Category: The Everheart Brothers of Texas

A Tasty Dish by Kelly Cain

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️/5

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

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The story of the Everheart Brothers of Texas continues in the second installment of Kelly Cain’s three-part series, “A Tasty Dish.” Kasi, an ambitious movie producer is striving to create a name for herself in an industry where her father’s reputation looms large. Much like Declan and his siblings, Casey finds herself overshadowed by her film producer father, who has blackballed her latest project in an effort to force her back into the family business.

Determined to make her movie her way, Kasi teams up with Declan, and together they navigate a path filled with obstacles, twists, turns and the ever-present Flynn Everheart. As they face their share of trials and tribulations, their relationship deepens, and the heat between them intensifies. Kasi is all work and some play, and really isn’t looking for anything serious. Meanwhile, Declan is all in with all the feels. In contrast to the first book, the author has turned up the spiciness in “A Tasty Dish,” adding a full pepper to the mix. This book is full of family drama, fun BFF’s, laughs and spice. Both Kasi and Declan have major daddy issues. Kasi’s kind of cause her to be a jerk at times. She tends to speak first and think later. It happens more than once. She also has gut reactions that aren’t always mature (who blocks their business partner for a week??) and get her into trouble. This wouldn’t be such an issue if she had some redeeming qualities, but I found her almost unlikeable at the beginning and only towards the end did I kind of feel like she could be a good person.

One notable improvement in this sequel is the relocation of the food recipes to the end of the book, allowing readers to enjoy them without interruption from the main story. While the pacing of this book picked up considerable compared to the first book, there are still mini cliffhangers, which drive me bananas. Once again, the absence of the male protagonist’s point of view is once again felt, leaving readers longing for more insights into Declan’s thoughts and feelings. I would have really liked it, particularly in this book. Declan’s relationship with Flynn is so complicated and important to who he is, it would have been beneficial to his character to have a bigger voice.

All in all, A Tasty Dish is a delectable blend of romance and ambition and I cannot wait to read what’s in store for Weston in Book Three. I gave it a 3.5 star overall rating, bumped up to a 4 because there are no 1/2 star emojis.

Read my review of An Acquired Taste, Book One in The Everheart Brothers of Texas Series.

Click herefor your copy of A Tasty Dish and herefor your copy of An Acquired Taste.

Tropes hit: Relationship Vs Fling, Friends with Benefits, Workplace Romance

Thank you to NetGalley, Kelly Cain and Dreamscape Media for the ALC copy of this audiobook.

An Acquired Taste By Kelly Cain

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

🌶🌶/5

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“An Acquired Taste” by Kelly Cain* is the first book in a trilogy that introduces us to the Everhart brothers. The story is narrated from the female protagonist’s perspective, Rowan Townsend, who works as a chef in her mother’s restaurant. Rowan dreams of owning her own establishment where she can break free from her mother’s traditional culinary style. Knox Everhart, on the other hand, is the golden boy of the culinary world, poised to take over his father’s Michelin-starred restaurant. Rowan and Knox share a history of rivalry from their culinary school days, where Knox was admitted as a legacy while Rowan struggled to secure her spot.

When Rowan’s family restaurant, Smothered in Love, faces severe challenges, she decides to participate in a cooking contest to save it. Unbeknownst to her, Knox and his family have also entered the competition, reigniting their long-standing rivalry. As the story unfolds, we witness their journey from enemies to friends and ultimately to lovers.

While “An Acquired Taste” is an enjoyable read with quirky characters and a captivating plot, there are some aspects that could have been improved. For instance, the chapters often end on mini cliffhangers, only to jump ahead in time in the next chapter, leaving readers feeling somewhat disoriented. This narrative technique might not appeal to everyone.

Additionally, the incorporation of cute food recipes at the beginning or end of chapters, while endearing, could be seen as filler content. The story might have benefitted from a dual perspective, offering insights into Knox’s thoughts and feelings alongside Rowan’s.

The slow-burning romance between Rowan and Knox doesn’t truly heat up until chapter 19, and some readers may wish for more development in their relationship. The book’s focus on the cooking competition occasionally overshadows the romantic aspects, leaving one craving more from the protagonists’ love story.

All in all, An Acquired Taste is a charming and engaging read that will leave you with an appetite for Southern soul food and the journey of two fierce competitors finding love amidst the heat of the kitchen. It is a solid three-star book that promises entertainment and a craving for something tasty. I can’t wait to try out some of Rowan’s recipes, and read the next book in the series! You can get your copy here.

Tropes hit: Enemies to Lovers, Slow burn

*updated 04/17 to correct the spelling of the author’s last name. dang auto correct!!