Breakfast in Bed

Innkeepers #2

by Rochelle Alers, Susan Spain (Narrator)

Bestselling author Rochelle Alers welcomes readers back to romantic New Orleans in her warm and sexy series about four very different women embarking on a new adventure . . .
Sometimes you go in search of a new beginning. Other times, it finds you. Tonya Martin enjoys her job as a professional chef for a Wall Street bank, her East Harlem walk-up, and the freedom to live and love by her own rules right up until the day she finds herself suddenly downsized. But a spontaneous trip to New Orleans opens up a new opportunity. With time on her hands and her daughter soon graduating college, Tonya has the chance to reach for her own long-cherished dream opening a restaurant on her friend Hannah s beautiful Garden District estate.
While Hannah and her new husband work on transforming the DuPont House into a luxury inn, Tonya explores local cuisine, taking an apprentice role at famed restaurant Chez Toussaints. Gage Toussaint s mix of Creole, Cajun, and African ancestry is deeply attractive, and the sexy chef clearly wants their friendship to become much more. Drawn to him yet hesitant given their previous unhappy marriages, Tonya wonders if it s too late to leap into love again. Could Gage be just the ingredient she needs to make this delicious new life complete?"

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Chick Lit

Audible Audio

First published August 29, 2017

About the author

Rochelle Alers was born in Manhattan, New York, USA, where she raised. She obtained degrees in Sociology and Psychology, before started to work. She is a member of the Iota Theta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling. She has traveled to countries in North, Central and South America, and Europe. She is also in accomplished in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint.

Published since 1988, today a full-time writer, has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today's most prolific and popular African-American authors of romance and women's fiction. With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, she is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award. She also wrote as Susan James and Rena McLeary.

Rochelle Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.

Reviews

[Jite · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this even though I felt like it was a little abrupt in the conclusion. This story features Tonya, an experienced 50-year old chef and best friend to Hannah from Book 1 in The Innkeepers series, who moves to New Orleans to start a restaurant. There, she meets 46-year-old Gage, who’s a broody musician cum chef cum music teacher and there are sparks. But they both have a million reasons to be mistrustful of love and relationships.

For me, I thought this was a very even-keeled book. Like a lot of this author’s work, it’s neither extremely page turning nor boring. I felt entertained by this and it was a great, undemanding book for getting ready and unready and listening right before bed. I enjoyed this even though Tonya had some inconsistencies in her character and Gage sometimes was borderline problematic in terms of his relationship with his admittedly toxic ex-wife. I’m looking forward to the rest of this series.

[Gaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

AudioBook Review
Stars: Overall 4 Narration 3 Story 4

The opportunity to dive into a story that featured both a city I adore {New Orleans} and an older, more-seasoned and experienced couple were bit draws for this title. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the redefined / reconnected friendships here as well, with a cast of characters that have seen life, found happiness and disappointment, and are ready for new starts. Tonya loved her New York life: she remade herself after her divorce, and working as a private chef, her daughter near graduation, and in control of her own space is almost everything she dreamed of. Until things went sour –and left her at loose ends without a job or intriguing prospects: she doesn’t have the resources to start her own ‘dream’ – a restaurant, and she’s not all that interested in placing herself in a situation where her livelihood depends on anyone else’s choice. With her friend Hannah’s new life in the Garden District of New Orleans, why not chase her dream of a restaurant with the Inn – one that she could manage and run, with plenty of determination and elbow grease?

Gage Toussaint has a hot restaurant in the city, Chez Toussaints, where a mix of Cajun, Creole and African tastes spice up the menu in ways that seem only plausible in New Orleans. Affected by his own disastrous end to a marriage, Gage spends his energies on the food he loves to create and the music that permeates every street of the city. He’s Hannah’s cousin-in-law, and happy to make the introduction when Tonya arrives in the city – anxious to explore the city, its cuisine and influences, and get a sense of what direction she wants her restaurant to take. Offering friendship and an apprenticeship at the restaurant, Gage becomes a ‘guide’ to Tonya’s immersion in the city: this isn’t an insta-romance, but the seeds are planted, waiting for them to feel safe together. It makes the other moments of their story grab relevance and start mouths watering as food, scents, sights and sounds of the city are woven together in a tapestry that present a picture of the city that is easy to visualize and want to dive into.

A few moments where phrases were too-often used to describe food – not everything needs be Cajun or Creole in New Orleans, and I hoped for more of a ‘feel’ of New Orleans in the narration, but the story, while with tiny hiccups, was engaging and a perfect escape read –full of the heart and hope that is so necessary in stories that are giving the characters a second chance: at life, at love and to reach for their dreams. Narration for this book was provided by Susan Spain, and while her presentation was clear, characters were presented with appropriate emotional weight to their personalities, and there were no great pauses or missteps to take the listener out of the moment, I wanted a bit more. More depth and distinction for Gage’s voice, accent that felt New Orleans and not ‘standard American’ and as an added bonus the sense of the diversity in the cast to appear, in small ways to distinguish the characters with the flavor of the Cajun and Creole roots contained within.

I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Recorded Books for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven’t read a book by Ms. Alers in such a long time. It is so refreshing to come back to something so familiar and comforting. I forgot that Ms. Alers has such a descriptive way of story teller that lures you into the world she created on the pages.

Tanya Martin vows to never allow someone to lay her off in her career again. When the opportunity to move from New York to New Orleans to run her own restaurant, she jumps on it. She is grateful to her friend, Hannah, for affording her this monumental opportunity. Her good friends, Jasmine and Nydia are in tow for Hannah’s wedding.

Her first few days there, she meets Gage Toussaint, another chef and part-time musician. He is attractive and alluring but Tanya been down the path of matrimony before and she is not willing to step out in the romantic department just yet. She is in New Orleans for one reason only and no matter how tempted she is, she will not be distracted.

I liked the fact that both characters are older. I try to seek a few romances with more mature characters every once in a while so this is definitely a treat. Gage experienced a lot of pain due to his ex- wife. As I read his journey, I felt myself feeling sorry for him. The marriage affected him in such a negative way and his son. Tanya is also deeply affected by her past marriage and she barely escaped him. She basically raised her daughter as a single mother.

The relationship moved very slowly as Gage and Tonya forged a friendship first. They shared a love of cooking and music. If you like food like myself, then the dishes described will have your mouth watering. Side note: the author provides the recipes for the dishes at the end of the book. Eventually, Gage turns up the heat in both the kitchen and the bedroom. I came to appreciate their relationship more.

While I didn’t read the first book in the series, I was not lost one bit. I look forward to going back to reading Hannah’s story. I really want to read the next two books in the series. Are the ladies ready to leave New York and join the rest of the girls in the Big Easy?

*ARC provided to me in exchange for an honest review* More like 3.5 stars.

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Alers doesn't disappoint! I enjoyed Gage and Tonya's story. I really liked how things developed for them slowly. Usually in romance books things progress within days. The cooking and fabulous dishes are truly a delight. I'm hungry and want to get on a plane to The Big Easy. It was sad to learn about Gage's son and his awful ex-wife. Tonya hasn't had it easy either with the loss of her brother and horrible ex-husband. They both have scars. Most wonderful and a bonus are the recipes at the end of the book!

I can't wait for the next Innkeeper's book. It will be Jasmine's story. I hope she has decided to come on down and join the team.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read, rate and review this book.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breakfast in Bed (Innkeepers) by Rochelle Alers  
The attraction is as spicy as the backdrop in Rochelle Alers', Breakfast in Bed. Love and fresh starts don't have an age limit. The romance is more mature but still as electric as ever.  New Orleans is a hodgepodge of cultures, suspense and delicious cuisine.  Why not make it the capital of romance as well?  
 

[Jennifer Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read!!

[Tonya G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh...I had a hard time getting into this book and following the characters. I may need to go back and listen to it again.

[Ionia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely, descriptive book. I really enjoyed reading this. The way the author uses words is fantastic. She paints pictures in your mind that make you want to visit her bed and breakfast, eat the food she lovingly describes and visit the areas she has written about.

The characters in this book felt like real people and I enjoyed getting to know them. I could relate to some of the struggles they faced and wanted what was best for them right from the beginning of the book. I loved that there were multiple story lines going on but that the author never let it get too confusing for the reader.

Rochelle Alers is very good at creating tension among her characters and making you want to keep turning the pages to see how things work out in the end. I wasn't disappointed with how things went in this novel and I am really looking forward to another book.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Michelle Lindo-Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Innkeeper's Series did not disappoint. I enjoyed reading Tanya and Gage's romance. I love the visual descriptions and the whole New Orlean's vibe come to life. Ms. Alers is masterful with descriptions! When you have food and romance together, you can't go wrong! I can't wait for the third book in the series.

[Marty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up thinking it was a cozy mystery. Nope! – A straight romance. --- Not usually my kind of book….. but it wasn’t a bad read. Quick, predictable, likeable characters. Tonya, had a good job as an executive chef. She worked at a company In New York City where several of her long-time friends also worked. One morning – without warning – many of the work force was called together to be told that the company had been sold and they were as of right then, without a job! …. Luckily, the hefty compensation bonus each person received helped ease the shock… but now what? Tonya was 50 years old, had a daughter finishing up college, and had gone through a painful divorce from a cheating husband. She decided to move to New Orleans where another friend was opening an Inn with a small restaurant on the premises. She asked Tonya to become a part owner. Tonya had always wanted to open her own small “boutique” restaurant so this was a dream come true. While the place was being remodeled, she began working at a family restaurant to learn how to fix some of the local dishes. --- Of course, the family includes a 46 year old handsome chef who also teaches music at the high school and plays in a jazz band…………………… enough said

[Kiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breakfast in Bed, part of the Innkeepers series, is all that and a bowl of red beans and rice. Ms. Alers did not disappoint with this book; I’ve yet to read a book of hers that does. The book was so descriptive; I could taste the food being cooked, and smell the baking bread. I think having recipes at the end of the book was genius, and I was overjoyed to find a salt-free creole seafood seasoning. Due to a seafood allergy, I tried the seasoning on fish instead, and it was fantastic. It describes New Orleans in such a way, although I’ve never been there, I can picture myself in all the scenes, taking in the sights through the characters’ eyes.
I loved the Innkeeper stories, with the romance and suspense. It was the perfect blend of sass, spice, sexy, and all things romantic. What I loved the best is that it shows there is love after 50, and it can be everything you hope for it to be. Kudos, Ms. Alers, I look forward to the next book in the series!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delicious food & a sweet love story.

I liked this second book in the series even more than the first. In part because I love Gage--he's smooth and sexy. A musician and a chef, does it even get better? I also loved Tonya. She is straight talking and loaded with competence. One of the attractive things about Gage is that he loves her competence and independence. It was great to read a novel about an older (50s!) woman (Gage is 46) who is confident, sexy and unworried. We don't spend pages agonising whether the hero will think she's adequate. Tonya knows who she is and she likes herself. With two chefs It was fun again to read about New Orleans, and to grow comfortable with the setting in a way we weren't in the first book. As Tonya settles in so does the reader. It was also fun to see the couple from the first book happy and relaxed. I can't wait till the third book in this delightful book. If it has the same ingredients as the first two it will be as success.

[Susannah Carleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book with older (46 and 50) characters who are attracted to one another but start off on the wrong foot. Both are talented chefs; he’s also an extremely talented musician who can play every orchestral instrument except the harp. She’s working for his family’s restaurant, waiting for the one she’ll be running to open. He works at the restaurant, helps his brother with the catering, plays on the weekends with a jazz band, and also teaches jazz band at the high school.

He’s the younger of the two of them, which she initially finds disconcerting. Both have a bad marriage behind them. Both have a child, although his child (legally—his name is on the birth certificate) is not biologically his; his ex-wife was pregnant when they started seeing one another, although at the time, she claimed the child was his.

Neither wants to discuss the past, although they do as their friendship deepens into something more. But will they both be able to love and trust again?

[Cat Jenkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. I picked it up because the blurb mentioned New Orleans, a place that speaks to my soul. But this was a straight up romance with a plot visible from miles away which could have taken place anywhere. Excruciating detail about cooking ingredients was the most Big Easy-ish thing about it simply because Creole and Cajun were mentioned so frequently.

The only thing that made it a less than pleasant read...enough for me to abandon it...was the writer's efforts to cram as much background and information as possible into dialogue, rendering verbal exchanges awkward and stilted. Aside from the tortured style of conversation, poor editing was also a factor in my desertion. Too often I ran across things like "it had probably had taken him years."

This would be a good light, fluffy beach read, but just not for me.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd book in series. This is Tonya's story. She has moved down to New Orleans to join Hannah in her Inn adventure. Hannah and St. John have just gotten married, and Tonya meets Gage, St. John's cousin at the wedding. He is also a top chef and a part time musician, he also teaches jazz to students in high school. Tonya has been divorced for many years and is now very independent Her ex was a controlling man and wouldn't let her live her life and career as she wanted. She left with her daughter and became the chef she always wanted to be. Gage is also divorced from his ex because she couldn't faithful in their marriage and lied about Gage being the father of her baby when she was pregnant. When Tonya and Gage get to know each other they find that they are made for each other.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this as a giveaway win, and I'm so happy I did. It is a 3.5 but I rounded down because it seemed to take too long for me to get into the story .. and I'm disappointed more wasn't about the renovation of the inn and Tonya's cafe and supper club. I'm especially happy to own the book because it has recipes in the back, beginning with be Beignets, and then some Creole and Cajun recipes. I'm definitely going to try them! I hadn't read the first book in the series, but that didn't seem to impact my understanding of the characters. A sweet romance, with some steamy parts I was able to skim (I'm not fond of too many bedroom details).

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tonya Martin agrees to move from New York to New Orleans to open her
own restaurant with her friend Hannah DuPont after they turn the DuPont
house into an inn. Tonya is a wonderful chef and works with the Toussaints
In their restaurant so she can learn about special dishes for her new
restaurant.. This is a delightful romantic story set in New Orleans with
characters that are confident and strong and adds insight to places in
lovely historic New Orleans. It is also telling of friends starting over and
Overcoming past bad experiences with second chances in their future.
Enjoy this light fast read.

[Linda Epps - Dillon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the library to start reading Rochelle Alers again after so many years. What a wonderful story of two people finding love again after disastrous marriages. It was refreshing experiencing Gage and Tonya fall in love through their mutual love of cooking. I enjoyed reading their romance. New Orlean is my favorite city to visit and the vibe of the city and its culture come to life with this book. Ms. Alers is masterful with descriptions! When you have food and romance together, you can't go wrong! I did not realize this was book two in the series, so I will backtrack and read book before moving forward with books 3 and 4.

[Andrena G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't Read This Book When You're Hungry 😅

"Breakfast in Bed" is Rochelle Alers's second installment in her "Innkeepers" series, and focuses on the blooming love story of Tonya and Gage who start off having only their love of cooking in common. This common interest blooms into something greater as they begin exchanging their deepest secrets with one another while they both embark on new chapters in their lives. Sure to intrigue the Fifty-something readership, "Breakfast in Bed" is a tantalizing and mouth-watering treat for all ages.

[Tammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second book of the Innkeeper series.

The second book definitely captured me earlier on than the first one and again...I liked the characters and really enjoyed the author's take on New Orleans culture. The characters in this one were a smidge younger than the first couple and I loved their chemistry.

I find that this author loves to slowly build but when she gets you where she wants you....she rushes to the finish line and that would be my only complaint throughout the series. It doesn't have to drag...but the final touches could be a bit more detailed.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute older-adult romance by Rochelle Alers. Tonya Martin is good friends with Hannah Dupont from book one (The Inheritance). She decides to moves to New Orleans to help Hannah start an inn and supper club, and falls in love with Hannah‘s husband‘s cousin Gage Toussaint. They both are chefs and they both have past fraught marriages that they have to sort through to make their relationship work. Of course it works out. The ending is kind of abrupt, but not bad. A quick and fun beach read with steamy sex scenes.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful continuation of The Innkeepers series. This story focuses on Tonya and Gage, two chefs who share a love of cooking and music, both with scars from earlier marriages. Together they build a friendship, falling towards love but both with their fears of where that might lead. Rochelle Alers has a beautiful way with her descriptions, and her details of the various foods make me ready to head to New Orleans!

[Brenda Larnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in NOLA with the continuing story of four women who come together when they each find themselves out of a job. They band together and a bond in formed that will forever change their lives. I enjoyed the story of Tonya Martin and her new beginning with Gage Toussaint. These two mature adults are good together. Love, Love love the recipes. Rochelle Alers has such an easy style of writing that fits the New Orleans setting. I recommend this book and the series.

[Hazel Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved It second chances

I so love this series, my husband and I went to New Orleans for our honeymoon and we feel in love with the city. Wonderful story of two failed marriages, both Gage and Tonya had said they would never marry again. But when you meet that one person that lights up your life, make you laugh, feel your pain when you are hurting and help you heal you know that that is the one for you. My husband is my second chance and so much more.

[Natalie Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the premise of the series, four co-workers getting laid off, becoming friends and they each have a story. The first book told Hannah and St. John's story. I enjoyed it.
in this book, book 2, Tonya and Gage's story was okay. I got my happily ever after, but it moved too slowly for my taste. There were sooo many details about food that I found myself drifting away from the story. And even though I got my happily ever after, the ending felt rushed.
I'll see what book 3 brings.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is first time reading one of this authors books. It grabbed me from the first chapter and couldn't wait to finish. I have to say it's one of the best books I've read lately and will be looking forward to reading more. The characters were just so real and it made me want to cook again. Loved the recipes in the back too!

[Marilyn Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite heroine is Hannah, loved her story line with finding a loved lost love at a class reunion. Then to watch them fall in love was awesome. This story line of Tonya relocating from NY to New Orleans and having a opportunity of a life time to become chef for his friend Hannah is so great. Loved this book. Can't wait to read the follow up novels

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much of a story ..... lots of dialogue, same thing over and over ...... the question 'why would you ask' is a couple times in every chapter, and I'm thinking 'to fill up the pages --- mostly about cooking New Orleans style and the recipes are all at the end of the book.
This is the 2nd in the series and I'm not looking forward to the 3rd that's for sure.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow start, great ending.

Really difficult to get into at the start. Overly detailed conversations at the beginning of the book. Midway through the rising action began to a quick falling action with much to be desired. I would have preferred the wordiness of the beginning at the end.

[Josephine A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beignets and Jazz

This is the second book in the Innkeepers series. It’s the story of Tonya and Gage. I loved the parts of this story that dealt with Tonya being a chef and her ambitions. However, the story just seemed to fall apart at the end as it related to her relationship with Gage. The story ended much too precipitously to me.


Josephine