Just One Taste (Recipe for Love) [Mass Market Paperback]

Louisa Edwards (Author)

Book Description

Series: Recipe for Love | Publication Date: August 31, 2010

Bad-boy chef Wes Murphy is dreading his final-semester cooking class—Food Chemistry 101—until he meets the new substitute teacher. Dr. Rosemary Wilkins is a feast for the eyes, though her approach to food is strictly academic. So Wes decides to rattle her Bunsen burner by asking for her hands-on advice—on aphrodisiacs…

Rosemary is a little wary about working with Wes, whose casual flirtations make her hot under the collar. But once they begin testing the love-enhancing power of chocolate, oysters, and strawberries, it becomes scientifically evident that the brainy science nerd and the boyish chef have some major chemistry together—and it’s delicious…

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Wes Murphy can hardly wait to graduate from the Academy of Culinary Arts and begin cooking in a real restaurant. Right now, the only thing that stands in his way is Food Chemistry 101. So far Wes has aced every class, but for some reason he just doesn’t get how science can have a role in cooking. Until the new instructor arrives. Sexy Dr. Rosemary Wilkins is just filling in for the regular teacher, but she strikes a spark with Wes, especially when she insists that no one can ever be a great chef unless he or she understands the science of food. Determined to prove her wrong, Wes cooks up an experiment involving aphrodisiacs and then enlists Rosemary’s help with the “research.” The results involve a kind of chemistry neither one expects. The third addition to Edwards’ contemporary, culinary-based love stories is a rare treat that is certain to satisfy readers with its delectable combination of lusciously sensuous romance and irresistibly clever writing. --John Charles

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…Steamy and satisfying fare, indeed” —Fresh Fiction

“From start to finish, I devoured and enjoyed every moment of this book.…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

“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 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…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!” —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

“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 bestselling 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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; 1 edition (August 31, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312356471
• ISBN-13: 978-0312356477
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,348 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

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, geeky heroine but an indecisive hero, August 31, 2010

By 

Bookaholics Reviewer (Bay Area, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just One Taste (Recipe for Love) (Mass Market Paperback)

Just One Taste by Louisa Edwards
Contemporary- Aug 31st, 2010
3 1/2 stars

Wes Murphy, a chef want-to-be, has to take Food Chem 101. Unfortunately, it looks like passing the class is going to be a challenge, until the Academy hires Dr. Rosemary Wilkins as one of the new substitute teachers. Serious, geeky Rosemary is attracted to Wes, a bad boy with a loveable mutt, but tries to resist this alien feeling. When they partner up to conduct experiments on aphrodisiacs as part of Wes's final project, the attraction between them sizzles and burns... As they fall in love, can Wes overcome his past and accept Rosemary's love? Can Rosemary overcome her own personal issues and let herself be loved?

This romance novel's main star is Wes Murphy, and he comes with a lot of personal baggage. If you are interested in characters and their growth, you will enjoy Wes as he learns to overcome his personal doubts and horrible upbringing. Rosemary is cute and sweet, but she is not in the limelight for huge chunks of the time. To me, her character is as good as she can get, which is not necessarily a bad thing. She's like Han Solo - set in her ways and interesting enough that we don't care about character growth. Together, they complement each other. The other 2 main stars are Jess and Frankie, a gay couple. So much time was devoted to them that it felt like there were two full romance novels packed in one, instead of a sub-plot attached to the main plot. That's not a bad thing if you like a plot packed with substance, plus the characters are whole and unique enough to add flavor to the entire package.

For me, this whole novel never really clicked together - it felt like there's too much going on and too much emotional drama unfolding at a really leisurely pace. My favorite romance novels are always full of decisive people, and Wes is a little bit too wishy-washy for my taste. Rosemary, on the other hand, is my kind of girl. She's so unabashedly geeky that she reminds me of Leslie from Big Bang Theory. I'm also actually pleasantly surprised by the depth of Edward's research - how many people can catch the "Browncoat" reference in the book?

As a fellow geek, I am glad that Edward is writing about a female geek and playing up her geek factor. Too bad, Rosemary and her crew just didn't do it for me. I can feel the passion Edwards poured into the book, but the pacing of the novel and Wes's indecisiveness just drags the book down for me.

Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just One Taste Won't Be Enough, September 6, 2010

By 

valarie (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just One Taste (Recipe for Love) (Mass Market Paperback)

With the third installment in the "Market" trilogy, Louisa Edwards is fast becoming my favorite contemporary romance writer. This author's clever combination of food and romance, with a dash of humor and a heavy dose of steamy sex, is flat out adorable. Rosemary and Wes are my favorite heroine and hero so far (and you don't have to read the books in order, but there is a building secondary romance that is really fun and different) because I'm a sucker for "opposites attract." In this book, they actually ignite. The whole aphrodisiac theme is such a perfect way to highlight the food science geek vs. the bad boy chef conflict and made for pages and pages of smiles, chuckles, and sighs. This is easy, fast, fun, light reading that, surprisingly, sticks with you after you close the book. Witty dialogue from beginning to end, smooth writing, three-dimensional characters, and the author's obvious in-depth knowledge of food make this one a keeper. Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Satisfying end to Market trilogy, June 13, 2011

By 

IndigoRaiyne (Aiken, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just One Taste (Recipe for Love) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the final book in the Market trilogy. It was a satisfying end, wrapping up the relationship between Frankie and Jess quite nicely. Much like the first book, "Can't Stand the Heat," the best part of this book was the story of Frankie and Jess. They were nicely developed and never felt like the secondary plot. I liked that they were consistent through the entire series and were by far my favorite part.

The same cannot be said for the main characters of Rosemary and Wes. For vast portions of the book, the two were never together. I didn't understand why they were together aside from their "chemistry." Their interactions were very superficial and I was never sure why they were attracted to each other. And why they couldn't just be together.

In the beginning it was hinted that Wes and his con artist father were trying to pull some kind of con on Rosemary's mother in Las Vegas. That was never fully explained, nor was the reason for keeping Wes's dad a secret from Rosemary. It was disappointing that this plot point never turned into anything more than a brief mention.

I liked Rosemary. I enjoyed the descriptions of her T-shirts and her knowledge of all things geek was endearing, though at times I found it a bit much and it took me out of the story. I didn't like the way she spoke, She reminded me of Dr. Temperance Brennan from "Bones" and while that kind of dialogue works on TV, it didn't translate well into reading. It was distracting and at times I found myself skipping over portions of Rosemary's dialogue because it was taking me out of the story.

I also liked Wes. I liked that his background was explored and his character was quite complex and showed growth. Not only in how he overcame his childhood, but how he overcame his trust issues and insecurity at Market.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it enjoyable enough. However, if it were my first Louisa Edwards novel, I would seriously question whether or not to read another one. It was a good end to the Market series and did a good job of wrapping up all of the characters. I wish Devon Sparks had made an appearance, but we can't have everything.