Customer Reviews

On the Steamy Side (Recipe for Love)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Boring, obnoxious, didn't like the gay side storyline. nothing wrong with it if that's your choice, but i don't want to read details about that. Could not like the main guy, main girl was annoying. The whole thing was just a fat waste of money.

This was a read I picked up due to the fabulous reviews this book seems to be getting on Amazon and I would have to say that I wasn't disappointed. Having never read a book by Louisa Edwards previously, I was glad that I loved her writing style from the beginning of the novel.

This is the second book in the series "Recipe for Love" and although I never read the first book in the series, the characters from the first book come up here and there in this second book of the series. Devon Sparks is a star through and through. With a father who never believed in his son's ability to whip up extraordinary dishes and never understanding that Devon was different had made him work towards climbing the highest rungs of success a chef could ever hope to achieve. Devon has never looked back ever since he said goodbye to his old life and his family after high school. Now years later, Devon is the star of his own reality cooking show with a string of restaurants to his name with a playboy lifestyle any man would envy.

Lilah on the other hand is fresh out from country life and new in the big city of New York. Having lead a boring staid life for as long as she could remember, Lilah wants to spice up her life and bring excitement into it. Quite by chance she meets Devon at the local bar that Devon goes to chill out at and from the first moment these two lay their eyes on each other, its crash boom and bangs all the way. A bout of anonymous sex with one another was supposed to remain what it was, just a night of spectacular sex to be tucked away in the deep corners of their memories, never to be repeated.

However fate has other plans when on the next day Devon walks in to take over the restaurant from Adam (hero of the first book of the series "Can't Stand the Heat") for a period of two weeks whilst he and his girlfriend Miranda take a vacation and travel to Europe, and finds his anonymous sex partner, the woman who had rocked his world the night before in his kitchen.

Devon has so much to deal with on his hands and though the sight of Lilah warms his heart in ways it shouldn't after a one night stand, Lilah is starting work at the restaurant that very same day. Though everyone sees Devon as the ultimate golden boy in the kitchen its been ages since Devon had really had to supervise and play his role as the head chef in a restaurant and the thought of all that has him in jitters all day long. And it doesn't help matters much when his long estranged son of 10 years is suddenly at the doorstep with his mom in state mandatory rehab with nowhere else to go. Though Devon has had nothing to do with his son for so long and at first says that he can't take his son in, its Lilah who steps up and lands them together.

Before Lilah knows it, she is fired from her job at the restaurant and hired on as Tucker's nanny. Though Devon is the most stubborn headed man Lilah has ever met, Lilah knows and hopes that deep down inside Devon would do right by his son. And before long, Lilah is cooking up schemes to bring father and son together and let both of them bond with each other.

Whilst Devon makes a mess of things at the restaurant, he slowly comes to realize that fame and fortune aren't the best things in life but it is love that makes living worthwhile. Before the story is through, Devon learns a thing or two about life, love and best of all cooking from Lilah the country pumpkin which makes this story all the more worthwhile.

Final Grade: A-

Reviewed by: [...]

I didn't completely enjoy Louisa Edward's first book, Can't Stand the Heat, because of the crazy, selfish, manipulative Miranda, but I did enjoy the writing and the secondary characters. In fact, I liked the writing well enough to give the author a second chance and I'm glad I did. While Devon was arrogant, he also showed a vulnerability that softened the effects of his ego. I have to admit Devon's interactions with his father were unsatisfying to me, but other than that, I enjoyed the story. I also enjoyed the secondary characters and relationships, and look forward to the next book.

This is the second book in Louisa Edward's `A Recipe for Love' series. The first book was 'Can't Stand the Heat'.

The characters are so much fun in this second installment. Devon Sparks is a celebrity chef -a Gordon Ramsay type reality-TV chef snob - except that Devon Sparks isn't British, he's got Adonis-like good looks and he's secretly lacking in self-confidence. My one complaint about Devon is that while other characters built him up to be an egocentric, womanizing blow-hard the moment he meets Lilah he's sort of on his best behavior (showing glimpse of the famous ego) and I never really bought his `jerk' reputation. When Devon's ten-year-old son, Tucker, is unexpectedly left in his care, Devon's world slowly unwinds and he is forced to examine his life. I genuinely enjoyed reading Devon's struggles and his transformation - especially because it wasn't easy, and the biggest obstacle to Devon's changes was Devon himself. It always makes for fascinating development and reading when readers can see the flaws in a character that they cannot recognize in themselves.

I love, love, loved Lilah `Lolly' Tunkle. She's from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, and talks like it. At first I rolled my eyes at all her colloquialisms - i.e. "Oh my Stars and Stripes!" but then they started to help form this lovely, energetic, nurturing character and I found her speech-patterns to be one of my favorite things in the book. It helps that Charlaine Harris and Anna Paquin (on `True Blood') gave me some sort of reference and idea about how such phrases would actually sound.

Lilah is an absolute hoot. She may act like a Southern-belle, but when push comes to shove she doesn't mind going toe-to-toe with Devon or her little charge, Tucker. Some of my favorite scenes involved Lilah shedding her `Southern hospitality' and showing her true feisty self.

'Steamy' is an example of infectiously funny writing. I love the fact that at times Ms. Edwards is quite aware of the fact that she is writing a `romance', and she'll become cleverly self-deprecating of the genre. It makes for an entertaining romance read when the author is clearly aware of her audience, and can sort of have an `in' joke with them about the schmaltziness of the genre.

One thing I really loved about first book was the M/M subplot between sous chef, Frankie, and NYU student (and part-time waiter), Jess. Jess had just recently come out of the closet, and in `Can't Stand the Heat' he was experiencing his first love with Frankie. Jess is young and bright-eyed, about to start his arts degree in the fall. Frankie is British, in a punk band, smokes like a chimney and is a few years older than Jess. Frankie also has a less-than-savory romantic history, and Jess is his first *real* relationship.
They were so sweet in `Can't Stand the Heat', and I remember wishing that Jess and Frankie had had a bigger role in that first book. Well, Ms. Edwards clearly anticipated fans reaction to Frankie/Jess - because it becomes clear in `On the Steamy Side' that their relationship and progress will be a constant in future `Recipe' books. Whereas book #1's protagonist, Adam, makes a small cameo in `Steamy', his ladylove Miranda is only referred to. So I am really glad that Frankie/Jess didn't get the same treatment - because in `Steamy' Edwards delves deeper into their relationship and creates some future conflict for them. Sucks that there are speed-humps ahead, but *yay!* for Ms. Edwards intending them to be regular's of the series!

One of the best things about the whole premise of the `Recipe for Love' series is the setting - a trendy, busy up-scale New York restaurant. There's so much room for drama, hook-up's, break-up's, gossip and bitchiness. Louisa Edwards beautifully captures all the mayhem and intrigue of the kitchens - but she also shows the camaraderie, the `family' feel working in such a competitive and close environment creates.

I love this series, two-books in and I know that Ms. Edwards has me for the long haul. Book #3 is called `Just One Taste' and comes out August 31st this year. I can't wait!

Love, love, love this next installment in the Recipe For Love series! Devon and Lilah are a great pair - the chemistry between them just steams up the page (no pun intended). Lilah's Southern ways (and food!) make you fall in love with her and boy, does Devon need a woman like her! Their story makes for An-Impossible-To-Put-Down Read.

This book is one of the best "escape" reads I've gotten my hands on in a long time. Contemporary romances like this are such a treat - like a box of magical chocolate bon-bons that somehow have no calories!!! I can't wait for JUST ONE TASTE, the third book in this series.

It's back to "Market" we go and another great installment in Louisa Edward's creative "Recipe For Love" series. I really adored the first book in this series, but Ms. Edwards definitely kicked it up a notch with this latest release. From the moment Lilah Jane falls into Devon's arms (literally) she won me over with her sass, wisdom, and appeal. Devon Sparks is the perfect bad boy chef with an oversized ego and a big lesson to learn. I'm really enjoying the straight contemporary romance novel these days, and this one hit my favorite sweet spot with lots of humor, plenty of sizzle, and a surprisingly emotional story. Can't wait for the next one!

Louisa Edwards writes another scorching hot novel in On The Steamy Side.

Lilah Jane Tunkle was tired of her boring and safe life back in Virginia. She jumps at the chance to go to New York City. Her friend Grant Holloway puts her up at his apartment and gets her a job at Market, NYC trendy restaurant. Lilah is floored when her one and only one night stand is the new temporary executive chef, Devon Sparks.

Devon Sparks top chef of his popular TV show offers to help his friend Adam Temple at Market for two weeks. Should be a piece of cake right? But Devon was dealt another shocker when his young son is left in his care. He makes a deal with Lilah to be his son's live in nanny for two weeks. Devon is sure once he get Lilah under his roof he can get her back into his bed.

Devon didn't count on Lilah making him stand up and take charge of his con. Growing up with less then ideal parents, Devon doubts his own parenting skills. Lilah sees the yearning in Devon's eyes when he looks at his son. She sets a plan in motion to bring father and son together. Staying out of Devon's bed seems to be a much harder plan to follow.

On The Steamy Side is that and so much more. The chemistry between Devon and Lilah is tantalizing. Their relationship with Tucker Devon's son is deeply moving. I. enjoyed all the characters in this book and especially the working relationship in the kitchen. They made their own family in that kitchen. I am looking forward to the next book from this author.