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Will Cook for Love #1
Cooking with Kandy
Sugar and spice and everything sexy make the perfect recipe for romance in this brand-new series by Peggy Jaeger. Look for exclusive recipes in each book!
Kandy Laine built her wildly popular food empire the old-fashioned way—starting with the basic ingredients of her grandmother’s recipes and flavoring it all with her particular brand of sweet spice. From her cookbooks to her hit TV show, Kandy is a kitchen queen—and suddenly someone is determined to poison her cup. With odd accidents and threatening messages piling up, strong-willed Kandy can’t protest when her team hires someone to keep her safe—but she can’t deny that the man for the job looks delicious. . .
Josh Keane is a private investigator, not a bodyguard. But with one eyeful of Kandy’s ebony curls and dimpled smile, he’s signing on to uncover who’s cooking up trouble for the gorgeous chef. As the attraction between them starts to simmer, it’s not easy to keep his mind on the job, but when the strange distractions turn to true danger, he’ll stop at nothing to keep Kandy safe—and show her that a future together is on the menu. . .
Kandy Laine built her wildly popular food empire the old-fashioned way—starting with the basic ingredients of her grandmother’s recipes and flavoring it all with her particular brand of sweet spice. From her cookbooks to her hit TV show, Kandy is a kitchen queen—and suddenly someone is determined to poison her cup. With odd accidents and threatening messages piling up, strong-willed Kandy can’t protest when her team hires someone to keep her safe—but she can’t deny that the man for the job looks delicious. . .
Josh Keane is a private investigator, not a bodyguard. But with one eyeful of Kandy’s ebony curls and dimpled smile, he’s signing on to uncover who’s cooking up trouble for the gorgeous chef. As the attraction between them starts to simmer, it’s not easy to keep his mind on the job, but when the strange distractions turn to true danger, he’ll stop at nothing to keep Kandy safe—and show her that a future together is on the menu. . .
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2017
8 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
About the author
Peggy Jaeger
73 books1,667 followersPeggy Jaeger is an award winning author of contemporary romance.
https://linktr.ee/peggyjaeger
Peggy is a contemporary romance writer who writes #RomComs about #strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.
#Family and #food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.
Her #hobbies include #painting #crafting #scrapbooking and #decoupaging old steamer trucks that she then gives as gifts to her friends
As a lifelong diarist, Peggy caught the blogging bug early on, and you can visit her at peggyjaeger.com where she's blogging about life, writing, and stuff that makes her go "What??!" daily.
She's a lifelong and avid #romance reader and writer, is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter
https://linktr.ee/peggyjaeger
Peggy is a contemporary romance writer who writes #RomComs about #strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.
#Family and #food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.
Her #hobbies include #painting #crafting #scrapbooking and #decoupaging old steamer trucks that she then gives as gifts to her friends
As a lifelong diarist, Peggy caught the blogging bug early on, and you can visit her at peggyjaeger.com where she's blogging about life, writing, and stuff that makes her go "What??!" daily.
She's a lifelong and avid #romance reader and writer, is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 16, 2017
Josh has discovered the necessary ingredients needed to kickstart his entire body, and they're all contained in one package...his potential protectee, Kandy. It seems the famous, as evidenced by her best-selling cookbooks and hit show, chef, is in trouble, or so her cousin, Stacy, believes. Once Josh sees her in the flash, he realizes he's landed in his own sort of trouble, and though he usually doesn't take bodyguard assignments, instead dealing in investigations, he agrees to take on Kandy, err the job.
“So,” she said, “does this mean you’re taking the job?” - Stacy
Josh realized he’d made the decision the moment he’d met Kandy face-to-face.
Kandy doesn't believe a bodyguard is necessary, brushing off any situations as things easily explained, though she wouldn't mind the sexy Josh guarding her. *wink* She knows her family is worried, and as they're her weakness, she agrees. Kandy's entire life has been centered around cooking, yet lately she's had this feeling she's missing something, and though she's tried to push it away, she can't for long.
But as Josh and Kandy spend time together while she continues her life, it's easy to see their attraction is mutual. Both feel the connection, one that is getting harder to resist with every passing minute, however, as more incidents arise, Kandy can no longer deny someone is targeting her, and Josh is determined to stop the attacks, ensuring Kandy's safe once and for all.
How long will Josh and Kandy be able to resist temptation? Who is behind the attacks, personally and professionally, on Kandy? Is it someone in her family? An employee? Or someone close, but not in the inner circle? Can Josh keep Kandy safe? Can Josh and Kandy, both prone to workaholic tendencies, maintain a relationship? Will Josh and Kandy get their HEA?
One-click now and follow along as two people meet due to mysterious occurrences, and discover a love neither ever expected to find.
On a purely personal note, there were four things, people, that bothered me in this book and therefore lowered my rating. I'm listing then in order of least to highest irritant. First, and this covers two at once, would be Kandy's two aunts and there flirting with Josh. I'm sure it was intended to be humorous. It was not. Second, the numerous references to Kandy's Mom and her cougarish always hunting for new prey behavior, which included some flirting with Josh. No. Too much. Lastly, is Gemma, Kandy's sister, and her behavior toward Josh. There was blatant flirting, innuendo, a flat out statement to Kandy, after knowing she and Josh had been intimate, and that Kandy was falling for him, that she'd sleep with Josh if he asked, and at the halfway point which just about ruined the book for me, Gemma "greeting Josh with a bewitching kiss full on the lips" and Josh grinning. Tacky and unnecessary. This was done after Josh and Kandy almost made love, no, Gemma didn't know that, but she did know beforehand "how Josh looked at Kandy with longing," because she later mentioned to Kandy that fact. There is a line you don't cross and Gemma gleefully strutted across it and that made me dislike her with a passion. And she freaking did it again at the end. I had moved past the other instances because there were no more, and then, right in front of Kandy, kisses him on the mouth, again. Why? It bugs me. This may seem nitpicky, but I do not like reading about any kind of physical contact between the hero, regardless of how innocent it may be on either party's part, and a woman not the heroine. If it wasn't for the things I just mentioned, I would've adored this book so much more.
**I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**
“So,” she said, “does this mean you’re taking the job?” - Stacy
Josh realized he’d made the decision the moment he’d met Kandy face-to-face.
Kandy doesn't believe a bodyguard is necessary, brushing off any situations as things easily explained, though she wouldn't mind the sexy Josh guarding her. *wink* She knows her family is worried, and as they're her weakness, she agrees. Kandy's entire life has been centered around cooking, yet lately she's had this feeling she's missing something, and though she's tried to push it away, she can't for long.
But as Josh and Kandy spend time together while she continues her life, it's easy to see their attraction is mutual. Both feel the connection, one that is getting harder to resist with every passing minute, however, as more incidents arise, Kandy can no longer deny someone is targeting her, and Josh is determined to stop the attacks, ensuring Kandy's safe once and for all.
How long will Josh and Kandy be able to resist temptation? Who is behind the attacks, personally and professionally, on Kandy? Is it someone in her family? An employee? Or someone close, but not in the inner circle? Can Josh keep Kandy safe? Can Josh and Kandy, both prone to workaholic tendencies, maintain a relationship? Will Josh and Kandy get their HEA?
One-click now and follow along as two people meet due to mysterious occurrences, and discover a love neither ever expected to find.
On a purely personal note, there were four things, people, that bothered me in this book and therefore lowered my rating. I'm listing then in order of least to highest irritant. First, and this covers two at once, would be Kandy's two aunts and there flirting with Josh. I'm sure it was intended to be humorous. It was not. Second, the numerous references to Kandy's Mom and her cougarish always hunting for new prey behavior, which included some flirting with Josh. No. Too much. Lastly, is Gemma, Kandy's sister, and her behavior toward Josh. There was blatant flirting, innuendo, a flat out statement to Kandy, after knowing she and Josh had been intimate, and that Kandy was falling for him, that she'd sleep with Josh if he asked, and at the halfway point which just about ruined the book for me, Gemma "greeting Josh with a bewitching kiss full on the lips" and Josh grinning. Tacky and unnecessary. This was done after Josh and Kandy almost made love, no, Gemma didn't know that, but she did know beforehand "how Josh looked at Kandy with longing," because she later mentioned to Kandy that fact. There is a line you don't cross and Gemma gleefully strutted across it and that made me dislike her with a passion. And she freaking did it again at the end. I had moved past the other instances because there were no more, and then, right in front of Kandy, kisses him on the mouth, again. Why? It bugs me. This may seem nitpicky, but I do not like reading about any kind of physical contact between the hero, regardless of how innocent it may be on either party's part, and a woman not the heroine. If it wasn't for the things I just mentioned, I would've adored this book so much more.
**I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**
April 2, 2017
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
I really enjoyed this book - and am delighted that it is the start of a new series; there are after all plenty of side characters who could do with an HEA too!
Kandy is a human dynamo sweeping along everyone in her wake. This includes giving her family members good jobs working with her on her show, books, etc. and avoiding situations where she must cede control. Having seen what her father's departure did to her mother, she is most definitely not interested in love.
Enter Josh, PI and security detail, employed by her cousin/assistant following series of unpleasant events. And I have to say this plot was done really rather well - with sufficient false leads etc to make it a bit of a mystery. Now Josh is not a man to mix business with pleasure, so they should be perfectly safe from each other ... but of course that pesky chemistry just won't leave them alone!
The layers in this book work well; peeling away her fears and rationale; uncovering the perpetrator of the threats; delving into family dynamics and loyalties; and the romance.
A very promising start to this new series, thank you Ms Jaeger.
I really enjoyed this book - and am delighted that it is the start of a new series; there are after all plenty of side characters who could do with an HEA too!
Kandy is a human dynamo sweeping along everyone in her wake. This includes giving her family members good jobs working with her on her show, books, etc. and avoiding situations where she must cede control. Having seen what her father's departure did to her mother, she is most definitely not interested in love.
Enter Josh, PI and security detail, employed by her cousin/assistant following series of unpleasant events. And I have to say this plot was done really rather well - with sufficient false leads etc to make it a bit of a mystery. Now Josh is not a man to mix business with pleasure, so they should be perfectly safe from each other ... but of course that pesky chemistry just won't leave them alone!
The layers in this book work well; peeling away her fears and rationale; uncovering the perpetrator of the threats; delving into family dynamics and loyalties; and the romance.
A very promising start to this new series, thank you Ms Jaeger.
March 25, 2017
Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! The expected publication date is April 4th, 2017.
I almost passed this book up. The reason is the title did not appeal to me and felt a little cheesy to me. Once I read the synopsis, I changed my mind and I am glad I did. I found myself really enjoying this story.
I like the fact that it had a strong female character however to be honest what drew me in was Josh. He was the perfect male lead. If I was to imagine the perfect male specimen, it would be him. Someone who is dedicated to their job, honorable, kind, sweet and lets face it hot as all get out, I couldn't get enough of him. The way he took care of Kandy had me swooning throughout the whole story. The attraction and tension had the perfect balance of "get it over with already" and "I'm glad this story wasn't a free for all bedroom plot"
I have to admit I also didn't figure out who was behind all the actions that required Kandy to have protection. I normally know right away however it was not made obvious. Kudos to Jaeger for keeping me guessing.
I really enjoyed this story and I am glad to see the next book will feature Kandy's sister Gemma. I think I will stick with this series!
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! The expected publication date is April 4th, 2017.
I almost passed this book up. The reason is the title did not appeal to me and felt a little cheesy to me. Once I read the synopsis, I changed my mind and I am glad I did. I found myself really enjoying this story.
I like the fact that it had a strong female character however to be honest what drew me in was Josh. He was the perfect male lead. If I was to imagine the perfect male specimen, it would be him. Someone who is dedicated to their job, honorable, kind, sweet and lets face it hot as all get out, I couldn't get enough of him. The way he took care of Kandy had me swooning throughout the whole story. The attraction and tension had the perfect balance of "get it over with already" and "I'm glad this story wasn't a free for all bedroom plot"
I have to admit I also didn't figure out who was behind all the actions that required Kandy to have protection. I normally know right away however it was not made obvious. Kudos to Jaeger for keeping me guessing.
I really enjoyed this story and I am glad to see the next book will feature Kandy's sister Gemma. I think I will stick with this series!
March 24, 2017
Just finished Cooking With Kandy by Peggy Jaeger and it was wonderful! I've had a rash of meh books lately so this one was a breath of fresh air. It had everything in it I liked and none of the squick points that make me sigh and cringe.
The characters were well done and the chemistry between them totally believable. I loved Kandy's family and that she was so dedicated to them. I also really liked the fact that she was willing to admit she'd made some mistakes and needed to work on changing some of her behavior. The hero was a nice change from the arrogant alphahole you often get. He was certainly rugged, sexy and in control but he didn't always have to have his way, unless it came to the protection of the heroine. And that was his job. This is a romance that has a bit of mystery and suspense to it which I always love.
The sexual tension between the two main characters was intense and steamy yet I really liked that they stayed professional most of the book and weren't jumping into bed or having sex throughout. But when they finally did, ouch, it was hot! It's nice to read a book that isn't just one long sex scene and actually has a plot.
There's a nice teaser at the end for the second book in the series and it includes Kandy's sister, Gemma. And she was quite a character in this book, so I can't wait to see what this author has in store for her.
I received this book from Net Galley.
The characters were well done and the chemistry between them totally believable. I loved Kandy's family and that she was so dedicated to them. I also really liked the fact that she was willing to admit she'd made some mistakes and needed to work on changing some of her behavior. The hero was a nice change from the arrogant alphahole you often get. He was certainly rugged, sexy and in control but he didn't always have to have his way, unless it came to the protection of the heroine. And that was his job. This is a romance that has a bit of mystery and suspense to it which I always love.
The sexual tension between the two main characters was intense and steamy yet I really liked that they stayed professional most of the book and weren't jumping into bed or having sex throughout. But when they finally did, ouch, it was hot! It's nice to read a book that isn't just one long sex scene and actually has a plot.
There's a nice teaser at the end for the second book in the series and it includes Kandy's sister, Gemma. And she was quite a character in this book, so I can't wait to see what this author has in store for her.
I received this book from Net Galley.
April 30, 2017
Cooking with Kandy is the EBC’s number one food show, making Kandy Laine a highly successful woman, and apparently a target. Kandy is self-driven with high standards and an incredible work ethic. While she is extremely busy, family always comes first; she is giving, caring, and would do anything for those in her inner circle. So when threats on Kandy’s life grow more serious, she’s honestly perplexed that it could be coming from someone close to her.
Josh Keane was hired to protect Kandy and get to the bottom of the threats. While he has always put his job first, his instant attraction to and growing friendship with Kandy messes with his head and heart. Will getting to the bottom of the danger signal the end of his time with Kandy… or will it start the beginning of something more?
Cooking with Kandy is an enjoyable combination of sweet romance and light mystery/suspense. As the first title in Ms. Jaeger’s new Will Cook for Love series, readers are introduced to Kandy and her entire extended family, ninety percent of which seem to work for her in some capacity. The author has created a warm, genuine environment, which should serve well for the series setting.
Kandy and Josh are two peas in a pod (food reference intended!); both are driven individuals who have their own fair share of baggage. While each has found success and happiness with their career paths, it isn’t until they are put together that they truly see some holes and loneliness in their lives. Although they are forced by circumstance to be together, they develop a genuine bond, and the nature of the events surrounding their pairing lends itself to a rapid opening up and sharing of innermost thoughts and desires. Josh and Kandy are sweet together. They are like the couple that finishes each other’s sentences. And while it took a little while for the steam to build, once the couple allows themselves to indulge in desire, the heat factor raises quickly.
Kandy’s world is full of characters, and at times it was difficult to remember who was who. This is important because not only is the book a romance, there is a pretty serious mystery which gives way to a bit of suspense. Ms. Jaegar establishes a solid problem, complete with clues and red herrings. I enjoyed piecing together the puzzle and trying to discern which clues were real and which I could toss out. I had one small complaint about the unveiling and the perpetrator, but I can’t share it without being a spoiler. Nevertheless, it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the title, which overall was an exciting ride.
At its heart, Cooking with Kandy is a lovely sweetheart romance with an engrossing whodunit plot. Kandy and Josh are both intense yet joyful, making them a great match and tender pairing. Although each had a few hiccups in their behaviors that bothered me, overall I enjoyed how they took time to work out problems, no matter how personal or painful, together. I look forward to reading more stories set in the Will Cook for Love series.
My Rating: B, Liked It
Review copy provided by NetGalley
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Josh Keane was hired to protect Kandy and get to the bottom of the threats. While he has always put his job first, his instant attraction to and growing friendship with Kandy messes with his head and heart. Will getting to the bottom of the danger signal the end of his time with Kandy… or will it start the beginning of something more?
Cooking with Kandy is an enjoyable combination of sweet romance and light mystery/suspense. As the first title in Ms. Jaeger’s new Will Cook for Love series, readers are introduced to Kandy and her entire extended family, ninety percent of which seem to work for her in some capacity. The author has created a warm, genuine environment, which should serve well for the series setting.
Kandy and Josh are two peas in a pod (food reference intended!); both are driven individuals who have their own fair share of baggage. While each has found success and happiness with their career paths, it isn’t until they are put together that they truly see some holes and loneliness in their lives. Although they are forced by circumstance to be together, they develop a genuine bond, and the nature of the events surrounding their pairing lends itself to a rapid opening up and sharing of innermost thoughts and desires. Josh and Kandy are sweet together. They are like the couple that finishes each other’s sentences. And while it took a little while for the steam to build, once the couple allows themselves to indulge in desire, the heat factor raises quickly.
Kandy’s world is full of characters, and at times it was difficult to remember who was who. This is important because not only is the book a romance, there is a pretty serious mystery which gives way to a bit of suspense. Ms. Jaegar establishes a solid problem, complete with clues and red herrings. I enjoyed piecing together the puzzle and trying to discern which clues were real and which I could toss out. I had one small complaint about the unveiling and the perpetrator, but I can’t share it without being a spoiler. Nevertheless, it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the title, which overall was an exciting ride.
At its heart, Cooking with Kandy is a lovely sweetheart romance with an engrossing whodunit plot. Kandy and Josh are both intense yet joyful, making them a great match and tender pairing. Although each had a few hiccups in their behaviors that bothered me, overall I enjoyed how they took time to work out problems, no matter how personal or painful, together. I look forward to reading more stories set in the Will Cook for Love series.
My Rating: B, Liked It
Review copy provided by NetGalley
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
April 7, 2017
I've been a fan of Peggy's writing for a while now and was so excited to be offered a chance to review an ARC of her latest release in exchange for my honest review. Her characters are always so real and her stories never fail to satisfy. Cooking with Kandy is no exception, and I'm very excited that this will be a series of books.
First let me say, I'm not a fan of this cover art. I don't think it does either of the main characters justice. Reading the story, I imagined them both slightly older. Kandy's hair should be darker, her curves more pronounced. Josh should be rougher, with more planes and angles... and bigger biceps. Much bigger. But on to the actual story and writing.
Kandy Laine is a celebrity chef who's written a few best selling cookbooks and has the top rated cooking show on television. She's the oldest daughter in a tight knit yet slightly dysfunctional family, and takes pride in the fact that her relatives all pull their weight in her food-based empire.
Success breeds envy, though, and someone has been threatening her... so her cousin, who is also her personal assistant and planner and right-hand woman, decides to hire a private investigator to figure out if its simple harassment or something more. Enter Josh Keane, an ex-cop turned PI who takes the bodyguard/investigative position.
Sparks immediately fly between them as the tension quickly ratchets up. The harassment turns from annoying to dangerous and Josh becomes Kandy's shadow to keep her safe. Kandy feels the heat in his every look, despite his insistence on keeping his distance. But will he be able to keep his focus on his job and keep her safe?
Told in alternating points of view, the story moves at a satisfying pace, with lots and lots of sensual tension sizzling between the main characters. The cast of characters and multiple red herrings reminded me of some of Jennifer Crusie's romantic suspense novels. Humor, heart, and sizzle wrapped into a puzzle to be solved.
If you like a touch of suspense with your romantic tension, give this novel and this series a try. You will totally be glad you did.
First let me say, I'm not a fan of this cover art. I don't think it does either of the main characters justice. Reading the story, I imagined them both slightly older. Kandy's hair should be darker, her curves more pronounced. Josh should be rougher, with more planes and angles... and bigger biceps. Much bigger. But on to the actual story and writing.
Kandy Laine is a celebrity chef who's written a few best selling cookbooks and has the top rated cooking show on television. She's the oldest daughter in a tight knit yet slightly dysfunctional family, and takes pride in the fact that her relatives all pull their weight in her food-based empire.
Success breeds envy, though, and someone has been threatening her... so her cousin, who is also her personal assistant and planner and right-hand woman, decides to hire a private investigator to figure out if its simple harassment or something more. Enter Josh Keane, an ex-cop turned PI who takes the bodyguard/investigative position.
Sparks immediately fly between them as the tension quickly ratchets up. The harassment turns from annoying to dangerous and Josh becomes Kandy's shadow to keep her safe. Kandy feels the heat in his every look, despite his insistence on keeping his distance. But will he be able to keep his focus on his job and keep her safe?
Told in alternating points of view, the story moves at a satisfying pace, with lots and lots of sensual tension sizzling between the main characters. The cast of characters and multiple red herrings reminded me of some of Jennifer Crusie's romantic suspense novels. Humor, heart, and sizzle wrapped into a puzzle to be solved.
If you like a touch of suspense with your romantic tension, give this novel and this series a try. You will totally be glad you did.
June 16, 2017
I love this new series from Peggy Jaeger. But the cover, not so much. Yeah, I know the author doesn’t have much say in the cover, I’m just saying. I usually don’t read contemporary Romance, I prefer a little magic in my tales, but I adore Ms. Jaeger’s big noisy families, butting their noses into everyone’s business. By the way, the recipes in the book are scrumptious too.
Kandy’s love is cooking and her family. She spends all her waking hours preparing for her top rated TV show and writing her cook books. Until strange things continue to happen, then she admits to receiving nasty phone calls from an unknown caller. Her team circle the wagons and hire a PI to find out what the heck is going on. Enter yummy former police officer Josh Keane, brains and brawn all wrapped in a delicious package. Kandy’s long buried emotions rise to the surface, passion catching her by surprise. Josh has baggage he rather not deal with as well and tries to keep Kandy at arms length.
The incidents escalate, who is endangering Kandy’s well-being and why? She's the oldest daughter in a tight-knit, somewhat dysfunctional family. Her relatives mostly make up the work force of her food empire and she’s proud they all do a great job. But is there envy she doesn’t see? I’m not telling. LOL
As Kandy and Josh’s relationship sizzles as the bizarre events become more worrisome. With the beautiful Kandy on his mind, he finds it difficult to keep his mind on business until the distracting incidents turn dangerous. He’ll stop a nothing to keep her safe, whether or not they have a future together.
Ms. Jaeger’s characters are always well rounded and her stories never fail to entertain. I enjoy the amusing situations that Peggy creates for her characters. Laughter is good for the soul, so I hear. I truly enjoyed this story and look forward to the next one. I highly recommend Cooking for Kandy.
Kandy’s love is cooking and her family. She spends all her waking hours preparing for her top rated TV show and writing her cook books. Until strange things continue to happen, then she admits to receiving nasty phone calls from an unknown caller. Her team circle the wagons and hire a PI to find out what the heck is going on. Enter yummy former police officer Josh Keane, brains and brawn all wrapped in a delicious package. Kandy’s long buried emotions rise to the surface, passion catching her by surprise. Josh has baggage he rather not deal with as well and tries to keep Kandy at arms length.
The incidents escalate, who is endangering Kandy’s well-being and why? She's the oldest daughter in a tight-knit, somewhat dysfunctional family. Her relatives mostly make up the work force of her food empire and she’s proud they all do a great job. But is there envy she doesn’t see? I’m not telling. LOL
As Kandy and Josh’s relationship sizzles as the bizarre events become more worrisome. With the beautiful Kandy on his mind, he finds it difficult to keep his mind on business until the distracting incidents turn dangerous. He’ll stop a nothing to keep her safe, whether or not they have a future together.
Ms. Jaeger’s characters are always well rounded and her stories never fail to entertain. I enjoy the amusing situations that Peggy creates for her characters. Laughter is good for the soul, so I hear. I truly enjoyed this story and look forward to the next one. I highly recommend Cooking for Kandy.
September 24, 2017
Since I have an ARC for the next book on tap for next month, I thought I'd take a chance on this one while it was in my price range and get caught up on events before reading the ARC. It was a decent enough story, but not anything to really crow about.
I didn't care for how pushy everyone got when it came to Josh. They were either actively hitting on him, or trying to push Kandy into having sex with him. It got to be too much! "Yes, we readers know he's handsome, can we move on now?" was my refrain for much of this book. Kandy was an irritant as well, from her name to her desire to make everything better for her entire family, but do nothing for herself.
The story was engaging enough, but again, nothing really special. The stalker angle threw me a couple of red herrings, but was easily enough resolved. Will reserve judgement on the author until I read the next book.
I didn't care for how pushy everyone got when it came to Josh. They were either actively hitting on him, or trying to push Kandy into having sex with him. It got to be too much! "Yes, we readers know he's handsome, can we move on now?" was my refrain for much of this book. Kandy was an irritant as well, from her name to her desire to make everything better for her entire family, but do nothing for herself.
The story was engaging enough, but again, nothing really special. The stalker angle threw me a couple of red herrings, but was easily enough resolved. Will reserve judgement on the author until I read the next book.
April 30, 2021
Kandy Laine is a young chef with a popular cooking show and bestselling cookbooks to her credit. She employs various members of her extended family in her empire but as the story opens, her cousin is worried for Kandy’s safety. There have been multiple accidents and near misses as well as threats. Someone wants to hurt Kandy. Enter Josh Keane, ex-cop and investigator who is hired to act as Kandy’s bodyguard, and figure out who is threatening Kandy and why. Family is everything to Kandy and so is her work.
The threats escalate and so do Kandy and Josh’s feelings.
I won’t give away any spoilers. The author weaves the threads of this well-written mystery with skill leading to a satisfying happily ever after. I’m off to check out the next book in this series.
The threats escalate and so do Kandy and Josh’s feelings.
I won’t give away any spoilers. The author weaves the threads of this well-written mystery with skill leading to a satisfying happily ever after. I’m off to check out the next book in this series.
April 9, 2017
A long-time fan of mysteries, I’m always on the lookout for new series with strong female protagonists. And thanks to Peggy Jaeger, I have found one. Her "Will Cook For Love" series has all those wonderful elements that make mysteries so delightful to read: likeable protagonists, quirky cast of secondary characters, family and career issues, multiple red herrings, recipes, and romance. I enjoyed reading Cooking with Kandy and look forward to the next installment.
March 21, 2017
Cooking with Kandy (Will Cook for Love #1) by Peggy Jaeger
4 stars
M/F Romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Kandy is successful, loving, loyal to a fault and a very hard worker. She has created a huge conglomerate of cooking business - books, shows, e-books, etc. Not only does she have a very successful business, but she's taken her family along with her.
Josh is a hired bodyguard. He normally doesn't do person on person, but when the call came in, he was intrigued. He is considerate, cares and loves how much Kandy cares and loves her employees.
There is a lot of mishaps, strange stalkerish behavior and scares for Kandy and her family. Josh works tirelessly to figure out what is going on and who is trying to hurt Kandy and her business.
This is a cute story where family comes first, love conquers the scary and the good always wins.
I can't wait to see what happens in book 2.
4 stars
M/F Romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Kandy is successful, loving, loyal to a fault and a very hard worker. She has created a huge conglomerate of cooking business - books, shows, e-books, etc. Not only does she have a very successful business, but she's taken her family along with her.
Josh is a hired bodyguard. He normally doesn't do person on person, but when the call came in, he was intrigued. He is considerate, cares and loves how much Kandy cares and loves her employees.
There is a lot of mishaps, strange stalkerish behavior and scares for Kandy and her family. Josh works tirelessly to figure out what is going on and who is trying to hurt Kandy and her business.
This is a cute story where family comes first, love conquers the scary and the good always wins.
I can't wait to see what happens in book 2.
June 22, 2019
An amazing, captivating, interesting and oh-so-satisfying read!
The writing draws you in and keeps you interested until the end.
The chemistry between the H and h is amazing plus their attitudes and events going on make the story even richer.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The writing draws you in and keeps you interested until the end.
The chemistry between the H and h is amazing plus their attitudes and events going on make the story even richer.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 12, 2019
Kandy is a popular food show host and cookbook author to whom strange things have been happening lately. Family and co-workers think she needs a bodyguard to protect her against somebody who clearly is wishing to harm her. Kandy doesn't want her life restricted. She eventually does agree to a bodyguard, and Josh--a private investigator who does a little protection sometimes--becomes a fixture in her life. As they spend time together and get to know each other, an attraction develops between them (though he was attracted to her from the beginning).
Will they be able to figure out who is threatening Kandy’s life?
Will Kandy and Josh give into their feelings for each other?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Will they be able to figure out who is threatening Kandy’s life?
Will Kandy and Josh give into their feelings for each other?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 2, 2017
Boy meets girl, the fall in love and then live happily after – such is the standard fare of romance novels. However, very not so with Cooking with Kandy. This novel has a unique story line, and some of the most intriguing characters I’ve met in some time. Kandy is a self-imposed super woman. Josh is the hunky PI hired to ferret out who is threatening her. Much to the surprise of both, there’s a whole lot of heat in the kitchen and it’s not coming from the oven. But once you meet Kandy’s mother, Hannah, all bets are off – this is one gal I admire to the hilt. She’s not afraid to say what she thinks, is written off as ditzy by a lot of people, but much more astute than anyone (except Josh) gives her credit for. I loved the characters and I loved the plot line. Jaeger’s descriptions of not only the set of the cooking show, but of Kandy’s homes made me feel I was there with them. A wonderful start to the new series Will Cook for Love. But there’s an empty place in my heart wondering if we will ever hear from these wonderful characters again. I’m definitely recommending Cooking with Kandy to all my bookworm friends.
April 8, 2018
Kandy Laine is famous on the cooking channel and for her cookbooks. She has a real cooking empire. She's being threatened and Josh Keane, a private investigator, is hired by her family to protect Kandy. Josh is immediately impressed and attracted to Kandy. The threats keep happening. Kandy does not want to believe that someone close to her could be trying to hurt her. We learn a lot Kandy's family and how her father abandoning them affected Kandy, her mother and siblings. Josh is amazed by Kandy and is wants to know her better but must feels he must keep things professional. This was hard for both of them and Kandy did not understand his distance given the attraction. The suspense is handled well and the resolution is satisfying. I really enjoyable story with characters that I care about.
September 19, 2017
Cooking with Kandy is an excellent book by
Peggy Jaeger. I loved the book & thoroughly
enjoyed reading it. If you love Romance Suspense, this is the book for you.
It is a wonderful love story about Kandy & Josh.
She is a famous, & successful celebrity chef.
But, strange & dangerous accidents, & horrible phone calls, kept happening to her.
Kandy's cousin/personal assistant Stacy,
hires Josh, who is a private investigator/
body guard to watch over her.
The book draws you in from page one. The twist & turns of the story, keeps you guessing, who it
is, till the last page.
A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE!!!
Peggy Jaeger. I loved the book & thoroughly
enjoyed reading it. If you love Romance Suspense, this is the book for you.
It is a wonderful love story about Kandy & Josh.
She is a famous, & successful celebrity chef.
But, strange & dangerous accidents, & horrible phone calls, kept happening to her.
Kandy's cousin/personal assistant Stacy,
hires Josh, who is a private investigator/
body guard to watch over her.
The book draws you in from page one. The twist & turns of the story, keeps you guessing, who it
is, till the last page.
A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE!!!
April 30, 2019
Kandy has built her cooking and food empire using her grandmother's recipes and adding her own flair. Josh is a PI but is sought after to find out who is trying to cause trouble for Kandy. Will he get to the bottom and find the culprit or will his growing desire for Kandy distract him. Great story line, suspenseful and easy to read and fun characters. A definite page turner plus getting recipes in the book is an added bonus!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 30, 2019
Kandy is a successful kitchen queen facing odd accidents and threats whose team has hired a private investigator to keep her safe. Josh took the job but never imagine he would feel so strongly for his charge. The characters mix well together but you might find certain behavior from secondary characters bothersome.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 8, 2017
I was sold on Peggy with the first book of hers I read, A Shot at Love (which is actually the second book in this series!) but I'm officially an addict! I love love loved Kandy's confidence, power and drive and Josh was an adorable, hot-as-hell match that had no problem keeping up with her. The family is fun and entertaining, and the who-dunnit was unique and unpredictable! So much fun to read!
April 20, 2019
The book is a good romantic suspense read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 26, 2019
Incredibly well done story, kept my attention and kept me guessing until the end of the book. Brilliant plot twists. Wonderfully complex characters. Slow burn, sexy romance story well worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 15, 2026
Loved it!
Fabulous characters, a great mystery, and an absolute delight to read. I couldn’t put it down! I love that the author included some recipes at the end of the book that were made during the story as well. Diving straight into the next one in the series!
Fabulous characters, a great mystery, and an absolute delight to read. I couldn’t put it down! I love that the author included some recipes at the end of the book that were made during the story as well. Diving straight into the next one in the series!
April 19, 2017
Kandy has worked hard to build a career, and kept her family with her in every step of the ladder. Now with a successful cooking show on television, a series of cookbooks, and a personality that draws people to her. The real question when it comes to her team is, who is in the circle – but wants her gone? Because someone wants that, and we can’t quite figure out just who. Could it be her mother with no boundaries and a need for male validation, or perhaps her sister and cousins who seem to find flirting with every man, even one that is clearly interested in Kandy, as the sport of the day. Oh the frenemies (or what would you call your family’s inability to behave appropriately around your current love interest) are strong in this story, and a large part of my struggles to rate it.
But, someone cares for Kandy, ostensibly, by hiring Josh to watch over her, and perhaps discover who is behind the threats. But, the threat for Josh is two-fold. He doesn’t have in interest in bodyguard work, and yet his body (and his brain) are screaming out for him to get closer to Kandy. There’s a mutual attraction, even as Kandy doesn’t believe in the danger, she’s going along with the bodyguard simply because her family is worried (or so they say) and she has a huge blind spot where they are concerned. For she has made sure that her success is their success, she’s often ignored or not dealt with the huge glaring issues – their lack respect and boundaries where she, her life and her new relationship are concerned.
So, we have an intriguing and clever romance between Kandy and Josh – both of them are solid characters with good intentions, solid emotions and a clear connection that builds and strengthens as the story progresses. But the secondary characters and the focus on their shortcomings as they aggressively pursue Josh despite the obvious (to everyone) lack of interest on his part made me want to scream. It was too much – too desperate and didn’t show Kandy as stronger with the repetitive missteps. When I ignore that, th story is clever and twists are fun – with plenty of empty drawers leading to nowhere in the search for who is truly behind the threats. But, when compared to the pieces that just rubbed me completely the wrong way, I’m stuck remembering what I didn’t like most in the story instead of what I preferred.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
But, someone cares for Kandy, ostensibly, by hiring Josh to watch over her, and perhaps discover who is behind the threats. But, the threat for Josh is two-fold. He doesn’t have in interest in bodyguard work, and yet his body (and his brain) are screaming out for him to get closer to Kandy. There’s a mutual attraction, even as Kandy doesn’t believe in the danger, she’s going along with the bodyguard simply because her family is worried (or so they say) and she has a huge blind spot where they are concerned. For she has made sure that her success is their success, she’s often ignored or not dealt with the huge glaring issues – their lack respect and boundaries where she, her life and her new relationship are concerned.
So, we have an intriguing and clever romance between Kandy and Josh – both of them are solid characters with good intentions, solid emotions and a clear connection that builds and strengthens as the story progresses. But the secondary characters and the focus on their shortcomings as they aggressively pursue Josh despite the obvious (to everyone) lack of interest on his part made me want to scream. It was too much – too desperate and didn’t show Kandy as stronger with the repetitive missteps. When I ignore that, th story is clever and twists are fun – with plenty of empty drawers leading to nowhere in the search for who is truly behind the threats. But, when compared to the pieces that just rubbed me completely the wrong way, I’m stuck remembering what I didn’t like most in the story instead of what I preferred.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
April 3, 2017
Kandy Laine is a very successful 28 year old woman. She has a cooking show and best-selling cookbooks. Recently, she has had a few mishaps; sliced brake line, someone breaking into her apt., stolen wallet, falling lighting on her set. Kandy is a control freak in its finest glory. Cooking is her outlet and base of control. She wants to brush these incidents aside, but her cousin/assistant is insisting she get help.
Josh Keane is a former cop turned private investigator who takes on the occasional bodyguard job. When he shows up to Kandy’s studio per her cousin’s request, he is immediately taken with her.
Kandy is not happy about anyone intruding on her routine/schedule. She runs a tight ship and has no time for interference of any kind. Kandy employs most of her family in some capacity. They all have lucrative careers thanks to her. She can’t imagine anyone in her tight circle being out to get her.
Josh is determined to keep their relationship platonic while he is working for her, so he can stay focused. After a few stolen kisses and a couple heavy make-out sessions, he pushes her away without explaining himself. A quick conversation would have put an end to her misunderstanding and hurt, but when he tries to talk to her, she runs off making unfounded assumptions.
The suspense is mild and we are given three possible suspects, rotating throughout the book. Kandy’s sisters, aunts, cousins and mom are quite the interesting characters in their own right. This is a book about family coming first and love (family and relationship) conquering all.
The ending felt too rushed. Did Kandy continue her cooking show? How do she and Josh work out their different schedules? Why isn’t Cort going anywhere? Since this is the beginning of a series, I would assume these questions will be answered in the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley.
Josh Keane is a former cop turned private investigator who takes on the occasional bodyguard job. When he shows up to Kandy’s studio per her cousin’s request, he is immediately taken with her.
Kandy is not happy about anyone intruding on her routine/schedule. She runs a tight ship and has no time for interference of any kind. Kandy employs most of her family in some capacity. They all have lucrative careers thanks to her. She can’t imagine anyone in her tight circle being out to get her.
Josh is determined to keep their relationship platonic while he is working for her, so he can stay focused. After a few stolen kisses and a couple heavy make-out sessions, he pushes her away without explaining himself. A quick conversation would have put an end to her misunderstanding and hurt, but when he tries to talk to her, she runs off making unfounded assumptions.
The suspense is mild and we are given three possible suspects, rotating throughout the book. Kandy’s sisters, aunts, cousins and mom are quite the interesting characters in their own right. This is a book about family coming first and love (family and relationship) conquering all.
The ending felt too rushed. Did Kandy continue her cooking show? How do she and Josh work out their different schedules? Why isn’t Cort going anywhere? Since this is the beginning of a series, I would assume these questions will be answered in the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley.
April 10, 2017
This was the first time I've read something written by Peggy Jaeger and I've enjoyed it so much.
I was attracted to this book as soon as I've seen the cover and the title.
Cooking with Kandy was such a good read,the story unfolds page after page keeping me glued to my reader in order to solve the mystery.
Kandy and Josh are two workaholic brought together by some upsetting events that urge our heroine's overbearing family to hire a PI.
I really liked them,their chemistry is clear since their first encounter but they have other priorities and they try to fight their sexual attraction at all costs.
There are a lot of supporting characters but the author made a great job to introduce them not confusing the reader.
Ah the recipes at the end of the book left me with a dreamy look and
an incredible craving for comfort food.
I can't wait to read Gemma's story.
April 4, 2017
A TASTY READ!
Gosh, I just love Peggy's writing. As one of my favorite new authors, I couldn't say, "NO" to an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and I'm glad I didn't.
Cooking with Kandy is a tasty read, you're sure to devour. With a 'mystery' that will keep you guessing until the very end, well developed characters (can't wait for the sisters' stories), and fiery sexual tension between Kandy and Josh that does not disappoint, you can be sure you'll be satisfied you've added, Cooking with Kandy to your personal library.
Gosh, I just love Peggy's writing. As one of my favorite new authors, I couldn't say, "NO" to an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and I'm glad I didn't.
Cooking with Kandy is a tasty read, you're sure to devour. With a 'mystery' that will keep you guessing until the very end, well developed characters (can't wait for the sisters' stories), and fiery sexual tension between Kandy and Josh that does not disappoint, you can be sure you'll be satisfied you've added, Cooking with Kandy to your personal library.
August 16, 2017
Cooking with Kandy is the first romantic suspense book in the Will Cook for Love series written by author Peggy Jaeger. Great secondary characters. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books/Lyrical Shine for the advance copy.
January 6, 2025
1st I can't wait to try making them muffins thank you for sharing the recipe! 🤤
2nd how freaking cute are Josh and Kandy?! The slow burn was real strong but the guessing of "who done it" helped get me through lol
2nd how freaking cute are Josh and Kandy?! The slow burn was real strong but the guessing of "who done it" helped get me through lol
October 5, 2023
WOW! I love a good romantic suspense and this was one. The heroine was a strong lovable character and who doesn’t need a Josh in their life. Loved it!
March 1, 2024
I have to be honest the title through me off but then the blurb pulled me in so I was like why not give it a shout and I was pleasantly surprised by this great book by Jaeger!
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