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Prep Work
Exhausted after eating his way through the local cuisines in the back of beyond, celebrity chef Jude Marshall ditches his camera crew during a London layover. He’s ready for a beer and plain, familiar food, the sort a random pub could provide. What’s this artfully presented dish where plain pea soup should be? Parsley? Really? Demonstrating his lack of a brain to mouth filter earns him a glower from his server—and a visit from chef Tommy Bell, a fan of both Jude’s show and his cooking. Maybe signing Tommy’s copy of Jude’s cookbook will make amends for his lack of tact. The unexpected arrival of picky diners puts Tommy behind in the kitchen. Jude wants to lend a hand, for the joy of cooking and Tommy’s smile. Stumbling into this gastro-pub might be the best mistake Jude’s ever made.
Includes bonus story Breaking the Fast.
Includes bonus story Breaking the Fast.
68 pages, Paperback
First published August 17, 2011
2 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
P.D. Singer
59 books172 followersP.D. Singer lived in Colorado with her slightly bemused husband, one young adult, and seventy-nine pounds of pets. She was a big believer in research, first-hand if possible, so the reader can be quite certain PD skied down a mountain face-first, had been stepped on by rodeo horses, acquired a potato burn or two, and rethought a novel that included sky-diving.
When not writing, playing her fiddle, or walking the sheddiest member of the family, she could be found with a book in hand.
When not writing, playing her fiddle, or walking the sheddiest member of the family, she could be found with a book in hand.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 4, 2012
This book should come with a warning: "Eat BEFORE reading"!!! 
here is a little bit more
and maybe you want Jude's Guinness-Apple Crumble recipe?
here is a little bit more
and maybe you want Jude's Guinness-Apple Crumble recipe?
September 2, 2011
Sexy and romantic Jude and Tommy were wonderful while cooking together you could feel the sexual energy bouncing off them, brilliantly written and very witty especially the interaction between Jude and his film crew. Lovely short read.
August 27, 2011
4.5 stars. Very good short m/m romance about a somewhat disgraced celebrity chef who discovers that the intriguing chef at the pub where he's having dinner is a fan.
August 18, 2011
Jude Marshall and his snarky, world-weary attitude really make this story stand out in my mind. It's easy for a Mr. Charming to find love, but how about someone as prickly as a porcupine and who, on the surface, isn't so lovable?
Tommy is the perfect foil for Jude's growly temperment. They're awesome together. And outside of the love interest, Jude's interaction with his crew seems so believable, and the secondary characters are fully realized, a difficult task for a short story.
A lovely, feel good little read.
Tommy is the perfect foil for Jude's growly temperment. They're awesome together. And outside of the love interest, Jude's interaction with his crew seems so believable, and the secondary characters are fully realized, a difficult task for a short story.
A lovely, feel good little read.
February 4, 2012
3.5-4*
I loved the setting of the book and almost felt as if I was in the kitchen with Tommy and Jude, how I wish there was more!
I loved the setting of the book and almost felt as if I was in the kitchen with Tommy and Jude, how I wish there was more!
July 26, 2022
I usually don't read short stories like this because it's never enough for me, but I love P.D. Singer's work and I've always been fascinated by professional kitchens so I couldn't pass this one up. While I wish it were longer, I enjoyed it. The characters were good and their relationship was sweet, despite the entire story having a rushed feel. I especially loved how the author incorporated the themes of food and cooking into all aspects of the story and the scenes of the MCs cooking together were fantastic. One of my favorite scenes was when the MCs had to cook but also wanted to cuddle, so they cuddled with one arm and used their spare arms to do the job of one chef. Hilarious and cute!
Asides from the short length, the only other thing that dampened my enjoyment was the unfortunate decision to have Jude despise non-Western food. His job involves traveling around the world and getting to enjoy food from other cultures but to get max ratings, he's always pressured to eat 'weird' foods (using a Western perspective) that he hates.
It was a disappointment to have the author spending the story praising various Western foods while the majority of references to non-Western food was negative and focused on food Jude hated. I was especially disappointed that all the references to food from very old First Nations cultures (ex. African, Australian etc) and third world countries was labeled as gross or weird. In a story that was supposed to celebrate food and the MC was given a job that specifically allowed him to appreciate food from all over the world, I didn't appreciate the author's approach.
Asides from the short length, the only other thing that dampened my enjoyment was the unfortunate decision to have Jude despise non-Western food. His job involves traveling around the world and getting to enjoy food from other cultures but to get max ratings, he's always pressured to eat 'weird' foods (using a Western perspective) that he hates.
It was a disappointment to have the author spending the story praising various Western foods while the majority of references to non-Western food was negative and focused on food Jude hated. I was especially disappointed that all the references to food from very old First Nations cultures (ex. African, Australian etc) and third world countries was labeled as gross or weird. In a story that was supposed to celebrate food and the MC was given a job that specifically allowed him to appreciate food from all over the world, I didn't appreciate the author's approach.
April 1, 2013
A nicely authentic little piece about a celebrity chef meeting and having pretty intense connection with another chef. This is definitely lust at first sight but there is a strong possibility of more. I liked the characters: Jude, the jaded celeb who is constantly travelling à la Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and Tommy, a self-taught chef who is running his family pub close to London.
There's a very natural progression of their relationship as Jude goes back to give Tommy a hand in the kitchen and they work together very seamlessly and flirt over the entrees. I liked where this story ended up, it was HFN but I really see it being a HEA as could the two men.
Great little story, that's sex light but heavy on the chemistry.
Just saw from Tailtiu's review that's there a free short story here
Which is really sweet!! Loved it.
There's a very natural progression of their relationship as Jude goes back to give Tommy a hand in the kitchen and they work together very seamlessly and flirt over the entrees. I liked where this story ended up, it was HFN but I really see it being a HEA as could the two men.
Great little story, that's sex light but heavy on the chemistry.
Just saw from Tailtiu's review that's there a free short story here
Which is really sweet!! Loved it.
August 18, 2011
Where else would two fabulous cooks begin an affair but a kitchen? PD always makes you think she's lived the profession about which she's writing, and this is no exception. These guys can cook--in or out of a kitchen. But what has always drawn me to PD Singer's stories is her characters, and she delivers yet again with Jude and Tommy. I rooted for them and then I wanted to smack them around and then I went back to rooting for them and then I just gave myself over to the story and let it do with me what it would. I wasn't sorry.
The characters, the story, the wit, the dialogue--I love everything about this one.
The characters, the story, the wit, the dialogue--I love everything about this one.
August 31, 2011
4.5 stars
A very cute story about adventure TV chef Jude who goes in search of 'normal' food in London, only to find Tommy, a fan but who can see past Jude the celebrity, until Jude opens his mouth and screws it up only to have to fix it. My only niggle was that Jude was such a wuss with his handlers. Without him they would have nothing, I was glad he stood up to them at the end. A really cute story though and you can get the recipe mentioned at the end in Tommy's interview HERE. A fun read.
A very cute story about adventure TV chef Jude who goes in search of 'normal' food in London, only to find Tommy, a fan but who can see past Jude the celebrity, until Jude opens his mouth and screws it up only to have to fix it. My only niggle was that Jude was such a wuss with his handlers. Without him they would have nothing, I was glad he stood up to them at the end. A really cute story though and you can get the recipe mentioned at the end in Tommy's interview HERE. A fun read.
Read
September 28, 2011A cute culinary romance between a jaded TV chef and the bloke running a London gastropub. I found the narrator (Jude) hard to warm to at first, but was relieved to discover he was meant to be a bit of a dick! As it was, I soon got into his style and became used to his abrasive phrasing.
I love kitchens and food stories, so this was bound to be a winner for me, but combined with some interesting characters, a really authentic seeming British setting (impressive from an American writer), and PD Singer's lovely prose, this is a story well worth reading :)
I love kitchens and food stories, so this was bound to be a winner for me, but combined with some interesting characters, a really authentic seeming British setting (impressive from an American writer), and PD Singer's lovely prose, this is a story well worth reading :)
February 14, 2012
This review was originally written for Hearts on Fire Reviews and can also be found there.
I didn’t really know what to expect when I first started reading this story, but the first page alone had me chuckling and the ice was broken – I loved it enough to continue reading with almost contagious enthusiasm.
Jude is a chef whose career took the wrong turn during the years and instead of doing what he loves he’s traveling the world tasting all kinds of disgusting as well as delicious dishes in the purpose of entertaining the fans of his show. After finishing up a season he makes his escape in London where he stops with his crew while awaiting their flight. All he wants it some comfort food and a beer, but what he finds in an inconspicuous gastro-pub is Tommy, a fan, and his delicious cuisine.
Tommy just asks for an autograph but what he gets is his favorite chef cooking with him and building attraction rising hotter than the cooking stoves.
This story is too short to talk much about it, but I will say the guys won me over surprisingly fast. Their jokes made me smile and their skill jumped off the screen. I do wish the story was longer, but I was more than satisfied with what I got.
I didn’t really know what to expect when I first started reading this story, but the first page alone had me chuckling and the ice was broken – I loved it enough to continue reading with almost contagious enthusiasm.
Jude is a chef whose career took the wrong turn during the years and instead of doing what he loves he’s traveling the world tasting all kinds of disgusting as well as delicious dishes in the purpose of entertaining the fans of his show. After finishing up a season he makes his escape in London where he stops with his crew while awaiting their flight. All he wants it some comfort food and a beer, but what he finds in an inconspicuous gastro-pub is Tommy, a fan, and his delicious cuisine.
Tommy just asks for an autograph but what he gets is his favorite chef cooking with him and building attraction rising hotter than the cooking stoves.
This story is too short to talk much about it, but I will say the guys won me over surprisingly fast. Their jokes made me smile and their skill jumped off the screen. I do wish the story was longer, but I was more than satisfied with what I got.
August 26, 2011
Just finished this yesterday and it was a great short read. The amount of characterization and detail within this story is fantastic and the level of writing is great. I highly recommend this story.
June 9, 2022
Prep Work is a stand-alone short story starring Jude Marshall, a celebrity chef, and Tommy Bell, owner and chef of a pub. This is told in first person in Jude’s pov and narrator monologue in Tommy’s pov.
August 4, 2019
Not bad for a short story. But something was missing and I really don’t feel as if I got to know the characters that well. Jude was superficially snarky and Tommy was rather sweet but one dimensional. And if it wasn’t stated that they were in London, I would never have guessed Tommy was British. Sam and Marcie could easily have been left out of the story entirely. They came across as complete self-absorbed a-holes and didn’t need to be there. I’m not sure how satisfied I am with the abrupt but very sweet HFN. I tend to like a bit more angst followed by a more solid HEA.
March 25, 2019
It was a lovely, flowing story. Very food-centric, accurately portraying a working restaurant kitchen (including all the numerous French terms that I thought was charming and authentic). The relationship between the two MCs developed beautifully. The story is more sweet than hot, and I thought the final chapter (a sort of epilogue) was the perfect finish to their HEA/HFN. I loved it.
December 31, 2019
It was okay.
It's a very short story with something close to insta list/attraction with likable MCs (that unfortunately don't feel very real). The story is much too short for any character development and plot, it is very simple with sweet happy ending.
It's a very short story with something close to insta list/attraction with likable MCs (that unfortunately don't feel very real). The story is much too short for any character development and plot, it is very simple with sweet happy ending.
March 24, 2019
A lovely short story where food and kitchen life are the third character of this relationship. Delicious!
April 18, 2012
Jude Marshall is a prickly guy and his past is littered with the wreckage he's caused by not having a "brain to mouth filter." When he meets chef Tommy Bell in PD Singer's Prep Work, he's on the brink of creating another disaster.
Walking into the Good Man pub messes with Jude's expectations—he's not prepared for either the quality of the food or the attraction of the chef. Tommy Bell knows who Jude is on a public level, he's seen the show and has the cookbook, but he's willing to find out who Jude the man is. That's an experiment that risks flopping before they've known each other a whole day, because Jude can't keep his foot out of his mouth.
Jude's pretty self-aware, he knows he can come across as a jerk and uses it professionally, but when he wants to make a better impression, it's hard, he doesn't know how. He does get a second chance, and Tommy knows that he jumped to some conclusions too, and ought to give that second chance. Tommy's sweet and funny – he gets Jude to laugh, and that opens the way for Jude to show his more private self.
The production crew has to be reckoned with – Marcy and Sam give the impression of being Jude's tight little dysfunctional family, and you can see some jealousy of Tommy for wanting a piece of their Jude. They're emphatic personalities, even with such little page time.
Everyone in this story has to consider the difference between public Jude and private Jude; a misunderstanding with Tommy that Jude spends a lot of effort to correct happens because Tommy forgets there's a difference. Sam and Marcy have to be reminded forcibly that there is a private Jude at all, and Jude needs to find the balance between the two.
The story ends with all kinds of possibilities for Jude and Tommy. That leaves me wanting to know what happens next for this couple, and if Jude will decide he likes jellied eel.
Walking into the Good Man pub messes with Jude's expectations—he's not prepared for either the quality of the food or the attraction of the chef. Tommy Bell knows who Jude is on a public level, he's seen the show and has the cookbook, but he's willing to find out who Jude the man is. That's an experiment that risks flopping before they've known each other a whole day, because Jude can't keep his foot out of his mouth.
Jude's pretty self-aware, he knows he can come across as a jerk and uses it professionally, but when he wants to make a better impression, it's hard, he doesn't know how. He does get a second chance, and Tommy knows that he jumped to some conclusions too, and ought to give that second chance. Tommy's sweet and funny – he gets Jude to laugh, and that opens the way for Jude to show his more private self.
The production crew has to be reckoned with – Marcy and Sam give the impression of being Jude's tight little dysfunctional family, and you can see some jealousy of Tommy for wanting a piece of their Jude. They're emphatic personalities, even with such little page time.
Everyone in this story has to consider the difference between public Jude and private Jude; a misunderstanding with Tommy that Jude spends a lot of effort to correct happens because Tommy forgets there's a difference. Sam and Marcy have to be reminded forcibly that there is a private Jude at all, and Jude needs to find the balance between the two.
The story ends with all kinds of possibilities for Jude and Tommy. That leaves me wanting to know what happens next for this couple, and if Jude will decide he likes jellied eel.
October 25, 2011
I liked Jude very much - he is a very open, frank narrator. He doesn't shy away from less than savory sides of his job or his past transgressions, including cheating his last boyfriend. Still, I got the impression that he needed this gig as well as his two obnoxious co-workers to understand what he really wants and, more importantly, needs. And, he finds it in a small London pub and self-taught chef Tommy. I liked delicate balance dance in Tommy's kitchen, the way men started to get to know each other. And, of course, I liked the food. I had to raid my fridge after finishing it. XD The ending was HFN, which was realistic. I wouldn't mind reading more about these guys, especially to learn more about Tommy and see how they work for their HEA. *nudge nudge, wink wink*
September 18, 2011
Reviewed by Max: The blurb pretty much states what the story is about only I didn't feel much of anything reading this short story. I found the main character hard to like and overall, I was bored throughout while reading it.
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December 27, 2011
The food channels are my go to channels and so I expected that I would like this story about a TV chef and I was right. Both Jude and Tommy are incredibly likable characters and PD Singer does a good job of making you care about them in a short amount of time. Really hope we see more of Jude and Tommy in the future
September 20, 2011
good story about 2 cooks.
September 3, 2011
4.5 stars
March 29, 2012
3.75 stars (rounded up)
October 2, 2011
Enjoyed this short story about a chef whose life is a bit out of control and the man who brings him back to himself and what he truly cares about. Lovely short read.
May 1, 2012
Nice short story, but ended too soon. Would love to read more on these characters.
September 29, 2012
Beautiful! Tender, funny and very romantic, this little story caught me by surprise and made me smile from beginning to end. Amazing character development given the word count.
March 13, 2013
I liked this one but the ending made me wish there was just a little more.
August 7, 2014
3,75 stars
January 24, 2015
Short and cute m/m.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews