You Were Always There
Notes and Recipes for Living a Life You Love

3.5 stars, rounded up. Danielle Kartes writes a very transparent, real memoir about the struggles she has experienced in life, as well as the triumphs and lessons she has learned through those struggles. From the failure and loss of her restaurant to marriage issues, bankruptcy and health crises, Kar......more

First Impressions I began listening to this audiobook last year because I was intrigued by the title and it felt like a self-help book that enabled your mind to be at peace while learning something new. I enjoyed the author's perspective and how she, like myself, learned to move past life's obstacles......more

Danielle Kartes calls her book, "notes about life," and I would too. While Kartes has written a number of cookbooks, You Were Always There is part memoir, part cookbook, part devotional. Kartes details how cooking became "her lifeline" after facing the closing of her restaurant, problems in her marr......more

This book was not what I was expecting. I re-read the publisher’s promotional introduction as I hoped I had just missed some cues. It was not presented as religious a book as it progressively became, the further into the chapters I read. The recipes were few and while obviously beloved to the author......more

I found this book difficult to relate to. Danielle is obviously a very talented chef with a wealth of experience, but for me the side helping of God was too much. For a person of faith I'm sure this would be a great book but for me personally it got on the way. The handful of recipes look good and I......more