Book Review: "The Secret's in the Sauce" by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson

They're baaaaack!

The Potluck Club is back and better than ever! They've decided to take their culinary talents, join forces and start up a catering business to serve the town of Summit View. What better way to have fellowship than to serve delicious foods with your best friends to those who love your home cooking? However secrets from the ladies' past start to come back and haunt them. When trying to hide their lurid past from each other, it only starts to tear each woman apart from the inside. Will they learn to trust each other to help them out or will the business fall apart before it barely gets up off the ground?

This book is like comfort food. You know you're going to enjoy the book even before you open the cover. I was so happy to see that one of my favorite series was continuing. I was also happy that the story just adds on, nothing out of the ordinary has changed in Summit View. Everyone gets along a lot better in these books. It's really nice to see the group come together without too much bickering. Any characters that seemed annoying in the first series have toned down a lot are and are more likable. Lisa Leann finally has moments where she cannot be in control. It was refreshing to see her not acting like a know it all for a change. I really hope that Lizzie's story is expanded more in future books. I feel like something needs to be done for her situation as no one is helping her out and it's getting to be a downward spiral. I, myself, have no trouble with the multiple story lines and points of view. Each character is unique and has such an interesting story line that I never got lost. The only thing I didn't like was the way Donna was treated by her half sister and by her boyfriend's mother. How much negativity and snubbing can one person take?

Also what's funny is that in the past series I complained that there was too much of Clay and that he took away from the series. Now in this one, he's barely in it at all and I want him back! As always, there are some wonderful recipes from dishes mentioned in the book added for your reading and tasting pleasure. I even tried out a couple of the recipes in the back of the book. The Texas Hash was super easy to make and delicious. I have had requests to make it again (thank you Lisa Leann!) I can't wait for the next book in the series. I love these ladies and I'm so glad they're back!

The Secret's in the Sauce by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson is published by Revell (2008)