Heart warming, light read based on the Hallmark movie starring Jen Lilley and Brendan Penny.

I watched the movie first and then read the book. I wouldn’t normally do it in that order but in this case, the movie existed before the book was written/released.

So, if you’ve seen the movie you might be a bit disappointed that the book doesn’t continue much beyond the end of the movie. I feel like the epilogue is the only real continuation of the story beyond the movie. Want to solve that issue? Read the book first. I think you’ll give both the book and the movie a higher review if you do it that way. (Just my opinion of course)

If you haven’t seen the movie yet, here’s the summary of the storyline of the book.
Nikki is a talented cook but she’s not a professionally trained chef. When he job cooking at a diner comes to an end, she finds that it’s an uphill battle trying to find another job as a cook.
Her best friend and former co-worker gets a job working for Nikki’s idol. When Nikki visits he friend at work, she not only meets a handsome chef, she also finds herself getting a job with her idol.

This is a turning point in Nikki’s life.
Soon she starts trying out new recipes (after hours in the restaurant’s kitchen) and she starts bonding with her crush the executive chef Paul.

I liked the characters.
I loved the food descriptions.
The author kindly included one of the recipes in the book.
I wish she had also included the recipes for the waffle coated fried chicken and the peanut butter and root beef braised stew. I know, I’m being greedy but the descriptions of those recipes make you hungry! I would try either of those recipes in a heartbeat and I just may try the chili recipe that was included too.

I got to read an early e book edition of this story from NetGalley.
I recommend reading the book, then maybe making up a batch of the chili to enjoy while watching the movie.
And I also suggest that of the author isn’t totally done with her final draft, maybe she could include that peanut butter root beer braised stew recipe :)

A self taught chef + Cordon Bleu Chef = sparks fly when recipes are cooked. The story goes thus Nikki has a flair for food. Though self taught, food speaks to her in a way that makes her a natural. Paul on the other end, is a Cordon Bleu Chef, who cooks but the dishes appear uninspired. Enter the bad guy, Holly Hansen, who wants Nikki’s recipes but not her talent.

And then circumstances occur, and the universe throws Nikki and Paul together and then stands back to enjoy the sparks which fly when tempers and passion rage.

This is my first book by Liz Issacson, and I am pretty sure it ain’t going to be my last. Opposites attract, even if they are cooking in different ways. Egos clash even when they secretly agree and love each other’s cooking.

I love the way, Liz has described the Nikki and Paul, they are different, but at the same time, they compliment each other like two pieces of a puzzle. The skirmishes these two have, throughout the story, left me laughing most times, and sighing with longing, the rest. The other characters provide the right support to the story to make the book so much more entertaining.

I like the contariness of the characters in the backdrop of cooking. I love the recipes and seeing others cook, though I hate to cook. I like the way Liz makes these characters flawed but wholly likable. I love the way the two join forces together at the pop-up restaurant to show their individual flairs and to upturn nefarious plans.

Though romance is not my favourite genre, I wanted Paul to be a bit more dashing, but on the whole, it is a sweet fast read. Love always wins.

I tried multiple times to download this, but it kept downloading something called Christmas in Homestead instead. Was unable to read or review.