Recipe for Disaster is the first romantic suspense book in the Men of the Secret Service series written by author Tracy Solheim. Thanks to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for the advance copy.

Marin Chevalier has been told by her cousin that she needs a ‘plus one’ to the wedding, or not to come at all. However, Marin is the White House pastry chef and currently in the middle of making pastries for the Easter gathering that is coming up. When is she going to have time to “date hunt”?
Agent Griffen Keller is Secret Service and trying to bust up a counterfeiting group who just happens to be targeting the art in the White House. When a White House kitchen towel shows up, Griffen begins to suspect Marin as a possible suspect.
This is book one in the Men of the Secret Service series and takes place in Washington DC. I enjoy Tracy’s books and this one did not disappoint! The characters, as well as the plot, are well developed. The suspense was great and I did not want to put it down! If you love romantic suspense, I highly recommend this book! It is a must read!

“Recipe For Disaster” is the perfect blend of romance, wit, humor and charisma. As Tracy Solheim pits the gritty and delicious Secret Service Agent Griffin against the feisty and sweet Pastry Chef, Marin Chevalier working at the White House and also a very close friend to the First Family.

Even as they fight their attraction for each other, Marin is thrown into the crosshairs of a counterfeit ring and becomes a suspect, something that doesn’t agree with the Griffin. As they maneuver of the many twists of their romance, Marin and Griffin sure create enough drama to keep the White House and the readers pretty entertained!

Another entertaining romance from Tracy Solheim!

Received an ARC from Tule Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review.

There were a lot of catnip elements here for me - secret identities and pastries and dangerpantsfeelings! And overall the romance was solid if weak ending wise? However, the Foreign Terrorist plot (even with the twist) felt way too racist & there were weird foreign trophy wife shaming aspects too.

Also what happened to Anika? There were too many dead people of color for Plot Pain and that just killed the story for me (no pun intended).

It started out with trying to solve a counterfeit ring that was funneling millions of dollars into society. Of course it would have been too easy if Griffin was able to solve the case and move on. Trailing after The Artist he meets Marin, the head White House pastry chef, whose life becomes a tangled web of danger. He will protect her at all costs while try to stop The Artist from striking again leaving more damage behind. Great story and the suspense will have you wishing for one of Marin’s delectable desserts to soothe your nerves.

Secret Service Agent Griffin Keller, is chasing 'The Artist'. He stumbles upon stolen paintings form the White House leading him to the White House pastry chef, Marin Chevalier.
The book is an action packed romantic thriller. I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it. An entertaining read.

Eagerly waiting for the next books in the series hoping it will be of Adam, Ben and Leslie.

Great suspenseful romance! This was the first book that I read from this author, but it won't be my last. I will definitely be looking for more books from this author.

I really liked both Griffin and Marin they were great characters that you cannot help but like. The chemistry between them was instant and off the charts. With plenty of twists and turns, this was a super romantic suspense and is well worth a read.

An action packed nail biter.

Secret Service Agent Griffin Keller, is on the tail of an international counterfeiter known as The Artist, when he comes across stolen paintings form the White House. His only clue, a dish towel from the White House, leads him to pastry chef, Marin Chevalier.

Marin comes from a wealthy family that owns hotels all over the world. Some have been used as drop off sites for counterfeit bills, so Griffin decides to keep an eye on Marin in case she is involved. With Griffin hanging around so much, Marin starts to think of him as the perfect date for her cousin’s wedding. They soon find themselves caught up in more than they expected.

I was surprised by this book. It started a little slow, but once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down. I like Marin and Griffin’s chemistry and the story was filled with action. This is the beginning of a series and I can’t wait to read the next book.

An elusive group of international counterfeiters has escaped Secret Service agent Griffin Keller's net long enough. He's determined to bring them to justice, especially the one known as The Artist, and, finally, he's found a clue that might help him do that. The clue leads him to the White House and executive pastry chef, Marin Chevalier whose family owns hotels around the world that have been used as drop sites for the counterfeit bills. Add to that the strange events and growing body count around Marin, and Griffin is sure he's found a link to the counterfeiters...even as his growing desire for the chef has him hoping he's wrong. Using his legendary good looks - dimples rule - and charm, he sticks close to her until he can determine for certain if she's on the right, or wrong, side of the law but as desire ramps up and unexpected feelings deepen, will they cloud his judgment and hamper his ability to solve the case before it's too late?

White House executive pastry chef, Marin Chevalier is dealing with stress on all sides. With Easter weekend almost upon them, the oven in the pastry kitchen burns up, her sous chef seems distracted, her condescending cousin - for whom Marin is maid of honor - has turned into a bridezilla, insisting Marin bring a date to the upcoming wedding, and there's no likely candidate in sight. And that's before things begin to spiral out of control. Suddenly, a handsome Secret Service agent is romancing her and Marin, who has always been all work and no play, begins to believe she may have finally found "the one." But people around her start dying, the man to whom she could easily give her heart hasn't been completely truthful, and the lurking danger now has Marin in its sights.

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in Tracy Solheim's new romantic suspense series centered around the Secret Service. There's great characterization, plenty of action, danger, and twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout while also being well balanced by romance, emotion, humor, and sizzle. I especially enjoyed Solheim's attention to detail in setting scenes and describing the interior of her White House. It enabled me to not just read about what was happening but become immersed in the journey of these characters as if I were there with them each step of the way.

Being the first book in a series, there are a number of characters introduced but I never felt confused or overwhelmed by them. I especially enjoyed Otto, a working K-9 who is critical to the plot and won my heart as surely as he did Marin's. Griffin and Marin have terrific chemistry, the obstacles they must overcome are relevant and believable, and their HEA is hard-won and satisfying. I'm hopeful that we'll see more of them in the next two books which will feature Griffin's two pals and fellow Secret Service agents, Ben and Adam.

The book started out strong, and I found the inside look at the inner workings of the White House interesting. Unfortunately, soon the story became far too unbelievable and the main characters far too annoying. The hero was bossy and kept giving off mixed signals, while the heroine had a case of insta-love and seemed to cry all too often. I was hoping for much better.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

A beautiful blend of action and romance. The plot kept me guessing and interested and the details about the area felt accurate which is unusual with books based in Washington DC. I can't wait for the next book in the series..

For as action packed as this book was, I found it hard to get through. I was a fan of the authors previous work and this had glimpses of some witty dialogue but was just too gritty. Way too many dead bodies. Especially after the heroine killed someone and it was barely acknowledged again. It just seemed to keep building and building but it was exhausting and not thrilling

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

When the main male character is supposed to be the one that all the women fall for, I hope that the female lead character will put up a bit of resistance and not fall at his feet like all the other women so I was a bit disappointed in that respect. I can't say that I liked Griffin all that much as he kept "giving in" to the attracted then backing off which is typical for a romance but I find annoying!

I did like the book overall and I especially enjoy a romantic suspense book and this kept me guessing most of the book. I really wish that there had been a bit more explanation about the attempts on Marin's life and why after many attempts on her life, he decides to not kill her and keep her for ransom money.

The other part that just didn't make any sense to me was when Marin was supposed to respond to the message from Bita. I really did not understand why Bita would lure her out of safety.

Some parts were funny when you see the three guys together and I am really looking forward to seeing them fall from their bachelor status. While there were plenty of little things that I thought strange in the book, the book was entertaining and an enjoyable read.

Get ready for a wild ride with Marin and Griffin. Marin is a pastry chef at the White House, where painting are being swapped for forgery ones. Griffin from the Secret Service has been assigned to the case. They will go on a wild ride of finding out who behind this. There is an instant chemistry between them , but Griffin does not do forever, his job is his number one. But soon that may change, as Marin's life is threatened.

This is a great romantic suspense with many twists and turns, that will keep you turning the pages. Marin is a very tough female and not afraid of much. Griffin is tough on the outside, but has a soft heart inside. With just being to Washington DC last fall, brought back many memories. Can't wait to read the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book.

Totally engrossing read that grabs you right from the start and has you glued to the pages and on the edge of your seat. You will be burning through the pages with this intense storyline, that throws more twists and turns at you as you get more into the story. There is lip-biting chemistry with explosive passion between the characters and the whole way through the story too. It’s a enjoyable must read that you can’t help falling in love with. I would recommend this book to all book lovers out there

I really enjoyed this book that NetGalley provided for an honest review.

I thought the mix of romance and suspense was very good. I’m ordinarily a straight contemporary reader but I love Tracy’s other books so thought I would try and was not disappointed.

This book sets up the next two without being super honest.

Sometimes when the hero is in law enforcement they can be a little too he-man for my taste. Loved the plucky heroine!

Overall a great read!!!!!

This book will have you spinning in circles. Everytime you think you figure it out there is another twist and turn. Imagine being the agent in charge of solving it much less how he feels when he starts falling for the main suspect.

This book has everything.


** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

I quite liked this book because there was lots of mystery, plenty of action and a nice romance.

The plot was a little bit weak. I couldn't understand how there could be so many very serious security breaches at the White House. It just didn't seem very realistic.
Marin was borderline 'too dumb to live' and the Secret Service were way too easy going and lackadaisical.
I also couldn't understand why Marin's powerful and rich family didn't get involved in her safety? There was no mention of them except a quick phone call. The bad guys were supposedly afraid of her grandfather but it was never explained why.
Also the assassin infiltrated the White House to kill Marin. He also made other attempts. Was Marin lucky or was he just another very sloppy Special Forces operative? To spend all that time trying to kill her but then to need her alive all of a sudden didn't make a whole lot of sense but it loosely tied all the connecting dots together and brought the story to a messy conclusion.

Romance and suspense are two of my favorite things to find in a book. Tracy Solheim creates the perfect mix of romantic suspense in Recipe for Disaster. It is the first book in a new series that left me anxiously awaiting the next book. I loved the Washington D.C. setting. Solheim captures the mystic of the city perfectly.