CATCH ME
KITCHEN GODS, BOOK 2
BETH BOLDEN
M/M ROMANCE
RELEASE DATE: 06.10.18
COVER DESIGN: AngstyG
BLURB
Chef Wyatt Blake is finally ready to move on from his thankless job. He gets no wiggle room, zero praise, plenty of abuse, and on a good day, he might only spend twelve hours in the Terroir kitchens. A friend of his recommends a private chef position, but despite the boost in pay, Wyatt doesn’t want to babysit some spoiled, rich LA family.
Imagine his shock when the family isn't a Kardashian clone, but Ryan Flores, the only professional baseball player to ever come out of the closet.
Ryan is also at a career crossroads. His team’s management wants to see his more responsible side, which means no more late night hookups and no more adrenaline-charged stunts. When his agent suggests he find a fake boyfriend to give him an air of domesticity, he’s only reluctantly interested.
Until Ryan goes to a local bar and spies the cute private chef he’s supposed to be interviewing the next day. Maybe a quieter life wouldn’t be so bad, as long as Wyatt is part of it?
Wyatt believes Ryan could be more than just a crappy boss, but he isn't sure about leaving the kitchen for the life of a professional boyfriend. Especially when he wants the reality so much more than the fantasy.
EXCERPT
And he was the epitome of the California boy, Ryan thought as he watched Wyatt carrying his board towards the sand. Blond hair bright under the sun, the tall lanky build, all that tanned skin rippling with muscle.
Ryan hadn’t thought there was a place he could look better than naked in his bed, but he was surprised to discover that he’d been wrong.
There was something in the quicksilver of Wyatt’s smile as he turned to make sure Ryan was still following him. It made Ryan want more from him than just the admittedly mind-blowing sex they had had, which was something he’d thought he’d left behind years ago.
He thought about texting Tabitha and telling her she might be right, but she was already insufferable enough. Besides, if he didn’t tell her, he didn’t put it into words and the truth, while eye-opening, was also fucking terrifying.
“You coming?” Wyatt turned back fully this time, gracing Ryan not only with a quick glimpse of his bright smile, but his entire self. He looked worried, and Ryan wondered how long he’d been spacing out. Not something he usually did—and he’d already spent the morning doing it.
“Sorry,” Ryan apologized. “I was distracted by such a fantastic view.”
“I’ve always loved Huntington Beach,” Wyatt replied.
Ryan snorted. “Not the view I was talking about.”
Wyatt didn’t say anything but the look on his face was enough for Ryan to know that comment wouldn’t always go un-remarked upon. Eventually they would have to address the sexual tension simmering away between them. Eventually they would have to do something about it. And that day was one Ryan eagerly awaited and dreaded in equal parts.
“We gonna surf?” Wyatt asked as they set up their little camp over by one of the piers.
Ryan had tossed the wax over to Wyatt a few minutes before, and had been fidgeting with his tow strap since. He’d wanted to come out here and let the sun and the sand and the waves exorcise his bad mood, but now he wasn’t sure he even wanted to go in the water.
He wanted to sit on the sand and look at the sunlight on Wyatt’s hair, and ask him to tell him more about culinary school and Chicago and Terroir. Even about that nutjob Aquino.
Ryan was not used to wanting to pick social interaction over the adrenaline rush. It was weird, and he wasn’t sure he liked it.
“We’re here, aren’t we?” Ryan asked, shooting Wyatt a disbelieving look, even though all the hesitation had been on his end. He wasn’t ready to admit to anyone—never mind Wyatt—that he’d been contemplating something so out of character. “Last in the water buys burgers on the way home.”
First thing I’ll say, or rather ask is, how did I miss the release of book one in this series?! I must have had my head buried in the sand, but having not read book one, something I’ll be rectifying as soon as possible, I can say, this book definitely works as a standalone. Although the couple from book one makes an appearance, I never once felt lost for having not read their story.
This was an interesting story. I love the fake boyfriend trope, and Wyatt and Ryan did fake so well, until it wasn’t fake anymore that is. I really loved Ryan and Wyatt, they were both likable guys that you could really root for, although, at times, I wanted to knock their heads together. Wyatt was much better than Ryan though, I honestly wasn’t sure Ryan would ever pull his head out of his butt and get it together, but alas, he finally managed to see the light.
The story was well-written and Ryan and Wyatt had amazing chemistry and they sizzled in bed, but I will say, I wouldn’t have minded another sex scene or two in the second half of the story(that’s just my preference). I loved the secondary characters, as well, well, most of them, Eric, Ryan’s agent, was a complete twat most of the time, but I’m definitely looking forward to getting to know Wyatt’s friends/co-workers from Terroir, as well as his brother Tony, who I really hope Ms. Bolden gives a book. I’m also looking forward to catching up with Ryan and Wyatt in future installments in this series. This was very enjoyable and definitely recommendable!
4.5 Stars
First thing I’ll say, or rather ask is, how did I miss the release of book one in this series?! I must have had my head buried in the sand, but having not read book one, something I’ll be rectifying as soon as possible, I can say, this book definitely works as a standalone. Although the couple from book one makes an appearance, I never once felt lost for having not read their story.
This was an interesting story. I love the fake boyfriend trope, and Wyatt and Ryan did fake so well, until it wasn’t fake anymore that is. I really loved Ryan and Wyatt, they were both likable guys that you could really root for, although, at times, I wanted to knock their heads together. Wyatt was much better than Ryan though, I honestly wasn’t sure Ryan would ever pull his head out of his butt and get it together, but alas, he finally managed to see the light.
The story was well-written and Ryan and Wyatt had amazing chemistry and they sizzled in bed, but I will say, I wouldn’t have minded another sex scene or two in the second half of the story(that’s just my preference). I loved the secondary characters, as well, well, most of them, Eric, Ryan’s agent, was a complete twat most of the time, but I’m definitely looking forward to getting to know Wyatt’s friends/co-workers from Terroir, as well as his brother Tony, who I really hope Ms. Bolden gives a book. I’m also looking forward to catching up with Ryan and Wyatt in future installments in this series. This was very enjoyable and definitely recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
4.25 Stars!
Catch Me is book 2 in the Kitchen Gods series and while it can be read as a standalone, Bite Me was so good that you don't want to miss it, trust me on this.
Wyatt has decided to leave Terroir. While he's thankful for the experience of working in a Michelin-star rated restaurant, he's had enough of Bastian Aquino's mercurial moods, plus working as a private chef will surely be a whole lot more profitable. What he didn't expect was his potential new boss to be the famous baseball player with whom he hooked up the night before or that he might be asked to play the part of fake boyfriend, too. While he's insanely attracted to Ryan Flores, playing pretend might be a recipe for disaster.
I loved Wyatt. He was laidback and very nice, too nice sometimes, almost bordering on doormat-ish, although I was very glad to see him stand up to Ryan near the end. And then we had Ryan, who I wanted to throttle so many times. He wasn't a bad guy, I guess, but he ran hot and cold with Wyatt for so long, I was almost afraid he wouldn't make things right before the book ended. Regardless of my feelings for Ryan, the chemistry between Ryan and Wyatt was undeniable, the sex scenes were hot and when Ryan wasn't being a twat, they fit very well together.
I loved Wyatt's Nana, who was adorable, and it was great catching up with Miles, Evan, Xander and Kian and meeting Tony (who I hope will get a book, too) and Tabitha. However, I have to admit the book I'm anticipating the most is Kian and Bastian's, no matter if he's a bastard. ;)
Overall, this was a solid addition to the series, and even if book one is still my favorite, I found it very enjoyable. Now, I'll be waiting eagerly for Xander's book! Very recommendable.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Beth Bolden lives in Portland, Oregon with her supportive husband. She wholly believes in Keeping Portland Weird, but wishes she didn’t have to make the yearly pilgrimage up to Seattle to watch her Boston Red Sox play baseball. She’s a fan of fandoms, and spends too much of her free time on tumblr.
Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She’s published eight novels and two novellas, with Catch Me, the next novel in the Kitchen Gods series, releasing in May 2018.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beth_bolden
Website: www.bethbolden.com
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