The School of Essential Ingredients

Erica Bauermeister's first novel is a feast for the senses. And torture if you are hungry while reading it. Through the chapters you meet all the members of a cooking class taught by an extraordinary restaurateur. One night they make ravioli "no thicker than paper, their edges crinkled, their surfaces kissed with melted butter, scattered with bits of shallots and hazelnuts, like rice thrown at a wedding." Bauermeister captures moment after moment of her characters being healed by the intersection of food and emotions. For fans of Like Water for Chocolate and The God of Small Things. -- Jenny H.

Request a copy of The School of Essential Ingredients from the Saint Paul Public Library.

Body Movers

Twenty-something Carlotta loves good clothes, her younger brother Wes, and her ex-fiance who dumped her 10 years ago. She does not love that her parents skipped town (Atlanta) under the dark cloud of fraud charges against her father and she's raised Wes on her own. Now Wes is in trouble with the law for computer hacking and as part of his probation gets "gainful employment" as a body mover. Her employee discount at Neiman Marcus keeps her in fashion and her quick temper and mouth keep her in trouble. Carlotta proves irrepressible even when faced with a bully of a police detective and a possible serial killer. -- Jenny H.

Request Body Movers from the Saint Paul Public Library

The Fortune Quilt

Lani Diane Rich's modern fairy tale centers on Carly, a 30-something television producer for Tucson Today who is used to being in control and who is not averse to bad puns. She has a good excuse for living at home--she's been acting as mom to her younger sister for the past 17 years after their real mom ran away from home. When a psychic quiltmaker "reads" Carly's quilt and predicts upheaval, Carly just laughs it off as another quirky person featured on her TV show. Multiple upheavals ensue, sending Carly to the small artists' community of Bilby, Arizona, and she finds herself rescued, at least temporarily, by the psychic quiltmaker. With colorful supporting characters, several love interests and a warm setting, this is just the book to curl up with by the fire to see how it will turn out happily ever after. -- Jenny H.

Request The Fortune Quilt from the Saint Paul Public Library.

Agnes and the Hitman

Agnes and the Hitman is the second joint effort from Jennifer Crusie (beloved romance writer) and Bob Mayer (former Green Beret turned action-adventure novelist). Like their first collaboration, Don’t Look Down, Agnes and the Hitman features a competent, sexy woman with a dry sense of humor and a tough government operative with a vested interest in keeping the heroine alive. The plot, involving a wedding, flamingos, anger management, and the mob, is elaborate but never out of control. The many supporting characters are substantial enough that they add to, rather than detract from, the story. A smart, well-written, romance novel. --Katy S.

Request Agnes and the Hitman from the Saint Paul Public Library.