Search by Michelle Huneven

 This is kind of a quirky little book--complete with recipes. It's a true story of how the author was selected to be part of committee to find a new minister for her church. we follow the months-long journey as they select potential candidates then try to get a consensus vote on one final candidate--though everyone seems to have a different idea of what would be best for the church.

One of the younger members of the committee (whose family made a big donation to the church to get her on the committee) kind of hijacks the younger members of the group. She is enthralled by the candidate who used to be an actress but doesn't have a lot of minister experience. The author and some of the older members are more in favor of an older woman candidate with much more practical experience. Two of the members have health crises during the search that impacts their ability to fully participate and in the end it comes down to a battle of the wills. In the prologue we find out what happens in the months after the new minister is chosen (by a very reluctant consensus) as well as what happened to some of the other leading candidates and some members of the committee. It's a good study in human nature. 

The author wrote restaurant reviews and books about food for a living so there is a lot of talk about food--the restaurants they visit, the meals they serve each other and the candidates. And some of those recipes are included at the end.