Y'all, how cute was this. It all happened in one day and everything that took place was so freaking cute. Extremely short, very hallmark like (For Us Made By Us).
Yikes! I am always surprised by how much I enjoy some enemies-to-lovers stories despite how much I hate the trope. The RAW ladies sure know how to write this genre very well, with characters you just can’t help but to root for.
In An Unexpected Valentine, we meet chef, Yasmin, who has just been stood up by a blind date on Valentine’s Day. She is almost ready to go home when Nolan, the head chef at the restaurant where she works, and his friends come to her rescue. She finds herself having a nice time despite the raging feelings inside her---she hates him for stealing her job, she hates him because his brother cheated on her sister, and she hates him even more because she actually wants him.
It was cute watching the night unfold as they tiptoe around their feelings, trying to make sense of the hot sexual tension between them, and how explosive it all penned out when they finally gave in to their feelings. What I did not appreciate about this book though was how similar it was in some sense to another enemies-to-lovers book I read from the RAW series. I like to believe that we can do better in this sense, in this setting. There are better prompts to write about than hating someone for stealing a job you feel should have been yours.
Favorite quote: “I didn’t forget that remark you made about liking me, earlier tonight. For the record, the feeling is mutual.”
Thoughts: chile yasmin and nolan had me cackling! two chefs who dont like one another but really do like one another! love this shit lol i also loved the fact that they cooked together! chile this book was short sweet and spicy.
Yas gets stood up by her Valentine's date that her momma set up, when she runs into her known enemy, that offers to keep her company. Cute enemies to lovers read. The fact the main characters were chefs gives this book bonus points.
Yasmine hates Nolan Griffin. Not only does he hold she job she feels should be hers, his brother cheated on her sister, so dude is guilty by association. In another words, he can’t win for losing. One thing it doesn’t change is her attraction to him. Stood up on Valentine’s Date orchestrated by her mother, she runs into Nolan and his friends and starts seeing him in a different light. A little competition allows Yasmine to reveal the true reason she doesn’t like Nolan.This story is so darn cute. Yasmin really pulled the most childish move out the book. Hating someone because your attracted to them? How old are we? Lol! This story is a prime example of how it pays to actually getting to know someone before assuming you hate them. Out of some crazy sense of loyalty to her sister, she would’ve missed out on someone who she had so much in common with. I liked how Nolan respectfully put her in a place. Like what makes you think he wasn’t qualified for the job? Yasmine really came with a bag full of assumptions and made a true ass out herself. Gosh I wanted so much more from this couple. Like are they in a relationship? Is she a chef at the other restaurant now? I got questions Lolol. I need more. I enjoyed Nolan and Yas and I hope we at to visit them also.
This was a really good short story. Yasmin and Nolan were fun to read about. Not fully an enemies-to-lovers since the "hate" is one-sided. I thought the whole plot set up was cute. Yasmin got stood up and end up spending her Valentine's Day with Nolan. They talked through their issues and ended up cooking together in her house. I loved that they had the same passion, and they moved seamlessly together in the kitchen. You can tell they're gonna be a bomb ass power couple. This was short and sexy and wrapped up nicely in under 50 pages. The more I read Te Russ' books, the more she's becoming a favorite of mine. Now I just have to read her backlist.
Yasmin wasn't a fan of Nolan and she didn't hide it from him either. After being stood up on a date, Nolan and his friends invited Yasmin to hang out with them and she actually had a great time. Seeing a different side to Nolan and comforting him about why she didn't like him, they went back to her place. What she didn't expect when they returned to her place that he was what she wanted and needed all along. I love a great enemies to lovers book and this one didn't disappoint. Yasmin didn't like Nolan, but he liked her Im glad she gave him a chance and in the end, she got something great out of it. Te Russ really know how to write great short love stories that make you want more!!!
I felt for Nolan as Yasmin walked around mean mugging him, and being just nasty. Yasmin meeting up with Nolan and his friends on Valentine's night, was an eye opening experience for her. She found out that she was mean and judgemental for reasons that were not true! After the air was cleared between them, the sparks began to fly! Whew! These two were hot, hot and hot! Great valentine read. 👍👍👍
Yes, Yasmin got stood up by a blind date on Valentine's Day. But by the end of the night, she got all that she secretly desired but from an unlikely source. Nolan was smitten by the chef who hated his guts. He soon realized they have so much in common. Besides a love for cooking, they are equally attracted to each other. This Valentine's Day turns out to be quite unforgettable. A sweet enemies to lovers kinda vibe story, I absolutely loved this!
An Unexpected Valentine is a short yet hot romance novella that goes from simmering to boiling hot.
Even though the book is short - perfect for a quick fix if you are a book junkie like me - it gives you a full romance story on how enemies can become lovers in a day.
Warning: The book will leave you wanting for more.
A Sizzling Hot Short Read Te' Russ took no time in spinning a hot short story full of sexual tension and misconception. The storyline was realistic and the hero and heroine in the story is hot. The story is short but it is a complete read. I look forward to reading the other stories in the RAW series.
Love a good enemies to lovers story. Yas and Nolan were hot and sexy together, their impromoto Valentine meet up then cooking together was super romantic to me. These two had a vibe going even when Yas didn't want too. This was a sexy Valentine read delivered in true Te' Russ style.
An unexpected Valentine By TeRuss Chefs? That was the first for me and that was smooth AF. I really loved the scence that was building to get them to the next level. I loved how at one time the thing they had in common was overlooked but became the very thing that had built their bond. I really enjoyed Yas and Nolan's story. What if.... ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Te Russ never lets me down. She is another author that has me downloading everything she puts out. And this quick Valentine's read was funny and adorable. Yasmin and Nolan’s chemistry was hot in and out of the kitchen. I loved the storyline and the characters. The connection with this book was instant and I definitely would like more of them. Te has me obsessed with her work!
A sweet, short valentines read between enemies attracted to each other to lovers. Yas was acting like a child from kindergarten. Hate somebody because you’re attracted to them? Hell no. I’m glad that she actually got to know him better and her assumptions were wrong. Nolan is such a sweetheart. I love him
Yasmine and Nolan are attracted to one another, but have yet to act upon it. Until, they are both at the same place, at the same time, on Valentine's Day. What started out as a simple ride home, became so much more.
I absolutely love the holiday shorts by @terussnovels, and recommend that you pick this 💎💎💎💎💎 one up.
A cute palette cleanser to read between books. I wouldn’t call them enemies bc only Yasmine had a problem with Nolan, which was quite childish bc if she felt like she was under appreciated at her job and should have been the one to be head chef then she should have left instead of being “mean” to Nolan.
In my Neilly voice, “ Oh It’s Getting Hot In Here!” What a turn on a man that can cook and what’s going on his man’s eye! Nolan definitely turned the heat up and Yasmin was the one to get burned! Nice sizzling short read!
Nolan and Yas were a great combination in the kitchen and the pantry! The opposite side of hate is love, or should I say lust for now! And together they were combustible!
Nolan got the head chef's position. Yasmin thought she deserved, so she hated Nolan- kinda, maybe sorta. Getting past her hurt to reveal her real feelings would take some time for her to process. I had fun watching their vibe become an alluring vibration.
I love being in the setting of anything that Te Russ has penned. She always has the best characters, , dialogue and SEX scenes. This was a great way to spend Galantines Day reading this!!
This was a short steamy slow burn! It was so good, the characters, the quick wit, and the sex my Gawd!! I loved TR reversed roles a little bit. I also liked the friend and sister dynamic in this book. Definitely a great way to keep my vday books rolling
I love me a good story that includes food. In kitchen was where the Chemistry brewed between Chefs Nolan and Yasmin. They started out as a enemies yet somehow the situation turned into more than the bargained for. Te never fails to deliver!
A good quick read. Yasmine had come to some unwarranted conclusions (assumptions) and Nolan had to set her straight, and I liked that he was a gentleman about it. Entertaining.
Yasmin got more than she bargained for with Nolan because she prematurely judged him and wanted to stick to “sibling code”. Yasmin’s mom should stay out of her dating life and not set up blind dates.