I absolutely loved this setting, the characters and the romance! A truly wonderful read from beginning till end. A perfect romance to pick up any time, any place. Jason was such a wonderful character, it was so easy to fall in love with him haha. I love those swoon worthy romance heroes *sigh.

This was my first read by this author and I’m looking forward to read more by her.

Great romantic read with low drama. Fast paced novel with a great build world. Perfect read for an afternoon. Arc provided by Netgalley

This was a good read, though not one that I would find myself picking back up to read again. Colby is back in her hometown temporarily, and while she is tempted by her brother’s best friend, Jason, she is also looking forward to getting back to the life she has in Las Vegas. Complicating matters further is the fact that Jason is a single dad, and he wants to find a woman who will be a great partner and mother, someone Colby can’t be. Or can she? I thought the story was well written and the characters interesting, if a bit typical. Recommended.

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I don't recall ever requesting this book, but apparently I did, so I read it.

It was a cute love story, and I had fun reading it. The two main characters, Colby (30) and Jason (33ish), were easy to like and easy to root for. They're generally good people. I really liked Jason's daughter, Emma (11 then 12), too. I like reading books that have positive relationships between parents and children rather than making the parents look like bumbling idiots who either don't know how to parent rather than be a friend or are out to destroy all fun with their ridiculous rules. Yes, I know the world contains each of those types, but I don't think the majority of parents fit into either group.

Anyway. The story itself is a pretty good idea. However, like with any romance novel I've read (which isn't a lot, I'll be honest), I found the writing just okay. And I think I finally figured out why, so I'll give a shot at explaining.

First, any character that could potentially (even in the remotest sense) be a rival to one of the main characters is portrayed as a threat. This includes servers at restaurants, colleagues, people at the gym, people on the street, people who have one line in the book, people who don't have names, etc. These characters are always portrayed negatively, whether through their appearance or their actions. The women always have too much makeup, their clothes are too tight, they give the female protagonist dirty looks, or they helplessly throw themselves at the male protagonist. The men always come on to the female protagonist, lasciviously looking her up and down and speaking in innuendos. I wonder if this common practice is intended to make me think more highly of the main characters by comparing them to other, less desirable options. I don't know, but it doesn't work on me.

Second, the romance is so overt that while I'm sure there's suppose to be an incredible amount of sexual tension between the main characters, I find it a little . . . lacking. To follow the book's food theme, let's think about caramel brownies. Yummy, right? Sprinkle a little bit of sea salt on top, and it's even better. That tiny bit of saltiness perfectly counters the sweet and enhances it just the right amount. If a little salt does that, then a lot must be even better, right? Wrong. Salt-covered caramel brownies are not going to be delicious; the salt is going to completely overpower the rest of the brownie. That's how I feel about extremely overt romances, I've discovered. When the word "sexy" is used five times on the same page, they speak in innuendos that I'm sure are suppose to make me say "oooh!", or the characters use words like "yummy" or "delicious" to describe each other, I just can't stop myself from rolling my eyes. It's just too much.

So I've come to the conclusion that romance novelists have good ideas that could easily translate into some very, very cute rom-coms on the screen (and we all know we need more of those!). But the feel of the writing is just not my favorite. It's a little too over the top, a little too cheesy. There's too much salt on my brownie for me to really love it.

And as a side note, I kind of laughed when Colby said that one of the perks of having a family-owned business is that she could take time off. She took off a weekend (the busy time) at very short notice. Anyone who owns and runs a family business knows that wouldn't work. Just saying.
Note: Some swearing. Lots of cheesy innuendo. One sex scene--not descriptive, cuts to black.

This is a new author for me, and I absolutely loved this book! I’ve been to NO once, but in that week I was there, I found the area to be pretty incredible, rich in History, interesting people, and great food. I loved Jason and Emma, Colby was hysterical although damaged from her past, and Sherry and Cane were very entertaining. I found this story full of humor, sad from Jason’s loss, but man, was he sex on a stick! The love of food really came out in this very well written story, which I really enjoyed. I definitely plan on reading more from this author, looking forward to more in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

As always, I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this title...unfortunately, I did not enjoy this or really connect with the characters and I have chosen not to finish this title.

Thank you!
Laura

This book follows Colby, a chef who left her hometown to get away, when she returns home to help her family run their restaurant. There she runs into her childhood love and brother's best friend, Jason. Jason just so happens to have aged very well and is now a sexy firefighter and a father.

I really liked this story. It was interesting and I feel like it was written very well. The issue I had was that I couldnt seem to connect to the story or romance. I found myself not really wanting to sit down with it. I think a lot of that has to do with the widow plotline. Jason is widowed and that just isnt something I like seeing in my romance. Its personal preference, though.

So I do say check this out if it's something you're interested in. I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

This was a bit of a cutesy romance story to me. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing... I just felt like it was a bit blah. 'Been there, done that' kinda story.
Colby was always in lust with her brother's best friend - Jason. Jason, was always in love with his girlfriend then wife. They had a child together and Colby's brother was the God Father to there child.
How is it in 8 years her brother never mentioned his best friend having a kid? Or at the very least that he was a God Father to this child. That would have came up.
And Jason wasn't looking for love, just wanted a wife and mother for his daughter?!?!? Then they fall in love.
Blah!
This one just didn't do it for me. I was very into until I wasn't.
Maybe it just isn't the story for me.

“Taste the Heat” is the perfect balance of emotion, hope, romance and passion. As I got to know the characters, I couldn’t help but fall in love with them and their story. This is a journey worth taking with the characters, just to see them get their HEA!! Totally recommend

Jason and Colby will have you wanting to cook up your very own recipe of romance. Colby returns home to save the family restaurant but she isn't looking forward to running into Jason her brother's best friend and her childhood crush. Jason has a daughter and isn't looking for love. When they collide sparks ignite and feelings change. Can this be the beginning for a second chance at love for Jason? I voluntarily agreed to receive an ARC of this book for an honest review.

I thought I had read this book years ago, had not realized that it was written years ago until after I had requested it, but thankfully I was happy that I did. we have a big brothers best friend/forbidden love story, forbidden because Cain which is Colby's brother wasn't gung ho about it. Anyhoo Colby had left 11 years ago after finding out about a betrayal that it was understandable why she left and why she felt the way she did, my heart went out to her. So here we have secrets, many issues or road blocks for these two to be able to have a relationship, It was sweet, heartbreaking and just enjoyable, I fell in love with Jason, huh I swear it seemed that he was perfect (firefighter is one of my favorite professions) wonderful daddy, good friend list just goes on and on, but I wont tell you more besides encouraging you to read it and grab a copy..Enjoy!

Taste the Heat was a fun, sweet romance that tugged at my heart. Jason and Colby both have hardships that they need to overcome to move in with their lives. Colby has loved Jason since she was a child, so when she has a chance for a summer fling how can she say no. Jason goes above and beyond to get Colby to fall in love with him. Their chemistry together was wonderful. I loved the storyline and the characters. What an enjoyable read.

4 Star Review of Taste The Heat (Love & Games #1) by Rachel Harris
Rachel Harris is a new author to me and I have no idea why that is. This was a faced paced book that captured and held my attention from the start.
Although not a particularly long story, the author managed to pack quite a bit in to it. The characters were likeable and I found myself becoming invested in Colby Robicheaux and Jason Landry’s story.
Despite their painful pasts both Colby and Jason are determined to move forward and forge a future, will it be together or will the pain and betrayals from the past keep these two apart?
I loved Colby and Jason both separately and together and his daughter was Emma was a treat to read about. I also thought that Colby’s brother and sister were great characters and I hope they get their own stories.
Although this is my first book form Rachel Harris, it will not be my last.

I absolutely loved Colby and Jason's story! Reading about all the amazing food Colby makes as a chef made me want to plan a trip to Louisiana.

Colby only planned to return home for a short time, but reconnects with her brother's best friend Jason. What they plan as a short term thing quickly begins to change into more. The progression of their friendship to relationship felt completely natural since they have known each other for years, and Colby has always had a little bit of a crush.

I loved how beyond the physical attraction they supported each other with difficult feelings and heartache, too. Jason was still hurting over the loss of his wife and Colby over her father's actions.

Emma, Jason's daughter, was so cute and I loved her attempts at matchmaking and how sweet she was to Colby.

I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Enjoyed it
This is my first book by Rachel Harris.

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Love and Games
Standalone
HEA

I look forward to reading more from this author and the other books in this series.

Taste the Heat by Rachel Harris!

Colby has to return home after the death of her father. She’s the only person who can help continue to run the family diner in town. She had left 10 years ago to start her own successful restaurant in Las Vegas. Colby is called upon to judge a firefighter cook off, and there she meets Jason, her high school crush and brother’s best friend. Jason is now a single dad with an 11 year old daughter, Em, who is a wonderful combination of sweet and sassy! Both Colby and Jason are attracted to each other, but they also both have reservations and secrets they need to overcome before they can look for their perfect ending.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book and I am providing my honest review.

Colby and Jason meet again when Colby returns home after many years away for culinary school and running a restaurant in Las Vegas. Jason is now a widower with a young daughter and Colby realizes that her childhood crush has now turned into an adult "thing". Their chemistry is great and there is conflict with Jason being her brother's best friend and having a child in the mix. This was a fun read although I felt that the relationship developed too quickly at times. The supporting characters are wonderful and I would recommend this book!

I received a free ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Taste the Heat by Rachel Harris a four-star read that will make you taste the rainbow. This is the first novel in the Love and Games series and it’s a sweet and romantic story, sometimes a little overly sweet, but most of the time its just right. There is enough heat to keep it nicely toasty but not enough that its all your reading. The characters are great and they will make you care, Colby and Jason are good characters and they have a story that you will enjoy most of but there is a little bit that I didn’t enjoy, but overall a very good story.

Absolutely loved this story! Colby has to return home to small town near Nola to help with her family's restaurant that is floundering since the death of her father. Colby left town over 10 years ago to become a chef and has her own successful restaurant in Las Vegas. Saying she doesn't want to be home is an understatement. No one knows but Colby why she left town and never returned with the rare exception for funerals. Her brother Cain keeps the books and paperwork going, her younger sister Sherry waits tables and keeps the front in check, but they lack a proper chef. Colby's first little duty in to judge a firefighter cook off and it's there she sees Jason, her teenage crush and brothers best friend. She gingerly does the taste tasting and declares Jason the winner. Colby isn't aware that Jason is now a single dad raising his 11 year old daughter. Jason is attracted to Colby, Colby of course to Jason, but Colby has an endgame in sight, she is only staying until the end of summer. To get the family restaurant back on it's feet, get the kitchen in order and leaving as soon as she can.
She doesn't plan on falling for Jason and his 11 year old daughter who loves playing matchmaker. Em needs a woman in her life but Jason having lost the love of his life isn't willing to risk himself again.
Colby and Jason each have their own secrets. Slowly they open up to each other. Meanwhile trying to manage the restaurant and respective jobs. Colby's made some noticeable changes in the Robicheaux
menu and people are talking, she's added some Italian dishes and dropped some of the local cajun favorites. The recipes she learned at her father's side while growing up, those she learned to perfect.
There's a reason why Colby won't cook her father's recipes. A reason only she knows. While Jason is determined to make Colby fall back in love with the food that she loves but refuses to serve, we watch as their relationship unfolds, along with Cain giving his best friend his sternest warning about Colby and the ever growing affection between Colby and Em.
Stellar writing, an amazing love story; one woven with secrets and pain and set in one of my favorite foodie places, it's a must read. That said, it's worth reading again. One you'll want to keep on your shelf. I'm so looking forward to reading Cain's story.

arc from NetGalley and Entangled for an honest review

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I loved Colby and Jason and the way they struggled with their attraction and not sure how they should proceed with Colby's brother, Cane, not wanting his sister with his best friend. While Jason's daughter, Emma, was working so hard to bring them together!

They each come to the realization that they had deep feelings and that it was love but the gap between where they lived and their careers was going to be an issue. Plus, past history with a cheater caused a misunderstanding which damaged their new relationship.

Great HEA and loved that they worked things out and had a new family.