Simmer Down

Starred review from July 20, 2020
Feuding food truck owners make a sizzling connection in this enthralling romance from Smith (Faker). Nikki DiMarco spent the last year and a half learning to run her family’s Maui food truck, Tiva’s Filipina Kusina, to fulfill a promise she made to her late father. Then a competitive new business, Hungry Chaps, breaks food truck etiquette by parking right next to Nikki’s spot and luring away her customers. The livid Nikki enters into a petty battle with Hungry Chaps’ handsome owner, Callum James—and their daily drama “becomes a top-selling menu item,” as viral videos of their shouting matches draw tourists from across the island. Nikki and Callum agree to settle their dispute once and for all by competing in the Maui Food Festival: whoever scores higher keeps the spot. But underpinning the rivalry is a burning chemistry neither can deny, leading to a casual affair that deepens into something more—but their connection could get them disqualified from the food festival if the organizers think they’re collaborating. Nikki desperately needs the prize money to keep her business afloat and continue her father’s legacy, forcing her to make a difficult choice. While the enemies-to-lovers romance is irresistible, it’s the sincere, well-developed characters and heart-tugging family dynamics that make this fulfilling love story stand out. This is a winner. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary.

August 1, 2020

Tiva's Filipina Kusina is the latest addition to Maui's fiercely competitive food truck scene. Nikki and her mom, Tiva, own and operate the truck, serving up their modern take on traditional Filipino dishes. When Nikki pulls up to her beachfront parking area one morning, she finds the Hungry Chaps food truck, and its tall, handsome British owner, Callum. Needless to say, Nikki is livid. Tempers are further inflamed as the two attempt to drive each other out of business, but the challenge isn't all food truck-related. Nikki can't help noticing her body's reaction to Callum. Callum has also been paying attention, and in fact has trouble keeping his eyes off of Nikki. As the days and weeks pass, the two gravitate toward each other, but can they overcome their professional rivalry? Nikki and Callum are believable, flawed, multifaceted characters, and the secondary characters are as well developed and unique. The enemies-to-lovers plot will pull readers in, and the descriptions of food will have them salivating. VERDICT Smith's (Faker) cute, breezy, multicultural romance set in paradise is a solid purchase where contemporary romances are popular.--Heather Miller Cover, Homewood P.L., AL

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2020
Nikki DiMarco dropped everything, including her dream job at a restaurant in Oregon, to move to Maui with her mother where they fulfill her father's dying wish to run a Filipino food truck. The recipes that Nikki and her mother create help them make a name for themselves in the Maui food-truck scene, and they are that much more popular because of their coveted beachside location. Apparently, however, news of their popularity doesn't travel that fast, and Nikki drives up one morning to find British newcomers Hungry Chaps a little too close to their spot. Brothers Callum and Finn take a stand against Nikki, resulting in an all-out war that extends from the beach to social media. Things get particularly heated between Nikki and Callum as they battle it out over customers, food, and what turns out to be the hots for one another. Smith is back (after Faker, 2019) with another fun and steamy?both in the kitchen and out?rom com. This multicultural romance, which combines heartfelt cuisine with a love story, will be a treat for readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)