Esquivel uses food and rich language to tell the love stories of the women in the de la Garza family. Each of the chapters begins with a Mexican recipe that ties into the theme of the chapter. It takes place near the Mexican-US border, during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920)on a ranch owned by Mama Elena (the cruel mother of the three de la Garza girls). The novel is divided into 12 chapters and each represents a month in the lives of these women. The pacing is very fast. While it seems, based on the 12 months, that the novel would take place over a year, the women and their children age much more rapidly than that. It is reminiscent of a magical fairy tale. The novel is full of passion, humor, anger, love, and tradition and these emotions drive the story. I enjoyed this immensely. Give to adults who still enjoy a good fairy tale and to fans of foodie books. If you read John Saturnall\\\'s Feast and enjoyed it, this is a MUST read for you!