Cooking Up Love (A Five Senses Novel) Paperback – April 6, 2019

Very good story, highly recommend. It is a standalone read with a HEA. A young woman living in New York and working as a chef on a reality show for a very popular diva is notified that her beloved aunt has suddenly passed away. Her aunt has left her the café that she owns in a small town. Having spent her summers with her aunt she was introduced to cooking and it turned into a career. Since she has a big life in New York she has no intentions of trying to open and reinvent the café that is in a pretty run down state. She plans to get it up to code and then sell it. The contractor that shows up to help her with the work turns out to be quite the hunky guy. She is not really interested until her despised co-worker butt dials her and she overhears her getting it on with some sleaze in the bathroom at a club. Turns out the sleaze is her almost fiancé! Her mind is made up, she hires the contractor.This is their story. It is really, really good. There are lots of things going on in this story. There is a big mystery that is to be solved. There is a crazy ex-wife of his to be dealt with and there is her fear of close spaces. All play a big part in the story. it is very interesting and will hold your attention. The hero is great. He is sweet, loving, and he really wants this girl. I loved how he stood his ground when she was going a little bit over the top with her thinking, etc. Liked the ROMEOs as well. They always add a lot of character to the story. There are a set of 5 year old twins that add a lot of laughs. Lots of good side characters that will probably one day get a book of their own.A very good read and one I definitely enjoyed and recommend. There is a lot of sex mentioned but nothing real graphic. Mostly just implied so that anyone could read without being offended! Of course, if you get offended over handholding, then this won't be the one for you! But it is a fun read and leaves you feeling good.I was not paid for this review. I am not an author nor do I know one. I am not kin to this writer. I am a reader and this is my opinion, nothing more, nothing less. 6/12/17

**spoiler alert**What a fun and sexy read this turned out to be. Full of romance and suspense, “Cooking Up Love” is a well-written, engaging and entertaining. I liked both protagonists, Jack and Jem. The romance between them was flirty and very sexy. Okay, I lied. I loved Jack. Sexy doesn’t begin to describe him. The fact that he’s a carpenter, basically my go-to dream man, well let’s just say he’d look amazing with a hammer in his hand with or without clothes on. Sorry, sorry…back to my review. A-hem. With the story being told from both H/h’s POV, I loved reading Jack’s, especially how he knew right from the start that Jem was the woman for him. They were both open and honest right from the start about their feelings for each other. I so appreciated how Jack told Jem once and for all how he wanted nothing to do with his ex-wife, Tessa, and that he wouldn’t talk about her anymore or tolerate any jealous angst Jem might throw his way because he had no feelings for her, only for Jem. Even better, Jem accepted his explanation and they moved on with their relationship. Instead of injecting any ridiculousness or formulaic angst that would take up so many pages, the author went the route (a big thank you by the way) of bringing it all out in the open and being honest about it. I also enjoyed the supporting characters, mainly Jack’s family, and the town they all reside in. Why four stars and not five? The mystery pertaining to the environmental group which resulted in the death of Jem’s brother didn’t come across as suspenseful as was intended. It was obvious right from the start that Grant (the lawyer) had something to do with it. You couldn’t get away from it. Yes, there was a shocker at the end, but whatever suspense the author tried to create throughout the story just did not work. That being said, having really enjoyed “Cooking Up Love”, I most definitely plan on reading the rest of the series.

I was so excited to finally get the opportunity to read this series and let me tell you, it was worth the wait. Now I see what all the hype was about. I so loved this book!!!!I couldn't help but fall in love with Jack and Jem. Those two were so perfect together. I loved how open and caring Jack was. He was every womans fantasty super hero. He can rescue me anytime!! Now Jem, what a sweetheart! She is so warm hearted, caring, and an all around wonderful person. I could see being friends with someone like her. She was a joy to read about.This book is written as multi pov. I could have used a wee bit more of Jack's pov but what there was of it, I loved. There was a few editing issues, extra or deleted words, etc. that should have been caught in editing, and it did distract me, but I was able to easily get back into the story.I could not help being drawn in by Jack and Jem.I can not wait to read more of this series! This was so well written. The storyline was great, the characters were so easy to fall in love with and to follow, and the dialogue was so engaging that I felt as if I was part of the conversation.All in all a super great read.Would I recommend this book? Absolutely!Would I read more from this author? Absolutely!! Chomping at the bit to read book 2, 3, 4, etc...

This book was a romance. It has a good sub plot, but most of the energy goes into the romance side. More plot advancing would enhance the narrative. Good character descriptions and development.

I enjoyed my first read my Gemma. A little mystery. A little tragedy. A touch of humor. Romance and tasteful hot lov'in. And of course our HEA. I only took one star away because a couple things were just glossed over. I figured right away the brothers death was more important, but they never stated why aunt Caro, died so suddenly....didn't make sense. I also never understood why the aunt never went to FBI with her evidence to avenge her nephew's death. The whole ex wife issue was a little too easy, but we do get a little surprise in the mystery. Over all though, a great story.

Hat mir richtig gut gefallen und ich hab mir im Anschluss auch gleich den zweiten Teil gekauft, was aber nicht bedeutet das man dieses Buch nicht allein lesen kann, das zweite ist mit anderen Charakteren, aber auch die jetzigen kommen ab und zu vor. :)

Leichte Lektüre für zwischendurch. Man darf nicht zu viel erwarten, es ist ziemlich vorhersehbar und die beiden Hauptcharaktere Jem und Jack sind mir etwas zu perfekt.Die Sexszenen sind nicht übertrieben und geschmackvoll beschrieben, kommen mir aber so vor, als wenn sie nur eingefügt wurden, weil es wohl vom Leser erwartet wird.Das Buch hat mir nicht viel Zeit gekostet und war gratis, darum bereue ich nicht, es gelesen zu haben :)