Simmer Down

Smith is back with another fun and steamy—both in the kitchen and out—rom com. This multicultural romance, which combines heartfelt cuisine with a love story, will be a treat for readers.

I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would despite it being an entertaining ride ... what I thought was going to be an exciting and ultimately romantic read, lacked a couple of factors that would have made this a spectacular read ... The writing was light and funny, and I liked that it offered a personal touch to Nikki’s perspective, especially when it comes to a few somber and emotional scenes. On the other hand, there was some dialogue that I thought were awkward, plus the overuse or 'growl' and 'howl' also felt perplexing for me. As a result, instead of the scene feeling romantic or sexy, I was only left cringing ... The characterisation also felt a little insufficient for me, especially when it comes to the two main characters. It’s as if I couldn’t get a better sense of their personality. Because of this, I also found their chemistry and romance quite off, so I wasn’t really rooting for them. Yes, their whole ordeal was entertaining, but I didn’t feel for them and I didn’t get invested in them ... I love the food truck life and the overall food scene in this book ... When it comes to the plot, it felt a lot like classic romcoms with those melodramatic scenes and grand gestures of love. I feel like some parts were predictable though, and the miscommunication trope was overdone ... Overall, I feel like this was a decent read. It’s not entirely mind blowing, yes, but I think this will be a great choice for those who are looking for a fun, amusing, and romantic read.

... enthralling ... While the enemies-to-lovers romance is irresistible, it’s the sincere, well-developed characters and heart-tugging family dynamics that make this fulfilling love story stand out. This is a winner.