THE ALL YOU CAN DREAM BUFFET - Barbara O'Neal

WARM AND FRIENDLY CHICK-LIT - 4.5 stars

Plot - 4.5 stars - This is a story about friendship. There are 4 women who have met through their foodie blogs and have developed online friendships. They are diverse in age, in lifestyle, in history, but they have clicked and have gotten to know each other very well through the internet, sharing their ideas and thoughts, and writing in their blogs. Now Lavender (the oldest of the bunch) has invited the others to her farm to celebrate her 85th birthday, although really she's looking for someone to inherit her farm and lavender business. It was fun to follow their progress through the trip, but also to see the growth in their lives.

Writing - 4.5 stars - I had no expectations going into this book, as a matter of fact it has languished on my Kindle for a long time, but I was immediately enchanted. The feeling of the book is so warm and hopeful.

Characters - 4.5 stars - This is where the book really shone for me. All of the women are so interesting--some unhappy, some with personal problems both large and small--but they are all willing to look inside themselves for solutions. Even though all the women have problems of one kind or another, they are all strong and thoughtful women who look inward to solve their problems, seeing advice from others but ultimately working on their own problems.

Format - 4.5 stars - There were a lot of excerpts from the blogs included at the end of several chapters, as well as some tasty recipes. This was a great format to tie the story, and the people, together.

Title - 4.5 stars - The title is wonderful. It's foodie fiction, which is mentioned in the "buffet," but really it's about life and dreams and futures.

Cover - 4 stars - Food on the cover is a must. I recognize that Willow is an important part of the story as Ginny's traveling companion, but I never feel comfortable with a dog so close to the food table. A half point off for that faux pas.

Overall - 4.5 stars - Loved it. This sweet novel was surprisingly enjoyable, exactly what chick lit should be. It showed what strong and personable women should be, sharing friendship but also working through their own issues. They weren't afraid to ask for help, but they didn't expect anyone else to solve their problems either. So many "women's fiction" books are negative, talking about problems but feeling depressed or angry or unhappy about them. While it's certainly legitimate to feel all those emotions, I prefer the book that feels those emotions then gets beyond them and looks upward and outward rather than focusing inward. The women in this book looked beyond their problems to the future, with a hopeful outlook. It left me feeling warm and inspired, definitely a feel-good book.