NEW RELEASE
The Stall of Second Chances - Dana Bate (2014)
aka A Second Bite at the Apple
Sydney Strauss had always loved cooking and dreamed of becoming a food journalist, but bad memories of her ex-boyfriend Zach somewhat took the shine off that world. When Sydney finds herself out of a job however, the chance to work at a farmers' market soon leads towards Sydney's dream of being a journalist. She just needs a big scoop to make a name for herself. And boy does she find one, the only trouble is it involves breaking her new beau, Jeremy's, confidence, and a little bit of sneaking around. But he'll understand, surely? I immediately found myself drawn into this novel, it's charming, entertaining fare and perfect if you're after good-quality chick lit. Although the action and drama really kicks off in the second half of the novel, for me the book lost some of its appeal here, as you watch Sydney dig herself deeper and deeper into a hole, she becomes a less appealing and more frustrating character. A somewhat tangential incident with the downstairs neighbour and the FBI also brought in a much more sinister note which felt really out of place. I'm not usually keen on these foodie-style chick lit novels but Dana Bate doesn't go OTT on the gastronomy and it feels much more integral. Overall, this is well-written, engaging read even if you may find yourself wanting to give the heroine a good shake. (JC)
Dana Bate's A Second Bite at the Apple (aka The Stall of Second Chances) is about daring to bite into the life you really want. The summary says: "Sydney Strauss is obsessed with food. Not with eating it - though she does that too - but with writing about the wonders of the gastronomic world, from obscure fruit hybrids to organic farming techniques. Since food journalism jobs are more coveted than cronuts, Sydney pays her bills working for one of TV's biggest egomaniacs - until she's left scrambling for shifts at a local farmers' market. Stacking muffins for the Wild Yeast Bakery isn't going to win any her James Beard awards. But soon Sydney is writing the market's weekly newsletter, and her quirky stories gain attention from a prominent food columnist. After years of putting her love life into deep freeze, she's even dating again. And then Sydney gets a shot at the story, one that could either make her career or burn it to a crisp - along with her relationship and her reputation..." A Second Bite at the Apple is out in November 2014.