Can't Stand The Heat (Recipe for Love) [Mass Market Paperback]

Louisa Edwards (Author)

Book Description

Series: Recipe for Love | Publication Date: September 1, 2009

For sharp-tongued food critic Miranda Wake, the chance to spend a month in Adam Temple’s kitchen to write an exposé is a journalistic dream come true. Surely Miranda can find a way to cut the hotshot chef down to size once she learns what really goes on at his trendy Manhattan restaurant. But she never expected Adam to find out her most embarrassing secret: she has no idea how to cook.

Adam’s not about to have his reputation burned by a critic who doesn’t even know the difference between poaching and paring.  He’ll just have to give the tempting redhead a few private lessons of his own—teaching her what it means to cook with passion…and doing more with his hands than simply preparing sumptuous food.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Exceptional culinary detail and page-singeing sexual chemistry combine with a fascinating group of characters to produce a sophisticated modern romance that ties into the current foodie craze. This debut—first in a projected "Recipe for Love" series—will win over most contemporary romance fans.—Library Journal

 

“In her wickedly entertaining debut, Edwards dishes up a captivating contemporary romance expertly seasoned with plenty of sizzling sexual chemistry and deliciously tart humor.” –Booklist

 

“The simmering chemistry comes to a boil in this deliciously sensual and delightfully amusing debut.”  --Orlando Sentinel

 

“This playful culinary confection is a lighthearted and entertaining romance that will delight readers. With all the behind the scenes revelations, you’ll never look at cooking and meal preparation in the same way again. Steamy and satisfying fare, indeed” –Fresh Fiction

 

“From start to finish, I devoured and enjoyed every moment of this book. Miranda and Adam worked well together like…honey and cayenne pepper…a little sweet and a little spicy with an end result to make you say “Wow”.” –Cheryl’s Book Nook

 

“I LOVED Can’t Stand The Heat . Louisa Edwards has written a great debut novel, and I look forward to reading more of the Recipe for Love series.” –Beautiful Reads

 

“The strength of this novel is substantial…. The writing, the other characters, the setting, the nuances, and the imagery are marvelous….Food and its various meanings and permutations are a fluid and discernible part of the writing in this book. It includes themes of home, heart, family, and nourishment, what people need to survive, and how the food we eat can communicate more than words can provide.” –Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Novels

 

“A deliciously fun read. The plot and eccentric characters are well written, and the kitchen sizzles with hot passion.” –Romance Reviews Today

 

“Can’t Stand the Heat is a delightful blend of chemistry, competition, and cooking, and it was just what I was looking for. I loved the fast-paced scenes that make you feel the controlled chaos of a restaurant during dinner hour, as well as the slower-paced scenes such as Adam teaching Miranda how to cook…I’m am eagerly awaiting Edwards’ next release in the series. Here’s hoping it’s as good a read as this terrific debut.” –All About Romance

 

“Snappy, exciting, adventurous, and totally unexpected. Can't Stand the Heat... is one of the best light-hearted culinary, romantic novels this reviewer has read in a very long time! Grand job, Louisa Edwards.” –Crystal Reviews

 

“Can’t Stand the Heat is the first novel in her “Recipe for Love” series, and what a start it is. All of the characters are portrayed in such a revealing light that you will remember them for quite some time. I love the sensuality as well as the conflict. I have become a fan of this author and cannot wait to read more in her series, along with any other works she comes out with!” –Coffee Time Romance (5 Stars)

 

“Make sure that you have a good lazy day to spend with Can’t Stand The Heat, and don’t start reading this one in the evening, or I guarantee you will be up all night!”  --The Romance Reader   

 

“The author blends love and recipes into a fun romp…Fans will enjoy the pizzazz and flavor that Louisa Edwards brings to her warm tale.” –Genre Go Round Reviews

 

“A funny, lovable story about two unlikely people falling for each other. The plot, characters, and setting comes together to form a wonderful, light-hearted, culinary romance that is a blast to read and I can't wait for the next “Recipe for Love” novel!” –The Book Lush

 

“Delish! Creative debut author Louisa Edwards will have you eating out of her hand as you read her witty, insightful, foodie romance… Can’t Stand the Heat is filled with steamy passion, realistically described settings, a distinctive plot and characters that beg for their own stories.  Watch for more to come from this talented new author.”  --SingleTitles.com

 

“Mmmm... Louisa Edwards' debut effort--Can't Stand the Heat--is yummy!! The witty repartee between Miranda and Adam, the snappy dialog between Adam and his staff, make this a fun, sizzling, read… And all the food talk in between these covers? Make sure you're not reading while hungry.” –Drey’s Library

 

“The main characters to felt like friends and the secondary romance involving Miranda's brother helped keep things moving. One of the best parts was discovering an excerpt of Edwards's next book featuring a minor character from this one--giving me another book to look forward to…Can't Stand the Heat? I say, get into this kitchen!”  -- PublishersWeekly.com

 

“ An exquisitely prepared romance seasoned with scorching hot love scenes, Can’t Stand the Heat is truly an unforgettable dish. You can’t miss this delectable and mouthwatering debut!” –New York Times bestsellilng author Kresley Cole

 

"Smokin' hot chefs, sizzling passion, and a big dash of charm--no reservations required for this smart, stylish romance!"---New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter

 

“Can’t Stand the Heat is HOT in the kitchen and everywhere else!” – New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips

From the Back Cover

SHE'S HUNGRY FOR EXPERIENCE.

For sharp-tongued food critic Miranda Wake, the chance to spend a month in Adam Temple’s [LE1] kitchen to write an exposé is a journalistic dream come true. Surely Miranda can find a way to cut the hotshot chef down to size once she learns what really goes on at his trendy Manhattan restaurant. But she never expected Adam to find out her most embarrassing secret: she has no idea how to cook.

AND HE KNOWS JUST HOW TO SATISFY HER CRAVINGS...

Adam’s not about to have his reputation burned by a critic who doesn’t even know the difference between poaching and paring.  He’ll just have to give the tempting redhead a few private lessons of his own—teaching her what it means to cook with passion…and doing more with his hands than simply preparing sumptuous food.

 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; 1 edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312356498
• ISBN-13: 978-0312356491
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,824 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"My favorite thing about romance is that it's like real life - but the way you wish life could be."
- Louisa Edwards

Louisa Edwards grew up in Virginia, surrounded by the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. By age 11, she was sneaking Harlequins out of her visiting grandmother's suitcase, making her parents nervous about what, precisely, their little girl was learning from those books. Naturally, they were relieved when Louisa decided to attend Bryn Mawr College, hoping the Seven Sisters vibe might instill the intellectual rigor she thus far seemed to lack.

To their dismay, however, even the ivy-covered halls of Bryn Mawr couldn't distract Louisa from her addiction to romances. Instead, she traded in her Harlequins for longer, juicier single titles, reading everything from Laura Kinsale to Jennifer Cruisie. She also managed to graduate cum laude with a degree in Romance Languages (which is not as sexy as it sounds - mostly she studied Spanish, French, and Italian literature, although some of that French stuff did get fairly racy.)

After graduation, Louisa moved to Manhattan, landing a job as an editorial assistant at Penguin Group (USA), where she worked directly for the smart, savvy president of Mass Market Paperbacks, Leslie Gelbman, who guided Louisa as she built her own list.

Vindication! It was possible to make a living from reading romance novels. Louisa's parents were equal parts surprised and thrilled. While at Berkley, Louisa was lucky enough to work with some great authors, assistant editing Leslie's heavy hitters, Nora Roberts and Jayne Ann Krentz. Louisa's own list included, among others, Lucy Monroe, Jennifer St. Giles, and Shelley Bradley. All of which led to Louisa being promoted to assistant editor.

Then real life romance ensued: Louisa married a journalist and was promptly exiled to Ohio so her husband could work for his family's newspaper. There Louisa started reviewing romances for FreshFiction.com and took a part-time job at the Culinary Vegetable Institute. Personal interaction with chefs, plus the limited repertoire of local restaurants stoked Louisa's interest in food. She began critiquing restaurants for the local newspaper, got sucked into Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen, trailed a chef friend at his restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina, started cooking her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and decided to bring it all together by writing CAN'T STAND THE HEAT.

Now she awaits the response of the masses to her foodie-inspired romance. Meanwhile, Louisa will continue to eat in as many wonderful restaurants as possible - purely for research, of course.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delicious Romance!, September 1, 2009

By 

Deidre Knight "literary agent and author" (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Can't Stand The Heat (Recipe for Love) (Mass Market Paperback)

This charming, smart contemporary romance debut sparkles from the very opening scene. I was lucky enough to read this book before publication, and I'll never forget settling in the corner of my office and being swept into this world of quirky characters...and steamy love.

After having a wee too much to drink at the launch of New York's hottest new restuarant, Market, food critic Miranda Wake has a problem. She's committed herself to spending a month working in the kitchen of chef Adam Temple's restaurant. In short, one of those, "Yeah, you think this is so easy? Come try it!" dares that leads to serious trouble. As in, she can't actually cook, kind of trouble. As in, Adam's hotter and steamier than his kitchen...kind of trouble.

But some of the book's greatest charm comes from the warm, offbeat characters who work at Market, and the way they form an unlikely family of sorts. Never fear, however--they don't steal the show. You just love everyone on the page, and feel such deep warmth and humor shining throughout the book.

Oh, and I think--maybe--I could poach an egg after reading this book. :)
Enjoy, enjoy. You are in for a real treat with CAN'T STAND THE HEAT!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tantalizes and satisfies, like fresh figs and goat cheese!, September 19, 2009

By 

Legong Peliatan (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Can't Stand The Heat (Recipe for Love) (Mass Market Paperback)

A close friend of mine gave this to me as a gift, and I was super suspicious because I have *never* read a romance novel before. But I figured I'd give it a try since I trust my friend's taste, and I LOVED IT!!!

"Can't Stand the Heat" has mouth-watering cooking scenes and super-hot love scenes!! But the story is so much more than that. The characters are vividly well-developed, and the contemporary dialogue crackles with realism. I loved how different characters would "see" the same situation differently, and it made for a super-vivid read. No spoilers here, but I also really enjoyed the two parallel love stories--I totally wasn't expecting that, and it created excellent pacing. I also wasn't expecting to experience the romance from both Miranda and Adam's perspectives... for some reason I only thought the story would be told from Miranda's perspective. But having dual perspectives added so much depth and truth to the story.

Most of all, this book really touched my heart. I never thought I'd like a romance novel, but I loved this one so much. I cried at least four times while reading it.

And I was so excited to realize that it is FIRST IN A SERIES!!! I "can't stand the wait" until the next one!!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Can't Stand Miranda, January 12, 2010

By 

IndigoRaiyne (Aiken, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Can't Stand The Heat (Recipe for Love) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the debut novel for Louisa Edwards and I must say I can't wait for more. I enjoyed this book very much and felt her portrayal of life in a restaurant was very accurate. I also liked how she described food. Some of the dishes I swear you could taste. It was also nice that recipes were included for the food that was most focused on in the story.

I liked that it really captured what it's like to be part of a restaurant "family" from the back of the house descriptions to the hanging out after closing.

I liked Adam Temple and thought his passion for cooking and his restaurant really showed. He was everything a sexy chef should be. He had the attitude and the skill. However, I wish we knew more about him. Outside of being a chef, feeling protective of his crew and investing everything into Market, the reader never really knew anything else about him. Did he have siblings? What was his family like? Besides a love of cooking why did he want so badly to own his own business and finally WHY did he fall in love with Miranda Wake? They had chemistry but that was about it. Sex is not enough people.

I did not like Miranda very much. She was very one-dimensional. Yes, she wanted to pay for Jess to go to school because she had been taking care of him for so long, but he was willing to work. Her submission of the manuscript didn't ring true to me and she was too easily forgiven for something that was truly awful and broke the trust of not only Adam but the rest of the staff she had supposedly grown so close to.

Also, her reaction when Jess came out was just horrendous and I didn't understand it. One minute she thinks she always knew he was gay and the next it is somehow all Frankie's fault and if she can only get him away from the bad boy punk rocker, he will settle down with a nice girl and have a passel of children. Her reaction did a disservice to what was, to me, a truly beautiful love story between Jess and Frankie. Her reaction is exactly why it is so hard for people to come out to their family, the people who are supposed to love and support you no matter what.

I adored the love story between Jess and Frankie. It is what kept me reading to be honest. It was tender and sweet and I was never quite sure if Frankie were going to break Jess' heart in the end. I liked how they contrasted and complimented each other. It was nice how Frankie was never pushy despite is sexual experience and he gave Jess the strength to except himself and his sexuality without shame. Which is more than his sister did.

Overall I enjoyed this book and for her first novel it was amazing. I can't wait for the rest of the series.