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Sommerlilien
Diana liebt ihr Schlosshotel in Irland. Besonders im Sommer, wenn das alte Anwesen nach Lilien duftet und sich frisch gebackene Erdbeertorten in der Restaurantküche aufreihen. Als ihre Tochter Darcy zum ersten Mal seit Langem zu Besuch kommt, ist die Starköchin überglücklich. Doch einer der Gäste des Schlosshotels scheint etwas gegen Diana und ihre Familie zu haben. Ungewöhnliche Vorfälle häufen sich im Hotel – und erst spät begreift Diana: Jemand will ein gut gehütetes Geheimnis ans Tageslicht bringen …
408 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2018
About the author
Kate Lord Brown
13 books206 followersTHE SILVER THREAD - 2026
Welcome to a tale of three cities, two women and one hundred years.
Kate grew up in the wild and beautiful Devon countryside. After studying philosophy at Durham University and art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art, Kate gained a MA in Creative Writing.
Welcome to a tale of three cities, two women and one hundred years.
Kate grew up in the wild and beautiful Devon countryside. After studying philosophy at Durham University and art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art, Kate gained a MA in Creative Writing.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 19, 2016
4.5 Stars
When I was offered a chance to review this book I was slightly apprehensive, I had never read anything by the author before and her back catalogue just didn't call out to me at all but yet this blurb was interesting and I do love a book that involves cookery. I am delighted that I took the chance to read this, as I found it gripping, tasty and interesting to read and I really enjoyed the story.
The Taste of Summer is very likely to make you feel hungry, my stomach kept rumbling as I read about some of the delicious recipes that were being used, as well as the cooking competition. The story focuses around the four judges for the final of TV programme Top Chef.
There is Diana who owns The Castle, a hotel and restaurant in Kenmare, Ireland, who is looking like she may be retiring soon. Darcy her daughter, who is a food blogger and just starting to make a name for herself in the States. Connor Ricci who runs the Michelin starred restaurant in The Castle, and who is a big name in his own right, and been working alongside Diana for years. Finally there is Bea who has been hired in specifically for this series, who is mainly a baker specialising in Black Velvet cupcakes and is the sort of person I realised very early on that needed to have a close eye kept on her.
During the first part of the book, we are told not only the story of what is happening in Kenmare, but also about a young woman in 1969 who is in a horrible marriage. I found the young woman's story fascinating and slightly shocking, and yet it took a while to connect the dots at all for the connection between the two stories to become apparent.
I think anyone that enjoys watching TV cookery programmes, reading or looking at food porn, will love this book, as will fans of women's fiction generally. It is a reasonably paced story, with lots of ups and downs, and I loved seeing how everything came together. It was a very pleasant book, that I thoroughly enjoyed reading, and it's a story that I didn't really want to end. I would love to see a sequel.
Thank you to Elaine Egan and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
When I was offered a chance to review this book I was slightly apprehensive, I had never read anything by the author before and her back catalogue just didn't call out to me at all but yet this blurb was interesting and I do love a book that involves cookery. I am delighted that I took the chance to read this, as I found it gripping, tasty and interesting to read and I really enjoyed the story.
The Taste of Summer is very likely to make you feel hungry, my stomach kept rumbling as I read about some of the delicious recipes that were being used, as well as the cooking competition. The story focuses around the four judges for the final of TV programme Top Chef.
There is Diana who owns The Castle, a hotel and restaurant in Kenmare, Ireland, who is looking like she may be retiring soon. Darcy her daughter, who is a food blogger and just starting to make a name for herself in the States. Connor Ricci who runs the Michelin starred restaurant in The Castle, and who is a big name in his own right, and been working alongside Diana for years. Finally there is Bea who has been hired in specifically for this series, who is mainly a baker specialising in Black Velvet cupcakes and is the sort of person I realised very early on that needed to have a close eye kept on her.
During the first part of the book, we are told not only the story of what is happening in Kenmare, but also about a young woman in 1969 who is in a horrible marriage. I found the young woman's story fascinating and slightly shocking, and yet it took a while to connect the dots at all for the connection between the two stories to become apparent.
I think anyone that enjoys watching TV cookery programmes, reading or looking at food porn, will love this book, as will fans of women's fiction generally. It is a reasonably paced story, with lots of ups and downs, and I loved seeing how everything came together. It was a very pleasant book, that I thoroughly enjoyed reading, and it's a story that I didn't really want to end. I would love to see a sequel.
Thank you to Elaine Egan and Netgalley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
August 16, 2021
I picked this book up for .20 cents at my local library as I just loved the title and blurb. A book about food, about cooking and about family. What's not to like! And I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It was a story of woman who needed to change her life, who had been brought up in a different world, married into a sad world and finally got herself out of the doldrums and into the life she so wanted and strived for.
It was not without its up and downs and there were hard times and hard decisions to be made and one secret from her past well and truly comes back to haunt her, her family and her business.
It was a book that had a few twists and turns, there was family and secrets, there was fun, romance and sadness. It was a fun book to read!
The Taste of Summer
Kate Lord Brown
Orion Publishing Group
It was a story of woman who needed to change her life, who had been brought up in a different world, married into a sad world and finally got herself out of the doldrums and into the life she so wanted and strived for.
It was not without its up and downs and there were hard times and hard decisions to be made and one secret from her past well and truly comes back to haunt her, her family and her business.
It was a book that had a few twists and turns, there was family and secrets, there was fun, romance and sadness. It was a fun book to read!
The Taste of Summer
Kate Lord Brown
Orion Publishing Group
October 15, 2016
http://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/2016/1...
I love book covers. Colour palettes, fonts and the scene often give an overall picture of the story inside (in my experience!) Looking at the gorgeous cover of The Taste of Summer by Kate Lord Brown you would probably think this was going to be a light and summery read. The tagline ‘At a little Irish castle, things are hotting up in the kitchen …’ also led me to believe this was going to be hot as in passion. I must admit I was surprised. Having followed Kate since I started blogging in 2011 and reading last year’s The Christmas We Met, I thought this was maybe a change in direction for Kate … That old cliche ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ really does apply to The Taste of Summer.
First of all I have to say I enjoyed the format of The Taste of Summer. Two timelines – the story being told in the present in Kenmare weaved through a step back in time to 1969. I was intrigued by 1969. 19 year old Colleen is in London married to a much older man. Most of these scenes are heart breaking. Whilst I worked out part of this timeline (that was one red herring!) I missed something vital.
Castle Dromquinna hosts a popular cookery competition each year and in the present time, 26 year old Darcy has come home to support her mother Diana who had a fall while collecting apples from a tree. She’s given up her job in San Francisco at Chez Panisse and to me she seemed a little lost. The first person she meets when she gets off the bus is chef Connor and it’s not long before Bea makes an entrance at Castle Dromquinna.
So many things start to go wrong and I found it agonising knowing things that some characters didn’t. Alongside this is the burgeoning relationship between Darcy and Connor. Both our leads lack self-confidence are are wounded by their pasts leaving plenty of space for conflicts when others become involved. Bea’s character is very well crafted. Kate Lord Brown has this exactly right in my opinion.
I loved the setting of not only the castle and the kitchens but also the woods and and the lake. It was so easy to ‘be’ here with Darcy and Connor, feeling the healing energy of nature. The personifications are brilliant, for example:
The trees wept for the golden leaves spinning in the rain.
Very evocative.
With the cooking competition you would expect there to be food – I thought the naming of the different sections of the story were inspired (breakfast, lunch, tea etc) and loved how Kate works recipes into the storyline. I’ve made a note to try some myself.
The Taste of Summer has a good pace, a storyline that grabbed me and characters that carried the story well making everything believable and relatable. Don’t expect the heat to be only about passion and summer as the only season. Be prepared for that overturned stone with the creepy crawlies buried underneath …
I love book covers. Colour palettes, fonts and the scene often give an overall picture of the story inside (in my experience!) Looking at the gorgeous cover of The Taste of Summer by Kate Lord Brown you would probably think this was going to be a light and summery read. The tagline ‘At a little Irish castle, things are hotting up in the kitchen …’ also led me to believe this was going to be hot as in passion. I must admit I was surprised. Having followed Kate since I started blogging in 2011 and reading last year’s The Christmas We Met, I thought this was maybe a change in direction for Kate … That old cliche ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ really does apply to The Taste of Summer.
First of all I have to say I enjoyed the format of The Taste of Summer. Two timelines – the story being told in the present in Kenmare weaved through a step back in time to 1969. I was intrigued by 1969. 19 year old Colleen is in London married to a much older man. Most of these scenes are heart breaking. Whilst I worked out part of this timeline (that was one red herring!) I missed something vital.
Castle Dromquinna hosts a popular cookery competition each year and in the present time, 26 year old Darcy has come home to support her mother Diana who had a fall while collecting apples from a tree. She’s given up her job in San Francisco at Chez Panisse and to me she seemed a little lost. The first person she meets when she gets off the bus is chef Connor and it’s not long before Bea makes an entrance at Castle Dromquinna.
So many things start to go wrong and I found it agonising knowing things that some characters didn’t. Alongside this is the burgeoning relationship between Darcy and Connor. Both our leads lack self-confidence are are wounded by their pasts leaving plenty of space for conflicts when others become involved. Bea’s character is very well crafted. Kate Lord Brown has this exactly right in my opinion.
I loved the setting of not only the castle and the kitchens but also the woods and and the lake. It was so easy to ‘be’ here with Darcy and Connor, feeling the healing energy of nature. The personifications are brilliant, for example:
The trees wept for the golden leaves spinning in the rain.
Very evocative.
With the cooking competition you would expect there to be food – I thought the naming of the different sections of the story were inspired (breakfast, lunch, tea etc) and loved how Kate works recipes into the storyline. I’ve made a note to try some myself.
The Taste of Summer has a good pace, a storyline that grabbed me and characters that carried the story well making everything believable and relatable. Don’t expect the heat to be only about passion and summer as the only season. Be prepared for that overturned stone with the creepy crawlies buried underneath …
July 27, 2016
Previous to reading the newest book from Kate Lord Brown, The Taste of Summer, I had read and enjoyed both The Perfume Garden and The Christmas We Met. Straight away this book looked different from what she had written before. The cover was vibrant and colourful, perfectly evoking summer parties outdoors enjoying the sunshine and indulging in tasty treats.
The Taste of Summer is set in Kenmare, County Kerry in Ireland, a place where I used to go on my summer holidays when I was younger and centres around Darcy returning to Castle Dromquinna to help her mother after a recent nasty fall. Darcy's mother Diana Hughes has run a successful hotel and restaurant for a number of years but is also famous for her TV cookery shows, most noticeable Ireland's Top Chef the finale of which is being filmed in and around the castle. Darcy herself was, and still is, inspired by her mothers love of food and cooking. She writes her food blog and wishes some day to venture further into the restaurant world. Dotted throughout the book are recipes which were a lovely addition. Darcy is returning from San Francisco and the reader senses she would much rather still be there as she is only beginning to spread her wings and experience all the world has to offer particularly in the culinary world. But if her mother needs her to help she knows she must return and upon doing so she discovers the castle has not been doing as well as it once was and despite the best efforts of Michelin starred and hunky chef Conor things definitely need to improve if the family want to keep the castle open.
Briefly at the beginning of the book for a few chapters we are taken back to London in 1969 and read of a young girl called Colleen married to an older man, a doctor named Timothy. She has a young daughter but for various reasons she is unhappy in her marriage and finds life tough dealing with an upset baby day in and day out. Colleen takes drastic action and that is the last we read of these sections for quite some time in the book. With this author I always look for the historical aspect in her books that she mixes so well with the present to create a story that has mystery and suspense at its heart. I felt we were only getting going reading about Colleen and then it was over. I wanted to know a lot more and really get inside her head just to see what she was thinking and why she felt it necessary to act the way she did putting all thoughts of others out of her head. That's what this book was missing the historical element that I have come to expect and enjoy. It felt as if a different author had written this book and it was more geared to chick lit and chapters were there simply to meet the word count. The magic I had felt in the previous two books wasn't present here despite some parts of the book being good.
Overall this wasn't a really bad read but it didn't exactly grab me and it's certainly not the one of the best books I have read this year and I did struggle to reach the end only persisting to see how everything panned out and had my suspicions proved correct. One aspect of the book that was strong was the descriptions of the castle and the surrounding countryside of Kenmare, it would make you want to pack a bag and visit that beautiful part of the country. Alongside this was the mouthwatering descriptions of all the food being cooked, be it the sumptuous cakes and deserts baked by Bea or the extravagant meals cooked by Conor. Don't read this book on an empty stomach make sure to have a tasty treat by your side.
The books moves along at an OK pace but yet not really anything seemed to be happening. All the descriptions as mentioned above, gorgeous though they were, just seemed like they were filling in for the main event in the book which didn't come until the very end and even then that seemed rushed and swept under the carpet too quickly even if it did provide the answers to questions that had come into my mind. In the hopes of making improvements to the restaurant and attracting more business a new chef is employed who specialises in deserts and cupcakes. In steps Bea who on the outside appears to be all sweetness and light and wants the best for the castle and to showcase the wonderful array of treats she can make. She wants to help everybody out and always has such good suggestions to offer even if she does appear at moments when other wished she wasn't there. The reader can see that all is not as it seems with Bea. She presents a particular persona to Diana, well of course she would as she is her boss but with Darcy and Conor she can be downright rude and nasty. Bea was sinister, devious and a character anyone would find hard to like. I wanted to get inside her head more and maybe a chapter told from her perspective earlier on in the story might have brought a bit more edge to the book. The more dangerous, manipulative aspect was there but was outweighed by the nice light, fluffy descriptions of food and trying to make a go of the hotel. For me it just didn't gel well together and it would have been better if the author had have gone one way or the other. OK so all the loose ends were tied up in the end and I had partly guessed what happened but it was all too little to late for me.
Darcy could have been a fantastic character but I felt she was under developed and although she had a tough recent past romance wise she shouldn't have been blamed for what happened. There were times I wanted her to stand up more for herself and tell her mother what she believed was going as life at the castle doesn't run smoothly particularly when it came to the filming of the finale of Top Chef. On the romance front it was clear where her heart lay but she needed to be more forceful and crack the hard exterior said person was creating around themselves. I did hope Darcy had a happy ending despite all the upheavals thrown in her path.
The Taste of Summer could have been brilliant but truthfully it was only OK. I was disappointed I didn't get the gripping, absorbing read from Kate Lord Brown that I have come to anticipate. If you want a nice light summer read than this will suit you and normally I would enjoy a book like this but sadly it proved not to be the book for me. Hopefully Kate's next book will see much more delving into the past with a storyline running in the present because that's where she excels best.
The Taste of Summer is set in Kenmare, County Kerry in Ireland, a place where I used to go on my summer holidays when I was younger and centres around Darcy returning to Castle Dromquinna to help her mother after a recent nasty fall. Darcy's mother Diana Hughes has run a successful hotel and restaurant for a number of years but is also famous for her TV cookery shows, most noticeable Ireland's Top Chef the finale of which is being filmed in and around the castle. Darcy herself was, and still is, inspired by her mothers love of food and cooking. She writes her food blog and wishes some day to venture further into the restaurant world. Dotted throughout the book are recipes which were a lovely addition. Darcy is returning from San Francisco and the reader senses she would much rather still be there as she is only beginning to spread her wings and experience all the world has to offer particularly in the culinary world. But if her mother needs her to help she knows she must return and upon doing so she discovers the castle has not been doing as well as it once was and despite the best efforts of Michelin starred and hunky chef Conor things definitely need to improve if the family want to keep the castle open.
Briefly at the beginning of the book for a few chapters we are taken back to London in 1969 and read of a young girl called Colleen married to an older man, a doctor named Timothy. She has a young daughter but for various reasons she is unhappy in her marriage and finds life tough dealing with an upset baby day in and day out. Colleen takes drastic action and that is the last we read of these sections for quite some time in the book. With this author I always look for the historical aspect in her books that she mixes so well with the present to create a story that has mystery and suspense at its heart. I felt we were only getting going reading about Colleen and then it was over. I wanted to know a lot more and really get inside her head just to see what she was thinking and why she felt it necessary to act the way she did putting all thoughts of others out of her head. That's what this book was missing the historical element that I have come to expect and enjoy. It felt as if a different author had written this book and it was more geared to chick lit and chapters were there simply to meet the word count. The magic I had felt in the previous two books wasn't present here despite some parts of the book being good.
Overall this wasn't a really bad read but it didn't exactly grab me and it's certainly not the one of the best books I have read this year and I did struggle to reach the end only persisting to see how everything panned out and had my suspicions proved correct. One aspect of the book that was strong was the descriptions of the castle and the surrounding countryside of Kenmare, it would make you want to pack a bag and visit that beautiful part of the country. Alongside this was the mouthwatering descriptions of all the food being cooked, be it the sumptuous cakes and deserts baked by Bea or the extravagant meals cooked by Conor. Don't read this book on an empty stomach make sure to have a tasty treat by your side.
The books moves along at an OK pace but yet not really anything seemed to be happening. All the descriptions as mentioned above, gorgeous though they were, just seemed like they were filling in for the main event in the book which didn't come until the very end and even then that seemed rushed and swept under the carpet too quickly even if it did provide the answers to questions that had come into my mind. In the hopes of making improvements to the restaurant and attracting more business a new chef is employed who specialises in deserts and cupcakes. In steps Bea who on the outside appears to be all sweetness and light and wants the best for the castle and to showcase the wonderful array of treats she can make. She wants to help everybody out and always has such good suggestions to offer even if she does appear at moments when other wished she wasn't there. The reader can see that all is not as it seems with Bea. She presents a particular persona to Diana, well of course she would as she is her boss but with Darcy and Conor she can be downright rude and nasty. Bea was sinister, devious and a character anyone would find hard to like. I wanted to get inside her head more and maybe a chapter told from her perspective earlier on in the story might have brought a bit more edge to the book. The more dangerous, manipulative aspect was there but was outweighed by the nice light, fluffy descriptions of food and trying to make a go of the hotel. For me it just didn't gel well together and it would have been better if the author had have gone one way or the other. OK so all the loose ends were tied up in the end and I had partly guessed what happened but it was all too little to late for me.
Darcy could have been a fantastic character but I felt she was under developed and although she had a tough recent past romance wise she shouldn't have been blamed for what happened. There were times I wanted her to stand up more for herself and tell her mother what she believed was going as life at the castle doesn't run smoothly particularly when it came to the filming of the finale of Top Chef. On the romance front it was clear where her heart lay but she needed to be more forceful and crack the hard exterior said person was creating around themselves. I did hope Darcy had a happy ending despite all the upheavals thrown in her path.
The Taste of Summer could have been brilliant but truthfully it was only OK. I was disappointed I didn't get the gripping, absorbing read from Kate Lord Brown that I have come to anticipate. If you want a nice light summer read than this will suit you and normally I would enjoy a book like this but sadly it proved not to be the book for me. Hopefully Kate's next book will see much more delving into the past with a storyline running in the present because that's where she excels best.
January 4, 2018
I listened to the audio version of this book whilst cooking and baking in the run up to Christmas, it was the perfect accompaniment to my culinary efforts! It's a lovely story, well told with interesting characters. Who could fail to fall in love with the lovely chef Connor with his Irish brogue? And as for that baggage Bea, I wanted to beat her round the ears with a rolling pin for all the horrible things she did! The recipes that are peppered (see what I did there?!) throughout the book are great too. I'll have to buy a Kindle or printed version now to be able to try them out!
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August 23, 2016Delicious and vicious...loved it
June 19, 2017
Mmm, eten , jaloezie , mishandeling , 24 kitchen , masterchef en romance en dat alles in 1 boek !
September 11, 2021
I have been saving this book to read over the summer and I'm so glad I did. It was the perfect cosy summer read sat outside in the sun with a cold drink and emerging myself in the idyllic Irish setting. The atmospheric castle was a great backdrop for the novel combined with the hustle and bustle of a busy restaurant.
Darcy returns home to help her mother who has fallen and injured herself. Every year Diana hosts a baking competition and with finances struggling to keep them afloat, she needs to make sure that this year the publicity from the filming of the show is fruitful. With the help of her daughter Darcy and another baker, Beatrice, Diana prays this will help keep the castle going. Unfortunately, Beatrice is not the sweet and innocent character Diana was tricked into believing and with the arrival of Beatrice a whole whirlwind of chaos and destruction follows.
In contrast to Beatrice, Darcy is the easy-going, girl next door character who although is camera shy, agrees to be filmed to help out the family business. Whilst she has known some of the staff since she was a child, Darcy finds her childhood crush is growing stronger and her heart beats faster every time she is near the hot-headed chef Conor.
This was the perfect romantic story, combined with hidden family secrets and the appreciation of food. I loved the recipes and food blogs that featured in the novel as well as the mystery surrounding Colleen. A Summer At The Castle is a truly comforting read.
Darcy returns home to help her mother who has fallen and injured herself. Every year Diana hosts a baking competition and with finances struggling to keep them afloat, she needs to make sure that this year the publicity from the filming of the show is fruitful. With the help of her daughter Darcy and another baker, Beatrice, Diana prays this will help keep the castle going. Unfortunately, Beatrice is not the sweet and innocent character Diana was tricked into believing and with the arrival of Beatrice a whole whirlwind of chaos and destruction follows.
In contrast to Beatrice, Darcy is the easy-going, girl next door character who although is camera shy, agrees to be filmed to help out the family business. Whilst she has known some of the staff since she was a child, Darcy finds her childhood crush is growing stronger and her heart beats faster every time she is near the hot-headed chef Conor.
This was the perfect romantic story, combined with hidden family secrets and the appreciation of food. I loved the recipes and food blogs that featured in the novel as well as the mystery surrounding Colleen. A Summer At The Castle is a truly comforting read.
September 9, 2017
The Great British Bake Off with some added violence and sex.
Set in Kenmare, Ireland in Castle Dromiquinna, Diana Hughes runs a restaurant and hotel which gathers alot of attention including being location for Ireland's top chef.
Her daughter Darcy returns from New York to help her mother, when arriving her nostalgia returns and her feelings rekindle for top chef Connor.
Whilst in New York, Diana hires Beatrice Lavender to join her team, what Diana doesn't realise is that Beatrice will do anything to have her own tv show, even if that means hurting others along the way...
Overall I did enjoy the book however I felt the ending was a bit disappointing and I did lose interest in places, a positive however is the great plot twist that discovers Beatrice's real intentions. Rating 3/5
Set in Kenmare, Ireland in Castle Dromiquinna, Diana Hughes runs a restaurant and hotel which gathers alot of attention including being location for Ireland's top chef.
Her daughter Darcy returns from New York to help her mother, when arriving her nostalgia returns and her feelings rekindle for top chef Connor.
Whilst in New York, Diana hires Beatrice Lavender to join her team, what Diana doesn't realise is that Beatrice will do anything to have her own tv show, even if that means hurting others along the way...
Overall I did enjoy the book however I felt the ending was a bit disappointing and I did lose interest in places, a positive however is the great plot twist that discovers Beatrice's real intentions. Rating 3/5
July 26, 2018
Prior to listening to the audio book, I hadn't read any books by this author. It looked like an interesting story to listen to on a long drive, and it didn't disappoint.
It wasn't hard to fall in love with Connor, want to punch Bea, wonder what Colleen's story from 1969 had to do with the present day story, and wonder what was going to happen next.
There were many twists, all ending up in a satisfying ending.
It wasn't hard to fall in love with Connor, want to punch Bea, wonder what Colleen's story from 1969 had to do with the present day story, and wonder what was going to happen next.
There were many twists, all ending up in a satisfying ending.
July 4, 2017
This is a sweet story with a bit of an evil, thrillerish twist throw in. I figured the mystery part out early enough, but Beatrice's character was truly evil. I found the family dyamics to be a little unbelievable, but it worked for the most part.
Let's just say that karma is key, for this one.
Let's just say that karma is key, for this one.
September 3, 2017
Loved all the characters. There are a few twists & turns along the way. Makes you realise what some people will do to get what they want & not care who they hurt along the way to get it & not see what harm they are causing.
March 31, 2021
I wasn’t expecting this to be as dramatic as it was. In fact I thought it would be a bit of light fluffy fun, and instead it is very Single White Female-esque. Not a bad thing, just not what I expected. It was a good read.
February 21, 2021
My hatred for Beatrice ruined this for me.
October 23, 2022
A little confusing to begin with but all comes together at the end
Content warning ⚠️ domestic abuse
Content warning ⚠️ domestic abuse
October 15, 2025
I did enjoy this book but not enough to give it 5 stars - so I just gave it 3. Such a lovely romantic story but gives me Pride & Prejudice and Bridgerton vibes.
July 21, 2023
Looks like this was also published as “A Taste of Summer”. It was a fairly gripping book. Darcy comes home to the Castle where she grew up to help her mother after a fall. The Castle is owned by her mother the famous chef, tv star & food author and is the location of a restaurant where Connor the famous Michelin starred chef rules the roost. To ignite further business they are hosting another competition bake off / master chef style and hope Darcy, who has her own skills honed in the States, and Bea a Young enthusiastic cupcake baking queen will prove the perfect team on screen.
Unfortunately all is not what it seems. Rippling undercurrents of secrets & lies exist. Bea is highly manipulative, something to everyone but is a cuckoo in the nest.
I enjoyed reading and was keen to see a happy ever after, willing Darcy to end up with her first love, despite the 10yr age gap and for the whole family and cast of characters working at and around the Castle to discover that Bea was not all that she seemed.
Unfortunately all is not what it seems. Rippling undercurrents of secrets & lies exist. Bea is highly manipulative, something to everyone but is a cuckoo in the nest.
I enjoyed reading and was keen to see a happy ever after, willing Darcy to end up with her first love, despite the 10yr age gap and for the whole family and cast of characters working at and around the Castle to discover that Bea was not all that she seemed.
July 25, 2016
Diana Hughes has been a celebrity chef for years, every summer the cameras roll in to her rambling old Castle in Southern Ireland but this year she decides it's time for her daughter Darcy to come back from the States and become involved.
Darcy is a successful food blogger in the States but once back in the country she feels she has come home, especially when she meets up with Connor again the handsome chef running the kitchens, and who she had a bit of a crush on as a young girl
Everything does not run to plan however and it seems to be one disaster after another and somehow it always seems to come back to Bea the new pastry chef from England so who is she and what is she hoping to achieve and where does the story from 1969 London fit in?
A good story with plenty of intrigue and a must for fans of the TV cookery shows, just make sure you are not hungry when you read it!
Darcy is a successful food blogger in the States but once back in the country she feels she has come home, especially when she meets up with Connor again the handsome chef running the kitchens, and who she had a bit of a crush on as a young girl
Everything does not run to plan however and it seems to be one disaster after another and somehow it always seems to come back to Bea the new pastry chef from England so who is she and what is she hoping to achieve and where does the story from 1969 London fit in?
A good story with plenty of intrigue and a must for fans of the TV cookery shows, just make sure you are not hungry when you read it!
November 9, 2024
I was drawn to this book at first by the title and fun cover. Who doesn’t love good food, a busy kitchen and the sweet treats, heat of the summer?! I didn’t even read the back until I had purchased the book and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
This book was captivating from the first page until the very end, with unexpected twists and turns along the way. Not only did this book take you on a ride as it unveiled the intricate story within, but it takes you on an individual journey with each character throughout the story.
If you’re looking for a fun story that will have you laughing one moment and on the edge of your seat the next, I highly recommend giving this book a go. As if the story wasn’t enough... I guarantee it’ll have you inspired to throw on an apron and whip up something delicious in the kitchen.
This book was captivating from the first page until the very end, with unexpected twists and turns along the way. Not only did this book take you on a ride as it unveiled the intricate story within, but it takes you on an individual journey with each character throughout the story.
If you’re looking for a fun story that will have you laughing one moment and on the edge of your seat the next, I highly recommend giving this book a go. As if the story wasn’t enough... I guarantee it’ll have you inspired to throw on an apron and whip up something delicious in the kitchen.
October 25, 2019
Thank you Orion and Netgalley for allowing me to review this fab book xx
As soon as I saw the cover of this book it drew me in, it looks so summery and inviting with the added bonus of a gorgeous gateaux too!!
The content most certainly didn’t disappoint either. I adore books that have anything to do with cooking and baking. This book had both including a bit of Irish romance, competitiveness and a lovely castle too. I really felt the warmth of this book, and not just in the kitchen. Its a great read that will really make you happy on your sun lounger.
I rate this book 10/10
As soon as I saw the cover of this book it drew me in, it looks so summery and inviting with the added bonus of a gorgeous gateaux too!!
The content most certainly didn’t disappoint either. I adore books that have anything to do with cooking and baking. This book had both including a bit of Irish romance, competitiveness and a lovely castle too. I really felt the warmth of this book, and not just in the kitchen. Its a great read that will really make you happy on your sun lounger.
I rate this book 10/10
January 5, 2017
I was expecting a standard fluffy romp and that is what I got. It was fine to pass the time while lying in the sun. Normally I would give a book like this three stars as standard but this time only two stars - I found the character development to be poor. There was not much depth in the characters despite the author including some random as background on the matriarch. I found the characters reactions to the grand revelation to be very shallow despite the potential that was available with such a twist.
February 28, 2021
Never thought I'd end up getting flour all over a novel, and yet, here we are.
The story is interesting and pleasant, but what really stuck with me was the numerous recipes provided in there, which are actually very good. Step into the book by making a few of them, it's really worth it.
The story is interesting and pleasant, but what really stuck with me was the numerous recipes provided in there, which are actually very good. Step into the book by making a few of them, it's really worth it.
December 28, 2021
I quite enjoyed this book but found it difficult to get my head around Bea being Diana's grandaughter?? I did the maths but it only just works out. I was also a bit freaked out by Darcy and Conor's relationship, slightly creepy I thought.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2023
this book was so boring, I couldn't even finish it. I got halfway and there was no storyline and I was confused with the characters
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