Oh boy. A rare swing and a miss from Allyson Lindt. I really like the others from her I’ve read, but this book suffers from unlikeable characters that spend too much time fighting and a completely unnecessary and unbelievable plot complication. It’s probably a 1.5 because there are bits of her usual writing skill peeking through, but I legit did not like this book.
To start, the characters: in this book we’re picking up on Julie’s story, the other half of a duo of women starting a unique cookie business and bakery. (Andi’s story is the first - and much better - entry in this series, and even though she’s in this one, you don’t need to know it in order to read this book). Julie is a control freak, and because of it, pretty much a b*tch. She has to work with Dante, the fancy TV chef star and investor in the business, to prep for the bakery opening and episode feature on his show. Dante is also a control freak and a b*tch. These two spend nearly all their time fighting, and like, not in a sexy way - not to this reader at least.
Dante’s in a relationship with Christopher, who is a former sex therapist-turned-IT guy (yes really, lol). Due to some backstory about how they got together, and Julie’s backstory with an ex, they are all quite hesitant and cagey about three-person relationships. This doesn’t stop them from hooking up under the flimsiest of pretenses: teaching Julie to “give up control” and “blowing off steam” from their stressful workplace.
The way Lindt writes it their workplace IS hella stressful! Normally I like realism in my erotica but I wish it had been dialed waaayyyy down in this book. You wouldn’t believe how many obstacles these three have to deal with on the way to opening the bakery, including a series of escalating mishaps that end in property damage and a hospital trip for one of the characters. All this of course provides more opportunity for them to fight, stubborn-ass Julie and Dante especially! Ugh!!!
The workplace accidents end in a REALLY cheesy, predictable, overly dramatic and UNNECESSARY plot twist that has the two dudes swooping in to save Julie. I hate this kind of stuff but it can be done much, much better than it was here. Allyson Lindt even used nearly the same plot device in another of her books! (I didn’t really like it too much there either but at least it was better done.)
All in all, this means despite generally strong writing this book committed the cardinal sin of any romance: I just did not believe the relationship between the characters, from the moment they got together right up til the end. AND, even worse, it wasn’t any fun at all watching them get there! Even the sex scenes failed to ignite anything. Not even a low flame.
I paid full-price money for this, which I’m only not mad about because I think I’ve gotten Lindt’s work on discount or free before. It averages out I suppose, but dammit, the next one I pick up by her better be a whole hell of a lot better. Yes, I’ll keep reading, but right now, Ms. Lindt, you are on notice.