Summary:In this warmhearted and charming debut from Tif Marcelo, a food truck chef and her long lost Army love clash when they cross paths in San Francisco.
Camille Marino has got a full plate. As the sole guardian of her eighteen-year- old sister and the head chef and owner of a food truck, she’s used to life being a juggling act. With food to cook, social media accounts to manage, and a little sister to look after, she doesn’t have time for much else.
That is, until Drew Bautista walks back into her life. Drew is Camille’s former high school crush and he returns to San Francisco to repair his relationship with his father before he ships out for deployment. By helping his father renovate his failing Filipino restaurant, he hopes to win back his respect. But when sparks fly between Drew and Camille—his father’s major competition and sworn enemy—Drew is conflicted.
Should he join his father in the war against her food truck? Or surrender to the woman who’s given him a second chance at love?
North to You is a story about second chances, family, love, and food that will tug at your heartstrings.
I liked how this book is set in the US, but it's brimming with tidbits about the Filipino culture. I was able to relate to the Bautistas, how Drew sees food as an expression of love. I consider myself a foodie more than I am a reader, and this is because of how I was raised by my family. We eat to celebrate, but we also eat to lift our spirits when we're sad. Camille, on the other hand, is not a Filipino in the story, but because she sacrifices for her sister Ally to be able to attend art school, I found her close to my heart too. Working hard to be able to provide for and help one's family is very Filipino. I rarely see that in US-set stories because Americans are more independent, in a sense.
I also found Drew adorable. In many stories I've read, Army guys are usually portrayed with so much machismo, while Drew here is such a soft boy, It made me cry when he said that his worst thought is not being able to make things right with his Pop. He didn't pressure Camille into doing things she was not comfortable to do.
Tif Marcelo is an author who has so much potential and I would love to read another book by her in the future.
You may purchase North To You through these links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Google | iTunes | Kobo
Above the low hum of the traffic, the people, and the planes passing overhead, a bell chimes.
Then two, then three. Soon, surround-sound church bells, signaling the start of the new day, sweep over the breadth of my view.
“Wow.” The music becomes the backdrop of the city I thought I knew. My eyes follow the path of
Market Street and the twinkling outline of the Bay Bridge. It scans to the Transamerica Building, which cuts the ombré of the night sky down to the yellow of the city lights. Sights now enhanced,
brought to greater depth and meaning.
“Right?” he whispers next to me.
“Beautiful.”
“She is definitely beautiful.”
My breath hitches at Drew’s statement. He leans against the barrier, his back to the city lights.
His eyes are solely on me. This man and I know nothing about each other as adults except for what we revealed in the last hour. He knows nothing of my dreams and hopes. I don’t understand the life he’s chosen. And yet I’m bound to him with leftover feelings that are so innocent and pure, feelings I’m not sure where to place now that they’ve been pulled from memories packed away.
One thing is sure. Right now is perfect.
I approach him, place my hands on his chest.
He rests his fingers lightly on my waist. “Camille—”
I stop him with a kiss. Tonight has been crazy, magical, fuzzy, and weird, and I don’t want to think about consequences, my overloaded plate of responsibilities, of everything waiting for me down there, in the city below.
Above the low hum of the traffic, the people, and the planes passing overhead, a bell chimes.
Then two, then three. Soon, surround-sound church bells, signaling the start of the new day, sweep over the breadth of my view.
“Wow.” The music becomes the backdrop of the city I thought I knew. My eyes follow the path of
Market Street and the twinkling outline of the Bay Bridge. It scans to the Transamerica Building, which cuts the ombré of the night sky down to the yellow of the city lights. Sights now enhanced,
brought to greater depth and meaning.
“Right?” he whispers next to me.
“Beautiful.”
“She is definitely beautiful.”
My breath hitches at Drew’s statement. He leans against the barrier, his back to the city lights.
His eyes are solely on me. This man and I know nothing about each other as adults except for what we revealed in the last hour. He knows nothing of my dreams and hopes. I don’t understand the life he’s chosen. And yet I’m bound to him with leftover feelings that are so innocent and pure, feelings I’m not sure where to place now that they’ve been pulled from memories packed away.
One thing is sure. Right now is perfect.
I approach him, place my hands on his chest.
He rests his fingers lightly on my waist. “Camille—”
I stop him with a kiss. Tonight has been crazy, magical, fuzzy, and weird, and I don’t want to think about consequences, my overloaded plate of responsibilities, of everything waiting for me down there, in the city below.
Q&A with TIF MARCELO
Book: NORTH TO YOU
Describe yourself in five words or less.
Loyal. Dedicated. Empathetic. Enthusiastic. Cheerful.
What are 5 things you must have with you when you write?
I try not to get into the mindset that I need anything but a pen and paper/computer BUT:
- Coffee
- My notebook
- Something crunchy (almonds, cucumber rounds, Cheetoh’s—ha!)
- My phone on silent
- Marshmallow, Havanese-extraordinaire
The “darkest hour” or also known as “the black moment.” It hurt my heart to bring these characters’ biggest fears to fruition. And then, to somehow recover from it was difficult because I wanted for it to come realistically and organically.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Oh, hands down, it had to be the research! This book encompassed San Francisco (the city of
my child and young adulthood) and food (Filipino food, most especially). I no longer live in San
Francisco, so finding another eason to look back at old pictures and to look at maps of the City brought me back! And with food, it’s been a blast cooking and eating these foods just so my descriptions are accurate. The things we sacrifice! ;P
A la Twitter style, please describe your book in 140 characters or less.
This was my agent story! I participated a PitMad Twitter pitch contest run by Brenda Drake. This is the pitch my now agent liked.
#dv #R Cami's found a 2nd ch @ love w/Drew, til she finds out it's his fam's restaurant that wants her food truck out of business. #PitMad
How long have you been writing, and what (or who) inspired you to start?
I’ve always been a writer, and my imagination have always run amok. Though I went to college
and took up nursing and joined the Army, it never left me. I returned to writing through blogging
when my second son was born, and continued to do so for over a decade. I began novel writing
about six years ago, and was encouraged by my mother, my husband and closest friends. This
journey has brought me full circle!
What do you do when you are not writing?
I’m a mom of four and a military spouse! Which means not only am I on the go every single day,
as a family we are dealing with moving/deploying/temporary assignments quite regularly. Because of this, I practice yoga and run (very slowly). I love to read and binge watch shows I’m
always behind on. I also craft! (currently, I’m cross-stitching something I’ve been working on for
forever)
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
First and foremost, make a commitment to yourself. Set long and short-term goals in your
writerly life. Be kind to yourself.
Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Thank you for supporting this debut author! I hope you fall in love with NORTH TO YOU!
Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Thank you for supporting this debut author! I hope you fall in love with NORTH TO YOU!
