Let's Dish [Paperback]

Chef Maggie Donnely isn't having the best of luck lately. Her coffee shop, Let's Dish, is in the red, a new shop is stealing her business, and when she and her now ex-husband celebrate their divorce with a bit too much alcohol, the beautiful baker is left with a bun in the oven of her own. To make matters worse, the man stealing her business is Kevin Best, her infuriating former cooking school partner.

Kevin knows he made a mistake with Maggie once, but upon seeing her again he isn't about to let the sassy redhead get away a second time. Though Maggie swears up and down she wants nothing to do with him, Kevin knows she can't deny the attraction between them forever.

When a fire burns down Let's Dish, Maggie has to concede that she needs help. There's a cooking contest that, if she wins, could give her the money she needs to restore Let's Dish, but she needs a partner. And when Kevin comes to her aid, Maggie realizes that perhaps the man of her nightmares may, in truth, be the man of her dreams.

Sparks - and the occasional food product - fly in the snappy Let's Dish. Catherine Wade has served up a delicious story filled with love, acceptance, friendship, patience, and a few desserts that, admittedly, made me want to reach into the book and grab them. Maggie is a heroine who is easy to cheer for. Even though things go wrong right and left, she never gives up and keeps working towards her goals. I respected her, but I will admit she tried my patience a time or two. While I understand stress and pregnancy likely make her a bit testier than normal, Maggie seemed to take out her anger on Kevin a bit too much. Kevin, as is probably fitting, has the patience of a saint and surprised me with how persistent he was in his pursuit of Maggie. He was sensual and kind, and I couldn't help but fall for him. Additionally, I utterly adored Lyla and Armand, Maggie's best friends. They were the sort of people I would love to be friends with, were they real.

All in all, I found Let's Dish to be a truly satisfying read. It's both heartwarming and sensual, which I loved. I also have to admit that the Food Network addict in me thrilled in the cooking scenes and was on the edge of my seat during the contest. Simply delightful!

Shayna
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Good story though the main character's continued nastiness towards the hero got a little bothersome. Would have liked to have seen her start to make a change sooner in the story.