Marly Bennet is fully dedicated to the success of Chameleon, the restaurant owned by her best friend Olivia and the family that took Marly in and helped her become a chef, even though she finds herself hiding out in the bakeshop as Olivia's talentless husband Keith runs the line. When Keith is discovered in dry storage with Nikki the bartender and his pants around his ankles, Olivia tosses him out. Before Marly can figure out how to tell Olivia she wants the chance to be Chameleon's head chef, Olivia has hired Joe Rafferty to temporarily keep things running. Joe is on a mission to reform his life in order to fulfill his mother's dying wishes. Marly may prove too much temptation for this newly reformed bad boy.

I'm a big fan of romance novels and the Food Network, so I really like the growing sub-genre of foodie romance. I loved everything about Amanda Usen's debut novel. Marly and Joe come across as strong, independent, and talented yet they still have their issues to overcome. The interplay between the two is exciting and entertaining. While the focus is on the conflict and romance between Marly and Joe, SCRUMPTIOUS is a finely crafted ensemble piece. The supporting characters added color and richness to the story. The restaurant, where much of the action takes place, has a distinct personality and I thoroughly enjoyed the behind the scenes details. SCRUMPTIOUS is a terrific read and I hope there are more visits to Chameleon in our future (Olivia and the other bartender?!).

Book Summary

Sparks fly between love 'em and leave 'em pastry chef and poker sharp Marlene Bennet and traveling chef-for-hire Joe Rafferty when the two culinary perfectionists are forced to share a kitchen. But several suspicious accidents at the restaurant convince Marlene and Joe to work together to uncover the saboteur. Maybe a little intrigue and high-stakes poker will be the perfect ingredients for these commitment-phobic foodies to whip up a happily ever after.