Review: Taste the Heat By Rachel Harris
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 30, 2013
My Take on this Journey:Taste the Heat, by Rachel Harris is a delightful, change of pace, light romance, about Colby Robicheaux.  Colby is a Cajun Chef who owns her own restaurant in Las Vegas.  She leaves there to return to her home town, Magnolia Springs, in New Orleans, to help her siblings, (Sherry and Cane) save their family owned restaurant, Robicheaux's.  Sherry is the nosey sister, that is always in everyone's business, trying to direct traffic, and Cane is the big bruiser brother, the protector, who is actually a real softee at heart.Colby was not looking forward to returning to her home town after 12 years away, to all the memories that haunt her from her past.  Colby wants nothing to do with committment or love, after all the bad relationships she has had.  She is very mistrustful of men, and thinks they are all made out of the same mold.  One of her best memories is her brother Cane's best friend, Jason, who she carried a mad crush on throughout her childhood.  Jason is the Captain of the Fire Department, who has been alone with his sweet, precocious,  pre-teen daughter, Emma for the last 4 years, raising her since the death of his beloved wife, Ashleigh.  Although Jason knows he should be looking for a mother replacement for Emma, who will be needing a mother figure now that she will be going in to her teen years soon, he knows he can never replace the love of his life.Jason and Colby run into each other, and their mutual attraction is apparent.  Jason is built like a professional body builder, with abs for miles,  and smoldering carmel eyes.  He begins flirting with Colby, thinking she is hot!  He doesn't realize who she is, because she has changed so much in the twelve years since he's seen her.  Colby has grown into a really beautiful woman, with curves in all the right places, and the tightest body ever.The two get to know each other again, and make a mutual agreement to have a summer fling without any commitment, though Colby still has feelings for Jason.  What starts out as carefree and easy, ends up a fire with smoldering embers!  Colby locks her haunting memories of her father, and bad relationships in her safe place, and throws away the key.  At times, she lets herself drift back to happier times, when the whole family use to cook up a Gumbo feast, and her parents joyfully danced in the kitchen.  She remembers her mother's contagious laughter, but quickly closes off her mind from the thoughts, though happy ones, and changes direction in thought.Taste the Heat, by Rachel Harris, had no insta-romance, though there were definitely feelings there from the start for Colby.  The novel was full of appetizing cuisine, and steamy nights of romance by candlelight, with arms entwined, sipping wine.  The reader will feel the ambiance of New Orleans, smell the flavors-subtle and sharp.  This novel was great fun, had lively banter, easy reading, and hot to say the least!  Feel the Heat, had all the elements necessary for a family setting, good friends, mores and values that were sometimes tested, and a great community feeling.  Jason was a great character, who was loyal, passionate, loving, kind, considerate, and eager.  He wanted to help Colby through her roadblocks.  There were a lot of ups and downs, a whirlwind of emotions, and fireworks.  Emma was a very refreshing young girl with eager matchmaking skills.  The relationships were very real, and I could picture all the places described by Ms. Harris.  The prose were beautifully written, down to the taste, look, feel of the foods, aromas, and flavors of a wonderful place to live.I give Taste the Heat, by Rachel Harris, 4.5 Loving, Loyal, Trusting, Committed...GIVE ME A HOT, HOT, HOT, FIREMAN, TO HELP ME PUT OUT THE FIRE...STARS!!!My Favorite Quotes:"The man was sex on a stick.  He was gorgeous, smart, kind, and a freaking hero in their town."  (eARC, pg. 105)"Jason tossed his seat belt and then one of them moved.  She didn't know whom---didn't care, either---because then she was in his arms.  On his lap.  Her thighs straddling his hips, his warm hand curved around her neck, and his mouth just shy of touching hers.  Right where she wanted to be.  The sound of her harsh, impatient breaths and staccato pulse pounded in her ears.  Cinnamon-scented breath fanned across her skin, setting off a fire of anticipation in her blood.  She swallowed, her gaze shifting between the planes of Jason's lips to the swirling desire in his carmel-colored eyes.  What was he waiting for?  If the man didn't kiss her soon, she was pretty sure she was going to explode.  Colby sighed, her breath mixing with his.  Gripping one hand around the headrest to anchor her, she slid her other down the front of his buttoned shirt and melted into his arms.  She still wasn't close enough.  Jason deepened the kiss, and she slid her arms around his waist.  Dragging her nails up his back and then curling her hands around his broad shoulders, she pulled herself up hard against him, smashing her breasts into the wall of his chest.  Jason growled his approval.  Plundering her mouth with his lips and tongue, he inhaled her as the steering wheel dug into her back.  The pale skin was going to bruise, but she didn't care.  He tasted of cinnamon and temptation, and smelled like heaven."  (eARC, pg. 106)