Synopsis

They go together like water and oil…

All chef Nina Lyon wants is to make a name for herself in the culinary world and inspire young women everywhere to do the same. For too long, she’s been held back and underestimated by the male-dominated sphere of professional kitchens, and she’s had enough. Now, as co-host of the competitive reality TV series The Next Cooking Champ!, she finally has a real shot at being top tier in the foodie scene.
Too bad her co-host happens to be Hollywood’s smarmiest jerk.

Restaurateur Leo O’Donnell never means to get under Nina’s skin. It just seems to happen, especially when the cameras are rolling. It’s part of the anxiety and stress he has come to know all too well in this line of work. So nothing prepares him for the fallout after he takes one joke a smidge too far and Nina up and quits—on live TV.

To make matters worse, the two are caught in what looks like a compromising situation by the paparazzi…and fans of the show go absolutely nuts. Turns out, a “secret romance” between Nina and Leo may just be what their careers need most.

Now all they have to do is play along, without killing each other…and without catching feelings. Easy as artisanal shepherd’s pie. Right?

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Review

This is more than just a romance novel; it is a book about women sharing their sexual discrimination stories, mental health, and that we all have things we hide from others to protect ourselves from pain.

When I first started reading this book, I did NOT like Leo. He was arrogant and mean. But then, as the true Leo was be revealed, I realized that this man was more than just a pretty face with a seemingly arrogant attitude. Leo was a man with his own issues, mental health ones at that, that used words to create a wall to keep others out. I think many can relate to Leo and his insecurities, anxiety, and the desire to do his best.

Nina isn’t without her own faults, including an ex that is a jerk, but she has some strong supportive friends that surround her so that even when things go south, she isn’t alone. I giggled at the conversations with her sister, Sophie, and her best friend, Jasmine. I really liked Jasmine and her no-nonsense attitude. She is the kind of friend everyone should have in their life.

Nina and Leo have quite the chemistry together, but they start a relationship based on trying to help their reputations and restaurants. That is not the way to have a successful relationship, but it at least paves the way for them to admit the attraction to one another if only to themselves at first. Communication is their biggest problem, but the relationship flourishes once they learn to share more than what they think the other wants to hear.

This book addresses the issues of mental health and Leo’s anxiety. I felt that it was done respectfully yet showcased how it can cripple an individual depending on the severity. It also highlighted how many people do not get help or ask for help to cope and manage stress and anxiety. This is so important in today’s world, and I hope that someone that needs that help sees that in this book and will reach out to professionals.

I did get a kick out of the text conversations included in the book. Gavin, Leo’s twin brother, is a hoot, and I think we need a book about his life…maybe the author will write his story.

Overall, we give this book 5 paws up. It is more than a romance and well worth the read.

About the Author

Erin La Rosa has written many highly engaging…tweets as a social media manager. But on her way to writing romance, she’s also published two humorous non-fiction books, Womanskills and The Big Redhead Book. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three daughters (one human, two felines).

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