Can’t Stand the Heat
Louisa Edwards
St. Martin’s Sep 1 2009, $6.99
ISBN: 9780312356491
In New York City, rejected wannabe author and food critic Miranda Wake attends the pre opening gala hosted by Adam “Chef” Temple to announce his new restaurant the Market. Too many aperitifs cocktails later, Miranda makes a public challenge that Adam reluctantly has to accept or his restaurant dies before it opens. She gets to write about what happens behind the scenes at a trendy new restaurant by being there for one month. Adam who distrusts women after Eleanor Bonning dumped him, but still treats Miranda like a shorter smaller imitation of Julia Child.
Meanwhile Miranda's brother Jess leaves Brandewyne College in Ohio to accept a job at Market in spite of the disappointment of his sister who was proud of his full scholarship. Although she wants to know why he quit, she finds herself distracted by her attraction to the Chef; he likewise begins making recipes in which his muse is the unpublished author. However, someone leaks insider information to the media with Miranda the mole the most likely suspect.
This is a lighthearted culinary romance as the Chef and the author blend love and recipes into a fun romp. The support cast is solid as her brother, the staff and other partners either enhance the lead couple relationship or bring out the goings-on at the restaurant. Although CAN'T STAND THE HEAT follows the sub-genre recipe, fans will enjoy the pizzazz flavors that Louisa Edwards brings to her warm tale.
Harriet Klausner
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