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Deliciously Dechamps #2
A Taste Of Pleasure
A Recipe for Love
Deliciously Dechamps
Italy is the perfect place for new career beginnings—at least that’s what chef Danica Nillson hopes. But one look at sexy single dad Antonio Dante Lorenzetti, and her plan to keep romance out of her kitchen goes up in flames. The millionaire restaurateur wants stability. Not unbridled passion that makes him lose his senses. Is this beautiful, talented and headstrong chef the one he’s been waiting for?
Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
January 30, 2019
I picked this up after it was strongly recommended on twitter by Jen (@JenReadsRomance), whom I can always trust with reviews. This didn’t disappoint! People who love foodie romances will love this story of Dani, a “ghost chef” (as she calls herself) whose life implodes a little after she abruptly leaves her Michelin-starred restaurant where she’s responsible for all the good food and reviews, yet she gets none of the credit. Instead, her lover and celebrity chef, Andre, takes all the fame for himself.
Dani goes to Milan with her mother, an aging supermodel, and she runs into Toni, with whom she had a ONS a year before at a friend’s wedding in Brazil. Dani trained under his uncle (although she didn’t know about the family connection when he met Toni), and when said uncle has a heart attack, Dani steps in and takes over.
This story deals a lot with Dani wrestling with the fallout of what happened with Andre—the foodie world is small enough that it made waves in all the highest circles—while falling in love with Toni. I absolutely loved Dani. Watching her grow in confidence, own her talent and her skills, and confront toxic relationships was so empowering. She’s also fat and this comes up a lot, in regards to her relationship with her mother and in her relationship with Toni, who always makes her feel beautiful. I’d love if the conversations where she says “I’m fat” didn’t turn into “no you’re not” or some other variation of that because we have to stop treating “fat” like it’s a bad word instead of a descriptor. But I personally know the struggle to reclaim that word as something positive, and it doesn’t happen overnight.
I did like Toni but not quite as much. The scenes with his teen daughter, Sophie, and his mother were some of my favorites. I hated his ex-wife, Ava, who is Sophie’s mother. I understood he was concerned Ava would sabotage things with Sophie or Dani if he didn’t placate her but he dropped everything to deal with her multiple times but then doesn’t really explain himself. It never felt fully resolved to me—I could picture her being a menace even after Toni and Dani were officially together.
I also wanted more of Andre’s comeuppance. I’m glad Dani didn’t waste her energy on him, but I wanted to see him HUMILIATED, although we know things fall apart for him in passing. (Not knocking the rating for this, just my bloodthirstiness!)
Overall, I loved this book and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Dani goes to Milan with her mother, an aging supermodel, and she runs into Toni, with whom she had a ONS a year before at a friend’s wedding in Brazil. Dani trained under his uncle (although she didn’t know about the family connection when he met Toni), and when said uncle has a heart attack, Dani steps in and takes over.
This story deals a lot with Dani wrestling with the fallout of what happened with Andre—the foodie world is small enough that it made waves in all the highest circles—while falling in love with Toni. I absolutely loved Dani. Watching her grow in confidence, own her talent and her skills, and confront toxic relationships was so empowering. She’s also fat and this comes up a lot, in regards to her relationship with her mother and in her relationship with Toni, who always makes her feel beautiful. I’d love if the conversations where she says “I’m fat” didn’t turn into “no you’re not” or some other variation of that because we have to stop treating “fat” like it’s a bad word instead of a descriptor. But I personally know the struggle to reclaim that word as something positive, and it doesn’t happen overnight.
I did like Toni but not quite as much. The scenes with his teen daughter, Sophie, and his mother were some of my favorites. I hated his ex-wife, Ava, who is Sophie’s mother. I understood he was concerned Ava would sabotage things with Sophie or Dani if he didn’t placate her but he dropped everything to deal with her multiple times but then doesn’t really explain himself. It never felt fully resolved to me—I could picture her being a menace even after Toni and Dani were officially together.
I also wanted more of Andre’s comeuppance. I’m glad Dani didn’t waste her energy on him, but I wanted to see him HUMILIATED, although we know things fall apart for him in passing. (Not knocking the rating for this, just my bloodthirstiness!)
Overall, I loved this book and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
July 8, 2018
The Good
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the beauty of this cover, shall we?
Honestly, it’s stunning and when I saw one of my Twitter friends tweet it out, I was sunk. I wanted to read it based on that alone.
Then when I saw the amount of smutnip in it, I was enthralled. You’ve got a workplace romance where the workplace is a huge part of the story, BBW heroine, one night stand, hero with young teen daughter, and an isolated setting where they’re forced to work together. There’s diversity in leads and supporting characters and some humor to keep me happy. All was right with the world.
Dani and Toni met during their friend’s wedding and the heat was undeniable and they ended up spending one scorchingly sexy night together. One year later, Dani’s life is a mess, she’s a ghost chef for her two Michelin star restaurant, though the world thinks it's her her lover/ youtube sensation/face Andre who is the real chef. When she catches him cheating on her, she runs off to Milan, Italy with her supermodel mother, who is on her way to a photo shoot. There, she runs into Toni, an Italian vintner/restaurateur who’s in the midst of trying to salvage the opening of a new farm to table restaurant on his vineyard outside of Milan that his family has been working on for ten years. Now, one guess as to what happens? Yep, romance.
The writing is good, the chemistry was palpable, the secondary characters helped give this ‘verse life and dimension, and there’s alot that I was impressed with. Dani and Toni’s connection isn’t just sexual (though that part was spicy all by itself), but their shared love of food and wine, as well as their professional entanglements was especially exciting to read. This isn’t something that is thrown in as a garnish, but an integral part of the entire meal, aka the romance and I loved, loved, loved it. All in all, I devoured this in a day.
The Bad
The evil ex as a plot device.
I am so DONE with it. I don’t get any enjoyment from it, the ex inevitably feels like a caricature, and it could be stripped completely away and not detract from the story. Plus, she’s a clingy ex who puts her grubby paws on the hero and because she’s “unstable and/or vindictive” he does nothing to curtail it until late in the game?
I also thought there wasn’t enough done by Toni to make it up to Dani. It was excused, then accepted, and then the story would keep chugging along and it annoyed me. It's a testament to the writing that, IF I hadn’t enjoyed so much of the story up until the ex came into play, I don’t know if I wouldn’t have set it aside. This is my personal bias, though and there were no lines crossed that I couldn’t come back from. I just didn’t think it was necessary.
Everything in Between
Dani’s equating herself to a ghost, in her personal and professional life, gave her personal journey a strong arc to play out. Her relationship with her mom is complicated, but felt genuine and gave a depth to her insecurity issues that resonated with me. I loved Toni’s family and his daughter and how they helped to flesh out his character as well. Finally, it works just fine as a standalone, though since I didn’t know that it was a second book in a series, I am interested in going back and checking out the first book.
Dani and Toni’s romance was full of smutnip, and I really enjoyed it. Other than one bitter flavor, there was a rich brew going on in this story that is worth taking the time to savor.
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August 12, 2018
A fun comfort read in all the best ways. Do not read while hungry, you will be craving pasta and wine in short order (also, I would murder someone for a taste of the wedding cake described in chapter 1. Cold-blooded murder). Book would have been a footnote rather than a book if Dani did not have self-esteem issues caused by her ex and her mom, and if Toni had been able to say "buzz off" to his ex-wife from the get-go. But it was a fun, fast read, and I smiled the whole time. I hope your restaurant gets all the stars, guys.
August 4, 2018
A Taste of Pleasure by Chloe Blake is a sexy romance set in Italy with a winemaker and a chef making a business partnership into something more.
Danica Nillson is tired of being a ‘ghost chef’ – the talent behind the success of her partner Andre’s restaurant with none of the credit. When she finds him sexing up the wait staff, she breaks off their business and personal relationship to recoup, and a trip to Milan with her supermodel mother is just the ticket she needs to figure out what she’s going to do next. She grew up there and it will give her a chance to visit old friends, including her mentor Marcello who taught her everything she knows about running a kitchen.
While visiting Marcello, a sudden crisis results in Dani having to take over the kitchen. Little does she suspect that a man she once spent a steamy night with at a wedding will turn out to be Marcello’s nephew and business partner! Antonio ‘Toni’ Lorenzetti is delighted to have a chance to renew his acquaintance with the sultry Dani while she fills in for his uncle. Soon their relationship is crossing all sorts of boundaries. But with Dani’s life back in New York and her stay in Italy temporary, is there really a possibility of a long term future for them?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-a-t...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
Danica Nillson is tired of being a ‘ghost chef’ – the talent behind the success of her partner Andre’s restaurant with none of the credit. When she finds him sexing up the wait staff, she breaks off their business and personal relationship to recoup, and a trip to Milan with her supermodel mother is just the ticket she needs to figure out what she’s going to do next. She grew up there and it will give her a chance to visit old friends, including her mentor Marcello who taught her everything she knows about running a kitchen.
While visiting Marcello, a sudden crisis results in Dani having to take over the kitchen. Little does she suspect that a man she once spent a steamy night with at a wedding will turn out to be Marcello’s nephew and business partner! Antonio ‘Toni’ Lorenzetti is delighted to have a chance to renew his acquaintance with the sultry Dani while she fills in for his uncle. Soon their relationship is crossing all sorts of boundaries. But with Dani’s life back in New York and her stay in Italy temporary, is there really a possibility of a long term future for them?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-a-t...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
February 26, 2019
4 Stars / 3 Steam Fans
Full Review to Come.
Full Review to Come.
July 12, 2018
Also on Romances Ever After.
3.5 stars
A Taste of Pleasure is another case of love at first sight for me—I mean, look at that cover! I was even more excited when I read the blurb and found out that the story was set in Italy. I love Italy and I would love to visit it again sometime in the future, but I digress.
The story starts with Danica and Antonio meeting, flirting, and later spending an amazing night together at the wedding of their mutual friend. Fast forward a year later, Dani’s career is in the shitters, so she decides to follow her mother who’s a supermodel to Italy and ends up meeting Toni again, who turns out to be the nephew of her old mentor.
It’s hard not to love Dani. She’s strong and smart, and she works so hard to prove herself in the kitchen. But she has always been in the shadows; up until she quitted, Dani was the ‘ghost chef’ in the restaurant she worked, and she had never gotten the credit she deserved. I empathized with her struggles, and I admired how she stood her ground and said “enough”. Dani has a lot of insecurities that made her real and relatable. Most of the issues she has stemmed from the relationship she has with her mother. Francesca is a supermodel, and Dani is described as a woman who is a size 16, so they clash a lot.
Toni gives out sort of a reformed rake vibe to me. He’s sexy and he knows it, but that’s not all who he is. He’s devoted to his mother and daughter. I love that he’s head over heels with Dani, and I love the part where he compares her to Botticelli paintings. Dani and Toni working together in the kitchen is a force—Dani’s cooking and Toni’s wine pairing expertise make a really great team. I love how Toni's daughter Sophia connects with Dani. Toni's mother and her kitchen tests are also a delight. The whole kitchen atmosphere reminds me of Laura Florand's books. The food descriptions were mouth-watering. They made me hungry, especially for pasta.
Another aspect that I enjoyed in the story is Dani’s bond with her mother. Their relationship is complicated, but I really felt that Francesca loves her daughter in her own way, and I love that they cleared the air between them in the end.
The only downside of reading this is that I wish I had felt more of Dani and Toni’s evident chemistry, and I’m also tired of the evil ex trope. But overall, A Taste of Pleasure is a quick and fun read. It’s surprisingly real smutty too, and that’s always a plus for me.
E-ARC is received in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
A Taste of Pleasure is another case of love at first sight for me—I mean, look at that cover! I was even more excited when I read the blurb and found out that the story was set in Italy. I love Italy and I would love to visit it again sometime in the future, but I digress.
The story starts with Danica and Antonio meeting, flirting, and later spending an amazing night together at the wedding of their mutual friend. Fast forward a year later, Dani’s career is in the shitters, so she decides to follow her mother who’s a supermodel to Italy and ends up meeting Toni again, who turns out to be the nephew of her old mentor.
It’s hard not to love Dani. She’s strong and smart, and she works so hard to prove herself in the kitchen. But she has always been in the shadows; up until she quitted, Dani was the ‘ghost chef’ in the restaurant she worked, and she had never gotten the credit she deserved. I empathized with her struggles, and I admired how she stood her ground and said “enough”. Dani has a lot of insecurities that made her real and relatable. Most of the issues she has stemmed from the relationship she has with her mother. Francesca is a supermodel, and Dani is described as a woman who is a size 16, so they clash a lot.
Toni gives out sort of a reformed rake vibe to me. He’s sexy and he knows it, but that’s not all who he is. He’s devoted to his mother and daughter. I love that he’s head over heels with Dani, and I love the part where he compares her to Botticelli paintings. Dani and Toni working together in the kitchen is a force—Dani’s cooking and Toni’s wine pairing expertise make a really great team. I love how Toni's daughter Sophia connects with Dani. Toni's mother and her kitchen tests are also a delight. The whole kitchen atmosphere reminds me of Laura Florand's books. The food descriptions were mouth-watering. They made me hungry, especially for pasta.
Another aspect that I enjoyed in the story is Dani’s bond with her mother. Their relationship is complicated, but I really felt that Francesca loves her daughter in her own way, and I love that they cleared the air between them in the end.
The only downside of reading this is that I wish I had felt more of Dani and Toni’s evident chemistry, and I’m also tired of the evil ex trope. But overall, A Taste of Pleasure is a quick and fun read. It’s surprisingly real smutty too, and that’s always a plus for me.
E-ARC is received in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2018
Who loves food? Who loves Italian food? Because mmmmmmm. This book made me HUNGRY. For food... and for Toni.
A Taste of Pleasure describes the way this book started off. Dani and Toni meet at their friends' wedding, where Dani has done the catering and Toni has provided the wines. They have a night of pleasure – one they both need with their respective recent romantic experiences. Dani was in a weird sexual relationship with her boss, while Toni was just divorced from his wife (and mother of his daughter). The morning after their encounter, Dani sneaks away, not wanting any awkwardness.
It's not until a year later, when Dani's career has blown up in her face (she catches the boss cheating, big surprise) and she takes a break with her mom in Milan, where she began her career has a chef. In a weird twist of fate, Dani shows up just when Toni needs her, both in the kitchen...and it seems in his bed. The two had such a strong connection, and not just physically. They made a great team professionally, and Dani was an instant good influence on Toni's daughter.
I enjoyed a number of things about this book. First, YES for Dani being curvy! She's a chef, and she enjoys her food. We even get a clothing size at the beginning: size 16! And Toni celebrates her curves, calling her beautiful and relating her to the women of Botticelli's paintings. I also loved Dani's drive and determination in her career. The descriptions of food were all drool-worthy, and I have a massive craving for pasta now.
But on the flipside, I didn't always feel the chemistry, though it was there on the page. I wanted to be able to sink into the feelings a bit more, but Dani and Toni rushed into the heat without enough build-up for me, especially at the end, when instead of sighing happily, I thought it was all rushed and driven by lust more than anything. Sometimes the plot also seemed to jump, seeming a little too convenient.
All in all, though, if you're looking for a celebration of food with some gorgeous, sensual heat, this is one for you!
June 28, 2018
Blake sets out to wet the palette with a flavorful blend spices. A Taste of Pleasure appeals to all the pieces that makes us human. An exotic location, a sizzling romance and a tasty canvas of heart that outshines the mouth watering foods that make up this bouffett of love. Danica set her sights on making her mark on the world. Her passion lies in the kitchen, yet her heart has her craving something more. Antonio comes with a bit of baggage, but he's all heart. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, because Danica and Antonio are the perfect recipe for love.
July 18, 2018
Originally posted at Red Hot Books on July 13, 2018
Danica (Dani) Nilsson loses her boyfriend and her job as a chef in one day. With her reputation in tatters, she leaves to visit her aging supermodel mother in Italy where she runs into her one night stand from over a year ago. Antoni (Toni) Lorenzetti, Dani’s fling, is also the nephew of her mentor, Chef Marcello. Both Dani and Toni are present when a tragedy occurs in Marcello’s kitchen and Dani steps up to save the whole evening service.
Toni wants Dani in his bed, but he’s not sure about having her in his kitchen. Begrudgingly, he asks Dani to help at his secluded farm to table restaurant in the countryside outside of Milan. Throw in a conniving ex-wife, a distraught teenage daughter, a meddling mother and the idyllic Italian scenery and the recipe for a tumultuous romance is set.
A Taste of Pleasure is, overall, an okay book. Chloe Blake does a wonderful job describing the beauty of Italy and the many amazing Italian dishes served throughout the book. Toni is a great multidimensional character that comes across as equally suave and at the end of his rope, as he’s pulled in many directions trying to do what’s best for his family and professional holdings. Sophie, Toni’s daughters, is also written well and is a character unto herself and not just a plot moppet put in to provide mayhem. My main problem with the book is Dani.
Dani is fat; she’s a size 16 and we learn this about her on the second page of the book. Dani’s is compared to her mother, an aging supermodel (think of Iman, at one point she even reminds Dani that she “slept with David Bowie”), Toni’s ex wife, a current model, and the size four restaurant hostess that her boyfriend, Andre, leaves her for. Dani is the other girl. You know. The girl who isn’t like the girls Toni has had before. Mostly, though, she’s just fat and her character arc revolves around how hard it is to find a dress, how hard it is to be around food and super skinny women, how people assume they know how healthy you are based on your weight and how hard it is to know whether a man truly likes you or if you’re just a convenient, one night walk on the wobbly-side.
I felt like I didn’t learn a whole lot about Dani aside from the fact that she’s fat and what little the author did disclose didn’t exactly endear me to Dani. Dani sleeps with Toni while she’s still with Andre; she makes rash decisions throughout the book that put a number of people in financial and professional jeopardy and she has a huge chip on her shoulder regarding her mother that is more related to her personal self-loathing than to her mother’s actual behavior.
As a fat (size 20) reader, I am sick to death of fat characters who spend the majority of the book bemoaning their size, pitted against skinny ex-wives and used to show men what “real women” are like. Being fat isn’t a character attribute, it’s a physical attribute. Why is it treated like a plot point?
A Taste of Pleasure was ok, but Dani’s character left a bad taste in my mouth.
Rating: C-
*ARC received from publisher for honest review.
Danica (Dani) Nilsson loses her boyfriend and her job as a chef in one day. With her reputation in tatters, she leaves to visit her aging supermodel mother in Italy where she runs into her one night stand from over a year ago. Antoni (Toni) Lorenzetti, Dani’s fling, is also the nephew of her mentor, Chef Marcello. Both Dani and Toni are present when a tragedy occurs in Marcello’s kitchen and Dani steps up to save the whole evening service.
Toni wants Dani in his bed, but he’s not sure about having her in his kitchen. Begrudgingly, he asks Dani to help at his secluded farm to table restaurant in the countryside outside of Milan. Throw in a conniving ex-wife, a distraught teenage daughter, a meddling mother and the idyllic Italian scenery and the recipe for a tumultuous romance is set.
A Taste of Pleasure is, overall, an okay book. Chloe Blake does a wonderful job describing the beauty of Italy and the many amazing Italian dishes served throughout the book. Toni is a great multidimensional character that comes across as equally suave and at the end of his rope, as he’s pulled in many directions trying to do what’s best for his family and professional holdings. Sophie, Toni’s daughters, is also written well and is a character unto herself and not just a plot moppet put in to provide mayhem. My main problem with the book is Dani.
Dani is fat; she’s a size 16 and we learn this about her on the second page of the book. Dani’s is compared to her mother, an aging supermodel (think of Iman, at one point she even reminds Dani that she “slept with David Bowie”), Toni’s ex wife, a current model, and the size four restaurant hostess that her boyfriend, Andre, leaves her for. Dani is the other girl. You know. The girl who isn’t like the girls Toni has had before. Mostly, though, she’s just fat and her character arc revolves around how hard it is to find a dress, how hard it is to be around food and super skinny women, how people assume they know how healthy you are based on your weight and how hard it is to know whether a man truly likes you or if you’re just a convenient, one night walk on the wobbly-side.
I felt like I didn’t learn a whole lot about Dani aside from the fact that she’s fat and what little the author did disclose didn’t exactly endear me to Dani. Dani sleeps with Toni while she’s still with Andre; she makes rash decisions throughout the book that put a number of people in financial and professional jeopardy and she has a huge chip on her shoulder regarding her mother that is more related to her personal self-loathing than to her mother’s actual behavior.
As a fat (size 20) reader, I am sick to death of fat characters who spend the majority of the book bemoaning their size, pitted against skinny ex-wives and used to show men what “real women” are like. Being fat isn’t a character attribute, it’s a physical attribute. Why is it treated like a plot point?
A Taste of Pleasure was ok, but Dani’s character left a bad taste in my mouth.
Rating: C-
*ARC received from publisher for honest review.
July 15, 2018
My second Kimani title and i really enjoyed it! Dani and Toni's chemistry was great from the start and never let up for a second. They were steamy together and i also liked their banter and teasing.
One of my niggles was them having a heated moment and no condom being used. They'd been consistently using one up til then and i get that in the heat of a moment stuff happens but neither even mentioned nor thought about it in any way after.
Danica was a great character for me. She has insecurities about being a ghost chef and her weight, especially growing up with a supermodel mom making comments about her eating. Althoughhhh others constantly tell her she's beautiful etc etc I was a bit put off by them trying to make her feel better but by saying: you're not fat, or you're just full figured. I didnt like the framing of that cuz it reads like well fat is bad. Dani refers to herself as fat more than once then we have Toni or her supermodel mom jump in with but you're not fat! Their trying to make her feel better shouldnt have hinged on comments like that.
Overall i did like the budding relationship between Dani and Toni. And Toni's mom was great! omg she has zerooo filter, tryna play matchmaker with her son and Dani. And all the food mentions left me wanting to eat everything Dani cooked.
One of my niggles was them having a heated moment and no condom being used. They'd been consistently using one up til then and i get that in the heat of a moment stuff happens but neither even mentioned nor thought about it in any way after.
Danica was a great character for me. She has insecurities about being a ghost chef and her weight, especially growing up with a supermodel mom making comments about her eating. Althoughhhh others constantly tell her she's beautiful etc etc I was a bit put off by them trying to make her feel better but by saying: you're not fat, or you're just full figured. I didnt like the framing of that cuz it reads like well fat is bad. Dani refers to herself as fat more than once then we have Toni or her supermodel mom jump in with but you're not fat! Their trying to make her feel better shouldnt have hinged on comments like that.
Overall i did like the budding relationship between Dani and Toni. And Toni's mom was great! omg she has zerooo filter, tryna play matchmaker with her son and Dani. And all the food mentions left me wanting to eat everything Dani cooked.
October 13, 2018
Sometimes, you need a deep book that changes the world and sometimes you need a book like this—romance with amazing food and wine. Judge me if you want but the world is crazy and my job is stressful and I enjoyed this break from reality!
July 4, 2018
A Taste of Pleasure is a truly enjoyable book. I received a copy via Barclay Publicity in exchange for an honest review. If you have been around long enough to see my reviews you will recall that I am an avid fan of books where the locale is anywhere in Italy. A Taste of Pleasure is mostly based in Milan, Italy which is a city I had a chance to spend several days last September. Danica is a chef or as she refers to herself a "ghost chef" where she is the magic behind the food where another chef is pretty much taking all the credit. She has a habit of choosing the wrong man. She is a gifted chef whose kitchen staff and friends seem to love, but, she has a strange relationship with both of her parents which actually gives more color to the story. Danica is Black and I loved how the story was not focused on this but, on her as a person and the things she thought about herself.
Tonio is a tall, gorgeous, successful Italian man whom Danica meets at her friend's wedding in Brazil. Of course this lets me know that I am behind in the serious and I plan to seek out the book that I missed. It is hard not to love Tonio. He is very charismatic and divorced. He is not looking for a relationship but, he is taking full advantage of being single and enjoying it.
The story takes a turn to Milan and it is quite plausible and gives the reader a better chance to get to know Danica's mother Francesca. She is something else but, when it comes down to it she was a likeable person and she shows Danica and the reader a different side. It was a sweet romance with a wonderful location and great characterization. Review can also be seen at Lady Techie's Book Musings http://LadyTechiesbookmusings.blogspo....
Tonio is a tall, gorgeous, successful Italian man whom Danica meets at her friend's wedding in Brazil. Of course this lets me know that I am behind in the serious and I plan to seek out the book that I missed. It is hard not to love Tonio. He is very charismatic and divorced. He is not looking for a relationship but, he is taking full advantage of being single and enjoying it.
The story takes a turn to Milan and it is quite plausible and gives the reader a better chance to get to know Danica's mother Francesca. She is something else but, when it comes down to it she was a likeable person and she shows Danica and the reader a different side. It was a sweet romance with a wonderful location and great characterization. Review can also be seen at Lady Techie's Book Musings http://LadyTechiesbookmusings.blogspo....
July 10, 2021
This is like a Harlequin Presents novel, but with nuance and depth rather than Added Drama. Our heroine is a chef; our hero is an Italian winemaker. They hook up at the wedding of mutual friends and meet again later when our heroine is at a career crossroads. She ends up - of course! - cooking for his family's new restaurant, where the entire family reputation is on the line, damn it. He wants to renew their tryst; his supermodel ex-wife wants to get back together; there's a troubled teenager on the loose and she may be sexting, oh no! But it's the details that shine here - the food descriptions, the casual and confident references to wines and designer clothing, and moreover the characters themselves: not just Dani, who is plus-sized and an entirely realistic mixture of confident (she knows her boobs are amazing, thanks) and resigned (her mother casually tells people that "Dani doesn't eat after ten" and tries to get her to diet), but Toni's troubled daughter Sophia, who's struggling with relationships and her feelings about her parents' divorce, and even Dani's mother, who in less-skilled hands would be a complete Mommy Dearest. Instead she's both awful and wonderful, a woman who never let anything derail her from her career while saying calmly that her ten-year-old lost in Paris was "having an adventure" and she couldn't afford worry lines anyway, so what's the fuss? She criticizes Dani but will take down anyone else who dares to do the same. It's a complex and loving relationship from the get-go and it's sketched out in economic but recognizable lines. Toni is funny and utterly committed to pursuing Dani from pretty early on, which is my favorite type of HP hero.
July 12, 2018
First of the cover. OMG! Gorgeous! The plot is actually what drew me in, because well, restaurants, especially classy ones, where I could never afford to eat, fascinate me. However once I started reading the book, the cover kind of irked me, because Dani is a full figured girl, which is drummed into the readers head at every turn.
Dani is a career focused chef and Toni is a single dad restaurateur and also Dani's boss, kinda sorta. The setting is Italy. Really can things get any better? Well Dani has trouble with men. Her last guy was a chef/restaurant owner, who used her creativity in the kitchen to make himself look good. When things went south, Dani was the one that looked bad.
I like the relationship dynamic as well as Toni's family situation. He has a really skanky ex-wife who is trying to get him back. Then there's his daughter who seems to be connecting really well with Dani.
Dani is trying to make a name for herself, but things keep happening to her. Not to mention she has her famous model mother to deal with. Her mom slept with Bowie back in the day! Her mom is definitely a piece of work. You are never sure if you like her or hate her.
I loved the whole foodie vibe of this book, and Dani's angst. Toni was the perfect mix of nice guy and alpha male, being an overprotective dad, businessman and lover.
Dani, however is the absolute star of this book. I give props to the author for creating a full figured character that gets the hot guy without transforming herself into a size 2. She's full of angst and insecurities. I absolutely adored her.
This was a great romance!
Dani is a career focused chef and Toni is a single dad restaurateur and also Dani's boss, kinda sorta. The setting is Italy. Really can things get any better? Well Dani has trouble with men. Her last guy was a chef/restaurant owner, who used her creativity in the kitchen to make himself look good. When things went south, Dani was the one that looked bad.
I like the relationship dynamic as well as Toni's family situation. He has a really skanky ex-wife who is trying to get him back. Then there's his daughter who seems to be connecting really well with Dani.
Dani is trying to make a name for herself, but things keep happening to her. Not to mention she has her famous model mother to deal with. Her mom slept with Bowie back in the day! Her mom is definitely a piece of work. You are never sure if you like her or hate her.
I loved the whole foodie vibe of this book, and Dani's angst. Toni was the perfect mix of nice guy and alpha male, being an overprotective dad, businessman and lover.
Dani, however is the absolute star of this book. I give props to the author for creating a full figured character that gets the hot guy without transforming herself into a size 2. She's full of angst and insecurities. I absolutely adored her.
This was a great romance!
May 20, 2019
Great combo of food, sass and heat
3.5 stars
Dani is a chef. She loves all things food related. So what that she’s plus sized. Her food speaks for itself and she’s (usually) very proud of her body. However, while she is the brains behind a successful restaurant, her ‘boyfriend’ is the face and he’s taking credit for all of her hard work. When she’s finally had enough, she quits and travels with her model mom to Italy to get away. However, she never expects to come face to face with her one night stand. But what a night!
Toni is heavily involved in the family business of wine and restaurants. He loves his job and his family, especially his daughter. What he’s not interested in is a relationship. His last one flashed and burned and while he’s all in for sex, he’s not ready for anything more. That is until he meets Dani again. Their one night was not enough. And, the more he thinks about her, the more he’s convinced that she could be the missing link to his enjoying life again.
Dani is not interested in being in the background bad is leery to even consider dating Toni. But when circumstances change and she’s desperately needed to help Toni’s family newest restaurant, she’s slowly regaining her confidence in the kitchen and realizing that all men aren’t selfish jerks with agendas.
How they navigate the uncertainty was well written and I appreciated that their conversations were grown up. And the sex scenes are hot! I’m now going back to read book 1 in the series.
3.5 stars
Dani is a chef. She loves all things food related. So what that she’s plus sized. Her food speaks for itself and she’s (usually) very proud of her body. However, while she is the brains behind a successful restaurant, her ‘boyfriend’ is the face and he’s taking credit for all of her hard work. When she’s finally had enough, she quits and travels with her model mom to Italy to get away. However, she never expects to come face to face with her one night stand. But what a night!
Toni is heavily involved in the family business of wine and restaurants. He loves his job and his family, especially his daughter. What he’s not interested in is a relationship. His last one flashed and burned and while he’s all in for sex, he’s not ready for anything more. That is until he meets Dani again. Their one night was not enough. And, the more he thinks about her, the more he’s convinced that she could be the missing link to his enjoying life again.
Dani is not interested in being in the background bad is leery to even consider dating Toni. But when circumstances change and she’s desperately needed to help Toni’s family newest restaurant, she’s slowly regaining her confidence in the kitchen and realizing that all men aren’t selfish jerks with agendas.
How they navigate the uncertainty was well written and I appreciated that their conversations were grown up. And the sex scenes are hot! I’m now going back to read book 1 in the series.
July 5, 2018
A Taste of Pleasure was a sweet & romantic story that I really enjoyed. I found Chloe Blake's talented writing style easy to become immersed in, and it held my attention as I read it in one sitting. Dani wants nothing more than to create amazing food, but she's been busting her behind to become the Ghost Chef, and it's really starting to wear on her. When she finally has enough, she's given a new opportunity to branch out, but Antonio, aka Toni, comes with that. See, they had a hot hook up, and then didn't see each other for over a year, until this new offer. Dani wants to keep it as friends, but Toni wants more, but has his own set of complicated baggage. One thing that I really loved was that Dani was a full figured woman, and although she had some issues with it, Toni never did, and couldn't keep his hands to himself. Their chemistry came flying out of my kindle, especially when they were tasting food, or talking wine, and neither could hold out. There was a cast of secondaries that added to the story in different ways, most of them adding more depth & humor, but some of course adding more angst filled drama. There were a couple of twists that took me by surprise, which brought it all home. However, in my opinion, the ending seemed just a bit rushed. Anyway, this is a story that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
August 24, 2018
This was a cute little contemporary romance read with bonus wine and food descriptions that, frankly, impacted me more than the love scenes between restauranteur Toni and chef Dani.
Toni has a vindictive ex and a daughter. Full-figured Dani has a rocky relationship with her supermodel mother. She also has been the real force behind a restaurant in New York with two Michelin stars. When her partner cheats on her with a hostess...Dani leaves and decides to visit her old chef boss in Milan.
I really liked all the issues Dani had to figure out with her mom, and I also liked that Dani was perceiving all these restaurant chances through the lens of her working hard and not getting the credit, that felt believable. I wasn't so enamored of the way Toni kept going after his ex whilst professing love for Dani, that was weird. And I also am not a fan on insta-love, which this felt like during the love scenes, I would have loved to spend more time on their relationship working together (and of course, any meals they ate together).
Just a little thing, but it was weird to me that the Japanese sous chef was described as having the name Dao (with no explanation, say, like "vietnamese due who grew up in Japan").
So, slightly uneven, but fun. Just wish there was more relationshipping between Toni and Dani addressing their hot buttons of his ex and her mother.
Toni has a vindictive ex and a daughter. Full-figured Dani has a rocky relationship with her supermodel mother. She also has been the real force behind a restaurant in New York with two Michelin stars. When her partner cheats on her with a hostess...Dani leaves and decides to visit her old chef boss in Milan.
I really liked all the issues Dani had to figure out with her mom, and I also liked that Dani was perceiving all these restaurant chances through the lens of her working hard and not getting the credit, that felt believable. I wasn't so enamored of the way Toni kept going after his ex whilst professing love for Dani, that was weird. And I also am not a fan on insta-love, which this felt like during the love scenes, I would have loved to spend more time on their relationship working together (and of course, any meals they ate together).
Just a little thing, but it was weird to me that the Japanese sous chef was described as having the name Dao (with no explanation, say, like "vietnamese due who grew up in Japan").
So, slightly uneven, but fun. Just wish there was more relationshipping between Toni and Dani addressing their hot buttons of his ex and her mother.
April 29, 2019
I did like this book. Toni and Dani have a random one night encounter, each keeps thinking about the other, and then circumstances bring them into each other's orbit again and they are unable to deny the attraction.
I like the relationship that grew between Dani and Toni's daughter. It would have been nice to have more background information or details on Dani's time with Marchello and their relationship, but the story was short. As with most of the books the interest is built mostly on the physical. I also could not get past how outraged Dani was about her lover cheating, when essential (even though it may have only happened once) she cheated on him with Toni and in her mind thinking about Toni.
I think it was realistic to deal with her insecurities about her weight, but I do believe it was woven into the story too much. Not everyone who is not the "perfect" size has insecurities about it, even if their mother is a model. Not enough about her mother daughter relationship either.
I think the intimate scenes were well written, but I agree that the cover did not match the descriptions, but that has been with most of the books I've read in the past several years. They are really putting some unattractive men on the covers, but then describing them in a different way...
I like the relationship that grew between Dani and Toni's daughter. It would have been nice to have more background information or details on Dani's time with Marchello and their relationship, but the story was short. As with most of the books the interest is built mostly on the physical. I also could not get past how outraged Dani was about her lover cheating, when essential (even though it may have only happened once) she cheated on him with Toni and in her mind thinking about Toni.
I think it was realistic to deal with her insecurities about her weight, but I do believe it was woven into the story too much. Not everyone who is not the "perfect" size has insecurities about it, even if their mother is a model. Not enough about her mother daughter relationship either.
I think the intimate scenes were well written, but I agree that the cover did not match the descriptions, but that has been with most of the books I've read in the past several years. They are really putting some unattractive men on the covers, but then describing them in a different way...
September 7, 2018
I really liked some things about this. I liked Toni as a character, I liked the way they butted heads over their respective specialties and how knowledgeable they were in their specialties. I loved the tension in Danica's relationship with her mother and the reasons for it (which weren't the same as what she thought). I enjoyed Danica's growth and success on her own terms.
However, there were also some disappointing things. I wanted more of the food and the wine! I wanted to know more about the fantastic things they were eating! I also kept tripping over minor grammatical flubs in narration that could easily have been smoothed out to make for a better reading experience. I also felt like the conflict between Dani and Toni was a little too forced and subsequently too easily resolved (plus, Ava was terrible and I did not like her.)
However, there were also some disappointing things. I wanted more of the food and the wine! I wanted to know more about the fantastic things they were eating! I also kept tripping over minor grammatical flubs in narration that could easily have been smoothed out to make for a better reading experience. I also felt like the conflict between Dani and Toni was a little too forced and subsequently too easily resolved (plus, Ava was terrible and I did not like her.)
October 9, 2018
This book is full of emotion. The heroine is a chef who has spent too much of her career working for someone else - building up his reputation without any credit. Her mother is a model who initially appears to be embarrassed by her non-model thin daughter (and when the reason is revealed, it'll make you cry).
The hero starts out as just another romance hero - owns his own business, slightly alpha-hole, etc - but quickly transforms into a divorced single dad with a heart of gold (at least where his daughter is concerned). He does a whole bunch of things in the book that made me want to shake him because he doesn't see the impact of his actions. He's trying too hard to be there for too many people, even his difficult ex.
The research around chef life is incredible, the food and flavours are evocative. Gorgeous.
The hero starts out as just another romance hero - owns his own business, slightly alpha-hole, etc - but quickly transforms into a divorced single dad with a heart of gold (at least where his daughter is concerned). He does a whole bunch of things in the book that made me want to shake him because he doesn't see the impact of his actions. He's trying too hard to be there for too many people, even his difficult ex.
The research around chef life is incredible, the food and flavours are evocative. Gorgeous.
July 2, 2018
I enjoyed this book, with the talk of wine and meal pairings and just the overall romantic, country feel. The author touched on issues of body shaming, and I was glad that the heroine could hold her own and defend herself. I liked the fact that Antonio never made Danica think that her size was an obstacle to their relationship. I liked their inside jokes on icing and champagne.
I recommend this book.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book.
I recommend this book.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book.
December 21, 2018
Top 5 of the romances I've read this year.
I adored the MCs, I loved the back and forth in their relationship, the food aspects and the work/employment dynamics that were never toxic, but always steamy and delicious.
The side characters were lovely, the writing wonderful and the story itself *perfect* for me. Highly recommended for basically everyone who loves romance with family feels, good food and steamy tension at the most inconvenient of times
I adored the MCs, I loved the back and forth in their relationship, the food aspects and the work/employment dynamics that were never toxic, but always steamy and delicious.
The side characters were lovely, the writing wonderful and the story itself *perfect* for me. Highly recommended for basically everyone who loves romance with family feels, good food and steamy tension at the most inconvenient of times
February 14, 2019
Very Fragile. I love how Dani was under sure about her self under she met toni. Toni was a one stand she was inspected to run into him again. So her mother ask her to Go with her. Never in her wild dream she would see him again. Toni never knew that Dani knew his uncle and her love her like his daughter. I love how this stories evolve into. Can't wait to see if they have up date on this family. 😍
September 1, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It takes place in Italy and features a chef who a journey to find her way back to herself…with a heavy dose of love on the side. I devoured this story, which felt like a vacation tucked inside a book. It was the perfect balance between real-life issues and escapist fantasy. Be warned though, reading this book makes you want to cook and eat fabulous food, drink wine, and make love in the kitchen.
August 5, 2019
Italy is the perfect place for new career beginnings—at least that’s what (chef) Danica Nillson hopes. But one look at sexy single dad Antonio Dante Lorenzetti, and her plan to keep romance out of her kitchen goes up in flames. The millionaire (restaurateur) wants stability. Not unbridled passion that makes him lose his senses. Is this beautiful, talented and headstrong chef the one he’s been waiting for? His ex-wife Ava decides she wants him back and his daughter Sophia is torn.
June 23, 2018
Dania and Antonio are funny especially when they try to ignore the passion between them. She's a chef looking for a new beginning. Antonio & family own restsurants; he is divorced and has a daughter. His ex-wife is a piece of work.
July 12, 2018
A Taste of Pleasure was divine. The heroine reminded me of myself when I was growing up. If you are going to read this tasty treat please have your wine and tissues close by, because it has the right amount of everything to have your emotions doing a ladder climb.
October 20, 2018
I really liked the plot and the characters, but this felt like it could have used one more pass by a copy editor. There were a few scenes that got confusing because of who was talking when, plus: SO many typos and misspellings!
December 11, 2018
A Smart Bitches Rec You've Got to Read
Food! Chefs! Sex! Rivalries! Milan! This book has it all. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and fell totally in love with Dani and Toni. It was definitely worth the price of admission. Pick it up, now!
Food! Chefs! Sex! Rivalries! Milan! This book has it all. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and fell totally in love with Dani and Toni. It was definitely worth the price of admission. Pick it up, now!
September 23, 2019
Loved it!!!!
I definitely enjoyed reading this book. The story was very well rounded - the characters were awesome. I only wished there was a little more from the characters in the previous book.
I definitely enjoyed reading this book. The story was very well rounded - the characters were awesome. I only wished there was a little more from the characters in the previous book.
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