Some Like It Hot

October 10, 2011
Cooking romances are always high-pressure, but Edwards’s second Rising Star Chef contemporary (after Too Hot to Touch) gets downright mean. Eva Jansen, spoiled brat daughter of the Rising Star Chef competition’s philandering founder, aims to prove that she can run the contest and keep the attention of the Cooking Channel. She’s distracted by sexy pastry chef Danny Lunden, who is overwhelmed with the complex social dynamics of his team. Meanwhile, two contest judges continue an affair made extra awkward by age and cultural differences, and fistfights break out in the kitchen. Eva can’t decide whether to keep the personal drama out of the TV coverage or cause a ruckus for ratings while keeping her own reputation clear. The food and the sex are less than delicious, and the little emotional warmth feels forced amid all the lust and jealousy. Agent: Deidre Knight.

December 1, 2011

Pastry chef Daniel Lunden is focused on one thing: making sure his culinary team wins the upcoming Rising Star Chef competition. He's certainly not about to let the gorgeous little rich girl who's in charge of the competition distract him. But Eva Jansen can't ignore a challenge. When a rash elevator kiss practically sets off the smoke alarms, the couple are swept into a rule-bending relationship that becomes as addictive as chocolate. An abundance of behind-the-scenes details, ongoing characters, and a delightful continuing secondary romance are added delights. VERDICT Sweet and hot, this latest steamy confection from the talented Edwards is as irresistible as a hot fudge sundae, a guaranteed sugar high that will have fans hungering for more. Edwards (Too Hot To Touch) lives in Ohio.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2011
As far as New York City pastry chef Danny Lunden is concerned, winning the Rising Star Chef Competition is all that matters. Which means Danny can't let anything distract him from his goal, especially not Eva the Diva Jansen, the spoiled-rotten rich daughter of the man bankrolling the culinary event. Eva knows she has to prove to her father that she is capable of running the competition, but that doesn't mean she can't indulge in a delicious, yet discreet, fling with Danny. As the battle between the teams of cheftestants heats up, the affair brewing between Eva and Danny gets hotter, and with all the sparks the two are generating, someone is bound to get burned. In the latest toothsome addition to her Rising Star Chef series, Edwards delivers an emotionally engaging love story, expertly spiced with love scenes hot enough to caramelize cr'me brl'e. As the icing on this literary cake, the mouthwatering descriptions of the dishes prepared and realistically rendered kitchen scenes prove Edwards is as gifted at writing about food as about romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)