The Kari AnnAlysis

Sarah, who now goes by the pen name of Sadie Cool had a traumatic childhood experience when it came to love. She was taught, by her grandmother, that if you put a Kismet cookie under your pillow on Christmas Eve, you would dream about your soul mate and true love. For years, Sarah dreamed about Travis. She confessed her love, at the age of 15, while Travis was a little preoccupied, at his wedding.

Now years later, Sarah has one of the most famous children’s Christmas books ever and has been asked to come back to the sleepy little town where she spent her summers and Christmas’ with her grandmother. The same sleepy little town where she was embarrassed and scarred for life. But she can’t turn down the letter of a little girl, who says she is sick and her Christmas wish is to meet her favorite author Sadie Cool. (A letter that made me cry, by the way) And it just so happens that little Izzy, who sent the letter, is Travis’ daughter. Small world right?

Now Travis and Sarah are brought back together, by fate or maybe by plan from the First Love Cookie Club and they have a second chance at a love that didn’t quite work the first time around.

Cookie making, Christmas time and a reunited love. What more could a girl ask for in a book? From beginning to end, I absolutely loved The First Club Cookie Club. I thought there was going to be more cookie making involved, but what replaced the cookie making was much better. I’m not getting baby fever yet, but how could you not want a little girl as fun spirited as Jazzy to have as your own? That little girl is so strong, dealing with an asthmatic issue that means she can’t run and be free like all other little kids, but she is so sweet and grateful and loving and oh, I cried every time she had a little attack.

I’m a fate person, so I definitely loved the tale of the Kismet cookies. Who wouldn’t want to know at a young age who they were going to marry? Yes, whomever you dreamed of may be determined by a little boy or girl in your school and may keep you from meeting your real true love in the future, but it’s so magical and romantic.

I was a teensy bit shocked by the sex in the book. It wasn’t a lot, but what was there was intense. I know I am a grown up, but going from a YA book about high school and first kisses to something so serious, it’s hard not to feel like a prude.

There is one thing I would have liked to see in the book and that is recipes! There was a bit of baking talk in the book and some cookies that made my mouth water just hearing what was in them, but there were no recipes to coincide. The book was based around a cookie called the Kismet cookie. Obviously, I wasn’t the only one who wanted the recipe. On the Avon Books Romance Blog, they have added the recipe. Here it is:

Kismet Cookies

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda
14 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon table salt
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 cups rolled oats

¾ cup shredded coconut

1 ½ cups dried cranberries
3/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts toasted (optional)

Directions
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk flour and baking soda together; set aside.

Heat 10 tablespoons butter in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has nutty aroma, 1-3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and, using heatproof spatula, transfer browned butter to large heatproof bowl. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons butter into hot butter until completely melted.

Add both sugars, salt and vanilla to bowl with butter and whisk until fully incorporated. Add egg and yolk and whisk until mixture is smooth with no sugar lumps remaining, about 30 seconds. Let mixture stand for 3 minutes, then whisk for 30 seconds. Repeat process of resting and whisking 2 more times until mixture is thick, smooth and shiny. *

*Yes, it’s painstaking but don’t skip this step!

Using rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture until just combined, about 1 minute. Stir in rolled oats, coconut, dried cranberries and macadamia nuts, giving dough a final stir to ensure no flour pockets remain.

Bake cookies 1 tray at a time until cookies are golden brown and still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft, 10-14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking. Transfer baking sheet to wire rack; cool cookies completely before serving.

Sleep with them under your pillow on Christmas Eve and dream of your one true love.

This was a great way to kick off my holiday reading and I definitely want to make these cookies, although I have already found my one true love *sighs*. I give The First Love Cookie Club 5 bookmarks.

ISBN: 978-0061988424
Published: October 26, 2010
Author Website
Kari got this book from NetGalley

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