Add Spice to Taste

by R.G. Emanuelle

Giovanna "Jo" Rossini teaches cooking classes at The New York Culinary Institute and though she enjoys it, she's still struggling to make ends meet and figure out how to get her life back on track. Her dream of owning her own café was broken when the business failed, and her heart was shattered with the end of her long-term relationship.

Then, a Moroccan cooking class reveals a few surprises when Jo finds herself attracted to Julianna, one of her students. Despite her internal attempts to deny it, she soon discovers that the attraction is mutual. Even more surprisingly, she must also fend off the unwanted advances of another student—and deal with her own weaknesses and past mistakes. Can Jo find the courage to allow Julianna past her self-imposed boundaries and allow herself to love again? Or will she choose to keep her heart locked away instead?

This novella contains original recipe and photos of dishes from Jo’s Moroccan cooking class.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Contemporary

115 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2013

About the author

R.G. Emanuelle is a New York City native currently based in Brooklyn. She is the co-founder and co-owner of Dirt Road Books (www.dirtroadbooks.com). She is the author of novels, novellas, and short stories, as well as co-editor of several anthologies, including the Lambda Literary finalist All You Can Eat: A Buffet of Lesbian Romance & Erotica.

Reviews

[vacatedboat · Rating 1 out of 5]

OMG…this book was ridiculous. DNF at 82%. Skimmed the rest.

Initially, I thought I couldn’t get into this book because there was so much talk about food and it felt mechanical. Once I got through that, our MC Jo and her love interest, Juliana, finally take steps towards spending time together. I was hoping something good would come. Like an actual love story. Nope…

There is very little conversation in this book, so any mental connection or emotional chemistry is not apparent. Most of this is narrative told from Jo’s first person POV and it is all tell, little-to-no show. It is also annoying as hell.

Jo is a doormat and Juliana is jealous and passive aggressive. She already shows signs of it before either of them even acknowledge their attraction and actually go on a date. There are red flags flying all over the place in regards to Juliana’s nature and Jo just sits around blaming herself (CONSTANTLY) for messing everything up. near the end of their first date, which was the most boring date ever, Jo receives a phone call from a woman in her class that obviously has the hots for her. Julianna tells her to take the call multiple times. When Jo finally relents and answers her phone, Juliana turns cold and abruptly ends their date. Passive aggressive much? What the hell is sexy about that? Then, of course, Jo goes home and we have to read her stewing thoughts about how she always messes up relationships. First of all, this was a first date where the most interesting conversation they had was about the weather. Second, Juliana was an asshole, I don’t care how sexy she apparently is. Don’t waste your time on people who make you feel bad, well, ever...but after a first date is especially telling ugh...Both of these characters just came across as immature to me, even though they’re in their 30s (Jo was 36, Juliana was estimated to be 30-ish).

There is nothing romantic or sexy about an unhealthy relationship…and these two absolutely should not be together.

Unfortunately, these two aren’t even the only characters in this story with major issues. There’s also another woman interested in Jo, who at one point comes on to her and doesn’t understand what no means. When someone says ‘no’ but you don’t listen, then get naked for them and later stick your hand in their pants, that is sexual harassment. This is never actually resolved in the book, but is instead used as a vehicle for Jo to realize that she’s in love with Juliana! What?!

I’m so confused by what in the world I just read and I’m really just rambling, but there were so many things that frustrated me about this book.

I was curious about this author’s work and this was available on KU, so I gave it a go. Maybe I’ll try something else by Emannuele at another time, but right now I am just so turned off by this story that it may be a while.

Do not recommend.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm rounding up from 2.5 stars. I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. I suspect it needed to be fleshed out as a full length novel because as it stands, there's just not enough relationship development for me to believe in their "I love you"s, although the epilogue does help. So much time is spent on Brit chasing Jo and how that interferes with her developing relationship with Julianna, and it really shouldn't be that prominent. If this were a full length novel, it could be part of the conflict where insecurity is the true root, but it wouldn't have to take up so much of the total percentage of the story. ALSO--what in the actual fuck with Brit at the party? Sticking your hand down someone's pants when they have said no and are continuing to say no isn't hitting on them, it's sexual assault and that isn't acknowledged in the least. Maybe it wasn't upsetting to Jo, but it sure was upsetting to me.

I grabbed this through the Kindle Unlimited program, so I don't regret reading it, and the price for it actually isn't bad for what it is. I just wish there were more. If the author releases a full length novel I'll check it out.

[Michelle Teichman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Add Spice to Taste. I literally stayed up all night reading it and couldn't put it down. I absolutely loved it. I loved every page. I laughed a few times and I found all the cooking and the description so interesting and entertaining. Normally, I speed read a lot when going through books as there are inevitably boring bits I can't be bothered to read through properly, but I loved every line of this book. I usually find the jobs people are writing for the main characters to be so mundane, but everything about cooking, the food, spices, etc., was so interesting. I loved it from beginning to end. This book was so well written, and I know I will read it again, as well as everything else I can from this author. I can't recommend it enough. Oh! and I loved that the author put the recipes at the back! It was totally what I was wishing RG Emanuelle would do this but didn't think she really would, and it was adorable, and I'm going to try a few of these recipes out now that I have them. Overall, a fantastic read.

[Agirlcandream · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foodies will love this and there are enough steamy scenes to keep everyone else turning pages. I love a book that educates as well as entertains. Now I'm hungry for some Moroccan food....

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light hearted and enjoyable.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book!

[Candie Kisses · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want seconds...

My only complaint is that the story isn't longer. I want more. I would have loved a slower build up resulting in a longer (and maybe slightly more realistic) journey to love.

In addition, I wouldn't have minded a few more scenes to fully enjoy and explore the sexual attraction that so rapidly heated between them. I think it might have been interesting to see it more slowly cooked, simmering until it boiled over rather than the flash in a pan that it is. I'm certain we only got a small taste of this couple and this authors capabilities.

As it stands, I've read this piece twice and have respect and appreciation for the authors signature way with words and the incorporation of her own passion for cooking. I also don't mind that it leaves me with a few "recipes" in mind. ;)

P.S. My rating of 3 stars is because I feel so much potential remains untapped and story untold. Like I said, I want more. :)

[Rashika · Rating 4 out of 5]

the best part of this book other than the story itself, was the cooking bits. thanks for the recipes as well.
i have never been to the exotic places described in this book, but the way its described you really have a gift. thanks for the mini holiday.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story. Wanted to like it more... Didn't relate to the characters. Love a good chef story, but something was lacking. Not sure what.