Brooklyn, New York ~ Present Day

Anthony Dante lost his wife just over a year ago and is slowly getting past his grief. One thing that has helped is cooking in his Italian restaurant, as well as his family, which includes his brother Michael, a former hockey player, now a stay at home father. When Anthony learns that a new restaurant is going to open up across the street from his, he has to be a little concerned about the competition, but that’s a minor problem when he meets the owner...Nessuno è migliore alla cottura che me!

Vivi Robitaille moved all the way from France to start a new life in the United States by fulfilling her dream of opening a French bistro. Her dream wouldn’t be possible without the moneyed pockets of her half sister, Natalie, but then, maybe it’s more of a hindrance than help. Vivi does have to rely on Natalie for payment, but her sister seems more interested in spending the money shopping for herself. Vivi is distracted when she meets her neighbor across the street, Anthony, who happens to see her as his competition. Anthony is tres beau but not someone she has time to get involved with. Besides, he thinks he is the better cook. Il a tort!

A healthy dose of competition gets the blood running thick -- and hot -- between Anthony and Vivi as they vie for who’s the best cook in the neighborhood. Anthony has lived all his life here, and an upstart such as Vivi doesn’t have a chance on making inroads into his business. Except, her tarts are excellent! Add in Vivi’s innocence in the New York way of living and Anthony wants to alternately throttle her and kiss her. He doesn’t want to admit he’s attracted, though it is hard to ignore her when his brother is pushing them together and her sister is pushing them apart. Meanwhile, Vivi is working hard at getting her bistro ready to open, and along the way has to contend with her sister’s “I hold the purse strings” act. Can two rivals find love and learn to coexist together?

JUST A TASTE is a humorous story that shows the cultural clash between a native New Yorker and a transplanted French chef. As business rivals, they are immediately at loggerheads, and it takes getting to know each other before they can get onto the next stage: falling in love. When things do begin heating up (literally) in the kitchen, can their attraction sustain itself, or will it wash down the drain? Tomberont-ils amoureux et vivront heureusement jamais après ? (Will they fall in love and live happily ever after?)

Deirdre Martin is known for her hockey themed romances and she hasn’t drifted far from her forte. Anthony’s brother Michael is a retired hockey player whose romance was featured in FAIR PLAY. Get caught up on Michael, Theresa, and their family in JUST A TASTE.

Be prepared to get a little hungry reading JUST A TASTE, and, lucky for us, there are a couple of recipes in the back to try out. But the best part is reading the book and enjoying the interplay between Anthony and Vivi. Pick up JUST A TASTE for a tempting read you won’t want to put down.

Patti Fischer