MY REVIEW:
The second book in the Two Blue Doors series, “Reservations for Two” continues Juliette D’Alisa’s story as she balances preparations to open a new restaurant with a long-distance romance, her mother’s serious illness, and her search for the answers to secrets from her grandmother’s life. The reader is privileged to read along with Juliette as she discovers unknown facts from her grandmother’s past through letters mostly between her grandmother and her great-aunt. The book is also interspersed with recipes that are mentioned during the story.
From Europe to Portland to Memphis and back, it was fun to follow Juliette and sometimes Neil as they discovered local sights and food together. I especially enjoyed Juliette’s trip to Memphis because I have spent my life close to the city and am familiar with most of the places she and Neil visited together. Unfortunately, the Macaroni Grill on Poplar that they visited was destroyed by fire and had to be leveled.
I mostly enjoyed “Reservations for Two” and look forward to the next book in the series in which I hope to see all the loose ends tied up nicely and all questions answered. “Reservations for Two” is a must for those who enjoy reading tempting descriptions of food, especially gourmet quality food. 
This book was provided for review by Blogging for Books.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A culinary concoction of taking chances and finding love in the most delectable places
Food writer-turned-restaurateur Juliette D’Alisa has more than enough on her plate. While her trip to Provence might have unlocked new answers to her grandmother’s past, it’s also provided new complications in the form of Neil McLaren, the man she can’t give up.
Juliette and Neil find romance simple as they travel through Provence and Tuscany together, but life back home presents a different set of challenges. Juliette has a restaurant to open, a mother combating serious illness, and a family legacy of secrets to untangle – how does Neil, living so far away in Memphis, fit into to her life?
As she confronts an uncertain future, Juliette can’t help but wish that life could be as straightforward as her chocolate chip cookie recipe. Can her French grandmother’s letters from the 1940’s provide wisdom to guide her present? Or will every new insight create a fresh batch of mysteries?
Click here to download chapter one of Reservations for Two.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Hillary Manton Lodge is the author of Plain Jayne, a Carol Award Finalist, and Simply Sara, an ECPA bestselling book. A graduate of the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism, Hillary discovered the world of cuisine during her internship at Northwest Palate magazine. A storyteller at heart, in her free time she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, watching foreign films, and exploring new walking trails. She and her husband live in Portland, Oregon.
