Charming Chef

River's End Ranch #7

by Pamela M. Kelley

~ Note~  Be sure to look for my newest release, Cute Cowboy! 

Barbi Johnson is on the verge of having her biggest dream come true. She's been working hard as a waitress for years, and saving money to open her own yoga studio. She has a verbal agreement with Rita, one of her favorite customers, to buy her Victorian home, with a dance studio on the first floor. It's perfect.

But then Rita unexpectedly dies and her nephew and Barbi's first love, Ryan Calhoun, now a celebrity chef, comes home for the funeral. Barbi hasn't seen him since senior year of high school when she dumped him. She's regretted it ever since and thought of Ryan often. She's shocked when she learns that Rita left the house to Ryan and that he's going to be spending the next few weeks in Riston--working at her restaurant as a favor to his good friend, Wade.

Ryan Calhoun is a successful restaurant empire owner and celebrity chef. but Barbi is the one that he never quite got over. He's not sure how he feels about selling his aunt's house to her or about spending more time with her during his working vacation. He's more attracted than ever, but can he trust that Barbi won't hurt him again?

Discover River's End Ranch, a gorgeous "destination ranch and resort" in Riston, Idaho, that is run by the six Weston siblings and their well-meaning, semi-retired parents. Five bestselling Western romance authors have created a world like no other--full of fun outside activities, a huge family in need of love, and side characters you will never forget. A world where our characters learn, laugh, and love. 

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance

147 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2016

About the author

Pamela M. Kelley is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of women's fiction, family sagas, and suspense. Readers often describe her books as feel-good reads with people you'd want as friends.

She lives in a historic seaside town near Cape Cod and just south of Boston. She has always been an avid reader of women's fiction, romance, mysteries, thrillers and cook books. There's also a good chance you might get hungry when you read her books as she is a foodie, and occasionally shares a recipe or two. :)

Reviews

[Carolyn]

Another short, light, feel good read.

[Kristin]

2.5 stars

The ending was a little abrupt.

[Kimberly]

Such a fun and relaxing read. Looking forward to reading more in this delightful series!

[Erika]

Again, my main problem with this book is not the main characters, but one secondary character that I got to know and love through the series and that again in the book by this writer is changed beyond recognition. I mean, if you read this as a standalone, then no problem, but it doesn't work as part of a series. Jaclyn is someone we know as an eccentric old lady that has a bunch of bunnies, talks to fairies and gives advice to everyone. In other books they give the impression she almost never leaves her house, but with this author we have a Jaclyn that is a social butterfly, going every day to the dinner, talking to people, always with her friend. Is not the same person, and I resent that, because it breaks the feeling of continuity in the series. As for the main characters of the book, Barbi and Ryan, their story was easy and not very complicated. It's basically a couple getting back together after years apart, with a little dose of drama.

Barbi works as a waitress, but her love is yoga. Her friend and customer, Rita, had already agreed to sell Barbi her house, but she dies before finishing the transaction, and in her will the house goes to her nephew, Barbi old boyfriend. When he learns about the agreement, he doesn't have a problem selling her the house, but then he learns that his aunt asked for him not to sell the house for at least a year. He compromises by renting him the house and the space for her yoga studio.

Ryan is a famous chef with several restaurants and a tv show. He hasn't been back for a long time, but decides to spend a couple of weeks there and agrees to help his friend Wade by working at his restaurant for a few days. He starts spending time with Barbi and realizes that he never got over her. Another ex makes an appearance, she also has a tv show and convinces him to do a segment with her, but that's only an excuse to get him back. He starts a relationship with Barbi, and it seems to be working, he goes to check his restaurants and goes back to visit, but one weekend he goes to work with his ex, and she takes the opportunity to stage a photo shoot of her kissing him. Since Barbi is not answering his calls, he decides to move his trip and goes to her, he explains that he didn't kiss his ex, that she kissed him and they took the photo before he could move and that he loves her, then he proposes to her, and she gets from not wanting to talk to him, to accepting him in a couple of seconds. They marry in secret as soon as they can, and he sells his restaurants, so he can move back permanently.

[Pat Rathmann]

A NICE ROMANCE

Cute an entertaining second chance romance. Barbi learns that her first young love has returned to town to attend his Aunt's funeral. As they get reacquainted, Ryan not only inherits his Aunt's home but also she had promised to sell that property to Barbi to open her own Yoga studio. As a new romance blooms they these lovers be able to put their past behind them.

[MaryEllen]

I enjoyed the story for the most part. The romance was the sweet reunion of high school sweethearts many years later.

I liked that almost everyone they knew was cautiously encouraging their relationship. Even the aunt that he inherited from set them up.

I do wish the situation with the ex-girlfriend had gotten on-page closure, and I think that the HEA came too quickly, but the story was still enjoyable.

[Wren Woodland]

Can Ryan be happy with a small town girl?

A fun and easy low drama story. Second chance as Ryan and Barbi were high school sweethearts. Now he’s a famous chef with a show on the Food Channel and a string of restaurants. She’s a waitress starting her own yoga studio. There has to be some drama so there is an ex who wants Ryan back and uses paparazzi to try to get her way.

[Melissa]

Charming Chef

Charming Chef - I really enjoyed this story. It was sweet and fun to read. I love happy endings. I especially loved that the story included adopting two adult cats. That’s not something you read in many books & I was touched by that.

[Janet McMillan]

Cute story

Ryan and Barbie were high school sweethearts. They broke up in high school. Jump ahead a few years. She is a waitress at the Ranch and a yoga instructor. He is a famous chef and owner of several resteraunt. Can they find their way back to each other.

[Rose Wubker]

Charming Chef is Charming.

This is a sweet uncomplicated story of true love. It is a quick read and will leave you feeling good!

[Love]

Second Time Around Love

Sometimes you have to grow up a little more to be ready for the love of your life and this is a powerful story of what can happen when you get that chance.

[Charlene]

Great story with a surprise ending!

Barbi & Ryan high school sweethearts reconnect at his aunt's funeral. Quick read with a wonderful surprise ending. I love this series.

[Sonya Thomas]

Good book

The book was good but I had a problem with some pages being blank. Made do with a my cell phone to read them.

[Donna Campbell]

Sweet

This story is a quick read with a chef and a lot of wonderful sounding food. This is a really sweet, clean romance.

[Tj Walker]

👍 Great book

I loved this book. It was fun to read and it had an epilogue! I love to find an epilogue at the end of a great story.

[Jan Mcleod]

Well written and with good characters and plot

[Vicky]

Good read

Because it was a good book easy reading love the story line and I have read some of the other book's in this series.

[Zee]

It was cute. It was OK. The ending was super rushed. I liked the coziness but overall I felt kinda bored? Would read more of her books though.

[Elizabeth]

Charming Chef (River's End Ranch, #7) by Pamela M. Kelley – A sweet second chance romance where our MCs both find a place to call home in a small town! Happy Reading!

[Jane]

Loved this sweet second chance romance.

[Joyce Perdue]

Good read

I am deep into this series. Each book feels like follo


wing family thru their lifes journeys. I love the way all the characters are followed in each book.

[Crystal]

Finding your way home again

I enjoyed this story immensely! Barbie and Ryan are two wonderful people who just needed some time to realize that together they are better than apart. Love it!

[Tonya VanWinkle]

Struggled getting into this one

I have loved the Rivers End Ranch Series but honestly the flow seemed off on this one and I really had a difficult time sticking with it. It felt rushed and lacked depth. I pushed through because I like the series but I think this one might need a tune up.

[Jeene Hobbs]

A chef and a waitress reunite

I have enjoyed this series very much. I encourage you to start at the beginning. Although this particular book could be read as a stand alone. It does not focus much on the primary ranch family members.

[Donna Rogers]

Great read!!

It was a great book, only thing that was missing was Jaclyn fairy's that talk to her. Kinda sad that Jaclyn was normal in this book..

[Debra Reeves]

Charming chef

This was a great book to read. How they had dated along time ago. When he comes back for his aunt's funeral, after a while she asks him if they could try again.

[Lakeisha]

This was a sweet story about second chances at love. Sometimes an old love can come back to you and remind you that you shouldn't be scared to take a chance. Great read.

[Sharon]

Barbie and Ryan- (waitress and celebrity chef)

[Cindy]

Another wonderful visit to River's End Ranch. I have loved every installment in the series so far and I hope and pray it goes on for many more books! I so wish RER was real!

[Barbara Van Zandt]

2nd chances

I'm glad the house gave Barbies and Ryan a reason to talk and even better working together. It was done slowly a d they both realize they still had feelings for one another