Review: Just One Taste by Louisa Edwards

Book Details:
Just One Taste (Recipe for Love)
By Louisa Edwards
Genre: Romance
Published 2010, St. Martin's Press
Paperback, 331 pages
ISBN: 9780312356477


Synopsis:

          Bad-boy chef Wes Murphy is dreading his final-semester cooking class—Food Chemistry 101—until he meets the new substitute teacher. Dr. Rosemary Wilkins is a feast for the eyes, though her approach to food is strictly academic. So Wes decides to rattle her Bunsen burner by asking for her hands-on advice—on aphrodisiacs…
Rosemary is a little wary about working with Wes, whose casual flirtations make her hot under the collar. But once they begin testing the love-enhancing power of chocolate, oysters, and strawberries, it becomes scientifically evident that the brainy science nerd and the boyish chef have some major chemistry together—and it’s delicious…

I was riveted to this story right from the beginning. The numerous food references, anecdotes, and language tailored for chef-in-the-making, Wes Murphy, easily appealed to my interests in cooking. The nerdy, science-spouting, genius Dr. Rosemary Wilkins was also a great character to read in action, especially when she wielded BTVS-inspired expressions that had me laughing out loud.
I found the chemistry between the two of them to be ironic, since they come from such different backgrounds, but as a nerd myself, I can understand how Wes was able to appeal to Rosemary's brainiac ways to seduce her. Of course, I did not like how he abandoned her so easily - it always bugs me in books when romantically-involved couples run off instead of bothering to talk to each other about a problem or misunderstanding.
Wes's father is rightfully creepy, but his involvement in the plot seemed anti-climactic as an obstacle to the budding relationship. I would have preferred him to have more interaction with Rosemary, since she seemed at the end to be able to handle herself well with him.
Because I want to be honest in my reviews, I must say I did not like the homosexual relationship that ran secondary to Wes and Rosemary's. Nothing is mentioned in the short description that this is in the book, and I found myself rushing through those parts that focused on it to get back to Wes and Rosemary. I understand how the author used this to support Wes's side of the events, but the same could have been accomplished with a male-female relationship. I likely will not read anymore books by this author to avoid running into this again, which is a shame.

The Cover: The chocolate-covered strawberries are the perfect image for the cover, since they played a pivotal role in the plot line.

First Line: "Wes Murphy stared down into the huge stainless steel stockpot and watched a single golden bubble pop to the surface of the soup."
I love cooking, so of course I want to know what is in that pot!

Favorite Quote: "For the love of Joss!"

Read For: Foodie Challenge, Twenty-Eleven Challenge

*I received this book as a prize from random draw.*