Southern Fried Sushi: 01 - Softcover

"Southern Fried Sushi is fun and heart-wrenching, deep and up-lifting. That is no mean feat. Jennifer Rogers Spinola has written a winner!"
Arlene James, author

I totally fell in love with the characters in this story. The Southern charm, good wit, humour, kindness and deep belief in God make these people your next best friend! Shiloh's landing in Staunton, Virginia was the best thing that could ever have happened to her. Not only does she gain a wild, unusual group of friends, but she discovers something about herself, her family and God along the way. The writing was flawless, the characters well-developed and you'll find yourself lost in the world of Shiloh and her new friends. You'll be doing yourself a great injustice if you miss this one! --Louise Jolly"Book Bag Lady" (07/27/2011)

This is a great Christian fiction (romance) book. I know...that''s a lame take..so let me further elaborate! The settings, both in Japan and in Virginia were so realistic (found out later that she lived in Japan and the deep south) that I would love to visit both places. I especially love books that can let me escape to another world and her descriptive prose definitely did it with this book. The plot...while a little crazy at first...I mean who has all those things happen at one time.. works for the rest of the story. The writing was like a fine hot pepper... slow to simmer but hot to the point and kept the heat on during the whole book.The characters each had their own believable flaws that kept me reading. The romance isn''t the heart of the story..it''s a fiction but the romance adds a great touch. Very highly recommend!!!!--Jacque Stengel"Good Family Reads" (08/10/2011)

I really enjoyed Southern Fried Sushi. It is a well-written novel with a cast of likable characters, and some very funny scenes around Southern cuisine - as a New Zealander, could certainly understand the culture shock Shiloh felt in moving from Tokyo to small-town Virginia. While it is not a traditional genre romance (with the boy-meets-girl, fall-in-love, live-happily-ever-after formula), it is a romance in the sense that it describes a series of relationships built on love - relationships between friends, between husband and wife, between us and God. It preaches a clear gospel message without falling into a trap of saccharine sermonising. This is what Christian fiction should be. Best of all, the sequel is due to be published in March 2012, so readers won't have to wait long to find out what happens next! --Iola Goulton (09/09/2011)

"Southern Fried Sushi" is a beautifully written novel with a vibran--Kathy Branfield"The Readers Roundtable Inspirational Moments" (09/22/2011)

I have to be honest and say that I picked this book up because I thought it would be a fun light read. I had just finished a very heavy serious book and was looking for a palette cleanser before I dove into another serious book. I was not disappointed in the least in this wonderful story, in fact I was blown away. The title is catchy and the synopsis sounds interesting and fun. The surprise comes with the depth of this novel.
The Gospel is presented over and over in a very natural conversational way. It isn't presented in a pound you over the head way but in a come let me tell you about this wonderful God that I serve way. I've not read anything at this level in the fiction realm in ages.
Jennifer Spinola you are now on my radar. If at all possible my book club will be doing this book soon! I can hardly wait to read the next book in the series, "Like Sweet Potato Pie; "its release date is March 1, 2012. From the author's website I've also read that there will be a third

"Southern Fried Sushi" by Jennifer Rogers Spinola was thoroughly entertaining, hilarious, deep and insightful! I loved Shiloh P. Jacobs and I'm still wondering what the "P" stands for...hmmmm maybe we'll find out in the next book. I also loved the mix of Japanese culture and Southern culture (especially the dialogue!). Spinola has perfectly captured the feelings, thoughts and emotions of a person exposed to a radically different environment and culture. And Shiloh's feelings and issues with her mother are very convincing. Kudos to Spinola for creating characters that seem 3D in this story!!!
--Susan Choy"Five Star Books and More" (11/08/2011)

This is an inspirational story that will surely touch your heart. It is a tale of someone searching for their own destiny and finding it right at their fingertips. Don't miss this special treat! --Viki Ferrell"Fresh Fiction" (08/08/2011)

I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful story of a young woman's search for God. I loved how God's story of redemption was seamlessly woven into the plot and how Shiloh learns to accept the kindness and forgiveness of people she makes fun of. Her search for her Savior is so real and heartfelt -- I cried as she cried out to God for answers and healing. My favorite part of this book was that the romance is between Shiloh and God. This story is her journey as she searches for the God that her mother found and the God who changed her mother's life so dramatically. I would definitely recommend this read to anyone who enjoys a story about a girl searching for God in an unlikely place.--Kimberly Wong"Inside the Wong Mind" (09/22/2011)

If you're into light-hearted books with a tiny splash of romance, "Southern Fried Sushi" is perfect. I am now reading the second book, "Like Sweet Potato Pie" (again with the cool titles), and I'm loving it so far. I'll definitely be on the lookout for book #3, "Til Grits Do Us Part".--Raenice Weakly"Live, Love, and the Pursuit of Publication" (04/23/2012)