Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read and review this audiobook.

Unfortunately this was not a favorite for me. I struggled with the main character not being very likable. I didn’t appreciate the way she continuously treated Declan (and those around her). It felt as though she was so focused on her career that that was her drive in all encounters.

Which is part of why her relationship with Declan didn’t excite me. They really didn't seem like a good fit. The relationship was extremely tumultuous - to the point where I just wanted them to break up. And I didn’t feel like Declan should put up with her behavior and treatment of him.

I had a few issues with some abrupt transitions from chapter to chapter. In a few places I kept feeling like I didn’t have enough context to understand where we were in the story.

Overall there were some entertaining aspects, but not liking the main character and not rooting for the main character unfortunately made it really difficult to enjoy the book.

In book two of Kelly Cain’s The Everheart Brothers of Texas series, we follow Kasi Blythewood, a documentary producer whose father is Hollywood royalty, as she tries to bring her dream project to production without her father’s interference. In the opening of the book she is visiting Austin, Texas during the South by Southwest film festival in hopes of securing funding for this endeavor and runs into Declan Everheart who provides her access to a meeting. His ability to access creators is not the only thing he offers as the two share an undeniable attraction from the start which leads to a steamy hot tub encounter that blows up as her determination to keep business first keeps her at odds with so many people in her life, including Declan. Her knows-the-best personality makes her an unlikable character, though Declan seems to like being around her nonetheless. He calls her out on the ways she brings her disagreement with her father into her understanding of his relationship with his family—including how she pushes him to invest his creativity in her documentary over helping to build the family restaurant franchise his father wants. This push and pull makes for a contentious relationship but Declan’s easygoing nature seems to outweigh any slights he may feel based on Kasi’s actions. By the end we see Kasi confront her issues with her father, yet the intrigue built over their poor relationship doesn’t bear out.

This romance is for those who enjoy a quick read, facilitated by a well-narrated audiobook, that sees its main characters make their newly realized dreams come true. A Tasty Dish will appeal to readers who enjoy fast-paced desire and plotlines.

Thank you for providing this audiobook. Maybe it is a net galley issue but again I could not get past the first few minutes of this one. The narrator was echoy and gave me a headache. I have listened to other audiobooks on net galley that were phenomenal so I am so confused on why this sounds like this! I will just have to read the physical copy.

I loved all the drama in this book! Kasi and Declan have a rocky relationship but it one that works. Listening to how their relationship developed was fantastic!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for a copy of this audiobook. This is my honest voluntary review.

Narration
Pacing is a little to slow for my pace. I normally listen to audiobooks at normal speed but this time around I had to speed up the book to 1.5X speed. I enjoyed the narrator for the female characters. I am not fond of the narrator's attempt at the male voices.
I enjoyed this book. The characters have chemistry and have fun together.
Kasi meets Declan at an event in Austin, TX. She wants to go out on her own and separate from her father's film production company.

Declan works with his father in their restaurant business. Declan's father has decided to fund Kasi's film. Kasi and Declan travels around the world to film a documentary.

Kasi has a rule that she doesn't mix business with pleasure. She does a horrible time sticking to that rule. The rule sounds good in her mind but she can't get her body to stay on track.

I didn't realize that this is the second book in the second book in the series. It works as a standalone. I will read the first book.

Overall, I really enjoyed the narrator and the voice work she did with this audiobook and I loved that the narrator is a black woman just as the main character was to give more power to the narration of this book and the story. I felt that this was important to my enjoyment as it brought the main character more alive for my.

I did feel like the steamy scenes in this one were not really my cup of tea personally and I think that came down to word choice and set up of the interactions between the love interests. There was one word in particular that I couldn’t get over which was the use of “nub” as an alternate name of a certain part of female anatomy.

I also had trouble with Kasi’s strong rule that she doesn’t mix business with pleasure but literally mixed them right out of the gate without really trying to avoid that mix with Declan. I wish that there would have been more tension and build up before the relationship crossed those lines she discussed she wouldn’t cross so strongly, and to build more of a reason for crossing the line other than physical.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of this audiobook! I was so thankful to obtain a copy to read in advance of its release!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars for the story, 3.5 stars for the narration

I enjoyed listening to Kasi and Declan's story, but I think I would have enjoyed the story more if I had been reading it. I appreciate how the author is not afraid to show the fallibility of her characters. I always enjoy a story with both character growth arcs and palpable heat between the couple.

Regarding the narration, I ended up increasing the speed slightly, and while I liked the narrator's voices and tones used for Kasi and her friend, Joy, some of the voices that the narrator used for male characters and characters with accents were misses for me.

At a glance:
- Single POV
- Open door
- Strangers to lovers
- Workplace romance but the main character and love interest live in two different states
- An independent director/producer and the chef son of her investor travel around the world working on a documentary.
- Miscommunication trope
- First love for the main character
- Strong but stubborn main character
- Growth and insight into friendships, family relationships, business relationships, family business relationships, and romantic relationships
- Both the main character and love interest have controlling father figures that have extended their influence into their children's adult lives.
- Both the main character and love interest are from wealthy families.

Content warnings: deceased parent, friend in an accident, divorce, controlling father figures, family tension

Kasi Blythewood wants nothing more than to find funding for her new show without the help or knowledge of her famous producer father. During a trip to an Austin food fest, she is intrigued by hunky Declan Everheart, son of a Michelin starred chef. When Declan’s father shows interest in funding her project, but only if Declan is involved as a producer, Kasi accepts after some hesitation. She normally is quite independent and doesn’t like mixing business with pleasure.

Declan and Kasi have amazing chemistry, making this a joy to hear or read. They traveled many places in the book, and I felt like I went with them listening the lush descriptions of the exotic locations. Although the second installment of the Everheart Brothers series, A Tasty Dish can read as a stand alone, and I didn’t feel it necessary to read the first one, but I definitely added it to my TBR list.

Maybe 3.5. Maybe 3.75. But rounding to 4. Didn't know it was the second book in the series but I didn't feel like I missed anything. I did go and buy the first one on e-book for $3.99 so I'll be reading that soon. I really enjoyed Kasi, I thought she was a great character with great goals but a HUGE stubborn chip on her shoulder about her dad. She took stubborn to a wholllllle new level! Declan was yes please! A chef? Win! I wish he'd have cooked more for Kasi! I'm ready to go back to book 1 but what's weird is that the couple from book 1 don't seem to be together yet in this book? Like these two books are happening a bit simultaneously? Kind of weird. I didn't really like this narrator, her cadence was kind of strange, there were weird pauses.

A Tasty Dish
Kelly Cain
Romance

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to NetGalley + Dreamscape Media for the eALC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a sweet + spicy romance book following Declan, a chef with a Michelin star chef father and Kasi, a film producer with a famous film producer father. I really enjoyed this quick story! I thought it was interesting to see how each character handled their “daddy issues” as individuals and the baggage they brought to their relationship. I thought the characters had good chemistry, but some of the dialogue felt a little stilted. I’m also a sucker for any plot that centers around food/food television. Overall, I thought this was a fun romance read and would recommend!

🧑‍🍳 Single POV
🧑‍🍳 Open door romance
🧑‍🍳 Slow burn
🧑‍🍳 He falls first
🧑‍🍳 Foodie + film storyline
🧑‍🍳 Explores family dynamics + following in your parent’s footsteps
🧑‍🍳 Great on audio!

#caitsquietplace #caitsquietplacereviews #cqpromances

This was my first in this series, I was drawn in by the description and truthfully, the colorful cover. I was hoping for a fun escapist read, which this definitely was. However, it was a little touch to understand the dynamics and the character development going on here. I’m not certain if this book is marketed as a standalone or as a part in a larger series, but I would start with book 1, if you haven’t already.

The characters here are fun, a little exaggerated, one dimensional, but certainly appealing. Lots of growth, etc.

If you’re looking for a good book to listen to while cleaning, driving, etc., this is a good option.

🎧A Tasty Dish by Kelly Cain⭐️⭐️⭐️.⭐️


Thank you @netgalley for my #gifted audiobook copy of #atastydish

🌙𝐵𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝐵𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑏: “Kasi Blythewood has spent most of her life in the shadow of her famous film producer father who’s deliberately kept her under his thumb with tough love. Ready to make a name for herself, Kasi secretly heads to Austin for a film conference to rustle up some financing for her dream project—an indie series that showcases cuisine from around the world. 

When Kasi meets chef Declan Everheart, it’s instant lust spiced with an intriguing business opportunity. Declan’s father, a Michelin star chef, is interested in funding her film, but there is a sexy string attached—Declan must be a producer on her series. Not ideal. Kasi craves independence, and she knows business and pleasure never mix well, but she’s exhausted all other options.

Declan’s more than just eye candy and Kasi’s not blind. She immediately discovers Declan's not just a natural producer and talented chef, he also shines on camera as the host. Can Kasi convince Declan to break away from his father and build the life he wants...with her?

🌙𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤: Funny and steamy! This multicultural romance while interesting idea I didn’t fall in-love of any of the characters.
I wanted to love this book; The traveling settings and the food keeps you interested just enough to keep listening but does not hit the “swoon-over” feeling for me. Since this is a sequel I am not sure if I’m missing some of the information to enjoy Kasi/Declan relationship but it was fun enough to make me want to read book #1.

🌙 𝑁𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: I think the narration was great, fit the main character to perfection and for me, brought the book to life. I literally lol more than a few times with this narration.


🌙𝐿𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒: An Acquired Taste (The Everheart Brothers of Texas, #1). Also, if you enjoy food and traveling this good might be great for you.

🌙𝑃𝑢𝑏 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒: March 8th 2022 🎉
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#bookish #bookstagram #booklover #bookworm #books #bookstagrammer #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #bookphotography #booklove #booksbooksbooks #instabook #igreads #bookreview #bookobsessed #atastydish #kellycain #magicallybookmarked

The audio of this one was a Miss for me unfortunately. I'll have to check it out in physical form in the future.

I thoroughly enjoyed "An Aquired Taste" and finished it looking forward to more with the Everheart Brothers. I was not disappointed! As a 5th generation Texan (on both sides of the family, thank you) and lover of cooking, baking, & cocktails, Cain's series easily grabbed my attention. But even if you're not slightly obsessed with Texas or gastronomy, her romances will have you hooked before a sexy brother can whip up some pancakes!

In this novel Cain continues to focus on parent/child relationships and how they affect other relationships in our lives. The chemistry between Casey & Declan is undeniably steamy, and the wanderlust this story invokes is almost as potent!

Kasi is a young woman looking for backing for her independent documentary about international cuisine without her famous father's help and when she thinks she has it it is tugged out from under her feet. Then she meets Declan who's family is wealthy and owns a fine dining restaurant in Austin and his father will back her with some stipulations, Declan as producer. There are a lot of secondary stories with family issues on both sides...drama, drama, more family drama, and Kasi can be irritatingly irrational when she doesn't get her way. Add in travel and sex and this one had me listening to the end and I did enjoy it.

Aspiring producer Kaci Blythewood is trying to make her dreams come true. Despite being the daughter of a famous filmmaker, she’s forging her own path - developing her own ideas and securing her own funding without daddy’s help.

When her funding comes with a few strings - a hot (and also stubborn) co-producer named Declan - she has to learn to compromise and balance her personal and work lives.

It was fine, but I didn’t love this book. I didn’t find Kaci or Declan relatable, likable, or rootable. Kaci had basically 4 personality traits - stubborn, wants to jump Declan constantly, good at her job, and suddenly emotional at the end of the book. Declan was a little more nuanced, but not much. There was a lot of innuendo and most of it was clumsy and uncomfortable. Way too much time spent on sex and not enough on the story, in my opinion.

I can see how a lot of people would really like this book, but it’s definitely not for me. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for an audiobook ARC!

Woowee, talk about a toxic relationship! While I did enjoy this book, and the occasional spice along with it 🥵 Casey and Declan were simply not a good pair. This was a strangers to lovers trope, which I generally enjoy, but the toxic relationship these two had going on is not my thing, and I could not overlook that. I couldn't help but wish them to not be together because of the way they continued to talk to each other. If that were me, I would never allow someone to talk to me the way they spoke to each other.

Casey is also stubborn, self-centered, and honestly pretty rude. Maybe it’s the daddy issues and her want to me independent, but I also think she’s just full of herself.

She did a little soul-searching and apologies and relationship mending/damage control at the end, but it couldn’t change the impression I had already formed.

I did enjoy this book! It is a unique story for sure - Kasi is looking for funding for a film project, meets Chef Declan (whose father wants to invest) and in turn, Declan will serve as co-producer to watch over the investment. I'm sure you can predict how that turns out :P). I did find that the story dragged a bit during the middle and I didn't fully resonate with all of the characters' stubbornness by the end (although for some people that might be super relatable!) I did listen to this as an audiobook via Net Galley (thank you!) really liked the narrator of this book. I hadn't read book one of this series prior to reading this, and I don't think I missed out on anything. This book will more than likely be your favourite (5 stars) or a not so much (2 stars) so I feel confident in my rating of 3-3.5 stars. Good, but maybe not for everyone?

I’m not really sure how I feel about this book. The plot was unique and clever but I was not sold a hundred percent on the characters. I really didn’t like the female lead. Toward the end her behavior changed but she was so prideful.

Seeking funding for a film project, Kasi meets chef Declan. His father is interested in backing the project, but his help comes at a price: Declan will serve as co-producer to keep an eye on his father's investment. Kasi hates the idea of any constraints being put on her creativity, but she reluctantly agrees. As she and Declan work together, they grow closer. But will his interfering father put a stop to the romance before it can start?

I love how this book is full of strong-minded, stubborn characters who clash at every turn. The chemistry between Kasi and Declan is scorching, and the sensual tension is high throughout. It was nice to see the characters learning and growing, and finding ways to compromise so they could be together. The audiobook narration was well done.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.