When in Doubt, Add Butter (edition 2012)

Forgot to write a review immediately after I'd read it which sucks cause those are the best.
I tend to forget very quickly.
Okay let me think.
It was an enjoyable read. not as good as Shoe Addict. I only read the first book, but it was definitely not bad.
Okay, I did not laugh out loud (If an author manages to make me do that, they will always end up getting a good review ;) )
What I liked is the narrator's job. That was fun. Too bad it ws obvious to me who was her one night crush.

I give it 3.5 stars. ( )

This was a fun and easy read. Very enjoyable ot sit down with. It not only made me want to get up and cook, it made me want to eat a little healthier too. The plot moved along nicely and I hope she writes more like this. ( )

When In Doubt Add Butter is a great beach read or in my case, car book. (I like to listen to light, beachy chick-lit books when I’m driving.) Gemma is was so sweet and likeable that I wanted good things to happen for her. The plot is somewhat predictable but that’s almost to be expected in this genre. I knew who Mr. Tuesday was and some other things that would be spoilers if I mentioned them way before Gemma did. However, I think that it may have been the author’s intent for the reader to have some things figured out before Gemma did and then root for Gemma to hurry up and figure it out herself.

The large cast of secondary characters was entertaining and fun. The narrator, Orlagh Cassidy did a great job of giving each person a unique voice that fit his or her personality. The ending wrapped everything up in a nice little package, which I actually liked but I thought it ended too soon. I would have loved a sequel instead of an epilogue – I didn’t want to let Gemma go and I wanted know the details of what happened in the year between the last chapter and the epilogue.

If you are a fan of chick-lit, then this is a great book for you. ( )

Gemma Craig has a dream job, a few select friends and her cousin, best bud and confidant Penny. Gemma is a private chef and she loves being her own boss and doing what she’s most passionate about in the world, cooking. Even though some of her client’s are a bit off she has others that she genuinely likes like Lex and one who’s a mystery that she’d love to solve she calls him Mr. Tuesday who she’s never met. Oh and she’s also terminally single it seems with no prospects on the horizon which never bothered her in the past, but with Penny’s pregnancy her clock may have just started ticking again. As fate would have it a one night stand seems to be the turning point in her life and unfortunately not for the best, even though the sex was. It seems someone’s trying to sabotage her reputation as a chef, and since she doesn’t have the requisite 6months savings it’s not good news, oh and the result of her tryst has just tested positive on a certain stick and even though the man in question seems to want to see her again fate isn’t being kind to them. So now her future’s in question not just professionally but personally too and although she has the support of her friends she knows this is her own demon to face. Fortunately she’s gotten through other tough spots in her life, unfortunately it looks like they’re back. But she’s older and wiser now and after all it can’t all be wrong when your motto is “When In Doubt Add Butter”.
Beth Harbison is another first timer for me and it’s been a pure pleasure to get to know her a little through her fiction. This tale shows her maturity as well as her quirky sense of humor how she deals with all of life’s injustices and inadequacies as well as the good. Her protagonist has a few blooms off her vine but she’s by no means decrepit, she has the sense of humor that lights the pages of what could otherwise be dooming and a narrative that is very visually stimulating and at times salivating. Her other characters are a stable full of kooks, villains, and good friends with one or two that are completely outside of the box of normalcy. This is a love story yes, but it’s far from just a romance, it’s about making lemonade when life hands you lemons, it’s about realizing you can come of age at any age and it’s about trusting in yourself and recognizing the care and love of those around you and finally it’s about a leap of faith even when the cliff is looming.
You won’t need a leap of faith to enjoy this novel and if you love women’s fiction you’ll love this as much as I did.
Ms. Harbison to you I say, what took me so long to find you and I can’t wait for our next journey together.
Click the link for an exclusive Q&A http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Fiction-General-Discussion/New-Release-fe... ( )

Book Review & ARC Giveaway: When I saw When in Doubt, Add Butter by bestselling author Beth Harbison, I started laughing because I immediately thought of one of my favorite TV chefs, Paula Deen. I’m embarrassed to say that was all it took – I didn’t even check to see what the book was about before I snagged it. Luckily, it turned out to be a really fun novel. If you like to read about independent professional women whose personal lives could use a tune-up then this one’s for you – and what woman’s life these days doesn’t fall into that category. Oh, and did I mention there’s a bit of romance thrown in? This is a perfect summer read, whether you’re going away for vacation or having a mini-staycation, and one lucky reader is going to win a copy! Read the rest of my review & enter to win at http://popcornreads.com/?p=4241. ( )