A Dash of Christmas

August 26, 2019
Chase serves up delicious romance in her charming ninth Montgomery Brothers contemporary (after Suddenly Mine), which has just a hint of holiday sparkle. Emery Monaghan is hiding out in New York City. Her ex-fiancé, Congressman Derek Whitman, has been charged with several counts of sexual assault—and her parents can’t understand why she won’t forgive and forget. When matchmaking family friend Eliza Montgomery offers Emery a refuge and a chance to work on a charity cookbook project with Eliza’s restaurateur son, Emery leaps at the chance. Carter Montgomery owns successful restaurants in New Orleans, Orlando, and Las Vegas, but trying to figure out what to do with his new place in Montauk, N.Y., is tying him in knots. He thinks working on his mother’s charity cookbook with his childhood nemesis will only be a distraction, but Emery quickly proves him wrong. Most of the book’s funniest moments pit sophisticated chef Carter’s elegant dishes against Emery’s fondness for junk food. Despite the title, Christmas elements are almost entirely absent, but strong characters, nimble plotting, and mouthwatering food descriptions make this novel an appetizing winner. Agent: Mark Gottlieb, Trident Media Group.