Ethan Craymore almost destroyed his career by mixing work with his particular brand of pleasure. After being blacklisted from practically every fine restaurant on the entire Eastern seaboard, he jumps at the invitation to be the Head Chef at Le Poisson d’Azur in San Francisco. Having learned his lesson, Ethan vows to never again let his desires interfere with his career. That is until he realizes that his new Sous Chef, Veronica Delaware, is as alluring as she is compatible… Veronica is haunted by the voice of her rock-star ex-fiancé. A year of keeping her head down and throwing herself into her work left her unprepared for the new Head Chef. Ethan is everything Veronica has ever desired in a man. Gorgeous, tall, and commanding, his only fault is that he is a complete and utter asshole to everyone under his management. Convinced that she will never like him, Veronica is shocked when a brutal attack forces the two of them together. Ethan turns out to be both a gentleman and a dominant, just what she has always craved… 3.5 Star review by AshleyAfter the streak of emotional reads I've been on, I was looking for something a little different and steamy. So when Chef, a debut novel from D.S. Hart fell into my orbit I decided to jump at the chance. I enjoyed this book and flew through the pages. There was a good dose of witty banter, which I love, and the characters were far from one dimensional. There were also a few very well timed twists and turns that kept me anxious to find out what would happen next. Veronica, while a bit shy because of the toll her last relationship took on her, has a backbone and enough sass to keep her jerk of a boss on his toes. And what mighty fine toes Mr. Ethan Craymore has. When an unexpected surprise lands in their faces, it forces Veronica and Ethan into close proximity and the sparks begin to fly. There is no denying the mutual attraction but there is a lot at risk here for both parties. Ethan is a real piece of work. He is a man who knows what he wants and won't settle for less than he desires and what he desires is Veronica- bound and at his mercy. He is apprehensive to start a relationship with someone he works with but after some deliberation, he decides that she is worth the risk. These two really steam up the sheets and Ethan's patience with Veronica as he teaches her the ropes of the life she wants really endeared him to me. I liked seeing the softer side of the man who is a perpetual yeller outside of the home. When a blast from Veronica's past shows up, their carefully constructed world takes a hit. I wasn't expecting this twist in the book at all. But it was done with just the right amount of suspense. While this scene could be a trigger for some, I don't think it will really be an issue. It was handled with delicacy and the way it wrapped up had me releasing a breath I didn't know I was holding. I really liked seeing Veronica's growth. She is a strong willed woman and finally found the gall to go for her dreams. And the change in Ethan was fun to witness too. While he didn't completely shed his jerkish ways, he had a kitchen to run after all, he did soften a bit and develop some friendships. D.S. Hart really went for it in her debut. Chef had it all- from humor and steam to tenderness and suspense. That being said, everything wrapped up a bit swiftly. I did want just a bit more of "the fallout" from the big event towards the end. I am looking forward to more of her work and the characters from this book in the future. About the Author D.S. Hart is a writer of romantic erotica. Born in California, she has lived in three different states and moved approximately 30 times in her 20-some years of living. At an early age, she fell in love with writing. Among all the genres she's played with, romance has always been one of her favorites. She loves her characters and shows it by throwing them into unpredictable situations and seeing how they react. Currently, Ms. Hart lives in a creaking, sprawling Victorian with her family somewhere in the Midwest. Her days are spent dealing with a large number of unruly animals, cleaning houses, teaching classes within the community, and writing in whatever time is left. D.S. Hart can be found online at: http://www.d-s-hart.com https://www.facebook.com/writer.d.s.hart https://twitter.com/dshartwriter Or email her: [email protected]
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
The BooksArchives
June 2024
|