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A review by scoutmomskf
A Taste of Home by Anna James
4.0
This was a sweet second chance story. Layla returned to the small town of New Suffolk after her relationship and job in Paris fell apart. She took over her grandparents' restaurant and turned it into the upscale French restaurant she'd always dreamed of. As the story opens, she discovers that her dream is in financial trouble, and she has no idea what to do. Then she gets an offer of help from Shane, her schoolgirl summer crush.
Shane left his successful Wall Street job and returned to his hometown to pursue his dream of becoming a paramedic. He's surprised to run into Layla, the girl he had a crush on when he was younger and who broke his teenage heart.
I liked Shane. He has a big heart that wants to help people. His time on Wall Street was spent assisting businesses to turn around when they were in trouble. When he began to bun out on that job, he realized it was time to follow his original dream. Instead of starting over to become a doctor, he focused on becoming a paramedic in his hometown. The downside was that his wife wasn't interested in that lifestyle. Shane realized she'd never loved him, just what he could give her, so they divorced and went their separate ways. However, it left Shane with a mistrust of women, especially rich ones.
I had a hard time warming up to Layla initially, but that changed as the book continued. She came home and turned her grandparents' popular restaurant into a fancy French restaurant, then wondered why it wasn't doing as well as she wanted. She seemed more focused on trying to prove something to her ex-fiancé than paying attention to what her customers were interested in. Her experiences with Antoine made her reluctant to trust any man.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Shane and Layla develop. Both remember their teenage feelings and are surprised to discover they've carried over to the present. Neither is happy about it and try to resist, with their recent romantic disasters coloring their thoughts. They find themselves working together on the emergency services gala, and things begin to change. I liked Shane's desire to help Layla when he found out about her troubles with the restaurant. Layla has a little difficulty accepting Shane's advice but realizes its validity.
This begins the slow burn of their developing relationship. The time they initially spend together gives them a chance to become friends and see that first impressions aren't always accurate. Underneath that friendship was a simmering attraction that continued to grow, and I enjoyed watching that friendship become more. They have some terrific scenes together, from painting to bowling to steamier activities. However, both still have their insecurities, and when Layla's past comes calling, she and Shane must face their pasts. Both get a little outside help to see the truth of their feelings and get the courage to do something about them. I loved the emotional ending, and the epilogue was terrific.
I enjoyed the restaurant setting and seeing some of the behind-the-scenes activities. I could feel Layla's early frustration as she fought to keep her dream alive, especially as some of the changes took on lives of their own. I liked her epiphany at the end and the difference it made to her plans.
#netgalley
Shane left his successful Wall Street job and returned to his hometown to pursue his dream of becoming a paramedic. He's surprised to run into Layla, the girl he had a crush on when he was younger and who broke his teenage heart.
I liked Shane. He has a big heart that wants to help people. His time on Wall Street was spent assisting businesses to turn around when they were in trouble. When he began to bun out on that job, he realized it was time to follow his original dream. Instead of starting over to become a doctor, he focused on becoming a paramedic in his hometown. The downside was that his wife wasn't interested in that lifestyle. Shane realized she'd never loved him, just what he could give her, so they divorced and went their separate ways. However, it left Shane with a mistrust of women, especially rich ones.
I had a hard time warming up to Layla initially, but that changed as the book continued. She came home and turned her grandparents' popular restaurant into a fancy French restaurant, then wondered why it wasn't doing as well as she wanted. She seemed more focused on trying to prove something to her ex-fiancé than paying attention to what her customers were interested in. Her experiences with Antoine made her reluctant to trust any man.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Shane and Layla develop. Both remember their teenage feelings and are surprised to discover they've carried over to the present. Neither is happy about it and try to resist, with their recent romantic disasters coloring their thoughts. They find themselves working together on the emergency services gala, and things begin to change. I liked Shane's desire to help Layla when he found out about her troubles with the restaurant. Layla has a little difficulty accepting Shane's advice but realizes its validity.
This begins the slow burn of their developing relationship. The time they initially spend together gives them a chance to become friends and see that first impressions aren't always accurate. Underneath that friendship was a simmering attraction that continued to grow, and I enjoyed watching that friendship become more. They have some terrific scenes together, from painting to bowling to steamier activities. However, both still have their insecurities, and when Layla's past comes calling, she and Shane must face their pasts. Both get a little outside help to see the truth of their feelings and get the courage to do something about them. I loved the emotional ending, and the epilogue was terrific.
I enjoyed the restaurant setting and seeing some of the behind-the-scenes activities. I could feel Layla's early frustration as she fought to keep her dream alive, especially as some of the changes took on lives of their own. I liked her epiphany at the end and the difference it made to her plans.
#netgalley