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ironskin's review
3.5
I love that the series is the brothers but we never get their POV. Masterful. Really enjoy this series and will probably read anything from this author. Easy to read and not heavy in any way while still feeling like they have some substance.
I also really like the childfree aspect— it’s rarer in Romances
I also really like the childfree aspect— it’s rarer in Romances
andrea_author's review
5.0
Seeking funding for a film project, Kasi meets chef Declan. His father is interested in backing the project, but his help comes at a price: Declan will serve as co-producer to keep an eye on his father's investment. Kasi hates the idea of any constraints being put on her creativity, but she reluctantly agrees. As she and Declan work together, they grow closer. But will his interfering father put a stop to the romance before it can start?
I love how this book is full of strong-minded, stubborn characters who clash at every turn. The chemistry between Kasi and Declan is scorching, and the sensual tension is high throughout. It was nice to see the characters learning and growing, and finding ways to compromise so they could be together. The audiobook narration was well done.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I love how this book is full of strong-minded, stubborn characters who clash at every turn. The chemistry between Kasi and Declan is scorching, and the sensual tension is high throughout. It was nice to see the characters learning and growing, and finding ways to compromise so they could be together. The audiobook narration was well done.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
tajah's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first book by Kelly Cain. I was really intrigued by the premise of a woman trying to secure financing for her dream documentary project and the Michelin starred Chef's son she falls in lust with and is then forced to work with. Sparks fly instantly when Kasi and Declan Everheart meet at an Austin film conference. I gotta say I was a little surprised by just how STEAMY this open door romance was. If you like the steam level high this book is definitely going to deliver!
What didn't work well for me was how much I felt the story dragged a little in the middle. I didn't fall in love with these characters. They felt a bit one-dimensional. Each was trying to find their own path out of the shadows of their famous fathers. Their relationship was really rocky for me too. One minute they were tearing their clothes off and then the next she was cutting him out of her life completely.
That said I'm still interested in reading the first book in the Everheart brothers of Texas series. Recommended for fans of On location by Sarah Echavarre Smith or Sonali Dev's Rajes series. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy! This was a good listen narrated by Deanna Anthony.
What didn't work well for me was how much I felt the story dragged a little in the middle. I didn't fall in love with these characters. They felt a bit one-dimensional. Each was trying to find their own path out of the shadows of their famous fathers. Their relationship was really rocky for me too. One minute they were tearing their clothes off and then the next she was cutting him out of her life completely.
That said I'm still interested in reading the first book in the Everheart brothers of Texas series. Recommended for fans of On location by Sarah Echavarre Smith or Sonali Dev's Rajes series. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy! This was a good listen narrated by Deanna Anthony.
illstoptheworldandreadwithyou's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.
4 stars for the story, 3.5 stars for the narration
I enjoyed listening to Kasi and Declan's story, but I think I would have enjoyed the story more if I had been reading it. I appreciate how the author is not afraid to show the fallibility of her characters. I always enjoy a story with both character growth arcs and palpable heat between the couple.
Regarding the narration, I ended up increasing the speed slightly, and while I liked the narrator's voices and tones used for Kasi and her friend, Joy, some of the voices that the narrator used for male characters and characters with accents were misses for me.
At a glance:
- Single POV
- Open door
- Strangers to lovers
- Workplace romance but the main character and love interest live in two different states
- An independent director/producer and the chef son of her investor travel around the world working on a documentary
- Miscommunication trope
- First love for the main character
- Stubborn main character
- Growth and insight into friendships, family relationships, business relationships, family business relationships, and romantic relationships
- Both the main character and love interest have controlling father figures that have extended their influence into their children's adult lives.
- Both the main character and love interest are from wealthy families.
Content warnings: deceased parent, friend in an accident, divorce, controlling father figures, family tension
4 stars for the story, 3.5 stars for the narration
I enjoyed listening to Kasi and Declan's story, but I think I would have enjoyed the story more if I had been reading it. I appreciate how the author is not afraid to show the fallibility of her characters. I always enjoy a story with both character growth arcs and palpable heat between the couple.
Regarding the narration, I ended up increasing the speed slightly, and while I liked the narrator's voices and tones used for Kasi and her friend, Joy, some of the voices that the narrator used for male characters and characters with accents were misses for me.
At a glance:
- Single POV
- Open door
- Strangers to lovers
- Workplace romance but the main character and love interest live in two different states
- An independent director/producer and the chef son of her investor travel around the world working on a documentary
- Miscommunication trope
- First love for the main character
- Stubborn main character
- Growth and insight into friendships, family relationships, business relationships, family business relationships, and romantic relationships
- Both the main character and love interest have controlling father figures that have extended their influence into their children's adult lives.
- Both the main character and love interest are from wealthy families.
Content warnings: deceased parent, friend in an accident, divorce, controlling father figures, family tension
jenlouisegallant's review against another edition
3.0
Received an audio review copy of this from Netgalley.
I really wanted there to be a bit more cooking in this story, considering the title and that the love interest was a chef. Even exploring more of the traveling they did for the show they were making together.
Instead, we got a lot of daddy issues and fighting with one another because of those daddy issues. The characters did redeem themselves by talking about their problems in the end, but only after they said horrible things to one another. Definitely not my favourite kind of relationship to read about.
I really wanted there to be a bit more cooking in this story, considering the title and that the love interest was a chef. Even exploring more of the traveling they did for the show they were making together.
Instead, we got a lot of daddy issues and fighting with one another because of those daddy issues. The characters did redeem themselves by talking about their problems in the end, but only after they said horrible things to one another. Definitely not my favourite kind of relationship to read about.
quinnard21's review against another edition
5.0
This was absolutely delightful. I confess that I didn't realize that this was the second book of a series, but each book appears to follow a different family member in the series (think Get a Life, Chloe Brown), so I didn't miss any important information and I didn't feel weird reading them out of order. I actually went back and read the first book immediately after finishing this one - I also very much enjoyed it, though I think this was better written. To be honest, the only reason I realized it was the second book in a series was because the author put a few recipes at the end of the book and referenced the recipes from the first book.
I really enjoyed the inclusion of the aforementioned recipes in the back, although I think this might be one thing that was done better with the first book. In the first one, the recipes were sprinkled between the chapters and were relevant to the situations and recipes that were being discussed at that point in the book. I think this would have made the recipes stand out a little more, I also think it's easier to find the recipes if they're all compiled in the back in case you actually want to make any of them. So personally, I would've preferred them sprinkled throughout, but logically I can see why the formatting was different for this one.
The narration was the only thing I found a little difficult to fall into. The narrator occasionally had some intonations that didn't feel right for the flow of the character's conversations, and it almost jarred me out of the story. I did end up speeding it up, and that helped smooth it out a little bit. Other than that, it was absolutely delightful. While a miscommunication trope is usually the bane of my existence, I didn't have too big of an issue with this one, and I was able to fall into the story enough that I finished it within two days, and had a ravenous appetite for delicious food (and eye candy) the entire time.
I really enjoyed the inclusion of the aforementioned recipes in the back, although I think this might be one thing that was done better with the first book. In the first one, the recipes were sprinkled between the chapters and were relevant to the situations and recipes that were being discussed at that point in the book. I think this would have made the recipes stand out a little more, I also think it's easier to find the recipes if they're all compiled in the back in case you actually want to make any of them. So personally, I would've preferred them sprinkled throughout, but logically I can see why the formatting was different for this one.
The narration was the only thing I found a little difficult to fall into. The narrator occasionally had some intonations that didn't feel right for the flow of the character's conversations, and it almost jarred me out of the story. I did end up speeding it up, and that helped smooth it out a little bit. Other than that, it was absolutely delightful. While a miscommunication trope is usually the bane of my existence, I didn't have too big of an issue with this one, and I was able to fall into the story enough that I finished it within two days, and had a ravenous appetite for delicious food (and eye candy) the entire time.
mdoerr's review against another edition
3.0
Not going to lie, it's been about a week since I read this when I sat down to write my review and I had to read the synompsis to remember what this was even about. I had a good time reading it but it was very forgettable.
Tropes: Reality TV show; Enemies to lovers; cooking; travel
Tropes: Reality TV show; Enemies to lovers; cooking; travel
heatheradoresbooks's review against another edition
3.0
3.25 ⭐
Kasi is a filmmaker who is trying to get out from under her famous father's thumb. She wants to make a documentary about different cuisines throughout the world. There is only one problem ~ funding. Although she has a trust fund and a father with multiple connections, this is something she wants to do on her own. She has a strong personality and you'll definitely see her stubbornness in full force. She's actually quite a bit unlikable at times.
Declan is a chef working in his father, Flynn's, Michelin star restaurant. One night, he meets Kasi and he's intrigued by the documentary. A contract is set up with Flynn investing and Declan being a co-producer.
As they start working closely together their feelings for each other grow. Soon, Declan is realizing maybe he likes being in front of the camera more than the life he's always wanted and what's expected of him ~ to be a chef.
This one was a little slow going for me. I really wish I had read book 1 more recently as it coincides with the cooking competition. I did like reading about it from this side of the competition, so that was nice. However, I do wish some chapters were written from Declan's pov, since the series is called The Everheart Brothers of Texas, so we could have seen all that went on with his father.
Side note ~ they seem to order takeaway quite often ~ is Declan just too pooped to whip anything up for them to eat?
The author has a way with words and I found myself chuckling quite a few times with their banter. I enjoyed the friendship between Kasi, Joy and Tariq too.
Although, I didn't love it as much as the first book I will read the next book that, I assume, will follow Weston.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kasi is a filmmaker who is trying to get out from under her famous father's thumb. She wants to make a documentary about different cuisines throughout the world. There is only one problem ~ funding. Although she has a trust fund and a father with multiple connections, this is something she wants to do on her own. She has a strong personality and you'll definitely see her stubbornness in full force. She's actually quite a bit unlikable at times.
Declan is a chef working in his father, Flynn's, Michelin star restaurant. One night, he meets Kasi and he's intrigued by the documentary. A contract is set up with Flynn investing and Declan being a co-producer.
As they start working closely together their feelings for each other grow. Soon, Declan is realizing maybe he likes being in front of the camera more than the life he's always wanted and what's expected of him ~ to be a chef.
This one was a little slow going for me. I really wish I had read book 1 more recently as it coincides with the cooking competition. I did like reading about it from this side of the competition, so that was nice. However, I do wish some chapters were written from Declan's pov, since the series is called The Everheart Brothers of Texas, so we could have seen all that went on with his father.
Side note ~ they seem to order takeaway quite often ~ is Declan just too pooped to whip anything up for them to eat?
The author has a way with words and I found myself chuckling quite a few times with their banter. I enjoyed the friendship between Kasi, Joy and Tariq too.
Although, I didn't love it as much as the first book I will read the next book that, I assume, will follow Weston.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
oh_heycc's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75