In this follow up to A Table By the Window, Juliette D'Alisa continues searching for the full story about her grandmother's past and for her own chance at lasting love.
Juliette feels on top of the world when her and her brother, Nico's restaurant opens to rave reviews. But that feeling is short-lasted, when in a bittersweet series of events, her mother falls ill and her romance with Memphis immunologist Neil McLaren ubruptly ends in anger and tears.
Three long months later, as autumn sweeps into the Pacific Northwest, Juliette feels that she’s finally on the cusp of equilibrium--the restaurant continues to thrive, and her family is closer than ever. She and sous-chef Adrien are seeing each other, both in and out of the kitchen. Just when she thinks her world might stop spinning, a trip to the waterfront brings a chance encounter with a familiar face from her past.
Rather than dwell on her personal life, Juliette throws herself into work and research. After reading her grandmother’s letters from war-torn Paris, she still wants to know the full story-- and she’ll travel across countries and oceans to find it. But even Juliette can’t outrun the man who stole her heart. As she finally uncovers the truth about her family history, what will it mean for her own search for love?
Praise for A Table by the Window and Reservations for Two
“Juliette is beautiful, smart, talented, and comes from a rich culinary heritage. She’s also lost, confused, switching careers, and unlucky in love. A Table by the Window is a book for anyone who’s ever dreamed of owning a restaurant or becoming a chef or falling in love with a wonderful man. This is a story of hope and renewal, of love and understanding when it’s needed the most.”
—Suzanne Woods Fisher, award-winning, best-selling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series
“An endearing, smart, must-read novel! A Table by the Window is a delicious tale that had me slowing down so I could savor it longer. Major props to Hillary Manton Lodge not only for taking me on a beautiful journey alongside Juliette, but also for making a non-foodie like myself want to take up a new hobby.” —Katie Ganshert, award-winning author of A Broken Kind of Beautiful and The Art of Losing Yourself
“Lodge has created yet another sumptuous story—full of intrigue, humanity, tantalizing tastes, and true love, in its myriad forms. She gracefully leads us into kitchens, restaurants, and hearts, not to mention sensorial visits to France, Italy, and the tensions of WWII Paris. Poised on a knife’s edge, Lodge left me yearning for her next story and for time in the kitchen to test some of her tempting recipes.”—Katherine Reay, author of Dear Mr. Knightley and Lizzy and Jane
“With a palate of rich characters, vibrant flavors, and vintage-inspired romance, Hillary Manton Lodge’s Reservations for Two is a feast for the senses. From the fragrant lavender fields of Provence to Tuscany’s golden hills, Lodge takes the reader on a journey that is about both discovery and coming home. It’s très chic and enchanting—a recipe of amour for the reader’s heart!” —Kristy Cambron, author of The Butterfly and the Violin and A Sparrow in Terezin
“Endearing, witty, delectable. Hillary Manton Lodge’s second installment in the Two Blue Doors series is as delicious as her first—even for a non-foodie like me! I especially appreciated the seamless transition from Juliette’s current life and travels to her grand-mère’s WWII past, a captivating angle that added the perfect hint of mystery.” —Melissa Tagg, author of From the Start
“Food writer Juliette D’Alisa adores her temperamental trilingual family of restaurateurs, but she could do without their bossy skepticism of her online love interest who’s so unlike them. Rainy, windy Portland has never felt quite as warm as it does when Juliette navigates long-distance romance, career decisions, and a genealogical mystery. A delectable tale from Hillary Manton Lodge, A Table by the Window includes recipes that are like a warm welcome to the D’Alisa family table.” —Meg Moseley, author of Gone South and When Sparrows Fall