What do you think?
Rate this book
My Cherie Amour
Selena Campbell does not believe in love. Love belongs in movies. If her past had taught her anything, it was that love only gets in the way of your real life dreams- in her case, the dreams of being a successful chef.
There was no man in the world who could deter Selena from her path.Or so she thought. Till one fine night, of all the barbecue joints, in all of the world, he walked into hers...
Dean was Selena's worst nightmare. Drop dead gorgeous, flamboyant and kind.The more time she spent with him, the less she could deny that they had some serious chemistry. But it was not long before his wild past crept into their lives. Sometimes, the past creates walls that are impossible to climb... unless you risk it all.
What do you do when love leaves you no choice?
There was no man in the world who could deter Selena from her path.Or so she thought. Till one fine night, of all the barbecue joints, in all of the world, he walked into hers...
Dean was Selena's worst nightmare. Drop dead gorgeous, flamboyant and kind.The more time she spent with him, the less she could deny that they had some serious chemistry. But it was not long before his wild past crept into their lives. Sometimes, the past creates walls that are impossible to climb... unless you risk it all.
What do you do when love leaves you no choice?
- GenresRomanceContemporary
Unknown Binding
Published September 20, 2016
4 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 14, 2016
"My Cherie Amour" was a "clean" and sweet romance about an independent chef by the name of Selena who worked at her father's smokehouse and an observant but caring billionaire, Dean. Selena had good intentions of turning her father's smokehouse "Peaches" into the talk of the town by demonstrating her cooking skills to her community but it wasn't easy doing it. In walks a handsome and stranded billionaire, Dean and the story picks up a bit then due to their attractions to one another ...well sort of.. See Dean was use to golddigger type woman and Selena was real and independent in everything she did... very rare in comparison to the women who gravitated to him.
I wanted, no needed more romance and that was why I kept putting this book off... but I'm glad I finished it.
NOTE: Bear in mind, I am very partial to the erotic romances so it it was well as I said it would have gotten a 4 or 5 star rating for sure.
ARC given by author for a honest review...
3.5 stars ***.5
I wanted, no needed more romance and that was why I kept putting this book off... but I'm glad I finished it.
NOTE: Bear in mind, I am very partial to the erotic romances so it it was well as I said it would have gotten a 4 or 5 star rating for sure.
ARC given by author for a honest review...
3.5 stars ***.5
September 26, 2016
3.5
A sweet contemporary romance between Selena, a hard working chef. Who works at her dads smoke house named'Peaches'. Selena really want to open more doors by putting Peaches and her skills on the map.
Due to being stranded, Dean stumbles upon her dads smokehouse and thus starts their slow road to romance.
I have to admit it took me a minute to get into the book . Partly due between Selena and Dean romance the spark wasn't as strong as I was hoping for. They felt more like close friends than lovers.
Another thing that bother me was the fact that I really didn't like Dean telling her that she was an exotic beauty... tbh to me that made me feel like he seen her as a fetish. Idk I felt like it rub me the wrong way. Especially because... unless I've missed something. I don't think the author really explain how Selena look, the only thing I knew was that she was black. Which probably wouldnt bother anybody else.
Other than that, the book was a good read and I enjoyed the story.
*arc
* 3rd pov mostly dual
A sweet contemporary romance between Selena, a hard working chef. Who works at her dads smoke house named'Peaches'. Selena really want to open more doors by putting Peaches and her skills on the map.
Due to being stranded, Dean stumbles upon her dads smokehouse and thus starts their slow road to romance.
I have to admit it took me a minute to get into the book . Partly due between Selena and Dean romance the spark wasn't as strong as I was hoping for. They felt more like close friends than lovers.
Another thing that bother me was the fact that I really didn't like Dean telling her that she was an exotic beauty... tbh to me that made me feel like he seen her as a fetish. Idk I felt like it rub me the wrong way. Especially because... unless I've missed something. I don't think the author really explain how Selena look, the only thing I knew was that she was black. Which probably wouldnt bother anybody else.
Other than that, the book was a good read and I enjoyed the story.
*arc
* 3rd pov mostly dual
September 28, 2016
She closed her eyes as his hand grabbed her waist. A thousand violins started playing in her mind and she felt a fluttering in her stomach. As her knees went weak, Dean pulled away and looked into her eyes like only he could.
My Cherie Amour is a sweet romance. For being a debut novel it is well written and I think it flowed just right. We are first introduced to Selena, a pretty woman who isn’t interested in love. She is aspiring to be a top chef and works hard to keep her father’s barbecue restaurant afloat. After her first unsuccessful try out with International Chef Jon Adams, she heads back home. Here she finds herself meeting Dean Morgan, a rich and handsome man whose car happens to break down right in front of her father’s restaurant. He is smitten by Selena and thinks her beautiful from the first moment he lays eyes on her. After their first encounter Selena catches herself thinking of the man, and then a second opportunity has her thinking there’s more to their sweet bantering. Dean is fun to be around, he’s kind, humble, has a voice that leaves her weak in the knees and has a smile that melts her heart. I enjoyed the dynamic between the two characters and the fact that we get to experience both of their point of views. Although there were some areas that were a little wordy the story was still worth the read. I do recommend that you read this novel. I definitely look forward to more of Gwen Piercy's books.
My Cherie Amour is a sweet romance. For being a debut novel it is well written and I think it flowed just right. We are first introduced to Selena, a pretty woman who isn’t interested in love. She is aspiring to be a top chef and works hard to keep her father’s barbecue restaurant afloat. After her first unsuccessful try out with International Chef Jon Adams, she heads back home. Here she finds herself meeting Dean Morgan, a rich and handsome man whose car happens to break down right in front of her father’s restaurant. He is smitten by Selena and thinks her beautiful from the first moment he lays eyes on her. After their first encounter Selena catches herself thinking of the man, and then a second opportunity has her thinking there’s more to their sweet bantering. Dean is fun to be around, he’s kind, humble, has a voice that leaves her weak in the knees and has a smile that melts her heart. I enjoyed the dynamic between the two characters and the fact that we get to experience both of their point of views. Although there were some areas that were a little wordy the story was still worth the read. I do recommend that you read this novel. I definitely look forward to more of Gwen Piercy's books.
October 23, 2016
My Cherie Amour was a take of Dean and Selena's love affair. Selena was an aspiring chef who ran her father's BBQ joint and in order to get out of the cold, he stepped into the pit and met Selena and that spark happened. :) Their love affair happened very organically and their tale was beautiful and they took care of one another emotionally. Selena was a strong willed woman and wouldn't accept Dean's monetary help but he supported her how she would allow him to and that is through helping to make her struggling restaurant a success. Dean was a man ashamed by his past and changed his life to reflect the man he wanted to be. I enjoyed their story of "waiting for the right moment" love.
Some issues that I had with the story is that sometime the personalities of the characters were portrayed completely different than how they were written the rest of the time. For example, Selena would use some curse words in certain instances, but it didn't seem necessary for her character . She also had an unnatural amount of hostility towards a fellow chef when some of the fault lay at her own feet because she didn't do her best and she even acknowledged that. Also there was an ex boyfriend situation that was a bit odd as well and I'm not sure I quite believe him to be the antagonist that Ms Percy wrote him to be. He was either a bumbling idiot, a really caring guy, or a complete tool. Also, Dean's character was vague in his reasonings for coming back home and making a life change instead of owning up to his mistakes. If Ms Percy could have had an extra set of eyes that read over the story to help with the consistency and grammatical errors then she could have had a good book instead of just an okay one in my opinion.
I received this story in an exchange for an honest review.
Some issues that I had with the story is that sometime the personalities of the characters were portrayed completely different than how they were written the rest of the time. For example, Selena would use some curse words in certain instances, but it didn't seem necessary for her character . She also had an unnatural amount of hostility towards a fellow chef when some of the fault lay at her own feet because she didn't do her best and she even acknowledged that. Also there was an ex boyfriend situation that was a bit odd as well and I'm not sure I quite believe him to be the antagonist that Ms Percy wrote him to be. He was either a bumbling idiot, a really caring guy, or a complete tool. Also, Dean's character was vague in his reasonings for coming back home and making a life change instead of owning up to his mistakes. If Ms Percy could have had an extra set of eyes that read over the story to help with the consistency and grammatical errors then she could have had a good book instead of just an okay one in my opinion.
I received this story in an exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2018
Hungry
She wanted to cook at a higher standard place but she was in a family place. Then she met him and the taste changed a new flavor.
She wanted to cook at a higher standard place but she was in a family place. Then she met him and the taste changed a new flavor.
October 7, 2016
3.5 Stars
This was an enjoyable read and a lovely story though there were a few things which I will mention below that did hold me back from rating it higher.
The Story:
Selena’s biggest dream is to work as a cook in a top star restaurant. She’s a hard working woman who tries to maintain her father’s barbecue joint Peaches Smokehouse that doesn’t run as well as Selena would have liked.
When good looking and well-mannered billionaire Dean Morgan comes into her soul food restaurant, two different worlds collide. Even though it’s not the perfect time for both of them to meet, they can’t deny the feelings of connection toward each other.
Selena is wondering what Deans motivations are behind his attention because he could have any woman but he wants her. Dean on the other hand is wondering if Selena is as beautiful in her heart as she is in appearance because so far all the women he had met were either crazy or gold-diggers, though Selena doesn’t seem to be like those women at all. The two of them have not only a few bumps in the road to deal with but they also have to ride out a heavy storm that comes their way. Will Selena finally find her happiness or lose hope of her dreams ever coming true altogether?
Thoughts:
I honestly couldn’t decide how to rate this book. There were some parts in this book that I didn’t understand why they were even mentioned. The first chapter and the news that the Morgan’s were planning on tearing down a building which the people who lived there wanted to save was irrelevant information and had in my opinion no further meaning in the story. Some things just didn’t make sense of being in the book at all and they made it harder to connect with the story and its characters.
On the other hand, I wish there was more of the connection between Selena and Dean because their feelings grew rather fast and I wondered when that happened?! I hoped for some steamy scenes that sadly did not take place (It didn’t necessary had to be sex, but even some hot kisses or something like that would have been nice). I missed some important and specially moments between the characters because I feel like they didn’t really fall in love but liked each other’s company and therefore spent little time together and that’s it. This was not enough for a hopeless romantic like me.
The storyline was good and it had a lot of potential but like I said there was not enough depth in their relationship and love for each other. Maybe I got it all wrong and this was exactly what the author was going for because I felt like the story was mainly about Selena and her struggle with sustaining the restaurant and fulfilling her goals in life. Those parts about Selena worked out great in the story. The character and its story were believable and that’s something I really appreciate in a story though closer to the end I didn’t understand why Selena was so mad as if they were a long-time couple because I didn’t feel like they were anything close to something like that.
To be fair I want to mention Dean’s character as well but all I can say about him is: he’s too good to be true =P
It took some time to get into the story at first but once it pulled me in I really enjoyed it and got hooked.
There’s something else I wanted to mention here because I felt like at some parts (especially in the beginning but also sometimes in between the story) that the author tried too hard. I notice that also when I write something that at some parts when I struggle with the writing I think too hard and complicate it too much. There were a few parts where I had this feeling in the book but other than that I thought the story had a good flow and went ‘easily’ off the authors hands. (And by easily I don’t mean that it’s easy to write a good story but that sometimes you get this invisible push and the words are flowing from your fingers =))
-- I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. --
This was an enjoyable read and a lovely story though there were a few things which I will mention below that did hold me back from rating it higher.
The Story:
Selena’s biggest dream is to work as a cook in a top star restaurant. She’s a hard working woman who tries to maintain her father’s barbecue joint Peaches Smokehouse that doesn’t run as well as Selena would have liked.
When good looking and well-mannered billionaire Dean Morgan comes into her soul food restaurant, two different worlds collide. Even though it’s not the perfect time for both of them to meet, they can’t deny the feelings of connection toward each other.
Selena is wondering what Deans motivations are behind his attention because he could have any woman but he wants her. Dean on the other hand is wondering if Selena is as beautiful in her heart as she is in appearance because so far all the women he had met were either crazy or gold-diggers, though Selena doesn’t seem to be like those women at all. The two of them have not only a few bumps in the road to deal with but they also have to ride out a heavy storm that comes their way. Will Selena finally find her happiness or lose hope of her dreams ever coming true altogether?
Thoughts:
I honestly couldn’t decide how to rate this book. There were some parts in this book that I didn’t understand why they were even mentioned. The first chapter and the news that the Morgan’s were planning on tearing down a building which the people who lived there wanted to save was irrelevant information and had in my opinion no further meaning in the story. Some things just didn’t make sense of being in the book at all and they made it harder to connect with the story and its characters.
On the other hand, I wish there was more of the connection between Selena and Dean because their feelings grew rather fast and I wondered when that happened?! I hoped for some steamy scenes that sadly did not take place (It didn’t necessary had to be sex, but even some hot kisses or something like that would have been nice). I missed some important and specially moments between the characters because I feel like they didn’t really fall in love but liked each other’s company and therefore spent little time together and that’s it. This was not enough for a hopeless romantic like me.
The storyline was good and it had a lot of potential but like I said there was not enough depth in their relationship and love for each other. Maybe I got it all wrong and this was exactly what the author was going for because I felt like the story was mainly about Selena and her struggle with sustaining the restaurant and fulfilling her goals in life. Those parts about Selena worked out great in the story. The character and its story were believable and that’s something I really appreciate in a story though closer to the end I didn’t understand why Selena was so mad as if they were a long-time couple because I didn’t feel like they were anything close to something like that.
To be fair I want to mention Dean’s character as well but all I can say about him is: he’s too good to be true =P
It took some time to get into the story at first but once it pulled me in I really enjoyed it and got hooked.
There’s something else I wanted to mention here because I felt like at some parts (especially in the beginning but also sometimes in between the story) that the author tried too hard. I notice that also when I write something that at some parts when I struggle with the writing I think too hard and complicate it too much. There were a few parts where I had this feeling in the book but other than that I thought the story had a good flow and went ‘easily’ off the authors hands. (And by easily I don’t mean that it’s easy to write a good story but that sometimes you get this invisible push and the words are flowing from your fingers =))
-- I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. --
September 15, 2016
3.5 star
I had a hard time getting into this it has a great plot with some great characters. There were parts I loved and places where I thought to much filler were used. The things you want in life are in your sites when a new man walks into your life and the past comes back home. There is a little of a love triangle more or less one sided but still there. Selena is on her way to becoming a top chief she just needs the big break. That big break is about to break her but there is still hope when Dean comes in out of a storm and tries their soul food. It isn’t long before he is not only hooked on the food but the little lady serving it.
Selena is a lady full of sass which I love she tells it like it is I really liked her. She is a go getter, family is important to her, she gives up so much to help run the family business which is falling apart. She works hard and doesn’t expect anything to be given to her. I really liked her personality at times she has me smiling. Other times my heart broke for her a little.
Dean is an alpha male who knows when to step back and regroup. He shows this over and over again. He has lots of money but it doesn’t guide him, to just meet him you won’t think he did he is very sweet, kind and pleasant to be around as well as being very down to earth. He wants a woman who wants him and not his money he puts Selena to the test will she pass or will he walk away? Dean kept me smiling with his kind heart and wonderful personality. There is something big that happens that will put Dean and Selena at odds with each other. It is any ones guess if their new love is strong enough to weather it.
I did not feel the pull or the chemistry between these two. They felt more like very good friends than want to be lovers. I really enjoyed how Dean pulled her out with her getting her way but him getting his. He is a very sneak man which makes him so much more Dearing. Handsome, has money, and so giving what else could a girl want. I like how Selena stood up for herself didn’t let Dean’s money and business sway her. One of the reasons I have given this a low star is for me if I can turn pages after pages and not miss anything then it has too much filler and not enough of the main story. If you were to skip pages most likely where you pick up you most likely could not tell you have missed anything.
Mark who knows about him he worked for me at the beginning but after awhile he just seemed misplaced. He was a great character which you will not like and you aren’t supposed to. There was one part where Selena meets the Chief again and they go at it, once he said something she changes her mind. I thought that was a little too fast. That scene didn’t work for me. I loved her father and that he didn’t give up the dream he and his wife built. I think it was his way to stay busy and keep her memory alive. I really liked the plot and the characters. All in all it wasn’t a bad read at all just a little too many fillers. Some reads love this I am not one of them. I do hope you will give this story a read. For me it was worth reading.
Sadly at this time it is not up for sale. I was asked by the author to read and give an honest review.
I had a hard time getting into this it has a great plot with some great characters. There were parts I loved and places where I thought to much filler were used. The things you want in life are in your sites when a new man walks into your life and the past comes back home. There is a little of a love triangle more or less one sided but still there. Selena is on her way to becoming a top chief she just needs the big break. That big break is about to break her but there is still hope when Dean comes in out of a storm and tries their soul food. It isn’t long before he is not only hooked on the food but the little lady serving it.
Selena is a lady full of sass which I love she tells it like it is I really liked her. She is a go getter, family is important to her, she gives up so much to help run the family business which is falling apart. She works hard and doesn’t expect anything to be given to her. I really liked her personality at times she has me smiling. Other times my heart broke for her a little.
Dean is an alpha male who knows when to step back and regroup. He shows this over and over again. He has lots of money but it doesn’t guide him, to just meet him you won’t think he did he is very sweet, kind and pleasant to be around as well as being very down to earth. He wants a woman who wants him and not his money he puts Selena to the test will she pass or will he walk away? Dean kept me smiling with his kind heart and wonderful personality. There is something big that happens that will put Dean and Selena at odds with each other. It is any ones guess if their new love is strong enough to weather it.
I did not feel the pull or the chemistry between these two. They felt more like very good friends than want to be lovers. I really enjoyed how Dean pulled her out with her getting her way but him getting his. He is a very sneak man which makes him so much more Dearing. Handsome, has money, and so giving what else could a girl want. I like how Selena stood up for herself didn’t let Dean’s money and business sway her. One of the reasons I have given this a low star is for me if I can turn pages after pages and not miss anything then it has too much filler and not enough of the main story. If you were to skip pages most likely where you pick up you most likely could not tell you have missed anything.
Mark who knows about him he worked for me at the beginning but after awhile he just seemed misplaced. He was a great character which you will not like and you aren’t supposed to. There was one part where Selena meets the Chief again and they go at it, once he said something she changes her mind. I thought that was a little too fast. That scene didn’t work for me. I loved her father and that he didn’t give up the dream he and his wife built. I think it was his way to stay busy and keep her memory alive. I really liked the plot and the characters. All in all it wasn’t a bad read at all just a little too many fillers. Some reads love this I am not one of them. I do hope you will give this story a read. For me it was worth reading.
Sadly at this time it is not up for sale. I was asked by the author to read and give an honest review.
November 11, 2016
MY CHERIE AMOUR; STORY LINE:
In My Cherie Amour, we find young, beautiful, and talented, Selena Campbell. Selena has always dreamed of becoming a world renown chef. She runs the family restaurant, Peaches Smokehouse, known for the best soul food in town. Life has not been easy for Selena; disappointments, ambition, and responsibility, have ruled Selena until the day Dean walks into Peaches. Dean is walking appeal on a stick. As a result, the attraction is fast and mutual. His big blue eyes capture what Selena had sworn was unattainable. After her last boyfriend left, Selena had sworn off men. Selena did not realize one man could turn her life upside-down.
After a horrendous interview with a world renown chef, Selena finds the sweet charming warmth of Dean soothes her heart. Will Selena give up her dreams for love? Is Dean all he seems? Is Dean too good to be true? How will Selena handle the return of her ex-love?
Grab your favorite beverage and enjoy a sweet romance story. My romance novel review follows.
MY CHERIE AMOUR: CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT:
First I must say, author Gwen Piercy, has crafted a sweet romance which explores life's disappointments, its' highs and lows and how we deal with them. As a result, we watch Selena and Dean deal with their emotional past and resolve issues.
Also, Ms. Piercy developed the characters of Selena and Dean throughout the story-line. It is worth noting the chemistry between them was clean and sweet. Furthermore, I found the plot well-paced and well-developed. Ms. Piercy added an adversary for Selena's affections which you will love to hate. I could read him as soon as he walked through the door, what a jerk. I wanted to shake him.
Furthermore, My Cherie Amour, has a fairy-tale quality to the story-line and who doesn't like a good fairy tale with the handsome brave knight and the beautiful damsel in distress. Dean is the quintessential knight; understanding, warm, caring, unselfish; then, add in the fact he is beyond rich. Selena is the poor talented damsel needing support, love, and a chance to showcase her talents.
MY CHERIE AMOUR, RECOMMENDATION: STARS 4
In concluding the romance novel review of My Cherie Amour, I found this book well-written and entertaining. Additionally, My Cherie Amour contains a relaxing story-line with characters which will appeal to the reader. Furthermore, Ms. Piercy did not need to include sex to sell the story-line which I found refreshing.
FINALLY PLEASE NOTE:
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book/novel. I voluntarily chose to review the book with an honest romance novel review. Hence, book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently all book reviews on-line and on my blog, are my opinion.
In My Cherie Amour, we find young, beautiful, and talented, Selena Campbell. Selena has always dreamed of becoming a world renown chef. She runs the family restaurant, Peaches Smokehouse, known for the best soul food in town. Life has not been easy for Selena; disappointments, ambition, and responsibility, have ruled Selena until the day Dean walks into Peaches. Dean is walking appeal on a stick. As a result, the attraction is fast and mutual. His big blue eyes capture what Selena had sworn was unattainable. After her last boyfriend left, Selena had sworn off men. Selena did not realize one man could turn her life upside-down.
After a horrendous interview with a world renown chef, Selena finds the sweet charming warmth of Dean soothes her heart. Will Selena give up her dreams for love? Is Dean all he seems? Is Dean too good to be true? How will Selena handle the return of her ex-love?
Grab your favorite beverage and enjoy a sweet romance story. My romance novel review follows.
MY CHERIE AMOUR: CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT:
First I must say, author Gwen Piercy, has crafted a sweet romance which explores life's disappointments, its' highs and lows and how we deal with them. As a result, we watch Selena and Dean deal with their emotional past and resolve issues.
Also, Ms. Piercy developed the characters of Selena and Dean throughout the story-line. It is worth noting the chemistry between them was clean and sweet. Furthermore, I found the plot well-paced and well-developed. Ms. Piercy added an adversary for Selena's affections which you will love to hate. I could read him as soon as he walked through the door, what a jerk. I wanted to shake him.
Furthermore, My Cherie Amour, has a fairy-tale quality to the story-line and who doesn't like a good fairy tale with the handsome brave knight and the beautiful damsel in distress. Dean is the quintessential knight; understanding, warm, caring, unselfish; then, add in the fact he is beyond rich. Selena is the poor talented damsel needing support, love, and a chance to showcase her talents.
MY CHERIE AMOUR, RECOMMENDATION: STARS 4
In concluding the romance novel review of My Cherie Amour, I found this book well-written and entertaining. Additionally, My Cherie Amour contains a relaxing story-line with characters which will appeal to the reader. Furthermore, Ms. Piercy did not need to include sex to sell the story-line which I found refreshing.
FINALLY PLEASE NOTE:
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book/novel. I voluntarily chose to review the book with an honest romance novel review. Hence, book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently all book reviews on-line and on my blog, are my opinion.
November 30, 2016
This was the first Gwen Piercy book I've read and I really enjoyed it. It was a short, sweet, no-frills romance novel - not the type I usually go for, but I found myself reading this in just two sittings when I had some down time.
Selena is an aspiring international chef, but she's currently stuck running "Peaches Smokehouse" - a family-owned BBQ joint named after her late mother. Her father doesn't want to sell the restaurant and wants to keep Selena there forever to run the restaurant, so Selena is torn between going after her dreams or family loyalty.
Dean is a billionaire that happens to walk into Peaches one night after his car breaks down. He's a hot alpha male, but he isn't pushy and is a really sincere and likable guy. He feels a pull towards Selena that night and her great cooking doesn't hurt either. He ends up running into her at a charity event shortly thereafter, one that Dean happens to be throwing and they hit it off once again.
We also have the ex-boyfriend and ex-girlfriend thrown in there for added drama, plus a judgmental turned sweet celebrity chef. These characters help to add some interesting plots to the story line.
There were some parts of the book that I felt lacked some depth. They went from seeing each other a few times to her calling him 'baby' all of a sudden - that just kind of threw me off since it didn't seem as though they had really developed their relationship to the point of pet names just yet. I would have also liked an epilogue that showed the progression of their relationship so that it seemed a bit more believable. We never saw how her dad reacts to her relationship with Dean and the ex-boyfriend just kind of disappears from the story after their big blowup.
Despite these small flaws, I still enjoyed the book and wanted to see how the story played out since Dean was such a class act and someone any girl would love to have by her side.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Selena is an aspiring international chef, but she's currently stuck running "Peaches Smokehouse" - a family-owned BBQ joint named after her late mother. Her father doesn't want to sell the restaurant and wants to keep Selena there forever to run the restaurant, so Selena is torn between going after her dreams or family loyalty.
Dean is a billionaire that happens to walk into Peaches one night after his car breaks down. He's a hot alpha male, but he isn't pushy and is a really sincere and likable guy. He feels a pull towards Selena that night and her great cooking doesn't hurt either. He ends up running into her at a charity event shortly thereafter, one that Dean happens to be throwing and they hit it off once again.
We also have the ex-boyfriend and ex-girlfriend thrown in there for added drama, plus a judgmental turned sweet celebrity chef. These characters help to add some interesting plots to the story line.
There were some parts of the book that I felt lacked some depth. They went from seeing each other a few times to her calling him 'baby' all of a sudden - that just kind of threw me off since it didn't seem as though they had really developed their relationship to the point of pet names just yet. I would have also liked an epilogue that showed the progression of their relationship so that it seemed a bit more believable. We never saw how her dad reacts to her relationship with Dean and the ex-boyfriend just kind of disappears from the story after their big blowup.
Despite these small flaws, I still enjoyed the book and wanted to see how the story played out since Dean was such a class act and someone any girl would love to have by her side.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 29, 2016
This was a nice little romance and it entertained me to a certain degree. This story is about Selena, who helps her father run a barbecue, soul food restaurant, and while working she meets Dean, a handsome, young billionaire. I really like Selena as the heroine because she was an independent, caring, and sweet woman. Dean was a joy to read about as well, but he wasn't as charming as I would love for him to have been. The chemistry between the two characters are evident and I really would have loved for the relationship to have had more depth. This book is filled with monologue and I wish that there was more dialogue. This author is a true story teller and it is evident in how this book was written. When reading a romance novel, I really love to feel more involved in the relationship and in this story I did not feel it. The author was telling me things that happened between the couple instead of showing me. Overall the book was entertaining and it was different from the other romance novels that I have read. A good read.
October 24, 2016
An easy read, predictably sweet romance.
This is a story about a young girl wanting more for her culinary life than working in her father’s BBQ restaurant that’s named after her deceased mother. When her one chance at working at a top of the line restaurant’s internationally known chef fails, she settles in on helping her father’s once thriving restaurant, keep from going under due to gentrification, unbeknownst to Selena, due to the one man she’s falling for, Dean Morgan. He’s falling for her too. Selena is caught in a dilemma in going with her heart with Dean or revisiting an old familiar relationship. Dean won’t let her insecurities get in the way so he woos her. But, his old flame causes problems for them. Selena, not used to the ways of the media has a hard time dealing with the news. Dean won’t let her go and woos he back for their HEA. Selena saves her family restaurant by working with the very chef who rebuffed her by being a supplier for his restaurant, so it’s a happy ending all around.
This is a story about a young girl wanting more for her culinary life than working in her father’s BBQ restaurant that’s named after her deceased mother. When her one chance at working at a top of the line restaurant’s internationally known chef fails, she settles in on helping her father’s once thriving restaurant, keep from going under due to gentrification, unbeknownst to Selena, due to the one man she’s falling for, Dean Morgan. He’s falling for her too. Selena is caught in a dilemma in going with her heart with Dean or revisiting an old familiar relationship. Dean won’t let her insecurities get in the way so he woos her. But, his old flame causes problems for them. Selena, not used to the ways of the media has a hard time dealing with the news. Dean won’t let her go and woos he back for their HEA. Selena saves her family restaurant by working with the very chef who rebuffed her by being a supplier for his restaurant, so it’s a happy ending all around.
October 21, 2016
Sweet, cute romance novel with a foodie theme.
100% clean, with no crude or vulgar language.
Great descriptions of cooking and cuisine.
Selena Campbell is a super feisty heroine, who just oozes girl power.
Gwen Piercy is a fabulous writer with a great imagination and a knack for romance stories.
Good plot & pacing, effective narrative and dialogue, impressive characterization.
An entertaining romantic read.
100% clean, with no crude or vulgar language.
Great descriptions of cooking and cuisine.
Selena Campbell is a super feisty heroine, who just oozes girl power.
Gwen Piercy is a fabulous writer with a great imagination and a knack for romance stories.
Good plot & pacing, effective narrative and dialogue, impressive characterization.
An entertaining romantic read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews