Release Day Review ~ Yes, Chef (Amuse Bouche: Book Two) by T. Neilson (Giveaway)

Release Day Review ~ Yes, Chef (Amuse Bouche: Book Two by T. Neilson)

Title: Yes, Chef

Series: Amuse Bouche: Book Two

Author: T. Neilson

Release Date: April 2, 2019

Category: Contemporary, Dreamspun Desires

Pages: 193

Dreamspinner  Amazon

A savory slice of first love.

Simon’s dad died when he was young, leaving Simon to take the reins of the family restaurant business—and the responsibility for his mother and brothers. His commitment to his duty left Simon time for little else, least of all romance.

Argentinian celebrity chef Luke Ferreya has wanted Simon since their culinary-school days, but for Simon, family always came first. Now Luke’s back in Simon’s life—briefly before he returns to South America—and he’s determined to give Simon a sample of everything he’s missed out on.

Simon’s brothers are grown, and his mother is doing fine on her own, and Luke is offering a second chance for a future full of the pleasures of fine food, wine, and especially love. Without his obligations to hide behind, can Simon finally allow himself to say “Yes, Chef”?

3.5 stars!!

Yes, Chef is book two in T. Neilson’s Amuse Bouche series. Though I’m a believer in reading a series in the appropriate order, you could read this book without reading the first one and not be lost or confused, because there’s very little interaction with Simon’s brother, the main character of the first book. I did read book one and was really looking forward to Simon’s story. I didn’t like him most of that book but there was a brief glimpse I got of him that made me think he might have hidden depths.

This book really focused on the individual main characters, Simon and Luke. Each man had his own difficulties, mostly self-made, to overcome. The story focuses a lot on Simon’s business and his daily life, and on Luke, a man trying to figure life out. And, when Simon wasn’t completely focused on his business, he was trying to break up his brother’s relationship - a reminder of why I didn’t like him in the first place. Simon has two gay brothers and I still struggle to understand his refusal to acknowledge that he was something other than straight.

This was a slow burn that never felt like it reached burn for me. Almost all of the book was spent with Simon and Luke dancing around each other, never admitting their feelings and then it ended with them together. I had really hoped for more between the two men, more romance, more relationship, more than two friends occupying the same sphere. When they finally did become a couple, the book was over and it was a little bit of a letdown for me. I went through all that story just to end when the story was starting.

**Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by DreamSpinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.**

3 Stars

Yes, Chef is a book by T. Neilson and is book 2 in the Amuse Bouche series. Book 1 is about Simon's younger brother who appears here, and both of them can be read as a standalone.

Simon takes over his father’s restaurant after he dies and takes care of his younger siblings and mother. With everything going on he has no time for relationships.

Luke Ferreya has been into Simon since culinary school. Luke, and Simon himself, thinks he is straight, so neither of them has acted upon their mutual attraction. After Luke decides he is done with the toxic atmosphere of the kitchen, he decides to take a vacation and falls into Simon’s restaurant. Will they have a second chance?

The characters were great, very relatable. I love that Simon stepped up when his family needed him; I wish we would have had more of them - I think we saw two brothers. Luke, who was a 2-Michelin Star chef, gave up everything because of the pressure. It is an interesting idea as it shows people that even if they burn out one career, there are still ways they can be a part of their chosen field while being under less stress.

Overall the book was good. It was a slowburn, which I appreciate, but once the couple gets together the book is pretty much over. That made me sad, as I wish we got to know them more as a couple. The ending was pretty abrupt which left me wanting. Luke has other brothers, so I am wondering if each will get a book?

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

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