Product Description

Another delicious treat full of Southern sass, wit, and charm from the New York Times bestselling author of Savannah Breeze and Hissy Fit

Chef extraordinaire Gina Foxton doesn't expect anything to be handed to her on a platter. After years of hard work, the former runner-up Miss Teen Vidalia Onion is now the host of her own local Georgia public television show called Fresh Start, and she's dating the show's producer.

But when her show gets canceled—and she catches her boyfriend in flagrante delicto with the boss's wife—Gina realizes that she's meant for bigger and better things. Namely, a gig on national television.

The Cooking Channel is looking for its next big star, and Gina is certain that she fits the bill. Trouble is, the execs also have their eyes on Mr. "Kill It and Grill It" Tate Moody, the star of a hunting, fishing, and cooking show named Vittles. Tate is the ultimate man's man, with a dog named Moonpie and a penchant for flannel shirts. He's also a tasty side of beef with a swooning female fan base. All Gina has on her side are a free-spirited, college-dropout sister and a mother who calls every single day.

Little does Gina know, though, that she and Tate are soon to embark on the cook-off of their lives, spiced up by a little ingredient called love.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #418559 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-01
• Released on: 2008-02-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 400 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780060837365
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Andrews (Savannah Breeze; Hissy Fit) delivers a trademark romance set in her native Deep South. Gina Foxton is a 30-year-old chef with a health-conscious approach to classic Southern fare whose public access cooking show gets canceled when the show's big sponsor pulls out after finding the show's producer (and Gina's boyfriend) in bed with his wife. So news that the Cooking Channel is looking to add a new show is a welcome development. The producers are also interested in another local cooking show called Vittles, hosted by Kill It and Grill It Tate Moody. The competition between Gina and Tate ramps up when the network decides to turn their competition into a reality show. The close quarters and competition create the right atmosphere for the two chefs to fall in love, though things never get too racy. Andrews takes a long time to get the romance off the ground, but when it starts moving, it moves fast. Andrews's readership will eat this one up. (Feb.)
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About the Author

Mary Kay Andrews is the nationally bestselling author of Deep Dish, Blue Christmas, Savannah Breeze, Hissy Fit, Little Bitty Lies, and Savannah Blues. A former journalist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, she lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

From AudioFile
Isabel Keating gives her all--and more--to liven up this second-rate Southern novel by a usually first-rate writer. Curiously, it is with the two main characters--competing Atlanta TV chefs Gina Foxton and Tate Moody--that she is least successful. The dialogue and rapport between the rivals, who later become lovers, sounds flat as the proverbial pancake, and they never really connect. But the production's biggest problem is the story's predictable plot--Andrews telegraphs all the moves far in advance. Nonetheless, Keating is hilarious and endearing in her portrayals of the supporting cast of Southern characters--from crackling old ladies to good old boys and mumbling country bumpkins. M.T.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Hysteria in the Kitchen
The above reviewer nailed the plot, so I won't go into that. Gina is someone a lot of women can relate to (bad hair day, Martian men), and Tate is the ultimate good ol' boy who really does ooze charm AND can cook well. Their bantering sparkles like champagne, but these two are totally authentic Southerners, including Gina's family. YES, her mama does call about every day, and you can still find her type in every small Georgia town. As a lagniappe, there are three (fairly simple) recipes at the end - what do you expect from a story about two people fighting to get on The Cooking Channel.
Those who love Dorothea Frank and Anne Siddons will flat-out love this one. Mary Kay Andrews just has Frank's knack for capturing the rhythm of the South and spinning it into a laugh-aloud, recognize- yourself tale. She's about as addictive as Co'cola and Moonpies:)

Not her best
I should preface this by saying that I adore Mary Kay Andrews/ Kathy Hogan Trocheck (same author writing under two different names). Normally I find her books really entertaining, and they're among my favorites, so I pre-ordered this one.

Unfortunately, the cast of characters just left me flat in this one. The usual zippy dialogue and entertaining scenarios never materialized. Maybe if it had been from another author I didn't like so much this wouldn't have mattered, but I have such high expectations for her books that I found this one a big disappointment. It's definitely not on a par with her Savannah books or Hissy Fit. Get this one from the library, and save your pennies for the next Mary Kay!

A true fan and MKA Apologist speaks
Let me begin this review by saying that I enjoy Mary Kay Andrews immensely. I can always count on her to deliver a fun read that far exceeds the standards of the romance novel genre. In fact, she doesn't write romance novels, so if you're looking for the bodice ripper then proceed elsewhere. What she does write is an entertaining book; one that is amusing and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny. That being said, Deep Dish is not her funniest book. Nor is it her best. It is a good book and will be enjoyed by her fans, especially if they are foodies.

The food aspect plays big in this novel and a working knowledge of a kitchen and The Food Network will help in enjoying the novel. I caught a few little editing errors; the aforementioned blond hair/black hair issue with the character Scott and a brief reference to early spring weather in Atlanta when earlier in the chapter it was a hot, steamy July day. Those however are editing issues and shouldn't be held against the author.

If you are looking for a quick summer read, something for the beach or the pool, then this is a good choice. In the world of chick-lit Mary Kay routinely hits home runs. Even though this one is only a triple, it still deserves a read.