Amy E. Reichert

A little girl narrates this amusing guide to going to work at Mama's office, offering lots of advice to the child who finds herself being brought along to their parent's workplace. From giving reassurance and encouragement to the boss, when he's preparing for a presentation - a grown-up form of show-and-tell - to helping the mail people out with their tasks, the little girl is full of helpful tips...

Having accompanied my mother to her office on a number of occasions as a young girl - a show more double treat, because not only did I get to see her workplace, I also got to go into the city, and see Grand Central Station! - I enjoyed Take Your Mama to Work Today immensely. The humorous disconnect between the little girl's blithely self-assured narrative, in which she believes she is being of help, and the visual depiction of her mother's stressed-out 'handling' of the chaos she causes, is really quite amusing. Sometimes I find depictions of 'bratty' children rather tiresome - Eloise comes to mind, in this respect - but I think the little girl here is less bratty than oblivious, and is full of good intentions, making her tale more amusing than annoying. With a fun narrative and adorable illustrations, this is a book I would recommend to anyone looking for children's stories about "Take Your Child to Work" days, and the hi-jinks that can ensue. show less

Books falling under the heading of "magical realism" are a bit of a guilty pleasure, and once again, Reichert doesn't disappoint. The magic comes in with Sanna's ability to "see" the flavors of her orchard's apples, and she uses her talent to blend ciders that will leave you curious for a pint of them yourself. Sanna herself, however, comes across as prickly - at least at the beginning of the story, although her sharp edges are better understood as her story unfolds. She's definitely a show more complex one that might irritate you as she grows on you. I find this complexity typical of Reichert's characters; here, Sanna's gruffness and stiff edges a sharp contrast to the love and connection she has to her family orchard.

As with her other books, the Wisconsin setting is inviting, charming and well drawn. The size of the family homestead, with all its empty wings sharply contrasts with the almost lonely feel of Sanna and her father eating alone, and it is in these scenes that we begin to sense that there is more to her character than appears on the surface.

Quite possibly my favorite character is young Sebastian - an outspoken, curious, bodily-function obsessed ten-year-old, who proves to be a good foil to Sanna's crustiness and in some ways is a good source of the conflict that begins to unfold for the orchard.

This is a solid, steady tale that will quietly draw you in with a mix of romance, intrigue, and family drama. It is a tale of family dynamics - and there is a lot of it here.

Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. show less

https://iwriteinbooks.wordpress.com/2018/12/26/the-coincidence-of-coconut-cake-a...

It’s been a very long time since I’ve even picked up, never mind finished and enjoyed, an adult romance book. I’m not usually into chick flicks or similar book equivalents because they make me so anxious.

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake was no different but when I stumbled upon a copy by accident, I figured it wouldn’t actually kill me to live a little.

I was happily rewarded with sticky sweet goodness show more (befitting the title) which made the inevitable suspense and heartbreak rollercoaster worth the ride.

The story shares two voices, switching between Lou, a chef and restaurant owner in surprisingly bustling Milwaukee, and Al, a well-bred but somewhat disgraced British expat, making his way through the American Midwest by writing (ah, yes, here’s the cliche) restaurant reviews.

Obviously, their paths cross but the catch is, neither know it upon their first meeting. Romance and lies ensue.

What could have been another retelling of every other rom-com ever created, was surprisingly delightful in its depth. There were far more feelings than I’d initially expected from something literally named for a light, sugary, fluffy dessert.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I did end up with actual tears in my eyes toward the end.

Does that make me a light romance convert?

Probably not.

But I’ll definitely give Amy E. Reichert another go. show less

The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is the story of Lou and Al, of chef and food critic. Lou runs a French restaurant, Luella’s, and is struggling to keep it afloat. Her life is supposed to be on track with a well-to-do fiancé, but when she walks in to find a half-naked intern in his apartment, the day goes south, fast.
And on this horrible, very bad day, Al, infamously mean food critic, walks into Luella’s and experiences the worst of the worst. Lou is distracted and upset, the staff is show more concerned, and the food is not up to par… Al notes it all, and promptly delivers a scathing review.
Shortly after, Lou finds herself drowning her sorrows, while Al hits the same bar to celebrate his latest write-up, and as fates collide, the two make plans to see each other again. Lou promises to show Al the best Milwaukee has to offer. Just one catch… no work talk.
The story unravels deliciously, as these two people, each dealing with their own troubles, find an unlikely connection with each other. A friendship takes flight, as flutters for something more stir within for them both. With every place Lou takes Al, he’s falls a little more for the city, and a little more for the girl. And Al makes Lou realize that what she is starting to have with him, is the right kind of something, and just what she needs as her life is heavy with sadness at her restaurant’s demise… particularly after that bad review.
What unfolds is a story full of heart, sweetness, wit and charm. Al’s surly demeanor begins to lift with Lou’s passion and effervescence. But once Al realizes Lou is the very same chef whose restaurant he berated, everything hangs in the balance when he’s certain this secret could shatter everything he now can’t imagine losing. show less