Barefoot in the Kitchen

by Tricia Morrison

Mikhail

This is not how I thought the season was going to go. I’d won a Stanley cup last year, and now… it’s the AHL for me.
I’m in a new city, finally out of a terrible relationship, and I’d left my best friend behind without telling her I was leaving.
I’m not exactly making great decisions. But, at least I’ve got a live-in, private chef coming to take some of the weight off my shoulders.

Catalina

This is not how I thought my life was going to look. I’d won a James Beard award, and almost immediately quit my job because our Head Chef was a jerk.
I’m in a new city, again. My best friend doesn’t know I left, and I’m dreaming of a restaurant of my own with a zero-dollar salary.
Good thing I saw that add for a live-in, private chef.

Paperback

First published December 17, 2025

Reviews

[jensbooknookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:

This book was a fun read. I’m always down for a hockey romance and I liked the friends to lovers with a twist of surprise forced proximity. I liked seeing a chef FMC and touching on her experiences working in different kitchens and standing up for herself. This definitely had a few heavier themes but I enjoyed the growth of the characters. Seriously with cooking & hockey how can you go wrong.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Mikhail was attracted to Catalina the second she was introduced as his teammate’s best friend. They struck up a friendship over his 6 years playing in the NHL. But the last few years had been a bit strained as his current girlfriend does not like Cat. To make it worse he just found out his team was sending him to NY to play on the AHL team, as a “good faith” measure as they were hoping to syndicate at the end of the season. So Mik is packing up for the next year and moving to Syracuse, NY but it all happened so fast he didn’t have a chance to even tell Cat.

Catalina loves to cook she learned from her grandmother and one day she hopes to open her own restaurant. She just quit her current position, as the head chef crossed the line and she would not put up with that treatment. So now it’s time to focus on her dream, she made a list of cities that could be a good spot for her new restaurants and put them in a bowl. She picked out Syracuse so that’s where she’ll be headed. Luckily she found an interim job as a private chef for an athlete that comes with a place to stay while she figures out how to make her dream into a reality.

So when Mik gets back to his apartment from his first practice, he is shocked to discover the woman in his kitchen cooking is his best friend! Now they both have a lot of explaining to do.

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:

Mikhail - “Where have you been all my life?”

Catalina - “Waiting for you to see me,”

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Friends to Lovers
* Hockey Player MMC
* Chef FMC
* 6 Year Slow Burn
* Then & Now Timelines
* Forced Proximity - New Live in Chef
* Syracuse NY
* Dual POV - Fade to Black

💜🧀🥐🥖💜🧀🥐🥖💜

https://www.instagram.com/p/DQUzXIDkp...

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️

Being my first book by Tricia Morrison, I was excited to discover a new-to-me author. I was immediately pulled into the story and the chemistry between our MCs. She definitely makes her readers question fate and people’s destiny as these two keep finding themselves in proximity to each other. Even when they thought they ran far from their current problems, they find themselves together again.

Mikhail and Catalina have been best friends for some time, however they have one massive secret they each keep from the other. They each have feelings for the other, however have kept it to themselves as to not ruin the friendship they have created. Honestly, I am not sure how these two didn’t realize they have feelings for each other. The chemistry between these two is obvious to everyone but them.

Overall a super cute story that when the MCs finally want to admit and act on their feelings, I couldn’t get enough of these two. The now and then timeline had great potential,but did fall a bit short. I am not sure if the confusion of the timelines were due to not being made more well known or maybe I wasn’t paying attention closely enough, but I would be reading and then realize the story had jumped.

Being the third in the series, New York, it can be read as a standalone. However I will be reading the other two, very soon, since I did enjoy the overall story written by Tricia. If the first two were as fun and captivating as this story, they will be great reads!

As always, review any author notes before reading.

What to Expect:
🏒Coach x Chef
👩‍🍳Sports Romance
🏒Love Triangle
👩‍🍳Best Friends to Lovers
🏒Forbidden Love

[Mariette De kock · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Review *

Barefoot in the Kitchen by Tricia Morrison

📚Book 3 (Interconnected Standalone): New York Hockey series

Tropes
🏒 Friends to Lovers
🏒 Chef x Athlete
🏒 Forced proximity
🏒 Forbidden
🏒 Close door hockey Romance

Barefoot in the Kitchen is a sports romance. We follow Catalina, a James Beard award chef and Mikhail, a Stanley cup hockey winner. Catalina needs a new start after her boss pushes her too far. Her best friend doesn't know she is left town but at least she got a job as a personal chef. Mikhail's life is turn upside down when he is send to a new town. He needs to stay there for a year and he didn't get a change to tell his bestfriend.

I loved this closed romance hockey romance. It is a quick read and I just love all the little details. One of my favourite part is the nicknames!!! Cat is a strong independent woman. She shows how to make it in a mans world . She gets triggered by past experiences but toast aka Mikhail is there to protect her. The forced proximity between Cat and Toast is so good! The chemistry, the friendship and just there entire relationship is so good. Toast gives odd golden retriever vibes and he would do anything for his best friend. The beginning of the story is a bit confusing when we jump timeline. It feels like you get pulled for the story. I am also not a fan of the 3rd act break up due to miscommunication . This is such a bad trope but overall I enjoyed the series and are looking forward to reading the more of the authors work.

Thank you Sunny Babe PR and Tricia Morrison for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review

[Jayde · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ ARC Review - Barefoot in the Kitchen by Tricia Morrison ✨

Thank you to Tricia Morrison and Sunny babe or for the opportunity to read this ARC 🤍

This was my first Tricia Morrison book (even though it’s the third in the series), and honestly, I can totally see why readers love her cozy storytelling. I’m not usually a sports romance girlie, mostly because I have no idea what’s happening or what any of the rules mean 😂, but Barefoot in the Kitchen is definitely more about the heart than the game.

It’s a quick, easy, and cozy slow-burn, closed-door romance between two best friends who’ve been in love with each other for years. The chemistry was sweet and the whole thing gave me warm, Sunday-afternoon-read energy.

I did find myself a bit confused with some of the time jumps (a few moments didn’t quite line up) and the third-act breakup frustrated me. The two-month no-contact situation felt a bit sudden, especially since everything wrapped up pretty neatly after that.

But despite that, it’s an easy, comforting, cozy read, the kind you can pick up between heavier reads.

[Betty Wong · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely love hockey romances and dove into this Mikhail and Catalina’s story. They are besties even though they had major crushes on each other since they first met six years ago.
Now they find themselves in a situation where Catalina is his private chef while trying to find a space for to open her own restaurant.
There is a lot of cute aspects I loved: they have great chemistry together; they have sweet nicknames for each other. I also loved the hockey aspect and Mikhail’s teammates/friends.
I felt a bit of a disconnect with the jump of timeline to the story. I got a little lost but mostly because I wasn’t paying attention to the year it referred to. It’s a slow burn, closed door story and honestly a sweet story. The one place I felt disconnected is the miscommunication between the two when it came to crucial pieces of the storyline but overall the book was entertaining and sweet

[Breanna | TalkBooksWithBree | · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, @sunnybabepr and @triciamorrisonauthor for this ARC!

Barefoot in the Kitchen by Tricia Morrison was a fun read that I really enjoyed! The chemistry between Mikhail, an NHL defenseman, and Catalina, a private chef, is electric, making their banter both fun and heartfelt. The sports aspect adds an exciting layer to the story, showcasing the challenges and camaraderie of professional hockey. The vivid descriptions of the food had my mouth watering, and I felt like I was right there in the kitchen with them. The story beautifully explores themes of love, friendship, and personal growth, while also capturing the highs and lows of pursuing a professional sports career.

If you’re looking for a romantic read that combines food, friendship, and sports drama, I highly recommend this book!

If you like:
🥅 Sports Romance
👩🏻‍🍳 Chef FMC
🏒 Pro Hockey Player MMC
🍽️ Forced Proximity
🫱🏻‍🫲🏽 Friends to Lovers
💛 Closed Door
…Then this is a book for you!!

[Linda Dominick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two things: I love that these friends to lovers have secret crushes on each other. And second, I love how they end up being in each other’s lives. The rules of living together were quickly thrown away, and they just seemed so comfortable with each other, rules never made sense.
Other things I enjoyed about this fun read, Mikhail’s and Catalina’s careers were imperfect, and they realized their careers weren’t everything. They were successful but they realized they could only be happy if they let themselves love each other.
Lastly, this was a closed-door romance, and I didn’t miss the spice.
If you are in the mood for a romance between friends that have loved each other for years, you will love reading about Mik and Lina. They love good food, hockey, and each other!

[Amanda Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barefoot in the Kitchen is the third book in the New York Series by Tricia Morrison. Hockey Player plus friends to lovers is a recipe for a cute read. Barefoot in the Kitchen is a quick, fun closed door romance that tells the story of Mikhail and Catalina’s journey from friends to lovers. They are such a cute couple: I loved their nicknames for each other. This book is told in both of their POVS and dual timelines. Truthfully, I wasn’t a fan of the dual timelines because it didn’t add anything and felt disjointed at times. Thanks SunnyBabe PR for giving me an opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lexi | Type6Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barefoot in the Kitchen is a hockey x chef, roommates, dual POV & timeline (ish), fast paced, closed door romance. It was refreshing to read about a sweet down to earth hockey player who just wanted to play hockey no matter where. The story is quick once you get into it & I was able to read it in one sitting. I enjoyed the side characters & the story. I could definitely picture Catalina’s restaurant she opened & loved her all woman staff idea. It was a sweet read. My only complaint is the timeline sometimes confused me. I would definitely recommend!

Thank you @Sunnybabepr & to the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

4⭐️, closed door🌶️

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series, but my first by Tricia Morrison-and it was such an easy, fun read. This book can be read as a stand alone. However, I definitely plan to read the first two books in this series.
I loved her cozy storytelling style. It's a slow-burn, closed-door romance between two best friends who've secretly loved each other for years. I loved the chemistry between the main characters.

What to Expect
🏒Hockey Player MMC
👩🏻‍🍳Chef FMC
🧀Friends to Lovers
🏒Slow Burn
👩🏻���🍳Forced Proximity
🧀Dual POV
🏒Fade to Black

✨Thank you to Tricia Morrison and Sunny babe or for the opportunity to read this ARC. Opinions are my own.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick read about mikhail and Catalina. Mikhail is a professional hockey player that gets sent to the AHL farm team unexpectedly in Syracuse. Unbeknownst to him, but simultaneously, his best friend and forever crush. Lena quits her job at her restaurant to move to Syracuse to save up for her own restaurant. She becomes his private chef and lives in his apartment. Their six year long chemistry comes to ahead as they’re both secretly in love with each other.

This one was just OK for me. I liked the premise of the book, but the miscommunication trope was completely unrealistic. The two month third act break up was very weird to me.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

More along the lines of a 4.25 star if you ask me. I love a book that can lead you through the life of the characters with good descriptions without it feeling like it's dragging. It was captivating, and I loved the in and outs of both characters. It's a perfect slow burn, and one you want to see all goes great for both characters. The growth for both really worked for me.

I think what got me was our last little struggle. I understand why it made sense, but it also felt a little over the top? It gave me the 'oh my god, what are doing' moment, but still felt a little pushed. It didn't break the book, though, and in the end, it's one I see me reading again.

[Cassandra Mays · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a cute clean romance.
POV messes up a few times throughout the book.

I don’t like the timeline jumping. Don’t mind it usually but it’s a little confusing.

Either way it’s a great story and very fast paced.

[Lisa Cavola · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy and quick book for all romance lovers, this one is a very cute book. I love slow burn and friends to lovers tropes, so I really enjoyed this one. Perfect for a good night in ❤️ @sunnybabepr @triciamorrisonauthor

[Tricia Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favourite of the three I've written.

However, Andrew Fisher is still my favourite MAN I've written.