Ivy is a single mom who needs to work on the menu at her diner to keep is going. Times are changing in town and she needs to keep at pace or get out of there. Cam Monroe is a big name chef and he's less then thrilled with how Ivy's diner is running and while hes looking towards bigger and better things he'll have to help out Ivy. He never expected to like Ivy or her boys as much as he does.

This was a pretty enjoyable book if you are looking for a contemporary book to read this summer. I enjoyed getting to konw the characters and seeing how everything played out. Cam was a bit over the top when it came to him thinking way too highly of himself but there was also the hurt he was dealing with when it came to his previous job. He's a bit lost and Ivy is nothing he expected. I liked getting a deeper insight to Ivy's character and seeing why things the way they were and getting to know her character though her point of view. Overall this was a pretty good book I really did enjoy it.

A subtitle for this book might be "Battle of the Chefs!" Ivy runs the Bent Nickel diner in the small mountain town of Second Chance, serving as cook and manager while raising her two young boys. Cam Monroe, a professional chef, arrives on the scene, demanding to use the Bent Nickel kitchen in order to prepare dishes for a family wedding reception. Ivy and Cam repeatedly clash in their attitudes towards food prep and restaurant management. However, the sparks also fly as they become attracted to each other. In addition, Ivy and Cam each harbor a few secrets of their own, which add interest and suspense to the story.

The small town setting provides a backdrop for the quirky characters that people Second Chance. Throw in the wealthy Monroe family, new owners of the town who fall in love with the place and its inhabitants. Now add the adorable kids and some nasty in-laws, and you have cooked up a delectable, even if somewhat predictable, reading feast.

Although this is part of a series, readers will quickly come up to speed with the families, characters, and interwoven back stories. The book can be enjoyed as a stand alone, although it certainly serves as an appetizer to read the other books in the series.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This is book 6 in the Mountain Monroe's series and can be read as a stand alone. There is a lot of references to couples in the previous books. This is the first I've read by Melinda Curtis. Ivy runs the diner in Second Chance and needs some help to keep her business open and provide for her children. Cam is a chef and decides to help her out. He didn't plan on her family taking over his life. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Oh, Ivy! Who would have ever guessed. I sure didn't. I won't say any more than that. No spoilers from me!

I have to say I could not finish this book. The main character was so horrible, I didn't get past the second chapter. Didn't anyone tell the author this guy was the worst nightmare come true.

Ivy Monroe and her two boys are three of the best characters. I too have been charmed by the cook's kids. Ivy is running her diner smoothly and effectively when Cam Monroe, a Michelin-star chef arrives in town, out of a job and in charge of his sister's wedding reception. The Monroes literally own the town and will be deciding whether or not to sell the town or stay and keep it thriving. It grabbed me from the first sentence and kept my interest to the very end. Definitely a winner.

Charmed by the cooks kids is a mediocre romance book. The plot was a makeover hallmark movie. But with third rate actors. There was not a lot of developing the characters, so you would care about them. This would not be a book I would recommend