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The Delta Girls #4
Taste
The heat gets turned up on the Delcarta sisters when they have a mystery in the kitchen, one that puts each of them in mortal danger.
Tamara is smitten with neighbor Leo Pearce, and not only because he can cook like the chefs on television and gets her a job as kitchen hand at the restaurant where he works. His dark intensity is alluring, and he begins mentoring her on his own time, sharing their mutual passion for food and assisting her in preparations for a local amateur cooking competition. But is Leo as good as he seems?
Tamara's new friend, Emilia, advises her to be cautious about his troubled past and mood swings. Tamara is also worried that her chance at romance will be ruined when Leo discovers the secret of The Delta Girls. But more serious matters may force her to put aside her personal concerns and do what's right when the premonitions she shares with her sisters reveal that someone is in danger of being poisoned. As a special event at the restaurant nears, The Delta Girls will have to put their sensory clues together to figure out who is in danger, who is responsible, and how to stop it. But their mission proves more complicated than they thought when a catastrophic turn of events may require them to save more lives than just one.
Tamara is smitten with neighbor Leo Pearce, and not only because he can cook like the chefs on television and gets her a job as kitchen hand at the restaurant where he works. His dark intensity is alluring, and he begins mentoring her on his own time, sharing their mutual passion for food and assisting her in preparations for a local amateur cooking competition. But is Leo as good as he seems?
Tamara's new friend, Emilia, advises her to be cautious about his troubled past and mood swings. Tamara is also worried that her chance at romance will be ruined when Leo discovers the secret of The Delta Girls. But more serious matters may force her to put aside her personal concerns and do what's right when the premonitions she shares with her sisters reveal that someone is in danger of being poisoned. As a special event at the restaurant nears, The Delta Girls will have to put their sensory clues together to figure out who is in danger, who is responsible, and how to stop it. But their mission proves more complicated than they thought when a catastrophic turn of events may require them to save more lives than just one.
- GenresYoung Adult
MP3 CD
First published April 12, 2016
179 people want to read
About the author
Juliet Madison
34 books167 followersJuliet Madison is a bestselling and award-nominated author of 20 books with humour, heart, and serendipity. Writing both fiction and self help, she is also an artist and colouring book illustrator, a mind/body/spirit coach, and a writing course creator.
With her background as a naturopath and a dancer, Juliet is passionate about living a healthy and positive life. She likes to combine her love of words, art, and self-empowerment to create books that entertain and inspire readers to find the magic in everyday life.
Juliet lives on the picturesque south coast of NSW, Australia, where she spends as much time as possible writing books, drawing, teaching online courses, being with family, and as little time as possible doing housework.
She is represented by literary agent Joelle Delbourgo, and has been published by Escape Publishing-Harlequin/Harper Collins Australia, Sourcebooks USA, Dover Publications, Diversion Books, Bloodhound Books, and Once Upon a Book Club.
Juliet loves to interact online with readers and writers. You can contact her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JulietMadison..., instagram http://www.instagram.com/julietmadiso... and through her website http://www.julietmadison.com
With her background as a naturopath and a dancer, Juliet is passionate about living a healthy and positive life. She likes to combine her love of words, art, and self-empowerment to create books that entertain and inspire readers to find the magic in everyday life.
Juliet lives on the picturesque south coast of NSW, Australia, where she spends as much time as possible writing books, drawing, teaching online courses, being with family, and as little time as possible doing housework.
She is represented by literary agent Joelle Delbourgo, and has been published by Escape Publishing-Harlequin/Harper Collins Australia, Sourcebooks USA, Dover Publications, Diversion Books, Bloodhound Books, and Once Upon a Book Club.
Juliet loves to interact online with readers and writers. You can contact her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JulietMadison..., instagram http://www.instagram.com/julietmadiso... and through her website http://www.julietmadison.com
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 4, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Diversion Books and NetGalley.)
This was a YA paranormal story which carried on from the previous book in the series.
Tamara really loved cooking and it really showed in the book, so it was nice to see her passion.
The storyline in this was about Tamara starting a new job and her dreams of becoming a chef. There was a storyline about a possible poisoning, and we also got some romance.
The ending to this left us with a bit more info on the death of the girls’ dad!
6 out of 10
“His arms were around me, strong and firm, his palms spreading across my back. A hint of sweet berry cream swirled between us as our lips tasted each other.”
This was a YA paranormal story which carried on from the previous book in the series.
Tamara really loved cooking and it really showed in the book, so it was nice to see her passion.
The storyline in this was about Tamara starting a new job and her dreams of becoming a chef. There was a storyline about a possible poisoning, and we also got some romance.
The ending to this left us with a bit more info on the death of the girls’ dad!
6 out of 10
November 5, 2021
The release of the fourth in The Delta Girls series snuck up on me and I almost missed it. As soon as it was pointed out to me I had to chase it down, to add to the ever growing TBR list. It seems I then found I couldn’t resist and it made it to the very top of the pile. I think part of that was the need to know what would happen next, but I have to admit that part of it was simply knowing that it would be quite a quick read.
Taste is Tamara’s story and we have gotten to know her relatively well throughout the series. Her extra sensory gift is taste and she is the Delcarta sister who loves to cook, and is crushing on the brooding neighbourhood chef Leo.
Throughout the series we have seen Tamara’s crush on Leo grow, and her envy of the relationships her sisters are in. Taste sees her finally come to his attention when a video of her cooking is posted on social media, and leads to her applying for a job as a kitchenhand at the restaurant Leo works in. Finally she gets to meet Leo properly and spend some time with him.
Tamara has the chance to immerse herself in a culinary environment, though most of her time is spent washing dishes, and meet new people and make friends with her workmates. The main storyline focuses on Tamara, her new job and her new friends.
Emilia is a little older and has had it quite tough. Her struggles have been very different to the Delcarta sisters, they have two parents who love them dearly and they never questioned that. Emilia had it tough at home growing up, her last breakup was messy and she is still recovering. Emilia warns Tamara about Leo’s moodiness and casts doubt on his character, she also slowly drops information about the relationship she had with him.
Tamara is loving her new job, juggling work and school as well as practicing for her entry in a cooking competition that may see her working on a TV cooking show. All is looking rosy, except for the concerning spate of restaurant poisonings and the premonition that something is going to happen at the restaurant Tamara is working in.
The gift the sisters share is something they try to keep to themselves, until it becomes a need to know situation; and Tamara is concerned that her gift may jeopardise whatever is blossoming between her and Leo.
Taste has a lot going on, there is the budding relationship between Tamara and Leo and the race to decipher the clues in the premonition before anything happens at Harbourside, as well as a spate of thefts in the area. Alongside it all is the ongoing quest to discover what happened to the Delcarta dad. More clues are unearthed every book but it has been a long road to closure, and Taste doesn’t give us all the answers. I can only hope, along with the Delta Girls, that Touch is going to tie up the disappearance and offer closure to the Delcartas and all readers of the series.
The pacing is great, with something always going on, and a blend of suspense with budding romance. The normal everyday life of teens with the responsibility of an extra sensory gift sent to allow the girls to stop disasters.
An enjoyable and entertaining read that leaves me eagerly awaiting the final instalment which is due in three short months.
Thanks Juliet for another great escape.
Taste is Tamara’s story and we have gotten to know her relatively well throughout the series. Her extra sensory gift is taste and she is the Delcarta sister who loves to cook, and is crushing on the brooding neighbourhood chef Leo.
Throughout the series we have seen Tamara’s crush on Leo grow, and her envy of the relationships her sisters are in. Taste sees her finally come to his attention when a video of her cooking is posted on social media, and leads to her applying for a job as a kitchenhand at the restaurant Leo works in. Finally she gets to meet Leo properly and spend some time with him.
Tamara has the chance to immerse herself in a culinary environment, though most of her time is spent washing dishes, and meet new people and make friends with her workmates. The main storyline focuses on Tamara, her new job and her new friends.
Emilia is a little older and has had it quite tough. Her struggles have been very different to the Delcarta sisters, they have two parents who love them dearly and they never questioned that. Emilia had it tough at home growing up, her last breakup was messy and she is still recovering. Emilia warns Tamara about Leo’s moodiness and casts doubt on his character, she also slowly drops information about the relationship she had with him.
Tamara is loving her new job, juggling work and school as well as practicing for her entry in a cooking competition that may see her working on a TV cooking show. All is looking rosy, except for the concerning spate of restaurant poisonings and the premonition that something is going to happen at the restaurant Tamara is working in.
The gift the sisters share is something they try to keep to themselves, until it becomes a need to know situation; and Tamara is concerned that her gift may jeopardise whatever is blossoming between her and Leo.
Taste has a lot going on, there is the budding relationship between Tamara and Leo and the race to decipher the clues in the premonition before anything happens at Harbourside, as well as a spate of thefts in the area. Alongside it all is the ongoing quest to discover what happened to the Delcarta dad. More clues are unearthed every book but it has been a long road to closure, and Taste doesn’t give us all the answers. I can only hope, along with the Delta Girls, that Touch is going to tie up the disappearance and offer closure to the Delcartas and all readers of the series.
The pacing is great, with something always going on, and a blend of suspense with budding romance. The normal everyday life of teens with the responsibility of an extra sensory gift sent to allow the girls to stop disasters.
An enjoyable and entertaining read that leaves me eagerly awaiting the final instalment which is due in three short months.
Thanks Juliet for another great escape.
June 23, 2016
I didn’t realize this was the fourth book in a series until after I had requested it. Generally, though, I can pretty quickly get up to speed and not miss much overall. I think this book did a good job of that, and I didn’t feel like I missed much. The book was well-written, it was nice, quick read, and the overall plot is a really interesting one. I really liked the main character and felt I got to know her, which was good since I hadn’t read the first three. The book did intrigue me enough I will probably go back and read the first three. The only thing I found a little bit of a negative was the book did seem a little too much about romance and was a little angst-y. That’s just my preference and not the book’s fault. Recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley Diversion Books and for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This same review will be posted on Goodreads and Amazon.
Thanks to NetGalley Diversion Books and for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This same review will be posted on Goodreads and Amazon.
July 18, 2025
This series has been a truly lovely read with beautiful people, characters I can enjoy and feel good about but most importantly ones I feel are "real," not artificial. I can honestly recommend this and the other Delta Girls highly to everyone who enjoys nicely written works without any awfulness that can spoil a book for me and a family you would be happy to welcome into your own home. This story is definitely not the scenario I expected for the source of the visions but so well written.
PLEASE read from one to fie in order - it will be so much more meaningful and enjoyable if you do.
The fifth book waited impatiently for me so I could complete the series I've enjoyed so much.
PLEASE read from one to fie in order - it will be so much more meaningful and enjoyable if you do.
The fifth book waited impatiently for me so I could complete the series I've enjoyed so much.
April 13, 2016
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Taste by Juliet Madison is the 4th installment of The Delta Girls series which gets better with each book! This time the focus is on Tamara, the sister with the psychic sense of taste (hence the title). Tamara is introverted, has a huge crush on Riley’s older brother Leo, and aspires to be a chef. In the previous books she’s been the one always in the kitchen, always eating, but never really had much of a role so I was excited to read her story in the series.
Tamara is the younger of the twins. At 17 she knows what she wants in her life. She wants to be a chef, possibly have her own cooking show. However as she watches her younger sisters, the triplets, she finds herself longing to have a relationship too and more than just the one sided relationship she currently has of looking out the window at her hunky neighbor. I really related to Tamara. She struggles with her psychic sense, which I get. I mean who wants to taste the future?! Yuck!!!
When Savannah videos Tamara in the kitchen and posts it to Facebook, Leo notices and invites Tamara to apply for a position as a kitchen hand at the same restaurant he’s a chef in. Of course she jumps on the opportunity….who wouldn’t?! Getting to work with your crush AND in a kitchen….yes please!!! Leo is introverted like Tamara. He and his brother have experienced loss and grief. Tamara finds a like soul in Leo. And Leo finally has a way to spend time with the lovely Delcarta sister.
The plot revolves around a string of thefts in their small seaside town. While the girls do not sense anything about the thefts, they are plagued with people dying and the news gives them the clues about a string of poisonings at restaurants. In addition to this there is still the mystery about their father’s death which has spanned the entire series. The girls are no closer to an answer than they were in the last book, which for them is frustrating. Tamara hides her feelings from her sisters well but not Leo. I love their relationship! It’s sweet and albeit predictable, but totally swoon-worthy.
Overall I really enjoyed this installment to The Delta Girls. In fact I read it in one sitting, staying up till 3am to do so. If you enjoy mystery and crime stories with a twist of the paranormal and a touch of romance, I highly recommend the series!
Taste by Juliet Madison is the 4th installment of The Delta Girls series which gets better with each book! This time the focus is on Tamara, the sister with the psychic sense of taste (hence the title). Tamara is introverted, has a huge crush on Riley’s older brother Leo, and aspires to be a chef. In the previous books she’s been the one always in the kitchen, always eating, but never really had much of a role so I was excited to read her story in the series.
Tamara is the younger of the twins. At 17 she knows what she wants in her life. She wants to be a chef, possibly have her own cooking show. However as she watches her younger sisters, the triplets, she finds herself longing to have a relationship too and more than just the one sided relationship she currently has of looking out the window at her hunky neighbor. I really related to Tamara. She struggles with her psychic sense, which I get. I mean who wants to taste the future?! Yuck!!!
When Savannah videos Tamara in the kitchen and posts it to Facebook, Leo notices and invites Tamara to apply for a position as a kitchen hand at the same restaurant he’s a chef in. Of course she jumps on the opportunity….who wouldn’t?! Getting to work with your crush AND in a kitchen….yes please!!! Leo is introverted like Tamara. He and his brother have experienced loss and grief. Tamara finds a like soul in Leo. And Leo finally has a way to spend time with the lovely Delcarta sister.
The plot revolves around a string of thefts in their small seaside town. While the girls do not sense anything about the thefts, they are plagued with people dying and the news gives them the clues about a string of poisonings at restaurants. In addition to this there is still the mystery about their father’s death which has spanned the entire series. The girls are no closer to an answer than they were in the last book, which for them is frustrating. Tamara hides her feelings from her sisters well but not Leo. I love their relationship! It’s sweet and albeit predictable, but totally swoon-worthy.
Overall I really enjoyed this installment to The Delta Girls. In fact I read it in one sitting, staying up till 3am to do so. If you enjoy mystery and crime stories with a twist of the paranormal and a touch of romance, I highly recommend the series!
June 29, 2016
I have been too busy to dig into this fourth book until now. I had hoped to read it BEFORE the fifth book made it to me in the mail, but "Touch" came to me sooner than I had expected, so all I could do with read this book so that I could move onto the next one (hopefully tomorrow).
The suspense in regards to a certain thief was not so surprising. I'd had suspicions LONG before the big reveal, but I was inspired by Tamara's mature response to the culprit and the situation that the person laid out to her. Not so inspired as a certain chef however (wink).
However, I was caught completely unawares by the deadlier of the girls' visions and how that heart stopping experience panned out. It is just so hard to trust what people show on the surface when faced with their snake-like natures hidden beneath their sincere, and often tragic, exteriors (sigh).
Updates:
Tamara: Has a job working at Harborside Restaurant. Competed in a cooking contest for the chance to be on her favorite celebrity Chef's show.
Talia: Has taken up meditation, accompanied by a Meditation stone or "pet rock" as its been dubbed.
Not much has changed for Sav, Serena, or Sasha. The girls are mostly entranced in their romantic lives, and we don't see much of them. Though, Sasha appears to be still recovering from her attack in the last book. After what's happened to Tamara now, though, she and Sasha are closer than ever.
I cannot believe how much has occurred in the year since we first met the Delta Girls. Each of them has grown into an incredibly strong, mature, intelligent, and spirited young woman. They have changed in ways that go far beyond their youthfulness, though they still hold fast to the personalities and character traits that I'm sure many of us have grown to adore.
It's been a heck of a ride, and I can only imagine what will be waiting in store for us next in "Touch." The girls have learned life-changing info about their father and his disappearance, and their long-awaited justice over his death may be just over the horizon.
The suspense in regards to a certain thief was not so surprising. I'd had suspicions LONG before the big reveal, but I was inspired by Tamara's mature response to the culprit and the situation that the person laid out to her. Not so inspired as a certain chef however (wink).
However, I was caught completely unawares by the deadlier of the girls' visions and how that heart stopping experience panned out. It is just so hard to trust what people show on the surface when faced with their snake-like natures hidden beneath their sincere, and often tragic, exteriors (sigh).
Updates:
Tamara: Has a job working at Harborside Restaurant. Competed in a cooking contest for the chance to be on her favorite celebrity Chef's show.
Talia: Has taken up meditation, accompanied by a Meditation stone or "pet rock" as its been dubbed.
Not much has changed for Sav, Serena, or Sasha. The girls are mostly entranced in their romantic lives, and we don't see much of them. Though, Sasha appears to be still recovering from her attack in the last book. After what's happened to Tamara now, though, she and Sasha are closer than ever.
I cannot believe how much has occurred in the year since we first met the Delta Girls. Each of them has grown into an incredibly strong, mature, intelligent, and spirited young woman. They have changed in ways that go far beyond their youthfulness, though they still hold fast to the personalities and character traits that I'm sure many of us have grown to adore.
It's been a heck of a ride, and I can only imagine what will be waiting in store for us next in "Touch." The girls have learned life-changing info about their father and his disappearance, and their long-awaited justice over his death may be just over the horizon.
April 21, 2016
review first posted on Realm of the Sapphired Dragon on 12th April 2016
I am really enjoying this series and I think this book might be my favourite instalment so far. Right away, I liked Tamara's voice as distinct from the rest of her sisters and I felt that the story itself flowed really well. In fact I finished this story in just a couple of hours.
The plotline of this story seemed to evolve more naturally than I felt book 3 and Tamara herself seemed a lot more 3 dimensional. Whilst i could see where a good portion of the story was going, i still enjoyed the journey and there was enough suspense and surprise to leave me happy with where the story went. The fact that we are now quite familiar with her other sisters now also helped. I also liked the balance of mystery and series ARC and felt that both developed enough to keep me satisfied for this instalment but still eager to see how it will all turn out.
I liked the chemistry between Leo and Tamara. It helped that we knew of her crush on Leo for a while so it made sense that this would play part of the story. So the development of their relationship didn't seem too much like instalove. Like the story itself, I felt their relationship evolved naturally even though it was quite quick.
Overall I was quite sad to leave Tamara's point of view as i felt quite connected to her perspective but either way, I am greatly looking forward to seeing how this series will conclude.
I give this book 4 stars.
Sapphired Dragon xx
I am really enjoying this series and I think this book might be my favourite instalment so far. Right away, I liked Tamara's voice as distinct from the rest of her sisters and I felt that the story itself flowed really well. In fact I finished this story in just a couple of hours.
The plotline of this story seemed to evolve more naturally than I felt book 3 and Tamara herself seemed a lot more 3 dimensional. Whilst i could see where a good portion of the story was going, i still enjoyed the journey and there was enough suspense and surprise to leave me happy with where the story went. The fact that we are now quite familiar with her other sisters now also helped. I also liked the balance of mystery and series ARC and felt that both developed enough to keep me satisfied for this instalment but still eager to see how it will all turn out.
I liked the chemistry between Leo and Tamara. It helped that we knew of her crush on Leo for a while so it made sense that this would play part of the story. So the development of their relationship didn't seem too much like instalove. Like the story itself, I felt their relationship evolved naturally even though it was quite quick.
Overall I was quite sad to leave Tamara's point of view as i felt quite connected to her perspective but either way, I am greatly looking forward to seeing how this series will conclude.
I give this book 4 stars.
Sapphired Dragon xx
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews