Quick read. ( )

Great story.....just one of those books you can read for escape. ( )

I have previously read Barbara O'Neal's novels and found them to be very uplifting stories with characters I could relate to. However, in her latest, "The All You Can Dream Buffet" I found myself at a loss of what to make of this story. Unlike with her previous novels I found this one downright difficult to finish.

This novels centers around four women. Lavender owns Lavender Honey Farms which is an organic farm located in Oregon. Through her food blog she has became friends with three other bloggers who are planning on visiting Lavender's farm for her 85th birthday celebration. The other three women are Ruby, Ginny, and Valerie. Ruby is dealing with a recent breakup and pregnancy. Ginny is still adjusting to the repercussions of her husband and family finding out that she is a popular food blogger. And Valerie is attempting to move herself and her daughter away from their home to begin a new start.

What I really loved about this novel is that Barbara O'Neal includes the women's food blogs as part of the novel. So in certain instances you can read a blog that Ginny starts with a photo showing one of the cakes she bakes. Or we get to read Ruby's organic recipes.

Other than that though the whole book started and stopped in fits and starts. I think the main issue is that though this is supposed to be a novel about four women the majority deals with Ginny and Ruby. Valerie does not come on to the scene until more than halfway through the novel and I found her story more intriguing and heartbreaking than the other two women. Also there are love interests telegraphed quite early throughout the novel so any suspense to be had with that was pretty much lost.

I think this novel would have worked out better as just a story told from Ginny or even Ruby's point of view so that way the reader did not keep going back and forth with their story-lines. ( )

4.5 stars.

The All You Can Dream Buffet by Barbara O'Neal is a beautiful novel of friendship, new beginnings and love. It is a poignant yet uplifting story about group of women bloggers (the Foodie Four) who connect on line through their different blogs and form a close friendship despite their differences in ages and locations.

The oldest of the Foodie Four, Lavender has lived a full life and returned to the family farm after living an exciting life as a stewardess. The youngest of the group, Ruby, is delighted with her unexpected pregnancy, but she is broken hearted over her recent breakup. Middle-aged Ginny revels in her newfound freedom as she breaks away from her small hometown and unhappy marriage. Val and her daughter Hannah are struggling to overcome the unrelenting grief of their tragic loss. At a turning point in each of their lives, the trip to Lavender Honey Farms becomes a life-altering journey for each of the women.

While the novel touches briefly on Lavender and Val, the story focuses mainly on Ruby and Ginny. Ruby is a vivacious young woman with a sunny disposition who has endured her fair share of difficulties. Stunned by the end of her six year relationship, she is at loose ends when she arrives at Lavender's. Upbeat and positive, Ruby is struggling to figure out what her next step should be and she is surprised by how much she likes life on the farm. Equally surprising is the easy friendship she finds with Noah, a former soldier who now manages Lavender Honey Farms.

Ginny has let her fears and other people's expectations control her fate up to this point but once she decides to go to Lavender's, she does not let anything stand in her way. She discovers a whole new world outside of Kansas and although she has a few mishaps only the way, she revels in her new-found freedom. While Ginny has never considered leaving her husband, the distance from her everyday life and an unexpected attraction to a man she meets on her journey provide her with some much needed clarity and she is finally ready to take control of her life.

There is a wonderful feeling of camaraderie once everyone gathers at Lavender's. They exchange confidences without fear of being judged for their decisions, offer advice when asked and cheer one another as they face their futures. The women are incredibly supportive of one another and their scenes are warm and cozy.

Barbara O'Neal celebrates all phases of life in The All You Can Dream Buffet. The characters are richly developed, the plot is realistic and the landscape springs vividly to life. The diversity of ages and backgrounds adds depth to the overall storyline and offers readers of all ages someone to relate to. A vibrant, engaging story with just a hint of whimsy that will delight anyone who enjoys contemporary novels. ( )

The characters are amazing I felt like I had new best friends. ( )