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Dec152009
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Can’t Stand the Heat’ by Louisa Edwards
by Carolyn • Posted in 4 Star Reviews, Authors E-H, Book Reviews, Contemporary Romance, Louisa Edwards, Reviews by Carolyn
Title: Can’t Stand the Heat (Recipe for Love #1)
Author: Louisa Edwards
Publisher: St Martin’s Paperback’s
Publication Date: 1 Sept 2009
Paperback: 344 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Own Copy
Reviewed by: Carolyn
RATING: 8/10
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
For sharp-tongued food critic Miranda Wake, the chance to spend a month in Adam Temple’s [LE1] kitchen to write an exposé is a journalistic dream come true. Surely Miranda can find a way to cut the hotshot chef down to size once she learns what really goes on at his trendy Manhattan restaurant. But she never expected Adam to find out her most embarrassing secret: she has no idea how to cook.
Adam’s not about to have his reputation burned by a critic who doesn’t even know the difference between poaching and paring. He’ll just have to give the tempting redhead a few private lessons of his own—teaching her what it means to cook with passion…and doing more with his hands than simply preparing sumptuous food.
REVIEW::
‘Can’t Stand the Heat’ is not usually the kind of book I read. But when Mandi @SmexyBooks called out for a guest reviewer for her ‘romance’ blog, I thought, why not? And I’m glad I did, because ‘Can’t Stand the Heat’ was a really fabulous read.
I was pulled into the story from the get go. Miranda, who I liked instantly, is my favourite kind of heroine: feisty, independent, a woman who on the outside seems prickly and hard, but is really soft as putty with a kind heart and just needs the right man to bring out that side of her nature. Miranda has a sad past. Her parents died when she was only eighteen and left to look after her ten year old brother, Jess, so she had to grow up fast and become ‘the parent’. This was a huge responsibility but she rose to the challenge and took night classes and two jobs just to keep the family services at bay. Deep down Miranda is quite vulnerable, but hides it well as she sees it as a weakness.
Enter Adam, the gorgeous, sexy, sweet, adorable… ahem, hard working chef with cute dimples *my favourite kind* who has high standards and runs his own restaurant called Market. After lots of banter and eye glaring, he eventually sees behind all the bravado and falls madly in love with her. Although, occasionally he still gets a little miffed that she wont open up to him. I found Miranda and Adam’s characters to be really well rounded and totally believable.
The relationship between them is also my favourite kind: the ‘love/hate’ relationship. I love it when at first it’s all ‘I hate you’ but really deep down it’s ‘I’m so hot for you I could die’. It just fuels the banter between the characters, making it all the more entertaining with the sexual tension racking up to a 10! The lead up to them getting together is timed perfectly, nothing is rushed and it doesn’t take forever either. When they do get together it’s hot, hot, hot! There’s just enough description of the sex scenes to get you all hot and bothered, but not cringe with embarrassment, which is a total plus from me.
I really loved the atmosphere of the restaurant and kitchen. It came alive with all the different quirky characters. I’m also a bit of a foodie so this book did all sorts of things to my taste buds. The descriptions of some of the dishes had my mouth watering.
The supporting cast of characters had great personalities too and I liked each and every one of them. I enjoyed the sub-plot with Miranda’s brother Jess, who falls in love with Frankie, the sous chef, who is a bit of a bad boy. Jess also struggles with how to tell Miranda that he’s gay. This was the only aspect of the book I was disappointed with as Miranda’s reaction to Jess’s news was a pretty negative one. I was annoyed at how she handled it as it came across as though she was a homophobe, which is not how I saw her at all. In the end the explanation of why she reacted the way she did took the edge off a bit, but it still left a bad taste and I wish she had reacted more positively.
For a few weeks Miranda works in the kitchen as a hands on journalist for a book she’s writing, but inevitably she begins to fall head over heals for Adam. But as with most romances, there has to be a hurdle to over come and this was no different. Her book had become a ‘tell-all’ about Adam and his crew and as it’s not the good kind of publicity, she wonders whether to write it or not. But when Adam betrays her trust, she sends the book to her publishers out of spite, then of course they make up and she’s riddled with guilt and has to fight to save her budding romance with Adam and her strained relationship with Jess.
VERDICT:
The ending reads a bit like a hollywood rom-com, but it is satisfying all the same. ‘Can’t Stand the Heat’ surprised me. It’s not my usual fare, but I devoured it in almost one sitting. It’s warm, fun and sexy, if a little predictable. A great book to curl up with on a cold winters night with a delicious hot chocolate for a cosy girls night in.
