I really liked this book. It was cute and charming and made me happy, but it will also make you hungry, so make sure you stock up on snacks before you start reading. You don't want empty cupboard syndrome when you get into this one.

Whilst I enjoyed the characters in this book and got a big kick out of Connie and her internal thoughts, I did question why the fling she has in the book seemed to take precedence in the story over the potentially longer lasting and more important relationship between her and Max. Liam was more of a side fling and yet, he got more screen time, as it were, than Max did. I wanted to see more than a date between Connie and Max and know what happened with them, but the book had a rather abrupt ending.

Otherwise, I thought this was a lot of fun. It was comical and sweet and spicy enough to satisfy those looking for a steamy scene or two. The descriptions of food in the book were excellent and made me want to move to the Cotswolds and join the cookery club.

This book was light and fun and I recommend it to those looking for a good summer read.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I just loved The Cotswolds Cookery Club, well written and an easy read. I just had to keep on reading to see what would happen next and sooooo didn't want it to finish, already waiting with baited breath for the next book in the sequel. A great book for reading this summer.

The Cotswolds Cookery Club: A Taste of Italy, written by Alice Ross, is a fun and easy read! This is the first book in a new series by this author, and one I must admit I will savor. Alice Ross always delivers, and this book continues with that trend!

Connie's life is not going as planned...she's frustrated with her life, living in the city, and her unfaithful husband. She jumps at the chance to escape from it all, and go to Cotswolds for six months to watch over her best friend's house and dog while she is in Australia. The beautiful town of Cotswolds is just what she needs. Once she gets settled in, she rediscovers her love of cooking, and decides to start a cookery club. Little does she know, in addition to teaching her love of cooking, she will in turn gain some some pretty amazing friends.

First let me say that the food created sounded amazing...a follow-up book that includes the recipes would be fantastic! With that being said, this story is truly well written with characters that you instantly fall in love with, including the rescue dog, Eric!! The author vividly describes the setting...making you feel as if you are truly there. The supporting characters are just as lovable as the main characters, and the friendships that develop between the women are authentic. Overall, this is a fun and easy read....one that I highly recommend. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series, The Cotswolds Cookery Club: A Taste of Spain, scheduled to be released on August 18th.

I received an advance copy of this book from HarperCollins UK and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My views are my own and are in no way influenced by anyone else.

This is awesome. What a fun, heartwarming adventure!

Having read and enjoyed Alice Ross's some previous books, I didn't hesitate to request "The Cotswolds Cookery Club: A Taste of Italy". I can't seem to have enough books about cooking, and lately also set in Cotswolds, and those two together do sound promising, no?

The story introduces us basically to Connie, who right now is at the crossroads with her life, and so when her friend is off to Australia for six months and asks Connie if she'd like to look after her house in this time, Connie jumps at the chance. She has no problems to settle in the gorgeous Cotswolds, in the lovely house and quickly she reawakens her passion of cooking. And this is when the idea of the Cotswolds Cookery Club is born, and Connie sets her mind on Italian cuisine this time. But club wouldn't exist without its members, right, so there are some other characters who take it in turns to cook delicious, mouth - watering Italian dishes - and when I say delicious, I really mean delicious, guys! There is Eleanor, who runs the local newsagent, Melody, who's also new to the area and Kate, a local vet with three children, husband and an au - pair.

So when the girls chop, stir, taste, cook and bake, they also share their stories, and so we relatively quickly get to know their background and what makes them tick. They were all relatable, believable characters, they had their problems and I quickly felt a part of their group. It was lovely to see how quickly their friendship was growing and how they all were starting to gain confidence.

Altogether, it was a light - hearted, very easy read. What bothered me personally was the end - it seemed so very abrupt and rushed, and I had a feeling that the story was chopped in the middle. It was a promising end, sure, but just too rushed and it put me off stride a little. But really, it was a lovely, cute story with mouth - watering descriptions of food, down - to - earth characters and brilliant romance - and not only human one! The author has spot on caught Connie's passion to food and cooking and brought it to the pages and really, it made me want more, so it's a pure luck that this novella is the first part in the series. Already looking towards the next one! Recommended!

This is most probably one of the best stories I've read in a long time. It was such an easy read that I got through it in about 4 hours! (That might also be because it was only around 100 pages!)

The Cotswolds Cookery Club will have your mouth watering with it's delicious sounding food - It certainly made me want to eat some Italian! And the thing with this novel was, it wasn't just pizza that was spoken about (obvs) but it was the way it was described that made it all sound so tasty.

I absolutely loved all of the characters, especially the four main women, and by the end of the book I wanted to join a cookery club myself! (not that I'd be much good at all the cooking, but I'd be brilliant at doing all the eating!) I even loved the character of Eric, a loveable but shy Greyhound who you would definitely fall in love with.

Main character Connie, has some funny moments that will make you laugh out loud. Connie starts the story off by house sitting for her best friend whilst she visits Australia, and seeing as Connie is feeling a bit lost in her life at the moment, she jumps at the chance. Along the way, she meets new friends and even a few love interests, which makes it an interesting story that I just couldn't put down!

As this is the first in the series, I think it's done a great job of introducing us to all the characters and letting us get to know them. The four friends take it in turns to host the cookery club at their homes and it really will make your mouth water and jealous of their blooming friendships. It doesn't feel rushed or like too much is happening, it's set at a perfect pace - which makes it a really enjoyable read.

Overall, a brilliant short read - perfect to read during a flight to your holiday perhaps or even for a rainy day inside (like me). I can't wait to read the other two!

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

Connie is house sitting for a friend for 6 months in a Cotswold village- a far cry from her normal dreary life in London. She works as a proofreader and “500 fascinating facts about fly fishing” are really not doing it for her and she wants to make the most of the time away. She has an idea about a small cookery club which with a little help soon has 4 members who become good friends. This is one of those summer enjoyable reads which make you smile along the way. A nice easy going tale about village life (and all it’s scandals and gossip!) to enjoy over a coffee or two. Sometimes I just need a relaxing read. This was the perfect fit. For me the ending was a little abrupt and would have earned an extra star had it been just that little better.I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased

Italian Food? The Cotswolds? What's not to like?

A really enjoyable rom-com. Connie has already moved on from the dead wood in her romantic life when her friend asks her to house-sit her home in the Cotswolds for six months, and this provides the kick-start her life was much in need of. Leaving the heartache behind, Connie thrives in her new setting. Setting up a cookery club brings her success and, more importantly, friendship in the village.

This is a wonderful read, in a gorgeous setting with lively characters and a lusty love interest - or two. You will find yourself smiling and even giggling at this fun novel.

My only criticism - and I haven't deducted stars as it really wouldn't be fair to take away from such an entertaining book - is that the tale finishes, rather abruptly, at 84% and then continues with an excerpt of a completely unrelated story. I really don't like this practice at all. With a bit of research I have discovered that this is the first of three books, but I do wish this was shown upfront then I wouldn't be left feeling so disappointed after what was, after all, a darn good read!

I received an arc via NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Oh I loved this title – and believe me, if you can’t fall in love with an elderly greyhound who hides and jumps at EVERYTHING, needs a blanket fort to survive a storm, and has an instant attraction to a little flirty Jack Russel – you have no heart. And yes, there were people here too – from Connie, just turned 34 and is feeling her groundlessness from all corners: her mother’s constant reminders, her cheating ex, and the never-ending proofread that drags on, endlessly looming over her. When Connie’s best friend Anna calls with an offer to dog and house-sit while she and her husband spend half a year in Australia, she jumps at the chance to get away from her mother, her childhood bedroom and realign her life.

When Connie arrives in the hamlet of Little Bidington, the magic of the Cotswolds starts to improve her mood instantly. But this time is not all about relaxing: she’s got to finish a deadly-dull proofreading job (she’s a freelancer) and decide on a ‘real career” as her mother would call it. Still stinging from the breakup of her relationship and uninspired (and a bit lonely) with her work, she’s wanting to find her passion and make it pay. She’s always been a foodie: from a small childhood garden that she tended with care to collecting recipes, cookbooks and tasting experiences, an idea forms. So she collects the very reluctant Eric and heads out to the local newsagent with a card to advertise.

Here she meets Eleanor, the 60-something proprietress with her finger on the pulse (albeit quiet and reserved pulse) of the town, and an instant friendship is formed. Starting the cookery club is a simple idea – similar to a book club, only with food, friends and hopefully some instruction. Connie soon is introduced to the other two members: Kate and Melody, and a date and theme (Italian food) is set. The first meeting “At six fifty-two that evening, the doorbell chimed, causing Eric to vault two feet out of his basket – as usual – “ the ladies arrive with wine, good humor and plenty of bonhomie.

We get to see the four as they chop, stir, drink and share stories: from Eleanor’s history and changes since widowhood, Kate’s struggles with three unruly children and a mostly absent husband and Melody, beautiful, blonde struggling with people’s reactions to her marriage to an older, rich man. Through the story, we are treated to the women’s stories and struggles where the friendships grow and strengthen, and each gains a new confidence in their lives. From mouth-watering foods, great conversations and a few moments of romance as both Connie and Eric find love interests, although if I’m being fair, Connie’s is more of a rebound that oils the wheels and provides her with a shot of confidence. Through it all, Connie finds her passion reignited for food, and creates a blog that is quickly growing a following with her tales, recipes and tricks shared about food, the club and forming your own version. There was nothing truly groundbreaking here, not really: but Ross puts everything together with such flair and shows the growth and confidence of the characters, laughs from their conversations and Eric, and plenty of food to drool over – the story leaves us with options for many more books, a solid growth for Connie’s new ventures and plenty in store for the inaugural members of the club.

A quick read, this is engaging and wholly encompassing story presenting the honeyed stone Cotswolds and a few of its residents with style and heart, and makes me want more.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” http://wp.me/p3OmRo-9cp/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

This is a good easy read with likeable characters. The story line was quite good and not too complicated. I was a bit disappointed with the abrupt ending though, and would not choose to purchase a book that was not complete. I think it was cut off just as the main romance get started. I probably wouldn't rush out and buy the next instalment but it was still a nice little feel good read. Thank you

A quick, enjoyable read. Great for "light" reading at any time! A feel good story all around, although I must say, I wished it were longer! Thank you!

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First time reading an Alice ross book, really enjoyed, bit disappointed with the end as left hanging and loose ends. Just hope there is another one or two to follow just now got a long wait

This is a fun beach type read. Nothing heavy, just easy to read and a good story about finding who you are after a difficult time. Added bonus , it's about food and the lovely area known as the Cotswolds.

Relatively short novella, that takes in the feel of the picturesque Cotswolds, two gorgeous men, 3 new friends and a whole lot of Italian cookery. What more could you want from a book called The Cotswolds Cookery Club: A Taste of Italy!

Connie isn't really sure what she is doing with her life, so when her friend offers to let her housesit for six months while she is off to Australia, Connie jumps at the chance. On settling into the lovely Cotswolds house, she reawakens her love of cookery and decides to start a cookery club, starting with an Italian theme.

Well the food that is being created sounds delicious and I suspect by the time this series finishes that I will be hoping for a companion recipe book to try them all out for myself. Connie clearly knows her food and it rubs off on the three ladies who join her club.

They take it in turns to produce delicious Italian menus at each others houses, and we have Eleanor who runs the local newsagent, Kate who has three young children, and Melody who is need of a friend as she is also new to the area,

Connie also needs to dog sit, for Eric, who is scared of his own shadow to start with, and a former rescue dog. Despite not being the most outgoing of canine companion his personality is really felt in each scene he is in.

As the first book in a new series, it gives a great introduction to the various characters that I hope to see more of in the next two parts.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Connie sets up a cookery club which joins three women, Melody, Kate and Eleanor to her whilst looking after her best friends house and greyhound for her as she travels to Australia to holiday with her husband.

Connie is relishing her success with her cookery club after breaking up with her ex Charles after finding him cheating on her and finding out it had been going on for months!

Yet in the Cotswold's, two men catch her eye, Max Templeton who nearly runs her over! As well as decorator Liam who is working on the house whilst Connie looks after it. Yet after a few dates and something more with one the other's home life comes to light and suddenly Connie finds herself feeling very wanted indeed!

The cookery club's theme throughout the book is Italian as they all take turns in hosting a night each with the same theme to keep it fair before they will eventually switch.

This was a really nice summer read which I found myself really enjoying as the story developed at a nice flowing pace where as a lot of chick lit can get straight into the main story hardly with any dearly on context which this does give us. The story was lovely too and great to see Connie can move on from flipping Charles the cheat! Her parents were fun too and her mum reminded me of TV show character of Miranda's mum as she can't wait to marry her daughter off to a successful man!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!