Review: `I think my job is a metaphor for my life.'
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 22, 2014
Since the publication of her debut novel LOVE ON THE BACK BURNER American (of Italian immigrant parents) author Barbara Oliverio has won the coveted Readers' Favorite Award - and for good reason. After reading that novel this reviewer stated, `Barbara Oliverio has created a funny and touching book that reads a bit like a cross between Sex and the City and Julia Child meets Martha Stewart. She has an innate feel for when to make her story about the frustrations of finding a right mate bubble up with frothy implosions of laughter while maintaining the gourmand's interest in the art of cuisine. It just works.' And the same degree of admiration and satisfying entertainment can be lauded with this her second `tasty romantic novel'. But now we know more about our author:  her passion for learning produced employment as a teacher, journalist, and marketer, and she maintains her Italian roots with frequent trips from her home in Denver, Colorado. When not producing extraordinary kitchen triumphs she teaches part-time for the St. Catherine of Siena Institute.For this her second book LOVE ON THE LIDO DECK Oliverio wisely keeps much of the same cast of characters, this time a bit of reversal of roles as to who needs primary assistance. Keira Graham and Alexandria (Alex) D'Agostino are best friends - Keira has recently elected to embrace the world of event planning (Keira Graham Events) for the less satisfying career as a systems analyst. When her widowed mother begins `dating a nice gentleman and it's becoming serious' - an infatuation with a new potential serious mate - Keira encounters a major event planning job - a Caribbean Cruise  - and to help her make the cruise a gastronomic success (a well as a diversion for her mother's romantic entanglements) she enlists her Alex's aid in recruiting famous chefs to both cook and offer classes aboard the ship. All goes well (the various adventures on board are hilarious with Alex's colorful family aboard along with Keira's pert assistant Juliet - and Keira's attentions are divided between her job and the hunky Cruise Director Brennan McCallister.What makes this book recipe successful is the off the cuff style of writing - easy-going, light, always finding the humor in everything. And given the fact that the author is indeed a fine cook, at book's end she offers recipes suggested by the book: Keira's Favorite Butterscotch Brownies, Bread Pudding, Hurricane (a wicked libation), Shrimp Po Boy, Po Boy Remoulade, Nan's Veggie Dip, Green Olive Croustade Spread/Dip, Tex-Mex Corn Salsa/Dip, Momma's Stuffed Peppers, Tessie's Cabbage Rolls, What's Shakin' Bacon Fried Rice, Darby's Chicken Salad, Aunt Lydia's Cheesecake, Deluxe Lemon Bars, Promenade Brownies, Chicago Dogs, West Virginia Dog, Hot Dog Sauce, and Chicken Vesuvio a la Alexandria. Barbara Oliverio proves once again she can blend romance and comedy and great foods with love and with a real gift for writing. Grady Harp, June 14