On the Steamy Side (Recipe for Love) [Mass Market Paperback]

Louisa Edwards (Author)

Book Description

Series: Recipe for Love | Publication Date: March 2, 2010

When Lilah Jane Tunkle fled her dull life in Virginia for the bright lights of New York City, she didn’t expect to wind up a nanny to a gorgeous celebrity chef’s ten-year-old son. Working for the delectable Devon Sparks is a sure-fire recipe for disaster, especially after Lilah gets a tantalizing taste of his perfectly seasoned kisses …

Devon’s not sure he can handle one more surprise ingredient in his life—he quit his popular TV show, his culinary reputation is on the line, and now the son he barely knows is back for seconds. Lilah’s Southern sass is supposed to keep the boy in line, but soon enough she’s teaching Devon a thing or two about homespun food…and turning up the heat.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Firing his New York publicist is the first thing Devon Sparks has done in a long time that feels right. The second thing is flirting outrageously with a gorgeous stranger, who politely reprimands Devon for splashing his drink all over her back. Unlike the hordes of females who are more than happy to keep celebrity chef Devon and his money company, tart-tongued, sweetly southern Lilah Jane Tunkle has no idea of the extent of Devon’s fame and wealth. One night of no-strings, no-regrets sex with Lilah is all Devon wants, and that is exactly what Devon believes he has enjoyed until he arrives at work the next day and discovers that one of his new employees is none other than Lilah. In her second hot and spicy culinary romance, following Can’t Stand the Heat (2009)—which stars food critic Miranda Wake and chef Adam Temple—Edwards cooks up the perfect combination of compelling characters and an intriguing plot that delivers a marvelous confection of irresistible details about the fascinating world inside the kitchen of a gourmet restaurant. --John Charles

Review

Praise for ON THE STEAMY SIDE

“Edwards cooks up the perfect combination of compelling characters and an intriguing plot that delivers a marvelous confection of irresistible details about the fascinating world inside the kitchen of a gourmet restaurant.”—Booklist (Starred Review)

”On the Steamy Side is an instant re-read, a fresh, emotions-first take on the food-infused romance and, quite simply, a stellar example of the health and vibrancy of the American contemporary romance.  I’m betting it ends up on any number of Best of 2010 lists.” -- Michelle Buonfiglio, Barnes & Noble’s Heart to Heart

“A delight from cover to cover…My favorite aspect is how skillfully Ms. Edwards weaves emotional subjects throughout the novel…On the Steamy Side is much more than a sexy romance. It [has] depth and humanity. This series is headed for my keeper shelves. “ –A Romance Review

“The snappy, fun loving dialogue and overall comradery with this cast of character makes for great reading.” –Babbling About Books

“Steam up your reading with On The Steamy Side by mega-talented Louisa Edwards.”—SingleTitles.com

“Fast paced and scintillating…Boiling and searing love scenes aside, the complex relationships and self-discovery shared with the unique backdrop of the cut-throat and competitive culinary arts forces the reader to consume page after page as voraciously as the chefs can dish it up.”  --Romance Readers Choice 

“Louisa Edwards’ fast-paced, sparkling On The Steamy Side has sizzling sex scenes, complicated relationships, and unique settings, with an undercurrent of humor.” –Long and Short Reviews

“If you need a real feel-good, make your heart sing, and your body tingle kind of afternoon this is the perfect recipe for success” –Coffee Time Romance

 

Praise for CAN’T STAND THE HEAT

“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

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

 

“When I tried to figure out why I liked the book so much, two things came to mind. One, when it was over I didn’t really feel like I had read a book; I felt as if I’d been a part of the story. That’s very difficult to achieve.  Two, I realized what Edwards’ style reminded me of…Several times reading this one I thought to myself, ‘This woman could be the next Susan Elizabeth Phillips.’ And I don’t write that lightly.” –ColumbusDispatch.com

 

“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

 

“Sophisticated, romantic, mouth watering and sizzling hot.” –The Three Tomatoes Book Reviews

 

 

“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

 

“Louisa Edwards has cooked up a sassy and sexy contemporary romance. With the popularity of the Food Network so high these days, this novel has arrived just in time to delight foodies and readers both. The food descriptions alone in this book are enough to set your mouth watering…I predict a delicious future for this new writer” –Review Journal

 

“Ms. Louisa Edwards is definitely an author to watch!  Her descriptions make you feel like you can almost smell the food Adam’s cooking!  CAN’T STAND THE HEAT has what it takes to affect all of your emotions--joy, sorrow, fear, hate, and love.” –The Romance Readers Connection

 

“ 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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; 1 edition (March 2, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312356463
• ISBN-13: 978-0312356460
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,681 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

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Taste Sensation to Tanalize Your Tastebuds, May 5, 2010

By 

J. Legacy (Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On the Steamy Side (Recipe for Love) (Mass Market Paperback)

Country bumpkin and one time High School drama teacher Lilah Jane (Lolly for short and yes I kept thinking of a lollipop every time someone called her that) leaves the comfort of her small town life in rural Virginia and heads to the Big Apple looking to shake up her safe, staid, boring life and do the opposite of everything her Aunt Bertie has always taught her to do.

Devon Sparks is a world renowned celebrity chef, star of his own successful TV show, egomaniac, narcissist and all around bad boy. He is so far out of Lolly's league they may as well have been from different planets.

This book started out with a banging...I mean a bang...ok, no I really mean a banging. Devon and Lilah Jane cross paths one night in a dive bar and before you say "fry me up some catfish" they are headed off to his penthouse for a hot, sweaty bout of anonymous sex. The "sparks" were literally flying off the pages during a very steamy, very hot shower scene *fans self*.

Fast forward to the next morning and we return to the familiar stomping grounds of "Market" and all the familiar faces (Frankie, Jess, Adam) we met in Edwards first book Can't Stand the Heat. Lilah has just landed a job there bussing tables thanks to her good childhood friend Grant and guess who's going to be the guest Chef at Market for the next 2 weeks - yes you guessed it...Devon Sparks! So much for one night of anonymous sex. Things are really going to start cookin' in the kitchen at Market now that Devon and Lilah are going to be working together..or maybe not.

Let me just say at this point I really did not like Devon - he may have looked like Curtis Stone (but with sable hair and without the accent, but hey that's who I envisioned while reading), but his attitude reminded me that obnoxious Gordon Ramsey from Kitchen Nightmares. Devon acted like a spoiled brat Prima Dona, yelling, swearing and screaming like a trucker and treating all the employees at Market like second class citizens including Lilah Jane.

When Devon is unexpectedly thrust into the parent role (yes he's been an absentee father), one he's so ill-prepared to handle when his nine year old son Tucker is suddenly without a mom (she's headed off to drug rehab), we get some insight into Devon's insecurities. Boy has some major daddy issues and to this day has a tempestuous relationship with his father. Like father, like son...1st class A-hole. Watching Devon discover the joys of fatherhood and embrace his relationship with his own son I started to like him more. He was still a tool, but at least he was trying.

Since Devon has no idea what to do with Tucker, he fires Lilah Jane from her job at the restaurant on the spot, only to rehire her as a nanny, but she's no Mary Poppins. And she's also not interested in being Devon's playmate at least not at first -but her resolve didn't last long and really who can blame her because really... he made her girl parts tingle.

On the Steamy Side is about relationships, new ones, old messed up ones, disappointing family ones, but most importantly that the best relationships are attainable if you're just brave enough to reach out and hold on for dear life before it's too late.

If you are in the "Market" for a good "foodie" book with memorable characters who will tug at your heartstrings, then On the Steamy Side should be on your TBR pile.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant escape. The character mix was interesting. The foods and tastings were good., September 5, 2010

By 

Jane (Chicago, IL, United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: On the Steamy Side (Recipe for Love) (Mass Market Paperback)

STORY BRIEF:
Lilah was raised in the Appalachian Mountains. Her boyfriend dumped her, and she lost her teaching job due to a funding cutback. So she moved to New York City and stayed with her friend Grant. Grant manages the restaurant "Market" (from the first book in the series), and he hires her to buss tables there. The owner of Market left for his honeymoon and asked Devon to run the restaurant for him for two weeks. Devon is a wealthy celebrity chef with a TV show and a string of restaurants. Devon lives alone and is not a happy person. He is gorgeous looking and has frequent one-night stands. He meets Lilah in the restaurant and is drawn to her which surprises him because she is not what he is used to. She is pleasant looking but not a beauty. She loves southern cooking like fried chicken livers and collard greens - which Devon considers revolting.

Devon makes menu changes which the customers don't like, and he is unpopular with the kitchen staff. He had a son Tucker with Heather whom he never married. He sends money and gifts but has never spent time with Tucker. Heather is an alcoholic and is forced into rehab for a month. The authorities bring the child to Devon. Devon hires Lilah to be a live-in nanny for the month to take care of Tucker.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
This was ok but similar to so many other contemporary romances. It's a pleasant escape. The most interesting part was the character mix: the southern mountain girl, the narcissistic and miserable celebrity chef, the child being raised by a single mother addict who never cooks, and a gay couple working in the restaurant. The plot and events were ok but nothing really special or different. Don't expect any romance. This starts out as a one-night stand with future lust. I'm not saying this is good or bad, just what it is. For lovers of food and recipes, those parts are fun.

A secondary story involves a gay romance begun in the first book (Jess and Frankie). I loved their relationship in the first book, but I wasn't happy with the developments in the second book. A problem begins which does not get resolved.

I was also disappointed that the conflict between Grant and Christian was never explained or developed. If the author wants to save that for a future book, fine, but the way she introduced things felt like "here's a problem but I'm not going to tell you anything about it." I wanted at least "a little more" on that subject.

Although not necessary, I think you'll have more perspective about the group of characters and the restaurant if you read the books in order. The first book is "Can't Stand the Heat" about Adam the restaurant owner.

DATA:
Story length: 316 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 3. Total number of sex scene pages: 14. Setting: current day mostly New York City, NY. Copyright: 2010. Genre: contemporary romance.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too much too soon, August 1, 2010

By 

Lil ""I can't believe i read this stuff"" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: On the Steamy Side (Recipe for Love) (Mass Market Paperback)

There was way too much heavy sex way too early in this book. Kind of grossed me out to be honest. I never saw any romance between the characters, just a lot of physical interaction. This was not the worst book but I like there to be a little bit more romance in my romance novels. The couple never even went out on a date.

Also, the heroine just jumped into taking care of his kid and he agreed without knowing anything about her, other than she has sex with strangers she just met. She decided that even though he was an absentee father for 10 years, he secretly wanted to be with his son (even though he never talked about his son, never mentioned his son, and initially refused to take the kid after the mother went into rehab). This part of the plot just never sounded right.