I don't know why I waited so long to read this endearing novel. I loved every second of this book. All of the characters were heartwarming and genuine. I love to bake and this book reminded me of that part of myself that I miss. I will be picking up the rest of this series.

Really enjoyed this book. It’s a nice comfortable book with nothing really bad happening. Very relaxing.

Growing up in northern Michigan, Samantha "Sam" Mullins felt trapped on her family's orchard and in their pie shop, so she left with dreams of making her own mark in the world. But life as an overworked, undervalued sous chef at a reality star's New York bakery is not what Sam dreamed.

When the chef embarrasses Sam, she quits and returns home. Unemployed, single, and defeated, she spends a summer working on her family's orchard cooking and baking alongside the women in her life--including her mother, Deana, and grandmother, Willo. One beloved, flour-flecked, ink-smeared recipe at a time, Sam begins to learn about and understand the women in her life, her family's history, and her passion for food through their treasured recipe box.

"The smells of cinnamon, nutmeg, and apples baking in the oven, the taste of a homemade crust or streusel topping . . . those trigger memories of your mom and grandma baking in the kitchen, of the holidays, of summers at a beloved cabin. They remind us of a time when we were safe, warm, and loved."

I really enjoyed reading this book. So cute and charming. I love foodie type books so when I read the synopsis, I knew I wanted to read it and it did not disappoint!

Lovely story with really nice warm characters. Really enjoyed the whole thing and will be looking for more from the same author.

I did not finish the book. I found the story to be somewhat on the dull side. I couldn't connect to the story and thus, I was never able to get into the book.. The genre may have not been one for me though.

I absolutely loved this book. Being a person who loves to bake and uses recipes from her mother and grandmother, this story made it's way into my heart. The Mullin's family have owned an apple orchard in Michigan for 100 years. The Mullin's women have been creating recipes and baking for the same amount of time, with each generation adding to the substantial recipe collection. On each daughter's 13th birthday, she is given a key and a recipe box filled with all the collected recipes. The stories of the recipes are passed down as well. In this story we meet Samantha "Sam" Mullins, who moved to New York to become a chef and make her own way in the world. She left her family orchard and business behind as she felt trapped in small town Michigan. When she has it out with her boss, she quits her job and heads home as her family seems to be calling to her. It is the love of her mother and grandmother that slowly help her to realize that what you thought you wanted, might not be what you want anymore.

This story is told in sections headed by a recipe. Somewhere in the chapter the dish is created and shared along with the memories of the time. When Sam returns home, she, her mother and grandmother begin baking together and the stories and memories flow. Sam begins to rethink her life and the decisions she has made. She needs to decide what she really wants out of life, and what her dreams really are. I loved the characters in this story. Sam, her mother Deana, and grandmother Willo were strong, caring and independent women. They were a force when they were together, but never tried to tell each other what was best for their lives. The love they felt was palpable. Throw in a handsome Italian who cares deeply about Sam and you have a wonderful, well-developed cast of characters. The recipes that are included in various chapters had me copying several of them down, especially after hearing the stories behind them. This story is a charming read filled with love, family, and food. It is a happily ever after story that I really enjoyed. Narrator, Susan Bennett gives a fine performance. Her voice, expression and tone were perfect for this sweet story and I have to say, I enjoyed her voice for New Jersey, Angelo. Although apple season is actually in the fall, this would make a perfect summer read and I definitely recommend it, whether you read it or listen to it. I will be hanging onto my copy of this one so I can refer to the recipes in the future.

A lovely book about family, love and food. It's a very comforting, cozy read, and easy to fall into. I felt like the writing was a bit forced at times (lots of similes and metaphors), but the sentiment was evident in the storytelling.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. While I normally love Viola Shipman's books, this one was just ok for me. I had a hard time connecting with Sam and as the main character of the book, that makes it hard to get invested in the story. At times I found her to be overly annoying especially when she repeatedly ignores the wisdom and advice of her family. I did also feel like there was a feeling of trying too hard to convey sentimentality, it didn't flow naturally and felt forced.
Overall it was a nice book that got bogged down by an unlikeable main character and the forced feel of the story. Not one of my favorites.

The Recipe Box is a heartwarming story of Sam Mullins, the women in her life and the value of a recipe box filled with treasured family recipes. The description of Sams hometown in Michigan and the stories with the recipes included in the book really made the book even more enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers of this book for a copy for my honest review. 4 out of 5 stars!!

This was a beautiful, cozy novel about family. The story takes place over many years of a family’s different generations from 1939 on. The story is about the family’s orchard in Michigan. It’s about the importance of family traditions over the years. It’s about the women in the family and their stories. Part of the story is about Sam and her struggle with her love towards her family and her wish to get away and keep living and working in New York.

This was a lovely book, well crafted, and full of delightful surprises. I would definitely read more from this author. I especially loved her use of dialogue to distinguish characters.

It's been awhile since I had a book I couldn't put down.  For me, this is one of those rare occasions when I couldn't stop reading.  The Recipe Box is one of those books that you begin to feel in your soul as you read.  Its a heartwarming tale of a multi-generational family and their pursuit for finding love, family, and peace with the lives they choose.

The storyline primarily stems around Sam Mullins, who finds herself at an impasse when her celebrity boss pushes her too far and she quits her bakery position in New York City.  Sam is a strong willed and independent woman who desperately struggles between her love for her family and their family-run business, and her desire to find her own way... away from Michigan.  As Sam returns home, she's faced with her memories of her childhood and growing up on her family's orchard and learns about the lives of the women in her family.  Sam finds that she has to stop living in fear, if she ever hopes to discover what her heart truly desires.

I found this to be a touching story about the bond between the women in a family and their shared love for baking.  It brought back memories of spending time at my great grandmother's farm.  At times, I was left feeling a sense of loss for the lack of quality time and effort I made to get to know her before she passed a few years ago.  This novel brought me to tears and it made me ache for the connection that so many of us no longer have with our families.  The author also featured several special recipes from her family and friends, and I admit that I'm curious to try out a few of them. Perhaps as a way to teach my son how to enjoy baking and spending quality time with his mother.

This is wonderfully written and touching tale, but I caution that you will definitely need some tissues handy if you are a sentimental fool, like me. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys stories that span generations. Perhaps it's not too late to reclaim the love and traditions families use to share.

This book was just boring... It took me so long to get through... It has been a little while since I read it, but I have no recollection of what went on in the book, or the names of any of the characters. It wasn't that the book was bad, it was just not memorable.

Sam Nelson looses her job and New York and goes back home to her family's farm. She has to question where her happiness belongs. We see glimpses into women in the past and their place on the farm.
An enjoyable romance.

A really nice story about love, family bond, traditions and strong women. And the book contains some delicious recipes!

This was a sweet read, but just an okay book for me. Sam returns to the orchard where she grew up to try and heal from disappointment. I am always a sucker for books that involve multiple generations and cooking/baking. This book had all those things, but it fell flat for me. I just didn't seem to connect with the characters, they lacked depth. It was an easy, quick read and I loved the background of an orchard in Michigan. I was so hoping this book would help me capture some nostalgia, but it just didn't quite hit the mark.

* I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of The Recipe Box. Viola Shipman is one of my favorite authors. She has written another winner!!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read & review The Recipe Box by Viola Shipman. The honest truth is I had a difficult time connecting with this story. I tried to pick it up on two occasions, but unfortunately, the story did not hold my interest either time. This is a DNF for me. Thank you again for the chance to read this title.

The Mullins family own a farm in Michigan. The recipe box is full of family history, traditions and recipes. It has been passed down through the women of the family for years. The family has been kept alive along with the history through this precious family heirloom!
I highly recommend this book to all those that enjoy a story about close family connections!

This story is a happy one of a family that runs an orchard. The granddaughter cannot decide who or what she wants to be. There are recipes scattered throughout the story. The orchard ties the whole family together. This was a fun read that made me want to take a trip to Michigan and eat lots of desserts.