Chef on Top by M.J. O’Shea

M.J. O'Shea - Chef On Top Cover s rebh0Title: Chef on Top

Series: Sizzling in the Kitchen 03

Author: M.J. O’Shea

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (126 pages)

ASIN: B07V6FRDNZ

Publisher: M.J. O’Shea

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖 3 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Chef Jake Casey has never been what you’d call… liked. By anyone. He was the odd outcast son of the town drunk, and he’s spent his adult life doing everything he can to be nothing like his father. If that meant stomping on a few dozen toes, so be it. But contrary to popular belief, he is human. It gets a little old being alone all the time. When he lands a new job on the other side of the country, Jake decides he’s going to change. New city, new restaurant, new Jake.

It’s going pretty well until his first and only friend’s ex shows up with a fiancé in tow. Ty is horrified. Jake might not have much practice with the friend thing, but he decides he’ll do what everyone in the movies always does – he offers to be Ty’s fake boyfriend. It can’t go wrong. Right?

Ty Caldecott knows better. His life isn’t a teen rom-com and situations like these always end up in humiliation. But the prospect of seeing Taran every day with that ring shining on his finger makes Ty want to vomit. Ty doesn’t want to look like a pining loser, so he tells Jake he’s in.

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Chef on Top is the third book in MJ O’Shea’s self-published series, Sizzling in the Kitchen. Unfortunately, at the time I read this series I read another series (Recipe for Love by Ari McKay), and so I mixed things up and only just realised that I did a review for one series and not this one. Which sucks, because this won’t have as much detail as I usually try to put in reviews since it’s been almost two months since I read these books.

While I enjoyed the story, I felt that there was a certain spark missing from the story that meant that I did not enjoy this one as much as I had thought I would, or as much as I had wanted. It wasn’t so much that there was a HFN end, instead of an HEA (that doesn’t bother me so much, especially if there is meant to be a fourth book). It was more that the end seemed rather abrupt. This also felt odd because this book is significantly shorter than previous two books. No idea if that makes sense or any difference, but there you have it.

This book follows the man who was originally introduced in book 1 as celebrity chef Baldwin Powell’s arch-rival, Jake Casey. Things aren’t all what they seem when it comes to Jake Casey, though he has a great passion for food which led him to be one of the biggest chefs in New York, he wasn’t exactly happy. The most recent development was when Baldwin offered Jake a job in his new restaurant in Las Vegas. Jake grabs the opportunity and is ready to turn his life around. The next big shift in his life is when his best friend in world, Ty, needs help. Jake takes it upon himself to save Ty from humiliation when he has to face his ex, suggesting to be fake boyfriends.

This is a really light and breezy type of romance, there isn’t too much drama or angst, and despite the story not having a heck of a lot of spark, Ty and Jake have got enough chemistry bringing the story along. I strongly recommend reading this series in order, while each book features a new couple the story picks up after the previous book and there are a lot of references that require knowing the background to fully get the storylines.

Chef vs. Chef by M.J. O’Shea

M.J. O'Shea - Chef vs Chef Cover bhw93Title: Chef vs Chef

Series: Sizzling in the Kitchen 02

Author: M.J. O’Shea

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (167 pages)

ASIN: B07SPJJ9V6

Publisher: MJ O’Shea (June 2019)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Bobby Diaz has worked his whole life to get where he is – running a restaurant with his two closest friends, no boss, no stress. When his best friend Baldwin gets the opportunity of a lifetime, he asks Bobby to take over the restaurant while he’s gone. Bobby will miss his friend, but he’s excited to put himself to the test. He can’t believe he’s getting the chance to finally be in charge.

Cal Mayer is thirty and starting over. His last relationship was a failure. His job went down the drain. So when his cousin Pete, a.k.a Baldwin Powell celebrity chef, offers him a gig in his restaurant, he can’t help but to jump at the offer to reinvent himself.

Bobby and Cal don’t exactly hit it off—to put it lightly. Bobby resents getting Cal dumped in his lap. Cal doesn’t appreciate Bobby’s frosty attitude. They’re stuck together day and night, and their chemistry is undeniable… but will it be sweet summer love or a case of too many chefs in the kitchen?

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Chef vs. Chef is the second book in MJ O’Shea’s self-published series, Sizzling in the Kitchen. Unfortunately, at the time I read this series I read another series (Recipe for Love by Ari McKay), and so I mixed things up and only just realised that I did a review for one series and not this one. Which sucks, because this won’t have as much detail as I usually try to put in reviews since it’s been almost two months since I read these books.

Bobby Diaz is more than happy with his life now. After head chef, and friend, Baldwin Powell was unceremoniously fired and eventually found his own HEA with the love of his life and a small-town restaurant, Bobby was more than happy to follow. And it has become a dream, helping his friends run their restaurant and out of the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. But life is getting better for Baldwin which leaves Bobby with the dream opportunity to be more independent and run the place while Baldwin and Murphy are gone, something that his friends trust him to do but know that it will take more than just Bobby to keep the place going. Bobby probably understands this on some level, but it annoys him that a stranger wants to disregard his history and expertise with the place.

This is where Cal Mayer enters the story. His cousin is none other than celebrity chef Baldwin Powell, real name being Pete. Cal’s own world has just gone to hell, with heartbreak from a broken relationship as well as losing his job (in some ways his story echoes his cousin’s in book 1). Not really knowing what to expect, he went to his cousin’s restaurant expecting to fully be in charge, not just share the duties with a man that knew that place as well as Baldwin and Murphy do.

So, it unsurprising that Bobby and Cal do not start on the right foot. They get along as best they can for a few weeks while they learnt about each other and Cal learnt about his cousin’s restaurant. I wouldn’t go as far saying that this is an enemies to lovers type of romance, but it is certainly slow burn fraught with two headstrong men that won’t give into anything without a fight.

I strongly recommend reading this series in order, while each book features a new couple the story picks up after the previous book and there are a lot of references that require knowing the background to fully get the storylines. Much like the first book this a slow and sweet romance. I recommend this for anyone who loves a bit of romance in the kitchen.

Chef in the Wild by M.J. O’Shea

M.J. O'Shea - Chef In The Wild Cover eb3n83Title: Chef in The Wild

Series: Sizzling in the Kitchen 01

Author: M.J. O’Shea

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (202 pages)

ASIN: B07R6ZB245

Publisher: M.J. O’Shea

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Chef Baldwin Powell has everything he could ever want … until he doesn’t. Fancy parties, celebrities, magazine write-ups, his own little empire of stainless steel and fire – he thought all of it was forever. It only takes one awful meeting for everything he’s worked for to be yanked out from underneath him. And one fateful meeting with the owner of food truck, of all things, to realize maybe what he thought he wanted isn’t what he needs after all.

Murphy Haynes chose a different route. He decided right away that high-pressure kitchens weren’t for him so he took his skills on the road. If he happens to stop in a certain well known chef’s neighborhood more often than anywhere else on his route, sue him. He’s his own boss for a reason and there’s something about Baldwin Powell that he can’t resist.

They’re opposites in nearly every way – On paper it should be a disaster. But life and love in the wilds of Manhattan rarely work out the way anyone expects.

Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Chef in the Wild is the first book in MJ O’Shea’s self-published series, Sizzling in the Kitchen. This is the first in a four book series. Unfortunately, at the time I read this series I read another series (Recipe for Love by Ari McKay), and so I mixed things up and only just realised that I did a review for one series and not this one. Which sucks, because this won’t have as much detail as I usually try to put in reviews since it’s been almost two months since I read these books.

So quick rundown on the story:

Baldwin Powell is one of the most well known chefs in New York City. He’s at the top of his game and a chef at a 5 Michelin star restaurant. And then when he thought that his boss had called him in to offer him the next big opportunity in his career it all comes crashing down, and Baldwin loses his position to his archnemesis in the business. I will admit the boss’s move seemed a little silly but who am I to argue when it sets the scene and move the story forward?

After moping for weeks, Baldwin finally leaves his apartment and ends up at a food truck which makes all manner of gourmet wraps. All them made and sold by Murphy, who also has a massive passion for food and while he has the cooking skills to run his own kitchen, but at the moment all his passions are in the long hours required for him to run his hugely successful food truck. He’s certainly popular on the scene of New York foodies, which more than anything makes me want to make the marathon flight to visit!

There is a definite spark between the two men from the get go, and their friendship blossoms quite quickly as Baldwin finds both Murphy and his food truck fascinating. However, life leads Baldwin out of Manhattan and to his family, in the small town where he grew up. Baldwin’s recent career bombs along with getting to know Murphy has him thinking about his future and getting back to what he truly dreamed to do. The only problem is he’s not sure how Murphy fits into it at all.

I think the only thing that sort of disappointed me was relying so heavily on the whole miscommunication trope to help these guys through to the end. Otherwise they are fascinating and its so easy to see that they are written for each other.

This is a slow burn and exceedingly sweet romance. Baldwin and Murphy have excellent chemistry and it really comes up when it comes to their mutual love for food, which is what keeps them together long enough to get to know each other. In fact, for me it was the passion for food that made the book so real and relatable, in between all the romance and brooding on Baldwin’s behalf. I recommend this for anyone who loves a bit of romance in the kitchen and a bit of romance in New York.

Chef On Top by M.J. O’Shea Blog Tour & Giveaway!

M.J. O'Shea - Chef On Top RTBANNER-58

Hi guys! We have M.J. O’Shea stopping by today with the tour for her new release Chef On Top, we have a brilliant giveaway so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~

M.J. O'Shea - Chef On Top Cover 373yht

Chef On Top

(Sizzling In The Kitchen 03)
by

M.J. O’Shea

Chef Jake Casey has never been what you’d call… liked. By anyone. He was the odd outcast son of the town drunk, and he’s spent his adult life doing everything he can to be nothing like his father. If that meant stomping on a few dozen toes, so be it. But contrary to popular belief, he is human. It gets a little old being alone all the time. When he lands a new job on the other side of the country, Jake decides he’s going to change. New city, new restaurant, new Jake. 

It’s going pretty well until his first and only friend’s ex shows up with a fiancé in tow. Ty is horrified. Jake might not have much practice with the friend thing, but he decides he’ll do what everyone in the movies always does – he offers to be Ty’s fake boyfriend. It can’t go wrong. Right?

Ty Caldecott knows better. His life isn’t a teen rom-com and situations like these always end up in humiliation. But the prospect of seeing Taran every day with that ring shining on his finger makes Ty want to vomit. Ty doesn’t want to look like a pining loser, so he tells Jake he’s in. 

It can’t go wrong.

Right?

.•.•.**❣️ Amazon US | Amazon UK ❣️**.•.•.

Continue reading “Chef On Top by M.J. O’Shea Blog Tour & Giveaway!”

Chef On Top by M.J. O’Shea Cover Reveal & Giveaway!

M.J. O'Shea - Chef On Top CRBANNER-15

Hi guys! We have M.J. O’Shea stopping by today with the cover for her upcoming release Chef On Top, we have a brilliant giveaway so check out the lovely cover and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~

M.J. O'Shea - Chef On Top Cover 373yht

Chef On Top

(Sizzling In The Kitchen 03)
by

M.J. O’Shea

Chef Jake Casey has never been what you’d call… liked. By anyone. He was the odd outcast son of the town drunk, and he’s spent his adult life doing everything he can to be nothing like his father. If that meant stomping on a few dozen toes, so be it. But contrary to popular belief, he is human. It gets a little old being alone all the time. When he lands a new job on the other side of the country, Jake decides he’s going to change. New city, new restaurant, new Jake. 

It’s going pretty well until his first and only friend’s ex shows up with a fiancé in tow. Ty is horrified. Jake might not have much practice with the friend thing, but he decides he’ll do what everyone in the movies always does – he offers to be Ty’s fake boyfriend. It can’t go wrong. Right?

Ty Caldecott knows better. His life isn’t a teen rom-com and situations like these always end up in humiliation. But the prospect of seeing Taran every day with that ring shining on his finger makes Ty want to vomit. Ty doesn’t want to look like a pining loser, so he tells Jake he’s in. 

It can’t go wrong.

Right?

.•.•.**❣️ Release date: 10th July 2019 ❣️**.•.•.

Continue reading “Chef On Top by M.J. O’Shea Cover Reveal & Giveaway!”