Delicious

June 16, 2008
A Cinderella story with a compelling culinary twist, Thomas's scrumptious Victorian confection (after Private Arrangements
) proves impossible to resist. Madame Verity Durant works for Bertram “Bertie” Somerset at his estate, Fairleigh Park—after serving as the mistress he failed to marry (due to a questionable background that includes an illegitimate child). When Bertie dies unexpectedly at 38, Verity worries as Bertie's “bastard-born” brother, Stuart—now London's foremost barrister —takes over the estate. Verity had shared a secret, mouthwatering affair with Stuart 10 years earlier, and she doesn't expect him to keep her on, especially since he's affianced to the very proper Miss Lizzy Bessler. What ensues, however, is “happiness on a plate,” as Thomas shows that hunger for passion, and madeleines, never dies.

Starred review from August 15, 2008
Noted for her exceptional cooking ability as well as a slightly tarnished reputation, mysterious Verity Durant is very much her own woman. Yet when her employer dies and his brother, aspiring politician Stuart Somerset, inherits his estate, she knows it's only a matter of time before her secrets come to light. A skillful mix of past and present and complex characters bring to life a story of love, loss, and reconciliation. Food infuses this lush, passionate romance with its erotic qualities, flavoring the story with a seductive magic that will make fans hunger for more. Rarely have food and culinary expertise been made so exquisitely essential to the overall feel of a romance; the only disappointment will be that no recipes are included. Thomas ("Private Arrangements") lives in central Texas.

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