All Stirred Up by Brianne Moore

New author Brianne Moore uses Jane Austen’s Persuasion as a starting point for her novel set in contemporary Edinburgh, Scotland.  Knowing that, you will realize that the cute cover is attractive but doesn't catch the more somber tone of the story that focuses on two former lovers who, in the intervening years, have moved on in some major ways but not in others.

Susan Napier hopes to pull her family back from the brink of bankruptcy by consolidating their remaining funds and concentrating on the formerly upscale Elliot’s restaurant in Edinburgh.  The smaller, more provincial city is below the expectations of her pretentious father and her society sister, but it is a more manageable place for them to be.  It also helps that Susan can assist her younger, hypochondriacal sister with her young family.  If nothing else, Susan is a calm and constant force in a family of demanding and unrealistic tendencies. 

Unfortunately, what Susan encounters when she arrives at Elliot’s is not the reputable establishment she was expecting.  Made famous by her grandfather, the family had added to their restaurant empire with the London location, and things in Scotland are diminished.  So, in addition to dealing with the lavish lifestyle of her family and the imagined ill health of her sister, Susan needs to take drastic action against the surly chef and sous chef, two obvious slackers, currently operating Elliot’s. 

Added to her burdens is the opening of a new and talked-about restaurant by Chris Baker, her grandfather’s protege and now a celebrity chef home from America.  Chris is also the man her family felt was not her equal and who she awkwardly cast aside without explanation years before.  She may have cut the ties, but the emotional ones are painfully evident to her.

Chris and Susan come face-to-face on a local cooking challenge where a famous blogger has sniffed out their past history and believes he’ll have a big scoop.  Still stinging from the rejection years before, Chris alternates between snarky comments and caring encouragement.

The kitchen settings and baking scenes are fascinating, helped along by intriguing minor characters.  In addition, the tour of Edinburgh and the happenings during festival season make an appealing backdrop for this story. 

After re-reading several Austen novels recently, I’ve been struck how the male protagonists are often foils for weak and deficient fathers or mismatched suitors.  This is revealed during the story, and this is done here in some charming ways.  It's a solid read, in the upper echelons of Austen adaptations but also enjoyable if you know nothing about Persuasion. Some early reviewers were put off by a few of the minor characters--but have you ever read the original? There are some real pains in that novel!  This is entertaining, whether you see the Austen connections or not.

Published September 8 by Alcove Press/Random House.  

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy.