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GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: Angelina’s Bachelors by Brian O’Reilly

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Description

Sometimes the shortest distance between two people is the length of a kitchen table. . . . Far too young to be a widow, Angelina D’Angelo suddenly finds herself facing a life without her beloved husband, Frank. Late one night shortly after the funeral, she makes her way down to the kitchen and pours all of her grief and anger into the only outlet she has left—her passion for cooking. In a frenzy of concentration and swift precision, she builds layer upon layer of thick, rich lasagna, braids loaves of yeasty bread, roasts plump herb-rubbed chicken; she makes so much food that she winds up delivering the spoils to the neighbors in her tight-knit Italian community in South Philadelphia.
Retiree Basil Cupertino, who has just moved in with his kindly sister across the street, is positively smitten with Angelina’s food. In a stroke of good fortune, Basil offers Angelina (not only husbandless but unemployed) a job cooking for him—two meals a day, six days a week, in exchange for a handsome salary. Soon, word of her irresistible culinary prowess spreads and she finds herself cooking for seven bachelors—and in the process discovers the magical power of food to heal, to bring people together . . . and maybe even to provide a second chance at love.
Filled to the brim with homemade warmth, Angelina’s Bachelors is a sweet tale of overcoming grief, redefining family, and following your heart—through food.

About the Author

Brian O’Reilly is a writer and producer.  He was the creator and executive producer of Food Network’s Dinner: Impossible.  Angelina’s Bachelors is his third book and first novel, after Mission: Cook! and Impossible to Easy.  His culinary collaborator is his wife and partner, Virginia, a lifelong cook and culinary producer of their production company.  In a perfect world, they believe, there’d be pie every day.

Details

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery; Original edition (August 9, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 145162056X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1451620566

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

 MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

When Angelina’s husband dies of a massive heart attack at only forty and while sneaking a piece of her “Dream” cake, you would think she would be put off of cooking forever.  But to Angelina, her cooking and baking gives meaning to her life.  She obsessively creates new recipes and through her loves of food brings her new friends.  This story should be really sad, but I found myself totally charmed by the characters that come to inhabit Angelina’s dining room as she tries to make ends meet by serving food to several bachelors with questionable eating habits.  These men come to encourage her through their friendship and she keeps them in line with her food.  It wonderful to read something encouraging and have happiness appear through unlikely places and people. 

This book is not leaving my house and deserves a place of honor among my cookbooks!  The story is interwoven with wonderful recipes that help tell Angelina’s story and will have your mouth watering just reading them.  The recipes go into detail that a lot of cookbooks don’t even begin to cover with step by step instructions that are easy to follow.  You can tell that the author truly loves food and I really wonder which came first:  the recipes or the story.  If you are a fan of food and looking for something a bit different for your book group, I think this one should be at the top of your list.  It would be really fun to make a few of the recipes for your book club meeting.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK? 

Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a US mailing address (sorry, no PO Boxes)
Contest ends on 8.25.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.26.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by Gallery Books and ONE copy is available.

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Comments

  4. Angelina’s Bachelors sounds like a fun read and I can’t wait to get started.

    Thanks for the chance to win it.

    kacbooks(at)hotmail(dot)com

  5. I have a sad little frozen pizza in the oven for dinner and the description of her cooking spree sounds awesome! Thanks for the chance to win!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

  10. I like the idea of unexpected family and the recipes sound good too.

    cjay (at) iavalley (dot) edu

  60. JESSICA! teddybrgrrl

    I have sent a note to Jessica for her mailing address. If there is no response within 3 days, a new winner will be chosen. Thanks to all who entered!