Title: A Taste of You
Series: N/A
Author: Irene Preston
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novella (106 pages)
Publisher: Fated Desires Publishing (10 March 2015)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
Blurb: Hell’s Kitchen has nothing on the flames Giancarlo and Garrett ignite at Restaurant Ransom…
Garrett Ransom is America’s hot chef du jour. He has a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York City, a hit reality TV show, and a new man in his bed every week. Yes, he secretly thinks his business partner, Giancarlo “Carlo” Rotolo, is hotter than a ghost pepper, but he would never jeopardize their friendship with a fling. Then Garrett overhears some juicy gossip among the crew and realizes he’ll have to break Giancarlo’s cardinal rule, no banging the staff – for Carlo’s own good, of course. Just a taste of Carlo should be plenty. Long-term relationships aren’t on Garrett’s menu.
Giancarlo’s been in love with Garrett forever. He’s sure Garrett will eventually realize they are destined to be more than business partners. But when Garrett installs his latest boyfriend as their new chef d’cuisine and announces plans to leave Carlo in New York while he opens a second restaurant on the west coast, Carlo is forced to re-evaluate his life.
Can a high-strung British chef and a nice Italian boy from Brooklyn find the perfect fusion of fine-dining and family-style?
ISBN: 9781623221898
Product Link(s): http://www.amazon.com/A-Taste-You-Irene-Preston-ebook/dp/B00QSD61AG
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-atasteofyou-1754322-166.html
Reviewer: Prime
Review: A Taste of You is the first book I’ve read by Irene Preston and one thing that kept me going was the writing style – it was dramatic and you could feel the passion coming through with each sentence.
But, this is a complicated story – the storyline and the passion for food are not complicated but the romance is. In fact, what makes things even more complicated, for me anyway, is that the romance is understated when it felt as though it was ready to burst off the page most of the time.
The story is about partners in business, restaurant owners Giancarlo, who is from an old-fashioned family from NY and passionate about his food, and the less sociable celebrity chef Garrett, who also happens to be English.
Giancarlo, aka Carlo, loves his food and he loves his business, he also happens to love his best friend, Garrett, even if unrequited love seems to be taking on a toll on him. Then there is Garrett. He flies in and out of NY from LA filming his popular TV show. He refuses to commit to any man and he relies on Carlo more than he realises.
Personally, I would have loved more angst (which is not something I generally like) and more drama when it comes to Garrett realising that he could lose Carlo. Carlo is happy to sit back because he will do anything to make Garrett happy. He is the quiet, unassuming type (though he is also funny and very smart!) and I love how his character was written.
I also liked Garrett’s character, while he was relatable; I really just wanted him to be more. There is no other way I can put it other than saying that Garrett spends most of the time being selfish, oblivious and unable to deal with his own issues. Everything about Garrett seems to be understated and part of me just wanted to burst out with passion, whether it is hate or love, numerous times throughout.
I think it’s because of how Garrett’s character is written that I found it difficult to feel any particular sparks between them. At first he was jealous that Carlo may be in love and then he wanted his friend happy. It’s a selfish love at first. Their sexual relationship seemed to be more friends with benefits and not actual lust.
However, in saying that, I realise that in a subtle sort of way, we are just being told that their romantic relationship is a natural extension of their friendship.
Overall, this was a fun and enjoyable read. In the end I was able to see the slow build from friendship to sex to actual lust and ultimately, love.
This is my favourite type of romance and A Taste of You, though it has its issues, is very enjoyable.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *