For a foodie like myself, this book, with all its descriptions of individual dishes, delicious meals, and inventive cuisine, was as much pure heaven (I wanted to try all of them), as it was hell (I was hungry most of the time!). But I think anyone who enjoys eating and is interested in the chefs in charge of preparing the kind meals we all dream of eating at restaurants will be able to enjoy this "course 1" of the series. With characters as colorful as their productions, and the fierce competition and passion between them, this book is a true delight for all the senses.

Alex comes from money, so they say, but he didn’t want to stay there. He's decided to become a chef, under his own steam, and has successfully survived the prestigious Culinary Institute of America. He managed to get a job at a prestigious restaurant, and expects great things. Nothing could be further from the truth. He is put to work as a kitchen boy, doing everyone else's prep work. He is not amused, but he makes enough blunders to begin to see that maybe he isn’t as ready as he thought he was. The biggest problem in all this is that Nik, his classmate and erstwhile rival at the institute, is a sous chef already. That just rankles!

Nik is a big enigma. I loved seeing him though Alex's eyes and learning more about him as the first few months of Alex's employment pass by. There is definitely an attraction between the two, but there is also rivalry and quite some bad blood. Alex cannot figure out why for the longest time, but when the explanation finally emerges, it makes sense. From then on things work out better between the two, even if Alex, who has asked Nik out and been rebuffed before, doesn't really know how to go about getting closer to Nik. The hot/cold act is enough to drive anyone crazy!

If you like stories with lots of background detail in the very interesting setting of a fine dining restaurant's kitchen, if you enjoy slow-moving relationships between men who clearly have a history they need to get over first, and if you're looking for a read that follows a young, ambitious man in his first steps of building a career, then you will probably like this novella. I definitely look forward to the next course of the series!



NOTE: This book was provided by Less Than Three Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
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I had a little trouble believing Nik didn't realise Alex liked him. He asked him out just hours after they first met then several times after that before he finally gave up. Seriously? How thick are you, Nik? And it was hard to buy Alex as someone with two years of experience plus two years of culinary school when he made so very many mistakes that even I - who manages to burn all she touches - wouldn't make.

I came away from this book more hungry than happy. Lots of beautiful food detail, not much character development. I'm hoping the author fixes that in the next book. ( )

I had a little trouble believing Nik didn't realise Alex liked him. He asked him out just hours after they first met then several times after that before he finally gave up. Seriously? How thick are you, Nik? And it was hard to buy Alex as someone with two years of experience plus two years of culinary school when he made so very many mistakes that even I - who manages to burn all she touches - wouldn't make.

I came away from this book more hungry than happy. Lots of beautiful food detail, not much character development. I'm hoping the author fixes that in the next book. ( )