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If You Can't Stand the Heat...
When a cooking competition turns personal
A pair of chefs will feel the burn…
What’s the recipe for success? For single mom Karina Mistry, it’s the head-chef position she’s chased for years. But her boss has one more hoop for her to jump through. The new head chef will be chosen…via a reality cooking-show competition! Four weeks, eight meals, two competitors and everything on the line. Losing this job would be crushing. But losing to Chef Aneel Rawal, the man from her past she’s never forgiven? That’s not an option. It’s time for Karina to sharpen her knives, turn up the heat…and watch the tension simmer!
From Harlequin Special Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
Once Upon a Wedding
Book 1: The Five-Day Reunion
Book 2: Matched by Masala
Book 3: No Rings Attached
Book 4: The Business Between Them
Book 5: Their Accidental Honeymoon
Book 6: If You Can't Stand the Heat...
A pair of chefs will feel the burn…
What’s the recipe for success? For single mom Karina Mistry, it’s the head-chef position she’s chased for years. But her boss has one more hoop for her to jump through. The new head chef will be chosen…via a reality cooking-show competition! Four weeks, eight meals, two competitors and everything on the line. Losing this job would be crushing. But losing to Chef Aneel Rawal, the man from her past she’s never forgiven? That’s not an option. It’s time for Karina to sharpen her knives, turn up the heat…and watch the tension simmer!
From Harlequin Special Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
Once Upon a Wedding
Book 1: The Five-Day Reunion
Book 2: Matched by Masala
Book 3: No Rings Attached
Book 4: The Business Between Them
Book 5: Their Accidental Honeymoon
Book 6: If You Can't Stand the Heat...
- GenresRomance
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2025
1 person is currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 31, 2025
If You Can’t Stand the Heat by Mona Shroff
Once Upon a Wedding series #6. Harlequin Special Edition contemporary diverse romance. Can be read as a standalone. Enemies to friends troupe.
Chefs Karina Mistry and Aneel Rawal once competed in a cooking competition that had them as enemies at the end. Now they must compete against each other again for the top chef position where they work. As they spend more and more time together doing prep work and side catering jobs, their attraction to each other grows. What happens when the competition is over?
I loved Aneel so much. He fell for Karina when they first met and he’s willing to be there to help her for anything. Plus he’s great with Veer, her four year old son. The marvel arguments are funny. And the food, wow, sounds so delicious.
Fantastic, feel good romance.
Now on to the next in the series.
Once Upon a Wedding series #6. Harlequin Special Edition contemporary diverse romance. Can be read as a standalone. Enemies to friends troupe.
Chefs Karina Mistry and Aneel Rawal once competed in a cooking competition that had them as enemies at the end. Now they must compete against each other again for the top chef position where they work. As they spend more and more time together doing prep work and side catering jobs, their attraction to each other grows. What happens when the competition is over?
I loved Aneel so much. He fell for Karina when they first met and he’s willing to be there to help her for anything. Plus he’s great with Veer, her four year old son. The marvel arguments are funny. And the food, wow, sounds so delicious.
Fantastic, feel good romance.
Now on to the next in the series.
March 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of If You Can't Stand the Heat by Mona Shroff. I recently attended an author event with Mona Shroff, and she was lovely to meet in person. After meeting her, I heard about this new book and was approved on NetGalley. I haven't read the others in this series, and I don't think it was needed. This was a lovely story that I really enjoyed. 4/5 stars
May 19, 2025
In If You Can’t Stand the Heat by Mona Shroff, Karina Mistry is this close to landing her dream head chef job until she finds out it’s coming down to a reality cooking competition. The real twist? Her rival is Aneel Rawal, the man who broke her heart seven years ago.
I always look forward to Mona Shroff’s books and adore her Once Upon a Wedding series! I was really excited that If You Can’t Stand the Heat had some of my favorite tropes: rival chefs, a single mom, family love, and he falls first! I absolutely adored Karina’s character and felt for her every step of the way. This one can definitely be read as a standalone! Karina’s fighting for a job that would give her and her adorable son more stability even though her dreams lie elsewhere. Aneel is chasing a position that means everything to him, all while confronting unexpected pieces of his past. Mona’s writing always pulls me in from page one and I loved getting to revisit couples from previous books while also meeting new characters. The slow-burn connection between Karina and Aneel was so well done. The sweet moments between Aneel and Veer, Karina’s perceptive 4-year-old, made my heart melt. The tension, the warmth, and the way both Karina and Aneel interact with each other’s families really brought so much heart to the story. Mona’s books always feel like a hug in book form. I love how she weaves culture into her stories and I always walk away learning more about the similarities and differences across Indian cultures and languages. Highly recommend picking this 5-star read! Now I’m can’t wait for Saira’s story!
Thank you to the author for the free advanced copy. All opinions my own.
I always look forward to Mona Shroff’s books and adore her Once Upon a Wedding series! I was really excited that If You Can’t Stand the Heat had some of my favorite tropes: rival chefs, a single mom, family love, and he falls first! I absolutely adored Karina’s character and felt for her every step of the way. This one can definitely be read as a standalone! Karina’s fighting for a job that would give her and her adorable son more stability even though her dreams lie elsewhere. Aneel is chasing a position that means everything to him, all while confronting unexpected pieces of his past. Mona’s writing always pulls me in from page one and I loved getting to revisit couples from previous books while also meeting new characters. The slow-burn connection between Karina and Aneel was so well done. The sweet moments between Aneel and Veer, Karina’s perceptive 4-year-old, made my heart melt. The tension, the warmth, and the way both Karina and Aneel interact with each other’s families really brought so much heart to the story. Mona’s books always feel like a hug in book form. I love how she weaves culture into her stories and I always walk away learning more about the similarities and differences across Indian cultures and languages. Highly recommend picking this 5-star read! Now I’m can’t wait for Saira’s story!
Thank you to the author for the free advanced copy. All opinions my own.
December 31, 2025
"If You Can't Stand the Heat" is book six in the "Once Upon a Wedding" series by Mona Shroff. I can't even describe how much I love this series and book. Karina and Aneel were once on a competition show before when Karina thought that Aneel cheated. Now they have to compete against each other again, and Karina has been holding a grudge for years. Karina has changed because she is raising her four year old son, Veer, on her own. His father left before Veer was born. I loved how Karina having a child didn't bother Aneel and how he would help Karina with her catering when he could. This was a super cute read, and I absolutely loved all of the characters and the different things they all had going on. Mona does such a wonderful job telling a story, and you feel like you are right there with them.
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October 31, 2025yet again Mona delivers an adorable romance with a fascinating glimpse into Indian culture, especially Indian food. i love the idea of this being a redemption romance. it's not really a 2nd chance because there never really was a 1st chance. and for it to come so full circle, ending and beginning with a competition gives me a nice sense of symmetry. I also love it when there is a precocious kiddo and pretty sure there is a pic of Veer in the dictionary as the definition...
April 2, 2025
I loved this story of two chefs, Karina & Angel, who are forced to compete against each other for a head chef position. They are both strong personalities who are very family oriented. Along the way, they fall for each other. It was an adorable story, very real.
October 9, 2025
In If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Karina Mistry is a talented single mom vying for her dream head chef job—only to find out the final decision will come through a reality cooking competition. Her unexpected rival? Aneel Rawal, the man who broke her heart seven years ago. As tensions rise in the kitchen, so do old feelings, especially as Aneel bonds with Karina’s young son, Veer. This book blends emotional depth, cultural richness, and slow-burn romance in this heartfelt story about second chances, family love, and following your dreams. With familiar faces from her Once Upon a Wedding series and a standalone plot, this story is warm, tender, and deeply satisfying.
July 7, 2025
Terrific not-quite-enemies-to-lovers story. The competition angle intrigued me. Karina is the sous-chef at a restaurant, in line to move up to the executive chef position. Then she discovers that her boss decided to turn the interview into a reality show competition. Her rival is Aneel, a fellow chef she faced in another competition years earlier with disastrous results.
I liked Karina and Aneel. Karina is a single mom who wants the promotion to make a better life for herself and her son, Veer. She is intense, talented, and determined. She's not happy about competing with Aneel as she blames him for her loss in the earlier competition. I loved her close relationships with her family and their influence on her life. Aneel wants to advance to the executive chef position from his current role. He's more laid back when it comes to his work, but the intensity is still there.
The tension is tight between Karina and Aneel when the competition begins. Karina still holds a grudge against him, while he resents her accusations. But when they put the past aside, they work amazingly well together. There were sparks of attraction during their first competition that they ignored in the aftermath. Those sparks flare up again as they spend time together. Karina initially fights those sparks, not wanting to let go of the past. However, when Karina needs help, Aneel steps up to support her. I loved watching their teamwork.
I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Their interactions during the competition are fun, a little snarky, yet supportive and realistic. I especially enjoyed watching them get closer as Aneel helped Karina with her catering efforts. Each has baggage from the past that they must deal with before they can move forward, including a surprise revelation that I never saw coming. I loved the ending and how the competition worked out.
I love the author's depictions of the characters' close family relationships. The love and support are always there, along with a willingness to provide a kick in the pants when needed. I enjoy the glimpses of Indian culture, and especially enjoyed Karina and Aneel's efforts to replicate her mother's chai recipe. The inclusion of couples from previous books added extra enjoyment to the stories. There are some heart-melting scenes with Aneel and Karina's son, Veer.
I liked Karina and Aneel. Karina is a single mom who wants the promotion to make a better life for herself and her son, Veer. She is intense, talented, and determined. She's not happy about competing with Aneel as she blames him for her loss in the earlier competition. I loved her close relationships with her family and their influence on her life. Aneel wants to advance to the executive chef position from his current role. He's more laid back when it comes to his work, but the intensity is still there.
The tension is tight between Karina and Aneel when the competition begins. Karina still holds a grudge against him, while he resents her accusations. But when they put the past aside, they work amazingly well together. There were sparks of attraction during their first competition that they ignored in the aftermath. Those sparks flare up again as they spend time together. Karina initially fights those sparks, not wanting to let go of the past. However, when Karina needs help, Aneel steps up to support her. I loved watching their teamwork.
I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Their interactions during the competition are fun, a little snarky, yet supportive and realistic. I especially enjoyed watching them get closer as Aneel helped Karina with her catering efforts. Each has baggage from the past that they must deal with before they can move forward, including a surprise revelation that I never saw coming. I loved the ending and how the competition worked out.
I love the author's depictions of the characters' close family relationships. The love and support are always there, along with a willingness to provide a kick in the pants when needed. I enjoy the glimpses of Indian culture, and especially enjoyed Karina and Aneel's efforts to replicate her mother's chai recipe. The inclusion of couples from previous books added extra enjoyment to the stories. There are some heart-melting scenes with Aneel and Karina's son, Veer.
August 26, 2025
Karina Mistry has been waiting for this day for years! The day she finally gets promoted to executive chef of Fusion. She's been there for years, starting from the bottom, and has more than proven herself. When she arrives to speak with her boss, the last person she expects to see is Aneel Rawal. She hasn't forgotten how he cheated her out of winning a competition years ago. Now her boss is saying she will once again be competing with Aneel for the job she rightfully has earned.
Aneel can't believe he's once again competing against Karina. He didn't have the courage to ask her out years ago, and now it seems she's hell bent on hating him.
Forced to work together in a tight space, they end up bonding over similar histories. When both of their pasts show up in the present, they must decide how it will affect themselves and their families.
This is the latest installment in the Once Upon A Wedding series by Mona Shroff. I have loved each and every one of her books and this was such a fun and emotional read. I loved how the main characters connected over similar tragedies in their life. Their relationship didn't seem forced and it was sweet to watch them slowly come together. All the family members were so supportive and were great as additional characters. You could really feel the closeness between all of the siblings. The ending was perfect and I cannot wait to read more by the author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Aneel can't believe he's once again competing against Karina. He didn't have the courage to ask her out years ago, and now it seems she's hell bent on hating him.
Forced to work together in a tight space, they end up bonding over similar histories. When both of their pasts show up in the present, they must decide how it will affect themselves and their families.
This is the latest installment in the Once Upon A Wedding series by Mona Shroff. I have loved each and every one of her books and this was such a fun and emotional read. I loved how the main characters connected over similar tragedies in their life. Their relationship didn't seem forced and it was sweet to watch them slowly come together. All the family members were so supportive and were great as additional characters. You could really feel the closeness between all of the siblings. The ending was perfect and I cannot wait to read more by the author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 1, 2025
Two chefs are pitted against each other for a reality competition show - the winner gets the coveted Head Chef position. The twist is that the two chefs, Karina and Aneel, know each other and have competed before. There was heat the first time and their is heat again, but Karina believes that Aneel is responsible for her losing the first time they competed and thus fights the heat for a little while.
Aneel won me over from the get-go. I appreciated his confidence in Karina even as he competed against her and dodged her allegations of past transgressions.
Karina was determined and willing to put aside her feelings of past wrongdoings to accept help from Aneel.
Both main characters have some personal baggage that is refusing to go away, but they help one another with it as they compete in the kitchen and work together outside of it.
As always, I loved this Mona Shroff book!
Aneel won me over from the get-go. I appreciated his confidence in Karina even as he competed against her and dodged her allegations of past transgressions.
Karina was determined and willing to put aside her feelings of past wrongdoings to accept help from Aneel.
Both main characters have some personal baggage that is refusing to go away, but they help one another with it as they compete in the kitchen and work together outside of it.
As always, I loved this Mona Shroff book!
June 10, 2025
Another in the Once Upon and Wedding series, in which two chefs are pitted against one another to win the coveted executive chef position as a way to call attention to the restaurant where Karina has been working to be head-chef. But her competitor is one she as thought cheating on her in a previous contest 7 years earlier. He denies that he cheated, but he's also intent on winning that executive chef position. So who will win? And what will they do with that win?
Aneel Rawal is certain that Karina will win, but she's just as sure he will, even if he doesn't cheat. And Karina's primary concern is caring for and keeping safe her 4-year-old son. Then her ex-husband shows up just about the time Karina has fallen for Aneel but has yet to admit it. Now who will she pick? The competitive chef she's known for 7 years or the man she married and then divorced after he took off to "find" himself?
Aneel Rawal is certain that Karina will win, but she's just as sure he will, even if he doesn't cheat. And Karina's primary concern is caring for and keeping safe her 4-year-old son. Then her ex-husband shows up just about the time Karina has fallen for Aneel but has yet to admit it. Now who will she pick? The competitive chef she's known for 7 years or the man she married and then divorced after he took off to "find" himself?
April 17, 2025
I received this book from the author to read.
I love all of Mona Shroff's books, but I do believe this is my favorite one! I just loved the food competition, the comedy between the two main characters. I really looked forward to Karina and Aneel trying to figure out the chai recipe of her late mother's.
It was just a great feel good kind of story line. It was fun to just read a romance novel that had little drama between the two main characters. Sometimes you just want to laugh and have a stress free read and this book hit all of the marks!!
I can't wait for Saira's story!!
I love all of Mona Shroff's books, but I do believe this is my favorite one! I just loved the food competition, the comedy between the two main characters. I really looked forward to Karina and Aneel trying to figure out the chai recipe of her late mother's.
It was just a great feel good kind of story line. It was fun to just read a romance novel that had little drama between the two main characters. Sometimes you just want to laugh and have a stress free read and this book hit all of the marks!!
I can't wait for Saira's story!!
May 14, 2025
Single mom Karina competes in a reality cooking show for promotion to head chef. She faces off against Aneel, an ex-crush she can’t forgive. Will her career—and her pride—survive the challenge?
This light-hearted romance is very cute. Aneel is adorable with both Karina and her son. All the books in this series can be read as stand-alones.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This light-hearted romance is very cute. Aneel is adorable with both Karina and her son. All the books in this series can be read as stand-alones.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
August 23, 2025
What happens when two chefs who have a history, now must compete for a head chef position? The kitchen and their personal life heat up and it's going to take more than food to work out their differences. That said, I was so hungry while reading this story! It was a joy watching them fall in love, find their cooking passions and get their well-deserved hea.
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May 2, 2025Multicultural & Interracial Romance, Contemporary Romance, Cooking
Miniseries
Once Upon a Wedding (Book #6)
Miniseries
Once Upon a Wedding (Book #6)
February 21, 2025
I preordered the book! Looking forward to reading!!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews