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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Who can resist a cat named "Cheeto", January 11, 2006
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.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun and Special, June 12, 2006
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.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
fun contemporary romance, February 26, 2005
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
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