valencia Writes

A Review of “Tastes So Sweet” by Kelly Cain

By Valencia Jermaine

In exchange for my honest review, I received an ARC copy of Kelly Cain’s “Tastes So Sweet,” which is the third book in her Everheart Brothers Series. I have become engrossed in contemporary romance as of late, and I must say that “Tastes So Sweet” is a good choice for romance readers.

I will issue one warning: stay away from carbohydrates while you’re reading this book. You may end up gaining a little weight. There are frequent mentions of pastries, cakes, etc. (You’ll probably get hungry. Plan accordingly.)

If you want a warm and fluffy friends-to-lovers romance, “Tastes So Sweet” is a good choice. While it does follow the trope pretty well, many of the twists and turns are refreshingly new. Readers will be smiling uncontrollably several times throughout this book.

The story follows Ryan Landry, a young woman who is still reeling from the deaths of her parents, and the responsibilities that have been thrust upon her as a result. She feels immense guilt at losing her parents and she feels responsible for their deaths in a car accident. (She’s not responsible, but that’s described later in the book.) Ryan has two younger sisters, twins, who are seniors in high school and who plan to go to college very soon. College isn’t cheap and Ryan doesn’t want to burden anyone else with the responsibility of figuring out how to fund their education. 

Ryan is an executive at Everheart Bar & Fine Dining. She is in charge of a team of chefs, cooks, servers, and managers. She is great at her job and she knows it. Her boss is another story. Flynn Everheart is a beast in the kitchen. He’s a Michelin Star chef whose grumpiness has scared away two of his sons and a ton of other chefs at the restaurant. Everyone walks on eggshells around him.

Ryan can’t afford to lose the job because she is financially responsible for herself and her sisters. She is also taking care of her grandparents. She’s focusing on everyone else’s happiness except her own. Like many people in similar situations, she feels guilt at wanting for time for herself. It makes her feel selfish to want things for her own enjoyment.  

Ryan feels the weight of her parent’s untimely deaths, and she transfers that guilt into mothering everyone around her. She does it to her staff and her family, to her own detriment. She is filled with immense love for those around her; especially her best friend, Weston Everheart. Their just friends and she thinks is a good idea that they keep it that way, but her heart doesn’t agree.

Weston is 6 foot 4 with wavy black hair, blue eyes, and a body so beautiful that angels sing whenever he enters a room. Weston works at her restaurant as a pastry chef and he is the only son to stick around at his father’s restaurant. Weston definitely wants a romantic relationship with Ryan, but she’s hesitant for two reasons: 1) She doesn’t want to mess up their friendship. 2) His father wouldn’t approve and would probably fire her if he found out Ryan was dating his son. 

Ryan can’t afford to lose the job, but can she afford to miss out on a chance at a romance with the man she’s been crushing on for years?

I won’t go into any additional detail about the book, but I encourage you to read it. It will definitely put a smile on your face. It is filled with heart, romance, angst, suspense, and a few well placed (and nicely vivid) spicy scenes. Buy it when it comes out. Romance readers won’t be disappointed.