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The Lost Recipe for Happiness
The Lost Recipe for Happiness
Author: Barbara O'Neal
It's the opportunity Elena Alvarez has been waiting for - the challenge of running her own kitchen in a world-class restaurant. Haunted by an accident of which she was the lone survivor, Elena knows better than anyone else how to defy the odds. With her faithful dog, Alvin, and her grandmother's recipes, Elena arrives in Colorado to find a resta...  more »
ISBN-13: 9781607515517
ISBN-10: 1607515512
Publication Date: 1/2009
Pages: 447
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 11

3.9 stars, based on 11 ratings
Publisher: Bantam
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

cyndil62 avatar reviewed The Lost Recipe for Happiness on + 30 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
What a great book! From the very first page, I sympathized with Elena who had just been fired from a restaurant she helped to establish by the head chef who just happened to also be her boyfriend. She was then immediately offered a position by the owner of the restaurant, Julian, to be head chef for another restaurant he owned.
I related to Elena in so many ways. She loved her big dog Alvin and she suffered from pain after receiving massive injuries in a car wreck years before where she was the only survivor. I felt her pressure in trying to get the new restaurant established in Aspen and also felt her reluctance to get too deeply involved with the owner, who was a movie director and very rich, even though it seemed so right.
I loved the other characters in the book; Ivan the old chef who was battling issues of his own; Peter, one of Elena's best friends who arrived to help her with the restaurant; Mia, another good friend of Elena's;, and even all of the restaurant help from the immigrants including Juan who was a favorite, to Tansy the pastry chef.
The relationship that developed between Julian's daughter Portia and Elena was also a great addition, but I would say one of my favorite parts was how the author made the food sound so great, the descriptions read almost like poetry and recipes are even included which is another plus.
It is hard to categorize this book; its so much more than chic lit and I certainly recommend it to all who love a great story! I look forward to reading another book by this talented author, Barbara O Neal.
craftypatti avatar reviewed The Lost Recipe for Happiness on + 146 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
What a great book!! I just found out it was the author's debut. And what a debut it was. I wasn't expecting the ending - left me wanting more. But I have her next 2 books on my wish list.
Great read!!
reviewed The Lost Recipe for Happiness on + 149 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Having no clue as to how I came across this author, I decided to give her a try.
And, I am so glad I did....the book drew me in and didn't let go.

Not being fond of books that have 'perfect' characters like the stereotypical long legged blond with a face & body that could stop traffic. Ugh! Come on people...have a bit of compassion for us 'real life' people. I'm drawn to characters that are flawed.
These were and you could see the struggles of them trying to be better people and even at the end of the book they still were flawed and not miraculously 'fixed'.

I enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it. And, I'm also looking forward to reading more by this author.
SoBe avatar reviewed The Lost Recipe for Happiness on + 147 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A well written story, but to be honest, I'm not sure if I liked it or not.

I did finish it, so that's a plus, and I'm relatively sure this was the author's debut novel, and as such it's pretty impressive. There were parts I liked, some more then others, and parts I like didn't, again some more then others. But having finished it, literally just a few minutes ago, I'm not sure how I feel. I sorta kinda want more, but at the same time don't know if I'd read another book by the author (though I won't rule t out).

A few places call it 'chick lit' and I'm not even sure If I'd apply that label to it. The story seems weightier somehow, so much so, that calling it 'chick lit', doesn't seem to do it justice. (not that there's anything wrong with chick lit)


I can't help but think this is the type of book that would work really well as a group read . The overall story is a busy one, lots of stuff happens, and I just think It would have been easier to process had I someone to discuss it with; maybe then I'd know what I really thought of it!
marimij avatar reviewed The Lost Recipe for Happiness on + 30 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I like this book. It made me hungry! I had to go to a Mexican restaurant after reading it to quench my craving!
Read All 22 Book Reviews of "The Lost Recipe for Happiness"

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reviewed The Lost Recipe for Happiness on + 9 more book reviews
Fun, fast read.
reviewed The Lost Recipe for Happiness on + 9 more book reviews
Great read, complex characters. I was inspired to look for others O'Neal has written. Can't wait for her next book. Even tried 1 of the recipes!
BettyP avatar reviewed The Lost Recipe for Happiness on + 5 more book reviews
This was a great book. The story was very interesting and the descriptions (and actual recipes) of the food were amazing. I don't keep many books but this one I will!
debralynn avatar reviewed The Lost Recipe for Happiness on + 4 more book reviews
This was a good book; it made me hungry! The characters were believable and I rooted for them to find..well, happiness. It's not a true light-hearted read, the main character, Elena, has been through a lot, but she doesn't feel sorry for herself; she forges ahead, which is what we hope we all do when life gives us a bad hand. It's not all gloom-and-doom, so don't get me wrong, but don't pick it up thinking it's bouncy chic lit, it's a little more serious than that, and well worth reading. But not when you're hungry!
reviewed The Lost Recipe for Happiness on + 40 more book reviews
A splendid modern romance, where the rules of real life apply but love can still heal (okay, with a little assist from good pastries). The book cover features a blurb from author Susan Wiggs and that almost put me off because Wiggs can be so sappy. Don't let it mislead you! Elena is a wonderful, complex character, Flawed but redeemed in the end as she rebuilds her life. I liked the realism (Elena suffers chronic pain and can be cranky; her relationships with Ivan, Julian and his daughter can be rocky).
briana808 avatar reviewed The Lost Recipe for Happiness on
Great book! The story and characters are very real. I highly recommend reading this one!
reviewed The Lost Recipe for Happiness on + 3 more book reviews
Very enjoyable read kept my interest all the way through.
BookLady avatar reviewed The Lost Recipe for Happiness on
One of the best books I've read in a long time. Full of angst and pain and sweetness, I cried and cried, and yet the author still delivers a happily-ever-after ending you can believe in. The many characters in this book are flawed, but you love them anyway, just like people in real life. I read a LOT...and this book stands out as the best I've read in years.


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