Review: A Pinch of Ooh La La by Renee Swindle

A Pinch of Ooh La La by Renee Swindle

Published: August 5, 2014

Publisher: NAL Trade

Format: via publisher

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

Abbey Ross, who runs her own bakery in Oakland, California, is known for her visually stunning wedding cakes. But lately, Abbey’s own love life has become stale. According to her best friend, Bendrix, Abbey’s not the spontaneous young woman she was when they were teenagers listening to the Cure and creating attention-grabbing graffiti. Of course, her failed relationship with a womanizing art forger might have something to do with that. Nevertheless, it’s time for Abbey to step out of the kitchen—and her comfort zone—and Bendrix has even handpicked a man for her to date.

Samuel Howard is everything Abbey’s dreamed of: handsome, successful, and looking to raise a family. But a creamy icing might be needed to hide a problem or two. When Samuel complains about disrespect for the institution of marriage, Abbey’s reminded of her nontraditional family, with thirteen children from various mothers. And when Samuel rails about kids having kids, Abbey thinks of her twenty-year-old sister who’s recently revealed her pregnancy.

Soon Abbey is facing one disaster after another and struggling to make sense of it all. Her search for love has led her down a bitter path, but with the help of her unique family and unwavering friends, she just might find the ooh la la that makes life sweet.

My Thoughts

This was the bit of fresh air that I needed and wanted in my life right now. The story is about Abbey and her inability to want to get back into the dating world. After being humiliated by her ex she focuses on herself and her business, her bakery SCRATCH. All aspects of her life seem to be in gear except her love life. With encouragement from her huge family and best friend she enters the online dating world. She meets a bunch of losers but soon meets a guy who is maybe too good to be true. Samuel is everything she has ever wanted in a man and soon she finally finds herself in a relationship. However after she is married she founds out Samuel has issues and a family that is the totally opposite of her own. But like all things she soon finds herself making excuses and compromising in her new life. She finds herself unhappy and wondering if she’s not being true to herself.

I found myself at times in the beginning very upset with Abbey. I felt she wasn’t being true to who she was after she met Samuel. I felt she was compromising who she is and what she really wanted. I thought at times if she was just settling thinking her time was running out in order to have a family and love that she really wanted. At times I thought she didn’t stick up for herself and just did whatever Samuel wanted. I get that in relationships it’s a give and take but I felt she was just giving and wasn’t getting anything in return. Needless to say I wasn’t a fan of Samuel. However later on I see he has issues that made him the way he was.

On the other hand I totally loved Abbey’s family and best friend Bendrix. They were both funny and so relatable. She has the best people who supported her though everything and we should all be so lucky to have that in life. The journey that Abbey takes is so amazing. Seeing her experiencing the lows makes it so much sweeter when she finally hits her highs. This is one read that will make you laugh and makes you root for a woman whom you want to see have it all. This story is as sweet and rich as those delicious concoctions that are being made at Abbey’s wonderful bakery SCRATCH. So do yourself a favor and savor this book as your next read.