Verity and Stuart have a little of a past so when he arrives she stee ...more

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Sep 16, 2017 Joanna Loves Reading rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: hr, reviewed

Not my favorite Thomas, but it had its moments, including this one:

"I have loved her since the moment I first her, Madame. She has left me and I have left her. And now we are at last together, nothing, save death, will part us again. Not you. Not the liberal establishment. Not the opinion of every last man, woman, and child in England."

There were parts that were problematic to me, and it's probably a rounding up situation here. Despite that, it's still a second chance story that pulls at your h Not my favorite Thomas, but it had its moments, including this one:

"I have loved her since the moment I first her, Madame. She has left me and I have left her. And now we are at last together, nothing, save death, will part us again. Not you. Not the liberal establishment. Not the opinion of every last man, woman, and child in England."

There were parts that were problematic to me, and it's probably a rounding up situation here. Despite that, it's still a second chance story that pulls at your heart strings.

Warning to anyone who reads this: Don't read on an empty stomach. The heroine is a gourmet chef, and the way Thomas describes her succulent food made my mouth water. The Hero is a practical, stand-up guy, and he considers food necessary but does not have any sense of taste. It's sustenance and nothing more. When he tastes the heroine's food for the first time, the flavors explode for him. He doesn't quite know what to think and sets it aside. Food is used as metaphor in this novel. The Hero and heroine's relationship is like that first taste of food. They meet and have an intense but brief first encounter. They do not meet again for 10 years.

Verity is a difficult-to-like heroine. She makes choices in her youth that are not well considered and alienate herself from her family. She falls for the wrong man twice before meeting the hero. The second wrong man makes it nearly impossible for her to have a relationship with the hero, (view spoiler) The second wrong man is also her employer and their liaison is scandalous and well known throughout the ton. The Hero is a rising political star, so she knows any connection with her would tarnish his reputation.

Thomas likes to find flawed characters and bring them together in impossible situations and make it works. Her prose is the lynchpin in most of her stories, making them quite unique to her. Hers never feel like you are reading the same ole HR again that any writer could mimic. It is one of the reasons she is a favorite of mine. Her stories are rich and complex, but are not easy. I need a break after reading her stories to reflect, and generally just ponder my existence. I find them powerful and moving. Granted, not all are on the same level, and this one is not among her best, IMO, but it still makes a lasting impression.

The romance is very slow to build here, and there is a secondary love story that ties in well and is perhaps more compelling than the primary one. This is a difficult story to review, and I am still not entirely sure what I think about it. I think Thomas fans will enjoy, but I am not sure about Thomas newbies. ...more

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Aug 13, 2009 K. rated it liked it

Shelves: audiobooks

[“Delicious” by Sherry Thomas (audiobook: Virginia Leishman/Reader = 3.5*)]

Actual rating 2.5* 1892 England
Verity and Stuart

“Cinderella story” huh?? Uh . . . I suppose if you squint your eyes REALLY hard and tilt your head to one side! A Cinderella story is definitely not the first fairytale that comes to mind here for me. In fact, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t reference this story to any “fairytale” whatsoever, unless your talking about the “less than likely” definition, and in that case, the endi [“Delicious” by Sherry Thomas (audiobook: Virginia Leishman/Reader = 3.5*)]

Actual rating 2.5* 1892 England
Verity and Stuart

“Cinderella story” huh?? Uh . . . I suppose if you squint your eyes REALLY hard and tilt your head to one side! A Cinderella story is definitely not the first fairytale that comes to mind here for me. In fact, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t reference this story to any “fairytale” whatsoever, unless your talking about the “less than likely” definition, and in that case, the ending sure does work in those terms. By about three-quarters of the way through this book, I thought that it would end up a 3.5* read for me, “IF” it didn’t take any crazy leaps of faith by the ending. Uh . . . so much for that theory. In fact, in some ways the ending could be removed and put on another book just as easily, as it went somewhere most of the rest of the story wasn’t “visiting.” Suffice it to say Thomas probably thought . . . “Oops, I’m at page limit, better put a bow on it!”

The beginning of this tale is hard to follow as Thomas doesn’t clearly make it understood that the reader is to be thinking in “flash forward/flash back terms.” It took me awhile (and revisiting a couple of reviews) to gain my bearings as it just felt really all over the map as to where the characters were at in “time and setting” at any given moment. Once I checked it out and found she was actually writing flashbacks into the storyline as a regular thing, it didn’t make the beginning significantly more tracking, but at least I was prepared for the next forward/backward sequence of events. Additionally, the beginning is interspersed with lots and lots of over-the-top food metaphors, which made me hungry, certainly, but didn’t necessarily make me feel like I was reading a romance (more like “Gourmet” magazine). Yes, yes, I know. It’s supposed to set a “whimsical” stage for the story I suppose, since the heroine is a renowned chef, whose ability to tease the palate is magical - literally. But it only served to confuse and distract what ended up being a weak storyline in many aspects. Again . . . did it make me want to go check out the fridge? - Yes. Read this romance? - No.

The story begins (once I could figure out where it began), with Verity, the heroine arguing with “Birdy,” her employer (ya – she’s his cook), as well as lover, over the fact that Birdy refuses to marry Verity. I may have missed something, but although it was “referenced” in a less than clear way he may have been the “Prince Regent” . . . or he may not have - who knows! What was clear was that he was a titled gentleman of high rank, and that he was certainly a heartless ass who took Verity to bed frequently (mostly because he loved her food), but flatly refused to marry her based on the ultimate conclusion she was . . . a cook and of the servant classes. (Duh! The only one whose surprised on that point is Verity I suppose.) Between this “beginning” we are introduced to Verity running into a mysterious stranger, “Stuart,” after fleeing a social gathering, and Stuart tries to assist her back to her residence. She refuses to inform Stuart of her identity or where she lives. So I’m thinking at this point - Ah - Stuart must be Birdy . . . Uh . . . No! So is Verity the same person? (LOL!) . . . Yes. Whew, I’ve got that straight anyway. Suddenly Verity is called from the kitchens (Wait -- what happened to Stuart taking her to an “inn” she was (apparently?) staying at?), to Birdy’s bedside, only to find that her lover is dead of a heart attack at 38. Verity is overwhelmed emotionally (but I’m not!! Birdy was an ass afterall!). Whoops – back to Verity at the Inn with Stuart enjoying a pleasant repast and onto yet another descriptive fit for a food and wine magazine photoshoot. Oh wait . . . how did Stuart end up in her room? I thought she told him to take a hike? He’s there . . . so you’re guess is as good as mine. (Rewind to back-track once again and find the “food buried” details that put the story together.) Does this paragraph of my review make any sense? No? Then I’ve done a good job of “tracking” about as well as the story does to this point!

By page 114, I’ve finally figured out that Verity met Stuart, the BROTHER of Birdy, and had a one night affair that was the fireworks of her life. I’m now pretty certain that Stuart is the hero in this story (ya, you heard that right – I wasn’t absolutely certain this far into the story). Verity comes from an unknown past that has resulted in her having a child out of wedlock that she subsequently adopted out (much to her hurt and chagrin), consequently rejected and evicted from her home and family, and thus went on to pursue her cooking skills in order to earn a living. Her past is extremely shrouded in mystery throughout the book (not extremely difficult to guess at correctly, but sufficiently mysterious to keep it interesting). Verity leaves her one spectacular encounter with Stuart via the sneaky route (left him in dreamland), and Stuart is never able to find her, despite years of searching. Meantime Verity ends up in the employment of Stuart’s brother, Birdy, and as Birdy’s eventual lover. (Are you as “icked” out over this as I am yet?? We’re talking the heroine here has slept her way around the family -- and liked it! Oow!) Fortunately, it’s unbeknownst to her, but unfortunately, it’s well known (and even “clear” :D) to me the reader. I could have gone the whole book without knowing that little detail! But it had to be divulged, as much of the storyline begins to intertwine the past and the present by the middle of the book.

We also follow Stuart’s reaction to Verity’s desertion of him after their torrid one-nighter, and his eventual history as a bastard son who was reinstated by petition (not really likely to happen, but it’s a “fairytale,” so I’m appropriately suspending my disbelief), as a legitimate child within his father’s aristocratic family. Stuart has risen to high political ranks of the times in pursuing his political career, and finally decided to offer for Lizzie, a long time friend and “suitable” lady for his social position. Here’s where Birdy’s premature heart attack comes into the picture and Stuart finds himself the new heir, inheriting the vast titles and holdings of the family . . . including Birdy’s cook, Verity. (Ironically, Thomas gets a lot of praise for her ability to “create the scene of Victorian times (and she does), even if she’s stretched inheritance and legitimacy laws far beyond the breaking point. She’s the current “new darling” of the romance writing genre, so no one dare whisper the sacrilege term “wallpaper” here I suppose.)

The story becomes interesting by this point, but true to Sherry Thomas’ style, I could have given a rat’s butt about the characters. Not feelin’ the love here at all. Stuart is a cold fish and Verity has made a multitude of left turn wrong choices thus far in her life, not really garnering my sympathies (one big mistake, sure, two maybe, but come on!). Stuart’s secretary and Stuart’s fiancé do strike up an interesting relationship that I was more engaged in than Stuart and Verity’s. We also arrive at the point where pretty much everyone who reads it begins to have the “Oh give me a break” unbelieveability factor, as in the efforts of Verity to keep her identity hidden from Stuart while living as his cook under the same roof, so many opportunistic coincidences to prevent him from actually seeing her face happen, the book almost becomes a wall-banger. Thomas’ writing blessedly keeps it in my hands again. By about the fourth “peek-a-boo” encounter, the only reaction is . . . “Oh Com’on!!” I’m usually EASIER than most on an author in these circumstances, but they can’t expect me to go deaf, dumb (actually meaning “stupid” in this instance) and blind! Toward story end when I should be at least feeling the empathy and a tighter connection for the lovers, Thomas brings back the ghost of Birdy (figuratively, not literally) by way of his funeral, and all begin to gush thoughtfully with introspection over poor Birdy’s worthiness. WTF??!! Even our heroine waxes poetically over Birdy’s virtues. (*Scuze me here while I gag and throw up in my mouth a little bit!*)

The bottom line is, the only “magic” Thomas worked here was her usual ability to write and keep my interest. Just like “Private Arrangements,” she instills so many tidbits that are “hooks” to keeping me going and hoping, I just keep gawking like a typical traffic accident passerby until I finish the book. Her sex scenes in this story were some of the best I’ve read, all because of her skillful writing, and of course there’s always the food! Rich, fragrant and tasty – A virtual meal . . . or 20.

Unfortunately, although Sherry Thomas has a great ability to write prose that engage me . . . she can’t write romance that I love. This may be my last Thomas read, as I actually enjoyed “Private Arrangements” more than this one! Big deal - I’m not a dedicated romance reader to “just” read good prose. I want good prose with captivating romance to accompany it! People that I cheerlead and care about, and make my heart ache for their love for one another. So far . . . Thomas doesn’t do that in her stories. Too bad because the woman sure can write!

Final result: The writing fills you up on rich French cuisine, but the story and characters are like Chinese take-out – you’re starving in about an hour.
K.

NOTE: Mainstream R to NC-17 sex scenes but not heavily laden throughout; Some graphic language occasionally interspersed; No graphic violence; Not recommended for teens under 17 years of age; Not recommended for anyone trying to remain on their diet! ;)]
...more

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Sep 29, 2010 Quinn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: library-book, regency-victorian-georgian, 4-and-a-half-stars

4.5 stars

There is something about Sherry Thomas’ writing that completely draws me in and wraps itself around me. Her prose is mature, elegant, evocative, and just plain beautiful. I could have read the just the first page and still left more satisfied than I sometimes feel after reading entire books:

In retrospect people said it was a Cinderella story.
Notably missing was the personage of the Fairy Godmother. But other than that, the narrative seemed to contain all the elements of the fairy tal

...more

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Aug 09, 2009 KarenH rated it really liked it

Shelves: keepers, definitely-worth-your-while

With so much controversy over Sherry Thomas' debut novel, Private Arrangements, I don't think Delicious has ever received the recognition it deserves. This was a delightful, Cinderella-inspired love story about a gentleman of means who falls head over heels in love with a mysterious beauty whom he engages in a "one-night stand". Come morning his new "love" has vanished and the hero is left with nothing but her muddy galoshes (and an overwhelming desire to find her and return them). But it's long ...more

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Jul 27, 2010 Eastofoz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Sherry Thomas fans

Shelves: historical-regency, 2010

Sherry Thomas’ second book may not be the strongest in the romance department but the writing itself is still very good. This different take on the Cinderella story is not really believable (big stretches needed here) and the characters are missing that passionate connection that she had in her first book, however it still has you reading to the end to see how it all pans out.

Basically the story is about a woman named Verity Durant who’s leading a double life as a French chef for an aristocrat w Sherry Thomas’ second book may not be the strongest in the romance department but the writing itself is still very good. This different take on the Cinderella story is not really believable (big stretches needed here) and the characters are missing that passionate connection that she had in her first book, however it still has you reading to the end to see how it all pans out.

Basically the story is about a woman named Verity Durant who’s leading a double life as a French chef for an aristocrat who she has an affair with in the hopes of bettering her lot her in life but it goes sour. She’s quite renowned for her cooking and her employer loves her primarily for that. He unexpectedly kicks the bucket and everything goes to his step-brother Stuart who’s a rising political star. Turns out that Stuart knows Verity from a long time ago and he slowly discovers who she really is. The story gets going with the two of them exchanging terse notes (he doesn’t know who she is during this) that are way too funny in a biting kind of way (too bad there wasn’t more of this verbal sparring), spying on each other and meeting secretly in the dark as per Verity’s demands because she doesn’t want him to know who she is.

The mystery of who Verity Durant is teases you right to the end and the author builds that up very well. The secondary characters around her also heighten the unraveling of her story. Everything about these people is key to understanding her secret. Her relationship with Stuart though is somewhat stale, that spark is missing when they finally come together. Even when they were together the first time it just didn’t really work but I’m not a fan of the “love at first sight” theme. I prefer the build-up so this could work for some readers.

There’s a smokin’ hot voyeurism scene but unfortunately Thomas skimps on the actual sex scenes between the h/h themselves which was too bad. Verity is shown as a woman trying desperately to make a life for herself in spite of her circumstances and she’s been quite successful. Stuart however was missing something, maybe he needed some more backbone. He was too career-minded and cast her aside one time too many.

The food descriptions are mouth watering especially if you’re familiar with some of the things she cooks. Thomas’ mastery of culinary language from the detailed utensils to the cooking terminology was impressive and it never felt like the story was bogged down in boring filler detail either. Her use of French was also well-done and for once there weren't any mistakes.

There are virtually no parlor room scenes but more of a dry/gray “industrial age” feel to the novel. Sometimes it almost felt like a Robin Schone vibe.

I didn’t particularly like the ending –too easy and typical romance fare which makes me waver between a 3.5-4 star rating. Having read her first and fourth book I was expecting the originality to continue to the last page. I was more interested in the mystery by the end than the love story. So it’s a fairly good book with that “expect the unexpected” tone but there are parts where the love story could have been better.
...more

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Jun 10, 2010 Catherine rated it it was ok

Shelves: angst, read-2010, historical, romance, sucked, 2nd-chance-romance, england

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I think this book would have been better suited to someone who is way more into food than I am. It seemed like every other sentence was rhapsodizing about the awesomeness of Verity's food in excruciating detail. I understand that she's a cook, but by the time I was half way through I felt I was being hammered over the head with the fact that nobody has the magic to cook like Verity. She's special and unique and the angels sing when she cooks. I get it already! Move on!

The plot and motivations of I think this book would have been better suited to someone who is way more into food than I am. It seemed like every other sentence was rhapsodizing about the awesomeness of Verity's food in excruciating detail. I understand that she's a cook, but by the time I was half way through I felt I was being hammered over the head with the fact that nobody has the magic to cook like Verity. She's special and unique and the angels sing when she cooks. I get it already! Move on!

The plot and motivations of these characters seemed really thin to me. The characters never really got to know each other very well. In all the flashbacks it's just that night of sex. Even if it's the best sex of your life how did you fall in love that night? You hardly spoke to him/her! Maybe you fell in love with his/her body or his/her sexy skills, but I truly doubt you fell in love with the person he/she is. That goes for both of the protagonists.

Also, Verity kept her identity a secret for so long that they hardly had any time to get to know each other. Their current relationship seemed to be based on no more than lust and covetousness of the creator of such awesome food. Yes, that's right. Stuart starts fantasizing about Verity when he has no clue who she is (or what she looks like) all based on her ability to make him taste food again. Right...

***SPOILERS***
Also, their first real interaction together was rather absurd. She decides that as the lowly servant she is, she will use her employer's private bath. Not only will she do that, she will get herself off right there where anyone could find her. Yep, that seems like a rational thing to do. So into that scene walks Stuart. He's mighty turned on, but the agony, he's betraying his fiance! The whole book was kind of like that. A mix of absurd, lust, and melodrama. It just confused me and wore me out. Not a combination I enjoy when I finish a book.

I wish there had been more time spent on Lizzy and Will. I actually liked them. I would have liked to have gotten to know them more though. I also thought that a little more time spent on Michael would have been nice. I wish there weren't so many lies throughout this book. Lies about why she met Stuart in the first place, lies about why she can't stay, lies about her identity (omission counts!), lies about Michael, etc.

I think the biggest cop-out of the story was at the end. All of a sudden Verity has this mysterious background that no one knew about. The Duchess wasn't evil and heartless like we all thought, no, she was misunderstood and always trying to do her best for Verity! Also, suddenly the reasons why Verity and Stuart couldn't marry ceased to be important, although it was never explained why. All those dire things that would come to pass didn't suddenly disappear you know.
***END SPOILERS***

The reason I gave this two stars instead of one was the writing skill. This author really seems to be a great writer, I just wish she would write about characters I liked more. ...more

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Nov 15, 2008 Christa rated it really liked it

Shelves: booksfree-com

Delicious takes place during a time period that is not typical for the historical romances I usually read - the 1890's. It is also different in that the heroine is a chef. While both of these aspects of the novel seemed rather unusual, I recently read a Laura Lee Guhrke novel which shared both characteristics. While I enjoyed Delicious, I have to say that I liked the similar Laura Lee Guhrke book better. The characters in Delicious were likeable, but I didn't find them quite as appealing as Guhr ...more

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Jul 25, 2017 Jacob Proffitt rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: will-probably-regret, steamy, romance

I liked this one a whole better while reading than I did after thinking about it at all. There is just so much improbability involved that even though I enjoyed the relationship and characters and even the plot, I can't hold onto that feeling very long in retrospect because I keep bumping into things that just don't work. And that's granting the magical qualities of Verity's cooking—i.e. it breaks down even more if you can't let the book get away with the claim that she's so fantastic that eatin ...more

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Oct 23, 2017 Jan rated it it was ok

Shelves: victorian-era, historical

It was OK, but I didn’t enjoy this one anywhere near as much as the related book, Not Quite a Husband. I found the plot of this book a little too convoluted for my taste. There were too many little mysteries and intrigues about both Verity’s and Stuart’s backgrounds, and it muddied the waters for me. At the start of the book, Stuart’s estranged brother Bertie seemed like a prize ass, yet we are expected to believe that Verity really loved him. And I’m still not clear on the ‘events’ of ten years It was OK, but I didn’t enjoy this one anywhere near as much as the related book, Not Quite a Husband. I found the plot of this book a little too convoluted for my taste. There were too many little mysteries and intrigues about both Verity’s and Stuart’s backgrounds, and it muddied the waters for me. At the start of the book, Stuart’s estranged brother Bertie seemed like a prize ass, yet we are expected to believe that Verity really loved him. And I’m still not clear on the ‘events’ of ten years earlier, and exactly why Verity and Bertie never married each other.

As for Verity herself, I couldn’t take up my mind about her and her broken relationships with just about everyone - Bertie, Stuart, Michael, the Duchess of Arlington etc. She also has a reputation of being overly generous with her sexual favours, and although it’s mostly false, some of her behaviours were pretty ‘out there’ and I didn’t like that aspect of the book.

Stuart is a much more likeable character, although his obsession with Verity has lasted for TEN YEARS after just one memorable night! Seemed a bit much to me. However I liked his personality and also his behaviours towards Verity near the end of the book when his mettle is really tested.

I hated the Duchess and (view spoiler)

For me this book just wasn’t as well written as some of Thomas’ other books. The Duchess’ long spiel of explanation/jusitification near the end was a classic case of TELLING the reader rather than showing. It went on for too long and IMO this could have been handled much better by the writer.

I also found the thread running through much of the book where Stuart never actually got to see Verity’s face (for quite a long time anyway) to be quite forced and artificial. Almost eyeroll worthy. Come on already. And we were supposed to believe that they fell in love (again) anyway??? Yeah, right.

I also didn’t like the whole thing about Verity’s almost magical cooking skills. The tastes and even the scents of her cooking were almost superhuman. I found all of the hype and exaggeration here pretty lame, in fact, almost annoying. Verging on magical realism. Just, no.

So, not Ms Thomas’ best book IMO. But I have enjoyed others of hers and will keep reading this author. Just this one, for me, was a bit of a dud. ...more

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Jan 09, 2009 Terra rated it it was amazing

Delicious by Sherry Thomas is just as the title says. Actually it was mouthwatering delicious and I will never look at a Madeline again in the same way. Whew......who knew food could be so erotic.

Verity Durant has a reputation of not only having the love life of the century but she is the most re known cook that the most elite of families would give their right arm for. She is also somewhat of a mystery since she keeps herself secreted away whenever she is not in the kitchen cooking. Oh and her Delicious by Sherry Thomas is just as the title says. Actually it was mouthwatering delicious and I will never look at a Madeline again in the same way. Whew......who knew food could be so erotic.

Verity Durant has a reputation of not only having the love life of the century but she is the most re known cook that the most elite of families would give their right arm for. She is also somewhat of a mystery since she keeps herself secreted away whenever she is not in the kitchen cooking. Oh and her cooking provokes the most sensual erotically enticing thoughts that run through your mind that it's a wonder that the recipients of her cuisine don't embarrass themselves with all the little responsive noises being issued with every delectable bit.

Stuart Somerset is a proper gentleman, very private and quite adminate that he not enjoy a single thing since his tryist with a woman many years past that left him before dawn after a night of the most wonderfully passionate sex. She never gave him her name and left him feeling like a jilted bridegroom at the alter.

Our story brings the lives of Verity and Stuart back together but Stuart is totally unaware of the woman who is making the most delicious food he has ever had the pleasure of placing on this tongue. Verity goes to all lengths to keep her identity secret. Will poor Stuart ever find out who his cook really is and can he forgive her for not only disappearing all those years ago but for reawakening feelings in him that his tried his damnedest to keep at bay all they long and lonely days and nights.

Our author has given us such a delightful story of seduction through the use of food that I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. Oh the lengths to which one could go to use the most simple of foods to create an erotic response worthy of one intense orgasm after another continuing until even the aftertaste of the food is completely gone. And the delightfully funny, steamy, erotic bathroom scenes will leave you panting with want while laughing hysterically. This book is a must have for anyone that loves a good romance. You won't be sorry but will be left thinking of how many other ways food can get such responses. ...more

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Apr 13, 2008 I_love_a_happily_ever_after rated it really liked it

I waited a while to read this book, because I wanted a large span of time where I would not be interrupted. I predicted it would be one that I could not put down, even to take a shower, and I was right! (I took the shower before I started reading, ha-ha). I was not disappointed, and at 2 am, with sniffles, I closed the cover on this quite excellent read. Ms. Thomas breaks so many of the "rules" of romance writing again. But she delivers a wonderful, creative tale unlike the carbon copy stories s ...more

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Aug 23, 2008 Mia Marlowe rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: everyone

I'm still reading DELICIOUS (perhaps I should say 'devouring' this totally delectable story), but I have to gush about Sherry Thomas' amazing talent.

Her characters are so fully formed, so achingly human. I am in love with them all. The story is luxuriously told, erotic, a feast for the heart and the senses.

Her use of language is exquisite. She doesn't write down to her readers, peppering her prose with words like 'sybaritic' and 'soigne.' But it is her metaphors that make me sigh and despair of ...more

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Jun 29, 2010 Tammy Walton Grant rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: gastronomes and fans of angst-filled, quiet love stories!

Shelves: tropes-secret-identity, romance-historical, romance-angsty, tropes-second-chances, tropes-ruined-heroine, 2010-july, hr-victorian, tropes-stuffed-shirt-hero, 2012-april

Third time was DEFINITELY the charm for this book. The first time I read it, it was meh. Second time, I gave up and didn't finish.

This time, I don't know what happened, I just must have been in the right mood for it. ST's writing is amazing: the angst, the pain, the sorrow, the love...my chest hurt the whole time I was reading it.

A couple of little things kept this from a 5 star, but somehow this book has quietly become a favourite.

4.5 stars.

...more

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Feb 03, 2009 Kris Eton rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I've heard wonderful things about Sherry Thomas, and I will agree that her writing is superb. Her plotting, however, leaves something to be desired. I know that her 'thing' seems to be writing with flashbacks...or jumps in time. In this particular book, I found it to not only be confusing, but detrimental to the story of the hero and heroine.

Instead of building sexual tension between the two in the present, you read about their first sexual encounter in the past, which removes all the interest i ...more

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Jul 17, 2017 Andree rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017

This one is... not great. I mean, it's fine. It works. It also does a bunch of things I'm not wild about.

You can see every detail of the resolution coming a mile away. And Sherry Thomas, if you're going to start your romance novel with a proposal to another woman, that's a red flag. I know there's a secondary romance. The impending secondary romance was obvious on the same page of the proposal, but I still can't help wishing things had gone another way.

I did like seeing Marsden brothers, Will an ...more

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Mar 29, 2019 herdys rated it liked it

I swear this book has made me so damn hungry xD

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Sep 22, 2010 Jane Stewart rated it did not like it

Shelves: historical-romance-prior-to-wwll

A couple is miserable and apart for most of the book. Too many lies and secrets for illogical reasons.

STORY BRIEF:
Verity is a lady who for unknown reasons has run away from her family. She keeps her identity a secret and works as a cook for Bertie. Her cooking skills are famous in England. She and Bertie have a brief love affair which ends. She goes to London to meet Bertie’s brother Stuart. She does not tell Stuart her name or connection to Bertie. She leaves the next day, and he can’t find her A couple is miserable and apart for most of the book. Too many lies and secrets for illogical reasons.

STORY BRIEF:
Verity is a lady who for unknown reasons has run away from her family. She keeps her identity a secret and works as a cook for Bertie. Her cooking skills are famous in England. She and Bertie have a brief love affair which ends. She goes to London to meet Bertie’s brother Stuart. She does not tell Stuart her name or connection to Bertie. She leaves the next day, and he can’t find her. She continues to cook for Bertie. Ten years later Bertie dies. Stuart inherits and arrives at Bertie’s home. Stuart doesn’t recognize Verity, but starts to develop feelings for her.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I wanted it to be over. During most of the book the couple is miserable and apart. They meet, fall immediately in love, he asks her to marry him, she runs away. Ten years later they meet again but cannot be together because he is engaged to another woman. Finally, during the last few pages of the book, they are happy together. I don’t like spending most of the book being miserable and sad. Most romance novels spend more time with couple meeting and developing an emotional connection, with a short separation period. Not so with this book. Most of the book is separation.

I was pleased with and enjoyed the relationship between Will and Lizzy. There were some surprises, and I liked what was happening with them. The more I read, the more I liked Will’s character and what he did. It’s too bad that it was a minor subplot, because it was the best part of the book. Initially, Will didn’t tell Lizzy about his potential inheritance. When she learned about it later and confronted Will, the reasons he gave her were good. I liked his reasons and was a little surprised by them. Well done author.

CAUTION SPOILERS:

A major problem with this book was too many conflicts based on inaccurate assumptions and vague communication (my pet peeve). The major plot conflict was Verity leaving her wealthy family and working as a cook. Verity was pregnant. Her Aunt told her she would be locked away for the rest of her life. The Aunt didn’t mean it but was trying to scare Verity into better behavior in the future. Verity believed the Aunt’s threat and ran away. The Aunt lies to her husband and says Verity died. Later when the Aunt learns where Verity is, the Aunt doesn’t make things right, because she believes her husband will be mad at her for lying about Verity’s death. Therefore, the Aunt monitors Verity from afar for the next ten plus years. When Stuart tells the Aunt he loves Verity and wants to marry her, the Aunt is happy to accept Verity back into the family and sponsors a big wedding for her. What??? After years of watching Verity suffer, the Aunt makes things nice? I also don’t understand why Verity felt the need to keep her relationship to the Aunt a secret. This was too “cooked up” for me. I want something more believable.

Another miscommunication was Verity’s lie to Michael for years, which was due to a promise made to Mrs. Robbins. Mrs. Robbins adopted Michael. A few years later Verity arrives to live nearby, and Mrs. Robbins is afraid Verity will take Michael away. Verity tells her no, that she just wants to be around him. Verity promises not to tell Michael that she is his biological mother. I think Verity and Mrs. Robbins could have and should have come to an agreement to tell Michael the truth much sooner than they did. Michael had guessed the truth long before it was told to him. Finally, Verity tells Michael that she is his biological mother, but she doesn’t tell him who his grandparents are. This continued lie annoyed me.

Further, I didn’t like Verity’s lies to Stuart. When they first meet, he asks her to marry him. She is not honest about who she is and runs away. Ten years later, he asks her to marry him again. The same secrets exist, but she says yes this time. Her turnabout didn’t make sense, her circumstances hadn’t changed. I prefer true intrigue, not this keeping of secrets for illogical reasons. Also, why did she hide from Stuart for ten years? She loved him. If she was going to do this turnabout, why did it have to be so many years later? This was unfulfilling.

DATA:
Story length: 404 pages. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 7. Length of sex scenes: 1 short scene (1 paragraph) and 6 long scenes (1.6 to 6.9 pages). Total number of sex scene pages: 25. Setting 1882 and 1892 England. Copyright: 2008. Genre: historical romance. ...more

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Sep 22, 2019 crashqueen73 rated it really liked it

The food talk drove me nuts and I skimmed that a bit because I am no cook and reading about it is worse. I can’t even imagine food that makes you want to sleep with someone ... alcohol sure! Food not so much.. maybe sleep?
This writing though was good and though the storyline was slightly (ok largely) absurd, I love a book that suspends reality for a while and this one did that!

Liked the characters a lot. Liked the storytelling and ridiculously long build up so 4 stars for all that and -1 for all ...more

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Jun 22, 2020 F rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: libby, favorites

First of all, congratulations to me on my 52nd book. W00t w00t.

I am so glad that I “ended” my challenge on Sherry Thomas’ “Delicious”. It really is an amazing book.

Thomas is a new discovery on my journey reading historical romance. I have been on this train for years and had never encountered her, but man, have I missed out. She writes beautifully, has just an absolutely gorgeous way with words. At the end of this book, in the author profile, she reveals that she was an immigrant to the United S First of all, congratulations to me on my 52nd book. W00t w00t.

I am so glad that I “ended” my challenge on Sherry Thomas’ “Delicious”. It really is an amazing book.

Thomas is a new discovery on my journey reading historical romance. I have been on this train for years and had never encountered her, but man, have I missed out. She writes beautifully, has just an absolutely gorgeous way with words. At the end of this book, in the author profile, she reveals that she was an immigrant to the United States at thirteen years old and she mostly learned how to read/write from reading long romance novels. Maybe that’s why I feel a kindred spirit in her. I’m not a US immigrant, but our stories are very similar.

Once again, we get to a book I like too much to properly review. What to say? This book made me hungry. Props to, again, Thomas’ writing. I usually skip some descriptions in books if they get too wordy because I am trying to get to the meat and potatoes of the novel (food pun, nice). I didn’t do this here because the writing is so much a part of the joy of reading “Delicious”. This is why I kind of ragged on Dare in one of my updates. Dare writes witty and fun banter, true, but she does not really set a realistic and beautifully described scene. Thomas is all somewhat-lonely-and-angsty male characters (at least in “Delicious” and “His at Night”—her only two books that I have read), and beautiful language, and a believeable romance, and just so much more wonderful stuff.

You genuinely root for everyone in her novels. This is a pseudo-Cinderella retelling, in a way that is even acknowledged by the characters of “Delicious” themselves, but there are no over-the-top hateful step sisters. The “prince” is no idiot. Everyone is flawed. Anyone who does something bad or evil is not a caricature of a 'bad guy'-they always have complicated reasons. Society stands in their way and prohibits their movements and a lot of what they do, but still, love finds a way.

I was taken for a joyful ride in “Delicious”, and I hope you give it a shot, too.

Also, remember when I said in “His At Night” that I did not appreciate the secondary romance subplot? Let me eat my words: it works wonderfully and beautifully here. Yes, I definitely cared about it less than Verity and Stuart, but who tf cares? No spoilers, but the secondary romance here is wonderful.

I appreciate Thomas’ way of doing things a lot more than other authors. Other authors will drag out a romance between a group of 5 friends for 5 books, which annoys me, because they will keep dropping anvil-sized hints about the next book. Thomas just goes, “nah, two for the price of one. here ya go!” ...more

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Dec 11, 2009 FlibBityFLooB rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, era-victorian, read-in-2009, witty-i-am-not, zzauthor-thomas-sherry

The author had me, to the end... and then the story got convenient. In fact, way too convenient. This is another Sherry Thomas book where I wished for a different ending.

Half the book is set in 1892 and it alternates with scenes from 1882, set as flashback chapters. This is a similar style to Private Arrangements where it switches between past/present.

The book itself reminded me of THE DUCHESS OF DUKE STREET. The heroine is a belowstairs chef. The descriptions of the Victorian food in this book ...more

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Jun 10, 2010 Keri rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance-historical, reviewed, 2010s-read

I loved this book. I almost snarled at my husband this morning when he reminded me that we had a birthday party to go to. How could I go to a party, when I hadn't finished this book. But we made it back and I promptly climbed back into Verity and Stuart's world. Sherry Thomas did a phenomenal job on this book. The book felt mature and real to me. I am so glad that I finally read it and it made my life a little richer for having done so. ...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Jennifer rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: own-it, victorian

You know when you find yourself armchair quarterbacking a book? Reworking the plot to fit your idea of what makes more sense, and is more compelling? Yeah, so that happened with this book. The main characters spent so much time apart - despite living under the same ROOF! - in more and more contrived ways. It was silly. Their interactions were far too brief, and did not seem to warrant the attempts to paint them as star crossed lovers.

Actually all the plot points regarding Verity were patently a ...more

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About Sherry Thomas

Sherry Thomas

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USA Today-bestselling author Sherry Thomas decided years ago that her goal in life is to write every kind of book she enjoys reading. Thus far she has published romance, fantasy, mystery, young adult, and three books inspired by the martial arts epics she grew up devouring. Her books regularly receive starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications, including such outlets as th ...more

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The Marsdens (2 books)

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“Some lovers were fortunate enough to grow old together. They’d grown old apart. She did not think him any less handsome. She only wished that she’d been there when the first line on his face had appeared, so that she could have stroked and kissed and cherished it.” — 37 likes

“Her jaw dropped. She grabbed him by the shoulders. “I think I have formed an attachment to you. You know, what the English call a desire to have symphonic concerts with someone at all hours of the day?”
He smiled. “And I love you too, darling.”

-Lizzy and Will” — 4 likes

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