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Under Her Clothes
When Colby St. James dresses like a man to prove she can succeed in the male-dominated world of professional cooking, she never expects to fall for the handsome chef who will decide her fate. They agree that nothing that happens after hours will affect Colby's chances in the competition and begin a secret affair.
It's been years since Dominic Fevre felt a sexual attraction toward another man. He thought he'd put that stage of his life behind him when he focused everything on his career. But something about Colby St. James makes him want to break all his own rules…
It's been years since Dominic Fevre felt a sexual attraction toward another man. He thought he'd put that stage of his life behind him when he focused everything on his career. But something about Colby St. James makes him want to break all his own rules…
94 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2015
2 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Louisa Edwards
16 books794 followersLouisa Edwards was born in Austin, but grew up in Virginia, where she started reading romance around the age of eleven. She graduated with honors from Bryn Mawr College and landed her first job in publishing as an Editorial Assistant at Berkley and built her own list of authors, earning a promotion to Assistant Editor.
Then real life romance ensued: Louisa married a journalist and moved to a small town in Ohio where she critiqued restaurants for the local paper and began writing the Recipe for Love novels, a series of contemporary romances with a strong culinary theme. Her debut novel, CAN’T STAND THE HEAT, was released by St. Martin’s Press in September 2009 to rave reviews. The second novel in the series, ON THE STEAMY SIDE came out in March 2010, followed by JUST ONE TASTE in September 2010.
The series will continue with TOO HOT TO TOUCH (on sale August 2, 2011), SOME LIKE IT HOT (November 29, 2011), and HOT UNDER PRESSURE (April 2012), a trilogy about a team of talented chefs in a high-stakes culinary competition.
Louisa recently moved back to Austin with her husband. They and their two dogs are already completely in love with it!
Then real life romance ensued: Louisa married a journalist and moved to a small town in Ohio where she critiqued restaurants for the local paper and began writing the Recipe for Love novels, a series of contemporary romances with a strong culinary theme. Her debut novel, CAN’T STAND THE HEAT, was released by St. Martin’s Press in September 2009 to rave reviews. The second novel in the series, ON THE STEAMY SIDE came out in March 2010, followed by JUST ONE TASTE in September 2010.
The series will continue with TOO HOT TO TOUCH (on sale August 2, 2011), SOME LIKE IT HOT (November 29, 2011), and HOT UNDER PRESSURE (April 2012), a trilogy about a team of talented chefs in a high-stakes culinary competition.
Louisa recently moved back to Austin with her husband. They and their two dogs are already completely in love with it!
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 20, 2015
3 stars!
I feel so conflicted about this book. I think the length didn't work for me this time. It was too short and the characters didn't feel developed to me.
Colby St. James dressed as a man to prove once and for all that gender has got nothing to do with success. She can be a woman and be a successful chef with no problem. She applied for a coveted position only to feel instant attraction towards the head chef, Dominic Fevre. Dominic was instantly attracted to Colby. He's bi and he really thought Colby was male.
I was very intrigued by the premise of this book, and I know that the intention of the author was to show that love goes beyond gender. That it didn't matter if Dominic thought Colby was male, what mattered was he fell in love with Colby. It's something that I agree with but because the book is so short, it felt rushed too. Yes, I get that he loved the person but honestly, I couldn't quite believe how easy it was for him to accept her deception. She fell in love with him as a woman but he fell in love with her thinking she was a man, a man he was intensely attracted too. I can't help but feel confused by all of this. Lol. Maybe had this book been longer allowing for the each character to really develop, then this would have been a solid four.
I did like it and the sex was hot but again, he was turned on by the thought that he was male more than anything. So yeah...enjoyable but confusing.
I feel so conflicted about this book. I think the length didn't work for me this time. It was too short and the characters didn't feel developed to me.
Colby St. James dressed as a man to prove once and for all that gender has got nothing to do with success. She can be a woman and be a successful chef with no problem. She applied for a coveted position only to feel instant attraction towards the head chef, Dominic Fevre. Dominic was instantly attracted to Colby. He's bi and he really thought Colby was male.
I was very intrigued by the premise of this book, and I know that the intention of the author was to show that love goes beyond gender. That it didn't matter if Dominic thought Colby was male, what mattered was he fell in love with Colby. It's something that I agree with but because the book is so short, it felt rushed too. Yes, I get that he loved the person but honestly, I couldn't quite believe how easy it was for him to accept her deception. She fell in love with him as a woman but he fell in love with her thinking she was a man, a man he was intensely attracted too. I can't help but feel confused by all of this. Lol. Maybe had this book been longer allowing for the each character to really develop, then this would have been a solid four.
I did like it and the sex was hot but again, he was turned on by the thought that he was male more than anything. So yeah...enjoyable but confusing.
May 26, 2015
I read this short intense romance a bit ago and the flavor of it has lingered. The love story is intense and compelling. Because the heroine is competing for the postion of Top Chef, the tone of the book takes on that hyper aware reality.
I find the play with the woman in pants (pretending to be a man) compelling and wonderful look at gender and love. I lvoe that the heroine just gets stuck in her pretend.
The poleaxed nature of the attraction between the two leads is necessary in such a short read and believable given each of the leads personailies.
The secondardy characters are all great. The villian is a bit flat, we don't get as much of a full out sexy times and an HEA as I would like but sensuality of this one is burning.
Its a great read overall but it feels a little short at the end.
I find the play with the woman in pants (pretending to be a man) compelling and wonderful look at gender and love. I lvoe that the heroine just gets stuck in her pretend.
The poleaxed nature of the attraction between the two leads is necessary in such a short read and believable given each of the leads personailies.
The secondardy characters are all great. The villian is a bit flat, we don't get as much of a full out sexy times and an HEA as I would like but sensuality of this one is burning.
Its a great read overall but it feels a little short at the end.
May 12, 2015
4 steaming hot stars!
A sexy, moody head chef hero and a strong as hell, gender-bending heroine really bring the heat in this short but hot as hell story.
My only issue is the very abrupt ending. I wished it was a bit longer because it was so intensely good and I wanted some proper sexy times. ;)
March 7, 2015
Thoughts: I adore Louisa's chef books so much that I've been bummed that there hasn't been a new one in a couple of years. When I saw that she had a new book featuring chef's I had to grab it and glom it.
There wasn't a page in this book that I didn't love. The chemistry between Colby and Dominic is so palpable you can feel it coming off your reader. What made it awesome was that Dominic thinks that Colby is a man. This causes Colby no amount of frustration and angst.
On top of that Colby is competing for a position in one of the top restaurants in NYC. While most of the other chef's are great, there is one who makes everyone miserable. (I got to be honest I wanted something horrible to happen to him)
While this isn't a long book, like the books in her chef's series, it is exactly what you'd expect from her. An excellent read that will have you wanting more super hot chef's.
Grade A
Review by: Heather
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
There wasn't a page in this book that I didn't love. The chemistry between Colby and Dominic is so palpable you can feel it coming off your reader. What made it awesome was that Dominic thinks that Colby is a man. This causes Colby no amount of frustration and angst.
On top of that Colby is competing for a position in one of the top restaurants in NYC. While most of the other chef's are great, there is one who makes everyone miserable. (I got to be honest I wanted something horrible to happen to him)
While this isn't a long book, like the books in her chef's series, it is exactly what you'd expect from her. An excellent read that will have you wanting more super hot chef's.
Grade A
Review by: Heather
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
June 1, 2017
Hot dayam!
This. This was brilliant
Being married to a chef, I get the whole kitchen thing (though Tim teaches more school style)
Not being from that industry, I can still relate. Trying to make it in a male dominated industry.
Fast paced. Barely lets you breathe out before the next hit
Brilliant
Something to enjoy
This. This was brilliant
Being married to a chef, I get the whole kitchen thing (though Tim teaches more school style)
Not being from that industry, I can still relate. Trying to make it in a male dominated industry.
Fast paced. Barely lets you breathe out before the next hit
Brilliant
Something to enjoy
August 29, 2018
I am not sure about the book and the premise other than to say I enjoyed it. It’s a short intense read which was good. Not sure about the whole gender bending premise. It didn’t add much too be honest. Keeping this as a straight m/m romance would have worked better in my mind and kept the ending a little less abrupt.
Or perhaps played up the cross-dressing angle a little more like Victor/Victoria? I don’t know. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it. Still it’s short enough to make it worth recommending. Just ignore the nagging question of why and just go with it...
Or perhaps played up the cross-dressing angle a little more like Victor/Victoria? I don’t know. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it. Still it’s short enough to make it worth recommending. Just ignore the nagging question of why and just go with it...
June 29, 2018
Fairy a good read. Never read any like this one, so it's quite enjoyable for me.
June 27, 2019
Incomplete
To much sexual tension feels incomplete. I was feeling the book but it started to go down from here. Finish.
To much sexual tension feels incomplete. I was feeling the book but it started to go down from here. Finish.
May 30, 2015
If you tend to avoid novellas because a of a lack of character depth, you will want to read UNDER HER CLOTHES. I was surprised at how much character development Ms. Edwards was able to portray in a shorter book. Both Colby and Dominic have to face their demons before they ever have a chance of a future.
This book is also sizzling. There is so much chemistry between them that is just jumps off the pages. And yes there are some sex scenes but they contribute to the overall plot rather then seeming gratuitous. Add in some great dialogue and interesting secondary characters (though not a lot of character growth there) to make for a great recipe for a delightful book.
I very much enjoyed UNDER HER CLOTHES. It was a quick read that is easily finished before bed, or even in bed. I am going to have to search out the rest of Ms. Edwards' backlist.
This book is also sizzling. There is so much chemistry between them that is just jumps off the pages. And yes there are some sex scenes but they contribute to the overall plot rather then seeming gratuitous. Add in some great dialogue and interesting secondary characters (though not a lot of character growth there) to make for a great recipe for a delightful book.
I very much enjoyed UNDER HER CLOTHES. It was a quick read that is easily finished before bed, or even in bed. I am going to have to search out the rest of Ms. Edwards' backlist.
February 23, 2015
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews