Huge fan of this book! I didn't have any Mary books or recipes and I spent quite a while looking for a new recipe book. The previewed pages were enough to convince me. I've cooked several meals from this and it has indeed been straightforward, with some great tips for making a thick gravy-tyoe sauce quickly for the chicken and ham pie, the quinoa and soy bean salad is a firm favourite, Lucinda's chicken curry is great, and so it goes on. I had a bit of trouble getting the texture right for the St Clement's creams but I will probably try it again. Unlike some reviewers I think the photos are great, and some of the desserts are really impressive - ok not everyday fodder but sometimes you need some new ideas and this book did the job for me. Love it!