Here's the review of the Cassandra Cookbook from urbanbooksource.com
http://www.theurbanbooksource.com/reviews/books/casscookbook.php
A bakery is a wonderful business. There's nothing like the smell and
taste of freshly baked goodies made from scratch. Then, there's the
thrill of seeing your customers enjoying your baking. For anyone
that loves to bake, has a passion for baked goods, and enjoys the
art of food, owning a bakery would be ideal.
In the book, The Cassandra Cookbook written by Shawn James, Cassandra Lee has dreamed
of taking over “Cassandra”, her parents’ bakery since she was a little girl. Cassandra’s
parents, Carlton and Helen Lee, opened the bakery when their daughter was a baby. Started
in 1974, Cassandra has been a staple in the downtown Brooklyn community for several
years. The well-known bakery is famous for providing baked goods that make your taste
buds pop with flavor.
Cassandra’s dream turns into a nightmare when her parents tell her they plan to retire and
sell the bakery. Corporate giant ITC Foods makes Cassandra’s parents an offer they cannot
refuse. As if things couldn’t get any worse, Cassandra catches her down low fiancé Gerald
Davis in the arms of another man days before their wedding and honeymoon.
Although she is devastated at her parents’ decision to sell the bakery, Cassandra convinces
them to let her represent them in the transaction so she can ensure they receive the best
deal possible. Simon James, the ITC Foods representative assigned to complete the
Cassandra bakery deal, begins to have feelings for Cassandra turning their professional
relationship into a personal one. Simon later makes a confession to Cassandra which leaves
her heartbroken. To smooth things over, Simon comes up with an idea in order to finally
make Cassandra’s dream come true.
What did you like about the book?
I liked the overall theme and plot of the book.
What did you dislike about the book?
I disliked the amount of grammatical errors throughout the book. I think the author also
used words like ‘pink’ and ‘digress’ too frequently to the point where I found it a bit
annoying.
What could the author do to improve the book?
The author could edit the grammatical errors in portions of this bo
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Sexy Ebony BBW AA Book Club Review of The Cassandra Cookbook
Detailed below is the Sexy Ebony BBWAA Book Club review of The Cassandra Cookbook
You can read the review here:
http://sexyebonyreviews.blogspot.com/
Virtualbookworm.com Publishing: August 2008
978-1602642294
Reviewer: Lashonda
Rating: 4
Cassandra Lee has the world at her doorstep, or so it seems. She has worked to make her parents' bakery a success, working along with her father and getting her culinary degree. Her fresh outlook and innovative ideas have helped the bakery achieve tremendous success in the midst of a failing economy. During a meeting with her parents, she learns that the bakery she has worked towards owning is in negotiation to be sold so her parents can retire.To further complicate things, only days before her wedding she walks in on her fiancé cheating, with another man. Devastated by the curves her life has taken Cassandra works to get over her heartache and help her parents to close the deal that will allow them to retire.
Told in 1st person from several characters point of view, The Cassandra Cookbook, shares the joys and pains of love, family and professional success. The characters have depth and deal with the real life choices people make to get ahead and find success in life. The writing style grants readers a peek inside of the mind of each character adding to the emotional ties felt with each character.Overall this was this was a good book with a well developed storyline.
I did find the cover to be a bit of a turn off and there were a few editing errors that took away through off the general flow of the book.Looking for a whole lot of drama with a little romance thrown in, The Cassandra Cookbook fits the bill. There are life lessons and food for thought sprinkled into the pages of this story.
You can read the review here:
http://sexyebonyreviews.blogspot.com/
Virtualbookworm.com Publishing: August 2008
978-1602642294
Reviewer: Lashonda
Rating: 4
Cassandra Lee has the world at her doorstep, or so it seems. She has worked to make her parents' bakery a success, working along with her father and getting her culinary degree. Her fresh outlook and innovative ideas have helped the bakery achieve tremendous success in the midst of a failing economy. During a meeting with her parents, she learns that the bakery she has worked towards owning is in negotiation to be sold so her parents can retire.To further complicate things, only days before her wedding she walks in on her fiancé cheating, with another man. Devastated by the curves her life has taken Cassandra works to get over her heartache and help her parents to close the deal that will allow them to retire.
Told in 1st person from several characters point of view, The Cassandra Cookbook, shares the joys and pains of love, family and professional success. The characters have depth and deal with the real life choices people make to get ahead and find success in life. The writing style grants readers a peek inside of the mind of each character adding to the emotional ties felt with each character.Overall this was this was a good book with a well developed storyline.
I did find the cover to be a bit of a turn off and there were a few editing errors that took away through off the general flow of the book.Looking for a whole lot of drama with a little romance thrown in, The Cassandra Cookbook fits the bill. There are life lessons and food for thought sprinkled into the pages of this story.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Letting Go
LETTING GO
This is it.
The last word.
The story is finished.
There comes a time when a writer has to stop working on a story and put the pen down. A point when no amount of editing will polish the plotline, no amount of re-reads or re-writes will improve the story structure. This is the end of the story, a place where a writer has to put a period at the end of the last page and move on.
Letting go of a story is the hardest part of the writing process for an author in any medium. It means the writer has to allow themselves to be vulnerable. Not just to praise, but to criticism, rejection and even insults. Without those things a writer can’t grow in their craft.
Unfortunately, some writers hold onto stories they write for years trying to protect themselves from the very thing that will improve their craft: Sharing it with the audience. They think that if they write one more paragraph, change one more sentence, restructure the plotline to go in another direction, the story will get just that much better. Sometimes this process goes on for a few months. Sometimes a few years. Sometimes it can just go on too long. Sometimes analysis is just another form of insecurity.
I used to be one of those insecure authors who protected his stories like a newborn baby. After I completed my first novel back in 1997, I kept trying to rewrite it telling people I had to make it better before I submitted it to the publishers and agents. It was fear. I didn’t know I was stalling my own growth as a writer; I was afraid of criticism and I started a co-dependent relationship with my characters. They were like old friends and I liked hanging out with them every day in front of the pea-soup green screened Brother word processor.
It wasn’t until I went to the bookstore and I realized it was time to let go of my first story and write something else. I noticed a lot of authors on the bookshelf hadn’t let go of their first works and how it impacted their long-term careers. Because they hadn’t separated themselves from their first novel and moved on, they kept writing the same book over and over again. It stalled their writing craft; the writing style hadn’t changed, their storylines became more and more predictable, their characters the exact same person with another name. Since there was no end of the first story there couldn’t be a beginning. to a new one.
Ending and beginnings are the primary elements of the writing process. Just as one story ends, a new one begins. To let go of my old story and start a new one, I often write something in a totally opposite direction of my previous story. If I finish writing a fantasy story, I write a contemporary romance. If I finish writing a contemporary romance, I write a gritty drama. If I finish writing a gritty drama I write a romantic comedy. If I wrote a screenplay, I’ll write a book next. If I write a book, I’ll write a blog post, a movie review or an article. Mix it up. Make it interesting. I don’t want to get too comfortable with a bunch of characters ever again. I feel it stalls me creatively. A good writer shouldn’t be afraid to put the period at the end of a story and move on.
Starting the next story is the hardest part of writing. For me, it means leaving old friends behind, and getting to know a whole new group of people and interacting with their world. I may like them. I may not like them. It’s a very vulnerable position to be in mentally and emotionally for me at the computer. But I understand it can be very rewarding as I learn about different story models and different experiences than I’m familiar with.
This is it.
The last word.
The story is finished.
There comes a time when a writer has to stop working on a story and put the pen down. A point when no amount of editing will polish the plotline, no amount of re-reads or re-writes will improve the story structure. This is the end of the story, a place where a writer has to put a period at the end of the last page and move on.
Letting go of a story is the hardest part of the writing process for an author in any medium. It means the writer has to allow themselves to be vulnerable. Not just to praise, but to criticism, rejection and even insults. Without those things a writer can’t grow in their craft.
Unfortunately, some writers hold onto stories they write for years trying to protect themselves from the very thing that will improve their craft: Sharing it with the audience. They think that if they write one more paragraph, change one more sentence, restructure the plotline to go in another direction, the story will get just that much better. Sometimes this process goes on for a few months. Sometimes a few years. Sometimes it can just go on too long. Sometimes analysis is just another form of insecurity.
I used to be one of those insecure authors who protected his stories like a newborn baby. After I completed my first novel back in 1997, I kept trying to rewrite it telling people I had to make it better before I submitted it to the publishers and agents. It was fear. I didn’t know I was stalling my own growth as a writer; I was afraid of criticism and I started a co-dependent relationship with my characters. They were like old friends and I liked hanging out with them every day in front of the pea-soup green screened Brother word processor.
It wasn’t until I went to the bookstore and I realized it was time to let go of my first story and write something else. I noticed a lot of authors on the bookshelf hadn’t let go of their first works and how it impacted their long-term careers. Because they hadn’t separated themselves from their first novel and moved on, they kept writing the same book over and over again. It stalled their writing craft; the writing style hadn’t changed, their storylines became more and more predictable, their characters the exact same person with another name. Since there was no end of the first story there couldn’t be a beginning. to a new one.
Ending and beginnings are the primary elements of the writing process. Just as one story ends, a new one begins. To let go of my old story and start a new one, I often write something in a totally opposite direction of my previous story. If I finish writing a fantasy story, I write a contemporary romance. If I finish writing a contemporary romance, I write a gritty drama. If I finish writing a gritty drama I write a romantic comedy. If I wrote a screenplay, I’ll write a book next. If I write a book, I’ll write a blog post, a movie review or an article. Mix it up. Make it interesting. I don’t want to get too comfortable with a bunch of characters ever again. I feel it stalls me creatively. A good writer shouldn’t be afraid to put the period at the end of a story and move on.
Starting the next story is the hardest part of writing. For me, it means leaving old friends behind, and getting to know a whole new group of people and interacting with their world. I may like them. I may not like them. It’s a very vulnerable position to be in mentally and emotionally for me at the computer. But I understand it can be very rewarding as I learn about different story models and different experiences than I’m familiar with.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Sistah Friend Book Club Review of The Cassandra Cookbook
The actual review is posted here.
Cassandra Lee thinks she has found true love; however, early in the story she learns that he is just another down-low brother. Without mystery, there is another brother right around the corner. James has a unique way of making you want to grab a doughnut as you read her descriptsion of the passion the Lees have for Cassandra Bakery. A good read for the entrepreneur; there are some real lessons to be learned about proper workplace behaviors and how to operate a successful business. If you are trying to climb the corporate ladder, pay attention to the smooth professional, Simon James, who, with a little help from a old-school brother, learns all the right moves. In addition, the Cassandra Cookbook shines the light on how "mother knows best," or maybe not in some cases. By the end of the book, you will be cheering as the hidden secrets of the hard work pays off.
4 Sistah Hugs --- Sistah Teesa
Cassandra Lee thinks she has found true love; however, early in the story she learns that he is just another down-low brother. Without mystery, there is another brother right around the corner. James has a unique way of making you want to grab a doughnut as you read her descriptsion of the passion the Lees have for Cassandra Bakery. A good read for the entrepreneur; there are some real lessons to be learned about proper workplace behaviors and how to operate a successful business. If you are trying to climb the corporate ladder, pay attention to the smooth professional, Simon James, who, with a little help from a old-school brother, learns all the right moves. In addition, the Cassandra Cookbook shines the light on how "mother knows best," or maybe not in some cases. By the end of the book, you will be cheering as the hidden secrets of the hard work pays off.
4 Sistah Hugs --- Sistah Teesa
Friday, December 12, 2008
RAWSISTAZ Review of The Cassandra Cookbook
Here is the RAWSISTAZ Review of The Cassandra Cookbook:
http://www.therawreviewers.com/artman/publish/printer_TheCassandraCookbook.shtml
The Cassandra Cookbook by Shawn James
Virtualbookworm.com Publishing, August 2008
264 Pages, Paperback,
$14.95
ISBN: 160264229X
Genre: Romance
RAW Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)
Cassandra’s parents own a bakery in Brooklyn and named it after their only child, Cassandra. It is a very popular stopping place for those needing tasty baked goods. It’s so good, a large company, ITC Foods, wants to buy the rights to the cookbook and sell the products nationwide. The deal will make enough money for her parents to retire to Florida and leave the running of Cassandra’s to Cassandra. Cassandra is engaged to a lawyer and her wedding is fast approaching. While negotiating with her parents, she leaves the shop in the middle of the day. Unfortunately, when she reaches her home, she discovers her fiancé is keeping secrets from her. The wedding is off. While setting up the ITC takeover of the cookbook, Cassandra meets Simon James, the company representative. There is an immediate attraction between them, but because of Cassandra’s former relationship, she has difficulty letting down her defenses. Simon is not about to give up and he pursues her. Simon has his own issues – one being his very controlling mother. Will these two ever get together? And will Cassandra actually sell the recipes? THE CASSANDRA COOKBOOK by Shawn James is the story of love and money – which is more important? The characters are well-developed and it is easy to see how they arrive at their decisions. There were side characters and action that kept the book moving. It is good entertainment.
Reviewed by alice Holman, RAWSISTAZ.com
Remember, there's still time to pick up a copy for yourself or someone you love. Makes a great gift!
Barnes & Noble
virtualbookworm.com
amazon.com
http://www.therawreviewers.com/artman/publish/printer_TheCassandraCookbook.shtml
The Cassandra Cookbook by Shawn James
Virtualbookworm.com Publishing, August 2008
264 Pages, Paperback,
$14.95
ISBN: 160264229X
Genre: Romance
RAW Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)
Cassandra’s parents own a bakery in Brooklyn and named it after their only child, Cassandra. It is a very popular stopping place for those needing tasty baked goods. It’s so good, a large company, ITC Foods, wants to buy the rights to the cookbook and sell the products nationwide. The deal will make enough money for her parents to retire to Florida and leave the running of Cassandra’s to Cassandra. Cassandra is engaged to a lawyer and her wedding is fast approaching. While negotiating with her parents, she leaves the shop in the middle of the day. Unfortunately, when she reaches her home, she discovers her fiancé is keeping secrets from her. The wedding is off. While setting up the ITC takeover of the cookbook, Cassandra meets Simon James, the company representative. There is an immediate attraction between them, but because of Cassandra’s former relationship, she has difficulty letting down her defenses. Simon is not about to give up and he pursues her. Simon has his own issues – one being his very controlling mother. Will these two ever get together? And will Cassandra actually sell the recipes? THE CASSANDRA COOKBOOK by Shawn James is the story of love and money – which is more important? The characters are well-developed and it is easy to see how they arrive at their decisions. There were side characters and action that kept the book moving. It is good entertainment.
Reviewed by alice Holman, RAWSISTAZ.com
Remember, there's still time to pick up a copy for yourself or someone you love. Makes a great gift!
Barnes & Noble
virtualbookworm.com
amazon.com
Monday, November 10, 2008
Reviews of the Cassandra Cookbook
New Book reviews for The Cassandra Cookbook came in at Amazon.com. Check em' out I'll post more as they're sent to me.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Know All Your Ingredients, November 6, 2008
By
Jennifer Coissiere (Georgia) - See all my reviews Cassandra Lee gets one life-changing blow after another. Having caught her fiancé in a compromising situation, only days before they exchange nuptials, Cassandra has more on her plate than she knows what to do with. The Cassandra Cookbook by Shawn James is not only about cakes and cookies, but how one woman is determined to secure the future of her parents and herself, by the choices she has to make. Will she be able to successfully make everyone happy? Cassandra's parents, Carlton and Helen Lee, are the owners of Cassandra, a bakery they opened when she was but a little baby. Through the years Cassandra followed in her parents' footsteps, learning the tricks and tools of the trade. Using the knowledge and her eye for attracting people, Cassandra helped to change the profits coming in to their bank accounts. When a major conglomerate corporation takes interest in the bakery's cookbook, a sign of the changes to come are obvious. James delivered a series of characters who were three dimensional, and believable. The plot was well developed. However, with such a great storyline the editing needed to be on point and it was not. The grammatical errors, extra words, and punctuation misplacements served to be a distraction at certain points throughout the book. Even with the errors, I still recommend The Cassandra Cookbook to a reader looking for romance, a little drama and whimsical characters.
Jennifer Coissiere APOOO BookClub
***Cassandra Rules, November 2, 2008
By OOSA Online Book Club "O.O.S.A. Gets It Read!" (World Wide Web, USA) - See all my reviewsThe Lee family owns a bakery that they named after their daughter Cassandra. Cassandra loves the bakery and currently is working as a manager. In the last five years she's made a lot of changes that have as a result generated a lot of revenue. In exactly one week Cassandra and Gerald will be married. As her parents near retirement Cassandra has no doubts that she will soon be the owner. She is overflowing with excitement. Regrettably, Cassandra's dream life is due for major upsets. First, she learns that her parents have decided to sell the bakery. Although she is clearly upset, Cassandra wants to please her parents and goes over the contract to ensure that they aren't getting the short end of the stick. Second, she catches her fiancé in their bed with another. Is Cassandra able to stand the heat in the kitchen? Or has she been burned too many times? "The Cassandra Cookbook" is a satisfactory enough read. The author repeatedly uses `I digress' which after awhile becomes excessive. Reviewed by: Carmen
A Tantalizing Recipe For Literary Success, October 28, 2008
By
Apex Reviews (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviewsCassandra Lee has spent nearly her whole life working in and building up her parents' bakery, named for her, thinking it would one day become hers. What she did not count on was that she would do such a good job that corporate food giant ITC would want to buy it. Although she is heartbroken that her parents would want to sell the store, Cassandra talks them into letting her represent them in the transaction so she can make sure they receive the best deal possible. To further add to her stress, she finds her fiancé in a compromising position that brings their engagement to a halt (in her mind, at least). Her whole life is turned upside down, but she knows she needs to keep it together to be there for her parents. Simon James is the market researcher at ITC who has been assigned to head up the project in preparation for his promotion to Product Manager. This project is his big break, and he struggles with his new role while balancing advice from his mother and his good friend, Smitty. Then, he and Cassandra meet and hit it off, and he has to figure out how to keep the deal professional while pursuing his feelings for her. The Cassandra Cookbook is a story of African Americans in the business world, showing how the choices they make can determine whether they will succeed or fail - an important theme, no matter your skin color. It is a classic tale of good person does well, bad person does not, with a strong message that you should consider how every choice you make affects other people. While the book is enjoyable, it needs editing for grammar and punctuation, and the descriptions are so heavy-handed as to be distracting, rather than helpful to the story. In addition, the first-person viewpoint, jumping from person to person, makes for some confusion and distraction for the reader. However, the story is compelling and the characters life-like, giving an interesting behind-the-scenes view of both the corporate business world and a successful bakery. It also gives some insight on the issues that African Americans must deal with every day in their quest to succeed.
Jennifer Walker Apex Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Know All Your Ingredients, November 6, 2008
By
Jennifer Coissiere (Georgia) - See all my reviews Cassandra Lee gets one life-changing blow after another. Having caught her fiancé in a compromising situation, only days before they exchange nuptials, Cassandra has more on her plate than she knows what to do with. The Cassandra Cookbook by Shawn James is not only about cakes and cookies, but how one woman is determined to secure the future of her parents and herself, by the choices she has to make. Will she be able to successfully make everyone happy? Cassandra's parents, Carlton and Helen Lee, are the owners of Cassandra, a bakery they opened when she was but a little baby. Through the years Cassandra followed in her parents' footsteps, learning the tricks and tools of the trade. Using the knowledge and her eye for attracting people, Cassandra helped to change the profits coming in to their bank accounts. When a major conglomerate corporation takes interest in the bakery's cookbook, a sign of the changes to come are obvious. James delivered a series of characters who were three dimensional, and believable. The plot was well developed. However, with such a great storyline the editing needed to be on point and it was not. The grammatical errors, extra words, and punctuation misplacements served to be a distraction at certain points throughout the book. Even with the errors, I still recommend The Cassandra Cookbook to a reader looking for romance, a little drama and whimsical characters.
Jennifer Coissiere APOOO BookClub
***Cassandra Rules, November 2, 2008
By OOSA Online Book Club "O.O.S.A. Gets It Read!" (World Wide Web, USA) - See all my reviewsThe Lee family owns a bakery that they named after their daughter Cassandra. Cassandra loves the bakery and currently is working as a manager. In the last five years she's made a lot of changes that have as a result generated a lot of revenue. In exactly one week Cassandra and Gerald will be married. As her parents near retirement Cassandra has no doubts that she will soon be the owner. She is overflowing with excitement. Regrettably, Cassandra's dream life is due for major upsets. First, she learns that her parents have decided to sell the bakery. Although she is clearly upset, Cassandra wants to please her parents and goes over the contract to ensure that they aren't getting the short end of the stick. Second, she catches her fiancé in their bed with another. Is Cassandra able to stand the heat in the kitchen? Or has she been burned too many times? "The Cassandra Cookbook" is a satisfactory enough read. The author repeatedly uses `I digress' which after awhile becomes excessive. Reviewed by: Carmen
A Tantalizing Recipe For Literary Success, October 28, 2008
By
Apex Reviews (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviewsCassandra Lee has spent nearly her whole life working in and building up her parents' bakery, named for her, thinking it would one day become hers. What she did not count on was that she would do such a good job that corporate food giant ITC would want to buy it. Although she is heartbroken that her parents would want to sell the store, Cassandra talks them into letting her represent them in the transaction so she can make sure they receive the best deal possible. To further add to her stress, she finds her fiancé in a compromising position that brings their engagement to a halt (in her mind, at least). Her whole life is turned upside down, but she knows she needs to keep it together to be there for her parents. Simon James is the market researcher at ITC who has been assigned to head up the project in preparation for his promotion to Product Manager. This project is his big break, and he struggles with his new role while balancing advice from his mother and his good friend, Smitty. Then, he and Cassandra meet and hit it off, and he has to figure out how to keep the deal professional while pursuing his feelings for her. The Cassandra Cookbook is a story of African Americans in the business world, showing how the choices they make can determine whether they will succeed or fail - an important theme, no matter your skin color. It is a classic tale of good person does well, bad person does not, with a strong message that you should consider how every choice you make affects other people. While the book is enjoyable, it needs editing for grammar and punctuation, and the descriptions are so heavy-handed as to be distracting, rather than helpful to the story. In addition, the first-person viewpoint, jumping from person to person, makes for some confusion and distraction for the reader. However, the story is compelling and the characters life-like, giving an interesting behind-the-scenes view of both the corporate business world and a successful bakery. It also gives some insight on the issues that African Americans must deal with every day in their quest to succeed.
Jennifer Walker Apex Reviews
Friday, August 8, 2008
The Cassandra Cookbook
Now Availabe From Shawn James
ISBN: 978-1-60264-229-4
MSRP $14.95
A pinch of hard work.
A dash of determination.
A recipe for success.
A dash of determination.
A recipe for success.
Cassandra Lee’s lifelong dream is to take over the downtown Brooklyn bakery with her name on it when her parents retired. Her dream turns into a nightmare near the eve of her wedding when she learns corporate giant ITC Foods has plans for the store and her low down down low fiancé Gerald is caught in the arms of another man.
Cassandra perseveres, acting as her parents’ agent working with ITC rep Simon James to complete the deal. As their professional relationship gets personal, Simon reveals a secret that devastates Cassandra. Sending Cassandra over the edge, Simon must come up with a plan to heal her broken heart and make her dreams come true.
Read the first Chapter here!
Or buy the book at one of these online retailers:
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