This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Ever since Sealed With a Kiss I have been hooked on Rachael Lucas's writing. She manages to capture characters that are warm, identifiable and real. Case in point is Daisy from Coming Up Roses (out tomorrow!). Firstly, let me just say I adored Coming Up Roses. It is about Daisy, a gardener, who is house-sitting for her parents, who have gone off on their travels. Her parents' garden has been sorely neglected so Daisy has a fantastic project on her hands to distract her from a recent break-up.
The house is in a village and soon Daisy makes friends with octogenarian Thomas along with friends more her own age like Elaine, a lifestyle blogger, and Jo, a counsellor. But before she does Daisy cannot help but be a little heartbroken, a little lonely. And, to emphasise this, she is about to tuck into a four pack of dips, a bowl of tortilla chips and a bottle of red. And watching, for the umpteenth time, a DVD of The Notebook.
Which brings me back to my point about Rachael creating warm, identifiable and real characters. After all, how many of us turn to food and our favourite film when we are feeling blue? We know it's not sensible. We know food is not the answer and a happy life won't be found after downing a couple of glasses of wine. We know the film will make us sob, uncontrollably so. But we do it anyway. And Rachael, rather brilliantly, has captured this through food. (Happily Rachael makes lots of food references – I wonder why I loved the book so much?) So, the other evening I made myself a bowl of homemade hummus (my dip of choice), opened up a bag of tortilla chips and cracked open a bottle of wine. Then fetched my favourite go-to-comfort DVD off the shelf. Just to make Daisy feel less alone, you understand.
If you'd like a go at making hummus then check out Deliciously Ella's fabulous recipe. I added roasted red peppers into mine. Recommended for feeling blue or for a crowd as a pre-dinner snack. Perfect for when Daisy's life is back on track.
Incidentally, not only will the book make you want to eat dips and chips, but it'll also make you want to pull on some gardening gloves and get outside in the garden. Even if you've never wanted to before.
After all, as Daisy found out, you never know where gardening might lead. Or who it might lead you to…