Another cute book by Monica McInerney - actually, her first book, but it's the 3rd I've read. This one features Maura, an Australian chef and winemaker who goes to Ireland for four weeks on a tour to promote Australian food and wine. In Ireland, there are a series of misunderstandings and incidents that fluster Maura while she sells her wine, tries not to fall for a guy she meets, and learns about the Irish countryside and people. There were a lot of cute scenes and great tension between the characters. You don't have to be a wine drinker to enjoy this, as all the dialogue about wine is easy to understand, but it would probably increase your enjoyment because of the descriptions.This is definitely a quick and easy read, and I would easily recommend it to people seeking a lighthearted, fun romance. The author does such a great job describing the food and the scenery, and it made me want to prepare and eat some gourmet meals of my own. Although a number of the twists/misunderstandings are easy to spot, the story was still fun and engaging, so I didn't mind it too much. I really liked the characters and loved how it revolved around Ireland and around food.
It was time for a break from mysteries and thrillers so I picked this off of the book club pile. Cheesy romance about an Australian chef who travels to Ireland, the land of her bio-Mum's birth, to promote her brother's winery. She is thrown together with the "gorgeous but mysterious" Dominic, cue many misunderstandings and all the typical rom-com tropes before a brief bit of drama and the inevitable ending. I enjoyed all the foodie references and brief descriptions of Ireland - certainly made me want to visit but can't imagine choosing to live there. The mystery of the mother is not satisfactorily explained, the heroine is too busy throwing a strop all the time, but it's a likeable enough story if you like this kind of thing.
What do You think about A Taste For It (2001)?
I really enjoyed this book.I would describe 'A Taste for It' as chick-lit romantic fiction.The protagonist, Maura, is a chef who runs a restaurant at her brother's winery in the Clare Valley in South Australia. She takes a trip to Ireland to promote Australian wines and produce, and run a cooking school. There she meets the hero of the story, and... well you can guess the rest.A Taste for It is fairly predictable, but it is a well-paced, easy to read novel. There are wonderful descriptions of both Australian and Irish scenery which makes the reader long for travel, and many detailed descriptions of foods and menus to delight the tastebuds.Highly recommended for those who enjoy a good chick-lit read.
—Kaye
I thought the opening scene was clever and funny. I thought the descriptions of the places (Australia & Ireland) were great - made me homesick for Australia and made me want to visit Ireland. The story itself was a little predictable, but a nice read. I enjoyed the fact that the author was obviously Australian, knowing things only an Aussie would understand. Interesting enought that I'll try another one of her books. Maura leaves South Australia to go to Ireland to promote her family wine, but her trip has some unexpected hiccups. One of those is Dominic, who's making her think about things she hasn't thought about since she had her heart broken.
—Catherine
Not-so-great chick lit. Easy, quick read but without any real substance. The only enjoyable parts, really, were the settings: Australia and Ireland.The protagonist, Maura, is an Australian chef who goes on a tour of Ireland to promote her brother's winery. Of course, she is paired up to travel with the very guy who she had (in a case of mistaken identity) insulted and doused with water when he visited her restaurant. Of course, they misunderstand each other until finally admitting they love each
—Erin
