Recipes for a Perfect Marriage      by Prunty, Morag

Irish writer Prunty explores the link between traditional Irish cooking and true love in her second novel (after Wild Cats & Colleens), which tells the story of parallel marriages interspersed with recipes. The marriages are that of Tressa, who lives in contemporary New York City, and her grandmother, Bernadine, who lives in 1930s Ireland. Tressa, a food writer in her late thirties, recently married Dan, her former super, with whom she realizes she has little in common save their instant chemistry. Bernadine's not happy with her marriage because she can't forget her passionate first love, even after her arranged marriage to the stable James. Though each woman is blessed with a loving husband, each struggles in her relationship-and so, too, does each seem a little tiresome as she resists the love of the man in her life. Thankfully, Tressa and Bernadine both end up coming around, although it takes Bernadine a lifetime. This is a clever and heartfelt take on the challenges of creating a "happily ever after" that is sure to be popular with Irishophiles. Recommended for all public libraries.-Karen Core, Detroit P.L. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.