Karma♥Bites’s Mercurial Reads

* ARC provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley.

Genre: CR

Length: novel

Heat Level/Content: Sexy Hot (m/f vanilla; frank but not overly explicit/graphic)

Publication Date: 5 Nov 2013

Publisher: Forever (Hachette/GCP)

Series Info: #2 in Hot in the Kitchen

Author Info: Publisher's Author Page

BLURB: see BL book page

Another NTM author for another great read! As a foodie, love, love, LOVE that this series uses the backdrop of the restaurant/haute cuisine world.

I got All Fired Up when it came up at NetGalley last fall.  But due to the usual year-end + holiday madness, I wasn’t able to read it before the allotted reading period expired.  Then a friend recently reminded me to check if I had sent it to my Kindle account.  Man, so glad that she did!

All Fired Up was a fast read for me because I was into the story the entire time―smexy with a simmering build-up of UST, a “yup, opposites do attract” theme, and highly likeable and grounded characters (both primary and secondary).  Having worked where I worked, I could immediately relate to some of Cara DeLuca’s personality “quirks” but it may take others a bit longer to warm up to her.  Especially when, in the beginning, she comes across as a control-freak, designer-label-conscious Lemon Tart (the nickname used by the other restaurant workers ^.^).  But give her a chance and she may surprise you.

Shane Doyle, on the other hand... Hmmm, think that the only way Shane could’ve been better for me is if he were Black Irish.  Oh, and older.  But that’s just me. :)  No doubt aided by her background, Ms. Meader did a wonderful job of imbuing Shane with Irish flavour and authenticity via his thoughts and dialogue.  He was an interesting mix of still-youthful determination and optimism overlaid with the sobering influence of his backstory.  Think that most readers will be rooting for Shane from very early on.

However, the best (and a relief) for me was that the angst and conflict moments woven into the storyline, as well as the characters’ behaviour and reactions, weren’t so OTT or grossly manufactured so to be eye-roll inducing.  Instead, they were things which could easily happen IRL.  And honestly, who hasn’t experienced the love/jealousy of a sibling at one point or another? Or a sticky moment or two at family gatherings? ^.~

Highly recommend All Fired Up to those who enjoy sweet and smart CR with occasional (and sometimes unexpected) LOL moments. I, for one, plan to read the rest of this series. :)

NB: I didn’t pay close enough attention so thought that this was the first in series. Although easily a stand-alone read, the couple from Feel the Heat do appear in this one so there are minor spoiler-ish moments. If interested, I would suggest starting w/ Book #1 (plus, Jack & Lili’s story seems to promise some fireworks).

UPDATE: Kindle Smut on GR has chosen Ms. Meader’s Hot in the Kitchen series for a group read, with approximately 3 weeks allocated to each book. The read/discussion for Book #1, Feel the Heat, started on March 1st so if you’re a member, come join us!