The ingredients: Why can't Gus find time to organise her own birthday party? Because shes too busy sorting out the problems of her friends and family; it seems everyone is facing a career challenge or a romantic dilemma. The recipe: A series of Sunday suppers (televised, of course) that show real people making real food. And over delicious dishes, relaxed chat and a few bottles of wine, her guests find they have nourished their souls as well as tempting their tastebuds. Comfort food. A celebration of life itself. www.comfortfoodnovel.com

About the Author

Kate Jacobs left her native Canada to earn a graduate degree at New York University and made her home in Manhattan for a decade, where she worked at Redbook, Working Woman, Family Life and LifetimeTV.com. Currently she lives in Southern California with her husband. To find out more about her novel, visit Kates website at www.katejacobsbooks.com.

Reviews

Cooking with Gusto! chef Augusta "Gus" Simpson celebrates a big birthday by conducting a special on-air cooking class that might lead to romance. With a reading group guide. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

'Beautifully written with a fantastic cast of women ... worth taking a duvet day for ... you won't want to put this down' -- Heat on THE FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB 'Have a tissue box ready for this emotional rollercoaster of a book' -- She on THE FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB 'The fluffy escapism of this right-on read is bound to hook you in' -- Eve on THE FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB 'I opened Comfort Food on Saturday afternoon and finally closed it with a contented sigh on Sunday evening. In the meantime I'd been completely taken over by Gus, her family and friends.' -- Bookbag 'Yummy romp' -- Good Housekeeping 20080701

Jacobs follows The Friday Night Knitting Club with another multigenerational tale, this time on the foodie circuit. Popular Cooking with Gusto! host Augusta "Gus" Simpson, a widowed mother of two adult daughters who's about to turn 50, is tiring of her many obligations, which include throwing an annual birthday bash for herself. That trial pales, however, in comparison with the introduction of saucy former beauty queen and YouTube star Carmen Vega as Gus's cohost: Carmen is younger, hotter and very tight with the boss. It's soon apparent on the set that this new situation isn't working, so the two are packed off, along with a forgettable cast of secondaries, to a corporate team-building weekend, complete with New Age guide. When the resort's head chef calls in sick, a team-building opportunity presents itself. Jacobs gives Gus a reasonable love interest and provides the requisite bickering and backstabbing, but the foodie moments lack passion, and the results yield no stars. (May) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.