West Coast Love by Tif Marcelo is a good fit for readers who enjoy watching two people connect while working on a project together, growing as individuals, and discovering the potential for something more between them.

I decided not to finish this book because I didn't feel a strong connection to the story or characters. I will not be rating it or writing a full review, but I appreciate the opportunity.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this book and to be an early reader via NetGalley! However, I will not be writing a review for this title at this time, as my reading preferences have since changed somewhat. In the event that I decide to review the book in the future, I will make sure to purchase a copy for myself or borrow it from a library. Once again, thank you so much for providing me with early access to this title. I truly appreciate it. Please feel free to contact me with any follow-up questions or concerns.

What's not to love about a romance centering on BBQ?!

Victoria is a food blogger who has just been tapped to host a show about BBQ. She, probably the only human in the US who doesn't like BBQ. Joel is a cameraman who had also auditioned for the show, and when he finds out Victoria got the job over him, he's less than pleased. Still, as they go along, he can't help but fall for the blogger. Now, if only Victoria was feeling the same for him...

I thought West Coast Love was sweet and charming. And of course the Filipino aspect made me cheer, considering my ethnicity is rarely featured in romance fiction. I've grown to really like Tif Marcelo's writing, and am looking to much more from her.

ARC provided by NetGalley

I got about 20 to 25 percent into this book and I just wasn’t feeling it sadly. But I would love to revisit it in the near future.

West Coast Love is the third book in Tif Marcelo's <a href="http://bookbinge.com/reviews/series/journey-to-the-heart/">Journey to the Heart</a> series and it was a book that had great appeal for me because I love foodie romances. Victoria Acquino is a foodie blogger who is branching out and trying something new. She wants to try her hand at hosting an on the road foodie show, featuring BBQ festivals up and down the coast of California. Only problem is...she hates BBQ. Joel is an experienced cameraman that has dreams of coming out from behind the camera. He was the cameraman for Victoria's sisters live stream last year and he's become a valuable camera to Vic's family so when they run into each other in Vegas, sparks fly and they give in to the chemistry brimming below the surface. It was supposed to be one magical night. Haha, yeah right.

Joel auditioned for the same show that Victoria did and was really bummed that they approached him with a job offer to be...the cameraman. His dreams aren't exactly coming true but the money was good so of course, he took the job. After spending a magical night with Victoria in Vegas, he thought of her with fondness until he shows up for the cameraman job and finds out that he lost the hosting job to her and she doesn't even like BBQ. It's a sour pill to swallow and he struggles with where he is right now, on this job, with this woman.

Joel has always kept things professional. He was never one to mix business with pleasure and his hookup with Vic is coming back to haunt him because no matter how mad he is about the situation, he is still drawn to Vic and she's drawn to him.

I enjoyed the first book in this series and was looking forward to reading this one. I liked Victoria's character in that book and I was curious to get to know her better. Her character was a good one. She was smart, she was driven and even though she was trying to find herself, she didn't lose herself to find herself, if that makes any sense.

Joel was a great character as well. I enjoyed getting to know him and seeing him try to do right by his sister, by his nephew and then when Vic comes into his life, by Vic.

As great as they were a part, together, Joel and Vic kind of drove me crazy. There was a lot of back and forth between these two and there were times when I wanted to shake some sense into the both of them because they created drama out of the littlest of things. It got a bit annoying to slog through.

Tif Marcelo is a new to me author and even though I spent a little bit rolling my eyes at both Vic and Joel, Marcelo's writing style is compeling and fun and I will definitely be reading more from her. I wonder what's next but whatever it is, I'm in.

This book wasn't perfect but I was stilled filled with feels and I shipped Joel and Vic throughout the entire book. When I put the book down, I was happy to have read it and have plans to go back and read Bryn and Mitchell's book.

Grade: 3.5 out of 5

I really enjoyed the last book in this trilogy of food themed romances centering Filipina heroines! I have been waiting for Vic's book since the first book (I fell for her as a character very early on), though especially after the second book, and I was so pleased I liked it so much. It was a comfort to me on a hard day.

This more than any of the other books feels like an older NA. Vic is young, a social media manager and a successful food blogger, and trying to figure out her next steps after she got catfished by a man she thought she was in love with. She hasn't been able to blog, and she feels lost, so she jumps at the chance to host a reality TV show that's road trip based. There's just one catch: its all about BBQ, and she hates BBQ. Joel is equally lost and trying to find direction, and was hoping to be the host of the very same show, only they hired him as cameraman instead. He's pissed that Vic got the job, because he adores BBQ as much as Vic hates it and thinks he should have been hired. This is such a classic NA hate to love romance arc, that's as much about them figuring out their direction and goals as it is about them coming together as a couple.

This has some lovely other elements to it, as the characters have a history, of a hot one night stand that was supposed to stay that way but can they keep their hands off each other? The BBQ and TV elements are both hilarious and sweet, the 8 day marathon is a fabulous whirlwind, and I fell hard for the secondary characters, especially Joel's sister, and Tara, the TV show's director. I especially liked the moment where Vic takes Joel to her family's restaurant. I loved seeing the characters from the other books again, and loved watching this couple try to find their footing in that new setting.

I admit, I love BBQ and would have loved a book that centered it that wasn't so descriptively anti-BBQ. It was a great premise for a story, but it didn't make me hungry, which is what I look for in a food-themed romance. I don't favor stories that center heroines who are mostly not doing things they are competent at, especially if the hero is very competent at those very same things. It makes for dramatic rivalry but it's a difficult read for me because of the power dynamic it sets up. That got disrupted some in the course of the novel, which I was grateful for.

The pacing is lovely, if a bit of a whirlwind. The characters are compelling and grabbed me right from the start. I was rooting for them, and really enjoyed the fact that I could not see how it could work out, how they could get their happy ending, what that might be. Loved going through the twists and turns and taking that journey, trusting it would happen. When it did, it felt right. I was glad for that.

Content Warnings Sex on the page. Alcohol use. Minor character is cheating on their spouse.

3,5 stars

A good book for food lovers, bbq festivals lovers and blog lovers! Basically, if you are a foodies, you will like this series!

This series has been fun because it usually centers around food. I like food. I tend to start craving whatever food the protagonists are eating. I’ve been known to rush to the kitchen to make biscuits and tea. In this book, it’s all about BBQ. And all I wanted to do was eat meat! Damn it.

Victoria, or Vic, (the sister of the heroine in book two), loves to write. She has a blog all about food and also handles the social media for her family’s restaurant. After being on television during her sister’s reality show, she starts to get the itch to get in front of the camera herself. She learns of an audition for an upcoming host of a food show, and decides to take a chance and try out for it. While she has great a family, her love life is non-existent. She thought she was truly in love with a man named Luke, who she met online, but was catfished when she surprised him with a real life meeting, and met his pregnant wife. Completely devastated, she has sworn off men. But then Joel comes back into the picture.

Joel was a cameraman for that reality show, and got to watch Vic through his lens all day. He fell for her then and by total coincidence, Joel decides he wants to move in front of the camera, and also decides to try out for this show. He sees Vic at the same hotel in Vegas, not knowing they are going for the same gig, and they both have lust for each other. Vic gets the job, and Joel is asked to be a cameraman again – Joel is bummed, but then he realizes he gets to spend the next week in a RV, “glamping” with Vic as they travel around California filming various BBQ festivals. Vic knows nothing about BBQ and actually doesn’t like eating it, Joel loves BBQ – will they get along on the job??

In short – not really. I mean, they fall in love and have a HEA, but it’s not always happiness and stuffing your face with meat in their romance journey. The first half is cute – how these two dance around each other, and act on their attraction. We learn about Joel’s adorable relationship with his nephew and sister. We revisit Vic’s family and her sisters and their lovely restaurant. We get a glimpse into food festivals and RV camping. All is going great!

But then Vic started grating on my nerves a bit. I know she was crushed by a horrible catfishing, online boyfriend in the past and she is wary. But it was really hard for her to give Joel a chance in the love department. They would have intimate talks about their relationship and Vic seemed to totally forget about it the next day. She lashes out at him and doesn’t really give him a fair chance. I’m not saying Joel is perfect. He definitely has faults. He could have opened up more, and asked her about her life more. But it always came back to Vic for me. At one point she confronts her ex, Luke, and spends some time with him. If the positions had been reversed and Joel was hanging out with an ex, Vic would have lost her mind. But instead, she gets mad that Joel felt jealous. Her insecurities and how she handled them came off too cold for me.

But overall I still enjoyed this. I like this family that the author has created. Their dynamics, their love for each other and their passion about food makes me smile.

Grade: C+

Victoria Aquino auditions for an amazing opportunity as a food host covering Labor Day holiday BBQ festivals. However, once she accepts the job, she discovers she'll be working alongside Joel Silva. Spending eight days together isn't so bad, especially when they have such intense chemistry between them. Will Victoria take a chance on Joel, or will their fear of relationships keep them from achieving their happy ever after?

What a delightful and captivating read Ms. Marcelo has delivered in this third book of her Journey to the Heart series where the main characters back stories and the obstacles this couple have to overcome to be together were very entertaining; and the dialogue was compelling and had me really enjoying the chemistry between this couple. The way this story started had me amused by what the heroine is wanting to do. Yet, it seems a little liquid courage and what she's looking to do don't mix. Will she get her way or will she be sent on her way? However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine came face-to-face for the first time that had me completely hooked, as the hero does a good job of being a white knight.

Both the main characters were relatable, likeable and I loved every moment they conversed, as Joel has every right to be annoyed by Victoria getting the job over him, especially when she has no knowledge of BBQ and doesn't even like the food. Will he be able to help her get up to speed or will he let her figure things out for herself? Moreover, the heroine is resilient, courageous and I liked how determined she was to do the best job she could, even though she does some things that make the hero mad at her. I also liked that the heroine wasn't afraid of a little competition when things take an interesting turn for this couple. Will Victoria or Joel come out on top? While the hero, he's been through a lot and it's understandable why he's so close to the only family he has left in his sister and nephew. Really, the bond between Joel and his nephew is sweet and I loved the moments when they conversed, as there's plenty of love between them and it's palpable that Joel would do anything for the little guy. I also liked how the hero helped the heroine, even though it's not easy for him to do because he wanted the job as food host.

Overall, Ms. Marcelo has delivered a wonderful read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was intense; the romance nicely-detailed; and the ending had me loving the choice both the main characters make when it comes to their jobs and being together. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up nicely, as the journey they're taking sounds like it's going to be a very interesting one. I would recommend West Coast Love by Tif Marcelo, if you enjoy the friends to lovers trope, the enemy to lovers trope, or books by authors Naima Simone, Terri Osburn, Virginia Taylor and Mia Sosa.

What a fun story! This is the first book I have read from this author. I was drawn by the deep connection to family and the overall adventure in an old RV, hitting up the BBQ's. Love the premise!

Vic is a food blogger and has a love of travel and I just really connected with her in this story because she is a lot like me. Bring on a hot, hunky cameraman that adds a bit of competitive spirit to the story and some decidedly steamy hookups! YUMMM

Easy to read with plenty of adventure, mouth-watering foods, sexy scenes, and a sweet HEA that will make you swoon.

Loved the idea for this story. Road tripping with a tv crew to visit BBQ festivals along California's coast. Having lived in California my entire life I enjoyed reading about local cities and creative restaurant names. Glamping has now become something I must do! This was a funny smart romantic story with realistic characters and an amazing adventure. My first book from Marcelo and I really enjoyed it. My copy came from Netgalley and my review written voluntarily.

This was a fun, flirty sexy read that I found completely entertaining. I loved the characters, the setting, and the humor that runs throughout the story. The writing and character development are excellent making this a wonderful book.

Victoria Aquino is getting her big break. She's been a food blogger for years and now she's getting her chance on TV. So what if this isn't her type of food. Fake it till you make it. Right?? Cameraman Joel Silva can't believe the director bypassed him as host and chose to go with this wannabe instead. Too bad he finds her so attractive and can't help but give her tips to help her through the show. Nor can he help himself when the attraction between them flares to life breaking all the rules. Will they be able to keep things under wraps or will the others find out their secret??

I definitely recommend this one.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a sucker for a good road trip story, and this one was a delight. I loved the foodie aspect to it. The banter was great. West Coast love was fun, funny, and sexy. I really enjoyed this book. I did go into without reading the previous books but I don't feel like this took away from the story. In fact I'll probably go back and read the other stories in this series. This book will leave you more and probably craving BBQ.

I received a copy of this book and n exchange for an honest review. Even though I requested the opportunity I still wasn't overly enthusiastic about reading this after being disappointed by the last book in the series. Luckily this book was as strong as the first book if not even stronger. I like both of the main characters and the development of their relationship while they each face their own crossroads in their lives. Neither of them are perfect and they both make mistakes on their journey but that just made them more relatable. I only wish the writing weren't quite so good because I am now craving BBQ in the middle of the night.