Just One Taste

Recipe for Love #3

by Louisa Edwards

Bad-boy chef Wes Murphy is dreading his final-semester cooking class—Food Chemistry 101—until he meets the new substitute teacher. Dr. Rosemary Wilkins is a feast for the eyes, though her approach to food is strictly academic. So Wes decides to rattle her Bunsen burner by asking for her hands-on advice—on aphrodisiacs…

Rosemary is a little wary about working with Wes, whose casual flirtations make her hot under the collar. But once they begin testing the love-enhancing power of chocolate, oysters, and strawberries, it becomes scientifically evident that the brainy science nerd and the boyish chef have some major chemistry together—and it's delicious…

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Cooking, Chick Lit, Adult, Food

331 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 24, 2010

About the author

Louisa 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!

Reviews

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wes Murphy is not quite what he seems. On the outside, he looks like every other student at the Academy of Culinary Arts, if a little bit older, but inside is a constant struggle. He was raised by a con man to be a con man and he does his best to avoid that fate and make a better life for himself. But when Dr. Rosemary Wilkins takes the temporary teaching position in his Food Chemistry 101 class, Wes' first instinct is to manipulate her somehow in order to ensure a good grade. As she fumbles with her speech on that first day, Wes comes to her aid. Thus begins his plan. Later that day, Wes and trusty companion Lucille go to visit the doctor. To begin the seduction. Upon being discovered with the dog, Rosemary and Wes come up with quite the elaborate explanation: Lucille is Rosemary's and Wes watches her, and the two of them would be working together on his final project...aphrodisiacs. While working together, the two begin to feel a strong attraction for each other. And in one passionate moment, they find themselves kissing. Only to be caught, yet again, by Cornell. The man who has the power to fire Rosemary and expel Wes from the Academy. After Cornell leaves, the two completely give into their passion for each other.

The next morning, Rosemary finds Lucille and a note from Wes on her bed: he got an externship at Market and would be leaving, so he left her his dog and hopes she does well. While at Market, Wes makes plenty of friends, particularly in Jess Wake, but can never seem to shake the feeling of emptiness he has after leaving Rosemary behind because of Cornell's blackmail. One night, Rosemary crashes back into his life and they work together again to finish the aphrodisiac research. And Wes resumes his seduction to a different purpose now: Rosemary's trust. Meanwhile, Jess and Market's sous chef, Frankie Boyd, circle around their problems and awkward break-up, and Wes tries to help them both. Too bad it really doesn't end well.

Everything is going perfectly with Rosemary and Wes, so nothing can go wrong, right? Wrong. When Wes' con artist father suddenly shows up in Wes' life again, everything starts going downhill. Wes would do anything to keep Rosemary from knowing the truth about his past and his father, so he lets Pops blackmail him and continually lies to Rosemary. When she finds out about the lies while eavesdropping on a conversation between Wes and Frankie, Rosemary finds out that Wes had been lying to her. When she follows him and confronts him in Chapel, she accuses Wes of selling her research, and refuses to listen to his explanation.

Wes spends many days as a man in misery and it takes the love between his two friends to make him see what he has to do. Because after several stern talkings to, Frankie finally opens up to Jess and admits that he loves him, that he never wants to be without him again. This spurs Wes into action. He brings his father to confront Rosemary and explains everything: how his father is a con artist, how he was lying to protect her, how he loves her. Finally, Rosemary forgives him and tells Wes that she loves him, too, and they both all (let's include my adorable Frankie and Jess, too) happily ever after.




I knew as soon as I started reading this book that it would be my favorite Recipe for Love novel. Because, while I loved Adam Temple and Devon Sparks, Wes Murphy called to me in a way neither of them ever had. And by the end of this novel, I knew I had been right. Just One Taste is so eloquently written that it is next to impossible not to love it. Louisa Edwards has created a love story in this novel that I will never forget, and love story that I will never want to forget.

Just like with the novel in general, I knew from the start that Wes Murphy was going to be my favorite Recipe for Love male. I'm not exactly what did it for me (his sarcasm, intelligence, devilish smile, loyalty, his color-changing eyes, his clear adoration of Lucille, or maybe just his fantastic skill in the kitchen and bed), but I knew from the get-go that he was going to be my heartbreaker. Like I said above, he called to me on such an emotional and mental level that I could just not help but love him.

Rosemary was definitely an interesting character and I loved her. Although, at times I had no idea what the hell she was talking about. A lot of her technical, chemistry talk had me so confused that I had to re-read it multiple times! I loved, though, that Wes made her feel like a woman to be desired and loved, someone beautiful who was not just her IQ but was also a person to be cherished.

Finally! Frankie and Jess are back together! I was so upset at the end of On the Steamy Side when these two broke up, and I literally cried at that point. So, I was biting my nails waiting for the moment they'd get back together in this book. And I knew they would because I'd gotten it from a reliable source *coughLouisaEdwardscough* that I would love the ending with Jess and Frankie. (She knows how much I love those two ;) I have to say, though, that it was quite the wild ride. Because, although I knew he was lying, Jess broke my freaking heart when he told Frankie that he'd had sex with that guy he went on a date with. In the end, though, it all turned out okay, with Frankie finally opening up (his past killed me, poor baby) and revealing his love for Jess.

Although I knew this was going to happen eventually, I hate that the book and the series had to come to an end. I wish that there could be more books. Maybe I just wish there could be more Wes. I know I wish that Frankie and Jess had gotten their own full-length novel. As sad as I am to see this series come to an end, I eagerly await the arrival of Louisa Edwards' next trilogy.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My overall impression of this book is the author was trying too hard. I think it's a classic example of a relatively new writer with a successful book (or two) and who then feels the strain of living up to expectations.
The humor was often forced and the character of Rosemary too over-the-top. But first, I'll go through what I did like about the book.

Pros:
Louisa Edwards can still write well when she relaxes and goes with the story. Parts of this book are wonderful, poignant, and engrossing. Also, and perhaps most importantly for fans, her handling of the Jess/Frankie situation continues to be excellent. For those who are invested in that relationship, this book is a must-read. The too few passages that deal with this storyline are extremely well-done: emotional and satisfying. Lastly, the other characters, mainly from the restaurant, are all there and it's fun to visit them again, including the hero of this book, Wes.

Cons:
First I'll say the main conflict between H/h is weak. Perhaps if the author had helped us get more invested in the anxiety Wes felt about his past, and I mean making the reader feel his shame and understand his inability to deal with it head on, then perhaps this conflict with his dad would have held some emotional impact. As it was the conflict felt forced. It could have been easily dealt with by a 10 minute truthful conversation between Rosemary and Wes. "Here's the truth, here's how to protect yourself." Massive drama never needed to be part of the equation, and the way things were left with Wes's dad really put me off. There is also the silly prop of the aphrodisiac experiment. Too corny.

But the most disappointing aspect of the novel was Rosemary. She was a strange and unbelievable amalgam of childishness (not endearing childlikeness)and socially-awkward braininess, all wrapped in an obviously gorgeous outside that no one else ever seemed to appreciate before. The author bludgeons the reader over-and-over with Rosemary's genius, often spouting it from Rosemary's own mouth in an off-putting, braggy way. And the character's constant references to sci-fi characters was so forced and awkward that it made me cringe. The whole "what would Buffy do" syndrome was completely out of place with Rosemary's character.

Rosemary's character did grow and develop some toward the end of the book, but never enough that I understood Wes's instant and overwhelming attraction to her. Nor enough to make me at all sure of the HEA we're suppose to believe in.

I give this book 3*'s for parts of the story that didn't include Rosemary, and for the wonderful potential this author has to write really moving storylines and endearing characters. (If you love Frankie and Jess...read the book!)

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Touching. Heart warming.

[Shh I'm reading! · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series. However, I've been so invested in the characters at Market that I cared less about Wes and Rosie's relationship than I did Jess and Frankie's. There were parallel's in both relationships, but the HEA for Jess and Frankie was far more emotional for me than Wes and Rosie. And is it me, or did that fact that Jess and Frankie were gay seem to come up so much more than in the other books? Part of why I had enjoyed them as secondary characters in Can't Stand The Heat and On the Steamy Side was that it was obvious they were gay but the characters weren't thinking about it every five minutes (like Wes towards the end of the book).

As for Wes and Rosie? I loved that she was a supernerd and he tried to show her how he felt through his actions instead of telling her. He understood how her mind worked and that made their relationship feel more natural than some of the books I've read.

[Jane Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great character definition, but the author didn’t show enough action using the characters’ talents and weaknesses.

STORY BRIEF:
Wes was raised by his con-artist dad who scammed people for a living. As a result Wes has a knack for reading people – to see their weaknesses and desires. He never went to college and wishes he had been a better student. They traveled a lot and he was pulled out of school to help his dad with scams. At one point Wes was placed in a halfway house for juvenile offenders. This was the catalyst for Wes to stand up to his dad and refuse to be part of any future scams.

Dr. Rosemary Wilkins was a high-IQ child prodigy. She obtained her degrees at an early age and does scientific research. Her weakness is people. She has difficulty reading facial clues and doesn’t understand why they do what they do. She had a lonely childhood with high achieving parents who were too busy to spend time with her.

Wes is now a student at the Academy of Culinary Arts. Rosemary was recently brought to the Academy to do research. Wes is immediately drawn to her. He takes his dog to Rosemary’s office thinking to charm her. Cornell (the President of the Academy) walks in. He is furious and threatens to punish Wes for breaking the rules by having a dog. Rosemary sticks up for the dog, so Wes tells Cornell that the dog is Rosemary’s and that he is helping her with a research project. Cornell asks what they are researching, and Wes (on the spot) comes up with “aphrodisiacs.” Rosemary is a little shocked but agrees. Then Wes begins wooing her with sensual foods. A few weeks later something bad happens, and Wes has to leave school and stop seeing Rosemary. He doesn’t tell her why. Since then he has been doing his externship working as a chef at Market restaurant – the scene of the previous two books.

REVIEWER’S OPINION:
There is a lot of potential with these two fascinating characters – each having skills the other lacks. This was a fun idea, but the author doesn’t do enough with it. I wanted more scenes showing Wes’ knack for reading people. I loved the early scene where his fast thinking saved the day with Cornell. I wanted more of that and to see Rosemary admire it.

I had a problem with two major relationship conflicts. This is book 3. At the end of book 2 Frankie broke up with Jess for Jess’ own good. That story continues in this book with both Jess and Frankie miserable. I was disappointed that not more happened with their story. It was a fun story in book 1, but it was just touched upon in books 2 and 3. It wasn’t rewarding enough.

The second conflict was Wes leaving Rosemary for her own good and not telling her why. Later when she came to him, he still didn’t tell her – at least not for a while. Both of these conflicts bothered me. A loves B. A breaks up with B and doesn’t tell B why. A’s actions don’t fit A’s motivations which is a problem.

I was annoyed with “the big misunderstanding.” Wes kept another secret from Rosemary. She overheard him say he was lying to her. When she confronted him, instead of telling her the truth, he said nothing. So she left him. I didn’t believe it. His secret was no big deal. She would have been sympathetic and supportive. Instead he’s going to allow a break up? Not interesting.

CAUTION SPOILERS:
I was unhappy with Wes’ stupidity. He wanted to confess to Rosemary that his dad was a con-man. He felt his dad should be there in case Rosemary didn’t believe him and wanted to do a DNA test. So his dad said he would not meet Rosemary unless Wes paid him $5000. He also said he would stay away from Wes for the rest of his life if Wes paid him the money. Wes stupidly borrowed money to pay him. The dad has been coming to Wes for years, always asking for money. Wes should have known better than to believe this. This won’t keep the dad away. It’s not even an interesting con. It’s just stupidity on Wes’ part, which did not fit with his “people smart skills.” If you’re going to have a story about con-men, I’d like to see an interesting con. But there were none.

I was also unhappy with Wes�� actions when he left Rosemary the first time. He claims Cornell forced him to write a dishonest letter to Rosemary. It would have been easy for Wes to call her afterwards and tell her the truth and how Cornell forced him. He could have asked her to keep it a secret or “whatever” he was worried about. He claims he did it for her own good? I didn’t buy it. This was no fun. I want believable conflicts. I’m ok with a smart person doing something stupid if there’s a reason. Everyone does something stupid sometimes. But give me a believable reason.

DATA:
Story length: 331 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 2. Approximate number of sex scene pages: 25. Setting: current day New York City and upstate New York. Copyright: 2010. Genre: contemporary romance.

OTHER BOOKS:
I’ve read two other books in the Recipe for Love series and gave them both 3 stars: “Can’t Stand the Heat” (Book 1) and “On the Steamy Side” (Book 2).

[Katie(babs) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wes Murphy has turned his back on his life as a former con artist and wants nothing more than to become a chef. He just has to get through one final semester at the Academy of Culinary Arts. His final class causes him grief even though he gets good grades and is at the top of his rotation. His goal is to do his externship for Executive Chef Adam Temple, who owns the upscale Market restaurant in Manhattan. What he doesn’t count on is his teacher, Dr. Rosemary Wilkins. Now Wes has another goal on his mind, one where he would love to have a few one-on-one tutoring sessions with the stiff professor.

Rosemary is a self-proclaimed geek with too many PhD's to count. She isn't too thrilled about teaching, but makes do because she has access to the school's lab. Rosemary doesn't know what to make of her student, Wes. He interrupts her experiments by bringing along his adorable pooch, Lucille, to sweeten her up in the hopes he can get to know her better. When the president of the academy catches Wes with Lucille on school grounds, Rosemary claims the dog as her own. Wes returns the favor by stating that Rosemary will help him with research on his final project. Now Rosemary has no choice but to work closely with Wes. After one too many tastings together, one thing leads to another and Wes and Rosemary have a passionate encounter in her lab. Wes is forced to reconsider things when an opportunity falls in his lap. He's then off and running, leaving Rosemary behind to pick up the pieces of her newly broken heart.

As Wes navigates the kitchen and interacts with the staff at Market, he' still trying to figure out how to get over Rosemary and move on with his life. He loves his work, but missed Rosemary and his Lucille, thinking he and his former teacher can never have a future together. Rosemary is more than hurt that Wes would walked away from her like he did, especially since their passion for one another was so intense. She throws caution to the wind and will confront Wes, who has stolen her heart along with her good sense.

Just One Taste is another adorable installment in Louisa Edwards' Recipe for Love series. Wes is a very down to earth guy who is trying to escape his unfortunate past from a father who always comes around looking for hand out. Everything is going according to plan, that is until the very straight laced and book smart Rosemary enters his life. These two are total opposites in every way and it seems unlikely that Wes would be interested in a woman like Rosemary. But something about Rosemary appeals to Wes, where he wants to find the passionate woman deep down inside that she hides. Wes' talents in the kitchen breaks down her defenses and soon these two are having a hot and heavy love affair.

Rosemary is a hard nut to crack. She has closed herself off from the world because she too has issues with her parents. Her nature and opinions on herself and life in general seems hollow, as if she is just going through the motions of life. I couldn't get a good handle on her, and although her nerd like musings may seem cute, they became a hindrance in regards to my emotional attachment to her. Wes and Rosemary's interactions at first seem forced. Not until Wes goes to work at Market, is where Just One Taste really picks up.

Even though I found Wes and Rosemary's relationship a bit stilted at times, I did enjoy how Wes makes Rosemary come out of her shell both socially and sexually. The tension between them is thick and there is more than enough passion acted between them to appease readers.

Louisa's secondary characters really round out Just One Taste. The Market crew is so much fun to read about. I can't get enough of Market's manager Grant Holloway. And I'm totally hooked on the romance between waiter Jes Wake and his former flame, the bad boy Brit, sous chef Frankie Boyd, who has it bad for Jes, but for reasons that are his own, gave the young waiter up. Watching these two dance around one another as they try to move on with their lives separately will have you anxious in the hopes of a possible reunion between the two.

I really felt Frankie and Jes had enough of a story to be given their own full length novel. I wanted these two men to have more screen time, rather than to be delegated to secondary status. At one point they took my interest away from Wes and Rosemary and with two such amazing characters, such as Frankie and Jes, I can't help but wonder why the next book in this series can't be theirs? Louisa has a knack at writing all types of romance, both straight and gay, and Frankie and Jes have become two very beloved characters for me that I hope stay around as the Recipe for Love series moves along.

Just One Taste is light and fluffy, much like a tasty soufflé that should be savored and enjoyed.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good. I enjoyed it about as much as I did the first book in this trilogy - much more than the second. It is set in the same world, and we encounter the same characters, so that was satisfying, however this book definitely had its own plot arc. I think the best thing about it was the quirky heroine. Rosemary is something of an outsider to the group we have been following the last two books, whereas Wes, the male lead, is a part of Adam Temple's kitchen staff. But her quirky genius, bumbling, dorky, romantic persona was just great. I mean, she wears Star Wars T Shirts, she speaks directly, she's honest and open, and I just loved that about her. Not to mention... a Browncoats shirt? Really? Gold Star, Ms Edwards. :)

My gushing aside, the love story here has depth, intensity, connection - really everything I want in a love story. Not only that, but we get to follow through to the conclusion of Jess and Frankie's story and I was quite interested to see that work out, after the mess it was left in in book 2. So, happy endings all around! Sorry if that is a spoiler... but what do you expect from a romance novel?! Really, the overridingly interesting dimension these books had for me (besides interesting, well-rounded characters I could care about), was how all the main characters are obsessed with food. In this book even more than the others, the preparation and enjoyment of food was a pivotal aspect of the romantic relationship. This fundamental connection rings true to me... can't wait for more of these books.

[RO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louisa Edwards did a great job of blending humor and deeply emotional characters to make this story so real. Despite being brainy and seeming to have everything, Rosemary is like most of us, looking for love from someone who will love her for who she is. Wes has personal demons to battle and some serious trust issues, but when he finally realizes how much he loves Rosemary, he lays his heart and soul on the line. Wonderfully written and well worth your time to check out.

[Janga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entertaining book from Louisa Edwards. I especially liked the socially inept heroine of this one and thought she and the hero were a great match. I appreciate strong settings, and Edwards has given professional kitchens a vibrancy and vitality that I've loved in all three books.

[Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my. My heart broke for both Wes and Rosemary. But they are wonderful together!

[Cindy (BKind2Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the others in this series but I definitely want to now! I enjoyed this story. Wes has reformed his ways from his youth and is seeking to make a new life for himself. He encounters the lovely and brainy Rosemary - a substitute professor - and insinuates himself into her well-ordered life. I loved that he was so taken by her logical, intellectual outlook and found himself captivated by more that just her beauty. The romance is slow to build and that seems right as well. I was also thrilled that she was the sci-fi geek, with all the Star Wars and Star Trek references and even a quote about my favorite UF hero Dresden: "I've sworn off fiction…Science journals only for me, from now on." She frowned. "Not counting Jim Butcher, obviously. But the Dresden files transcend petty mortal issues of truth and lie" Is that great, or what?!?

This book rates a 4.5/5.0

[Ris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Louisa Edwards book - I had a blast reading it.
Ms. Edwards' contemporary romance is a blend of witty dialogue, like-able characters, fun references to pop culture and two protagonists that are complete opposites.

Full review posted on B&N. http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t...

[Nancy Brady · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in this hot series pits student chef Wes against his chemistry teacher, Rosemary (an intentional pun on the herb, perhaps?). But studying aphrodisiacs together leads to love and lust for both of them if only Wes can come clean of his past. Interspersed is the continuing relationship of Jess and bad boy Frankie and whether they can work it out.

[Booknerd]

Well written with emotionally driven characters, and plenty of humor. Some of the food mentioned is positively yummy!

[ALPHAreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wes Murphy spent his formative childhood years grifting and conning with his Pops. They were a bunko team – swindling to get by and make a buck. But that all changed when one con too many landed Wes in a halfway home, where he discovered and nurtured his love of cooking.

Years later and Wes is making good on his talents, studying at the acclaimed Academy of Culinary Arts. He’s in his second-to-last rotation, with high hopes of gaining an internship at Adam Temple’s infamous Market restaurant in NYC. The only thing standing in Wes’s way is a little chemistry class, and a much sought after passing grade. If Wes doesn’t pass chemistry 101, he doesn’t get his dream placement. But when the geekishly adorable Dr. Rosemary Wilkins takes over the class halfway through the semester, Wes thinks he has found a way to gain extraordinary new insights into the art of chemistry . . .

Rosemary Wilkins was a child prodigy. The daughter of an infamous novelist and respected lecturer, Rosemary was bound for greatness. But being a Mensa member isn’t as fulfilling as some may believe. Rosemary has felt used and flaunted her entire life. It seems everybody wants her genius, not her. And she’s not entirely sure that her new student, Wes Murphy, is any different. All this talk about an aphrodisiac science experiment is all well and good, but does he want the grade or the woman handing them out?

‘Just One Taste’ is the third book in Louisa Edward’s ridiculously delicious ‘Recipe for Love’ contemporary romance series.

We first met Wes Murphy back in second book ‘On the Steamy Side’. Wes was introduced as the new Market intern (after the last one went bonkers!) and he came with a shady back-story about an illicit student-teacher romance and a broken heart pining for him back at culinary academy. In ‘Just one Taste’, Edwards backtracks and gives fans the full explanation to Wes’s back-story . . . and boy, is it good!

Wes falls for his chemistry teacher, Dr. Rosemary Wilkins. Rosemary is actually at the academy conducting research for a scientific journal she’s writing, and her presence is a real coup for ACA since she is so infamous in the science world. Rosemary was my favourite thing about this book. She is adorkable – and I feel the best way to describe her is to say she’s just like Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler from ‘Big Bang Theory’ (but blonder, and with a pert ass). Seriously, she wears Wookie and Browncoats t-shirts (I loved her the moment she revealed herself to be a ‘Firefly’ fan!). Rosemary doesn’t say “For God’s sake!” she says “For Buffy’s sake!”. I found my girl-crush cemented after Rosemary awakens from a particular sex dream about Wes and role-play. . .

With a sigh, Rosemary opened her eyes and blinked sleepily into the darkness, glad there was no one there to witness her skin glowing bright red with embarrassment. Her blush felt hot enough to set off radioactivity alerts.
“Hi,” she said to the featureless black of her room. “My name is Dr. Rosemary Wilkins, and I have Star Trek sex dreams.”

Wes, by contrast, is a saucy delight. He’s all tan and sinewy, with a smirk to die for. I definitely got the reformed bad-boy vibe from him . . . but even though Wes and Rosemary are polar opposites, it was never hard to believe that Wes would fall for her and vice-versa. Their research into aphrodisiacs aside, these two just fit. Rosemary needs to lighten up, and Wes needs someone to believe in him. These two were precious, and I loved them!

If I had any problems with this book it has to be the rather convoluted story about Wes being an ex con-man. Edwards sets this story up to be the big obstacle for Wes and Rosemary and for a little while you hold your breath expecting Wes to fall into his old, scheming ways. But this story never felt fully fleshed-out, and it just seemed a little too tangled and frayed to pose as a real, pivotal hurdle for the romance . . . which, incidentally, meant there wasn’t all that much tension in the relationship, no ‘will-they-or-won’t-they’ juiciness.

One of the things I L-O-V-E about the ‘Recipe for Love’ series is the ongoing story of Jess and Frankie. Frankie is Market’s sous-chef, and Jess is a part-time waiter at the restaurant. Frankie is Jess’s first boyfriend since coming out to his sister and being honest with himself. They got together in ‘Can’t Stand the Heat’, but hit a few major bumps in ‘On the Steamy Side’. I love Frankie and Jess together, so I had my heart in my throat regarding their broken relationship in ‘Taste’ (seriously, they are the Qhuay of the ‘Recipe for Love’ series!). I love (and appreciate) that Edwards offers Jess and Frankie’s romance as the one continuous side-story of the series. It means that fans can get really invested in their story, and caught up in the melodrama. I don’t want to give anything away about the status of their romance in this third book, but I will say I look forward to where they go from here...

Edwards’s writing is a sumptuous delight. I love just how committed she is to her series theme – everything begins and ends with the food, the restaurant atmosphere and the hectic cooking that goes on in the kitchen. Edwards remains true to her theme in every aspect of the novel. It’s very subtle, and never over-cooked, but if you look for it you can read just how much Edwards has imbued her series with flavour . . . whether she’s using a food simile to describe someone’s emotion, or infusing a romantic declaration with food parallels;

Drawn to her like butter melting toward the hottest spot in the pan, Wes knelt up and shuffled around the blankets until he was right there, next to her, above her, sharing the same air with their quickening breaths. “I checked to make sure not a single ingredient has ever been classified by myth, legend, old wives, or science, as an aphrodisiac.”
“And why did you care about that?” A slick pink tongue darted out to wet her plump bottom lip, leaving it shiny and tempting as hell.
Wes nearly groaned. “Because,” he panted, sliding one hand around her back and lowering her gently down to the blanket, “when I kiss you, I don’t want there to be any confusion about why you kiss me back.”

I have said it once and I’ll say it again; the setting of an infamous NYC restaurant is genius for a contemporary romance series! Edward’s has given herself boundless opportunities to write about juicy relationships and smouldering hook-ups. Forget hot-under-the-collar, it’s what’s heating up in the kitchen that counts!

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Mishel Forte · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: 3.75/5 stars

Okay, so I absolutely love Top Chef and Iron Chef America. I enjoy a few other food-related shows as well but have never really picked up a food/chef related novel before. I admit they interested me enough to add them to my TBR list. So when I was approached to review the latest installment in the Recipe for Love series I thought it was a great chance to see if I’d enjoy some food fiction. I’m happy to report that JUST ONE TASTE was fun, sweet, and deliciously romantic. (Yeah, I know…that was cheesy)

Ex con-artist Wes Murphy is in his last semester at the Academy of Culinary Arts. His latest obstacle: Food Chemistry 101. Even though his grades are excellent there is just something about this last class that is not clicking well with him. So what can he do to get him out of his current pickle and out on his dream externship with Executive Chef Adam Temple? How about some sort of quick-thinking scheme that involves the hot new teacher? Not a bad idea…

Dr. Rosemary Wilkins is a genius, well a child prodigy really. She graduated high school when she was 12 and received her first (yes, meaning she has more than one) undergraduate degree at age 14. Her parents are smart in their own right as well and have very successful careers. They certainly haven’t been the most family-oriented bunch so it’s pretty easy to imagine how life has been for Rosemary. The one thing Rosemary can always count on is her passion for research and her love for her lab. She may be detached and clinical most of the time but nothing can quell her lust for knowledge.

Rosemary isn’t exactly jumping up and down with excitement when asked to teach at the Academy of Culinary Arts. But she’ll certainly put up with a little social awkwardness for access to the school’s lab. She wasn’t expecting a student like Wes though or his tag-a-long doggy sidekick Lucille. In hopes of getting closer to Rosemary Wes decides to visit her office with the adorable dog in tow. But his plan goes slightly awry when the president of the academy catches Lucille on school grounds. Without even thinking Rosemary claims the dog as her own and just as quickly Wes explains to the dumbfounded president that the two of them are working on research together. Food is definitely not the only thing sizzling between the two after a few too many encounters experimenting with aphrodisiacs.

The two of them are pulled apart just as quickly as they were pushed together when Wes is forced to make a choice about his future. After taking off and leaving a crushed Rosemary behind – Wes realizes how important their relationship has meant to him but feels he has to stay away. Meanwhile, Rosemary nurses her newly broken heart. After stewing for some time she starts to focus on what’s important in her life and what’s always been important in her life: her research. But lo and behold that path will lead her right back to who she’s trying to avoid…bad-boy chef Wes Murphy.

I think as a couple, Rosemary and Wes came together pretty well. She is socially clueless most of the time but that’s totally understandable given her background and her personality. Despite her clinical state of mind she is just as vulnerable as anyone else. After breaking out of her shell later on in the book she becomes slightly more laid back but never quite loses her nerdy side which definitely grew on me. Wes can be just as clueless though. He obviously thinks he knows what’s right for Rosemary so he makes decisions without necessarily thinking things through. That may just be a guy thing…I don’t know.

I also really got attached to the sub-plot and secondary characters: Jess and Frankie. Jess is a waiter at Market, which is the restaurant Wes gets his externship at, and Frankie is the sous-chef. Now I’m pretty sure these characters were mentioned somewhere in the first two books but their story was easy to follow. It was interesting comparing Wes and Frankie in their respective relationships because the underlying problem was the same: they were both keeping things from their significant other. Boys being boys they obviously were trying to “save” the ones they cared about from their terrible ways. But usually the case is they are just afraid to reveal their true selves because they are scared they won’t be fully accepted. Either way I absolutely loved having Jess and Frankie in the story.

I really enjoyed my first venture into Louisa’s Recipe for Love series. I’m definitely going to be reading the other two books that came before JUST ONE TASTE. The food aspect of the novel was evident, although not heavily used. I don’t think that part bothered me so much because I don’t have any other food fiction novels to compare this one to. But overall it was a super fun read! I think any kind of romance fan will enjoy Wes and Rosemary’s story.

[Jennesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved everything about this series. Very good books. Will highly recommend them :)

[Christi Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, this book was good. The absolute PERFECT culmination of this wonderful trilogy. I have fallen in love with these characters and can guarantee you that I will re-read these books again and again!!!

Review reposted from my Smitten with Reading blog...

My Review:
The absolute PERFECT end to this wonderful trilogy. These books blend the perfect combination of fun quirky characters, wonderful insightful story lines, mind-blowing heart-wrenching emotions, and absolutely wonderful food and recipes. It is such a fun combination. All three of the books have been set in the New York restaurant, Market, and have centered around the characters that work there. Like any good restaurant needs good ambience to be successful, these books have used this restaurant's ambience for a lush background and setting that creates a warm and homey mood for the entire series. And it's homey feeling because the crew that work there are really family. They spend very long stressful days together, go out and let off steam together after hours, and are there for each other when one of them has a problem.

Latecomer to the family is Wes, the extern from the Academy of Culinary Arts, who first showed up in book #1. In this book, we get to see him come fully into the fold and love of this "family." And he needs this family because he was raised by a father who was a con-man. He raised Wes teaching him the art of the con so that he would benefit his father until Wes got caught pulling a con for dear old dad at the age of 15 which got him sent to Heartway House. It was here that Wes found a love for food and hopes for a different lifestyle rather than running a constant con. But being raised as a con, Wes is pretty comfortable in his own skin and fairly relaxed and laid-back in pretty much any situation...or at least able to cover it if he's not.

The complete opposite of Wes is Rosemary. She is a complete and totally socially awkward geek. She graduated from high school at age 12, graduated from college at age 14, and has an IQ of 180, but is totally clueless as to how to interact with others. She is also completely obsessed with Star Trek, chemistry, and has a total recall of every single thing that she has ever heard or read. She's so totally out of her element with simple conversation, but she makes these little statements or thoughts which are flipping hilarious. She has a totally unique view on the world and Wes adores her.

I loved their love story- so perfectly written and in the background, we are finally gifted without the final chapter of Jess and Frankie's romance. This gay romantic story has played in the background of all three novels in this trilogy and it has been gorgeous. I have really enjoyed their love story- so much emotion- LOVED IT!

I may be biased because I worked in a restaurant throughout college, but this has been an amazing trilogy and it's not over yet. There is a brand new cooking trilogy coming from Louisa Edwards and I hear that some of these familiar faces from Market are going to show up again...Yippee!!

[Jo (My House of Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

[I would rate this book a 3.5.]

I'll admit, I was skeptical. I fangirly squealed Can't Stand the Heat, then felt lukewarm toward Too Hot to Handle. How would I receive Wes, a "new" character at Market and Rosemary, a scientist not even in the restaurant business, the main characters of Just One Taste?

Wes...I'll come back to him. I may have a little girl-crush on Rosemary. How could one not, with little moments like these:


Pulling that sweater over her head and feeling the static electricity lift every stray hair until she must look like Drew Barrymore on the Firestarter posters--it was like girding her loins for battle.

Well. Not technically. That would be more like putting on her underwear, since the term "girding one's loins" came from the Roman era, when soldiers would pull up and secure their lower garments in order to increase maneuverability during the heat of battle.

"And now I'm babbling nerviously inside my own head," she said to Lucille, who cocked her ears curiously from her position ensconced like a queen between the pillows mounded on the hotel bed.



Rosemary took another sip, then another, and another, while she tried to think of something to say. "Is this small talk? Are we doing small talk? Because I don't excel at that."

The corners of Wes's mouth twitched. Amusement, Rosemary thought. Which was an improvement on the tense pitch he'd sported there ever since she came in.

I really wanted to like Wes a little more and wish I could have, if only because I loved Rosemary so much and thought she deserved a worthy hero.

It's like when a girlfriend has a new boyfriend she's crazy about and you want to like him too, but you don't, despite the fact that, as outward appearances go, he's a very, very nice guy and seems to adore your friend. Then, he does something so stupid and/or irritating and/or immature, which causes your friend pain, and you swear the next time you see him, you'll kick him in the junk. Yet, somehow your girlfriend forgives him and takes him back. So, you know, it's awkward between you and he now, regardless of the fact that he's confessed his wrongs and made amends.

That's how life currently stands between Wes and I.

Regardless, I love Ms. Edwards' voice, as well as her lyrical prose -- she has such a way with the English language. My fingers, legs, and toes are also crossed Frankie and Jess will make an appearance in a future book, so I'm sticking with her romances for the foreseeable future.

(At least until I have the urge to kick another one of her heroes in the junk.)

[Bookaholics · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just One Taste by Louisa Edwards
Contemporary- Aug 31st, 2010
3 1/2 stars

Wes Murphy, a chef want-to-be, has to take Food Chem 101. Unfortunately, it looks like passing the class is going to be a challenge, until the Academy hires Dr. Rosemary Wilkins as one of the new substitute teachers. Serious, geeky Rosemary is attracted to Wes, a bad boy with a loveable mutt, but tries to resist this alien feeling. When they partner up to conduct experiments on aphrodisiacs as part of Wes’s final project, the attraction between them sizzles and burns... As they fall in love, can Wes overcome his past and accept Rosemary’s love? Can Rosemary overcome her own personal issues and let herself be loved?

This romance novel’s main star is Wes Murphy, and he comes with a lot of personal baggage. If you are interested in characters and their growth, you will enjoy Wes as he learns to overcome his personal doubts and horrible upbringing. Rosemary is cute and sweet, but she is not in the limelight for huge chunks of the time. To me, her character is as good as she can get, which is not necessarily a bad thing. She’s like Han Solo - set in her ways and interesting enough that we don’t care about character growth. Together, they complement each other. The other 2 main stars are Jess and Frankie, a gay couple. So much time was devoted to them that it felt like there were two full romance novels packed in one, instead of a sub-plot attached to the main plot. That’s not a bad thing if you like a plot packed with substance, plus the characters are whole and unique enough to add flavor to the entire package.

For me, this whole novel never really clicked together - it felt like there’s too much going on and too much emotional drama unfolding at a really leisurely pace. My favorite romance novels are always full of decisive people, and Wes is a little bit too wishy-washy for my taste. Rosemary, on the other hand, is my kind of girl. She’s so unabashedly geeky that she reminds me of Leslie from Big Bang Theory. I’m also actually pleasantly surprised by the depth of Edward’s research - how many people can catch the “Browncoat” reference in the book?

As a fellow geek, I am glad that Edward is writing about a female geek and playing up her geek factor. Too bad, Rosemary and her crew just didn’t do it for me. I can feel the passion Edwards poured into the book, but the pacing of the novel and Wes’s indecisiveness just drags the book down for me.

Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

[Splage · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the series and even though it was sexy, cute, and quick I wasn't as interested. I am not sure if the theme of restaurant/chef or the implausible premise of the story lessened the attraction but, I did skim through some of the details to get to the dialog. Even though overall I liked the story, it wasn't as good as the previous books.

The hero Wes had been introduced in the earlier books, he wasn't memorable enough to me to warrant his own book, but by adding Rosemary who was stronger and had layers with funny hang ups made it work. Here is where I didn't buy it, Rosemary was this incredible genius, a virgin, not socially skilled and, she is Wes's temporary professor, a workaholic, yet she does it with her student on the floor in her lab room after getting busted by the Pres of University in the preliminary stages of foreplay. Even a skilled harlot would have delayed to a safer environment and not jeopardized her career. This is how the whole relationship began.

I thought Rosemary's intellectual dialog was hysterical, sometimes her thoughts were way over my head (kudos to the author with coming up with the dialog, definitely had to do some research). It was cute because Wes would laugh at her ridiculous brilliance and that is was made their connection real. The sex scenes were definitely hot, hotter than a typical light contemporary story, and you could feel their attraction when they were naked. I felt the story ended abruptly. Wes had some minor conflict that was built up to be the relationship deal breaker for Rosemary, but it was solved in a paragraph or so- not a big climax.

There was also a secondary relationship, started in book 1, with sous chef Frankie and a waiter Jess that came together. Frankie was always a little creepy, a chain smoking, skeletal type, Brit rocker complete with mohawk and tattoos who falls for Jess, a young all-american, red haired waiter. Even though it was a m/m relationship their interaction was very tender and did choke me up once unlike the main characters. The 4th book coming out in August looks promising, still a chef story, but new setting and characters. I will definitely try it.

[Shana Donahue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the final book in the Market trilogy. It was a satisfying end, wrapping up the relationship between Frankie and Jess quite nicely. Much like the first book, "Can't Stand the Heat," the best part of this book was the story of Frankie and Jess. They were nicely developed and never felt like the secondary plot. I liked that they were consistent through the entire series and were by far my favorite part.

The same cannot be said for the main characters of Rosemary and Wes. For vast portions of the book, the two were never together. I didn't understand why they were together aside from their "chemistry." Their interactions were very superficial and I was never sure why they were attracted to each other. And why they couldn't just be together.

In the beginning it was hinted that Wes and his con artist father were trying to pull some kind of con on Rosemary's mother in Las Vegas. That was never fully explained, nor was the reason for keeping Wes's dad a secret from Rosemary. It was disappointing that this plot point never turned into anything more than a brief mention.

I liked Rosemary. I enjoyed the descriptions of her T-shirts and her knowledge of all things geek was endearing, though at times I found it a bit much and it took me out of the story. I didn't like the way she spoke, She reminded me of Dr. Temperance Brennan from "Bones" and while that kind of dialogue works on TV, it didn't translate well into reading. It was distracting and at times I found myself skipping over portions of Rosemary's dialogue because it was taking me out of the story.

I also liked Wes. I liked that his background was explored and his character was quite complex and showed growth. Not only in how he overcame his childhood, but how he overcame his trust issues and insecurity at Market.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it enjoyable enough. However, if it were my first Louisa Edwards novel, I would seriously question whether or not to read another one. It was a good end to the Market series and did a good job of wrapping up all of the characters. I wish Devon Sparks had made an appearance, but we can't have everything.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a lot of things that Louisa Edwards does well. Descriptions are amazing. She does place extremely well. And she writes love scenes with exceptional hotness. It's her characters that keep me from loving her books. She doesn't write characters that move me. They are just a little too outside of normal. Wes actually isn't. He's the son of a con man and when he gets caught in a compromising position with his former food chemistry professor he allows the school president to blackmail him into taking the externship of his dreams figuring that that is what she would want. The she in question is a former child prodigy who knows nothing of relationships but knows that dropping a woman after mind blowing sex isn't a great start. She's miffed and hurt but carries on their research and then goes to find him when it leads to something. That plot makes little sense. And Rosemary makes little sense, though she isn't dislikable just really weird. The one good thing was seeing the positive end to Frankie and Jess because Edwards did that relationship very well though the big reveal was so obvious that I assumed it had already come up. But still, I was excited for the two men. I wish she'd go with less quirky characters and build on what she's already great at.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wes Murphy is a bit of a play boy but a really good chef. Wes is honing his skills at the Academy of Culinary Arts. Wes is almost done. He can’t wait. The classes are so boring. Wes has only one class left…Food Chemistry 101.

Dr. Rosemary Wilkins is filling in as a replacement for Food Chemistry 101. Things just got more interesting for Wes, when he meets Rosemary. Who knew that there were so many different aphrodisiacs?

Just One Taste is the third book in the Recipe for Love trilogy. I have enjoyed every one of these books. Wes and Rosemary sizzle together both in and out of the kitchen. I like that Rosemary was able to school Wes a little but on the same hand, Wes was able to return the favor to Rosemary by showing her how to let loose some and have fun. Wes is the type of guy any woman would be lucky to have. He is good looking and knows how to cook. Rosemary started out kind of like the ugly duckling but by the end of the book, she had blossomed into a beautiful flower. There are a few recipes in the back of this book, which are a bonus. Mrs. Edwards blends romance with cooking to serve up a tasty morsel with Just One Taste.

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just One Taste is the third installment in the Recipe for Love series. I have enjoyed the series and this latest book was no exception.

The blurb from the book is all about Wes and Rosemary's romance. However, there is a secondary romance, one featuring Jess and Frankie (a gay couple) that has been playing out over the course of the series and finally came to a head during this book. This couple got nearly as much playtime as Wes and Rosemary and it is a shame. It's almost as if both stories were shortchanged by having to share space within this book.

That said, I really did like this story. I particularly enjoyed the quirky character of Rosemary. She's not your typical romance heroine, but she's believable and likable. Rosemary is the star of her romance. Wes is the weaker of the pairing. Of course, he's the once with experience, but he's also the one struggling with his past and his possible future with Rosemary.

I'm quite interested to see if this series is going to continue or if Ms Edwards will be stopping with a trilogy. And for those cooks out there (of which I am not), there are recipes included in each book to enhance your enjoyment of the story.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this one was alright.
For some reason I had a hard time starting this. And it wasn't one I just couldn't put down. I like the story line, and the cast of characters at the Market Resturant were very colorful, and likable. I could feel the attraction between Wes & Rosemary at times, but I want to say Edwards really played up Rosemary's smarts, so it seemed like she wouldn't/didn't respond like a 'woman' would. I mean really, what would you do, if you did the wild thing with a guy on the lab floor, then he ships off to an intership with out a word to you, the very next day? Logic says a woman would flip out, and straighten this guy up, but she doesn't she waits, 6m. later he decides he's not coming back to the school, and she chooses then to waltz into his work place and demand to see him, about their previous research.
These two were going to research Aphrodesiacs. I thought that would have worked well, into a romantic story for these two. But no, it didn't
Any way, I'd say this was a good fiction, but only a fair romance for Wes & Rosemary. Yes, they got the HEA, but so did Frankie & Jess, and I felt a bit more in touch with their delema then Wes & Rosie.

[drey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Louisa Edwards is a closet geek. There. I've said it... Not that that's a biggie, as I'm a self-avowed geek myself. Hurrah for girl-geek-power! *grin* Ok, ok. Enough of the silliness.

Wes hides his past from everybody, not trusting that they'd want him around if they knew where he's been and what he's done. Rosemary hides from people in general, uncomfortable with social interactions where her brain overtakes her tongue.

With all that hiding, how on earth did they show up as co-stars in a romance novel? Well, because Louisa gets it all down perfectly, that's how. The chemistry between these two just work. Doesn't hurt that Wes appreciates Rosemary's particular brand of humor, and Louisa's story-telling and dialog makes their story believable. I could "see" their interactions in my head.

Just One Taste is a romantic confection with that little touch of offbeat to make it fresh and yummy. A delicious treat for fans of the genre!

[Cyn Delia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Louisa Edwards books. If you enjoy cooking shows and the world of cooking, I think you would enjoy these romaces. Plus, every time I read one, I wanted to run to my kitchen and fix a tasty meal. One of my new favorite recipes actually came from her second book. Just One Taste is the 3rd book in this series. The books should/must be read in order as many characters reappear in this novel, especially the continuing story of Frankie and Jess which wraps up nicely in this book. In fact,I think Edwards wrote the men's love story with more intensity and poignancy than with her other couples. Another thing I love about Edwards, especially in her first two books is that she writes real people with real situations( I mean her men in the first two books, do some pretty ugly stuff, but I liked that because it was REALISTIC!) I thought Just One Taste was missing some of that, but it was okay, I stil loved the book.

[Stormy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my favorite book of the trilogy...which isn't actually saying much. The book is still devoid of any REAL NY flavor - just mentioning Central Park doesn't count as flavor. Wes and Rosemary were my favorite H/h so far, but describing Wes as a bad boy chef...ridiculous. He's a chef with a troubled background, but he does not fit the "bad boy" mold. At all. The kid's breaking himself to try and go straight. Wearing a leather jacket does not make you a bad boy.

Of course, this was actually my favorite book because Frankie pulled his head out of his a$$ and allowed Jess to have his HEA. Now I can stop reading this whole stupid series. I am undecided if I will read Too Hot To Touch, the book that started it all, but certainly after that, I will be avoiding Louisa Edwards in the future.