GRR Reviews Cooking Up Love by Chantel Rhondeau

Cooking Up Love is a tale of a chef falling in love with a single mother trying to get away from her abusive ex, but also about what one will do for love (without breaking rules). It is a well-polished addition to the "McAllister's Paradise" series.

Elaina Turner won an ultimate vacation getaway on McAllister's Paradise, an exclusive island resort just off Hawaii with her daughter, and she already knew she didn't belong, as her clothes came out of Target or thrift stores. But she needed to get away from her ex who got her pregnant before 18, was violent with her, and threatened to take away her daughter. She did not expect to meet Shane McCallister, head chef of Paradise Point restaurant. Shane is also part owner of the island. Shane has interest in her and her daughter, but she had to keep him away, because her daughter really has attachment issues and is looking for a father, and she just cannot see Shane being interesting in more than just NSA sex. Shane had gone off to Paris to cooking school, and he had made several bad choices and gained a reputation for being a player. When Shane showed interest in Elaina, his family fear the worst, not to mention it's highly frowned upon for the staff to get involved with guests, even if he's a McAllister. Then Elaina's ugly ex re-entered the picture...

The tension of the ex was ratcheted up just in time to make things interesting, as is Shane's reaction to such by playing dirty hardball. Both sides have reasons to stay away, yet both sides can't fight the attraction they are feeling for each other. The reluctance is mutual, and that added to the tension, as the novel is expertly plotted and I can see no logical problems.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Single mother needed to get away from evil ex falls in love with chef of the resort who has reputation of being a player

Tropes: evil ex, single parent, small town, resort

Overall Rating:  4/5