Saucy Shorts For Chefs

Despite the promises of the title, Sexy Shorts for Chefs doesn't contain a single TV chef's hairy thigh. Never mind. The nearest it gets is an introduction by Anthony Worrall Thompson (who probably wouldn't look great in a pair of sexy shorts anyway), telling us that one in nine women in the UK will develop breast cancer in her lifetime and that £1.00 from every book sold will be donated to the Breast Cancer Campaign and will go towards research into a cure for the illness. So, this is a charity collection, and one for a good cause. The sexy shorts referred to in the title, as you may have guessed, are short stories. The theme of the collection is food, and the aim is to provide a bumper selection of comfort reading for readers who enjoy a light romantic read. Separated into three sections - starters, main courses and desserts - the food/comfort theme is extended even further with a recipe at the end of each story relating to its contents. From browned onion gravy and Crayfish Bisque to chocolate souffle and strawberry shortcake, there is plenty here cheer away the blues. Many of the authors in the collection are familiar names in the woman's magazine fiction market and some of the stories have either been taken from or adapted from stories that have been published in magazines such as Woman's Weekly, Woman's Own and Woman's Realm. This is a well-selected collection of romantic fiction with a twist; read the story and then bake the cake (or cook the Polish sausage stew!). A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.