Just One Taste - Louisa Edwards

Publication
2010, St. Martin's Paperbacks, Recipe for Love #3

In short
He has a hungry mind
Bad-boy chef Wes Murphy dreads his final semester cooking class - Food Chemistry 101 - until he meets the new substitute teacher. Dr. Rosemary Wilkins is a feast for the eyes, though her approach to food is strictly academic. So Wes decides to rattle her Bunsen burner by asking for her hands-on advice - on aphrodisiacs...
She’s got love down to a science
Rosemary is a little wary about working with Wes, whose casual flirtations leave her hot under the collar. But once they begin testing the love-enhancing power of chocolate, oysters, and strawberries, it becomes scientifically evident that the brainy science nerd and the boyish chef have some major chemistry together - and it’s delicious...

In words
Overall I liked it, although not as well as the second book in the series. Nice to have a female nerd as the heroine for once. She reminded me of Bones at times. I'm not entirely sure I like the hero that much, although I can't pinpoint it, but they worked as a couple. The secondary romance also picks up again, which I liked. Oh, and there's an adorable pet. All in all a fast and enjoyable read and a great series I will certainly be rereading.

In numbers
Voice - 3 (max 3)
Characters - 2 (max 3)
Romance - 2 (max 2)
Plot - 1 (max 2)
Humor - 1
Sensuality - 1
No minus points
Total - 10
B+ = 8.5/10 = 4.5 stars

On the Steamy Side - Louisa Edwards

Publication
2010, St. Martin's Paperbacks, Recipe for Love #2

In short
She's never met a man so mouth-watering
When Lilah Jane Tunkle fled her dull life in Virginia for the bright lights of New York City, she didn’t expect to wind up a nanny to a gorgeous celebrity chef’s ten-year-old son. Working for the delectable Devon Sparks is a sure-fire recipe for disaster, especially after Lilah gets a tantalizing taste of his perfectly seasoned kisses...
And he can't resist her down-home spice
Devon’s not sure he can handle one more surprise ingredient in his life - he quit his popular TV show, his culinary reputation is on the line, and now the son he barely knows is back for seconds. Lilah’s Southern sass is supposed to keep the boy in line, but soon enough she’s teaching Devon a thing or two about homespun food... and turning up the heat.

In words
I liked this book even better than the first one in the series, mainly because of the main couple. I believed in their romance and found the struggle by Devon, his doubts and his reactions to it, very believable. As to the secondary couple, I'm still not sure if it was absolutely necessary to have them break up. Usually I don't like this at all - book 1 they get together, book 2 break, book 3 together again, just to fill the pages it seems - but in this case I give it the benefit of the doubt. All characters are interesting and believable, lifelike. And I really like the voice of this author.

In numbers
Voice - 3 (max 3)
Characters - 3 (max 3)
Romance - 2 (max 2)
Plot - 1 (max 2)
Humor - 1
Sensuality - 1
No minus points
Total - 11
A- = 9/10 = 4.5 stars

Can't Stand the Heat - Louisa Edwards

Publication
2009, St. Martin's Paperbacks, Recipe for Love #1

In short
She’s hungry for experience
For sharp-tongued Miranda Wake, the chance to spend a month in Adam Temple’s kitchen to write an exposé is a journalistic dream come true. Surely Miranda can find a way to cut the hotshot chef down to size once she learns what really goes on at his trendy Manhattan restaurant. The trouble is, she never expected Adam to find out her most embarrassing secret: this critic has no idea how to cook.
And he knows just how to satisfy her cravings...
As for Adam, well, he’s not about to have his reputation burned by a critic who doesn’t even know the difference between poaching and paring. He’ll just have to give the tempting redhead a few private lessons of his own - teaching Miranda what it means to cook with passion.

In words
I found the main couple interesting, but was equally interested in the secondary romance and all the other characters in and around the kitchen. The only thing I did not like as much was the public grovel by the heroine and the quick acceptance of the hero. Personally I thought she was forgiven too easily for what she had done. Overall a great debut and I'm really looking forward to reading more books by Louisa Edwards.

In numbers
Voice - 2 (max 3)
Characters - 2 (max 3)
Romance - 2 (max 2)
Plot - 1 (max 2)
Sensuality - 1
No minus points
Total - 8
B = 7.5/10 = 3.5 stars