In Love’s Recipe, we follow Rosalie as she moves back home after having a rough start to her adult life with her young daughter in tow. She takes the first job she finds, which just so happens to be in one of the most famous restaurants in town, or was. Enter Nick who is spiralling as the restaurant is close to going out of business. I really enjoyed this story! It was a perfect ‘chefy’ summer read. I thought that it not only had the tension and relationship build-up that I would want from a romance but also tackled serious subjects (such as divorce, unstable family relationships and being a single parent.) My only complaint is that at times I felt it to be a little slow. However, I am amazed with Mila Nicks ability to writing a wholesome family dynamic romance but still keep the steamy times alive. Overall, I highly recommend this if you are looking for a cute romance to pick up and I will be checking out any future books by Mila Nicks.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of Love’s Recipe.

A small town love story sure to make you fall head over hills in love. A story about letting go of your past and toxic people in your life.

Absolutely beautiful story about a single mother coming back to her home town to the last place she ever wanted to come back to... her mothers.
If a book ever had a theme song to start out it would be Suds In The Bucket by Sara Evans. If you ever listened to that song there is no way you would not agree that is how this book starts out.

Only thing I wish that was mentioned in the book was what happened to Nicks baby mama maxie’s mother. It did leave me wondering what happened to her. Or even if that was something Rosalie and Nick could have bonded over.

I loved this entertaining read and I’m looking forward to reading more from this very talented author.
Rosalie Underwood is back in the small town she thought she had left forever, she is a broke recently divorced single mum and she had no choice but to come home to St Aster, Louisiana. Determined not to be her mothers puppet she sees a notice on the window of Adys Creole Cafe for a waitressing job but what she doesn’t expect is to find herself working for a business on the brink of going under. If Rosalie wants any future for her and her daughter she needs to convince the owner Nick Fontaine to save his mothers restaurant, to do what his mother would want and make sure Adys survives.....
Two single parents with two adorable little girls help make this an entertaining read, the characters are loveable, the banter is witty and the one liners these two 5 year olds deliver is perfection.
What’s starts of as friendship soon turns into so much more but can this couple overcome the past that seems to haunt them both. I love small town romance and I loved Love’s Recipe so all that’s left for me to say is I highly recommend this gem of a read.

I feel like the best way to describe this book is to say it had potential.
The writing for the most part was good, and the general storyline was what originally drew me to this book, so clear potential there.
However, I felt like it never really reached its full potential.
At times, I personally found it to be a little too cheesy, and I know that some people love that style, but it's not my favourite thing. While at other times I felt myself getting a little bored.
Mostly I think the pacing was a little off, with some parts feeling slow and as if nothing was really happening to move the story forwards, whilst at other points, especially towards the end, I felt like the story was moving too fast, and some of the more dramatic parts were skimmed over and dealt with too quickly.
Overall, the book had enough enjoyable moments to keep me motivated to finish it, but it probably won't be a highly memorable book for me.

After reading a few heavier novels, I was pleasantly surprised by Love's Recipe. It was fresh and endearing.

Love's Recipe offers up a wonderful story about Rosalie and Nick, two people who are searching for something more out of life. Both of these characters were lively and well-developed. I loved them from the start. The story that follows their relationship stole my heart as well. The highlight of the novel were the two children that Rosalie and Nick are raising alone. The dialogue was sweet and effortless. The plot was fun and would make a wonderful addition to the Hallmark lineup of spring romances. It was a refreshing and lovely story.

I give this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

4 star Review Love's Recipe by Mila Nicks

Mila Nicks is a new author to me and I enjoyed this story. There was a lot going on in Love’s Recipe, it is a story of trying to overcome what life has put in our way, it was a sweet story that at times was also heartbreaking.

Rosalie Underwood is a recently divorced single mum who has returned to her hometown of St. Aster, Louisiana. Hiring on at at Adys Creole Cafe she is concerned when she realises that the job may not last long as the cafe looks to be in a downward spiral. Nicholas Fontaine is the owner of the cafe and despite hiring Rosalie Underwood, he doesn’t expect the cafe to be in business for much longer.

I really loved the interaction between Rosalie and Nicholas, the camaraderie and chemistry that lays between them. What will happen when the feelings that are growing be or are they destined to fail?

I enjoy small town romances and this one was well written and engaging. I enjoyed the relationships that developed and the kids, in particular were absolutely adorable.

My Review: I am a bit of a foodie, so of course I jumped at the opportunity to read a romance centered around food! I haven't read many single parent romances but I like how that, in addition to work place forced proximity, drew the characters together. I have to say at the beginning Nicholas was not my favorite character at all, but I did enjoy discovering what made him tick and what lay beneath the facade. Rosalie on the other had was an instant favorite for me, beaten down but determined to push through to better days. As an added bonus to the book, it is also set in a small town atmosphere, where everyone knows everyone and supports each other, the downside is that everyone knows everyone and gossip spreads fast, which plays into this story perfectly. It was a fun and completely satisfying read, even though I am awfully hungry now!


My Rating: This was such a fun book, it had some heavy topics in it but they didn't drag the story down at all. It was just what I needed. There was also plenty of tension between Rosalie and Nicholas, but it didn't get over the top with the sex scenes for those of you worried about that. I give it a rating of Four Paws!

Rosalie Underwood is a broke, recently divorced single mother. After she’s forced to return to her hometown St. Aster, Louisiana, she lands a waitressing job at Ady’s Creole Café. Life’s not done giving her lemons just yet, though. Ady’s Creole Café is on the brink of going out of business. If Rosalie hopes to recover from her disastrous marriage and keep her job, she must figure out a way to save the restaurant. But the only question is how?
​
When Nicholas Fontaine hires Rosalie Underwood, he doesn’t expect his newest waitress to stir the pot. He was hoping to keep up the charade he’s created since his mother’s passing. Soon he realizes that Rosalie refuses to let Ady’s fail. She cooks up a plan to salvage the business—including the part where she enters the restaurant in a food competition to generate town-wide buzz.
​
There’s no time for butting heads. The clock is ticking and the business is tanking. Nick’s stuck teaching Rosalie how to cook the one-of-a-kind menu. Rosalie’s trying her best to learn the delicious recipes. In order to succeed, they must come together and work as a team, but brewing feelings between them only complicates matters. Is this a recipe for disaster or a recipe for love?- Goodreads

If you are looking for a light read then this is the book for you.  Very straight-forward and not as much drama as the summary makes it seem.

I enjoyed this book because it wasn't as drama filled as most romances are. Nick and Rosalie are adults and for most of the book you see them in a actual relationship. I loved that aspect. It gets really tiring seeing two adults go back and forth with how they are feeling. But, I guess I would say, the downside of this is the conflict within this novel is resolved extremely fast. The only reason why I would that this is a downside is because there wasn't anything else building up the story. For instance, the story lacked depth in regards to the history of the town, the restaurant as well as Nick and Rosalie's  personal history; even Rosalie's marriage is mentioned vaguely. 

I would have liked to see more chemistry between the two as well. Despite this I enjoyed the novel and I really liked the author's writing style. 

Overall, 

3 Pickles

I received an ARC from the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I’m always looking for new diverse authors to follow, and this debut romance from Mila Nicks sounded promising. It has a nice cozy small-town vibe, and a sweet second-chance romance at the center of it.

I liked the fact that both Rosalie and Nick trying their best as single parents is a central part of the story, and something that brings them together. And seeing them bond by working together in Nick’s family’s restaurant, which faces going out of business, is cute too, especially as she inspires Nick to try to save it and come out of the slump created by grief in the wake of his mother’s passing.

This book is rather light, and given some of the topics it does touch on, I did sometimes wish it delved a little more into them instead of being more surface level, but I can’t fault it too much, as perhaps the author was going for a lighter feel, and I think it strikes a pretty decent balance, especially in these troubling times, of having some substance, while still allowing the reader a comforting escape.

I enjoyed this book, and will definitely keep an eye out for this author’s upcoming releases. I recommend this if you’re looking for a nice low-angst diverse contemporary romance.

very quick, romantic, cute read!
if you want to read about romance and cooking than look no further!

i was given this book from netgalley and publisher for a honest review and opinion.

I love food and being in the kitchen! Mix that up with some romance in the kitchen and you have a great result. I enjoyed this romance novel

Summary: Rosalie Underwood is a single mom coming back to her hometown St Aster. Nicholas Fontaine is owner of the local + failing cafe Ady's. He gives her a job and love happens.

I adored this debut book! It's a charming romance about two individuals who everybody doubts. For Rosalie it's her mom who has been extremely critical of her entire life. For Nicholas/Nick it's the whole town St. Aster. Add in 2 adorable little girls with opposite personalities but the cutest friendship and you have a recipe for a good read. Pun intended???

The way Nicks writes the main characters you can't help but root for them from the jump. They felt very real and human to me. I could relate to Rosalie and what she was going through. We've all been there feeling like you're a failure and can't do anything right. That was the common thread between Rosalie and Nick and it was nice to see two strangers grow and uplift each other.

The romance is a thoughtful, quiet slow burn. It's not full of grand gestures or big declarations, but that's what I liked about it. It was 2 people coming toether over food and falling in love. It was nice to read something without all of the unnecessary drama like some other books where you end up questioning if the heroine and hero should even be together they're that toxic. Rosalie and Nick are equals and the writer takes time to show how. They support each other and get along and enjoy each other and the writer shows you how.

I loved how food and culture were included. Nick is creole and is a great chef. Rosalie has never been good in the kitchen and wasn't seen as a proper wife (mwahaha whatever that means) because she couldn't cook for her ex-husband. Over food is how Rosalie and Nick start connecting and it remains a constant theme through the book. I wish some of the recipes were included at the back of the book. Many of the dishes sounded delicious!

Love's Recipe isn't without drama. Rosalie's mom, her ex hubs Clyde and the failing cafe are all points for drama. Rosalie's mom especially reminds me of the typical nice nasty type of mother who smiles for everybody but then can be real cruel when she wants to be. Clyde was the usual man who wants what he can't have.

This is great romance read that I really reccommend to anyone looking for light and sweet.

What a cute story.

You can’t help but fall in love with Rosalie and wish her the best. She’s down on her luck after making bad decisions when she was younger and back home trying to make the best for her daughter. She was so sweet and determined.

You can’t help but fall for Nick as his character develops out of his own darkness and into a better man.

Likeable characters and an easy, relatable story.

There were a few plot points that were lost on me, and just not carried out fully, but overall a good and nice read.

Great read!
It has drama and suspense and most of all love. While its by no means and expected romance, The slow build is at times frustrating but pleasant to watch.

Unfortunately , I couldn't finish this book .
The Plot just wasn't that interesting .
But the writing style is wonderful .

This book is good. It wasn’t amazing, but far from terrible. On the whole, I got into it because the romance won me over, even if overall story wasn’t gripping or memorable.

The story starts with 24-year-old Rosalie and her 5-year-old daughter, Remi. They return to a small town called St. Aster in Louisiana, to move in with Rosalie’s mother Lacie, after a messy divorce. Rosalie begins working at Nick’s restaurant and after the first day, she plans to fix up the old and dated diner to become more popular with the customers and save the business from economic failure.

I really liked the idea of a small town setting, which added weight to the character’s and their backstories. There was an authentic environment created from early on, even if that community is filled with gossip and drama. The book also touches on grief, divorce, and single-parenting, which made the book feel deeper than a typical romance.

The family dynamic between Rosalie and Lacie was interestingly realistic. They had a problematic relationship which was only made worse when Rosalie ran off with Clyde as a teenager. When she returns home, the hostility is painfully tense. As a reader, I was gritting my teeth at some of the exchanges. Rosalie had a difficult childhood due to her mother’s neglect and inability to focus on anything other than keeping a man, and Lacie held a grudge against her own daughter by considering her a burden. The passive-aggressive conversations between the two were well executed, and I justifiably found myself frustrated with a lot of Lacie’s actions.

The author did a great job at giving each character their own personality. It was easy to get to know the characters because they were presented with their own voice and quirks, which made the book more entertaining. I really enjoyed the conversations between each of the characters, even when they were disagreeing. Nick was playful and charming, despite the grief from his mother’s passing. Rosalie was bubbly and feisty, even though she regularly faced off with her mother and ex-husband. Maxie, Nick’s daughter, was an adorable Godzilla enthusiast and Remi was more of a princess fanatic, but they made the perfect playground friends.

For me, the love story won the stars for this book. Nick and Rosalie balanced each other out perfectly. They both struggled with their own personal flaws and battles, but were naturally suited to one another. I never felt like the author wasted pages on their kindling relationship. It felt like a slow-burn, but without the frustration of waiting for an element of romance. Their chemistry was evident from their first few moments together, and only continued to build as they spent more time together. So by the time their feelings were properly established, you are already rooting for a happy ending.

As much as I liked the wholesomeness, the hopeless romantic in me didn’t swoon. It was a nice and easy read, and a meaningful tale but wasn’t spectacular. However, the epilogue was a nice touch and tied up any loose ends from the story. It felt like a full circle, and I was satisfied by the last page.

Mila Nicks' Love Recipe is a sweet romance that will leave you hungry but also satisfied as a reader. Having lived in Louisiana, the setting of the book also delighted me. It's more than a simple love story, as it also deals with complex family issues.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I think there were a lot of good ideas here. I love that both of them were single parents whose daughters bonded (even though they were different!), and I like the idea of them falling in love over cooking. But I found myself wanting more throughout the book, especially more thorough and complex descriptions of the characters and their motivations and more discussion of the action (much of the pacing felt odd--both too fast and too slow at different times). There were things I liked, but it wasn't my favorite.

This was a nice fluffy read, though it took me a while to get into it. The beginning was a little underwhelming but it kicks of quickly. The romance though, it's not the best. It moved WAY too fast, and sometimes it made no sense at all. Though, other times, it was adorable and very nice.

I just think the overall pace of the book was fast, everything seemed to happen in such little time.

I had a lot of mixed feelings about it, if I'm being honest. But I think overall, I'd recommend to the people that just want a slow-burn romance with a twist, and something that is not heavy.

One last thing is Rosalie's mother... yeah I'm sorry but no.

Thank you so much for the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.

I absolutely adored this book. I loved Nick and Rosalie’s characters. This was a very cute romance with food, love, family issues and above all learning how to find your purpose. I really liked that it didn’t have all the messy “this can’t work” storyline, but actually gave a strong foundation for the romance. Throw in an estranged ex husband and a less than supportive mother and you have just the right amount of conflict. A quick and light read with just enough detailed steamy scenes.