Review: Sexy food geekery at its finest
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 26, 2013
A woman with body image issues, a tyrannical health food nut for a mother, a tater tot obsession and a crush on gourmet chef. Sounds like a match made in hell. However, Paul may be able to teach Cami a few important things about food and love.Cami Pressman has had to deal with body image issues ever since she came home from her first year at college with the dreaded "freshman fifteen" plus a little extra. It happens, right? Mother dearest didn't agree, and promptly pointed out her short-comings, going so far as to take a "fat picture" of Cami next to her fridge as a preventative measure, along with some health nut recipes she wanted her daughter to follow religiously. Cami threw herself into working out like a crazy person. Now she's fit as a fiddle, toned and honed and unhappy. Her body got with the program, but her mind didn't. She teaches yoga for a living to ensure she stays in shape. Always.Paul Hammond is a gourmet chef. Naturally, he loves food. Naturally his body also loves his food, perhaps a bit too much. His doctor aka the nagging brother prescribes an exercise routine to whip him into shape. Yoga seems like a good idea, low impact, fun. and the instructor isn't bad to look at either. He can't formulate a coherent sentence around her, but when he discovers her dirty little secret, her love of tater tots, hilarity and a sensual teasing of the palates ensues.I loved this story! It was sexy, light-hearted at times, and rip-roaring funny as hell at other times. Or maybe I just have a slightly juvenile sense of humor. Bottom line is, it was funny and I loved it. I think anyone can empathize with Cami and how she feels, even if you don't have an eating disorder. It wasn't even just about that. Cami was made to feel guilty which just compounded her problem. She never learned that she could still enjoy some of the foods she loved, but in moderation. I could also understand her shame and not wanting the man she's been crushing on for a while to see her at her worst. Paul was such a sweetheart in that regard. Not once did he make fun of her or bug her with questions. He was smart enough to not push the issue and try to help her in a different way.This couple had fantastic (culinary) chemistry, and I especially loved the hilarious dialogue between them. From the nervous word diarrhea filled with double entendres to the food geekery. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a light, sexy and fun read that will leave you with a smile on your face and an ache in your belly, either because you're hungry or because of laugh cramps. You're guaranteed both.Favorite moment:I learned quite a bit from their dialogue about paddleboarding:- eight inches: the distance your hands should be when gripping the paddle- "mount the board": (as opposed to trying to heave yourself up on it, jump it, straddle it, etc.)- "stroke it hard at first": the paddle in the water- "you really want to stick it in there": the paddle in the water- "is it too stiff?": the paddle- "try a different one with a more flexible shaft": the paddleNow, excuse me while I try to find a paddleboarding class at a lake near me.Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.