Review: Foodie romance fans, this one's for you!!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 24, 2013
If ever there were a title perfect for a story, this would be it! Some Like It Spicy definitely turns up the heat in the kitchen!! I've read a few books with similar storylines, but I have to say this was well-written and as a bonus it had me salivating for some really delicious-sounding food!!It was clear right from the start that Ashton had a rough family life and was in a real jam with her failing restaurant.  I felt bad for her before she even stepped foot on the set of Celebrity Chef.  It was clear she really needed the show to save her restaurant and not lose the investment her best friends had put into it, so you're automatically rooting for her.  And then of course, there was the drop-dead gorgeous and uber-successful chef/tv personality himself Ty Cates.  She and Ty had this instant "wow" moment where they were both getting whiplash from turning around to check each other out, but well...he's a judge, and she's a contestant.  Red flags were flying up all over the place here, and I'll be honest, they didn't try hard to keep with the rules! Not that I can blame Ashton, I was fanning myself over Ty too...The cooking competition was a really fun part to this story, I was really drawn in by the plot and it felt like I was actually reading about a real episode of a reality TV show.  Between the dishes they cooked, the daily challenges, and the banter and bickering amongst the contestants, it was a blast seeing what would come next!As the contest moved along and Ty and Ashton tried to keep their attraction and subsequent actions private, they had some stolen moments that were habanero-spicy!! Ty was all kinds of chef-in-command when it came to showing Ashton just how perfect they were together behind closed doors, and I loved every minute.  My only complaint was with Ashton's cold front that turned up when things got a little messy.  It was obvious from the start this was all going to blow up in their faces, and yes she has a past that puts her on edge, but I didn't like how she treated Ty.  She was just as much at fault as he was for the position they were in (literally), and he didn't deserve to be kicked when he was down by the one person who should have been by his side through it.Once we meet Ashton's family, it gives a clearer viewpoint of why she has the personality that she does.  I can say with certainty, you WILL hate her father, because the man deserved a few good kicks below the belt. It was awful seeing how he treated Ashton, and I was doing a mental "YES!" when he was finally put in his place.  Ashton grows up in the time we see her in this story, and I was happy to see the changes in her and how she and Ty played off each other's personalities.Some Like It Spicy will be a hit with just about any romance fan, and I'm sure the foodies out there will find themselves doubly pleased!Quotes:Ashton would have died before admitting it, but Ty Cates had starred in more than one of her dreams--with whipped cream as his costar. ~ p. 14Someone had hurt her in the past, chipped at her confidence.  She wasn't here to argue; she was here for validation.  Her defensiveness, Ty realized with a pang of sympathy, was nothing more than a shield. ~ p. 53Chloe arrived with a buffet of chocolate: cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and truffles. They ate until they were sick.  Ashton was almost grateful for the stomachache replacing the pain in her chest.  ~ p. 260