Review: They sure can cook!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 10, 2013
I have to say first that this is a 4 star book.If I hadn't said I would review this book, I would have not finished it before I even finished the first chapter. It starts off with them at the end of school and they just jump right into bed. Sorry, I feel no connection when a book starts off like that, it actually turns me off! I love to feel romance grow and two people getting to know each other. Hang with me for a minute!Then after they have sex, they are talking and because they aren't really letting each other in or trusting each other and not really talking things through, they misunderstand each other. And Lila begins a habit of running away after anything happens that she might have to expose her inner self. Ugh, that annoyed me too! Sometimes, I just wanted to slap both of them. It's a lot of sex and not a lot of real talking or moving past misunderstandings. It doesn't stay that way though.But I kept reading. Lila has some friends from school and she confides in them with what she believes is going on. Which is- that Jack stole ideas from her. They had just had sex and she felt like she was used to get info on her final cook-off with him. Funny thing is he feels the same way about her. They both changed their cook off menus at the last minute because, well it doesn't really matter why- they get into that in the story and I don't want to take all that away, but they both hold on to their misunderstandings and don't really clear the air about it. These friends think revenge is a good idea. Lila wants to do that and tries to but she really likes Jack. Jack really likes Lila but they just go around like they hate each other, have sex and don't really give each other all the info.Jack and his dad have issues. Jack adores his dad but his dad really doesn't give him the love that he wants or needs. This is a key part to the story and one that was really tender for me. I loved watching their relationship through the story.Anyway, the story gets really good when Lila ends up in his kitchen before his restaurant opens to help him. They really start to clear some misunderstandings and then I wanted to slap both of them for not continuing to make the same mistakes. They get sidetracked with sex. Then she runs away after. Rinse and repeat. (Side note- I read how people want to throw their books at the wall sometimes and well I threw my kindle on the table when she made the same mistakes and walked away. I was frustrated with her! I did come back to it and pick it back up much later!!)Don't get me wrong. I gave it 4 stars because in the end, they both get really hurt and figure things out the hard way that they really love each other. I felt that romance grow that I wanted in a book and because they had to learn the hard way, I liked it even more. But as I thought about it, I realized in real life we don't really talk about things sometimes because we are afraid of getting hurt. And just because I read the book doesn't make me an expert in real life on how stupid they were. I probably (OK, I do) make mistakes in life all the time! That's what I liked most about this book is that they did keep going back and trying to talk again and again then when  they lose it all, they realized what wonderful people they each were  and how they complimented each other and mostly they realized their own mistakes!Another side note. The food described in this book made my mouth water. I woke up today dreaming about chocolate. I had to go to the store and get something that that would satisfy my craving for chocolate. It didn't help. I can't cook like Jack or Lila!Favorite Quote- "Her feelings about Jack reminded her all the time she had waded into the edge of the sand and stood firm. Every wave that hit her shins had washed a little sand from beneath her feet until she lost balance. She felt as if every minute spent with Jack washed away a little more of her resolve. She needed time to make a decision. Step forward or race back to firm ground?"