Vanity Fare

November 5, 2012
Set in present-day New York, Caldwell's new novel concerns insecure Brooklynite Molly Hagan, a soon-to-be-single mother heading up an important marketing campaign for sexy celebrity dessert chef Simon Baxter; in the process, she becomes smitten with his colleague. After her erstwhile husband announces that he won't be able to pay child support, Molly accepts an assignment writing copy for a celebrity pastry chef from John, a mutual friend of her and her husband's. But there's more to the job than writing; John wants Molly to "keep an eye on" his cold, shady partner, Natalie Duran, who lands the kind of high-profile clients that John has "only dreamed of." Simon's business partner, Nick, is suspicious of Molly's credentials, but his good looks and soft-spot for Molly's Pokémon-obsessed son make Molly swoon. Will all the flirtingâbetween Molly and John, Simon and Molly, and Molly and Nickâget in the way of Molly's work, both covert and otherwise? Caldwell, who writes romance novels as Megan Frampton, has a good feel for New York City, name-checking institutions and peopling her world with multiethnic characters. Though the usual chick lit tropes, like convenient coincidences (how many times can Molly run into her husband and his new girlfriend?), make it necessary to suspend one's disbelief, Caldwell's story flows, and although Molly's constant self-doubt and whining can be grating, readers will identify with her attempts to rise from the ashes. Agent: Louise Fury, L. Perkins Agency.

November 15, 2012
Can a 40-year-old divorced mom find happiness with a rich, dashing pastry chef? Surprisingly not, in this pleasing debut of single parenthood, temp jobs and literary desserts. Molly's story is sadly familiar: While helping her husband, Hugh, through law school, Molly put her career on hold and then gave it up entirely when Aidan was born. Now that Hugh has run off with a younger woman and lost his job with an investment bank, Molly is without child support, health insurance or much of a future. Thankfully, her friend John throws some copy-editing work her way, but when he calls with a bigger project, it may be the thing to re-establish her career. Celebrity chef Simon is opening a bakery across from the New York Public Library and needs a clever theme to tie the world of fatty delights to old, fat novels. Molly barely hears the assignment, mesmerized as she is by Simon's green eyes, thick hair and roguish charm. And he's flirting with her. In a British accent. Molly is soon coming up with pithy dessert names--A Room of One's Scone, A Raisin in the Bun, Tart of Darkness (the menu descriptions begin each chapter)--allowing her love of punning to finally pay off. Too bad she has to work with Simon's American partner, Nick, a bad-tempered businessman who seems permanently disappointed in Molly. As she juggles work, Aidan (she's the kind of real-world mom whose parenting includes a few too many hours of TV mixed with liberal bribes of Pokemon) and now her bankrupt mother, who has moved in, Molly tests the dating waters with Simon. Simon may be hot, but it turns out he is also obnoxious, self-centered and controlling. Molly's friends encourage her to sleep with him anyway, but she's beginning to have feelings for Nick, who is not as forbidding as he seemed. Caldwell's light intrigues and bevy of supporting characters cast an old-fashioned spell on her modern Brooklyn romance.

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March 15, 2013

Molly Hagan's divorce is about to be finalized. Her confidence and self-esteem are slowly returning as her therapist and her friends encourage her to try new things. She tries scrapbooking, karaoke, and dating, but when her ex loses his job, she is forced to return to work in marketing to support herself and her six-year-old son. At the same time her mother moves in with her to deal with her own financial crisis. Molly lands a job promoting a new bakery, whose award-winning British chef is interested in more than her literary puns. The man who represents its American investors, Nick Harrison, seems bent on disapproving of Molly--but perhaps not. VERDICT This story follows a true-romance formula told in chick-lit style. It is trite and predictable entertainment, with the requisite happy ending. Recipes are included! Caldwell manages a romance-novel website and blogs there daily. Recommended for chick-lit fans.--Joanna Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Libs., Providence

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2012
Literature and luscious baked goods make for a perfect pair in this indulgent debut romance. Molly, mom to six-year-old Aidan, is soon to be divorced and in need of steady income to support their Brooklyn lifestyle. An old friend offers her a freelance project writing the marketing materials for a new bakery headed by British playboy pastry chef Simon. Building on the bakery's proximity to the New York Public Library's main branch, Molly comes up with a name, Vanity Fare, and product descriptions that tie into great works of literature. These clever descriptions, like Tart of Darkness, are peppered throughout, and the epilogue includes select recipes. But the real substance of this novel is Molly's attempt at finding love again, first through an ill-fated dalliance with Simon, then with a slow-building romance with Simon's broody but kind and handsome business partner, Nick. Caldwell's novel is as sweet and enjoyable as its subject matter.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)