Customer Reviews

Special of the Day

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Former model Roxanne has relocated from the Big Apple to Arlington, Virginia to take ownership of a fledgling Cheers-like bar to transform it into a fancy French bistro. She has kept her former occupation a secret - after all what would an anorexic former model know about fattening French food, right? She retains most of the former staff, including charismatic bartender Steve, who's vocal about what he thinks of her idea, and the two clash from the start. Faster than you can spell "bouillabaisse" (and yes, I looked that up), Steve has Roxanne on her back and eventually in his heart. No one is more surprised than Steve that they've acted on this mutual attraction. But Steve's not just a bartender; he's also a historian, hoping to write the definitive biography of a distant relative of Thomas Jefferson. The restaurant is located in this relative's former home, and may possibly contain a draft of the Declaration of Independence somewhere in the house, a series of break-ins occur.

Passion, rivalry, communication breakdowns, and an ornery orange cat named Cheeto play a role in this rollicking romance where both protagonists allow misconceptions to cloud their judgment. Author Fox does a great job mixing humor with romance, and Roxanne and Steve have great chemistry - especially when they engage in practical jokes.

Roxanne returns home to Alexandria, Virginia, from NYC w/ big plans to resurrect the neighborhood restaurant she has just bought and tranform it into an upscale French bistro, complete w/ top drawer chef and snooty maitre d'. The current staff are leery of the new owner and are pretty anxious about all the changes she has planned, but she quickly reassures them that she is willing to retrain them and offer them jobs at the new restaurant if it works out.

Steve is the smart, sexy guy who lives in one of the apartments above the restaurant. He's also the bartender, and he gets off to a bad start w/ Roxanne as both his neighbor and his boss. Despite these early problems and the possible complications that might ensue, Steve and Roxanne begin a somewhat secret, behind-the-scenes romance. Both are hold something back, tho, and have secrets that threaten the relationship.

In addition to the stress of opening a new restaurant and the sizzling new romance, Roxanne and Steve also encounter mysterious happenings at the restaurant and the possibility that a lost copy of the Declaration of Independence may be hidden in the historic building that was once the home to Thomas Jefferson's cousin. The whodunit aspect isn't especially deep or hard to figure out, but it's nevertheless well done and entertaining. This plotline is deftly woven into the story w/out any heavy-handedness--it enhances rather than distracts.

One of the big pluses in the book is Roxanne's feisty cat, Cheeto--so-named not only because of his orange color, but also as a reminder of Roxanne's favorite forbidden snack food. Cheeto plays a key role in several pivotal scenes and is intrumental in solving the mysterious goings-on at the restaurant--but not w/out causing some serious havoc of his own along the way.

Special of the Day is a light read, but a very enjoyable one. Roxanne and Steve are strong characters separately and have great chemistry together. In addition to a steamy sexual relationship, Ms. Fox also shows how a real, believable relationship develops between these two people. Put this book on your menu.

In Old Town Alexandria, New York transplant and former model and a recent CIA grad (Culinary Institute of America that is) Roxanne Rayeaux opens up a new restaurant Charters Fish House where she will also serve as the pastry chef. She leaves open the door to her new Virginia apartment so after knocking, her upstairs neighbor historian and bartender Steve Serrano enters to introduce himself to his new boss. Instead he frightens Roxanna and her cat Cheeto before she throws him out.

Steve works at the Charters Fish House to give him access to the restaurant as he is actually looking for a historical document that he thinks is somewhere on the premises of this old edifice. Roxanne meets the current workers of the failing restaurant and lays down her changes starting with organs to a disbelieving staff and puts Steve in his place when he tries to explain that before management ruined the place six months ago, it was a success. As he and his boss argue they fall in love while break-ins and other nasty activity occur as others seek what Steve wants (that is besides his employer). Steve also worries that Roxanne will end their relationship once she learns about his undercover sleuthing.

This is a fun contemporary romance starring two likable lead protagonists and a terrific support cast. The war of words between them is worth the price of admission as the two combatants battle with one another as much as each one wrestles with their growing attraction to each other. Elaine Fox provides a sly sweet tale of love in the kitchen and a few other places.

Harriet Klausner

This is the second book by this author that I have read. I enjoyed her first book and I enjoyed this book. It is a light story, with comedy and a light mystery. The story runs smoothly and is easy to keep pace with. The book slowed down in a few parts, but it did not effect the story. This is a good, light read and I do recomend it.

A nice read for an afternoon of boredom, it won't knock you senseless or render your silent; you can read it and stop at any given time. This is an OK story with a twist of mystery and hidden treasures (given this case the copy of the Declaration of Independence).
Our main characters are Roxanne Royeaux (aka ex Sports Illustrated swimsuit model) and Steve Serrano (aka lover of history / bartender who is writing a book about the story of the copy of the Declaration of the Independence - allegedly stolen from Jefferson by a Mr. Portner).
As you can imagine, these two fall in love at first sight though neither of them will accept this until of course, it's kind of too late and they have bruised the other one's heart. The storyline is predictable and although Fox has touches of creative wisdom like the incident at her new restaurant where her cat Cheeto leaves the Kitchen like a hell house with hairs all over the dishes carrying fresh and decorated French delicacies and ruins her chance at a first good review in the New York Post.... There is also the scene with P.B. (aka Pretty Boy / cop and charmer who is a chauvinistic macho all the way kind of guy) being the one behind the break- ins but there is not much substance here and not a real lesson or pearls of wisdom either.
If you are looking for a book of depth and lessons learned, you are not on the right track.... but if you are out here looking for just entertainment while you bathe or lay in the sun, well here is a book for you.

This was a cute and fun book. Easy reading, with great characters. This is the second book that I have read by this author. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.

Loved this book - perfect for a light beach read. Characters are endearing and the background mystery is entertaining. Spicy romance scenes as well, definitely recommeded to friends!

I love Elaine Fox books! It was funny, SEXY, and I loved all the drama!!! I couldn't put it down!

This is an immature, badly written and quite dull book. Not dreadful, but not something I would read again. If you want a typical and not very imaginative romance with very few sparks, lots of clichés then this is the book for you.

After reading Hot Stuff which has plenty of more mature, intelligent and witty dialogue between the characters I was shocked by the unimaginative and very predictable interaction between the characters in this book. And the authors depiction of a posh "British" person is seriously off-key. I didn't find it engrossing but basic fluff.

So far Man at Work and Hot Stuff are her best books that I have read. Both these books had compelling interesting characters. Man at Work had a good warm sweet story line (although ultra fairy tale chick lit), while Hot Stuff was about average people in a above average brilliant story (and not the typical fluff chick lit either). Its a shame that "Special of the Day" proved to be such a huge disappointment. The chemistry between the characters was tedious. There was no spark or challenge.

Synopsis: Roxanne has had it with the starvation diets, the leering looks -- and the married boyfriend! But when she moves back home to Virginia with her orange cat, Cheeto, to open a French bistro, it's just her luck to discover that the bartender is an arrogant, sexy hunk with an attitude about wines, food and women.

Steve is more than just a handsome guy who's good with a blender and even better with his hands ... But when passion combines with a series of suspicious break-ins and a missing treasure, Roxanne realizes mixing business with pleasure could be a recipe for disaster -- especially with a guy who's obviously all wrong ... and yet oh-so-right!

This is my first book by Elaine Fox. I wasn't sure I was going to like, but ended up LOVING it! It was good from start to finish! Now, I'm going to purchase her other books.