Turning Up the Heat

La Vie en Roses #0.1

by Laura Florand

After eleven years of marriage, Léa Laurier knew her husband. Knew how he could take on responsibility for a world-famous restaurant, a wife, and her two teenage siblings at nineteen years old and never falter, never tire. Knew his drive and his ambition, that took him to the stars. Knew how briliant his gray eyes looked when they met hers for just one moment across a host of cameras. She didn't know why she was so tired. She didn't know why she needed to just get away. For a while. Maybe a week or two. A month. She'd be back.

After eleven years of marriage, international superstar chef Daniel Laurier knew his wife. Knew how she could lavish caring on everyone, her siblings, his staff, and most especially him. Knew the way her face lit up when he won yet another television contest, and the way she hugged him for it. Knew how her hair smelled when he sank into bed exhausted at one in the morning. He didn't know what to do when he came home from a consulting trip to find she'd disappeared to remote South Pacific island: I just needed to get away for a little while. A week or two. I'll call you.

As the whole solid world under his feet turned into a sandcastle in the tide, Daniel knew only one thing: whatever was wrong with his marriage or his wife, he wasn't losing her. So as a top chef, he did the one thing he always knew how to do: turn up the heat.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Novella, Adult, Short Stories, France

115 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2012

About the author

Laura Florand is the international bestselling and award-winning author of fifteen books, including the Vie en Roses series (Once Upon a Rose), the Paris Hearts series (All for You), and the Amour et Chocolat series (The Chocolate Thief). Selected by NPR for their Top 100 Romance list, her books have appeared in ten languages, been nominated for RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book of the Year, received the RT Seal of Excellence and numerous starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, and been recommended by USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

She was born in Georgia, but the travel bug bit her early. After a Fulbright year in Tahiti, a semester in Spain, and backpacking everywhere from New Zealand to Greece, she ended up living in Paris, where she met and married her own handsome Frenchman, a story told in her first book Blame It on Paris. Now a lecturer at Duke University, she is very dedicated to her research into French chocolate. For a glimpse behind the scenes of some of that research as well as recommendations for US chocolate, make sure to check out her website: www.lauraflorand.com.

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You’ve got to admit, it’s a beautiful irony, chérie. I gave myself up for you. You gave yourself up for me. And we’re here scrabbling to find enough of each other we can hold onto.”

I ADORE this author’s writing! I swear she could write a recipe and make it romantic.

After eleven years of marriage, Léa Laurier feels like she has lost herself. She loves her husband and knows everything about him, but she’s just so tired. She just needs a little time on her own.

Daniel Laurier is an international superstar chef, and even after eleven years of marriage he’s still as crazy in love with his wife as he was at the beginning when he promised himself that he would do anything to give her what she wanted and needed. So when he comes home to find her gone, he feels devastated and desperate to get her back, to fix whatever is wrong.

You’re my world, I’ll do everything I can to be the best thing in yours.

This book perfectly showed that once you get your HEA is doesn’t mean that things are going to be smooth sailing. Daniel and Léa were so young when they got married, and their life together has been so hectic trying to make their restaurant and Daniel a success. Neither realised that all the other one wanted was time together, which has gotten very short in supply over the years.

“Léa—when a man climbs a glass mountain, it’s not usually for the damn golden apple. It’s for the person he gives the apple to.”

I loved how the author wrote this novella. The love Daniel and Léa had for each other was so palpable, it flowed from the pages. Relationships are hard work, no matter how long people are together, and communication is usually the biggest problem. I loved seeing these two trying to figure out how to fix what was wrong, realising new things about each other, and I especially adored Daniel and the way he loves his wife.

This was such a romantic and sweet novella, with some great sexy times. If you love truly romantic romance this author is definitely for you. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Susana · Rating 2 out of 5]

He gave a rough, despairing laugh. “You’ve got to admit, it’s a beautiful irony, chérie. I gave myself up for you. You gave yourself up for me. And we’re here scrabbling to find enough of each other we can hold onto.

This is basically the story of a couple who after eight years of marriage, still don't grasp the basics of you know... dialogue. -_-
They love each other, but apparently they still don't know one another all that well. The hell, people?
So one assumes that the other one likes this... and the other one assumes that he is making her happy by doing that...and so on and on.
In reality all they're making is a mess out of things and being miserable in the process.

But don't worry, escaping to a tropical island and having lots of sex fixes things up.
What can I say?
Not a favourite

[Mei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little story about a marriage risking to disintegrate due to too much love and sacrifice of both wife and husband.

Lea is overcome by her husband's fame and his constant work around the world. She's madly in love with him, but is not able anymore to come second.

Daniel, a world renowned chef, is madly in love with his wife and will do anything, work as hard as it takes to make her proud of himself and to give her the best life.

The misunderstanding many marriages have: she feels neglected by his overloead of work, he feels drained but will not stop because he thinks she deserves more from him.

During Lea's flight to a tropical paradise and Daniel's mad rush at her heels, they must confront each other and for the first time talk about their problems. And, when the truth comes out from each of them, the solution is simple: they must stop stiving so much and take time for themselves and their love.

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.25 stars

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

When she was 18 and he was 19, Lea married Daniel Laurier after her father died. He married her so that he could help her through, to carry on the success of her father's restaurant so she wouldn't lose that legacy. And he did it by becoming a world famous chef and traveling all over the world for consults. But it's been 11 years and Lea is beginning to wonder what it's all for. She decides that she needs space and flies off to Tahiti for a vacation without her husband. Daniel is frantic looking for her but finally shows up to confront Lea. They still love each other but there's a communication issue in their marriage - Daniel has become what he has to make Lea happy, but he isn't necessarily happy with what it takes out of him. And Lea feels like she has given everything to help Daniel get where he is and has nothing left for herself.

This was a good little story with lots of dramatic tension and angst. It's kind of frustrating because they're both giving everything of themselves to the other and neither of them realizes it's unnecessary. They don't realize they could just be themselves, take a step back and just be together instead of trying to be more than they are. I always enjoy stories between already married couples that are still striving for their HEA and this one pretty much delivered...except I wanted Lea to more solidly realize how badly she hurt Daniel with her actions. But honestly this was good enough just in the relationship angst that the sex probably wasn't even necessary for a 4 star...it was just a bonus. I enjoyed this and am curious to read more of this series. Also...now I want to go to Tahiti.

[Keertana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Settling back to read a Laura Florand novel always releases the tension in my shoulders, turns up the corners of my unyielding mouth, and releases a sigh of pure bliss from my lips. From the first word itself, Florand has me wrapped around her finger, mesmerized by her prose and instantly drawn into the complex characters she has created. Everything, from the dialogue to the delectable cuisine, is absolutely stunning in her novels and this novella did not disappoint in the least. Turning Up the Heat may have lacked the standard kitchen settings I've come to anticipate from Florand's stories but the romance was just as tense and riveting. Moreover, I love the focus on married couples that Florand seems to turn to with her novellas. Much like Snow Kissed, this novella amps up all the breathy, but misunderstood, feelings between a married couple, showcasing the occasional glitches in a seemingly perfect marriage. With the sun-kissed shore in the background, though, this novella isn't half as heart-breaking as Snow Kissed but, by the end, is just as satisfying. For fans of Florand this is, as every one of her works are, a must-read. And, if you're anything like me, an undoubted must re-read too.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhere between 2 and 3? I think?

I loved the premise of the story, very much. Married couple that seems to have forgotten how to communicate, tries to fix what is possibly wrong with their relationship by learning how to talk to each other again. It's realistic, which I generally appreciate a lot (I mean, I like the fairytale romances just as much but sometimes it's nice to just read something life-like)

The love scenes were extremely well done. I wasn't too fond of the writing style (also could've done with a little less swearing - in French or otherwise), something about it didn't click like it should. But not enough to stop me completely from enjoying it.

My only complaint was that I would've liked this to be a little longer, if only so we could've read more about how they actually got to this point, and let it come that far.

[Racquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will never not love marriage in trouble romances. Forever my favorite.

[Lizzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the concept between Lea and Daniel's difficulties. A la Ravishing the Heiress, they married very young in the midst of crisis and developed a bond forged in their development of a family business. However, in their case there was also genuine love and commitment between them before marriage, so it makes less than no sense they spend 11 years making themselves and each other miserable because they apparently do not know how to use their words. Yawn, despite the potential for some bittersweet angst, because the big mis is (in 97% of cases) an entirely boring trope.

[Angela]

27 May 2014: $0.00 FREE on Kindle

[Devon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Laura Florand so much.

[Chachic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originaly posted here.

After reading The Chocolate Thief, the first book in the Amour et Chocolat series, Laura Florand earned a place in my auto-buy author list. She was generous enough to send me the ebook for the novella Turning Up the Heat. This installment is different from the rest of her books because it's part of another series set in Provence called La Vie en Roses. The Chocolate Rose ties both the Amour et Chocolat and La Vie en Roses series together. Having said that, Turning Up the Heat is still very much about food, a theme that is consistent in all of Laura Florand's books. Daniel is a celebrity chef, one who manages a famous restaurant and has numerous TV engagements, while his wife Lea is his supportive manager. They fell in love as teenagers and got married soon after, the story is set after they've been married for more than ten years. I liked that this novella went in a different direction than usual - instead of giving us a couple about to start a relationship, Laura shows us how difficult marriage can get even though the love is obviously still there. Every marriage has its own problems and when husband and wife both lead busy lives, lack of communication is definitely an issue. After everything they've been through together, I was rooting for Daniel and Lea to figure things out so they can have a happy ending.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daniella's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Review

3 Stars

Reading Turning Up The Heat by Laura Florand was almost voyeuristic. This very young couple who fell in love and drove themselves to the pursuit of higher goals, with Daniel being the youngest chef/owner of a restaurant in France and being always in the spotlight in Europe on television and his wife Lea, being his “manager” always pushing him and helping his cause for perfection. These are two people with a classic case of lack of communication and lack of time, as they grow older – being together since teenage years growing older might even just be a few years into the marriage.

Within this story we get to see both sides of their relationship or lack of relationship as Daniel follows Lea to her last minute vacation/time alone to a remote pacific island for herself. Instead of seeing one side of a couple that is slowly falling apart, we are invited in to both worlds from both points of view.

I enjoyed this story, even though I wanted to smack both up side their heads multiple times, it was refreshing to read a story where it wasn’t one sided on who was to blame. Not having children, not having time for the other – not all Daniel’s fault, not all Lea’s fault and that is a good thing.

Though a quick read I felt it was such a quality read. Laura Florand does not disappoint she delivers quality and consistency each time. Bravo!!

Review copy provided for an honest review.

[Mireille Duval · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was fine, though it wasn't what I was looking for when I picked up a Florand. (Mostly I like her when she's being rom-comy, but I should probably widen my horizons because her latest books have been way more depressing than not, it seems like.) It just felt incredible that these people who claimed to love each other so much didn't even try to talk to each other about what they wanted out of life? I guess it worked because at nineteen you're not necessarily equipped to go through the drama these two went through AND build appropriate communication skills, but it's been eleven years! Come on, at some point!

It was still well-written and at least they did fix their issue somewhat. And I did like both characters. But it just frustrated me too much - I couldn't get over the dumbness to enjoy the sex scenes, for example. (Also I kept thinking these characters had gotten together in a previous book, but I assumed that was just because Florand has a bazillion series that are all connected and I can't keep up. But I think they were just mentioned in passing in The Chocolate Rose.)

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars, I'd say. There was SO MUCH of this that I adored!!! Putting a marriage that's stuck in a rut and thus starting to break back together!! So much emotion and feelings and two people being honest with each other, it was lovely. Daniel did, however, rub me the wrong way sometimes early on in the book, and it made me read the first half of this a lot more slowly because it made it harder for me to get into the story. Throughout the second half, I loved absolutely everything, though.

[Kellcifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice story, and I loved the internal dialogues. Ms. Florand writes so beautifully, and I'm always impressed with her style and the imagery. But I wish these characters hadn't spent 11 years having these thoughts and holding so much inside themselves and pushing themselves to the brink of collapse—both personally and as a couple. What is so hard about having a conversation with your spouse, after all?

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this, but maybe not as much as I thought I would. I'm kind of torn because I loooove stories about established relationships. And I like the idea that two people who've been married for so long still have things to learn about each other. I mean, that's what I'd want in a marriage, I think.

BUT. I'd love to have read about their early marriage! The restaurant, taking care of her siblings, being SO YOUNg. I'm fascinated by the idea of that.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story annoyed the heck out of me. I thought I understood the premise of it. Young love, married, under extreme pressure, drift apart as time passes. But no. The two of them never talk. I mean, about their feelings. Their desires. It was frustrating that I actually read a book in which there was so little communication and a lot of hemming and hawing as to why they don't understand each other. Ugh. Thudding head against proverbial wall.

[namericanwordcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an emotionial and satisfying read that explores the need of each person to retain something of themselves in a marriage.

It is a really loving and lovely look at how to stop and pay attention and how much of a marriage isn't you and your partner together but you.

It is a very sexy romance as well.

[MaggieReadsRom · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars

I liked this story but don't know if I loved it.
It was an enjoyable read, with well-drawn characters, a trope I love (marriage in jeopardy/second chances) and beatifully written sexy scenes but somehow I wasn't completely into it. And I can't pinpoint whether it was the writing style/author's voice I couldn't connect with or something else.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh man, I liked this so, so much. Stories about people putting relationships back together are my FAVORITE and that this one was just about people who'd forgotten how to talk to each other was great. I wish it had been longer.

Very much recommend. And there's an excerpt from her new book!

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another I've been meaning to read and finally sat down and did it. And I love this one. I loved these two so much, and figuring things out after a decade and the miscommunication just really worked well here for this and them.

[lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

First read: March 2015 (2.5 stars)
Reread: April 2017

Can you believe I rated this a 2.5 before, what kind of blasphemy-

I definitely enjoyed this more than I did before. I just love reading about married couples working on their marriage and ughhh I wish this was longer

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was just delightful. More in the morning. Assuming I make it into Manhattan in one piece.

[Stephanie Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella blew my socks off it was so good. Intense, emotional, hot. Just so so amazing. Anyone who loves romance should be reading Laura Florand!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

So warm and lovely. I really appreciated the alternating points of view in this one; it gave great insight to how much they cared for each other while highlighting the miscommunication, too.

[Catty-cat · Rating 1 out of 5]

better than snow kissed but still rubbish.
What was the point of all the french swear if the book is in English?

[Viktoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

I have a love-hate relationship with Laura Florand. I've read a Wish Upon Jasmine a few years ago and really didn't like the over the top romance (although I had no problem with the family saga-esq storytelling) but last year I really enjoyed Chase Me. Maybe my dislike is only on the flower/perfume storyline and not the restaurant ones? Who knows, it needs further exploring.

Turning Up the Heat was good. I enjoy established relationships in romance and steadiness in sense of the love and trust between characters. This novella introduced one of the downs of a twelve year relationship between Léa and Daniel who married young and with a demanding restaurant carreer, never really got to the point of discussing their personal goals as adults who are not in a dire situation anymore.
I loved how they loved and the whole idea of them as a couple - their history, their occupation, their personalities, but I felt this novella a bit lacking in solving the conflict. It was lovely, I loved seeing them, but we are only scraching the surface here, the real loveliness would be seeing them in their next stage. Although probably we see them in the whole La Vie en Roses series as side-characters working on their best life together.
I love Laura Florand's writing and her way of describing senses. Just look at this gem:
The moment stretched, breakable or buildable. Like molten sugar that could be formed into anything wonderful, as long as you didn’t let it chill too much and drop it, shattering everywhere.
Beautiful.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think this book would of been amazing if i hadnt been so confused, and honestly i don't know why i was, the words flowed freely, the hero and the heroine seemed like really amazing characters but for some weird reason i was just so confused with this book straight from page 1 till the end. I

felt like i didnt really understand or even know the characters at all or even what they were talking about, they could've been speaking in a different language for god sake.

This is completely on me and not the author, i still do feel like if i knew or even understood what i was reading than i would've loved this book so much. I really love reading stories where the main couple are already married and are having some difficulties, (as long as no cheating is involved)

I think i may read this story some time later and i hope to god it goes better.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Florand is such a beautiful writer who creates complex inner lives for her characters. Even if a romance isn't perfect, I still get swept away. For Turning Up the Heat, I am a sucker for marriage in trouble and I was looking forward to the time when these two actually learned to communicate their needs. And as someone who empathized heavily with the heroine's illogical desperation for some alone time to connect with herself, I was also sympathetic to the hero's confusion and misinterpretation of her rash actions. I always appreciate how much Florand heroes adore their heroines. This is what I need from romance in general, but is often lacking from contemporaries. I want the romance to be epic and for feelings to be heightened. And Florand always delivers on that score. While this romance wasn't perfect, as their lack of communication was exasperating at times and I wish they hadn't so quickly turned towards sex to reconnect, I still enjoyed watching these two find their way back to each other and towards a happier, more balanced life.