Sweet story plus delicious food equals a tasty Hallmark creation!

What happens when two chefs fall for each other? A sweet story filled with amazing food, that’s what! I enjoyed the diversity in this Hallmark story and learning more about the Cuban culture. I could see it as a Hallmark movie! Such a great display of love, family, and food!

As always, the amazing ending of this sweet romance is a recipe that looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it!

Interested in a romance linked to a quinceañera?
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Caridad Piñeiro's "South Beach Love. A Feel-Good Romance from Hallmark Publishing" takes place in Miami.
Tony Sanchez is a chef who runs his own Chelsea restaurant and likes to find down the finest fruits and vegetables at the Hunts Point Produce Terminal Market. Sara Kelly is also a chef, running her restaurant at another location. Both of them are asked by their families to cater the quinceañera for their respective nieces, Samantha Kelly and Angelica Rodriguez, two girls who are far from friends at school in spite of the fact that their families had grown up as friends in Little Havana. Both families encounter challenges in the preparations of the quinceañera and it is questionable if one or the other will take place. Tony and Sara new one another as children, but now they are rivals and the article in the South Beach Style magazine that is supposed to be written about the event does not help their relationship. But the attraction that they feel throws in even more dynamic and leads to the question of not only what will happen to the quinceañera but also to Tony and Sara.
This was the second book by this author which I read. It is funny and an enjoyable read with great characters and quite some surprises. Family and tradition are important components in the story. As usual in books by Hallmark publishing there is an original recipe again, this time for "Tres Leches Cake with Banana and Coconut". So if readers look for a nice romance for vacation, then I recommend this book to them.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#SouthBeachLove #NetGalley

It's been quite a long time since I read a book written by Caridad Pineiro and remember they were very funny and entertaining.
This is an heartwarming story that made me smile and root for the characters. I appreciated the diversity of the characters and their development.
An engrossing and entertaining story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I cannot get enough of Hallmark movies, so I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of a book from Hallmark publishing looking for that same simple, feel-good story line they are known for. This one has a good dose of diversity and culture which sets it apart from cookie cutter books in the same genre. 10/10 recommend joining Tony and Sara (both chefs) for a "taste" of love. Thank you to NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for a copy of this audiobook for an honest review.

Tony has come back to Miami temporarily to help with this niece's quinceaneras. At the same time Sara Kelly is also helping with her niece's quinceaneras as well. Tony and Sara knew each other as kids. Tony was and is her brother's best friend. Sara always had a crush on him. However, their niece's are frenemies. They are rivals in everything they do. Tony and Sara are both chefs. They renew their friendship and it is on it's way to something more until and magazine decides to create a rivalry between the two chefs through the quinceaneras.

This is a sweet, clean romance. There is also the growth between the to young girls. The story leaves you with a uplifting mood.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and to offer my honest opinion.

South Beach Love is a wonderful Hallmark story of Tony and Sara, both chefs, who were set up in a rivalry by an eager journalist and magazine intent on increasing circulation. The rich Cuban culture, traditions, and food are not to be missed in this sweet love story. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

South Beach Love is a fabulous story and one I know will be a hit for Hallmark.
Caridad Piñeiro has done a beautiful job to bring these characters to life and make you want to join them on their journey. I loved the interaction between Tony and Sara along with the cast dynamics and an equal measure of sweet ‘n’ spice had me hooked.
I highly recommend this to readers and hope you love it as much as I did.

Ah, this is a hard review for me. The most important good thing about it is the representation of Cuban culture. Hallmark is finally becoming more inclusive with race and cultures, which it's about time. I learned a lot about quince traditions through this book. The food descriptions were on point and I have a soft spot for foodie books, but besides these great points skinny idolizing happened frequently throughout the book.

Before I get into this topic I just want to say that Sara being skinny isn't the problem and I don't want this to come across as negative towards skinny folks. However, when descriptions continually focus on bony attributes it crosses a dangerous line. With that said, descriptions of Sara included; bony shoulder blades, bony fingers and hands, skinny slim waist, etc. There are ways to bring a character to life by telling not showing, but it shouldn't include skinny idolizing like repeatedly calling her attributes as bony and beautiful.

If these types of descriptions weren't included, this would have been a wonderful addition to Hallmark's feel-good books. However, I cannot in good conscious rate this higher than one star because the current terminology in describing characters isn't right. So to Hallmark: thank you for having an inclusive book with Cuban culture, but please be mindful of language used in describing character attributes.

What a feel good story! Another great Hallmark storyline. A budding romance among two chefs competing to be featured on the local paper. Both of their respective nieces are celebrating their quinceañera and they are catering the celebration. So many challenges are put in their way, from the local paper pitting them against each other, to potential long distance, but they can't deny the connection and chemistry they have for each other. Love of family, friends, romance, everything I could ask for in a Hallmark story.

South Beach Love by Caridad Pineiro.
A delightful story about two families, a passion for cooking and friendships.
A New York chef who goes home to Miami at the request of his sister to cater his niece's quinceañera and a rival chef (who just happens to be the sister of his best friend) whose niece is also having her quinceañera one day apart, are about to embark on a fun filled food adventure with a lot of spark, that will capture your heart.
What makes this story so fun are a few things.. the food they describe (probably shouldn't read this while you're hungry), the family members and their quirks and traditions, the rivalries and how the two chefs who come to acknowledge their attraction to each other. I love the ideas for foods to serve that they create for the perfect meals for the quinceañeras.
"Foods that rouse emotions make the meal about more than just the food"
And this book tells that story.
A disaster happens that sends these two chefs on a collision course, then a budding romance ensues. It's a story of family, determination, friendship, cooking, beautiful Miami and who doesn't love a spicy Cuban potential romance to go along with that! With everything going on in preparation for the quinceañeras, a local magazine wants to write an article about these rival chefs and the two celebrations.
I really enjoyed this book and hope these characters might show up in a sequel book. That would be amazing!
The two young girls sharing their quinceañera weekend are rivals who become friends at school but can see the potential in the growing friendship between the chefs.. and it's just a matter of time before things really get heated up when the cooking begins.
I recommend this book highly, you'll love it. And of course, if Hallmark makes this book into a movie, I'll definitely be watching.
Thank you Hallmark Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Tony is a famous chef in New York City and is back home in Miami to cater his niece's Quinceañera. Sara Kelly is an up-and-coming chef in Miami and is catering her niece's Quinceañera. The two are childhood friends and reconnect during Tony's month-long trip home.

This was an adorable romance. I loved the diversity and the descriptions of the Cuban food. Tony and Sara were such great characters. They had a good amount of growth both together and apart. I had a great time reading this book and I look forward to reading more from Hallmark!

Tony is an award chef in New York. He has not seen his family for 2 o more years, but his niece is coming to has 15 and it is a Cuban tradition to throw a big party to celebrate. But what he does not know is his niece has an enemy whose will throw a party one day before her also to celebrate her 15 years. This girl is niece of one of his long time ago friend Sara. Now they must see each other again, and maybe some sparkles will start the flame of the love.
When I started to read this book, I was expecting some enemies to lover’s thing, but the reality is this book is a friend to lovers, and maybe for that thing I was not enjoying at all. This is a classic Hallmark story wholesome, sweet, and funny. I like to see Cuban representation and most of the food that the author described made me hungry. Something I do not like was the reported she was so annoying.

Rivals to friends, friends to rivals to lovers, mouth watering foods, and two quinceañeras all packed into one Hallmark adventure. Chef Tony Sanchez is called from his big shot New York restaurant to come back home and cook for his niece’s quince in Miami at his busiest time of the year. Meanwhile Sara Kelly, rising Miami chef and childhood friend of the Sanchez family is asked to cook at her niece’s quince as well. What’s the catch? The two birthday girls are rivals at school, the parties are just days apart, Tony and Sara might just be in love, oh, and there is a magazine feature for the best chef pitting party against party.

Overall Thoughts: Okay so I am not going to lie, the first 40% was really show for me and I was really tempted to DNF it. Boy am I glad that I stuck with it! This is one story that I really feel would be better seen on the big screen (or on the Hallmark channel), usually I tend to like the book better. I just felt that it had a slow start and the part that actually got me into the story was actually because it made me mad and I felt like I was hate reading it LOL.

Starting off, my least favorite trope in a romance is the whole “miscommunication leads to a blow up” trope. You guessed it, this book has that, but wait, it gets worse. The magazine that is doing the quince feature decides to up its viewers but pitting the two chefs against each other and that is how they find out they are both cooking for a quince. Sara has a fit that Tony did not tell her (even though she didn’t tell him she was too or really even ask what brought him to town…). Then, she kind of guilts him into backing down for the completion by saying she needs this because she helps women in shelters find jobs by training them as a cook and it is harder for women to be financed for a business and she wants to open up a second location. Look, I get it. As a women, I feel that BUT she is not proving anything by asking a man to back down. Work hard, EARN IT. Then when Tony says he feel for her but he needs this too so he will not back down like she asked, she denies asking… Oh girl. Then there is a fight because Tony asks if she should be asking him to back down because this his his culture and his field of cooking were as Sara is not Cuban and does not make this food ever. What a mess, especially with the current culture freaking out about cultural appropriation. This got me mad too. I’m not sure why she was so offended. Maybe I’m in the wrong but I get that cooks make food that is out of their culture but telling someone of that actual culture that you deserve to make that food more than them seems wrong. I understand if you study and learn the culture behind it but that is different than actually living it. What are your thoughts on this? How would you view this argument they are having?

At this point, the best rating I was willing to give was a 3/5. Obviously, I had a change of heart. As mentioned, this is what really got me into the story and even thought I was angry, I became invested. Darn you Hallmark! It’s always the endings; the cute scheming on all the side characters’ part to get the couple together, the whole family-ness of the environment, that amazing food, and cliche of it all just works magic. I bought into it, LOL. It was just so cute to see Tony and Sara in the kitchen together and how much Tony just loved Sara (I feel he was more open with his feelings). I liked it, I would not buy my own copy but I would watch it if they made it into a movie/show. I also feel that this could be book 1 in a trilogy but it looks like a standalone novel as of yet.

Two chefs are pitted against each other, each determined to make their niece’s quinceañera the best Miami’s South Beach has ever seen. Tony Sanchez left Little Havana in his rear window a long time ago, but he hasn’t found happiness as executive chef of his own restaurant in New York. Being back in Miami is making him think maybe his heart is somewhere else… and that might just be with Sara, younger sister of his childhood best friend, now a successful chef in her own right running her restaurant Munch with the help of an all-female crew, many of whom Sara has trained herself after finding them at a local women’s centre.

The two nieces, Angelica and Samantha, are rivals of sorts, and a local journalist hypes up a ‘competition’ between two top chefs which set Tony and Sara at odds with each other, despite their willingness to work together. Sara, as a female chef, is up against barriers Tony has no idea exists, and I loved the way she called him on it and made him step back and think.

The descriptions of the food were absolutely amazing; lots of authentic Cuban recipes with some gourmet twists. If you’re not hungry when you start reading, you soon will be! This is a Hallmark so the action doesn’t get any hotter than a few chaste kisses, but the romance doesn’t suffer for it; I absolutely bought into Tony and Sara as a couple. Five stars for a thoroughly enjoyable foodie romance with strong Cuban flair!

South Beach Love is an entertaining and well written romance. A very good plot with believable characters. I highly recommend this book.

South Beach Love was a very pleasant read, with a really wonderful Miami location. It was a great “beach” type read, with not many serious conflicts and problems. On that note, the “dramas” all seemed pretty overblown, and overly dramatic. There were a lot of supporting characters with their own mini storylines that all overlapped, which made reading for by quicker.

There are some things I expect from a Hallmark book. They are a romantic plot, engaging characters and a pleasing conclusion. South Beach Love by Caridad Pineiro delivers all three. It also has a number of supporting cast who are all affected by the outcome of Tony and Sara’s “Quinceañera Competition.”

Tony and Sara are great chefs who are also good people so the competition is difficult for both when others try to make it an all out rival event. Events transpire so that the rival teenage girls see the need to overcome their rivalry. I enjoyed this positive story that shows how people can learn to work together. Also it gave me a cultural lesson in quinceañeras which I knew nothing about but found to be a wonderful celebration. Then of course, I adored the romances, the main one and the subplots too.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Caridad Piñeiro wrote a perfect Hallmark story!

A combined quinceañera and a reporter looking to stir up trouble force two chefs with different styles to cook together. Delicious Cuban food isn't all that is on the menu, Tony and Sara soon finds themselves getting to know each other and falling in love.

This heartwarming love story is sure to please any romance reader who is looking for a clean, low angst story.

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

South Beach Love: A Feel-Good Romance from Hallmark Publishing by Caridad Pineiro
Narrated by Frankie Corzo
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Multicultural Interest | Romance
Publication Date: May 24, 2021

South Beach Love by Caridad Pineiro is a beautiful romance set in Miami. I highly recommend this book!

I absolutely loved this story! It brought me home. This book reminded me of so many things I loved about living in Florida. This story revolved around food and I could actually taste the foods that were talked about. I had forgotten how much I loved Cuban toast with butter and how enjoying that with friends is such a beautiful experience.

I also found myself reminiscing about the first quinceañera I went to. Such a beautiful tradition.

The story was absolutely magical and everything you would expect from a Hallmark romance. I fell in love with each of the characters and felt like I was part of their story! I truly loved this book!

I'm so grateful to Caridad Pineiro, Hallmark Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This book was read thanks to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hi, this is a book that has as center two chefs who have to compete who is going to cook in their nieces quinciañeras, but the fact that they also share a big tension, that later became feelings,


I highly recommend this book for those who love love stories with family dynamics.


Note: This book must be read with a full stomach.