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agrippinaes's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: 4 stars
What I Liked: This is a delicious and gentle book. The writing in it is absolutely gorgeous: the descriptions of food, of Rosemont, of people, just everything is absolutely perfect: I wanted to be there on the estate and eating all of the wonderful food that was being prepared. I’m not usually a fan of romances based around food and cooking but this one was almost enough to change my mind. The food featured in the book is erotic all on its own. I also loved the idea of Rosemont as a place of healing - it sounded wonderful.
The plot is quite simple but it has just enough going on to keep things interesting. The central romance is lovely - they have great chemistry and the sexual tension is very high; I think this is one of the hottest books I’ve read in a long while. I also think it feels like a slow burn even though it isn’t really; I was so eager for something to happen between them it felt like it was a long wait. The two characters were good as individuals as well and I thought they were very well-suited to each other.
I really enjoyed their romance and how they came together. The emotions felt very clear and real, and I really felt for them as they began to face problems within the relationship. Lucian’s pain regarding his career felt very palpable and whilst I was fully on Emma’s side over it I really felt for him when he realised what a mistake it would be to go back to playing hockey.
What I Didn’t: I didn’t really hate anything about the book at all, but I did find it a bit slow towards the start. It’s a very gentle read even though it’s got some quite angsty moments, so the pace in general is very steady. This isn’t an issue as I know it’s just that kind of book - it’s meant to be devoured slowly, I think, rather than read in one sitting. But I almost DNF at the start as it didn’t capture my attention immediately.
Overall: It’s just a lovely book - it covers some difficult topics but does them lightly and gently, and the result is a very sweet and heartwarming romance that still manages to be very hot and steamy. It was a pleasure to read.
Would I Recommend It?: Yes, if you want a gentle but steamy contemporary romance that’s a mixture of a sports and chef romance.
Would I Read Something By The Author Again?: Yes.
Content Warnings:
What I Liked: This is a delicious and gentle book. The writing in it is absolutely gorgeous: the descriptions of food, of Rosemont, of people, just everything is absolutely perfect: I wanted to be there on the estate and eating all of the wonderful food that was being prepared. I’m not usually a fan of romances based around food and cooking but this one was almost enough to change my mind. The food featured in the book is erotic all on its own. I also loved the idea of Rosemont as a place of healing - it sounded wonderful.
The plot is quite simple but it has just enough going on to keep things interesting. The central romance is lovely - they have great chemistry and the sexual tension is very high; I think this is one of the hottest books I’ve read in a long while. I also think it feels like a slow burn even though it isn’t really; I was so eager for something to happen between them it felt like it was a long wait. The two characters were good as individuals as well and I thought they were very well-suited to each other.
I really enjoyed their romance and how they came together
Spoiler
I liked the build up; the scene by the pool, their slightly combative interactions initially - also the scene where he scares her, I loved the fact that he apologised immediately and they talked through the incident afterwards.What I Didn’t: I didn’t really hate anything about the book at all, but I did find it a bit slow towards the start. It’s a very gentle read even though it’s got some quite angsty moments, so the pace in general is very steady. This isn’t an issue as I know it’s just that kind of book - it’s meant to be devoured slowly, I think, rather than read in one sitting. But I almost DNF at the start as it didn’t capture my attention immediately.
Overall: It’s just a lovely book - it covers some difficult topics but does them lightly and gently, and the result is a very sweet and heartwarming romance that still manages to be very hot and steamy. It was a pleasure to read.
Would I Recommend It?: Yes, if you want a gentle but steamy contemporary romance that’s a mixture of a sports and chef romance.
Would I Read Something By The Author Again?: Yes.
Content Warnings:
Spoiler
Head injuries, brain injuries, child abuse (in past), mentions of domestic violence, discussions of creepy fans.scribblinaway's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
This was so sweet and so soft and gave me exactly the feelings I needed today. A story about second chances and picking yourself back up again when you're down - plus non-terrible hockey representation.
kippins's review against another edition
I just couldn’t with this one, the writing and especially the descriptors were just ott for me and what I enjoy, I found myself rolling my eyes a lot.
lauriegoyet's review
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lmrivas54's review against another edition
5.0
Simply delightful! I loved this pure romance story and both characters. It’s lovely and so entertaining, and I realized that I’ve missed this author’s books so much. It’s a story of two famous persons whose career is in peril and how they overcome their situation. And in so doing, find each other and find themselves.
When Luc Osmond was five years old, he told his parents he wanted to fly. One airplane ride didn’t make him happy though, because he wasn’t doing anything, just sitting there. When his father registered him in hockey lessons, that’s when he found his calling. Flying over the ice, playing hockey, planning plays in the ice rink, that’s when he found himself. Unfortunately, at twenty-eight years old, he was forced to retire due to concussion syndrome, and has turned into a grumpy recluse at his grandmother’s estate in Southern California.
“But the sad truth was there was nothing left for me anywhere else. My fiancée was gone, my career was gone, and I was broken. Which meant I was at Rosemont. And, apparently, at my grandmother’s beck and call.”
Emma Maron clawed her way to Hollywood fame, finally landing a prize spot as Princess Anya in the famous Dark Castle series. During the reading of the script for this last season, she has just learned that she’s getting the ax. When she got to her rented house, that she shares with her boyfriend Greg, she found him screwing the maid. So she escaped to Rosemont to hide for a while and deal with the sense of loss and the fear about her future.
“Fame was a weird phenomenon. You chased it, but once you had it, you never felt secure or safe. Paranoia about who was in your life for what reasons, fear that you’d never be good enough, popular enough.”
Pretty soon, Luc and Emma realize that Luc’s grandmother Amalie is playing matchmaker. Luc stubbornly resists falling under Emma’s charms and eventually falls. Emma is so beautiful and sassy and she’s not scared of his grumpiness. She nicknames him Brick, which for some reason delights him, and later also starts calling him honey pie. Luc can’t help but be enchanted and amused by her antics. Pretty soon, the guy who won’t talk much and never smile, starts smiling, joking and laughing. She opened up his heart and he starts dealing with his loss.
“For a year I hadn’t felt a glimmer of sexual need or attraction. Hadn’t even missed it—which was cause for concern as well. But I’d been resigned to my apathetic state. As effectively as sticking a plug into a socket, Emma Maron had shocked my system into wakefulness. And I didn’t like it.”
Luc learned to bake with his grandfather, a very famous pastry chef. At Rosemont, he takes to baking and pretty soon Emma is addicted to his pastries. We see how Luc expresses his love through his cooking and how much Emma appreciates his talents. We get a glimpse at previous book Dear Enemy characters, Macon and Delilah, and see Luc sharing his talents with Delilah during their wedding weekend. I loved this part!
This book was such a perfect romance for me! One character broken, having lost his beloved career, the other character wounded by the loss of a prized role and scared of her future. Together they overcome their insecurities and reinforce each other. They find love in between laughs, endless conversations, quiet moments of rejoicing in each other’s company.
I loved Emma’s character, so sassy and plunky. She was so sweet and considerate, but when Luc got nasty she gave back as good as she got. Her sassiness is what woke him up from his grump and made him start enjoying life again. Enjoying this book made me remember how much I love this author’s stories. For me, they are perfect romances, with delightful characters, a strong story with enough angst and steam, and a heavy dose of sweet. Loved it!
When Luc Osmond was five years old, he told his parents he wanted to fly. One airplane ride didn’t make him happy though, because he wasn’t doing anything, just sitting there. When his father registered him in hockey lessons, that’s when he found his calling. Flying over the ice, playing hockey, planning plays in the ice rink, that’s when he found himself. Unfortunately, at twenty-eight years old, he was forced to retire due to concussion syndrome, and has turned into a grumpy recluse at his grandmother’s estate in Southern California.
“But the sad truth was there was nothing left for me anywhere else. My fiancée was gone, my career was gone, and I was broken. Which meant I was at Rosemont. And, apparently, at my grandmother’s beck and call.”
Emma Maron clawed her way to Hollywood fame, finally landing a prize spot as Princess Anya in the famous Dark Castle series. During the reading of the script for this last season, she has just learned that she’s getting the ax. When she got to her rented house, that she shares with her boyfriend Greg, she found him screwing the maid. So she escaped to Rosemont to hide for a while and deal with the sense of loss and the fear about her future.
“Fame was a weird phenomenon. You chased it, but once you had it, you never felt secure or safe. Paranoia about who was in your life for what reasons, fear that you’d never be good enough, popular enough.”
Pretty soon, Luc and Emma realize that Luc’s grandmother Amalie is playing matchmaker. Luc stubbornly resists falling under Emma’s charms and eventually falls. Emma is so beautiful and sassy and she’s not scared of his grumpiness. She nicknames him Brick, which for some reason delights him, and later also starts calling him honey pie. Luc can’t help but be enchanted and amused by her antics. Pretty soon, the guy who won’t talk much and never smile, starts smiling, joking and laughing. She opened up his heart and he starts dealing with his loss.
“For a year I hadn’t felt a glimmer of sexual need or attraction. Hadn’t even missed it—which was cause for concern as well. But I’d been resigned to my apathetic state. As effectively as sticking a plug into a socket, Emma Maron had shocked my system into wakefulness. And I didn’t like it.”
Luc learned to bake with his grandfather, a very famous pastry chef. At Rosemont, he takes to baking and pretty soon Emma is addicted to his pastries. We see how Luc expresses his love through his cooking and how much Emma appreciates his talents. We get a glimpse at previous book Dear Enemy characters, Macon and Delilah, and see Luc sharing his talents with Delilah during their wedding weekend. I loved this part!
This book was such a perfect romance for me! One character broken, having lost his beloved career, the other character wounded by the loss of a prized role and scared of her future. Together they overcome their insecurities and reinforce each other. They find love in between laughs, endless conversations, quiet moments of rejoicing in each other’s company.
I loved Emma’s character, so sassy and plunky. She was so sweet and considerate, but when Luc got nasty she gave back as good as she got. Her sassiness is what woke him up from his grump and made him start enjoying life again. Enjoying this book made me remember how much I love this author’s stories. For me, they are perfect romances, with delightful characters, a strong story with enough angst and steam, and a heavy dose of sweet. Loved it!
sara11_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Charming characters (although Emma is definitely the more mature adult in this pair), amusing banter, lots of sweets and pastries (there is a glossary of baking terms in the back). I wasn't impressed by KH's two most recent releases (Dear Enemy, Outmatched) so I was happy that I enjoyed this book so much.
winemakerssister's review against another edition
4.0
This was, indeed, very sweet. A charming story of two people at the crossroads in their lives. I especially loved some of the secondary characters including Luc's grandmere and her home, Sal, and Luc's best hockey buddy.
The narrators were both terrific. Jacob Morgan always does an outstanding job.
The narrators were both terrific. Jacob Morgan always does an outstanding job.
cristina_02's review against another edition
5.0
quite literally delicious
I dare you to read this and not develop a food fetish
I dare you to read this and not develop a food fetish