I really enjoyed this book! Great characters, great plot, and kept me entertained! The romance was just right and had me feeling like I was in the story and rooting for them!

TW: domestic violence/abuse in book.

This is one of those slow burn romances that has you wishing both of the characters will just get together, and soon! It makes the feelings abundantly clear and really builds the story between the 2 main characters.

It is a single character perspective, which allows you to follow Kassi through her story and feel her pain with her ex-husband and her growing feelings for Clay. All the characters are inherently likeable (other than the ex-husband really) and I just wanted her to stand up for herself and fight her corner.

I found the perspective of it being partially written as a screenplay, in terms of it being broken down into different scenes and telling you the location and contents of that scene, an interesting addition to support the storytelling aspect and to build the authenticity. It's not something I've seen before but it was still easy to read and I actually quite liked the refreshing approach

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

I started out with mixed feelings for this book. I did warm to the characters, but did find myself yelling at the female protagonist, "Girl, you are drinking way too much wine!" I enjoyed it but was not dazzled.

Thanks to NetGalley I received an advanced electronic copy of the book to read and provide a review.

This was a good 90s nostalgia read. It dragged at times and had inconsistent pacing, but had endearing characters and touched on tough topics.

Potentially unpopular opinion? The Rose and Thorn Restaurant was my favorite character! I loved all that it stood for and all that it provided its employees and customers.

I loved this book! Good pacing. Strong characters. Uplifting. Some places made me laugh, although there are quite serious parts too, Kassi and Clay are both trying to get over their own not-great past love lives, and help each other, even as they are very attracted to one another, but scared of new love. It felt real, including the single-mom bits. The kitchen back and forth was also fun, like I was right there with them all, cooking and hanging out. Definitely recommend.

really liked this book, really soft and interesting story.
i like the way this book was written and the fact that it’s set in the 90’s makes me like it even more.

This book was really good, funny in 0laces, really made me laugh out loud, I loved the characters smd the romance, will definately be recommending this book to all my family and friends.

4.8/5 stars

Kassi is ever the optimist. She uprooted her life and moved across the country with her young daughter to give her damaged marriage one last shot. Now she's broke, stuck in Portland and feeling like an idiot. Worse, her degree in filmmaking won’t pay the bills.

When Kassi lands a waitress job at the infamous Rose and Thorn restaurant, she thinks her luck may finally be changing, especially after meeting Clay—head chef and the most beautiful man she’s ever seen. Their white-hot attraction is instant and undeniable. But after her marriage disaster, Kassi has sworn off relationships or even dating, maybe forever.

So, what's a girl to do? Put him in a sexy screenplay, of course.

Kassi is writing a movie script for a contest. It’s a long shot, an impossible shot, but it could be her ticket to Hollywood. She comes up with a new plot about a hot chef and a waitress falling madly in love (and bed).

It doesn’t take long before Kassi's imaginary relationship and reality collide in unpredictable ways but as things steam up in the restaurant kitchen, not everyone may be able to stand the heat, including hunky Clay. Turns out he’s dealing with a heartbreak of his own that he may never get over, not even for Kassi.

CUTE COVER AND CUTE PLOT.
No one can resist that, right?

Kassi has moved across country with her daughter Sam to make sure she is able to be close to her father, Barry. Barry has been abusive in their relationship, but Kassi doesn't want Sam to not have a relationship. Kassi seeks employment at Rose and Thorn restaurant in Portland where misfits and people that are struggling are welcome. Upon arrival Kassi meets Clay, the chef, who has sworn off relationships and is focusing on his dreams.

You are able to watch Kassi and Clay go after their dreams at the same time and cheer each other on, but you also see it all unravel.

Loved this little love story telling of opportunity, healing and love.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy!

This was an enjoyable read thst didn't take me long to finish. Good if you're looking for a quick read.

Kitchen Heat is set in the 90's and I love that❤️. When gadgets weren't famous unlike today the people seem to focus on new technologies. Before It was simplier but still fun. There were some lines that made me laugh so much I even said "I agree so much because I'm from the future hahaha. Because I'm reading this in the year 2023 hahaha"
I really like the character of Kassi and Clay and the bond between them. I think they are soulmates. Overall I enjoyed reading Kitchen Heat.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

‘Kitchen Heat’ was a nice quick read and a nice way to pass the time but I don’t think it really hooked me. I would still recommend it to anyone looking for something nice and quick with good characters

Rating 3 stars