Seared – Suleikha Snyder – 4 stars
I received this book for free from the Author . This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Format: eBook
Source: the Author
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

It’s been 10 years since Naya saw her stepbrother, Lachlan Christie. In that time, he’s become a famous chef, complete with his own hip and trendy Manhattan restaurant…and she’s become the woman who can give him everything — especially her body and soul. But the past doesn’t always stay dead, and you can’t escape it, no matter how far you fly or how hot you burn.
Naya’s determined to win Lachlan and secure them a happily ever after, no matter what it takes — but is love enough to save her master chef?
In the first book in the Master Chefs series, the forbidden meets the possible — and passion cooks up a storm.
Update – winner of the contest is Samantha. She’s been emailed but everyone go out and get Seared!!!
HOT! Ok that’s the first word that comes to mind when describing this book but it’s hot because the pairing works. Well, that and the power exchange between them makes sense and it is very palpable as you read the story.
Naya knows what she wants or to be p, more accurate, who she wants. The death of her former stepfather brings her back to New York to finally take the steps to her happy ever after… that is if she and her soul mate are willing to fight the specter of a man who was rotten to the core. Naya has such a strong understanding of who and what she is which most of us never really figure out. I liked that she was willing to sit back a bit at first but when she realized what was really happening she fought for what mattered even as she was being pushed away. The interplay between her and her mother made me smile as you can feel the love between the two very strong women. They love and love deeply but there are so many secrets that they both keep.
Lachlan loves Naya with all his heart and soul. This is not a secret but as you read the book you begin to understand how hard he’s tried to bury this in order to give her the chance to fly. He’s also dealt with his own sort of hell when it came to his father. I truly hated the man even beyond the grave but was more pissed at Lachlan as he seemed to not see a way beyond the mess. I loved how much he wanted to give Naya and that he really pushed her to make sure that she did know what she wanted. He also made sure that he gave her what she needed even as he struggled with his own needs. I also enjoyed the by-play with Naya’s mom as it showed how much she loved him even as she hated his father. I really appreciated that we saw a relationship that existed between a child that wasn’t hers in blood but was hers in every other way that mattered. She saw HIM not the wrapper and encouraged him even as she worked to protect her own daughter.
Lachlan and Naya made me smile even as they went thru the mess as they really were perfect for one another. She’s not going to completely let him walk over her but she’s going to fight for the real him. She won’t accept less than that. He’ll fight to let her fly and support her as she navigates the world around her but own every single bit of her without caging her. The balance they achieve is fun to read and…
I didn’t mention this but… THERE IS FOOD!!! FOOD FOOD FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD…. He’s an amazing chef and she isn’t so bad herself. You’ll enjoy the mentions of food in the book so make sure to have snacks available if a craving strikes.
Now for my bit of fun… I adored this book and wanted to do something a bit fun with it so I’m gonna do a giveaway –
For a chance to win a Kindle or Nook copy of Seared plus… yes plus… a print copy of Cravings by Chrissy Teigen… tell me do you find a man who can cook to be sexier than one who can’t? Is there something that you love to cook?
I’ll take entries until February 2nd at 11:59 pm Central Standard Time. US only.
FYI – This is Cravings… and yes I have a copy which will be used over the next month to make some evil recipes:

Maybe she’s on a photo shoot in Zanzibar. Maybe she’s making people laugh on TV. But all Chrissy Teigen really wants to do is talk about dinner. Or breakfast. Lunch gets some love, too.
For years, she’s been collecting, cooking, and Instagramming her favorite recipes, and here they are: from breakfast all day to John’s famous fried chicken with spicy honey butter to her mom’s Thai classics.
Salty, spicy, saucy, and fun as sin (that’s the food, but that’s Chrissy, too), these dishes are for family, for date night at home, for party time, and for a few life-sucks moments (salads). You’ll learn the importance of chili peppers, the secret to cheesy-cheeseless eggs, and life tips like how to use bacon as a home fragrance, the single best way to wake up in the morning, and how not to overthink men or Brussels sprouts. Because for Chrissy Teigen, cooking, eating, life, and love are one and the same.