Book review: Hot Under Pressure by Louisa Edwards

Loaded with the hottest dishes and sexiest chefs, the Rising Star Chef competition is about to boil over for one pair of all-star cooks who can’t stand the heat—of working so close together...


SHE’S THE ONE HE LEFT BEHIND

Henry Beck thought he’d already faced the toughest kitchen challenge of his life. After all, what could top sweating it out as a Navy cook on a submarine? But when he learns his competition for the title of Rising Star Chef is the sweet hippie girl he married...and left...ten years ago, the heat is on.

HE’S THE ONE SHE CAN’T FORGET

Now Beck and Skye Gladwell are going head to head in the finals...and sparking up old flames every time they touch. But Skye wants more than a win over the man who abandoned her when she needed him most—she wants a divorce! Then her sexy almost-ex makes a deliciously dangerous proposition. He’ll give in to her demands, but if his team wins the RSC, he has a demand of his own...one last taste of the only woman he ever loved.


This is the third book in the Rising Star Chef series by Louisa Edwards. If you've never read a book where cooking of any kind was the back drop then i encourage you to start with this one. It works well as a stand alone but if you like to read in series order that works too. The first two in this series are Too Hot to Touch and Some Like it Hot then followed by Hot Under Pressure. In book one you get a intro into all the characters. That's where we all get to meet Beck as he's known by most. Henry Beck as he is know by the wife he hasn't seen in ten years. Skye Gladwell is the woman that won Beck's heart. Fear and a bad decision made him lose her 10 years ago. He meets his match in her at the last step in the Rising Star Chef competition. She wants a divorce and he wants another chance.  He makes a bet with her. If her team wins she gets her divorce. If his team wins she still gets her divorce but he gets one more night with her.  Beck is always a careful man. The Navy taught him all about discipline and how to hold himself in check. He had a rough childhood losing both of his loving parents at age 8 to a terrible tragedy and then being stuck in foster care til he was 18. Then came Skye. Skye Gladwell had dreams they just weren't the dreams her parents wanted her to have. She never felt good enough for them. Then she met Beck and he won her heart and soul.  Then tragically it all fell apart and Beck abandoned Skye. Ten years later they meet again at the Rise Star Chef competition and the heat as they say was on. This book was a journey for Beck and Skye. Their path back to love and happiness. Beck had to learn how to open up and communicate his feelings. A tough gig for a hardened orphan and Navy man. If he wanted his second chance with Skye he had to find a way.  The ending wraps up the competition with some unexpected  but exiting twists and some moments that will make you say awe....  Have the kleenex ready. Great way to end the series. Be sure if you read this book to read Becks poem at the end and to check out the recipies at the back of the book.  5 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick Stars. Hot Under Pressure really got under my skin and drew me into the story.

Find out more about the Rising Star Chef series and author Louisa Edwards on her website here www.louisaedwards.com

Book review Too Hot to Touch Book 1 Rising Star Chef series by Louisa Edwards

Welcome to the Rising Star Chef competition, where today’s hottest chefs battle it out on national TV for a chance at fame, fortune and culinary supremacy. Every contestant hungers to win, but only one will take the prize...


HE’S GOT THE SIZZLE

When it comes to competitive cooking, Max Lunden is no stranger to winning...though he’s never been great at working with a team. A master chef—and major hunk—he’s traveled the world, picking up new cooking techniques as well as beautiful women. But when the prodigal chef returns home to his family’s Greenwich Village restaurant, he discovers one too many cooks in the kitchen—and she’s every bit as passionate as he is...

SHE’S GOT THE FIRE

Juliet Cavanaugh used to have a crush on Max when she was just a teenager, hanging out at Lunden & Sons Tavern, hoping to catch a glimpse of the owner’s oldest, and hottest, son. Now a chef herself—competing in the biggest culinary contest in the country—Juliet will be cooking side by side with the one man she’s always admired...and desired. But despite their simmering attraction, Juliet is determined to keep her cool—no matter how hot it gets...

This is my first official book of Louisa Edwards that I've read. It's been mentioned to me many times that i need to read her and as all readers know there are way more books that there is time. I never got a chance until now. I have never read a book where cooking was the back drop to the story. I wasn't sure what to expect. I am kind of a simple cook. Mostly use salt and pepper for seasoning. I have a houseful of boys and they aren't interested in anything beyond basic right now. I do love to watch cooking shows on TV so i thought this would be interesting. It was. Max Lunden left town in a huff when the arguments between himself and his dad over the family restaurant got to be to much. He's been gone for 10 years learning all kinds of cooking techniques. A urgent call from his mom changes all that. He's needed at home to help the restaurant get into a big cooking competition, The Rising Star. Juliet or Jules as she's called now found a home with her best friend Danny Lundens family 10 years ago right after Max left. She escaped a scary situation with her mom and the Lunden's have treated her like family ever since. Max is back now and the crush Jules had on Max is still there but of a more mature nature now. Things sizzle whenever Max is around Jules. Everyone is keeping a secret from Max though. His dad collapsed in the middle of dinner service a while back and his health might be in jeopardy. Gus Lunden might now be able to see eye to eye with his son but he loves Max and doesn't want to stand in the way of his happiness. Gus is hoping he'll be ready to take Max's place in the competition once they qualify and Max can move on to his next big culinary dream. Max wants Jules and talking her into doing something about it takes him a while. It's supposed to be a temporary thing but after a while Max isn't sure if he can walk away from Jules. All the while Jules tried to protect her heart. Grab what she can of Max while she can and hope it's enough to survive when he leaves. This was a really good book. The Lunden's are a really close family for the most part. Caring and loving of each other as well as other people. They take Jules in and treat her as one of their own. Jules tries really hard to give back to the family that gave her everything. The relationship between Max and Jules is hot and heavy with many bumps in the road. I grew to Love Max by the end of the book and am really fond of all the secondary characters. I wanted to meet these people. lol The cooking parts were good but not as much fun for me only because i am not much of a cook. I mean just all the technical cooking stuff not the competition parts. There are some really great recipe's included at the end of this book also. As a whole i give Too Hot to Touch 4 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick stars. A fun and HOT cooking adventure for all!

Find out more about this series and Louisa Edwards on her website www.louisaedwards.com . Don't forget to read a excerpt for this book while your there and the latest book in this series comes out March 27th. Hot Under Pressure will be reviewed on this blog next week. Watch for it!