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Cooking from Scratch
Not yet published
Expected 21 Jan 26Just in time for the new year, this delicious modern romance set in New York City feels like sipping a freshly steamed latte in Central Park.
Cierra Brooks isn’t where she thought she’d be at 30. In fact, she’s miserable at what was supposed to be her Michelin-starred dream job. But the job market is tough, and her relationship can’t handle another quarter-life crisis career change. Her savings account and student loan payments? Don’t even ask.
But they say if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, and she eventually finds work as a private chef for an eccentric fashion CEO. Immersed in a world of wealth and newfound social media status, an enigmatic entrepreneur captures her attention. But so has her boss’s brother, who’s impossible and always around.
When the opportunity of a lifetime arises, Cierra will start to question how much she’s willing to sacrifice to build the life of her dreams. She’s no stranger to failure and rejection, both in love and in her career. But she’ll need to confront fears from the past if she doesn’t want to sabotage her future.
This book is a standalone novel (not part of a series). While this is a cozy romance, expect some swearing and a little spice.
Cierra Brooks isn’t where she thought she’d be at 30. In fact, she’s miserable at what was supposed to be her Michelin-starred dream job. But the job market is tough, and her relationship can’t handle another quarter-life crisis career change. Her savings account and student loan payments? Don’t even ask.
But they say if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere, and she eventually finds work as a private chef for an eccentric fashion CEO. Immersed in a world of wealth and newfound social media status, an enigmatic entrepreneur captures her attention. But so has her boss’s brother, who’s impossible and always around.
When the opportunity of a lifetime arises, Cierra will start to question how much she’s willing to sacrifice to build the life of her dreams. She’s no stranger to failure and rejection, both in love and in her career. But she’ll need to confront fears from the past if she doesn’t want to sabotage her future.
This book is a standalone novel (not part of a series). While this is a cozy romance, expect some swearing and a little spice.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 21, 2026
2 people are currently reading
About the author
Dasha Banks
1 book1 followerIf you're anything like me, sometimes you just want to curl up with a book that feels like hot soup on a chilly day. That's the vibe I'm going for with my books. I like competent female main characters that remind me of the women in my life.
If you like feel-good romance with a dash of spice, then you're in the right place. For years, I lived in New York City, working in finance and politics. Now, I live in a small town in England and enjoy hiking, popping into London, and writing about the lovely messiness of life.
My debut novel, Cooking from Scratch, will be published in January 2026.
If you like feel-good romance with a dash of spice, then you're in the right place. For years, I lived in New York City, working in finance and politics. Now, I live in a small town in England and enjoy hiking, popping into London, and writing about the lovely messiness of life.
My debut novel, Cooking from Scratch, will be published in January 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 9, 2025
There is a lot in this story that kept me turning the pages, even though it did not fully work for me overall.
The premise is a strong one. Cierra Brooks, a chef whose dreams have not matched reality, becomes a private chef for an eccentric and wealthy fashion CEO. I really enjoyed the inside look at what a personal chef does each day. That world is completely outside my own, and the process of cooking for luxury clients was fascinating to read about, especially because I am someone who does not cook. The glimpse into that lifestyle, combined with Cierra’s financial stress and career uncertainty, created an engaging backdrop.
Where the novel struggled for me was in the structure. Amber, who is introduced as Cierra’s best friend and mentioned heavily, does not appear until roughly a quarter of the way into the book. Even after she enters the story, she never feels fully integrated. Her scenes rarely move the plot forward, and her presence sometimes distracted from the main storyline. In a book that runs 303 pages, this made the narrative feel stretched rather than enriched. The on-again, off-again dynamic between Cierra and Julian also dragged down the pacing, especially toward the middle. A tighter edit, possibly cutting about a quarter of the total length, would have strengthened the momentum and kept the focus more precise.
There are still genuine strengths here. Dasha Banks gives Cierra an honest and relatable voice. Her financial pressure, her fears about failure, and her desire to rebuild a life that feels meaningful are portrayed with warmth and sincerity. The culinary setting adds a fun and unusual layer that made the book stand out. The novelty of watching a private chef navigate high-maintenance clients and glamorous spaces brought freshness to the story.
In the end, Cooking From Scratch has a promising concept and a main character I wanted to root for. The slower pacing and structural issues kept it from reaching its potential, but it remains an enjoyable read for anyone who likes contemporary romance with a career-driven twist. I am giving it 3 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Hazenwood Press and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this ARC.
The premise is a strong one. Cierra Brooks, a chef whose dreams have not matched reality, becomes a private chef for an eccentric and wealthy fashion CEO. I really enjoyed the inside look at what a personal chef does each day. That world is completely outside my own, and the process of cooking for luxury clients was fascinating to read about, especially because I am someone who does not cook. The glimpse into that lifestyle, combined with Cierra’s financial stress and career uncertainty, created an engaging backdrop.
Where the novel struggled for me was in the structure. Amber, who is introduced as Cierra’s best friend and mentioned heavily, does not appear until roughly a quarter of the way into the book. Even after she enters the story, she never feels fully integrated. Her scenes rarely move the plot forward, and her presence sometimes distracted from the main storyline. In a book that runs 303 pages, this made the narrative feel stretched rather than enriched. The on-again, off-again dynamic between Cierra and Julian also dragged down the pacing, especially toward the middle. A tighter edit, possibly cutting about a quarter of the total length, would have strengthened the momentum and kept the focus more precise.
There are still genuine strengths here. Dasha Banks gives Cierra an honest and relatable voice. Her financial pressure, her fears about failure, and her desire to rebuild a life that feels meaningful are portrayed with warmth and sincerity. The culinary setting adds a fun and unusual layer that made the book stand out. The novelty of watching a private chef navigate high-maintenance clients and glamorous spaces brought freshness to the story.
In the end, Cooking From Scratch has a promising concept and a main character I wanted to root for. The slower pacing and structural issues kept it from reaching its potential, but it remains an enjoyable read for anyone who likes contemporary romance with a career-driven twist. I am giving it 3 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Hazenwood Press and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this ARC.
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December 15, 2025Really enjoyed this book - it was a slow start but once I was 20% in, I couldn't put it down!
Loved the love triangle and slow burn tension and the who will she pick in the end...
Loved the love triangle and slow burn tension and the who will she pick in the end...
Review of advance copy
2.5 rounded to 3
Unfortunately, this book felt like a waste of time, and I mostly finished it out of obligation. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t really like it either, which somehow feels worse. I struggled to care about the characters at all, making it hard to stay invested. Cierra was… fine. I did enjoy the premise of her being a chef, and her fear of failure and uncertainty around her career choice was relatable. That was about it. Her growth felt less like character development and more like career progression with a side of self-doubt. There were way too many unnecessary minute details throughout the story that added very little. The romance aspect was an absolute miss for me. It takes well over halfway through the book before any real romance even begins, and even then, it never fully shows up or reaches any kind of emotional height.
The dynamic with Julian especially fell flat. We’re clearly meant to believe there’s something substantial there, but there wasn’t enough depth or emotional investment built up for me to care when things start to unravel. What’s revealed about him is supposed to matter, and technically it does, but emotionally it landed with a shrug. The synopsis also promises that her boss’s brother is “impossible” and always around, which initially had my attention. In practice, Erik never came off as impossible, and there was no real tension, no slow burn, and no meaningful exploration of their connection. Their dynamic felt more like a possibility that the book kept circling without ever committing to. When the story eventually leans in that direction, it feels more like a default setting than a payoff. With more intentional character development, deeper relationship building, and a romance that had time to actually grow and peak, this could have been a much stronger and more satisfying read for me.
I do appreciate the author and BookSirens for the advanced copy and opportunity to review.
I do appreciate the author and BookSirens for the advanced copy and opportunity to review.
Unfortunately, this book felt like a waste of time, and I mostly finished it out of obligation. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t really like it either, which somehow feels worse. I struggled to care about the characters at all, making it hard to stay invested. Cierra was… fine. I did enjoy the premise of her being a chef, and her fear of failure and uncertainty around her career choice was relatable. That was about it. Her growth felt less like character development and more like career progression with a side of self-doubt. There were way too many unnecessary minute details throughout the story that added very little. The romance aspect was an absolute miss for me. It takes well over halfway through the book before any real romance even begins, and even then, it never fully shows up or reaches any kind of emotional height.
The dynamic with Julian especially fell flat. We’re clearly meant to believe there’s something substantial there, but there wasn’t enough depth or emotional investment built up for me to care when things start to unravel. What’s revealed about him is supposed to matter, and technically it does, but emotionally it landed with a shrug. The synopsis also promises that her boss’s brother is “impossible” and always around, which initially had my attention. In practice, Erik never came off as impossible, and there was no real tension, no slow burn, and no meaningful exploration of their connection. Their dynamic felt more like a possibility that the book kept circling without ever committing to. When the story eventually leans in that direction, it feels more like a default setting than a payoff. With more intentional character development, deeper relationship building, and a romance that had time to actually grow and peak, this could have been a much stronger and more satisfying read for me.
I do appreciate the author and BookSirens for the advanced copy and opportunity to review.
I do appreciate the author and BookSirens for the advanced copy and opportunity to review.
December 17, 2025
Rating: 3.75
Cierra is a heading into her 30s without a solid plan for her future. After leaving a corporate job to pursue a career in the culinary world, she finds that she is just as frustrated in the top restaurants. She wants to be creative, but she also wants to find her own way. This upheaval in her work world leads to an upheaval in her love life, and she finds herself without many good options. She moves in with a friend and borrows money from her sister.
This book did move fairly quickly, and I did really like the angst that Banks writes for Cierra. She is have a crisis of identity, and this is realistically protrayed. Cierra is struggling in what she perceives her job to be as well as what she perceives what the perfect relationship should look like. Banks missed an opportunity to create an intense desire with the love triangle. Cierra should have had more flirty interactions with Erik, and Banks should have focused more on the forbidden aspect of the relationship. Additionally, I would have like to have more feels with Julian. He took her on amazing dates, but the chemistry that Cierra was trying to convey to her friends was not evident in the writing.
I loved the relationship between Mia and Cierra. I would have liked to have more witty banter between the two of them. Amber seems like an afterthought, so I’m not sure she was truly needed in the story.
The plot is fun, and Banks places the story in the culinary world and New York. The plot will keep you turning pages.
I received this ARC from Booksirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Cierra is a heading into her 30s without a solid plan for her future. After leaving a corporate job to pursue a career in the culinary world, she finds that she is just as frustrated in the top restaurants. She wants to be creative, but she also wants to find her own way. This upheaval in her work world leads to an upheaval in her love life, and she finds herself without many good options. She moves in with a friend and borrows money from her sister.
This book did move fairly quickly, and I did really like the angst that Banks writes for Cierra. She is have a crisis of identity, and this is realistically protrayed. Cierra is struggling in what she perceives her job to be as well as what she perceives what the perfect relationship should look like. Banks missed an opportunity to create an intense desire with the love triangle. Cierra should have had more flirty interactions with Erik, and Banks should have focused more on the forbidden aspect of the relationship. Additionally, I would have like to have more feels with Julian. He took her on amazing dates, but the chemistry that Cierra was trying to convey to her friends was not evident in the writing.
I loved the relationship between Mia and Cierra. I would have liked to have more witty banter between the two of them. Amber seems like an afterthought, so I’m not sure she was truly needed in the story.
The plot is fun, and Banks places the story in the culinary world and New York. The plot will keep you turning pages.
I received this ARC from Booksirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Cooking From Scratch is a gripping story that pulls the reader in early and refuses to let go. From the outset, the narrative is immersive and purposeful, with a rhythm that steadily builds tension while allowing the characters to fully come alive. The pacing is one of the novel’s greatest strengths, measured and intentional at first, then accelerating seamlessly as Cierra finds more confidence in herself.
Once the story reaches its climax, it becomes impossible to put down. The final stretch unfolds with intensity and emotional weight, compelling the reader to keep turning pages in anticipation of how everything will resolve. It is the kind of book that demands to be finished in one sitting, driven by both suspense and genuine investment in the characters.
Mia and Cierra, in particular, leave a lasting impression. Their arcs feel layered and incomplete in the best possible way, inviting questions rather than neatly tying everything off. By the final page, I was left wanting more: What ultimately happens to Cierra? What is next for Mia, will she find someone? How did the plate episodes truly unfold, and what consequences remain?
Cooking From Scratch feels like the beginning of something larger. The world, the characters, and the unresolved threads all lend themselves naturally to continuation, and it is difficult not to hope this story expands into a trilogy. For readers who appreciate strong character development, escalating tension, and a finale that lingers long after the last page, this book is absolutely worth the read!
Once the story reaches its climax, it becomes impossible to put down. The final stretch unfolds with intensity and emotional weight, compelling the reader to keep turning pages in anticipation of how everything will resolve. It is the kind of book that demands to be finished in one sitting, driven by both suspense and genuine investment in the characters.
Mia and Cierra, in particular, leave a lasting impression. Their arcs feel layered and incomplete in the best possible way, inviting questions rather than neatly tying everything off. By the final page, I was left wanting more: What ultimately happens to Cierra? What is next for Mia, will she find someone? How did the plate episodes truly unfold, and what consequences remain?
Cooking From Scratch feels like the beginning of something larger. The world, the characters, and the unresolved threads all lend themselves naturally to continuation, and it is difficult not to hope this story expands into a trilogy. For readers who appreciate strong character development, escalating tension, and a finale that lingers long after the last page, this book is absolutely worth the read!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
SUCH a fun read!! Cooking from Scratch is satisfying escapism that manages to avoid being too saccharine.
The real strength of the novel is in its core characters and their relationships. The romantic dynamic at the center is especially well done with dialogue that is fun and natural, and chemistry that feels earned.
While some of the emotional beats in the beginning felt rushed, it quickly yields a story with real insight and a lot of comforting relatability for anyone who has made big changes in their late 20s/early 30s and finds themselves dating later in life than they expected.
Definitely recommend it!
The real strength of the novel is in its core characters and their relationships. The romantic dynamic at the center is especially well done with dialogue that is fun and natural, and chemistry that feels earned.
While some of the emotional beats in the beginning felt rushed, it quickly yields a story with real insight and a lot of comforting relatability for anyone who has made big changes in their late 20s/early 30s and finds themselves dating later in life than they expected.
Definitely recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews