Hi Debbie,

I have missed chatting with you in the TKL chat room, hope all is well with you.

Yes, I have read The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells and also her other southern novel, Little Altars Everywhere. Both wonderful novels, "can't put them down books".

If you enjoyed those , surely you will love Michael Lee West's style of writing; southern novels with wonderful characters, and in her novels are a sprinkling of southern recipes.

Some of the titles to look for are:

American Pie
Crazy Ladies
She Flew The Coop

Another great little novel that has each chapter beginning with a recipe is Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquival. It is set at turn of the century Mexico and it recounts the story of an aritocratic family. A wonderful story... I had first seen the movie with a cousin in Miami and loved it so that I got the video! Then I read the book and became enamored of that as well because of all the wonderful recipes.

In the book, there is a recipe for QUAIL in ROSE PETAL SAUCE, I've made it and it is delicious as well as TURKEY MOLE with ALMONDS and SESAME SEEDS. I highly recommend the book for its love and celebration of food.

Happy Reading!

Gina