On the Steamy Side (Recipe for Love)

This is the second book in Louisa Edward's `A Recipe for Love' series. The first book was 'Can't Stand the Heat'. The characters are so much fun in this second installment. Devon Sparks is a celebrity chef -a Gordon Ramsay type reality-TV chef snob - except that Devon Sparks isn't British, he's got Adonis-like good looks and he's secretly lacking in self-confidence. My one complaint about Devon is that while other characters built him up to be an egocentric, womanizing blow-hard the moment he meets Lilah he's sort of on his best behavior (showing glimpse of the famous ego) and I never really bought his `jerk' reputation. When Devon's ten-year-old son, Tucker, is unexpectedly left in his care, Devon's world slowly unwinds and he is forced to examine his life. I genuinely enjoyed reading Devon's struggles and his transformation - especially because it wasn't easy, and the biggest obstacle to Devon's changes was Devon himself. It always makes for fascinating development and reading when readers can see the flaws in a character that they cannot recognize in themselves. I love, love, loved Lilah `Lolly' Tunkle. She's from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, and talks like it. At first I rolled my eyes at all her colloquialisms - i.e. "Oh my Stars and Stripes!" but then they started to help form this lovely, energetic, nurturing character and I found her speech-patterns to be one of my favorite things in the book. It helps that Charlaine Harris and Anna Paquin (on `True Blood') gave me some sort of reference and idea about how such phrases would actually sound. Lilah is an absolute hoot. She may act like a Southern-belle, but when push comes to shove she doesn't mind going toe-to-toe with Devon or her little charge, Tucker. Some of my favorite scenes involved Lilah shedding her `Southern hospitality' and showing her true feisty self. 'Steamy' is an example of infectiously funny writing. I love the fact that at times Ms. Edwards is quite aware of the fact that she is writing a `romance', and she'll become cleverly self-deprecating of the genre. It makes for an entertaining romance read when the author is clearly aware of her audience, and can sort of have an `in' joke with them about the schmaltziness of the genre. One thing I really loved about first book was the M/M subplot between sous chef, Frankie, and NYU student (and part-time waiter), Jess. Jess had just recently come out of the closet, and in `Can't Stand the Heat' he was experiencing his first love with Frankie. Jess is young and bright-eyed, about to start his arts degree in the fall. Frankie is British, in a punk band, smokes like a chimney and is a few years older than Jess. Frankie also has a less-than-savory romantic history, and Jess is his first *real* relationship. They were so sweet in `Can't Stand the Heat', and I remember wishing that Jess and Frankie had had a bigger role in that first book. Well, Ms. Edwards clearly anticipated fans reaction to Frankie/Jess - because it be

Louisa Edwards writes another scorching hot novel in On The Steamy Side. Lilah Jane Tunkle was tired of her boring and safe life back in Virginia. She jumps at the chance to go to New York City. Her friend Grant Holloway puts her up at his apartment and gets her a job at Market, NYC trendy restaurant. Lilah is floored when her one and only one night stand is the new temporary executive chef, Devon Sparks. Devon Sparks top chef of his popular TV show offers to help his friend Adam Temple at Market for two weeks. Should be a piece of cake right? But Devon was dealt another shocker when his young son is left in his care. He makes a deal with Lilah to be his son's live in nanny for two weeks. Devon is sure once he get Lilah under his roof he can get her back into his bed. Devon didn't count on Lilah making him stand up and take charge of his con. Growing up with less then ideal parents, Devon doubts his own parenting skills. Lilah sees the yearning in Devon's eyes when he looks at his son. She sets a plan in motion to bring father and son together. Staying out of Devon's bed seems to be a much harder plan to follow. On The Steamy Side is that and so much more. The chemistry between Devon and Lilah is tantalizing. Their relationship with Tucker Devon's son is deeply moving. I. enjoyed all the characters in this book and especially the working relationship in the kitchen. They made their own family in that kitchen. I am looking forward to the next book from this author.

On The Steamy Side by Louisa Edwards Publisher: St. Martin's Press Genre: Contemporary Romance Length: Full (376 pages) Louisa Edward's character development along with the undercurrent of dynamic sub-plots takes the reader into the restaurant and culinary scene with detail that can only be written from first-hand experience. Sophisticated television mogul and restaurateur Devon Sparks meets southern belle Lilah Jane Tunkle who left the south to find her way in New York City. In an effort to break out of her safe little life Lilah agrees to a one-night stand with the handsome and seemingly self-centered Devon. The sudden appearance of his long rejected nine-year-old son brings unresolved family issues to the fore. Slightly meddlesome Lilah finds herself embroiled in a family that is the poster child for dysfunctional and as hard as she tries cannot repair it all. Propelled into this book from the first in the series, Can't Stand the Heat, is a continuation of the relationship between Jess and Frankie. This is a dynamic sub-plot that touches upon choices in sexuality and age differences in relationships. These are two people who are both very self-aware yet unable to resolve their individual definitions of selfless love. What is striking about the characters in this book is that they are all believably flawed. Whether the struggle is with family dynamics, abandonment, or sexuality the reader wishes for the success of each to overcome the complications of simply being human. On the Steamy Side is fast paced and scintillating. And yes, this reviewer can't help but shamefully utilize the vernacular of the cooking industry: Boiling and searing love scenes aside, the complex relationships and self-discovery shared with the unique backdrop of the cut-throat and competitive culinary arts forces the reader to consume page after page as voraciously as the chefs can dish it up. Here is a sneak peak into the next book in the series: Just One Taste Just One Taste gives us a glimpse of life at a preeminent culinary school, with a nerdy professor and a hotshot student intent on seducing her with aphrodisiacs, before taking us back to the familiar crew at Market. We see where Wes Murphy, the extern who first showed up in CStH and then made Frankie crazy in OtSS, came from and meet the woman who shows him there's more to love than chemistry. Here's the blurb: HE HAS A HUNGRY MIND. Bad-boy chef Wes Murphy is dreading his final-semester cooking class--Food Chemistry 101--until he meets the new substitute teacher. Dr. Rosemary Wilkins is a feast for the eyes, though her approach to food is strictly academic. So Wes decides to rattle her test tubes by asking for her hands-on advice--on aphrodisiacs... SHE'S GOT LOVE DOWN TO A SCIENCE. Rosemary is a little wary about working with Wes, whose casual flirtations make her hot around the collar. But once they begin testing the love-enhancing power of chocolate, oysters, and strawberries, it becomes scientifi

Love, love, love this next installment in the Recipe For Love series! Devon and Lilah are a great pair - the chemistry between them just steams up the page (no pun intended). Lilah's Southern ways (and food!) make you fall in love with her and boy, does Devon need a woman like her! Their story makes for An-Impossible-To-Put-Down Read. This book is one of the best "escape" reads I've gotten my hands on in a long time. Contemporary romances like this are such a treat - like a box of magical chocolate bon-bons that somehow have no calories!!! I can't wait for JUST ONE TASTE, the third book in this series.

It's back to "Market" we go and another great installment in Louisa Edward's creative "Recipe For Love" series. I really adored the first book in this series, but Ms. Edwards definitely kicked it up a notch with this latest release. From the moment Lilah Jane falls into Devon's arms (literally) she won me over with her sass, wisdom, and appeal. Devon Sparks is the perfect bad boy chef with an oversized ego and a big lesson to learn. I'm really enjoying the straight contemporary romance novel these days, and this one hit my favorite sweet spot with lots of humor, plenty of sizzle, and a surprisingly emotional story. Can't wait for the next one!