This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

A sweet story of friendship, food, and finding oneself.

I liked how Connie found something she enjoyed with good friends and a new outlook on life. This story sets up potential books for other members of the group, too, as we see glimpses of their lives and relationships.

I do think the romance aspect was the weaker part of the book as I honestly didn't get enough of Connie with either guy to see a real connection vs being told there is one.

Book contained really great characters and was such a heart warming story. Really enjoyed reading this book.

The Cotswolds Cookery Club - A Taste of Italy is the first of three parts in the Cookery Club series by author Alice Ross. I read Alice’s Country Side Dreams series a while ago and loved the writing style so I reached for this first part to warm up a wintery day over the festive period! I received an ARC of this from the publisher via @netgalley.

This part of the series follows the story of Connie. Connie makes the temporary move to the Cotswolds to house sit for her friends while they take a six month trip for work. The fresh countryside air inspires Connie to dabble in her true passion - cookery. Deciding to take her passion one step further Connie establishes the cookery club with a few of the local ladies and find herself settling in to village life quite nicely.

I loved the starting fresh storyline throughout and Connie really embraced it, not only with the cookery club but in her relationships with everyone in the village and how she reacted to opportunities while reflecting on how she might have reacted differently before.

There is an element of romance thrown in and we get a glimpse into the lives of the other ladies in the club especially Kate who I believe is coming up with her own part at the end of the series.

In the next part we’ll be sampling the delights of Spain as the story continues with Trish.

Review: This is a feel good book and one that I enjoyed. It is part of a series and the first I have read from Alice. It is about women who need an escape and some happiness in their lives and Connie creates this cookery club to do just that. 

This is definitively a good easy read when you are in need a some comfort and happiness in your life.

Enjoyable bool. Did feel the ending was rather rushed. Good characters

If you like light village books you might like this one. It is a cross between a Maeve Binchy and Katie Fforde story. Interesting and engaging village stories always call for more stories about other villagers and to hear progress of the first characters. This one begs for a sequel to follow up on the suggested HEA and the rest of the group.
Cotswold Cookery Club is not a unique plot or full of clever dialogue but it is, as suggested, engaging, funny, sweet but not saccharine, and obviously an introductory story. It is full of real people. It introduces a beaten down Connie who is flailing after a miserable five year relationship and her mother's constant reminders of her "failure" to keep the jerk, get a ring on it, get a better job, climb the social ladder, produce grandchildren... you get the idea. Connie gets away by housesitting for a friend in a village in the Cotswolds, tentatively steps out of her shell, makes new friends and restarts her life. (She gets her groove back) She even finds a fellow who sees her proofreading as an opportunity to learn new things rather than "just a boring stay at home job". Connie's new friends might not all call for their own books but this reader really wants a follow up on Kate and thinks she deserves her own story.

The formatting for this galley is pretty messed up, either that or it needs more proofreading (I think I'm funny). There were missing spaces between words, sentences, paragraphs, sections and chapters. I actually didn't know there was a chapter change, was confused about a transition and had to reread. It ewas a warning about the other non-transitions which were many. I hope this is cleared up for the final publication. I realize these are often not ready for publication. The punctuation and grammar were great; the only problem was with the spacing which is what leads me to assume it is a formatting issue.

New author for me, new favorite series also! Yes yes yes! I loved this first book in the "The Cotswolds Cookery Club" series! Very lovely characters, very lovely settings, very lovely plot, very lovely everything! Yes, if I should describe this book in one word, I would say "lovely". It's very lovely story of friendship between 4 different types of women of different ages. There is also the beginning of a lovely romance and I really can't wait to read the second book to learn more about all the characters of the books! It's also a book about cooking and this makes you want to cook and to eat! ;-) I recommend this book! Also it's quite a short book which is always quite nice to squeeze between two other bigger books!

Short and sweet. Predictable from the first chapter, but still an enjoyable quick read. Connie's life isn't going as well as she had planned. When her friend asks her to house sit while she is away, she is glad for the change. She is almost run down while out walking the friend's dog and is angered by the driver of the fancy sports car, a guy she sees frequently out and about. She starts a cookery club and through the relationships gained there, begins to fit into her new surroundings. Perfect for a beach day or rainy afternoon.

A short delightful and happy romp! I loved that these women range across ages and experiences and that they share their stories over cooking (I wish there were recipes!). This was a great tonic after all the bad news lately- a cheery, optimistic tale of four women pulling together. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. You can read this in an afternoon and you'll smile the whole time!

In this first part we are introduced to Connie who is given the opportunity to escape to the Cotsworld, where she sets up a Cookery Club. Its a fantastic idea and a great way to make new friends.

The foods that they cook up for the Cookery Club sounds absolutely delicious and really inspire you start cooking different recipes from around the world.

The group of women who come to the Cookery Club are just the perfect characters, all different and have got so much going on in their lives and it's the perfect place for them to escape for a few hours and enjoy themselves.

This was a really beautiful start to this delightful series.

I am very much looking forward to the next book.. A taste of SPAIN!

Thanks Netgalley, Publisher and the Author. Loved it loved it, made me laugh so much and with what has happened in my personal life this last month or so I really really needed it. Thank you

When Connie's friend Anna is set to go to Australia for six months she asks Connie if she will house and dog sit for her in Cotswold cottage. Connie's life is definitely in the doldrums at the time and so she jumps at the opportunity to get away from everything.......and everyone!

Feeling that she needs to get into village life she decides that cooking is her forte and so rather than a book club she will set up a food club and soon has some willing members and they decide on the first event to be an Italian night

This book although short is a great introduction to the characters - I especially loved Eric the greyhound - and I am looking forward to the rest in the series. As with Alice Ross's other books this is a lovely warm hearted book that you just want to curl up and read until you have finished it - best not to read if you are hungry though!

Connie’s life isn’t going the way she would like it to go, she’s enough of her cheating husband, her mother is constantly reminding her that she’s not getting any younger and her job is very solitary. When her friend calls and offers Connie to house sit for six months, she happily agrees. Connie enjoys being in Cotswold and when she gets the idea to start a cookery club, local women are really supportive of the idea. For the start there are three other members in addition to Connie herself-village shop owner Eleanor, local vet Kate and a housewife Melody. Their lives are quite different, but cooking and the cookery club unites them. In a new place for Connie, there certainly has to be someone special to make Connie’s heart beat faster. Connie spends quite a lot of time with the young builder, but clearly it couldn’t be more than just a hot fling, but there’s this other man, who is very intriguing, a man called Max.

It’s the first book in the series and it was wonderful, it’s packed with interesting characters, delicious food and a great setting. There’s great build up for the following installments and I’m very much looking forward to learn more about the characters, especially as it ended at a very interesting part.

5☆ Scrumptious food, Fun, sexy, laugh out loud, Feel good read that kept me hooked.


When Connie has finally had Enough of her cheating husband she decides enough is enough.

So when Connie gets a call from her Best friend Anna to come to Little Biddington,(Cotswold), to house sit for her and look after Eric the adorable Greyhound while Anna jets off to Australia for 6months... how can Connie possibly refuse!!

Connie at the moment is in a rutt. She doesn't believe in herself, she feels isolated and alone. She is a self employed Proof reader, but her real passion and love is Cooking!
She feels like time is running out for her to find real love and have a family. Her Mother doesn't help matters by constantly reminding her of her failures!

So going to Anna's could really be the start of something special.

She packs her bags and sets off..... on a journey of self discovery, making life long friends, sexy steamy encounters and lots of scrumptious Italian delights.

When Connie first meets Eleanor who owns the Village shop she is the one who persuades her that the cookery club is a fab idea. She too is very passionate about food.
But better still she has some members in mind.

It's next we meet Kate the Village vet, who is on maternity leave.
She is struggling with juggling being a mother to her children. She barely sees her husband and she has an Au Pair helping her out.
Kate is desperate for grown up time.
So the cookery club couldn't come at a better time.
She comes across as very disorganised, a lil scatter brained but has a heart of gold!

Then the last member is Melody.
She intrigued me the most. She is very desperate to start a family with her new husband. The village committee does not accept her as they feel she is a gold digger out for what she can get. As she lives is a big house. Even though Melody would much rather live somewhere more normal.
But Melody, is the sweetest, down to earth, sensitive young lady who is so desperate to make friends.

So there we have an introduction to the Cookery Club.

There are so so many wonderful characters. I loved each and everyone of the characters. I felt Alice has put so much love and thought into her characters I felt like they was my friends too and that I was part of the Cookery Club.

Eric the dog he's rescue story just melted my heart and he's obsession with Melody' s dog. It was love at first sniff!!

There is Max Templeton. The very sexy but crazy Porsche driver who nearly knocked Connie over. Who is the Mysterious Max and why is Connie so interested in him?

Then there Is the very sexy young builder called Liam, who certainly has got Connie all hot and bothered.
So much so... She spends a fair amount of time with her clothes off!!

There is nothing at all I disliked about this book.
The cover is simply divine!
The characters are so relatable and fun.
The story left me wanting more!
Each recipie left my mouth watering and my Tummy grumbling!

It really has everything! Lots of humour, fantastic friendships built, passionate and sexy encounters, gorgeous dogs (Always a winner for Me!), fun, addictive, Feel good, page Turner!
The perfect feel good Summer Read!!

A real story of learning to love life and yourself, that it's never too late to follow your passions and dreams.

I'm very very excited for the second instalment to see what the Cookery Club has is store!

I highly recommend this book!!
Especially to readers who love Cooking, Chick Lit, Romance, Humour, Fun, Friendship.

Was drawn to the book by the lovely cover. The description made it sound like a lovely summer read. I was not disappointed by either in the slightest. It was the perfect summer read. Loved the sound of the setting. Good interesting storyline. Loved the book from start to finish

I was very disappointed....that this was a novella and not a full novel :) This is the first book I've read by Alice Ross and I really enjoyed it. The story fulfilled my criteria of capturing my attention within the first few pages, and of being written with correct English, grammar and punctuation. Connie is asked to house-sit for 6 months whilst her friend is overseas; who wouldn't want to house-sit a beautiful mansion in the Cotswolds?! Then Connie sets up the Cotswolds Cookery Club and we follow her, the other three club members, and some additional characters, all of whom are totally believable. I will definitely be reading Alice's next "Cotswolds" book.

This was a really short but sweet read. It made me really want to eat Italian food as well because it all sounded delicious. This was a great introduction to a new series and I am looking forward to reading more.

Connie takes advantage of her friends offer to house sit her wonderful house in the Cotswolds when they go to work abroad for 6 months. She's a proof reader who can work from home. She's also looking after their rescue greyhound who is very nervy.

She sets up a cookery club with a couple of ladies that the newsagent knows and the four ladies are soon enjoying evenings with delicious food, copious amounts of wine and healing friendships. They all host an evening based on an Italian theme and the menus make your mouth water and wish that you could set up a similar club with your friends. It actually did make me want to reboot my new recipe challenge and maybe it needs a revamp with a country theme!

The friends share many feelings and Connie has a feeling that Kate's marriage may not be all it seems, Melody is feeling like a fish out of water in the Cotswolds. Having married an older man she is meeting resistance from all the locals who think she is a gold digger. She is yearning for a baby- but this new group of friends is really boosting her confidence and letting her spread her wings a little.

I am so looking forward to hearing about more evenings with the cookery club and the treats they have in store for us.

This was so cute! AND THE FOOD OMG. Thanks to the Publisher for the review copy!