The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you probably would have noticed that I hardly ever review books set in World War Two (notable recent exception here). Having grown up in Poland, I've had my fill of war stories - every anniversary of Berlin falling, Warsaw uprising, or just because, the television screen would be full of images too traumatic to contemplate.

However, "The Kitchen Front" by Jennifer Ryan is a gentle book. Yes, the war is raging. Yes, her husband's plane was shot down. Yes, there are raids and rations. And yet, against the backdrop of all that is sad, there is family and love and cooking inventive dishes despite the food shortages.

Simply beautiful. Read it.

Blurb:

In a new World War II-set story, four women compete for a spot hosting a wartime cookery program called The Kitchen Front - based on the actual BBC program of the same name - as well as a chance to better their lives.

Two years into WW2, Britain is feeling her losses; the Nazis have won battles, the Blitz has destroyed cities, and U-boats have cut off the supply of food. In an effort to help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio program called The Kitchen Front is putting on a cooking contest--and the grand prize is a job as the program's first-ever female co-host. For four very different women, winning the contest presents a crucial chance to change their lives.

For a young widow, it's a chance to pay off her husband's debts and keep a roof over her children's heads. For a kitchen maid, it's a chance to leave servitude and find freedom. For the lady of the manor, it's a chance to escape her wealthy husband's increasingly hostile behavior. And for a trained chef, it's a chance to challenge the men at the top of her profession.

These four women are giving the competition their all--even if that sometimes means bending the rules. But with so much at stake, will the contest that aims to bring the community together serve only to break it apart?