FICTION

A Serving of Scandal

OPUS. (Culinary Fiction). 2013. 352p. ISBN 9781623160203. pap. $14.95. F
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Kate McKinnon's catering business, Nothing Fancy, is doing pretty well. Her newest client, Britain's Secretary of State Oliver Stapler, enjoys more than just her cooking, spending time in the kitchen with her while she cleans up after dinner parties and giving her rides home. Neither of them sees any problems with their friendship until a gossip rag decides to turn innocent companionship into a scandalous affair. With Leith's background as a food writer, cookbook author, and catering company owner, the story has authenticity (and the segments referring to what Kate cooks are enough to make readers drool on their pages!). However, the narrative feels stilted and difficult to follow for those unfamiliar with British culture, with references to political parties and British slang.
VERDICT Like a cake without baking powder, this novel, which launches the publisher's culinary fiction series, falls flat and fails to satisfy the craving for a light, fluffy, escapist read.
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