“Food can be really sexy.”

Food can also serve as a compelling plot point if handled by a writer of Tracie Banister’s caliber. In her fourth Chick Lit novel, the celebrated author of memorable and wonderful books (Twin Piques, In Need of Therapy, Blame It On The Fame), has conceived a tantalizing tale to please the reader’s palate.

Cecily Sinclair is of the manor born, a blue blood who isn’t content to spend her days with some of the pursuits associated with her privileged class. She isn’t hanging around polo fields or watching her days drift by as she charges designer items at exclusive stores. Rather, Cecily is a Cordon Bleu trained chef enticing viewers with her television show, Serving Romance. With Serving Romance’s tagline ,”everything tastes better when you share it with someone you love,” Cecily’s expertise in presenting French cuisine is unparalleled.

Unfortunately, the talented chef’s world will soon fall like a souffle when the head of Cuisine Tv, Devlin Hayes, informs her of plans to re brand Serving Romance under the less appealing moniker Grub World. Further, Cecily is expected to share the spotlight with a series of guest chefs. The problem is that one guest star is Italian restaurant phenom Dante Marchetti, a tanned Adonis whose impressive culinary skills is only matched by his tremendous ego. Cecily and Dante also share an unpleasant past. Cecily is livid that she has to work with Dante while he is amused. Not surprisingly, sparks fly between the two culinary geniuses.

For anyone who is well versed with Tracie Banister’s writing style there is the knowledge that she possesses a flair for descriptive and humorous dialogue. Yet, Mixing It Up afforded Banister an additional challenge: to script dialogue befitting of characters who are famed chefs. It is evident that Banister did her homework. Not only is this book extremely well researched on French and Italian cuisine, but the reader will be convinced that Cecily and Dante are indeed the master chefs. The dishes offered as well as their preparation is carefully laid out throughout the book.

In addition, Banister has a command on advertising lingo. Readers get a clear sense of how a network operates as it takes steps to attract a wider audience.

Banister had to walk a careful line. Readers know that Cecily hails from money. If Banister hadn’t been attuned to reader sensibilities, her chief protagonist might have been resented by readers. What Banister does is keep readers aware of Cecily’s upper crust status but at the same time create a character who is accessible because she is trying to find her way in the often male dominated television and culinary world. Cecily isn’t beholden to family money; Cecily’s passion for preparing fine cuisine is her touchstone.

Supporting characters are just that, supporting. They exist to enhance the story, not overwhelm it. In Mixing It Up, Banister has a rich tapestry of marvelous supporting characters. Dina is Cecily’s free-spirited, astrology loving cousin. Dina is a great character. She becomes the eyes of the reader and a sounding board for Cecily. Like Cecily, Dina isn’t imprisoned by her blue blood status. But unlike Cecily, Dina doesn’t care if her actions are deemed outrageous by those around her. Dina marches to the beat of her own drum and is the conductor who orchestrates the path of her own life regardless of the consequences. Banister gives Dina an adventurous life love. Some of the scenarios that Dina finds herself will both amuse and surprise readers.

Three men in Cecily’s life- Devlin, Dante and her ex fiance Bryce (a lawyer) are a big part of the prevailing plots in this book. Devlin’s (dubbed the Boy Wonder) business acumen is as sparkling as his blue eyes. His youth doesn’t interfere with his creative vision for Grub World. Cecily isn’t happy with all of the changes to Serving Romance starting with the re brand as Grub World. She isn’t happy with some of the things that Devlin does. But is Devlin her enemy or something more? Readers will have to draw their own conclusions.

Similarly, Dante (who Cecily insists calling by his last name, almost indicative of her disdain) treads an interesting line. He’s very attractive but his massive ego is often on fully display. As a supporting character, Banister uses Dante to the fullest advantage. His scenes with Cecily are some of the best in the book. Despite the antagonistic relationship between the chefs, it will be left to readers to determine whether Dante is the antagonist of the story. Personally, I enjoyed reading about Dante and never viewed him as an antagonist.

Bryce is less prevalent in the book. He is a character that raises red flags. But again, is he an antagonist or just sadly misguided in some of the choices he makes?

Cecily’s friend Paige and producer/nemesis Jessica add to the story as well. There are more than a few twists and turns in their interactions with both Cecily and Dante.

The Sinclair family, most notably Cecily and Dina’s grandmother (the grand dame of the Sinclairs), also flesh out the plot. I applaud Banister on how well Mrs. Sinclair is written. She is as impenetrable as an iceberg. Her old money veneer never cracks. She is a snob. She is the self-proclaimed head of the family and woe to anyone who decided to challenge her authority. Banister fully captured the upper crust societal matron, in language and mannerisms.

Mixing It Up, with ingredients of food, romance, suspense, family drama, a delicious plot and fulfilling characters, is a book that should be on every reader’s menu.