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bookanonjeff's review against another edition
5.0
Fun Foodie FF Romance. This is a lesbian romance where the two ladies are about as opposite as it gets - one is a trained chef working for a corporate restaurant group, the other is a legacy baker who took over and revitalized her mom's shop. As a short romance, it works well in that it hits all the requirements of the genre (yes, including sex) and executes each solidly - but you're not going to get the conflict and growth of a 100 page longer book. Though there are still significant, more complicated than Hallmarkie, conflicts here. Ultimately a fun book that hits all the right notes and even manages to highlight the particular region it features very well. Very much recommended.
cherryactually's review against another edition
3.0
i didn't really feel the chemistry between the characters until much later on in the book, despite the kind of opposites attract, kind of insta-lovey, rivals-to-lovers set up. but i still did enjoy it for the most part.
trippalli's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
Spicy! And sweet!! A real chef's kiss 💋
abbythompson's review against another edition
4.0
After DNFing a number of books, this one hit all the right notes for what my brain needs in this moment. It was soft, sweet, just spicy enough, and low angst enough for me to manage. Will absolutely be reading more from this author and I can only hope that Mia and Jay get their own second chance romance some day.
ansankirjat's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
loved the lesbianism and the side character who used they / them pronouns. perfect comfort reading
butteredgarbage's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
thenaptimewriter's review against another edition
4.0
KD Fisher’s The Secret Ingredient made me hungry. It also made me want to travel *stares wistfully out my window .
This is one of those books that’s less plot-driven, more character & setting-focused, & reading it felt cozy & occasionally steamy—a rather nice combo IMO.
Adah Campbell has just moved to Maine to be Head Chef at a fancy restaurant. Years ago, after accidentally becoming pregnant, she left her strict, super religious home & made a life for herself and her son. Serving as Head Chef is the opportunity she needs to provide for her family & to prove that she has what it takes.
Beth Summers is the owner & baker of The Yellow House, a more casual type of establishment that privileges local food & farmers & takes food & the people it can serve through food seriously.
Trope-wise, this book is a classic: opposites attract. Grumpy & the sunshine. But I love how original it is in Fisher’s hands.
The Secret Ingredient gets points for:
​
Adah’s cute accent, which is pervasive throughout the book. I don’t feel like I’ve often (ever?) seen an Ozarks dialect written in a romance before?
.
.
How ambitious & competitive both women are, in slightly different ways.
.
.
Steam, including the leads sharing forthrightly what they like & don’t like.
.
.
Found family.
.
.
Beautiful descriptions of Maine life (I want to go to there.)
.
.
How soft Adah is underneath her reserved exterior. She’s so earnest & I love it (give me ALL the little signs of vulnerability
This is one of those books that’s less plot-driven, more character & setting-focused, & reading it felt cozy & occasionally steamy—a rather nice combo IMO.
Adah Campbell has just moved to Maine to be Head Chef at a fancy restaurant. Years ago, after accidentally becoming pregnant, she left her strict, super religious home & made a life for herself and her son. Serving as Head Chef is the opportunity she needs to provide for her family & to prove that she has what it takes.
Beth Summers is the owner & baker of The Yellow House, a more casual type of establishment that privileges local food & farmers & takes food & the people it can serve through food seriously.
Trope-wise, this book is a classic: opposites attract. Grumpy & the sunshine. But I love how original it is in Fisher’s hands.
The Secret Ingredient gets points for:
​
Adah’s cute accent, which is pervasive throughout the book. I don’t feel like I’ve often (ever?) seen an Ozarks dialect written in a romance before?
.
.
How ambitious & competitive both women are, in slightly different ways.
.
.
Steam, including the leads sharing forthrightly what they like & don’t like.
.
.
Found family.
.
.
Beautiful descriptions of Maine life (I want to go to there.)
.
.
How soft Adah is underneath her reserved exterior. She’s so earnest & I love it (give me ALL the little signs of vulnerability
theladyinreds's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. This is a sweet f/f romance that will make you so damn hungry with all of the farm to table food descriptions. The relationship dynamic is sorta happy-wild-child one is soft for the feral-closed-off-for-their-own-protection one.
munleigh's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 out of 5 stars
This was more angsty than the books I have been reading lately but I'm not one to shy away from it. The conflicts between the two characters were expected but not unfounded. Adah and Beth did have their high moments as well as the lows.
There were some things that were said by Adah that shocked me and I was disappointed by that. There are some deep rooted issues for one of the main characters, it was addressed but I feel like it was not quite fully resolved.
The ensemble cast was nice as most were likeable characters. This seemed like it could be a series with either friends of Adah or Beth as the main. I would read it if it did happen.
Review also posted here: https://wp.me/p4Pp9O-Pe
I was given a copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.
This was more angsty than the books I have been reading lately but I'm not one to shy away from it. The conflicts between the two characters were expected but not unfounded. Adah and Beth did have their high moments as well as the lows.
There were some things that were said by Adah that shocked me and I was disappointed by that. There are some deep rooted issues for one of the main characters, it was addressed but I feel like it was not quite fully resolved.
The ensemble cast was nice as most were likeable characters. This seemed like it could be a series with either friends of Adah or Beth as the main. I would read it if it did happen.
Review also posted here: https://wp.me/p4Pp9O-Pe
I was given a copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.