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Savory Meets Sweet: A Spicy Cozy Paranormal Romance
Old flames die hard. Especially when one of them is a literal fire demon.
A fire demon with a temper he keeps on a short leash, Levi Collins runs the kitchen at The Lighthouse Diner with iron control and zero room for distractions. He gave up culinary school, ambition, and his heart when tragedy pulled him home to raise his niece. Feelings were a luxury he couldn’t afford. Especially the kind tied to the one woman he never forgot.
Then Nina Yamagata walks back into his kitchen.
A brilliant kitsune pastry chef with too much charm and too much history, Nina is everything Levi isn’t—playful, inventive, and impossible to ignore. Years ago, they trained side by side, circling each other with unspoken longing and rigid professionalism. When life tore them apart, neither ever truly moved on. Now she’s back, hired to revamp the diner’s brunch menu, and Levi is trapped in late nights, shared prep tables, and the kind of chemistry that never cooled—only waited.
In a small town where secrets don’t last and emotions simmer as hot as the griddle, old rivalries reignite, boundaries blur, and the tension between savory and sweet becomes impossible to deny.
Because sometimes the best second chances come with a side of brunch.
Savory Meets Sweet
Spicy Paranormal Romance
Second Chance Romance
Grumpy x Sunshine
Coworkers to Lovers
Forced Proximity
One That Got Away
Slow Burn with High Heat
Small-Town Romance
A fire demon with a temper he keeps on a short leash, Levi Collins runs the kitchen at The Lighthouse Diner with iron control and zero room for distractions. He gave up culinary school, ambition, and his heart when tragedy pulled him home to raise his niece. Feelings were a luxury he couldn’t afford. Especially the kind tied to the one woman he never forgot.
Then Nina Yamagata walks back into his kitchen.
A brilliant kitsune pastry chef with too much charm and too much history, Nina is everything Levi isn’t—playful, inventive, and impossible to ignore. Years ago, they trained side by side, circling each other with unspoken longing and rigid professionalism. When life tore them apart, neither ever truly moved on. Now she’s back, hired to revamp the diner’s brunch menu, and Levi is trapped in late nights, shared prep tables, and the kind of chemistry that never cooled—only waited.
In a small town where secrets don’t last and emotions simmer as hot as the griddle, old rivalries reignite, boundaries blur, and the tension between savory and sweet becomes impossible to deny.
Because sometimes the best second chances come with a side of brunch.
Savory Meets Sweet
Spicy Paranormal Romance
Second Chance Romance
Grumpy x Sunshine
Coworkers to Lovers
Forced Proximity
One That Got Away
Slow Burn with High Heat
Small-Town Romance
109 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2026
9 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 16, 2026
Chefs are passionate people, passionate about their work, their food, and passionate in life and love.
We are back at the Lighthouse Diner, were Jason the manager has brought in a pastry consultant (Nina) to assist with changing the menu, in an attempt to bring falling diner numbers back up again.
Levi the resident chef and fire demon is not ready to change wanting to remain safe and appeal to the regular cliental rather than risk losing them to change and the loss of their safe comfort space.
While Jason expected the first meeting to be heated he was not prepared for Nina and Levi having history, and this meeting reignited the flame they shared 22 years earlier.
Having to overcome 22 years of change, pain and loss is something that the pair embrace and work together to tackle with the same grace and finesse that they show when working together in the kitchen.
The story is cute and one that has been told in many forms before but that is because it works, and this iteration of it does not disappoint either.
It is a strong cozy romance and the one I have enjoyed the most so far in the series.
We are back at the Lighthouse Diner, were Jason the manager has brought in a pastry consultant (Nina) to assist with changing the menu, in an attempt to bring falling diner numbers back up again.
Levi the resident chef and fire demon is not ready to change wanting to remain safe and appeal to the regular cliental rather than risk losing them to change and the loss of their safe comfort space.
While Jason expected the first meeting to be heated he was not prepared for Nina and Levi having history, and this meeting reignited the flame they shared 22 years earlier.
Having to overcome 22 years of change, pain and loss is something that the pair embrace and work together to tackle with the same grace and finesse that they show when working together in the kitchen.
The story is cute and one that has been told in many forms before but that is because it works, and this iteration of it does not disappoint either.
It is a strong cozy romance and the one I have enjoyed the most so far in the series.
March 2, 2026
This book is a very cozy read. It does have some spice sprinkled in but it’s honestly a very sweet story. The town of Chrysanthemum Cove is such a magical place for love (pun intended). And this story is just another reason why I enjoy this author’s works so much. This book was really relatable with the complications to life from Covid being a point in the story. It’s heartbreaking to see her struggle with having lost her sense of taste and smell. The rekindling that takes place between Levi and Nine is one majorly sweet aspect of the super. It’s endearing to watch the connection grow and deepen. And the spicy parts were on point 🥵 The ending was perfection in my opinion. I just can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out. But be warned…it will make you hungry. The food they make sounds delicious.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a cute, fairly short (94 pages), cozy romance, with some spice.
Chrysanthemum Cove is a supernatural town with a lot of romance based around the diner. This time it involves Levi, a fire demon, who is the cook and Nina, a Kitsune pastry chef who comes to the diner to help revamp the menu. They knew each other years ago before Levi had to leave the cooking school.
Nina has a problem though, Covid left her with no sense of taste or smell. I really felt for her as I have the same problem although not to the extent that she has it.
This book follows their reacquaintance and growing attraction.
It has some spicy parts, some great sounding food, humour and is a good read.
I’m not usually a fan of romance but these books are cute and enjoyable.
Chrysanthemum Cove is a supernatural town with a lot of romance based around the diner. This time it involves Levi, a fire demon, who is the cook and Nina, a Kitsune pastry chef who comes to the diner to help revamp the menu. They knew each other years ago before Levi had to leave the cooking school.
Nina has a problem though, Covid left her with no sense of taste or smell. I really felt for her as I have the same problem although not to the extent that she has it.
This book follows their reacquaintance and growing attraction.
It has some spicy parts, some great sounding food, humour and is a good read.
I’m not usually a fan of romance but these books are cute and enjoyable.
March 5, 2026
rcvd an ARC from the author.
We are back in Chrysanthemum Cove where Levi runs the kitchen at the lighthouse diner. he doesn't want change in his kitchen, People come for the same food they always loved. We meet pastry chef Nina who is doing a gig at the diner to bring smtg new to the menu. its a shot in the dark as she has no sense of smell or taste...a product of covid. Shes going off muscle memory for recipes. Levi remembers Nina from culinary school. they had a few moments but then his life drastically changed and he moved home. Nina and Levi butt heads at thr beginning and he vows of help Nina when he learns of her issue. A chance to smell and taste again is huge for Nina but its not worth without Levi.
We are back in Chrysanthemum Cove where Levi runs the kitchen at the lighthouse diner. he doesn't want change in his kitchen, People come for the same food they always loved. We meet pastry chef Nina who is doing a gig at the diner to bring smtg new to the menu. its a shot in the dark as she has no sense of smell or taste...a product of covid. Shes going off muscle memory for recipes. Levi remembers Nina from culinary school. they had a few moments but then his life drastically changed and he moved home. Nina and Levi butt heads at thr beginning and he vows of help Nina when he learns of her issue. A chance to smell and taste again is huge for Nina but its not worth without Levi.
Review of advance copy received from Author
With the feeling that she must come to terms with and adapt to the life that is possible — with what she is still able to do.
That is how Nina wakes up every day.
Trying to keep up appearances, yet feeling almost blind, as if a part of herself were missing, and carrying an almost palpable fear that others might notice.
That is how Nina wakes up every day.
Trying to keep up appearances, yet feeling almost blind, as if a part of herself were missing, and carrying an almost palpable fear that others might notice.
March 12, 2026
I thought this one was the best one yet. It felt more like a mature relationship. Same premises as the other ones, quick romance with someone not quite saying they want to fully commit! But it all ends well. At least two scenes with full spice.
I have started guessing which character is having their love story next! They are usually introduced early on!
Sweet read, pun intended!
I have started guessing which character is having their love story next! They are usually introduced early on!
Sweet read, pun intended!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Cute and quick read. It had some spice and a nice story line.
March 5, 2026
absolutely loved the story. true second chance love.
March 9, 2026
Cozy as a cupcake with spicy sprinkles yum!!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews