A Taste of Heaven by Penny Watson
Romance Contemporary
Released: September 15, 2015
Self Published
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “Team Scottish Grumpy Bastard.”
Sophia Brown has lost her husband and her passion for life. An accomplished cook and gardener, her daughters enter her in a cooking contest hoping it will help to wake their mother up from her grief. The contest is a televised show that pairs an amateur and professional together with weekly eliminating cook offs. Sophia sees this contest as a chance to start a new chapter of her life. The only problem is her partner. Elliott Adamson
Elliott Adamson is an arrogant, cantankerous, rude Scotsman who thinks Sophia and her ideas are ridiculous. A professional chef who has burned just about every bridge he has crossed sees this contest as his last chance to dig himself out of debt. And he refuses to let a little Vermont nobody hold him back.
As Sophia fights and charms her way to victory, she learns that life often hands us no more and no less than we can handle. Fear, grief, love, and courage, when combined together, can create a taste of heaven.
A Taste of Heaven is a delicious bite of romance and humor as a grief stricken widow finds herself competing in a culinary contest with a grumpy Scotsman. Well written and throughly drenched in humor, romance, and a touch of bittersweet emotions, I found this story to be simply delightful and utterly refreshing.
Penny Watson has a talent for creating stories that appeal to the romantic in all of us. Strong, personable heroines, grumpy redeemable heroes, and a sexy emotional love story that is steeped in humor and realism. Writing of older heroes and heroines, she invites readers to see that love and sex is not just for the young and beautiful. Sophia and Elliott are both in their late 40s, well versed in the highs and lows that life holds in store for us. They have both loved and lost; Sophia is a widow and Elliott is a thrice divorced. Yet they still retain their sexuality and desires. They are older-not dead.
Watson does a fabulous job of introducing and building our protagonists, using the contest and their personality differences to highlight their amusing antagonistic relationship. Humor, infectious banter, and a touch of the whimsical blends effortlessly throughout the story as we watch this delightful couple spar and quibble with one another. Elliott is loud where Sophia is quiet. Elliott pushes where Sophia cajoles. Sophia may be small and fragile looking but she is no pushover. While she is not a professional chef, she has an innate sense of what people like and she butts heads with Elliott time and time again to force him to see what his ego blinds him to.
This competition was her fresh start. And if she had to bully the Scot to get there, then so be it.
Elliott made me laugh as well as wanting to smack him around. A very talented chef, his controlling nature and inability to delegate is his achilles heel. Large, bald, and over-brimming with sarcasm and arrogance, he is unsure what to do about the little “fairy” who refuses to bow before his obvious God like stature. He is a bit of a food snob and seems to be single-handedly spearheading a challenge to make the world like haggis. *shudder*
Let’s get something perfectly clear. This is the Elliott Adamson show. I’m the professional chef. I’m the one with the experience. I’m the one who has everything on the line. Not you. I bark orders. You follow them like a good little girl.
Their antagonism soon turns to compromise, respect, and much more as Sophia and Elliott find a pleasant rhythm together in and out of the kitchen. Light flirting on Elliott’s side slowly stokes the fires of attraction and this couples’ chemistry begins to blaze out of control. Elliott is quite the charmer when he chooses to use his powers for good with his sexy accent and smooth moves. The sexual tension is outstanding as are the actual scenes.
Sophia found himself studying his lips. She wondered what it would be like to be kissed by Elliott Adamson. His lips looked firm and decisive. Nestled within a luxurious beard. Would i tickle? Would he be selfish and seductive?
Enjoyable behind the scenes look at the cooking contest and the small insights into everyone involved gives the story a healthy balance against the romance and keeps it flowing along steadily. From other professional chefs, to temperamental judges, and overly effervescent promoters, Watson captures the frenzy and desperation that always seems to envelop these reality shows perfectly.
A Taste Of Heaven is just that and more as Watson delights and entertains readers once again with her enchanting characters, energetic story lines, and swoon worthy romances.
RATING: B+
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