THE LOST RECIPE FOR HAPPINESS

This kitchen romance has many characters; it's good to have the talented Bernadette Dunne helping listeners keep track of them with skillful presentations of their quirks and interior lives. Dunne serves up characters as diverse as celebrity restaurateur Julian Liswood and his adolescent daughter, Portia—though they're just appetizers compared to the main course: chef Elena Alvarez. Dunne gives Elena a wistful, husky voice and a tough yet vulnerable presence as she battles to find her place in the man's world of the professional kitchen. For Dunne, food itself becomes a well-loved character in the story, one she savors when she describes flavors, ingredients, and recipes, lingering over them with the appreciation of a true foodie. Dunne's perfect pace and ear for dialogue greatly enhance a somewhat predictable story. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]