I don't know what you had for breakfast but I dined on flowers. No, I'm not on the latest fad diet but a non-fattening menu of Southern dainties. And who's the clever chef? It's the award-winning author Robin Jones Gunn.

If you love sultry days, tall glasses of sweet tea, and a tangle of relationships, you're going to be giddy over Robin's latest release, Gardenias For Breakfast.

Abby's dreams are coming true when she's given an unexpected gift of a trip-a trip back home to her grandmother's (Grand Lady) with her 12-year-old daughter Hannah. They journey from their home in Maui to Seattle and then by car across country to Louisiana.

This story unfolds like a well-used map. We'll visit Maui via the liberally sprinkled Hawaiian tidbits throughout the story; golden ilima lei's, to akule's, to paniolo's, to dipping our toes in Kapalua Bay. We'll stay in a palatial home in Seattle, a log cabin in Oregon, we'll see the redwoods in CA, and feel the drenching heat of Louisiana. We'll oversee the birth of a cria, shuck corn, don formals, shop at Piggly Wiggly, watch fireflies, and discover angels. And we'll inspect the passageway of a mother and daughter who find each other anew. I found the vicarious vacation yummy.

Robin's characters are fragile and robust, winsome and off-putting, courageous and faltering - in another words they're like us. I ached for Amy as she tried so hard to be a good mom while all the time second-guessing herself. I took delight in young Hannah's eagerness to experience life with her eyes wide open. And I watched with interest as the Grand Lady diminished in stature yet retained her Southern dignity.

Listen, y'all might as well join me and come sit a spell around a bowl of fragrant gardenias-come early, we'll have them for breakfast!

Bon appétit,