Making up for Lost Time

by Karin Kallmaker

When three love-starved lesbians decide to make up for lost time, the recipe is romance. And with Karin Kallmaker cooking, you know the result will be hot, spicy and mouth-wateringly delicious!!!

Master Chef Jamie Onassis has used every penny she has to buy a beautiful country inn she plans to turn into a five-star restaurant. Unfortunately, the inn turns out to be a " handyman’s special" and, without the skills or capital to make the necessary repairs, Jamie risks losing everything.

Home and garden expert Valkyrie Valentine is a rising star among the do-it-yourself set. A seemingly perfect homemaker, Valkyrie seems destined to become the next Martha Stewart – as long as no one discovers her embarrassing little she can’t cook.

Reporter Sheila Thintowski is a woman on a mission. Ever since meeting the dazzling, dynamic Valkyrie Valentine, she’s been determined to interview her― up-close and extremely personally. Sheila suspects that Valkyrie’s hands-on skills extend well beyond home improvement – and she’s looking for some private lessons.

Delicious recipes and chocolate-as-sublimation await the reader in Karin Kallmaker’s uproarious farce of cooking that doesn’t stay in the kitchen .

Genres: Lesbian, LGBT, Lesbian Romance, Romance, Lesbian Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook

206 pages, Paperback

First published June 18, 1998

About the author

Karin Kallmaker has been exclusively devoted to lesbian fiction since the publication of her first novel in 1989. As an author published by the storied Naiad Press, she worked with Barbara Grier and Donna McBride, and has been fortunate to be mentored by a number of editors, including Katherine V. Forrest.

In addition to multiple Lambda Literary Awards, she has been featured as a Stonewall Library and Archives Distinguished Author. Other accolades include the Ann Bannon Popular Choice and other awards for her writing, as well as the selection as a Trailblazer by the Golden Crown Literary Society. She is best known for novels such as Painted Moon, Simply the Best, Touchwood, The Kiss that Counted and Captain of Industry.

The California native is the mother of two and lives with her wife in the Bay Area. You can catch her blogs at Romance and Chocolate: https://kallmaker.com/blog/. Find her on social media by searching for "Kallmaker" - there's only one.

Reviews

[Corrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Food, DIY, humor, romance and lot and lots of chocolate. Bravo Karin Kallmaker, you never let me down.

[currentlyreadingbynat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one but unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. Jamie and Val had little positive interaction but then they kiss and I honestly thought that my audiobook skipped a few chapters in error. I just didn't engage with their romance and the storyline itself wasn't developed well either.

Just not for me!

[Jay Odon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The eighth is for eternity."

This is one of my favorite books by KK and that is saying a lot since she has a plethora to choose from.

Jamie Onassis comes home to a large envelope from her Aunt Em. Nothing peculiar but as she starts to read she finds that her Aunt has died. This was a big enough shocker as she would have done anything for the woman who raised her and taught her how to cook, who nurtured her even though they probably weren't blood related. Aunt Em didn't want to drag things out after fighting her illness and she sure as hell didn't want anyone to witness it either. In usual style Em knew how to end it all, leaving Jamie some money and her own daughter Kathy nothing at all. So Jamie packs a bag and heads for home. Liesel, Em's partner, is living in the house they shared and the only thing missing besides Em is the boarding house that they used to own and live. When she gets into town she visits old haunts and stops by the inn to see how it is doing, while there she finds out that the owner is willing to sell it. Seeing this as an opportunity to make something of herself and have something to call her own. So, with Em's money she buys the place back and soon discovers the previous owner didn't tell her all the problems that were ignored for so long. Facing a daunting task of starting the restaurant up again and trying to figure out how she will afford the repairs that need to be done before she can open the rest of the place.

Enter Valkyrie Valentine, an inspiring Bob Villa/Martha Stewart type host that wants her own TV show. After a weekend getaway near the town where Jamie's restaurant is she decides to stay just a little longer. While getting lunch one day she overhears Jamie discussing the disrepair of the hotel. A light bulb goes off and she has a quick brain storm thinking about her chance to have her own show. So she introduces herself to Jamie and proposes a you scratch my back I'll scratch yours scenario. Jamie needs major repairs and Val needs a place to show as her own and Val needs to learn how to cook since the premise of her show is a a woman who can do it all. At first Jamie is skeptical, so Val offers to widen one of the doors so it is up to code. Impressed with her work Jamie okays the future projects but is still wary of lying to people about how Val can cook...

What ensues is an up and down tumultuous relationship both professionally and personally. Read along as the women get closer, learn to trust and set their needs aside to please the other...

[Lady Olenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Food centred romance. Even though it’s a fast-paced story, it’s still detailed enough that it didn’t feel rushed. The food discussed in the story made me want to try out the dishes Jamie made. I even considered trying artichoke! It felt a bit like a rom-com of some sort in the end bit. However, t’s a fun, light read.

[Diana Nolen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good one from Karin Kallmaker. (I listened to the audiobook narrated by Abby Crayden who I think does a pretty good job, in fact, she’s one of the better narrators. Some, I have a hard time listening to, but won’t say who they are.)I usually buy the book and the audiobook, if I like the narrator.

I love how Ms. Kallmaker gives the recipe in each chapter of the book. It’s fun storytelling and spices up the tale, if you will. I also like the characters and how they meet.

Mind you, not all of this is believable (the daughter is all I’ll say) but, even that makes it more delicious in a funny kind of way.

If you like Kallmaker’s books, you should also get Frosting on the Cake 1 & 2, as they are short story follow ups to some of the couples in her books, too. I love that she does this. It’s no wonder that she is considered the queen of lesfic. I also think she’s inspired a lot of other great lesfic authors. Win! Win!

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✔Sapphic Book Bingo Challenge 2023 🌈✨: Main board - Tool belt

4 stars. Another banger from Kallmaker. I just adore her writing and her books are always just so warm and comforting even when they deal with heavier things. Jamie and Val were great together. Kallmaker always does romance so well and their love was hot and swoon worthy. I liked some of the side characters as well. Not much to say about this but it was a delight.

[Andie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook review. Normally I love Karin Kallmaker, but I skimmed this one to the end. I liked Jaime well enough, but the other characters were just irritating. The cooking theme is pretty front and center, every chapter ending with a different recipe -- which really doesn't lend itself to audio format!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are reading aloud Karin Kallmaker's oeuvre to each other and it is Something Else. EXPECT TO SEE MORE HERE.

Good news: Karin Kallmaker's blog/insta are hilarious and also confirmed that she has good politics and makes us laugh and is not TERFy.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some moments I really enjoyed in this book, and overall, it was a positive reading experience. I am very satisfied with the ending. However, I got confused about the characters a lot, and the romance was much too slow to develop.

[Daniela Harsan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like it was a missed opportunity to develop the story more, to get deeper into the characters stories. I would have loooved to read more about aunt Em’s love, about Jamie’s experience as a teenager, who was Val, what was her story, etc. I enjoyed it, but I would have definitely liked much more. I like KK.

[Diginaut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely romance, but the book felt too short and it was all a bit rushed. Highlight of the book for me was frustraties Jamie who just kept baking more and more chocolat dishes to (not have to) deal with her crush on Val.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toolbelts & culinary delights

An entertaining & enjoyable story with some intriguing & interesting likeable characters, several hot scenes & an easily read book.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is good read and it goes quick. Cute story , likeable characters, kind of funny.

[Tory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked it. It took me a little bit to get into the story but I was hooked after that. Another great one by Karin Kallmaker.

[Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good indeed

I enjoyed reading this book and loved the humour. Not the my first from the author looking forward for more.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the book . . . except when she met her mother. Such dumb dialogue. Her brief appearance was NOT welcome.

[Donna Reed]

Just the image of chefs hat and toolbelt makes Karin Kallmaker a great storyteller

[Andrea Barclay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good listen, enjoyable for a light read/listen, if you are in to cooking and baking you may want to jot down some of the recipes and they do sound good.

[Kayla Brahm · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt as though I needed more depth from the characters. It was hard to truly get into the story. It was an easy read and the story itself was nice. It just lacked a bit of depth all around.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio book. Narrator was awesome as always. Story was good, nothing to set it apart from any other romance, but it was enjoyable

[Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good read, but I felt the romance was too forced. Also the perspective shifted a lot between two 3rd person views (Jamie and Val) and occasionally a 1st person view (Shiela), this made it a little annoying to follow when there was no warning for the change. Also Val's sexist comments were quite tiring.

Ultimately it was a good story and I'm glad I read it.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't hang together so well, despite several charming elements.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Karin Kallmaker! It has romance, food, cooking and renovating! Love the recipes in between chapters!

[Tawnya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars says it all. It was ok.

[Hannah S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when I get so into a book that I read it in a day; takes me back to when I was in school and that was how I read everything.
Enjoyed this do much, especially all the food!!