"Rosewater and Soda Bread," by Marsha Mehran

"Rosewater and Soda Bread," by Marsha Mehran

More than a year has passed since Marjan, Bahar, and Layla, the beautiful Iranian Aminpour sisters, sought refuge in the quaint Irish town of Ballinacroagh. Opening the beguiling Babylon Café, they charmed the locals with their warm hearts and delectable Persian cuisine, bringing a saffron-scented spice to the once-sleepy village.

But when a young woman with a dark secret literally washes up on Clew Bay Beach, the sisters’ world is once again turned upside down. With pale skin and webbed hands, the girl is otherworldly, but her wounds tell a more earthly (and graver) story–one that sends the strict Catholic town into an uproar. The Aminpours rally around the newcomer, but each sister must also contend with her own transformation–Marjan tests her feelings for love with a dashing writer, Bahar takes on a new spiritual commitment with the help of Father Mahoney, and Layla matures into a young woman when she and her boyfriend, Malachy, step up their hot and heavy relationship.

Filled with mouthwatering recipes and enchanting details of life in Ireland, Rosewater and Soda Bread is infused with a lyrical warmth that radiates from the Aminpour family and their big-hearted Italian landlady, Estelle, to the whole of Ballinacroagh–and the world beyond.

This is the sequel to "Pomegranate Soup,"  You basically pick up where it left off.  Still in the small village with the same cast of characters, plus the addition of a couple more, just to keep it interesting.  Dervla is still up to her spying from her bedroom window and gossiping when ever.  Father Mahoney takes on a new task, and a "mermaid," is washed up on shore.

It's never a dull moment that's for sure for such a small village.  As like the prior book, the description of all the dishes that are made in the cafe make them as true to life, that you can almost taste them when reading the book.  Plus again there are recipes at the back of the book.

My one big disappointment with this book is the ending.  I do hope there is another book in the series, as there is a lot more story to tell.  There are too many questions that need to be answered.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5, other than the ending a perfect book!  I did look on the author's site and there is no word if there will be another book to follow this one?