“Plunges the reader into a world of gastronomic celebration that rings with authenticity.””

“Beautiful writing, good storytelling and an endearing heroine set against the backdrop of Aspen, Colo., are highlights of O’Neal’s novel. A tale that intertwines food, friendship, passion and love in such a delectable mix is one to truly savor until the very last page.”

“Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) PICK OF THE WEEK “The writing is both subtle and colourful. Elena, in particular, is an engaging, complex character, direct and driven like all gifted chefs but also empathetic and haunted as she puts in train the transformation of the restaurant, strives to consolidate and settle her team of staff and struggles toward a happy ending.”

“St. Petersburg Times “The two begin a romance, but the story has more to offer: a rival who does his best to derail the new chef in town, a surprisingly political take on the situation of undocumented workers, and, of course, Elena’s reaction when the changes in her life affect her relationship with her beloved, inconvenient ghosts. ….Will appeal to women’s fiction fans and foodies, who will enjoy the intriguing recipes…laced through the book.””

“Strong characters and a savory plot make for an emotional read that had me turning the pages late into the night–and reaching for the box of Kleenex more than once. The descriptive food passages are both mouth-watering and sensual, and are complemented throughout by various recipes….five stars!”

“The food descriptions will be fun for foodies. When the protagonist makes notes for a menu, the descriptions are juicy. …Honest to goodness recipes, like the one for “Banana and Chocolate Chip Pancakes” … focus a reader’s interest in O’Neal’s true-life culinary cache…. A light read for food lovers.”

“As dark and deep and sweet as chocolate…I wanted to live in this book.”