The Kitchen When It Sizzles by Chrissie Peria

I won an eBook copy of this book from a giveaway hosted by Chrissie Peria during the #MoreLoveinPH Romance Writers of the Philippines Multi-Author Bash last June 27-28 on Facebook. I enjoyed All’s Fair in Blog and War, so I had high hopes that I would enjoy this book as well.

Here’s the plot description from Goodreads:

Olivia Nadal is an almost perfect girl with an almost perfect life. She has stunning good looks, an exciting job that pays well, men lining up to date her, and a homey little condo she calls her own. The only thing keeping her from perfection is her utter inability to cook.

Enter Nate Olivarez, a hotshot chef who’s filling in for Olivia’s cooking instructor. Sparks fly when they meet, but a fling with the visiting hottie is the last thing Olivia needs. But as things keep heating up in the kitchen, she can’t help but wonder. Can things work out between her and Nate? Or is the sizzle all set to fizzle?

The first few paragraphs already push me to understand how Olivia feels, given her position as an inexperienced cook. As a frustrated cook, I know what it feels like to be helpless around kitchen chores. But just like any other skills one desires to master, she needs a person with expertise in that area in order to hone her skill. And that’s when Nate comes into the picture. Right from the beginning, any reader can evidently see the undeniable attraction between the two characters.

What can I say? This book just raises Chrissie Peria into a whole new level. After being introduced to Nate and Olivia, I know I’ll love them and root for their relationship all the way to the end. Chrissie Peria portrays Nate’s character as a swoon-worthy gentleman, whom any lady would find themselves asking for more of in the world. Olivia, on the other hand, is being protective of her heart; thus, she’s unsure of what she truly wants. Call me a cliché, but I love the pacing of the budding relationship between Nate and Olivia. Despite the wild hormones emitting from their bodies, hence their obvious sexual tensions in the atmosphere whenever they’re together, I love the process of their getting-to-know stage through cooking.

Speaking of cooking, Chrissie Peria surely knows her way with food. The descriptive narration and detailed portrayal of the dishes – from preparation to the finished product – have me drooling and craving for more. I wouldn’t doubt if Chrissie Peria is said to be a great cook. I would love to try her dishes when opportunity comes. But just like any other love story, I tend to drool over the main guy character as well. The steamy love scenes in this book are just beyond my expectations! I’m surprised with Chrissie Peria’s boldness to narrate the steamy scenes in intricate details. And just like that, my hunger is satisfied more than I hoped for.

Overall, The Kitchen When It Sizzles impresses me in ways I cannot imagine. The book doesn’t disappoint. Yes, there are conflicts and struggles along the way, but the outcome of Nate and Olivia’s love story is worth retelling and remembering, and most of all, definitely swoon-worthy. Perhaps one of the reasons why I also love the book is due to the fact that I can easily empathize with the characters. I can feel their emotions and react to their actions. At the end of the day, this steamy, hot, sizzling book will leave readers fanning themselves and craving for more, be it food or simply Nate.