Island Apart    by Steven Raichlen Order:  USA  Can Forge, 2012 (2012) Hardcover, CD, e-Book Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth My pick for novel of the year has appeared on the bookshelves! Island Apart by Steven Raichlen. Don't just sit there. Obtain a copy and enjoy. I did. Worth every moment of my time to read it. Raichlen is a recognized author of many cookbooks, primarily about grilling. He also hosts a TV show, Primal Grill, and has appeared as a guest on many other shows. Island Apart is his first novel. This novel has it all. The cooking scenes alone will tempt your salivary glands to explode. Crime briefly raises its head. Life on a small island off the coast of Massachusetts makes me want to kick over the traces and escape to a quieter and slower life. Claire Doheney, recovering from cancer treatment, house-sits in a friend's ocean front mansion on Chappaquiddick Island in Martha's Vineyard. Meeting a man known as the Hermit turns her life around. Claire is in a fragile state of mind as at the same time she announced she had cancer to her husband, he announced that he loved someone else and walked out! Nice guy, hunh? Been there. Done that. Anyway, life blossoms into something more than just having a friend. Food becomes a big part of her relationship with the Hermit. Their foraging for natural ingredients inspires one to look around their own environment. So, life goes on as bumps appear in the road. But nothing that can't be worked out. I can't – and won't – reveal any more of this very sensitive and gentle plot. Take my word for it. Island Apart is a must-read. Don't miss it. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews