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Madewood Brothers #4
Recipe for Temptation
A sexy category romance from Entangled's Brazen imprint...
She's the woman he loves to hate.
Penn Foster wants a lot of things. She wants a spot on the board of a charitable foundation. She wants to win the stupid, plastic family trophy. And more than anything, she wants her tall, hot, and brooding boss naked in her bed. Now, on a Hawaiian vacation with her family, she's desperately trying not to think about how he'd sound whispering dirty things in her ear.
He's the man she can't have...or can she?
Cole Murphy keeps himself locked down, away from the press and out of the spotlight. Still haunted by a traumatic childhood, his ability to trust has been decimated. Penn, with her sexy body and confidence, is the only person able to drag him out of his shell. Which is why he crashes her vacation and accepts her proposition for no-strings sex. But is the inescapable heat building between them a delicious temptation, or will it end in total disaster?
She's the woman he loves to hate.
Penn Foster wants a lot of things. She wants a spot on the board of a charitable foundation. She wants to win the stupid, plastic family trophy. And more than anything, she wants her tall, hot, and brooding boss naked in her bed. Now, on a Hawaiian vacation with her family, she's desperately trying not to think about how he'd sound whispering dirty things in her ear.
He's the man she can't have...or can she?
Cole Murphy keeps himself locked down, away from the press and out of the spotlight. Still haunted by a traumatic childhood, his ability to trust has been decimated. Penn, with her sexy body and confidence, is the only person able to drag him out of his shell. Which is why he crashes her vacation and accepts her proposition for no-strings sex. But is the inescapable heat building between them a delicious temptation, or will it end in total disaster?
189 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 11, 2015
19 people are currently reading
591 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 28, 2015
3 - "That jackhammer is hard to ignore." Stars!
Being the fourth and final book in the Madewood Brothers series, I have to admit I had high hopes for Recipe for Temptation, I did enjoy it, but I wouldn’t say my expectations were really met, if I am being honest.
Penn and Cole have pretty much been circling around each other for all of the previous three books in the series, and I was really hoping for the story between them to be just that, between them. The inclusion of Penn’s pretty abhorrent family, and the storyline taking in their ’Funcation’ in Hawaii kind of detracted from the focus of this story, this couple finally getting together.
His past wasn’t his future.
Cole has always been the more elusive, self-contained of the brothers and the author did a really good job of giving him a back-story that offered valid reasoning’s for it. I liked that Penn was pretty much the opposite of him, being the dirty-talker of the two the reverse to the normal dynamic was a refreshing change. I just really didn’t need the rest of the Foster clan, and all the erroneous drama that came with them. I think this couple together had enough to work through without that addition.
”Watching you squirm for an entire week is going to be entertaining.”
I liked that this book took us away to Hawaii, but would have liked a little more time spent back with the rest of the Madewood family, being the end of the series I would have also liked a longer epilogue. All in all, an easy-going, but easily forgettable read.
ARC generously provided via Entangled in exchange for the above honest review.
Being the fourth and final book in the Madewood Brothers series, I have to admit I had high hopes for Recipe for Temptation, I did enjoy it, but I wouldn’t say my expectations were really met, if I am being honest.
Penn and Cole have pretty much been circling around each other for all of the previous three books in the series, and I was really hoping for the story between them to be just that, between them. The inclusion of Penn’s pretty abhorrent family, and the storyline taking in their ’Funcation’ in Hawaii kind of detracted from the focus of this story, this couple finally getting together.
His past wasn’t his future.
Cole has always been the more elusive, self-contained of the brothers and the author did a really good job of giving him a back-story that offered valid reasoning’s for it. I liked that Penn was pretty much the opposite of him, being the dirty-talker of the two the reverse to the normal dynamic was a refreshing change. I just really didn’t need the rest of the Foster clan, and all the erroneous drama that came with them. I think this couple together had enough to work through without that addition.
”Watching you squirm for an entire week is going to be entertaining.”
I liked that this book took us away to Hawaii, but would have liked a little more time spent back with the rest of the Madewood family, being the end of the series I would have also liked a longer epilogue. All in all, an easy-going, but easily forgettable read.
ARC generously provided via Entangled in exchange for the above honest review.
April 18, 2017
Descargué este libro hace como mil años, principalmente porque prometía ser una historia de odio y luego amor entre los protagonistas.
En su lugar, me encontré con un romance de oficina (que no me gustan particularmente). Penn me pareció un personaje plano, sin nada en especial. Cole es descrito como retrotraído, callado, tímido incluso, pero en sus actos no hay esbozo de tal cosa. Todo lo contrario, incluso parece sólo un poco loco que el sujeto en cuestión apareciera de la nada.
En su lugar, me encontré con un romance de oficina (que no me gustan particularmente). Penn me pareció un personaje plano, sin nada en especial. Cole es descrito como retrotraído, callado, tímido incluso, pero en sus actos no hay esbozo de tal cosa. Todo lo contrario, incluso parece sólo un poco loco que el sujeto en cuestión apareciera de la nada.
August 17, 2015
Okay,but there was something about this book that just did not gel with me.Coulda been the heroine,way too aggressive,coulda been the hero,way too passive.I do like the boss/employee trope though.
August 11, 2015
Slick's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Psssst...I have a secret I'm a sucker for the Madewood Brothers, there I've said it and admitting it is half the problem or so they tell me. I love this group of men who were saved by a woman from the foster care system, I love the family they created and the fact that they try and honor their late foster mom with everything that they do and most of all I love that despite the issues these men have they are good men and the women that love them see that long before they do. A man who does everything to avoid the spotlight because he fears that his past will come back to haunt him, a woman who for three years has done so much for him and his family and a trip in paradise made Recipe for Temptation a crazy sexy fun story and my favorite of this series.
Cole Murphy loves his work; as a somewhat famous chef he enjoys feeding people the food he makes and working with his family's foundation supporting all kinds of programs to help at risk children. He is haunted by his childhood and what he had to do to survive and the things he witnessed and the situations he was forced to deal with at a young age and the result is he isn't a very nice person. He avoids people, the media and getting involved but when he finds out that the foundation's media specialist Penn Foster could use his help on her family vacation he decides to repay her for some of the good things she's done for him in the last three years.
Penn isn't happy about being at her family's annual vacation and "games" but she's determined to win this year. Penn would like nothing more than to be her "real" self around her family but she tows the line and shows her family the Penn they want her to be but when Cole arrives to help her with the family games things take an interesting turn and he's determined for her family to see the Penn he knows.
These were such interesting and complicated characters and it was fascinating to watch them unravel each other's secrets and explore an intimate relationship both bound and determined it would only be while in Hawaii and then they'd go back to "just friends." First off I flat out LOVED that Penn is an expert at dirty talk and curiously that at first it seemed to make Cole nervous. Cole was not a talker but he did excel at taking charge which Penn found out she enjoyed as she'd always been the aggressor in her relationships. I'm not kidding when I say there were a lot of sex scenes in this book and they were hot, hot, H-O-T! Holy smokes were these two well matched despite Cole having some reservations at times.
For the life of me I could not figure out Penn's strange family dynamic and I felt bad for Cole who thought he was going to see what a "normal" family looked like but instead found he was quite appalled at the way her family treated her and the really less than healthy competition her father drove them all to.
Their relationship wasn't easy; they both were dealing with feelings they didn't expect and some issues they couldn't ignore but I loved watching them get there even though at times it was difficult. What I did really love was how easily they had each other's backs when things got rough with her family; I think it was a testament that their feelings were running much deeper than either one realized.
I love it when characters overcome adversity and live their dreams and both Cole and Penn were successful in doing so and that's what made this a good story, what made it a great story was that along the way they figured out that having someone to share it all with made life all the better.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
Psssst...I have a secret I'm a sucker for the Madewood Brothers, there I've said it and admitting it is half the problem or so they tell me. I love this group of men who were saved by a woman from the foster care system, I love the family they created and the fact that they try and honor their late foster mom with everything that they do and most of all I love that despite the issues these men have they are good men and the women that love them see that long before they do. A man who does everything to avoid the spotlight because he fears that his past will come back to haunt him, a woman who for three years has done so much for him and his family and a trip in paradise made Recipe for Temptation a crazy sexy fun story and my favorite of this series.
Cole Murphy loves his work; as a somewhat famous chef he enjoys feeding people the food he makes and working with his family's foundation supporting all kinds of programs to help at risk children. He is haunted by his childhood and what he had to do to survive and the things he witnessed and the situations he was forced to deal with at a young age and the result is he isn't a very nice person. He avoids people, the media and getting involved but when he finds out that the foundation's media specialist Penn Foster could use his help on her family vacation he decides to repay her for some of the good things she's done for him in the last three years.
Penn isn't happy about being at her family's annual vacation and "games" but she's determined to win this year. Penn would like nothing more than to be her "real" self around her family but she tows the line and shows her family the Penn they want her to be but when Cole arrives to help her with the family games things take an interesting turn and he's determined for her family to see the Penn he knows.
These were such interesting and complicated characters and it was fascinating to watch them unravel each other's secrets and explore an intimate relationship both bound and determined it would only be while in Hawaii and then they'd go back to "just friends." First off I flat out LOVED that Penn is an expert at dirty talk and curiously that at first it seemed to make Cole nervous. Cole was not a talker but he did excel at taking charge which Penn found out she enjoyed as she'd always been the aggressor in her relationships. I'm not kidding when I say there were a lot of sex scenes in this book and they were hot, hot, H-O-T! Holy smokes were these two well matched despite Cole having some reservations at times.
For the life of me I could not figure out Penn's strange family dynamic and I felt bad for Cole who thought he was going to see what a "normal" family looked like but instead found he was quite appalled at the way her family treated her and the really less than healthy competition her father drove them all to.
Their relationship wasn't easy; they both were dealing with feelings they didn't expect and some issues they couldn't ignore but I loved watching them get there even though at times it was difficult. What I did really love was how easily they had each other's backs when things got rough with her family; I think it was a testament that their feelings were running much deeper than either one realized.
I love it when characters overcome adversity and live their dreams and both Cole and Penn were successful in doing so and that's what made this a good story, what made it a great story was that along the way they figured out that having someone to share it all with made life all the better.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
August 10, 2015
ARC provided by publishers in exchange for an honest review
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Recipe for Temptation is the final installment to Gina Gordon's Madewood Brother Series. If you are a fan of office romance and hot sexual tensions then this is the book for you. I actually enjoyed this one since we finally see a couple who finally submitted to their sexual desires and attraction to one another. Ms. Gordon was able to inject lots of sexy times, dirty talks, and yet an emotional connection to the characters. Though this book may not be my favorite of the series, this book still kept me entertained and was an enjoyable quick summer romance read!!!
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Recipe for Temptation is the final installment to Gina Gordon's Madewood Brother Series. If you are a fan of office romance and hot sexual tensions then this is the book for you. I actually enjoyed this one since we finally see a couple who finally submitted to their sexual desires and attraction to one another. Ms. Gordon was able to inject lots of sexy times, dirty talks, and yet an emotional connection to the characters. Though this book may not be my favorite of the series, this book still kept me entertained and was an enjoyable quick summer romance read!!!
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August 1, 2015
3.5 stars
Penn and Cole have worked together for 3 years. When Penn goes on her yearly family "vacation", Cole shows up to help her win the trophy but when he gets there, he sees a different version of Penn than he is use to. Normally, Penn is loud and a little wild but around her family, she is quiet and unsure of herself. What starts out as Cole trying to help Penn survive the vacation turns into them finally giving into their sexual attraction to each other.
This is the first book I have read in this series and I really enjoyed it. My favorite thing about this book was the chemistry between Cole and Penn - they were super hot together with a lot of sexy scenes. I also liked Cole's brothers and plan to go back and read their stories. I look forward to reading more by this author.
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
Penn and Cole have worked together for 3 years. When Penn goes on her yearly family "vacation", Cole shows up to help her win the trophy but when he gets there, he sees a different version of Penn than he is use to. Normally, Penn is loud and a little wild but around her family, she is quiet and unsure of herself. What starts out as Cole trying to help Penn survive the vacation turns into them finally giving into their sexual attraction to each other.
This is the first book I have read in this series and I really enjoyed it. My favorite thing about this book was the chemistry between Cole and Penn - they were super hot together with a lot of sexy scenes. I also liked Cole's brothers and plan to go back and read their stories. I look forward to reading more by this author.
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
July 29, 2015
Recipe for Temptation is an enjoyable finale to Gina Gordon's Madewood Brothers series. It's not my favourite of the four, but she has brought us an endearing couple with a good chemistry, a fun and frustrating storyline and who don't scrimp on the sexy-time when they finally give in to one another.
"It was time for a Murphy to kick some Foster ass."
Penn and Cole have been skirting around one another this entire series and, her being the fun confident force-of-nature company marketing guru and he the quieter, brooding of the four brothers, I wasn't quite sure how their story would go. But what I liked was how we saw a completely unexpected side to to Penn when faced with her godawful annoying family.
Cole's reasoning for being the way he is works well, it's not over-the-top nor does it show weakness and this is why I enjoyed him. And as sexy as he and Penn are together they also share some lovely moments that inject emotion; I loved how the dirty talk aspect was twisted and as much as I disliked her family and wanted to wallop her sisters-in-law, I actually liked the injection of awful, and the cheesy nature of the Fun-cation.
I have to say I've loved this series. Finn and his spatula will always mean he's my number one brother, but Cole, Neil and Jack have all been appreciated and I've enjoyed their dynamic. Recipe for Temptation may not have held any particular surprises, but Gina Gordon has ended the series well.
Copy received courtesy of Entangled Publishing for an honest and unbiased opinion.
"It was time for a Murphy to kick some Foster ass."
Penn and Cole have been skirting around one another this entire series and, her being the fun confident force-of-nature company marketing guru and he the quieter, brooding of the four brothers, I wasn't quite sure how their story would go. But what I liked was how we saw a completely unexpected side to to Penn when faced with her godawful annoying family.
Cole's reasoning for being the way he is works well, it's not over-the-top nor does it show weakness and this is why I enjoyed him. And as sexy as he and Penn are together they also share some lovely moments that inject emotion; I loved how the dirty talk aspect was twisted and as much as I disliked her family and wanted to wallop her sisters-in-law, I actually liked the injection of awful, and the cheesy nature of the Fun-cation.
I have to say I've loved this series. Finn and his spatula will always mean he's my number one brother, but Cole, Neil and Jack have all been appreciated and I've enjoyed their dynamic. Recipe for Temptation may not have held any particular surprises, but Gina Gordon has ended the series well.
Copy received courtesy of Entangled Publishing for an honest and unbiased opinion.
August 11, 2015
A group of "brothers" bought together by Vivian Madewood, have been the subjects of this series.
Now it was Cole Murphy's turn, and he chose to keep himself hidden, out of the limelight, which he left shining brightly for the others.
Cooking was their game, and Cole was another prolific chef, though he chose to direct his talents towards teaching others. Other boys that had had a similar, less flavoursome start in life, like himself.
Penn Foster was the marketing queen who ruled the part of Madewood that Cole operated in, with her Louboutins firmly entrenched in his camp. She was sassy, sexy & oozed so much confidence, that Cole had been drawn to her the day he met her three years ago.
Penn found herself on a weeks holiday, but not to kick back & relax those stilettos. She found herself on a regular family vacation that consisted of a stupid series of challenges that culminated in the win of the "Foster Cup". She had never won it from her 3 brothers and their respective spouses, and she also felt an abnormal level of suppression overcome her whenever she was in their presence.
Who should turn up to help her in her challenge nightmare but Cole. Fresh from his imminent launch, never normally taking time out, but he was there, the object of her affections, and he wanted to win the cup for her.
This is only the second book I have read in this series, and the second book I have read of Gina's. It was an easy, entertaining read, that dallied between Penn's inability to show her true self to her family, and Cole being hung up about his shitty start in life. i'm afraid that the monotony of eluding to his past, but never really giving it any substance, wore a tad thin for me. The background story introducing Penn's family and her level of interaction with them, was enough to carry her side, but I felt Cole's backstory was lacking.
ARC provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review..
Now it was Cole Murphy's turn, and he chose to keep himself hidden, out of the limelight, which he left shining brightly for the others.
Cooking was their game, and Cole was another prolific chef, though he chose to direct his talents towards teaching others. Other boys that had had a similar, less flavoursome start in life, like himself.
Penn Foster was the marketing queen who ruled the part of Madewood that Cole operated in, with her Louboutins firmly entrenched in his camp. She was sassy, sexy & oozed so much confidence, that Cole had been drawn to her the day he met her three years ago.
Penn found herself on a weeks holiday, but not to kick back & relax those stilettos. She found herself on a regular family vacation that consisted of a stupid series of challenges that culminated in the win of the "Foster Cup". She had never won it from her 3 brothers and their respective spouses, and she also felt an abnormal level of suppression overcome her whenever she was in their presence.
Who should turn up to help her in her challenge nightmare but Cole. Fresh from his imminent launch, never normally taking time out, but he was there, the object of her affections, and he wanted to win the cup for her.
This is only the second book I have read in this series, and the second book I have read of Gina's. It was an easy, entertaining read, that dallied between Penn's inability to show her true self to her family, and Cole being hung up about his shitty start in life. i'm afraid that the monotony of eluding to his past, but never really giving it any substance, wore a tad thin for me. The background story introducing Penn's family and her level of interaction with them, was enough to carry her side, but I felt Cole's backstory was lacking.
ARC provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review..
July 10, 2016
2-1/2 stars.
This review also appears on Pretty Sassy Cool.
The Madewood Brothers series is one of my favorite series, and I really loved the previous books. I've been waiting for Penn and Cole's story ever since Recipe for Satisfaction came out. I didn't like this one as much as the other books in the series, but no matter--it's still hot, and I still ♥ Gina Gordon.
If you've read anything else by Gina Gordon, you know that she writes insanely hot scenes filled with chemistry that will make you combust, and Recipe for Temptaion is no different. Cole and Penn are ultra-hot together. The story was entertaining and fast-paced, but I wanted more from them. Maybe it's because I had built up what was going to happen with them so much in my mind, I just didn't expect them to come across as so normal. Like I said, they're hot. He's a great dirty-talker, and you'll definitely be satisfied after reading this. It just wasn't my favorite.
This review also appears on Pretty Sassy Cool.
The Madewood Brothers series is one of my favorite series, and I really loved the previous books. I've been waiting for Penn and Cole's story ever since Recipe for Satisfaction came out. I didn't like this one as much as the other books in the series, but no matter--it's still hot, and I still ♥ Gina Gordon.
If you've read anything else by Gina Gordon, you know that she writes insanely hot scenes filled with chemistry that will make you combust, and Recipe for Temptaion is no different. Cole and Penn are ultra-hot together. The story was entertaining and fast-paced, but I wanted more from them. Maybe it's because I had built up what was going to happen with them so much in my mind, I just didn't expect them to come across as so normal. Like I said, they're hot. He's a great dirty-talker, and you'll definitely be satisfied after reading this. It just wasn't my favorite.
December 30, 2015
review copy provided by publisher
I’m very much a mood reader when it comes to picking which books to read when (although I also do a lot of reading challenges, which make me get out of comfort zone). One of the reading challenge, I’m currently trying to finish up, required a book set in Hawaii and when I came across the description for Recipe for Temptation, I knew that I had to pick it up. And to say that I was quickly sucked in, would be an understatement…you know, how sometimes you pick a book up and it just doesn’t catch you immediately, so you put it down and start another one (or 5 or 6) and then there are other books, where you start reading and before you know, its 2am and you have to get up at 5am…yeah…Recipe for Temptation was definitely the latter of the two (although it wasn’t quite 2am, more like 12:30…haha!
I fell in love with Penn from almost the first minute I was introduced to her – I don’t know why, maybe because she was just so likable (and REAL) compared to her family who were…OMG, how to even describe them. It actually reminded me a lot of my extended family at times – how everyone seems to be perfect, except for me (although when all is said and done, I’m probably one of the more successful of my siblings/cousins – even if i’m not married/no kids). And as for Cole…any guy who is willing to drop what he is doing, to travel to another country (since the rest of the series is set in Canada) to help the woman he loves (even if he doesn’t want to admit it)…yeah, where can I line up to be issued one of them! haha!
I didn’t actually realize that this was #4 in a series, until after I started reading and was introduced to the Cole’s brothers, but that only made me want to read more (and in the week following me completing this, I read those other 3 books). Seeing Penn and Cole’s relationship develop through those books, only deepened how I felt about them in this one. I would recommend reading the previous 3 books in the series first, in nothing else to more understand Cole’s background and how important Penn really is to ALL of the brothers in the series (and bonus, all 4 books are hot and smexy!)
I know for sure that I will be checking out more books by Gina Gordon in the future – in fact, I could very easily see her being added to my auto-buy list, if the rest of her writing is as strong as the Madewood Brothers series. A solid 4 stars for Recipe for Temptation!
I’m very much a mood reader when it comes to picking which books to read when (although I also do a lot of reading challenges, which make me get out of comfort zone). One of the reading challenge, I’m currently trying to finish up, required a book set in Hawaii and when I came across the description for Recipe for Temptation, I knew that I had to pick it up. And to say that I was quickly sucked in, would be an understatement…you know, how sometimes you pick a book up and it just doesn’t catch you immediately, so you put it down and start another one (or 5 or 6) and then there are other books, where you start reading and before you know, its 2am and you have to get up at 5am…yeah…Recipe for Temptation was definitely the latter of the two (although it wasn’t quite 2am, more like 12:30…haha!
I fell in love with Penn from almost the first minute I was introduced to her – I don’t know why, maybe because she was just so likable (and REAL) compared to her family who were…OMG, how to even describe them. It actually reminded me a lot of my extended family at times – how everyone seems to be perfect, except for me (although when all is said and done, I’m probably one of the more successful of my siblings/cousins – even if i’m not married/no kids). And as for Cole…any guy who is willing to drop what he is doing, to travel to another country (since the rest of the series is set in Canada) to help the woman he loves (even if he doesn’t want to admit it)…yeah, where can I line up to be issued one of them! haha!
I didn’t actually realize that this was #4 in a series, until after I started reading and was introduced to the Cole’s brothers, but that only made me want to read more (and in the week following me completing this, I read those other 3 books). Seeing Penn and Cole’s relationship develop through those books, only deepened how I felt about them in this one. I would recommend reading the previous 3 books in the series first, in nothing else to more understand Cole’s background and how important Penn really is to ALL of the brothers in the series (and bonus, all 4 books are hot and smexy!)
I know for sure that I will be checking out more books by Gina Gordon in the future – in fact, I could very easily see her being added to my auto-buy list, if the rest of her writing is as strong as the Madewood Brothers series. A solid 4 stars for Recipe for Temptation!
May 2, 2016
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
Recipe for Temptation is the fourth and final book in the Madewood Brothers series from Gina Gordon. Each book features a separate couple and can be read as a standalone. The blurb really drew me in here, as I was unfamiliar with Gina Gordon before this book. So I really went into this one blind and having no expectations. While there were things to like here, this one was a bit confusing to me and I ended up forcing myself to finish this one after it started out pretty decent if a bit confusing.
Penn Foster and Cole Murphy have worked together for the past three years, with Cole somewhat being her boss. (again the situation is sort of confusing...) Penn wants to be on the board of a charitable foundation in which Cole's family runs. Cole had a traumatic childhood and does his best to stay out of the spotlight and keep his life private. Though Cole and Penn both want each other, they both have their reasons for staying away. But when Penn goes on a family vacation and Cole shows up, things quickly escalate and they find themselves finally giving into temptation. But can their relationship last past the vacation, or are they destined to be a fling that ends in disaster?
I really didn't understand all the dynamics between these two and their relationship. At first it seems as though they don't like each other at all, yet they are attracted to one another. But then as you get into the story a bit it almost seems as though these two are close friends that very much admire one another, and just don't act on their feelings. It was all a bit confusing and contradictory here and I really didn't know what the deal was. I also didn't really get the whole situation as far as their jobs went either. Cole is a successful chef and his family has a charity that helps out children. It was clear that Penn worked with them on the the charity and had been around the family for the three years that was constantly stated, yet I didn't really see what her exact job was beyond the charity. It was all just a bit jumbled for me, and I found myself getting lost in what all was going on. The main focus here seemed to be on Penn and the dynamics with her family, which was a whole other mess. I loved the heat and chemistry between Penn and Cole, but I felt sort of detached when it came to the connection between them as I didn't really know what was going on. The physical side between them though was clear, and those scenes were honestly the best parts of this book hands down.
I have to say though that I absolutely hated Penn's entire family. These characters were beyond horrible, and I couldn't stand a single one of them. Every time it looked like one would have some redeeming quality, something would happen and I would hate them even more than before. The end was too little too late when it came to them, and I honestly felt like they weren't genuine at all at that point. It seemed too easy and unrealistic, and they came off as extremely fake. I also hated how Penn was so strong in her everyday life, yet with them she was this weak shell of herself that refused to be herself. Cole did his best to try and help her embrace that around them, but when she would even remotely try it would just wind up with her awful family being completely close-minded and judgmental. So while there were some really great moments here between Penn and Cole and they definitely had some steam between them, the rest of this story was just a mess for me. I did finish because I wanted to see what would happen, and because this one was thankfully pretty short. I think if it had been any longer though that I would probably have given in and quit. The only reason that I am giving this one three stars, is because when it was just Cole and Penn together things were good. It was the rest of the story that ruined what could have been a really good book for me. Looking at other reviews and ratings for this one, I seem to be in the minority though with plenty of people really enjoying this book. So if it sounds like something you might like, you should give it a shot. This very well could be an example of not every book is for every person, and that person was me in this case.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
Recipe for Temptation is the fourth and final book in the Madewood Brothers series from Gina Gordon. Each book features a separate couple and can be read as a standalone. The blurb really drew me in here, as I was unfamiliar with Gina Gordon before this book. So I really went into this one blind and having no expectations. While there were things to like here, this one was a bit confusing to me and I ended up forcing myself to finish this one after it started out pretty decent if a bit confusing.
Penn Foster and Cole Murphy have worked together for the past three years, with Cole somewhat being her boss. (again the situation is sort of confusing...) Penn wants to be on the board of a charitable foundation in which Cole's family runs. Cole had a traumatic childhood and does his best to stay out of the spotlight and keep his life private. Though Cole and Penn both want each other, they both have their reasons for staying away. But when Penn goes on a family vacation and Cole shows up, things quickly escalate and they find themselves finally giving into temptation. But can their relationship last past the vacation, or are they destined to be a fling that ends in disaster?
I really didn't understand all the dynamics between these two and their relationship. At first it seems as though they don't like each other at all, yet they are attracted to one another. But then as you get into the story a bit it almost seems as though these two are close friends that very much admire one another, and just don't act on their feelings. It was all a bit confusing and contradictory here and I really didn't know what the deal was. I also didn't really get the whole situation as far as their jobs went either. Cole is a successful chef and his family has a charity that helps out children. It was clear that Penn worked with them on the the charity and had been around the family for the three years that was constantly stated, yet I didn't really see what her exact job was beyond the charity. It was all just a bit jumbled for me, and I found myself getting lost in what all was going on. The main focus here seemed to be on Penn and the dynamics with her family, which was a whole other mess. I loved the heat and chemistry between Penn and Cole, but I felt sort of detached when it came to the connection between them as I didn't really know what was going on. The physical side between them though was clear, and those scenes were honestly the best parts of this book hands down.
I have to say though that I absolutely hated Penn's entire family. These characters were beyond horrible, and I couldn't stand a single one of them. Every time it looked like one would have some redeeming quality, something would happen and I would hate them even more than before. The end was too little too late when it came to them, and I honestly felt like they weren't genuine at all at that point. It seemed too easy and unrealistic, and they came off as extremely fake. I also hated how Penn was so strong in her everyday life, yet with them she was this weak shell of herself that refused to be herself. Cole did his best to try and help her embrace that around them, but when she would even remotely try it would just wind up with her awful family being completely close-minded and judgmental. So while there were some really great moments here between Penn and Cole and they definitely had some steam between them, the rest of this story was just a mess for me. I did finish because I wanted to see what would happen, and because this one was thankfully pretty short. I think if it had been any longer though that I would probably have given in and quit. The only reason that I am giving this one three stars, is because when it was just Cole and Penn together things were good. It was the rest of the story that ruined what could have been a really good book for me. Looking at other reviews and ratings for this one, I seem to be in the minority though with plenty of people really enjoying this book. So if it sounds like something you might like, you should give it a shot. This very well could be an example of not every book is for every person, and that person was me in this case.
**ARC Provided by Publisher**
September 25, 2015
Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews
* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.
Cole Murphy and Penn Foster have an unusual relationship. They’re too snarky and defensive to be full on friends but they don’t actually hate each other enough to be enemies either and I refuse to label them “frenemies” (They aren’t teenagers you know). Anyway, in her professional life Penn wants a spot on the board of a charitable organization and in her personal life, she wants to win the plastic trophy in her family’s yearly game (It sounds as ridiculous as it is).
The cherry on top of that particular sundae would be Cole in her bed which she thinks is about as likely as snow on her Hawaiian family vacation. Until Cole shows up to help her win the trophy.
Despite his attraction to Penn, Cole keeps himself shutoff from pretty much anything resembling a normal life and relationship. A childhood trauma makes him wary of getting close to anyone but with Penn he can’t seem to resist stepping in to help her. It isn’t long before their “friendship” leaps over into the “lovers” territory with all sorts of complications following.
Straight out of the gate, I felt like I was missing some crucial piece of information about these two that would help me connect and understand them better. Kind of like when you walk up to two of your friends in the middle of a heated discussion only to hear what they’re currently saying because neither one of them wants to back track and tell you what you missed. So there you are with a confused look on your face wondering how they got to that point in the first place.
That doesn’t mean that the growing relationship wasn’t satisfying. It was evenly paced in my opinion. Not too fast and not too slow, there was plenty of conflict for them to overcome. Most of it on Penn’s side. Without outside influences, these two supported one another in a way that brought them closer and I liked that about them. But while there was no denying that Cole and Penn had chemistry, I wanted to know more about them as individuals and I just didn’t get that here. I think it would have helped me connect and understand them better had there been more individual scenes.
Another thing I didn’t get was Penn’s obsession with that stupid plastic family trophy! She endured nothing but smug glances and cold hearted jabs from her own family! Why this woman couldn’t flip them the bird and tell them where to stick their trophy was beyond me. She must have been a masochist for putting up with such cruel and awful behavior. I disliked that the most about Recipe for Temptation. I just have such a problem with nasty behavior from “family” that only gets brushed under the rug with the excuse of “They’re a crazy family.” Um, no, they’re not crazy, they’re mean and Penn allowed them and their behavior to define HER. I felt that Penn betrayed herself by allowing her family to control her behavior, to define just who she was and what she would and wouldn’t do. That was bad enough but then she allowed that behavior to spill over onto Cole. She was a meek mouse and you know how much I dislike those kinds of heroines.
There was also a buildup with Cole’s past and it was such a buildup that I thought it was going to be something truly traumatizing and horrific due to Cole’s intense aversion to a relationship or letting anyone get close to him. So imagine my surprise and disappointment when it turned out to be something bad but not as earth shattering as I had been lead to believe.
Recipe for Temptation wasn’t a great read for me. The heroine’s lackluster personality combined with a so-so storyline didn’t make this a memorable book. There were some moments that I liked the book but I never really fell in love with it or got invested in the characters’ romance.
Final Verdict: Even though Recipe for Temptation didn't fully pan out for me, I'm still willing to try this author again.
* A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review.
Cole Murphy and Penn Foster have an unusual relationship. They’re too snarky and defensive to be full on friends but they don’t actually hate each other enough to be enemies either and I refuse to label them “frenemies” (They aren’t teenagers you know). Anyway, in her professional life Penn wants a spot on the board of a charitable organization and in her personal life, she wants to win the plastic trophy in her family’s yearly game (It sounds as ridiculous as it is).
The cherry on top of that particular sundae would be Cole in her bed which she thinks is about as likely as snow on her Hawaiian family vacation. Until Cole shows up to help her win the trophy.
Despite his attraction to Penn, Cole keeps himself shutoff from pretty much anything resembling a normal life and relationship. A childhood trauma makes him wary of getting close to anyone but with Penn he can’t seem to resist stepping in to help her. It isn’t long before their “friendship” leaps over into the “lovers” territory with all sorts of complications following.
Straight out of the gate, I felt like I was missing some crucial piece of information about these two that would help me connect and understand them better. Kind of like when you walk up to two of your friends in the middle of a heated discussion only to hear what they’re currently saying because neither one of them wants to back track and tell you what you missed. So there you are with a confused look on your face wondering how they got to that point in the first place.
That doesn’t mean that the growing relationship wasn’t satisfying. It was evenly paced in my opinion. Not too fast and not too slow, there was plenty of conflict for them to overcome. Most of it on Penn’s side. Without outside influences, these two supported one another in a way that brought them closer and I liked that about them. But while there was no denying that Cole and Penn had chemistry, I wanted to know more about them as individuals and I just didn’t get that here. I think it would have helped me connect and understand them better had there been more individual scenes.
Another thing I didn’t get was Penn’s obsession with that stupid plastic family trophy! She endured nothing but smug glances and cold hearted jabs from her own family! Why this woman couldn’t flip them the bird and tell them where to stick their trophy was beyond me. She must have been a masochist for putting up with such cruel and awful behavior. I disliked that the most about Recipe for Temptation. I just have such a problem with nasty behavior from “family” that only gets brushed under the rug with the excuse of “They’re a crazy family.” Um, no, they’re not crazy, they’re mean and Penn allowed them and their behavior to define HER. I felt that Penn betrayed herself by allowing her family to control her behavior, to define just who she was and what she would and wouldn’t do. That was bad enough but then she allowed that behavior to spill over onto Cole. She was a meek mouse and you know how much I dislike those kinds of heroines.
There was also a buildup with Cole’s past and it was such a buildup that I thought it was going to be something truly traumatizing and horrific due to Cole’s intense aversion to a relationship or letting anyone get close to him. So imagine my surprise and disappointment when it turned out to be something bad but not as earth shattering as I had been lead to believe.
Recipe for Temptation wasn’t a great read for me. The heroine’s lackluster personality combined with a so-so storyline didn’t make this a memorable book. There were some moments that I liked the book but I never really fell in love with it or got invested in the characters’ romance.
Final Verdict: Even though Recipe for Temptation didn't fully pan out for me, I'm still willing to try this author again.
July 27, 2015
Cole Murphy finally gets his story! He is the 4th of the Madewood brothers and emotional baggage should be his middle name. Penn Foster is the black sheep of the "perfect" Foster family. Having only brothers, she grew up in their shadow and was completely overlooked (at least in her mind) by her father and by proxy, her passive mother.
She travels to Hawaii for the annual Foster family vacation. Planning to spend a relaxing week away from her boss, Cole Murphy, and escape the never ending feelings she has for him.
Unbeknownst to her, Cole shares those feelings but is incapable of expressing himself due to trauma he experienced during childhood. He follows Penn to Hawaii and spends the week experiencing an entirely unknown side of her. Gone is the foul mouth, cleavage bearing ball buster that he has fallen in love with. Around her family she is meek, mild and completely subdued. The story follows the two of them as they struggle to find their true selves and determine whether or not they are compatible outside of the bedroom.
The author, Gina Gordon, can really write 3 dimensional characters. The book was not extremely long and there were quite a few people that had major roles. Ms. Gordon did a GREAT job describing each individual character. I understood their personality and the family dynamic early in the book. It really made for an enjoyable read.
Im notorious for reading series books out of order, so this was my first Madewood book. I liked it so much im going back to get the first three. Ms. Gordon is a great author and I look forward to the first three brothers' stories and any new material she comes out with.
4****wickedgoodstars -asw
**ARC provided by Netgalley**
She travels to Hawaii for the annual Foster family vacation. Planning to spend a relaxing week away from her boss, Cole Murphy, and escape the never ending feelings she has for him.
Unbeknownst to her, Cole shares those feelings but is incapable of expressing himself due to trauma he experienced during childhood. He follows Penn to Hawaii and spends the week experiencing an entirely unknown side of her. Gone is the foul mouth, cleavage bearing ball buster that he has fallen in love with. Around her family she is meek, mild and completely subdued. The story follows the two of them as they struggle to find their true selves and determine whether or not they are compatible outside of the bedroom.
The author, Gina Gordon, can really write 3 dimensional characters. The book was not extremely long and there were quite a few people that had major roles. Ms. Gordon did a GREAT job describing each individual character. I understood their personality and the family dynamic early in the book. It really made for an enjoyable read.
Im notorious for reading series books out of order, so this was my first Madewood book. I liked it so much im going back to get the first three. Ms. Gordon is a great author and I look forward to the first three brothers' stories and any new material she comes out with.
4****wickedgoodstars -asw
**ARC provided by Netgalley**
August 10, 2015
Advanced Readers Copy Courtesy of Entangled Publishing....:)
Well this is the 4th and the last Madewood Brother series book and I have to say I will miss them. I have come to enjoy this series and I like Gina Gordon's work.
This is the story of Penn and Cole. Penn has worked for Cole and the Madewood Brothers for the last 3 years. She is in charge of their PR and she absolutely loves her job. She also harbours a secret crush for Cole and has for the last few years.
She is currently in Hawaii on a family vacation where every year all her siblings and their better half's congregate and take part in team building challenges where the winning couple gets the family trophy and bragging rights. Penn has never had a better half and therefore has never won the trophy. This year however Cole decides to help Penn out and go with her and help her win the cup. After all she has done lots for him and his family over the years.
Now I don't want to give to much away, other than to say it was a enjoyable read. Penn did get on my nerves slightly as she was a family doormat and I hated how she did not stand up for herself until the end. Other than that, a good and pleasant read all round....
Well this is the 4th and the last Madewood Brother series book and I have to say I will miss them. I have come to enjoy this series and I like Gina Gordon's work.
This is the story of Penn and Cole. Penn has worked for Cole and the Madewood Brothers for the last 3 years. She is in charge of their PR and she absolutely loves her job. She also harbours a secret crush for Cole and has for the last few years.
She is currently in Hawaii on a family vacation where every year all her siblings and their better half's congregate and take part in team building challenges where the winning couple gets the family trophy and bragging rights. Penn has never had a better half and therefore has never won the trophy. This year however Cole decides to help Penn out and go with her and help her win the cup. After all she has done lots for him and his family over the years.
Now I don't want to give to much away, other than to say it was a enjoyable read. Penn did get on my nerves slightly as she was a family doormat and I hated how she did not stand up for herself until the end. Other than that, a good and pleasant read all round....
January 18, 2016
Thoughts: If your looking for a feel good romance, the recipe can be found right here. I’m always a sucker for stories where the two leads have kind of been dancing around their attraction to each other for years. I thought it would play a little bit of a bigger role in this story than it did, but it really did not phase my enjoyment of this story at all. It also had a nice little boss/employee element in there, as well.
I enjoyed the characters of Penn and Cole so much…the personalities of these two characters just really strengthened the overall effect of the book. Not to mention Penn’s family that really just cranks up the entertainment factor! Certain scenarios just had me really thinking of the movie Meet the Parents….LOL I’m telling you, Penn’s dad looked just like Robert De Niro and I could almost hear his distinct way of talking when I read certain lines! Another plus? Even though it is book four of the series, it is very easily read as a stand alone title.
All in all, it was a really fun, enjoyable read with a dash of laughter thrown in for good measure – and a happily ever after to top it off!
Rate: B+
Review by: Sarah
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
I enjoyed the characters of Penn and Cole so much…the personalities of these two characters just really strengthened the overall effect of the book. Not to mention Penn’s family that really just cranks up the entertainment factor! Certain scenarios just had me really thinking of the movie Meet the Parents….LOL I’m telling you, Penn’s dad looked just like Robert De Niro and I could almost hear his distinct way of talking when I read certain lines! Another plus? Even though it is book four of the series, it is very easily read as a stand alone title.
All in all, it was a really fun, enjoyable read with a dash of laughter thrown in for good measure – and a happily ever after to top it off!
Rate: B+
Review by: Sarah
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
July 31, 2015
Finally Cole and Penn give in to the undeniable chemistry! Penn is in hell. Well as close as you can come while still on earth. On vacation with her family and competing for a stupid trophy like they do every year. She knows she will once again lose. That is until Cole shows up to help her! As the competition heats up so does the sizzle between Cole and Penn. What harm can a little fun in the sun do? After all what happens in Hawaii can stay in Hawaii, right??
This is a fun read! It has a little drama, a little angst, and a whole lot of sexy times. I love these Madewood boys and Cole definitely doesn't disappoint. I highly recommend this one.
This is a fun read! It has a little drama, a little angst, and a whole lot of sexy times. I love these Madewood boys and Cole definitely doesn't disappoint. I highly recommend this one.
August 10, 2015
Penn and Coles story at last!
You couldn't choose a better location for them to come together than Hawaii.
Penn and Cole have both ignored the attraction between them for three years. When penn goes on holiday she's shocked when coke shows up. Somehow they agree to have a fun week on and out of the bedroom with no strings, let's face it that's going to be tough when they're both harbouring feelings for each other.
Penn brings out the sexy in Cole, and in return Cole shows her she's great.
In true made wood brother style the ending is wonderful.
Four stars
**i received a copy from publisher via netgalley**
You couldn't choose a better location for them to come together than Hawaii.
Penn and Cole have both ignored the attraction between them for three years. When penn goes on holiday she's shocked when coke shows up. Somehow they agree to have a fun week on and out of the bedroom with no strings, let's face it that's going to be tough when they're both harbouring feelings for each other.
Penn brings out the sexy in Cole, and in return Cole shows her she's great.
In true made wood brother style the ending is wonderful.
Four stars
**i received a copy from publisher via netgalley**
July 25, 2015
4 SOLID STARS
Finally Cole and Penn got their story. The sexual tension and back and forth from them was killing me. Coles goal to help Penn ended up having the reverse effect. She helped him as much as he helped her but it was at a cost. Find out how the Hawaiian vacation of lust, seduction, and great times turns to hell in a hand basket but bring a father and daughter closer.
Finally Cole and Penn got their story. The sexual tension and back and forth from them was killing me. Coles goal to help Penn ended up having the reverse effect. She helped him as much as he helped her but it was at a cost. Find out how the Hawaiian vacation of lust, seduction, and great times turns to hell in a hand basket but bring a father and daughter closer.
August 8, 2015
Penn and Cole are attracted to eachother and seem to be fighting it. He ends up crashing her family vacation and gets caught up in their competition for a trophy. A trophy that means a lot to Penn. I liked the story, I just didn't get the sense that the characters could be more than a vacation fling.
July 21, 2015
ARC provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review..
June 10, 2022
Fun series but after four books of basically the same formula and chapter after chapter of “I don’t love him/her, maybe I love him/her, but we can’t be together, but I love him/her, but we can’t be together, maybe we can be together, but we can’t be together ever because of my dark secret (that isn’t really dark or a secret), oh wait we CAN be together and are totally in love…” I need a break. I enjoyed the characters, and the sex was pretty hot. I just can’t take the same old romance formula over and over.
June 12, 2019
Madewood Brothers
This was about Cole and Penn which I was looking forward to. I don't know if I got the order of reading wrong but Finn and his significant other was already talked about .
This was about Cole and Penn which I was looking forward to. I don't know if I got the order of reading wrong but Finn and his significant other was already talked about .
June 16, 2025
Started it but then it was no longer available on Radish.
August 13, 2015
3.75 stars--
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 11, 2015
She's the woman he loves to hate.
Penn Foster wants a lot of things. She wants a spot on the board of a charitable foundation. She wants to win the stupid, plastic family trophy. And more than anything, she wants her tall, hot, and brooding boss naked in her bed. Now, on a Hawaiian vacation with her family, she's desperately trying not to think about how he'd sound whispering dirty things in her ear.
He's the man she can't have...or can she?
Cole Murphy keeps himself locked down, away from the press and out of the spotlight. Still haunted by a traumatic childhood, his ability to trust has been decimated. Penn, with her sexy body and confidence, is the only person able to drag him out of his shell. Which is why he crashes her vacation and accepts her proposition for no-strings sex. But is the inescapable heat building between them a delicious temptation, or will it end in total disaster?
••••••••
REVIEW: 3.75 stars--RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION is the fourth and final installment in Gina Gordon’s adult, contemporary Madewood Brothers romance series. This is executive chef and restaurateur Cole Murphy, and Madewood family business marketing and public relations manager Penn Foster’s storyline-a story about family, friendships and forbidden love. Although RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone without any difficulty.
Told from third person point of view RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION follows the building relationship between Penn and Cole. Penn has had a crush on Cole-her quasi boss-for close to three years. Her efforts at flirting have all but been ignored but when her yearly family reunion in Hawaii finds Penn coming face to face with Cole, all bets are off. Cole has arrived to partner with Penn in the Foster family ‘funcation’ competition and Penn is determined to win both in and out of the bedroom.
Cole and his ‘brothers’ were all raised by Vivian Madewood-a woman who took a chance on four young boys from the foster care system. Their individual successes in the restaurant business are the stuff of headline news and gossip rags but unlike his brothers, Cole has yet to find someone to share his life. Enter Penn Foster-best friend to his brother’s wife, and the woman who calls to Cole’s heart but a hands-off policy at work does not allow for office relationships and in this Cole’s time in Hawaii with Penn has an expiry date at the end of the week.
The sexual attraction between Cole and Penn cannot be denied. Penn is sexually aggressive in the bedroom and isn’t afraid to let Cole know what it is she wants but Cole has some issues that he must learn to overcome, and in this Penn is the perfect match for Cole’s pent up inhibitions. There are reasons behind Cole’s reluctance-ones that Penn must come to understand before offering Cole everything that she is and wants. The $ex scenes are hot, seductive and provocative.
All of the previous storyline couples play a secondary role: Jack and Sterling; Neil and Carson; Veronica and Finn. We are introduced to Penn’s rather over-the –top competitive family-a family that barely acknowledges Penn’s success or ability to survive on her own. Penn is considered the quiet child, and in this, her family has not come to terms with the ‘new’ Penn that they see at the family competition. Penn’s father is all about winning, but Cole is hoping to win Penn’s heart.
The world building continues to focus on Vivian Madewood’s foster sons: Jack Vaughn, Neil Harrison, Finn O’Reilly and Cole Murphy. To keep the boys out of trouble and in line, Vivian started the boys on their love of cooking, and with it came four successful restaurant owners, operators and executive chefs. Each young man would eventually ‘pay it forward’ with foundations that are aimed at enriching the lives of boys and girls in the foster care system.
RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION is a fun read that focuses on family dynamics and falling in love. There are moments of heartbreak when a father is unable to come to terms with the daughter he has always considered a son, and further sorrow when Cole walks away from the only woman he will ever love. The premise is fun with a little bit of angst; the characters are energetic and commanding attention; the happily ever after is the stuff of headline news. Gina Gordon’s MADEWOOD BROTHERS series looks at a family brought together by one woman who opened her heart and her home to four troubled young boys, and raised them to be successful entrepreneurs and loving men.
A must-read series that will put a smile on your face.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 11, 2015
She's the woman he loves to hate.
Penn Foster wants a lot of things. She wants a spot on the board of a charitable foundation. She wants to win the stupid, plastic family trophy. And more than anything, she wants her tall, hot, and brooding boss naked in her bed. Now, on a Hawaiian vacation with her family, she's desperately trying not to think about how he'd sound whispering dirty things in her ear.
He's the man she can't have...or can she?
Cole Murphy keeps himself locked down, away from the press and out of the spotlight. Still haunted by a traumatic childhood, his ability to trust has been decimated. Penn, with her sexy body and confidence, is the only person able to drag him out of his shell. Which is why he crashes her vacation and accepts her proposition for no-strings sex. But is the inescapable heat building between them a delicious temptation, or will it end in total disaster?
••••••••
REVIEW: 3.75 stars--RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION is the fourth and final installment in Gina Gordon’s adult, contemporary Madewood Brothers romance series. This is executive chef and restaurateur Cole Murphy, and Madewood family business marketing and public relations manager Penn Foster’s storyline-a story about family, friendships and forbidden love. Although RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone without any difficulty.
Told from third person point of view RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION follows the building relationship between Penn and Cole. Penn has had a crush on Cole-her quasi boss-for close to three years. Her efforts at flirting have all but been ignored but when her yearly family reunion in Hawaii finds Penn coming face to face with Cole, all bets are off. Cole has arrived to partner with Penn in the Foster family ‘funcation’ competition and Penn is determined to win both in and out of the bedroom.
Cole and his ‘brothers’ were all raised by Vivian Madewood-a woman who took a chance on four young boys from the foster care system. Their individual successes in the restaurant business are the stuff of headline news and gossip rags but unlike his brothers, Cole has yet to find someone to share his life. Enter Penn Foster-best friend to his brother’s wife, and the woman who calls to Cole’s heart but a hands-off policy at work does not allow for office relationships and in this Cole’s time in Hawaii with Penn has an expiry date at the end of the week.
The sexual attraction between Cole and Penn cannot be denied. Penn is sexually aggressive in the bedroom and isn’t afraid to let Cole know what it is she wants but Cole has some issues that he must learn to overcome, and in this Penn is the perfect match for Cole’s pent up inhibitions. There are reasons behind Cole’s reluctance-ones that Penn must come to understand before offering Cole everything that she is and wants. The $ex scenes are hot, seductive and provocative.
All of the previous storyline couples play a secondary role: Jack and Sterling; Neil and Carson; Veronica and Finn. We are introduced to Penn’s rather over-the –top competitive family-a family that barely acknowledges Penn’s success or ability to survive on her own. Penn is considered the quiet child, and in this, her family has not come to terms with the ‘new’ Penn that they see at the family competition. Penn’s father is all about winning, but Cole is hoping to win Penn’s heart.
The world building continues to focus on Vivian Madewood’s foster sons: Jack Vaughn, Neil Harrison, Finn O’Reilly and Cole Murphy. To keep the boys out of trouble and in line, Vivian started the boys on their love of cooking, and with it came four successful restaurant owners, operators and executive chefs. Each young man would eventually ‘pay it forward’ with foundations that are aimed at enriching the lives of boys and girls in the foster care system.
RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION is a fun read that focuses on family dynamics and falling in love. There are moments of heartbreak when a father is unable to come to terms with the daughter he has always considered a son, and further sorrow when Cole walks away from the only woman he will ever love. The premise is fun with a little bit of angst; the characters are energetic and commanding attention; the happily ever after is the stuff of headline news. Gina Gordon’s MADEWOOD BROTHERS series looks at a family brought together by one woman who opened her heart and her home to four troubled young boys, and raised them to be successful entrepreneurs and loving men.
A must-read series that will put a smile on your face.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
January 19, 2016
Originally posted on my blog: Tangled Up In Books
I received a copy of this book, from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. In no way did this sway either my review or my rating.
This is going to be one of those tricky books to review. Tricky in the fact that I need to figure out what to say without "Sigh. I am so smitten with Cole Murphy" just being repeated over and over. Because it was more than just that. It was funny and sweet and frustrating and even a bit heartbreaking at times. Recipe for Temptation was packed full of emotion and all I could think about once I finished was, "I really need to get the other 3 Madewood Brothers in my life. Now!"
I feel like maybe I've missed something by starting this series off with book four, the final book. I got the very distinct feeling that maybe in at least one, if not all, of the other books leading up to this one that there was a bit of a build up of the sexual tension between Penn and Cole. I can't remember specifics off the top of my head but there were times that their past was hinted at. Regardless, I was still able to feel enough of that in starting with Recipe for Temptation that when things did finally heat up between these two, it was still a sort of "Finally!" type of feeling.
Cole was a very troubled character. He instantly had my heart and as I slowly got to know more of him and his past it would just wrap him tighter and tighter around it. I loved his dark broodiness mixed with his incredibly huge heart. I had this instant protective feeling towards him and I desperately hoped that nothing would hurt him. He was larger than life in a lot of ways and really stands out but in other ways I felt like he had threads of fragility within him and I didn't want anything to touch those cracks and break him. Smitten. Smitten I tell you!
Without knowing Penn before this book, I only had to go by what they both felt about her true personality. She's supposed to be this very bold and lively woman who isn't afraid to get up on a table and dance and swear and party and just have fun. But the Penn I get to meet in the very beginning is kind of meek and passive. She hides herself from her family and never let them see the real her. Just the girl she feels like they want her to be. It was pretty sad and I felt sorry for her. The only times I ever got to see some of that bold and passionate girl that they claimed she was, was when she was alone with Cole.
I think that's what truly drove me insane when reading this book. There was at least one moment where a deep down part of me wanted to stop reading and not look back. Penn's family....was horrible. Horrible! They treated her so bad and her "older" brother Dave I wanted to punch in the face. I say "older" because well into his 30's he was still giving Penn noogies and other immature actions. But they were all so competitive and especially one of her sister-in-laws with the glaring and snide comments? I mean I get the whole competitive vibe, it was actually pretty funny a lot of the time, except for moments like that and I had to wonder what kind of brother would allow his wife to treat his only sister the way she did. It was extremely frustrating. However I pushed on and I was extremely happy I did.
Some of my favorite moments where when it was just Penn and Cole. I loved how she brought him out of his shell and helped him to feel more confident and break down the walls of his past. And how he pushed her to let the real Penn come out because anyone who didn't love the real her was an idiot. Plus....holy chemistry Batman! Those two were scorching hot! Maybe it was the whole he's-kind-of-my-boss-so-I-shouldn't thing going on so it was kind of taboo but...wow.
By the end not even those frustrating moments with Penn's family could dampen how I felt about the book as a whole. It was funny, smoking hot and incredibly bittersweet. I loved the playfulness and heartfelt moments between the characters and the really great storyline. As I said in the beginning I need to go back and read about those other three Madewood boys as soon as possible! I am definitely hooked!!
Thanks to Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book!!
I received a copy of this book, from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. In no way did this sway either my review or my rating.
This is going to be one of those tricky books to review. Tricky in the fact that I need to figure out what to say without "Sigh. I am so smitten with Cole Murphy" just being repeated over and over. Because it was more than just that. It was funny and sweet and frustrating and even a bit heartbreaking at times. Recipe for Temptation was packed full of emotion and all I could think about once I finished was, "I really need to get the other 3 Madewood Brothers in my life. Now!"
I feel like maybe I've missed something by starting this series off with book four, the final book. I got the very distinct feeling that maybe in at least one, if not all, of the other books leading up to this one that there was a bit of a build up of the sexual tension between Penn and Cole. I can't remember specifics off the top of my head but there were times that their past was hinted at. Regardless, I was still able to feel enough of that in starting with Recipe for Temptation that when things did finally heat up between these two, it was still a sort of "Finally!" type of feeling.
Cole was a very troubled character. He instantly had my heart and as I slowly got to know more of him and his past it would just wrap him tighter and tighter around it. I loved his dark broodiness mixed with his incredibly huge heart. I had this instant protective feeling towards him and I desperately hoped that nothing would hurt him. He was larger than life in a lot of ways and really stands out but in other ways I felt like he had threads of fragility within him and I didn't want anything to touch those cracks and break him. Smitten. Smitten I tell you!
Without knowing Penn before this book, I only had to go by what they both felt about her true personality. She's supposed to be this very bold and lively woman who isn't afraid to get up on a table and dance and swear and party and just have fun. But the Penn I get to meet in the very beginning is kind of meek and passive. She hides herself from her family and never let them see the real her. Just the girl she feels like they want her to be. It was pretty sad and I felt sorry for her. The only times I ever got to see some of that bold and passionate girl that they claimed she was, was when she was alone with Cole.
I think that's what truly drove me insane when reading this book. There was at least one moment where a deep down part of me wanted to stop reading and not look back. Penn's family....was horrible. Horrible! They treated her so bad and her "older" brother Dave I wanted to punch in the face. I say "older" because well into his 30's he was still giving Penn noogies and other immature actions. But they were all so competitive and especially one of her sister-in-laws with the glaring and snide comments? I mean I get the whole competitive vibe, it was actually pretty funny a lot of the time, except for moments like that and I had to wonder what kind of brother would allow his wife to treat his only sister the way she did. It was extremely frustrating. However I pushed on and I was extremely happy I did.
Some of my favorite moments where when it was just Penn and Cole. I loved how she brought him out of his shell and helped him to feel more confident and break down the walls of his past. And how he pushed her to let the real Penn come out because anyone who didn't love the real her was an idiot. Plus....holy chemistry Batman! Those two were scorching hot! Maybe it was the whole he's-kind-of-my-boss-so-I-shouldn't thing going on so it was kind of taboo but...wow.
By the end not even those frustrating moments with Penn's family could dampen how I felt about the book as a whole. It was funny, smoking hot and incredibly bittersweet. I loved the playfulness and heartfelt moments between the characters and the really great storyline. As I said in the beginning I need to go back and read about those other three Madewood boys as soon as possible! I am definitely hooked!!
Thanks to Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book!!
August 8, 2015
Gina Gordon did an admirable job with her latest Entangled romance. Recipe for Temptation is edgy, sultry and delightfully sweet. The attraction between Cole and Penn could be felt from the first page and just grew even harder to ignore. The interaction between Penn and Cole took so many different forms. One minute they were boss and employee, the next friends, then lovers, etc. I thought it was quite interesting that Ms. Gordon did that. It allowed the reader to see all facets of the relationship between these two people. They had always been so much more than they realized to each other but refused to acknowledge their feelings. This was not your normal Entangled read. Had all the steam but did not lack for the story. Very gratifying. I received an ARC of Recipe for Temptation in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
COMING 8/11-NEW RELEASE: RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION BY GINA GORDON
RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION BY GINA GORDON
Release Date: August 11, 2015
SYNOPSIS
A sexy category romance from Entangled's Brazen imprint...
She's the woman he loves to hate.
Penn Foster wants a lot of things. She wants a spot on the board of a charitable foundation. She wants to win the stupid, plastic family trophy. And more than anything, she wants her tall, hot, and brooding boss naked in her bed. Now, on a Hawaiian vacation with her family, she's desperately trying not to think about how he'd sound whispering dirty things in her ear.
He's the man she can't have...or can she?
Cole Murphy keeps himself locked down, away from the press and out of the spotlight. Still haunted by a traumatic childhood, his ability to trust has been decimated. Penn, with her sexy body and confidence, is the only person able to drag him out of his shell. Which is why he crashes her vacation and accepts her proposition for no-strings sex. But is the inescapable heat building between them a delicious temptation, or will it end in total disaster?
BUY LINKS
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Recipe-Temptati...
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/recip...
Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
_Recipe_for_Temptation_Entangled_Brazen?id=AT8zCgAAQBAJ&hl=en
Ibooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/reci...
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...
REVIEW: RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION BY GINA GORDON
Recipe for Temptation by Gina GordonMy rating: 5 of 5 starsGina Gordon did an admirable job with her latest Entangled romance. Recipe for Temptation is edgy, sultry and delightfully sweet. The attraction between Cole and Penn could be felt from the first page and just grew even harder to ignore. The interaction between Penn and Cole took so many different forms. One minute they were boss and employee, the next friends, then lovers, etc. I thought it was quite interesting that Ms. Gordon did that. It allowed the reader to see all facets of the relationship between these two people. They had always been so much more than they realized to each other but refused to acknowledge their feelings. This was not your normal Entangled read. Had all the steam but did not lack for the story. Very gratifying. I received an ARC of Recipe for Temptation in exchange for an honest review.View all my reviews
Merged review:
COMING 8/11-NEW RELEASE: RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION BY GINA GORDON
RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION BY GINA GORDON
Release Date: August 11, 2015
SYNOPSIS
A sexy category romance from Entangled's Brazen imprint...
She's the woman he loves to hate.
Penn Foster wants a lot of things. She wants a spot on the board of a charitable foundation. She wants to win the stupid, plastic family trophy. And more than anything, she wants her tall, hot, and brooding boss naked in her bed. Now, on a Hawaiian vacation with her family, she's desperately trying not to think about how he'd sound whispering dirty things in her ear.
He's the man she can't have...or can she?
Cole Murphy keeps himself locked down, away from the press and out of the spotlight. Still haunted by a traumatic childhood, his ability to trust has been decimated. Penn, with her sexy body and confidence, is the only person able to drag him out of his shell. Which is why he crashes her vacation and accepts her proposition for no-strings sex. But is the inescapable heat building between them a delicious temptation, or will it end in total disaster?
BUY LINKS
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Recipe-Temptati...
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/recip...
Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
_Recipe_for_Temptation_Entangled_Brazen?id=AT8zCgAAQBAJ&hl=en
Ibooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/reci...
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...
REVIEW: RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION BY GINA GORDON
Recipe for Temptation by Gina GordonMy rating: 5 of 5 starsGina Gordon did an admirable job with her latest Entangled romance. Recipe for Temptation is edgy, sultry and delightfully sweet. The attraction between Cole and Penn could be felt from the first page and just grew even harder to ignore. The interaction between Penn and Cole took so many different forms. One minute they were boss and employee, the next friends, then lovers, etc. I thought it was quite interesting that Ms. Gordon did that. It allowed the reader to see all facets of the relationship between these two people. They had always been so much more than they realized to each other but refused to acknowledge their feelings. This was not your normal Entangled read. Had all the steam but did not lack for the story. Very gratifying. I received an ARC of Recipe for Temptation in exchange for an honest review.View all my reviews
August 17, 2015
3.5 Stars!
Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Entangled Publishing via NetGalley
It has felt like forever since this journey started with these Madewood Men. And finally we get Cole's book. Yeah!
The first three books were basically Penn and Cole's foreplay while in Recipe for Temptation they finally get to act on their wants and desires.
Since the beginning Penn and Cole have had a love/ hate relationship, but we all knew why. Poor Cole, he might be a successful chef but really he's just a broken boy. So, letting people in, is not his strength, but there is something about Penn that he can't let go.
Penn has always come across as a strong loyal woman and keeps these men on their toes. However, who she is now, is not who she is when it comes to her family. Scared that her family won't love her truly for who she is, she portrays the old wallflower she used to be. Cole knows that Penn needs help with her family, so he bombards her family vacation to help her win the elusive family vacation trophy.
With this new pact to win it causes them to deal with their underlying attraction to one other. The Penn he adores is still there enough to make an appearance convincing Cole to have a 'what happens in Hawaii stays in Hawaii' sexual relationship. But once those flood gates come open all hell breaks loose with their emotions.
Penn has a hard time being who she really is with her family, causing the one person who stuck up for her to leave.
He'd walked away, because she'd given him no indication that she needed him. But she did need him. With a heavy sigh, she sunk into her chair and faced her family.
Not a fan of Penn's wallflower ways when she was so kick ass and strong in the other three books.
What these two have to realize is that family isn't as it always seems to be, and sometimes true family is not always blood.
Family wasn't about blood. Or challenges. Or rivalries. Family was about the people who loved you no matter what. The circle of people who supported you.
When shit hit the fan for these two, I don't know why Cole had so much to make up for, when he showed his heart. To me it was Penn who needed to do more of the apologizing in this scenario but what's a romance book without the grand gesture. :)
I have to admit that I'm a bit sad to see this series end. They always have a great combination of heat and story. Did I like this story? Yes, but it was not my favorite of the four. What's my favorite thing about this series? They are easy to read with a great balance of passion and substance. As well as nothing too over dramatic within the story. Can't wait to read more from Gina Gordon.
All quotes taken from pre-published eARC & may be altered or omitted in the final copy.
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August 17, 2015
Cole and Penn have been dancing around each other for the entire series so I was really looking forward to finally seeing them get their happily ever after. I have to admit I ended up feeling a little disappointed with Recipe for Temptation though, possibly because I had such high hopes. Don't get me wrong it's not a bad novel but it was missing some of the things that have made this series so much fun to read.
I think my main issue was Penn's family, they hadn't played any part in the previous books so I was curious to meet them. Penn is such a fantastic character and I thought her family was going to be a lot of fun but it turned out that they were absolutely horrible to her. The entire family is obsessed with the family trophy, they go on holiday as a group once a year and have all sorts of couples competitions to see who is the best. It's all organised by her father who is a retired gym teacher and and who runs the contest like an army general, her brothers and sisters-in-law are all highly competitive and seem to take great joy in running Penn down at every possible opportunity. The Penn we've come to know and love is pretty much absent for most of the story, she acts like an entirely different woman around her family and I can't really blame her for that considering how judgemental and critical they are of her but I missed the bubbly, fun loving woman that we've seen throughout the series.
Cole knows about the family contest and has decided that he wants to help Penn win for once and I have to admit it was nice to see that someone had her back and was there for her. I really enjoyed the interactions between the main couple, they have been working together a long time and have a strong friendship even though they often disagree with each other. They also have fantastic chemistry that has been building for a long time and was bound to be explosive when they finally gave in to their desire. I was glad that Penn was able to be herself around Cole but I think I needed to see more of the couple spending time together and less of the competitive drama with her family.
This story takes place mostly outside of Toronto as the family holiday is in Hawaii and although I liked the new setting I found myself missing the previous couples, the banter between the Madewood brothers and their respective partners has always been something I loved about this series and I missed it a lot here. We do get to catch up with the others towards the end of the story but since this is the final book in the series I just felt that I wanted to see more of them and this could have done with a much longer epilogue that let us see how everyone was doing. In spite of the issues I had with this book I still enjoyed the romance and I have found the entire series fun to read. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Gina Gordon in the future.
I think my main issue was Penn's family, they hadn't played any part in the previous books so I was curious to meet them. Penn is such a fantastic character and I thought her family was going to be a lot of fun but it turned out that they were absolutely horrible to her. The entire family is obsessed with the family trophy, they go on holiday as a group once a year and have all sorts of couples competitions to see who is the best. It's all organised by her father who is a retired gym teacher and and who runs the contest like an army general, her brothers and sisters-in-law are all highly competitive and seem to take great joy in running Penn down at every possible opportunity. The Penn we've come to know and love is pretty much absent for most of the story, she acts like an entirely different woman around her family and I can't really blame her for that considering how judgemental and critical they are of her but I missed the bubbly, fun loving woman that we've seen throughout the series.
Cole knows about the family contest and has decided that he wants to help Penn win for once and I have to admit it was nice to see that someone had her back and was there for her. I really enjoyed the interactions between the main couple, they have been working together a long time and have a strong friendship even though they often disagree with each other. They also have fantastic chemistry that has been building for a long time and was bound to be explosive when they finally gave in to their desire. I was glad that Penn was able to be herself around Cole but I think I needed to see more of the couple spending time together and less of the competitive drama with her family.
This story takes place mostly outside of Toronto as the family holiday is in Hawaii and although I liked the new setting I found myself missing the previous couples, the banter between the Madewood brothers and their respective partners has always been something I loved about this series and I missed it a lot here. We do get to catch up with the others towards the end of the story but since this is the final book in the series I just felt that I wanted to see more of them and this could have done with a much longer epilogue that let us see how everyone was doing. In spite of the issues I had with this book I still enjoyed the romance and I have found the entire series fun to read. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Gina Gordon in the future.
August 14, 2015
*ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review *
Recipe for Temptation by Gina Gordon is the fourth book in the author’s Madewood Brothers series and the first one I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Since this is a new-to-me author for an ongoing series, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but I have to say, I needn’t have worried at all. The book is fully capable of standing on its own and its two leads, Penn and Cole, pull you into the story right away, which I both loved and appreciated.
This is a fast-paced, well-written read with a forbidden love, boss-employee theme, a serious favorite of mine. In the book, Penn, the heroine has the hots for the hero, her boss, Cole, and she left town on a family vacation to try to get over it, over him, but it proves harder than she thought because he shows up and crashes her family vacation, all under the guise of helping her win her family’s coveted annual vacation trophy.
I loved this book! I loved that it was such a fun, easy, and sexy read that drew me in and took me on a journey with the characters. I related to the heroine, Penn, because let’s face it, who hasn’t, at least once, felt stifled by the expectations others have for us? Who hasn’t had the hots for some guy we think is beyond our reach? Who hasn’t felt a need to get a little distance from that one particular hottie because we think that’s what it takes to get over him?
That’s where the heroine Penn is right now, and it’s that plight that pulled me in and made me want to know more. About her, about her family, and about the guy, her boss, Cole. Combine that with her desire to prove herself to her family and win their annual vacation game…and yeah, I was totally hooked on this one.
Cole is an epic hottie. I knew that the second he graced his first page because Penn told me he was and I believed her, and he more than proved it to be true as well. I mean, even his name is sexy. Cole Murphy. And he’s the kind of sexy that’s both understated and full-on sex-on-a-stick, which I don’t even know how that works exactly but it sure worked for him—and for me.
If you love fun, sexy adventure stories where bosses and employees are looking to become more and forbidden love becomes less forbidden by the day then Recipe for Temptation by Gina Gordon is the perfect read for you. I loved every single word of it and fully plan on buying the first three books in this series and devouring them, too. So, so good!
Recipe for Temptation by Gina Gordon is the fourth book in the author’s Madewood Brothers series and the first one I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Since this is a new-to-me author for an ongoing series, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but I have to say, I needn’t have worried at all. The book is fully capable of standing on its own and its two leads, Penn and Cole, pull you into the story right away, which I both loved and appreciated.
This is a fast-paced, well-written read with a forbidden love, boss-employee theme, a serious favorite of mine. In the book, Penn, the heroine has the hots for the hero, her boss, Cole, and she left town on a family vacation to try to get over it, over him, but it proves harder than she thought because he shows up and crashes her family vacation, all under the guise of helping her win her family’s coveted annual vacation trophy.
I loved this book! I loved that it was such a fun, easy, and sexy read that drew me in and took me on a journey with the characters. I related to the heroine, Penn, because let’s face it, who hasn’t, at least once, felt stifled by the expectations others have for us? Who hasn’t had the hots for some guy we think is beyond our reach? Who hasn’t felt a need to get a little distance from that one particular hottie because we think that’s what it takes to get over him?
That’s where the heroine Penn is right now, and it’s that plight that pulled me in and made me want to know more. About her, about her family, and about the guy, her boss, Cole. Combine that with her desire to prove herself to her family and win their annual vacation game…and yeah, I was totally hooked on this one.
Cole is an epic hottie. I knew that the second he graced his first page because Penn told me he was and I believed her, and he more than proved it to be true as well. I mean, even his name is sexy. Cole Murphy. And he’s the kind of sexy that’s both understated and full-on sex-on-a-stick, which I don’t even know how that works exactly but it sure worked for him—and for me.
If you love fun, sexy adventure stories where bosses and employees are looking to become more and forbidden love becomes less forbidden by the day then Recipe for Temptation by Gina Gordon is the perfect read for you. I loved every single word of it and fully plan on buying the first three books in this series and devouring them, too. So, so good!
August 20, 2015
Penn Foster has had the hots for her boss, Cole Murphy for as long as she's worked with him but she knows that nothing will happen between them and her family vacation is a chance for her to get away from it all. And she does, until he crashes her vacation. His reason? He wants to help her win the trophy in the annual Foster family competition. Penn hates the annual competition and the fact that she has never won the trophy and maybe with Cole around, she has a chance to win.
Of all the Madewood brothers, Cole is the most reserved due to the damage from his childhood and he avoids the spotlight at all costs. His past is the driving fore behind his work with at risk children, but in Hawaii he is willing to let go and enjoy paradise, including a temporary fling with Penn. But it's not all fun and games with Penn and Cole. Their time together results in the walls they've built being slowly torn down and the secrets that have been hidden begin to reveal themselves. However, their relationship is a very complicated one, with both of them falling for each other and the challenge they face is returning to being just friends when they return home, especially because Penn has her eye on a promotion within the company and does not want it tainted by the possibility that her relationship with Cole would influence the family to offer her the promotion.
I like the direction Ms. Gordon took, with Penn being the sexual aggressor, demanding and assertive about what she wanted in bed and also the emotional issues Cole and Penn faced, but it wasn't all fun and sex in the sand. RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION touches on Penn's complex relationship with her family, the competitive nature of her relationship with her siblings and her need to hide who she really was from them. This is a steamy, emotional and very entertaining read.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Of all the Madewood brothers, Cole is the most reserved due to the damage from his childhood and he avoids the spotlight at all costs. His past is the driving fore behind his work with at risk children, but in Hawaii he is willing to let go and enjoy paradise, including a temporary fling with Penn. But it's not all fun and games with Penn and Cole. Their time together results in the walls they've built being slowly torn down and the secrets that have been hidden begin to reveal themselves. However, their relationship is a very complicated one, with both of them falling for each other and the challenge they face is returning to being just friends when they return home, especially because Penn has her eye on a promotion within the company and does not want it tainted by the possibility that her relationship with Cole would influence the family to offer her the promotion.
I like the direction Ms. Gordon took, with Penn being the sexual aggressor, demanding and assertive about what she wanted in bed and also the emotional issues Cole and Penn faced, but it wasn't all fun and sex in the sand. RECIPE FOR TEMPTATION touches on Penn's complex relationship with her family, the competitive nature of her relationship with her siblings and her need to hide who she really was from them. This is a steamy, emotional and very entertaining read.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Want more? Subscribe to my Newsletter on The Sassy Bookster.
Follow me on Twitter | Tumblr | Bloglovin’.
Like my page on Facebook.
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