A Family Recipe by Veronica Henry

Today I am very pleased to be a stop on Veronica Henry's blog tour to celebrate the publication of A Family Recipe in paperback.

The brand-new feel-good story from bestseller Veronica Henry - a perfect mix of family, friends and delicious food.

What's the secret ingredient to your happiness?

Laura Griffin is preparing for an empty nest. The thought of Number 11 Lark Hill falling silent - a home usually bustling with noise, people and the fragrant smells of something cooking on the Aga - seems impossible. Laura hopes it will mean more time for herself, and more time with her husband, Dom.

But when an exposed secret shakes their marriage, Laura suddenly feels as though her family is shrinking around her. Feeling lost, she turns to her greatest comfort: her grandmother's recipe box, a treasured collection dating back to the Second World War.

Everyone has always adored Laura's jams and chutneys, piled their sandwiches high with her pickles . . . Inspired by a bit of the old Blitz spirit, Laura has an idea that gives her a fresh sense of purpose.

Full of fierce determination, Laura starts carving her own path. But even the bravest woman needs the people who love her. And now, they need her in return...

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
ISBN: 9781409166627

I really enjoy Veronica's books, they are always a great read with strong women at their heart and a really strong family in the background of the stories. A Family Recipe is another such book and has been cleverly told in two timelines. Veronica writes in such a great way, her stories are easy to read but always have a clear message. Veronica has written for a number of television series and whenever I pick up her latest title I can see the characters and the story unfolding before my eyes - I really hope that this (or any of her back list) are taken up by a production company. 

Jill is the  main character of the book and we meet her in 1942, in wartime England, where she has lost love ones and again in the modern day, along with her grand daughter Laura, who is suffering from empty nest syndrome as her children leave home to go to university. Both ladies turn to cooking and the story is told alongside their family recipe books which are stored in a box and come out in times of need.

A Family Recipe is a great story, with strong characters and a believable story. The recipes and foods that are described in the book all sound gorgeous and I will be investigating some of them further. This is a great book to read over the summer months, and I am sure there will be lots of family recipe chutneys and jams at the many summer fayres over the summer months to enjoy while reading it.

Another great read from Veronica - can't wait for the next one!

Thank you to the publishers, Orion Books, for sending me this book to review.