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Learning Curves #1
French Cooking 101
A recipe to fall in love in Paris
To boost the activity of her Parisian boutique cooking school, Ariane has organized an intensive weekend workshop for American clients.
The seminar brings together:
George, an author doing research for his next book
Jena and Thomas, a couple on their honeymoon
Charles, a cute upcoming actor featured in a French television show
Mary, a single midwife celebrating her 40th birthday in Paris
Peter, Mary's younger brother
While the newlywed are oblivious to the rest of the world, the mix simmers.
The attraction between George and Mary becomes irresistible.
Charles falls under the charm of one of the school's suppliers, and Peter realizes that Ariane's curves could be just what he needs to shake the ghost of his first love.
Caution: it's hot and a little spicy.
To boost the activity of her Parisian boutique cooking school, Ariane has organized an intensive weekend workshop for American clients.
The seminar brings together:
George, an author doing research for his next book
Jena and Thomas, a couple on their honeymoon
Charles, a cute upcoming actor featured in a French television show
Mary, a single midwife celebrating her 40th birthday in Paris
Peter, Mary's younger brother
While the newlywed are oblivious to the rest of the world, the mix simmers.
The attraction between George and Mary becomes irresistible.
Charles falls under the charm of one of the school's suppliers, and Peter realizes that Ariane's curves could be just what he needs to shake the ghost of his first love.
Caution: it's hot and a little spicy.
116 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2013
66 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Rigal
199 books273 followersOlivia Rigal started publishing short novels in 2013 as an indie.
The story she tells stand alone.
However her characters often meet so you can run into them again in several stories.
Some of her books can be found in French, German, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish.
The story she tells stand alone.
However her characters often meet so you can run into them again in several stories.
Some of her books can be found in French, German, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 2, 2017
This was from a free Instafreebie deal a while ago, French Cooking 101 is a quick read set in Paris which I love stories that are set in France. For me, there were a lot of couples in the story and with alternating chapters between the characters, I did get confused about who was in love with who. I liked the plot idea but there was a lot to take in for a short amount of time. There were moments that the romance got extremely steamy which I had to step away from reading for a while. The pace was quite fast. As of right now, I won't be continuing with the series.
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December 12, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/12/2020)! 🎁
April 27, 2016
Really enjoyed this
This was an easy read. I truly enjoyed it. It's a cute story of a group of people taking a cooking class in Paris. Everyone seems to find a match in the class they are attracted to. This book tells of those attractions, how each person reacts to it, and the adventure and risk each person is willing to take to be with that person. I wish it was this easy to find someone I mesh with this easy. I might need to take a French cooking class. I usually don't care for the happy go lucky, everything fits in place stories. But I like how this was written. Very entertaining and I look forward to reading the next book
This was an easy read. I truly enjoyed it. It's a cute story of a group of people taking a cooking class in Paris. Everyone seems to find a match in the class they are attracted to. This book tells of those attractions, how each person reacts to it, and the adventure and risk each person is willing to take to be with that person. I wish it was this easy to find someone I mesh with this easy. I might need to take a French cooking class. I usually don't care for the happy go lucky, everything fits in place stories. But I like how this was written. Very entertaining and I look forward to reading the next book
June 3, 2015
Short and fun romance combining cookery classes in Paris with hot stuff out of the kitchen.
There are a few nice recipes at the back. Cheese souffle and more. The romances are definitely more lust than love with everyone's mind on the bedroom. What was in those soufflés? Adult readers only.
There are a few nice recipes at the back. Cheese souffle and more. The romances are definitely more lust than love with everyone's mind on the bedroom. What was in those soufflés? Adult readers only.
June 2, 2022
Olivia Regal penned a different type of romance with French Cooking 101 in her Learning Curves series. This is the first book in this series. Unlike most romances, Ms. Regal chose to show case the romantic liaison of multiple couples. Her female lead is a French chef, Ariane, who runs a culinary school. She offers weekend seminars. In her current seminar there are: Jena and Thomas (newlyweds in Paris for their honeymoon; Mary and Peter Dole (siblings); George Sweet (American historical fiction author); and Charles (a gay man). Soon romantic overtures occur with Mary and George, Charles and Jean-Miguel, and Peter and Ariane. Ariane resists her feelings for Peter. She dreams of finding a forever love and is not interested in a fling. What will come from these new relationships? To discover the outcome, you must read this book.
Ms. Regal writing style is easy to follow. I was surprised by the multiple romances. She does a great job keeping them separate yet staying true to the concept of students attending a weekend culinary seminar. I was a bit disappointed in that she chose to leave her readers with a cliffhanger. Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable read.
Ms. Regal writing style is easy to follow. I was surprised by the multiple romances. She does a great job keeping them separate yet staying true to the concept of students attending a weekend culinary seminar. I was a bit disappointed in that she chose to leave her readers with a cliffhanger. Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable read.
September 1, 2017
A really good start to this collection. Cant wait to start the next.
February 28, 2020
Cooking Attempt at Romance
Sorry, but I was not impressed with this story. Characters were ok but not developed. Setting and story line was ok. Not impressed with the ending.
Sorry, but I was not impressed with this story. Characters were ok but not developed. Setting and story line was ok. Not impressed with the ending.
April 18, 2021
One-dimensional characters and 2.5 cases of instalove. The Paris setting made it a bit better but enogh.
September 9, 2014
Reviewed on behalf of Fictional BookHos:
+++
This review covers the first two books in the Learning Curves series, French Cooking 101 and Advanced French Kissing
These two short novellas were very interesting. Together they form a full length novel. The first part, French Cooking 101, focuses on Ariane as she teaches a class on French cooking. Each chapter tends to focus on different students as they meet and form beautiful erotic memories.
I enjoyed the format, but I could see where some people might want a story more focused on a specific couple. The hook of the cooking class was interesting, and I found myself getting into the individual stories, hoping for the pairings to work out. There were even a few actual recipes included.
The second part, Advanced French Kissing, tended to focus on the one couple I probably liked least from the first part, that being Peter and Ariane's story. I personally would have loved to read more of Mary and George's story. George is a quiet, somewhat grumpy man, who falls hard for the beautiful middle aged sister of Peter while she is on vacation in Paris.
The story continues in the third part of Learning Curves, Detention.
+++
This review covers the first two books in the Learning Curves series, French Cooking 101 and Advanced French Kissing
These two short novellas were very interesting. Together they form a full length novel. The first part, French Cooking 101, focuses on Ariane as she teaches a class on French cooking. Each chapter tends to focus on different students as they meet and form beautiful erotic memories.
I enjoyed the format, but I could see where some people might want a story more focused on a specific couple. The hook of the cooking class was interesting, and I found myself getting into the individual stories, hoping for the pairings to work out. There were even a few actual recipes included.
The second part, Advanced French Kissing, tended to focus on the one couple I probably liked least from the first part, that being Peter and Ariane's story. I personally would have loved to read more of Mary and George's story. George is a quiet, somewhat grumpy man, who falls hard for the beautiful middle aged sister of Peter while she is on vacation in Paris.
The story continues in the third part of Learning Curves, Detention.
August 13, 2014
4 Stars
French Cooking 101 & Advanced French Kissing
by Olivia Rigal
Books One & Two of the Learning Curves Series
Book Six of Red Hot Obsessions
These two short novellas were very interesting. Together they form a full length novel. The first part, French Cooking 101, focuses on Ariane as she teaches a class on French cooking. Each chapter tends to focus on different students as they meet and form beautiful erotic memories.
I enjoyed the format, but I could see where some people might want a story more focused on a specific couple. The hook of the cooking class was interesting, and I found myself getting into the individual stories, hoping for the pairings to work out. There were even a few actual recipes included.
The second part, Advanced French Kissing, tended to focus on the one couple I probably liked least from the first part, that being Peter and Ariane's story. I personally would have loved to read more of Mary and George's story. George is a quiet, somewhat grumpy man, who falls hard for the beautiful middle aged sister of Peter while she is on vacation in Paris.
The story continues in the third part of Learning Curves, Detention.
French Cooking 101 & Advanced French Kissing
by Olivia Rigal
Books One & Two of the Learning Curves Series
Book Six of Red Hot Obsessions
These two short novellas were very interesting. Together they form a full length novel. The first part, French Cooking 101, focuses on Ariane as she teaches a class on French cooking. Each chapter tends to focus on different students as they meet and form beautiful erotic memories.
I enjoyed the format, but I could see where some people might want a story more focused on a specific couple. The hook of the cooking class was interesting, and I found myself getting into the individual stories, hoping for the pairings to work out. There were even a few actual recipes included.
The second part, Advanced French Kissing, tended to focus on the one couple I probably liked least from the first part, that being Peter and Ariane's story. I personally would have loved to read more of Mary and George's story. George is a quiet, somewhat grumpy man, who falls hard for the beautiful middle aged sister of Peter while she is on vacation in Paris.
The story continues in the third part of Learning Curves, Detention.
March 25, 2015
This was in a book bundle Red Hot Obsessions.
Arianne lives in Paris. She owns her own cooking school and she lives above the school in a small apartment. She is a curvy woman who has an on and off again affair with a local baker. She teaches intense weekend classes. Her students for the one she is starting; an author, a newlywed couple, an actor, a middle aged woman and her younger brother. Slowly the reader learns a little about each character as they interact with each other and their instructor Arianne. We also learn what brought them to Paris and to this class. The book is about cooking, eating, and hot relationships as they start pairing up.
Arianne lives in Paris. She owns her own cooking school and she lives above the school in a small apartment. She is a curvy woman who has an on and off again affair with a local baker. She teaches intense weekend classes. Her students for the one she is starting; an author, a newlywed couple, an actor, a middle aged woman and her younger brother. Slowly the reader learns a little about each character as they interact with each other and their instructor Arianne. We also learn what brought them to Paris and to this class. The book is about cooking, eating, and hot relationships as they start pairing up.
November 3, 2013
Interesting story, each chapter was from a different person's perspective. The problem is there were several people and the story wasn't that long, so there wasn't much depth. Still enjoyable enough to continue with Advanced French Kissing to see is we get some completion.
July 1, 2014
I liked Olivia Rigal. I read it as part of a box set. I didn't like that there were so many story lines. Didn't really give you much in each chapter to get to know each chauature. I liked what I learned from Ariane, Peter, Charles, George, Mary and the married couple. I just wish there was more to the book and the story lines. I cant say much on the review there wasn't much to the book. I did like that she include all the recipes at the end for all the meals they talked about.
July 27, 2014
I read this as part of a boxed set, where I got parts 1 & 2 of the series together. I will limit my comments to this particular book, but my thoughts were developed after reading both. French Cooking 101 was a decent intro to the story line but should not be a separate story. As a stand-alone, it has too many perspectives and the love stories don't really develop a meaningful plot. It would be more successful as the opening chapters of a longer book.
October 9, 2015
Not a HEA but an introduction to the series so be sure to have the other books available so you can jump right in.
Ariane is a French cook looking to expand her cooking school and opens up her kitchen for six Americans for an intense weekend of cooking instruction. I really enjoyed that within this novella, each chapter was told in a different perspective, the chef and the students. I enjoyed the start and was eager to continue the series.
Ariane is a French cook looking to expand her cooking school and opens up her kitchen for six Americans for an intense weekend of cooking instruction. I really enjoyed that within this novella, each chapter was told in a different perspective, the chef and the students. I enjoyed the start and was eager to continue the series.
March 27, 2016
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this story. I loved the different personalities of each member of the class and how they all got along. Looking forward to reading Part 2 of the series.
Ariane is a French cook who is holding cooking classes over the weekend in her Parisian kitchen. The 6 students are Peter, Mary, George, Charles, Jena, and Thomas. By the end of the weekend, everyone has found their someone, apart from married couple Jena and Thomas.
I loved this story. I loved the different personalities of each member of the class and how they all got along. Looking forward to reading Part 2 of the series.
Ariane is a French cook who is holding cooking classes over the weekend in her Parisian kitchen. The 6 students are Peter, Mary, George, Charles, Jena, and Thomas. By the end of the weekend, everyone has found their someone, apart from married couple Jena and Thomas.
June 19, 2015
There isn't much to this story. Each chapter is from the point of view of a different main character such as the teacher of a Parisian cooking school a man and his sister who attend the class and a writer attending the class as research for a book. The plot simply revolves around which characters become a couple and the steaminess that follows.
August 20, 2015
Short and fun romance combines with matchmaking in a cookery class. Multiple POV made the story enjoyable and since it is a quick read you want to know more about the characters. Since this was mainly about setting the stage for the main character development-aside from any development from the other characters- not much happens.
September 17, 2015
Learning Curves 1 Review
In this witty novel, Ariane is the owner of a cooking school in Paris. Over a weekend workshop, a newlywed couple, a brother and sister team, a cranky writer, and a single guy looking for companionship lives intertwine. Not only are there some delicious food being made but love is in the air in ole Pari.
In this witty novel, Ariane is the owner of a cooking school in Paris. Over a weekend workshop, a newlywed couple, a brother and sister team, a cranky writer, and a single guy looking for companionship lives intertwine. Not only are there some delicious food being made but love is in the air in ole Pari.
June 18, 2014
The premise of this story is really unique. I enjoyed that all the characters were completely unique and fun in their own ways. It is a quick read. Well-written and not too hard to follow. I enjoyed learning some French as well.
July 2, 2015
I am a fan of Olivia work, she knows how to make a person desire to be the characters of her books, and as usual this one is no exception at all, it was sexy to see how the kitchen puts to people together, very romantic french style story cant wait for the rest
July 13, 2015
Amazing story
This book is awesome! I loved that the background of every character is told. I felt like I knew each of them personally. I can't wait to see what happens next with Peter and Ariane, and also Mary and George. I will recommend this book and series to everyone!
This book is awesome! I loved that the background of every character is told. I felt like I knew each of them personally. I can't wait to see what happens next with Peter and Ariane, and also Mary and George. I will recommend this book and series to everyone!
September 20, 2015
There is more than just cooking in this kitchen
This book is HOT, you get budding romances, interesting characters, very real problems and quirky people. and Paris. This book made me want to be part of the story. I want more so I one clicked book two
This book is HOT, you get budding romances, interesting characters, very real problems and quirky people. and Paris. This book made me want to be part of the story. I want more so I one clicked book two
March 20, 2016
Good read
Good story line, characters aren't fully developed but as this is a 4 book series I know that I will learn more about them so I'm not worried about that. Story flows well even with the different point of views, which I really enjoy. Starting book 2 asap!
Good story line, characters aren't fully developed but as this is a 4 book series I know that I will learn more about them so I'm not worried about that. Story flows well even with the different point of views, which I really enjoy. Starting book 2 asap!
November 24, 2013
Nice, shorty story... wanting to read the following book.
July 7, 2014
too many couples for 116 pages
June 22, 2015
This book took me quite awhile to get into. Wasnt that enthralled by it at all. Not very exciting.
September 8, 2015
I think the cooking school as the setting was genius! I love how diverse the characters are from each other. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
July 28, 2019
So this is a really short one. To me it is a novella in the first set. Very good and steamy. If you love a read that is steamy. Great read if you love a story with a little spice.
Want to read
September 3, 2016Red Hot Obsessions
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews