The Recipe Box

Growing up in northern Michigan, Samantha "Sam" Mullins felt trapped on her family's orchard and in their pie shop, so she left with dreams of making her own mark in the world. But life as an overworked, undervalued sous chef at a reality star's New York bakery is not what Sam dreamed.

When the chef embarrasses Sam, she quits and returns home. Unemployed, single, and defeated, she spends a summer working on her family's orchard cooking and baking alongside the women in her life--including her mother, Deana, and grandmother, Willo. One beloved, flour-flecked, ink-smeared recipe at a time, Sam begins to learn about and understand the women in her life, her family's history, and her passion for food through their treasured recipe box.

As Sam discovers what matters most she opens her heart to a man she left behind, but who now might be the key to her happiness.

This was a sweet read, but just an okay book for me.  Sam returns to the orchard where she grew up to try and heal from disappointment.  I am always a sucker for books that involve multiple generations and cooking/baking.  This book had all those things, but it fell flat for me.  I just didn't seem to connect with the characters, they lacked depth.  It was an easy, quick read and I loved the background of an orchard in Michigan.  I was so hoping this book would help me capture some nostalgia, but it just didn't quite hit the mark.  

    
          * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *