The All You Can Dream Buffet by Barbara O’Neal

THE ALL YOU CAN DREAM BUFFET by Barbara O’Neal offers readers/listeners a smorgasbord of emotions to digest as the story unfolds.

Narrator Joyce Bean does an excellent job bringing the various characters to life, each with their own unique voice. With her cadence and mannerisms, Bean is able to switch genders with ease as well as various age groups. She adds depth to the author’s work.

This is a delightful story about four blogging friends and how one birthday celebration changed all of their lives forever. The story explores how the four women – so diverse in backgrounds, age and location – could become so close forming their own unique family unit.

Lavender Willis, owner and operator of Lavender Honey Farms, is determined to keep her organic farm thriving after she’s gone. A food blogger, Lavender turns to her three closest online friends (also food bloggers) for help. She invites them to her 85th birthday bash in hopes of finding someone to carry on her legacy.

The other foodies include: Ginny, a cake baker and photographer, who lives in Kansas, has never been anywhere, and whose marriage is crumbling. Ruby, a vegan and organic lover, is young, pregnant and shattered after her boyfriend of six years walks out on her. Val, wine enthusiast and former dancer, is trying to make a new life for herself and her teenage daughter after tragedy took her husband and two other daughters.

While you may be able to figure out how some of this story plays out ahead of time, it’s the emotions and energy getting there that will stay with you. The author presents the characters in such a way you want to be friends with them. Their dreams and hopes are inspiring. If you are a blogger, you can especially relate to some of the issues they deal with and dream of achieving their success.

O’Neal’s vivid descriptions of the lavender fields and farm activities draws you in. Her rich accounts of the foodies journeys to the farm makes you feel you’re along for the ride. The story will have you laughing, crying, worrying, dreaming, wondering and planning.

THE ALL YOU CAN DREAM BUFFET serves up a delicious read that is entertaining and inspiring. The only pet peeve I have with it, what happened to Willow?

The All You Can Dream Buffet by Barbara O’Neal, Performed by Joyce Bean, Brilliance Audio, @2014, ISBN: 978-1480511774, Unabridged, 9 Discs, Listening Time: 11 Hours 

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Are you a food blogger? Do you follow any food blogs? What about lavender, do you enjoy the smell of it?