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Talented pastry chef Miles Costa is bored. Working at the celebrated Napa Valley restaurant Terroir is supposed to be the cherry on top to a promising career, but instead it's a creative desert. So when he gets an offer to turn his online video series into a career, he leaves his three best friends in Napa and swaps Terroir for Los Angeles.

With the resources now at his fingertips, turning his pastry series into a hit should be easy. Then Miles meets his producer, Evan Patterson, and realizes he’s screwed. And not even in the good way.

It's not a meet-cute . . .

Evan lives to work and loves every minute detail Miles loathes. Not only that, he seems hell bent on micromanaging every aspect of Miles' show despite the fact he knows nothing about the culinary arts. Evan doesn’t even like sweets—until Miles seduces him with a rainbow of delectable confections he can't resist.

. . . it's a collision.

With every confrontation, the intensity between them flares even hotter until they're not sure if it's hatred they feel . . .or something else. Is it possible for two people with nothing in common to discover common ground and romance?

Bite Me is a 80,000 word standalone m/m romance featuring enemies to lovers. Don't read hungry!

357 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 3, 2018

260 people are currently reading
572 people want to read

About the author

Beth Bolden

76 books677 followers
A lifelong Oregonian, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband and their sweet kitten, Earl Grey. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.

Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She’s published fourteen novels and five short stories.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
Profile Image for ~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~.
3,582 reviews1,121 followers
May 31, 2018
I kind of hated this book. Both MCs were idiots, and the line between love and hate wasn't just crossed; it was scribbled out in permanent marker.

The ending also sucked donkey balls. Nothing felt settled, and the epilogue was mostly a set-up for book two, which I won't be reading.
Profile Image for Katrina Passick Lumsden.
1,782 reviews12.9k followers
May 23, 2018
DNF at around 15%...? 20%? Somewhere in there. I just couldn't get past the irrationality of Miles. He seems to hate two of his three roommates, going so far as to call them assholes, but then later says they're some of his best friends.

Then he started working with Evan, and things went from bad to worse. Evan was the producer of the show, so why was Miles so insistent on Evan having nothing to do with...producing the show? He stuck his nose up in the air like some kind of pastry diva, and refused to entertain the notion that maybe, just maybe, the professional exec knew wtf he was doing and could get Miles's show off the ground.

Miles needed a good bitch slap, and I knew that probably wasn't gonna happen, so I called it a day.
Profile Image for True Loveislovereview.
2,855 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2018
Miles and Evan

Miles gets the opportunity to bake his delicious pastries get filmed when making them and get glorious paid at the same time. Time for season one of 'Pastry by Miles'
His boss is the famous Reed Ryan who has all the fate in him....and the producer.

Evan will produce it, a control freak pur sang. Sharp and hard as a knife. His heart surrounded by high walls. He doesn't even like sweets.
What seems like the most wonderful chance is in reality almost impossible and one big nightmare. They just can't work together. It looks all will be a great disaster.

Following their story is great.
Two totally different personalities, always fighting and arguing. More than once I had the feeling this will never ever work for them. Only there are starting to begin some tiny cracks in Evan's armor. And because of those cracks we get the chance to see small pieces of his heart.
Also Miles big ego has to see reality. Reed takes reins...

Between whiffs of flour dust and ovens, heavenly recipes, wine, sweets and delicious food there is humor and friendship of years and....some sweet love, struggling, denying and resisting of course lol.

Wonderful story, amazing environments, written in a beautiful captivating way. The two outstanding personalities are worked out to the bone, their characters never deviate.
Really well done.

Kindly received an arc from the author
Profile Image for Cadiva.
3,996 reviews437 followers
May 22, 2018
This is another great addition to this interrelated series set around an online food and sports website/blog network called Five Points.

I've enjoyed each of the books I've read but this one's probably my favourite because of the banter between Miles and Evan and the repressed uptight vibe that inhabits a lot of their interactions.

Chefs fascinate me in general, top level chefs are both terrifying and ridiculously enthralling at the same time. Miles is a top pastry chef with a side line on YouTube doing videos of him making his own unique creations.

Evan has been fascinated with Miles since his show began and he's able to pitch a TV show featuring him to the Five Points network. But Evan's the complete opposite to Miles, his background has him closed off and with walls so high they're almost impenetrable.

There's an attraction between the two which can't be denied though and I loved how Beth Bolden managed to weave a lot of crappy behaviour and real hurt into their ever developing love story without it feeling like the conflict was just there to cause drama.

Both men make mistakes but they also own it, both are stubborn and bull headed, but both accept they need to be more flexible and they are beautiful together once they get over themselves.

I loved the epilogue and am looking forward to more of this series.

#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Profile Image for Nanna Mørk-Sander.
710 reviews43 followers
February 14, 2018
This is one of those insta-love stories that are disguised as enemies-to-lovers.

I would have loved for it to be straight up enemies-to-lovers where they deny their attraction instead of this faux-enemies version where they more or less hated each other on principle, but were still completely honest about wanting each other.

There are a LOT of cooking/baking scenes, and they were so long that I grew a little bit bored with them.

I also felt like the change from banter to i-love-yous was super quick. Evan has such a great storyline with being a foster kid who's afraid to let anyone in, but apparantly not Miles.... I feel like that was a missed opportunity.

So sadly, I'm not the biggest fan.

ARC provided
Profile Image for The Novel Approach.
3,094 reviews136 followers
April 24, 2018
Bite Me, book one in the Kitchen Gods series, is loosely tied to the Five Points series, related to a sport/food/content blog.

Miles Costa is a pastry chef at the only Michelin starred restaurant in Napa. But, he’s bored out of his mind with the desserts that he has to prepare every night. So in his spare time he has a YouTube channel called Pastry by Miles, where he lets his imagination and talent loose to create whatever he wants.

When his latest video goes viral, it seems that others are taking notice. When Reed Ryan, celebrity chef and partner in an online content company, comes calling to give Miles his own show, Miles jumps at the chance to let his creative energy flow and get out of the rut he’s found himself in. While he doesn’t really like to leave his roommates, the move to LA seems like it’ll be the right decision and his next step. That is, until he meets his producer.

Evan Patterson has had to scratch and claw his way his entire life. He’s never had anything handed to him, and he will do anything to succeed—including riding his new star to make the best show possible. That he’s been crushing on Miles since watching his first video is irrelevant. He and Miles will make a successful team. Or die trying.

Miles is not the least bit excited to meet his producer once he understands that Evan assumes that he will be the one in charge. Never has Miles let anyone be in charge of his baking and Pastry by Miles does not have the name Evan ANYWHERE in the title. As they wrestle for control, things go from bad to worse. Miles get so frustrated that he hightails it back to Napa, gets drunk and sends a very ill-advised email. When his producer shows up to drag him back to LA with a horrible hangover and his tail between his legs, Miles is determined to make things work.

When Miles learns the circumstances of Evan’s past, he’s mortified all over again at what he’s done. He decides that he’ll do whatever is needed to make this show a success and so he cedes control to Evan—with somewhat disastrous results. As things go from bad to worse, Reed gives them one last chance to try to make their partnership work—a long weekend away from work.

Miles has an idea how he can get through to Evan, that he does care about him and that he wants not only the show but their personal partnership to work. Evan is a tough nut to crack, but Miles pulls out all the stops to get things back on track and save both their jobs and any possibility of a relationship.

Miles and Evan both have a lot of growing up to do when it comes to communication and trust. Neither has had a successful relationship and it shows.  It’s entertaining to watch the push and pull of their partnership over the course of the story. The secondary characters help provide a lot of insight into Miles and Evan as well. Gina, Miles’ sister, has his number and calls him on it. Miles’ roommates also get it and are mostly supportive, although maybe a bit begrudgingly at first. I really enjoyed watching these two very different people figure out how they could work, and work together as well. Highly recommended, especially for fans of enemies-to-lovers stories.

Reviewed by Sadonna for The Novel Approach
Profile Image for Caipi.
1,242 reviews33 followers
December 3, 2019
Ugh, this was not my book! It dragged endlessly, too many explanations of every thought and action, too repetitive. That's really sad, cause I love the idea of this story! Pastry chef Miles, a real kitchen artist, is getting a TV show and falls in love with his producer Evan, a matter-of-fact number cruncher. It could have been an awesome book. :(

On the bright side there's a lot of talk about croissants, macarons and pain au chocolate, all delicious French pastries!
....and I live only an hour's drive from the French border and love to go groceries shopping there!! 😋

2.5 stars
Profile Image for Jamie.
2,067 reviews93 followers
July 7, 2022
I didn't like this one. I'm thinking part of it was the writing for me. I just could not get into this book to save my life. I think 7 or 8 chapters in maybe it started to get better.

I didn't mind Miles. I couldn't stand Evan. His anger and attitude went on for way to many chapters. Once his past came out more I understood a little better, but it didn't redeem him for me. Seriously, he starts being nice with only 3 or 4 chapters left in the book.

The whole thing with Zander felt off. Didn't fit the book and was completely unnecessary if you ask me.

I don't think I'll continue with the series. This was my first time reading this author so maybe I'll read something different. I'm not sure though...
Profile Image for Megan.
1,469 reviews29 followers
February 20, 2018
They say there's only a thin line between love and hate and that was never truer for two people than Miles and Evan. What brought them together is very likely the thing that will drive them apart but for the sake of their careers they've got to learn to compromise without giving up what makes them unique. Finding that balance will spell either success or failure and neither are willing to fail.

I liked Miles the most. He was childish, unprofessional, charismatic, funny, focused, talented, ashamed, prideful, humble, strong, passionate, determined...he's so multi-faceted and interesting despite his glaring imperfections. He's so flustered by his attraction to Evan, thrown off by Evan's presence, and has his hackles up because of both his pride as well as his fear of not keeping creative control. Fear and pride are his motivators in the beginning of his new endeavor but those are quickly bolstered by his attraction to what he sees as the source of his problems. His evolution is the most interesting to watch, he's captivating as a character because of his flaws, his strength, his insecurity, his talent.

Evan was a good counter to all that was Miles. Well, he would be if he could get his head out of his own ass most of the time. With such an unyielding need to control everyone and everything he pushes Miles to the point that I kind of lose respect for him. When Evan is introduced it's clear that he encouraged the acquisition of Miles' talent and charisma for the studio based on that talent and charm but as soon as Miles enters the office his inner thoughts are manipulative and only bent on using Miles as a pawn for his own success. As if Miles himself didn't matter, only what he could do for Evan.

The animosity set up for the passionate conflict between the men but it made me dislike Evan. I get his traumatic past setting him up for a need for control but the extent of his treatment of Miles was pretty deplorable throughout most of their interactions. Their end, however was absolutely sweet and honest. Having Evan realize that compromise doesn't mean manipulating and shaming Miles into giving in was great. They both really needed the wake-up call so they could see what they needed to give up to truly succeed. And when they both relented and relaxed? Magic.

I'm glad that metaphorical smack to the head came from Reed. I loved seeing Reed here and having him be the guiding and correcting hand for them was just the right role for him as well as what Evan and Miles needed. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the Kitchen Gods. Wyatt, Kian, and then Xander, they all deserve their own hard-won happiness and I'm definitely eager for their journeys.

Read and willingly reviewed this ARC from the author.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews132 followers
Want to read
July 20, 2021
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/15/2019)! 🎁
Profile Image for Smutty  Sully.
895 reviews252 followers
Read
November 15, 2023
DNF at some percentage that's past where I should have stopped. No rating because I'm kind like that.

These guys are... annoying? Clueless? Obliviots? A waste of my reading time? All of the above?

Just immature drama and too much stupidity.
Profile Image for mrs sarah frost.
450 reviews11 followers
February 6, 2018
Miles Costa works at a top restaurant called Terroir. Instead of being wowed he's bored so he starts recording and posting online videos of himself cooking under the name of 'Pastry by Mi!es'. When he receives an email from Reed Ryan a producer at Five Points he goes to LA from Napa for a meeting, where Reed offers him a contract for fifteen episodes he immediately accepts. Leaving behind his three best friends Xander, Wyatt and Kian he heads to LA.
Evan Patterson has been given the job of producing Mile's Costa's new online cooking show, by his boss Reed Ryan. When they meet they don't quite hit it off, especially as Evan tells Miles he hates all sweets and tries to control the show. They are both so stubborn and with the sexual chemistry between them, can they make the show work, turn their hatred into friends and even to love?
I'm looking forward to reading about the other characters.
Profile Image for DebbieReadsBooks.
2,764 reviews50 followers
March 5, 2018
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is, as far as I can see, the first I've read of Bolden's work, I sure hope it isn't the last! She has a way of not giving you the full picture about something and you aren't quite sure if you missed that bit, or it wasn't mentioned yet, or what?? And I really LOVED that!

Evan and Miles butt heads, right from the start, but equally, they have attraction, powerful attraction. And I loved watching them both ( because we hear from both guys) fight that attraction. Right til they both realize that their jobs are on the line, and they could lose each other too. THEN??? All bets are off and these guys give in to the inevitable.

It's amazing watching Evan come out of himself, watching Miles peel back the layers of Evan's outer casing, to the man inside.

It's not a complicated plot line, nor is it a difficult read. It's very well written and flows beautifully from the butting heads to the but...well....you get the picture. It's not very explicit though, and I really REALLY liked that it wasn't. There is no break up/make up. It's just a really great read!

Back to that not getting the full picture thing. It's about a certain thing that Miles does when he is drunk. Which I found hilarious, but when we get the full story of what was contained within?? You understand why the hints are there, you put the pieces together. Can't say anything else, cos of spoilers, but I really did enjoy not having the full picture thrown at me all at once!

Oh! You'll probably put on about ten pounds just reading this, cos, food porn or what! Miles is, after all, a pastry chef! But, love that the recipes in the book are give as links at the end. Might have to make myself some alcoholic macaroons!

This is billed as book one in the Kitchen Gods series. But some characters pop up who already had their stories written. I'd like to both go back, and forward, with these guys. I love the way Bolden spins her yarns.

so, a perfect Sunday morning read, that kept me fully engaged and I read it in one sitting.

5 stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews870 followers
February 12, 2018

I was very excited about the Kitchen Gods series by Beth Bolden, a spin-off of her wildly popular Five Points series so it pains me to say that I struggled to finish Bite Me. While I don’t mind a healthy amount of verbal sparring between a couple, there was too much and it got old very quickly in this book.

Miles Costa a pastry chef at a popular Napa restaurant and a YouTube mini celebrity for his baking videos is wooed and hired for an online cooking show by the Five Points crew. When he arrives he finds he won’t be working with the famous chef that hired him, but a producer with no cooking experience, Evan Patterson. From the minute they meet they antagonize one another and that continues for way too long in this book, so much so that I found it hard to like either character or care about their fledgling relationship.

I did finish this book, but it wasn’t easy and I did so because I had loved the books in the previous series and I kept thinking there would be something that redeemed it, but for me this one just didn’t work on many levels. I really never felt the connection between Miles and Evan and maybe that was because I didn’t like way they treated one another for so much of this book so I was apathetic about them getting together.

It’s always hard to write a review for an author whose work you’ve enjoyed in the past, but missed the mark so I’ll just say this book didn’t work for me on any level and while I want to say I’ll give the next book in this series a chance given this was the first time I haven’t enjoyed her work, I won’t say that I have reservations about devoting the time to read a book I’m concerned may not be for me.

Sadly, Bite Me was not a book I savored at all.
Profile Image for Calila.
1,178 reviews102 followers
April 11, 2019
*Received A Copy To Review From The Author*

A decent solid read. But it didn't completely work for me. I enjoyed the characters for the most part. The plot gets a little lost towards the end in order to build up the relationship which is find. I just don't like when both characters are responsible for the misunderstanding/misjudgements of each other but only one is taken to task or held accountable for it while the other one gets to play victim. The whole email thing was made too big of an issue. I was actually happy that Evan, I had thought, let it roll of his back and didn't take it seriously. But I was wrong. It kept coming up. Yes it was unprofessional. Yes Miles said some mean things in it. But whatever, it wasn't the biggest sin ever. What really bugged me was all of Evan's holier than thou I know better you're just here to cook I'm right and never wrong smug BS. Miles was confident in his skills, as he should be. I had no issue with his attitude at all. Evan was just as "confident" in his abilities but apparently it's okay for him because he was in foster care and he had to work hard, unlike Miles because I guess culinary school and a high quality restaurants are such easy things to navigate? It just bugged me how Miles just took Evan's snobbery (which yes, he had some) and actually started believing it. Evan comes to a realization about his superiority complex but it still bugged me. I wish Mile's friends had played a bigger role, but I suppose I'll get to know them more in their books. Which I still am interested in reading. I know it seems like I hated this, but I just didn't like Evan a lot of the time. I thought he was a big hypocrite. Outside of those moments I did like him, and I liked him with Miles. I would've actually enjoyed more of them being adversaries before they switched. Or at least kept the challenging of each other after the relationship started. I'm starting to repeat my rants so I'll wrap up and just say. I liked it well enough, could've loved Evan more but still interested in reading further in the series.
Profile Image for Dig.
381 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2019
The book had a lot of potential. Plot was good. Execution was kind of disappointing. I feel like things just came out of nowhere, lots of repetitiveness in words and emotions and feelings. Ridiculous amounts of back and forth that wasn’t necessary. I couldn’t find myself connecting with any of the characters. I wasn’t happy when Evan and Miles finally got together – it was so blah. Absolutely no satisfaction. The way Miles found out Xander had a thing for him – was shocking to Miles but it was also shocking to the audience and that’s just not good. It felt like the author decided late that they were gonna throw in this twist of love triangle for like ABSOLUTELY no reason.

I couldn’t connect with Evan at all. And his backstory was just so much tell. There was no emotion. He was an asshole. And not even the good kind. I just hated him.

And what was up with “Are you guys dating now? Are you dating now?”

Like was Miles that much of a tart? Why was this also not really well-explained?

I have so many issues w/ the story-telling and so much unnecessary stuff could have been cut out b/c it was just BORING.

Why was the epilogue Wyatt’s POV? LIKE WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY????
Ending was dumb. “I can’t control myself – I wanna have sex with you on camera.” (Okay, I am paraphrasing. But still…)

Profile Image for Kendra T.
3,073 reviews39 followers
March 21, 2021
This was one of this books that took me a little while to rally get into it because the characters pretty much annoyed me from the start. It is to be expected (from what we’ve seen on the TV shows) that chefs have ego. It started out making me think that Miles was different. Once he got to LA, though, he was like a different person than he was in Napa. I didn’t like this Miles so much. The clashing between Evan and Miles was kind of annoying, and it seemed like they fell in love a bit too quickly after all the nonsense fighting. Once they actually got together and I saw the Miles from the beginning of the book again, it was really enjoyable. I thought that the parts where they focused on developing their relationship were great, and I loved the resolution to it all. Despite taking a while to get into it, I did feel like it was well written, and I am very much interested in Wyatt’s story.

I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC provided by LesCourt Author Services
Profile Image for Paula´s  Brief Review.
1,172 reviews16 followers
October 4, 2018
Por qué no hago caso a los ratings de Goosreads? Todo lo que baje de 3,8 no vale la pena. Pero me atraía la historia del Chef sacado de su cocina para hacer programas de TV
Me equivoqué, lo reconozco.
La historia es muy aburrida y mal desarrollada, los personajes además de ser insufribles, ambos, no tienen feeling alguno entre ellos y ni siquiera consigue que los secundarios, que son los que van a protagonizar el resto de los libros de la serie, sean atractivos, por lo que seguir con la serie será una pérdida de tiempo, aunque tengan mejor rating, pues imagino que sólo los habrán leído aquellos a los que les gusto éste, que no es mi caso
Profile Image for Angela Charles.
662 reviews29 followers
May 2, 2019
Where to begin? There is just so much angst that happen with in this book. From the very beginning this book gave me middle school vibes. I have no idea who why an abundance of drama and angst makes for a great story. This story took so much longer to read through because the two main characters, Evan and Miles, kept going back-and-forth with one another. Within the story there was a plot and the plot was somewhat decent. I just don't know how I feel about the overall story. This is part of a series and this book makes me not want to read the series because of the way the two main characters were written.
Profile Image for Tina J.
1,338 reviews172 followers
February 19, 2018
✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ FOUR-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

> > Judging a Book by it's Cover < <
Black and white models with highlighted accents in hot pink. The cover was alright, it caught my attention. The synopsis sounded interesting but it was the AUTHOR that made me want to read it. I've been wanting to read something by Beth Bolden for over a year now.

> > Looking Deeper < <
POV ~> Third-person

What can I say about these two guys that may come off flattering? I'm not entirely sure.
Pastry chef, Miles, was bored working at a world-class restaurant but felt stifled, working under the head pastry chef's dull and dismal creative limitations. He created home videos of himself baking as a means, initially, to keep in contact with his sister. Then he easily jumped ship when a video he posted went viral, bringing with it a job offer with many pretty and potential perks. (After only a token "think about it", he took the job without looking further than the dollar signs after claiming that the money had little to do with it. He failed to read any of the fine print!!)
Evan grew up in the system and has had to fight for every little scrap of respect he's earned. He's worked hard for years and was now promoted to Producer for the new cooking show. He refused to allow himself to fail at anything and go back to the living conditions he'd endured growing up.
Both men kept spouting about being professionals, but there was little professionalism to be seen from either man throughout the first 1/2 of the book. Name-calling, one-upmanship, snide attitude, snarky comments, smugness, unwillingness to compromise, all the game playing... it was a classic case of Elementary school level pigtail pulling and felt quite annoying on two grown, supposedly adult and professional, men. When they did drop the b.s. long enough to work together, it was nice. Their chemistry, which neither concealed and both barely contained, was very push and pull / cat-and-mouse for a while there.
They soon learned that if they could not come to some sort of compromise or solution, Reed would pull the plug on this project. Suddenly, they went from barely tolerating each other to holding back the "L" word? Hmm, not quite feeling that. The secondary cast was varied and ranged from very likable to major a-hole. It was nicely balanced. The plot was long and tiresome in places. Like a novice on a treadmill, the reader may read for an hour but feel like they've gotten nowhere.
The conflicts were irrational, borne of ego and pride. Only when their jobs were threatened did they finally come down a notch long enough to learn to work together. Predictability was low. The ending was abrupt and did not really have a solid conclusion. It felt as if it is meant to continue in the background of the next book, which could possibly belong to Miles' friend, Wyatt.
Overall, I do not think the constant sniping and distrust of one another is something I personally enjoyed. Perhaps enemies-to-lovers was is not a good matchup. While the characters are well developed, I was not a fan of their personas.
.
Rating: [R] ~ Score: 3.875 ~ Stars: 4

==========================

⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I received a copy of this book from the Author's PA with the hope that I would voluntarily leave unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐
Profile Image for Mari  Cardenas.
2,290 reviews28 followers
February 12, 2018
4.5 Stars!

Warning: Do not read this book if you're hungry, you're only going to get hungrier with Ms Bolden's scrumptious food descriptions. LOL

Miles is bored at his work at Terroir, the only Michelin star restaurant in California, and starts a vblog, Pastry by Miles, to stay connected with his sister and have the chance to show his creative streak. When the last of his posts goes viral, he's offered what might be the chance of a lifetime. However, he'd have to work with Evan, who is a marketing guy who doesn't even like desserts, and that doesn't sit right with him, no matter how cute Evan is.

Evan has had a crush on Miles since he started researching him and his blog for a possible collaboration, and in person, Miles is every bit as handsome or more than on his videos. Only, he's also insufferable. Evan's hard-earned promotion as a producer and his job are riding on Pastry by Miles being a success, though, and if they don't learn to work together, it will all be for nothing.

I adored Evan from the first moment. There was just something about him that made me love him. Yes, he was stubborn as all hell, but he was also sweet and lonely and his crush for Miles was kind of endearing. Never mind that when I learned what Evan went through when he was younger, I just loved him more. It took me longer to warm up to Miles. He was equally as stubborn as Evan, but while Evan had reasons to be distrustful, Miles was just being an egotistical ass. He did get better, eventually, and once he realized Pastry by Miles's success wasn't just about him, he did a huge turnaround. Evan and Miles had great chemistry and were hot together. It was lovely seeing them go from kind of frenemies to lovers.

It was great seeing Reed again, and meeting Miles's friends, Xander, Kyan and Wyatt, I'm looking forward to reading their stories in the next books in the Kitchen Gods series.

All in all, this was a fantastic start to the series! It's well-written and very entertaining, with yummy recipes and a fabulous set of characters. While it took me a bit to connect with Miles, I really wanted to slap some sense into him sometimes, I ended up loving him almost as much as Evan. I'm hooked and wanting more of these fascinating men and of course, hopefully catching glimpses into Miles and Evan's HEA. Highly recommendable!

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,076 reviews517 followers
March 9, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars


Evan Patterson has been working, scheming, and slaving at Five Points for years, going from unpaid intern to producer. His first show, the one he hand-picked himself, is Pastry by Miles. He’s watched the blog since its early days and once the tarts made Miles the talk of the town, Evan knew he had to get Reed to agree to sign him before someone else did. Unfortunately, when Evan and Miles meet, it’s antipathy at first sight. They just can’t stand one another. Evan needs to control everything and Miles refuses to budge even an inch. There’s only one thing the two men can agree on and that’s how much they both want Pastry by Miles to succeed. So, teeth gritted, the two of them try their best to work together. Unfortunately, their best isn’t working at all and now they have one week left to prove to Reed that they can do the impossible before he pulls the plug on their show.

Miles has worked a long time in the culinary field, always having to cook someone else’s food. It’s why his vlog means so much to him. Not only is it a way for him to keep in touch with his sister and cheer her up, it’s also a way for him to be creative and adventurous with his own food. No “yes, chef,” “no, chef,” “three plates full, chef.” In his own kitchen he can make silly things, like Ding Dongs, or more elaborate pastries. It’s his freedom and his fun and … just his. By signing up with Reed, he’s giving away control over something that brought him joy. It makes him nervous and protective, and — adding to that — he’s given up everything else he’s earned. Getting the job in Terrior, the connections and respect that gave him, his friends, his reputation, everything familiar and safe.

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.


Profile Image for Amanda.
384 reviews10 followers
February 12, 2018
Wow, what a roller coaster this book is! In a good way, I swear. Enemies to lovers just so happens to be one of my top two favorite tropes, and let’s just say that Miles and Evan do NOT get off on the right foot. In fact, it’s safe to say enemies-to-lovers almost seems like a tame description at times. But while they cannot seem to get along whenever they try to work together or communicate, underneath it all is a desire on both sides they don’t quite know what to do with. There is quite a bit of antagonism in this story and at times I was worried about how they would get past some of the things each character did - and yes, I wanted to slap some sense into both of them at times. However, it’s easy to see that there are true feelings developing on both sides so it balances the story out. The banter between Miles and Evan is fantastic, and I can absolutely see how the resolution to their Pastry With Miles dilemma worked so incredibly well for this couple! They bring out the best in each other once they get past the biggest of their issues, and their relationship develops into an adorable, hilarious, and sexy romance as the story goes on. I enjoyed the side characters quite a bit, namely Miles’ roommates. I am so intrigued by each of them and their situations that I am dying for their stories! I also shamelessly admit I love a good cover, and the cover to Bite Me is GORGEOUS. Gah, and the food featured in this book. Oh my gosh, don’t read it hungry - the recipes sound incredible!

A solid 4.5 stars from me, Bite Me is a strong start to what promises to be a fun and utterly delicious series (see what I did there? Hey, I never said I was a comedian...)
Profile Image for Rissa.
2,256 reviews3 followers
August 27, 2022
I didn't know what to say so I looked at some reviews and ok, read Calila's review because that was how I felt, OMG.

I really didn't understand how that email became what it was. Like for real? I felt it was really overblown.

And even at the beginning, I felt as though it began in the middle, like we were supposed to know everyone already? So, I was all, is this a spinoff series or something? Because names were being dropped and sure enough, they were characters from other books.

And who needs enemies when you got friends like that? I mean I get chefs are competitive but I didn't feel one ounce of friendliness from any of them. To each other.

I don't know if I want to continue the series? We shall see.

Profile Image for Leanne.
292 reviews17 followers
October 15, 2019
I wanted to enjoy this so much more than I did. The beginning was fantastic, I flew through the sample so fast that I HAD to buy the book immediately. Unfortunately, once Miles left Napa and his cute, funny and interesting roommates, the book fell completely flat. I didn't see chemistry between Miles and Evan at all. I have no idea what they saw in each other. Sure, enemies to lovers is a fun book to read but this... And the love was basically insta love. Miles and Evan knew hardly anything about each other before Miles is professing his love. 🤦‍♀ it was cute, but I really enjoyed the roommates and the Michelin star restaurant parts of the book much more than the actual "romance." 3/5
Profile Image for Dan.
1,732 reviews50 followers
December 6, 2025
I reread it on audiobook, in part because I got the full series and decided to start from the first. I am very clear on why I gave it just three stars. My current opinion makes three stars feel generous. The story is very slow, and I don't like Evan and Miles as a couple. The constant battle is pretty exhausting and I'm not really sure it feels like a good romance. The ebook made me want to reconsider reading the rest of the books (I did in the end), the audiobooks is making me reconsider if I want to reread them. My opinion hasn't changed for the second go around. I know it gets better later, but the first book leaves a very bad impression
Profile Image for Sue Milkovich.
1,726 reviews16 followers
June 14, 2018
THIS MADE ME HUNGRY AND HORNY

This is my first time reading a Beth Bolden book. I can say, that I will be researching her catalogue. I found her style intriguing and very imaginative. Miles is a top of the line pastry chef, YUM! He works in the most prestigious award winning restaurant in Napa Valley. He has a online baking show , to create and explore desserts that they won't use at the restaurant. That is where Evan sees Miles and knows his company and boss will love him. When Miles the handsome, arrogant pastry chef and Evan the gorgeous, arrogant show producer meet, lightning strikes and sparks ignite. This is a magnificently written story that keeps you turning the pages. The second book in this series is already out and I am going to buy it RIGHT NOW!!! This author is joining my must buy M/M genre authors. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!!
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