As a captivating ode to love, truth, growing up, and Italian food, Melissa Senate's THE LOVE GODDESS' COOKING SCHOOL is a hands-down keeper with a unique story and characters that I couldn't help but love.

Holly Maguire has been searching for love most of her life, even more heartily since her fortune-telling Nonna told her that he would love sa cordula, an old world delicacy of lamb intestines and peas in a butter sauce. When her world is turned upside down by her current love's rejection and beloved grandmother's death, Holly moves back to Blue Crab Cove determined to preserve her grandmother's memory and cooking school, and carve out a life for herself in the process.

Taking up the charge to run Camilla's cooking school, Holly realizes that students flock to the Cooking School for more than cooking lessons; they come to learn lessons in healing and love. It was sweet getting to know the four students that make up her class. Simon, Tamara, Juliet and the young apprentice Mia, add just as much to the story as the Italian food that courses through the tale. I found myself rooting for them as they overcame life's challenges, and my heart went out to them in their struggles.

Believable, unique, and satisfying, Senate pens a touching story that will make you hungry for Chicken alla Milenese and creamy Tiramisu.