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Table for Two #1
Just Desserts
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The pen is mightier than the cleaver... French chef Luc Tessier is five-star successful. His cookery program on TV is rated as high as his restaurant, and casual flings are his specialty. The only stain on his toque is Daniel Sheridan, an English food critic who has made it his business to ruin Luc's reputation. The only way to clarify this particular pat of butter is to invite the critic to dine and bury the hatchet-preferably in Daniel's back. The moment he lays eyes on Daniel, however, Luc's thoughts turn from sauces to seduction. Daniel definitely finds Luc appetizing, but he plays it cool. He never wants to be anyone's toy, ever again. Yet in the face of Luc's relentless pursuit, he's finding it harder to keep the flamboyant chef at arm's length. A cooking competition on a remote Scottish island seems the perfect way to put some distance between them. Until Luc shows up to compete, determined to win not only the trophy, but Daniel's heart... Warning: Ingredients include two extremely hot men determined to come up with a whole new definition for "sizzling." Explicit use of food items could incite spontaneous nekkid food fights.
- - -
The pen is mightier than the cleaver... French chef Luc Tessier is five-star successful. His cookery program on TV is rated as high as his restaurant, and casual flings are his specialty. The only stain on his toque is Daniel Sheridan, an English food critic who has made it his business to ruin Luc's reputation. The only way to clarify this particular pat of butter is to invite the critic to dine and bury the hatchet-preferably in Daniel's back. The moment he lays eyes on Daniel, however, Luc's thoughts turn from sauces to seduction. Daniel definitely finds Luc appetizing, but he plays it cool. He never wants to be anyone's toy, ever again. Yet in the face of Luc's relentless pursuit, he's finding it harder to keep the flamboyant chef at arm's length. A cooking competition on a remote Scottish island seems the perfect way to put some distance between them. Until Luc shows up to compete, determined to win not only the trophy, but Daniel's heart... Warning: Ingredients include two extremely hot men determined to come up with a whole new definition for "sizzling." Explicit use of food items could incite spontaneous nekkid food fights.
47 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2010
8 people are currently reading
291 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
July 22, 2010
***WICKEDLY DELICIOUS!***
I was very surprised by Just Desserts, for a quick read around 47 pages, this book truly was a splendidly written piece. Our two male characters were unique, funny and just all kinds of sexy. I was expecting fluff and sex, but I got a delightful story based around food, wrapped in passion and had one of the most delightful characters I had the privilege to read so far this year. Luc Tessier is all kinds of wickedly sexy, brooding and hilarious.
So Luc is a renowned French chef, his cuisine is vegetarian and it is very good. He knows he is the man, and he has the swagger that goes with it, comes as no surprise that his ego might be bigger than the country he lives in. Luc is also a man slut, he has many bed partners and if he sees someone he wants, he takes them down like a lion to his prey. Everyone wants a piece of Luc Tessier except one, and he goes by the name of Daniel Sheridan a British critic who goes after Luc with teeth and claws. Luc hates him!
With an invite sent out Luc decides, he is going to make Daniel his most amazing meal ever so the stuffy Brit can eat his words. He was expecting an old guy with messed up teeth who smelled like cabbage(surprised), what he gets is the most beautiful man he has ever seen. With seduction on his mind, he goes in for his prey and lands him. The after part leads to a falling out, but the one night together might just be the best sex of his life and he starts with the world’s best courting.
I loved Luc he was dangerously hilarious; the things he says just had me laughing aloud. He was just such a dark funny character, he had unconventional thinking and it made this short little story exceptional. Daniel was also quite wonderful, seems this stuffy Brit has a potty mouth and it works. Told mostly through Luc’s POV we do get a glimpse into Daniels thinking. Quite a quick good read worth your time, it is a wonderful story about food, sex and the pleasures of falling in love. I was laughing from the very first page to the last. If all Scarlett Blackwell’s books carries this kind of humour then I am jumping on her reading train.
I was very surprised by Just Desserts, for a quick read around 47 pages, this book truly was a splendidly written piece. Our two male characters were unique, funny and just all kinds of sexy. I was expecting fluff and sex, but I got a delightful story based around food, wrapped in passion and had one of the most delightful characters I had the privilege to read so far this year. Luc Tessier is all kinds of wickedly sexy, brooding and hilarious.
So Luc is a renowned French chef, his cuisine is vegetarian and it is very good. He knows he is the man, and he has the swagger that goes with it, comes as no surprise that his ego might be bigger than the country he lives in. Luc is also a man slut, he has many bed partners and if he sees someone he wants, he takes them down like a lion to his prey. Everyone wants a piece of Luc Tessier except one, and he goes by the name of Daniel Sheridan a British critic who goes after Luc with teeth and claws. Luc hates him!
With an invite sent out Luc decides, he is going to make Daniel his most amazing meal ever so the stuffy Brit can eat his words. He was expecting an old guy with messed up teeth who smelled like cabbage(surprised), what he gets is the most beautiful man he has ever seen. With seduction on his mind, he goes in for his prey and lands him. The after part leads to a falling out, but the one night together might just be the best sex of his life and he starts with the world’s best courting.
I loved Luc he was dangerously hilarious; the things he says just had me laughing aloud. He was just such a dark funny character, he had unconventional thinking and it made this short little story exceptional. Daniel was also quite wonderful, seems this stuffy Brit has a potty mouth and it works. Told mostly through Luc’s POV we do get a glimpse into Daniels thinking. Quite a quick good read worth your time, it is a wonderful story about food, sex and the pleasures of falling in love. I was laughing from the very first page to the last. If all Scarlett Blackwell’s books carries this kind of humour then I am jumping on her reading train.
September 9, 2013
Remember when Alanis Morisette sang You Oughta Know.
Yeah.
Then remember when Alanis Morisette sang Thank you, India.
Uh huh.
This is like Alanis...after India.
Yeah.
Then remember when Alanis Morisette sang Thank you, India.
Uh huh.
This is like Alanis...after India.
August 19, 2011
This reads like a fucking fairy tale. Literally, like a fairy tale with lots of fucking in it. Like a fairy tale in which the Prince bends Cinderella over the bar halfway through the first waltz and licks whipped cream off her ass. And then declares his undying love, of course. I mean, obviously. She's pretty and she writes a witty e-mail. What's not to love?
The Prince is celebrity fuck-em-all chef Luc who is led around by his dick in truly epic fashion. Apparently there are no laws against l'harrassement sexuelle in Gay Paree, and it is quite alright to fuck your minions and give them raises in return. They're begging for it, after all, the little sluts. Cinderella would be his nemesis and holding-out-for-love food critic Daniel. Although, we actually know more about Cinderella's back story than Daniel's. It is still not clear why he has been ripping Luc apart in the media for months, without apparently ever trying his food. Both guys are as flat as fairy tale characters and the story as predictable.
Bah, enough time spent on this.
The Prince is celebrity fuck-em-all chef Luc who is led around by his dick in truly epic fashion. Apparently there are no laws against l'harrassement sexuelle in Gay Paree, and it is quite alright to fuck your minions and give them raises in return. They're begging for it, after all, the little sluts. Cinderella would be his nemesis and holding-out-for-love food critic Daniel. Although, we actually know more about Cinderella's back story than Daniel's. It is still not clear why he has been ripping Luc apart in the media for months, without apparently ever trying his food. Both guys are as flat as fairy tale characters and the story as predictable.
Bah, enough time spent on this.
April 28, 2014
Well, this was over the top, enjoyable in an indulgent sort of way, and full of M/M romance cliches. I liked it, even though I was rolling my eyes half the time and it ended at 76% on my Kindle.
August 21, 2011
If there is a romance cliche that isn't hit in the first chapters, I haven't heard about it. I assume this was intentional (violet eyes?) and intended to be funny, but for me it didn't quite get there. So I was left with a competent, mildly amusing story that was neither laugh-out-loud not really engaging. There were some funny moments. (The gift of vegetables - great line in the thank-you note!) but not enough for me to raise it out of the middle ranks.
February 7, 2013
Super cute short story about a chef and food critic. I felt like we actually got to know these two a little bit and a little food with sex never hurts. Pretty hot smexing for such a short novella but I could have done without Mr.Picky wanting Luc to brush his teeth before a kiss. That seems like such a chick move!
Read
August 26, 2010All the calories that Luc Tessier, French chef and man-eater, doesn’t put in his courses since he is a vegetarian cook, he for sure consumes during sex, most of the time seasoned with whipped cream and sweet fruits.
Luc has an ego that is probably bigger than France, and it says a lot. He is tired of a English food critic, Daniel Sheridan, who always destroys his cooking tv show and so he decides to invite the man to dine in his Parisian restaurant. Even if Luc is gay and proud, better he doesn’t give a damn of what the people think, he is planning to seduce Daniel only with his cuisine, since he doesn’t know that Daniel is a model beautiful man.
When he sees the pretty Englishman, Luc’s plans immediately change, and a post-dinner visit to the kitchen when everyone is gone away is mandatory: after all there is a comfortable flat surface there. If after a very quick and very dirty (in every meaning of the word, remember the whipped cream of above) encounter Daniel would have not dismissed it as nothing more than a one night stand, maybe Luc would have not fixated on the man. In any case now, Luc’s mission is changed: he doesn’t want to conquer the food critic, he wants the man.
Both men are not exactly fair players. Daniel has a crush on the handsome chef, and like the fox and the grapes, since he thought he couldn’t have him, then he dismissed not only the man but also his work. On the other hand, Luc seems more interested in satisfy his sexual desires than actually doing a good job. He is not a bad man but he has for sure an egoistical core; not only in his relationship with various men, but also in his day-to-day life: when asked to cook for an humanitarian foundation in a cooking competition, he at first has no intention to accept until he doesn’t find out that Daniel is in the jury, and that is the only reason why he accept.
This is only a novella, and basically the characters meet at the beginning and at the end, with the middle full of funny, and sometime outrageous trick with which Luc is trying to conquer Daniel. Just Desserts is a funny romp, for sure not serious, not at all if you consider both characters: to me they seem more children at play than professional adult.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003OYIA4C/?...
Luc has an ego that is probably bigger than France, and it says a lot. He is tired of a English food critic, Daniel Sheridan, who always destroys his cooking tv show and so he decides to invite the man to dine in his Parisian restaurant. Even if Luc is gay and proud, better he doesn’t give a damn of what the people think, he is planning to seduce Daniel only with his cuisine, since he doesn’t know that Daniel is a model beautiful man.
When he sees the pretty Englishman, Luc’s plans immediately change, and a post-dinner visit to the kitchen when everyone is gone away is mandatory: after all there is a comfortable flat surface there. If after a very quick and very dirty (in every meaning of the word, remember the whipped cream of above) encounter Daniel would have not dismissed it as nothing more than a one night stand, maybe Luc would have not fixated on the man. In any case now, Luc’s mission is changed: he doesn’t want to conquer the food critic, he wants the man.
Both men are not exactly fair players. Daniel has a crush on the handsome chef, and like the fox and the grapes, since he thought he couldn’t have him, then he dismissed not only the man but also his work. On the other hand, Luc seems more interested in satisfy his sexual desires than actually doing a good job. He is not a bad man but he has for sure an egoistical core; not only in his relationship with various men, but also in his day-to-day life: when asked to cook for an humanitarian foundation in a cooking competition, he at first has no intention to accept until he doesn’t find out that Daniel is in the jury, and that is the only reason why he accept.
This is only a novella, and basically the characters meet at the beginning and at the end, with the middle full of funny, and sometime outrageous trick with which Luc is trying to conquer Daniel. Just Desserts is a funny romp, for sure not serious, not at all if you consider both characters: to me they seem more children at play than professional adult.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003OYIA4C/?...
July 28, 2010
Have you seen the movie, "Ratatouille"? If you have, then you must remember the confrontation between the French Chef with the British critic. Well, this is what the story is all about too. French Chef, Luc Tessier, has his blood boiled everytime he hears/read British food critic, Daniel Sheridan, who seems to always criticize his food harshly. So Luc invited Daniel to have special dinner in his restaurant, Chez Luc, where he swears he will impressed the Brit. Only when he sees Daniel, he is not only want to impress the gorgeous critic, but he also dying to well, fu*k him senseless :D
I thought the story is HILARIOUS. Luc is one outrageous, pompous prick kind person. He's loud, he's hard-headed, and has no ashame of it. He fu*cks his underlings, without care. In Daniel, he finds his match. The way he methodically thinks of ways to kill Daniel makes me giggling. Of course, the sex is totally explosive because Daniel also has a temper of his own. He determines NOT simply become another notch on Luc's bedpost. So the game of chasing is ON.
Oh, there is one hot sex on the kitchen. Let me say this, it involves cream, chocolate, and strawberry, and it's wicked. Deliciously wicked.
Can't wait to read the sequel. I wonder what other food that Luc will use while having sex with Daniel *grin*
I thought the story is HILARIOUS. Luc is one outrageous, pompous prick kind person. He's loud, he's hard-headed, and has no ashame of it. He fu*cks his underlings, without care. In Daniel, he finds his match. The way he methodically thinks of ways to kill Daniel makes me giggling. Of course, the sex is totally explosive because Daniel also has a temper of his own. He determines NOT simply become another notch on Luc's bedpost. So the game of chasing is ON.
Oh, there is one hot sex on the kitchen. Let me say this, it involves cream, chocolate, and strawberry, and it's wicked. Deliciously wicked.
Can't wait to read the sequel. I wonder what other food that Luc will use while having sex with Daniel *grin*
April 5, 2015
Even if the story isn't the most amazing ever, if it pulls me in and makes me cry, it's pretty much guaranteed a high rating. It's about how it makes you FEEL, right? Well, this had me tears, but it was the cracking up, laughing out loud in hysterics type of tears. I found this to be ludicrously funny and loved being in Luc's head, an admitted egomaniac. I SO NEEDED this after coming off a very dark read. It was just plain fun and lifted my spirits.
September 6, 2015
I liked the concept of this book but the characters really weren't likable. Luc was really bad. There ended up being very little plot as well. I realize this was a short but I have seen better plots with less pages.
July 26, 2016
Flat, one dimensional characters with no real story to prop them up. I need to give up on Scarlet Blackwell.
September 18, 2013
Super sweetness! And yummy good!
November 1, 2013
Probably ultimately a 3.5 star read for me. I didn't love this little short, but it was intriguing enough.
Luc Tessier is a 5 Star French checf and has the ego to match it. He knows precisely how talented he is and how orgasmic people find his vegetarian cuisine. For gods sakes he requires tuxedo attire to dine at his restaurant. He enjoys his life sleeping his way through his assistants and cooking. He only has one thorn in his side. One obnoxious critic who has bashed everything he's ever done. But now he's going to get his payback. Daniel Sheridan is going to be dining at his restaurant tonight and Luc is determined to serve the man the best meal he's ever had in his life until Daniel is grovelling at his feet.
Daniel Sheridan is an English food critic and he detests Luc Tessier's ego. The fact that the man is gorgeous is just icing on a too delicious cake. Daniel's made it his mission to lambast everything related to Luc. Now if only he could help his attraction to the man. He knows that if he gets any hint that Luc might desire him too all bets are off.
This was a little silly all in all. I mean for a food critic to have criticized you that often and that virulently he'd have to have tried your food at least once or twice, but yet when Daniel eats within this book he's more than willing to give a good report this time around. Seems strange that he didn't like any food in the past, but is loves it now.
There wasn't a lot of time here to really like/dislike either of these characters, but Luc's ego definitely doesn't help. It helps to start of the short they both had strong feelings for each other, but the insta-love derailing of Luc's feelings with one look at Daniel just has me shaking my head. :-p It's a complete 180 to chasing Daniel and needing him and no one else.
Sex scenes here were hot though even if Daniel's feelings never seemed too certain. He always seemed to be vacillating and wasn't sure if he had any real feelings for Luc.
In the end though I enjoyed the read for a quick little thing like this. Maybe I'll take a look at book two if I need a bit of egotistical chef time.
Luc Tessier is a 5 Star French checf and has the ego to match it. He knows precisely how talented he is and how orgasmic people find his vegetarian cuisine. For gods sakes he requires tuxedo attire to dine at his restaurant. He enjoys his life sleeping his way through his assistants and cooking. He only has one thorn in his side. One obnoxious critic who has bashed everything he's ever done. But now he's going to get his payback. Daniel Sheridan is going to be dining at his restaurant tonight and Luc is determined to serve the man the best meal he's ever had in his life until Daniel is grovelling at his feet.
Daniel Sheridan is an English food critic and he detests Luc Tessier's ego. The fact that the man is gorgeous is just icing on a too delicious cake. Daniel's made it his mission to lambast everything related to Luc. Now if only he could help his attraction to the man. He knows that if he gets any hint that Luc might desire him too all bets are off.
This was a little silly all in all. I mean for a food critic to have criticized you that often and that virulently he'd have to have tried your food at least once or twice, but yet when Daniel eats within this book he's more than willing to give a good report this time around. Seems strange that he didn't like any food in the past, but is loves it now.
There wasn't a lot of time here to really like/dislike either of these characters, but Luc's ego definitely doesn't help. It helps to start of the short they both had strong feelings for each other, but the insta-love derailing of Luc's feelings with one look at Daniel just has me shaking my head. :-p It's a complete 180 to chasing Daniel and needing him and no one else.
Sex scenes here were hot though even if Daniel's feelings never seemed too certain. He always seemed to be vacillating and wasn't sure if he had any real feelings for Luc.
In the end though I enjoyed the read for a quick little thing like this. Maybe I'll take a look at book two if I need a bit of egotistical chef time.
October 20, 2011
If you want to read a story with little character development, negligible storyline, a chef who sexually harasses his employees for amusement, a food critic who criticizes restaurants, chefs & food that he's never eaten or eaten at, and instant love that comes out of nowhere, then have at it. I'm well aware this is played for laughs. It didn't make me mad, it was short, the writing was competent enough, while it didn't tickle my funny bone it could others, and it was free are some of the reasons this got a 2 star, instead of 1.
January 21, 2012
If only I liked Luc and Daniel then this would have been a great read. But I thought that Luc was an arrogant prick and Daniel wasn't much better. I love the enemies-to-friends theme, but these two were still assholes even after they got together in the end. Following this story there is an excerpt from the next Luc & Daniel book, but it didn't sound as though either of them had changed much, even after moving in together. I would be interested in reading more by this author, but I don't think that I'm interested in reading more about these two guys.
March 22, 2013
I made a mistake of reading the whole series before reviewing them. And now it's hard for me to compliment the first story, which I really liked, because I completely hated the other too.
Still for the sake of objectivity I have to say I enjoyed this book. Very unusual for Scarlet Blackwell - light and humorous and I liked both Luc and Daniel, their banter and Luc's courting and Daniel's ironical replies. Not much plot, but sweet and hilarious. I wish there weren't any sequels, though :/
Still for the sake of objectivity I have to say I enjoyed this book. Very unusual for Scarlet Blackwell - light and humorous and I liked both Luc and Daniel, their banter and Luc's courting and Daniel's ironical replies. Not much plot, but sweet and hilarious. I wish there weren't any sequels, though :/
May 31, 2012
This one wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't good. I could have finished it, I just didn't see the point when there's so much better out there; why waste my time? As seems true in each of the Scarlet Blackwell books I've tried, I just couldn't see how or why or even that the heroes loved each other. Just lots of intense physical attraction, without even liking or respect to go with it.
October 26, 2015
Enjoyable read. Luc is such an egotistical stereotype, but Daniel is the one to break through his ego and teach him a little lesson in humility.
Liked the story and I need to see what happens next :)
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1st read - May 30, 2012
2nd read - Oct 19, 2015
Liked the story and I need to see what happens next :)
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1st read - May 30, 2012
2nd read - Oct 19, 2015
December 26, 2013
This was completely ridiculous and over the top and unrealistic and there's too much sex and the characters aren't perfectly likable or sane... so it was pretty much all I was hoping it would be.
It was fantastic.
It was fantastic.
January 30, 2011
Very good short m/m romance about a famous French chef and the equally famous British food critic who seems to have it in for him.
March 26, 2011
This was deliciously mean; and Luc was SUCH a bitch, he derserved having his cock's comb clipped!
August 2, 2011
this was more a 2.5 star read, but i'm still grateful it was free, otherwise i would have been ticked off spending money on a book that was barely a 1/2 hour read.
March 28, 2013
I love a guy with attitude and Luc has it in spades! This was a light, fun read!
July 13, 2012
Funny. Delicious. And oh so sexy!
September 12, 2012
This story was really short but I liked it a lot. The chemistry between the two MC's was great. Their conflicts were fun, the romance was sweet and the sex was hot.
September 2, 2012
1.5 stars
Thank god this story ended at 75% on my kindle, as that was about all I could take. For me this was an example of PWP.
Thank god this story ended at 75% on my kindle, as that was about all I could take. For me this was an example of PWP.
Read
February 19, 2017Cracky as all crack. The wooing exchange was excellent. (A bouquet of phallic vegetables! Priceless.)
FYI. High sex content to page count. For me anyway, your mileage may vary.
FYI. High sex content to page count. For me anyway, your mileage may vary.
August 29, 2011
Mostly Empty Calories
French chef Luc Tessier's ego is second only to his sexual appetites, and his mastery in the kitchen...over food and lovers...is legendary. English food critic Daniel Sheridan isn't nearly as enamored of either the food or the legend. In fact, Daniel has been openly critical of Luc's cooking in several media forums. Luc hates the man with a passion. That doesn't mean that his pride would allow him to do anything but rise to the challenge when he's informed that Daniel was coming to his restaurant to critique the menu, the food, and by default, the chef.
With images of dominating the faceless foodie stiffening his swizzle stick, Luc cooks each course to his exacting standards, determined to wow the critical critic. When his maître d' informs him that the man has arrived, and Luc gets a look at him, he almost gives himself a serving of his own tongue. How could he not have known that Daniel Sheridan was the most gorgeous man he'd ever seen?
With his reputation on the line and his lust unbridled, at the end of the meal Luc finally comes face to face with his adversary. Domination fantasies still flying in his mind, he offers Daniel a tour of his kitchen, then proceeds to show the critic just how good he is in it...to their mutual pleasure. Shocked by the intensity of the experience, playboy and manslut Luc is suddenly dealing with an emotion beyond his own arrogance, but just as he's ready to admit that his time with Daniel was much more than a one-off, Daniel slaps at the chef with his own pride and sweeps out in a huff.
One captivated chef with entitlement issues, one uptight food critic who is no man's amuse-bouche. The path to happiness has never been quite so calorie-laden.
I enjoyed several aspects of Scarlet Blackwell's series debut novella. This is my first experience with Blackwell, and as a fan of all sorts of cooking shows (can't cook, don't want to learn, love watching - ah, the wonderful contradiction that is me) I enjoyed the setting and the characters' occupations quite a lot. The writing was polished and the story flowed nicely. It was short, and as an erotic novella the focus was on the sexuality of the story. The development of the relationship between the characters was very limited, but Blackwell showed off some skill with a smooth narrative that captured my attention. The sex scenes were explicit and graphic and very sexy. If it weren't for one tiny problem, I would have loved that aspect of it.
Unfortunately, the lead characters were the problem. They were odious. Luc's complete arrogance and slut puppy ways were problem enough. I sure wouldn't eat in his restaurant knowing how he treated his cooking surfaces. That's just unhygienic! And just as his character started to improve and I started finding his over-the-top determination to woo Daniel sort of endearing, Daniel - who I found a bit bitchy but not too bad at first - became a complete ass when he met up with Luc the second time.
I never bought for one minute that this romance was based on affection, as both characters were almost completely unlikable to me and even to each other throughout most of the story. Maybe had their been more time to display a more organic about-face on Luc's part and someone had pulled the gigantic stick out of Daniel's derriere (bopping his head with it a few times once removed wouldn't have hurt, either), I would have enjoyed this story a lot more. As it stands, Just Desserts is just too full of empty calories to satisfy.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
French chef Luc Tessier's ego is second only to his sexual appetites, and his mastery in the kitchen...over food and lovers...is legendary. English food critic Daniel Sheridan isn't nearly as enamored of either the food or the legend. In fact, Daniel has been openly critical of Luc's cooking in several media forums. Luc hates the man with a passion. That doesn't mean that his pride would allow him to do anything but rise to the challenge when he's informed that Daniel was coming to his restaurant to critique the menu, the food, and by default, the chef.
With images of dominating the faceless foodie stiffening his swizzle stick, Luc cooks each course to his exacting standards, determined to wow the critical critic. When his maître d' informs him that the man has arrived, and Luc gets a look at him, he almost gives himself a serving of his own tongue. How could he not have known that Daniel Sheridan was the most gorgeous man he'd ever seen?
With his reputation on the line and his lust unbridled, at the end of the meal Luc finally comes face to face with his adversary. Domination fantasies still flying in his mind, he offers Daniel a tour of his kitchen, then proceeds to show the critic just how good he is in it...to their mutual pleasure. Shocked by the intensity of the experience, playboy and manslut Luc is suddenly dealing with an emotion beyond his own arrogance, but just as he's ready to admit that his time with Daniel was much more than a one-off, Daniel slaps at the chef with his own pride and sweeps out in a huff.
One captivated chef with entitlement issues, one uptight food critic who is no man's amuse-bouche. The path to happiness has never been quite so calorie-laden.
I enjoyed several aspects of Scarlet Blackwell's series debut novella. This is my first experience with Blackwell, and as a fan of all sorts of cooking shows (can't cook, don't want to learn, love watching - ah, the wonderful contradiction that is me) I enjoyed the setting and the characters' occupations quite a lot. The writing was polished and the story flowed nicely. It was short, and as an erotic novella the focus was on the sexuality of the story. The development of the relationship between the characters was very limited, but Blackwell showed off some skill with a smooth narrative that captured my attention. The sex scenes were explicit and graphic and very sexy. If it weren't for one tiny problem, I would have loved that aspect of it.
Unfortunately, the lead characters were the problem. They were odious. Luc's complete arrogance and slut puppy ways were problem enough. I sure wouldn't eat in his restaurant knowing how he treated his cooking surfaces. That's just unhygienic! And just as his character started to improve and I started finding his over-the-top determination to woo Daniel sort of endearing, Daniel - who I found a bit bitchy but not too bad at first - became a complete ass when he met up with Luc the second time.
I never bought for one minute that this romance was based on affection, as both characters were almost completely unlikable to me and even to each other throughout most of the story. Maybe had their been more time to display a more organic about-face on Luc's part and someone had pulled the gigantic stick out of Daniel's derriere (bopping his head with it a few times once removed wouldn't have hurt, either), I would have enjoyed this story a lot more. As it stands, Just Desserts is just too full of empty calories to satisfy.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
November 24, 2014
4 star review by Amber
This story was super short but I can honestly say I enjoyed it, very much. I’ve always loved and appreciated the artsy side of men. Men that have this passion and gift to create something for someone else’s pleasure have always intrigued me. So this story about a passionate chef and an outspoken food critic was right up my alley.
Luc is an incredibly talented and accomplished chef. He’s won many awards and stars in a very popular food show that has garnered critical acclaim. So all of this attention has made for an incredibly large ego in this talented man. There are not many who would bad mouth this incredible chef and there are not many that even say no to him no matter what is asked. He doesn’t lack lovers and is never lonely. He loves his conquests and has a different lover in his bed every night. He prides himself on this. This leaves no question as to why he is as perplexed as to have this food critic who seems to despise him and his food.
Daniel Sheridan is a tough as nails food critic. He is bold and honest and it seems that he’s never had anything really nice to say about Luc Tessier’s cooking. So when he’s invited to the acclaimed chef’s restaurant for an up close and personal review he jumps at the opportunity.
When they meet it is electric. You can see the attraction coming from a mile away. Luc and Daniel together is the epitome of hot and electric. They sizzle and you really feel it.
Life happens and Daniel feels as though he is just another one of Luc’s one offs so he goes about his every day activities. But unbeknownst to Daniel he has made a lasting impact on the serial playboy. So he sets about wooing Daniel. It is the sweetest type of courting and seduction. I loved the calls, the emails, the notes, the bouquets, and most definitely all the suggestive tone the flirted with. It was so perfect for these two.
When everything came to a head and they finally were able to meet up again you craved for that spark of their first meeting. This author does not disappoint. She gives the spark and so much more.
I will definitely be seeking out the other books in this series. These 2 are just too good to be left alone. Great story!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
This story was super short but I can honestly say I enjoyed it, very much. I’ve always loved and appreciated the artsy side of men. Men that have this passion and gift to create something for someone else’s pleasure have always intrigued me. So this story about a passionate chef and an outspoken food critic was right up my alley.
Luc is an incredibly talented and accomplished chef. He’s won many awards and stars in a very popular food show that has garnered critical acclaim. So all of this attention has made for an incredibly large ego in this talented man. There are not many who would bad mouth this incredible chef and there are not many that even say no to him no matter what is asked. He doesn’t lack lovers and is never lonely. He loves his conquests and has a different lover in his bed every night. He prides himself on this. This leaves no question as to why he is as perplexed as to have this food critic who seems to despise him and his food.
Daniel Sheridan is a tough as nails food critic. He is bold and honest and it seems that he’s never had anything really nice to say about Luc Tessier’s cooking. So when he’s invited to the acclaimed chef’s restaurant for an up close and personal review he jumps at the opportunity.
When they meet it is electric. You can see the attraction coming from a mile away. Luc and Daniel together is the epitome of hot and electric. They sizzle and you really feel it.
Life happens and Daniel feels as though he is just another one of Luc’s one offs so he goes about his every day activities. But unbeknownst to Daniel he has made a lasting impact on the serial playboy. So he sets about wooing Daniel. It is the sweetest type of courting and seduction. I loved the calls, the emails, the notes, the bouquets, and most definitely all the suggestive tone the flirted with. It was so perfect for these two.
When everything came to a head and they finally were able to meet up again you craved for that spark of their first meeting. This author does not disappoint. She gives the spark and so much more.
I will definitely be seeking out the other books in this series. These 2 are just too good to be left alone. Great story!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
September 10, 2010
Luc Tessier is one of the most successful chef’s in the world and he has the arrogance to prove it. The only problem with his charmed existence is food critic Daniel Sheridan who has been maligning his food and ruining his reputation. So Luc invites Daniel to his restaurant to come test his cuisine and hopefully sway the critics opinion on his food. That is until he meets Daniel. The older stuffed shirt he’d imagine bears little resemblance to the sexy man who appears inside his restaurant and his whole focus changes. Now, all Luc can think about is getting Daniel in his bed. But Daniel knows of Luc’s playboy reputation, so Luc has to do everything in his power to prove to that he can be committed in all things.
I’ve read Ms. Blackwell’s previous release and loved it. So when JUST DESSERTS came up and I saw that not only was it by one of my new favorite authors, and she was writing about food and chef’s, I was all over it because whenever I manage to wrestle control over the television from the kidlets, I always turn the television onto the Food Network. So I couldn’t wait to read JUST DESSERTS.
I don’t know if I had unrealistically high expectations because I really enjoyed her previous release, but I was a little disappointed with JUST DESSERTS. It was a little too much for me (in terms of some of the sexual content and whether I thought it fit the charecter development), but I freely admit that it’s a personal thing. Despite my personal feelings, I happen to know four of five people at the top of my head who I could recommend JUST DESSERTS to who will love it and think I’m a moron for not giving JUST DESSERTS a higher rating. There are a couple scenes that are actual drool worthy for any m/m fan. The sexual chemistry between Luc and Daniel was off the charts, and my only grip about the whole story was the lack of an emotional connection to equal the great sexual chemistry between them.
I’ve read Ms. Blackwell’s previous release and loved it. So when JUST DESSERTS came up and I saw that not only was it by one of my new favorite authors, and she was writing about food and chef’s, I was all over it because whenever I manage to wrestle control over the television from the kidlets, I always turn the television onto the Food Network. So I couldn’t wait to read JUST DESSERTS.
I don’t know if I had unrealistically high expectations because I really enjoyed her previous release, but I was a little disappointed with JUST DESSERTS. It was a little too much for me (in terms of some of the sexual content and whether I thought it fit the charecter development), but I freely admit that it’s a personal thing. Despite my personal feelings, I happen to know four of five people at the top of my head who I could recommend JUST DESSERTS to who will love it and think I’m a moron for not giving JUST DESSERTS a higher rating. There are a couple scenes that are actual drool worthy for any m/m fan. The sexual chemistry between Luc and Daniel was off the charts, and my only grip about the whole story was the lack of an emotional connection to equal the great sexual chemistry between them.
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