The Recipe Box

A Novel

By: Viola Shipman

Narrated by: Susan Bennett

"Susan Bennett does a beautiful job narrating Sam's discovery of family stories, recipes, and . . . herself." –AudioFile Magazine

"Filled with cherished memories and treasured recipes, The Recipe Box is a touching tribute to the women and food that unite us and connect our past to the present." —Richard Paul Evans, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"An easy, delightful novel" –Good Housekeeping

In The Recipe Box, bestselling beloved author Viola Shipman spins a tale about a lost young woman and the family recipe box that changes her life.

Growing up in northern Michigan, Samantha “Sam” Mullins felt trapped on her family’s orchard and pie shop, so she left with dreams of making her own mark in the world. But life as an overworked, undervalued sous chef at a reality star’s New York bakery is not what Sam dreamed.

When the chef embarrasses Sam, she quits and returns home. Unemployed, single, and defeated, she spends a summer working on her family’s orchard cooking and baking alongside the women in her life—including her mother, Deana, and grandmother, Willo. One beloved, flour-flecked, ink-smeared recipe at a time, Sam begins to learn about and understand the women in her life, her family’s history, and her passion for food through their treasured recipe box.

As Sam discovers what matters most she opens her heart to a man she left behind, but who now might be the key to her happiness.

A Macmillan Audio production from Thomas Dunne Books

Surprisingly good...

I ended up having to start this book over because I kept getting interrupted and would lose track of the characters. I'm very glad I did. The book turned out to be surprisingly good, the characters were interesting. There was not a lot of love story or romance, which made it more interesting. And as a baker, I appreciate the recipes.

Good story!

Living in northern Michigan, I loved this book. I was eager to download it, as I adore stories about the past, and especially about food. I listened nearly straight through. Very enjoyable listen, and the narrator did a great job. My only complaint is that I was hoping for recipes that were authentically "old." They obviously aren't. The very first recipe mentioned for apple crisp called for Honeycrisp apples, which Michiganders know aren't native to Michigan and weren't even developed until several decades later than the 1930s that the recipe supposedly originated. It would have been a better story if the author used real recipes from that generation -- it would have given the novel more authenticity. Still, overall a great story.

A trip back to Grandma's undying love, the memories on the farm.

Not one single word did I dislike.
More a fan with every book. I'm ordering this one in print. A hard copy as the guide I've been seeking to share our family history.
"It all started in the kitchen sitting at the pink formica table entranced by every word she said....

Very good!

I enjoyed this book from the beginning. The family history is amazing and makes me wish my family had a recipe box to pass down.

Precious Memories

This book has inspired me to start this tradition with my daughter. I love cooking and baking. I grew up watching my grandma bake. This story is precious!