Synopsis:
I’m over men. I’m done with them.
Or at least the ones that work in my kitchen. Fine, one man in particular. Wyatt Shaw is cocky and condescending and so far out of his element that he doesn’t know which way is up. Or how to run his brand new kitchen all by himself.
That’s where I come in. Sous chef extraordinaire. Second in command. Bane of his existence. I am the reason Wyatt’s doing so well as the new executive chef of one of our city’s most prestigious restaurants. He has me to thank for his glowing accolades and five-star write-ups. Only if you were to ask him, he’d say I’m his biggest problem.
Despite his discouragement and bullish behavior, I’ve set two goals for myself.
The first? I’m going to fight my way to the top of this male-dominated industry and claim my own award-winning kitchen.
The second? I’m going to do whatever it takes to ignore Wyatt and his rare smiles and the thickening tension that’s started to simmer between us.
Wyatt Shaw might be Durham’s new shining star. He might be up for a James Beard Award. He might be my new boss and key to my future success, but he’s also in my way.
So he can keep his smoldering looks and secret kisses. And he can be the one that figures out how to make it through service without getting distracted by me.
I’m not the problem. The problem is him.
My Review:
Refreshing and fast-paced and so sweet and sexy!!
“He was everything I shouldn’t want, like, or notice. Not because of the tattoos. Or even because of the piercings he’d removed once he’d been promoted. He was the kind of guy I should have been able to ignore entirely because of how opposite we were, because of how much we hated each other.”
Kaya and Wyatt are both professional chefs working in the same restaurant. Wyatt was promoted to head chef and Kaya is his sous chef. She is ambitious and driven and wants (and deserves!) her won kitchen. The problem is that she does not want to go behind Wyatt’s back while chasing her own dreams.
“This rivalry had been simmering for years, and if I’d learned anything in that time, it was that he didn’t change his opinion. Not ever. Once he decided something, that was it. And he’d decided a long time ago that he didn’t like me.”
These two are constantly challenging each other and trading barbs. Wyatt is gruff and Alpha and very, very direct. Kaya fights her attraction to Wyatt because not only do they work in close quarters, he is her boss and she doesn’t see how she can ever work alongside him – she wants to be the head chef of her own kitchen and not an assistant.
I loved the behind-the-scenes look into the lives of professional chefs (they basically have no time for any kind of personal life!) and literally felt exhausted at the end of their shifts, just like Kaya felt. The work in a restaurant kitchen is endless!
Kaya’s true passion is the kitchen. I loved how she never compromised her own ambitions or dreams. And there was no unnecessary drama in this book, which made Kaya and Wyatt’s story all the more relatable and real!
“I like you because of your strong opinions. I like you because you’re feisty and sharp and unwilling to change for anyone. Not even me and I’m your boss.”
If you are looking for an adult romance with wit and passion, then you will love this book. Plus it can be read as a complete standalone. Kaya is a fantastic and driven heroine and I admire the author for writing such a strong and unflinching character.
“This is a bad idea,” I whispered, too far gone with desire to put any real conviction behind the truth. He shrugged. “I like bad ideas.”
Holding his gaze, I said, “We have that in common.”
(With thanks to the author for an advanced review copy.)
Excerpt:
There was this defiant witch inside of me that had to know more. I wanted this too. And maybe, if I was honest with myself, I could admit that I’d wanted it for way longer. But I couldn’t let him get away with… getting his way. I was too used to fighting him to give him what he wanted without at least a small argument. “But how long will you wait?”
He didn’t seem amused by my question. He leaned forward, forcing me to tip back on my elbows. His chest brushed mine. His tattoos winked at me, inviting me to touch them, taste them… suck on them until I’d left my mark. “A lot longer than you’ll make me.”
My mouth dropped open. “What does that mean?”
He grinned. No half smile or wicked smirk. This was a full on, blinding, both-sides-of-his mouth smile. “It means, we can play this game till the end of time and two things will remain true. One, you want me. You’ve wanted me for a long time. You want this to happen. And I’m very willing to oblige you. And two? I want you. I’ve wanted you for a very long time. I’ve wanted you for so long, you’re the only thing I can remember wanting. I want you and I’m willing to wait as long as it takes to have you. You get me? We can do this cat and mouse thing for however long you need to do it, but I know both of us are ready to play a different kind of game.”
His head dropped so he could kiss and suck his way over my collarbone. I closed my eyes and tried to catch the spinning thoughts in my head, to make sense of them.
“Kaya,” Wyatt taunted, his voice low and growly. “Yes or no?”
“Yes,” I whispered without thinking. No more fighting. He was right. We both wanted this.
Other Books in the Series (Can be read as stand alone books):