Delicious (The Marsdens)

Delicious by Sherry Thomas is just as the title says. Actually it was mouthwatering delicious and I will never look at a Madeline again in the same way. Whew......who knew food could be so erotic. Verity Durant has a reputation of not only having the love life of the century but she is the most re known cook that the most elite of families would give their right arm for. She is also somewhat of a mystery since she keeps herself secreted away whenever she is not in the kitchen cooking. Oh and her cooking provokes the most sensual erotically enticing thoughts that run through your mind that it's a wonder that the recipients of her cuisine don't embarrass themselves with all the little responsive noises being issued with every delectable bit. Stuart Somerset is a proper gentleman, very private and quite adminate that he not enjoy a single thing since his tryist with a woman many years past that left him before dawn after a night of the most wonderfully passionate sex. She never gave him her name and left him feeling like a jilted bridegroom at the alter. Our story brings the lives of Verity and Stuart back together but Stuart is totally unaware of the woman who is making the most delicious food he has ever had the pleasure of placing on this tongue. Verity goes to all lengths to keep her identity secret. Will poor Stuart ever find out who his cook really is and can he forgive her for not only disappearing all those years ago but for reawakening feelings in him that his tried his damnedest to keep at bay all they long and lonely days and nights. Our author has given us such a delightful story of seduction through the use of food that I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. Oh the lengths to which one could go to use the most simple of foods to create an erotic response worthy of one intense orgasm after another continuing until even the aftertaste of the food is completely gone. And the delightfully funny, steamy, erotic bathroom scenes will leave you panting with want while laughing hysterically. This book is a must have for anyone that loves a good romance. You won't be sorry but will be left thinking of how many other ways food can get such responses.

...and as with fairy tales, some reason and logic must be suspended during the reading. Yet even discounting the fanciful element expected in a fairy tale, this story holds its own. Yes, young women in this period of Victoria's rule were expected to remain chaste until marriage (at least those born into nobility and/or wealth). However, this was also the time of Josephine Butler, the Elementary Education Act, Jack the Ripper, and Symbolism. The House of Commons exerted more power than the House of Lords (and the Prime Minister more than the Queen). A new 'class' of wealthy professionals emerged. In other words, things were changing in England, and despite the best efforts of fretting duennas, young women also were emerging into a new age. All this to say that I found the 'youthful indiscretions' to be perfectly believable in the context of this book. In addition I quite liked the male characters, who are very yummy, and distinctly human. As for the Dowager Duchess and her machinations, well, every fairy tale needs its evil queen-- and its deus ex machina-- whether delivered by a crystal slipper or the revelations of an old woman. 'Delicious' is aptly named, and I highly recommend it to anyone who truly enjoys a good fairy tale. Now I'm off to find Ms. Thomas' first book...

This is a great book by an absolutely brilliant writer. I adore her complex characterization and her deft use of language. Her unique plots and depth of writing have earned her a place on my auto-buy list. A fresh, new original voice in historical romance. Highly recommended.

I gave it five stars because Sherry Thomas can just write, now doubt about it. It supposed to be taken as a fairy tale-all grown up. So some of the senarios were improbable in real life, but, for me, that's how I interpreted it-a fairy tale with the eeeevil aunty, the prince, and the riches-to-rags-to-happily ever after. The secondary story plays well into this also. I honestly couldn't stop reading this book just to find out what was going to happen next. Thomas does the same style of writing as her first novel, switching back and forth between past and present. I liked it, just a touch of naughty, and a great ending.