Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

I didn't think we were ever going to find out the big secret! When Knox comes home to get revenge for his parents all those years ago, he never expects a fiery cook who makes culinary masterpieces to grab hold of his heart. Add in a big and complicated family and you have a emotional rollercoaster. The few love scenes were hot, which I wasn't expecting given some of the religious notes, but I did not mind it. In fact, it gave the read a nice, well-rounded feeling. I am intrigued about what comes next for the Briscoe's...

ONE MORE TASTE - Melissa Cutler

#2 in the One and Only Texas romance series

ROMANTIC AND FUN - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - Knox is set on revenge. He returns to the Briscoe Ranch as an investor, specifically to fulfill his dead father's wish to get back at his whole estranged family. But when he meets Emily, his plans start to change.

Writing - 4 stars - Cutler grabbed my attention from the first page with her appealing characters and their entertaining situation. I was drawn in right away, enjoying the slapstick scene, and the characters continued to keep my interest.

Characters - 4.5 stars - This is where the story shone for me. Knox is attractive, although his motives are unattractive. But I gave him a pass because he truly believes that he is following his father's wishes. Fortunately, as he becomes more involved in the ranch, he starts to realize that perhaps he isn't as bent on revenge as he thought. Emily is great--talented and confident and motivated for success. She is also carrying a chip on her shoulder about her background, but overall she's appealing. I loved their developing relationship--they fit together perfectly and were open-minded enough to listen and support each other. Granny June didn't have as big a role in this book as with the previous one. Secondary characters of Haylie, Carina, Decker, and others added to the fun.

Title - 4 stars - This fits with the other titles in this series, and the word taste leads us in the direction of the kitchen--where Emily reigns.

Cover - 5 stars - This cover is absolutely beautiful. There's an attractive couple, as is typical for this genre, but the colorful sunset background really draws the eye.

Overall - 4 stars - What a fun book! The romance was great--warm and passionate, between two strong people. The hesitation between them at first made sense, and the sexual tension lasted just long enough. The mystery of the family secrets kept my interest throughout, all the way to the last chapter when the entire story was revealed. The business machinations regarding the sale of the ranch kept the thread of the story from beginning to end, and Emily's background (and Haylie's related situation) was an interesting sideline. All in all, a very enjoyable book, and I look forward to continuing with this series sooner rather than later.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this book and to be an early reader via NetGalley! However, I will not be writing a review for this title at this time, as my reading preferences have since changed somewhat. In the event that I decide to review the book in the future, I will make sure to purchase a copy for myself or borrow it from a library. Once again, thank you so much for providing me with early access to this title. I truly appreciate it. Please feel free to contact me with any follow-up questions or concerns.

I have not had a chance to read this book, Once I have gotten a chance to read it I will edit this review to reflect my thoughts and feeling on the book.

I enjoyed this contemporary romance that continued the story of the Briscoe Ranch Resort. The characters were great, the storyline kept my interest, and I enjoyed the setting. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!

Good romance a little over the top and annoying but not enough to turn you off the book

Knox Briscoe is finally getting the chance at the revenge that he has felt he and his father has deserved. His whole life all he remembers growing up is his father telling him how he was kicked off the families land and never went back. Revenge is all Knox has worked for buying and flipping property has all led to moment the Briscoe Resort is need of help and they have come to him. Thinking that he will save them with a plan to pull them out of bad loans and keep the resort still in the family. What Knox was expecting was a feisty chief who is not only talented cooking, but also a fighter and she will not be pushed aside by some rich guy because he thinks she should have gone to culinary school, and trained under some famous chief while cooking his recipes instead of her own. He finds himself not only knocked out by her cooking but also by her beauty and her zest for life. Emily Ford’s character for me really makes this book. Her story is really what makes this a story. You are drawn to find out more about her and the more you find you are surprised. This story works but I enjoyed the banter between Emily and Knox. How she was able to make him get out of his comfort zone and because of her he was able to grow. At the same time you are shown her past and she must deal with her past in order to move forwarded and when you get to the end of the book it works. A very good story with very characters.