*sorry i had already posted right onto goodreads weeks ago and didn't realize it didn't post here!)
What a great read! Will definitely be doing a reread soon! I really enjoyed the characters! The story was great and i loved all the details of working together in the kitchen! If you're looking for a fun read this is your next book! I couldn't put it down! The book had great rhythm!

I knew this story when it was a fanfic and Katrina killed it by reforming it into a debut novel!

The fanfic will always live rent free in my head but Knives, Seasoning, & a Dash of Love will live forever in my beating heart 💓

Okay okay okay. Let me start by saying that I was already in the middle of two books when I started this one (I’m a mood reader, sue me). Suffice it to say, I stopped reading everything so I could binge this book in two days. It was that good.

Sweet loving romance with a couple that cares about each other so deeply? Check. Hilarious banter that’s so smart I was laughing out loud? Check. Spicy scenes that had me giggling and curling my toes? Check. Deep backstories for each of the protagonists that make you want to genuinely root for their individual growth? Check. Mouth-watering discussions of food nonstop because of a culinary setting? Check. Cultural awareness and accuracy for a SEXY ASIAN MALE LEAD????? C H E C K.

This book had it all. I’ve already recommended it to two people, and I have no intention of slowing down. This blew me away as a debut. Kudos to Katrina Kwan, and I’m so excited for any other novel she comes out with. A perfect rom com that took me out of my romance slump!!! 5 (or more) ⭐️

☃️🎄Mini Book Review🎄☃️

Title: Knives, Seasonings, and a Dash of Love
Author: Katrina Kwan
Series: N/A
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release: December 19th, 2023
Genre: Romance
Format: Ebook
Length: 370 pages
Finished: December 31st, 2023
Thoughts:

Last book of 2023 and I’m not gonna lie. This one was a rough reading experience for me. Was it cute? Yes! Absolutely, it was cute! But it just wasn’t my jam. I’m not sure if it was the 3rd person present tense (it was very hard for me to read for some reason) or the insta-love (I’m not hating on that either), or if it was the fact that by 30% of the book, they were already a couple when their differences could have been a tad more explored, in my opinion.

This is what I love about authors, writing, and books. Everyone has something they are attracted to or what they feel is the perfect story for them. This is a Reylo trope book where they get together fast and you explore their relationship together more than the usual book where they get together halfway or even 75% of the book and you catch a glimpse (unless it is a series). Everyone has a choice in how they prefer their love stories. This one just wasn’t for me. I felt that the plot wasn’t lost, but held no emotional impact. When they finally got to Eden’s problem, it was wham bam thank you ma’am. When they got to Alexander’s problem, it was also fast but understandable. Everything seemed rushed and not fully formed. I didn’t really get to emotionally attach to the story.

There is definitely spice, but I found myself skipping through it. It was kind of awkward and slightly cringey, but there were some okay moments! I also frowned at the amount of times the author had to tell us that Eden is small and tiny and Alexander is Tall and broad. It was stated A LOT.

I did love the foodie aspect of the book. I am a foodie and work in the F&B industry for 10+ years. So I love the Back of the House kitchen banter, the line cook found family, and the description of recipes. That was nice to see. I also liked the focus on one’s identity, how people can easily manipulate you, mold you into what they want, and the feeling of emptiness and feeling lost. It’s relatable and we ALL have been there. But that rediscovery of one’s self and passion was nice to read.

I did like the book, but it fell a bit flat for me. I would read another book from Katrina Kwan for sure as she definitely shows to have a lot of potential! Can’t wait to see her growth as a writer!

loved it a lot but felt like smth was missing tbh, the characters were good
thank you netgalley for the arc

I loved this book so much - this was a great debut, and I absolutely read what comes next from this author. I'm not a huge fan of insta-love, which is really my only issue with this book. Other than that, I loved it - great voice, great diversity, great banter.

dnf @ 20%

It definitely didn't work for me, I found the narrative quite silly. And I didn't really like the characters.

A sweet romance set in the fast paced world of a Michelin starred restaurant. Alexander is feeling stagnant as head chef with a traumatic family background. Eden is a chef with a tragic past and a secret. When Eden comes to work with Alex sparks fly and Eden’s sunshine starts to temper Alexander’s grumpy exterior.

I really enjoyed reading this debut! The characters are well described and very entertaining. The romance is slow paced and responsible but also sweet. Eden is a strong but kind character who stands up for what’s right.
The story is a little predictable but that makes it comforting.
Read if you like
Food
Strong but quiet female leads
Grumpy x sunshine
Male character who spoils female character (is this a trope 😂)

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Eden Monroe is the newly hired sous chef at a Michelin star restaurant and it’s possible that she embellished on her resume and isn’t even close to qualifying for the job….
Alexander Chen is the head chef at La Rouge and runs a no bs kitchen with an iron fist. His staff both fear and respect him so when his new sous chef talks back to him and doesn’t take his sh!t, he takes an interest in her.
After spending time together inside and outside of the kitchen, the two discover things about each other that neither have ever shared before. Eden opens up about her childhood and Alexander accepts the reason he’s become unhappy as a chef.
With outside forces threatening both of their careers, Eden and Alexander have to face their fears and hold onto the love they were lucky to find.

I love this book. I had so much fun reading it seeing these characters become better versions of themselves. Eden and Alexander struggle with things that so many other people experience in their lives. It was nice to see these hardships described and dealt with so eloquently.
The love displayed through Eden and Alexander was so beautiful. Their kindness and understanding towards one another was heartwarming and something I love seeing in the books I read. You can tell they are soulmates.
I also enjoyed the dynamic between all the kitchen staff and the MC’s. I loved their trivia nights and how in the end they end up in business together. The friendships made this book even better.

I truly enjoyed this book so much.
My rating 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall this was a 4.5 ⭐️ read for me.

I have to start by explaining that contemporary romance is not my normal genre. However, that said, I really enjoyed this one, with some small caveats!

I really enjoyed the pacing of this novels, it didn’t move too slowly and I was surprised how quickly the romance between the two developed in the story. Sometimes, it felt too easy… but that said, there was more than solely the romance here, we also got to explore the background of both these characters and how they were there to emotionally support each other. It was refreshing to see not just the fun smut scenes but also the emotional intimacy, which felt real and applicable. These elements helped the story feel a little messier and injected more “life” and relatability to the story.

I also really loved each character, and the side characters introduced. I loved Eden’s sassy personality combined with her more tender mannerisms and the protectiveness held for her friends.
Alex was a great example of a grumpy character with a lot of underlying context that we discover as the story unfolds. His was the most stark character arc & also my favorite.

This is a standalone and we even get a glimpse of life “afterwards” which was really nice closure.

Would I re-read this? Absolutely, it was a fun & mostly feel good story!

As soon as I saw a relation to food and cooking in the title of this book I wanted to read it. And what a charming and fun book to read. Although I am not much of a romance reader I really enjoyed this one as it was paced fast enough that it didn't bore, it had plenty of fun and laughter in it, love the grumpy Alexander and Eden was a joy.

This was a quick and easy read for me and I enjoyed the writing, the characters and the light-hearted fun. If all romance novels were like this I would probably read more.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Country Press & Review for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

while i was absolutely in love with the idea of the book, the writing somehow did not keep me entertained. maybe it was my fault, but I just couldn't read it entirely. the romance just felt forced in a way and yeah :(

This book is delicious!

I loved it. Grumpy-sunshine? Yes, please. Found family? Gimme. No third-act break-up? Sign me up right now! I loved the two main characters and felt like they were realistically written (especially Eden when it came to the events of the last few chapters).

I would also seriously buy a recipe book with the foods mentioned in it.

Thanks go to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.

4.75 ⭐ || 3.5 🌶️
This book was SO charming and I can't stop gushing about it--what a hidden gem to finish off the year! Alexander and Eden's story (hellooooooooooo Reylo-fic) was a nonstop fast-burn, flaming hot love full of dealing with one's past, overcoming obstacles both in and out of the kitchen and a little bit of gourmet food porn.

"Yes, chef" has never been hotter. I'm going to rewatch The Bear now.

Thank you to Net Galley & Lake Country Press and Review for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alexander Chen, a Chinese-American chef who has several Michelin stars to his name, rules his kitchen with an iron fist and fiery temper. Yet when he hires Eden Monroe as his sous chef, he starts to see life differently. Yet Eden is hiding a secret. She has embellished her resumé to land herself the job and she knew Alexander as Shang when he was younger, and they were both training to be chefs.
But he wasn’t always like this. Eden knew him back when he still went by his real name, Shang. He used to be sweet and helpful and definitely not the second coming of the devil himself. Eden needs the job if she is to finally get enough month together to hire a private detective to find her family. As she tries to keep her distance emotionally from Alex, Eden soon realises that that will be more difficult than she thought.
At first, it was the cover that fascinated me but from the very first chapter, I was captivated. I was amazed to discover this was a debut novel as the character development was so cleverly done. Bit by bit, the stories behind Eden and Alexander are told, such that I found myself dragging myself away from the book. The chemistry between the pair is intense but that does not detract from the story. I so look forward to reading more from this author. A great read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a well written, face paced book. You could literally read this book in one sitting.
-grumpy sunshine
-I hate everyone but you
-chef
-workplace romance

Eden becomes a chef for Alexander’s new Sous Chef. She needs the job urgently so she lies on her regime. She realises that Alexander is someone she knows from the past. She realises he completely went from a sunshine, caring character to grumpy, mean. Tensions arises between, secrets come out.

I enjoyed reading this book, both Edens and Alexander’s banter was literally the best thing throughout the book. They both easily stole my heart and they’re both so likeable. Alexander’s ability to trust developed overtime and he learns to accept help from others. Eden slowly starts opening up about stuff that are bothering her. Her meeting Alexander’s parents was such a lovely add to this book, his parents literally brought a smile.

This book genuinely ended up perfectly, I was not expecting them to do that once I started the book. The character development help them grow and decide what they fully want to do with their future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me this arc for an honest review.

I loved this story. I read it as a fanfiction and Katrina has only made it better coming across to original story telling. Shang and Eden are my two favourite people and they really bring out the best out of each other. I mean, it takes a little bit of time for the two of them to work it out, but this part is excellent. I love that they both have mental wellbeing challenges and it makes the story all that more believable. The spice was great, but a little lacking in detail. It seems to come and go quite quickly. All in all a lovely romance read in the world of executive chefs. Well worth a read.

Big thanks to Netgalley, Lake Country Press and Katrina Kwan for an early release copy in exchange for my honest review

Quick Summary: A recipe for love, gen-fic romance

My Review: Knives, Seasoning, & A Dash of Love by Katrina Kwan is a fast-paced, contemporary novel. It is a standalone read.

About the Book: Chef Alexander Chen and his sous chef, Eden Monroe, share a kitchen. That's not all they share. They share a love for food, a desire to reconnect with family, a hunger for what comes next, and an unquenchable need to cook up something beautiful for each other. What happens when they add a bit of special flavor to their partnership?

My Final Say: There were so many life lessons embedded in this story. Essentially, this was a book about living with conviction, trusting in the people who matter (including self), forgiving when and where necessary, eliminating toxic relationships, and embracing love, family, and friendship.

Other: Readers who enjoy stories that offer practical wisdom and that have some spicy heat will really like this book.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 🌶🍬💕

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Lake Country Press & Review), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own.

This. Was. Delicious. I instantly fell in love with Eden and Alexander. They’re quite literally *chef’s kiss* 🤌🏼

The story follows Eden as she navigates keeping a job she definitely fudged her resume for, but turns into so much more. This was the cutest romance I’ve read in a minute! And Kwan touches on issues of racism and abandonment in a way that’s so real and doesn’t feel forced into the story. The characters are refreshing and grow together. Overall I really loved this!

Read this is you like:
🔪 Grumpy x sunshine
🔪 Broody MMC, but soft ONLY for the FMC
🔪 So-cute-you’re-kicking-your-feet-kinda romance
🔪 “Yes, Chef”
…also Reylo. Yeah just read it if that’s your vibe.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 🖤

4.5/5

Special thanks to Netgalley, Lake Country Press, and the author for an arc copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book is incredibly sweet (no pun intended) and honestly it was the kind of book that you can easily get swept up in and just forget about the outside world for a moment. It was also spicy too and of course, you know I appreciate that balance (tehe). It has the perfect blend (haha) of romance, personal growth, backstory, perseverance, and the importance of trusting someone and all of this made for a book that I really appreciated.

A general plot summary: Eden becomes chef Alexander's new Sous Chef and she needs this job like oxygen. But she realizes that she knows him from somewhere and he has completely changed into this cold/mean basically Kylo Ren kind of character. As problems surmount and tensions rise they find themselves in sticky situations where they have to make decisions about their futures. However, the best thing about learning to love someone is the ways in which you care for them, how they navigate this along with life problems and tensions is the main essence of this book.

In terms of the characterization, it's safe to say that the two characters stole my heart easily. But their respective journey's were quite empowering. Like Alexander's ability to trust and how that developed overtime felt very realistic, but he is also so much more than just that. He is loyal, a little hard-shelled at first, but passionate, he takes risks when the occasion arises, and he loves deeply. When he lets her in, it's a completely different side to him and I thought that was incredibly endearing. Eden on the other hand is the sunshine to his midnight rain. She sees the good in others, also is passionate, she is kind to others and thinks of their circumstances before jumping to any conclusions. In this way they really balanced each other out quite well. I think one of my favourite aspects of their growth was that they grow through different traumatic aspects of their lives together and this is exactly what I envision as soulmates in my mind and in every sense of the word, it is a partnership. I also really appreciated the attention to what it feels like to be burned out, like your passion is gone and the effects that it can have on your life. It does not matter what your love language is, both Eden and Alexander will attest to all of them.

I can also safely say that this book ended in a perfect way, I truthfully do not think a book could have ended in a better way and it felt very full-circle. Also it is a page turner, I think I finished it actually in 3 days, maybe even less. It's got strong characters and they are very real people too at the end of the day. I am not even a big food person honestly I despise cooking, but this made me feel really excited about it, which baffles me completely. Another really important part of this is the representation, when you are a minority individual there are instances where you truly wonder whether you are being taken advantage of or treated unfairly and I really liked the way that this was handled in the book.

Overall, honestly this is probably one of the best contemporary romances I have read this year - it was so fun and it really helped to get my mind off of things.