Thursday, August 25, 2011

Aftertaste: A Novel in Five Courses-Meredith Mileti

Aftertaste: A Novel in Five Courses
Meredith Mileti
Kensington, Sep 1 2011, $15.00
ISBN: 9780758259912

When she was seven months pregnant, Mira Rinaldi hired Nicola as the MaĆ®tress d’hotel at her Manhattan Italian restaurant, Grappa. Two months later she gives birth to Chloe. However, Mira begins to think her spouse and restaurant co-owner Jake is having an affair with Nicola. When two months old Chloe wakes her up in the wee hours of the morning, she finds her spouse not home. Mira with Chloe walks to nearby Grappa; there she finds Jake and the MaĆ®tress d’hotel having sex. She explodes attacking Nicola. Later Judge Wilcox places Mira on probation and makes her attend an anger management seminar.

Mira files for divorce and flees with her baby to her family in Pittsburgh. She knows she may lose her beloved Grappa but Mira refuses to retreat. Instead as her family and friends surround her with love she seeks a revised gourmet five course meal while Jake betrays her again even after their divorced.

This is a terrific drama due to the mercurial Mira’s reactions to life changes (having a baby, a cheating husband, a divorce, a potential move and much more). Mindful of No Reservations but with its own five course story line, fans will enjoy Mira’s heartfelt love of cooking as she seeks a new way to balance the loves of her life.

Harriet Klausner


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