Miss Cecily's Recipes for Exceptional Ladies: A Novel

I really enjoyed the main character in this one, Kate Parker, although Cecily might think that she should be the main character! It does seem like a trend that there are more books written lately about older people and I do tend to like them.In this case, we have Kate who is about to turn 40. She’s been working way too long in a job she doesn’t enjoy anymore, and her love life is not exactly perfect. At loose ends, she ends up volunteering at the Lauderdale House for Exceptional Ladies and it is filled with women who led remarkable lives. She is encouraged to visit Cecily, who is a prickly 97-year-old who doesn’t get any visitors.Kate loves to cook, and the book is filled with various menus and situations around food! While I do enjoy cooking and eating, there may have been a bit too much on that in this book! Cecily loans Kate a cookbook and it becomes a self-help book and source of amusement for Kate and her friends with menus suggested for every occasion. Kate doesn’t always like Cecily’s advice or attitude, but the two grow on each other. By the end of the book, Cecily had grown on me. I found out in the author’s notes that Cecily is based on her grandmother and I do wish I had known that at the outset.This book is filled with interesting characters and I did enjoy reading it, but was too long in my opinion!

It is a heartwarming story of an almost 40 year old woman in denial of her love life and life itself meets a 97 year old woman facing her last days and together build a friendship that changes both of them. Great read. Summer beach book.

Kate's life is all she ever wanted, until it isn't.On the eve of her fortieth birthday, Kate's swain decides he needs to "withdraw" from their plans about moving the relationship forward while the two are on holiday. Thrust into relationship limbo, Kate looks for an outlet for her energy beyond her tedious job and finds it by offering food demos as a local retirement home. The demonstrations are far less important than the friendship she finds with crotchety nonagenarian Cecily.This book was delightful! The friendship between Kate and Cecily is beautifully developed and highlights how nurturing connections are for all of us, at any age, even though it is definitely NOT treacly sweet or smooth. Kate is not your average heroine, a bit older than most leading ladies in this genre, and Cecily is an original as well, sharing her adventures with Kate as they bond over a particular book in Cecily's library.I am adding this to my very short list of recommendations. Engaging characters, good plot, and featuring a tantalizing cookbook I think we'll all drool over getting our hands on if it's ever available!

This is a great story. The characters are very realistic and lead normal lives with similar dreams. When She volunteers for work at the Old folks home, she meets Miss Cecily who nudges her to take risks in her life. We all need encouragement to live a full life and to learn to love ourselves.

I just finished this lovely book, and didn't want it to end. An amazing story of food, love, and finding ones self. Based on a true story, along with the authors gift for writing. Miss Cecily is a hoot, and I loved her. A very touching read.

I loved this book - one of those "keepers." The author, Vicky Zimmerman, did an excellent job of defining her characters, 40 year old Kate Parker and 97 year old Cecily Finn. The story pulled me in and didn't let go until the end. Such a satisfying ending, such a fun read throughout. In places, laugh-out-loud funny; in places thought provoking. I'm reluctant to "pass it on" because I fear I wouldn't get it back.

I admit that this started slow for me and I somewhat despaired of the main character ... but then ... OH, MY!! A wonderful story unfolded ... and it made me think about some of my own choices: now and upcoming. My 66th birthday is in a week :). This was a beautiful book [to me] and I encourage anyone who feels part 1 is a bit long or not going anywhere ... keep going!!

Really enjoyed unpacking Miss Cecily as a character - well-developed by the author, and as a reader I felt the full range of emotions about her. Author was adept at enabling me to really feel that I could get inside the main character's head, even at times when there were "Bridesmaids"-esque moments that made me literally cringe. Loved the female-centric story with a wide range of powerful and interesting women to learn from. A beautiful story of friendship, love and loss. Loved it.

Great book but don't read author's note at the back until you have read the book, Then it will be a really nice surprise.