What a delightful start to a new series. The Sutra Series, I also saw a reference to the Stafford Falls series, is a wonderful story of family. Olivia is an artist whose life has been turned upside down. She is heading to Stafford Falls to care for her Grandmother who had a stroke. Growing up in this small town is only a memory because now the town is progressing but is still very close knit. When her paintings suddenly are in demand and she's offered several jobs back in the city, Olivia has to decide what is the most important thing in her life. The town and her grandmother are pushing her to go back to the city but that's because they think that is what Olivia wants. Can't wait for book 2. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Patti Murphy, Kilkenny Media Inc., and Kobo Writing Life. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend The Kitchen Sink Sutra to friends and family. It is an excellent novel of the trials and tribulations so prevalent in the life of a modern woman. Ms. Murphy's characters simply flow into life for you.

Our heroine in this work is Olivia, a British artist thirty-six years old and working part-time as a substitute teacher, overshadowed by her love interest/housemate, Olivia is a woman who feels like she is spinning her wheels. She isn't sure how she wants to spend her life now that she is finished with college but she desperately wants to find time and space to paint again. Then she is laid off - Brits call that 'surplussed'. And within hours her granny, Violet Sutton, is hospitalized after suffering a stroke. Olivia rushes to her little hometown of Stafford Falls, six hours away across the country. She is able to spend time with her Nana, but progress will be slow and Violet won't be able to live on her own for some time. Once Violet is home from the hospital, Olivia finds herself, without making a decision about the rest of her life, sleeping in her childhood bedroom and taking care of her Granny and the three elderly rescue dogs they both so love. She is, after all, currently unemployed. And then her lover Alex, away on business, calls to let her know that unfortunately Olivia's car is being repossessed in the morning - but she won't need it anyway, in London. Oh, and their apartment is going on the market in just a week or two as they are moving to London. Olivia should clear out the things she wants to keep over the next few days.

Olivia is torn - she and Alex have been through a lot together and have years as a couple behind them, but Olivia has no desire to move London, and she feels bulldozed into a yet another situation she was not appraised of nor consulted about. Between Alex and Olivia's driven mother, there is unbending pressure to do more with her life. The only thing she is sure of is that her Nana will need help for months to come and Olivia can give her that. Violet raised Olivia and has always been there for her. Olivia is not willing to make any plans until that family obligation is handled. She quickly finds an afternoon job with the aid of her best friend since 1st grade, Eddie, teaching a class of special needs elementary children - a CRC or Community Resource Class. And there is an interesting woman opening a cafe and coffee shop in the old bakery. This could turn out to be an interesting winter, after all.

Everyone needs to read this one!! It’s such a well versed story that makes you think hard about things.

The Kitchen Sink Sutra was a fascinating book with interesting characters. The book is well written and I would read more by this author.

I really enjoyed this book, and think it would make a really fun book club read. The main character, Olivia, has basically every part of her life disrupted - her relationship, her career and her family life. <i>The Kitchen Sink Sutra</i> is the story of Olivia trying to keep it all together - rebuilding her career(s), nursing her Grandmother back to health and navigating the ups and downs of her complicated love life.

Overall, this was a fun story. I did find myself a little confused and frustrated by the fact that the setting of the story is not clearly established. It turned out to be eastern Canada, but based on the vague description of the location description and the use of British-English spellings and terminology, I read the first third of the book thinking it took place in the UK. Very disorienting!

Aside from the initial confusion though, I really did like this book and look forward to reading the next installment in the series, <i>The Date Square Dharma</i>, released on August 3, 2019.

I was provided with an electronic copy of #TheKitchenSinkSutra by #NetGalley in return for my honest review.

I will hunt for this one when it is published and I can snag a physical copy. Unfortunately I had technical difficulties with the download, and was unable to read the manuscript. This has been happening quite frequently on my Kindle; repeating words, missing letters, etc.

I have just this moment finished reading The Kitchen Sink Sutra by Patti Murphy. I began it late last night and, sadly, finished it this evening. What a beautifully written book. I really like the way I felt while I was reading it, living it. Ms. Murphy has such a wonderful way expressing herself and the way she shares her characters with the reader is also wonderful. Stafford Falls seems a terrific place to live and the people who inhabit it just as terrific. Tenzin made me smile every time he showed up. And those dogs, oh those dogs, I am quite sure I have met them under different circumstances and different names. I am still a bit teary between the CRC, Max, Mortimer, and Eddie Spaghetti I wonder if my bedsheets will ever be dry again! Oh dear, I almost forgot Tobey! I know this sweet child very well and love every bit of him and would not change a thing.

I look forward to reading other offerings written by Ms. Murphy and I very high recommend The Kitchen Sink Sutra. In fact, I really hope for at least a sequel because I have fallen in love with these characters and I want to keep up with them.