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Journey to the Heart #1
North to You
In this warmhearted and charming debut from Tif Marcelo, a food truck chef and her long-lost army love clash when they cross paths in San Francisco.
Camille Marino has got a full plate. As the sole guardian of her eighteen-year-old sister and the head chef and owner of a food truck, she's used to life being a juggling act. With food to cook, social media accounts to manage, and a little sister to look after, she doesn't have time for much else.
That is, until Drew Bautista walks back into her life.
Drew is Camille's former high school crush, and he returns to San Francisco to repair his relationship with his father before he ships out for deployment. By helping his father renovate his failing Filipino restaurant, he hopes to win back his respect. But when sparks fly between Drew and Camille--his father's major competition and sworn enemy--Drew is conflicted. Should he join his father in the war against her food truck? Or surrender to the woman who's given him a second chance at love?
Camille Marino has got a full plate. As the sole guardian of her eighteen-year-old sister and the head chef and owner of a food truck, she's used to life being a juggling act. With food to cook, social media accounts to manage, and a little sister to look after, she doesn't have time for much else.
That is, until Drew Bautista walks back into her life.
Drew is Camille's former high school crush, and he returns to San Francisco to repair his relationship with his father before he ships out for deployment. By helping his father renovate his failing Filipino restaurant, he hopes to win back his respect. But when sparks fly between Drew and Camille--his father's major competition and sworn enemy--Drew is conflicted. Should he join his father in the war against her food truck? Or surrender to the woman who's given him a second chance at love?
Audio CD
First published June 5, 2017
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About the author
Tif Marcelo
32 books759 followersTif Marcelo is a veteran US Army nurse and holds a BS in Nursing and a Master’s in public administration. She believes and writes about the strength of families, the endurance of friendship, heartfelt romances, and is inspired daily by her own military hero husband and four children. She hosts The Stories to Love Podcast, and is the USA Today bestselling author of In a Book Club Far Away, Once Upon a Sunset, The Key to Happily Ever After, which was a Target Diverse Book Club pick, The Holiday Switch, and the Heart Resort and Journey to the Heart series. She and her books have been featured in The Today Show, Shondaland, Real Simple Magazine, The Asian Journal and more! Her website, which includes a link to her newsletter, is www.TifMarcelo.com
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June 8, 2017
4.5 stars!
Review, Excerpt, Author Interview, and Giveaway at Of Pens and Pages.
North to You is a sweet story of food, love, family, and second chances that will touch your heart and make your mouth water.
Ten years after she moved out of town with her sister, Camille Marino is back in the Bay Area with a food truck that is slowly building their reputation and gaining loyal customers. While she and her best friend, Jaz, are scoping out the competition at the local food festival, Camille bumps into her childhood crush, Andrew Bautista.
Andrew Bautista is in town for a month to mend things with his father before he leaves for his deployment in Iraq. Instead of a month to relax and catch up with his family, he is dragged in to help renovate the family restaurant and be there for the grand reopening. Things are still testy between father and son, and when a food truck parks in front of their restaurant, Drew has no choice but to help his father crush the competition.
It’s a pleasant surprise when he finds Camille in his arms, but he sees it as an opportunity to catch up with his high school sweetheart and spend time with her again. When he finds out that the competition is none other than Camille, he’s going to have to choose between her or his family.
This book made me giggle like a schoolgirl. Seriously, you guys. Drew and Camille’s romance is so sweet! These two have history and a connection that never really went away. I had so much kilig while reading each interaction between them. Drew was persistent in his pursuit, but he was always the perfect gentleman, and ugh honestly, it made me gush and swoon.
All of the characters were likable, Drew and Camille especially. They both have crosses to bear, but they’re strong and determined to succeed in their endeavors.
Camille is kind, mature, and reliable, but Jaz and her sister both agree she needs to let go. After their parents died and their nonna a few years later, Camille took the role of parent/guardian to Ally. With responsibilities all around her, she never really had time or energy to “let go”. It was nice and sweet to see her finally relax with Drew.
I have so much love for Drew. I related so much to him, with his relationship with his family and his reasons for leaving the nest. He’s also sweet, funny, and affectionate. Plus he’s such a gentleman!
Ms. Marcelo was able to portray such a genuine depiction of a Filipino family—strict and overbearing but well-meaning and caring parents, and close ties with immediate and extended family. Despite the close relationship between family members, sometimes feelings and emotions aren’t the easiest of subjects. It’s why the scene between Drew and his father made me tear up. Those emotional confrontations don’t usually happen, so when they do, it opens up the flood gates.
Food, family, and love. Those three always go hand in hand in a typical Filipino family dynamic. You can’t have one without the other.
My high rating did not come from my bias towards the Filipino aspect of the story, although it’s what peaked my interest. North to You had the perfect mix of the light and fluffy, and the heavy and steamy. The food—Italian and Filipino—made my stomach rumble. And the ending left me happy and satisfied.
North to You is the first standalone in the Journey to the Heart series and is told in alternating POVs. Foodies and romance lovers will definitely enjoy this fresh, light, and heartwarming story.
Just an FYI: the rough translation of kilig is *feels*.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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Review, Excerpt, Author Interview, and Giveaway at Of Pens and Pages.
North to You is a sweet story of food, love, family, and second chances that will touch your heart and make your mouth water.
Ten years after she moved out of town with her sister, Camille Marino is back in the Bay Area with a food truck that is slowly building their reputation and gaining loyal customers. While she and her best friend, Jaz, are scoping out the competition at the local food festival, Camille bumps into her childhood crush, Andrew Bautista.
Andrew Bautista is in town for a month to mend things with his father before he leaves for his deployment in Iraq. Instead of a month to relax and catch up with his family, he is dragged in to help renovate the family restaurant and be there for the grand reopening. Things are still testy between father and son, and when a food truck parks in front of their restaurant, Drew has no choice but to help his father crush the competition.
It’s a pleasant surprise when he finds Camille in his arms, but he sees it as an opportunity to catch up with his high school sweetheart and spend time with her again. When he finds out that the competition is none other than Camille, he’s going to have to choose between her or his family.
This book made me giggle like a schoolgirl. Seriously, you guys. Drew and Camille’s romance is so sweet! These two have history and a connection that never really went away. I had so much kilig while reading each interaction between them. Drew was persistent in his pursuit, but he was always the perfect gentleman, and ugh honestly, it made me gush and swoon.
All of the characters were likable, Drew and Camille especially. They both have crosses to bear, but they’re strong and determined to succeed in their endeavors.
Camille is kind, mature, and reliable, but Jaz and her sister both agree she needs to let go. After their parents died and their nonna a few years later, Camille took the role of parent/guardian to Ally. With responsibilities all around her, she never really had time or energy to “let go”. It was nice and sweet to see her finally relax with Drew.
I have so much love for Drew. I related so much to him, with his relationship with his family and his reasons for leaving the nest. He’s also sweet, funny, and affectionate. Plus he’s such a gentleman!
Ms. Marcelo was able to portray such a genuine depiction of a Filipino family—strict and overbearing but well-meaning and caring parents, and close ties with immediate and extended family. Despite the close relationship between family members, sometimes feelings and emotions aren’t the easiest of subjects. It’s why the scene between Drew and his father made me tear up. Those emotional confrontations don’t usually happen, so when they do, it opens up the flood gates.
Food, family, and love. Those three always go hand in hand in a typical Filipino family dynamic. You can’t have one without the other.
My high rating did not come from my bias towards the Filipino aspect of the story, although it’s what peaked my interest. North to You had the perfect mix of the light and fluffy, and the heavy and steamy. The food—Italian and Filipino—made my stomach rumble. And the ending left me happy and satisfied.
North to You is the first standalone in the Journey to the Heart series and is told in alternating POVs. Foodies and romance lovers will definitely enjoy this fresh, light, and heartwarming story.
Just an FYI: the rough translation of kilig is *feels*.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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September 25, 2021
North to You by Tif Marcelo
Journey to the Heart book 1. Contemporary second chance romance.
Camille and Drew meet again as adults in San Francisco and rekindle their connection. But the strikes against them are mounting because he needs to leave soon for the army and her food truck and his family restaurant are in a bit of a conflict.
Learn about the difficulties of food truck parking, storage and their reliance on social media. It is a complex way to earn a living but very interesting.
The couple had chemistry but so much to work out. Quite a bit of angst too. Include a couple of characters that made me mad but exist in the world that added a bit too much realism.
I don’t want to spoil the story but know at its heart it’s a romance so it all works out to a happily ever after.
Journey to the Heart book 1. Contemporary second chance romance.
Camille and Drew meet again as adults in San Francisco and rekindle their connection. But the strikes against them are mounting because he needs to leave soon for the army and her food truck and his family restaurant are in a bit of a conflict.
Learn about the difficulties of food truck parking, storage and their reliance on social media. It is a complex way to earn a living but very interesting.
The couple had chemistry but so much to work out. Quite a bit of angst too. Include a couple of characters that made me mad but exist in the world that added a bit too much realism.
I don’t want to spoil the story but know at its heart it’s a romance so it all works out to a happily ever after.
June 5, 2017
Original review: The Daydreaming Bookworm
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
*4.5 Stars!*
While scoping out the food truck competition at a local festival, Camille Marino finds her way back into the arms of her high school love, Andrew Bautista. It’s been ten years since these two last saw each other and so much has changed. Camille is now an ambitious food truck owner who dreams of making it big and Andrew is a soldier who has returned home to mend fences with his father before leaving for deployment. Andrew hopes that by helping his father renovate his restaurant, it will help to bring them closer and ease the tension between them. A roadblock emerges when a new food truck decides to park in front of his father’s restaurant, creating competition and stealing away their business. But when Andrew finds out that his new competition is none other than Camille, he will have to choose between family and the girl who owns his heart.
SAY HELLO TO THE CUTEST FOODIE ROMANCE YOU’LL EVER READ!
I had no idea what to expect when I first started Tif Marcelo’s debut novel, North to You. I requested the book on a whim after seeing a food truck on the cover because you can never go wrong when it comes to foodie romance and I’m actually happy I went into this book blind because it ended up surprising me in more ways than one. North to You is a second-chance romance about family, friendship, and falling in love while chasing after your dreams. I kid you not, I fell in love with this book after I realized it was a second-chance romance because I can’t resist my favorite trope. But the second-chance romance was only one of the many things I loved about this book. Marcelo’s writing is entertaining and full of culture and I couldn’t put it down. Andrew is Filipino and I really enjoyed learning more about Filipino culture, ESPECIALLY THE FOOD BECAUSE IT ALL SOUNDED SO YUMMY!
Camille is a girl after my own heart. She’s faced many losses in life, but she doesn’t let it hold her back. She is determined to make it in the food truck industry even after being knocked down a few times. I admire her go-getter work ethics and I wanted her to succeed in dominating the food truck industry. Then we have Andrew, a charming soldier who instantly stole my heart the moment he first landed on the page! Seriously y’all, Andrew is one of the most sweetest heroes I’ve ever read about and is totally book boyfriend material. Andrew also has his own dreams and it doesn’t involve running his father’s restaurant the rest of his life. He struggles throughout this book between trying to do what’s right for him and trying to please his father and it’s not an easy decision to make, but he comes to the realization that he has to do what’s best for him in the end.
THE ROMANCE IN THIS BOOK IS GOALS!
I WAS SCREAMING WHILE READING ALL THE SWEET MOMENTS BETWEEN CAMILLE AND ANDREW BECAUSE I SIMPLY COULD NOT DEAL! I loved the flashback moments and getting to see how these two met and fell in love. I loved the slow-burn, the banter, seeing these two cook together…PRETTY MUCH EVERY SCENE INVOLVING THESE TWO HAD ME DEAD!
North to You is a second-chance foodie romance that gave me all the feels and I HIGHLY recommend this book to all my fellow romance readers out there! Tif Marcelo is definitely an author to keep an eye out for and I eagerly await her sophomore novel releasing later this year.
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
*4.5 Stars!*
While scoping out the food truck competition at a local festival, Camille Marino finds her way back into the arms of her high school love, Andrew Bautista. It’s been ten years since these two last saw each other and so much has changed. Camille is now an ambitious food truck owner who dreams of making it big and Andrew is a soldier who has returned home to mend fences with his father before leaving for deployment. Andrew hopes that by helping his father renovate his restaurant, it will help to bring them closer and ease the tension between them. A roadblock emerges when a new food truck decides to park in front of his father’s restaurant, creating competition and stealing away their business. But when Andrew finds out that his new competition is none other than Camille, he will have to choose between family and the girl who owns his heart.
SAY HELLO TO THE CUTEST FOODIE ROMANCE YOU’LL EVER READ!
I had no idea what to expect when I first started Tif Marcelo’s debut novel, North to You. I requested the book on a whim after seeing a food truck on the cover because you can never go wrong when it comes to foodie romance and I’m actually happy I went into this book blind because it ended up surprising me in more ways than one. North to You is a second-chance romance about family, friendship, and falling in love while chasing after your dreams. I kid you not, I fell in love with this book after I realized it was a second-chance romance because I can’t resist my favorite trope. But the second-chance romance was only one of the many things I loved about this book. Marcelo’s writing is entertaining and full of culture and I couldn’t put it down. Andrew is Filipino and I really enjoyed learning more about Filipino culture, ESPECIALLY THE FOOD BECAUSE IT ALL SOUNDED SO YUMMY!
Camille is a girl after my own heart. She’s faced many losses in life, but she doesn’t let it hold her back. She is determined to make it in the food truck industry even after being knocked down a few times. I admire her go-getter work ethics and I wanted her to succeed in dominating the food truck industry. Then we have Andrew, a charming soldier who instantly stole my heart the moment he first landed on the page! Seriously y’all, Andrew is one of the most sweetest heroes I’ve ever read about and is totally book boyfriend material. Andrew also has his own dreams and it doesn’t involve running his father’s restaurant the rest of his life. He struggles throughout this book between trying to do what’s right for him and trying to please his father and it’s not an easy decision to make, but he comes to the realization that he has to do what’s best for him in the end.
THE ROMANCE IN THIS BOOK IS GOALS!
I WAS SCREAMING WHILE READING ALL THE SWEET MOMENTS BETWEEN CAMILLE AND ANDREW BECAUSE I SIMPLY COULD NOT DEAL! I loved the flashback moments and getting to see how these two met and fell in love. I loved the slow-burn, the banter, seeing these two cook together…PRETTY MUCH EVERY SCENE INVOLVING THESE TWO HAD ME DEAD!
North to You is a second-chance foodie romance that gave me all the feels and I HIGHLY recommend this book to all my fellow romance readers out there! Tif Marcelo is definitely an author to keep an eye out for and I eagerly await her sophomore novel releasing later this year.
June 13, 2017
I LOVED this!!
North to You is a foodie, romantic, second chance novel that had me hooked from the first page. With quotes from Paul Hollywood, a main character who watches Heart of Dixie (which one of my favourite shows but painfully underrated, so this was hugely appreciated!) and so.much.food. It was almost impossible for me not to fall for this book.
There were romantic, platonic, business and family relationships present and I loved reading about each of them and their different dynamics. I loved that North to You wasn't purely focused the physical relationships, there was a genuine plot and a fantastic one at that.
For some reason it somewhat reminded me of Jane the Virgin (and this may very well be because I've been majorly binge watching the series lately...) but it gave me a familiar vibe. There was a similar female friendship, the main character was greatly inspired in life by her grandmother and like Jane and her writing, Camille was also taking risks in her career, following something creative by pursuing her culinary passion. Okay, so that's very much where the familiarities stop and I'm aware this probably sounds ridiculous but there was just something about it that gave me the same comfortable, happy feeling I get whilst watching Jane The Virgin...
Something I absolutely LOVED, was the food aspect. I'm a foodie and always drawn to books with cooking as a main plot point (which needs to happen more please?!) so this instantly appealed to me but the thing I enjoyed so much about this, was how unique it was. Drew's family own a Filipino restaurant, so the introduction to different foods, dishes and ways of cooking was so refreshing and interesting!
I also hadn't quite anticipated this making me want to run away to San Fransisco and run a food truck!!
Overall, this was fantastic. It had everything you could want in a book, plus cake pops. It had romance, depth, family, second chances and so much more, whilst also delving into the culinary business and Filipino culture. Simple put, I loved it. I'm ecstatic that this is the first in a series and one that I absolutely can't want to continue with!
North to You is a foodie, romantic, second chance novel that had me hooked from the first page. With quotes from Paul Hollywood, a main character who watches Heart of Dixie (which one of my favourite shows but painfully underrated, so this was hugely appreciated!) and so.much.food. It was almost impossible for me not to fall for this book.
There were romantic, platonic, business and family relationships present and I loved reading about each of them and their different dynamics. I loved that North to You wasn't purely focused the physical relationships, there was a genuine plot and a fantastic one at that.
For some reason it somewhat reminded me of Jane the Virgin (and this may very well be because I've been majorly binge watching the series lately...) but it gave me a familiar vibe. There was a similar female friendship, the main character was greatly inspired in life by her grandmother and like Jane and her writing, Camille was also taking risks in her career, following something creative by pursuing her culinary passion. Okay, so that's very much where the familiarities stop and I'm aware this probably sounds ridiculous but there was just something about it that gave me the same comfortable, happy feeling I get whilst watching Jane The Virgin...
Something I absolutely LOVED, was the food aspect. I'm a foodie and always drawn to books with cooking as a main plot point (which needs to happen more please?!) so this instantly appealed to me but the thing I enjoyed so much about this, was how unique it was. Drew's family own a Filipino restaurant, so the introduction to different foods, dishes and ways of cooking was so refreshing and interesting!
I also hadn't quite anticipated this making me want to run away to San Fransisco and run a food truck!!
Overall, this was fantastic. It had everything you could want in a book, plus cake pops. It had romance, depth, family, second chances and so much more, whilst also delving into the culinary business and Filipino culture. Simple put, I loved it. I'm ecstatic that this is the first in a series and one that I absolutely can't want to continue with!
April 17, 2017
In the cut-throat world of street food, it's not just about serving great food, it's also about having a great spot, loyal customers and impressing the food critics. Camille owns Luciana's, a popular but not famous food truck in the Bay Area of San Francisco.
She has loyal customers, a good spot and it's only a matter of time before the critics start to pay attention. Then she refuses to serve a rowdy customer who just so happens to be a local sporting hero and overnight she finds herself no longer welcome in her prime location and on the receiving end of a social media backlash.
With little choice she moves out of the Bay Area and into the suburbs and sets up on the Great Highway overlooking Ocean Beach. But she finds a whole new set of problems. A local restaurant doesn't appreciate her presence and is making life difficult for her.
With a month off before he deploys to Iraq, Drew has returned home to patch up his relationship with his dad. When he runs into Camille his high school crush at the Bay to Breakers he jumps at the chance to rekindle the old spark. But his father owns the restaurant that is causing Camille problems and he finds himself having to choose between his family and Camille.
North to You is just great. It's original and buzzes along with an electricity I don't often come across. It's not perfect, I think the whole Lois not knowing Clark Kent is Superman was a little overplayed but what the hell! It's a debut and honestly it's so much fun that I don't really care. This is a book I will be thinking about for weeks and maybe even months.
Many thanks to Pocket Books and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
She has loyal customers, a good spot and it's only a matter of time before the critics start to pay attention. Then she refuses to serve a rowdy customer who just so happens to be a local sporting hero and overnight she finds herself no longer welcome in her prime location and on the receiving end of a social media backlash.
With little choice she moves out of the Bay Area and into the suburbs and sets up on the Great Highway overlooking Ocean Beach. But she finds a whole new set of problems. A local restaurant doesn't appreciate her presence and is making life difficult for her.
With a month off before he deploys to Iraq, Drew has returned home to patch up his relationship with his dad. When he runs into Camille his high school crush at the Bay to Breakers he jumps at the chance to rekindle the old spark. But his father owns the restaurant that is causing Camille problems and he finds himself having to choose between his family and Camille.
North to You is just great. It's original and buzzes along with an electricity I don't often come across. It's not perfect, I think the whole Lois not knowing Clark Kent is Superman was a little overplayed but what the hell! It's a debut and honestly it's so much fun that I don't really care. This is a book I will be thinking about for weeks and maybe even months.
Many thanks to Pocket Books and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
June 6, 2017
Favorite Quote: "I don't think I can be a gentleman for much longer." I suck in a breath as her hands come forward to the buckle of my belt.
"I don't think I asked you to be one." She jerks me closer.
Debut author? Check. A heroine who owns a food truck? Check. A hero who is a super good guy and gets a second chance at wooing his girl? CHECK.
Drew is in the army but home on leave for a few weeks in his home town of San Francisco. His parents, from the Philippines, own a Filipino restaurant called True North that needs some updates and a new image. His family is very close-knit, and Drew's father really wants Drew to abandon the army and come back home and run the restaurant - but this is not what Drew wants. He doesn't mind helping out while he is home on leave, but managing a restaurant is not something he sees for his future.
Out one night with his buddies, he runs into his former crush from high school, Camille and he can't believe it. Camille owns a food truck called Lucianna, and she specializes in homemade breads, meatballs and paninis. She does well for herself as her food is amazing and she utilizes social media well. The food truck business in San Francisco is very competitive though, so it's always stressful making sure you have a good spot and trying to out do your competitors. Camille is dedicated to this and is very passionate about this industry. She too is shocked to see Drew. Having dated briefly but intensely in high school, only to have Camille move away very suddenly, their reunion is a bit awkward. But Drew wants to rekindle their romance, badly. Camille is definitely interested but also a bit wary as she knows Drew only has a limited amount of time before he has to go back to the middle east.
This man and I know nothing about each other as adults except for what we revealed in the last hour. He knows nothing of my dreams and hopes. I don't understand the life he's chosen. And yet I'm bound to him with leftover feelings that are so innocent and pure, feelings I'm not sure where to place now that they've been pulled from memories packed away.
One thing is sure. Right now is perfect.
I approach him, place my hands on his chest.
He rests his fingers lightly on my waist. "Camille - "
I stop him with a kiss.
They start a sexy romance but they each keep a secret - Camille doesn't tell Drew she owns Lucianna and Drew doesn't tell Cam his family owns True North - and when she starts parking outside of True North, this causes some competitive drama between the two.
This author does such a nice job not only in letting the readers really get to know Camille and Drew well but also immersing us in the food truck business. If you are a foodie, you will enjoy this book. I could see Camille preparing and selling all her food - the sights and sounds of it all. It made me damn hungry. Camille really wants to prove to herself and to the memory of her late grandmother that she can be successful at this. She puts a ton of pressure on herself, and you can feel that it really weighs her down. She also wants to be able to send her sister to an exclusive art school - more pressure to make things work. Drew is there as a great support system, even if he doesn't know at first exactly what she does. He finds out about her food truck first, and then keeps it a secret that his family owns True North - as there is a little social media war between the two. But Drew is such a good guy. Trying to help his family out with the restaurant, and trying not to let the guilt of not following in his father's footsteps overcome him. His parents put pressure on him and he learns to stand up for himself and draw up some solid boundaries. I liked his back story a lot.
Their romance builds at a steady pace throughout the book and made me smile a lot. The author allows Drew to court Camille and it's so romantic. They do silly tourist stuff, and just hang out and get to know one another.
I'm hoping book two features two supporting characters in this book who have a secretive romance of their own.
Definitely give this one a try.
Grade: B+
"I don't think I asked you to be one." She jerks me closer.
Debut author? Check. A heroine who owns a food truck? Check. A hero who is a super good guy and gets a second chance at wooing his girl? CHECK.
Drew is in the army but home on leave for a few weeks in his home town of San Francisco. His parents, from the Philippines, own a Filipino restaurant called True North that needs some updates and a new image. His family is very close-knit, and Drew's father really wants Drew to abandon the army and come back home and run the restaurant - but this is not what Drew wants. He doesn't mind helping out while he is home on leave, but managing a restaurant is not something he sees for his future.
Out one night with his buddies, he runs into his former crush from high school, Camille and he can't believe it. Camille owns a food truck called Lucianna, and she specializes in homemade breads, meatballs and paninis. She does well for herself as her food is amazing and she utilizes social media well. The food truck business in San Francisco is very competitive though, so it's always stressful making sure you have a good spot and trying to out do your competitors. Camille is dedicated to this and is very passionate about this industry. She too is shocked to see Drew. Having dated briefly but intensely in high school, only to have Camille move away very suddenly, their reunion is a bit awkward. But Drew wants to rekindle their romance, badly. Camille is definitely interested but also a bit wary as she knows Drew only has a limited amount of time before he has to go back to the middle east.
This man and I know nothing about each other as adults except for what we revealed in the last hour. He knows nothing of my dreams and hopes. I don't understand the life he's chosen. And yet I'm bound to him with leftover feelings that are so innocent and pure, feelings I'm not sure where to place now that they've been pulled from memories packed away.
One thing is sure. Right now is perfect.
I approach him, place my hands on his chest.
He rests his fingers lightly on my waist. "Camille - "
I stop him with a kiss.
They start a sexy romance but they each keep a secret - Camille doesn't tell Drew she owns Lucianna and Drew doesn't tell Cam his family owns True North - and when she starts parking outside of True North, this causes some competitive drama between the two.
This author does such a nice job not only in letting the readers really get to know Camille and Drew well but also immersing us in the food truck business. If you are a foodie, you will enjoy this book. I could see Camille preparing and selling all her food - the sights and sounds of it all. It made me damn hungry. Camille really wants to prove to herself and to the memory of her late grandmother that she can be successful at this. She puts a ton of pressure on herself, and you can feel that it really weighs her down. She also wants to be able to send her sister to an exclusive art school - more pressure to make things work. Drew is there as a great support system, even if he doesn't know at first exactly what she does. He finds out about her food truck first, and then keeps it a secret that his family owns True North - as there is a little social media war between the two. But Drew is such a good guy. Trying to help his family out with the restaurant, and trying not to let the guilt of not following in his father's footsteps overcome him. His parents put pressure on him and he learns to stand up for himself and draw up some solid boundaries. I liked his back story a lot.
Their romance builds at a steady pace throughout the book and made me smile a lot. The author allows Drew to court Camille and it's so romantic. They do silly tourist stuff, and just hang out and get to know one another.
I'm hoping book two features two supporting characters in this book who have a secretive romance of their own.
Definitely give this one a try.
Grade: B+
October 1, 2018
Never have I ever read a romance novel where the protagonist’s Big Secret is that she owns a food truck. First time for everything, right?
North to You is a breezy foodie romance starring a food truck owner in San Francisco and an Army lieutenant who’s in town to help renovate his family’s Filipino restaurant. I loved the premise of this novel, and I can firmly attest that Tif Marcelo has a definite love of food that adds so much to this book’s narrative. However, I can also say that this book reads like a debut novel—it needs some polish and some help straightening out the kinks.
For one thing, this is supposed to be a second chance romance. Camille and Drew were together for a few weeks in high school, until Camille’s parents suddenly died and she moved in with her grandmother. They never saw or heard from each other again. Marcelo kinds of mentions this prior relationship, but never does anything with it. There are no residual feelings or traumas to be sorted through on the part of either protagonist, so for all intents and purposes, the “second chance at love” trope is completely wasted here. There is nothing in the way the romance progresses in North to You that would have been different if Cami and Drew had just met each other for the first time in their mid-twenties.
And I guess that’s a good segue into the major problem with this novel overall: not enough depth of characterization. I’m not asking for angst or navel-gazing, but the focus of a romance novel should always be on the characters and their interactions with one another. Some outside conflict is good (probably preferred), of course, but the author should never sacrifice character development on the altar of an exciting plot. Which is exactly what Tif Marcelo does here.
The story goes like this. Cami and Drew meet at a food truck festival in San Francisco. They realize they know each other and reconnect. Over a series of a couple dates and some super-cute emails, they fall in love. Except (for some inexplicable reason), Cami has never told Drew what she does for a living: she owns a food truck that specializes in paninis and homemade baked goods. There’s a strange amount of angst about telling him the truth, and it all kind of gears up to a seemingly overblown confession that would have been more appropriate if Cami had an undisclosed STI, a secret love-child, or was on the run from a serial killer. Up until the halfway point, it really does seem like the author is just manufacturing conflict unnecessarily.
But then Cami tells Drew about her food truck, and all hell breaks loose. It turns out Drew’s dad has a vendetta against food trucks, and is salty that Cami’s food truck has been “stealing” their customers. Drew’s dad then files an appeal with the city to create a radius around their restaurant, prohibiting Cami from parking within one block of the restaurant. Meanwhile, there’s a vicious social media war waging between Cami and whichever one of Drew’s cousins is running the restaurant’s Twitter account. Some pretty gnarly stuff, as you can see. Drew, obviously, is caught in the middle, and decides not to let his girlfriend know that the restaurant she’s currently feuding with is owned by his family. Smart move, genius.
Of course, all the secrets come to light, and there is a Big Misunderstanding. Cami thinks Drew purposely sabotaged her food truck business just to help out his parents. It’s a romance novel, so she comes to her senses just as Drew is getting on the plane to deploy to Iraq. The epilogue sees Drew proposing to Cami at the reopening of her food truck seven months later.
So that’s the plot of North to You in a nutshell. But do you notice something? All of the conflict in this romance is completely separate and unrelated to the developing relationship between the protagonists. In fact, for the second half of the novel, there was no character growth or exploration of their connection whatsoever. The drama surrounding the food truck and the restaurant consumed and overpowered what was supposed to be the main draw of the book: the romance.
Opinions will obviously vary, and maybe some readers will appreciate a book that isn’t so focused on the characters’ internal conflict. Personally, I think there’s a difference between two people working through outside issues together as a couple, and two people stuck in a stagnant relationship as the outside issues take precedence over their own relationship. North to You is the second kind of book. Cami and Drew do not attack their problems together—in fact they flat-out lie about all of their problems up until the end. They weren’t a team, and they weren’t supporting each other. If you’re going to write a romance where the primary obstacle the couple faces is situational and not emotional, I’m going to need a lot more honesty, and fast.
North to You gets the foodie aspect right, but drops the ball on developing a strong, believable romantic connection.
North to You is a breezy foodie romance starring a food truck owner in San Francisco and an Army lieutenant who’s in town to help renovate his family’s Filipino restaurant. I loved the premise of this novel, and I can firmly attest that Tif Marcelo has a definite love of food that adds so much to this book’s narrative. However, I can also say that this book reads like a debut novel—it needs some polish and some help straightening out the kinks.
For one thing, this is supposed to be a second chance romance. Camille and Drew were together for a few weeks in high school, until Camille’s parents suddenly died and she moved in with her grandmother. They never saw or heard from each other again. Marcelo kinds of mentions this prior relationship, but never does anything with it. There are no residual feelings or traumas to be sorted through on the part of either protagonist, so for all intents and purposes, the “second chance at love” trope is completely wasted here. There is nothing in the way the romance progresses in North to You that would have been different if Cami and Drew had just met each other for the first time in their mid-twenties.
And I guess that’s a good segue into the major problem with this novel overall: not enough depth of characterization. I’m not asking for angst or navel-gazing, but the focus of a romance novel should always be on the characters and their interactions with one another. Some outside conflict is good (probably preferred), of course, but the author should never sacrifice character development on the altar of an exciting plot. Which is exactly what Tif Marcelo does here.
The story goes like this. Cami and Drew meet at a food truck festival in San Francisco. They realize they know each other and reconnect. Over a series of a couple dates and some super-cute emails, they fall in love. Except (for some inexplicable reason), Cami has never told Drew what she does for a living: she owns a food truck that specializes in paninis and homemade baked goods. There’s a strange amount of angst about telling him the truth, and it all kind of gears up to a seemingly overblown confession that would have been more appropriate if Cami had an undisclosed STI, a secret love-child, or was on the run from a serial killer. Up until the halfway point, it really does seem like the author is just manufacturing conflict unnecessarily.
But then Cami tells Drew about her food truck, and all hell breaks loose. It turns out Drew’s dad has a vendetta against food trucks, and is salty that Cami’s food truck has been “stealing” their customers. Drew’s dad then files an appeal with the city to create a radius around their restaurant, prohibiting Cami from parking within one block of the restaurant. Meanwhile, there’s a vicious social media war waging between Cami and whichever one of Drew’s cousins is running the restaurant’s Twitter account. Some pretty gnarly stuff, as you can see. Drew, obviously, is caught in the middle, and decides not to let his girlfriend know that the restaurant she’s currently feuding with is owned by his family. Smart move, genius.
Of course, all the secrets come to light, and there is a Big Misunderstanding. Cami thinks Drew purposely sabotaged her food truck business just to help out his parents. It’s a romance novel, so she comes to her senses just as Drew is getting on the plane to deploy to Iraq. The epilogue sees Drew proposing to Cami at the reopening of her food truck seven months later.
So that’s the plot of North to You in a nutshell. But do you notice something? All of the conflict in this romance is completely separate and unrelated to the developing relationship between the protagonists. In fact, for the second half of the novel, there was no character growth or exploration of their connection whatsoever. The drama surrounding the food truck and the restaurant consumed and overpowered what was supposed to be the main draw of the book: the romance.
Opinions will obviously vary, and maybe some readers will appreciate a book that isn’t so focused on the characters’ internal conflict. Personally, I think there’s a difference between two people working through outside issues together as a couple, and two people stuck in a stagnant relationship as the outside issues take precedence over their own relationship. North to You is the second kind of book. Cami and Drew do not attack their problems together—in fact they flat-out lie about all of their problems up until the end. They weren’t a team, and they weren’t supporting each other. If you’re going to write a romance where the primary obstacle the couple faces is situational and not emotional, I’m going to need a lot more honesty, and fast.
North to You gets the foodie aspect right, but drops the ball on developing a strong, believable romantic connection.
August 4, 2017
Well, this book was charming, and sweet and so very endearing! I owe Ari big time for introducing me to North To You, a foodie romance debut that swept me off my feet. It’s not always that I encounter a debut novel that immediately makes me fall in love with the author’s writing, and turn me into a life-long fan, but Tif Marcelo’s North To You did exactly that for me.
This is a book that has a lot of heart to it, and it’s all thanks to the lovable characters. These are characters that are built up so solidly throughout the book that you grow to know every aspect of their personalities intimately. And what great personalities they had! I immediately clicked with the heroine, Camille, a passionate food truck owner, because of how resilient she was. She has had many obstacles thrown her way, but she continued to rise up from every difficult situation she has faced. Camille was hardworking, and very devoted to her sister’s success and happiness; the sacrifices she made for her sister warmed my heart! I just wanted for her to find the happiness she deserved. And she find that with Drew, quite possibly one of the best love interests I have ever read. Drew, a military man, was back home in San Francisco to help his family out with the family restaurant renovations. I loved this guy so much. He was a sweetheart, a complete gentleman, and kind beyond words. I easily warmed up to his character, and was giddy that we got his POV as well. There’s nothing to hate about this guy, and even when he did falter, it’s easy to forgive him.
His and Camille’s relationship was a highlight of North To You. It was a second-chance romance, but not in the typical way. These two knew each other as high-school freshmen, and had a lot of chemistry together, but nothing happened because Camille moved away. When they unexpectedly meet again at a festival, their connection sparks alive. I loved their budding romance! Camille is initially hesitant because she’s very resistant to opening up to someone else, and with Drew’s deployment to Iraq looming over, their relationship could have easily gone awry. However, Tif Marcelo weaves their relationship in a way that makes you forget about those elements. There’s a comfort level to their romance that had me smiling. With all the banter, the fun touristy dates they go on, the steamy chemistry, and the emotional conversations they had, there was absolutely no way I could not have gone gaga over this lovable couple. I just loved them so much.
North To You was much more than a fluffy romance though. Family plays a significant role here. We see that through the relationships between Camille and her sister, as well as Drew and his family. I loved how Drew’s family was depicted here. This is a Filipino American family that reminded me a lot of my own. The expectations that Drew’s father had for him, the big family meals, and the loyalty and love between the family members were brilliantly written. I love when families are portrayed with all their complexities. Before I wrap up this review, I’ve got to mention all the food and restaurant references. With Camille’s food truck which featured yummy paninis, and Drew’s dad’s restaurant with all the Filipino food, I was just constantly hungry throughout the book! I also really liked how Tif Marcelo discussed the impact, good and bad, of social media on small businesses. I thought it added another something special to the book.
Alright. I loved this book, so please buy it. I promise you, you won’t regret it. It’s pure food and romance heaven, and doesn’t that sound amazing?
June 13, 2017
I'm pretty sure this is one of the best romance novels I've ever read. I'm so in love with Drew and Cami and North to You took my breath away. I'll write a review but to summarize, just wow if you want a really amazing romance then you need to read this one. TRUST ME ON THIS, NORTH TO YOU WILL NOT DISAPPOINT IN ANYWAY. IT IS AMAZING.
May 8, 2018
NORTH TO YOU is the kind of read that left me feeling happy, all those warm fuzzies crowding in my chest. While I do wish that there had been a little more buildup and tension between the couple, it was still great! Loved the foodie aspect to the story, and all the Filipino references made my heart happy too.
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October 3, 2017Really cute! Excited to check out the rest of the series.
August 12, 2017
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kimberlyfaye reads.
I enjoyed North to You so very much! It was so sweet and swoony and I loved the family dynamic on both Camille and Drew's sides. It was such a great read. I'm gonna go on record here and say there need to be more romances that feature food truck owners. This is the second I've read in the last month or so and I loved them both. Both were also from new-to-me authors — and in this case, a debut author!
So, food truck aside... y'all know I love my second chance romances. That love is probably 70% of what made me pick up this book. The other 30% is split between the cover and the raving rec one of my fellow book-loving friends gave it. I did not want to put this book down once I started reading it. Camille and Drew were wonderful characters. Their reuniting "meet-cute" was charming and I loved getting a chance to know what happened in their past, while trying to also figure out if they had a future together. There were plenty of strikes against them — but there was absolutely no denying they belonged together.
I loved Camille and admired her strength and tenacity. Running a business is serious stuff and she was doing an admirable job, despite the setbacks that seemed to just keep happening. I really liked the relationship she and her sister had, which made Camille's desire to help Ally off to school. She did wind up sacrificing a lot for her sister and I'd be lying if i didn't admit it choked me up a bit. Drew's relationship with his family was a little different. There's quite a bit of tension there because his father doesn't necessarily approve of his career in the Army. He believes he should be at home, running the family's restaurant. But, there's still plenty of love and respect there. I liked watching that father-son relationship develop over the course of this book nearly as much as I did the one between Drew and Camille. Plus, Drew was super freaking swoony and sweet, so that didn't hurt any either.
The progression of the relationship between Camille and Drew just made me happy. It's a huge part of why I enjoyed this book as much as I did. North to You has a whole lot of heart and delivered plenty of feels. It was sweet, swoony, sexy and even funny. The food truck vs. restaurant storyline made for a good story setup and was fun to read. I really enjoyed several of the secondary characters and can't wait to see where Tif Marcelo takes this series. North to You was a wonderful debut, kicking off a series I'm already addicted to. In fact, I'm counting down the days until I can read the second book, East in Paradise.
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
FAVORITE QUOTES
This kiss isn't new. It's nostalgic, wistful.
Our kiss becomes combustible. Like fire, it spreads through me, all consuming. Our tongues crash and tangle. They spar like hunter and prey, neither backing down.
"Let me be the one who you hang on to, even for today."
Our beating hearts become a unified metronome, bringing forth the silent words I haven't been able to conjure.
I enjoyed North to You so very much! It was so sweet and swoony and I loved the family dynamic on both Camille and Drew's sides. It was such a great read. I'm gonna go on record here and say there need to be more romances that feature food truck owners. This is the second I've read in the last month or so and I loved them both. Both were also from new-to-me authors — and in this case, a debut author!
So, food truck aside... y'all know I love my second chance romances. That love is probably 70% of what made me pick up this book. The other 30% is split between the cover and the raving rec one of my fellow book-loving friends gave it. I did not want to put this book down once I started reading it. Camille and Drew were wonderful characters. Their reuniting "meet-cute" was charming and I loved getting a chance to know what happened in their past, while trying to also figure out if they had a future together. There were plenty of strikes against them — but there was absolutely no denying they belonged together.
I loved Camille and admired her strength and tenacity. Running a business is serious stuff and she was doing an admirable job, despite the setbacks that seemed to just keep happening. I really liked the relationship she and her sister had, which made Camille's desire to help Ally off to school. She did wind up sacrificing a lot for her sister and I'd be lying if i didn't admit it choked me up a bit. Drew's relationship with his family was a little different. There's quite a bit of tension there because his father doesn't necessarily approve of his career in the Army. He believes he should be at home, running the family's restaurant. But, there's still plenty of love and respect there. I liked watching that father-son relationship develop over the course of this book nearly as much as I did the one between Drew and Camille. Plus, Drew was super freaking swoony and sweet, so that didn't hurt any either.
The progression of the relationship between Camille and Drew just made me happy. It's a huge part of why I enjoyed this book as much as I did. North to You has a whole lot of heart and delivered plenty of feels. It was sweet, swoony, sexy and even funny. The food truck vs. restaurant storyline made for a good story setup and was fun to read. I really enjoyed several of the secondary characters and can't wait to see where Tif Marcelo takes this series. North to You was a wonderful debut, kicking off a series I'm already addicted to. In fact, I'm counting down the days until I can read the second book, East in Paradise.
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
FAVORITE QUOTES
This kiss isn't new. It's nostalgic, wistful.
Our kiss becomes combustible. Like fire, it spreads through me, all consuming. Our tongues crash and tangle. They spar like hunter and prey, neither backing down.
"Let me be the one who you hang on to, even for today."
Our beating hearts become a unified metronome, bringing forth the silent words I haven't been able to conjure.
September 3, 2017
Actual rating: 3.5/5
June 4, 2024
Sweet and so Pinoy
Most people won’t realize how huge this book is for Filipino American representation in the mainstream romance publishing world.
Tif Marcelo’s conviction and bravery in centering her books around Filipino American main characters got my utmost respect and admiration. When most authors of color have to hide behind characters that don’t look like them in order to get published, for her to have Drew Bautista as the hero of her debut novel is totally amazing.
With themes of family, friendship, service, culture, food and with a strong sense of place, North to You is a fantastic introduction to Tif Marcelo’s awesome writing.
Most people won’t realize how huge this book is for Filipino American representation in the mainstream romance publishing world.
Tif Marcelo’s conviction and bravery in centering her books around Filipino American main characters got my utmost respect and admiration. When most authors of color have to hide behind characters that don’t look like them in order to get published, for her to have Drew Bautista as the hero of her debut novel is totally amazing.
With themes of family, friendship, service, culture, food and with a strong sense of place, North to You is a fantastic introduction to Tif Marcelo’s awesome writing.
December 3, 2017
***Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review**
North to You by Tif Marcelo is a sweet and enduring second chance romance with a happily ever after set in the bay area of San Francisco. This debut novel is fresh and original which was great to read since you normally don't come across tales like this normally in the romance genre.
Camille "Cam" is the owner of Lucianna, a food truck that she prides herself on. She is very focused on her career, the success and her younger sister Ally. Camille finds herself in a bind when her normal spot for her truck is no longer available to a bad event gone wrong, so she winds up in front of a restaurant which turns out better to be expected... or so she thinks!
Drew is an Army officer home on leave to help rebuild his relationship with his father. While back home he finds himself helping his family remodel their Filipino restaurant, True North. His father is having difficulty with a food truck situated closer to his premises and his clients are flocking to it and taking business with them. Can Drew help the situation?
Cam and Drew dated briefly their freshman year of high school, until she had to move away unexpectedly. One night they run into each other again while attending the Bay to Breakers festival...well, not exactly run into per sea; Cam kisses Drew to get another guy to back off! They go on a "tourist trap" date and they rekindle their romance. But Drew is only home for a month before he deploys to Iraq. They both keep secrets from each other that end up hurting the other one more than they fully intended. When secrets are revealed; will it be love or family that is chosen?
North to You is well written and Camille and Drew could be your best friends falling in love with each other. There are points when you just want to yell at them for being so stubborn. This is wonderful, light hearted second chance foodie romance! I am looking forward to more of Ms. Marcelo's work!
North to You by Tif Marcelo is a sweet and enduring second chance romance with a happily ever after set in the bay area of San Francisco. This debut novel is fresh and original which was great to read since you normally don't come across tales like this normally in the romance genre.
Camille "Cam" is the owner of Lucianna, a food truck that she prides herself on. She is very focused on her career, the success and her younger sister Ally. Camille finds herself in a bind when her normal spot for her truck is no longer available to a bad event gone wrong, so she winds up in front of a restaurant which turns out better to be expected... or so she thinks!
Drew is an Army officer home on leave to help rebuild his relationship with his father. While back home he finds himself helping his family remodel their Filipino restaurant, True North. His father is having difficulty with a food truck situated closer to his premises and his clients are flocking to it and taking business with them. Can Drew help the situation?
Cam and Drew dated briefly their freshman year of high school, until she had to move away unexpectedly. One night they run into each other again while attending the Bay to Breakers festival...well, not exactly run into per sea; Cam kisses Drew to get another guy to back off! They go on a "tourist trap" date and they rekindle their romance. But Drew is only home for a month before he deploys to Iraq. They both keep secrets from each other that end up hurting the other one more than they fully intended. When secrets are revealed; will it be love or family that is chosen?
North to You is well written and Camille and Drew could be your best friends falling in love with each other. There are points when you just want to yell at them for being so stubborn. This is wonderful, light hearted second chance foodie romance! I am looking forward to more of Ms. Marcelo's work!
May 31, 2017
Definitely check out North to You if you are a lover of foodie romances, because the heroine owns a food truck and the hero's family owns a Filipino restaurant. They both are at odds, his family and the heroine, because her food truck is in front of their restaurant so the clients gravitate towards her food instead of his family's restaurant, so his dad declares she is enemy numero uno.
It's also a second chance romance book because Camille and Drew knew each other in high school and had this cute and sweet relationship that lasted not many months but they both still hold each other dear. When they meet again it's like coming home for each of them. They feel like the only thing missing in their lives right now is each other. It's so adorable and cute to see their relationship grow since the first meeting (which in fact holds A KISS because Camille needed help so she told Drew to kiss her).
Drew is the definition of a Soft hero who is content with being by the heroine's side in any way possible. He wants to support her and her business and wants everything for her. He's so amazing and you can see how much love he has for Camille and he lit wants to spend the rest of his life with her. I adore.
I am 10/10 on board for the next book, give me fake dating and reality show. This is my calling.
It's also a second chance romance book because Camille and Drew knew each other in high school and had this cute and sweet relationship that lasted not many months but they both still hold each other dear. When they meet again it's like coming home for each of them. They feel like the only thing missing in their lives right now is each other. It's so adorable and cute to see their relationship grow since the first meeting (which in fact holds A KISS because Camille needed help so she told Drew to kiss her).
Drew is the definition of a Soft hero who is content with being by the heroine's side in any way possible. He wants to support her and her business and wants everything for her. He's so amazing and you can see how much love he has for Camille and he lit wants to spend the rest of his life with her. I adore.
I am 10/10 on board for the next book, give me fake dating and reality show. This is my calling.
July 31, 2017
North to You was my first book by Tif Marcelo and it won't be my last. I love reading diverse stories; books that feature people, places, and careers different from me. On this front, North to Your hit all the marks. It's so refreshing to read something different, and I fell in love with Camille and Drew. A classic second chance romance, with a time limit due to Drew being in the army. I loved the food aspect of the book and am still swooning over the ending! The only drawback for me was the lies and the truth being held back for far too long. Other than that, I loved the book. 4 1/2 stars.
June 10, 2017
Review to come!!
September 16, 2017
Cute. Light. Fluffy. Super cheesy at times.
Don't read on an empty stomach. So much food.
Don't read on an empty stomach. So much food.
September 20, 2021
Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5
My first book by Tif Marcelo!
I listened to this book as part of a reading challenge group read and I enjoyed it very much. It has just what I look for in a good romance: friends-to-lovers, second chance, a bit of drama and a great HEA and epilogue.
Food truck romances seem to be pretty popular lately (or maybe I just never noticed them until recently?) and this is a good one. What I liked about this story is that the main couple crushed on each other in high but never had a chance to really explore it. Fate intervenes and they meet each other again out of the blue.
Fate may have wanted them back together but other circumstances kept popping up to keep them apart. The blurb is really good so I’m just going to say that this is a great story and I liked the creative way things all worked out in the end (the epilogue is great).
As for the audio performance I really enjoyed listening to this. Both Gomez Pugh and Lola James have great, easy-to-listen-to voices. I plan to listen to the remaining books in this series.
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 5
My first book by Tif Marcelo!
I listened to this book as part of a reading challenge group read and I enjoyed it very much. It has just what I look for in a good romance: friends-to-lovers, second chance, a bit of drama and a great HEA and epilogue.
Food truck romances seem to be pretty popular lately (or maybe I just never noticed them until recently?) and this is a good one. What I liked about this story is that the main couple crushed on each other in high but never had a chance to really explore it. Fate intervenes and they meet each other again out of the blue.
Fate may have wanted them back together but other circumstances kept popping up to keep them apart. The blurb is really good so I’m just going to say that this is a great story and I liked the creative way things all worked out in the end (the epilogue is great).
As for the audio performance I really enjoyed listening to this. Both Gomez Pugh and Lola James have great, easy-to-listen-to voices. I plan to listen to the remaining books in this series.
April 14, 2017
North to You is a lovely debut for author Tif Marcelo. I really enjoyed reading this story, the characters were great and the storyline sweet and endearing. I look forward to reading more by this author.
March 3, 2020
This was such a sweet and heartfelt romance! Cami and Drew were the sweetest couple--love second chance romances where the main characters fall in love as teens, but then reconnect as adults when they're more confident and less awkward haha. And I absolutely love that this book has a Filipino MC. As someone who is half-Filipino, it was a struggle to find characters with the same background as me in books. I loved reading about Drew's family dynamics and the stress of running a family business, how he battled with his dad. So cool to read too about dishes I grew up eating. And I definitely could relate to Camille's struggle of trying to get her dream job up and running. Such a struggle and I teared up at some of the roadblocks she hit. BUT! The HEA is so sweet and satisfying! Definitely recommend this sweet romance :)
June 5, 2017
My heart was warmed and lightened by this beautiful romance that held my emotions. This romance was a second chance to make all their dreams come true except on things stood in their way. Family. Sometimes family has a way of making your life more complicated than it ought to be. I found a unique spin on the romance of chef (food truck) and a soldier soon to be deployed. I loved their chemistry. I loved how hey interacted with each other. I found that this was more than I initially bargained for. I got me a good read that had a nice pace, some minor flaws, some annoying people, some good food, some delicious banter, and a warm second chance romance.
North to You open a new door to romance in this time frame. Not every romance have to have a millionaire, billionaire, bad boy attached to it. This was average America with family issues both inside the family and out. A romance that was on a timeline due to deployment and much more. Camille had her work cut out for her to win a standing, make a stand and claim what was hers. Drew was working hard to create a new relationship, mend an old relationship and still stay true to himself. Its that second time around that makes it all worth it.
North to You open a new door to romance in this time frame. Not every romance have to have a millionaire, billionaire, bad boy attached to it. This was average America with family issues both inside the family and out. A romance that was on a timeline due to deployment and much more. Camille had her work cut out for her to win a standing, make a stand and claim what was hers. Drew was working hard to create a new relationship, mend an old relationship and still stay true to himself. Its that second time around that makes it all worth it.
October 3, 2017
This is one of the rare incredibly fast romances that I liked! (I suppose it's not actually that rare, but it feels that way. Or like I'm usually a lot more grudging about it than I was here.) The hero/heroine DID occasionally wear their stupid pants and not actually talk to each other, but I mostly got their reactions and that's really all I want.
I'm not sure I buy meatball panini being a thing to stake a food truck on, but hey, I am willing to try one if they actually exist. Food romance is such a blessing and a curse.
I'm not sure I buy meatball panini being a thing to stake a food truck on, but hey, I am willing to try one if they actually exist. Food romance is such a blessing and a curse.
February 2, 2018
3.5 stars
Recommended by Nick! Super super sweet, and I loveee all the Filipino foods that were covered. :D Can't wait for the sequel!
Recommended by Nick! Super super sweet, and I loveee all the Filipino foods that were covered. :D Can't wait for the sequel!
October 1, 2021
This is a second chance for high school sweethearts, Drew and Camille. They rekindle their relationship and help each other out. Of course, they don't realize that by helping each other, they are making their own lives more challenging. Camille owns the food truck that is operating close to the restaurant the Drew's family owns.
I did enjoy the book but at times it was frustrating. So many issues could have been avoided if they just talked.
I did enjoy the book but at times it was frustrating. So many issues could have been avoided if they just talked.
June 30, 2017
"If this is the woman you are choosing to cook for, then you have to make her food that says something about you. Something about your life. Make something that will tell her where you came from. And you come from us, iho, from a country of over seven thousand islands."
This book was deliciously sexy, fun, and romantic!
Camille is the proud owner of a food truck, and she works hard to make her dreams come true while trying to support her little sister. She's such a driven and inspiring character. I loved reading from her POV, especially reading about her love for cooking. (Side note: Tif Marcelo describes every food amazingly, leaving me CRAVING afterwards! Seriously, I need some paninis and Filipino food STAT after reading this!) And Camille doesn't have much room in her life outside of her business, sister, and best friend. . . Until she comes face-to-face with her old high school boyfriend.
Enter Andrew.. My goodness, how I loved him!
Andrew is on leave, visiting his family in San Francisco, before he deploys to Iraq for the Army. I don't read a lot of stories that deal with any form of military. I used to watch Army Wives and their whole predicament they end up in reminded me of what I saw while watching the show, and I really enjoyed this aspect of the book. Plus, there's so much to just love about Andrew. He's caring, kind, the ultimate gentleman - it's so hard not to fall in love with him.
While Andrew is on leave he hopes to repair his relationship with his father, and in doing so, he's trying to help with his family's restaurant renovation. I related to Andrew's family so much, down to the way we all sit around the table while devouring Filipino food.
The wheels really start turning once Camille and Andrew's lives twine together in more ways than only rekindling their old relationship. I don't want to spoil anything for you, but I loved it all, guys. Tif Marcelo is a fantastic writer! There's a perfect balance of family, friendships, love, and self discovery within. Annnnnnd - I am always down for a sexy, Filipino love interest. If you're in the mood for a great romance then pick this book up ASAP! ;)
"Nonna told me once that losing something is all about perspective. It's only if you thought you had it in the first place that you would feel like it's escaped from your fingers. And the closer you held that thing next to your heart, the harder it was to let it go."
This book was deliciously sexy, fun, and romantic!
Camille is the proud owner of a food truck, and she works hard to make her dreams come true while trying to support her little sister. She's such a driven and inspiring character. I loved reading from her POV, especially reading about her love for cooking. (Side note: Tif Marcelo describes every food amazingly, leaving me CRAVING afterwards! Seriously, I need some paninis and Filipino food STAT after reading this!) And Camille doesn't have much room in her life outside of her business, sister, and best friend. . . Until she comes face-to-face with her old high school boyfriend.
Enter Andrew.. My goodness, how I loved him!
Andrew is on leave, visiting his family in San Francisco, before he deploys to Iraq for the Army. I don't read a lot of stories that deal with any form of military. I used to watch Army Wives and their whole predicament they end up in reminded me of what I saw while watching the show, and I really enjoyed this aspect of the book. Plus, there's so much to just love about Andrew. He's caring, kind, the ultimate gentleman - it's so hard not to fall in love with him.
While Andrew is on leave he hopes to repair his relationship with his father, and in doing so, he's trying to help with his family's restaurant renovation. I related to Andrew's family so much, down to the way we all sit around the table while devouring Filipino food.
The wheels really start turning once Camille and Andrew's lives twine together in more ways than only rekindling their old relationship. I don't want to spoil anything for you, but I loved it all, guys. Tif Marcelo is a fantastic writer! There's a perfect balance of family, friendships, love, and self discovery within. Annnnnnd - I am always down for a sexy, Filipino love interest. If you're in the mood for a great romance then pick this book up ASAP! ;)
"Nonna told me once that losing something is all about perspective. It's only if you thought you had it in the first place that you would feel like it's escaped from your fingers. And the closer you held that thing next to your heart, the harder it was to let it go."
June 27, 2017
I shouldn't like this, but I do!
Let me start this off by saying I am not this book's target audience. Hello, male in his 30s, likes Rambo, wrestling, and dinosaurs. I'd probably be the least likely person to enjoy this book. But I do! I love the setting, I love the conflict (there's actually a really great internal conflict nestled in here about a son wanting to live up to their father's expectations but also live their life), and I love the diversity. You never read about Filipino characters and their cooking and culture, which adds an extra spicy layer to this already spicy story (Oh, Lord. This is not how I normally talk, I swear it). There are some sexy parts, and I'm sure romance readers are going to soak that stuff up, but I was also highly engaged by the story around it with Camille and Drew. True North is a true winner!
Let me start this off by saying I am not this book's target audience. Hello, male in his 30s, likes Rambo, wrestling, and dinosaurs. I'd probably be the least likely person to enjoy this book. But I do! I love the setting, I love the conflict (there's actually a really great internal conflict nestled in here about a son wanting to live up to their father's expectations but also live their life), and I love the diversity. You never read about Filipino characters and their cooking and culture, which adds an extra spicy layer to this already spicy story (Oh, Lord. This is not how I normally talk, I swear it). There are some sexy parts, and I'm sure romance readers are going to soak that stuff up, but I was also highly engaged by the story around it with Camille and Drew. True North is a true winner!
nope-to-this-author
September 18, 2017Soooo...
Our two protagonists meet again due to a man creeping on one of them and actively scaring her enough that she's willing to kiss a random guy to get help from him.
Let's break this down. There is a big, intimidating, drunk man who scares the shit out of our main character and makes her worry about both her and her younger sister's safety. So she slams her foot down on his foot and tries to get away, bumps into our love interest and asks him to help her.
...and here is where having both characters' perspectives becomes a problem, because we switch to his inner thoughts and it so happens he knows the guy in question. And immediately makes excuses for him in his mind. He's really a big softie inside, and he's missed him, and 'beneath the layers of tequila, the guy isn't actually an asshole'. Our love interest pretends to not know him and instead just tells him that he 'maybe (...) came on to her a little too strong', adding 'Maybe apologize to her? You kinda freaked her out.' more quietly and only for his friend's benefit.
The thing here is, if you were at a party and some guy did the usual spiel of telling you not to leave yet and physically trying to box you in to a degree that you need to get someone else involved to feel safe, would you really want to have that other person a) lie to you about knowing the person in question, b) secretly believe that, no matter how much of an asshole that person is currently being, and no matter how scared the person who came to you for help is, said person 'isn't actually an asshole' because they have not been one to your supposed helper (a guy), and c) call their behaviour out in as wishy-washy a way as possible? 'Maybe you came on a little too strong' is not the same thing as saying 'back off, your behaviour is out of bounds', or even saying 'you came on too strong'; instead, it is casting doubt on whether his behaviour is or is not okay - regardless of its consequences.
Needless to say, the poor misunderstoodasshole not actually an asshole does not apologize. He just leaves. Presumably to harass someone else. Because he is not actually an asshole, you see.
I was still trying to pretend to myself that all of this didn't happen, when he decides that letting our main character leave means he is not trying hard enough. Sooo he follows her to the edge of the party and declares that she OWES him.
'Really? Because I seem to remember we kissed eight times. Two of which could constitute some running of bases.'
She bites her lip. Oh yes, she remembers, too.
'Nine now. But who's counting?' I take a deep breath. 'So you see, I can't let you walk away, not like this. You owe me.'
'Owe you?'
'Yeah, an explanation. No - a date.' I pull the demand from the air. What the hell, might as well go for gold.
She laughs. 'You are still so forward. Does this work with other women? It didn't work with me, and it's not working now.'
'I beg to differ. It did work with you. And ten years later, you are still kissing me back. Wait, scratch that. You instigated this one.'
So. Because she kissed him... eight times? When they were kids, she owes him? She owes him her time and her attention because she used to be interested in him? He gets to define why she was attracted to him in the first place, including telling her that something she does not appreciate (being this forward) actually works on her - because she clearly doesn't know when her saying no actually means no, but he does? Him bringing up their history also makes this sound incredibly creepy. 'Hey, you kissed me ten years ago, so I have some kind of claim on you now.' To be absolutely clear on this, she does not owe him anything. ANYTHING. You wanting closure does not entitle you to anything. This is not how to open a conversation about wanting to understand what happened ten years ago; this is how you demand that someone else make you feel better by giving you exactly what you want because you do not give a shit about what they want or need.
This is literally the beginning of the novel, and it makes me wary of the supposed romance to come. I don't think it's intentional, but this book sure packs a LOT of crap into the first few pages.
Not sure I'll be able to read far beyond this, but I needed to get this rant out of the way. It appears that our MC is then being pressured both by him and BY HER FRIEND AND HER SISTER to go out with him... because when you hear the above conversation, it is definitely a sign for a potentially healthy relationship???
Our two protagonists meet again due to a man creeping on one of them and actively scaring her enough that she's willing to kiss a random guy to get help from him.
Let's break this down. There is a big, intimidating, drunk man who scares the shit out of our main character and makes her worry about both her and her younger sister's safety. So she slams her foot down on his foot and tries to get away, bumps into our love interest and asks him to help her.
...and here is where having both characters' perspectives becomes a problem, because we switch to his inner thoughts and it so happens he knows the guy in question. And immediately makes excuses for him in his mind. He's really a big softie inside, and he's missed him, and 'beneath the layers of tequila, the guy isn't actually an asshole'. Our love interest pretends to not know him and instead just tells him that he 'maybe (...) came on to her a little too strong', adding 'Maybe apologize to her? You kinda freaked her out.' more quietly and only for his friend's benefit.
The thing here is, if you were at a party and some guy did the usual spiel of telling you not to leave yet and physically trying to box you in to a degree that you need to get someone else involved to feel safe, would you really want to have that other person a) lie to you about knowing the person in question, b) secretly believe that, no matter how much of an asshole that person is currently being, and no matter how scared the person who came to you for help is, said person 'isn't actually an asshole' because they have not been one to your supposed helper (a guy), and c) call their behaviour out in as wishy-washy a way as possible? 'Maybe you came on a little too strong' is not the same thing as saying 'back off, your behaviour is out of bounds', or even saying 'you came on too strong'; instead, it is casting doubt on whether his behaviour is or is not okay - regardless of its consequences.
Needless to say, the poor misunderstood
I was still trying to pretend to myself that all of this didn't happen, when he decides that letting our main character leave means he is not trying hard enough. Sooo he follows her to the edge of the party and declares that she OWES him.
'Really? Because I seem to remember we kissed eight times. Two of which could constitute some running of bases.'
She bites her lip. Oh yes, she remembers, too.
'Nine now. But who's counting?' I take a deep breath. 'So you see, I can't let you walk away, not like this. You owe me.'
'Owe you?'
'Yeah, an explanation. No - a date.' I pull the demand from the air. What the hell, might as well go for gold.
She laughs. 'You are still so forward. Does this work with other women? It didn't work with me, and it's not working now.'
'I beg to differ. It did work with you. And ten years later, you are still kissing me back. Wait, scratch that. You instigated this one.'
So. Because she kissed him... eight times? When they were kids, she owes him? She owes him her time and her attention because she used to be interested in him? He gets to define why she was attracted to him in the first place, including telling her that something she does not appreciate (being this forward) actually works on her - because she clearly doesn't know when her saying no actually means no, but he does? Him bringing up their history also makes this sound incredibly creepy. 'Hey, you kissed me ten years ago, so I have some kind of claim on you now.' To be absolutely clear on this, she does not owe him anything. ANYTHING. You wanting closure does not entitle you to anything. This is not how to open a conversation about wanting to understand what happened ten years ago; this is how you demand that someone else make you feel better by giving you exactly what you want because you do not give a shit about what they want or need.
This is literally the beginning of the novel, and it makes me wary of the supposed romance to come. I don't think it's intentional, but this book sure packs a LOT of crap into the first few pages.
Not sure I'll be able to read far beyond this, but I needed to get this rant out of the way. It appears that our MC is then being pressured both by him and BY HER FRIEND AND HER SISTER to go out with him... because when you hear the above conversation, it is definitely a sign for a potentially healthy relationship???
June 9, 2017
4.5 stars – Rounded
A wonderfully rich second chance romance with a foodie theme, Tif Marcelo brings us the story of Camille and Drew, some years after their first romance soured. Having had a restaurant that was on the edge of being the next big thing, refusing to serve one rowdy but well-known favorite sport hero left Camille with few options and a need to leave. Picking up her life with a busy and well-regarded food truck, she’s managing her work and her younger sister that she cares for, and little room is left for other things. But a chance encounter with her high school ex, back in town to help with his father’s Filipino restaurant: the two come face to face for the first time in ages. As direct competition to Drew’s family restaurant, there are choices: work on his relationship with family and shun and battle Camille and her truck, or take a chance at love with Camille once again.
I was so pleasantly surprised with this debut: Marcelo obviously knows her characters well, and she’s added scenery, smells and food to enliven and deepen the story’s impact. With both Camille and Andrew having a wonderful sense of family loyalty, determination and a never-say-die attitude toward achieving their dreams, they are perfectly suited, even as I felt that Camille would have known that the restaurant she is parking in front of (and taking business from) was also the family business of her newly reacquainted love interest.
Their early story is provided in flashback, and when you combine those sweet and innocent moments with the actual sparks that flash between them now, the cuteness overload on this one was high. While not without a few repeat issues and one thread that just got old quickly, the story was engaging, adorable and clever: clever enough that I’m curious to see what the next in the series will bring.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley 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
A wonderfully rich second chance romance with a foodie theme, Tif Marcelo brings us the story of Camille and Drew, some years after their first romance soured. Having had a restaurant that was on the edge of being the next big thing, refusing to serve one rowdy but well-known favorite sport hero left Camille with few options and a need to leave. Picking up her life with a busy and well-regarded food truck, she’s managing her work and her younger sister that she cares for, and little room is left for other things. But a chance encounter with her high school ex, back in town to help with his father’s Filipino restaurant: the two come face to face for the first time in ages. As direct competition to Drew’s family restaurant, there are choices: work on his relationship with family and shun and battle Camille and her truck, or take a chance at love with Camille once again.
I was so pleasantly surprised with this debut: Marcelo obviously knows her characters well, and she’s added scenery, smells and food to enliven and deepen the story’s impact. With both Camille and Andrew having a wonderful sense of family loyalty, determination and a never-say-die attitude toward achieving their dreams, they are perfectly suited, even as I felt that Camille would have known that the restaurant she is parking in front of (and taking business from) was also the family business of her newly reacquainted love interest.
Their early story is provided in flashback, and when you combine those sweet and innocent moments with the actual sparks that flash between them now, the cuteness overload on this one was high. While not without a few repeat issues and one thread that just got old quickly, the story was engaging, adorable and clever: clever enough that I’m curious to see what the next in the series will bring.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley 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
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