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A review by parklandmom
Kate Landry Has a Plan by Rebekah Millet
4.5
Completed: Jan. 31/25
Series: Beignets for Two, #2
Format: advanced reader copy
Challenge Prompt: CNL's #26 of 50 - "Set in a bakery or restaurant" - Books & Beignets (bakery/café)
Book #14 of 2024: I'm a gargantuan fan of book 1 (Julia Monroe Begins Again) of this series and I think I unconsciously went into this book with Julia firmly on my brain. It's like I was expecting Kate to do and say things like Julia! Once I realized that, I had to stop myself. I made an internal switch to turn Julia off and enjoy Kate for who she is. Once I did that, everything clicked. It just got better and better as I read. Incidentally, Kate is Julia's best friend and she has a minor role throughout this novel.
Kate is 40 and a single parent to her niece of 13. Let's just say her wealthy parents are...... difficult. 😬 She has a wonderful beignet shop that she had opened with her sister years before. When her Claire and her husband were killed in an accident, she became the legal guardian of Hayley and sole proprietor of the café. Kate is striving to do everything she can to be a good parent, a good businesswoman, etc. She feels she has no room on her life for love. After all, her last relationship a decade before resulted in disaster. She just needs to put her nose to the grindstone and continue the plans her and her sister made.
Micah, her first kiss back in seventh grade, is back to town. Their friendship is renewed and then feelings arise. Kate finds herself coming up with every excuse she can to fight her feelings and a relationship. But Micah has other plans..... Cue the swoon!
Just like with book 1, there is humour. Whereas Julia is sarcastic and hilarious, Kate is more of a 'nerd' that likes alliteration and following the rules. She also tends to make a verbal blunder here and there. From her unusual word expressions to her semi-helicopter-ish parenting, she's a woman of honour and faith. One of her favourite expressions is the name of a celebrity. It reminded me of a Steve Carell movie where the actor groans, "Kelly Clarkson!"
And just like with book 1, there is far more to the novel than romance and humour. There are several layers. There are family conflicts, grieving, a girl's love for a dog, discovering one's talents, letting go of pain, etc.
I enjoyed learning more about New Orleans, owning a café, sweet Hayley and her pitifully ugly dog, and more. I especially loved Micah, despite his ugly Hawaiian shirts! 🍍🥥🌴 I appreciated his swoony, yet quirky, unabashed pursuit of Kate and being so patient with her. The staff at Books & Beignets is so special and I loved seeing Julia and Sam pop into the book. The honest friendship between the two is beautiful.
One of my favourite quotes from the novel:
"He'd taken the question marks I'd had of his interest in me and replaced them with exclamation marks. Exclamation marks in bold font.”
― Rebekah Millet, Kate Landry Has a Plan (Beignets for Two), p. 175
I highly recommend this novel. I just wish I had some delicious beignets to enjoy while I read it.... 😉 Maybe when I get my hands on the audiobook with the amazing Susan Bennett narrating , I'll make some beignets ahead of time!
-- Many thanks to the publisher, Bethany House, and Net Galley for an advanced reader copy. My honest review is voluntary and in my own words. This novel will publish on March 18, 2025.
Series: Beignets for Two, #2
Format: advanced reader copy
Challenge Prompt: CNL's #26 of 50 - "Set in a bakery or restaurant" - Books & Beignets (bakery/café)
Book #14 of 2024: I'm a gargantuan fan of book 1 (Julia Monroe Begins Again) of this series and I think I unconsciously went into this book with Julia firmly on my brain. It's like I was expecting Kate to do and say things like Julia! Once I realized that, I had to stop myself. I made an internal switch to turn Julia off and enjoy Kate for who she is. Once I did that, everything clicked. It just got better and better as I read. Incidentally, Kate is Julia's best friend and she has a minor role throughout this novel.
Kate is 40 and a single parent to her niece of 13. Let's just say her wealthy parents are...... difficult. 😬 She has a wonderful beignet shop that she had opened with her sister years before. When her Claire and her husband were killed in an accident, she became the legal guardian of Hayley and sole proprietor of the café. Kate is striving to do everything she can to be a good parent, a good businesswoman, etc. She feels she has no room on her life for love. After all, her last relationship a decade before resulted in disaster. She just needs to put her nose to the grindstone and continue the plans her and her sister made.
Micah, her first kiss back in seventh grade, is back to town. Their friendship is renewed and then feelings arise. Kate finds herself coming up with every excuse she can to fight her feelings and a relationship. But Micah has other plans..... Cue the swoon!
Just like with book 1, there is humour. Whereas Julia is sarcastic and hilarious, Kate is more of a 'nerd' that likes alliteration and following the rules. She also tends to make a verbal blunder here and there. From her unusual word expressions to her semi-helicopter-ish parenting, she's a woman of honour and faith. One of her favourite expressions is the name of a celebrity. It reminded me of a Steve Carell movie where the actor groans, "Kelly Clarkson!"
And just like with book 1, there is far more to the novel than romance and humour. There are several layers. There are family conflicts, grieving, a girl's love for a dog, discovering one's talents, letting go of pain, etc.
I enjoyed learning more about New Orleans, owning a café, sweet Hayley and her pitifully ugly dog, and more. I especially loved Micah, despite his ugly Hawaiian shirts! 🍍🥥🌴 I appreciated his swoony, yet quirky, unabashed pursuit of Kate and being so patient with her. The staff at Books & Beignets is so special and I loved seeing Julia and Sam pop into the book. The honest friendship between the two is beautiful.
One of my favourite quotes from the novel:
"He'd taken the question marks I'd had of his interest in me and replaced them with exclamation marks. Exclamation marks in bold font.”
― Rebekah Millet, Kate Landry Has a Plan (Beignets for Two), p. 175
I highly recommend this novel. I just wish I had some delicious beignets to enjoy while I read it.... 😉 Maybe when I get my hands on the audiobook with the amazing Susan Bennett narrating , I'll make some beignets ahead of time!
-- Many thanks to the publisher, Bethany House, and Net Galley for an advanced reader copy. My honest review is voluntary and in my own words. This novel will publish on March 18, 2025.