Deep Dish

Cute little rom-com novel. Very slow start but it gets better towards the end. Most of what happens is relatively predictable if you read a lot of these types of books or watch a lot of these movies. Most of the characters are likeable to an extent, but if you're wanting a strong female protagonist who thinks for herself, you're probably going to be disappointed. Side characters are developed well enough for you to love them or hate them.

All in all, a cute read if you're looking for a little "we hate each other, we love each other" story. I'd recommend if you enjoy romantic comedies in book or movie form, or need a little love pick-me-up.

Gina and Tate both have Southern Style Cooking Shows that are up moving to The Cooking Channel. The network decides that the best way to see who gets the show is to do a competition called Food Fight on a remote island to see who the best cook is.

This was a cute, light, fluffy read which is just what I needed right now. I liked watching the sparks fly between Regina and Tate and while I pretty much always knew what the end result was going to be, I laughed so much that I didn't really mind so much. There are a lot of lovable characters including D'John, Lisa and Zeke and some slightly despicable characters like Scott.

This was the first Mary Kay Andrews book I've read, and I enjoyed it. Her journalism roots really show -- she has a brisk, plot-oriented style with lots of forward action and not too much introspection. I would have preferred to get a better view of the characters' hearts and minds, but it was good for what it was -- novel-as-action-movie, or novel-as-reality-TV.

The second comparison is more apropos, because the story focuses on a televised "food fight" between Gina Foxton, a traditional Southern cook with an emphasis on fresh ingredients, and Tate Moody, who "kills things and cooks them." The food fight comprises 3 challenges, and is judged by 3 judges who have their own biases.

Mary Kay Andrews' books do adhere to a formula -- feisty Southern girl who's passionate about her work encounters trouble with both men and work, which is satisfactorily resolved by the end of the book. But she does it so well! In Deep Dish, Gina, a young woman with a regionally popular public tv cooking show, gets her big chance at national stardom on "The Cooking Channel." The catch is, she must best hunky good ol' boy Tate Moody, also a cooking show host, in a "Survivor"-style contest held on Eutaw Island (a barrier island off the Georgia coast). Engaging characters, plenty of humor and a strong sense of place make this a very enjoyable book for anyone (well, probably mostly women) tired of gloom and doom or mystery and mayhem.

Gina Foxton's local television cooking show, "Fresh Start," has been cancelled due to circumstances waaaaaaaaaaaay beyond her control. Fortunately, talent scouts from The Cooking Channel are in town and they're ready to offer her a new national show. But there's a catch. She has to out-compete Tate Moody, host of "Vittles," a shoot-em and grill-em cooking show popular with both men who like to hunt and women who like to watch Tate's abs, pecs, and glutes. What follows is something like a cross between "Survivor" and "The Next Food Network Star" with a hint of Pride and Prejudice thrown in.

Really, two and a half stars. I can sum up my review in one word: predictable. That's really all I need to say. You probably read my synopsis and know show more exactly where this book went. It's still a fun beach read, and there were some funny parts that made me do this almost-silent-giggle-snort-thing, but there are better books out there. The characters are just stock characters from any mediocre chick-lit novel. I really couldn't wait to finish it and move on to the next book. One other thing--whenever she referred to Tate Moody as just Moody, I flashed onto Mad-Eye Moody from Harry Potter. I don't know if that would be a wide-spread problem for readers of chick-lit, but it was a distraction for me.

This wasn't terrible, but it just wasn't great or even that good. Read Savannah Blues by the same author instead. You'll laugh out loud and fall in love with the main character. show less

Cute little rom-com novel. Very slow start but it gets better towards the end. Most of what happens is relatively predictable if you read a lot of these types of books or watch a lot of these movies. Most of the characters are likeable to an extent, but if you're wanting a strong female protagonist who thinks for herself, you're probably going to be disappointed. Side characters are developed well enough for you to love them or hate them.

All in all, a cute read if you're looking for a little "we hate each other, we love each other" story. I'd recommend if you enjoy romantic comedies in book or movie form, or need a little love pick-me-up.

Mary Kay Andrews' Deep Dish stars Gina Foxton an older sister who is eager to please, cautious, and naive when it comes to men. Tate Moody is the man's man, grills, hunts, and loves the outdoors. Throw these two in a pot and stir. The results are hilarious, spicy, and steamy. In addition to these polar opposites, you have Gina's ex, Scott, who is out for himself and every woman he can get his hands on; Gina's sister, Lisa, who operates without a compass, is passionate, and unable to commit; Val, Tate's chain smoking, pressure cooker; and Moonpie, Tate's adorable pooch.

As an aside, one of my favorite character was Moonpie; he seemed to soften the edges the characters create for themselves in an attempt to defend themselves against pain. show more D'John, the makeup and hair stylist for Gina and Tate, is outrageous and he provides each of the characters an anchor and support column. Mary Kay Andrews does a great job creating well rounded main and supporting characters.

The impending cancellation of Gina's regional cooking show, pushes her into a reality show cook-off with Tate Moody, who has a successful outdoor hunting and cooking show. Food Fight is where the fun really picks up and Gina is forced to go out and forage Eutaw Island for ingredients before she can whip up a meal and dessert to impress three famous cooks, one of whom hates her guts. Tate Moody is in for the fight of his life even in spite of his hunting prowess as he is forced to make amazing meals out of regular household ingredients, including Frosted Flakes, to impress three judges, even one who hates his guts.

Some of the best parts of this book occurs when the reality show begins, and though some of the plot is predictable, its done in a refreshing and new way. Southern cooking is the crux, and readers will be exposed to cuisine they may not see otherwise. Gina's flashbacks to her family life and her mother's cooking are vivid and enjoyable. These sections will likely remind readers of when they smell certain foods and memories flood back to them from their childhoods. If you need a light read, this is the book for you. show less