When celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanaugh experiences a very public temper tantrum on set with his competition, Hadley Beckett, he's sent packing to get his life in order. When he returns, career in shambles, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public's good graces is to work alongside Hadley. As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along, but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love. In the meantime, hide the knives.I'm not much of a cooking show person, but I am a fan of Bethany Turner's romantic comedies. And this one did not disappoint.
I was shocked at how much I ended up liking Max. He's a grade-A jerk at the beginning, and his insecurities and anger issues can make him really unsympathetic. Yet he changes so much. He's obviously trying to do better, and it's a ton of work; he still messes up a lot, but you can see how hard he's trying and how much he truly does change.
I really appreciate that Hadley doesn't want to make her accomplishments in a male-dominated field into a weapon in the battle of the sexes. She is proud of what she's done and happy with her life; she doesn't want to be used as a tool for someone else's agenda. I do sympathize with Max's attempts to communicate with her without sounding sexist, be it critiquing or complimenting (once he's genuinely trying, that is). There's a fine line between chivalry and chauvinism, and it's different for every woman and further different depending on whom the woman is interacting with. In general, though, I found Hadley to be quick to offer grace, though she will stand up for herself when she needs to.
And of course, it was delightfully humorous, peppered with pop culture, and underscored with grace for imperfect humanity. Highly enjoyable.
Thank you Revell for the complimentary book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.
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