"And yet...her heart filled with something she'd never had before. It was the fullness of friendship and love. That alone made almost any prospect bearable." Arabella has long been a slave to the whims and control of others. Her main source of joy is her son. When her husband dies, leaving guardianship rights to his brother-in-law, Arabella finds herself in her most precarious situation yet. He uses his power to manipulate her and puts her in positions to try to force her to obey his will. When she meets Theo, she hopes for more for the first time in her life. As her circumstances grow more and more difficult, she reaches out and find some of the greatest gifts of all. This was such a wonderful story of friendship and love. Theo is the best! I loved the way he worked so hard to create a safe place for Arabella and her son so unselfishly. I also loved his family and the way they opened their hearts and homes to help someone in need. I was not prepared for the wickedness of the brother in law- he was atrocious- and it added such a unique sense of intrigue to this love story! I was amazed at Arabella's love for her son and the way that she put him above all else. I felt like it was a powerful picture of a mom's love. This is such a tender and unique love story I was so thankful to get to read! I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Gourmet captures human emotions in a most effective manner. Even within the realms of fear and anxiety, the reader is strangely comforted and hopeful.