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Comfort Foods
From the award-winning author of Comfort Plans and Comfort Songs comes a story of two rising stars blitzed by social media. Lacy Cavanaugh and single-dad Rudy Delgardo live a hundred miles apart but meet in the worst possible way. Working at a weekly paper and creating social media for area businesses helps Lacy connect with locals who open her mind to a perspective beyond Instagram. In launching a food-and-wine festival to support Comfort’s new event center, she discovers surprising skills bubbling over, much like the food she’s attempting to cook.
Rudy, on the brink of his restaurant’s takeover, struggles to improve time management so he can create a better relationship with his daughter. Distracted by Lacy and her invitation to the festival, he’s tempted by her beauty, wit, and courage, but as a chef, he rarely gets to enjoy life outside the kitchen. Enemies, illness, and exes add unwelcome spice to the dish they’re concocting—one that will teeter with misunderstanding until the very end.
Will Lacy and Rudy embrace their second chances and discover the perfect seasonings of family, resilience, and grace to create a handwritten recipe of love that will stand the test of time?
Rudy, on the brink of his restaurant’s takeover, struggles to improve time management so he can create a better relationship with his daughter. Distracted by Lacy and her invitation to the festival, he’s tempted by her beauty, wit, and courage, but as a chef, he rarely gets to enjoy life outside the kitchen. Enemies, illness, and exes add unwelcome spice to the dish they’re concocting—one that will teeter with misunderstanding until the very end.
Will Lacy and Rudy embrace their second chances and discover the perfect seasonings of family, resilience, and grace to create a handwritten recipe of love that will stand the test of time?
Paperback
Published October 7, 2020
About the author
Kimberly Fish
16 books143 followersKimberly writes award-winning novels about women discovering their grit. With accolades ranging from Best Texas Book, Best Romance, and Best Historical Romance, her novels set in the Texas Hill Country. Her WWII historical fiction details exploits and spy dramas on the American home front and reveal just what women can accomplish when they work for the greater good. With over 30 years in the writing industry, Kimberly delights in entertaining with wholesome stories, second-chance romances, and people finding their purpose--the books are mental vacations! Discover her novels and the backstory she blogs about at www.kimberlyfish.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 18, 2021
Comfort is one of those towns that I would like to escape to when the world gets crazy. It is a small town where everyone knows everyone (or close anyway), the town appears calm and peaceful, and it is close enough to a larger city that allows for a different scenery when the need arises. At least that is what Lacy was probably hoping for when she ended in Comfort after a public incident shuts down her influencer abilities for a period of time. What Lacy doesn't expect to find in this town is a renewed sense of self, closer ties with family, and love and a future she might never have expected to acquire.
Rudy Delgardo is an up and coming chef with a sweet, young daughter, Luna, that is maybe a little too smart for her own good. I love how she calls Lacy, Cinderella. Rudy has his own issues to deal with and one of them is his ex, Hannah. She is a piece of work that is for sure! I was happy with how this stumbling block worked out and it made me cheer.
If you are a foodie, there are plenty of scenes with descriptions of many delicious dishes that might make you gain 5 pounds just reading about them. From the restaurants in Austin and Comfort to Rudy cooking for Luna, Lacy, and others. There are even some recipes at the end in case you feel the need to whip up a dish or two.
Lacy's influencer life that I mentioned is shut down by parents with too much money and not enough gumption to recognize the truth for what it is. It is the typical case of blaming someone else and not holding the true party responsible. The upside to this is that Lacy begins working for the small-town paper in Comfort and for its owner, Frank. The relationship between these two develops to more than Frank mentoring Lacy. I feel like he has true affection for Lacy, much like a father would for their child. When certain events unfold, this relationship becomes more evident and there are some very touching scenes. Lacy is able to use some of her social media prowess for her sister's farm and a few other businesses, she just can't do anything personally. And to make sure she doesn't violate the agreement, she has gone old school with a "dumb" phone. This means no internet, no GPS (which she really needed several times), no apps. Just talking and texting.
One aspect of the book that might be a trigger for some, is the subject of human trafficking. Lacy stumbles across a situation that does not seem right for this small town. Many might say that this could not happen in their town, but sadly it happens all across the world in towns large and small. The message I picked up from this storyline is that if you see something that does not seem right, report it to the proper authorities. You might just save someone's life.
The romance between Rudy and Lacy does not run smoothly. When it comes to Lacy, Rudy is like a teenage boy that forgets how to converse with her. Actually, they both have this issue. Thankfully they don't give up, and despite many misunderstandings, they manage to get it right. Watching them stumble around with each other reminded me of some relationships I have had in the past.
This book kept me up until the wee hours of the morning because I kept saying to myself, "just one more chapter." (I'm just glad I didn't have to get up for work the next day.) The descriptions and scenes captivated me until the very end. I can't wait for the next installment in this series! We give this book 5 paws up.
Rudy Delgardo is an up and coming chef with a sweet, young daughter, Luna, that is maybe a little too smart for her own good. I love how she calls Lacy, Cinderella. Rudy has his own issues to deal with and one of them is his ex, Hannah. She is a piece of work that is for sure! I was happy with how this stumbling block worked out and it made me cheer.
If you are a foodie, there are plenty of scenes with descriptions of many delicious dishes that might make you gain 5 pounds just reading about them. From the restaurants in Austin and Comfort to Rudy cooking for Luna, Lacy, and others. There are even some recipes at the end in case you feel the need to whip up a dish or two.
Lacy's influencer life that I mentioned is shut down by parents with too much money and not enough gumption to recognize the truth for what it is. It is the typical case of blaming someone else and not holding the true party responsible. The upside to this is that Lacy begins working for the small-town paper in Comfort and for its owner, Frank. The relationship between these two develops to more than Frank mentoring Lacy. I feel like he has true affection for Lacy, much like a father would for their child. When certain events unfold, this relationship becomes more evident and there are some very touching scenes. Lacy is able to use some of her social media prowess for her sister's farm and a few other businesses, she just can't do anything personally. And to make sure she doesn't violate the agreement, she has gone old school with a "dumb" phone. This means no internet, no GPS (which she really needed several times), no apps. Just talking and texting.
One aspect of the book that might be a trigger for some, is the subject of human trafficking. Lacy stumbles across a situation that does not seem right for this small town. Many might say that this could not happen in their town, but sadly it happens all across the world in towns large and small. The message I picked up from this storyline is that if you see something that does not seem right, report it to the proper authorities. You might just save someone's life.
The romance between Rudy and Lacy does not run smoothly. When it comes to Lacy, Rudy is like a teenage boy that forgets how to converse with her. Actually, they both have this issue. Thankfully they don't give up, and despite many misunderstandings, they manage to get it right. Watching them stumble around with each other reminded me of some relationships I have had in the past.
This book kept me up until the wee hours of the morning because I kept saying to myself, "just one more chapter." (I'm just glad I didn't have to get up for work the next day.) The descriptions and scenes captivated me until the very end. I can't wait for the next installment in this series! We give this book 5 paws up.
January 16, 2021
I was excited to dive into Comfort Foods from the moment I read the premise. As a self-prescribed lover of small-town romance (and single-dads who can cook!) this would be my cup of tea, right? I thought so too, until the prologue.
I won't lie. When I started Comfort Foods, I worried I was about to dive into another iteration of the Hallmark Movie formula variety. The tropes are familiar enough. Wealthy, white, vainglorious Lacy has fallen from fame. Now she's forced back to her small Texas hometown for a hefty slice of humble pie. But wait, what's this? The first chapter hops several weeks ahead to reveal a de-glamorized Lacy, writing baby announcements instead of Instagram posts. No longer her own boss, Lacy is working for Frank, the curmudgeonly news editor of Comfort News. Frank instantly reminded me of my grandpa, hard-lines and all, and his rapport with Lacy was purely brilliant banter. After visiting her goat-cheese producing sister Kali, the layers of Lacy's veneer are further stripped. But it was after her adorkably disastrous meeting with compelling chef, Rudy, that I was officially hooked.
Contrary to first impressions, Comfort Foods is not your run-of-the-mill small-town romance. Fish's novel has heapings of heart, offers deep and complex character development, and one fabulous slow-burn romance. Let's be honest, the sizzling romance and food are what will lure most readers in. You'll stay because of the witty banter, and the relationships Lacy renews with the folks she left behind. Over the course of the narrative, Kimberly Fish manages to take a spoiled heroine and turn her into someone I could relate with and root for. As Lacy is forced to reconnect to people and the world without the boundary of a screen, her past insecurities and failures begin to fade. Lacy's forced social-media exile and gradual growth were fun to read. Other highlights for me included Rudy's neglected daughter, Luna, and how their relationship echoed Lacy's childhood. I loved Lacy's shift from the person who always runs away, to the person who perseveres.
In Comfort Foods, both Rudy and Lacy are forced to make big decisions that will reshape their futures. Underlying themes of family abound in this novel about coming home to find what you've been looking for all along. Packed with compelling dialogue and characters that breathe, Kimberly Fisher's Comfort Foods is perfect for fans of stories that stay long after you've closed the cover.
**I was provided with a copy of Comfort Foods by the publisher and this is my voluntary and honest review.**
I won't lie. When I started Comfort Foods, I worried I was about to dive into another iteration of the Hallmark Movie formula variety. The tropes are familiar enough. Wealthy, white, vainglorious Lacy has fallen from fame. Now she's forced back to her small Texas hometown for a hefty slice of humble pie. But wait, what's this? The first chapter hops several weeks ahead to reveal a de-glamorized Lacy, writing baby announcements instead of Instagram posts. No longer her own boss, Lacy is working for Frank, the curmudgeonly news editor of Comfort News. Frank instantly reminded me of my grandpa, hard-lines and all, and his rapport with Lacy was purely brilliant banter. After visiting her goat-cheese producing sister Kali, the layers of Lacy's veneer are further stripped. But it was after her adorkably disastrous meeting with compelling chef, Rudy, that I was officially hooked.
Contrary to first impressions, Comfort Foods is not your run-of-the-mill small-town romance. Fish's novel has heapings of heart, offers deep and complex character development, and one fabulous slow-burn romance. Let's be honest, the sizzling romance and food are what will lure most readers in. You'll stay because of the witty banter, and the relationships Lacy renews with the folks she left behind. Over the course of the narrative, Kimberly Fish manages to take a spoiled heroine and turn her into someone I could relate with and root for. As Lacy is forced to reconnect to people and the world without the boundary of a screen, her past insecurities and failures begin to fade. Lacy's forced social-media exile and gradual growth were fun to read. Other highlights for me included Rudy's neglected daughter, Luna, and how their relationship echoed Lacy's childhood. I loved Lacy's shift from the person who always runs away, to the person who perseveres.
In Comfort Foods, both Rudy and Lacy are forced to make big decisions that will reshape their futures. Underlying themes of family abound in this novel about coming home to find what you've been looking for all along. Packed with compelling dialogue and characters that breathe, Kimberly Fisher's Comfort Foods is perfect for fans of stories that stay long after you've closed the cover.
**I was provided with a copy of Comfort Foods by the publisher and this is my voluntary and honest review.**
January 15, 2021
Reading Comfort Foods is like spending time with old friends. The books set in Comfort, Texas, have some of the same characters, but the stories are different.
With a title like Comfort Foods, I expected a lot of description of smells, and I was so right - in a good way! Kimberly Fish is a master of description. All of the comfort books have scents of lavender languishing throughout, but this story is the first one that brought the scent of lavender to beverages. It was amazing.
“A curl of fragrance wove around his mind. Was it lavender?”
However, not all the descriptions of scents were pleasant ones. In one instance, Fish wrote, “She wasn’t sure what she expected for fragrance, but these smelled like toe jam.” That’s some pretty powerful description.
The protagonist, Lacy, is quite unique. She was a social media superstar whose star got shot down, and then came whimpering back to her family to recover.
Several smaller subplots added more excitement to the story. For instance, Lacy stumbles upon possible human trafficking, which is something you don’t expect to see in a place like Comfort. To me, that made it all the ore real.
The climax of the story comes during a grand opening of an event in Comfort. However, nothing seems to go as planned. That could be good, or that could be bad. I won’t tell you which, but I will say that if you read this story, you’ll leave it as a happy and satisfied reader!
With a title like Comfort Foods, I expected a lot of description of smells, and I was so right - in a good way! Kimberly Fish is a master of description. All of the comfort books have scents of lavender languishing throughout, but this story is the first one that brought the scent of lavender to beverages. It was amazing.
“A curl of fragrance wove around his mind. Was it lavender?”
However, not all the descriptions of scents were pleasant ones. In one instance, Fish wrote, “She wasn’t sure what she expected for fragrance, but these smelled like toe jam.” That’s some pretty powerful description.
The protagonist, Lacy, is quite unique. She was a social media superstar whose star got shot down, and then came whimpering back to her family to recover.
Several smaller subplots added more excitement to the story. For instance, Lacy stumbles upon possible human trafficking, which is something you don’t expect to see in a place like Comfort. To me, that made it all the ore real.
The climax of the story comes during a grand opening of an event in Comfort. However, nothing seems to go as planned. That could be good, or that could be bad. I won’t tell you which, but I will say that if you read this story, you’ll leave it as a happy and satisfied reader!
January 12, 2021
This book starts out with a cozy feel. Small town angst, great characters, interesting subplots and those small details that always lead to a great read. However the mystery here is not a “who done it” but more of a “will they?” Starting with the main character, Lacy, at her very bottom, I was quickly pulled in to riding her coattails as she tries to climb out of the mess that has become her life.
I was quickly absorbed into Comfort, TX. The descriptions made it possible for me to smell the Lavendar (yeah a little of the goat farm too!) and transported me to summers of soft breezes and simple pleasures that are the façade for something more going on.
The author expertly added in Rudy, a chef, trying hard dad, and a man pulled in many directions that enters Lacy’s life just as she is getting the first glimpse of normalcy. His daughter Luna was the perfect character to give the story light and at the same time a solid base for Rudy’s life. Watch out for the other Rudy – he’s a hoot with a lot of tenacity.
I hesitate to say this is a romance as it is so much more a tale of overcoming adversity and finding joy. A story of inner strength. This book is easily read as a stand alone (although I’m thinking why not read them all). This book contains a lot of story and I happily could have stayed in Comfort, Texas just to see where the townspeople took me next.
I was quickly absorbed into Comfort, TX. The descriptions made it possible for me to smell the Lavendar (yeah a little of the goat farm too!) and transported me to summers of soft breezes and simple pleasures that are the façade for something more going on.
The author expertly added in Rudy, a chef, trying hard dad, and a man pulled in many directions that enters Lacy’s life just as she is getting the first glimpse of normalcy. His daughter Luna was the perfect character to give the story light and at the same time a solid base for Rudy’s life. Watch out for the other Rudy – he’s a hoot with a lot of tenacity.
I hesitate to say this is a romance as it is so much more a tale of overcoming adversity and finding joy. A story of inner strength. This book is easily read as a stand alone (although I’m thinking why not read them all). This book contains a lot of story and I happily could have stayed in Comfort, Texas just to see where the townspeople took me next.
January 21, 2021
Kimberly Fish is one of those authors you can trust to always tell a great story. She writes realistic, interesting characters, who feel like people you'd want to know (with a few exceptions who are still vividly drawn, but so annoying you hope they walk off a cliff - I'm looking at you, Amy Marsh). The fact that she can create such a visceral reaction to antagonist who exists mostly in references made by the protagonist is proof of her craft. Ms. Fish is an amazing writer.
Fish's latest novel, Comfort Foods is an amazing book.
At 385 pages, this novel is a meaty, satisfying story that is as much about reinventing yourself as it is about finding love at different stages of your life. Protagonist Lacy Cavanaugh is a former singer and social influencer who has been put in tech jail after using her powers to expose the truth about the afore-mentioned Amy Marsh. leaves the bright lights of Dallas for the Texas Hill Country town of Comfort, where her sister raises goats and makes cheese, and her friend runs a lavender farm. If that sounds more like a vacation than a punishment, than you, like me, will love this book.
Lacy comes off as a bit self-entitled at first, but I quickly grew to find her charming. She's pretty, funny, smart, and a loyal friend, and though she's forbidden from posting to her own social media accounts, is happy to help her sister and friends maximize their exposure. She's the kind of woman who does a lot of things well, and just hasn't settled into a really productive and positive niche. Even though I'm a couple of decades older than Lacy, I really identified with that aspect of her personality. (I sometimes joke that I'm a professional dilettante.)
Lacy may be the central character, but the other people we meet, in Comfort and a hundred miles away in Austin, are equally compelling. Rudy Delgardo, a successful chef and divorced father to a precious little girl named Luna, is dynamic. His conflict over his responsibilities to his job and to his child are totally plausible - things every working parent must work through. It's no surprise when he's reluctant to enter into a relationship.
But Lacy and Rudy aren't the only paring in this novel. Fish gave us two fantastic characters in Frank, owner of the local paper and Lacy's boss/mentor and Gloria, Frank's ex-wife, who is also Lacy's landlady and mother-figure (because every woman needs a mother, no matter her age - and I love that Kimberly Fish understands that.) Watching the combination of tenderness and pricklyness between the two is both funny and endearing - I'd happily read a whole novel based on just them.
Kale, AJ (the lavender farmer), and their spouses round out the regulars in Comfort, and each one is a perfect voice in the chorus that is this novel.
And then there is Comfort itself. This fictional Texas town is as much a setting as a character, and after reading two of Fish's previous books set there, it's a town I wish I could visit in real life and not just in the pages of a novel.
Overall, Comfort Foods is a wonderful slice of life story with just enough romance to keep things interesting, but without being overpowering. It has scenes with great food. It has moments of perfect sunsets over fields of lavender. It is the perfect book for these January days when we are past the holidays, stuck in the winter doldrums, and overwhelmed by the realities of the Pandemic and politics.
Kimberly Fish is an author who always hits the right notes with her stories. In Comfort Foods those notes are herbs and spices instead of chords, but they still harmonize beautifully.
Goes well with a burger made on a backyard grill, homemade French fries, and a cold "Dublin" Dr. Pepper (the kind made with real sugar and sold in glass bottles
Fish's latest novel, Comfort Foods is an amazing book.
At 385 pages, this novel is a meaty, satisfying story that is as much about reinventing yourself as it is about finding love at different stages of your life. Protagonist Lacy Cavanaugh is a former singer and social influencer who has been put in tech jail after using her powers to expose the truth about the afore-mentioned Amy Marsh. leaves the bright lights of Dallas for the Texas Hill Country town of Comfort, where her sister raises goats and makes cheese, and her friend runs a lavender farm. If that sounds more like a vacation than a punishment, than you, like me, will love this book.
Lacy comes off as a bit self-entitled at first, but I quickly grew to find her charming. She's pretty, funny, smart, and a loyal friend, and though she's forbidden from posting to her own social media accounts, is happy to help her sister and friends maximize their exposure. She's the kind of woman who does a lot of things well, and just hasn't settled into a really productive and positive niche. Even though I'm a couple of decades older than Lacy, I really identified with that aspect of her personality. (I sometimes joke that I'm a professional dilettante.)
Lacy may be the central character, but the other people we meet, in Comfort and a hundred miles away in Austin, are equally compelling. Rudy Delgardo, a successful chef and divorced father to a precious little girl named Luna, is dynamic. His conflict over his responsibilities to his job and to his child are totally plausible - things every working parent must work through. It's no surprise when he's reluctant to enter into a relationship.
But Lacy and Rudy aren't the only paring in this novel. Fish gave us two fantastic characters in Frank, owner of the local paper and Lacy's boss/mentor and Gloria, Frank's ex-wife, who is also Lacy's landlady and mother-figure (because every woman needs a mother, no matter her age - and I love that Kimberly Fish understands that.) Watching the combination of tenderness and pricklyness between the two is both funny and endearing - I'd happily read a whole novel based on just them.
Kale, AJ (the lavender farmer), and their spouses round out the regulars in Comfort, and each one is a perfect voice in the chorus that is this novel.
And then there is Comfort itself. This fictional Texas town is as much a setting as a character, and after reading two of Fish's previous books set there, it's a town I wish I could visit in real life and not just in the pages of a novel.
Overall, Comfort Foods is a wonderful slice of life story with just enough romance to keep things interesting, but without being overpowering. It has scenes with great food. It has moments of perfect sunsets over fields of lavender. It is the perfect book for these January days when we are past the holidays, stuck in the winter doldrums, and overwhelmed by the realities of the Pandemic and politics.
Kimberly Fish is an author who always hits the right notes with her stories. In Comfort Foods those notes are herbs and spices instead of chords, but they still harmonize beautifully.
Goes well with a burger made on a backyard grill, homemade French fries, and a cold "Dublin" Dr. Pepper (the kind made with real sugar and sold in glass bottles
January 18, 2021
In Comfort Foods, author Kimberly Fish returns to her Comfort, Texas setting where Lacy Cavanaugh is begrudgingly working for the local weekly newspaper, and staying far away from Dallas and the social media debacle that landed her back in Comfort. Lacy is a former beauty queen, former Instagram “influencer”, and at the start, we find her resisting settling into her new, hopefully, temporary life. And I admit, initially, I didn’t think I was going to like her much, particularly in the descriptions of her perfect looks, and nickname “The Blonde Goddess”.
However, the more Fish lets us into Lacy’s life, the more interesting this character reveals herself to be. She speaks her mind while sticking to the rules of her banishment to Comfort (including no iPhone), connects with Gloria, her landlord, and learns how to cook a bit along the way. Her sister Kali and friend AJ bring her into their plans to host a food and wine festival in Comfort – which is how she initially meets Chef Rudy Delgado.
Rudy is also an interesting, wounded, complicated character. He’s a single dad, dealing with a difficult controlling ex. He admits he wasn’t an attentive husband and involved father when they were first married, but he’s doing his best to be a good dad to his spunky, adorable daughter Luna now. His restaurant is facing bad reviews and some social media fallout of its own, and he’s got ex problems to boot, making his life a complicated mess. He lives in Austin, which provides some fun flavor to the setting while throwing another wrench into their relationship with its distance from Comfort.
Both characters have personal flaws to overcome, and their timing for a relationship is terrible – and they each handle their personal bad timings, well, badly. Thankfully, both characters go through a lot of personal growth. Lacy ultimately grows and finds her path.
This is the story of a woman really growing up and figuring out who she is and what she wants, and what home means to her. It’s a story of redemption, and of second chances – for Lacy and for Rudy. Both come up against challenges and manipulations that will have you rooting for them. It was a balm for the soul to watch them face their manipulators head-on.
While parts of the book involve food, it’s not a book ABOUT food (although Fish does include a few recipes at the end.) It IS a book that touches the senses, with images and imagined scents of the lavender fields, the smells of the goats and the cheeses, the descriptions of the colors of Rudy’s restaurant or Lacy’s clothes. The author brings you into the book with all of your senses and left me longing to escape my own North Texas environs and escape into Hill Country.
And she left me hungry for parmesan truffle fries!
This book is part of Fish’s Comfort Stories series but works just fine as a standalone. That said, while I’ve read Comfort Songs, finishing up this book makes me want to revisit that book. I dug into my Kindle and found that I had purchased Comfort Plans, and that book now moves to the head of my TBR list, because the characters and setting of Comfort Foods was just what my weary heart needed right now.
I’m giving Comfort Foods four-and-a-half stars (rounding to five here).
However, the more Fish lets us into Lacy’s life, the more interesting this character reveals herself to be. She speaks her mind while sticking to the rules of her banishment to Comfort (including no iPhone), connects with Gloria, her landlord, and learns how to cook a bit along the way. Her sister Kali and friend AJ bring her into their plans to host a food and wine festival in Comfort – which is how she initially meets Chef Rudy Delgado.
Rudy is also an interesting, wounded, complicated character. He’s a single dad, dealing with a difficult controlling ex. He admits he wasn’t an attentive husband and involved father when they were first married, but he’s doing his best to be a good dad to his spunky, adorable daughter Luna now. His restaurant is facing bad reviews and some social media fallout of its own, and he’s got ex problems to boot, making his life a complicated mess. He lives in Austin, which provides some fun flavor to the setting while throwing another wrench into their relationship with its distance from Comfort.
Both characters have personal flaws to overcome, and their timing for a relationship is terrible – and they each handle their personal bad timings, well, badly. Thankfully, both characters go through a lot of personal growth. Lacy ultimately grows and finds her path.
This is the story of a woman really growing up and figuring out who she is and what she wants, and what home means to her. It’s a story of redemption, and of second chances – for Lacy and for Rudy. Both come up against challenges and manipulations that will have you rooting for them. It was a balm for the soul to watch them face their manipulators head-on.
While parts of the book involve food, it’s not a book ABOUT food (although Fish does include a few recipes at the end.) It IS a book that touches the senses, with images and imagined scents of the lavender fields, the smells of the goats and the cheeses, the descriptions of the colors of Rudy’s restaurant or Lacy’s clothes. The author brings you into the book with all of your senses and left me longing to escape my own North Texas environs and escape into Hill Country.
And she left me hungry for parmesan truffle fries!
This book is part of Fish’s Comfort Stories series but works just fine as a standalone. That said, while I’ve read Comfort Songs, finishing up this book makes me want to revisit that book. I dug into my Kindle and found that I had purchased Comfort Plans, and that book now moves to the head of my TBR list, because the characters and setting of Comfort Foods was just what my weary heart needed right now.
I’m giving Comfort Foods four-and-a-half stars (rounding to five here).
January 17, 2021
I love the Comfort Series by Kimberly Fish. As expected, Comfort Foods hit the spot! In Comfort Foods, Fish branches out and gives us a taste of Austin as well, which always goes down well. And with a slow-burn romance starring two main characters who need a fresh start in life on top of precocious children and the food/setting combination, Comfort Foods was just the kind of romantic anti-stress read that the doctor ordered.
Lacy Cavanaugh's life came to a screeching halt when she overstepped in her social influence posts. But the forced retreat to Comfort may prove heaven-sent, for she's learning to really live, to really stop and smell the lavender. Now she's agreed to help her sister and friend stage a lovely food-and-wine festival (what an absolutely delightful idea). Even better, they've decided to ask Chef Rudy Delgardo to join them in a win-win publicity garnering appearance. The thing is, once Lacy meets him she realizes what a hunk he is. If it just weren't such terrible timing for them as a couple. Not to mention their two left feet.
But there's much more to Rudy, and Comfort, than meets the eye. Even as he navigates his own serious problems, he's a good guy and a good dad, and I couldn't help cheering him on. So it's layers like these which make these books so delectable. And a whole new depth comes with the nearby Austin setting, as well as the delightful cooking and glimpses of life in a commercial kitchen. Additional fun is added by the whole Comfort Stories gang appearances.
Now, Comfort Foods is a slow burn, but it is worth the build up. And the vivid setting will help you escape to the hill country. Right now, there's not much that most of us wouldn't give for that.
(Also, there are recipes! Some from some rather famous cooks! And, check out the Giveaway below, because there's a wonderful cook book thrown in for the grand prize).
Thank you, Kimberly, for the ebook in exchange for an honest review. Viva la Comfort Foods and Comfort Stories, and someone please host a Comfort, Texas festival, just like this one, ASAP!
Lacy Cavanaugh's life came to a screeching halt when she overstepped in her social influence posts. But the forced retreat to Comfort may prove heaven-sent, for she's learning to really live, to really stop and smell the lavender. Now she's agreed to help her sister and friend stage a lovely food-and-wine festival (what an absolutely delightful idea). Even better, they've decided to ask Chef Rudy Delgardo to join them in a win-win publicity garnering appearance. The thing is, once Lacy meets him she realizes what a hunk he is. If it just weren't such terrible timing for them as a couple. Not to mention their two left feet.
But there's much more to Rudy, and Comfort, than meets the eye. Even as he navigates his own serious problems, he's a good guy and a good dad, and I couldn't help cheering him on. So it's layers like these which make these books so delectable. And a whole new depth comes with the nearby Austin setting, as well as the delightful cooking and glimpses of life in a commercial kitchen. Additional fun is added by the whole Comfort Stories gang appearances.
Now, Comfort Foods is a slow burn, but it is worth the build up. And the vivid setting will help you escape to the hill country. Right now, there's not much that most of us wouldn't give for that.
(Also, there are recipes! Some from some rather famous cooks! And, check out the Giveaway below, because there's a wonderful cook book thrown in for the grand prize).
Thank you, Kimberly, for the ebook in exchange for an honest review. Viva la Comfort Foods and Comfort Stories, and someone please host a Comfort, Texas festival, just like this one, ASAP!
January 23, 2021
From the madcap moments, to the tender moments, I was thoroughly engaged. I loved the characters because they were so real. Lacy, a former beauty queen, could have been all full of herself, but she wasn't. Rudy, as an award-winning chef, could have also been egotistical and stand-offish, but he wasn't. They were both wonderful characters with may layers to their personalities.
Then there was Luna, Rudy's daughter who thought Lacy was Cinderella the first time they met. Luna almost stole the story, especially when paired with Rudy-Tootie, the stray mutt that showed up at the most inopportune times.
As I read, I highlighted a sentence or two that was so nicely penned, I wanted to read them again, and I marked so many that I can't include them all. Here are just a few.
"Driving back and forth to Abilene had put miles on his soul." What a terrific way to show the depth of Rudy's love for his daughter and the anguish he felt for how difficult his ex was making things.
"The worst is never the worst." A sage bit of advice from Lacy's landlady, Gloria, who has become a close friend and confidant.
"And her dearest hope was to meet a man who'd fall in love with her before he Googled her name." That speaks volumes about how much Lacy wishes to move past what happened that sent her to Comfort in the first place. To me, that was the first step she was taking in her character arc.
If all the stories set in Comfort Texas are as good as this one, Ms. Fish has just acquired a new fan. Comfort Food is a true love story that appeals to this curmudgeon who is tired of romance novels that are all about the sex. Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against sex. I've just always thought it was more tantalizing to see lovers exchange an unmistakable look, then go to the bedroom and shut the door.
I highly recommend this book, as well as the others from Comfort, Texas.
Then there was Luna, Rudy's daughter who thought Lacy was Cinderella the first time they met. Luna almost stole the story, especially when paired with Rudy-Tootie, the stray mutt that showed up at the most inopportune times.
As I read, I highlighted a sentence or two that was so nicely penned, I wanted to read them again, and I marked so many that I can't include them all. Here are just a few.
"Driving back and forth to Abilene had put miles on his soul." What a terrific way to show the depth of Rudy's love for his daughter and the anguish he felt for how difficult his ex was making things.
"The worst is never the worst." A sage bit of advice from Lacy's landlady, Gloria, who has become a close friend and confidant.
"And her dearest hope was to meet a man who'd fall in love with her before he Googled her name." That speaks volumes about how much Lacy wishes to move past what happened that sent her to Comfort in the first place. To me, that was the first step she was taking in her character arc.
If all the stories set in Comfort Texas are as good as this one, Ms. Fish has just acquired a new fan. Comfort Food is a true love story that appeals to this curmudgeon who is tired of romance novels that are all about the sex. Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against sex. I've just always thought it was more tantalizing to see lovers exchange an unmistakable look, then go to the bedroom and shut the door.
I highly recommend this book, as well as the others from Comfort, Texas.
July 4, 2021
Comfort Foods by Kimberly Fish is the small-town contemporary romance that I love. These characters, Lacy and Rudy have a hard time accepting things and so they struggle. I enjoy following them as they struggled along the way. With every page, the story got better and better. Lacy is strong willed and determined to make it. She is doing everything she can to get on the top. Then there is Rudy. A single father and struggling to be the best he can be as a chef. Their flaws only made them more human. I laughed and cried with these characters. They made this book worth every word. Kimberly Fish is a new writer to me. I have never read any of her books prior to this one. I am so happy that I read this book! It was amazing.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
January 20, 2021
A feast of a read
Relevant and current, Comfort Foods is a feast of a read. Gobble it up in one sitting or savor for several days, you’ll end up satisfied either way.
Comfort Foods lives up to my expectations. Lacy and Rudy’s story, taking place in two locations (Comfort and Austin), is rich and filling. Lacy’s journey of self-discovery after her fall from grace is especially fascinating and touching. Her scenes with Frank Bachman, the publisher of the newspaper she works for, provide moments of both laughter and tears. In doing service for her sister and for others in the community, Lacy finds her worth beyond the superficial beauty and fashion she was previously famous for. Rudy’s grappling with too many pots on the stove–his restaurant Stella, his daughter Luna, and his attraction to Lacy–is realistic in today’s world and highly relatable. His bewilderment in his search for balance amid man-made obstacles is endearing and admirable.
Ms. Fish created fully-fleshed-out characters that are sympathetic and likable and oh-so-real with their all-too-human failings. I love that she included multicultural characters that’s reflective of the society at present. She spun a tale filled with humor, angst, insider knowledge of the restaurant and publishing businesses, and the weighty concern of human trafficking. The themes of found family and close-knit community are ones I often seek out and are entrenched in this book and in this series. And then, there’s the food. There’s enough to make a reader’s mouth water and head to the kitchen to recreate the dishes mentioned in the book.
I enjoyed the slow burn of Lacy and Rudy’s romance from their awkward first couple of meetings to cooking together, to the impromptu bridal photo shoot, and to their eventual happy ever after. I wish though that they have more scenes together and that they communicated more frequently, and collaborated on resolving their issues. Rudy’s declaration at the end seems too quick for a relationship that’s not fully developed because of so much distance.
Relevant and current, Comfort Foods is a feast of a read. Gobble it up in one sitting or savor for several days, you’ll end up satisfied either way.
Comfort Foods lives up to my expectations. Lacy and Rudy’s story, taking place in two locations (Comfort and Austin), is rich and filling. Lacy’s journey of self-discovery after her fall from grace is especially fascinating and touching. Her scenes with Frank Bachman, the publisher of the newspaper she works for, provide moments of both laughter and tears. In doing service for her sister and for others in the community, Lacy finds her worth beyond the superficial beauty and fashion she was previously famous for. Rudy’s grappling with too many pots on the stove–his restaurant Stella, his daughter Luna, and his attraction to Lacy–is realistic in today’s world and highly relatable. His bewilderment in his search for balance amid man-made obstacles is endearing and admirable.
Ms. Fish created fully-fleshed-out characters that are sympathetic and likable and oh-so-real with their all-too-human failings. I love that she included multicultural characters that’s reflective of the society at present. She spun a tale filled with humor, angst, insider knowledge of the restaurant and publishing businesses, and the weighty concern of human trafficking. The themes of found family and close-knit community are ones I often seek out and are entrenched in this book and in this series. And then, there’s the food. There’s enough to make a reader’s mouth water and head to the kitchen to recreate the dishes mentioned in the book.
I enjoyed the slow burn of Lacy and Rudy’s romance from their awkward first couple of meetings to cooking together, to the impromptu bridal photo shoot, and to their eventual happy ever after. I wish though that they have more scenes together and that they communicated more frequently, and collaborated on resolving their issues. Rudy’s declaration at the end seems too quick for a relationship that’s not fully developed because of so much distance.
September 24, 2021
Loved reading this book set with these familiar characters in the Hill Country town of Comfort Texas. Author Kimberly Fish weaves a wonderful tale with intrigue and human emotion.
Newspaper editor and local chef find each other in this story of love and betrayal . I would love to sit an evening at Lavender Hill and enjoy the views and the friendships.
Newspaper editor and local chef find each other in this story of love and betrayal . I would love to sit an evening at Lavender Hill and enjoy the views and the friendships.
January 24, 2021
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