Title: The Missing Ingredient

Series: Dreamspun Desires 63

Author: Brian Lancaster

Narrator: Seb Yarrick

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 5 hrs, 19 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC (8th November 2018)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: It can take losing everything to realize what you had all along.

Up-and-coming London chef Marcus Vine is poised on the edge of success, but the only men courting him are investors. That leaves Marcus with some free time – which is fortunate, be-cause his godchildren need him.

A year ago, a horrible accident killed Marcus’s best friend, Raine, leaving her children without a mother and her husband, Tom, without a partner. Consumed by grief, Tom has been going it alone, refusing help, but when Marcus sees him out with the children, it’s obvious that Tom and his two daughters need someone. His persistent caring finally wears Tom down, allowing him to accept the comfort Marcus offers.

Soon Marcus is up to his elbows in homework, home-cooked meals, and after-school activities. Over time he helps them rebuild their world, until soon their lives are approaching normal. Then the unexpected happens: Tom confesses he has romantic feelings for Marcus, and nothing can ever be the same.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: The Missing Ingredient is a standalone book by Brian Lancaster for the Dreamspun Desires house line. Brian Lancaster is a new author to me, I read this book when the ebook initially came out and absolutely loved it. I remember loving the friends to lovers storyline, the emotion and depth we get from both MCs and the wonderful chemistry that exists between the two men.

Seb Yarrick was the narrator of this audio and one that I’ve heard a number of times before, usually performing one accent or another. I most commonly have heard him do English accents, but he does also perform other non-descript European accents and I’m pretty sure I’ve heard his native accent in another Dreamspun novel, which is possibly American. I’m not sure and a quick Google search did not help. His performance was absolutely wonderful. He nailed the emotions of both Marcus – the ambitious chef that needs to fight for love and friendship in this story, and Tom – who is a widower who hasn’t been able to move on after the loss of his wife.

The only cloud in chef Marcus Vine’s life is that he lost his best friend in a car accident a year ago. At the moment his professional career has taken off in a way that means that he is now being recognized on the street and his restaurant in London is so close to gaining a Michelin Star. However, his personal life is not so good. He’s never found his perfect man, over the years he has compared many men to his best friend’s husband. After the death of best friend Lorraine, he was told by her husband Tom that he and his daughters needed space. Marcus never got a call back and didn’t want to intrude, so it has also been almost a year since he last saw his god children.

Tom has been struggling with life since his wife killed in a car accident, he has doubts in every corner of his life. He is can hardly keep his head above water when it comes to looking after his daughters, one of them has severe asthma, as well as trying to be a productive partner in his business. When Marcus accidently comes into his life again Tom realizes that he can ask for help and learns that it’s ok if there is more between him and Marcus. Not that Tom can be surprised about that, he has known for years that he was bisexual, so a relationship with another man is not a hurdle in this book (thank God!). In fact, his biggest problem is that discovering it’s ok to ask for help is not a simple lesson to learn and the men have a very bumpy road to their HEA.

On the whole, this was a wonderful story that was performed to perfection. Complete love and adoration for this book, the author and the narrator.