Reviewer: Samantha
I received a review copy
Summary:
Slim, successful, and soon to marry the man of her dreams, Katie Cravens is leading the life she always wanted. As the face and CEO of Pasta Pronto, a “Carbs for the Calorie-Conscious” line of frozen food, Katie chooses to live life like one of her Slimline Spaghetti dinners―no mess, no surprises, and everything tied up in a neat little package. But when Katie’s fiancé runs off with another woman and a quality control fiasco sends her customers running for the hills, it’s time for Katie to make a change.
Her company’s salvation presents itself in the form of a partnership opportunity with the legendary Ristorante Caramelli of Rome, and Katie has no other choice but to jet off to Italy to convince gorgeous, hotheaded co-owner Luca Caramelli that she’s a worthy partner. Gaining Luca’s respect proves harder than Katie could have ever imagined, however, when he insists that she must learn how to cook―and how to eat―true Italian food before he will ever agree to their companies’ partnership.
Katie and Luca’s tension in Italy mounts into a fierce public rivalry that erupts back in the States with a nationally televised cooking competition. As Katie tries to channel her inner Mario Batali to win the competition, she must choose between the flavorless prepackaged life that she worked so hard to maintain and the mouth-watering uncertainty of a life chock full of carbohydrates and Caramellis.
Review:
I am such a fan of foodie fiction, so when I saw this cover I knew I had to read it! Katie’s character was so engaging to read about. She truly thinks she has it all … until she starts to realize her perfect life might not be just that. I loved her trip to Italy (a place on the top of my bucket list) and her instant chemistry with the formidable Luca. And the reality show bit on top was a lot of fun and made me feel like I was in the kitchen with them. There was a little too much back and forth with the romance for my liking, but still overall a truly enjoyable read that left my mouth watering for pasta.
4 stars
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pasta-wars-elisa-lorello/1122755306
