Table Manners by Mia King - the latest on Deirdre & Kevin + a book contest

I'd come across Good Things by Mia King in the library a few months ago and loved it! I hid away in my room for a few hours and emerged with that happy feeling from a very satisfying book. I couldn't wait for Mia's sequel, Table Manners.

When we returned from Chicago last weekend, I was so excited to find my own copy of Table Manners waiting for me at home.


Synopsis:

Mia King's Table Manners opens just a few months after the first novel, Good Things, ended.

Deirdre has her television show up and running but her gourmet cookie line is stalled in production. Deirdre's friend William is preparing for his commitment ceremony with his live-in partner. Lindsay is recovering from illness but has lost interest in her diner Wishbone. While Kevin and Deirdre are still very much in love, the sudden appearance of Kevin's ex-fiancee Sabine causes Deirdre anxiety.

Is Deirdre's happy ending starting to unravel?

Review:

I had loved Good Things and was so excited to read the sequel Table Manners. But just as I was about to start, I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy the sequel as much as the first book because Good Things was just so fun. I couldn't see how Mia King could add to Deirdre and Kevin's love story. I was wrong again!

Table Manners does just that! In Table Manners, Deirdre continues to care for her many friends, bond with Kevin's family, and support Kevin with the same humor and spirit that made endeared her to readers in Good Things. Meanwhile, Sabine and Marla Banks add just enough spice to the story for us to worry.

If you enjoy books that incorporate food into the plot, you'll love that food is an important part of the story in Mia King's books. As in Good Things, this book includes recipes of dishes mentioned in the novel. Here are some of the recipes you'll find: Leek and Proscuitto Tart, Summer Beef Bourguignonne Skewers, Pan-Seared Rainbow Trout with Warm Summer Tomato-Olive-Caper Salad, Hunan-Style Marinated Lamb Lollipops with Nicoise Vegetable Ragout, Ricotta Cheesecake with Fresh Seasonal Fruit, Green Tea Tart with Lychees and Raspberries, Macarons Chocolat, Sparkling Pomegranate Lemonade, Lemongrass Green Tea, Lychee Martini with Crystallized Ginger.

I highly recommend Table Manners to anyone looking for a fun love story. It's a great summer read! If you haven't read Good Things yet, start the love story from the beginning. Here's the link to my review of Good Things.

Publisher: Berkley Trade (August 4, 2009), 336 pages.
Courtesy of the author and publisher.

Thank you so much for the review copy and the opportunity, Mia King, Angela and Penguin Press!

Visit Mia King's blog to sign up for a chance to win ALL THREE of her books at http://www.miaking.com/?page_id=1330

Mia King has generously sponsored a contest for 2 copies of Table Manners.

CONTEST DETAILS

To enter, visit Mia King's website and tell me something that you learned about Mia.

Rules:
1. Please include your email address, so that I can contact you if you win. No email address, no entry.
2. For an extra entry, sign up to be a follower or become a follower of Mia King's blog. If you're already a follower, let me know and you'll get the extra entry as well.
3. For another extra entry, subscribe via googlereader or blogger or by email and let me know that you do.
4. For another extra entry, follow me on Twitter or become a follower of miaking on Twitter. If you're already a follower, let me know and you'll get the extra entry.
5. For another entry, blog about this giveaway and send me the link.
6. Leave a separate comment for each entry or you'll only be entered once.

The contest is limited to US and Canada only. No P.O. boxes. The contest ends at 6 pm on September 30, 2009.