This story restored my confidence that there are still great contemporary romance stories to be told. Excellent read! ~ Afrodyt, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
Whitney Bartolina gets what she wants. At just thirty-four, she’s worked her way up from mailroom coordinator to casting director at a major Los Angeles television network and had a string of steamy flings, most recently with movie star Nolan Rivera. But when two of the contestants she casts on a new reality cooking show turn out to be as talented in the bedroom as they are in the kitchen, Whitney may have finally bitten off more than she can chew.
Conducting auditions across the country and looking for a bit of fun after Nolan, Whitney finds it in Chicago with Charlie Hutchins, a deliciously handsome British rugby-player-turned-chef whose spicy Szechuan beef is only the start of his sizzle. Then, in Montana, close encounters with sexy but mild-mannered cowboy and restaurateur Wes Rancourt leave her mouth watering for more.
Back in LA for filming, Whitney soon finds herself caught in a love square with Charlie, Wes, and Nolan, who’s stopping at nothing to win her back. Will she jeopardize her career by mixing business with pleasure, or can she turn up the heat without getting burned?
Review copy provided for an honest review
Hollywood casting director, Whitney Bartolina, is tasked with finding the next reality TV chef. She’s 
confident in all aspects of her life, except with relationships. While juggling a 9-city casting tour, she’s also dealing with the drama from her on again/off again relationship with her boyfriend, Nolan. After finally dumping him for the last time, she decides to follow the old adage, “the way to get over a guy is to get under a new one.” So she’s following her libido’s lead first with Charlie, a hunky Brit who’s a contestant in Chicago. Not a total conflict of interest, but not the best choice of a bedmate. Then she meets Wes in Montana, a sexy restauranteur who intrigues her by not hopping directly into bed with her, but insists on getting to know her first, content to make her wait for his goodies.
What’s clear is that Whitney is on the rebound. She’s successful in her career but has a lot to learn when it comes to following her heart and being in a loving, committed relationship. With Charlie, she gets a guy who’s gregarious, fun and spontaneous. He’s great in bed and doesn’t take things too seriously. With Wes, she gets a man who’s more mature and who may not give her what she wants when she wants it, but is very adept at giving her exactly what she needs.
As someone who loves watching cooking competitions, I thoroughly enjoyed those aspects of the story. I loved that this is a fresh, contemporary storyline. The characters were interesting people, their problems were real and the solutions were believable. Melissa Brown did a fantastic job portraying the sexual dynamics of the story. It’s rare that I read a heroine that has taken multiple partners in a book and be able to keep her head on straight. Each encounter felt unique and when she finally chose her leading man, you felt the difference in raw heat and passion and emotions. This story restored my confidence that there are still great contemporary romance stories to be told. Excellent read!
Thanks for the review Afrodyt