Review: If you can't handle the heat.......
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 10, 2013
I had the honor and privilege of reading this ARC when Amanda Usen posted the opportunity on Facebook.  I have read Ms. Usen's other two stories, Scrumptious and Luscious and enjoyed them immensely.  I enjoy how food can bring two people together and make the heat rise, in more ways than one.Instantly, I was drawn into this story with Jackson and Lila's chemistry.  Both are culinary students who are in a competition but one night of passion mess with Lila's head and she changes her plan at the last minute.  Jackson believes that Lila deceived him when she changed her menu at the last minute, so he made the dish that she described to him during their night of passion.  Both of them believe that the other deceived the other.Fast forward six months after the competition and we see how Jackson and Lila are after the competition.  We see the feelings that each has toward the other, while still having the passionate feelings that they had six months ago.  I felt the emotions that were written on the page and that makes a story even better in my eyes.We see the feelings that Jackson has for Lila, the hurt that he has as a result of his father, his lack of self-confidence in his menu, and the lengths he is willing to go to make everyone else happy.  We also see Lila's feelings of hurt, betrayal, lust, love and her giving nature.  We see how communication is the key to clearing up the majority of problems, but also what happens when communication is lost.I hope to read more of this series and this author in the near future.