ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a nice, sweet romance. The MCs here are Elle, a former child star who now mostly does voiceover work and is trying to get back into screen work and Ashley, who ‘stole’ Elle’s big break from her and is currently staring in a reality show that also features her ex-husband. The two are slated to appear on a Masterchef type cooking show competing against each other.

Elle has a 16 year old daughter, who she had when she was 16, derailing her tv career, Ashley benefitted from this by taking the role meant for Elle, which sets up the ‘enemies to lovers’ plot. Ashley also can’t cook, which makes a cooking competition an interesting choice for keeping herself in the spotlight.

Both characters are lovely and interesting. The enemies thing is sorted pretty quickly and Elle also volunteers to help Ashley learn to cook, so they spend a lot of time together. The side characters include both of their agents and Elle’s daughter Lucie, and Benji, one of the other cooking contestants and they all added to the story.

The MCs make a sweet couple, and all is going swimmingly til a big reveal from their past causes the usual 75% mark drama. I found the resolution to the cooking show a bit ridiculous and the ‘reveal’ also seemed like something that wouldn’t have stayed under wraps for so long. I also found the epilogue a bit too HEA, but it’s a minor quibble. If you’re in the mood for something light with low angst, this should hit the spot. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

A great read for a cooking competition fan! The main characters are Elle and Ashley. They are both contestants in a celebrity cooking show. Elle and Ashley were rivals when they were younger and nothing has changed through the years. Elle is looking to get some attention from the show and Ashley is trying to keep the fan base of "Queen of the Castle" interested.
There is one small problem, Ashley does not know how to cook. She tries to get help from a chef, but that fizzles out. When Elle finds out she was getting help, she offers to help. Sparks fly between the women all the while each are trying to win this competition.
I would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written except for the attempts of some Italian recipes that were better to be left alone (or being told properly, not American style). Aside from that, it was enjoyable

A decent, predictable romance. Some of the dialogue felt stiff and the sex scenes/mentions of being turned on felt quite jarring but otherwise fairly average for me.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC.

Food and celebrity romance, what’s not to like? I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Elle Bissett’s career as an actress and voice over has seen better days. Since her stint at a successful teen series, career opportunities are few and far between. Elle was supposed to star in another big teen hit, but when she became pregnant the role went to wholesome girl next door Ashley Castle. 16 years later the best her manager can get her is a spot in a celebrity cooking competition. It’s true, she loves to cook. If only one of her competitors wouldn’t be Ashley freaking Castle.

Ashley Castle’s image as a home maker is frayed at the edges. Since she divorced her husband and came out of the closet her reality tv show has taken a viewer hit. She needs to ramp up her image and her agent gets her a spot on a celebrity cooking competition. There are only two problems. One, she can’t cook to save her life. Two, one of her competitors is Elle. The woman whose role she stole in the hit tv-show that launched her career and shot down Elle’s.

Elle and Ashley get off on the wrong foot but as a true romance will dictate, they get over their initial grudges and hit it off pretty soon. The way these two connect over cooking is really sweet. As a food lover myself, I had my mouth watering on more than a few occasions when recipes or dishes were described. The connection Elle and Ashley build is strong and throughout the book you can’t help but root for these two ladies.

This is an easy read that will leave you a little lighter than when you began reading. The writing is not overly complex. Nothing too heavy and all the more scrumptious as far as the food part goes. Being a person that appreciates food will definitely help the enjoyment of this story.

So put in your apron, cook (or order in) something delicious and settle in for this tasty story.

Cute. well-paced and unique. The characters were likeable and relatable. Great job. 4 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Bella Book for this ARC.

Elle Bissett has been acting forever; however, roles have become few and far between. She has received a lot of recognition for doing voice overs but even that has stopped. So, her agent persuades Elle to go on a celebrity cook off show in order to get her face out there with the hopes of getting some acting gigs.

Ashley Castle is also an actress on a reality show with her ex-husband. Originally the show was developed to portray a happily married couple, but since Ashley’s divorce, the ratings have been falling and there is the question of whether or not the show will be renewed. Ashley’s character is presented as a happy homemaker who can do everything wonderfully. Her agent convinces her that she should go on the celebrity cook off show in order to bolster her audience appeal and maybe get her own show renewed. There is only one problem…she cannot cook at all.

Both Elle and Ashley are contestants who must cook. As a teenager, Elle lost a role to Ashley and has held a grudge ever since. Of course, Ashley doesn’t realize this and tries to become friends with Elle. It is not until one evening encounter that they find a way to work together.

I felt the story was interesting and kept my attention. The plot was simple with no major twists. The main characters were likeable, and I enjoyed the supporting character of Benji, the teen blogger. The developing relationship between Ashley and Elle was even paced. My only complaint was that I felt the ending was rushed. The epilogue helped, but I just felt it was lacking.

I enjoyed An Acquired Taste by Ms. Ritz and look forward to reading future books. I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this ARC from Bella Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This author was new to me. The main characters were both likeable and the reality TV show setting was interesting and unique. The romantic storyline was well paced and the writing was engaging. The reality TV competition setting and the historic drama between the two leads could have been milked more and a touch of angst would have added to the story, however I still enjoyed it. Nice and light summer read.

Ashley Castle has been in show business as long as she can remember. After her skint on her show she has been making a living by appearing on a reality show, along with her ex-husband. But since her divorce she has a feeling her show won’t be picked up again so Ashley, along with her agent, has been searching for something to keep her name and face out there. Hoping another show might be the answer but the only show was a cooking show ‘ Celebrity Cook Off Championship’. Problem is she cannot cook, on her reality show there was someone else doing that, while Ashely took the credit.
Elle Bissett has been in the business forever but lately she seems to be missing so the best way to get her some face time is by appearing on the same show as Ashely. She has a daughter and that’s really why she was doing it, apparently Luci has a crush on one of the other competitors , plus she knows her way around the kitchen.
Both women remembered competing for the same roles. So we have some history between them. Not friendly, that's for sure. Ms Ritz has brought together two women that you will find yourself rooting for. Great character’s, great supporting cast has made this a very entertaining read. Very, very good.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bella Books

This book was exactly what I thought it would be - a cute little romance, and a quick summer read.

The characters were both likable and relatable. Despite them both being celebrities, they were both down to earth, and the writer created them expertly so that the reader really wanted them to be together.

I could use a little more angst as the characters went from being enemies to besties in what felt like a few pages, but otherwise, I would recommend.

This is a story about Ashley Castle who has been a tv actor since she was a teenager. Currently she stars in a reality tv show with her male ex and it is sinking in the ratings. Elle Bissett was teenage tv star too but got pregnant as a 16 year old a quit the business. Recently she been working as a voice actor in a children’s puppet show. She gets written off the show due to her age.

Meanwhile both agents decide to cast Elle on a cooking tv reality show and to add Ashley as well so that she can show a domestic side to her audience.

Elle holds Ashley responsible for her past tv show failures and deeply resents having to work with her now. This turns into an enemies to lovers story. It’s light hearted with lots of good food recipes and the making of the various recipes was the best part for me.

If you are looking for an easy and lighthearted read with a dash of cooking, thus one’s for you.

ARC revived from NetGalley fir an honest and voluntary review.

Voice actor Elle Bissett needs urgent work after being booted from her long serving voice-over role. So even when her agent puts her on a celebrity cooking show and she has to face off with Ashley Castle, aka the one who took her part in the casting of an old teenage show, she vows to win it.

Ashley Castle runs the risk of losing her reality tv show, Queen of the Castle. In order to sell her credibility as a homemaker, she joins Celebrity Cook Off but has a glaring problem; she can’t cook to save her life.

Ashley is so clueless when it comes to cooking and her sneak offs to cooking classes contributed to plenty of laughs. The cooking in the book made me itch to start prepping, creating, cooking and eating. The visuals you get in your mind’s eyes while Elle brought Ashley on a culinary learning journey was such a plus that you can literally smell and taste the food and of them falling in love. I throughly enjoyed the read as the book has the same satisfying end akin to a good meal that leaves you feeling upbeat, wholesome and all around happy.

I just reviewed An Acquired Taste by Cheri Ritz. Thank you NetGalley and Bella Books for the ARC.

I love queer reality TV novels, and this is a great addition to the list!

Elle and Ashley were rival child actors and are now competitors on a cooking TV show. Things start heating up between them, but can they let go of the clash in their past?

Both women are wonderful characters with sweet personalities. I loved how kind Elle is to her daughter and the YouTube star, and Ashley grows so confident but not in an overbearing way.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review!

This is a fun light read that is perfect for a summer day. Elle Bissett and Ashley Castle were up for the same television roles when they were teenagers. When Elle became pregnant at 16 she continued to find voice over work but wasn’t in front of the camera. Ashley followed up a successful series with a reality tv show where she marries and later divorces her teen co-star. All this is just the set up to the start of the story.

Now in their young 30s both Elle and Ashley have the chance to get some face and name recognition by appearing on a celebrity cooking show. And each hopes to stay on as long as they can to hopefully boost their individual careers. Elle’s mom was a French trained cook giving her an advantage when it comes to cooking. Ashley on the other hand has many talents but cooking is not one of them.

I have read a lot of cooking competition romances but love that this one actually talks a bit about the food. Elle is genuinely nice and wants to help Ashley when given the chance. The rivalry gets resolved fairly early and then you just want to sit in the kitchen with them while they cook, flirt and steal a kiss. If you want something light and entertaining this is a perfect escape for a few hours.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bella Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

Cute! Elle and Ashley never actually met but they have a past. 20 years later they end up competitors in a cooking show, and while Elle is an excellent chef, Ashley can barely boil water. There’s little angst, at least romance wise and the story is cute. A nice, light summer read, I enjoyed this.

This is the first time I've read a book by Cheri Ritz, and I wasn't disappointed

Elle and Ashley are rivals from childhood, a celebrity cooking show puts them back in each others company.

The attraction hits them both but can Elle move on from the past.

This book was cute, with some funny moments.

I found once started, it was difficult to put down, 'Just one more chapter' comes to mind.

Would I recommend: Yes if you want a cute story that will keep you entertained

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this quaint book

a reality celebrity cooking show
celebrities

2 rivals that were in famous shows one ended up pregnant in real life and lost her job the other took her role...so maybe not friends

but the attraction between them starts sizzling before the bacon hit the pan

an entertaining read that kept me laughing throughout