review: Hot in Here by Sophie Renwick

Release date: June 02, 2009 / Contemporary

Publisher: NAL

ISBN: 978-0451226914

She wasn't his dish-until someone turned up the heat.

Celebrity chef and infamous ladies man Bryce Ryder can't believe the thoughts he's having about his old friend Jenna McCabe. She's always been the shy girl-next-door, but when some bad publicity threatens everything he's built, Jenna gets down to business-and shows a side of herself that is take-charge and totally irresistible.

Soon things are heating up in and out of the kitchen-and all of Jenna's secret fantasies about Bryce start coming true. But will she be the one to tame his heart, or is the sexy chef just indulging another one of his cravings?

There are many of my favourite things to be found in Hot In Here by Sophie Renwick. I love being able to jump right into the story when the characters already know each other from the first page. Sophie (aka Charlotte Featherstone, whose stories I first discovered) writes fabulously sensual scenes which are tastefully explicit with beautiful emotional intimacy. Like Charlotte's, Sophie's heroes are deliciously bold, sexy AND sweet, and pretty much irresistible when they're focused on the woman they want.

When Bryce comes to his senses and realizes all his past girlfriends (who are complete opposites of Jenna) are not what he truly wants, I found it hard to imagine any girl worthy enough of him! Fortunately for Jenna, Sophie (as the author) gets to decide, and Jenna is one very lucky girl. Although I can wholeheartedly connect with where Jenna is coming from and her feelings of vulnerability and insecurity when it comes to Bryce, I still wanted to take her shoulders and (gently) shake (more!) good sense into her. Jenna thinks the worst of Bryce not only once, but twice. She needs to remember that there are many many girls waiting in line to jump into her place!

There are several "reader fanning self" scenes involving the creative use of tasty food, as well as highly tantalizing glimpses of secondary characters Sarah (Jenna's sister) and Trey (Bryce's brother). The one thing about enjoying a great read soon after its release is the agonizing wait for the next related story. But I am very glad I got a chance to read Hot In Here as soon as possible. Thank You Sophie for a wonderful story. I look forward to more of your writing!