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Special of the Day
Writing with her trademark wit and humour, Elaine Fox brings us another wonderfully charming contemporary romance about a beauty who finally finds love that is more than just skin deep.
Life can be difficult when you're stunningly beautiful. For Roxanne Rayeaux, a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, beauty had its costs. Not only did she have to worry constantly about how she looked, but she was considered stupid by strangers. She became romantically involved with a man who turned out to be married. So Roxanne pitched the world of diets and philanderers and moved her orange cat, Cheeto (the closest she could come to that forbidden food) to Virginia to open a restaurant. She went looking for some peace and tranquillity and instead inherited the restaurant's contentious, but sexy bartender, Steve Serrano.
An average joe most of his life, Steve cannot deny Roxanne's obvious physical charms but thinks she is stuck up and pretentious -- not his type. Roxanne, suspicious of Steve's motives after a rash of break-ins occurs at the restaurant and a string of bad publicity appears in the local gossip column, cannot let her guard down around him. Besides he's not her type.
If only they weren't so darned attracted to each other...
Life can be difficult when you're stunningly beautiful. For Roxanne Rayeaux, a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, beauty had its costs. Not only did she have to worry constantly about how she looked, but she was considered stupid by strangers. She became romantically involved with a man who turned out to be married. So Roxanne pitched the world of diets and philanderers and moved her orange cat, Cheeto (the closest she could come to that forbidden food) to Virginia to open a restaurant. She went looking for some peace and tranquillity and instead inherited the restaurant's contentious, but sexy bartender, Steve Serrano.
An average joe most of his life, Steve cannot deny Roxanne's obvious physical charms but thinks she is stuck up and pretentious -- not his type. Roxanne, suspicious of Steve's motives after a rash of break-ins occurs at the restaurant and a string of bad publicity appears in the local gossip column, cannot let her guard down around him. Besides he's not her type.
If only they weren't so darned attracted to each other...
373 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
9 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Elaine Fox
43 books84 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 1, 2015
3.5 stars
In this modern romance, the author explores the theme of trust. The heroes, Roxanne and Steve, distrust each other on sight. They make assumptions (wrong, of course), and that leads to a whole lot of trouble for both of them. In the end, their lust blooms into love, forcing them to reevaluate their feeling. That the villain is stupid and petty also helped.
I didn’t like this book as much as some other novels by this writer. And the main reason is: I don’t believe that lust could be irresistible. I also don’t believe you could be seriously attracted to anyone you don’t trust. For me, trust always comes first, before any other emotions.
Otherwise, it was a good story, with a nice ratio between romance, sex, mystery, and a historical twist. It was written very well, as all other Fox’s books, and the characters were alive and kicking, each with his or her idiosyncrasies and insecurities.
I enjoyed the story and I’d recommend it to those who like contemporary romance.
In this modern romance, the author explores the theme of trust. The heroes, Roxanne and Steve, distrust each other on sight. They make assumptions (wrong, of course), and that leads to a whole lot of trouble for both of them. In the end, their lust blooms into love, forcing them to reevaluate their feeling. That the villain is stupid and petty also helped.
I didn’t like this book as much as some other novels by this writer. And the main reason is: I don’t believe that lust could be irresistible. I also don’t believe you could be seriously attracted to anyone you don’t trust. For me, trust always comes first, before any other emotions.
Otherwise, it was a good story, with a nice ratio between romance, sex, mystery, and a historical twist. It was written very well, as all other Fox’s books, and the characters were alive and kicking, each with his or her idiosyncrasies and insecurities.
I enjoyed the story and I’d recommend it to those who like contemporary romance.
February 14, 2022
I really liked the way this book began. The characters go beyond the typical, and there's a nice subplot to keep things interesting. However, this is definitely one of those stories where all the MCs needed to do was talk to each other honestly for a couple of minutes, so that takes the rating down in my opinion. Still, I'd read another book by this author.
February 9, 2019
Roxanne Rayeaux had a successful modeling career for ten years but has left that profession to pursue a life-long dream. After studying at the Culinary Institute for a year, she takes her life savings and buys a struggling restaurant in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Her plan is to turn this neighborhood pub into a fine French bistro. There are also two apartments in the building. Roxanne lives in one and the hunky bartender from her establishment lives in the other. While Roxanne has no desire to become romantically involved with anyone, let alone one of her employees, the heart wants what the heart wants. Special of the Day is a witty and sexy story that was perfect fantasy escape reading. I especially liked the amusing Bar Special drinks that introduced each chapter in a fitting and clever manner. And since I live very near to the setting for this book, I could picture the place with no effort. I would definitely read more from this author.
June 2, 2025
2.5 stars
All the leads needed to do was talk to each other but story rested on the FMC having to learn to trust.
Random Declaration of Independence mystery thrown in, was wild but kept me reading lol
All the leads needed to do was talk to each other but story rested on the FMC having to learn to trust.
Random Declaration of Independence mystery thrown in, was wild but kept me reading lol
November 30, 2021
Very good read💝
January 30, 2024
Was so irritated by the Mc. Her attitude about Steve, the bartender was so condescending. The story was just not believeable at all.
February 12, 2015
DUMB. DUMB. DUMB. SO DUMB IT HURTS.
JUST SHUT UP. YOU'RE STUPID.
Childish prose. Tedious zzzzz. Cliche. This is an immature, badly written and quite dull book. Not dreadful, but not something I would read again. If you want a typical and not very imaginative romance with very few sparks, lots of clichés then this is the book for you.
After reading Hot Stuff which has plenty of more mature, intelligent and witty dialogue between the characters I was shocked by the unimaginative and very predictable interaction between the characters in this book. And the authors depiction of a posh “British” person is seriously off-key. I didn't find it engrossing but basic fluff.
NO MORE PLEASE! YOU DUMB
***SNORE**** BORING *****
So far Man at Work and Hot Stuff are her best books that I have read. Both these books had compelling interesting characters. Man at Work had a good warm sweet story line (although ultra fairy tale chick lit), while Hot Stuff was about average people in a above average brilliant story (and not the typical fluff chick lit either). Its a shame that “Special of the Day” proved to be such a huge disappointment. The chemistry between the characters was tedious. There was no spark or challenge.
Synopsis: Roxanne has had it with the starvation diets, the leering looks -- and the married boyfriend! But when she moves back home to Virginia with her orange cat, Cheeto, to open a French bistro, it's just her luck to discover that the bartender is an arrogant, sexy hunk with an attitude about wines, food and women.
Steve is more than just a handsome guy who's good with a blender and even better with his hands ... But when passion combines with a series of suspicious break-ins and a missing treasure, Roxanne realizes mixing business with pleasure could be a recipe for disaster -- especially with a guy who's obviously all wrong ... and yet oh-so-right!
JUST SHUT UP. YOU'RE STUPID.
Childish prose. Tedious zzzzz. Cliche. This is an immature, badly written and quite dull book. Not dreadful, but not something I would read again. If you want a typical and not very imaginative romance with very few sparks, lots of clichés then this is the book for you.
After reading Hot Stuff which has plenty of more mature, intelligent and witty dialogue between the characters I was shocked by the unimaginative and very predictable interaction between the characters in this book. And the authors depiction of a posh “British” person is seriously off-key. I didn't find it engrossing but basic fluff.
NO MORE PLEASE! YOU DUMB
***SNORE**** BORING *****
So far Man at Work and Hot Stuff are her best books that I have read. Both these books had compelling interesting characters. Man at Work had a good warm sweet story line (although ultra fairy tale chick lit), while Hot Stuff was about average people in a above average brilliant story (and not the typical fluff chick lit either). Its a shame that “Special of the Day” proved to be such a huge disappointment. The chemistry between the characters was tedious. There was no spark or challenge.
Synopsis: Roxanne has had it with the starvation diets, the leering looks -- and the married boyfriend! But when she moves back home to Virginia with her orange cat, Cheeto, to open a French bistro, it's just her luck to discover that the bartender is an arrogant, sexy hunk with an attitude about wines, food and women.
Steve is more than just a handsome guy who's good with a blender and even better with his hands ... But when passion combines with a series of suspicious break-ins and a missing treasure, Roxanne realizes mixing business with pleasure could be a recipe for disaster -- especially with a guy who's obviously all wrong ... and yet oh-so-right!
February 23, 2014
Roxanne Rayeaux is a former sports illustrated swimsuit model. She decides to retire from modeling and open up a French bistro in Alexandria, Virginia. The building she purchases already had a failing restaurant with a wait staff and bartender. She is attracted to Steve Serrano, the bartender, even if he doesn't seem to have much ambition. Through a lot of miscommunication and misdirection, the two characters are at odds with each other. At about the halfway point of the book, Steve was getting the short end of the stick. I was having a hard time continuing because I ws pulling for Steve. You have to gutt through it like I did. It was worth it.
March 10, 2010
I Really Loved this book! although not a learning experience or anything it was fun and i just loved the characters, Roxanne is one of those people you just can't hate even though she is Gorgeous and smart and funny in her own way and Steve is the ultimate hunk-a man with hidden depths and great personality, it did drive me crazy the way Roxanne just doesn't seem to see some really obvious things but I think it kind of just adds to the book... Also I really want to know the story behind Skip... oh well all in all I really enjoyed it!
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July 30, 2011Fluffy romance that takes place between the owner of a newly opened French restaurant and the bartender. Most of the plot was based on the assumptions the characters made with each other. I got a little bored with it about 3/4 of the way through which is why I don't read this genre too often, althought it was entertaining at first.
March 28, 2015
I am not usually a fan of contemporary romances, and I nearly set this one down when the hero raved about how gorgeous the heroine was when he first saw her. But I stayed for the descriptions of drinks and desserts at the start of each chapter, the cat named Cheeto and the historical mystery subplot. And I am glad I did.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
June 27, 2009
This was a good read. Besides the obvious budding romance, there was also a mystery. Steve Serrano is also a historian who is interested in the history of the restaurant's location. Cute read. 3/5 stars.
June 26, 2011
Bit of a slow start and I didn't think that I would end up reading it all. Ended up finishing it within a day and did enjoy it. The characters were quirky and a little bit of mystery thrown in with the romance.
February 25, 2013
Easy reading. Interesting approach to naming chapters.
The historical background story seems to be a bit 'underresearched' & underdeveloped, so whilst reading, you keep forgetting it's actually there.
And female readers will probably appreciate a very attractive male character.
The historical background story seems to be a bit 'underresearched' & underdeveloped, so whilst reading, you keep forgetting it's actually there.
And female readers will probably appreciate a very attractive male character.
June 21, 2016
The first romance novel I ever read (by flashlight at night, a secret) this was a book that kept me up, dying to see the end. A romance unlike any other featuring an independent model turned chef and her new bar manager , it features a mystery with historical relevance. Must read!!!
March 28, 2011
This story is kinda salivating. haha! Every chapter is entitled, of course, with the specialty of the day. The story flowed nicely but it's kinda boring, nothing to be fascinated about.
May 8, 2011
I always love Elaines's books and this one was as wonderful as the rest.
August 30, 2011
NL's book crawl
a 9 rating.
a 9 rating.
July 1, 2012
Not my favorite Elaine Fox book by far but an easy entertaining read on a boring day
January 31, 2015
i mean... it wasn't as funny as hot stuff and it was difficult to get through the first 150 pages.
November 23, 2015
Needed more round characters and a better ending.
February 14, 2016
Very fun book, quick read, plenty of humor with a little mystery thrown in.
June 19, 2012
kinda boring.
May 28, 2013
Easy read and predictable but passed the time nicely
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews