AUDIO REVIEW: Summer Kitchen by EJ Russell (Saving Home #1)

- April 29, 2024

SUMMER KITCHEN

Saving Home - Book One

by EJ Russell

Release Date: April 22, 2024

Audio Release Date: April 22, 2024

Narrator: Greg Boudreaux

Review

I love a good small-town series. This one has some really interesting characters, a cool town history, and all the ‘we have each other's backs’ vibes you could want.

Casey has found himself in Home, Vermont training to be a Michelin level chef before the end of summer so he can take over where is father left off when he died. Except he’s terrible at it, and has a complicated relationship with his father.

What isn’t complicated is the draw he feels for Dev, the town manager and owner of the house Casey is living in. Dev carries the legacy of Home’s founder on his shoulders. The town has some unique laws meant to support its people but given the economy of small towns, it’s a struggle.

As Dev helps Casey find his passion, Casey helps Dev realize that being responsible doesn’t mean you have to do it alone.

A heartwarming community-oriented story, with two very likable characters, and a cat that may have possibly stolen every scene they were in.

Narrator Greg Boudreaux did a fantastic job at capturing the likeability, quirkiness, humour, and drama of this story and its characters. It made for a perfect afternoon listen.

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Synopsis

The foolproof recipe for personal redemption and perfect love...

Take:

One former rock musician
One almost-MBA turned cooking school student

Add two heaping spoonfuls (each) of:

responsibility
familial obligation
regret

And a dash of:

misunderstanding (optional)

Stir together in:

one small Vermont town

Season with:

friends
family
foes
and one large ginger feline

Garnish with:

validation
laughter
just deserts (also desserts)

Simmer for one entire summer before serving up a delicious (well-deserved) HEA. Bon Appetit!

About EJ Russell

Multi-Rainbow Award winner E.J. Russell holds a BA and an MFA in theater, so naturally she spent three decades as a financial manager, database designer, and business intelligence consultant (as one does). She’s married to Curmudgeonly Husband, a man who cares even less about sports than she does. Luckily, C.H. also loves to cook, or all three of their children (Lovely Daughter and Darling Sons A and B) would have survived on nothing but Cheerios, beef jerky, and satsuma mandarins (the extent of E.J.’s culinary skill set).

E.J.'s book, The Druid Next Door, was a 2018 RITA® finalist. She lives in rural Oregon, enjoys visits from her wonderful adult children, and indulges in good books, red wine, and the occasional hyperbole.

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