Review: FRIENDS TO LOVERS!!! MY FAVORITE!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 11, 2014
Hot And Bothered was I think the first kitchen romance I have read. Jules and Tad both came from families who cook so the friendship they formed was cemented in more than one way. This is the third book in the Hot In the Kitchen series and as is my M.O. I read this one before the others. I am glad I started with this one because Jules and Tad stole my heart and made me want to read the other books.Jules is a single mother to toddler Evan. After leaving London two years ago with a broken heart she came to Chicago to rebuild her life and make it on her own. That's a huge deal for any woman to start over somewhere new but to do that while being pregnant takes a special kind of woman. Jules was determined to do things on her own and focus on raising her son. Yes she had help from her famous TV chef brother Jack who paid her rent while she's looking for work but she didn't let him decide her life and stuck to her guns when he tried. Battling dyslexia has made her feel inferior to everyone around her so she used sex to distract her dates. The self loathing that came with her distraction tactics is what got her in the single moms club. She fears she will pass on the dyslexia to her son and it made me sad for her because she wasn't stupid like she tended to feel.Tad was a little bit of a slut, always moving through women faster than a speeding bullet. The residual guilt over his parents deaths and the part he feels he played in the events keeps him from finding something stable. Most of the guilt comes from not fulfilling his fathers wishes for him to became something important like a lawyer or doctor. What he really wants to do is cook but he chooses to open his own wine eatery. I loved that Tad was a family man and cared for Jules and her son but hated how he felt about himself. Yes he was a little damaged and normally I don't give slack about being a man whore during those times but I loved him so much I overlooked his slutty ways because he knew and acknowledged he wasn't worthy. Plus knowing that he went on a pussy sabbatical and wrestled with his feelings for Jules made my heart skip a beat.Jules and Tad are connected in more than one way. Her brother Jack is married to Tad's cousin Lili and Jacks' half brother Shane is married to his sister Cara so it was inevitable they could become close friends. Their relationship faced a serious test after Jules threw herself at tad and tried to kiss him. Being a lonely single mother finally got to her and her attraction and deep feelings for him got the best of her one night. What she doesn't realize is everything from that moment changed for Tad. It's not until she starts dating again that he realizes what's right in front of him. These two were so much fun and the sexual chemistry was felt whenever they were around each other. The buildup to the heated moments they had was just as much of a reward as it was a tease. The author plays with several hits and misses that left my mouth watering. One of the sweetest things about this book was the inclusion of Jules' son Evan. You never wondered what happened to him once the fun began. He wasn't just an after thought or a prop to bring the couple together. He was included in the story and became a part of the canvas of characters. I loved watching Tad and Evan together. There is just something sexy about a man with a child.Not to mention when the secret surrounding Evans father is revealed I loved watching tad step up. It just added another layer to his amazing qualities and their romance that much more special to me.All the characters that make up this story, from Jule's brother Jack to Tad's sister and cousin make me want to go back and read the other books in this series. Especially the interesting relationship of Jack and Shane being half brothers. I picked up on some past animosity between the guys and it sounds like it would be a delicious addition. There were a few times while reading Hot and Bothered where I had to go back and reread a section or didn't quite understand something between the characters but other than that this could absolutely be read as a stand alone. There were so many sweet, romantic and funny moments that I found myself highlighting like crazy. I loved the big family feel of this story and how everyone worked through their issues together. I had no idea going into this what I was in for but the way everything came together by the end was exactly what I had come to hope for as I read through. Hot and Bothered is exactly what I felt reading this so it should come as no surprise I would recommend this adamantly. I'll definitely be reading more from this author and the other books in the series!