Grace Holm-D'Angelo's world is unravelling - she is having trouble at work, her teenage daughter is in a rebellious mood, and her best friend has died of cancer. Flying home for the funeral, Grace is confronted by her mother. They have been estranged ever since Grace found a startling fact about her mother inside the Recipe box.

Trying to improve her daughter's behavior, Grace leaves her daughter with her mother and heads back to her job in LA but when she hears that Emma has disappeared she heads back to found her.

The story goes on with a new romance for Grace and a decision to return to her hometown and try a change in her future.

The story seemed very predictable and the characters very two-dimensional. ( )

Sandra Lee is an American chef, the host of several television shows, and the author of over two dozen bestselling cookbooks. The Recipe Box is her debut fiction novel celebrating mothers, daughters, and friendship, featuring several of Sandra Lee's recipes.

Grace D'Angelo is trying to create a new life for her self and her daughter in L.A. after her divorce, but between fourteen year old Emma's rebellious behaviour, long working days and regular trips back to her hometown to support her best friend, Leeza, who is battling breast cancer, she is struggling to keep it together. When Leeza unexpectedly succumbs to her illness, Grace reconsiders her priorities and decides to spend the summer in New London where she is forced to confront her past and rethink her future.

The plot unfolds in a rather predictable manner as Grace works on rebuilding her relationship with her daughter and her mother, from whom she has been estranged for a number of years. Grace's main obstacle to happiness involves her discovery of a family secret as a teenager, and her inability to move beyond it. Her return to New London challenges her long held grudge against her mother, and forces her to consider the secret she is keeping from her own daughter.

Of course there is romance for Grace too, with hunky firefighter/handyman/teacher, Mike, though the spectre of an old flame, Von and her ex husband muddy the waters. Grace is wary of beginning a new relationship and of letting down her guard but Mike is a good guy, and persistent, so you can expect a happy ending.

I enjoyed the less traditional romance between Ken and bookstore owner, Tim. In several ways Ken's journey mirrors Grace's as he is also estranged from his family and fled New London as soon as he was able. Going back for Leeza's funeral, and meeting Tim, prompts him to rethink his priorities and his decision makes it easier for Grace to concur.

The Recipe Box is a pleasant read for a lazy afternoon, a story about forgiveness, making amends and moving on. The recipes are a nice touch, there are none that are particularly original, but the Swedish Cinnamon Buns look delicious. ( )

This was a wonderful book to read. It is easy to follow all characters involved and the recipes included in the book follow the storyline extremely well. I was happy to read this book and I hope to read more books by Sandra Lee in the future. :) ( )