Review: On the Steamy Side by Louisa Edwards

Casee‘s review of On the Steamy Side (Recipe For Love Series, Book 2) by Louisa Edwards.

SHE’S NEVER MET A MAN SO MOUTH-WATERING

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 …

AND HE CAN’T RESIST HER DOWN-HOME SPICE

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.

I didn’t read the first book in this series. After Holly’s review (of the heroine specifically), I wasn’t too keen on picking it up. I’ve recently been watching Hell’s Kitchen so this book definitely appealed to me. After reading the prologue, I was hooked. Devon seemed to be very good hero material. Bad childhood, finally standing up for his father that he could never please. Things like that.

Lilah and Devon first meet at Chapel, a relatively seedy NYC bar. Devon goes there b/c the people know him and don’t care about his celebrity status. Devon is instantly attracted to Lilah and the air of innocence that seems to surround her. Another thing he realizes is that Lilah has no idea who he is which is a novelty when it comes to women.

Lilah has left her home in Virginia to begin a new life in New York. The last thing she expects is to go home with a stranger. One night stands are way out of the norm for her. After a steamy night of sex, Lilah follows what she believes is one night stand protocol. She leaves. The very last thing she expects to see when she reports to work at Market—the restaurant her friend is a manager at—is her one night stand. To make matters worse, he’s taking over as head chef for two weeks.

Lilah doesn’t quite have what it takes to be a busser. Her first night and she drops two full trays in the dining room. She is mistaken for a waitress and writes the order on her hands. Devon is furious when she comes back in the kitchen. Not only is he having a horrible first night as Executive Chef at Market, but he has also has an incompetent employee. The fact that it’s Lilah just jacks his anger up. When a police officer turns up in Market’s kitchen during the dinner rush toting a child she claims is Devon’s, Lilah immediately takes charge.

This is when I started disliking Devon (more than usual). After his shiteous childhood, the fact that he has NO CONTACT whatsoever with his child was unforgiveable. When you consider the circumstances in which his child is living, it makes it even worse.

Lilah was like a steamroller. A very effective steamroller. She is able to see a longing in Devon that he doesn’t show to the world. There was only one thing that Lilah did that I thought was out of line, but she was so matter-of-fact in admitting her mistake that I couldn’t just stay mad at. Lilah was the perfect contrast to Devon’s snoody “I’m better than you” personality. She was able to bring him down to the level the rest of us plebeians are.

3.75 out of 5.

This book is available from St Martin’s Press. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Related Posts